All posts by ilosm

In a recent interview, former Bad Boy rapper-turned Belize politician, “Shyne” Barrow shared his side of the story regarding the infamous 1999 NYC club shooting, in which he claims to have taken the fall for someone else. The incident, which involved music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, has resurfaced due to a lawsuit filed by producer, Rodney Jones, against Diddy. Shyne, who served around 8 years in prison for the shooting, maintains his innocence while acknowledging the reopening of old wounds.

Speaking to the 7News Belize, in Belize, where he now serves as an elected member of the House of Representatives, Shyne opened up about the lasting impact of the incident. Despite his reluctance to directly implicate Diddy, he firmly stands by his claim that he was the “fall guy” in that ’99 shooting ordeal:

“He says that the gentleman confessed to the shooting. And that is what stands out to me the most, because, you know, I’ve done my best to put it behind me and to move forward. And so but it certainly reopens the wounds that I’ve been saying this all along. Everyone knew all along that I was the fall guy.”

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Natania Reuben, who was paid $1.8M by Diddy after 1999 nightclub shooting, claims Puffy flattened her tires seven times.

“Not only did he pew pew me in the face, he also set off a course of harassment against me for the past 24 years.”pic.twitter.com/HWErKhELWn

— Kollege Kidd (@KollegeKidd) February 29, 2024

The incident occurred during Diddy’s relationship with Jennifer Lopez, who was present that night but was never accused or charged with any crime. Despite encouraging people to watch Reuben’s videos, Shyne does not explicitly endorse her remarks. Nevertheless, he continues to maintain a cordial relationship with Diddy and appreciates his contributions to Belize over the years. The two even performed together in Europe last year.

This renewed examination of the shooting is part of an ongoing federal investigation into Diddy’s activities. While he denies all the allegations brought against him and has not been charged with any crime, the incident continues to be a subject of intense scrutiny.

Shyne’s claim of being the “fall guy” in the 1999 Diddy-involved shooting sheds light on the lingering controversies surrounding the incident. With Natania Reuben’s unwavering accusations against Diddy, the narrative takes on additional layers of complexity.  Thoughts  I Love Old School Music fam?’

Model and Baby Phat co-founder, Kimora Lee Simmons, opened up about the challenges of raising her children as the single mother she says she’s had no choice but to be. With five children from past relationships –including two daughters, Ming Lee and Aoki Simmons, with Russell Simmons; son, Kenzo, with actor, Djimon Hounsou; son, Wolfe, with ex-husband, Tim Leisner, an investment banker/former Goldman Sachs exec; and one adopted Son, Gary — Kimora claims that none of her children’s fathers are actively involved in their lives.

Kimora Calls Out Her Exes

Kimora called out all of three of her children’d fathers in an interview with Bustle…

“I have beautiful children, but our necessity for [men] in our life is very minimal,” Kimora candidly shared. “It’s not all that it’s cracked up to be. It’s not giving what it was supposed to have gave!”

At the age of 23, Kimora married Russell, but their marriage ended while their children were still young. She then had a five-year relationship with Djimon, in her 30s; and later married Tim, from 2014 until last year — after finding out through court documents that Tim was already married to another woman. Anywho, she emphasized that she does not co-parent with any of her children’s fathers and hasn’t spoken to Russell in years.

Reflecting on her past relationships, Kimora voiced her disappointment and referred to her exes as “con artists”:

“I’m so bruised by it all. I feel like I’ve run into con artists every step of the way.”

Kimora says even though it may seem like she is the “common denominator” she is rebuking that assumption to the fullest. Instead, she believes it has more to do with her personality and her stance in society. She described a pattern with powerful men who seem impressive on the surface, but hide their insecurities:

“It looks like, ‘Well, it’s all you, all fingers point to you, lady. You’re the one.’ I guess it is me, but I think it has more to do with my personality or my stance in society. Something about powerful men and how they really appear to be powerful and big and this and that. But they’re nursing an ego inside of there. Not just these men, any men. Men, powerful men, famous men, rich men, business rich men, whatever you want to call it. There’s a thing there and I don’t know what it is, but I don’t really have a great relationship with any of them and they’ve left me to it to just kind of do things on my own. I do everything on my own. Like I say, I’m a single mom.”

