Month: June 2021

It’s been an interesting road for Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though Tom Holland’s Spidey certainly played a pivotal role in films like Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Homecoming, and Far From Home, his future was always clouded by the fact that Sony owns the film rights to the beloved superhero. Evidently, the upcoming No Way Home is among the final films of their previously-struck shared deal. 

Luckily, both Marvel and Sony appear game to work together, a development appropriate to the comic-book genre. In fact, a new report from Variety confirms that Sony plans to connect their own Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters with Marvel’s vast and expansive Cinematic Universe. “There actually is a plan,” reveals Sony executive Sanford Panitch. “I think now maybe it’s getting a little more clear for people where we’re headed and I think when No Way Home comes out, even more will be revealed.”

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage/Getty Images

“The great thing is we have this very excellent relationship with Kevin [Feige],” he continues. “There’s an incredible sandbox there to play with. We want those MCU movies to be absolutely huge, because that’s great for us and our Marvel characters, and I think that’s the same thing on their side… There’s lots of opportunities, I think, that are going to happen.” 

Speaking of opportunities, it should be noted that Spider-Man isn’t the only character with crossover potential. Sony has also brought Venom, as portrayed by Tom Hardy, into the fold — it’s not entirely far-fetched to see the symbiote integrated into the MCU somehow. Likewise for the upcoming Morbius, as portrayed by Jared Leto, which drops later in 2022. In 2023, Sony intends on introducing Kraven The Hunter, as portrayed by Aaron Taylor Johnson. Perhaps each of these fan-favorite antiheroes has a future in the MCU — can you imagine Morbius facing off against Blade? 

Stay tuned for future developments on Spider-Man, the MCU, and more. Do you think the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters has potential?

[via]

41 year-old actress Ellie Kemper, known for her role in the sitcom The Office and and a lead role in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, found herself in Twitter trouble this Memorial Day for her alleged involvement in a historically racist ball and beauty pageant. Pictures that have circulated twitter include an article written about the event with the headline: “Freshman, 19, at Princeton U. is now Veiled Prophet queen,” where she was named the “Queen of Love and Beauty.”

The “Veiled Prophet Ball” is a St. Louis ball with reported generational ties to white supremacy groups like the KKK, and are self-described as “meant to reinforce the values of the elite on the working class of the city.” The tradition was established in 1878 by a Confederate cavalryman and has continued to exist as a secret and exclusive society. Pictures from the events show participants in exaggerated robes and cloaks. 

Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

As the news was breaking, Kemper received a wide range of reactions from fans and Twitter users. Many were shocked that the actress would participate in such an event considering her bubbly and gracious personality on and off screen. Others were more critical, dubbing her the “KKK Princess” while comparing how rich white family’s across the nation are able to reinforce racism and power through such ceremonies.

Fans of the actress, however, were quick to bring up her lead role in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which saw Kemper playing a woman escaping the racist indoctrination of her past. One fan writes: “It really is something that Ellie Kemper was the star of a tv show about a woman who leaves a racist cult and tries to rebrand herself while pretending it never happened.”

Though there has been no response from Kemper yet, the internet is full of details and commentary sure to hold you down until this history is addressed.

Check out some of the reactions below.

A$AP Rocky is readying his new album All Smiles. Speaking to GQ in a recent cover story, he explained how he recruited The Smiths frontman Morrissey to help write, produce and contribute vocals to the new production. He further explained in the conversation how his current beau Rihanna has influenced his new material. 

As fans await the album, the Harlem native has been spotted parading about with the “love of his life” Rih and making other venture-related moves, like joining the NFT game, and most recently, becoming an investor in Klarna. As part of his investment, the rapper will take on the role of the company’s CEO for a day, it announced Tuesday (June 1). 

Steven Ferdman/Getty Images

“ASAP Rocky defies categorization; a musician, actor, philanthropist, an opinion leader in style, and fundamentally someone who understands what the public wants from so many vantage points,” Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Klarna co-founder and CEO, said in a press release.

He continued, “He challenges the status quo each day. As the consumer experience in retail now demands discovery, curation and sustainability, we at Klarna have a lot to learn from him. Besides, after sixteen years since founding Klarna, I think I deserve a day off.”

As part of his brief duties as CEO, the fashion killa will “renounce the global fashion hibernation” that occurred in 2020 while inviting folks to  “rediscover the joy of getting dressed.” In support of this goal, Rocky will curate exclusive content on the Klarna app focusing on vintage fashion and upcycling. 

