Jacob Blake, the 29-year-old father who was shot several times by police in Kenosha Wisconsin last Sunday (Aug. 23) has been left paralyzed from the waist down. Civil Rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who was hired to represent Blake’s family, said that it would take “a miracle” for him to walk again.
Blake was trying to deescalate a domestic altercation when Kenosha police drew their weapons and shot him in the back at point blank range. He was hit at least seven times. Blake was unarmed and not breaking the law. His three sons, ages 3,5, and 8, were in the backseat of his SUV and witnessed their father being shot.
“These three little boys are going to have psychological problems for the rest of their lives. Can you imagine what his 8-year-old son is going to think about every time he has a birthday? This is real America. This is what we [Black people] have to endure every day: being profiled by the people who are supposed to protect and serve us.”
The horrific shooting was captured on video by witness Raysean White, who said that he saw officers scuffling with Blake. According to 22-year-old White, police yelled “Drop the knife!” at Blake, even though there was no knife in his hand. Witnesses said cops taser Blake before shooting him. In 2017, Wisconsin became the first state to make it mandatory for police to wear body cams, yet none of the officers involved in Blake’s shooting were wearing body cameras.
Blake was walking back to his SUV to check on his children with police officers trailing him before drawing their weapons. As Blake opened his car door, a cop is seen pulling at his shirt while shooting him in the back as his children watch in horror.
Blake’s family spoke out in an emotional press conference on Tuesday (Aug. 25). “They shot my son seven times, seven times like he didn’t matter. But my son matters. He’s a human being and he matters,” said Blake’s father, Jacob Blake Sr.
Blake’s mother, Julia Jackson, spoke about her son’s condition as he continues healing from his injuries. She said that he was unaware that protest erupted in wake of the shooting and that he would want supporters to remain non-violent. Jackson also said that his first words after the accident were that he was “sorry.”“He said, ‘I don’t want to be a burden on your guys. I want to be with my children, and I don’t think I’ll walk again,’” said Jackson.Blake’s sister shared a powerful message on the affects of police brutality. “I am my brother’s keeper,” she began. “And when you say the name Jacob Blake make sure you say father, cousin, son, uncle, but most importantly make sure you say human. Human life. Let it marinate in your mouth, in your mind. A human life just like every single one of y’all. We’re human and his life matters.“So many people have reached out to me telling me they’re sorry that this happened to my family,” she continued. “Well don’t be sorry because this has been happening to my family for a long time. Longer than I can account for. It happened to Emmett Till, Emmett Till is my family. Philando [Castile], Mike Brown, Sandra [Bland], this has been happening to my family and I’ve shed tears for every single one of these people that this has happened to. This is nothing new. I’m not sad, I’m not sorry, I’m angry and I’m tried. I haven’t cried one time. I stop crying years ago. I am numb I have been watching police murder people that look like me for year.”
In the world of music collaborations, there are some that stand out as iconic moments in history. One such collaboration was between the legendary rapper Nas and the talented R&B artist R. Kelly on the remix of Nas’s hit song “Street Dream.” This remix, known as the “Street Dream Remix,” brought together two powerhouse artists from different genres to create a musical masterpiece that still resonates with fans today.
In 1996, the Queensbridge rapper Nas was one of the hottest artists in the urban music industry. That year he released his second studio album “It Was Written” with standout singles “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)” and “Street Dreams”. The album was a commercial success, selling 270,000 copies in its first week and debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.
The second single “Street Dreams” brought together Nas and R. Kelly for an epic remix that was change Hip Hop forever. This collaboration seamlessly bridged the realms of hip-hop and R&B, forging a unique connection between disparate musical spheres. It not only captivated a diverse array of fans but also highlighted the artistic flexibility of Nas and R Kelly, setting a new standard for future music collaborations. The “Street Dream Remix” emerged as a cultural phenomenon, propelling the artists into the limelight and solidifying their influence in their respective genres.
The music video was shot by Hype Williams in September 1996 and R. Kelly was so impressed by the collaboration he wanted to build a working relationship with Nas. R. Kelly also wanted to record a joint double album with Nas so they could cross promote a multi-city tour and marketing events.
Unfortunately this major moment in hip hop history would never happen, due to R. Kelly. Nas was featured on the remix version of “Did You Ever Think” from Kelly’s 1999 “R” album, but they recorded together again. Watch the video below from our friend Karceno4Life to find out more:
The “24K Magic” singer announced a multi-year residency with MGM Resorts International in 2016, performing at the hospitality giant’s Park MGM resort in Las Vegas.
However, the relationship between the 38-year-old and the hospitality giant may have gone sour as the singer’s gambling has allegedly racked up large debts at the poker tables in Las Vegas, according to NewsNation.
“He owed millions to the MGM,” a Vegas insider told the outlet.
Another source added that the debt is as high as $50 million.
“[MGM] basically own him. He makes $90 million a year off of the deal he did with the casino, but then he has to pay back his debt,” added the insider, claiming that the singer only makes $1.5 million per night after taxes.
Part of Mars’ MGM contract reportedly included the creation of The Pinky Ring, a cocktail lounge inside the Bellagio Resort. NewsNation reports that another project is in the works as well.
Steve Stoute is talking about what caused the downfall of Jay-Z and Dame Dash’s friendship and working relationship—and Dame has something to say about it.
On the latest episode of Club Shay Shay, the music executive recalled how Dame, now 52, and Hov, 54, couldn’t keep Roc-A-Fella Records afloat. According to Stoute, Dame “blew it,” and it’s incredible how he did that, especially when he had Jay-Z, “the most important artist of his generation,” in his corner. Host Shannon Sharpe specifically asked how “that relationship that was so good sour so fast.”
“Dame’s antics, were just, it became—people over time, you mature,” 53-year-old Stoute said. “It’s like you have friends at 16, but by the time you turn 19, they were still doing the same shit when you were 16. … You start spending less and less time with them because of that.”
Our podcast FRSHOUT Hip Hop breaks down the recent damning comments from Steve Stoute on Dame Dash.