Prince Malachi The First's Posts

Apple Becomes Biggest Seller of Phones in U.S.

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on February 3, 2013 at 9:54pm

The launch of the iPhone 5 and the declining popularity of non-smartphones have made Apple the biggest seller of phones in the U.S. for the first time, research firm Strategy Analytics said Friday.

The firm estimates that Apple shipped 17.7 million iPhones of all kinds to U.S. buyers in the October to December period, meaning it accounted for one in three new phones.

Samsung Electronics of Korea was close behind, shipping 16.8 million phones, including non-smart ones. Samsung has been the largest seller of phones to the U.S. market since 2008, Strategy Analytics said.

NPD Group, another research firm, found that Samsung phones still outsold the iPhone in the quarter, by 31 percent to 29 percent. It tracks retails sales while Strategy Analytics tracks shipments, so the numbers are not directly comparable.

Worldwide, it's clear that Samsung is still the biggest phone vendor with 23 percent of the market, according to a third research firm, IDC. Apple is number three, with 9.9 percent of the market. In between sits Nokia with 17.9 percent.

Samsung beats Apple globally even when only smartphones are considered. It shipped 63.7 million units worldwide versus Apple's 47.8 million.

IPhones are more expensive than most Samsung smartphones. They're well within reach for U.S. buyers, but not for buyers in the developing world, where cheaper phones running Google Inc.'s Android operating system dominate.

In the U.S., iPhone sales are usually very strong in the first few months after a new model is released. They then taper off. That means Samsung could regain the phone crown as early as this quarter, as measured by Strategy Analytics.

NPD said the iPhone 5 was the single most popular phone in the U.S. in the holiday quarter. The Samsung Galaxy S III was No. 2, followed by the older iPhone models, the 4S and 4.

SOURCE: PETER SVENSSON

AP TECHNOLOGY WRITER

President Obama Issues Proclamation for National African American History Month

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on February 3, 2013 at 9:44pm

In America, we share a dream that lies at the heart of our founding: that no matter who you are, no matter what you look like, no matter how modest your beginnings or the circumstances of your birth, you can make it if you try. Yet, for many and for much of our Nation's history, that dream has gone unfulfilled. For African Americans, it was a dream denied until 150 years ago, when a great emancipator called for the end of slavery. It was a dream deferred less than 50 years ago, when a preacher spoke of justice and brotherhood from Lincoln's memorial. This dream of equality and fairness has never come easily -- but it has always been sustained by the belief that in America, change is possible.

Today, because of that hope, coupled with the hard and painstaking labor of Americans sung and unsung, we live in a moment when the dream of equal opportunity is within reach for people of every color and creed. National African American History Month is a time to tell those stories of freedom won and honor the individuals who wrote them. We look back to the men and women who helped raise the pillars of democracy, even when the halls they built were not theirs to occupy. We trace generations of African Americans, free and slave, who risked everything to realize their God-given rights. We listen to the echoes of speeches and struggle that made our Nation stronger, and we hear again the thousands who sat in, stood up, and called out for equal treatment under the law. And we see yesterday's visionaries in tomorrow's leaders, reminding us that while we have yet to reach the mountaintop, we cannot stop climbing.

Today, Dr. King, President Lincoln, and other shapers of our American story proudly watch over our National Mall. But as we memorialize their extraordinary acts in statues and stone, let us not lose sight of the enduring truth that they were citizens first. They spoke and marched and toiled and bled shoulder-to-shoulder with ordinary people who burned with the same hope for a brighter day. That legacy is shared; that spirit is American. And just as it guided us forward 150 years ago and 50 years ago, it guides us forward today. So let us honor those who came before by striving toward their example, and let us follow in their footsteps toward the better future that is ours to claim.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 2013 as National African American History Month. I call upon public officials, educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.

BARACK OBAMA

Source: WhiteHouse.GOV

'If God be For Us, Who Can be Against Us' -- Ray Lewis Goes Out a Super Bowl Champion

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on February 3, 2013 at 9:36pm

Ray Lewis will ride into retirement as a champion.

Baltimore's standout middle linebacker began his final night on the football field with a motivational speech to his teammates. He ended it looking upward into a shower of silver streamers and purple confetti after the Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 Sunday night to win the Super Bowl.

Standing tall in the middle of a defense that survived a frenzied comeback by Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers, Lewis put a lovely bow on his 17th NFL season by earning his second Super Bowl ring - 12 years after the first.

When Lewis first led Baltimore to Super Bowl glory, he was a 25-year-old at the height of his game. A terror in the middle of the best defense in the league, Lewis was voted MVP after the Ravens beat the New York Giants 34-7 to earn their first world championship.

On Sunday night, Lewis and his defense played a supporting role to Joe Flacco and the offense.

The 37-year-old Lewis had only two solo tackles through the first three quarters and sometimes struggled to cover receivers venturing into his area. Wide receiver Michael Crabtree caught a 19-yarder on San Francisco's second series, and tight end Vernon Davis eluded Lewis twice before making second-quarter catches.

Lewis did, however, made two tackles during the 49ers' final drive. San Francisco had a fourth-and-goal from 5 when Lewis charged in on a blitz. He didn't get to Kaepernick, but the quarterback's pass sailed out of the end zone.

After amassing a team-high 44 tackles in Baltimore's first three playoff wins, Lewis was anything but exceptional against the 49ers. But the Ravens played like champions around him, and now Lewis can saunter into the sunset after putting his fingerprints on the Lombardi Trophy for a second time.

While working his way back from a torn right triceps that had kept him sidelined since Oct. 14, Lewis told high-ranking team officials that he was going to retire after this season. He shared the news with his teammates and the media on Jan. 2, saying Baltimore's postseason run would be his "last ride."

And what a journey it was.

After defeating Indianapolis at home to open the playoffs, the Ravens beat top-seeded Denver on the road and knocked off second-seeded New England. Then, underdogs again in the Super Bowl, Baltimore blew most of a 22-point lead in the second half before mounting one final defensive stand.

Lewis' old buddy, 34-year-old Ed Reed, contributed a first-half interception. Jacoby Jones scored two touchdowns, and after the second - a 108-yard kickoff return to open the third quarter - he saluted his retiring teammate with a rendition of the "squirrel" dance Lewis made famous.

Days earlier, Lewis was confronted about his use of deer antler spray in his effort to return from the triceps injury. He vehemently denied trying the banned substance, and that sideshow fizzled out quickly enough so that it was not a distraction on Sunday.

Lewis was the second draft pick in Ravens' history, following Jonathan Ogden in 1996. Ogden, who was elected into the NFL Hall of Fame on Saturday, waved to his former teammate during the pregame coin flip Sunday.

Perhaps one day, Ogden will extend the same greeting to Lewis in Canton, Ohio.

SOURCE: DAVID GINSBURG

The Associated Press

Joe Jackson says Parents Today Are Too Soft When It Comes to Disciplining Their Children

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on February 3, 2013 at 9:13pm

Joe Jackson, the patriarch of the infamous Jackson family of performers, argued that parents today are too "soft" when it comes to disciplining their kids, on a recent episode of CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight.

