Movies
Mary J. Blige ‘My Life’ Doc Shows Why She’ll Forever Be Queen in Black Culture
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Cindy Ord / Getty In 2019, Mary J. Blige’s iconic sophomore album, My Life turned 25-years old. In commemoration of the 1994 instant classic that had such a soul-level impact on Black America, the Queen decided to film a documentary detailing why so many of us felt seen. At an exclusive screening in Atlanta, hosted by Kenny Burns on behalf of radio station V-103, select fans were treated to an exclusive preview of the highly anticipated film, produced by Mary J. Blige, herself, along with Sean Love Combs and Ashaunna Ayars. Upon entrance, the guests were greeted with hors d’oeuvres and select cocktails featuring Mary’s signature Sun Goddess wine fused with Summer Citrus Ciroc to create a themed drink fit for the night aptly dubbed “Ciroc Summer...
‘In the Heights’ Hits No. 1 on Billboard’s Soundtracks Chart
The soundtrack album to the movie musical In the Heights jumps 16-1 on Billboard’s Soundtracks chart (dated June 26), following the set’s first full tracking week of activity. It’s the first live-action musical soundtrack to top the chart since The Greatest Showman spent its 34th and (so far) final week at No. 1 on the Sept. 12, 2020-dated list. In the Heights bumps the Moana animated film soundtrack from No. 1, as it falls to No. 2 after 47 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1. All of the songs on the In the Heights album were written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Miranda also wrote many of the tunes on the Moana album, including the Grammy Award-winning song “How Far I’ll Go.” Billboard’s Soundtracks chart ranks the most popular soundtracks of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consum...
Bob Dylan Film ‘Odd and Ends’ Sets Digital Release From Sony Music Entertainment
Dylan completists have seen much of this material in other forms but for the less indoctrinated, there are nuggets to be mined, such as from Paris in 1966 when Dylan – in his skinny-suit glory – faces a hostile audience that feels he’s betrayed his folk roots by going electric, spending an inordinate amount of time tuning his guitar during the acoustic half of the show. “You see, my electric guitar never goes out of tune,” he says to the booing throng, dripping with sarcasm. Also being released simultaneously in newly packaged form are four concert films: Bob Dylan: Trouble No More – A Musical Film; The Other Side Of The Mirror: Bob Dylan Live At The Newport Folk Festival 1963-1965, Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration, and Bob Dylan: ...
Bauchi residents lament erratic power supply
Some residents of Bauchi metropolis have expressed concerned over the erratic power supply in the area. Some of the residents who spoke with newsmen in seperate interviews, said the situation had made life unbearable for them. Newsmen report that Gwallameji area of Bauchi and other parts of the metropolis are leaving in darkness in the past months following vandalisation of electrical facilities in the affected communitie. They urged the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO) to address the problem and adopt proactive to protect its facilities against acts of vandalisim. Mr Paul Ugochukwu, a resident of Rafin Zurfi area of the metropolis, said they had been experiencing erratic power supply for the past three months sequel to the alleged destruction of the power transformer in the ar...
Jennifer Hudson and Carole King’s Cut from Aretha Franklin Biopic ‘Respect’ Is Here: Stream It Now
The Detroit native’s 1967 career-defining cover of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” — King’s co-write with Gerry Goffin — became one of the Franklin’s signature classics. Hudson will, of course, play Franklin in the film. Stream “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” below. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the process. Earn rewards by chatting, sharing photos, blogging and help give users back their fair share of Internet revenue.
2 Chainz Joins Antonio Banderas, Kate Bosworth In Crime Thriller ‘The Enforcer’
Banderas is the enforcer while Bosworth is the femme fatale. 2 Chainz is a crime kingpin. Producing are Rob Van Norden, Yariv Lerner, Jeffrey Greenstein, Jonathan Yunger along with Les Weldon and Natalie Burn. Avi Lerner, Boaz Davidson and Trevor Short are exec producing via Millennium. Bosworth is coming off of shooting Along for the Ride, a romantic drama for Netflix, and also starred in the streamer’s limited series, The I-Land. 2 Chainz, a Grammy Award-winner who has had three albums go platinum, appeared in 2 Broke Girls and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Bosworth is represented by APA and Morris Yorn. 2 Chainz is repped by APA and by Tek Maguire & Allen Parks of Street Execs Management. This article originally appeared in THR.com. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you a...
