It's unfortunate news tonight. Joni Sledge, a member of the four sister group Sister Sledge (also known as The Sledge Sisters) passed away today. She was found dead in her home in Phoenix.
No cause of death has been announced.
She was a part of the group that sung the No. 1 hit single, "We Are Family." She died on Friday and the news was confirmed today.
"Yesterday, numbness fell upon our family. Pray for us as we weep for the loss of our sister, mother, aunt, niece, and cousin Joni Sledge. We thank you for privacy as we hurt for her presence, but also for embracing her radiance and the sincerity with which she love life." - A spokesperson for the group read.
Joni was born in September 1956 in Philadelphia to a tap dancing father named Edwin Sledge and actress Florez Williams.
Formed in 1971, the group consist of Joni, Debbie, Kim and Kathy Sledge. Their album We Are Family became an instant success. It breakthrough album that went platinum. Their success also came with the singles "Greatest Dancer" and "Got to Love Somebody."
Kathy quit the group to focus on her solo career. Joni, Debbie and Kim kept the group going throughout the years until her death.
Joni is survived by her son, Thaddeus and the sisters.
Our late night thread is dedicated to Joni. We're going to have two videos on tap.
Trump favorite past time: Softball. The latest scandal plaguing Trump is the firing of a high profile U.S. Attorney. The junk food media believe that Sean "Softball" Hannity's rant inspired it.
The cannon firing of 46 federal attorneys who were considered appointees to then Barack Obama were sent their walking papers. And we can credit, Fuhrer Donald J. Trump's favorite sport on television for his decision.
U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of New York. Preet Bharara was fired out the cannon tonight. He was pretty damn pissed about this. The squinty eyed bigot said to Bharara, "Pack it up boy. You're out of here!"
Preet Bharara is none too happy about Trump breaking his word.
The New York Times reports that Bharara was among the 46 federal attorneys appointed by Obama to get fired out the cannon. They were told to immediately clean out their offices. The request took many in his office by surprise. Bharara was told by Trump to stay on.
Bharara was investigation corruption in New York. One of those cases involved the Fox News Channel. They are facing an investigation into payouts made by Rupert Murdoch to the women who accused then president of the network Roger Ailes of sexual harassment.
There were investigations into New York City mayor Bill de Blasio's campaign fundraising. The mayor and his aides were calling favors for political donations.
Just this week a very annoying presence in the junk food media called for a "purge" of Obama's holdovers. The "Deep State" kookspiracy is being peddled by this agitator.
Trump loves softball. He often goes to plenty of softball games. Take for example, Sean "Softball" Hannity, the most annoying conservative agitator in the junk food media. The softball is rammed up in the fuhrer's ass. The fuhrer loves to watch this annoyance on Fox News.
Many point to the softball's cozy relationship with Trump as a result of the cannon firing.
An Uber driver outsmarted a Wilmington, NC police officer. The officer was caught on camera telling the driver that it's against North Carolina law to record police. Unbeknownst to the officer, the driver was a lawyer and he "sonned" him.
Now the officer will face a disciplinary hearing. Jesse Bright, a lawyer who practices in criminal law was pulled over after the officer observed him coming from an area know to have drug activity.
Bright shared his February encounter with the junk food media. Bright began recording the officer on his cellphone. He was pulled over after picking up an Uber rider.
Bright and the passenger was asked to exit the vehicle and be submitted to a search. When the officer saw that bright was recording the encounter, the officer got in his face.
Officer: "Hey bud, turn that off, OK?"
Bright: "No, I'll keep recording, thank you. It's my right."
Officer: "Don't record me, You got me?"
Bright: "Look, you're a police officer on duty. I can record you."
Officer: "Be careful because there is a new law. Turn it off or I'll take you to jail."
Bright: "For recording you? What is the law?"
Officer: "Step out of the car."
Bright: "What are you arresting me for? I'm sitting here in my ar. I'm just recording in case anything happens. I'm surrounded by five officers."
Officer: "You're being a jerk."
Bright: "I'm scared right now. I'm not being a jerk. I'm recording in case anything happens."
Officer: "You better hope we don't find anything in your car."
