Given Beyonce and Jay-Z’s reported $750 million combined net worth—and their status as music’s top-earning couple —you might say $1.3 million isn’t too extravagant an expense.
Even an anti-Wall Street movement can lend itself to creating profits. Hip-hop icon Jay-Z and former Run-DMC rapper Russell Simmons have figured that out. Jay-Z’s clothing line Rocawear has created shirts that spin off the OWS theme. The shirts have “Occupy All Streets” written across the front in graffiti style. Unfortunately for OWSers looking for a piece of that pie, Jay-Z has no plans to share its proceeds or throw a brick through Rupert Murdoch ‘s home, according to a statement Rocawear sent to “Business Insider”: The ‘Occupy All Streets’ T shirt was created in support of the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement. Rocawear strongly encourages all forms of constructive expression, whether it be artistic, political or social. ‘Occupy All Streets’ is our way of reminding people that there is change to be made everywhere, not just on Wall Street. At this time we have not made an official commitment to monetarily support the movement. Simmons has shown support for the shirts, promoting them on Twitter a couple times:
So, the foul-mouthed rapper “Soulja Boy” told American soldiers to go “f**k” off in a new rap video and insulted them for not being real men. Now, he says he didn’t really mean it — and, in fact, the reason he said “f**k” our “Army troops” is that he cares about them so much and respects them and just wants them home. Really. More on the supposedly heartfelt apology in a moment. The story came to light over the weekend on TMZ: A proud military veteran is demanding an apology from Soulja Boy — after the rapper posted a video saying, “f**k the army troops.” Soulja ignited a wave of controversy this week over his new song, “Let’s Be Real” — which includes the lyrics: “F**k the FBI and the army troops … fighting for what? Be your own man … … I’ll be flying through the clouds with green like I’m Peter Pan.” Here’s the video. Warning: It’s profanity-laced and headache-inducing: Rap mogul Russell Simmons is “ proud ” of Soulja Boy for this “emotional” apology: As an artist, I let my words get the best of me. Sometimes there are things that we feel, things that we want to express, and when we put them on paper and speak them out loud, they can come out wrong. When I expressed my frustration with the US Army, not only did my words come out wrong, I was wrong to even speak them. So, I write this to give my sincerest apology to all members of the United States military services, as well as their families that were offended by my most recent lyrics. …In no way would I ever want to offend those who are protecting our freedoms … a lot of homeboys who I grew up with, a lot of people who come from the neighborhoods we live in … In no way do I want to hurt any of our honorable soldiers who put their lives at risk, regardless of how they feel about the two wars we fight in. I am just frustrated that we haven’t been able to bring you all home quick enough and my frustration got the best of me. I am deeply sorry. A truly sincere apology would have acknowledged that “Soulja Boy” (what a name for a coward who disses the troops, eh?) was pandering to military-hating fans, not “expressing his frustration” over long, military engagements. Note that no apology was made to those who serve in the FBI. Just wondering: Has “Soulja Boy” ever penned lyrics telling jihadists to “f***” off? Be your own man for once, “Soulja.” Try it. The next most offensive words in his apology: “As an artist…” Oy. *** The Military Times notes that our troops have enjoyed and supported “Soulja Boy’s” work in the past. Maybe they’ll think twice now: I think it’s safe to say Marines won’t be dancing to “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” at the Marine Corps Birthday Ball again this year. *** LOVE this. An Army sergeant responds Leo Dunson (website here ) to “Soulja Boy” with his own rap — “Change Your Name” (NSFW – language warning): *** Update: More troop responses on Youtube — language warning — via This Ain’t Hell: Army soldier Stephen Hobbs in Afghanistan has his own rap for Soulja Boy:
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“Soulja Boy:” A self-serving apology to the troops; Update: Troops respond on Youtube
**Written by Doug Powers Today, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence is sponsoring a “Peace walk, run & rally against violence.” Here’s a list of participants : Wednesday, August 25, 2010 New York City Join hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, former New York Giant Michael Strahan, our New York City/Bronx Million Mom March Chapter, and others this Wednesday, August 25, for the “Tsunami of Peace Ride, Walk & Rally Against Violence” in New York City. Rappers Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, Fat Joe, Maino, and Salt will also participate in the rally, which was organized as a response to the rise in gun violence throughout New York this summer. Fat Joe’s latest album is called I Wanna Kill People Vol. 1 . Here are lyrics from one of Joe’s catchy little numbers called My Lifestyle : Bullet shook could make you take a bucket of piss For runnin’ your lips Got the fifth stuck in your ribs, don’t make me… splash your lungs right in front of your kids I’m a basketcase, don’t ever give this bastard space or I’ma have your ass erased Here are some lyrics from a polka by Maino called “Kill You” : You gon make me… kill you You keep on f***in with me Police gon come and get me Cuz im a mess around and… kill you I aint no woman beater, but I aint p**sy either You make me mad enough to… kill you Look how you got me goin You keep on askin for it You wont be happy til I… kill you That last one was originally spoken by Gandhi, wasn’t it? Normally I prefer my anti-violence activists to not promote violence so much, but I’m funny like that. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get to a “How to have a faithful marriage” seminar featuring Bill Clinton. (h/t SayUncle ) **Written by Doug Powers Twitter @ThePowersThatBe
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Today’s Anti Violence Rally Has Odd List of Participants