In 2019…DJimon Hounsou Called Out Kimora Over Their Son

Although Kimora says none of her kids’ fathers are in their lives, it seems that as of 2019 Djimon was fighting like hell to be there for their son. Djimon was interviewed outside of what appeared to be a courthouse, where he was clearly pissed off with Kimora regarding their then-10-year-old son, Kenzo. At that time, Djimon claimed that Kimora was keeping him away from Kenzo. Soon afterward he filed for joint custody of their son.

And get this…in the midst of the Djimon-Kimora drama, Russell and Kimora were still great friends. Russell even attempted to facilitate a resolution between Kimora and Djimon regarding Kenzo. Not sure what resulted from Djimon’s custody battle, but just thought it was interesting how things have seemingly drastically changed…based on Kimora’s latest reveals about her exes.

All in all, it would be a beautiful thing if Kimora and her exes – Russell, Djimon, and Tim – are eventually able to reach a peaceful resolution for the sake of their children.

In a recent viral video, Lil’ Kim has raised eyebrows and fueled speculation about her love life. The 49-year-old rap legend appeared on Instagram Live alongside a reportedly 24-year-old rapper, leading many to question the nature of their relationship.

The clip, shared on Instagram by user @livebitez, shows Lil’ Kim sportin’ black sunglasses and an Adidas ensemble. To the surprise of viewers…rapper, Tayy Brown (who’s said to be 24), can be seen putting his arm around her –and not in a mentor/mentee type of way, if you catch my drift– igniting rumors of a possible romance between the two.

During the Live session, Lil’ Kim shared details about attending an Adidas party and showcased her outfit to the camera. She playfully turned to Tayy, asking if he could see her attire, while simultaneously referring to him as “babe”:

“This is Adidas. Let me show you,” Lil Kim said to Tayy while turning her back to the camera to show the audience. “…Can you see it, babe? Wait, make sure you can see it ’cause I can’t.”

 

 

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Fans Sound Off

As y’all could imagine, the video has since sparked a variety of reactions on social media, with many calling Lil’ Kim out over their age gap, as well as their perceived flirtation and/or alleged relationship. However, a few folks expressed a more light-hearted perspective, joking about the generation gap and highlighting the changing dynamics of relationships in modern times:

One commenter wrote, “Can’t nobody born in 2000 anything have a discussion with me outside of “Welcome to Popeye’s.”

“What is going on with all these grown ass women dating these little boys that could be their sons I don’t understand it. I have a son that is 24 years old. I will be pissed to see him with a 50-year-old,” wrote another.

“As a woman of a particular age (same as hers), I COULD NEVER!!!,” declared another.

Referring to Lil Kim’s 1996 hit, “Crush On You”, one commenter wrote, “He wasn’t even born when you came over with the bag of of the lethal 😩😩😩😩.”

Comparing the 44-year age gap of 24-year-old Aoki Simmon’s (Russell Simmons and Kinora Lee Simmon’s daughter) recent relationship with 65-year-old restauranteur, Vittorio Assaf, another commenter wrote, “Her and Aoki Lee Simmons need to switch men 😂”

And there’s more…

“Dating someone would could mathematically be your gran son is wild,” read one comment.

“How does somebody that young even catch her interest like I don’t be understanding these females mindsets but let me mind my business 😂,” wrote another.

“A lot of the older women are going younger. Folks loved when Stella got her groove back so let Kim give him that hardcore he*d,” concluded a commenter who defended Lil Kim.

Lil Kim’s Seemingly Affectionate Happy Birthday Tribute To Her Rumored Young Bae

 

 

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In February 2024 Lil’ Kim also celebrated Tayy Brown’s reportedly 24th birthday with what seemed to be a lovey-dovey type of post. Her caption read as follows:

“I know this post is a little late but I was blessed enough to spend ur whole birthday with U and we’re still celebrating 🍾🥂💃🕺

Our bond is so perfectly matched in the most organic way. I kno it was God that brought us 2gether.”