Bright told the officer he doesn't consent to his car being searched. Bright refused to exit his vehicle and kept his door locked. The officer tried to pulled the door open. By that time, he called for a K9 unit and the officer and the K9 unit searched the vehicle. The officers didn't find nothing in the vehicle and Bright was free to continue on his way.
Well this encounter reached the police chief. Ralph Evangelous, the chief of the Wilmington Police was annoyed by the junk food media. He didn't expect to caught in a scandal involving his officers.
Matter of fact, I bet he told his officers to do what ever it takes to get the "bad guy."
He did a simple cop out.
"Taking photographs and videos of people that are in plain sight including the police is your legal right. As a matter of fact we invite citizens to do so when they believe it is necessary. We believe that public videos help to protect the police as well as our citizens and provide critical information during police and citizen interactions," said Evangelous.
The sheriff of New Hanover County also spoke on the matter.
"Sheriff Ed McMahon ... believe it is clear that officers were incorrect in stating that it was illegal to record the encounter," Lt. Jason August wrote. "Not only does the Sheriff agree that it is legal to record encounters, he invites citizens to do so."
Photography is not a crime.
We are allowed to film public servants. They are getting our taxpayer dollars to serve under the badge. You are protected under the Constitution for unlawful arrest, search and seizure of your property, or the right to a speedy trial.
I refuse to be bullied by the man (or woman) wearing the badge. I do not consent to searches of my vehicle. I do not speak about where I go or where I've been. I do not want to be "friends" with a cop who pulled me over. I am not going to self-incriminate myself into a cop's order.
I will not open my door to any police officer without a warrant.
Take extreme caution if the law shows up at your door for a 6am "NO KNOCK". Do not reach for anything. If they authorize lawful entry into your home during a "No KNOCK", you have a right to question the arrest or entry. If you are an owner of firearms, be extremely careful not to fire upon an arresting officer especially if they're saying they are saying "POLICE".
The U.S. Marshals, the FBI and the local police do acknowledge their presence.
If you are treated wrong by an officer, you have the right to ask for their supervisor. You have a right to say to an officer, "Am I free to go?" if you are cited and they want to authorize a search of your vehicle. You have a right to have a dash camera in your vehicle as long as it is not a distraction to your driving. You being issued a ticket isn't an admission of guilt, it's an acknowledgement of a traffic/misdemeanor offense that you can challenge in a public court. You have the right to contest a citation. If found guilty of a traffic offense, you will get points on your license. Your insurance company will be notified of the court decision. You may pay a higher deductible if you're found guilty of driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, fleeing the scene of an accident and willfully eluding a police officer (during a pullover or arrest).
Remy Ma may have TKO'd Nicki Minaj. The rapper mocked Nicki Minaj for having Drizzy and Weezy on her diss. Accusations of ghostwriting and weak response plague the current Queen of Hip-Hop.
Remy Ma said the "beef" with Nicki Minaj is over! I guess she may have to get back into the studio and respond to the latest singles The Pinkprint artist laid out.
She even went critical on social media by slamming Ma for the ShETHER diss.
#YoungMoneyTilTheDeathOfMe committing perjury #IGotB4andafterPicturesOfYourSurgery #StopSurgeryShamingB4IPostThem #Fraud diss records be lies. Great diss records are FACTS. But here @ Young Money, we don't do diss records, we drop HIT RECORDS & diss u ON them. I got a bunch more on cock. Pauz. The greats took 3 months to respond to diss records. Queens don't move on peasant time. Queens shuts down Paris, then drops hits on #QueenTime.
I think she got an album title on the works.
Hip-hop stans are following this feud with a fine tooth comb. Here's our unscientific poll.
Who won this battle?
These singles are banging and it features her Young Money family. The rapper got Lil' Wayne and Drake to record the first single, No Frauds.
