Gil Scott-Heron dies at 62; 'godfather of rap' receives Twitter tributes from Eminem, Snoop Dogg and more

Gil Scott-Heron received an outpouring of love on Twitter after news spread that the influential poet and musician had passed away.

The 62-year-old was best known for 1960s and '70s recordings such as “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” about inner-city life and the media, and his influence on later artists earned him the nickname “godfather of rap.” He'd made a bit of a comeback in 2009 with “I’m New Here.”

Eminem was among the artists to recognize his inspiration, tweeting, “RIP Gil Scott-Heron. He influenced all of hip-hop,” while Usher paid tribute to the singer’s “Revolution,” writing, “The revolution will be live!!”

Chuck D shared the sentiment, “we do what we do and how we do because of you. And to those that don't know tip your hat with a hand over your heart & recognize.”

Ghostface Killah asked everyone to “Salute Mr. Gil Scott-Heron for his wisdom and poetry!” adding, “May he Rest in Paradise.”

Sean “Diddy” Combs and Snoop Dogg kept it simple. Combs wrote, “RIP Gil Scot-Heron,” while Snoop posted, “#rip to 1 of tha greats gil scott heron.”

For more on Scott-Heron’s life and work, visit our sister blog, Pop & Hiss.

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-- Emily Christianson

Photo: Gil Scott-Heron. Credit: Mischa Richter.

Snoop Dogg, Warren G say goodbye to rapper Nate Dogg at funeral attended by 1,000 in Long Beach

Rapper Nate Dogg, a.k.a. Nathaniel Hale, was laid to rest Saturday in Long Beach after a funeral service and life celebration attended by the likes of Snoop Dogg, Warren G and The Game.

The Long Beach native died March 15 from complications of multiple strokes he'd suffered since 2008. He was 41.

Snoop Dogg, real name Calvin Broadus, eulogized his friend: "1986, Poly High School, that's where we connected for the first time," he said, according to MTV News. "We didn't know each other, but the music connected us. We built a brotherhood, a friendship."

"At Nate's funeral. Life makes no sense at all sometimes," The Game tweeted on Saturday, adding later, "All luv 2 @snoopdogg whose words uplifted the entire building. Right when I thought tears would fall, it turned into a joyous celebration."

A tentative evening celebration of the rapper's life was scratched and instead combined with the 10 a.m. funeral service at the Queen Mary Dome, the Long Beach Press Telegram reported, with attendance restricted to those given one of 1,000 tickets distributed Friday through the office of City Councilman Dee Andrews. Those without tickets were asked not to come to the dome or the cemetery.

"American Idol" contestant Jacob Lusk, reportedly a member of a hand-picked choir that sang Saturday, tweeted, "We Love you Nate....A great friend and mentor is being laid to rest today...We love you very much Nate....Praying." 

Others in attendance, MTV News said: Dr. Dre, DJ Quik, Mack-10 and WC, DJ Pooh, Battlecat, Xzibit, Daz and Kurupt, Butch Cassidy and L.A. radio personality Big Boy, who linked to a picture of Snoop's latest tattoo, rendered in memory of Nate.

The burial was private.

RELATED:

Long Beach hip-hop crooner Nate Dogg dies at 41

Nate Dogg's death -- and the realities of stroke in the young

Notorious B.I.G.: On #biggieday, celebs and fans remember slain rapper Christopher Wallace

Photo: Snoop Dogg arrives with his wife, Shante Broadus, at the memorial service for Nate Dogg, real name Nathaniel D. Hale, at the Queen Mary Dome in Long Beach on Saturday. Credit: Dan Steinberg / Associated Press

Long Beach hip-hop crooner Nate Dogg dies at 41

Long Beach singer Nate Dogg, whose real name is Nathaniel D. Hale, died Tuesday after years of health issues. He was 41.

Nate Dogg died of complications from multiple strokes that he suffered since 2008, attorney Mark Geragos told the Associated Press.

"We lost a true legend n hip hop n rnb. One of my best friends n a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at poly high where we met," Snoop Dogg tweeted Tuesday night, adding, "I miss u cuzz I am so sad but so happy I got to grow up wit u and I will c u again n heaven cuz u know d slogan."

