Radio Ro Blog

Kanye West took to his twitter to let everyone know that he’ll be passing on Good Friday’s this week: Due to blogs leaking unfinished songs from my actual album I’ve decided to pass of Good Fridays this week. It’s messed up that one hacker can mess everything up for everyone… I love to take a year to finish my songs and deliver them to you guys in there most completed form. It would have seemed like since I give free music every week even the lowest form of human being would respect that enough not to leak unfinished songs from my real album. I’m in the studio or editing suite every night to 3am finishing the film and the album or practicing for my SNL performance. We’ve got 4 engineers mixing the album to finish it as soon as possible. In the lab with Soulja Boy and Cudi 2 my favorite most genius artist. Even in my disappointment about the leaks I feel blessed.

President Barack Obama recently spoke with Rolling Stone magazine on a few interesting topics… What do you think of Fox News? Do you think it’s a good institution for America and for democracy? [Laughs] Look, as president, I swore to uphold the Constitution, and part of that Constitution is a free press. We’ve got a tradition in this country of a press that oftentimes is opinionated. The golden age of an objective press was a pretty narrow span of time in our history. Before that, you had folks like Hearst who used their newspapers very intentionally to promote their viewpoints. I think Fox is part of that tradition — it is part of the tradition that has a very clear, undeniable point of view. It’s a point of view that I disagree with. It’s a point of view that I think is ultimately destructive for the long-term growth of a country that has a vibrant middle class and is competitive in the world. But as an economic enterprise, it’s been wildly successful. And I suspect that if you ask Mr. Murdoch what his number-one concern is, it’s that Fox is very successful. What music have you been listening to lately? What have you discovered, what speaks to you these days? Thanks to Reggie [Love, the president's personal aide], my rap palate has greatly improved. Jay-Z used to be sort of what predominated, but now I’ve got a little Nas and a little Lil Wayne and some other stuff, but I would not claim to be an expert. Malia and Sasha are now getting old enough to where they start hipping me to things. Music is still a great source of joy and occasional solace in the midst of what can be some difficult days. Read more

But a producer’s life can also be complicated. Crawford says he recently hit a bit of a snag because royalties he claims he’s owed from his biggest production credit to date, “A Milli” from Lil Wayne, are in disptute. He has sued Lil Wayne’s record label, Young Money/Cash Money, for monies owed. A rep for Cash Money Chief Executive Bryan “Baby” Williams released a statement disputing Crawford. “There is no merit to this claim. Bangladesh incorporated a sample without informing Cash Money. [Cash Money has] successfully settled the copyright infringement claims that Bangladesh caused with other third parties and his producer and composition shares were wiped out by the sample owners.” Source

Bishop Eddie Long vows to be standing tall again, this time next week. The famed pastor of a Georgia megachurch said Sunday that he will fight allegations that he lured young men into sexual relationships, stressing that he’d be back to lead the church the next week. Addressing a New Birth Missionary Baptist Church sanctuary packed with thousands, Bishop Eddie Long neither discussed specifics of the lawsuits filed against him nor flatly denied the accusations. But he drew thunderous applause when he addressed his flock publicly for the first time since the first lawsuits were filed several days ago. “There have been allegations and attacks made on me. I have never in my life portrayed myself as a perfect man. But I am not the man that’s being portrayed on the television. That’s not me. That is not me,” he said as applause interrupted him. Four young men have filed lawsuits in the past week — three who live in Georgia and one from Charlotte, N.C., who attended one of Long’s satellite churches there. Two claim they were members of the church’s LongFellows Youth Academy, a program that taught teens about sexual and financial discipline, when Long gave them gifts and took them on trips to seduce them. Read more

Vibe has all the details: “There’s a very, very strong difference between myself and Keri. So I’m not even in that space to go there. I’m way past that mentally and creatively… It’s best that I give my fans what they want,” Ciara told XXL in their October issue when asked if Hilson had jacked her swag. “It would be crazy to say I haven’t heard that question before, but mentally I’m not even there…” The 24-year-old chanteuse is also not phased by the ever-growing popularity of competitors like Rihanna and Beyoncé: “I honestly don’t feel like my spot has ever been taken. If you place Rihanna and Beyoncé aside of each other, you would be able to see clearly that there’s a difference…I’m just pushing to be the best in my own world.’ Still at work on her 4th album, Basic Instinct, due out early November, CiCi blames the delay (Basic Instinct had an original release date of August 14) on a surge of production constantly arriving her way.