She continued:

“If ppl only knew how big of a role u play in my life and in my career. If they only knew ur a big part of the reason the beehive is getting new music right now. U are my motivation and that voice that is always cheering me on. Ur so intelligent and such a boss. If they only knew the things we figure out 2gether, how we can talk with our eyes and be on the same page. How we are each others rock, the late night talks, the gut wrenching laughs we share, the arguments, the debates. U get on my nerves sometimes 🙄 😩 but it also brings me great pleasure to annoy u cause I’m annoying 👋 Hi
Even after I annoy u, u always give me the biggest smile. Which if anyone knows u, they know that u barely do and that’s why it makes me so happy to annoy u 😹 😻 It’s so weird how we became so close because it happened out of nowhere but I’m really proud of what we’re building and most of all the unconditional love we have for each other. Ur a sweet gangsta and I love it! I always want the best for u and I wanna see u go all the way to the top where u belong. U deserve it. My twinn, my bestfrennn. So proud to call u my artist. I Love u 4 Ever @realtayybrown 🫶❤️❤️❤️ HBD”

If you’re still not clear on whether or not Lil’ Kim just made things ‘official’ with 24-year-old Tayy Brown…neither are we. But sometimes if a situation looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then….🤷🏾‍♂️.

Remember the kid who played Angela Bassett’s 12 year old son in How Stella Got Her Groove Back? He also starred alongside Denzel Washington in Fallen, as well as in other films such as See No Evil; The Gospel; Up, Up, and Away, and Gridiron Gang. He was a cute kid back in the day, but after seeing recent photos of him as a grown man now, we’re sure a lot of the ladies in our ILOSM fam’ will appreciate what you’re about to see.

Actor, Michael J. Pagan, is now 39 years old, so he’s legal ladies. However, it seems like just yesterday he was a kid who hadn’t even gone through puberty yet. Anyways, check out the ‘Stella’ co-star now  below and what he’s doing for a living these days…

Like we said, he’s a grown man these days…and he’s still acting and building his resume.’ According to his bio, he now wears several hats, other than just acting.

‘He has evolved from child prodigy into impresario and is currently writing and producing films.  Pagan adds the horror flicks House of Fears as Associate Producer and Chain Letter, which he wrote and produced.  He also stars in both films.  Pagan has worked with some of the biggest heavy hitters in the industry and he continues to surround himself with individuals of affluence. There are some things about Pagan you might not know.’

One movie he co-wrote was the 2010 horror film, Chain Letter. That was a hit at the box office that Michael also starred in and released under the entertainment company that he acquired from his dad in 2007 called Tigertail Entertainment.

His Views On “Maturing”

In an online post, Michael embraced the beauty of aging:
“I love maturing and getting older. My mind has grown. My purpose has been defined. Walking with way more purpose and clarity! Beyond grateful!! #focusonyourself #stepyagameup #growyourmind” – Michael J. Pagan

Female Fans Leave Thirsty Comments For Michael J. Pagan…

Of course, Michael’s female fans are leaving thirst filled messages for the brotha all over social media and some of them are hilarious. Check out a few comments below.

_brini****: you need a wife? asking for a friend
altdesig****: The fact that I’ve been in love with you for 20 years, and now I find you…and you’re thriving and still look good as hell… 😭😭😭😭
geez****: First of all why we ain’t know he was this fine fine now?
_myblackisbea*******: Damnnnn Quincy, you grew up 😂😍😍

It’s always difficult to imagine these kid actors as grown folks, if we haven’t seen them since they were still getting dropped off to school by their Mommas. Michael J. Pagan is yet another example of how time travels at damn near lightening speed. On a side note, if you were old enough to go see How Stella Got Her Groove Back by yourself (without a guardian) back in the day, you are officially Old School now. Welcome to the family.

The late O.J. Simpson and his late ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, have two children together — daughter, Sydney, and son, Justin. With all the talk that has surrounded O.J. throughout the years (ever since his 1995 murder trial), his entire family has kinda been flying under the radar.

Their daughter, Sydney Simpson, has been living a normal, low-key lifestyle ever since their Mother’s 1994 murder. But in more recent years, the reclusive Sydney was spotted in St. Petersburg, FL., walking alone in public and completely undetected by the folks passing her by on the street.

All of that obscurity is probably a welcome treat for the entire O.J. fam,’ given the cloud of controversy that consistently follows the troubled NFL’er, even after his passing on April 10, 2024. Sydney was just 8 years old when her Mom died, but she is now 38. Get your scroll on to see more recent photos of her, and to also peep what her ex-boyfriend revealed about who Sydney reportedly believes really killed her Mom.

