FIGHT THE POWER

Rahm Emanuel Has No Juice!
Correspondent: TBTNEWS

Rahm Emanuel

The political career of Rahm Emanuel has taken an extreme turn for the worst. This unlikable dictator came upon Chicago because his then buddy President Barack Obama anointed him as the best man for the mayoral position being vacated by Richard M. Daley, another political crook who escaped prosecution with all the city's loot in his green little wagon wheel barrow.

Rahm was voted into office by a very large margin five years ago and then reelected by the same people who decided to give him one more chance after he pleaded for his political freedom. The overly-hyped commercials he ran around the clock on every network and cable stations in the country proved effective. He even toured the hardest and impoverish hoods talking to anyone who would listen. Well, after less than 5 months in office after winning his run off bid against Jesus Garcia, Emanuel finds himself despised by almost every Chicagoan.

He violated the residence's trust once to often, and after his alleged involvement in the 'cover up' of the McDonald execution, his future as the mayor of Chicago is in jeopardy. Yes, he will probably withstand the onslaught from daily protesters at City Hall and throughout the golden gates of downtown Chicago to remain the mayor, but how will he govern knowing that his every word will be scrutinized. Basically, Rahm has become a shell of himself and the only people who will hear his cries are the very people who've always tried to shove the Roman style tyrant down the throats of black Chicago.

This time, no matter what they do on his behalf, in terms of attempting to convince the people to accept his cry baby apology, the current mayor of Chicago has about as much juice than an empty carton of OJ. Actually, Rahm's picture should be printed on the carton as someone who is now missing in action.  

DEAR MOMMA

Top Female MCs
Contributing Correspondent: C. Dubb

I can't imagine hip-hop without the ladies. Rappers like Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott and Lauryn HIll have introduced game-changing elements to hip-hop culture and continue to influence the new generation of emcees -- male or female. And they did with pure skills and savvy. Here are the greatest female rappers of all time.

Lil' Kim's The Naked Truth was the first album by a female rapper to receive the prestigious 5 mics award from The Source. In hindsight, the award was well deserved. Kim's influence still looms large. Since her Hard Core debut in 1996, Kim has spawned a handful of emulators eager to replicate her libidinous lyrics and in-your-face attitude. When it's all said and done, Queen Bee will go down as one of the most influential rappers of all time.

Missy Elliott is not only one of the best in the business, she's also one of the most versatile hip-hop artists of all time. A multi-faceted entertainer, Missy writes, raps, sings, crafts beats and directs music videos. Speaking of which, her music videos are some of the most innovative visuals in the game. To crown it all, no other woman has ever been able to match Missy's commercial success — the Virginia native is the only female rapper with six platinum-certified albums.

Queen Latifah couldn't have picked a more appropriate moniker. Thanks to her brilliant mesh of social commentary and lyrical wizardry, this queen had no problem attracting a cult-like following from the jump. Latifah was one of the first rappers to demand respect and gender equality in hip-hop. Who can forget the Grammy-winning "U.N.I.T.Y." (fromBlack Reign), in which she made it clear that calling her the B-word is a quick way to get "punched dead" in the face?

MC Lyte changed hip-hop's portrait of a female rapper without changing her outfit. She cloaked her style in dignity, integrity, and best of all, superiority. Lyte could run circles around most of her peers — male or female. Her deft wordplay, swift delivery, butter-smooth flow make her the undeniable queen of hip-hop.

Lauryn Hill was already in contention for the crown long before winning five Grammys for her debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. As one-third of the Fugees, L' Boogie quickly established herself as the most talented artist of the crew. By seamlessly blending jaw-dropping lyricism with social commentary, Hill helped make The Score the centerpiece of the Fugees' catalog and, more significantly, an undeniable hip-hop classic.