Lyfe Jennings is going back to jail. R&B singer/songwriter Lyfe Jennings was apparently sentenced on September 22 to three-and-a-half years in prison for a case in which he drove drunk and shot in the air after an argument with his baby mama and former manager, Joy. His sentence allegedly started today in Cobb County. After his sentencing, Lyfe reported requested a trip home to say goodbye to his children, which was denied by the judge. In case you weren’t aware, Lyfe Jennings shot to fame after completing a 10-year life sentence at the age of 19. So, unfortunately, this is round two for the talented artist. A call to Cobb County jail wasn’t returned and the label wouldn’t confirm the situation. Source

In an unexpected move, the Philadelphia Eagles named Michael Vick their starting quarterback on Tuesday evening. Coach Andy Reid, one day after insisting that the Eagles would return to Kevin Kolb as starter, said Vick had simply performed too well to move him back to the bench. “I think very few quarterbacks could go out and play the way he played the last couple weeks,” Reid said of Vick. “This is about Michael Vick and his accelerated play. He’s sitting there as possibly the hottest quarterback in the National Football League at this time and deserves an opportunity to play.” Vick replaced Kolb after the latter suffered a concussion in the first half of a Week 1 game against the Green Bay Packers. Vick led the Eagles to a 35-32 win on Sunday in Detroit, his first start since 2006 before he served a 20-month sentence for a federal dogfighting conviction. He was 21-for-34 for 284 yards with two TD passes. The previous week, he rallied the Eagles from a 20-3 deficit with 175 yards passing and 103 yards rushing in a 27-20 loss to the Packers. Reid was asked his reaction to Vick’s play on Sunday. He said he thought, “Wow this guy is back, and maybe even a little bit better. And I think that’s a beautiful deal.” Reid, who had committed to Kolb as the starter after trading Donovan McNabb in April, said Kolb had simply been beaten out by “an ex-superstar who now has regained his abilities.” “Michael Vick is playing out of his mind right now,” Reid said. On Monday, Vick said he was happy to accept a backup role behind Kolb. “It’s totally OK with me,” Vick said. “Kevin’s our leader.” But Vick also added that he was “10 times better” than he was in 2006 when he last played for the Atlanta Falcons.

Tip could be heading back to prison following a previously reported arrest earlier this month for drug possession. “We are very disappointed in Mr. Harris’ recent conduct,” U.S. Attorney Sally Yates told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in a statement released Friday (September 17th). “We will make our sentencing recommendation at the revocation hearing.” The order lists three possible violations of his bond: possession of ecstasy, testing positive for opiates and associating with a convicted felon. T.I. failed a drug test when traces of codeine were found in his system when he was drug tested shortly after the arrest.

In the latest issue of OUT Magazine, Nicki Minaj expresses her love for gay people + more! On whether or not she’s a lesbian… or bisexual… or whatever: “People who like me — they’ll listen to my music, and they’ll know who I am. I just don’t like that people want you to say what you are, who you are. I just am. I do what the f**k I want to do. The point is, everyone is not black and white. There are so many shades in the middle, and you’ve got to let people feel comfortable with saying what they want to say when they want to say it. I don’t want to feel like I’ve got the gun pointed at my head and you’re about to pull the trigger if I don’t say what you want to hear. I just want to be me and do me.” On her career goals: “I want to do what people think I can’t do, which is have the number 1 album in the country and be the first female rapper to sell records like dudes in this day and age.” On being beloved by gay men: “If a gay guy impersonates you, you are a bad bitch. Period. There are no ifs, ands, or buts, because they only impersonate the best.”