[Pre-Hook: Nicki Minaj] I don't need no, frauds I don't need no, drama when you call I don't need no, fake Soon as I wake up keep an eye out for the snakes, yeah [Hook: Nicki Minaj] 'Cause I don't need no, fraud I don't no, drama when you call I don't need no, lies Pick a side, pick a side I took the price, and lift that bitch up I took the ice, let me lift my wrist up I took the price, and lift that bitch up I took the ice, let me lift my wrist up [Verse 1: Nicki Minaj] Aye yo, throw your wrist-es up, all my bitches up These niggas is pussier than what? All them dicks is up All my real niggas down to ride, throw your GSXRs up I ain't in the projects, but all my bricks is up, rrrr You can't be Pablo if your work ain't sellin' What the fuck is this bitch inhalin'? I woulda helped you out that pit you fell in I am the generous queen! Ask Ms. Ellen Tried to drop "Another One", you was itchin' to scrap You exposed your ghostwriter, now you wish it was scrapped Heard your pussy on yuck, I guess you needed a Pap What type of bum bitch shoot a friend over a rack? What type of mother leave her one son over a stack? Lil Boogie down basic bitch thinkin' she back Back to back, oh you mean, back to wack? "Back to Back"? Me and Drizzy laughed at that They say numbers don't matter but when they discussin' the kings They turn around and say Lebron ain't got six rings I never signed a 360, bitch you wild dumb That's why Jay ain't clear his verse for your album Sheneneh, you a fraud committin' perjury I got before and after pictures of your surgery Rah took you to her doc, but you don't look like Rah Left the operating table, still look like "nah" [Hook: Nicki Minaj] 'Cause I don't need no, frauds I don't need no, drama when you call I don't need no, lies Pick a side, pick a side I took the price, and lift that bitch up I took the ice, let me lift my wrist up I took the price, yeah, and lift that bitch up I took the ice, let me lift my wrist up
Then came Regret In Your Tears. This one aims at Remy Ma and "back to back," her former boyfriend and all-out douchebag.
[Intro] I just want the memories I'm with you [Chorus] Regret in your tears, now you taste 'em 'Cause you know I don't chase, I replace 'em Don't rush, take time, take some I just want the memories, tried to make some with you You Now I gotta erase some with you You [Verse 1] Look at you now, stuck in the background Silence right now sounds so loud Tried to let you go, you come back 'round Look at you now, stuck in the background Two seats in my two seater-er-er Used to pull off on me, leave me hur-urt Tryna front, but I know you do your dir-irt Not nice, boy you know you do your dirt [Chorus] Regret in your tears, now you taste 'em 'Cause you know I don't chase, I replace 'em Don't rush, take time, take some I just want the memories, tried to make some with you You Now I gotta erase some with you You [Verse 2] Baby now you know you got nerve I know you just wanna be heard I'm a bad bitch, you ain't used to that You gon' fuck around and make me do you bad Used to creep, creep, with you through the back I count up the cash and bring you the bag I count up the racks like Serena Plus I got that ass like Selena And you know nah-nah-nah-nah-nah, not a bitch That's gon' care, care, hold you down and love you like this Drop down, turn around, baby show you like this Won't find another one to ride it like a soldier like this [Chorus] Regret in your tears, now you taste 'em 'Cause you know I don't chase, I replace 'em Don't rush, take time, take some I just want the memories, tried to make some with you You Now I gotta erase some with you You [Bridge] Yeah, and they say big girls don't cry Maybe I cried The real ones don't lie Baby you lied I don't know what to do with you Baby now I'm through with you [Verse 3] 'Cause you don't even know what you just lost You don't even know what you just had You don't even know, and that's what's bad Money bag long, that bitch bad Used to lay up in them sheets, they were snow white Now you spendin' cold nights You've been in the wrong so long You don't even know right Call my line, call my line, I'm like, "Please, boy" You just need to leave, boy I ain't got time for you Just once, do somethin' for me, boy [Chorus] Regret in your tears, now you taste 'em 'Cause you know I don't chase, I replace 'em Don't rush, take time, take some I just want the memories, tried to make some with you You Now I gotta erase some with you You [Outro] Tried to make some with you, you With you, you I tried to make some with you I tried to make some with you I tried to make some with you I tried to make some with you I tried to make some with you, baby Make some with you Too picky when I make some with you You said you would save me You said you would save me Hahahaha, rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Ohhhh, woooh