Joe Jackson leaves the courthouse adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport after the arraingment of Dr Conrad Murray on February 8, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's personal physician, pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter of Jackson. (Photo by Toby Canham/Getty Images)

"Yeah, they are too soft. One of the reasons I say that is because kids nowadays are killing their parents in some cases," Jackson said. "Let's get into this 'beating' thing. There's no such thing as 'beating a kid.' You whip them or punish them over something they did, and they will remember that. And they'll remember it in such a way that they won't do it again. That's the way I was."

Jackson has been accused of beating and physically abusing his children in the past, most notably by the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson documented his father's alleged abuse in his autobiography Moonwalker and in several subsequent interviews.

His father admitted spanking his son but always denied that he crossed the line.

"I whipped him with a switch and a belt...I never beat him. You beat someone with a stick," Joe Jackson told the BBC in 2003.

In that same year's controversial Living with Michael Jackson special, the singer told interviewer Martin Bashir that his father "practiced [the Jackson Five] with a belt in his hand."

He also described his father beating him with "iron cords" or "whatever's around."

"Throw you up against the wall as hard as he could," he added.

Click here to read more

Source: The Grio

SUPER BOWL XLVII: In Nail-Biting Finish, Baltimore Ravens Hold On to Beat San Francisco 49ers, 34-31

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on February 3, 2013 at 9:00pm

A power outage at the Super Bowl put the nation's biggest sporting event on hold for more than a half-hour Sunday, interrupting an otherwise electric, back-and-forth game that ended with Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens as NFL champions thanks to a 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

Flacco, voted the MVP, threw three first-half touchdown passes to cap an 11-TD, zero-interception postseason. Jacoby Jones returned the second-half kickoff 108 yards, a Super Bowl record, to give Baltimore a 28-6 lead.

Moments later, lights lining the indoor arena faded, making it difficult to see. When action resumed, Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers scored 17 consecutive points, getting as close as 31-29.

But Baltimore stopped San Francisco on fourth-and-goal from the 5 with under 2 minutes left when Kaepernick's pass sailed beyond Michael Crabtree in the end zone.

The biggest deficit a team has ever overcome to win a Super Bowl is 10 points, and there were moments were it appeared San Francisco had a chance to better that mark. Instead, the 49ers lost for the first time in six trips to the Super Bowl.

The AFC champion Ravens (14-6), a franchise that moved from Cleveland to Baltimore 17 years ago, improved to 2-0 in the big game. They also won the championship in 2001, when linebacker Ray Lewis was voted the game's MVP. Lewis was not a major factor this time, but he was a center of attention, playing in the final game of his 17-year career before retiring.

The 49ers struggled early in the first Super Bowl coaching matchup between brothers: Baltimore's John Harbaugh is 15 months older than San Francisco's Jim Harbaugh.

Baltimore led 28-6 after Jones opened the second half with the longest kickoff return in a Super Bowl, his eyes glancing up at the videoboard, presumably to watch himself sprint to the end zone. The 49ers showed they were capable of a comeback in their previous game: They trailed by 17 against the Atlanta Falcons before winning the NFC championship game.

Shortly following Jones' return, the sudden, odd power outage arrived. Escalators weren't working. Officials stopped play about 1 1/2 minutes into the third quarter, and the bizarre delay lasted 34 minutes in real time before action resumed. Some players sat. Others stretched. Some fans chanted, "Let's go, Ravens!" Others passed time by doing the wave.

This was the 10th time New Orleans hosted the big game - tying Miami for most in a city - and first since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Big Easy in August 2005.

When play resumed, NFC champion San Francisco (13-5-1) began making things more interesting, scoring 17 points in less than 4 1/2 minutes.

First, Kaepernick threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Crabtree, pulling them within 15 points midway through the third quarter. Ravens defensive backs Cary Williams and Bernard Pollard missed tackles on the play. Then, with 5 minutes left in the third quarter, Frank Gore swept around right end for a 6-yard TD run, making it 28-20, before Ravens running back Ray Rice's fumble gave the ball right back to the 49ers.

San Francisco tacked on David Akers' 34-yard field goal to get within 28-23 after he missed from a longer distance but the Ravens were whistled for running into the kicker. It was his third successful kick of the game after hitting from 36 and 27 yards in the first half.

How close was it heading into the fourth quarter? Each team had exactly 17 first downs. Total yardage was nearly the same, with the 49ers slightly ahead, 317-315. Time of possession was nearly split down the middle, too.

About 2 minutes into the fourth quarter, rookie kicker Justin Tucker made a 19-yard field goal to stretch the Ravens' lead to 31-23. Not long later, Kaepernick's 15-yard run around the left side - the longest TD run by a quarterback in Super Bowl history - made it 31-29. His 2-point conversion pass intended for Randy Moss was incomplete.

A 38-yarder by Tucker made it 34-29 with 4:19 left in regulation. Baltimore purposely gave up a safety in the closing seconds to run time off the clock, setting the final score.

Kaepernick was making only his 10th start the NFL, having taken over the job after Alex Smith got a concussion during a game. After his touchdown run, Kaepernick kissed his tattooed right biceps, his celebration move.

The first half was all about Flacco. He went 13 for 20 for 192 yards and the three scores over the opening two quarters, becoming only the sixth QB in 47 Super Bowls to throw for that many TDs by halftime.

Flacco finished 22 of 33 for 287 yards.

It's been one impressive game after another for a guy who never has commanded the widespread respect usually accorded a top player - but now will head into an offseason that could land him a $20 million-per-year contract in free agency.

To get to the Super Bowl, Flacco already led the Ravens past Denver's Peyton Manning and New England's Tom Brady for two of his league-record six career postseason road victories by a quarterback.

San Francisco turned over the ball twice in about a 5-minute span of the second quarter: Rookie running back LaMichael James fumbled - leading to a Ravens TD - and safety Ed Reed tied an NFL record with his ninth career postseason interception by picking off Kaepernick.

The Niners had never thrown an interception in their previous five Super Bowls.

There was some testiness on the field right from the get-go, and after Reed stole the ball, a group of players from both teams engaged in a scrum and penalties were called. Both coaching brothers wound up on the field, too, trying to break up the skirmish.

Instead of adding more points after Reed's pick, Baltimore eventually gave the ball back after trying a fake field goal but failing to get a first down. Didn't matter a bit. San Francisco had to punt, and Flacco hit Jones on a 56-yard TD pass with under 2 minutes left in the first half.

Jones beat cornerback Chris Culliver - the player who apologized for anti-gay comments during the week - and tumbled onto his back, then got up and cut across the field to reach the end zone. It was Flacco's 70-yard toss to Jones with 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter that allowed the Ravens to tie the Broncos in the second round of the playoffs, before winning in the second overtime period.

Earlier Sunday, Flacco connected with Anquan Boldin from 13 yards out less than 4 1/2 minutes into the game on Baltimore's first possession, then found tight end Dennis Pitta for a 1-yard score midway through the second quarter after James' error.

James fumbled at Baltimore's 25-yard line while straining to gain extra yards. Linebacker Courtney Upshaw punched the ball loose, and defensive lineman Arthur Jones recovered it, and the Ravens headed the other way.

The 49ers also began the game with an illegal formation penalty on the very first play, then needed to punt.

A good return by Jones set up the Ravens near midfield, and they promptly drove 51 yards in six plays. Another 49ers penalty on third down at the 18 came right before Flacco's nice scoring pass over the middle to Boldin with less than 4 1/2 minutes gone in the game.