His monotone-like voice has been featured on songs by Warren G, Tupac Shakur, Ludacris and Eminem. But the hip-hop crooner got his start with fellow Long Beach rapper Snoop Dogg when producer Dr. Dre signed him to the Death Row label. He made his debut in 1992 on Dr. Dre's "The Chronic" album.

He comprised the "supergroup" named 213 with Snoop Dogg and Warren G, leaving his mark on the hip-hop genre.

"I wrote the chorus to 21 questions I needed nate to sing it for me. He had a way of making everything feel hard," rapper 50 Cent tweeted about his 2003 hit song.

"There is a certain void in hip hop's heart that can never be filled. Glad we got to make history together RT @SnoopDogg: RIP NATE DOGG," Ludacris also wrote on Twitter.

Nate Dogg dropped out of high school to join the Marines but was dishonorably discharged three years later. The West Coast rap staple also had a spate of legal issues. He was briefly involved in the drug trade and later accused of kidnapping, armed robbery, drug possession and stalking.

Many of the charges were dismissed.

RELATED:

Remembering Nathaniel 'Nate Dogg' Hale in video

Nate Dogg's death -- and the realities of stroke in the young

Notorious B.I.G.: On #biggieday, celebs and fans remember slain rapper Christopher Wallace

-- Nardine Saad
Twitter.com/NardineSaad

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Nate Dogg goes it alone in 2001. Credit: Elektra Records

Cameron Diaz 'had to have' bought weed from Snoop Dogg in high school

 

Cameron Diaz is proud of her Long Beach roots and not afraid to discuss any rites of passage that come with her upbringing — like, say, buying pot from Snoop Dogg.

The actress stopped by George Lopez's show, and the comedian was quick to point out that the "Charlie's Angels" blond hails from the LBC.

"Did you know Snoop D-O-Double-G?" Lopez asked.

"We went to high school together; he was a year older than me. I remember him there ... he was very tall and skinny, wore lots of ponytails in his head," she recalled.

"And I'm pretty sure I bought weed from him. I had to have."

We can't argue with you there, Cameron. Check out the clip above, then give us your thoughts on the pair's high school transaction in the comments section below.

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— Matt Donnelly
Twitter.com/MattDonnelly

 

Celebs who support Prop. 19: Everybody must get stoned?

What do Willie Nelson and Snoop Dogg have in common? Support for Proposition 19, which if it gets a majority of votes in Tuesday's election would legalize marijuana for personal use in California.

"Prop. 19? You know where I stand on that. Very high," the Dogg has said.

"I think it's absolutely time to at least see if it works, experiment," said comic David Cross, who voices Minion on the new DreamWorks animated flick "Megamind." "Let California be the experiment."

Sting, Danny Glover, Melissa Etheridge and of course Bill Maher and "Hangover" actor Zach Galifianakis are among the "yes" votes -- though of course there are two sides to the argument, even if you lean Libertarian.

Which other celebs support Prop. 19, and why? Click on the photo of Snoop at right to launch a detailed photo gallery of a dozen or more entertainers who don't fear the reefer. What their weed habits say about them is something you'll have to find out for yourself.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Top photo: Zach Galifianakis in New York City on Monday. Credit: Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images

Bottom photo: Snoop Dogg in Las Vegas on Oct. 15. Credit: David Becker / Getty Images

Related dispatches from the Ministry of Gossip:

Oh, no, he didn't: Zach Galifianakis' Prop. 19 joint was just a prop itself, Bill Maher says [polls]

'Due Date' premiere arrives for Zach Galifianakis, Robert Downey Jr.

PREACH IT! In which Zach Galifianakis does our Mel Gibson preaching for us

Oh, no, he didn't: Zach Galifianakis' Prop. 19 joint was just a prop itself, Bill Maher says [polls]

Ahead of the BET Awards, Warner Bros. Records hosts a Hollywood party

Snoop Dogg was in Europe on his "Malice 'n' Wonderland" tour, so he couldn't attend Warner Bros. Records' Pre-BET Awards Party in Hollywood on Friday evening. That left wife Shante Broadus to face the rigors of partying by her lonesome.

Again.

