The questions that our dear brother rapper/actor Ice Cube raised in his lastest interview is the same questions I've had swirling around in my head for quite some time. I'm gonna file this entry under another Black Fist Entertainment Report. It seems to Ice Cube, myself, and others that daytime talk show mogul Oprah Winfrey has some sort of hang-up about having hip-hop artist on her show as in "come on in and sit down on the same couch actor/post partum depression-know-it-all/weirdo Tom Cruise [the whiteman] jumped on and acted a damn fool on."
Yes, It would seem Ms. Winfrey loves to cater to the white folks on her show (especially the ever-in-trouble, white woman). I've personally watched Oprah's show from time-to-time over the years since its conception back in the 80's and I can say back when Oprah first started her show she had black conscience oriented subject matter. She even travelled to the state of Georgia to confront klansmen on their own turf, it was powerfully. That as well as her in the Chicago studio in-house guest of black issue oriented black folk, it made The Oprah Winfrey Show worth spending an hour watching.
Fast forward 20 years and Oprah can barly mention the word Black let alone put anything or anyone of black conscienceness on her show. Now getting to the hardcore world what is called gangsta rap.
The question has been out there in Hollywood and around the nation for years especially with so many rappers turning to acting & vice-versa, "Why don't we see Oprah Winfrey invite these rappers who sell millions upon millions of CDs & draw big box office numbers in theatres into the studios of HARPO productions and interview with the Queen of daytime talk herself?"
Well, I don't have the answer to that question but I'm hoping you, the faithful readers of this blog can offer some kind of insight to this mind-boggling question.
But first read the full interview rapper/actor Ice Cube did with our friends over at FHM magazine and brought to you -via- America Online. I'm sure you will find it just as interesting as I did when I first read it. It rekindled all those questions I raised earlier and some new ones.
Check it out for yourself.
Re-printed in its entirety for you to view. Let us know here at The Black Fist Blog what you think!
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Entertainment News - Ice Cube Joins Voices Against Oprah Winfrey - AOL News
New York (May 26) - Rappers Ludacris and 50 Cent have dissed Oprah Winfrey. Now, Ice Cube has a beef with the talk show queen. "I've been involved in three projects pitched to her, but I've never been asked to participate," the rapper-actor tells FHM magazine in its July issue, on newstands June 6.
"For Barbershop, she asked Cedric The Entertainer and Eve on, but wasn't I invited," says the 36-year-old rapper, referring to his 2002 movie. "Maybe she's got a big problem with hip-hop."
Cube adds: "She's had damn rapists, child molesters and lying authors on her show. And if i'm not a rags-to-riches story for her, who is?"
A call by The Associated Press to Winfrey's spokesperson at her production company, HARPO, was not immediately returned Friday.
Last month, 50 complained that Winfrey rarely invites rappers on her talk show: "I think she caters to older white woman." Ludacris, whose real name is Chris Bridges, told GQ magazine that the media mogul was "unfair" to him during a show he appeared on last October with co-stars from best-picture Oscar winner "Crash."
Earlier this month, Winfrey defended herself in a surprise appearance on New York City-based radio station Power 105.1.
"I listen to some hip-hop," she told DJ Ed Lover. "You know, I've been accused of not liking hip-hop and that's just not true. I got a little 50 (Cent) on my iPod. I really do. Love 'In Da Club.' ... Love that, and you know, love Jay-Z, Love Kanye (West), Love Mary J. (Blige)."
Ice Cube, whose other films include "Friday" and "Three Kings," will release his lastest album, "Laugh Now, Cry Later," on June 6.
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Well folks what do you think? When you really sit back and think about it for all of you hip-hop fans, do you think Winfrey has got a big problem with hip-hop? With all the CDs & movies these rapper star in, does Oprah Winfrey diss the rappers/hip-hoppers?And sorry, I beat you to it, for some reason rapper/actor Will Smith just doesn't count. He's what one would consider "safe". What we're rapping (pardon the pun) about here today is the "Hardcore Gangsta Rappers".
