You can’t hustle a hustler, right? So Shawn Carter, aka hip-hop superstar Jay-Z, surely doesn’t mind fronting for two other world-class hustlers: Bruce Ratner, Brooklyn, N.Y’s most powerful developer, and New Jersey (to Brooklyn) Nets majority owner Mikhail Prokhorov, Russia’s second-richest man. The three men are partners in promoting the new Barclays Center sports arena now under construction in Brooklyn, ...

By Aaron D. Johnson The overall direction or lack thereof of the so called African American community is a frightening one to think about, let alone talk about. As an educator in New York, I can tap into the pulse of the youth of our community in a way that provides insight as to what young African Americans think about ...

By: Chico C. Norwood I was reading Dr. Boyce Watkins’ article entitled “Russell Simmons Defends Gwyneth’s Use of the N-Word….Don’t Do it Man” and two paragraphs in the article really jumped out at me: “The difficult reality that Russell and other proud “n*ggas” in commercialized hip-hop must face is the fact that their music does little to elevate the masses, ...

“Doctors say I’m the illest, I ain’t got no insurance, it’s them n-ggas in poorest, be them rebel guerillas”.  N-ggas In Poorest Yasiin Bey, aka Mos Def, may stir up some controversy with his new single “N-ggas in Poorest” which takes on the materialism of “N-ggas in Paris”.  The single corresponds with the recent birthday of Malcolm X and even ...

Congratulations to the Carters for the recent addition to their group.  Beyonce and Jay-Z are great performers as a duo, so I have no doubt that the trio will be just as stunning. Still, here are five things that annoy me about the Beyonce and Jay-Z baby drama: SEE ALSO: Haiti’s Uncertain Future, 2 Years Later 1)  Is this the second coming of Baby Jesus?