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Guru, one half of the pioneering rap group Gang Starr is recovering after open-heart surgery yesterday (Mar. 1) following a massive heart attack last weekend that let the MC in a coma.
Guru, born Keith Elam, and his partner DJ Premiere rose to prominence in the early 1990s as the rap duo Gang Starr with critically acclaimed albums including Step In the Arena and Hard to Earn. Guru later branched out on his own, releasing a series of Jazzmatazz albums, where he collaborated with Jazz artists, such as Donald Byrd and Ramsey Lewis, to couple his lyrics with their sound.
Doctors repaired damage done to 43-year-old’s heart and he is expected to make a full recovery.
30 Rock star Alec Baldwin was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital in New York via ambulance after a call was placed to 911. [...]
Actor Dearon Thompson, better known as Deezer D, is recovering in a Los Angeles hospital after enduring six hours of major heart surgery. [...]
Troubled NY Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress will be charged with weapons possession when he surrenders to New York City police tomorrow (Dec. 1) after accidentally shooting himself in the leg on Friday night at the Latin Quarter nightclub in Manhattan with an unlicensed handgun.
According to various news accounts, Burress was at the Manhattan club with other members of the Giants including linebacker Antonio Pierce. Burress, who had been drinking, was attempting to unload his handgun in a secure area of the club, after being confronted by security personnel about the weapon, when it accidentally went off.
Burress reportedly insisted that an ambulance not be called, opting instead for a friend to drive him to Cornell Medical Center where doctors removed a .40 caliber bullet for his right thigh. Police arriving at the club but did not find the handgun and are investigating whether it may have been removed from the scene by Antonio Pierce.
In an e-mail to The Associated Press on Sunday his attorney, Benjamin Brafman, wrote that his client would turn himself in to police on Monday and will plea not guilty to the gun possession charge. In the email Brafman writes, “I would hope that fans of the New York Giants will give Plaxico the benefit of the doubt and the presumption of innocence – something we’re all supposed to be given in this country.”
Burress does not have a license to carry a firearm in New York. If convicted on the illegal possession charge he faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 3.5 years.
| MC Breed, pictured above in the September 1995 issue of The Source magazine. Photo: Tusken Raider |
MC Breed, born Eric Breed, passed away on Saturday A cause of death hasn’t been officially announced as the medical examiner's toxicology reports are still pending. The 37-year-old was hospitalized in September after his kidneys stopped functioning. MC Breed, whose career spanned 13 years will be most remembered by fans for the 1991 hit “Ain’t No Future in Yo’ Frontin’.” Family members praised his accomplishments in a statement that read in part, “More than just an artist, we mourn the loss of a beloved father, son, brother and friend. We are thankful and blessed to have been in his presence…”
Phife Dawg, born Malik Taylor, of the rap group A Tribe Called Quest is the recipient of a kidney transplant after being on a waiting list for the past two years.
According to allhiphop.com Mr. Taylor, 34, was diagnosed with diabetes in May of 1990 and because of a poor diet of fatty foods, alcohol and sweets by 1992 his blood sugar level had spiked near fatal levels around 1000 mg/dl, 80-120 mg/dl is considered normal.
In 2000 he was placed on a dialysis machine and was hospitalized in 2002 when his health continued to deteriorate.
Tribe member Q-Tip spoke to allhiphop proclaiming, “He just had a successful kidney transplant so shouts out to Phife diggity dog! That’s my n***a right there.”
Travis Barker is just “thankful to be alive.” The former drummer for the Rock group Blink-182 spoke out for the first time since the September 19 plane crash in Columbia, S.C. that left him and friend D.J. AM, Adam Goldstein, badly burned and four people dead.
“My biggest fear ever is to be involved in a plane crash, so when that happened … well, I’m just thankful to be alive! I’m just grateful to be here at all.” The 32-year-old told Us Weekly magazine in an exclusive interview.
“I’m so anxious to get out of here. … I’ve just been in surgery after surgery. I have third-degree burns basically from my feet up to my waist and both hands. One of my hands has second-degree burns and one has third-degree burns,” he told the magazine while being treated at a burn center in Los Angeles.
“I’m trying to have a quick recovery and play the drums again and be able to hold my kids again.”
