Artist Spotlight: Mr. Dee & Crown Vick #MEMPHISOTA movement

In this month's artist spotlight are up and coming Hip hop artists Victor "Crown Vick" Lacey and Derron "Mr. Dee" Sanders. Currently they are known for their MEMPHISOTA #Bang movement currently based in St. Paul MN via none other than Memphis, TN. The duo recently dropped their latest track, FOR LIFE on youtube which showcases the talents these brothas bring to the table.



RollingWithRo (<-click to follow on twitter) Give us a little background on who you all are, break it down it for us here.

Mr. DeeDaKid (<- click to follow on twitter) Well of course I am Derron Sanders aka "Mr. Dee" and also on my team is Victor Lacey aka "Crown Vick".  We are both Memphis, TN representers and been hustling with this music business for a couple years now.  I am a graduate of Sheffield High school and Rust College, where I recieved my B.A. in Mass Communications and a member of one the greatest fraternities in the land, Phi Beta Sigma, Gamma Psi chapter (BLU PHI to all the bruhs)! Crown Vick is the CEO of Memphisota entertainment and mixes all the tracks recorded by the label.

RollingwithRo: Before I go any further, tell me a little bit about #Bang and the Memphisota Movement. How did you come up with it?

MrDeeDaKid courtesy facebook

MrDeeDaKid: #BANG! Was first introduced as a Song by Crown Vick and later transformed Into the term we use for SWAG. Too many People was using the word Swag So we decided to substitute and switch the words out and now we Usually end everything with #BANG! from our style to our susic that's what we represent. The title and what does it mean? MEMPHISOTA= Memphis+Minnesota.  It came into play because me and Crown Vick are Both From Memphis Tn. Thats where we started out together in the living room of My sisters house and at the home of Nehemiah Kennedy recording daily. Over The years and after several Name Changes we decided to stick with MEMPHISOTA because it was original and it let you know where we’re and where we do business.

RollingwithRo:(laughs) Sounds pretty easy to understand since you put it like that.  So tell me,what about your music would make the people wanna buy or even listen?

MrDeeDaKid:Consistency, Content, and Sound. We try to recreate ourselves on every track. Whether it Hip Hop or Hardcore rap we try to push the standards with innovative style and creative lyrics. Everything is original and from the soul which we think a lot of artists are lacking. The true passion and love for the craft as musicians to put out the best music possible.

Rollingwithro: There have been plenty of artists to come out of Memphis including most notable Three Six Mafia who won a grammy for their hustle n flow soundtrack contribution, Yo Gotti, 8ball & MJG, Project Pat, Gangsta boo and others I didnt mention. What do you think it will take to put  Memphisota on the map as a competitor in hip-hop?

MrDeeDaKid: Major Distribution and Promotion. We have the talent and music, we just need that venue to heard. We Have all the right keys we just need the right door and opportunity to get our music to the masses. Give us the chance and we will make it happen.

Crown Vic courtesy www.facebook.com

RollingwithRo: Do you think hip hop is headed in the right direction? 

MrDeeDaKid: It all depends on your opinion an d how you view it. We do believe that the wrong people are being given the best chances when you have really gifted and positive people out here saying something and not being heard, If This continues then you will continue to see the downslide in the Music Industry.

 RollingwithRo: Who are your musical influences and if you could work with any artists right now, who would they be? 

MrDeeDaKid To name a few, 2 Pac, Biggie, 8Ball & MJG, UGK, Gheto Boys, Yo Gotti, Young Jeezy, Jay-Z, Playa Fly, Bob Marley, and Jimmi Hendrix. To be honest anybody willing to work and give us a chance we are ready at all times. The way we look at it you should be never afraid to explore new challenges and areas of the industry.

RollingwithRo: Do you have any upcoming album releases, mixtapes or events coming up? 

MrDeeDaKid: Currently Working On The next installment of The #BANG! series “4-Ever BANG’N” due to Drop Late Summer/Early Fall

RollingwithRo: How can people interested in your music reach you? (facebook, twitter, youtube, reverbnation,websites)?

 MrDeeDaKid: Twitter: @crownVick, @MrDeeDaKid, @Memphisota Gang, Youtube: Swag901, Reverbnation: Crown Vick, MrDeeDaKid

 
RollingwithRo:  Any shoutouts? 

