Kendrick Lamar To Induct N.W.A. Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame (Video)
N.W.A was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Friday, April 8, 2016.
The four living members of the notorious rap group, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella, as well as, the late Eazy-E’z mother, were on hand at the Brooklyn’s Barclays Center at their induction ceremony.
The group got some support from Kendrick Lamar who is also from Compton. Lamar has been one of the biggest names in rap music over the last two years.
“Are we rock and roll?” Ice Cube said during his heartfelt speech. “I say, you goddamn right we rock and roll. Rock and roll is not an instrument. Rock and roll is not even a style of music. Rock and roll is a spirit. It’s a spirit that’s been going since the blues, jazz, bebop, soul, R&B, rock and roll, heavy metal, punk rock, and yes, hip-hop. What connects us all is that spirit. Rock and roll is not conforming to the people who came before you, but creating your own path in music and in life. That is rock and roll and that is us.”
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony will be aired on HBO on April 30. Kendrick also gave a resounding speech while defining the true meaning of “gangster.”
“Being gangster symbolizes a hustle that you can change your reality,” Lamar explains. “The true meaning of gangster, being able to show what it takes to be the world’s biggest music group. Being gangster is forming iconic labels: Ruthless Records, Death Row, Aftermath Records. Being gangster is breaking out to become a movie star, a movie producer, and having your own son play you as a retrospect to your career, Straight Outta Compton.
Watch Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and others speech below.
Dee Barnes Reviews Straight Outta Compton, Talks Of Violent Past With Dr. Dre
On April 8, 2016 Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, DJ Yella and the late, great Eazy E, together known as N.W.A., will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
According to the Hall's Twitter page, Kendrick Lamar will have the honor of introducing the legendary group into their spot among music's elite.
"People were scared to talk about these kinds of tough situations, but because [Eazy] and the group took it upon themselves to talk about [these things], every artist is able to and they owe it to him," Kendrick told Rolling Stone in October 2015. "He's not only the birth of gangsta rap, but he's the birth of a whole legacy of being able to say what you want to say on a record and not being in fear of what others may think and not offending your own art and your own reflection."
Other 2016 inductees include Cheap Trick, Steve Miller, Chicago and Deep Purple.
The 31st Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Klipsch Audio, will be at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Friday, April 8. HBO will broadcast the ceremony in spring 2016.
'I deeply regret what I did and I'm working to be a better man': Dr Dre issues public apology to the three women he beat after critics called new NWA film whitewashed
The overwhelming success of the N.W.A. biopic, Straight Outta Compton, has been making headlines all week. Praise has been heavy for director’s F. Gary Gray‘s vision and the strong performances from the cast in depicting the lives of the influential hip-hop group. However, the group’s misogynistic lyrics and domestic violence past caught the eye of one highly connected viewer.
Dee Barnes, a media personality and rapper, watched the film with impressive objectivity and noted that one infamous incident of N.W.A.’s rise to fame was conveniently missing from the final product. In 1991, Barnes was the victim of a violent assault by Dr. Dre, who beat and kicked her while attempting to throw her down a set of stairs. Barnes brought a $22.75 million lawsuit against Dr. Dre, which was settled out of court with the famous producer only paying just over $2,000 in fines and serving community service.
Barnes offered her take of the film as a special to Gawker. Read the excerpts below:
Dre, who executive produced the movie along with his former groupmate Ice Cube, should have owned up to the time he punched his labelmate Tairrie B twice at a Grammys party in 1990. He should have owned up to the black eyes and scars he gave to his collaborator Michel’le. And he should have owned up to what he did to me. That’s reality. That’s reality rap. In his lyrics, Dre made hyperbolic claims about all these heinous things he did to women. But then he went out and actually violated women. Straight Outta Compton would have you believe that he didn’t really do that. It doesn’t add up. It’s like Ice Cube saying, “I’m not calling all women b******,” which is a position he maintains even today at age 46. If you listen to the lyrics of “A B**** Iz a B****,” Cube says, “Now the title b**** don’t apply to all women / But all women have a little b**** in ‘em.” So which is it? You can’t have it both ways. That’s what they’re trying to do with Straight Outta Compton: They’re trying to stay hard, and look like good guys.
