Soul Fixin'

VH1 Honors Hip Hop

While many were glued to their televisions hoping to see Sarah Palin make a fool out of herself, hip hop was honored last night in its' hometown. VH1 took over the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City with the taping of its' Annual Hip Hop Honors show, a celebration of artists who helped make hip-hop a global phenomenon. New York's very own Tracy Morgan hosted the festivities, in which Cypress Hill, De La Soul, Naughty By Nature, Slick Rick, and Too $hort were honored. Kid Rock, Ghostface Killah, Biz Markie, Eve, Big Boi and others came out to pay homage. The telecast airs Monday night at 10. Be sure to watch it. Head over to the VH1 Hip Hop Honors site to peep flicks of the red carpet arrivals, the show, and the after party.

Soul Fixin'

Hip Hop Honors

The least known channel for hip hop is saluting rap legends Cypress Hill, De La Soul, Slick Rick, Naughty By Nature and Too $hort at the fifth annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors hosted by funny man Tracy Morgan. The musicial celebration airs on VH1 October 7 at 10pm, "generations of hip hop will bridge the gap for one exceptional night to set it off with the original style and flavor that sparked a revolution and continues to fuel an evolution around the world."

Soul Fixin'

Gov. Pardons Slick Rick

Rap legend Slick Rick received a full pardon from Gov. David Patterson, NY's first black governor, on May 23. According to The New York Times, Governor Patterson delivered the pardon to prevent the MC from being deported to England, where he was born and lived until the age of 11.

Back in 1991, Slick Rick was tried and convicted of attempted murder and weapon charges after shooting a cousin and acquittance. Slick Rick served 5 years in prison before being paroled. Slick Rick was under the threat of deportation, immigrants convicted of aggravated felony or weapons charges can be deported. In 2002, Slick Rick was arrested by the INS, who had been fighting for his deportation since 1995, aboard a Caribbean cruise ship. Rick spent a year in a Florida detention center before being set free.

Slick Rick's troubles are not completely over, the threat of deportation still looms over his head. Approval from immigration courts for an adjustment of status must be granted, chances of it being granted have greatly increased because of the governor's pardon.