Music Celebs Vote Obama

By Charlene Morgan

US music superstars Jay Z, Mary J Blidge, Beyonce Knowles and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs attend rally in Philadelphia to promote the Barack Obama Presidency campaign.

Hip hop mogul Jay Z, host to the “Promote the Vote Block Party” on the 2200 block of North Broad, Philadelphia, attracts more than four thousand locals to the rally encouraging them to “vote for change, vote Obama”.

As reported by Sky News, Jay Z accompanied by a string of music celebrities, each told the audience why voting for Barack Obama was so important.

“We have a responsibility to ourselves, our children, our country and our new leader, but we have to go out and vote to make the difference,” said Mary J Blidge during the rally.

Jay Z speaks in rhyme when telling the crowd the struggle and history that has led to this very moment.

“Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther King could walk. Martin Luther King walked so Obama could run. Obama’s sprinting, so we all could fly.”

BAD BOY records CEO, Sean Combs informs the people of Philadelphia that it may be their vote that make the difference.

“Y’all know that this is a swing state right here,” P.Diddy told the crowd. “This is gonna be the state that decides the election!”

Sean Combs backs up his speech at the rally and votes for Barack Obama the next day. On exiting a voting booth at Coalition High School in Manhattan, he tells New York press how it feels to be apart of history, voting for change.

I felt like my vote was the vote that put him into office. It was down to one vote, and that was going to be my vote. And that may not be true, but that’s how much power it felt like I had.

I’m not trying to be dramatic, but I just felt like, Martin Luther King, and I felt the whole civil rights movement, I felt all that energy, and I felt my kids,” he said. “It was all there at one time. It was a joyous moment.

It seems,  celebrity political pushing has become the rage among Hollywood’s rich and famous, but will it really make a difference? And will it count when it really matters? [Read Background on Obama celebrity endorments]

For further info email: charlene.morgan@my.westminster.ac.uk

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Madge Loses Her Guy

By Charlene Morgan

Its official, after nearly eight years of marriage Madonna, 50 and husband Guy Ritchie, 40 are getting a divorce. According to the Sun Newspaper Magde’s publicist, Liz Rosenberg said the couple had agreed to go their separate ways and are expected to agree to a divorce settlement without going through the courts.

Talk of separation for the unhappy pair, is long time coming, with rumors of constant arguments about their careers and Madonna’s wish to adopt another child coupled with secret affairs. Despite the pretense of a happy marriage and shows of public affection at Guy’s movie premiere RocknRolla, the soon to be divorcee’s are now predicted to have their divorce finalized before the end of Christmas 2008.

According to an unnamed source in the Sun “Despite huge attempts to patch things up they both knew deep down that divorce was on the cards.
“It wasn’t a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’. They tried hard over the last few months but their fighting was getting out of control.

Music icon, Madonna is reportedly worth about 300 million pounds, Guy Ritchie a mildly successful film director who is worth about 18 million pounds, is estimated by top lawyers in the Guardian, to walk away with half her assets.

Read More on Madonna’s relationships

What Happens to the Kids?

Reported in the Daily Mirror Newspaper Madonna will stay in the UK for the sake of the kids. Madonna and Guy have three children eleven year old Lourdes, Madonna’s daughter from her previous relationship with Carlos Leon, their two year old adopted son David Banda from Malawi, Africa and lastly their own son Rocco aged seven.  According to a mystery source “Everyone expected Madonna to go and live in New York – taking the children with her. But despite some of the unhappy memories that London holds, she still feels that it’s the best base for the kids”.

How is Ritchie Feeling?

Only a short time after the announcement of his divorce it seems Guy Ritchie is happier than ever. All laughs and smiles, Guy turns up to Sam Taylor-Wood art exhibition with friends Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law who also star in Guy’s movie ‘Sherlock Holmes’.

For further info email: charlene.morgan@my.westminster.ac.uk       

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MOBO Awards 2008

By Charlene Morgan

Yes it’s that time of year again and the MOBO Awards are upon us, paying homage to music of black origin. Hosting this year’s event will be ex Spice Girl Mel B (Melanie Brown) joined by Reverend Run, founding member of Run DMC, at Wembley Arena on October 15^th.

Over the years we have seen some of music’s most controversial and outstanding artists perform at the MOBO’s, and this year will be no different with the likes of Jay Sean, John Legend, Taio Cruise, and Estelle headlining.