…
Their minds were so ignorant back then, claiming that I set them up and made them look stupid. That wasn’t a setup. It was journalism and television, first of all, and secondly, I had nothing to do with the decision to run the package as it did. After an interview with N.W.A., the segment ended with Ice Cube saying “I got all you suckers 100 miles and runnin’,” and then, imitating N.W.A. affiliate the D.O.C.: “I’d like to give a shoutout to the D.O.C. Y’all can’t play me.” I was a pawn in the game. I was in it, but so was a true opportunist: the director of Straight Outta Compton, F. Gary Gray.
That’s right. F. Gary Gray, the man whose film made $60 million last weekend as it erased my attack from history, was also behind the camera to film the moment that launched that very attack. He was my cameraman for Pump It Up! You may have noticed that Gary has been reluctant to address N.W.A.’s misogyny and Dre’s attack on me in interviews. I think a huge reason that Gary doesn’t want to address it is because then he’d have to explain his part in history. He’s obviously uncomfortable for a reason.
Michel'le On Why She's Not In The N.W.A. Movie: "I Was Just A Quiet GF Who Got Beat Up & Told To Shut Up" (Video)
Dr. Dre is coming clean about his past transgressions against women.
The 50-year old super producer attacked former television personality Dee Barnes in 1991 at a record release party. He pleaded no contest. As a result he was placed on two years' probation, ordered to perform 240 hours of community service and had to produce an anti-violence public service announcement.
Michel'le
Singer Michel'le Toussaint, the mother of Dre's 24-year old son, has been very vocal about the alleged abuse she suffered at the hands of the Aftermath EntertainmentCEO.
In a new interview with the New York Times, Dre apologized, saying that he's now a changed man.
“Twenty-five years ago I was a young man drinking too much and in over my head with no real structure in my life. However, none of this is an excuse for what I did. I’ve been married for 19 years and every day I’m working to be a better man for my family, seeking guidance along the way. I’m doing everything I can so I never resemble that man again. I apologize to the women I’ve hurt. I deeply regret what I did and know that it has forever impacted all of our lives."
Apple, where Dre works as a consultant also issued a statement
“Dre has apologized for the mistakes he’s made in the past and he’s said that he’s not the same person that he was 25 years ago. We believe his sincerity and after working with him for a year and a half, we have every reason to believe that he has changed.”
Dr. Dre Drop First Album In 16 Years ‘Compton: A Soundtrack’ [Stream]
"Something In My Heart" songstress, Michel'le, got up with us here at VladTV and spoke on the movie "Straight Outta Compton," the biopic about N.W.A. she doesn't get portrayed in it. "Why would [Dr.] Dre put me in it?" she ponders, as they were in a abusive relationship for many years. "I mean 'cause if they start from where they start from I was just a quiet girlfriend who got beat up and told to shut up," she candidly proclaims.
Nevertheless, Michel'le says she will "absolutely" watch the movie upon it's release, though it's clear she has her reservations on how the group may come off. Press play to hear her speak on her now-nonexistent relationship with the billionaire producer and their 24-year-old son in this exclusive clip.
Michel'le Says Bullet Fired By Dr. Dre At Her Barely Missed. Talks His Assault Of Dee Barnes {VIDEO}
Dr. Dre will not keep his fans waiting any longer because he released his new album Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre on August 6, 2015.
This is the West Coast rapper’s first album since releasing the album 2001 in 1999. For years Dre has been rumored to be releasing a album titled Detox. But he has since scrapped that and recorded Compton based off the upcoming NWA biopic movie Straight Outa Compton, in theaters on August 14.
The entire album is available for streaming on Apple Music Connect.
The 14-track album features appearances from Kendrick Lamar, Marsha Ambrosius, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Jill Scott and more.
See Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre Tracklisting.