About 45 minutes before the opening kickoff, Lewis gathered his teammates in the end zone painted the Ravens' purple team color. As they encircled him, Lewis - large triangles of eye black covering his entire cheeks - delivered his usual rousing pregame speech, and other players whooped it up, too.

Not long after, 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis - who, like Lewis, wears No. 52 - delivered his own fiery words, surrounded by the rest of his team near the red, white and blue NFL shield logo at midfield.

Before the game began, with 100 million or so Americans expected to tune in on TV, a chorus of 26 children from Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. - where 20 students and six adults were killed in a shooting rampage in December - sang "America the Beautiful," accompanied by "American Idol" alum Jennifer Hudson. Grammy winner Alicia Keys performed the national anthem.

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Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at HTTP://TWITTER.COM/HOWARDFENDRICH

SOURCE: HOWARD FENDRICH

AP PRO FOOTBALL WRITER

Rumours Suggest The iPhone 5S Will Include A 13 Megapixel Camera

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on February 2, 2013 at 6:15pm

The Apple iPhone 5 was launched back in September 2012, and as predicted it quickly became another commercial success for the California based technology giant. However, in the weeks after the phone’s release, a number of problems were reported with the phone, with many buyers left disappointed with the apparent lack of innovation over the previous iPhone 4S model.

Bad press surrounding the Apple iPhone 5 quickly resulted in sales slowing down, with rival handsets finding favour among consumers, such as the Samsung Galaxy S3. Despite problems with the iPhone 5, it appears Apple is gearing up to launch yet another instalment in the iconic smartphone series, with the iPhone 5S reportedly in the pipeline for a release in summer.

Although the device is yet to be officially announced by Apple, there are plenty of rumours circulating around the internet regarding potential features of the next instalment of the iPhone series. A prominent industry analyst, who works for KGI Securities has revealed a number of features which are believed to be utilised on the iPhone 5S. Find out more about the iPhone 5S on our website and compare the best deals on the iPhone 5.

Ming-Chi Kuo has stated that the iPhone 5S is likely to include several improvements over the current iPhone 5 model, including a more powerful processor, an enhanced LED flash, fingerprint sensor and a heavily upgraded camera which is likely to sport a resolution of 13 megapixels, replacing the 8 megapixel camera used on the current model.

Given the fact that the Sony Xperia Z features a similar camera, and the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S4 is also rumoured to sport a similar camera, it hardly comes as a surprise that Apple plans to heavily increase the pixel count of the camera on its next iPhone. It has been suggested that the camera unit for the iPhone 5S will be supplied by Sony.

Of course, the iPhone 5S will certainly bring plenty of improvements over the iPhone 5 model, but many iPhone 5 owners will no doubt feel cheated with the release of a new iPhone model so soon after the iPhone 5 was released. If Apple is to retain its customer base, it will certainly have to produce something special with the iPhone 5S.

The Blackberry Q10 smartphone is outstanding

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on February 2, 2013 at 6:12pm

The new Blackberry Q10 is a stunning phone in more ways than one, with remarkable enhancements that deliver something for everyone. The mobile includes a dual core 1.5 GHz processor coupled with the Blackberry 10 OS. Additionally features including the enhanced messenger features in addition to the much touted Blackberry hub, assures the popularity of this latest handset from RIM.

The handset offers a 3.1 inch display screen which provides the option to display up to 16 million colors. The phones memory capacity is 16 GB, with the alternative option of increasing this by making use of the available microSD card slot.

The phone comes with an 8 MP camera that comes with many useful photographic aids in addition providing the capability to record video. The handset also includes a secondary camera as standard.

Satellite navigation, with Blackberry maps, is also provided as is net access, various sensors together with a multimedia player.

For further information on the most affordable deals go to the Blackberry Q10 page

The Blackberry Z10 phone delivers many new functions

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on February 2, 2013 at 6:10pm

In countless ways the Blackberry Z10 smartphone is outstanding. It includes a stunning collection of practical functions which delivers an endearing quality which will no doubt make this a popular choice with the general public. The phone is powered by a dual core 1.5 GHz processor that is coupled with the Blackberry 10 operating system and the various enhancements which this brings.

The phone includes a large 4.2 inch touch screen that delivers remarkable image quality and multi touch capability. 16 GB of internal memory can be supplemented with an integrated microSD card slot that can be used to increase the memory up to 64 GB. Internet access is available at outstanding speeds through its own 3G whilst Wi Fi is also provided as an alternative option.

The Blackberry Z10 also comes with front and rear facing cameras, satellite navigation, a multimedia player, organiser and a photo viewer, in conjunction with a HTML 5 browser and the benefits of predictive text input functionality.

Will Jan Perry Become the First Female African American Mayor of Los Angeles?

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on February 2, 2013 at 4:57pm

Councilwoman Jan Perry, a candidate in LA's 2013 mayoral race, is vying to be the first, female African American to run the city.

Councilwoman Jan Perry is vying to become the first female, African American mayor in LA's 2013 mayoral race.

Perry, 58, has represented the district that includes much of South LA as well as the western section downtown LA since 2001. Before that, she was the Planning Deputy for a councilman and then Chief of Staff for a councilwoman.

Perry, who was raised in Cleveland and converted to Judaism in the 1980s, has proved to be a frank candidate banking on grassroots organizing. She has worked to revitalize downtown as well as to restrict fast food restaurants and increase grocery stores and parks in South LA.

Click here to read more

Source: Black Voices | Kathleen Miles

'Embarrassed' Pastor Refuses to Tip to Applebee's Waitress

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on February 2, 2013 at 4:54pm

An Applebee's waitress who posted a receipt with a note from a pastor complaining about the automatic gratuity added to the bill on the Internet was fired on Wednesday after the pastor complained to her manager.

Chelsea Welch, the waitress, wrote in an email to Yahoo News that the pastor (who has since been identified as Alois Bell) told Welch's manager at the St. Louis-area Applebee's that the ensuing firestorm had "ruined" her reputation.

"I give God 10%," Bell wrote on the receipt, scratching out the automatic tip and scribbling in an emphatic "0" where the additional tip would be. "Why do you get 18?" (There were more than eight people in Bell's party, triggering the auto-tip.)

Welch, who snapped a photo of the bill from a fellow server and uploaded to Reddit, defended her right to post the receipt. "I thought the note was insulting, but also comical,"she told Consumerist.com. "And I thought other users would find it entertaining."

Bell, a pastor at Truth in the World Deliverance Ministries Church, was not amused, and she called Welch's manager to complain.

"[It was] a lapse in my character and judgment," Bell told the Smoking Gun, adding she did not expect her easily recognizable signature would be, as her friend informed her, "all over Yahoo. You went viral!"

"My heart is really broken," Bell added. "I've brought embarrassment to my church and ministry."

Click here to read more.

SOURCE: Yahoo! News

Dylan Stableford

Reach Records' Hip Hop Artist Andy Mineo Debuts New Music Video "AYO"

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on February 2, 2013 at 4:50pm

Reach Record's latest prodigy Andy Mineo, makes a splash in the industry today with the premiere of his new music video "AYO" on www.reachrecords.com.

Produced and directed by Squint & ORIGN8 Visuals, the video was shot in Mineo's hometown of Washington Heights, NY and features a custom-made skateboard made by SalemTown Board Co. SalemTown Board Co., designs handmade skateboards and to employ, train, and mentor urban youth in Nashville, TN. Mineo will auction off the board online in April, where all proceeds will be given back to them. "AYO" embraces the 116 movement, a crusade that is raising up a generation of Believers to live an unashamed lifestyle as full integrated followers of Christ.

