It's Bigger than the 27 Club

When reports surfaced that British singer Amy Winehouse had died, it didn't take long before stories circulated comparing her death at 27 to iconic musicians who also died at the same age such as, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Kurt Cobain.

Titles like, "Amy Joins the 27 Club: Who Are the Other Members", "Winehouse just latest to musician to die at 27" which permeate the web seem to trivialize the overall seriousness of the situation and fail at the opportunity to go deeper into who the artist was besides the drug-induced antics and rumors that circulated her, in her last years.

We're all just ordinary people

When an artist has talent it becomes hard for some of us to understand why they choose the path of drugs. When an artist has millions, it becomes hard for us on the outside to really understand why they would choose to water down their reputation with pills, crack, or alcohol. The reality may be a tough pill for some to swallow, so here goes: they're humans, they just have a talent they have been able to make money off of. Yes, some artists are extraordinary and unbelievably talented, but nearly everyone has met someone who is extraordinary in their lives, they just may not be famous.

We shouldn't be surprised when celebrities have "normal people problems", and addictions. We wouldn't make fun of the drug addict down the street who struggles with an addition, or an alcoholic in our family, yet when it comes to celebrities it's open season.

Why do some artists not get the chance to truly prove their artistry?

Amy Winehouse was a talented vocalist, bellowing out soulful tunes who quickly moved on the industry radar after her 2003. Her addiction quickly overshadowed her talent and started to sabotage attempts for her to revive her career.

It's easy to celebrate someone more after death than we did while they were alive. There's a reason why today Winehouse's Back to Black moved to the number one spot on iTunes. Some may have been dear fans, while others may want to celebrate the music of a woman whose troubles prevented her from being the star she could have been, and others who never listened to her music may want to experience the music that garnered her so many fans.

Unfortunately, like many artists before her, we tend to nurture their legacy after they're gone and ridicule them while they're alive if they stray from perfection. Now, we'll retire the unflattering, embarrassing photos snapped of Winehouse to be placed on the biggest gossip sites, and replace them with the classier photos of her better days. That's the way the story goes.

As of yet, the cause of death has not been released as a post-mortem examination will be performed today.

Lock the Door and Throw Away the Key

I have no sympathy and very little interest in celebrities who repeatedly get in trouble with the law for incidents that could have been avoided. Do they think they're above the law or simply don't care? Mixture of both probably. Yes, at the end of the day they're humans just like everyone else and make mistakes, but why damage your reputation consistently?

O.J Simpson
Following his last botched attempt of retrieving what he said was "his" property, The Juice was sentenced to nine years in prison. For real this time. Whether we want to go back 14 years ago as to whether he "did it" or "not", after being acquitted he had the chance to try to repair a severely damaged reputation. Instead of fading into the background O.J managed to get attention for all the wrong reasons - drugs, domestic abuse, tax problems, you name it. He even managed to get a lawsuit slapped against him by DirecTV for stealing television signals. People have been bootlegging cable for years, how dumb can you be that you get caught and you're a celebrity??

And he seriously must have gotten every brain cell knocked out of him when he played football because in 2006 he wanted to release a book called, If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer detailing how he would have executed the murders if he had done it. He should of been locked up then for sheer stupidity.
Lock away the key. No one cares anymore, not even those who supported him through the trial. Bye.

DMX
A rapper fallen from hip-hop grace. In the late 90s/early 00s DMX was on top of the world with multi-platinum albums, collaborations with hip-hop heavyweights, and what appeared like a solid career in music. Well, crack is wack, and apparently so is DMX. Numerous drug arrests, carjacking, driving with a suspended license, babies mothers coming out the wood works suing him prove DMX had slipped and fell and couldn't get up. The icing on the cake for me was last fall during an interview with XXL when he said he didn't know who Barack Obama was and didn't even know a black man was running for president. Wow.
He's currently on lockdown now and apparently part of his punishment is he has to wear pink at all times.

Mike Tyson
I haven't heard anything recently but Mike loves to take a retreat from his criminal activities and come back every few years with a new drug or assault charge. In 2005, USA Today ran an article where he reportedly said, ""My whole life has been a waste, I've been a failure. I just want to escape. I'm really embarrassed with myself and my life." Again, someone who served time for a convicted rape you think would of dedicated his life to shedding a negative image, but he just kept racking up charges...and ridiculous tattoos. Well, as of now he's acknowledged his drug problem and trying to seek help. Better late than never. I guess.

Suge Knight
Does Suge have nine lives? Suge has been shaking the industry down since the early 90s through what most would say by fear, extortion and violence. He served a little time, but still never seemed to learn his lesson. But someone's not afraid of Suge as recently he got beat up during the NBA All Star weekend by a guy they claimed was Akon's manager, but reportedly isn't? I just get tired of hearing about Suge Knight; for someone who hasn't really been relevant in the music game for awhile he sure can't seem to stay out of the news.

Amy Winehouse
She should be jailed not because of the illegal drug use but for being a waste of talent (you think I cared when Britney Spears fell off the wagon. Not so much)
I'd say throw away the key, but perhaps lock her away and don't let her out until she promises to deliver a new dope album, get off drugs and gain some weight. Fair exchange is no robbery.

Sidenote: Bobby Brown could of made this last about four or five years ago, but he's been on good behavior lately. Speaking of Bobby, I never hide my shameless love for late 80s/early 90s R&B, so here's Bobby live.