Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. (born October 20, 1971), better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, marijuana activist, actor and entertainer. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre’s most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school. Shortly after graduation, he was arrested for cocaine possession and spent six months in Wayside County Jail. His music career began in 1992 after his release when he was discovered by Dr. Dre. He collaborated on several tracks on Dre’s solo debut, The Chronic and on the titular theme song to the film Deep Cover. Snoop’s debut album Doggystyle, was released in 1993 under Death Row Records debuting at No.1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts. Selling almost a million copies in the first week of its release, Doggystyle quickly became certified quadruple platinum in 1994 and spawned several hit singles, including “What’s My Name” and “Gin & Juice”. In 1994, Snoop released a soundtrack on Death Row Records for the short film Murder Was The Case, starring himself. In early 1996, Snoop Dogg was cleared of charges over his bodyguard’s 1993 murder of Philip Woldemariam. His second album, late 1996′s Tha Doggfather, also debuted at No.1 on both charts with Snoop’s Upside Ya Head as the lead single. The album sold only half as well, being certified double platinum in 1997. Tha Doggfather was his last release for Death Row …
ATTALLA, Ala. — Savannah Hardin’s life was in turmoil long before police say the 9-year-old was run to death by her grandmother and stepmother for allegedly lying about some candy she ate. Divorce and custody documents filed in family court over a period of several years reflect a history of fractured family relationships, with Savannah’s divorced parents fighting over her welfare; claims of mental instability and abuse between her father and his second wife; medical problems that required frequent doctor visits; and counseling for the girl who still somehow managed to remain among the top students in her third-grade class. Authorities say Savannah’s life ended in exhaustion earlier this month when she was forced by her paternal grandmother, Joyce Hardin Gerrard, to run for three hours, while her stepmother, Jessica Mae Hardin, did nothing to stop it. The grandmother prodded her along cruelly, and the stepmother didn’t intervene until Savannah collapsed in an unconscious heap, investigators say. Now, Hardin Garrard is in jail and Savannah’s stepmother is being held in police custody at a hospital after giving birth to another child. Both have been charged with murder. Jessica Mae Hardin’s attorneys, Morgan Cunningham and Vince Pentecost, said in a statement Friday that Hardin was “incredibly devastated over Savannah’s death” and they would prove her innocence. “Unfortunately, whenever a child passes away, our society wants to place blame, our media wants to sensationalize … Video Rating: 5 / 5
Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup (August 24, 1905 — March 28, 1974) was a delta blues singer and guitarist. He is best known outside blues circles for writing songs later covered by Elvis Presley and dozens of other artists, such as “That’s All Right” (1946)[1], “My Baby Left Me” and “So Glad You’re Mine.” Arthur Crudup was born in Forest, Mississippi in 1905. For a time he lived and worked throughout the South and Midwest as a migrant worker. He and his family returned to Mississippi in 1926. He sang gospel, then began his career as a blues singer around Clarksdale, Mississippi. As a member of the Harmonizing Four he visited Chicago in 1939. Crudup stayed in Chicago to work as a solo musician, but barely made a living as a street singer. Record producer Lester Melrose allegedly found him while he was living in a packing crate, introduced him to Tampa Red and signed him to a recording contract with RCA Victor’s Bluebird label. He recorded with RCA in the late 1940s and with Ace Records, Checker Records and Trumpet Records in the early 1950s and toured throughout the country, specifically black establishments in the South, with Sonny Boy Williamson II and Elmore James (around 1948). He also recorded under the names Elmer James and Percy Lee Crudup. He was popular in the South with records such as “Mean Old ‘Frisco Blues”, “Who’s Been Foolin’ You” and “That’s All Right”. Crudup stopped recording in the 1950s, however, after further battles over royalties. His last Chicago session … Video Rating: 4 / 5
ATTALLA, Alabama At a doublewide trailer along a dirt road in rural Alabama, authorities say 9-year-old Savannah Hardin was forced to run for three hours as punishment for having lied to her grandmother about eating candy bars. The severely dehydrated girl had a seizure and her death days later was ruled a homicide. Her grandmother and stepmother who police say meted out the punishment are in jail, facing murder charges Wednesday. Witnesses told deputies that Savannah was told to run and not allowed to stop for three hours on Friday, an Etowah County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman said. The girl’s stepmother, 27-year-old Jessica Mae Hardin, called police at 6:45 pm, telling them that Savannah was having a seizure and was unresponsive. Neighbor Roger Simpson said he saw a little girl running at around 4 pm, but didn’t see anybody chasing or coercing her. “I saw her running down there, that’s what I told the detectives,” Simpson said from his home on a hill overlooking the Hardins. “But I don’t see how that would kill her.” Authorities are still trying to determine whether Savannah was forced to run by physical coercion or by verbal commands. Deputies were told the girl was forced to run after lying to her grandmother, 46-year-old Joyce Hardin Garrard, about having eaten the candy, sheriff’s office spokeswoman Natalie Barton said. Savannah Hardin died Monday at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s release says … Video Rating: 4 / 5
“California Love” is a hip hop song by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman. The song was released as 2Pac’s comeback single upon his release from prison in 1995. A popular remix version of the song appeared on his 1996 double album All Eyez on Me. This is perhaps 2Pac’s best-known song and his most successful, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks (as a Double-A side single with “How Do U Want It”). The song was nominated for a posthumous Grammy Award as a Best Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (with Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman) in 1997. The song was actually written and performed by Roger Troutman in the Original Version of California Love, Tupac and Dr. Dre made a modern day version of the song. The original version of the track was not available on any of Shakur’s studio albums, but it can now be found on Shakur’s compilation of Greatest Hits. The tune was adapted from Joe Cocker’s song “Woman to Woman”, and “California knows how to party” lines listing Los Angeles County neighborhoods are sung by Roger Troutman. The vocals “In the City of Compton” and the other cities and “California knows how to party” is adapted from Ronnie Hudson and the Street People’s “West Coast Poplock”. The remix features sample from the song “Intimate Connection” by Kleeer written by Norman Durham and Woody Cunningham. “California Love” was Shakur’s only entry on Rolling Stone’s 2004 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, ranked … Video Rating: 4 / 5
Two retired Lucas County sheriff’s deputies are headed to federal prison for crimes associated with the death of a jail inmate. The prison terms come from the month-long federal trial of Sheriff James Telb and three of his employees over the 2004 death of Lucas County jail inmate Carlton Benton. While the sheriff and an investigator were found innocent, former deputy Jay Schmeltz and retired jail sergeant John Gray now will be on the other side of prison bars at a federal lockup in Milan, Mich. Retired Lucas County sheriff’s deputy Jay Schmeltz walked out of the US District courthouse a free man, but only temporarily. Schmeltz will serve one year and one day in federal prison for falsifying records in connection with the death of Benton after a sleeper hold rendered the inmate unconscious. Retired jail sergeant John Gray also left the courthouse a free man temporarily, surrounded by his family. The 72-year old also is headed to federal prison for three years, despite suffering diabetes and arthritis. A federal judge sentenced Gray on two counts of falsifying records and failing to seek medical attention for Benton after applying the sleeper hold to subdue the unruly inmate. Video Rating: 0 / 5