"I penned the song as an invitation," says Mineo. "Calling people to come and see what we are all about. I talk about the things I love: skateboarding, my 116 family, my city, my faith, etc. It's all piled into one high energy record and video."

Thousands were introduced to Mineo last year from his stellar performances on the Unashamed Tour (Reach Records) and through his vocal contributions on Lecrae's Rehab, Flame's Captured and Tedashii's Blacklight, Ambassador's Stop the Funeral, among many other notable projects.

"Andy has a unique gift of seamlessly integrating music styles and genres without sacrificing quality," said Lecrae, Grammy ® nominated artist. "He is a born leader and inspiring artist." The "AYO" track, which is now available on iTunes ®, is a musical sneak peek for Mineo's debut album Heroes for Sale slated to release this spring through Reach Records. For more information, please visit www.reachrecords.com.

ABOUT REACH RECORDS

Reach Records and ReachLife Ministries strive to, "bridge the gap between biblical truth and urban context." Founded in 2003, Reach Records is a Christian music record label dedicated to using music as a means of reaching the urban community in a biblically sound way. While Reach Records employs music to reveal biblical truth, ReachLife Ministries aims to empower ministry leaders with this music in order to grow the urban church. For further information and a list of upcoming Reach Records and ReachLife Ministries events, please visit http://reachrecords.com. For more information about ReachLife please visithttp://reachlife.org/.

SOURCE: Rogers & Cowan

South Carolina's Backup QB Dylan Thompson Launches "The Bible Out Loud" Project

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on February 2, 2013 at 4:47pm

Dylan Thompson celebrates during South Carolina's victory over Clemson last November.

Ask Dylan Thompson to name his career highlights, and fans might expect to hear about one of his big moments as South Carolina's backup quarterback - like the time he led the Gamecocks to victory over rival Clemson, or when he threw the game-winning touchdown with 11 seconds left in the Outback Bowl.

But while Thompson said he's proud of his team's accomplishments as well as his own, nothing really compares to what happened to him off the field his freshman year.

"Being saved and dedicating my life to Christ is actually the greatest thing that's ever happened to me," Thompson said.

His desire to spread the Gospel and share his faith propelled Thompson and his mentor, Jack Easterby, to come up with The Bible Out Loud project, an online initiative aimed at getting Christians to memorize and recite Scripture.

After the 27-17 victory over Clemson last November, Thompson felt he was receiving far too much attention. Not that it was undeserved: he threw for 310 yards and three touchdowns.

But Thompson says the number of touchdowns he scores pales in comparison to what's really important.

"We need to get the attention back on Jesus," he said.

The rules for The Bible Out Loud project are simple: Participants memorize one to five verses from the New International Version of the Bible and record themselves reciting it. Then they upload their video to YouTube and copy and paste the link to the project's web site.

Thompson said it's something people can do regardless of their denomination, social status or income, and it puts the focus back where he says it should be, on God's word.

He recognizes that his status on the football field gives him a "tremendous opportunity to share" his testimony and lead others down the path to faith.

Easterby, who is the executive director of The Greatest Champion Foundation, agrees.

We are hoping to "rally the troops" using well-known athletes' influence, said Easterby, whose organization, according to its website, uses "the platform of athletics" to "communicate the message of Christ."

The promotional video for Bible Out Loud features several South Carolina athletes, but they're not named in an effort to keep the focus on Scripture. But diehard Gamecock fans will recognize them, and college fans will likely recognize running back Marcus Lattimore, who suffered a season-ending injury that brought everyone in Williams-Brice Stadium to their feet back in October.

Thompson said he's even talked South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier into reading a verse for the project.

"He told me he was proud of me for doing it," Thompson said.

Easterby understands there is often skepticism when it comes to religion, but he stresses the project involves no money and is pure in its intentions. He said Christians often face persecution when spreading their message, but so far backlash to the Bible Out Loud project has been minimal.

"A lot less than I had anticipated," he laughs.

Click here to read more.

SOURCE: CNN

Stephanie Gallman

The Controversial Redemption of Ray Lewis

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on February 2, 2013 at 4:40pm

13 years after Atlanta, Ray Lewis tries for a "storybook" ending to his career

It's not hard to find Ray Lewis in prayer. You might catch a glimpse of it on the sidelines before a game. In the locker room. Even on the cover of Sports Illustrated -- the muscular Baltimore Ravens linebacker standing bare-chested in a swimming pool, his palms pressed together.

To some, Lewis' frequent expressions of faith are the marks of a life redeemed, a long 13-year journey from murder accusations -- later dropped by prosecutors -- in the death of two men hours after the 2000 Super Bowl in Atlanta.

But for others, the show of faith is little more than an act.

"Stop acting like you are one of the people that come out of the Bible," said Greg Wilson, whose nephew Jacinth Baker died along with a friend in the infamous melee 13 years ago that almost derailed Lewis' career.

"If you're redeemed -- and he's always quoting Scriptures -- then you would have stood up like a man and said what happened," Wilson said.

For many football fans, Lewis' story begins at the University of Miami, where he quickly made his mark on the football field -- taking All-America honors each of the three years he played before surrendering his final year of eligibility to enter the 1996 NFL draft.

The Ravens picked him 26th overall, fifth among linebackers. And he made a quick name for himself, earning AFC defensive player of the week honors in his first regular season game.

He went on to earn 13 Pro Bowl invitations.

But for Lewis, of course, the story begins years before, during his childhood in Lakeland, Florida. That's when, he says, his walk with God began.

"My mom did a heck of a job raising a man to put my complete faith in God from Day One," Lewis told reporters gathered for the Super Bowl on Wednesday. "From 9 years old, when I was ordained as a junior deacon, she always said that some days, you may find yourself away from God, but you will find yourself back."

A Pivotal Night

On January 31, 2000, hours after watching the St. Louis Rams beat the Tennessee Titans in the Super Bowl, Lewis and a few friends were out at the Cobalt Lounge in Atlanta's Buckhead Village celebrating football's biggest night.

As they left, around 4 a.m., a fight erupted.

It's unclear who started the fight, but it became an all-out brawl when Baker smashed a champagne bottle over the head of Reginald Oakley, a friend of Lewis'.

What else happened during those pivotal moments remains something of a mystery. How did the fight start? Why? And who killed Baker and his friend, Richard Lollar?

To this day, even one of the men arrested that night says he's still not entirely clear on what happened.

What is clear is that, within minutes, Baker and Lollar lay dead in the street as Lewis and his friends raced away in a limousine.

The next day, police arrested Lewis, Oakley and another friend, Joseph Sweeting, on murder charges.

At the time, Atlanta prosecutors said they had a trail of blood and eyewitness testimony to prove Lewis and the others were involved.

The limo driver, Duane Fassett, told investigators he heard Oakley and Sweeting tell others in the limo that they had stabbed the victims, according to multiple news reports at the time. Lewis, according to Fassett's account, told everyone to keep quiet, saying he wouldn't allow his football career to end this way.

Lewis and his defense attorney, however, have long maintained Lewis was trying to act as a peacemaker, to get his friends back in the limo and away from trouble.

