I’m a hip hop fan so what’s happening right now scares me to death! No one is saying anything of value and while this has happened before periodically, there’s always been a movement just beneath the surface somewhere prepared to set things back on track.

Last year, we all totally missed Nas’ sensational Untitled and only paid attention to the shock-value elements of Young Jeezy’s almost equally stellar The Recession as we rushed to pat ourselves on the back and prove ourselves hip by our wholesale endorsement of Weezy’s Tha Carter III. You can’t knock Tha Carter III, though. I was a great album. It was probably third or fourth (behind Rick Ross’ Trilla) or even fifth (behind TI’s Paper Trail) as best hip hop album of the year.

But now that, thanks to Jerry Barrow and the good folks over at The Urban Daily, it can no longer be denied that poor Wayne is spiraling further and further away rational thought, one would think that we could turn to the man that has always seemed to deliver for us in times of need.

Just like Jordan at the end and Ali at the end even Jay-Z’s former haters are starting to cherish him because the thought of hip hop without him is just too bleak. But if the songs that I’ve heard so far off the upcoming Blueprint 3 (“D.O.A.“, “BK Anthem“, “Run This Town“) are any indication, Jay’s almost certainly gonna add to the problem not alleviate it.

Barack Obama’s in the White House and the last thing we need is more navel-gazing rap. I’m not asking Jay to deliver the hip hop What’s Going On (I tried that before, didn’t work) but the thought that a man who has proven himself beyond argument to be the greatest MC to ever do it continuing to rhyme seemingly just to show how nice he is, is akin to Ali getting into the ring way past his prime buoyed by ego alone.  Nothing good can come from it.

Maybe it’s us, though. Maybe hip hop fans aren’t yet mature enough to let our stars have 40-year careers like rock fans do. Maybe we’d kill a Bob Dylan if we had one. KRS, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane and LL Cool J are all still alive and even though it’s been rumored that one or more of them still records, I won’t believe that until I hear one of their new songs on the radio.

Think that’ll happen?

Recently, Fox News, Michelle Malkin and Bill O’Reilly have attacked Jay Z for his song ‘My President is Black’, originally a Young Jeezy song but Jay Z made his own version. The rappers were called high profile supporters of Barack Obama,  the song was called racist, Jay Z was accused of bigotry and Obama was asked to denounce Jay Z.
To, me Jay-Z’s version of My President is Black is uplifting song of sentiment of pride of the black community. There is nothing racist about it. While Jay Z’s lyrics have at times been materialistic, violent and misogynist,  it seems as if Barack Obama has had a very positive effect on Jay Z and he has turned to making positive, uplifting music for the time being. Barack Obama had previously said he liked Jay Z’s music, but was troubled by its materialism and misogyny and worried about the effects it might have on his daughters. Has any Republican other than Michael Steele publicly spoken out against Limbaugh’s racism?

Bill O’Reilly and Dennis Miller also bashed Jay Z and Young Jeezy for My President is Black. This is funny because just a few days earlier Bill O’Reilly was defending the Rush Limbaugh for his Barack the Magical Negro Parody. Miller and O’Reilly criticized the song as being vulgar. While Young Jeezy and Jay Z might have some profanities, it was far more benign than O’Reilly’s off camera outbursts or his graphic sexual harassment of co-workers.

Fox News also had resident bigot, Limbaugh on for a benign interview with co-bigot, Sean Hannity. Did Hannity question Limbaugh at all about his racism? No. It was a very friendly interview in which Limbaugh was allowed to further promote his racist agenda.

Why doesn’t Fox News call on the GOP to condemn Limbaugh, if they are calling for Barack Obama to renounce Jay Z for his ‘racist’ song “My President is Black” Shouldn’t they call on the GOP to renounce Limbaugh. Their defense of satire might be acceptable if it was Borat singing Barack the Magical Negro or if Rush was an actor playing a bigot, but Rush’s long history of mean spirited racism whether humorous, degrading or both shows his real intentions.