Sydney Simpson Now

Check out O.J.’s and Nicole Brown Simpson’s daughter, Sydney. Time sure does fly, doesn’t it?

Sydney and her 35-year-old baby bro’, Justin Simpson, have both graduated from college. Sydney was an event planner at one point, and last we’d heard, she’s now owns her own business, Simpsy LLC, which according to EOnline, she ‘manages the three properties she owns’ in St. Petersburg, FL – the city in which she resides. Justin is a chef.

Sydney’s Ex Discloses About Who She Allegedly Believes Killed Her Mom

A few years ago – while O.J. was still behind bars for theft of his memorabilia in Las Vegas- Sydney’s ex-boyfriend, Stuart, did an interview with Radar Online, and revealed details about what he says Sydney told him about her opinions on her Mother’s death:

“Sydney is a real good girl and she has a good head on her shoulders,”Stuart Alexander Lee, who dated Sydney from roughly 2007 to 2012 tells Radar exclusively. “She’s not lazy. She works very hard.”

“She doesn’t understand that her story could help someone else,” Lee says. “When I was with her, I got friends in [the industry] I tried to set her up with and she said fame is a scary thing. It’s so real to tell your side of the story.”

“Everybody contacts her to speak out,” he claims. “She could be an inspiration to so many people, but she’s scared. She doesn’t understand. Hopefully one day she will.” But in private, he says, “She talked about the murders, of course. Of course she talked about it. The way she feels, she doesn’t feel like he did it.”

“They [Sydney and her brother, Justin] speculate that it was a drug deal gone bad,” Lee says. “May she rest in peace, but [Nicole’s] throat was cut like a Colombian necktie. Sydney doesn’t believe O.J. did it, but she doesn’t know what to believe. The media changes, and how the police changed the whole situation… Either way, her mother died.”

“I had plenty of conversations with them [telling them] to confront the media,” he reveals. “They’re letting their dad sit in prison for nothing!”

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“And he’s a good father from behind bars,” Lee insists. “They all still love him very much. They go out and visit him, and he calls them all the time and they talk together all the time. He’s a father. He’s a good guy. I don’t think he did it.”

Lee and Sydney broke up because of the increasing demands of his music career, but he says, “There’s no hard feelings on either side. I want to see her happy, and if this can motivate her to speak out, I hope it really does. My whole thing is, I was always tired of her and her brothers and sisters crying over spilled milk. You can’t let the world beat you up, especially when you didn’t ask to be here.”

“I know that if she decided to speak out she could be in a better position,” he says. “She’s a good-looking girl, the whole nine. She’s hella strong.”

Overall it’s beautiful to see that Sydney and her brother, Justin, have been able lead productive and progressive lives, in spite of all of the pain they’ve endured. Wishing them continued success as they continue to process the recent passing of their father, O.J. Simpson…and continue to mourn the loss of their mother, Nicole Brown-Simpson.

This alleged Jackie Jackson and Paula Abdul situation is a wild story and according to Jermaine Jackson’s former common-law wife of 7 years, it’s also a very true story.

Now, we have nothing but love for Jackie and Paula Abdul, but word on the Old School curb is that our girl, Paula “Straight Up Now Tell Me” Abdul had an alleged rendezvous with Jackie Jackson back in the day and the you-know-what hit the fan big time one evening in Los Angeles.  Jermaine’s ex, Margaret Maldonado, revealed exactly what went down in her tell-all book, “Jackson Family Values.” Scroll down for details…

According to Maldonado, Jackie’s wife, Enid caught him having an affair with Paula Abdul (at the time, a Laker Girl and would-be choreographer for Janet). Maldonado claims Jackie did little to keep it a secret during its long run. Well, in 1984, it came to a head when Jackie took Paula to a Drive-In theater in the LA area. Marlon’s wife, Carol, found out about it and told Enid and that’s when the heat got turned up.

She goes on to say, Enid drove to the theater and located Jackie and Paula and yanked ‘Ms. Straight Up’ out of the Range Rover by her hair and dragged her across the theater lot. Then Jackie tried to pull his wife away. He was still trying to help Paula when Enid got into her car and put it in reverse and ran into Jackie’s leg and broke it.