When the trial started, the case crumbled on live television. Witnesses changed their stories. Defense lawyers tore down the claims of witnesses who had troubled pasts or had spent the night drinking.

Prosecutors "put their case together with Band-Aids and it didn't hold together," Lewis' attorney, Ed Garland, told CNN this week.

The district attorney's office ended up dropping the murder charges against Lewis in the middle of the trial to cut a plea deal. Lewis agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of obstruction of justice and testify against his friends.

But in the end, that wasn't enough to win prosecutors a conviction. The jury acquitted Oakley and Sweeting, too.

No was ever convicted in the killings.

Ray Lewis' path to redemption had begun.

Click here to read more.

SOURCE: CNN

Ed Lavandera and Michael Pearson

Has the Purpose of Black History Month Been Lost?

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on February 2, 2013 at 2:41pm

At this stage of my life, I have mixed feelings about Black History Month. The moment on the calendar, set aside to celebrate the past achievements of African Americans, has felt outdated to me for as long as I can remember.

Growing up in the District, black doctors, lawyers, newscasters and public officials were the norm. And it always struck me as odd to pick one month -- the shortest one at that -- to remember the likes of people who seemingly never got mentioned again throughout the year.

And now that we've seen the United States's first president of color sworn in for the second time and our first black gymnast win the women's all-around competition at the Olympics, and with only a couple years until the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture opens, I wonder: Has Black History Month lost its purpose?

No, but it has lost its way.

Back in 2005, Morgan Freeman famously declared the month as "ridiculous" during an interview on "60 Minutes." Others have argued that, as a now-"post-racial" society, the month brings more division than integration. But the problem is not with the month, it's with the history. At this point, with all the television ads, cultural programming and so forth that I see, February might as well be labeled "Ancient Black Civil Rights History Month."

Black America's history is more than just Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., obviously. But those are the names that I continually hear in the context of the celebration. I asked two educators what they thought about the month and how it could be updated.

Sharon Harley, associate professor of African American studies at the University of Maryland, thinks the move away from figures some might call "contributionists" is underway.

"Today, the programming and the scholarship focuses on women as well as men; prominent figures and the working class; the politics and culture of multiple groups of people of African descent in the U.S. and globally," Harley said. "In speeches and presentations [I make] to a wide range of people and groups, I am often impressed by the large number of people who turn out, and their enthusiasm. I discover that when people are exposed to the diversity, richness and complexity of black history and how it intersects with the history of whites, Native Americans, Latinos and Asian Americans in the U.S. and globally, they are often compelled to know."

Which is all well and good, but revisiting the same old stories as a matter of course is not really progress. Leslie Hinkson, an assistant professor of sociology at Georgetown University, thinks the message might have been lost on some of her students, who, admittedly, are in a different class profile than most blacks in this country.

"I think a lot of them actually believe that we have overcome, and I'm not just talking about white students. I'm talking about students of color, as well," Hinkson, 40, said. "I think a lot of students do actually believe, 'We've been there, we've done it,' and I actually think that they don't think that there's a need for Black History Month. And it's often very frustrating. You find yourself feeling like 'I am just some old geezer? Am I not seeing this world that they're seeing, just because I'm stuck in the past?' "

Click here to read more.

SOURCE: The Washington Post

Clinton Yates

Basketball Star Jalen Rose Opens New School In Detroit

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on February 2, 2013 at 2:39pm

I grew up on the northwest side of Detroit. My mother, a factory worker for Chrysler, raised me to be the man I am today. Although there were times we went with no heat, I remember how hard she worked to provide for my brothers, sister and me. There seemed to be plenty of jobs back then in the Motor City. Times sure have changed.

What most of you remember from my days at Michigan happened on the basketball court. Very few realize that I was actually a good student who also made the Dean's List. Education was always important to me and that's why despite leaving college early for the NBA draft, I made it a priority to go back and earned my bachelor of science degree from the University of Maryland University College. Basketball was my spring board to college, but all inner-city kids aren't that fortunate.

I will always be proud to call Detroit my hometown. What I'm not proud of is the lack of high-performing schools for our kids and the lack of jobs for their parents. This is a national epidemic, but as most know, it is especially bad in Detroit. Education in Detroit must play a critical role in transforming the community into a more vibrant intellectual and economic landscape.

In 2011, Detroit Public Schools said its 2010 graduation rate increased to 62 percent and its dropout rate declined to 19 percent. These numbers, which are an improvement since 2009, are dismal. Detroit needs and deserves better schools to provide more opportunities for its children, and its workforce.

As a philanthropist who truly gives from the heart, I established the Jalen Rose Foundation in 2000 to create life-changing opportunities for underserved youth. Since its inception, I personally donated over $1.2 million, which included more than 40 college scholarships to Detroit Public School students. Over the years, I was disappointed in the quality of the scholarship applications and always wanted to do more to improve the educational landscape in my hometown. It wasn't fair these kids were being sent to college unprepared and in need of remediation.

That's why I founded the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy (JRLA) in 2011. This new public charter high school not only provides Detroit's children a strong education and hope for a bright future, it also provides jobs to people in the community. My goal at JRLA is to provide a private school education in a public school setting so that a student's ZIP code doesn't dictate the education they receive. I am humbled by the opportunity to help further the education of our youth as well as be able to create jobs for my community.

Bringing high-quality education to Detroit's disenfranchised inner city isn't easy. Detroit charter schools receive less state aid than Detroit Public Schools, including roughly 85 percent of what nearby suburban schools receive. Unlike traditional public schools, charter schools do not receive funding from their school districts to purchase, lease, or improve facilities. Often, this causes financial challenges that can limit the charter school's ability to provide appropriate accommodations. And boy, have we had our financial challenges. Traditional banks are reluctant to finance new public schools -- particularly innovative ones -- because of the perceived risk in investing in low-income communities. We have a non-profit partner, Operation Graduation, that was able to mortgage a former elementary school building; however, we needed to renovate the facility to bring it up to code and make it functional for the high school students we were recruiting. That's when we turned to NCB Capital Impact, a community lender with a long record of successfully financing projects in low-income communities.

Click here to read more.

SOURCE: The Huffington Post
Jalen Rose

Triple Threat Kerry Washington Scoops Up Three Trophies at 2013 NAACP Image Awards

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on February 2, 2013 at 2:36pm

Actress Kerry Washington, winner of Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for 'Scandal,' Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for 'Django Unchained' and Honoree of the President's Award, poses for a portrait during the 44th NAACP Image Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on February 1, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Charley Gallay/Getty Images North America)

Kerry Washington was a triple threat at the NAACP Image Awards.

The star of ABC's "Scandal" picked up a trio of trophies at the 44th annual ceremony: outstanding actress in a drama series for "Scandal," supporting actress in a motion picture for "Django Unchained" and the President's Award, which is given in recognition of special achievement and exceptional public service.

"This award does not belong to me," said Washington, who plays a slave separated from her husband in "Django Unchained," as she picked up her first trophy of the evening for her role in the film directed by Quentin Tarantino. "It belongs to our ancestors. We shot this film on a slave plantation, and they were with us along every step of the way."

Washington, who plays crisis management consultant Olivia Pope on "Scandal," serves on President Barack Obama's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

Don Cheedle was awarded the outstanding actor in a comedy series trophy for his role as a slick management consultant in Showtime's "House of Lies."

"This doesn't belong just to me, but I am taking it home tonight," joked Cheedle.