Anyway check out the excerpts below and if you’re interested in reading the full interview hit the link below. About Cocaine Use:How heavy did the drug use get? Kid Cudi: I started doing cocaine to get through interviews, ’cause people wanted to know a lot about my personal life and I wasn’t prepared for a 60 Minutes interview every time. Doing bumps I was able to get through the day, but then I would smoke weed to calm me down—it was the only way I could get through the day without people noticing I was doing it. Did you ever feel like you had a problem? Kid Cudi: I never thought it was a problem, but I was definitely high-fiving death a couple of times. It took a lot for me to talk about shit like this on the album. I don’t feel like I need to explain myself to anyone besides the fans. My fans don’t believe shit until they hear me say it. And those are true Kid Cudi fans. I want them to know the story. About Wale:You’re big on not having your music compared to anyone else’s. Kid Cudi: Did you see that Wale interview that he just did, comparing us to sports? Let me clear this up: I’m incomparable to anybody. I don’t care how people take that. No one can compete with me. I’m unfuckwittable; no one can knock me off my shit. I’m an unstoppable force, I’m a bullet. My trajectory is to the sky. Niggas got to do something really spectacular to fuck with me and my realm, and niggas be so bitter that you hear it in their voice. Speaking of Wale, when you hit that fan at your show last December, he came out with a line about it ["Throwin' 'round wallets like the dude that Kid Cudi hit," from "Thank You Freestyle"]. Kid Cudi: It wasn’t a shot, it’s just a simple-ass rhyme by a simple-ass rapper. You can’t let that shit faze you. That’s one of those raps that just shows the world that you wack. Why would you even use that as a metaphor? Everybody think they Hov. Niggas ain’t got the magic like they think they do; there’s only a couple of wizards in this game. I’m a wizard and I know it.

Oprah is the best! After Essex resident Caitlin Rumps, a longtime daily follower of “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” filled out a questionnaire and submitted her favorite memories of the show over the years, she was excited to be chosen as one of Oprah’s “ultimate viewers” and offered tickets to a show as part of the TV host’s final season. She never dreamed that title would be her ticket to an all-expenses paid trip to Australia as well. Yet Rumps, 45, is now set to travel with 300 of Oprah’s “ultimate viewers” to Australia with the TV icon herself come December. Rumps, a self-employed seamstress who grew up in Manchester, was sitting in the audience of the Oprah show’s studio in Chicago Sept. 9 for the recording of the first episode of Oprah’s 25th and final season. That’s when Oprah herself told the audience: “Maybe I should take you all with me to the other side of the world — We’re going to Australia!” The episode aired Monday on ABC. “I almost feel it was an out-of-body experience,” said Rumps. “I was jumping up and down. I was hysterical.” The 10-day paid trip is set to depart Dec. 5, with all 135 “ultimate viewers” and the guests that accompanied them to the filming.

The 26-year-old MC planned out her next 20 years in VIBE’s Juice issue, revealing that she’ll be ready to settle down in 15 years. “I want the beach wedding,” Minaj said. “Everything would be white and soft pink. I hate red!” She continues: “I’d be wearing a strapless dress, gripping around the waist, with a never-ending train. No shoes, just my feet in the sand.” As for guests, there’s room for little Barbies and a special performer not in Lil Wayne’s crew. “[I'd] have five little flower girls dressed in Hawaiian straw skirts,” Minaj says. “Then Beyoncé would sing ‘Smash Into You’ and I’d cry like, ‘Oh God.’” For now though, those plans are in the distant future. In her June/July VIBE cover story, she said “I don’t date women and I don’t have sex with women,” adding in her current Out magazine cover story, “but I don’t date men either.”

