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Is Russell Simmons and Keith Olbermann pulling our legs or will he attempt to lead Global Grind to a larger audience beyond its Hip Hop base?

Keith Olbermann Named CEO of Russell Simmons Founded Global Grind

Staff Writer

After stints with ESPN, MSNBC and his most current post with Current TV, Keith Olbermann has been named the new CEO of Global Grind. Or has he? With the announcement coming on a Sunday morning and on April Fool’s Day, we’ll be checking back tomorrow for the validity of the appointment. Anyone who has followed the careers of both Simmons and Olbermann, knows anything is possible.

What is Hip Hop’s Role in Educating Today’s Youth?

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By Miguel Lloyd

This week on #LFCRadio, we are talking about hip hop’s responsibility to educate todays youth.

Admittedly, my teenage years were at the beginning of what is known as the “Golden Age of Hip Hop.” During this time, hip hop was full of emcees and deejays who truly were still  hungry and thought of the rap game as a mode of competition that eventually could help them make a living. Of course, depending on who it was and where they came from shaped their lyrical content. I’d be disingenuous if I fronted like all the hip hop then was “positive.” Matter of fact out of all the “clean” rappers from that era, only two come immediately to my mind as making a lasting impact…Heavy D (RIP) and The Fresh Prince (most of us now know him as Will Smith.) Most other rappers were the personification of bravado and machismo. It WAS about how tough you were, how clever you could be with your verses and who could dominate the cypher. But what was key, especially in the late 80’s and early 90’s, was part of that flow had to include your “knowledge of self” and how relatively learned you were. Artist like Rakim, Nas, Chuck D of Public Enemy, Brand Nubian, and the might KRS-One, demanded their listeners to challenge themselves on their knowledge of cultural history and current history. Many of their videos and their tours thrived on college campuses because that’s where their audiences were centered around.

Fast forward to today. Hip Hop has evolved to pop. The artists are focusing on the after party, instead of the day that led up to it. Opportunities like Trayvon Martin come and Sinead O’Connor stands up before Lil’ Wayne or Diddy. All while there is a steady decline in the self esteem of their male fans, as well as their attendance in college or at minimum graduating high school.

In this Beyonce era, as well as the era of Elvis, Madonna, or the Beach Boys, to kids the ones with the biggest microphones and influence are those in entertainment.

This week on Life Full Circle Radio, we are going to have Larry Henderson A.K.A. Lak as our guest. He is the lead artist on the Smart Music label. He uses hip hop to educate and advocate. We’ll talk to him about why he took up this mission, how it has impacted the kids he’s come across and how the old school artist influenced his craft. Tune in tonight!

Miguel Lloyd is a blogger, radio host and Media entrepreneur. He hosts a weekly talk show called Life Full Circle Radio. The show includes super producer, Nikkia Ganey with hot topics, Seshmi Robertson with Entertainment, Elton Gumbel with Sports and Alton Drew with the Politics365.com Politics segment. Join us this and every Wednesday night for the lively conversation by clicking HERE!

Trayvon Martin: Hip Hop and the GOP Complicit In Their Silence

The Trayvon Martin case on #LFCRadio

Heavy D “We’ve Got Nothing But Love For You” RIP

By Miguel Lloyd

When I received the news of brother Heavy D passing, the first thing I thought was, “Wow”. Although I am a product of the hip hop generation and love the culture, because of the direction it has gone in, I don’t listen to hip hop the way I used to. I know my story is similar to many of you. There is something about playing “The Chronic” or Redman’s “What the Album”, around my kids that doesn’t exemplify being a good father.

When we were coming up, just like any other teenage kids we were rebellious sneaking to watch and listen to artists that most of us weren’t asking our mothers a fathers to play in the boom box at the cookouts. Than there was Heavy D.

This brother blended the fun stuff, with dance music, a little classic R & B, at the same time blending in his Caribbean roots. He definitely was “parent” friendly. His classic Mr. Big Stuff, grabbed a sample from the classic Jean Knight track and modernized it so we would “wop” to it. At the same time, the video infused 3 generations of party goers to show what his goal was. Make music that generations would enjoy.

As the new jack swing era came about, he continued to drop hit after hit. Songs featuring famous models, in the videos for the ladies to enjoy to hard core tracks with Biggie Smalls and Busta Rhymes, he always appealed to the masses of fans. He was really at the beginning of the merger of the hip hop and R & B community becoming one community.

As the culture continued to evolve, there seemed to be less room for artist like Heavy D. so like most of us, we lost touch with the brother. But than came Twitter. In this world we can reconnect with whom ever we want. The record companies and networks don’t determine who we “follow”. He had just dropped an album that he was marketing and had a surprise appearance on this years BET Hip Hop Awards. A whole new generation was exposed to the Overweight Lover.

With his tweets, I would see the evolution of the man and it was what many of us probably expected. Youthful exuberance had evolved to that of a father and mentor. His last tweet simply had 2 words…

Brother…Heav, I’m sure I speak for many when I say, you’re spirit on Earth was a blessing. I hope that it will inspiring many young men to be emulate your class & style and ladies to require the men in their lives to live upright as you presented yourself.

One love brother…

Miguel is the host of Life Full Circle Radio Check him out with the entire crew. Nikkia Ganey with hot topics, Seshmi Robertson with Entertainment, Elton Gumbel with Sports and Alton Drew with the Politics365.com Politics segment. Join us this and every Wednesday night for the lively conversation by clicking HERE!

Diddy’s Truth, he’s the best salesman in the business

By Miguel Lloyd

Recently in Atlanta, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, went on a bit of a tirade in a party that featured recently freed rapper, T.I during the annual BET Hip Hop Awards weekend. Its a pretty normal occurrence for the “in-crowd” to move around to these events wherever and whenever they are. NBA All-Star weekend, Super Bowl weekend, BET Awards, etc.

Well for 20 years, those weekends have always include Diddy. From his days as a party promoter when he was a student at Howard. For years, one of the biggest sponsors of parties have been liquor vendors. Hennessy, Crown Royal, Absolut, etc. would have their banners all over events, along with physical promotion teams to make their brands the drink of choice for the night. Well, Diddy has “one upped” that strategy. He’s selling it himself.

Combs has recently entered a joint venture deal with Diageo to create his own Vodka brand Ciroc. He now controls a considerable percentage of not only what the partygoers are listening to (Bad Boy Records), wearing (with his Sean John clothing line), but what they are drinking as well. It has helped him grab the top spot in hip hop royalty again this year (see Forbes list of artist who have made the most money in Hip Hop). Well, one party goer dared to challenge the pied piper of rap and received the wrath of Diddy. Insert tirade here (please beware of the language)

This performance was probably more about his sales pitch, than it was about being “tough.” Regardless if the partygoers were from Bankhead or Buckhead, Brooklyn or The Hamptons, the language of hip hop is toughness, even for a guy like Diddy who you will see all over the Macy’s Christmas ads in the next couple of months dawning a tailored suit and pearly whites.

Diddy is truly a master of disguise, and has profited mightily from it for years. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.

Miguel hosts, Life Full Circle Radio each and every Wednesday night at 7pm EST. Tune in!