So we want to hear from you.
I'll say this in conclusion: Get it together Oprah, and get it together fast Sis. Folks other than white folks are watching your show and if you even care about your black audience (I'm sure there's still some out there) you'll think about including one of the biggest genres out there in the world.....HIP-HOP!
Oprah doesn't have to like hip-hop personally to have hip-hop artist on her show. Hell, I would intellectually presume Oprah Winfrey hates LIARS, CHILD MOLESTERS, RAPIST, THIEVES & ADULTERERS......
But Oprah has THEM on her show, right?
When Ice Cube and Fifty Cent do a news conference from Darfur, or a number of African villages to expose the poverty and genocide or when they are a voice for AIDS funding worldwide or a force against domestic and drug abuse, then they'll have a leg to stand on. These two in-it-for-the-money posers--living the life of millionaires and claiming "street cedibility have got a lot of fucking nerve that's for damn sure. Yeah Oprah does too many boring housewife shows but that's what's given her her the backing to do the heavy-hitter stuff. It's a laugh to hear two bit thugs like these that suck off of society and add nothing but the glorification of violence complain about not getting their dues.
ReplyDeleteI think the name of the the show is the Oprah Winfrey Show. She has the ability to put on who she wants to and cater to the audience she desires to market herself to. Why don't these rappers go ahead and start their own talk/promo show if it is a concern for them. Spend some of their bling money on a show that highlights their thoughts and life.
ReplyDeleteI agree with General Nikki X and with what Ice Cube and the other rappers said. We all know what the name of the show is that's not even the point the point and the question is Does Oprah like rapist, liars & child molesters better than hip-hop artist? Those child molesters can go get there own shows too. But they don't have to because Oprah welcomes them with open arms. All that other rhetoric is irrevelant.
ReplyDeleteWhat would you tell anyone that told you how to run your blog? Shut up it's my blog I'm in charge. You're going to tell Oprah how to run her show? she's doing fine without your input.
ReplyDeleteFor your info - Oprah Winfrey is the ONLY black female billionaire in the world. She certainly didn't get that way by showcasing 2 bit thugs on her program.
ReplyDeleteI suggest that you look at the ratings - it has been pretty much black, white AND other ethnic groups who have been the mainstay of her program's success. Her ratings remain high, surpassing game shows, soap shows, etc.
With Oprah being a billionaire, I believe she can pretty much pick & choose who will guest on her show. She certainly doesn't need any dictates from you such as what you've put out there:
"I'll say this in conclusion: Get it together Oprah, and get it together fast Sis."
She's not going to pay one ounce of attention to you. Doesn't have to. She's a self-made woman. And so what if she's crossed over to the "white side"? So what??
BTW, the Junebug's greasy ghetto cookin' & drug drive thru is closed. You'll have to go to Peebles Corner to eat. There's plenty of other places to buy the narcotics.
To Matt &anonymous #3 : Thank you both for your comments. Although I beg to differ.
ReplyDeleteNow that I've gotten that out of the way...
The two of you must be a headstart drop-outs or just simply retards.
I am reporting the news and giving my opinion. That's what one does on a blog. Why don't the two of you call hollywood and tell Ice Cube, 50 Cent and Ludacris (the subject(s) of this story along with Oprah)to stop talking about how they feel and the two of you will see they gives a damn about your opinions just about as much as I do.
"Get it together Sis and get it together fast"....
Yes, I said it. Now what anonymous? What?
Nothing that's what.
Moving right along...
"What would you tell someone who tried to tell you how to run your blog, You'd tell them to shut up, it's your blog. You're in charge."
"Oprah doesn't need your input."
Your right. She doesn't need my input. Just as I don't need yours Matt. But she got it. Just as you got it.
"BTW Junebug's greasy ghetto cooking & drug drive is closed. You'll have to go to Peebles corner to eat. There's plenty of other places to buy narcotics."
