Rapper Method Man, aka Clifford Smith, should have come up with a better method for paying his taxes. Like ummm.. I don’t…. like how about paying them?

Former Wu-Tang Clan member was busted for not paying over thirty grand that he owes in back taxes and they just caught up with him. If convicted he can face four years in jail.

Method was in a comedy sitcom called Redman and Method Man back in 2004, which was about two black rappers living in an affluent white neighbourhood. I happened to catch an episode, and it was one of the worst shows I have ever seen. Just not funny at all.

It has been said that Method and Redman did not have enough creative control over the show and they butted heads with Fox which caused the show to go into hiatus. But this show needed a LOT more funny and hasn’t been seen again. Of course Method claims that the show is on a “long hiatus”,  *snicker* I think we can safely say it is gone forever.

Perhaps Method was a little over zealous about the shows success and went on one too many shopping sprees. And this isn’t the first time trouble has come a knockin’.

He was busted back in 2007 in New York City for possession of marijuana , and now with a repossessed Linclon Navigator last year, Method better straighten out his sh*t. 

Eonline wrote:

Feud alert! Method Man and Uncle Sam just don’t see eye to eye.

The Grammy-winning rapper and former Wu-Tang Clan man was arrested today on felony charges of skipping out on $32,799 in taxes from 2004 to 2007. The star, also known as 38-year-old Clifford Smith, was immediately arraigned and released on his own recognizance.

Let’s not forget that this isn’t his first time in hot water for not forking over the funds.

In 2008, his Lincoln Navigator was repossessed for owing the government. His explanation for this occurrence, however, was a bit hazy (and you should take that literally).

“Myself, I’m a pothead,” he told the New York Daily News in March. “Sure [the tax department] sent letters to my house saying, ‘We need this money.’ They started sending them in 2002. Here it is, 2009, and I never paid this s–t because I don’t think like that!”

That’s too bad, because the rapper faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

“Taxes are the burden that all citizens share in a civil society, whether you are an ‘average Joe’ on the street or a high-profile rap artist,” District Attorney Daniel Donovan said in a statement. “Because of the alleged action of people like Mr. Smith, law abiding citizens face higher taxes and reduced government services. Failure to properly report and pay your taxes is a crime against all citizens and will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted.”

Method Man is due back in court Dec. 9.

Maybe his new LP corroboration with fellow rappers Ghostface Killah, and Raekwon will take off. He also has a Grammy, a pretty successful acting career with a long list of cameo appearances under his belt.

While I agree that taxes totally suck. You have to pay up even though it is supposed to be voluntary, according to the way the laws were written. *HA! Yeah ok*

You better pay up and watch your spending Method. Invest your money wisely brother. You don’t need a fleet of cars, a giant entourage and all that mess. 

Don’t know why rappers and other stars have a tendency to over extend themselves with materialistic crap. Status symbols can’t pay the bills. Money goes out faster than it comes in these days, and popularity can be very fleeting and you can end up with everything repossessed down the line. *Hello MC Hammer*

And geez Method! Put down the blunts and fly right! Time to grow up brother before it’s too late.

 

Rehabbing singer Amy Winehouse was caught out grabbing some takeaway from KFC with a drawn-on black tear under her eye.  Those in the know (which is pretty much anyone who reads news and who knows who Amy is) say it is a reaction to the news that hubby Blake Shine’er-Silver got hold of some bad drugs in the big house:

She emerged from her Camden home with her bodyguard, to pick up a take away from Kentucky Fried Chicken on the day it was reported that husband Blake nearly died after overdosing on heroin in prison.

Today he was said to be recovering in Pentonville Prison’s hospital block, after guards found him in his cell writhing in pain, and violently vomiting.

Prison officers later discovered that the drug was a toxic hybrid of heroin and other potent chemicals.

As our intrepid Dawn first reported on Sunday, Blake is reportedly upset that while he sits and rots away in jail, wife Amy is not only rehabbing and cleaning up her party-animal act, but she has been seen out partying and shopping with another Blake, an American artist who is squeaky-clean…even though she dedicated her Grammys to Bad Blake and gave him a shout-out twice in her set:

Blake was apparently fearful for his relationship amid rumours that the Grammys five-award winner has been enjoying herself with American photographer and artist, Blake Wood.

Fielder-Civil sent the singer a romantic Valentine’s hamper gift from his prison cell, following reports she had grown close to Wood, who has been dubbed “Good Blake”.

For her part, Amy has told friends that their relationship is platonic, and that Good Blake is actually homosexual.  The gays always make the best shopping buddies, don’t they, girls?

Amy.  Honey.  Come here a second.  I know that you are infatuated with Bad Blake, and he’s your husband and all that rot.  But listen to me a second…he’s a bloodsucking leech, a millstone round your neck, and he will do nothing but drag you down further and further into a drug-fueled descent to Hell.  I know it’s hard to let go of what you believe is such a romantic notion, and believing that the two of you are some sort of star-cross’d lovers, and it’s the two of you against the world, but trust me…crap like that only happens in plays, bad movies, and sugary love songs.  This is real life.