MrDeeDaKid:  God, The City Of Memphis, Saint Paul MN, Arkansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Granny Granny, T-Lacey, Big Bay, T-Sosa, Kevin Poindexter, Ronnie Maine, C-Note, 4-Way, Phi Beta Sigma, C.H.A.P.S., Al Feury & MMTGB, And Everybody that has EVER Supported Crown Vick, Mr.Dee & Memphisota Gang Enetertainment. #BANG!

Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Powered by DatPiff.com

Peep the official music video FOR LIFE Below and subscribe to their youtube channel!

Drake and Chris Brown  Clash at Nightclub in NYC.

Popular R&B singer Chris Brown and Young Money artist Drake apparently got into  big altercation at a nightclub in NYC leaving Chris brown with a gash on his chin. It was  also reported that Drake's clan repeatedly mob Chris with a bottle and punches thrown.
 

According to  IBTIMES It all apparently came to a head when the musicians, who are said to have a long-running feud over Drake's brief fling with the Bajan Beauty, came face-to-face inside the club.

Celebrity site, MediaTakeOut claims Brown sent a bottle of champagne to Drake's table as a peace offering.
However, the bottle was soon returned with a message boasting about the Young Money star sleeping with RiRi and Brown flew into rage.

An angry Brown immediately confronted the Young Money rapper which led to him being punched in the face and repeatedly hit with a bottle.
An onlooker told celebrity site Groovevolt.com: "There were bottles being thrown from Drake's entourage and some say they saw Meek Mills also throw a punch at Chris," 

"I wasn't able to see it all but it did not look good for Chris," the source added.
Following the fight, the R&B star was treated in hospital for the 2inch gash that needed stiches.
Rihanna's ex posted shared a snap of his bleeding chin with fans on his Twitter page before later removing it. Here is the original tweeted image from tumbler




 
The party, attended by stars including Ne-Yo, Drake, Maxwell, Julez, Mary J.Blige, Meek Mill, Trey Songz and Maino, was to honor the birthday of a few industry favorites.

SMH: Young brother dies after Older brother influences him to swallow Cocaine

Most of us have heard the saying, I am my brother's keeper. Many of us believe that is it the responsibility of the older brother to always look out for the younger brother. This is not what happened in North Charleston, South Carolina. Around November 30, 2011, it was reported that police officers pulled over a car on Clements Ave for a minor traffic violation (headlight out) but ended making an arrest because they found a bag with white substance in it (presumably cocaine). They arrested brothers Deangelo (older-right side of video) and Wayne Mitchell(younger-left side of video). In route to the jail, the brothers began to talk and did not know they were being recorded by police car surveillance.



"You gonna eat it, you gonna chew it," DeAngelo Mitchell told his brother. "You ain't got no strike ... I can get you out ... I can't afford another strike."

Mitchell then appears to hand off the cocaine, which was stuffed in his buttocks, to his brother.

"One of us gotta do it," Mitchell said. "You the only one that don't have no strikes ... You my lil' brother ... I'm gonna get life ... You gonna unwrap it? Want me to hand you it?"

According to police, Wayne Mitchell then ate the cocaine.

"You done?" Mitchell asked. "Chew that (expletive)."

A few minutes later, Wayne Mitchell began to show signs that something was wrong. DeAngelo Mitchell started yelling when his brother started having trouble holding his head up. Wayne Mitchell later died at a hospital.

Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten says that Mitchell died within an hour from eating the cocaine. Wooten said there was an extremely high amount of the drug in his body. She says there is no way to tell how much he actually ate.

"For me, an older brother is supposed to love his little brother, have his back and take good care of him," Zumwalt said. "That's not what was happening in this car."

DeAngelo Mitchell told officers that he thought his brother swallowed an ounce of cocaine.

North Charleston police chief John Zumwalt says that at the time, DeAngelo Mitchell was only facing drug charges. He posted a $25,000 bond on Dec. 1. He will now be charged with involuntary manslaughter.

"He handed those drugs to his little brother, the little brother ingested them and died," Zumwalt said. "He needs to be held accountable."

Police say they couldn't charged him with involuntary manslaughter until the toxicology report came back. Police got the results back this week.

DeAngelo Mitchell's rap sheet includes drug possession convictions in 2006, 2007 and 2008. He was also convicted this past August for distribution of cocaine base.