1. “Intro” 2. “Talk About It” (feat. King Mez & Justus) 3. “Genocide” (feat. Kendrick Lamar, Marsha Ambrosius & Candice Pillay) 4. “It’s All On Me” (feat. Justus & BJ the Chicago Kid) 5. “All In a Day’s Work” (feat. Anderson Paak & Marsha Ambrosius) 6. “Darkside/Gone” (feat. King Mez, Marsha Ambrosius & Kendrick Lamar) 7. “Loose Cannons” (feat. Xzibit & COLD 187um) 8. “Issues” (feat. Ice Cube & Anderson Paak) 9. “Deep Water” (feat. Kendrick Lamar & Justus) 10. “One Shot One Kill” – Jon Connor (feat. Snoop Dogg) 11. “Just Another Day” – The Game (feat. Asia Bryant) 12. “For the Love of Money” (feat. Jill Scott & Jon Connor) 13. “Satisfiction” (feat. Snoop Dogg, Marsha Ambrosius & King Mez) 14. “Animals” (feat. Anderson Paak) 15. “Medicine Man” (feat. Eminem, Candice Pillay & Anderson Paak) 16. “Talking to My Diary”
Michel’le Tells of Broken Nose, Black Eyes, Cracked Ribs & More at Hands of Dr. Dre (Watch)
Singer Michel'le recently sat down with VladTV and opened up about her past relationship with super-producer Dr. Dre, revealing that she was not only severely beaten by the Compton beatsmith, but that in a fit of rage, he actually attempted to shoot her in their home.
After a discussion surrounding her son with Dre and his many other children, Michel'le reveals that after a night of partying, she and Dre got into a fight that became so heated, he went for his gun. The "No More Lies" singer then says she dodged the bullet by just inches after running into the bathroom, saying she knew his intentions were not to simply scare her with the gunshot, but to hit her. She also chose to leave the bullet lodged in the bathroom wall for a while just so he could see what he had done. She admits this was the only time he pulled a gun on her, but that the beatings were intense and it took a while for her to realize that there had to be something better for her out there.
Michel'le also shed light on Dre's infamous run-in with TV personality Dee Barnes, saying Dre was upset over how Barnes' 1990 interview with Ice Cube (who was at odds with NWA at the time) was edited, to where he appeared to diss his legendary group. After one-too-many, Dre saw her in a club and went after her. He followed her as she ran into the women's bathroom and proceeded to beat her, not considering that the show's editing was out of her hands.
*For those who know the woman beating history of Dr. Dre , it’s comes as no surprise that singer and reality TV star Michel’le has spilled the beans on their once volatile relationship. It all went down when the singer with the squeaky talking voice made an appearance on “The Breakfast Club” Friday morning and opened up about her past relationship with rapper, producer, former N.W.A. member and now business mogul, Dr. Dre. Nope, she didn’t hold back and told the world about being a victim of domestic violence from the now 50-year-old near billionaire. “Waiting him out girl after girl, fighting,” she said when asked what broke the two up. ” It was a lot, you get tired. I tried [to fist fight], I was losing.” Specifically Michel’le admitted that she suffered a broken nose, five black eyes, a cracked rib and scars “that are just amazing.” “It was normal,” the “R&B Divas: LA” star told “The Breakfast Club” crew. “Everybody that knew, it was the normal.” “He hasn’t apologized to this day, it wouldn’t even do any good because it was the past. I do remember when he first gave me my very first black eye, we layed in the bed and he cried. He was crying … He said ‘I’m really sorry. I think that’s the only time he ever said Im sorry. He said ‘I’ll never hit you in that eye again.’” And for good measure, so to speak, Dr. Dre – who has 24-year-old son with Michel’le, also cheated on during the course of their relationship with his now wife, Nicole Young.
SMH The white Supremacy system is no joke black people invented all music and the system said well we will give out awards and put you in something we made up call hall of fame,, very saaaaad I hope blacks awaken soon
Comment by unell mitchell on February 23, 2016 at 6:15pm
I've seen some lengthy opinions on this matter I wonder how many of these people go this hard at their real oppressors. Let me make it real clear, I don't condone any violence against any innocent person
Comment by rashid rourk on August 26, 2015 at 11:51pm
Dr. Dre owes black women much more than an apology
This week, Dr. Dre told The New York Times he apologized to all the women he’d “hurt”, and I’m here to tell you – that’s not enough.