Let’s take a look at the comparisons…husband in jail, you NOT in jail.  Husband a unrepentant drug addict…you NOT on drugs and in rehab.  Husband poor and never works…you NOT on the dole of somebody else.  Husband’s life going down the dumper…your life NOT going down but your star is rising.  Husband a no-talent, no ambition, gagged-with-the-ugly-stick, knuckle-dragging monosyllabic troglodyte…well, you get the idea.  Just think about it, okay?

And if you’re worried about dumping him while he’s incarcerated, and how it will look, don’t worry…it will look GREAT, and we’ll all stand up and cheer.

I would like to know what this is in her nose…it could just be nose in her nose, but then again…I hope not.

Here’s a video for Kanye West’s song, “Flashing Lights”.  Yep, this stuff is what Kanye recieves Grammy Awards for.

And Natalie Cole had the balls to say Amy Winehouse didn’t deserve her Grammys?  I mean, they’ve actually given Kanye awards for this sort of thing?

“I feel like a brand-new artist that just signed yesterday,” West said before playing his video on a large wall via projector. West, who co-directed the clip with Spike Jonze, said that “every piece of the video is me, what I represent now.”

The video is a hodgepodge of sex appeal, brashness, grace and humorous storytelling. Basically, the short revolves around a lady taking out her frustrations on a bound-and-gagged West in the harshest way.

Let’s just say that in the part where Kanye raps about his girl saying, “Where are you, Yeezy?,” he apparently didn’t have a good enough answer.

“The video is f—ing incredible!” Nas said. “Nobody wants to be different. Everybody wants to be the same, and Kanye always comes with some other sh–. He’s not afraid to be different.”

So exactly just what is it that you represent now, Kanye?  Fur coats, half-naked women, material excess, violence? 

(btw, they’re saying this isn’t the “real” video, just a teaser.  Still.)

UPDATE:  The always zexy Michael from dlisted has this little article about the girl featured in the video.  Apparently you can buy her dirty panties, straight off her website.  (what did you think I was gonna say?)  She’ll wear them long enough to impart her “natural scent” to them and then let you purchase them for your viewing pleasure.

Oh yeah, I’ll bet Kanye’s mother is so proud of him right about now.

I don’t believe that we, as a viewing and purchasing audience, should reward those in positions of fame when they wilfully and knowingly act in ways that are illegal, immoral, and detrimental to themselves and their fans. Too many so-called “stars” are rewarded for acting like jerks when they should be punished for such behavior, whether that be by the law or by our closed wallets.

But I also believe that when someone does try to pull themselves up out of the mire of their crashed lives, that the effort shouldn’t be ignored.  For so many, there is no destination, no place to say, “I’m cured,” but there’s simply a continuous journey and many conscious decisions over the course of a lifetime to try not be what they were.

So, let’s see just how far Amy Winehouse has come in her journey out of the drug and alcohol-induced hell she put herself in.  I certainly hope that she can continue her journey successfully.  She’s just beginning, she’ll stumble and fall along the way, but hopefully she can keep up what has begun. It’s new every day, Amy…Godspeed.

A video I found of Amy singing “Rehab” while drunk:

And at the Grammys:

I didn’t watch much of the Grammys last night, although I did catch Beyonce in an ill-fitting outfit and Tina Turner looking and sounding great, but as far as awards being handed out goes, not everyone was as pleased as Amy Winehouse was with her Grammy nominations, let alone her five wins.

Natalie Cole, singer and daughter of the late and great Nat King Cole had this to say about Amy’s recognition from the Grammys:

“”I don’t think she should have won. I think it sends a bad message to our young people who are trying to get into this business, the ones who are trying to do it right and really trying to keep themselves together. We have to stop rewarding bad behavior.”

I’m sorry. I think the girl is talented, gifted, but it’s not right for her to be able to have her cake and eat it too. She needs to get herself together.”

I mean, she could die. This isn’t something that’s cute and fun just to throw around in the press. The girl really has a problem, and I think for those of us who have been in the business long enough, we know the sacrifice it takes. This is about discipline and hard work, and you don’t get to just do your drugs and go onstage and get rewarded.”

I couldn’t agree more. In fact we had the same conversation in my house last night. Yes Amy is immensely talented and certainly under normal circumstances would deserve these nominations and recognition for her talent, but the recording industry as a whole (and the entertainment industry for that matter) needs to take a stand on all of this off-stage behavior.

Glorifying dangerous and excessive drug use sets a bad example to anyone who looks up to these young stars. As a mom, I find it reprehensible that my children are bombarded with images of
people like Amy Winehouse or Lindsay Lohan half in the bag or worse yet, ACTUALLY using illegal drugs on film.

They aren’t just irresponsible, apparently they are stupid as hell for allowing themselves to be filmed.

Hey, I am all for having a good time, but sucking off a crack pipe, dropping pills like tic tacs and then washing it down with Dewar’s isn’t fun, it’s reckless.

And Natalie should know, she’s had her brush with Dr. Feelgood.

The Police busted out “Roxanne” to open the show, proving that senior citizens can still contribute to society, while maintaining a vague and slightly uncomfortable sexiness. Respect your elders.

And the 49th Grammy Awards went off without any major hitches.

But wait, there’s more…