In addition, he will also pledge one percent of his investment to the Miti Alliance in Kenya, which works towards slowing the impact of deforestation-propelled climate change. 

Christopher Jue/Getty Images for MARQUEE Singapore

“Klarna is a company that looks ahead and challenges the status quo, which makes partnering with them so appealing to me,” Rocky said Tuesday. “I’m excited to begin working with Klarna in a number of ways, including jointly creating a space for people to rediscover style as we emerge from a global fashion hibernation.”

Klarna and other buy-now-pay-later services have experienced a huge surge in demand in part due to the pandemic, so the investment was a major W on Rocky’s part. The company was reported to be close to securing a new round of funding valued at more than $40 billion. 

[via]

After the H7N9 virus took the lives of 616 people after it exploded in 2013, H10N3, a different strain of the bird flu, has claimed its first infection ever recorded in a human. On April 28th, a 41-year-old man from the city of Zhenjiang checked himself into the hospital with fever-like symptoms. Now, over a month later, the NHC, or China’s National Health Commission, confirmed that the new bird flu is the culprit. This comes after the H5N8 strain of the bird flu claimed its first human host in Russia in February.

Though the man remains in stable condition and his close contacts haven’t reported any symptoms, that hasn’t dampened concern from the international community weary of another public health crisis. Still, the NHC is steadfast in the low-risk posed by the new strain of bird flu: “The risk of large-scale spread is extremely low.”

In response to the H7N9 outbreak eight years ago, the COVID-19 international pandemic still raging, and this first human case of bird flu, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has advised stronger surveillance of poultry farms, markets, and wild birds. Just last week, President Biden called for renewed efforts to investigate 2020’s COVID-19.

Sickness and viruses have made the past two years incredibly tumultuous and traumatic, though those worried shouldn’t lose sleep over this seemingly non-transmittable flu. 

[via]

These days, Murder Inc’s reputation tends to vary depending on who is asked, though the label’s early millennium run and Ja Rule’s commercial dominance remain undeniable. And to think, it all began with the release of Ja Rule’s solo debut album Venni Vetti Vicci, released twenty-two years ago to this day. Boasting classic tunes like “Holla Holla” and the JAY-Z & DMX-assisted “It’s Murda,” the project is widely regarded as a classic and Ja Rule’s arguable best.

In honor of the album’s anniversary, Ja took to Twitter to share a few jovial words in celebration. “Before ANY rapper did ANYTHING, Ja Rule did EVERYTHING,” writes Ja, sharing the album cover and channeling Soulja Boy for good measure. “HAPPY G’DAY Venni Vetti Vecci!!!”

 Bennett Raglin/Getty Images

Ja’s longtime right-hand man Irv Gotti, who handled the bulk of production on the album, also shared a few words on his Instagram page. “@jarule announced to the world ITS MURDAAA!” captions Gotti. “22 Years Ago on This Day. And me and my brother been repping it ever since.”

“To all my loyal Murder Inc People,” he continues, teasing the Inc’s next move. “We not stopping. @rikwoodz is coming. And She is Repping them M’s for her Young Generation. Heartbreaker Murder Remix with Rule coming this week. And the shit is HOT. So I’m gonna put on Venni Vetti Vecci. Classic Album today. Then I’m gonna blast that Remix. And Smile. Cause me and Rule created something so Dope. And we still repping. For us when we said ITS MURDA 4 LIFE. WE MEANT THAT SHIT.”

Clearly, Gotti’s enthusiasm for the Murder Inc movement hasn’t faded in the slightest. Happy anniversary to Venni Vetti Vecci — do you still revisit this album from time to time?

Iggy Azalea last released a full project back in 2019 with In My Defense. Since then, she’s been busy raising her and Playboi Cari’s son Baby Onyx and working on her third studio album End of An Era. In addition, it seems like the hitmaker has been secretly working on her very own perfume line Parfum De Azalea. 

She launched its first scent today (June 1) “Devil’s Advocate,” releasing a provocative commercial alongside the new fragrance. The Aussie native began trending shortly after unleashing the campaign video for the new fragrance in part due to the devil-filled visual for the aptly named scent. Her equally devilish-good looks also stole the show, earning applause from fans for her performance in the ad.

David Becker/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

“It’s representing that unabashed, unafraid, naughty side of yourself,” said Azalea of the devil imagery illustrated on the sleek, dark bottle in a new interview. In the image, a nude outline resembling Azalea can be seen embracing the silhouette of a red-horned being. 

