Music

Scribe:  Lucy Osbourne

Email:  lucy@thethinkering.com

Nicki Minaj has re-written a Billboard record that stood for 40 years and was held by Aretha Franklin for the most placements on the Hot 100 for a female artist.   The 34-year-old veteran performer has been cited on the Billboard Hot 100 a record 76 times topping the Queen of Soul by three mentions. 

On Monday the announcement was made at the height of a great career, Minaj climbed over the queen with, tracks, Changed It, Regret in Your Tears and No Frauds.

No Frauds is a collaboration with Drake and Lil Wayne, Changed It is also a Lil Wayne collabo and Regret your Tears tops it off and is a solo effort.  She also tied Aretha for the most total appearances among women in the chart’s history earlier this month with a Gucci Mane Collaboration Make Love.

Scribe:  Samuel Otis

Email:  samuel@thethinkering.com

Wyclef Jean, 47, wearing a red bandana was detained and handcuffed by LAPD in a reported case of mistaken identity.   The Grammy award winning singer and producer went to social media up-in-arms about the incident where he feels he was wronged by the storied organization. 

He is threatening to sue the department over how he was treated during the 1AM stop in West Hollywood.   He cited he had just left the studio working with songwriter, Dianne Warren.  He said on social media, “As someone who has law enforcers in my family, I was appalled by this behavior of the LAPD.”

Scribe:  N. Tru Bass

Email:  ntb@thethinkering.com

Great songwriter and Rock and Roll pioneer Chuck Berry died on Saturday at the age of 90.   His desire to garner a mass appeal he almost never confronted race which led to white listeners to put a lot of dimes in the jukebox. 

As an African American man he faced an abundance of racism as evidenced by his recent memoir.  In the book he remembered being accused of sleeping with a white woman and after the cops arrested him he wrote of the actions of a sergeant, “positioned himself beside me with a baseball bat cocked on his shoulder as though my head was to be the baseball. I was told that if I lied just once, the sergeant would try for a home run.”  He explained he escaped the promised violence by playing the fool, fully aware of how close he had come to death – a death that would not likely be investigated and no one would be charged or arrested. 

Scribe:  Samuel Otis

Email:  samuel@thethinkeirng.com

Reality star Mendeecees Harris was sentenced on federal drug distribution charges in late 2015.  He and his lawyer Dawn Florio were in court this week trying to reduce the eight-year sentence to a 3-year sentence.   The “Love & Hip Hop star says he played a small role in a distribution ring spanning New York State from New York City to Rochester. 

Prosecutors in the case say Harris played a significant role to warrant a sentence and the Judge denied the request for a shorter sentence. 

Harris, forfeited $170,000 in earning from the reality show and volunteered time at a youth outreach before being sentenced.  

Scribe:  Lucy Osbuorne

Email:  lucy@thethinkering.com

2 Chainz’s fourth studio LP comes out 7 April, Pretty Girls Like Trap Music.   According to recent reports the rapper has collaborated with Erykah Badu, Cardi B and Karrueche Tran as enhancements to the new trap music. 

Nicki Minaj is collaborating in the single “Beez in the Trap, and several others on the anticipated Spotify playlist.”   The new playlist was released on 10 March and includes tracks from Gucci Mane, Future and Bankroll Fresh.  

Scribe:  N. Tru Bass

Email:  ntb@thethinkering.com

Faizon Love recently had a scuffle in the Columbus Airport after attacking a valet.  Officials released security footage that shows the actor and comedian talking to valet staffers the grabbing the valet by the back of the neck and slammed him into the counter. 

After rag dolling the valet Love was arrested and released on $2,000 bond.   

Scribe:  Lucy Osbourne

Email:  lucy@thethinkering.com

Kodak Black is behind bars.  The young Florida rapper is getting support to be released from all walks of American life. 

The 19-year-old has gone to social media as would be expected of a teen.  Whoever runs his social media sites have updated for the first time saying, “The Devil played me but God saved me.”  In a different post the writer explained, “I just bonded out 2 people from [Pompano, Florida] while I Im (sic) here… I’m just trying to send some good energy out there in the universe.” The final tweet left the page’s followers with a positive message that read, “In prosperity our friends know us. But in adversity we know our friends.”

Scribe:  Samuel Otis

Email:  samuel@thethinkering.com

Azealia Banks has run into a little snag.  She missed a court date on Monday for an assault incident in 2015 that included nipple biting.  She did not show in court and the judge issued a bench warrant for her arrest.  Her attorney appeared on her behalf at the Manhattan Criminal Court and delivered the message “I can be back tomorrow if the court needs it."  The Gesture wasn’t enough to prevent the judge from issuing the warrant. 

According to reports, her entertainment lawyer said that Banks confused the court dates thinking the hearing date was 8 March instead of 6 March.  In a separate statement she says she apologizes and will apologize in person to the Court for missing her scheduled hearing.  The entertainer has been in France as a part of Fashion week festivities. 

Scribe:  Lucy Osbourne

Email:  lucy@thethinkeirng.com

Nicki Minaj set Paris on fire this weekend for Fashion week.  The rapper let it all hang out as she made international headlines with her alluring exposed breasts.  The 34-year-old sat in the front row, and stole the show saving her virtue with a pasty. 

Her top featured a single strap with the left breast completely exposed.  Bold Nicki go.  

Scribe:  N. Tru Bass

Email:  ntb@thethinkering.com

Virtuosos singer and musician Al Jarreau died at the age of 76 on Sunday.  He was one of the few vocalists who tied together several genres including, Pop, R&B and Jazz, delivering a unique style who many have since been compared to but all loosely. 

A late bloomer Jarreau didn’t begin his music career until he was nearly 30 years old.  Jarreau, who is a Milwaukee native improvisation was born of his jazz roots.  He began harmonizing with his siblings at the age of 4 years. 

Mr. Jarreau worked until his dying day only taking a required break for exhaustion suggested by his doctors two weeks ago, this according to his manager Joe Gordon.  The singer was the recipient or 6 Grammy awards including one children’s album called, “In Harmony:  A Sesame Street Record.”