Vybz Kartel Isn't The Only One With A Skin Bleaching Issue!

Vybz Kartel is a hardcore gangster style Jamaican DJ. So, I was surprised to learn that he wants to be lighter. He defended the use of skin bleach by pointing out that no one makes a fuss when a person seeks darker skin by getting a tan. Mr. Kartel says that he has the right to alter the color of his skin.

Unfortunately, this is a world-wide epidemic. Jamaica is in the spotlight as of late. But, the desire to have the fairest skin of all has been happening in Asia, Africa, Europe,etc... I wish that were not the case in the 21st century. I love my dark,velvety skin. You couldn't pay me to lighten my skin.

Here's more on this topic from The New Black Magazine:

"Skin-whitening or skin-bleaching is a practice whereby women - and some men - use various forms of skin-whitening products in order to make their skin appear as white as possible.

As an anti-aging therapy, skin-whitening promises to "restore" as well as to"transform" the aging skins of women and make them smooth, wrinkle-free-younger-looking. In this context, the natural aging process is systematically framed as a pathological condition which must be interrupted through measures such as "elective surgery" and or by bleaching out the signs of aging such as "age spots."

In this way, in the case of white women, skin-whitening is presented as a legitimate intervention designed to 'cure' and mitigate the disease of aging. Skin-whitening as a biomedical intervention is predicated on the pathologization of the natural aging processes in all women, white women in particular.

At least in the United States, racially white eastern and southern European women have used skin-whitening in order to appear as 'white' as their 'Anglo-Saxon' "native" white sisters. In the United States, women of colour also have practiced skin-whitening.

Many of the early skin-bleaching commodities such as Nodinalina skin bleaching cream, a product which has been in the US market since 1889, contained 10 per cent ammoniated mercury. Mercury is a highly toxic agent with serious health implications. According to Kathy Peiss , in 1930, a single survey found advertising for 232 different brand names of skin-bleaching creams promoted in mainstream magazines to mainly white women consumers in the United States.

If dark-skinned eastern and southern Europeans can "pass" for white with a little help from skin-bleaching creams, those with sufficiently light skin tones but who are legally categorized as racially black by their invisible " one drop" of "black blood", could also "pass" for white as well. The "appearance of whiteness" is the key to accessing the exclusive cultural and economic privileges whiteness accrues.

The fear of the infiltration of "invisible' blackness has fuelled both the marketing strategies of industry and the anxieties of white women that they may not appear "white enough". (END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here.

Rest In Peace Nate Dogg!

Man, I cannot believe that Nate Dogg has died. I know that he had some health issues,but I didn't think that he would die anytime soon. Now,the gangster with the suave singing voice will be collaborating with Tupac in the here after. Even though he's gone, Nate Dogg's voice will continue to "Regulate" for ever more. Rest in peace, Nate Dogg.

Here's more from The BoomBox:

"While news of Nate Dogg's death continues to sink in, the hip-hop and R&B world have turned to social networking sites to send their condolences. From Nate's musical acquaintances to those touched by his legacy, the likes of Snoop Dogg, Game, 50 Cent, Drake, Trey Songz, Monica and Erykah Badu all used Twitter as a way to express kind words about the 41-year-old crooner.

"We lost a true legend n hip hop n rnb. One of my best friends n a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at poly high where we met," tweeted Snoop, who grew up with Nate in Long Beach, Calif. "I love u buddy luv. U will always b wit me 4ever n a day u put the g n g funk u put the 1 n 213 n u put yo stamp on evrybdy u ever didit wit. I miss u cuzz I am so sad but so happy I got to grow up wit u and I will c u again n heaven cuz u know d slogan all doggs go to heaven yo homie n baby brotha bigg snoopdogg [sic]!!"

Besides posting Twitter sentiments, rapper Game released a statement regarding the untimely passing of Nate Dogg, who joined the Compton native on the track 'Where I'm From.' "We lost a great peer in the business," Game told The BoomBox. "I will always remember the time I spent in the studio with him. He was very encouraging and professional. I will miss his voice, presence and advice. He's a part of Hip Hop's rich history. My heart & condolences goes out to his family."(END OF EXCERPT) Read more here.

Buju Banton Is Facing 15 Years In Prison!!

I haven't been updating this blog for quite some time. Since I am a avid reggae fan,I couldn't leave my two cents out when it comes to Buju Banton. I can't believe that he got himself in such a precarious situation. And I hate that another black man is going to prison because of drugs.

Buju Banton has tried to maintain his innocence, but it was all to no avail. He was found guilty on almost all of the cocaine charges that he was facing. I agree with all of the reggae artists who have expressed the following sentiment. This is truly"the saddest day for reggae and dance-hall". Here's more on this story from The Huffington Post:

"Prosecutors acknowledge that Banton did not put any money into the drug deal, nor did he ever profit from it. Markus said his client is "a big talker" who admitted to trying to impress the confidential informant but wasn't involved in any drug deal.

Much of the case hinged on meetings and phone calls that were video- and audiotaped by the informant, who was working with the Drug Enforcement Administration – and who made $50,000 in commission after the bust.

In one video, Banton could be seen tasting cocaine in a Sarasota warehouse on Dec. 8, 2009 – but he was not present during the actual drug deal on Dec. 10 that led two others to be arrested. Those two men later pleaded guilty.

Banton testified that that the informant badgered him after they met on a trans-Atlantic flight in July 2009 and insisted that they meet to set up a cocaine purchase. He said he was so uninterested in the informant's proposals that after they met twice, Banton didn't return the man's phone calls for months.

In Banton's native Jamaica, radio stations played his songs nonstop Tuesday, especially "Untold Stories" and "Not an Easy Road."

Rapper Tony Rebel, a close friend who recorded with Banton, called it a sad day for young people who looked up to him.

The verdict marks "the saddest day for reggae and dancehall," rapper Michael "Power Man" Davy said, adding he was "sad as a Rastaman and a Jamaican."

Singer Junior Reid called it a conspiracy against reggae artists.

"With Buju gone, a big piece of reggae get chop off," he said."(END OF EXCERPT) Read more here.