Free Republic

The fatal shooting of rapper Half Ounce has ignited a familiar conversation about gun violence, rap culture and whether there’s a responsibility for record labels to protect their artists. The 32-year-old rapper, whose real name was Latauriisha O’Brien, was killed in Los Angeles’ Koreatown neighborhood Monday, just weeks after rapper PnB Rock was fatally shot during a robbery in the same city. These rappers are part of a string of artists who have died by gun violence, with at least one rapper being fatally shot every year since 2018. With other high-profile rappers such as Drakeo the Ruler, who was...

“The small drug users who were diseased and locked away deserve it? Bill Clinton u owe the black community and black lives matter an apology,” Def Jam Recordings co-founder says Russell Simmons was not impressed with Bill Clinton’s comments about the Black Lives Matter movement — and let the former president know it. “The small drug users who were diseased and locked away deserve it? Bill Clinton u owe the black community and black lives matter an apology,” the Def Jam Recordings co-founder and Phat Farm founder tweeted Thursday night. Simmons also linked out to a report on NPR detailing...

An Oakland man who was kidnapped for ransom on Thursday night was found safe in a nearby city Friday morning locked in the trunk of a car when officers arrested two suspects in the incident, police said. The victim, a single male adult, had his hands and feet bound by the suspects but only suffered minor injuries and is now at home with family members, according to Officer Frank Bonifacio. Lt. Nishant Joshi said the victim told police he didn't know why he was kidnapped but authorities believe he was targeted. He said police are trying to determine if there...

He flashed gang signs in selfies, posted a photo of a Smith & Wesson on his Facebook page, and had a rap sheet even a veteran street gangster could be proud of. And now he’s been murdered — at age 14. Bronx seventh-grader Christopher Duran was stalked and gunned down on a sidewalk near his Bronx home Friday morning — the victim, cops believe, of gang violence. “He was a gangbanger,” one law-enforcement source said of Christopher, a child known in his Morrisania neighborhood as already well on the road to doom when he was shot dead. “He terrorized the...

With few exceptions, the reporters for the mainstream media are reprobate and void of any semblance of truth and/or integrity. They are cultural Marxists doing their very best to promote racial acrimony. I searched articles by mainstream media reporters pursuant to the murder of Jim Stuhlman of the Overbrook section of Philadelphia. Three black teenagers gunned down Mr. Stuhlman as he walked his dog. He begged for his life pleading with them “Please don’t shoot me, please don’t shoot me” – ultimately to no avail. Tyfine Hamilton age 15, Brandon Smith also age 15, and at the time of this...

Snoop Dogg, Aloe Blacc and Los Angeles Clippers forward Matt Barnes are among the numerous entertainers, athletes and tech leaders supporting the "#ImUnloading" movement, which calls for individuals with 401Ks to divest from the gun industry. The campaign is a partnership between Unload Your 401K and anti-violence movement No Guns Allowed.

A mall in Ocoee, Florida, has been forced to impose a curfew after as many as 900 black teenagers, mostly girls, stormed a theater inside the mall so they could see the sexual bondage-themed film, “Fifty Shades of Grey,” on Valentine’s Day. According to WKMG-TV in Florida, hundreds of middle- and high-school students rushed the AMC Theater at the West Oaks Mall after not being allowed into the R-rated movie. Some reports indicate the riot was organized on social media weeks in advance.

Ferguson demonstrators to march 120 miles to Missouri state capital By Daniel Wallis and Edward McAllister FERGUSON, Missouri (Reuters) - Activists gathered in Ferguson, Missouri, on Saturday to begin a 120-mile march to the state capital Jefferson City to protest the killing of an unarmed black teen by a white police officer, a case that has rekindled a national debate over U.S. race relations. About 100 people were expected to take part in the seven-day march organized by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), with more joining segments of the long walk, NAACP staff member Jamiah...

FERGUSON PROTESTS MOVE TO TARGET, WAL-MART STORES MANCHESTER, Mo. (AP) -- Dozens of people have interrupted holiday shopping at major retail stores around the St. Louis area to speak out about a grand jury's decision not to indict the officer who fatally shot Michael Brown. The protests began Thanksgiving night and continued early Friday. Protesters spent a few minutes at each store, shouting inside. Officer in at least one store ordered them to leave. There was no immediate word of any arrests. According to Johnetta Elzie, who had been tweeting and posting videos of the protests, demonstrations occurred at a...