I suppose I should be flattered that music industry mogul Russell Simmons has devoted an entire essay attacking me over the Ground Zero mosque and urging his Twitter followers to spread it around. The problem is, er, I didn’t write the excellent post spotlighting Simmons’ embarrassing 1993 World Trade Center bombing error last week. Guest-blogger Doug Powers wrote it in a post that begins, er, “ **Written by Doug Powers.” Continuing his winning streak of botching facts and history, Simmons then criticizes President Bush for going on an unfettered “crusade” against Muslims. Apparently, he missed all the Saudi hand-holding photo-ops , Wahhabi Muslim pandering , reckless visa policies , dangerous Muslim donor outreach , “Islam is peace” speechifying and dhimmi State Department programs that flourished during the Bush years. But let’s not let facts get in the way of a hip-hop Hollywood ISLAMOPHOBIA! diatribe. *** Speaking of the Islamophobia card, Simmons is joined by my Fox News colleague Kirsten Powers and Daisy Khan, the wife of Ground Zero mosque imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, in accusing conservatives of being motivated by “hate.” Er, via Dana Loesch , this is what “ hate ” looks like: And this: Ground Zero Imam Says U.S. Worse than al-Qaeda. And this: Unhinged: Anti-Israel college student throws pie at Democrat Sen. Carl Levin. And this: The May Day angry mob you won’t see. And this: Document drop: FBI charges anti-Semitic nutball with threats against GOP Rep. Cantor & family; “…you receive my bullets in your office, remember they will be placed in your heads.” And this: How the Left fakes the hate: A primer. And this: Torch-wielding leftists at UC Berkeley attack chancellor’s home. And this: Tomato Man: Another addition to the Unhinged mugshot collection . And this: This is what mob rule looks like. But let’s not let facts get in the way of liberal EPIDEMIC OF HATE! diatribes.
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Russell Simmons can’t read
**Written by Doug Powers The Associated Press is now prohibiting its staff from using the words “Ground Zero mosque” in stories: The Associated Press, one of world’s most powerful news organizations, issued a memo today advising staff to avoid the phrase “Ground Zero mosque.” The Upshot reported Tuesday that the AP started using the phrase “Ground Zero mosque” in some headlines in late May. The New York Times, for one, has consciously avoided that phrasing. The AP began using the phrase as the controversy over the proposed Islamic cultural center and mosque in Lower Manhattan started bubbling up to the national level. Many news organizations, across platforms, routinely dub the project the “Ground Zero Mosque.” The AP has always been clear in the text of stories that the project would be built two blocks from Ground Zero and not on the actual site. But AP headlines, at times, ran with the phrase adopted by opponents of the project and amplified by the media. Now the news organization is taking steps to make sure that no longer occurs. The AP memo is here . Give it a read and see if you think it’s simply a re-tread of a pro-mosque talking points memo (including a quote reminding AP staff that “the United States has more Muslim blood on its hands than al-Qaida has on its hands of innocent non-Muslims”). Fortunately for AP fact checkers, this mosque debate is taking place in between Sarah Palin book releases. There’s no official line around the WTC site where “ground zero” ends, however I’m fairly certain that if the Associated Press office was two blocks away and hit by debris on 9/11, we’d be reading AP stories about “the horror we experienced at Ground Zero” to this day. In any case, since “Ground Zero Mosque” is officially a no-no for the AP, here are a couple of suggestions for Associated Press writers to choose from to get us started. They could even use these on a rotating basis to avoid repetition. Feel free to add to this short list and I’ll try and put some of them up when I get home later: -“The Hope & Change Experience” -“House of worship in relative proximity to where Russell Simmons believes Christians bombed the WTC” -“Project Bloomberg” -“Site very far from WTC crater where faulty landing gear struck a now defunct Burlington Coat Factory turned peaceful multi-faith cultural center” -“TAI Fridays” Update: Naturally, nutmuffin Florida Rep. Alan Grayson has opined. After blaming 9/11 on Bush (of course), Grayson referred to the Ground Zero mosque as an “athletic center” and a “health club” — which is about as wildly exaggerated as calling Grayson a “lucid Congressman”: **Written by Doug Powers Twitter @ThePowersThatBe
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Help AP Writers Find a Substitute Phrase for ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ — Update: Rep. Grayson Offers Suggestions
**Written by Doug Powers Russell Simmons was on with Larry King last night arguing on behalf of the Ground Zero mosque. During the chat, Simmons said the following: “If you’re blaming Muslims for the 9/11, you need to change your mind — did we blame Christians for the first World Trade attack [in 1993]?” The logic is sound — I’m satisfied. It’s nice to know that Simmons is so forgiving of the Christians that bombed the World Trade Center in ’93. I had no idea that Ramzi Yousef was a Christian, either. Proof-positive that if you watch CNN long enough, you’ll learn something. Larry King of course didn’t bother to follow up on what Simmons said, possibly because Larry’s as clueless as Russell: Here’s a movie clip appropriate to the occasion: (h/t Newsbusters and HAP ) **Written by Doug Powers Twitter @ThePowersThatBe
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Russell Simmons’ Def History Lesson Jam: Christians Bombed the WTC in 1993?