“It’s meant to be a reflection of that naughty, cheeky, almost the devil on your shoulder or that part of me that says, like, ‘Just do it, just go, just have fun, go out with your friends that night, double text the guy,’” the rapper went on. “It’s about embracing the duality of yourself.”

She also revealed the concept of the fragrance has been in development for a year now, adding that the concept for the perfume arrived before selecting the scent itself. 

“My approach was a little unique in that way, and I didn’t realize that until I spoke to the perfumer,” she explained. “I suppose I kind of went backward, but for me, that made sense, because I wanted to develop a world of escapism.” 

Check out the ad for “Devil’s Advocate” and reactions to the sultry commercial as well and let us know what you think of Iggy’s new campaign. 

[via]

A new project from Dave East, one of the game’s most consistent lyricists, is always welcome. With his latest release Karma 3 having arrived last August, it’s certainly feeling like we’re due. And though he has yet to share any concrete details, East is clearly in the midst of kicking off a rollout, taking to Instagram to share a promising snippet of what’s to come.

“Almost that time,” captions East, emphasizing the scope of his impact with a bomb emoji. Taking to blend of twisted synth organs and eerie vocals, East sets it off with a blistering onslaught of bars. “I just broke down a hundred, plug trying to kick it I told him just bunt it,” spits East. “See all these bitches know just how I’m coming / always been tripping, don’t slip in that puddle / if we catch you slipping this shit like a puzzle / put it together get back to this hustle / I put an O on your back like you Russell.”

Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

As the track evolves, East introduces new flow schemes, though never wavering from his braggadocious subject matter. “Front to the back, it feel like the military,” he raps, as the drums and bass enter the mix. “N***as is sweeter than Ben & Jerry / you chasing box that I hit already / that is not on my itinerary.”

Check out the snippet below, and be sure to sound off in the comments below if you’re excited for a new album from Dave East. For more from the rapper, be sure to revisit our interview following the release of Karma 3, where he opened up about his favorite lyricists, signing with Nas, and more. 

Dallas rapper Lil Loaded passed away on Monday, one day before the 20-year-old was expected to appear in court for a hearing related to his manslaughter charges. The rapper has been fighting a charge for the last year, initially being charged with murder before having it reduced to manslaughter. An official cause of death is presently unknown but, according to Lil Loaded’s attorney, the rapper likely took his own life.

According to a statement made by Loaded’s attorney Ashkan Mehryari, the rapper ended his own life. “Sadly, Mr. Robertson passed away earlier today as a result of a reported suicide,” he wrote in a statement.

Cedar Hill Police is currently investigating Lil Loaded’s death. They have not announced an official cause of death. 

Mere hours before it was reported that the rapper had passed away, he shared a heartbreaking message on Instagram Stories. “Dear most high,” he started. “Please forgive me for my shortcomings and all of the times I’ve fell short of making you proud and being appreciative of all the blessings that have been put in my life. Sometimes the lines are blurred between being solid and being heartless I want to thank you for how far I’ve come and the people you’ve put in my life to keep me grounded and humble through everything and I love every single one of those people that are genuinely for me I ask for entrance into your kingdom thru all of my mistakes I know you love all of your children and I’m ready for my heart and soul to Join you.”

Lil Loaded’s attorney’s statement matches that of one of the rapper’s alleged friends, who is claiming that Loaded took his own life after finding out that his girlfriend had cheated on him. 

Loaded was signed to Epic Records, bursting into rap stardom after the release of his single “6locc 6a6y.” Rest in peace.

[via]

Rumors surrounding the upcoming Warner Bros Superman reboot have been plentiful. According to various reports, Michael B. Jordan has been rumored to be the studio’s top pick for the role of the Man of Steel, while WB is also allegedly committed to hiring a Black director to manage the project. 

As for who the major film studio is looking to hire as the director of the upcoming production, rumors of names on the shortlist include Barry Jenkins, Steven Caple Jr., and Watchmen star Regina King. The actress-turned-director, who received critical acclaim for her directorial debut in One Night in Miami, only recently caught wind of the buzz. She reacted to hearing the news for the first time ever while appearing on Tiffany Cross’ The Cross Connection. 

Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images

“I’m curious, because this is a little bit of gossip. You’re rumored to be on the shortlist to direct Superman. You and Barry Jenkins, both of your names have been thrown out there,” said Cross. “Anything you want to tell us? Is there any news you can break this morning about those conversations?”

[via]