Pump It Up! host Dee Barnes shot to notoriety when she became the first female Hip Hop journalist to have a broadcast television show. The show launched in 1989, the show featured in-depth interviews with prominent Hip Hop artists such as Ice Cube, Ice-T, Will Smith, Queen Latifah, Big Daddy Kane Heavy D, N.W.A, and more.
Everything changed in 1991 when Barnes was brutally attacked by Dr. Dre during a Hollywood record release party. Subsequently, her career came to a screeching halt and her days were suddenly filled with court appearances. Barnes filed criminal charges against Dre and a civil suit followed. They ultimately settled out of court in 1993.
According to HipHopDX Barnes has found herself in a situation of homelessness. With nowhere else to go, the former Delicious Vinyl artist reluctantly launched a GoFundMe campaign in an effort to raise enough money to secure a place to live. It wasn’t an easy decision.
“What made me finally say enough I’m going to ask for help is that quote, ‘You can overcome anything in life, but you must first be willing to live in your truth,” she tells HipHopDX. “I realized that I had come too far and had been through too much to just give up without trying.
“I had never asked for public help before, but I then remembered a long time ago while I was going through the assault trial in 1991 people were sending me checks for my legal fees. Inever cashed any of them — not one — but knowing I had that support kept me strong enough to continue to face each court date. Right now, I am officially homeless. My goal with the campaign is to regain stability, which is imperative for survivors of any trauma.”
During an episode of HBO’s The Defiant Ones, which revolved around Dre and record exec Jimmy Iovine, Dre spoke about his history of abusing women and seemingly addressed the assault, admitting he was “out of his fucking mind.”
He also referred to it as “a major blemish” on who he is as a man. Here’s Dee Barnes’ call to action.
Thank you to everyone for your prayers, your support, your messages, phone calls, and positive vibrations, I am profoundly grateful to you all❤💛💚#CountYourBlessings https://t.co/tQLChQpGW9
— Bold Soul Sista D.Barnes (@sistadbarnes) March 15, 2019