Top 10 Racist Rush Limbaugh Quotes

Rush Limbaugh’s ties to the GOP are way stronger than Jay-Z’s ties to Barack Obama. Fox attempted to connect Jay Z to Obama by mentioning that he was an invited guest to inauguration because his wife, Beyonce, performed. Limbaugh, however was one of Bush’s last guests to the White House, Bush has appeared several times on his show, as has Sarah Palin, Condoleeza Rice, Clarence Thomas, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and several other high profile Republicans. Limbaugh’s ties to the GOP are strong enough that Obama has asked them to stop listening to him.

We are in a new era. If Fox wants to criticize Hip Hop, they must also criticize Limbaugh. Limbaugh has said that he wasnts Obama to fail, meaning he wants America to fail with Obama. Isnt that America hating, Hannity? Shouldn’t you call out the lynch mob, O’Reilly? If being proud to have a Black President is racist, isn’t demeaning our president as a Magic Negro racist too? I have already outlined why the GOP must denounce Limbaugh, now its Fox’s turn.

Previously Bill O’Reilly and Dennis Miller have attacked Jay Z and Young Jeezy for a performance of ‘My President is Black.’ Young Jeezy originally popularized the song and now Jay Z has his own version. Now Michelle Malkin is calling on Barack Obama to denounce Jay Z for the song.

Watch Michelle Malkin Criticize Jay-Z

Bill O’Reilly criticized rappers Jay Z and Young Jeezy for a concert they had in DC in honor of the Presidential Inauguration (no official connection). He chastised them for their use of the n-word and their disrespect of former President Bush.

Watch The Video

UPDATE: Speculation of BMF Involvement in Stewart’s Death

According to LiveSteez

Police are also withholding official details about the untimely death. Still, speculation amongst industry insiders is beginning to make its rounds, with some suggesting that the demise of the A&R star might be related to his involvement with the infamous Black Mafia Family.

Though his salary and respect in the music business was generous, sources say that Stewart was always attracted to the fast life, and he was even known to borrow large amounts of money. “He enjoyed the hustle, the wheeling and dealing. He was always on the move, never sitting still…and always in touch with gangsta types,”

According to LiveSteez

UPDATE: Stewart’s friends and family talk about his death.

Stewart’s Fiance Spoke to Vibe About Her Loss

“We would like to thank Shakir’s friends for the tremendous outpouring of love and support we have received during this difficult time,” the statement from Stewart’s fiancée, Michelle Rivers, and family read. “It has helped us to cope with our overwhelming grief and sadness. It is difficult to express or explain in words what led to the tragic occurrence on Saturday. Over the past several weeks, Shakir’s behavior was inconsistent with the man we all know and love. As much as we all tried to help him, Shakir was in deep pain and largely suffering in silence. Please remember Shakir for who he was … a wonderful father, partner, son and friend.”

Industry Mogul, Kenny Burns Also Spoke about his friend

“From that time and period, all of us were looking for something. The business was starting to bubble and we were all blessed to be there early. Looking back, we were like,  ‘Aww shit, we need to get in that, the women, the girls’… But it just became more important to make a mark and build a legacy.”

“Me and Shake, we’re men’s men. We had kids, we’re responsible fathers. And the man that I know wouldn’t take his life. That man was strong, it ain’t no street pressure, music business, L.A. Reid, these fake ass artists…that ain’t gon’ tear nobody like Shake down. It’s just something that I can’t see, nor accept. We wouldn’t do that.

“Like, [Stewart] wouldn’t leave his kids without insurance like that. We tried to rush to the hospital before they rushed him to the morgue yesterday…” Burns says, before breaking down in tears on the phone.

“I want to say something about this fake ass business that these young’ns are enthralled with: this business is not that. Educate these people. Money does not make you happy. I don’t believe he took his life. But it’s because of this fake ass business, and these niggas and bitches,” Burns said. “I’m personally setting up a college fund for his kids.”

The music industry has lost one of its talented executives.

According to Billboard.com, Def Jam executive vice president Shakir Stewart committed suicide yesterday (Nov. 1) in New York. Details about the tragedy are still sketchy.

Stewart succeeded Jay-Z as the head of Def Jam last June. He also served as Senior Vice President of A&R at Island Def Jam and is known for signing acts like Rick Ross and Young Jeezy.

The Oakland, California native first made his mark on the industry at Atlanta’s Hitco Music Publishing, where he signed Beyonce Knowles.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Stewart’s family and friends.