A few winners weren't present at the Shrine Auditorium to pick up their trophies, including Denzel Washington for outstanding actor in a motion picture for "Flight," Viola Davis for outstanding actress in a motion picture for "Won't Back Down" and Omar Epps for supporting actor in a drama series for Fox's "House."

"Red Tails," the drama about the Tuskegee Airmen, was honored as outstanding motion picture.

"Look! I beat Quentin Tarantino," beamed "Red Tails" executive producer George Lucas as he accepted the award.

LL Cool J, who was honored as outstanding actor in a drama series for CBS' "NCIS: Los Angeles," dedicated his trophy to fellow nominee Michael Clarke Duncan, "The Green Mile" and "The Finder" actor who died last year.

"I wish his family well," said LL. "Let's give it up for him."

Gladys Knight sang during the in memoriam segment, but the beginning of her performance wasn't heard on the live NBC broadcast because of a technical glitch.

Sidney Poitier presented Harry Belafonte with the Spingarn Award, which honors outstanding achievement by an African American. His honor was followed by a serenade from Wyclef Jean and Common.

Other winners at the ceremony hosted by talk show host Steve Harvey included Loretta Devine as supporting actress in a drama series for "Grey's Anatomy," Cassi Davis as outstanding actress in a comedy series and Lance Gross as outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for TBS' "Tyler Perry's House of Payne."

The Image Awards are presented annually by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the group's members select the winners.

SOURCE: The Associated Press

Derrik J. Lang

cash hollistah Provides Alternative to Super Bowl Halftime Show

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on February 1, 2013 at 9:30pm

For those wanting their Super Bowl XLVII halftime show a little more, say, "macho", a rapper from Kansas has something for you.

cash hollistah., a hip-hop artist from Salina, KS, will be releasing a music video to his single, "goRilla." at halftime of the Super Bowl. The 4-minute clip will be shown on his website, imabouttogoRilla.com, when the halftime show featuring R&B/Pop star Beyonce' begins. The 'goRilla" is family-friendly, age-appropriate clip. "goRilla." is the debut single off of his upcoming new EP entitled #savednotsoft., which will be available on 3.26 through Unlabeled Music. It is currently avialable digitally on iTunes, Amazon, and all digital distribution outlets.

cash hollistah. is spelled in all lower case lettering with a period at the end.

Photo attached.

goRilla. trailer:
http://youtu.be/sCHy1VfciRs

goRilla. song (with lyrics attached):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAwzwqcSZYI&feature=share&list=UU1dmH8C-7UIGPwm6E2Ot4ag

Malachi's Exclusive 'Talented 10th' Interview With Sho Baraka

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on February 1, 2013 at 7:00am

Talented 10th is one of my favorite albums right now. For those, not knowing, I'm talking about the third studio album by Sho Baraka. It's his first solo release since leaving Reach Records in 2011. The album title and concept was based off the essay of the same name by W. E. B. Du Bois.Well, I was blessed with the opportunity to chop it up with Sho. We talked about everything from the album's concepts, to his favorite books, emcee's and albums. Peep the transcript

Malachi: Before we get into the new project I want to take it back. How did you start your group “Hello Revolution”?

Sho Baraka: Well I was adamant about not doing anymore solo albums because I wasn't really excited about it you know. I guess the place I was in as far as an artist, I wanted to work with other people and I was adamant about doing group projects. A lot of the work I had been doing when I left the label (Reach Records) was with my boy Jamie, who goes by the name Ali now. And the music we made after I left the label was so fresh I was like, how about we just turn this into a collaboration project instead of you just producing for me. So we ended up making a couple of songs. And the funny thing about it is lot of the songs that we have on this album were supposed to be “Hello Revolution” songs. So The Lord worked it out to where I got the hotness.( Laughs)

Malachi: Oh ok. I feel you. You helped build Reach Records. Now they are making history. And your projects with Reach were pretty successful but now you are on your own. People would say you're crazy for leaving now. Have you felt any pressure during your recording process and do you feel any while you get ready to drop your joint independent?

Sho Baraka: Naw, not necessarily. I mean there is some pressure to be real, you know. You don’t leave a label like that and feel like people don't have expectations of you. But I try not to live up to unrealistic expectations. The reality of it is, is that I am who I am. I make music because I love music. I don't make music to chart and I don’t make music to make history. I make music because there are people I want to communicate to via the artistic expression of Hip Hop so if the Lord allows it to do certain things, cool. If not, I’m cool with that also. I try not to fall into the pressure game. It’s unhealthy and you’ll go crazy trying to please people. No person should get into music to please people. Because what happens is once you start to taste success, thats when you start thinking “Oh how (can) I gain bigger platforms or how do I continue to sustain what I have?”. Most people get into it because they just love what they do, and just want to create, and then the success comes afterwards. So i’m trying to go back to what I originally started.

Malachi: Amen. Well looking at the cover and the tracklisting, The album looks like its modeled after a book. Breakdown the overall vision and concept of the new project.

Sho Baraka: I think what you touched on is good. I never wanted this to be seen as just another Hip Hop album. I wanted it to be seen as something that was both artistic from the expression where you can see that Ii’m creative and not trying to be like every other album. Even from the title tracks, how I titled each song and how it’s listed and the album cover. I want this to be an experience in education as well as entertainment. So this whole idea with “The Talented Tenth” is how do we use the natural resources and expose what God has given us to the benefit of other folks, to bring social, financial and especially spiritual information to our particular friends, family and communities to the glory of God? The whole idea is I want to educate as well as entertain in a creative way.

Malachi: I read that your aim with “The Talented Tenth” is to change urban culture by inspiring and challenging listeners to “be exceptional for the benefit of others”. Explain that.

Sho Baraka: Yeah, I think what we have in our culture is an infatuation with ignorance and mediocrity. I see that in a lot of rappers, see that in artists, well I don’t want to blame it on just artist but ummm, culturally, everywhere from corporations to entertainment, I think we have people that are cool with the status quo. So if I know I could pop up a liquor store and be successful even though I know that this liquor store is going to bring down the value of the community because of the alcohol sales and the promotion of unhealthy food and X,Y and Z, they go with it because it’s all about the bottom line. Same thing with music and entertainment, you know. If I know this ridiculous message is going to be seen, then the bottom line is, it’s going to put money in my pocket. For me what I’m saying is, as a people, not just artist. From businessmen, to educators, mothers, fathers, to students, how can we be exceptional in every area of life? Even the way we eat, the food choices we have, the music choices we have, to our relationships, to our entertainment, to our health, to how we spend our money. How can we be exceptional, not only for ourselves but for the benefit of community, for the benefit of those around us, and transforming our environments and not just living the status quo?

Malachi: I want to talk to you about some of the songs. I love the first song “Bethesda”. When I first heard it, it blew me away as for as the production. What's the concept behind the song?

Sho Baraka: Well I get it from John 5 ( John 5:1-15) where those who are lame are looking for healing, they sit by the pool and wait for a wave to come and whoever jumps in is healed. So the concept of the song is the whole wade in the water. The reality of it is, this there’s a lot of pain out there, there’s a lot of struggle, there’s a lot of hurt. And the thought process is hold on because there’s a healing coming, and we believe that Christ brings the healing. But I’m not trying to say trust in Christ like in a sense that Jesus makes all things perfect, But there is joy and there is fruit, and there is love, and there is peace. But you have to wade in that water sometimes.