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The broken leg kept Jackie from performing on the first half of the massive “Victory Tour.” Three years later, he and Enid divorced. Shortly afterwards, Enid had Jackie arrested for violating the terms of the divorce, by showing up to their former house together to use his home studio. If all of this is accurate, I guess it’s safe to assume that Enid did NOT play. All we kept hearing back in the day was Jackie broke his leg and would have to miss the tour because of a “car accident.” Glad to see that eventually all was forgiven among them and our beloved Enid Jackson was a beautiful soul, may she rest well.

The teller of this incident, Margaret (pictured above), is no longer with Jackie’s brother, Jermaine, but she and Jermaine have two children together and based on her book, she seems to have several stories to share about her former ‘in-laws.’ Nowadays she has a successful business representing photographers and stylists in Hollywood.

From the looks of it, everything’s all good now between Paula and the Jackson fam.’ A peaceful, happy ending is always a beautiful thing.

O.J. Simpson, one of the most infamous high-profile former NFL players of all time, has passed away at the age of 76 after battling cancer. The former NFL great, who was famously acquitted of the double-murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown-Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, in the ’90s, lost his life on Wednesday, March 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, and his family announced the news on Thursday.

According to his family, O.J. Simpson was surrounded by his loved ones, including his children and grandchildren, when he took his last breath. His health had been deteriorating in recent years due to prostate cancer, and he had been under hospice care for the past few months.

On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer.

He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren.

During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.

-The Simpson Family

— O.J. Simpson (@TheRealOJ32) April 11, 2024

The news of O.J.’s chemotherapy treatment first surfaced in February of this year, though details were initially unclear. However, in a video posted on X in 2023, O.J. himself mentioned battling cancer, but instead suggested that he had overcome it. The disease resurfaced in 2024, leading to his untimely death. In the lead-up to his passing, O.J. appeared frail and was often seen using a cane.

As you all know, O.J.’s life was filled with both triumphs and controversies. Before the murder trial that captivated the nation, O.J. was a beloved all-American hero, winning the Heisman Trophy and becoming a Buffalo Bills legend. He also found success in Hollywood, starring in numerous movies and TV shows, and even served as the face of Hertz for many years.

However, everything changed in 1994 when O.J. Simpson was accused of the brutal murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. The subsequent trial, dubbed the “Trial of the Century,” gripped the nation, with O.J.’s defense team famously arguing the glove didn’t fit.

Despite being acquitted of the murder charges, O.J.’s reputation was forever tarnished. He was later found liable for the deaths in a civil suit brought by the Goldmans and the Browns, resulting in substantial financial damages.

Following his acquittal, O.J. faced legal troubles in Las Vegas, including a conviction for his involvement in a hotel room incident to recover sports memorabilia he believed had been stolen from him. He served a lengthy prison sentence before being released on parole in 2017.

While O.J.’s life was a tumultuous rollercoaster, he still had fans and family members who stood by him, even in the face of controversy. His passing marks the end of a multi-decade saga filled with crime, intrigue, and national fascination.

As we bid farewell to O.J. Simpson, let us remember that his life was complex, defined by both incredible success and unthinkable tragedy. The legacy of the man once hailed as an American hero will forever be intertwined with the events that unfolded in the 1990s.

Remember comedian and actor, Mark Curry, from back in the day? Most of his mainstream fans know him as the star of the 90’s sitcom,  Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper. For those of us, Old Schoolers, who are 80’s hip hop fans, we also remember being first introduced to Curry, when he portrayed that hilarious ‘hater’ on Too Short’s 1989 hit, “I Ain’t Trippin.”

Mark Curry’s work created some great memories throughout the years, but behind the scenes, the brotha has gone THROUGH the fire and back. He endured a strange, frightening accident that left part of his body severely burned and has recently spoken about it. He also revealed which celebs helped him overcome his subsequent suicidal thoughts after the horrific ordeal.

During his VladTV interview, Curry was initially reluctant to discuss his accident, stating “that’s kinda blocked outta my life,” because it’s too painful of a memory. However, he did manage to give some details.

