Two weeks ago, when Barack Obama was on flames for his pastor’s statements and some equating African-Americans to being anti-American. I wondered what Condoleezza Rice, flying around the world as our Secretary of State felt. How does that black American feel about race in America?

Yesterday, a Washington Times reporter asked Condoleezza Rice about the upcoming 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr’s death and how race relations have developed since then - “Rice hits U.S. ‘birth defect’

Condoleezza Rice refused to take sides politically, saying only that she heard Barack Obama’s speech and it was “important” that “Mr. Obama gave it for a whole host of reasons.”

Judging by the openness of her answer, calling the history of race in America a “birth defect” and explaining the context of the founders ideas vs. blacks experience in this country and how it affected generational thinking. It’s obvious she was with Barack all the way.

“I sit in my office and the portrait immediately over my shoulder is Thomas Jefferson. And sometimes I think, what would he think of this black woman Secretary of State as his successor? What would he think that the last two successors have been black Americans..”

Listen for yourself.

Whenever Kelly Rowland is captured in a paparazzi shot, it’s labeled.. in the UK. She seems to get more love overseas and looks more comfortable in the UK than she does in the states. I’m guessing it has something to do with being a step outside of Beyonce’s shadow. A girl can get some heat without the easy comparisons.

With the re-release of her album “Miss Kelly”, last week Kelly Rowland participated in UK’s 1Xtra Live concert series. Kelly was interviewed before she hit the stage. Asked about a Destiny Child’s reunion, Kelly said she liked the idea, but “that’s gonna be awhile.”

Yeah, like after Beyonce shoots her load and needs the girls to refresh her image. That’s me talking, Kelly had much kinder words, but you can hear the ‘hope’ in her voice.

Kelly was also asked about her love for the UK.

“I’m here a lot and I love being here. I think that it’s more than just being here. I’m inspired by the UK. With the style of music, with the style of dress. I feel like when I’m here - and this is not a joke - I feel like I’m watching a fashion show. Because everybody has great style. Everybody looks fly. With all the beautiful people, I just want to fit in.”

You can see her performance in full.. here (Windows Media)

*The video is cell-phone sized. hit alt + 3 to enlarge it somewhat.*

This afternoon, Remy Ma was found guilty of two counts of first-degree assault, attempted coercion, and criminal possession of a weapon. As the verdict was read, Remy quietly wiped tears from her face - seemingly in shock. After court officers took her away in handcuffs, she was heard crying loudly in the hallway, screaming, “Oh my, God. Oh my, God.” <

< see comments.

Some of Remy's supporters in the courtroom also cried, and there was a slight disturbance between them and Makeda-Barnes people. Makeda is Remy's ex-friend/victim in the incident, she was all smiles, "I'm so happy. Justice was served."

At her sentencing on April 23, Remy faces 5-25 years in prison.

Remy got in all this mess on July 14, 2007.

After leaving a Manhattan nightclub, with some friends, Remy said $3000 was missing from her bag and she knew who took it. Remy got into Makeda-Barnes Joseph car and demanded that she dump the contents of her bag. In the fight for the bag, Remy pulled a .45 and pointed it at Makeda.

*Pow*

Remy’s defense lawyer, Ivan Fisher, said she pulled the trigger by accident.

The jury deliberated the case for two days and came to a different conclusion.

Last week the Los Angeles Times posted a ‘bombshell’ report that linked Diddy to 2Pac’s shooting in the lobby of a Manhattan recording studio in 1994. The reporter, Chuck Philips defended “An attack on Tupac Shakur launched a hip-hop war” to the last paragraph.

The Smoking Gun did some investigating of Chuck Philip’s sources and discovered an imprisoned con man, James Sabatino, is behind the claim.

Sabatino is said to have created a fantasy world where he managed rappers, did business with Diddy, 2Pac, Busta Rhymes, Biggie, and served as a representative between Diddy and Suge Knight during the East Coast/West Coast ‘wars.’

Sabatino was little more than a rap devotee, a wildly impulsive, overweight white kid from Florida whose own father once described him in a letter to a federal judge as “a disturbed young man who needed attention like a drug.”

In addition to faked documents, he’s also suing Diddy for $16 million.

Read all that at - “Big Phat Liar”

Yesterday, Barack Obama released his 2000 - 2006 income tax returns; putting pressure on Hillary Clinton to stick to her promise to do the same before the Philadelphia primary.

Here’s an 06’ copy for yourself.

The most telling thing is how Barack Obama’s two books Dreams from My Father and The Audacity of Hope bumped his family’s income into the 1.5 million range.
In a year or so, the Obamas could bank a few extra dollars when Michelle releases a book of her own.

Twelve publishers have contacted Barack Obama’s agent/lawyer, Robert Barnett, asking one question, how many digits does she need on this check? Never mind that Barack Obama isn’t yet the Democratic nominee, not to mention winning the election. Tim Duggan, an editor at Harper-Collins, says a book by Michelle Obama would, “almost certainly have a major impact, whether her husband is the next president or not.”

Michelle Obama isn’t looking that far ahead, she has yet to sign anything or considered it. The Obama’s communications director, dotted her feeling as, “Oh, thanks, that’s great. It’s a nice opportunity but…” You know, they have other things to think about.

The Official “Meet Michelle” Clip.

Writing a book as first lady would be nice, but how things shakes out for Barack will have no impact on it happening. Win or lose, Barack Obama has two books left on his publishing contract (a children’s book and a follow-up to The Audacity of Hope.) Knowing how the money flows, having the opportunity to get all her thoughts out, how could Michelle Obama resist explaining how she really loves her country - especially if she writes it in the White House.