And the final diss aimed at Remy Ma, Changed It with Weezy back in the studio. [Verse 1: Nicki Minaj] The big 3 on the court, bitch at them bleachers I don't wanna have to break bad like it screeches A bitch out in Atlanta eating them peaches A bitch got more bars than where Big Meech is No, you can't bone it, nigga, ain't no Lisa here She gon' dread dissin' Nicki like Lisa hair I buy, lil nigga, ain't no leaser here The bitch gambled her career, now it's gon' be severe I just be watchin' bitches pitfalls Stopped doin' pills, but bitch dem withdrawals I am in my mission rockin' pink drawers I leveled up, bitch, I switched flows MJ to the teens, I am Billie Jean and the bitch is my son I'm doin' it for fun, I am the first number, tell them bitches I won This hoe gettin' slick, so I put on gym shoes and extended my run MJ, game 6, Jackson, Tyson [Pre-Chorus: Nicki Minaj] Quiet dawg, my phone changed up I'm icin' out my Barbie chains up And when I come, get your change cup These bum bitches never change up
Each of these singles address the feud with Remy Ma. She mocks the rapper in regards to SHEther being pulled off the internet and social media because she didn't clear the hurdles with Universal Music. Nas is an artist signed to Def Jam and Universal owns the master copies and Remy Ma didn't pay for the beat.
Nicki Minaj dismissed the diss record. She actually said that, "She can pull a diss and still sale a record."
Donald Trump is enjoying a meal prepared by low waged workers.
Before we get started, we want you to understand this. There are 94.5 million people not working.
The reasons are explained once again for those who continue to fixate on the canard that Americans are "lazy and stupid."
1. Death 2. Birth 3. Under 16 (Grade School Only) 4. Under 18 (Not Working) 5. College (Full-Time) 6. Volunteer 7. Retirement 8. Incarcerated 9. Full-Time Parent 10. Voluntary Quitting A Job 11. Fired From The Employer 12. Laid-Off 13. Disabled 14. Religious Grounds
Again, if you believe the conservatives, they would say that Donald Trump entering the White House was great for employers. They would also claim that then president Barack Obama would encourage millions to be on food stamps and poverty.
The U.S. economy added 235,000 jobs in February. The U.S. Department of Labor calculated that the economy grew.
Educational services, manufacturing, health care, and mining accounted for much of the hiring last month according to the Washington Post. Construction employment surged, as unseasonably warm weather in many states allowed crews to work throughout February.
The current unemployment dropped from 4.8 percent to 4.7 percent.
The Obama jobs end after this. Next month becomes Trump's responsibility.
Trump hasn't signed a jobs bill into law yet but we'll keep track of it.
When will he ever get it through his lumpy head that the Trump legacy was marred with scandal way before he got into office?
The softball is calling for fuhrer Donald J. Trump to cannon fire all the so-called Barack Obama "holdovers" sabotaging his legacy.
Sean "Softball" Hannity went on his usual word vomits blaming former president Barack Obama for the latest controversies plaguing the Trump team.
On his right wing carnival, he goes full kookspiracy with this Alex Jones nonsense about the Deep State and how Obama is organizing Democrats to return back to power. The softball is calling upon a purge of federal workers who are leaking information to the junk food media.
He said that Abe fired more than 78 percent of executive branch employees during his presidency.
The softball cites the 19th Century for an excuse to have Trump cannon fire federal workers. He wants the fuhrer to fuck with honest hard working Americans who didn't do one thing to create the shitstorm Trump created on his own.
The softball been on this reactionary belief that a foreign agent's recent drop of intelligence is the fault of Obama. The Wikileaks bombshell has gotten under the fuhrer's skin and the softball isn't concerned now that Republican is in charge.
Wikileaks managed to do a document drop on tactics the CIA use to counter cyber terrorism.
The softball doesn't see that the document drop is a threat to the country. In his lumpy head, he believes that Obama and the CIA are purposely damaging Trump. He doesn't see the danger of the foreign actors like Julian Assange infiltrating an agency that defends the safety of the United States.