Malachi: “Michael” is a really deep song. Especially the hook. Tell me about the hook and where you were going with that.

Sho Baraka: Umm, it’s a play on the idea of the common man versus the celebrity. Like we mourn the death of celebrities often, and rightfully so, you know to some degree they change culture, like the Michael Jackson’s and the Whitney Houston’s and we mourn that. But there are thousands of Michaels out there and thousands of Whitneys who are dying over nonsense. So how are we going to change this because our culture is going down. It’s like a bonfire. I can see piece by piece going up in flames, and a lot of us are celebrating it, and this is me morning it na'meen?

Malachi: Why did you name the song “Michael”?

Sho Baraka: I mean, the reference is obviously to Michael Jackson but the ultimate, it’s common name, represents the common man. There are millions of Michaels out there. And we can get caught up in the idea of MIchael the celebrity. Be it Micheal Jordan, Micheal Jackson or Mike Tyson you know. But there’s also the ideal that there are thousands of Michael's out there that one will care for or care about. How do we tie in this idea of being fascinated with celebrities while also caring for the common man?

Malachi: I feel you. Talk to me about “Jim Crow”. What moved to you write that song?

Sho Baraka: Just frustration. I always wanted to write a song like that but I just never had the courage to, you know because I felt like it wasn't appropriate for the market that I was previously excited about being apart of. I was just kind of like, you need to stay away from that. But you know, racial frustration, racial self loathing, social injustice I mean...I wrote the hook and some of the song like last year, like last January actually. This song has been around for awhile. Really this is a song that’s been writing itself for the past five years and it’s just like frustration after frustration and observation after observation and then realizing that there’s a blindness to this stuff that I’m talking about on the song.

Malachi: What message are you trying to get across with that song?

Sho Baraka: That there’s a, I guess you could say a reproduction and a perpetuation of ignorance and prejudice that is propagated in our country and if you accept it, you will be stuck in this place that I call “Nigga Island”, or “Colored Island”. And the goal is to escape that. It’s not find refuge because that place is full of daft and ignorance and theres no real hope there.That’s why I talk about escaping the island and not finding that place your home.

Malachi: Well like you said, I can hear passion in the song, you can hear the frustration. The song is real heavy and deep but to be real you might catch some heat from the content and the lyrics. Was that ever a concern?

Sho Baraka: Yeah, it was. That’s why I did a radio edit too. And the reason for me to do a radio edit was not to take away from the potency of the lyrics. I made a radio edit because I have a daughter. I might not want her to listen to this part of the song but I still want her to get the content of what I’m saying. Play that for your family members, and play that for people that feel would be extremely offended by the word nigga and other language in the song. But I don’t apologize for the content. For me it worth it. The beautiful thing about music and art is people have the option to not buy it.

Malachi: Right, thats true.

Sho Baraka: Yeah, so I guess in the long run that’s the alternative. I mean I do want people to buy, I do want people to support it. But I do feel people will use this as an excuse to escape the discussion. That’s what happens often times, people look for a reason to escape a discussion of a bigger issue because they feel like “Well, he said that so I’m not going to listen to the song”. And you know what? If that’s what they want to do, then that’s what they want to do.

Malachi: Ok, I Just have a few more questions, I call these “The Sevens”

Sho Baraka: Ok

I can tell you're a very well read person and you love books. I’m the same way, I love to collect old books too. I even have a few by W.E.B. Dubis. What are your 7 favorite books?

Sho Baraka: Oh Wow, Umm, I would say in no particular order, I’d start off with (The) Lord of The Rings, the whole trilogy. I just call that as one book. I just believe the creativity and the imagination in that book is just like an amazing journey. And then also when you think about the morals, the social and the spiritual nuances in that book are so thick, so rich. Tolkien did an amazing job. How Should We Then Live? By Francis A. Schaeffer is just another book that I love. It gives a very healthy balance of this whole secular, sacred but then also how should a Christian live in this world and culture that’s constantly changing. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. is a book thats always challenged me. It’s all about leadership, it’s all about a man of sacrifice and wisdom. That book is amazing. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis is another one. That’s one of these books that you have to read like more than once because theres so much, oh my God, it’s so thick...

Malachi: (Laughs) Like your new album?

Sho Baraka: (Laughs) Well thank ya sir for the compliment. Umm I’ma put two books together. Umm I would say The Talented Tenth but it’s a very short book. Im’a partner that book with Souls Of Black Folk By W.E.B Du Bois. It’s just powerful man. When you think about coming out of the oppressive times that they were in and then thinking though, how do we processes this new life and this new struggle and this new world that we have as African Americans in this world thats not really accepting of us? I think a lot of this stuff is pertinent even today. Umm there’s a whole bunch of other books, I just read Frederick Douglass’ autobiography which was good. Ohhhh Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller. That book is amazing. It’s a book about idolatry. So yeah, those are the books I would say are my favorites.

Malachi: Well you named a few that are my favorites actually. Lord Of The Rings. Anything by C.S. Lewis, I love. Soul of Black Folk is amazing. If you haven't read Dusk Of Dawn by W.E.B. Du Bois, you should check that out.

Sho Baraka: Will do. I’m trying to read all his stuff.

Malachi: Ok. Now moving on to emcees. Who are your 7 favorite Emcee’s?

Sho Baraka: Awwww man. In no particular order, number one is probably Common. I always appreciated Common. He’s one of the few artist I appreciated before I became a Christian, and even after I became a Christian. He talked about things that I felt that mattered in life. He’s probably one of my top emcee’s of all time. Then I would probably go with Jay - Z. Lately he's fallen off, but when it comes to how he communicated and puts words together, Jay - Z for me was unprecedented. Lupe Fiasco for me is up there. I feel like, even now socially, I feel like the stuff he talks about I appreciate. Lyrically, his cadence, his delivery, he’s original you can’t really trace him to anybody. The Phantik from The Cross Movement. A guy who is just a beast and a wordsmith, cadence. Some of his bars are just unprecedented so he’s definitely one of my favorite dudes. I would say just over all artist and talent wise I would say Kanye West. No matter how crazy he is, as an artist and a musician you have to appreciate what he does, because he’s changed Hip Hop, some for the bad (Laughs), but as far as musically he killed it. I would probably have to go with a group, I would say Tribe Called Quest. They were one of those groups I fell in love with when I was younger And I would say Andre 3000 is up there too. And I don’t know how many I named but I would add a newcomer, Swoope.

Malachi: You know, a lot of the artist you named, I can hear the inspiration when I listen to your new project. I hear some Common. I definitely hear some Lupe. So I see the connection.

Sho Baraka: Yeah I think its good to be inspired by artists and then make it your own, as long as its not like, “Yo that dude just bit that”. I mean when that happens there’s a problem. Because you want to have your own identity as an artist, but everyone is inspired by somebody.

Malachi: What are your 7 favorite album or mixtapes?