Mr. Barker was transferred from a Georgia hospital last week to the burn center where he is being treated. He, as well as Mr. Goldstein, is expected to make a full recovery.
Janet Jackson was taken to the hospital after she “got suddenly ill” while preparing for a concert yesterday (Sept. 29).
A statement from her reps at W&W Public Relations confirmed that Ms. Jackson canceled her Montreal show because of a health issue and was being monitored at a hospital, but did not elaborate on what may have caused her illness.
The 42-year-old singer is expected to reschedule the show and continue her concert tour once she recovers.
Former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and Adam Goldstein, better known as DJ AM, were seriously injured in Learjet accident Friday night (Sept 19).
The crash, which killed four other passengers, left Mr. Barker, 32, with serious burns on the lower part of his body, and Mr. Goldstein, 35, with severe burns to his face. Both are listed in critical but stable condition.
Among the dead are Mr. Barker’s friend and sometimes bodyguard, Charles Still, 25 and his personal assistant Chris Baker, 29. Along with the pilot and co-pilot of the jet, Sarah Lemmon, 31 and James Bland, 52.
The crash occurred just before midnight on Friday, as the jet was attempting to take off in Columbia, South Carolina en route to Van Nuys in Los Angeles, California. The twin-engine private jet veered off the runway, crashing through a fence before smashing into an embankment and bursting into flames.
MTV reported a bystander witnessed Mr. Barker and Mr. Goldstein running from the crash site and patting each other down to extinguish the flames. The two are being treated at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia, with Mr. Goldstein purportedly in a doctor-induced coma.
Investigators have recovered the black-box and an investigation is ongoing.
Along with his stint as the drummer for Blink-182, Travis Barker also appeared on a MTV reality show with his ex-wife Shanna Moakler. Their have two children together,
4-year-old Landon, and 2-year-old Alabama.
Signer Nate Dogg, born Nathaniel Hale, is recovering today after suffering his second stroke with in a year on Sept. 5th.
Mr. Hale, 39, is listed in stable condition and is being kept sedated. Speaking to Sohh.com his road manager Rod McGrew confirmed the reports stating, “He is back in the hospital. He did suffer from a second stroke. He is in stable condition. The prognosis at this time is favorable. We’re positive, prayerful, hopeful and patient.”
Mr. Hale made his hip hop debut in 1992 when he was featured on Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” album, later singing to Death Row Records.
Mr. Hale, who is rapper Snoop Dogg’s cousin, suffered his first stroke on Dec. 19, 2007 and was left partially paralyzed.
He made news over the summer when he was arrested in June and charged with stalking after chasing his estranged wife on a Los Angeles freeway. Mr. Hale is to appear in court on Sept. 24 in connection to that case.
Actor/comedian Bernie Mac died early this morning (August 9) from complications due to pneumonia.
Mr. Mac, who’s real name was Bernard Jeffrey McCullough, was born in Chicago in 1957 and had battled with sarcoidosis, a rare autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in tissue, for several years.
Mr. Mac started performing comedy at a very young age but didn’t see any benefits until he won the Miller Lite comedy search when he was 32. He went on to perform on HBO’s "Def Comedy Jam."
His performance on "Def Comedy Jam" landed him a part in the Damon Wayne’s’ film, "Mo’ Money" (1992), and later his own HBO Comedy Special, "Midnight Mac" in 1995. But his break-through role was the Ice Cube/Chris Tucker comedy, "Friday" where he played the memorable Pastor Clever. He also appeared in Jamie Fox’s "Booty Call" Bill Bellamy’s "Def Jam’s: How to Be a Player." In 2000 he teamed up with fellow comedians Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer and D.L. Hughley and director Spike Lee for "The Original Kings of Comedy," a stand-up comedy movie where Mac arguably stole the show. A year later, in November 2001, FOX debuted "The Bernie Mac Show" to critical acclaim and drew 11.4 million viewers for the premiere episode and earned Mr. Mac two Emmy awards.
Most recently, he starred as con man Frank Catton in "Ocean’s Thirteen," and its preceding sequels (along side George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Don Cheadle), "Pride" and last summer’s blockbuster "Transformers."
