Month: May 2022
Juicy J & Wiz Khalifa Share “Why Do I Stay High” Video With Elle Varner
Janelle Monae Has Been Cast As Josephine Baker In The A24 TV Series ‘De La Resistance’
A24 is producing a new television series about iconic Black entertainer Josephine Baker and her role as a freedom fighter against the Nazis. It’s called De La Resistance, and according to Deadline, the show has already found its star in a burgeoning modern icon, Janelle Monae. Monae will portray Baker as the show follows her exploits as a spy in the French resistance during World War II, as well as her adventures as one of the most celebrated performers of the early 20th century.
Monae is also billed as a producer for the series via her Wondaland Pictures imprint, through which the singer has a first-look production deal with Universal Pictures. Monae’s previous acting credits include roles in Harriet, Hidden Figures, and Moonlight, and will also appear in the upcoming sequel to Knives Out. Monae’s new book, Memory Librarian, is also out now. The showrunner is Jennifer Yale, who previously worked on outstanding television dramas such as See, Outlander, and Underground.
They’ve certainly chosen an intriguing figure, whose real-life exploits sound like excellent fodder for a film or TV series. After refusing to perform to segregated audiences in the US, Baker emigrated to Paris, where her racy revue became a worldwide phenomenon and left behind some truly iconic imagery (which Monae recently paid homage to at the 2022 Met Gala). After the Nazis occupied France, Baker became a spy for the Allies, earning The National Order of the Legion of Honour, the highest French order of merit, both military and civil.
Ludacris Receives An Honorary Degree From His Former College Georgia State
Ludacris celebrated a major milestone in a place he holds near and dear this past Wednesday. Georgia State University, the college he previously attended from 1996 to 1998 before dropping out to sign with Def Jam, presented him with an honorary Bachelor of Science in Music Management degree during their master’s ceremony.
The Atlanta rapper addressed over 900 graduates seated in Center Parc Stadium, calling GSU his home before encouraging them to chase their passions and be leaders within their communities. With his wife, mother, and daughters in attendance, he even treated attendees to the chorus of his classic “Welcome To Atlanta,” to which many joined in rapping with him, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. His mother’s presence was especially meaningful, as she was initially concerned about him leaving school to pursue music.
“Mama,” he said, “I made it.”
Despite not completing his initial goal at GSU, the 44-year-old has given back to the university in multiple ways, operating as an artist-in-residence since 2019 and inspiring a law course focused on the music industry titled “The Legal Life Of Ludacris.” Ludacris is a three-time Grammy Award winner and was recognized by The Screen Actors Guild as Outstanding Cast In A Motion Picture for 2005’s Crash. He also recently created the Netflix series Karma’s World.
Lil Wayne Shares His Top Five Rappers, Including Biggie, Jay-Z, And Some Surprise Picks
We love when rappers share their picks for the top five rappers. It gives us insights into their influences and creative processes. It often vindicates some of our most deeply held beliefs about the culture and genre. It puts newer or younger fans (sometimes older) onto a broader range of artists to check out. And, of course, it gives us an endless well of fuel for our most cherished Twitter debate, ensuring that we’ll have enough fat to chew on until the sun burns out.
The latest rapper to contribute to the long-running tradition is Lil Wayne, whose list is quite a doozy, containing both the expected picks and some left-field surprises that actually make sense when you consider his own unique approach to the art of rap. Wayne gave his answer in a special edition of What’s Wright? With Nick Wright, a podcast version of the Fox Sports personality’s popular show.
Almost as well known for his affinity for hip-hop as Wayne is for his sports referencing raps, Wright offers his own list (a pretty humdrum collection including the usual picks: Jay-Z, Tupac, Wayne himself, Kanye West, and T.I.), which Wayne says he respects. Then Wayne starts off his own list with a pick that far too few people include for my taste, Missy Elliott. Vindication!
