In the (sadly) last season of cable TV’s best show, The Wire, Method Man has seen his role as Cheese increase in screen time. As the nephew of the now deceased Prop Joe, Cheese has doing a little more on screen dirt than in the previous four seasons.
Method Man’s character has been very verbal at the Co-op; he has consisidered going after The Wire’s most dangerous character, Omar; and he has even possibly taken out one of Baltimore’s crime bosses Hungry Man; he ratted on his own flesh and blood, Proposition Joe; and he also gave up Butchie to Chris.
It may just be me but I have a feeling that Cheese won’t make it through the season finale breathing. Either he will be taken out or he will take out a menacing character like Omar or Marlo.
Stay tuned for the exciting final six episodes on HBO at 9 p.m.
The year 2008 looks to be a big year for hip hop in film. There are a number of films slated to come out and a slew of rappers with a lot of acting work. So we at filming hip hop have compiled a short list of our most anticipated films for 2008. The list includes films with either hip hop themes or hip hop actors/actresses with major roles in the film. Check out the list and tell us what you think.
Lupe Fiasco has released a video for the first single off of his upcoming sophomore CD, The Cool, due out later this year. The video for “Superstar” is directed by Hype Williams and the song features Matt Santos.
I think the song is dope and the video is a great fit. Lupe has a concept for the The Cool and supposedly three of the CD’s characters are being introduced in the video:
The Cool = dude in the suit
The Game = dude in the chair
The Streets = girl standing with The Cool
This should be a strong one for Lupe. What do you think?
Well, it was inevitable. What would filminghiphop be without dropping an “All-time” favorites list? Huh?
So today’s list will comprise fhh’s Top 10 Hip Hop Themed Films. Our criteria for “hip hop themed film” is that, basically, the plot or main characters have to be involved in some type of facet or activity in the hip hop culture (i.e., rapping, b-boying, graffiti, or DJ’ing). So take a deep breath, peep the list and be sure to leave a comment. Perhaps we left something out?
When Grandmaster Flash and DJ Kool Herc brought the sound of Jamaica to the streets of New York their goal was to have this “Hip-Hop” sound infiltrate of style of music. In the year 2007 we can see hip-hop’s influence in everything from clothes, cars, tv and movies. Which brings me to my latest topic. Cartoons, yes I said cartoons.Â
Kid ‘n Play even had their own NBC Saturday morning cartoon, Kid ‘n Play, for one season from 1990 to 1991.
M.C. Hammer had Hammerman Saturday morning’s which aired for one season (1991 - 1992).
In November 2006 the Cartoon Network release “Class of 3000″ starring Andre 3000 from Outkast that has original songs for each episode.
Adult Swim did a collaboration with Danger Mouse and MF Doom called “DangerDoom” in 2005.
The latest venture with Hip-Hop and animation actually comes from France. The movie is based on the cult TV series “Les Lascars” which aired on MTV as “Round da Way.” The 30 x 1 min Gallic show was an instant hit when it aired on Canal Plus seven years ago, but has grown to become an Internet phenom, with pirated Arab and Creole-language versions, as well as the original French and English versions, popular on sites such as YouTube. The show was the most watched program on Orange and SFR mobile phones last year, with more than 600,000 hits. The €10 million ($13.5 million) pic includes an American version, with such artists as L.A. rapper Fat Lip. The French version, which includes improvised humor, is practically finished, and animation will begin this summer. The picture will be distributed by Bac Films, subsid of producer Millimages, with coin from Canal Plus and pubcaster France 2, co-producing.
Millimage has been trying to develop a 26-minute series and a movie for years, but the concept seemed too edgy for French broadcasters. With this latest development coming I wonder how long it will be before another rapper get’s into animation. I look forward to seeing how Fat Lip does in this one.
With the Oscar nominations being announced recently and the Academy Awards right around the corner, I thought it would be nice to take a look at the history of hip hop at the Oscars.Â
Let’s start with the first rapper/actor to be nominated for an Oscar. In 2001, Will Smith was nominated for his role in the acclaimed film Ali. Although he would go on to lose to Denzel Washington (Training Day), Will’s role opened the gate for rappers’ presence at the Academy Awards.
Let’s start with the first rapper/actor to be nominated for an Oscar. In 2001, Will Smith was nominated for his role in the acclaimed film Ali. Although he would go on to lose to Denzel Washington (Training Day), Will’s role opened the gate for rappers’ presence at the Academy Awards.