You sound like you know ALL the places to but narcotics anonymous. And it seems as though you took quite a few before you decided to place your anonymous comment.
"Oprah is the ONLY black female billionaire. She certainly did'nt get that way by showcasing two-bit thugs on her show."
You're right anonymous she didn't. She got that way by "showcasing" Pathetic white folks like CHILD MOLESTERS, THIEVES, RAPIST, ADULTERERS,CRAZY WHITE WOMEN WITH 552-plus SPLIT PERSONALITIES, THE KLU KLUX KLAN, LYING AUTHORS & so on.....
Oprah Winfrey needs General Nikki X's input just about as much as General Nikki X needs Matt & anonymous' input.
Will I continue to blog about Oprah or anybody else for that matter?
Short answer: Yep.
Will Matt & anonymous continue to place ignorant non-sensical comments on The Black Fist Blog?
Short answer: Probably not.
Thank you Matt & anonymous for Reading The Black Fist Blog!
I am tired of all these ignorant rappers talking about Oprah. If she really wanted to, crush them, but she is not that type of person. Now ice Cube has joined the “Oprah doesn’t like hip-hop” bandwagon. Give me a break!! Ice Cube was apart of a rap group (Niggas with Attitude) that started main stream America’s characterization of rap music as "Gangsta Rap." This genre of rap did nothing to solve the very same social ills they claimed were crippling the black community, just more dysfunctional and chaos.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, in Ice Cube’s Behind the Music special on VH-1, it was revealed that Ice Cube wasn't even from the hood and had a decent middle class upbringing and went to college. The thug image which NWA portrayed contributed to the poisoning of our youth and did nothing to progress our people. I know that he has changed and settled down since then, but Oprah does not have to have him on her show. Ice cube is made because he pitched several projects to her and she turned them down. Maybe they were not that great? Perhaps she just wasn’t interested. She has that right.
Native Son, you're exactly right. So why should Oprah promote a person who idealizes a "certain" type of lifestyle for others but for himself, his family and his children this same "lifestyle" is a No-no? His children attend private schools, many of the children listening and purchasing his music are learning from outdated textbooks in run down schools. Ice Cube is a businessman, Oprah is a businesswoman. The biggest difference I can see between the two besides their gender is that one has a soul and seems to acknowledge and accept her responsibility towards children. And when you think about it, it's rather ironic since she does not have children and he does? So in many ways she's being more of a parent than he is. You would think he would want all children to realize there is a bigger life out there for them than what his music denotes. Especially since his children will live and interact with children who have not been as fortunate as his have been and might not care about taking his child or children's lives. Music can be entertaining but when we have children and some (actually entirely too many parents) trying to live the life they hear on the radio, videos, or CDs something is wrong. Oprah doesn't have to do anything she doesn't want to do and showcasing these artists would not be promoting black culture. I am black and I wasn't raised to conduct myself in the manner in which they promote in their music. To say, she is being racist against her own people is wrong. So essentially are we saying that all Black folks are what these songs say we are? We should be happy she isn't helping to promote these artists. We're destroying ourselves out of our own ignorance and one person puts their foot down and they are "sell outs" or trying to be white? Is living decently, speaking with some intelligence, and realizing that there are bigger forces than ourselves acting white? I would say it's behaving like a responsible adult. And if she does decide to have them on her show I hope and pray that they realize it's not a black or white issue the issue is about saving and properly guiding our children.
ReplyDeleteThis is what I don't get. You say, you don't like rap music because it degrades women and blah, blah, blah. But you admit to liking 50 cents. Has Oprah read the news lately, about this brother? I take nothing away from 50 because he is talented when it comes to music. But you let him up on Oprah's high class show with all them white people. What! It woulld be a rude awaking. I would definitely watch that show. She let this crackhead James Frey on the show but, she can't invited Ice Cube. I've come to realize that Oprah is all about money.
ReplyDelete