the other thing that makes no sense about that quote is that he says the song is "terrible" and yet implies that girl's got talent. i think doublespeak is just part of 4080 shadiness.

I'm starting to think that you'd be better off just doing less hip-hop news and more everyday news. I think it's the fact that you sound less like a journalist and more like an everyday person. That's just my opinion anyway.

I wish like hell I could come off that intelligent in my YouTube videos.

On point as always Jay. One thing that you didn't point out is the fact that Paris Hilton got a record deal based solely on fame born from a sextape. How do the A&R's explain that? If the girl does get a deal, more power to her. I'm not gonna cop the album but, it won't phase me either way. It will just be a shred of silver lining for some rough things the girl has been through. Sadly, it will also be a terrible portrait of the state of affairs we as a nation are in as well. We are paparazzi obsessed, making fame where it has no business being. It's almost enough to make you feel ashamed. Almost....

Great post up Jay - I saw that write up by the A&R when it broke last week and couldn't believe my eyes....way to bring it to the forefront

Your cat stole the show again.

I'd say if you're still worried about the popularity of the Ashley/Snoop mashup, this video made up for any misconception of your stance on this whole issue.
Great video, record company people are shaaady. Glad to see your cat making another appearance.

Hit Em in tha head AGAIN, Jay!

on-point as usual! :D

You're right as always.
Now post a video containing nothing but your cat!

All good points J and I can see the moral issue you had yourself about posting that video once it went viral. It was harmless and even funny, but like you said, having a louder voice than others comes with some responsibility to say something that counts, whether you want it or not.

Another issue that you kind of touched on that Mike highlighted for me is not only the puritanical views about sex in this country, but about how they apply so differently to men and women and to people of color. I don't want to go down the slippery road of "if she weren't a white female" argument, but the media reaction to this has definitely reminded me of the same old same old stuff.

Another great video Jay: props.

On point, as always. How could A&R dude even make that statement without laughing? Oh, and thanks for the tip on how you keep your hair looking so fly!

SHADY!!

Industry heads and execs got no business declaring moral principles in relation to their dealings. Ms. Dupre seems to be the scapegoat in this whole mess. The media branding her the negative influence in the Spitzer scandal, and printing a full cover front page body shot in the NY Post? Yeah, I mean that's some shameless journalism there. Plus her hometown of Belmar is 8 miles from where I reside nowadays. And folks are actually demonizing her, well the women mostly are. But as for her getting musical contracts turned down, that's no surprise. Corporations reserve the right to ride the high horse when some scandal of this nature takes the limelight. Wasn't Janet Jackson's record label giving her static after the 2004 Superbowl halftime show?
Kids, watch your back, cause I think they smoke crack. I don't doubt it, lookit how they act.

I think I have a Lil' Kim record around here somewhere...

Jay! Smart! We over at www.feministing.com are rooting for you!

You and your kitty both rock! And I think she's the second most cute kitty in the world (first place of course goes to my Trixie D. Cat, but second place ain't bad!)

You made it on Feministing!!! yay! feministing.com

yes, the music industry already capitalizes on exploiting women, and glorifying drugs and violence but that surely doesn't mean that because of that unfortunate fact that i now want to condone someone else throwing their hat in the ring for a shot at success by the same means.

acknowledging our moral hypocrisy and taking a closer look at the sins we cherish and have become desensitized to is needed. but just because we are a nation of hypocrites doesn't mean we should go on being so. i'd much rather have a conversation about this than how stupid record execs sound promoting morality when they clearly peddle what i like to call ear-crack to the masses. prostitution is wrong and so is selling crack and shooting folks. none of these wrongs equals a right.

most of all though, i hope that ashley gets the help and guidance she needs before she answers the call to fame. her past obviously has done a number on her and she should be advised to get her mind right before pursuing anything else.

2 Words. Tila Tequila.
Come on. "Stripper Friends"?

I know you may be in question of my musical judgement, but Tila got famous from MySpace and they gave her a deal, so I right there with you - wondering how any music rep is thinking it would be 'beneath' them to sign Ms. Dupre. [I know somebody's tryin to figure out how they can cash in on her 15 minutes, right now. Shoot - that girl from 'The Hills' - Heidi - has a song (if you wanna call it that) out.

The mix you did was the only time I've heard Ashley's voice - but it sounded ok on that. [way better than Heidi] So, yeah, interesting that the 'moral high ground' has so recently been discovered.

Un-b-freakin'-lievable. That A&R letter is a joke. What planet is that guy living on?