When Straight Outta Compton hit theaters last week, fans flocked in record numbers to see it, spurned on by nostalgia from the glory days of gangsta rap, and a revolutionary spirit reawakened by the Black Lives Matters movement.
In the movie’s revisionist history version of events, cleverly packaged by the studio, they would have you think that songs like “F—k the police” and “Express Yourself” are an accurate depiction of NWA’s legacy. And while from what I’ve heard the film was “dope” – I’d be hard pressed to find any journalist or hip hop head with a conscious who would call it well rounded.
By now several articles have been written about all the glaring omissions in the so called biopic. Dre’s history of domestic violence and the group’s gleefully misogynistic lyrics are common knowledge.
So last weekend when my friends, one by one, asked me “You going to see Straight Outta Compton?” I repeatedly muttered a very salty, “Nah.”
My annoyance coming from the fact that I am an insatiable movie buff and very rarely give up the opportunity to see a film that has engrained itself so deeply into the conscious of pop culture. I usually make it my business to be the first person in line for these sort of things. But something in my spirit refused to let me give a single penny to Dr. Dre or Ice Cube.
With a heavy heart, I solemnly accepted my fate and made peace with the fact that just this once – I’d have to be out of the loop.
But then yesterday morning, my best friend texted me a link to a New York Times article declaring, Dr. Dre Apologizes to the ‘Women I’ve Hurt’ and with cautious curiosity I decided to read what this man finally had to say for himself.
According to the article,
In a sign that the uproar was threatening not only his reputation but also his business dealings, Dr. Dre, who has previously spoken dismissively or vaguely about the allegations, which are decades old, confronted them on Friday in a statement to The New York Times. While he did not address each allegation individually, he said: “Twenty-five years ago I was a young man drinking too much and in over my head with no real structure in my life. However, none of this is an excuse for what I did. I’ve been married for 19 years and every day I’m working to be a better man for my family, seeking guidance along the way. I’m doing everything I can so I never resemble that man again.”
He added: “I apologize to the women I’ve hurt. I deeply regret what I did and know that it has forever impacted all of our lives.”
Before I could fully process how I felt about any of this, I went online and was immediately greeted by women posting things like “Oh m goodness girl! He finally apologized, I never thought I’d see the day” and “Good for him. Now we can put this to rest”
And in a flash I was overcome by a rage that I haven’t experienced since that time I made the mistake of watching Sandra Bland’s police dash cam video.
Maybe I’m slow, but let me get this straight; a man beats on women for God knows how many years, builds his billion dollar empire on the backs of black women specifically, glorifies misogyny for the better part of two decades, and even includes violence against women in a skit on his latest album, Compton – and we’re supposed to forgive ALL of that because he mumbled a half hearted apology in The New York Times – only after he found out not doing so might hurt him financially?
In what world is that enough?
On what planet were these black women taught that their dignity was worth so little?
Whatever the case may be, I’m hear to make it clear on behalf of all the sisters who know better, that the jig is up and we are Straight Outta Patience with NWA.
A generic statement isn’t gonna cut it Dre. It’s about twenty years and several upper cuts too late for that.
After expressing my simmering rage and disbelief on social media, many asked me, “What do you want from Dre. now?”
And without skipping a beat I repeatedly responded, “I’d ask him to go deeper than words and give back to domestic violence victims and charities.”
After all the women Dr. Dre has hurt both directly and indirectly, it’s about time he gave back, specifically, to the community he’s taken so much from. It’s about time that he put his money where his mouth is and cut a damn check.
When I made this statement, what struck me is that the first people running to Dre’s defense were black women. This is nothing new. Sisters are die hard supporters of black men, no matter how deeply they disrespect us. It’s a topic I’ve covered ad nauseum at this point.
And to be fair, I grew up on West Coast music and therefore grapple with issues of nostalgia versus social responsibility when it comes to this topic. I get the knee jerk desire to defend Dr, Dre, because in a way we’re also defending all the memories we associate with his music.
But we all need to stop acting like words without action are enough. In this current social climate especially – they most certainly are not.