Trey Songz is teaming up with Usher with plans on streaming up an arena near you!! Usher has settled on a supporting act for his “OMG Tour.” Last night at the VMAs, Trey Songz announced: “It’s an absolute honor for myself to go on tour with him this fall,” said Trey Songz Tickets go on sale Saturday, September 18th at 10am! Fans can purchase tickets at all Ticketmaster locations. Word is that Usher teased his fans with hints of touring with Chris Brown.

Aretha Franklin wants Halle Berry to show her some R-E-S-P-E-C-T and sign on to portray a younger version of the Queen of Soul in an upcoming biopic. The 68-year-old singing legend sent out a press release this week revealing her choices for Hollywood stars to play top roles in a planned film about her life and career. Besides Berry, Franklin says she wants another Academy Award winner – Denzel Washington – to play her father, the late C.L. Franklin, a prominent Baptist minister and civil rights leader in Detroit. Her wish list also includes Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard as Motown star Smokey Robinson. The movie, for which Franklin says she’ll be reviewing the script next week, will be based on her autobiography, “Aretha: From These Roots,” a best-seller a decade ago. In her release, Franklin says the actors in question are “enthusiastic about the project and have agreed to take on these roles, subject to further negotiation.” The statement says Washington, for one, “was very interested in the role,” and Franklin “also had a very positive response from her in-person conversations with Terrence Howard and others.” Franklin is one of the most honored musicians in American history, having won numerous Grammys, including a lifetime achievement award; the National Medal of Arts; the Presidential Medal of Freedom and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

According to Los Angeles Times, Mayweather might be in a bit of trouble: Unbeaten boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. is being sought for questioning in Las Vegas after a domestic violence report was given by his former girlfriend early Thursday morning. The woman, Josie Harris, who Las Vegas Metropolitan Police say has children with Mayweather, summoned multiple police cars at 5:03 a.m. to a southwest Las Vegas home and reported the boxer attacked her. Domestic violence investigators were at the scene, police spokesman Bill Cassell told The Times. The spokesman said Harris was treated at a hospital for “minor injuries” and released. “At this point, Mr. Mayweather is a suspect in a domestic battery violence case, and we would very much like to speak with him,” Cassell said. Mayweather’s spokeswoman had no information about the alleged incident, and attempts to reach his adviser were not immediately successful. Cassell said details such as what prompted the alleged incident and Harris’ specific injuries were “part of the investigation.” Asked if Mayweather would be arrested, Cassell said only that, for now, the boxer is a “person of interest.” Mayweather, who last fought May 1 and won a lopsided decision over Shane Mosley in Las Vegas, apologized this week after unleashing a racially charged, expletive-filled video attack on his possible future opponent, Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather’s uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, faces a coming criminal trial for allegedly beating a female boxer. Awaiting more details….

Sacramento County authorities say Los Angeles Lakers guard Matt Barnes has been arrested on suspicion of domestic violence. Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Tim Curran says deputies arrested Barnes after responding to what was termed an incomplete 911 call from a home around 4:16 p.m. Wednesday. Deputies say both Barnes and the woman had visible injuries, but took Barnes into custody after determining he had been the primary aggressor. The name of the woman was not released, but she was described by authorities as “a woman who lived with him and with whom he had a dating relationship.” Barnes was booked into the Sacramento County Jail on suspicion of domestic violence and maliciously obstructing the use of a telephone line. He posted a $50,000 bond and was released. He is scheduled to be arraigned in court Monday. Source

Ever since Soulja Boy fun-dipped inside of Kat Stacks, he has been the punchline everyone’s joke. But watch what you say, Soulja just might knock your head off… or at least flame you on Twitter. You can ask Fabolous, he knows all about that. Soulja Boy wants to make it clear that he won’t be taking crap from nobody. Even his big homie, 50 Cent backed him on that. Check out Fiddy’s warning via twitter: I told you niggas a long time ago soulja boy my little nigga yal better leave him the fuck alone for somebody get hurt. For the last time I’m telling you niaggs leave my nigga alone. hollow tips a make you spit more then a hot 16. I get all you niggas killed fuck that. I dear you niggas touch him. Soulja say what ever you want Niggas aint gone do shit. Mother fuckers always think its joke till a nigga dead and they crying like that was my homie. I’m going back to write my album lolBut leave soulja alone a bitch set him up give him a break dam.

