Trouble paying your credit card bills? Your card issuer is standing by to help.

Major credit card companies will launch a Web site and toll free number Wednesday for consumers wrestling with daunting balances. [Forbes]

Hmm. I’m going to call but since my current card in bogus question is going through an M&A, I may have a better chance talking to fresh ears in 2 weeks.

How much would you pay for Lil Jon’s 12-pound “Crunk Ain’t Dead” pendant, which holds the Guinness Book of World Records mark as the largest diamond pendant ever? You can get your shot at the signature piece during the Hip-Hop’s Crown Jewels auction from the contemporary art auction house Phillips de Pury & Company, which will take place March 5 in New York. [Bossip via MTV]

Most of the paper thrown in the air is fiat, paper backed in debt. Actual money means nothing and with the value of the dollar dropping everyday and possibly plummeting off news of this bailout, why would rappers give up one of the only things they own of actual value?

Lil’ Jon’s Crunk Ain’t Dead pendant is actually worth more than the stack of money he paid for it. Hell it might be more than a trunk of paper after next week. Is this the continuing influence to use rappers to brainwash the impressionable public mindset? I know the dumbing down process is officially complete, to the point people are defending and justifying stupidity but damn. First it started with this fake anti-diamond movement a few years back, before then, rappers made it trendy to buy platinum and drop gold. When in fact platinum and in a lot of cases diamonds, like money are only as valuable as the limit of its circulation. Gold however? It will never drop off, until we get hungry or thirsty.

So like dummies, people around me went to the pawnshop to turn in their gold, to buy platinum. And made fun of the notion of gold being played out. Pay attention sheep. Platinum, diamonds, none of that mess was ever put on money. Before our money was backed by debt, it was valued across the globe by gold. Gold Standards are what used to drive the economy here. Hell, it used to be to be printed on the money. Before then, they shot people who would not give it up for the value of gold, not to snatch and post on youtube like a trophy. Now for gaudy jewelry, they know the Hip Hop culture is the only one that would have large massive collections of this. They know they’ve created drones to do and say without thinking in Hip Hop. Name some cornball to have a 6 inch gold heribone or cuban links chain? And that’s if anyone returned to gold again.

So is this a plot to lure people to assume jewelry has no value? Will people turn their hard proof money into, fiat backed dollars? The sad thing, most of the hip hop community thinks this is good and altruistic. Or proof of this nicknamed economy called recession.My point exactly.

I’m not buying and it smells fishy to me. I hope this is just a concept. I really do. As messed up as that stuff is, gold will be the only thing they would pass down that will remain valuable if the economy collapses. Melt it down, put in holdings and write a check instead.

Of course the gala is a fundraiser event so, if you’ve been enjoying the pictures al over the gossip boards, at least visit the site and maybe even donate a few dollars.

To find out more and donate, visit New Yorkers For Children [Official Site]

[img via Bossip]

At first, it seemed noble to come up with a controversial name to make a point. There was a media frenzy around the release solely off the name, kudos to alarm,very Faux News btw. Instant publicity right? Wekk, I felt should have made 500K in the first week based on the notoriety and outrage. Nope, so what his next shock factor for publicity/album sales? Hate on a common-denominator. Like Kanye’s infamous “George Bush Doesn’t Like Black People” comment, Nas goes to Fox News to protest, racist tactics, album sales boost within hours if not days of comment. Something most of young album buying America generally agrees with and something thats pretty hard to not assume or deny. I mean, love puppies, we can all agree on that right?

Now Nas can obviously disagree with Fox and whole heartily stand behind it but, having a track on his album, makes the timing a bit ironic. The end result an instant increase in album sales, free news coverage…very Al Sharpton.

Granted its not like Ice Cube’s ploy to time the launch of his album with making comments on how he want to physically fight the president. But, there seems to be a trend with making “social” stances on things most of America agree’s with, but only around the time of a music event or album release. It worked for Kanye/Rhymefest’s Jesus Walks and it worked for Will.i.Am’s Yes We Can.

Kanye also has a sudden burst of concern for the troops by teaming up with MTV, called “Homecoming,” like his album, to welcome home troops. All and all it sounds noble but, the use of a channel like MTV makes the cause seem a exploited. It was CNN, something low key, it would seem more like a selfless act but, MTV is never known for doing anything without high ad sales. Kanye himself has and never having a history of publicly promoting troop love, it just seems odd and makes me wonder is this for his concert or an upcoming promotion for something. Either way, hope these guys get that money and get that publicity, I can’t be mad at them for that, as long as they act as if they’d do it for free (lol yeah right). Then again, it just seems that way.