Source

What is this world coming to? How would you feel if your brother died because you had him swallow an ounce of cocaine? What punishment should he receive? If you ask me, I would have to say life in prison without the possibility of parole. I dont say the death penalty because the younger brother made a choice; otherwise, I would say fry him.

Jennifer Hudson delivers moving tribute to Whitney Houston at the Grammys 2012

R. Spivey -

On last night, the biggest night in the world of music, R&B songstress Jennifer Hudson delivered a heartfelt and moving rendition of Whitney Houston's classic song (originally song by Dolly Pardon), I will always love you. Dressed gorgeously in all black and wearing hair that was very symbolic of the Pop Icon, Jennifer fought to hold back tears as she sang a song to one of the most profilic women in Pop music today and one of her musical influences.

It was reported on February 11, 2012 that Whitney Houston was found dead at the Beverly Hilton hotel in California; ironically, the location of the famous Clive Davis Pre-Grammy party that she was scheduled to attend. The news of her untimely death went viral instantly. The world has definitely lost another angel of R&B/Pop music.

Houston's illustrious career began in a night club, where she was discovered by producer Clive Davis at age 20, and includes holding the record for awarded female artist in history. She was also the only artist to have seven consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits, and three songs simultaneously in the Top 11. In the 1990s she made a splash in Hollywood with three back-to-back hit films: The Bodyguard (1992), Waiting to Exhale (1995) and The Preacher's Wife (1996). Her fourth film Sparkle is set to hit theaters on August 17.

Check out Jennifer's tribute at the 2012 Grammy's below. RIP WHITNEY, and as you sang, WE will always, LOVE YOU!

Rest In Peace: Legendary Singer Etta James Dies

RIP to Soulful legend Etta James. She will always be remembered for her toughness and her classic song as noted below, "At Last"

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Etta James' performance of the enduring classic "At Last" was the embodiment of refined soul: Angelic-sounding strings harkened the arrival of her passionate yet measured vocals as she sang tenderly about a love finally realized after a long and patient wait.

In real life, little about James was as genteel as that song. The platinum blonde's first hit was a saucy R and B number about sex, and she was known as a hell-raiser who had tempestuous relationships with her family, her men and the music industry. Then she spent years battling a drug addiction that she admitted sapped away at her great talents.

In other words, she was one of music's original bad girls.

"The bad girls ... had the look that I liked," she wrote in her 1995 autobiography, "Rage to Survive." ''I wanted to be rare, I wanted to be noticed, I wanted to be exotic as a Cotton Club chorus girl, and I wanted to be obvious as the most flamboyant hooker on the street. I just wanted to be."
James' spirit could not be contained — perhaps that's what made her so magnetic in music; it is surely what made her so dynamic as one of R&B, blues and rock 'n' roll's underrated legends. The 73-year-old died at Riverside Community Hospital, with her husband and sons at her side, De Leon said.
 

James performed well into her senior years, and it was "At Last" that kept bringing her the biggest ovations. The song was a perennial that never aged, and on Jan. 20, 2009, as crowds celebrated that — at last — an African-American had become president of the United States, the song played as the first couple danced.

But it was superstar Beyonce who serenaded the Obamas, not the legendary singer. Beyonce had portrayed James in "Cadillac Records," a big-screen retelling of Chess Records' heyday, and had started to claim "At Last" as her own.

An audio clip surfaced of James at a concert shortly after the inauguration, saying she couldn't stand the younger singer and that Beyonce had "no business singing my song." But she told the New York Daily News later that she was joking, even though she had been hurt that she did not get the chance to participate in the inauguration.

Read More From the Source Here

Vanessa Bryants Scores Big in Kobe Bryant Divorce Settlement

courtesy Zimbio.com

Kobe Bryant's wife Vanessa is the big winner in their divorce property settlement ...

Sources connected to the couple and with direct knowledge of the situation tell TMZ ... the property settlement agreement is signed, sealed and delivered -- a done deal.

Vanessa is walking away with $75 million, which we're told represents close to half of their total assets, estimated at around $150 million.

It turns out, based on the property settlement, Vanessa scored a clean sweep, snagging ALL THREE of the former couple's mansions in the Newport Beach area.

