Actor/rapper/film producer/writer/director (remember ThePlayer’s Club?) Ice Cube is hitting the press circuit to promote his latest film, The Longshots. The film stars Cube (coach and uncle) and Keke Palmer, and is directed by Fred Durst. The Longshots is a family friendly film about the true story of Jasmine Plummer (Palmer) who, at the age of eleven, became the first female to play in Pop Warner football tournament in its 56-year history.
The film premieres August 22 in theaters around the country. Check the trailer below.
Ice Cube stays busy. He is preparing to release his ninth album, Raw Footage along with an international tour, and is currently filming his next movie, Janky Promoters, with frequent collaborator/co-star Mike Epps.
According to EURweb.com the actor says Steven Spielberg has approached him to play. Black Panther Bobby Seale.
Will Smith says nothing is set in stone yet, but he has been contacted by director Steven Spielberg to star in his upcoming film “Chicago 7,” which will chronicle the 1969-70 trial of seven radicals accused of conspiring to riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. According to he Brazillian Web site Omelete,
Will Smith has confirmed his association with the project and said that Spielberg asked him to leave some free space in his schedule for the shoot.”When Steve is ready he will send it. I don’t know specifics, story, anything, but he told me the filming dates, so I can be free to do it,”Smith told the Web site. “It’s not a 100% sure thing yet, but I’m confident.”Smith is up for the part of Black Panther Bobby Seale, who was tried on federal conspiracy charges for the anti-war riots
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.
Blackfilm.com is reporting that the following have been cast for various roles in the upcoming film about 1980s era rappers, the Juice Crew, called The Vapors.
Rapper-actor David Banner will play the part of Biz Markie, Cuba Gooding Jr. will be playing Marley Marl, Evan Ross will play MC Shan, Jackie Long as Big Daddy Kane, and Idris Elba as Tyrone Williams aka Fly Ty. This is on the heels of the announcement that Keke Palmerhas been cast as rapper Roxanne Shante. Clifton Powell was previous announced as playing the part of hip hop DJ and radio host Mr. Magic.
The Juice Crew, founded by Mr. Magic’s on-air assistant, DJ and Marley Marl, was named after one of Magic’s aliases, “Sir Juice. Crew members included Marley Marl, Mr. Magic, MC Shan, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Craig G, Tragedy Khadafi, Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, Masta Ace, Roxanne Shanté, TJ Swan, and Cool V.
It’s reported that The Vapors will begin filming in January 2008. Furqaan Clover (Queen of Media: The Wendy Williams Story) is set to direct. Questionmark Entertainment and Marley Marl, Roxanne Shante and Big Daddy Kane are executive producers on the film while Indiefilmx.com will produce the film.
AllHipHop is reporting that the story of legendary Hip-Hop collective The Juice Crew is coming to the big screen in a new movie titled The Vapors.
The Vapors will be directed by Furqaan Clover while actress Keke Palmer (Akeelah and the Bee, Barbershop 2: Back in Business) has been attached to the project to play the role of rapper Roxanne Shante. Actor Clifton Powell(Friday After Next, Norbit) has been cast as influential DJ Mr. Magic.
The Vapors is set against the backdrop of New York City’s Queensbridge Housing Projects, where The Juice crew was based. The character driven story is inspired by the true life events of DJ Marley Marl, Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane and Roxanne Shante and chronicles the group’s rise to fame during Hip-Hop’s golden age.
The legendary collective was headed up by Marley Marl and featured legendary rappers like MC Shan, Big Daddy, Kane, Craig G., Biz Markie, Kool G. Rap and DJ Polo, Roxanne Shante, Masta Ace, TJ Swan, Cool V and Tragedy.
The Vapors is scheduled to start filming in January of 2008, and should be a must-see for true hip hop fans worldwide.
He just put up a video on the “Making of The Choice is Yours” the 1991 hit off of A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing by the rap group Black Sheep. Dres of the Black Sheep gives us some insight as to how the song came about.
Black Sheep was one of my favorite groups back when I was is college (I still listen to Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing on my iPod to this day!). Check it out and tell me what you think.
Looks like Fox Searchlight has found its B.I.G. for it’s upcoming biopic Notorious. Word is, Compton born, west coast rapper Guerilla Black (Charles Williamson) has been selected to play the Notorious one.
You may remember Guerilla Black from a few years back. He came to fame after releasing his debut album Guerilla City in 2004. He has been noted (and criticized) for his similar appearance and rapping style as The Notorious B.I.G. It’s no doubt that he looks and sounds like Biggie, hopefully he can act.
On a side note, I vote for Gus Hoffman, a young cat who plays Johhny Nightingale on ABC Family’s television show Lincoln Heights to play a young B.I.G. Check his IMDB and see if you can’t see the resemblence?
Producers for the upcoming biopic Notorious are continuing the search for the actor to play the late rapper. Over 100 hopefuls (and even a Tupac look-a-like) showed up to try out for Ms. Wallace, B.I.G.’s former manager Mark Pitts and casting agents. NY Times is reprting that while a number of the candidates earned a callback audition for the role, the part still remains vacant.
You can see a video of the casting call here, courtesy of the New York Times.
So reports are that Sean Kingston (of the summertime hit “Beautiful Girls”) is supposed to be playing the Notorious B.I.G. in the upcoming film about his life. Kingston says,
‘When I first heard of about the movie, it was through management. My management told me about it and you know I had auditioned for it and I met with the director and I nailed it and he gave me a shot now at being in the movie”.
I’ve also heard reports coming from the films camp that they have not officially announced who will play the highly sought after role. It seems rather quick to me, they just announced the nationwide search less than a month ago. I’ll admit that Kingston does look a lot like B.I.G. But I’ll keep you informed as more information flows in.
Fox Searchlight Pictures recently announced the director for The Notorious B.I.G.’s upcoming biopic. According to Daily Variety, George Tillman Jr., known for his work on Men Of Honor and Soul Food, will be directing the flick based on a script by hip-hop journalist Cheo Hodari Coker and Reggie Rock Bythewood (Biker Boyz). Coker is responsible for a biography of the slain rapper, Unbelievable: The Life, Death and Afterlife of the Notorious B.I.G.
The film, which is currently untitled, will focus on Biggie’s private life and is expected to begin production this fall. Biggie’s mother, Voletta Wallace and the rapper’s former managers, Wayne Barrow and Mark Pitts, will produce the movie. Sean “Diddy” Combs, the man responsible for launching Biggie’s career, will come on as an executive producer.