What Conservative Hasn't Made This Conclusion? It's just a matter of putting two & two together. Remember the threats to burn down Macys? And the latest protests in Los Angeles? The OWS Protesters have already given us the message whereas if they don't get their way, They Will Retaliate !!! Aren't you surprised this possible link hasn't been mentioned on the news yet? Then again, do you think the MSM will blame the Tea Party for the fires and upcoming acts of burning down cars and homes?

They call it Bula Bakti, the Carcass Dump. Here, in 37-degree heat, we help to dig a grave for Osman, a seven-month old boy, who died of starvation in his mother’s arms the previous night. It is 12.45pm on Saturday, and before Osman’s body is committed to the earth, his mother brings us to her home — a hut made from tree branches tied together into a dome and covered with bits of plastic for a roof. Osman’s body lays on the mud floor; his mother, Mumini Ibrahim, sitting beside it, with Osman’s twin sister Kadida nestled against her breast....

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- First lady Michelle Obama vowed Monday to "take no prisoners" as she and her husband launch an unprecedented bid for Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid. "It's a battle -- we're going to win -- take no prisoners," the first lady said with a smile at a roundtable discussion with reporters in the White House State Dining Room. She compared the intense lobbying effort to the 2008 presidential campaign, noting that in the election campaign, a lot of voters made their decision in the final days. She said members of the International Olympic Committee may do the same.

Dozens of gangster girls playing hooky from school battled each other in a bloody knife fight on the streets of Brooklyn yesterday afternoon that ended with two teens hospitalized and two more arrested on assault charges, cops said.

SAVANNAH, Mo. (AP) -- Two northwest Missouri men have been charged with making a rap video that threatens to kill police officers, harm a judge and rape a female police officer. Police said the profanity-laced video, which has been pulled from the social networking Internet site YouTube, also threatens the destruction of a community. Kenneth Darrell Black Jr. and Benjamin D. Stevens, both 20, face felony charges of making a terroristic threat, conspiring to commit second-degree assault with a gun against law enforcement officers, conspiracy to commit rape and tampering with a judicial officer. They also face a misdemeanor charge...

Thousands of dollars in Michael Vick jersey's hang in limbo at a North Augusta sports store. A container with dozens more, still waiting for customers. "We don't know what we're going to do. We know we can't sell it for anything close to retail. We're either going to give it away at $10.00 or 80% off or just throw it away," SMS Sportsworld manager Bobby Sheridan said. Vick's Footballs on display, but no takers. Boxes of Vick's new football cleats, still taped up. SMS Sports World, sending back the leather. "No one is interested at all," Sheridan said. Since the...

Las Vegas police are reporting a high number of arrests over NBA All-Star weekend. As of Sunday, nearly 300 people involved in N-B-A-related festivities have been booked into the Clark County Detention Center since Thursday. Police say the arrests range from outstanding warrants, trespassing, battery burglary, loitering and disorderly conduct. That number doesn't include 400 or so routine arrests police make in a 48-hour period. Thousands of people have poured into the city for tonight's game -- and the dozens of related parties.

ESPN's: Match the Bengal to the Crime

NEW ORLEANS -- With at least eight slayings in the city in the first week of the new year, officials are considering a curfew to help stem the violence, the police superintendent said Saturday. "It's something we're just sort of talking about, to see if that will make a difference," police Superintendent Warren Riley said. Mayor Ray Nagin, meanwhile, urged residents not to leave the city, still rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina, because of the recent killings. He said the slayings could be a tipping point that "galvanizes our community" to find solutions. Some residents have called for a march on...

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Cincinnati Bengals fans annoyed by bad behavior in the stands can now report it by cell phone. The hot line number should be easy to remember -- (513) 381-JERK. Fans using too much foul language will get a warning from stadium security. Those who continue could be ejected and have their season tickets and personal seat licenses taken away. More serious offenses could lead to arrest. The team doesn't want to become the "curse police," but expects fans to behave themselves, said Bob Bedinghaus, the Bengals' director of development for Paul Brown Stadium.

A teenager was shot in the back Friday night a block away from a peace rally in north Minneapolis that about 1,500 people attended. As the rally at 25th and Humboldt Avs. N. came to a close just before 9 p.m., a fight broke out at 25th and Girard and a 16-year-old male was shot, said police Lt. Greg Reinhardt. The boy was taken to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale with non-life-threatening injures. Organizers were distressed that the rally ended on a violent note. "For all of us, we understood that that's the reason we had come," said organizer...