Vanessa gets the estate the couple was living in, the estate her mom is living in, and she gets the new estate that had been under construction for 2 years and was just completed.  We were told Kobe was moving into the new estate, but that's not true.  It's Vanessa's crib, lock stock and barrel.
source


Vanessa has seemingly scored big in this deal. With all three homes and 1/2 of their total assets, she is sure to be doing pretty fine for the next couple of years. What do you think about the divorce? Do you think she was in for the money or did she just make a smart move and stuck around waiting until the years passed in the marriage where he would have to pay her such? Either way, GET THAT MONEY VANESSA!

Memphis Police Officer Charged with Shoplifting

An off-duty Memphis police officer accused of shoplifting more than $770 worth of clothing from a Wolfchase Galleria department store on Thursday faces a felony charge.

Memphis police announced today that officer Quattarra Gardner, 33, was charged with theft of property over $500. Gardner was released from Shelby County’s Jail East without posting bond.

About 4:30 Thursday, a loss prevention officer at Macy’s observed Gardner enter a fitting room with 19 items of clothing, according to a court affidavit. The store official reported that she left with the clothing concealed in a diaper bag and a black garment bag.

Gardner joined the force in July 2003, is assigned to the Union Station precinct and has been relieved of duty during an investigation by the department, according to a statement released by a public information officer.
Source

Well my how the tables have turned. I wonder if they treated her like some cops treat regular citizens in the street. Nothing against the good cops, but it feels good to know they can weed out the bad ones!

Mother arrested for getting her 10 year old son a Tattoo: What was she thinking?!

ACWORTH, Ga. - A Georgia woman faces child cruelty charges after taking her 10-year-old son to get a tattoo.

She says she didn't know it was illegal and her son had a good reason to want the body art.

Chuntera Napier said her family is still grieving the death of her 12 year old son, Malik -- hit and killed by a teenage driver in Macon, Georgia some two years ago.

She has tattoos of her own in memory of Malik and says her now 10-year-old, Gaquan was with Malik when he died.

"My son came to me and said, 'Mom, I want to get a tattoo with Malik on it, rest in peace.' What do I say to a child that wants to remember his brother?" she said.

Gaquan said he wanted the tattoo, “Because it represents my brother."

So Napier took Gaquan to a tattoo artist in Smyrna and the youngster got a tattoo featuring Malik's old jersey number.

"It made me feel good to know that he wanted his brother on him," Napier said.

Someone at his school noticed it, they called authorities and police pulled up a 2010 law that says: It shall be unlawful for any person to tattoo the body of any person under the age of 18, except for a physician or osteopath.
Acworth Chief Mike Wilkie said while they felt for the family's grief, a consultation with the district attorney and solicitor's office tied their hands.

"We hope that they can find something that can sustain them through that loss, but this is not the way, it is illegal and it's something that we were bound by the law to investigate and to prosecute," he said.

Asked if she thought it was illegal to allow her son to get a tattoo Napier said, "No, I always thought that if a parent gave consent, then it's fine."

Police are also investigating the tattoo artist.
 Read more from the source 

This is just ridiculous. When are parents going to stand up and be parents. Children should be told no sometimes and to let a 10 year tattoo himself because he wanted to represent his brother is a bit far fetched. I know the child wanted to pay homage to his brother but the mother should have explained to him other ways of expressing his sympathy, instead she took him to get the tattoo he asked for. 

Michael Jordan: Only Kobe Bryant should be compared to his GREATNESS

When you say who is one of the greatest basketball players of recent times, one is surely to here the name Michael Jordan. If you ask who is the greatest basketball players on the court right now, you are destined to hear Kobe Bryant. Kobe, who has been a member of the Los Angeles Lakers ever since his entry into the NBA definitely knows how to get the job done on the court. If you don't believe me, look at the sheer number of championship rings on his fingers
.

photo courtesy midwestsportsfans.com

According to a post on yahoo.com, editor Eric Freeman mentions the following:

Ever since Michael Jordan retired — all three times, really — the NBA has searched for the heir to his throne. Many players have popped up as pretenders to the throne, from Harold Miner to Jerry Stackhouse to Vince Carter. In recent years, people have stopped trying to find a clone and just searched for a similarly dominant great player. If you ever wondered why LeBron James is seen as such a failure, a lot of it has to do with his inability to meet the example set by Jordan.
There are many great players in the NBA these days, most of whom have never been directly compared to Jordan. Nevertheless, His Airness says only one player comes close enough to his greatness to merit the comparison. Not surprisingly, that player is Kobe Bryant. Here's what Roland Lazenby, a great writer currently working on a Jordan book, tweeted on Sunday (via PBT):

Kobe's ultimate competition is MJ. That's why MJ watches him. MJ made people think what he was doing wasn't human. Ditto the Kobester.
I never said Kobe was better than MJ. MJ just told me Kobe's the only one to have done the work, to deserve comparison.