Mr. Mac checked into Chicago’s Northwestern Hospital last week with pneumonia. Although his situation looked grim doctors had hoped he would make a full recovery.
Bernie Mac is survived by his wife Rhonda McCullough, their daughter, Je’Niece and granddaughter, Jasmine. He was 50 years old.
Morgan Freeman is out of the hospital.
The 71-year-old actor was involved in a Mississippi Highway accident last Sunday (Aug. 3) when he lost control of the car he was driving. The car flipped several times, breaking his arm and elbow. The injuries of the car’s passenger, Demaris Meyer, were not made public.
Mr. Freeman released statement after leaving the hospital yesterday,
“I left the hospital today just after 12 noon, Memphis time.
“I’m doing very well. I feel real good. I just really, I thank the staff at ‘Elvis Presley [Hospital]‘ and many, many thanks to my many well-wishers. It’s great to know people care about you.”
Mississippi Highway Police are not sure what might have caused the accident, though they suspect Mr. Freeman may have fallen asleep at the wheel.
Also yesterday, Mr. Freeman, who stars in the summer blockbuster “The Dark Knight,” announced that he and his wife if 24 years, Myrna Colley-Lee, were divorcing. His lawyer Bill Luckett stated, “For legal and practical purposes the pair have been separated since
December 2007.”
Morgan Freeman was badly hurt in a car accident in Mississippi over the weekend.
The Academy Award winner, who can currently be seen starring in the summer blockbuster hit “The Dark Knight,” was seriously injured while he and a female passenger were driving eastbound on Highway 32 near the town of Ruleville, Miss. According to police reports at about 11:30pm Mr. Freeman’s vehicle left the road and flipped several times.
The 71-year-old actor was extracted from the vehicle and air lifted to Regional Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee.
Hospital spokeswoman Kathy Stringer said he was in serious condition but offered no word on the condition of the female passenger.
Amy Winehouse was rushed from her north London home and taken by ambulance to University College Hospital on Monday night (July 28).
According to her spokesman, Chris Goodman, Ms. Winehouse had a bad “reaction” after combining medication she had been taking as part of her anti-drug treatment program and medication for her emphysema – she was diagnosed with the deadly lung disease emphysema in June.
“She was taking a new (medication) as part of her anti-drug treatment program. And it was an adverse reaction to that new drug. You have to try different things but unfortunately this was not the right one,” said Mr. Goodman.
Ms. Winehouse, who recently discovered a benign lump in her breast, was discharged from the hospital early this morning.
The Transformers star was arrested early this morning in Hollywood after he was involved in a car accident.
TMZ.com reports that cops responding to the scene took 22-year-old Shia Labeouf into custody on suspicion of felony DUI after they witnessed visible signs of intoxication. As a precaution paramedics took Mr. LaBeouf to a local hospital.
While no criminal mastermind, Mr. LaBeouf has been building a minor arrest record the last few months:
02/2008: Burbank, CA: Smoking in a prohibited area; pleads guilty, $500 fine.
11/2007: Chicago, IL: Drunken trespassing after refusing to leave a convenience store at 4am; charges dropped.
In response to the two previous arrests Mr. LaBeouf was quoted in May as saying,
“There’s nothing cool about getting arrested for stupid stuff at my age. But it keeps happening to me. I could pretend that I find it all highly amusing, but I’d be lying, it’s deeply embarrassing. I decided a long time ago to stop doing stupid things, so clearly I’ve still got some work to do on myself. I’m not anonymous any more. Now, I light up a cigarette in the wrong place and overnight I’m the Al Capone of misdemeanors. What I’ve got in terms of acting is too important for me to jeopardize.”
Mr. Labeouf can next been seen in the D.J. Caruso directed thriller, “Eagle Eye.”
Darryl McDaniels, a.k.a. DMC formally of Run-DMC, was hospitalized over the weekend.
Mr. McDaniels, 44, was complaining of pain and swelling in his left arm when he sort help at an undisclosed medical facility in New Jersey. After an examination, doctors discovered two major blood clots. He is scheduled to undergo surgery on Friday.
The sudden health scare caused him to miss a planed appearance at the AVP Beach Volleyball Tournament in Brooklyn on Saturday
There has been no word on his current condition.