So this is how she messed up a good thing:
- This chick was getting over 20 thousand a month to just chill, messed it up.
- She was living rent free in a mansion, messed it up (and i suspect, she set it on fire when she had to pay rent). Its not really hers to care.
- making a public matter that makes people, who even hate 50, defend him
- Getting financial and litigation advice from other hoodrats.

The last note is obvious since she is sueing him with his own money; thinking if she burns the house down and sue for 50 Million she would get her “owed” money hook or by crook. Her 20 pairs of Baby Phat jeans and 3 gucci purses couldn’t have added up to that much.

Here is the deal, if she was a real hustler, she would have started a business to have an undeniable lifestyle that required the kind of money she asked for. Buying 2 million jars or brown hair gel and cheetos can not add up.
.
She doest own anything. What kills me, people are always blinding in support of BM’s but no one ever thinks, hmmm. when the kid hits 18…what will they do then?

If I didn’t know any better, I’d think she was getting paid by 50 himself, to create drama for 50 during his album sales…either way, despite it all, the kid stays out the limelight, and used to managing drama…i mean, his dad is 50. This is the same kid who started his career playing with a Ja Rule doll.

“Write the check before the baby comes, who the hell cares” – 50 Cent in I Get Money

(Marketing) Rage Prevention 101 [Bossip]

More proof, even the experts have to plan for inflation [Bloomberg]
Okay, Now Their Messing with My “Africa” [CNN.com]

The Fifth Fuel [Forbes]

U.K Television living in parallel world [Guardian]

Barrel of Gas…Up Up & Away [Money.com]

Forbes Fail Proof Budget Advice [Forbes.com]

Atom Smaher, a worm hole? Nah says scientist [Foxnews.com]

But, Jay-Z has my mentality in the whole matter, instead of complaining about the surface, look further, this situation is 3 dimensional. His children and his fiancee’. So, when I’m randomly reading and heard about Jay-Z developing a trust for his kids, I said, this is what its really about, being strong and truly supporting and PROVIDING for a messed up situation. Especially when everyone wants you to feel defeat for their excitement, or to feel important. It got me thinking, if neighborhoods developed trust for families who lost family members, would there be more value of respect for one another? I can say we have that in our family and I’m sure old school Black communities did it but, would it work now? Or would a reverend pocket the cash?

Regardless, talk and protesting is cheap. The best protest is for no Black man to die by another Black man for a month (cause a year is pretty damn hard). Who knows it might stop a trend. On some, “I’m not going to help you get rid of us. We ain’t going no where.” That message might mean something.

Jay-Z Develops A Trust

With all the hype about China and Tibetan monk human rights violations, people are confused about whether they should support the olympics. Some even suggested American sit out in protest. Now olympics is a huge money maker when the games are surrounded with controversy, or good competition. To me, that is one in the same. I thought about the games when the Nazi’s hosted…..the NAZI’s. And I don’t know how shady China really is (at face value), as of now, they are no where close to mirroring Nazi regime in their prime.

But, despite the problem, not only did America participate, we whooped them…bad. And not only did we beat them in nearly every competition, Black athletes and a few Jewish ones did….bad. And they hated Black folks just as much as the Jewish community. Despite inequality in America, many Americans forwarded their racial feeling to trump an agreeable evil. The Furor.

We could have easily said we don’t agree with what they are doing so, let’s quit but, America decided to humiliate them and trump their “master race.” The defeating of them during that time, gave the world unified hope. I think we could learn a lesson from this, if Tibet who’s known for matrix style acrobats joined in this olympics in large numbers, or even fought though the power of sports, I think it would have an equally resonating message over a crowd of yuppies, whooping the ass of a jogging, torch carrying librarian.

The foundation, designed to expose underprivileged children to art, honored four ”great givers” to the community: local real estate developer Don Peebles, financial guru Suze Orman and musical artists Wyclef Jean and John Legend. More than $575,000 was raised.

What’s even better about this, not only is it a good tax right off *wink*, the contributors are genuinely into contributing to art and children’s talents…no posing. When I think of the individuals I believe them. And if you’ve never had the opportunity to see a piece or two from Danny Simmons, you need to, he’s got some serious mind pieces that make you discuss.

Official Art For Life Site