Sho Baraka: Ok, this is even more difficult. Well I got to start with Common because One Day It'll All Make Sense is probably the one album changed my world. And it’s funny because I wasn't a Christian when I first got a hold of this album because I was a young dude and I was listening to it. But felt like as i was listening to it, this dude understood me because I wasn't a gangster but I wasn't like this choir boy. I was in the middle. I was struggling with identity, I was struggling with religion at the time. I was struggling with listening to nonsense rap, because that was a time when gangster rap was big too. So I was like I don’t want to listen to this nonsense, but I’m also like, I’m not a choir boy so I was struggling in this identity crisis. That album kind of gave me a direction of social strength where it was very conscious. That album to this day, I love. The Solus Christus by Shai Linne is one one of my favorite albums. You talk about top to bottom album that’s just amazing. One of the first Cross Movement albums was Human Emergency. That album is just amazing. That was my first introduction to Da T.R.U.T.H. Oh I forgot to name him as one of my artist. Late Registration by Kanye West is a crazy go to album, And The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is definitely one of my favorite albums of all time. Really, she’s one of my favorite artist in general. Continum By John Mayer. I can listen to that album all day long. Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder. That album is classic. But I don’t listen to much Hip Hop right now. The last real Hip Hop album that I played a whole lot was Lupe’s latest album. I’ve been listening to a lot of Jazz right now. I’m all over the place Brah.

Malachi: So we know the album drops on the 15th. What else is popping off for you?

Sho Barack:Man, that’s my primary focus. I have a few things in the kitchen. Some writing stuff, some educational stuff but I just want to make this album known to as many people as possible.

Album Review By Malachi: The Talented 10th By Sho Baraka

I'm going to be 100 percent real with you. This album is not for every Christian. This is next level Hip Hop that will challenge your mind. It's like reading a book. If you like swagged out trap music you will be disappointed. I'm just being honest.

Read full article on Theoraclemag

Product Details

Talented 10th
From Lions and Liars Music

Digital media products such as Amazon MP3s, Amazon Instant Videos, and Kindle content can only be purchased on Amazon.com.

Price:

$8.99

DJ I Rock Jesus "Straight Ministry Heat Banging"

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on January 31, 2013 at 1:55pm

DJ I Rock Jesus will be releasing his mix tape Straight Ministry Heat Banging on February 09, 2013 This will be a double CD mix tape series that will feature artist from all around the world that is bringing that Straight Ministry Heat.

Everything you need to know about BlackBerry 10

Posted by Prince Malachi The First on January 30, 2013 at 5:52pm

BlackBerry 10 OS was fully unveiled today along with the Z10 and Q10 phones that will run it. To help you sort out all the details, we’ve gathered the pertinent facts together in one, handy place. If you need to know about BB 10, this is your place.

Research in Motion has announced the release of BlackBerry 10 and two smartphones, the Z10 and Q10 during a live streamed, global event. There has been a lot of information released today, so here’s our quick guide covering all you need to know about BlackBerry 10.

It’s not RIM anymore, it’s just BlackBerry

BlackBerry 10 isn’t just a re-invention of an operating system. To show its commitment to change, Research in Motion (RIM) has changed its name. Now, RIM is officially known as “BlackBerry.” Using the tagline, “One brand, one promise,” CEO Thorsten Heins said, “We have transformed ourselves in and out.” That’s quite a promise, so does BlackBerry 10 live up to its introduction?

BlackBerry Z10

You may feel as if you already know the Z10, as it has been leaked so extensively. This is BlackBerry’s full touch phone and it boasts a 4.2-inch touchscreen with a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution, a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 16GB of internal memory and an 8-megapixel camera. It also has 2GB of RAM, a microSD card slot, NFC and Bluetooth 4.0. At 9.3mm thick it’s not the slimmest smartphone available, and at 138 grams it’s not the lightest either. See how the Z10 compares to the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S3 here.

The Z10 is compatible with 4G LTE networks all over the world, and will be offered in black and white color schemes, although the latter will be exclusive to Verizon in the U.S. and Phones4U in the UK.

Read our full hands-on impressions of the BlackBerry Z10.

BlackBerry Q10

RIM (or “BlackBerry”) couldn’t get away with ditching the traditional QWERTY BlackBerry phone, which according to Thorsten Heins, was a must-have piece of hardware for the firm. Not much is known about the technical specification of the phone yet, only that it has a 3.1-inch touchscreen, a 720 x 720 pixel resolution and a glass-weave back panel, which is supposedly lighter and stronger than plastic. Early reports indicate the Q10 shares the same dual-core, 1.5GHz processor and 2GB of RAM as the Z10. Unlike the Z10, its availability hasn’t been announced; however, during the Q&A session after the BB 10 launch event ended, it was revealed the U.S. should see the phone in April. See how the Q10 compares to older BB phones here.

Read our full hands-on impressions of the BlackBerry Q10.

BlackBerry 10

BlackBerry 10 the software is what BlackBerry the firm is pinning its future hopes on, and like the Z10, it has been previewed, tested and leaked until there was almost nothing left to reveal at the launch event. However, it was good to see it up and running in its final version on stage and the smooth, gesture controlled user interface is sure to have won it many fans.

The new operating system promises an excellent keyboard, a super-fast web browser, easy one-thumb controls, the ability to keep your work phone and personal phone separate on the same device using Balance, plus 70,000 applications, plus movies and music available inside the BlackBerry World store at launch.

In addition to all this, we were treated to a demonstration of BBM Video, where a BlackBerry Messenger conversation was instantly turned into a video call, plus the a screen sharing session showed BBM Video’s versatility. BlackBerry Remember, an all-encompassing personal organizer was shown, as was the camera’s clever time-shift feature. BlackBerry 10 will operate in exactly the same way on both the Z10 and the Q10 and there will be no difference in features either.

The Competition

Despite BlackBerry not acknowledging the iPhone exists, it does and it’s very much BB 10’s competition, as is every top-end Android smartphone from the Samsung Galaxy S3 to the HTC One X+. What’s more, BlackBerry has said it will be updating BB 10 hardware every 12 to 15 months, so the phones we’ve seen today will be with us until at least this time next year.

Under normal circumstances, this isn’t a big problem, but in-between now and then we’re almost certainly going to get a new iPhone, the Galaxy S4 and the new HTC M7, plus new Windows Phones. The same can be said on the software front, as Android 5.0 and iOS 7 are on the cards for later in 2013. BlackBerry 10 needs to be very good indeed if it’s to stay fresh in amongst all this new hardware.

If anyone should be looking over their shoulders it’s Microsoft, as BlackBerry 10’s ability to appeal to both business and personal users – through features like Balance – could be the level of versatility needed to attract those who don’t want to get involved with Apple or Google.

BlackBerry’s understated Q10 could be its a dark horse, a device which really doesn’t have any competition, as the QWERTY Android phones that do exist aren’t worth buying. If the firm is right, and there really is still demand for this form factor, the Q10 could be a winner for BlackBerry.

Should you put your money down?

This is a tough one, as BlackBerry 10 is completely new and comes from a manufacturer that despite appearances, is still on the brink of having to sell off parts of the business to survive. Hardcore BlackBerry fans won’t care though, and those wanting something different should take a look.

Potential buyers in the U.S. won’t need to make a decision yet, as the phones are still at least a month away from going on sale. It’s a different story in Canada and the UK, as they’ll both get to buy the BlackBerry Z10 over the coming week. UK network O2 is offering a slightly reduced tariff on the Z10 for the first two weeks – from £42 per month down to £36 – making it a good choice. In Canada, Telus, Bell, and Virgin are all pushing the Z10 for $150 with a frightening three-year contract, which could have the unfortunate effect of prompting anyone wavering to look elsewhere.