The judging panel for the 2008 awards ceremony consist of a range of music journalists and DJ’s including Mark Cooper (BBC’s executive producer), Tim Westwood, (DJ for BBC Radio 1) and Hannah Pool (journalist for the Guardian).

And the Nominees are…

Tipped to clean up at this year’s award show is singer/rapstress, Estelle. Conquering both sides of the Atlantic with the release of her debut album Shine, Estelle has been nominated for five MOBO awards (Best UK female, Video, Song, Album, and Best R&B/Soul act). The West London born star is delighted at the amount of UK support and can hardly believe “it’s finally happened”.

Following in Estelle’s footsteps, UK artists Dizzee Rascal and Wiley are both up for three awards Best UK Male, Song and Hip Hop act for their big hit singles ‘Dance Wiv Me’ and ‘Wearing my Rolex’.

Other MOBO nominees include Bryn Christopher, Chipmunk, T2 and Skepta for Best Newcomer. Kanye West, Mariah Carey, Chris Brown, Rihanna, Jay Z, Usher, Ne-Yo, Mary J. Blige, Akon and Alicia Keys for Best International act. While Beenie Man, Busy Signal, Etana, Mavado and Tarrus Riley are up for Best Reggae.

New categories, Best Jazz and Soul act have been introduced as a result from protesters, (amongst the which were UK soul singer Omar and 2008 Best Jazz nominee Courtney Pine) contesting their removal from previous MOBO Awards.

Guy Barker, Lizz Wright, Tony Kofi and Yolanda Brown join Pine in making up the rest of the acts for Best Jazz.

Stepping Up!

The MOBO Awards founded in 1996 by Kanya King was designed to celebrate the music and diverse ideas inherent from black history, while acknowledging its future. King wanted urban music to expand from its specialist audience into mainstream. She felt it was music for everyone. [Read more on Mobo History]

King believes the quality of UK acts nominated for 2008 demonstrates that they can now compete with their American counterparts.

“Hip hop and R&B have emerged as popular music, not just genres beloved by a minority, and British artists are at the forefront… It’s fantastic to see artists like Estelle, who MOBO championed early on, get their due… the talent is undoubtedly here, let’s get behind them” says King.

For more info email: charlene.morgan@mywestminster.ac.uk

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Phil Spector Murder Retrial

By Charlene Morgan

Iconic music figure Phil Spector attends the retrial for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson.

The Crime:

In February 2003, LA police discovered Ms. Clarkson, in the foyer of Phil Spector’s LA mansion. Clarkson, 40 who had met Spector only hours earlier while she was working as a nightclub hostess, was found dead, with a gunshot wound to the mouth. Spector was charged for the murder, but avoided jail last year as the jury deadlocked on a 10-2 vote with the majority voting for a conviction of second-degree murder.

Fox news reports on the original trial Phil Spector trial.

The Retrial:

Nearly five years on from the original crime, Spector, 68 who is known for starting the “Wall of Sound” technique used in 1960s recordings such as the Righteous Brothers hit “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling” is being retried for the murder. If convicted, Spector could spend up to eighteen years in jail.

[Read More on Phil Spectrors music career]

Two weeks in, and lawyers are battling it out for their preferred juror. According to the LA Times Newspaper, Spector has chosen San Francisco based attorney, Doron Weinberg, who has a record history of turning retrials into acquittals. As prosecutors try and paint Spector as an unstable killer, who shot an actress in the mouth because she rejected his sexual advances, Weinberg and his team will continue to drive the idea that Clarkson took her own life, as a result from her failed career in Hollywood, shooting herself in the mouth.

MSNBC news speaks to criminal trial experts who fear Spector will not be as lucky this time around. “Statistically, the prosecution ends up doing better in a retrial because the defense has tipped its hand. Retrials are usually worse for the defendant,” said Stan Goldman, professor of criminal law at Loyola Law School.

The prosecution team feels they can clinch a conviction on second-degree murder this time. Prosecutors are going to present evidence of Spector’s past obsession with guns and in the manner in which he treats women. The defense may focus on Clarkson’s brief Hollywood taste of stardom she received in her film to fame, the 1985 “Barbarian Queen.”

 

For further info email: charlene.morgan@my.westminster.ac.uk    

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