The Huffington Post also notes that the softball blamed everything from Michael Flynn's resignation, the Office of Government Ethics knocking the White House for not punishing Kellyanne Conway for dropping a plug, and Jeff Sessions removing himself from the federal investigation into the Trump team getting Russian contacts. All of these scandals are being blamed on Obama.
So far, Trump has been marred by scandal.
Trump is a walking, talking and tweeting ethics problem.
Sean "Softball" Hannity is marred by the constant word vomit he regurgitates on talk radio, television, and the social media.
Today will be 20 years. The world lost one of the greatest rappers of all-time.
The Notorious B.I.G.'s passing. He was brutally assassinated in Los Angeles after leaving the Vibe Awards party. His death still remains unsolved.
Sean "Puffy" Combs, Faith Evans and his family share memories of Biggie.
His death came 16 days before the release of Life After Death. The album was a double disc and it was an instant hit with the junk food media. It was the truest music I've ever heard.
At that point, the death was the end of the great war of hip-hop acts. The so-called East-West feud expanded from not only Biggie Smalls and former friend Tupac Shakur, but the labels as well.
Bad Boy and Death Row were engaged in a high profile feud and it pitted many acts on the label feuding one another. Death Row didn't just go after Bad Boy, but artists like Jay-Z, Nas, Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat, The Fugees, Chino XL, Junior M.A.F.I.A., Lil' Kim, and others.
The whole ordeal was publicized and written about. It was considered one of the worst moments in hip-hop, but also one of the best periods in sales for corporations.
Some still consider the death as a retaliation. His death came six months after the fatal shooting of Tupac Shakur who died on September 13, 1996. He was shot on September 6 after leaving a Mike Tyson fight.
Some claim that Marion "Big Suge" Knight orchestrated a hit on the rapper.
Christopher George Latore Wallace was born on May 21, 1972 in Brooklyn, New York. He was the father of two. He had a daughter named T'yanna and son Chris, Jr (CJ).
We always love Big Poppa.....
Late Thread dedication to The Notorious B.I.G. (aka Frank White).
The party of stupid and their leader Fuhrer Donald J. Trump continue to push forth an agenda that is lost upon the public. They continue to push the American Health Care Act, a blatant attempt to undermine the Affordable Care Act.
For years, Republicans wasted time attacking the Democrats and then president Barack Obama for crafting legislation in secret and then rushing votes before lawmakers really understood the bill.
The process to pass healthcare reform lasted nearly a year and it was contentious. Republicans used "alternative facts" to scapegoat then House Speaker, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Democrats for the so-called problems of ACA (known by the idiots, Obamacare).
The fuhrer's on board with the "repeal and replace" bill. He said if it fails or destroys the healthcare system, he just blame the Democrats and Obama for the failure.
The Republicans have complained that the Democrats rammed the ACA through without reading it.
Do you get the thought of deja vu when it comes to enacting laws?
This nonsense cleared a hurdle. The committees Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means spent dozens of hours and tried to compromise on ACA.
The Republican plan will roll back ACA's expansion of Medicaid and further reduce funding for the program, then restructure tax subsidies in ways that will provide less for those with lower incomes and higher deductibles and costs when purchasing insurance.
Some could benefit, others will suffer.
The Congressional Budget Office (remember that thing Republicans crowed about) hasn't calculated the cost of this bill.
Lawmaker spends nearly $800 on an iPhone but complains about the poor getting one instead of paying for health care.
A slip of the tongue. This week was rough for Utah Republican Jason Chaffetz. He was on CNN when he uttered the most stupidest thing to say about a person in need of healthcare.
When he talked to agitator Alisyn Camerota about the Trumpcare proposal that could knock millions off the insurance, Chaffetz scoffed and said the following:
"We're always worried. But what we want to do is make sure that people have access to the quality health care they want."
When pressed by Camerota on what could happen if the fuhrer signs this into law, Chaffetz went full on this "welfare queen" rant.
"Maybe rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and they want to go spend hundreds of dollars on that, maybe they should invest in their own health care. They've got to make those decisions themselves."
This shows Americans that the Republican Party is totally clueless. He seriously believes that low income Americans should not be entitled to the privileges of having properties like an iPhone.
He rather see the poor spend their life savings on healthcare.