In a recent Rolling Stone interview with N.W.A, Ice Cube proved he hadn’t learned anything about women’s rights over the years, when he defiantly defended the group’s lyrics by saying,
If you’re a b***h, you’re probably not going to like us. If you’re a ho, you probably don’t like us. If you’re not a ho or a b***h, don’t be jumping to the defense of these despicable females. Just like I shouldn’t be jumping to the defense of no punks or no cowards or no slimy son of a b****es that’s men. I never understood why an upstanding lady would even think we’re talking about her.
According to the gospel of Cube, a woman having consensual sex with a man makes her a “despicable female.” Got it. Since we’re handing out judgments here, what would you call the man who she’s having that sex with?
A rapper.
Ok. Sounds legit.
The fact that a husband and father, in 2015 is walking around thinking that he has a right to treat any woman as less than human for having sex – with him and his cronies – is beyond archaic. It’s downright offensive. And this isn’t a case of Cube’s words being taken out of context because a few days after this excerpt was released he repeated these sentiments on The View to his old friend Rosie Perez. Kudos to her for keeping a straight face. I assure you I would not have been so composed.
But even putting that aside, the most ironic thing about this quote is that Cube says he wouldn’t jump to the defense of any “punks, cowards or slimy sons of b******” that are men. But aren’t those all accurate identifiers for grown men who continuously beat on women who they work with and/or share a bed with?
How does Cube reconcile this “gangsta” code of ethics against the fact that he’s sharing a legacy with someone who by his own standards is beyond defense?
At the end of the day, I need Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and anyone funding Straight Outta Compton to show me their receipts.
I need to see receipts from the domestic violence charities they are sponsoring. I need to see call logs and email receipts from Dre. contacting his victims directly to apologize for robbing them of their dignity. And I especially need Dre to take a page from the Black Lives Matter movement, whose momentum he’s pimped to promote this project – and #SayHerName.
You didn’t hurt “women” Sir, you threw Dee Barnes down some stairs and you whooped Michel’le’s ass so thoroughly she had to run to Suge Knight for solace. Do you know how grimy a man has to be to make Suge Knight look like a safer bet?
Like come on. Why play coy now? What’s up with this half assed semblance of an apology? Where is all that bravado that usually drips off your lyrics?
Instead of the head strong acknowledgment of wrong doing I’d expect from a grown man owning up to his mistakes, that statement to the Times is more reminiscent of the days when Dre was wearing shiny suits and singing like a tone deaf Prince with the The World Class Wrecking Cru; equal parts slippery and questionable.
(Dre can be seen in his silky red suit at the 3:10 minute mark)
You may have some people fooled with that stingy statement, but I’m onto you bruh.
Your fans deserve better, the black community that lines your pockets deserve better, and as long as you and Ice Cube continue to skirt around what you’ve done, while selling us your heavily edited version of events – I will remain unmoved.
To the people who have said, “How do we know Dr. Dre doesn’t give money to women’s charities behind closed doors?” In my not so humble opinion, that would still not be enough. Visibility matters. And the power of young men and women seeing him own his mistakes through PUBLIC advocacy is worth more than any private donation he could ever make.
In the words of Chuck D, “Right is right, and wrong is wrong, and when people start getting it confused, that means they need to sit down.”
The deck is stacked in favor of whites, blacks zero, most white domestic violence dont even make it out of their home, that includes beating women, children, rape of women and rape of kids male and female. The Catholic church is in court now on charges with cases stemming from one borough to the next for rape of little boys and this is in white communities and your not hearing a peep about it are you ? Lol so go ahead hang Dre, he did time and had to pay out already so its just all about money huh.
@ E peters, your right sister, Donald Trump raped his wife, but you dont see media making a big stink about that do you? Dre did time already and had to pay out money already, oh i get it, he has to pay twice cause his movie is a hit okay i see!
Funny when they were talking about the sale of bears which included Apple no mention of his abuse to women or that Apple was making an abuser of women very wealthy. No derailment of that.
True but long before the movie they were advocating an apology from him or maybe they were but not publicly. These are personal matters and should be handled privately. Yes he should apologize and atone for his actions. But trying to hurt the fame of an entire movie that was not all about him isn't the answer either. Hopefully this will never happen again but if it does go to the police and have the man arrested so he can appear in court where justice can be served. Not social media justice.
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