Songs, Movies & Moments: September 2022

A Look at Entertainment

by T.J. Moore –

Fulton County (GA) District Attorney Fani Willis is adamant about her crackdown on alleged crimes being rapped about in hip hop to the degree that any song will be held against an emcee in a court of law.

The DA addressed the topic during a recent press conference as she announced Fulton County’s formal RICO charges against “Drug Rich Gang” outlining that lyrics will be utilized as evidence.

“I think if you decide to admit your crime over a beat, I’m gonna use it,” Willis stated. “I’m not targeting anyone, but you do not get to commit crime in my county and then decide to brag on it. Which they do as a form of intimidation and to further the gang, and not be responsible.”

Willis proceeded to use a lyric in the indictment to illustrate her point, and doubled down on her stance.

“I’m going to continue to do that, people can continue to be angry about it,” she said regarding the prosecutions. “I have some legal advice: don’t confess to crimes on rap lyrics if you do not want them used against you—or at least get out of my county.”

Comedian Chris Rock is facing backlash for another insensitive joke.

During a gig in Phoenix, Rock shared that he was asked to host the 2023 Academy Awards. Rock said he rejected the offer because hosting the Oscars again would be like O.J. Simpson’s ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson going back to the restaurant she went to before she was murdered. Now, he’s accused of taking things too far after coming off the heels of the Oscar incident with the Smiths.

This is the second time Rock is getting slammed for a joke that didn’t land well. After he made the GI Jane joke about Jada Pinkett Smith during this year’s Oscars, Will Smith went on stage and slapped him.

Former NFL Star Colin Kaepernick and his girlfriend Nessa Diab are new parents.

Diab, a radio and TV personality, shared the news on Instagram on Aug. 28 before she attended the MTV Video Music Awards. The post itself is a black and white photo of her and Kaepernick sitting and smiling in a hospital bed as, Kaepernick cradled their newborn.

“Colin and I welcomed our amazing baby to the world a few weeks ago and we are over the moon with our growing family,” the new mother shared. “Recovering after delivery has been a journey (more on that later), and honestly I wasn’t going to share anything because this is so personal to us. And I realized I’m a complete mama bear! Colin is the most amazing dad and I’m so grateful he is by our side for every moment of this journey.”

The couple has yet to reveal the name and sex of their child.

Nigeria is the first country to ban all non-Nigerian models and actors from voicing and starring in Nigerian commercials. According to a statement from the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), this is an ‘action aimed at growing the Nigerian advertising industry.’

“All advertisements, advertising, and marketing communications materials targeted or exposed on the Nigerian advertising space are to use only Nigerian models and voice-over artists,” the statement read. “Advertisers, advertisement agencies, media houses, the advertising community, and the general public are hereby enjoined to take note.”

Steve Babaeko, president of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, said Nigerians haven’t been the ones representing their country to the fullest in their commercials.

“Ten to 20 years ago, if you checked the commercials, I would say there were almost 50/50 in terms of foreign faces and all the voice-overs were British.” He added, “People will tell you, ‘there are about 200 million of us. Are you telling me you could not find indigenous models for this commercial?’”

The change will take effect in October. All commercials that are being aired now with non-Nigerian talent will be safe until then.