BET Awards 2011 vs WET Awards 2012

When it comes to entertaining black people on a platform where anything goes, the award would, unfortunately, have to go to WorldStarHipHop. They’re entertaining, inspiring and poisoning an entire generation at the same time. Shouldn’t they be as credible if not more than BET, to have a show acknowledging those content developers and producers? Damn, I can see it now: WorldStarHipHop Entertains Them Awards 2012, Hosted by Flava Flav w/ an opening perfomance by Odd Future featuring Lil B, ending w/ Pinky awarding Heather Hunter the Lifetime Achievement Award. SMH!

Go FWD TO SEE WHO WINS IN YOUR FAVORITE CATEGORY!!!!

Posted by:

DJWillieShakes

[Video] 37th Bayou Classics Recap: My Perspective|99Problems.org

About 2 weeks ago, Milwaukee lost Lil Gucci whom was slain for God knows what, in New Orleans, a city that has dealt with it share of losses. A week ago I attended his home-going celebration in Milwaukee and as well everyone else, I was able to get some type of closure.I have to admit I was curious to know what New Orleans would be like after the rebirth of a city as well as the death of Gucci himself. The 37th Bayou Classics was the perfect setup. … Continue Reading

Posted by:

DJWillieShakes

Never Too Late: Mary J. Blige Gets Her G.E.D.!!!

If you don’t believe that your high school diploma is attainable, ask 75 year old Marjorie Elliot in California who attended her completion ceremony on June 30th, 2010. Hopefully, this is inspiring for a troubled youth or confused adult that can’t see the reality in ever receiving that piece of paper. If not, then take a look at Mary J Blige who has experienced the highs and lows of the music industry and at the height of her success, still felt obligated to finish up high school which, obviously, wasn’t a priority in her life years ago. Education is a right but is also a choice and that’s clearly displayed in these two scenarios.

The video below is from a fan cam and doesn’t have the best sound quality because of the crowds reaction but you should still be able to hear Mary speaking in the beginning about her recent accomplishments. Howard U? Thats whats up!!!

Posted by:

DJWillieShakes

The End of The “College Industry”?

This semester, I’m not in school. I’ve almost completed my degree but like so many other Americans, I’m taking some time off to step out into the “real world” and make the money that will get me through the rest of school. It’s not a surprise. College costs – both public and private – have been skyrocketing, often outpacing the cost of living by 200%. Basically, for every new dollar earned, college costs go up two.

But colleges aren’t the ones making bank here – the lenders are. And they push so successfully on profit measures that students wind up paying down their debt for decades. But check it: right now, there’s a measure in the House to push private companies out of the college loan business for good, expanding the government’s direct loan program as well as boosting the Pell Grant.

I’m a big fan of the almighty P.G.; the Pell Grant has saved my ass for the past few years. Without the Pell Grant, I wouldn’t be able to afford school at all. But even now, the Pell Grant – which were my two favorite words in the English Language – isn’t enough. Even though I won’t see the positive effects of this bill during my years as a student, it’s a welcome and necessary change to the financing of higher education.

But questions still remain and there are many loose ends.

Is this measure enough? And is it a sustainable way to curb college costs?

Many believe that rather than simply reacting to bad lending practices, we need to proactively get to the root of why college costs are increasing so dramatically and rebuild educational financing from the ground up. Others believe that these privatized companies are the root of the problem and when they are taken out of the equation, the ‘system will right itself’.

And a few believe that students can live on ramen and beer alone, so screw ‘em.

What do you think?

Posted by:

Steve Romain