It's Heresy I tell you! Heresy!

In a move that sent shock waves throughout the Hip Hop Industry last week, four masked women, calling themselves Heresy announced their intentions to bring back hardcore lyricism to the genre, through a sonically pleasing delight called Move that Flow.

The 3:56 second song from the quartet has more lyrical content in the first 30 seconds than nearly 80% of  mainstream Hip Hop's top hits right now. Heresy manages to simultaneously change the paradigm of what's expected out of a female Hip Hop artist and return to the rugged grimy hardcore lyricism prevalent throughout the Golden Age of Hip Hop.

Forsaking fancy R&B like choruses and not relying on oversexualized gyrations to cover up average to sub-par lyrics, this super group of femme fatales relies on the art of rhyming and verbally assaulting the beat.

And just who are the members? While I know one of the members personally, and am aware of some of the others, I'm not going to go into any detail about just who is in the group, until they officially make the full reveal. I can say that these are women who know how to handle their business and have a true appreciation for the Hip Hop culture. I think people are going to be surprised and blown away once Heresy reveals itself.

Hip Hop needs balance - a little less pop and a lot more substance- and this super group of female emcees has just the power to do it. It's Heresy I tell you. Heresy!

Hair heists and weave thefts on the rise

    

     News reporters often don’t report on this crime seriously. And when it’s discussed among friends there are slight giggles and laughs – with the phrase “are you serious”, usually tacked on for good measure. But the truth of the matter is, hair weave thefts are becoming more common place – and in some instances the crimes turn out to be downright deadly.  
   
     In December, a Conyers, Georgia woman was killed over the sale of hair weaves, according to a report from the RockDale Citizen. You can click here to get more details on that crime and click here for a follow up to that story. 
   
     Even prior to the shooting, beauty shops from Atlanta to Texas have reportedly been the targets for these hair heists. Most notably, burglars broke in a southwest Atlanta shop using a rock a few years ago, and made off with $30,000 worth of hair extension packages, according to an article published on V-103’s web site.
 

     But why hair weaves? Why are these pieces becoming a target for thieves? Simply put, the false hair is profitable – highly profitable and the demand is off the charts. Everyone from Beyoncé, to your next door neighbor is wearing some type of extensions. The American market alone for hair extensions has been estimated at more than $250 million annually. On top of that, packs of hair weave can run from $20 to more than $200. 
   
     Can anything be done about these crimes? Well, until the media starts taking them seriously, and can stop snickering while they’re discussing these thefts, then unfortunately I don’t think things will change. Also, more importantly, until the demand goes down… until weaves go out of style (which is highly unlikely), I think that we’re only going to see a steady increase of these weave thefts. 

Check out this video that chronicles a hair weave heist in broad day light. 

EBT Cards down due to technical issue...Not the shut down

So a power outage (not the current woes in Washington) is being blamed for EBT cards being rendered useless on Saturday. You can click here for more details.

EBT card holders across the country were unable to use their cards and their were reports of people who receive benefits on their cards walking out of the stores empty handed.

I can only imagine the uproar. But I hope this serves as a wake-up call to those who are using the services. If you're a cardholder... try and get off this system and not depend on the government to help you.
Because when things like this happen, when you're unable to access your benefits to take care of yourself or your family... you simply just have to deal with it. And you and your family are left hurting in the process.

Cain suspends Presidential Campaign

Amid supporters at his newly opened headquarters in Metro Atlanta, presidential candidate Herman Cain announced that he was suspending his presidential campaign.

Cain with his wife behind him said he wasn't the typical candidate - citing he never held public office, nor did he have a high profile name. He noted that with the success of his campaign he was in the Final Four to become President.

"I'm proof that a common man can lead this nation," he said.

Cain, who's campaign has taken a sharp hit due to sexual harassment allegations denounced all allegations and said that he was at peace with his God; and with his family about his decision.

Enter: Gloria Cain

According to the AJC's most recent edition to the political insider, we might just get our first glimpse tonight of a reaction from Gloria Cain, presidential hopeful Herman Cain's wife, on the sexual harassment scandal that has rocked his campaign.

Gloria Cain has remained a mystery in all this - in the shadows and visibly absent from Cain on the campaign trail even before the harassment allegations came to the forefront. A recent article in the AJC delved deeply into Gloria and her voting record. It tried to paint some picture of Gloria Cain, but perhaps nothing will be more telling than the interview with Greta Van Susteren on Fox news set for Monday at 10 p.m.

Here's a quote lifted from the AJC's story previewing the interview with Gloria discussing the sexual harrassment allegations:

“[Y]ou hear the graphic allegations and we know that would have been something that’s totally disrespectful of her as a woman. And I know the type of person he is. He totally respects women.”

Time will tell if this is able to keep the Cain train moving forward. But more than anything it could shed some light on the enigma that's Gloria Cain.

Raising Cain

Yet another woman has come forward alleging that Republican presidential hopeful  Herman Cain has sexually harassed her in the past.

Sharon Bialek spoke during a press conference earlier today and gave intimate details regarding Cain's alleged sexual misconduct .

The following quote is lifted from an AP account of the press conference - detailing what happened after the two finished dinner and were headed back to Cain's office.

"Instead of going into the offices he suddenly reached over and he put his hand on my leg, under my skirt toward my genitals," Bialek said. "He also pushed my head toward his crotch," she added.


This does not bode well for the Cain campaign. No other accuser has given such intimate detail, and it looks as if this is the story that just won't die.