In 2006, 20% of Mark Curry’s body was severely burned while dong laundry at his home. Let him explain…

The Painful Details & Confessions Curry Has Now Given

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How Mark Curry’s Accident Happened…
In the video below, Curry explained that while doing his laundry at his residence, an aerosol can was behind the water heater, unbeknownst to Curry. The laundry machine was located near the water heater. The contents of the aerosol can, combined with the water heater’s temperature, etc, suddenly caused an explosion, throwing Curry across the room and ultimately landing him in the burn unit, in bad condition.

The Effects Of His Injuries…
Mark Curry was placed in a medically induced coma, after suffering massive burns on his back, side, and arm…

“I was in the St. Francis burn unit. I was in a coma for a while…and the Lord saved me…he saved me. It was just a [traumatic] event.”

Why Curry Contemplated Suicide…
After awaking from a 3-day coma, Curry explained why he wanted to kill himself, but in true comedic fashion, he still slipped a joke in to lighten the harsh reality of that time:

“It was a bad situation and it prompted me to go into a deep depression…and so, I don’t even deal with that. …and it changed my life.

I thought about suicide, but it’s hard to commit suicide when you’re 6’6” (LOL)…the ceiling’s right here. [So] I can’t hang myself. … It took me so low, into a black valley. People didn’t know what was wrong with me…

Celebrity Friends Helped Curry Get Through…

As Curry spent months in rehabilitation, recovering from his burn wounds, several of his celebrity homies and fellow comedians worked hard at helping him pull himself together emotionally and psychologically. They did so, by doing what they do best- finding the comedy behind the pain. He says they even jokingly compared him to Richard prior after Pryor’s infamous freebasing incident. It was a language Curry understood and still appreciates to this day:

“I’m in the hospital, [Bill] Cosby called me, making jokes. Damon Wayans called me, Chris Tucker [called]..all the comedians called me. All them muthaf**as joked on me,” Curry jokingly recalled.

His Biggest Surprises While In The Burn Unit…

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Curry says his biggest surprise during his hospital stay, was his tremendous weight loss, which gave him a clear picture of the depth of his situation. He was typically 230 pounds, but says that because there are no mirrors in the burn unit, he had no idea he’d loss so much weight, until he attempted to wear regular clothes for the first time while there. He recalled, “The pants fell straight off…I started crying, like ‘What is going on?!!!'”

He also recalled taking a bath for the first time in a long while after being burned, which is usually extremely painful for still recovering burn victims…but for Curry, it was “like a baptism,” because he miraculously felt no pain.

These days, Mark Curry’s back to fulfilling his life’s passion as an actor and comedian. His story is a reminder of the old school saying: ‘What doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger.’ Best wishes to the brotha.

The world of hip-hop mourns the loss of Calvin LeBrun, widely known as Mister Cee, a prominent DJ, producer, and radio personality who left an incredible mark on the music industry. Mister Cee, who passed away at the age of 57, was a beloved figure in New York City, instrumental in shaping the soundscape of hip-hop and nurturing the careers of talented artists.

Hot 97 Announces Mister Cee’s Death

On March 9, 2024, Mister Cee’s Hot 97 family announced his passing on social media, with the following message:

“As a family at #HOT97 and #WBLS, we’re deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved #MisterCee. He wasn’t just a DJ; he was a pillar of our stations, bringing joy to countless listeners with his legendary ‘Throwback at Noon’ sets. Mister Cee’s influence stretched far beyond the airwaves, shaping the very fabric of NYC’s DJ culture. Our hearts are heavy as we send our love and condolences to his family and the fans whose lives he touched through his music. Rest easy, Mister Cee. Your legacy will forever resonate. 🕊️”

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Early Collaborations and Notable Achievements

Born and raised in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, Mister Cee’s passion for music began at a young age, leading him to become an integral part of the hip-hop movement. In 1988, he collaborated with the legendary Big Daddy Kane as the DJ on his debut album, “Long Live the Kane.” This collaboration marked the beginning of Mister Cee’s journey, earning him recognition as a skilled DJ and producer.

