SOHH.com is reporting that while on New York radio station Hot 97 recently, N.E.R.D. front man Pharrell Williams revealed to host Angie Martinez that the band is gearing for the release of their first film, directed by legendary hip-hop video director and filmmaker, Hype Williams. The movie, which is not yet titled, will depict the trio’s musical journey from the recording process to tours.
“[The movie] is going to be like The Beatles’ Hard Day’s Night,” Pharrell revealed. “[It's a] full length film. It’s for our fans.”
This can be a boost to there music if done well. Not a lot of people who are familiar with the Neptunes sound are even aware that they have a group called N.E.R.D. (that makes some dope music too). I have a feeling that this won’t be as huge as similar film like Jay-Z’s Fade to Black, just because of artist recognition. But hopefully it will be interesting enough to garner some interest.
Also be on the lookout for N.E.R.D.’s new disc, Seeing Sounds, which is slated for release on June 10.
Highbridnation is reporting that The Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF) has announced the world premier of Two Turntables and a Microphone, a documentary about the life and death of Run DMC’s great DJ, Jam Master Jay (Jason Mizell). According to the website:
The premiere will take place on Tuesday, June 3, at 8 p.m., the film festival’s opening night at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills. Two Turntables and a Microphone not only celebrates the life and times of this Hip Hop icon but also documents the investigation his still unsolved murder.
The film features interviews with Russell Simmons, Run DMC, Jay-Z, Method Man and more which not only provide insight into the legendary DJ’s life but some believe could provide information that could finally help police solve the murder.
This is long overdue and is such a tragic story. Hopefully some good will come out of this and his killer(s) will be found.
Rapper/actor Common has been casted in the upcoming Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins(#4 in the series). He will play a fellow freedom fighter and member of John Connor’s inner circle. Terminator 4 is slated to released on May 22, 2009.
Common is definitely trying to stay invincible this summer. He’ll be appearing in the upcoming June release Wanted starring Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman and James McAvoy. He’s also set to drop his next CD, Invincible Summer, in June or July.
While I haven’t been terribly impressed by Common’s previous outings on film (American Gangster, Smokin’ Aces, Street Kings–>does this even count?), he has been keeping busy and I’m sure that is giving him an opportunity to improve his acting craft. Hopefully by the time Terminator is released he will be at the top of his acting game.
Ludacris is set to release his sixth album, Theater of the Mind, in September, a project he terms appropriately “theatrical.”
He has been working on the Def Jam Records set while shooting Max Payne, the big screen adaptation of the popular Rockstar video game.
Calling the album a collection of his experiences up to this point, Ludacris told Billboard.com that Theater will be film-worthy. Though he hasn’t yet chosen a first single, he said a track should come out by June or July.
It will be interesting to see how Theater of the Mind comes across to the listener. It can be tough doing concept albums, especially these days. Luda will also be in theaters October 31 with Guy Ritchie’sRocknRolla, which stars Thandie Newton and Jeremy Piven.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the flick is set in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and focuses on a high school basketball coach (played by Forest Whitaker) who takes his team of displaced students from various city schools to a state championship. The film is directed by Tim Story.
I would suppose that if Wayne and Bow Wow are playing hoopers, they must be point guards because neither one of them look like they are over 5′ and weigh less than a buck-O-five. Seriously, I hope Lil’ Louisiana can stay off of the syzurrp so he can complete the filming.
According to an interview on Blackfilm.com, there are big changes in store for rapper’s recurring character when FX show returns this summer.
Andre “3000″ Benjamin will reprise his guest role on the FX drama The Shield when the show airs its seventh and final season this summer, reports Blackfilm.com.
“I’m actually playing a guy running for mayor in the show finale,” he told the Web site. “My character was first introduced years ago in a small role.”
In 2004, the rapper made a guest appearance as the owner of a comic book store who tried desperately to keep the area outside of his shop free of hookers and drug dealers.
Benjamin’s appearance this summer will take place in episode 13. In the meantime, his next film, Semi-Pro, is due in theaters Friday.
It seems like Flavor Flav can’t be stopped. He is starring in a new half-hour comedy series on MyNetworkTV, the network’s first (hmmm… And how long has it taken BET? 25+ years??).
The show is called Under One Roof and Flav plays Calvester Hill, a former convict who moves in with his wealthy, conservative brother, Walter (Kelly Perine). Calvester turns the Hill family’s life upside down, parading his old prison cronies through the house, teaching his nephew to be a gangsta rapper and butting heads with Walter’s snooty wife.
OK, I guess we’ll see if his past run-ins with the law will pay off. Flav’s other show, Flavor of Love premieres with its 3rd season this Monday at 9:00 pm on VH1.
Born a prince, Ibrahima Abdul Rahman was captured by African tribal rivals and sold into slavery at age 26. It was 1788, and the United States’ expanding plantation system had made the market exceedingly lucrative. Even as Abdul Rahman had been raised to lead men—he was commanding some 2,000 of them at the time he was ambushed—he found himself shackled and loaded onto a ship, the Africa, en route from Timbuktu to a “new world.”
See the trailer below, check out the official website and be sure to watch it tonight on PBS at 10 p.m. EST.
Salt and Pepa’s reality show, The Salt-N-Pepa Show will begin airing its second season on VH1 beginning on Monday, February 11 at 10 p.m. Stay tuned to see what the ladies are up to this season.
Well, it looks like everybody’s favorite hip hip media mogul is getting ready to have another realty show, this time on VH1. Diddy will be searching for an assistant in this Apprentice-like reality show. He already has Making the Band 4 currently running on MTV. SOHH reports:
The reality show will track the 20 finalists as they “compete to win the job of a lifetime,” according to the contest’s website. Contestants must be at least 21 years old, have a “whatever it takes attitude” and be on call 24/7.
Though no further information is available as far as the parameters of the position it is fair to assume that it will be a very demanding one. Diddy has made a name for himself as being a tough guy to work for.
Open calls will be held in New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Boston and Miami. The competition is not limited to residents in these cities though. The nationwide competition is also accepting video submissions of candidates telling why they’re the best person for the job.If you think you have what it takes to be on the show go to workforpdiddy.com to find out more info.