But there is one thing that will keep Dogg down on the farm, and it's – you guessed it -- a reality show!

Broadus said the cameras kept Dogg coming home for dinner when they filmed "Snoop Dogg's Father Hood," the family's reality show on E!, in 2007 and 2008.

"For me, it was fun because it brought my family together," says Broadus, who also volunteers ...

Snoop Dogg pays homage to Sookie and 'True Blood.' The video result? Amazing.

HBO vampire hit "True Blood" and its sassy blond star Anna Paquin have nabbed a tribute track from Snoop Dogg -- take that, "Twilight"! 

In a delicious tune for the sexy, supernatural inhabitants of the town of Bon Temps, La., the Dogg offers a three-minute manifesto on just what he'd do if he got his hands on Paquin's Sookie Stackhouse.

In "Oh Sookie," Snoop offers the following motivators for her to ditch the small-town life and run with him: a free trip to L.A., a nice cold gin and juice at Merlotte's bar (her employer) and intimacy in the daytime so her vampire boyfriend Bill won't know what's going on.

Do us, and yourself, a favor -- watch and love.

-- Matt Donnelly

Get more Vampire Madness from the Ministry, and don't miss us on Twitter and Facebook.

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2010 MTV Movie Awards: What wedding gift would Snoop Dogg give Katy Perry and Russell Brand?

 

Snoop Dogg's rapping on Katy Perry's "California Gurls" has helped to make the catchy song one of the summer's hottest tunes already, and Snoop had only good things to say about Perry on the red carpet at the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday.

"Off the hook -- she's amazing, she's a great artist, she's fun to be around," he gushed.

So now that he's gotten to know Perry, what would he give her and Russell Brand for their wedding gift?

"A dog," he said. "And I'd name it Snoop."

-- Amy Kaufman (Twitter.com/AmyKinLA)

Photo: Katy Perry and Snoop Dogg performed together at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards at the Gibson Amphitheatre on June 6, 2010. Credit: Christopher Polk / Getty Images.

Related dispatches from the Ministry of Gossip:

And MTV's best kiss trophy goes to ... cue 'Twilight' music, and a poll

Psst: On the MTV Music Awards red carpet, 'subtle' isn't the password

Want the headlines? Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter (we're @LATcelebs), or like us into your news feed on Facebook at facebook.com/ministryofgossip.

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Snoop Dogg plus Martha Stewart plus brownies equals moments of pure televised joy

Martha Stewart might be quick to diss Rachael Ray's baking skills, but when it comes to Snoop Dogg's kitchen magic, she's ready to embrace her guest's style. 

And to rap with him about marijuana-laced brownies. 

Guess she enjoyed the way he shanked her potatoes last year.

Just watch the video from today's "Martha Stewart Show" -- we can't get it goofier than these two already did. We assume Martha's kitchen is free of sticks and seeds from the get-go.

Note to Rachael: If Martha invites you back, drop the cooking-for-a-busy-family thing and embrace your inner rap star -- it's not as if you don't know she's down with her hip-hop self.

And if anyone isn't in a position to watch the video now, here's a tasty, testy take-away tidbit from Ms. Stewart to Mr. Dogg:

Tila Tequila engaged to heiress Casey Johnson, she says

Has someone finally taken Tila Tequila off the shelf?

That seems to be the word today, straight from the Internet star's mouth, when she indicated in a Ustream video early this morning that Johnson & Johnson heiress Casey Johnson had proposed marriage.

"I love you guys so much, we are giving you the exclusive first. ... Tonight, my girlfriend asked me to marry her!" she said in the clip, flashing what she said was a 17-carat diamond engagement ring. And Tila being Tila, she flashed a bit more as the announcement went on.

More on that later.

Tequila and Johnson had smooched and stumbled down the red carpet Tuesday night at the 10th- anniversary party for Famous Stars and Straps, drummer Travis Barker's clothing line.

Snoop Dogg was also celebrating with the crowd at the Vanguard Club in Hollywood, marking the release of his 10th studio album.

Party-goers -- among them Kevin Connolly, Ryan Phillippe and Kelly Osbourne -- were treated to a show (another show?), with Pharrell Williams joining Snoop and Barker for a live set.

So back to that ring ...