2013 R.I.P.

**Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly** One half of hip-hop duo Kriss Kross

George Duke Jazz/Fusion legend — **George Duke** Jazz/Fusion legend

Nelson Mandela Activist revolutionary and former president of South Africa — **Nelson Mandela** Activist revolutionary and former president of South Africa

Richie Havens Folk singer and opening act at Woodstock — **Richie Havens** Folk singer and opening act at Woodstock

Cordell "Boogie" Mosson Bass player for Parliament/Funkadelic — **Cordell “Boogie” Mosson** Bass player for Parliament/Funkadelic

Donald Byrd Jazz/R&B legend and jazz educator — **Donald Byrd** Jazz/R&B legend and jazz educator

Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner Vocalist, guitarist, writer and producer for The Ohio Players — **Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner**
Vocalist, guitarist, writer and producer for The Ohio Players

Bobby "Blue" Bland Modern blues singer — **Bobby “Blue” Bland**
Modern blues singer

Albert Murray Jazz critic and author — **Albert Murray** Jazz critic and author

Yusef Lateef Jazz musician — **Yusef Lateef** Jazz musician

Media Questions Of The Week

1. Will all of the allegations and things mentioned in this week’s Village Voice article about R.Kelly ever have any significant effect on his career?

2. Is global racism really so deep that the Indians mistook Morgan Freeman for Nelson Mandela in a case of “they all look alike?” And the fact that Freeman played Mandela in a movie does not matter.

3. Why didn’t NWA, Chic, LL Cool J or The Meters make it into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame this year?

4. Wasn’t Beyonce’s Walmart trip where she gave out $50 gift cards a cool move after Target and Amazon refused to stock physical copies of her CD?

Media Questions Of The Week

1. Why are media outlets like the New York Times writing obituaries (that’s been changed) of Nelson Mandela that describe him as a “peaceful resistor?”

2. What will Kanye West’s next album sound like with production from Rick Rubin and Q-Tip?

3. Why are the producers of American Horror Story:Coven describing Lance Reddick’s Papa Legba character as a “voodoo Satan” when Satan has nothing to do with voodoo?

R.I.P. Nelson Mandela

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South African freedom fighter, former prisoner and president Nelson Mandela died today. Mandela’s story of being an activist/lawyer who opposed South African apartheid and lived through a 27-year prison sentence to later become president of the country is fantastic. His survival of prison to later become a respected international icon of freedom and equality is the only story of its kind.