The Cain campaign needs to do something other than ignore these accusations and call this as an attack from the left.  If there was truly misconduct, then Cain needs to admit to wrongdoing and move on. His supporters deserve the truth.

Citizen Cain

The Herman Cain saga continues to get interesting by the hour. The Associated Press is now reporting that a third woman considered filing a workplace complaint against Cain over what she deemed aggressive and unwanted behavior when both worked together during the late 1990s, the woman told The Associated Press on Wednesday. 

The AP article states that the accuser said Cain's behavior included a private invitation to his corporate apartment.

Cain is of course denying any wrong doing, but at this point he's waffled and went back and forth so many times, that it's really hard to believe anything that he says. 

I think the real issue with Cain isn't that these alleged incidents happened years ago, but the fact that he initially denied the existence of  the complaints and now  keeps repeatedly changing his story. 

Look, everyone has skeletons in their closet and has been accused of doing something that they aren't particularly proud of. But to hide these accusations when you're questioned on them in such a public arena, in this day and age, is an invitation to court disaster. 

A little honesty would have gone a long way in securing confidence in this troubled time,  that many of Cain's supporters demonstrated during his recent surge in the polls. 

Let the Mud Slinging Begin

Sexual harassment and Herman Cain are two things that really don't seem like they belong in the same sentence, or the same blog for that matter.

 

But it seems as if  two female employees of the National Restaurant Association, which he headed back in the 90s, had indeed made some sexual harassment allegations and there was a settlement.

In an interview with Greta Van Sustren on Monday night, Cain went into detail about the complaint. Here is some of what he said below:


"She was in my office one day, and I made a gesture saying -- and I was standing close to her -- and I made a gesture saying you are the same height as my wife.  And I brought my hand up to my chin saying, 'My wife comes up to my chin.'"  At that point, Cain gestured with his flattened palm near his chin.  "And that was put in there [the complaint] as something that made her uncomfortable," Cain said, "something that was in the sexual harassment charge."

Doesn't seem like much does it. Maybe it's much to do about nothing. Anyhow Cain should be sort of happy that this came out. It shows that he's a serious threat and a candidate not to be taken lightly. Time will tell if he can overcome this.

Kim Kardashian getting a divorce

So Kim Kardashian is apparently filing for divorce from Kris Humphries after about 72 days of marriage. 

There are so many jokes that I could insert here, but I won't. You see it's pretty sad when the institution of marriage is treated like a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend. I don't know all the details about Kim's marriage, but it seems to me like the two weren't taking it seriously.

Marriage is an institution between a man and his wife that's suppose to form a bond that lasts forever. It's not something that's put away with convenience - just because there is an argument.

You have to work through these things. It takes time and it takes a lot of effort and energy. So often when we get married we don't look at the work it will take to achieve or maintain such a union. I can tell you that I didn't. I thought I knew everything but in the first year of marriage, I made every mistake a rookie husband could make.

Kim, the man has barely had a chance to make mistake yet. Don't go through with this. Work things out.

A (Dance) Step in the Right Direction

 So Nancy Grace is going to be on the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars.

The star prosecutor and HLN host is going to try her hand at securing that sacred trophy. Let the O.A.W. 
Report go on record and say that it is in favor of this move.

We're not going to chastise Nancy, but rather we're going to support this move.

Nancy Grace deals with some of the sickest, darkest stories regarding victims imaginable and it's about time the media saw a lighter, softer side of her.

Those who live in the Buckhead area have already seen beneath her the stern facade she exudes during the media.There have been sightings of Nancy Grace in restaurants armed with a bundle of coloring books and crayons in hand ... ready to engage her children and spend time with them at the drop of a dime.

 Kudos to her and thanks once again to all involved for this decision.

Bishop Long's accusers speak out after settlement

Apparently two of Bishop Eddie Long's accusers are speaking out even after they settled with the embattled minister earlier this year.

Jamal Parris and Spencer LeGrande have come forward and a piece has been aired on Channel 2 Action News. You can see more of the story by clicking here.

What is puzzling about this is that by speaking out, Parris and LeGrande risk losing undisclosed monetary rewards outlined in the settlement, which is sealed.

It's also very telling that these two men are doing this and in the O.A.W. Report's view it quite possibly shows that they are more interested in keeping this conflict alive than settling on the money. Perhaps it is for some measure of revealing the truth; perhaps it is for therapy, or maybe it's for both reasons, that is unclear.

The O.A.W. Report has spoken briefly about the subject of Bishop Long and really hasn't ever taken it on directly ... until now.

Even though legal documents say that this is settled, clearly it isn't. When two of the accusers are willing to risk their settlement to go into detail about what Bishop Long allegedly did to them, it shows that this whole saga is going to go into a different realm.

It's clear that there is pain here, and there is more pain to come, especially after this piece airs later on today. It will be painful because it picks open a wound that has barely had time to scab up, let alone heal.

New Birth is coming under attack because of this, and it might be time for the church and Bishop Long to come to some terms where he can step down for a bit until this cools down, or until it is resolved.

But it can't just cool down. Recent events have shown us this.

News reports still have been streaming in, since news broke on the settlement at the end of May. In late July, a 5th accuser was revealed, a man by the name of Centino Kemp. One of New Birth's elder's Bernice King, the youngest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. left the church shortly after news of the settlement was announced. (She said that the two weren't connected but you can read that story here.)

Look, at some point this has to end and it might be best for all involved if Bishop Long could step down until all this is sorted out. If not, then how much longer will the stories continue and serve as distractions for God's word?