VH1

Riffs&Revolutions: Michael Gonzales Takes a Trip Down Old School Hip Hop Lane

Friday, October 10th, 2008
(image copyright 2008, Andre Leroy Davis, all rights reserved)

(image copyright 2008, Andre Leroy Davis, all rights reserved)

With the taping of VH1’s Hip-Hop Honors being at the Hammerstein Ballroom last Thursday (the show aired this week), New York City was overflowing with parties and events that brought back a million memories of back in the day adventures. Indeed, it seems like just yesterday that Dante Ross was playing me some of De La Soul’s debut album, I was eating Philly cheese steaks with Cypress Hill for a Source feature (shot by the talented Daniel Hastings), hopping on the Jersey transit to meet Naughty By Nature and hanging out in Too Short’s ritzy hotel room during a photo shoot.

Though I have never interviewed Slick Rick, believe me, it was not for lack of trying. In 1988, his classic track “Children’s Story” was one of my favorite songs.

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Reality TV Star Omarosa Talks Presidential Politics

Sunday, September 7th, 2008

She’s no Sarah Palin, but in the reality television world Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth can be described as tough, dogged and a fearsome competitor. I caught up with her at the DNC and asked her a few questions.

Some of you may remember her from season one of “The Apprentice,” in which many viewers felt she stabbed fellow African-American competitor, Kwame Jackson, in the back during the final round. Omarosa, who has appeared on two seasons of “The Apprentice,” VH1’s “Surreal Life” and on “I Love New York” was very clear with me about the three most important issues to consider in this presidential election.

Interview: Brooke-Sidney Gavins
Multimedia Producer: Sharifa Johka
Video editing: Brooke-Sidney Gavins