Mister Cee’s contributions extended beyond his work with Big Daddy Kane. He is widely credited with discovering another luminary of Brooklyn hip-hop, Christopher Wallace, famously known as the Notorious B.I.G. His faith in Biggie’s talent and his relentless efforts to promote his music showcased Mister Cee’s visionary approach. Ultimately, Mister Cee served as an executive producer on the Notorious B.I.G.’s groundbreaking debut album, “Ready to Die.”

Pioneering the Airwaves and Leaving a Lasting Legacy

Mister Cee’s impact as a DJ extended far beyond the recording studio. For years, he graced the airwaves of New York’s renowned hip-hop radio station, Hot 97, where he became an institution and a purveyor of hip-hop classics. His extensive knowledge of the genre and his ability to curate seamless mixes endeared him to listeners across the city.

However, Mister Cee’s personal life was not without its challenges. His departure from Hot 97 in 2013 due to legal troubles sparked a watershed moment for hip-hop culture. Embracing his sexuality openly, Mister Cee shattered barriers and initiated important conversations about acceptance and inclusivity within the music industry. His bravery and authenticity reverberated within the community and saved lives in a real and tangible way.

A Legacy that Endures

Despite his departure from Hot 97, Mister Cee’s love for music never waned. He continued to share his talent and passion through online platforms, creating mixes that captivated audiences worldwide. His contributions to hip-hop as a DJ, producer, and mentor remain unparalleled, leaving an indelible legacy that will inspire generations to come.

As we mourn his loss, let us celebrate the life and legacy of a true music legend: Calvin LeBrun, the one and only Mister Cee. Rest in power, king.

Actress and former Soul Train dancer, Rosie Perez, has always admitted that she had serious anger issues back in the day. She recalled one heated incident when things got way out of hand on the set of Soul Train. One such situation apparently got ugly between Rosie and her then-boss, the late, great Don Cornelius…and let’s just say that neither Don, nor Rosie didn’t play that!

In her book, Handbook For an Unpredictable Life, Rosie Perez told the story of how she went through a LOT of torment as a child and was a ward of the state of New York by the age of 3. Her experiences of physical abuse at the hands of her Mother, the nuns at the Catholic children’s home she was sent to, and having to fend for herself, is what lead her to make the decision to do what she did to respond the way that she did when Don Cornelius made her angry. She says in hindsight, she thinks she overreacted, and this is what she said happened in a prior interview with Soul Train:

Interviewer: You didn’t just fight kids at school. You fought back against the nuns. Then you got into a fight with Don Cornelius when you were on “Soul Train.” Can you tell us that story?

Rosie Perez: That was a clue that I needed help. I thought, “I’m so together. I’m in college. I’m going for my major in biochemistry. I’m fantastic,” you know? “I’m on ‘Soul Train.'” And if you just pressed the wrong button, it was, like, just a nuclear explosion would occur in me.

That’s what happened with Don Cornelius. He touched me, and pulled me, and yanked me inappropriately. I freaked out, and I just started swinging, and started grabbing things. The first thing I grabbed was a two-piece Kentucky Fried Chicken. It was a low point. I was beyond embarrassed. I was still walking out with this pathetic bravado like, “So? I don’t care. I don’t care.” By the time I get in the car, I start crying. I felt like an idiot.

Interviewer: You threw a chicken wing at Don Cornelius’ forehead?

Yes. It’s embarrassing, and it was so wrong. I thank goodness that we were able to make up before his passing. But that’s what I mean it’s like, “Am I really enjoying my life? If I am this person holding on to this anger from the past, am I really enjoying my life?” No.

Geesh…Rosie was no joke back then! I guess Don didn’t have time for a feisty 5’1″ woman hurling chicken wings at his forehead every time she got mad about something.

Seriously though, if a man puts his hands on a woman inappropriately, by all means she has every right to react however she sees fit. We don’t condone anyone “pulling, touching, or yanking” anyone, but I think what Rosie is saying is that the extent of what Don Cornelius’ action was, was not as extreme as what she processed it as in that particular moment. So, it seems like that’s probably why she’s now saying her reaction to him was wrong.

Nevertheless, the good news is that Rosie says her anger issues are under control now. Like we mentioned earlier, her anger management issues come from a deep place of childhood pain and abuse from school nuns, according to her book. So to her credit, she didn’t just come here that way…but she had to do a lot of inner soul searching and healing to overcome her past struggles. Props to her for doing the work.