Happy Labor Day folks! You know what time it is . . .

"It wasn't a good year for fat black singers, wasn't a good year. Barry White died. Luther Vandross had a stroke. I don't know where Ruben [Studdard] is, but I hope he's eating a salad right now. The brother's named after a sandwich! He don't stand a chance!"
– Chris Rock

• Someone took her shit right thurr:: A burglar got away with more than $300,000 in cash and personal items from Trina's hotel room as she was performing in Greenville, N.C., on Thursday evening.

• Booo Bitch!:: Ludacris didn't win a MTV Video Music Award last week, but columnist Ellen Goodman bestowed the Delta rhyme-spitter with the Misogyny in Music Award at her annual Equal Rites Awards.
The award honors entertainers and personalities that have "set back the cause of equality [for women]." The writer cites Luda's lyrics on his club banger "Mooove Bitch" as the reason why he was given this dubious honor. She believes that these lyrics were directed at females -- "I've been drankin' and bustin' two/ and I been thinkin' of bustin' you/ Upside ya motherfuckin' forehead . . . "
Ellen writes: "[Ludacris] gets the prize for making abuse into an art form."

• Death Wished:: Veteran Actor Charles Bronson dead at 81.
He has killed more niggers on screen – in his Death Wish franchise – than any film actor I have seen.

• Will somebody please stop this clown:: Magician/con-artist David Blaine cut a piece of his ear off at a press conference with reporters.

• Forget Barbie, here comes Sheneneh:: Mattel has developed "Flavas" dolls – a multihued collection of fashion dolls that, in addition to Happy D, includes P. Bo (extensively highlighted), Tika (racially mysterious), Kiyoni Brown (Mary J. Blige ringer), Liam (Eminem bleach buzz cut) and Tre (the black guy).
What about the ghetto toughie Fiddy (with bullet scars)? Or the bourghie black guy Branson (with the Barbie trophy wife)? This "flavas" dolls thing is ridiculous, if not offensive.

• Australia's own Feminem::

This Aussie female rapper has been hailed as The Real Slim Lady Down Under. Her name is Macromantics and check out her music HERE.

• Christian Hip-Hop is slowly gaining respect in the rap world.
Good, but some of these mainstream rappers need to start spitting some joyous doxology in their music, as well. Hallelujah!

• I agreed with Jon of Hip-Hop Anonymous – hip-hop is an international culture that is reaching the younger generation in every country, including Mexico and in Cuba.

Rap music has grown in popularity in Cuba. So much so, that the government formed the Cuban Rap Agency to promote hip-hop, and support rap artists inside and outside of the country. The agency has under its wing nine rap groups, which is a small figure, considering that there are some 1,000 bands, more than a few of which perform rap music. And unlike some of our rap luminaries here in the States, Cuban rappers are very outspoken about the political and social climate in their country, much to the chagrin of a few politicians and governing bodies.

Weird News

• There is nothing is worst than a woman's scorn. Apparently, she had the whole world in her hands.

A Cambodia woman gave herself up to authorities after accidentally killing her husband in a scuffle in which she squeezed his testicles until he fainted.

• Carbonated Milk? This couldn't possibly be healthy for kids to drink. What's next carbonated urine?
Some Schools to Serve Carbonated Milk

Opinions

• The biggest problem with Nelly's "Pimp Juice."

Website of the Day

Real Hip-Hop

Hip-Hop Quote of the Day

"It was eye-opening to see the type of things [the soldiers] have to go through. It can get up to 130 degrees, and electricity and running water are only available in a few places. When we went to Baghdad, the troops were staying in a hangar at the Saddam Hussein International Airport, sleeping on the floor – and their main concern was seeing us perform. It was a big morale booster for them, and that meant a lot to me." – Nappy Roots member Scales, on the group's recent travels with the USO to Iraq.

Holla!