Soulja Boy went in this morning (September 7) on Fabolous via Twitter. Last week Fabolous dropped a freestyle on Funkmaster Flex's show, and dissed Soulja in the process with the line, "pretty boy swag, never coke my nose though." Soulja heard and is not taking that diss lightly. "THIS N*GGA FABOLOUS SAID PRETTY BOY SWAG NEVER COKE IN NOSE N*GGA U LAME AS F*CK LOL F*CK U N*GGA WEAK A** NY RAPPER U SUCK FABOULOUS U LAME AS F*CK N*GGA LOL U MAKE ME LAUGH U WEAK A** NI*GGA" "ITS OVER FOR YOU N*GGA @myfabolouslife RIP @myfabolouslife UMMA HANDLE YOU NEZT TIME I SEE YOU BOY 1 ON @myfabolouslife SQUAD UP YOU WEAK A** N*GGA ITS OVER FOR YOU @myfabolouslife F*CK LYRICS @myfabolouslife WHEN I SEE U UMMA BEAT YO FACE IN BOY" "UMMA GIVE YO B*TCH A** THE BLUES N*GGA @myfabolouslife GET READY YOU LAME A** N*GGA CHIP TOOTH B*TCH I HOPE YOU READY N*GGA" Damn, sounds like it's about to pop off. **UPDATE** For some reason Soulja Boy deleted the tweets. Too late though, because Fab already heard about them.

Over the weekend, Kanye West tested the power of Twitter to explain his childish actions in the past. One of the main topics of the hour long rant, Kanye had a message to singer Taylor Swift who West interrupted and embarrassed during last year’s MTV VMA Awards. “I’m sorry, Taylor,” tweeted Kayne West. “We’re both artists, and the media and managers are trying to get between us. She deserves the apology more than anyone.” He also revealed that he has written a song for Taylor Swift that he would like for her to perform. “I wrote a song for Taylor Swift that’s so beautiful and I want her to have it. If she won’t take it then I’ll perform it for her. She had nothing to do with my issues with award shows. She had no idea what hit her. She’s just a lil girl with dreams like the rest of us. She deserves the apology more than anyone.” Mr. West recounted some of the abuse he had taken from the public. “People tweeted that they wish I was dead,” he wrote. “No listen. They wanted me to die people. I carry that. I smile and take pictures through that.” Kanye also defended his actions: “Who’s seen the play Wicked? I’ve seen it 4 times! Other than loving the music acting and costumes … it’s my story!!! The Wicked witch of the west basically is so convicted to tell her truth when she does it she is outcasted by society and turned WICKED.” He compared the unpopularity he’s suffered to that of President George W. Bush and Ron Burgundy(Will Ferrell): “Remember in Anchor Man when Ron Burgandy [sic] cursed on air and the entire city turned on him? But this wasn’t a joke. This was & is my real life,” And he criticized members of the news media for “demonizing” him. Even now a lot of articles start there first 2 paragraphs about how much of an asshole I am. I accept the idea (ideal) that perception is reality. When I say perception is reality I mean whatever you think is the truth… is your truth. Some people’s truth is Kanye is racist… It’s not my truth but I do believe it’s my Karma…. walk with me..

Another day, another person hating on Diddy!! A 51-year-old music executive known as “the Mom” or “Auntie” at Bad Boy Records is suing Sean “P. Diddy” Combs for $12 million claiming that she was fired for being old and disabled. Francesca Spero says in her lawsuit that she is “renowned for launching the careers of various urban music figures, including Combs,” but had a falling out with him after being laid up with hip surgery in 2008. “Francesca Spero opened the door for Combs’ career and, now that she’s 51, he showed her the door at Bad Boy,” said her attorney, Laurie Berke-Weiss of the law firm of Berke-Weiss & Pechman. Source