What do you think? Do you think Kobe will be the next Michael Jordan of the NBA or do you feel as an athlete, he has set his own tone to greatness? Either way, I think its an honor to have one of the most revered players of the NBA (Michael Jordan) refer to you as such.  

Source

Grizzlie's Marreese Speights is out to prove HE IS THE MAN!

With Zach Randolph being out for the next couple of weeks due to an injury, Coach Lionel Hollins and the Memphis Grizzlies have acquired 6'10, 255lb forward Marreese Speights from the Philadelphia 76ers. Just a couple games into the season, Marreese is already proving his ability on the court by scoring and holding up to the defense, including his game high 17 points last week against a tough Grizzlies loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Marreese Speights (courtesy ESPN.com)

The trade did not come without controversy as word around the NBA and with coaches was that Speights would not be a good team player because of his work ethics.  Speights recently told sports writer Ron Tillery of commercialappeal.com ,"Everybody always say I'm lazy and all of that," Speights said. "But they didn't say that my first two years. It's crazy that in my third year when coach (Doug) Collins came (to Philadelphia) that all of that started coming up. I can't change the past. The only thing I can affect is my future."

With his new addition to the Grizzlies lineup, Marreese will definitely have to get a feel for other key players (Rudy Gay , Marc Gasol, Mike Conley) and find his niche on the court. Becoming a member of the Grizzlies team is sort of a second chance for him as he found himself barred off the court in Philadelphia, having some shaky ground with coach Dave Collins. and didnt play in any games before the trade. Last year, he averaged 5.4 points per game and has already seen improvement during two games with the Grizzlies up to 8.5 points per game.

Speights knows this is his opportunity to prove that he is the player needed on the team and definitely capable of getting the job done. Coincidentally, the same player who he is playing for know, Zach Randolph, faced similar issues when he joined the Grizzlies back in 2009 from the New York Knicks. Nobody believed in Zach and viewed him as trouble; however, all those issues were dispelled when Zach, now known as ZBO, showed the world that he has what it takes, including getting the Grizzlies back in the playoff spotlight during last years season.


He continues to tell Tillery that "Going through that (in Philadelphia) made me realize that everything can't be gold all of the time," Speights said. "Me and coach (Collins) have a good relationship off the court. But on the court we really couldn't get it together. I've got a fresh start here so I'm not worried about Philly anymore. ... (The Griz) need me and I need them. I'm excited to be here."

So far I am impressed with Speights. He is proving to have star power on the court. The fans cheer him on and his energy and hard play will definitely keep us as contenders.  Welcome to Memphis Marreese, I dont think they could have picked a better player.

Beyonce and Jay-Z welcome new daughter: Blue Ivy Carter

The internet has been a buzz with the news that Beyonce and Jay-Z have given birth to their first daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. Hello Hello Baby Blue!
According to a joint statement from beyonceonline.com, the couple states: We are happy to announce the arrival of our beautiful daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, born on Saturday, January 7, 2012. Her birth was emotional and extremely peaceful, we are in heaven. She was delivered naturally at a healthy 7 lbs and it was the best experience of both of our lives. We are thankful to everyone for all your prayers, well wishes, love and support. - Beyoncé & JAY Z

It was reported via People Magazine  Beyonce and Jay paid 1.3 million dollars to rent out the 4th floor of New York's Lenox Hill Hospital; however, executives at the hospital issued the following statement: "The family is housed in an executive suite at the hospital and is being billed the standard rate for those accommodations. Our executive suites are available for any patient, including the food service and amenities provided to the Carter family."

Now the world will be waiting for the first images of Blue Ivy Carter, who, without any knowledge of what is going on in the world, is already famous. Her father, Jay-Z, recently released a song dedicated to his daughter entitled Glory where he mentions how painful it was when he and his wife had a miscarriage prior to her birth. You can peep the song below

CONGRATS TO JAY AND BEYONCE!