Cardi B Says Her ‘F9′ Character Leysa Is a ‘Powerful, Strong Woman’
In the minute-long teaser, Cardi is seen strutting on a set in a form-fitting white dress in a scene with star Diesel and chilling in a warehouse full of the gang’s souped-up rides while rocking a black jumpsuit. She also does a line read with Diesel in the back of a truck packed with women in black tactical gear, saying, “Dimelo papi!” and then breaking character and laughing, “I hate saying that!… cuz you know I don’t really flirt with Spanish.” She also tweeted about the film that stars Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Luda, Nathalie Emmanuel, Charlize Theron, John Cena, Helen Mirren and Kurt Russell, writing, “I can’t wait to watch Fast and furious 9 .I haven’t seen my scenes yet! That’s the best part about it ...
Brian Wilson’s Survival Story Told in New Documentary ‘Long Promised Road’
Film director Brent Wilson (no relation) contacted Fine after his own attempts to interview Wilson bore little fruit. Fine said his own experiences with the musician have taught him that “being there when he’s ready to talk has always been a big thing with Brian.” So they hit the road, eventually filming some 70 hours. Wilson’s importance to southern California is evident at some of the stops along their drive. A sign now marks the spot where a Beach Boys album cover was shot. While the boyhood home of Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson in Hawthorne no longer stands, a plaque marks that location, too. “I didn’t feel that Brian’s story, Brian’s third act now, had been done properly,” Fine said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I think that Brian is often seen as a recluse, as a victim,...
Rita Moreno Responds to ‘In the Heights’ Colorism Criticism: ‘You Can Never Do Right, It Seems’
On Sunday, a video from online magazine The Root went viral in which host and producer Felice León confronted In the Heights director Jon M. Chu and actors including Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera and Gregory Diaz IV over colorism in the film’s casting choices. Chu acknowledged that the conversation was a “fair” one to have, adding that he hopes more people will be encouraged to “tell more stories and get out there and do it right.” On Monday, Miranda addressed the criticisms himself in a message on Twitter. “I can hear the hurt and frustration over colorism, of feeling still unseen in the feedback. I hear that without sufficient dark-skinned Afro-Latino representation, the work feels extractive of the community we wanted so much to represent with pride and joy...
Box Office Upset: ‘In the Heights’ Loses to ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ With Tepid $11.4M Bow
Like all 2021 Warner Bros. titles, In the Heights is debuting simultaneously on HBO Max because of the challenges posed by the pandemic. It is impossible to know exactly how much business that is taking away in terms of box office grosses, but the feel-good pic may be more impacted than other genres since musicals often play to older adults, and especially older females. Consumers over 35 are the most reluctant to return to the multiplex, according to NRG surveys. At the same, musicals have a decidedly mixed track record at the office. The hope now is that glowing reviews and strong exits lead to increased grosses. “We’re incredibly proud of this movie, and hope audiences find it over time,” says Warners president of domestic distribution Jeff Goldstein. Per normal practice, HBO Max isn’t ...
Leslie Grace & Melissa Barrera of ‘In the Heights’ Obsess Over Broadway Classics: Watch
The highly anticipated movie In The Heights will premiere this week, spotlighting Latinos in the U.S. who represent a culturally, demographically, and geographically diverse group. Directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Lin-Manuel Miranda in 1999, the film stars a primarily Latino cast that includes Miranda, Anthony Ramos, Stephanie Beatriz, Melissa Barrera, and Leslie Grace’s acting debut, to name a few. “It was, in many ways, an attempt to write what I saw was missing, both in terms of representation and in terms of stories about [Latinos] in popular culture,” Miranda previously told Billboard. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautif...
Nabil Elderkin Talks Directing ‘Gully,’ Travis Scott’s Role & Film’s Hip-Hop/Classical ‘Sonic Tapestry’
Gully follows a trio of troubled teens in Los Angeles played by Jacob Latimore (The Chi, Collateral Beauty), Charlie Plummer (Lean on Pete, Looking for Alaska) and Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Waves, Monster). The gritty feature film depicts how the three boys are byproducts of their ‘hood who “don’t really get to play astronaut and stick fight because there’s so much being demanded [from them],” says screenwriter Marcus J. Guillory. In spite of being subject to their respective cycles of violence and abuse at home, their brotherhood remains the most unfailing force in their lives, as Gully portrays a gutting picture of what it means to be a “ride-or-die.” “Music videos was my film school,” Elderkin tells Billboard. Of course, he’s not the only music video director to transition into fi...
