Atlanta Music Scene Has Moved To WordPress
Slowly but surely, the Atlanta Music Scene blog has been transitioning to WordPress - a bigger and better blogging and commenting experience!
See you there, at http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-music-scene/
Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2008 > July > 30
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Ludacris Offends Obama, Hillary and More - Says Obama Spokesman
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Oh what another mixtape has wrought.
A song — really a two-minute verse — that Atlanta’s DJ Drama just started playing this past weekend on his syndicated Gangsta Grillz radio show, by Wednesday afternoon had drawn the attention of the presumed Democratic nominee for president, Barack Obama.
Why? Well the song is titled “Politics (Obama Is Here)”.
But the really inflammatory thing is that the rapper who did it — Atlanta’s Grammy-winning Ludacris — attacks Sen. Hilary Clinton, presumptive Republican nominee John McCain and Pres. George Bush. (Not to mention, Ludacris and Obama have been publicly supportive of each other).
“As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism, and degrading images that he doesn’t want his daughters or any children exposed to,” said Obama spokesman Bill Burton on Ben Smith’s blog. “This song is not only outrageously offensive to Senator Clinton, Reverend Jackson, Senator McCain, and President Bush, it is offensive to all of us who are trying to raise our children with the values we hold dear. While Ludacris is a talented individual he should be ashamed of these lyrics.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, Ludacris could not be reached; nor had he issued a statement, according to his record label publicist.
And Drama says he hadn’t heard the news until we told him.
“Are you serious?!” was the first response from the local tastemaker, who sometimes refers to himself as Barack O’Drama. (And as you may recall, was busted on still-unresolved charges of selling mixtapes that did not display the copyright holder’s name and address).
“Well, this involves two people I highly respect. And from a position of just believing in freedom of speech, I feel [Ludacris] expressed himself in a manner he felt necessary. I also know all eyes are on Barack Obama because of the position he’s in. So before someone like Fox News attaches him to it, [Obama] had to do he what he had to. I understand. I think Luda would understand. And it doesn’t change my opinion on who I’m going to vote for.”
The single can be heard on Ludacris’s web site wemix.com; and it is one of the tracks on Drama’s “Gangsta Grillz: The Preview”; a lead-up to Ludacris’s new album “Theater of the Mind.”
(Watch them talking about the collaboration — before the uproar — in this MTV interview )
Hear the reason behind all of the uproar on the YouTube video BELOW:
And of course, your thoughts?
Young Jeezy Sets CD/Atlanta Date
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Starting last night at 9:02 p.m. — and every Tuesday at the same time until the release of his upcoming CD “The Recession” — Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy will release exclusive music from that album to select radio stations.
(Last night it was DJ Infamous/Greg Street on Atlanta’s top-rated V-103, and Funkmaster Flex on New York’s Hot-97.1).
And why 9:02 you say? Well, that’s when his third CD is now scheduled to be in stores — Sept. 2. And the following night he will be at the Tabernacle, tickets going on sale this Saturday. (The general admission tickets are $31 in advance, $35 day of show).
Watch the just-released EPK for “The Recession” HERE. Hear the “I Put On” remix with Jay-Z that he debuted last night HERE.
And after that, tell us, does this make you even more excited about “The Recession”? Think it could do Lil Wayne, “Tha Carter III” numbers its first week? And what about his concert — planning to go?
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment |
“The Single: Monica” - A Preview
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tonight Atlanta R&B singer Monica will be celebrating the debut of her Peachtree TV reality show, “The Single: Monica,” at a private party with fellow local Grammy winners Bryan-Michael Cox and Q. Parker of 112 (after his headlining performance at Wednesday WindDown at Centennial OIympic Park ).
But right now, right HERE you can watch a preview of her bow, Aug. 5 at 10 p.m. . And there’s some behind-the-scenes YouTube videos BELOW. Let us know what you think.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment |
Jill Scott In Atlanta, On Possibly Becoming An Atlantan…(And Many Other Things)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
PHOTO CREDIT: Robb D. Cohen/robbsphotos.com
It’s an especially good day in the life of Jill Scott, she says when she rings the Atlanta Music Scene.
“I’m laying in the bed in the middle of the afternoon, and ‘Galaxy Quest’ is about to come on,” she coos. “Oooh it’s a perfect day. I’m feeling great.”
And talkative too — so hours before her appearance with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra tonight at Chastain Park Amphitheatre, we got the three-time Grammy Award winner (above, during her surprise appearance at the Roots/Erykah Badu show at the Fox Theatre) to catch us up on her recent performances overseas, her return to Africa and her Atlanta-based fiance and how likely it is that she may become an Atlantan. (Read the interview here.)
Planning to go to the show tonight? Think her latest CD, “The Real Thing,” got its due? And what did you think of her tribute to Al Green? (For a reminder, watch HERE )