Yeah, her song completely stinks, but so does a lot of stuff out there these days. I hope she makes bank. Honestly, I do. She's been making a serious living off of suckers. Why stop now?

(Oh, and, I think I speak for everyone when I say: the show is fabulous but we all want MORE CAT!)

Heheh jay, you're wooing the feminists.

on the money as always

love your cat!

What a fucking awesome post.
I love you, Jay.

This is some feministing.com love.

Just like you said: Industry rule # 4080

Could not have said it better myself, good sir!

I love it when your cat randomly shows up in the video. Oh yeah, and on point video, per the usual :)

I don't know about feministing and all that, but if that is what they call the truth these days, then bring on the feministing.
The only thing that suprised me about your video was you only used two clips to back up your argument. You must have been pressed for time. No offense.

and yeah, more cat,but don't go all cat lady on us next month, just a few more appearances here and there.

feministing linked to you again, (also for your amazing MLK post) and that is the kind of internet fame I want you to have.I was a bit curious about the video to be honest, mostly because it wasn't the normal jay smooth post. You have done right by defending this girl and the fact that you are a hip-hop figure speaking out against the subjection of women is what we need. We need people to stop associating hip-hop with sexism and realizing there are people who love it because it is the voice for the forgotten. Real hip hop should speak out against racism, sexism, classism--not promote it. Also, let us not forget that sex is not as much of a problem in this puritanic society so long as it is a man who dictates the terms, a sexy women living in a NY penthouse making money off sex scares the hell out of people.

Already posted on this topic but, it's great to see so many others feeling the same as I and you on this issue.

Now, Jay, make a video responding to Barack's speech yesterday. It needs to be seen!

Ok, please lets talk about the Speech Barack gave yesterday. I'm dying to here your thoughts

Um... marry me?

And I'm in agreement with the commenter above that wanted your opinion on more everyday news. I think your vlog should be mandatory viewing for like, everybody. It's brilliant and insightful and all around awesome and yeah... I'm done gushing now.

Until your next post.

'Sup Jay?! As usual, you're right. As usual, you're better than the rest of us.

Good stuff, dawg.

Victims of Morality

by Emma Goldman
First published in March, 1913

Now, as to the prostitute. In spite of laws, ordinances, persecution, and prisons;
in spite of segregation, registration, vice crusades, and other similar devices, the prostitute is the real specter of our age.
She sweeps across the plains like a fire burning into every nook of life, devastating, destroying.
After all, she is paying back, in a very small measure, the curse and horrors society has strewn in her path.
She, weary with the tramp of ages, harassed and driven from pillar to post, at the mercy of all,
is yet the Nemesis of modern times, the avenging angel, ruthlessly wielding the sword of fire.
For has she not the man in her power? And, through him, the home, the child, the race.
Thus she slays, and is herself the most brutally slain.

What has made her?
Whence does she come?
Morality, the morality which is merciless in its attitude to women.
Once she dared to be herself, to be true to her nature, to life, there is no return: the woman is thrust out from the pale and protection of society.
The prostitute becomes the victim of Morality,even as the withered old maid is its victim.
But the prostitute is victimized by still other forces, foremost among them the Property Morality,
which compels woman to sell herself as a sex commodity
for a dollar per, out of wedlock, or for fifteen dollars a week, in the sacred fold of matrimony.
The latter is no doubt safer, more respected, more recognized, but of the two forms of prostitution
the girl of the street is the least hypocritical, the least debased, since her trade lacks the pious mask of hypocrisy;
and yet she is hounded, fleeced, outraged, and shunned, by the very powers that have made her:
the financier, the priest, the moralist, the judge, the jailor, and the detective,
not to forget her sheltered, respectably virtuous sister; who is the most relentless and brutal in her persecution of the prostitute.
by Emma Goldman
First published in March, 1913

"To the moralist prostitution does not consist so much in the fact that the woman sells her body, but rather that she sells it out of wedlock (contract)."

"Nowhere is woman treated according to the merit of her work, but rather as a sex.
It is therefore almost inevitable that she should pay for her right to exist, to keep a position in whatever line, with sex favors.
Thus it is merely a question of degree whether she sells herself to one man, in or out of marriage (contract), or to many men!...
The economic and social inferiority of woman is responsible for prostitution."
- Red Emma

Spot On! You're a very smart person. Excellent observations and comments. Love from Feministing!

Bam, and there it is.

So, did you put gravy on your head so your cat would appear as though he likes you? :-)

Peaceness.

oh my god that cat is so sweet. i want a cat like that. wait, what was the blog about again?

Who knows where to download XRumer 5.0 Palladium?
Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!