For a lawmaker like him, a few hundreds of dollars sure would get you an awesome iPhone.
His opponent Kathryn Allen, a longshot Democratic candidate got a surge of fundraising to help in her bid to oust the "kookspiracy" chasing Chaffetz.
We're going to build the wall and have Mexico pay for it!
Those were the words of then candidate Donald J. Trump. Now as Fuhrer of the United States, Trump and his team realize that to build a "Great Wall", you're going to need everybody on board.
Mexico already said that the border wall isn't coming out of their pockets.
The senate has to create a treaty with Mexico to authorize the use of land. That's still up in the air.
The Department of Homeland Security, Justice and Commerce Department all have to agree on how the wall is going to be built.
Now the "Great Wall" is probably soaring to the billions. Trump is trying to scramble for money.
Will he take the money from needed necessities?
The Trump administration ants to gut the U.S. Coast Guard and make deep cuts in airport and rail security to help pay for its crackdown on illegal immigration, according to internal budget documents reviewed by The Politico.
This move will defy logic says the lawmakers and security experts. To make cuts to the Coast Guard, FEMA, the U.S. Marshals and TSA is gambling with the lives of Americans.
If the cuts to these groups happen, then it weakens our national security. Cause terrorists have been looking for areas where they could impact greater damage. A train station, a bus terminal, a ferry and bridge could be targets.
If the White House does go into the American taxpayer's pocket, he will break his word.
Faizon Love served a side of knuckle style chili to a valet in Ohio.
At John Glenn International Airport in Columbus, Ohio, actor and comedian Faizon Love was accused of serving a man a knuckle style chili. He will have a date in Franklin County Court.
Love and the man were in an argument when he grabbed the guy and offered him a taste of knuckle style with a side of toe jam jelly.
The man sustained a cut above his eye.
The incident happened around the valet booth in baggage claim.
Love was doing a comedy performance at the Funny Bone at the Easton.
Faizon Love is best known for playing in the comedy sitcom The Parent 'Hood as well as movies The Players Club, Friday, Elf and Couples Retreat.
Love is feuding with fellow comedian Katt Williams. The two had a bitter fallout after an alleged assault.
Chance The Rapper donates to the Chicago area schools.
The Grammy Award winning Chance The Rapper donated $1 million to Chicago Public Schools.
"As a private citizen, as a parent and as a product of [Chicago Public Schools], I'm asking that you guys join and fight with me ... for the ... children of Chicago," said Chance the rapper.
After a meeting with Republican governor Bruce Rauner, Chance truly believes that Republicans are failing the city of Chicago let alone the United States.
The Republican governor vetoed a bill that would have gave $215 million to the CPS schools.
"The governor gave me a lot of vague answers in our meeting and since called me over the weekend," said Chance when he was interviewed by the junk food media.
He also added that the governor and the Republican Party constantly finger-wag on the Black community.
The rapper said his $1 million donation was made possible through ticket sales for his upcoming spring tour and a joint effort between concert promoters (including Live Nation, AEG and Ticketmaster) and local venues and promoters across the country. The rapper did not give specifics on how the money would be raised, but noted that the aforementioned companies "were able to band together to use funds from ticket sales to donate to CPS."
On top of the rapper's $1 million, Social Works, a local non-profit organization Chance created last year, will match every $100,000 raised for the CPS with an additional $10,000 to be allocated for specific Chicago public schools.
Chance urged others to join in his fight to "take care of [Chicago] kids. With the stroke of the pen, the governor has the power to change that," he said. "This isn't about politics. This isn't about posturing. Everybody and they momma knows about what's going on in Chicago,” he said referencing the record-high murder rate. "It's constantly talked about. But we're about to enhance the conversation. As a private citizen, as a parent and as a product of CPS, I'm asking that you guys join and fight with me, organize with me, mobilize with me, for the interest of the children of Chicago. This is the very beginning."
Fresh off his Grammy win for his mixtape Coloring Book. The mixtape was a commercial success and took home the Best Rap Album. It was produced by his group The Social Group, Lido, and Kaytranada and many others. It had features from Lil' Wayne, Future, Young Thug, Jeremih, 2 Chainz and Kanye West.
