By Hunter Walker 2/08 9:28pm

Big Poppa

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Connecticut Mayor Dubs Blizzard ‘Snowtorious B.I.G.’

While many people and elected officials have simply followed the Weather Channel’s decision to call the snowstorm hitting the Northeast “Nemo,” the mayor of one city in Connecticut has decided to come up with his own name for the blizzard and it’s a reference to the late, great rapper Notorious B.I.G. In a series of tweets sent today, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton has used the #SnowtoriousBIGII hashtag to refer to the storm.

“Wind is definitely picking up,” Mr. Boughton wrote this afternoon. “This is becoming an old school storm. #OG #snotoriousBIGII” Read More

By Hunter Walker 2/08 3:19pm

O Say Can You Hear?

joe crowley is amazing

Congressman Joe Crowley on His Duet With Stephen Colbert

Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert was the surprise guest this morning at the House Democratic retreat and his appearance included quips about his sister’s House bid in North Carolina and a “dramatic” duet of the Star Spangled Banner with Queens Congressman Joe Crowley. Sadly, Mr. Crowley’s office told us they don’t have video footage of the comedian and congressman performing, but Mr. Crowley did offer up a complimentary appraisal of his partner’s performance.

“All I can say is Stephen Colbert can be my back-up singer anytime,” he said. Read More

By Hunter Walker 1/29 9:45am

Hair

Bill de Blasio, Dante and Dante's afro appearing at Sunday's campaign announcement.

The Secret Behind Dante de Blasio’s Afro

One of the breakout stars of Bill de Blasio’s mayoral campaign announcement last weekend was his son Dante’s prodigious afro. In the days since Mr. de Blasio’s kickoff rally at his home young Dante’s hairstyle has earned coverage in the New York Times and inspired a parody Twitter account. Politicker spoke with Mr. de Blasio during his marathon first day on the campaign trail Monday and he revealed Dante’s hairdo may have its roots in classic rock. Read More

By Hunter Walker 1/22 1:02pm

Ballin'

US-POLITICS-INAUGURATION-BALLS

Inside the Inaugural Ball: Obama’s Second Term Gets Off to Cheez-y Start

WASHINGTON, D.C. — For most Americans, the phrase Inaugural Ball conjures up images of the commander in chief and first lady clad in full evening dress taking a waltz on the dance floor. If you’d like to maintain that illusion of grandeur when 2016 rolls around, Politicker humbly suggests you stay home and watch the festivities on television, because the reality is far less glamorous. Last night’s main Inaugural Ball was like a low rent prom complete with a gym-like venue, chips standing in for hors d’oeuvres and 80′s music. Amid all these cut-rate accoutrements and incongruously overdressed guests, we also spotted a basketball legend, a dancing congresswoman and, of course, the president. Read More

By Hunter Walker 12/14/12 3:51pm

Newtown

The NRA Country logo.

NRA Cancels Country Music Event After School Shooting

After this morning’s shooting at a Connecticut elementary school, the National Rifle Association cancelled a planned Twitter promotion with country music rapper Colt Ford. A live “Tweet & Greet” with Mr. Ford was scheduled for 1 p.m. (Central Time) this afternoon on the “NRA Country” account. However, shortly after the event’s planned start time, an announcement was posted on the NRA Country Twitter account that it would be rescheduled.

“Apologies for the inconvenience, but the @ColtFord Tweet & Greet will be rescheduled. Please check back for more info!” the announcement said. Read More

By Hunter Walker 11/26/12 1:36pm

Hip Hop 101

Marco Rubio (Photo: Getty)

How GQ Misrepresented Marco Rubio’s Rap IQ

This month’s issue of GQ features an interview with Florida Senator Marco Rubio in which he talks about his favorite rap songs. When the interview went live online last week, many people took note of Mr. Rubio’s rap knowledge, but Politicker couldn’t help but notice he appeared to mistakenly describe hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa as a member of the rap group Public Enemy. However, after reading the print version of the issue it is clear that the discrepancy was caused by an edit made by the magazine and not any rap errors made by Mr. Rubio.   Read More

By Colin Campbell 11/15/12 10:00am

news of the world

Congressman Crowley (Photo: YouTube)

Queens Pols to Rock Out

In a few months, Queens County’s elected officials are gathering for a musical talent show of sorts. In a flier sent out to the borough’s legislators, the show, a fundraiser for Queens College, is “seeking elected officials who can sing, act, dance, do comedy and are willing to share their talents in a musical comedy revue which celebrates our wonderful borough.”

According to a source, two of the borough’s most musical officials, Democratic Congressman Joe Crowley and GOP Councilman Dan Halloran, both seemed likely to attend. Mr. Crowley, of course, is a well-known music lover, from “Call Me Maybe” to little ditties in his fundraising solicitations. For his part, Mr. Halloran is a fairly talented alternative rock singer, as he thoroughly demonstrated at one of his own fundraisers. Read More

By Hunter Walker 10/09/12 5:35pm

Muppet Mania

Big Bird on the streets of Manhattan in 2009. (Photo: Getty)

Ohio Obama Rally Features Rap Rendition of Sesame Street Theme Song

Team Romney has decried Democrats’ repeated mentions of Big Bird since Mitt Romney brought up the beloved muppet while declaring his intention to end the federal subsidy for PBS during last week’s presidential debate, but the Obama campaign shows no sign that they intend to stop invoking Sesame Street any time soon. In fact, at an Obama rally at Ohio State University this afternoon, rapper will.i.am performed a rendition of the theme song of the popular children’s television show to rile up the president’s supporters.  Read More

By Hunter Walker 9/27/12 6:06pm

The Fame

Lady Gaga (Photo: Getty)

Lady Gaga Thanks Her Defender, Scott Stringer

Earlier this week, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer issued a statement in support of the pop singer Lady Gaga after Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro deemed her a “slut” due to her alleged onstage drug use. Today, Ms. Gaga returned the favor.

“To @scottmstringer of Manhattan, thanku for your support of my activism as a new yorker. You show political integrity + a modern vernacular,” the musician wrote on Twitter.  Read More

By Hunter Walker 9/27/12 1:50pm

Positive Vibrations

biundo-happy

As Polls Swing Obama’s Way, Romney Advisor Recommends ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’

With polls, particularly in the crucial swing states of Ohio and Florida, starting to show a strong lead for President Barack Obama, one Romney advisor is urging his friends to whistle a happy tune. Michael Biundo, Mitt Romney’s deputy national coalitions director, posted a note to his Facebook page with a video of the insidious 1988 Bobby McFerrin hit “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

“Somebody I know, (not naming names mind you) needs this song,” Mr. Biundo wrote.

Though Mr. Biundo kept it coy and didn’t refer to anyone in particular, based on his close connection to Mr. Romney and the many headlines generated by the recent polls, it’s hard not to read his message as a comment on the state of the presidential race. Read More