Nicki Minaj earned public attention after releasing three mixtapes between 2007–09. She signed a recording contract with Young Money Entertainment in 2009. Minaj's debut studio album, Pink Friday (2010), peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and spawned the top-five single "Super Bass". During that time, Minaj became the first female solo artist to have seven singles simultaneously charting on the U.S.Billboard Hot 100. Minaj made her film debut in the 2012 animated film Ice Age: Continental Drift, and also had a supporting role in the 2014 film The Other Woman. In 2013, she was a judge on the twelfth season of American Idol.

Before she went all Hollywood, Eve was running the game with her Ruff Ryders comrades. Anthems like "Satisfaction," "Gangsta Lovin'" and "Let Me Blow Your Mind" showcased her unique ability to appeal to a broad audience without losing her edge. Eve left to pursue acting, making her box-office debut in 2002's XX. She also starred in Barbershop and The Cookout. 

Da Brat was discovered by Jermaine Dupri in 1992. At the time, there were only a handful of female rappers doing work. Still, the Chicago native proved unstoppable. Da Bra-ta-ta sidestepped the sexually charged image of the Foxy Browns and the Lil Kims, relying instead on her double-time flow and dashing delivery. The approach was good enough to make her debut, 1994's Funkdafied, the first platinum-selling album by a female solo rapper.

Foxy Brown logged a slew of memorable guest spots early in her career. Before she ever released an album she was dropping jewels on LL Cool J's "I Shot Ya" and Jay-Z's "Ain't No N***a," none of which would've sounded the same without Fox Boogie's catchy couplets. Her impressive cameo run launched a bidding war in the mid-90s, with Def Jam winning her signature. Brown's proper introduction, 1996's Ill Na Na, featured some of the biggest names in rap and sold over a million copies.

FUNKDAFIED

What Happened to DaBrat?
Correspondent: TBTNews

It's been a long road for Da Brat over the last several years, with her jail sentence and lawsuits following a bar fight in 2007. The rapper was involved in a fight at an Atlanta nightclub, where she violently bottled former Atlanta Falcons cheerleader Shayla Stevens. Da Brat, whose real name is Shawntae Harris, plead guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced to three years in prison. Not only that, but the lawsuit cost the rapper a pretty penny. Da Brat owes $6.4 million in damages to the woman she fought.

Da Brat's debut album, Funkdafied (1994), sold one million copies, making her the first female solo rap act to have a platinum-selling album, and the second overall female rap act (solo or group) after Salt N Pepa. In 1992, Harris's big break occurred when she won the grand prize in a local rap contest sponsored by Yo! MTV Raps. For the prize, she met the young rap duo Kris Kross. They introduced her to their producer, Jermaine Dupri, who signed her to his So So Def label.

Harris told reporters that her stage name was inspired because she is "a spoiled only child." In 1996, Da Brat released her second full-length album, Anuthatantrum, which included the single Ghetto Love featuring T-Boz of TLC. During the rest of the '90s, Da Brat came to be known more for her "featured" appearances on other rappers' and R&B singers' albums rather than for her own solo work.

In early 2000, Da Brat released her third full-length album Unrestricted, which produced the moderately successful singles That's What I'm Looking For (U.S. #56) andWhat Chu Like (U.S. #26), featuring soul singer, Tyrese. The album was not well received compared to Brat's earlier work. However, the new album and new millennium did inspire an image makeover for Da Brat. Abandoning her "gangsta" persona, she decided to follow the trend in popular music and attempted to add to her sex appeal. 

Following her release from prison, she launched a web series about life after the experience titled Brat Chronicles: In Transition on YouTube. She released her new single Is It Chu? on iTunes and other digital services on July 2, 2013. On October 4, 2012, Nicki Minaj attacked Da Brat via her Twitter account after false reports of Brat defending Mariah Carey and threatening to beat Minaj with a bottle were released. Minaj denounced Brat as a "sir" and tweeted: "The struggle for u to even AFFORD that bottle is why the barbz r now cackling DOWNNNt." Da Brat responded to Minaj by tweeting: "Nicki nor Mariah has ever disrespected me so I would not disrespect either of them."