Missy is a pick that makes perfect sense for Wayne — a quirky writer and performer who outright avoids convention and whose influence resonates throughout the industry, even if she rarely gets credit for it. Good one on Wayne for including her. Of course, Jay-Z enters his list (he’s repeatedly said that the Brooklyn rapper is his favorite MC ever). He also credits Biggie and Gucci Mane — another interesting pick, although not wholly unexpected from a Southerner like Wayne. Guwop’s influence throughout the bottom half of the States is undeniable and inextricable. His last pick is pretty mind-blowing though.
He cheats a little by picking a group, but rather than a well-worn, oft-tapped collective like Wu-Tang Clan, Wayne once again shows his Southern roots by choosing Atlanta mainstays Goodie Mob, a four-man band that includes Big Gipp, CeeLo Green, Khujo, and T-Mo. Their debut album, Soul Food,
is considered a classic and as part of the Dungeon Family, they worked extensively with Outkast and Organized Noise, two of the most pivotal groups in Southern rap.
Not a bad list, all things considered. And like I said before, pretty telling when you compare Wayne’s influences to his output. It’s easy to see why he goes against the grain so much and the results so often turn out so well.
Check out Lil Wayne’s full interview with Nick Wright above.
Rapper Kidd Creole Sentenced To 16 Years in Prison For Killing A Homeless Man In 2017 Incident
Kidd Creole, a former member of the Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, has been sentenced for killing a homeless man. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison. The Sentencing Former member of the Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Kidd Creole, has been sentenced for killing a homeless man. Last month, Creole, real […]
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Magic Johnson Reportedly Interested In Purchasing The Broncos
As it stands, the Denver Broncos are up for sale. The team is valued at a whopping $4 billion and there are plenty of different parties who are interested in copping the team. Of course, perhaps one of the biggest suitors so far is none other than Kanye West who has teamed up with Antonio Brown. The two are trying to buy the team under the Donda Sports umbrella, although it remains to be seen if the current Broncos owners will want to accept their offer.
Besides Kanye and AB, the Broncos are eliciting interest from another legend. According to TMZ, that man just so happens to be Magic Johnson. Magic has some ownership dollars in various sports teams, so it would only make sense that he has an interest in acquiring a bit of the Broncos.
Leon Bennett/Getty Images
As per the report, Johnson is linking up with Josh Harris who is a co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers. He is one of the men trying to acquire the Broncos right now, and given the fact that his net worth is over $5 billion, there is a very good chance that he can afford whatever price is associated with the team.
The Broncos ownership sweepstakes has barely begun as for now, there are very few reports concerning which group is leading the bidding war. With that being said, this summer should be very interesting as the Broncos look to have a very seemless transition of power.
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
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A Judge Has Accepted Derek Chauvin’s Plea Deal Agreement
A federal judge has accepted Derek Chauvin’s plea deal and will sentence him to 20 to 25 years in prison.
Per CNN, the sentencing range was laid out in the plea agreement filed months ago. Chauvin is expected to serve between 17 and a little over 21 years based on “all good-time credit.”
Handout/Getty Images
At the federal level, Chauvin pleaded guilty back in December 2021 to violating George Floyd’s civil rights after pleading not guilty months earlier. The maximum sentence was life in prison. At the time, the judge held off on accepting his plea deal while a preliminary presentence investigation report was done.
Chauvin’s plea deal will run alongside his state-level sentence of 22.5 years for his murder conviction. He was sentenced in state court in June 2021 after being convicted of murder in Floyd’s death. US District Court Judge Paul Magnuson has yet to set a date for his federal-level sentencing.
Under Minnesota law, Chauvin will have to serve two-thirds of his state sentence or 15 years. After serving 15 years, he would become eligible for supervised release for the remaining seven and a half years of his sentence.
In April 2022, Chauvin requested the state Court of Appeals to overturn his murder conviction. The filing included aspects of the case that Chauvin’s attorney considered to be tainted and “structurally defective.” The appeal also addressed issues with the influence of pretrial protests and media coverage. His attorney also accused prosecutors of misconduct, alleging that the state’s attorneys failed to disclose all discovery information and prepare prosecution witnesses.
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TDE’s Ray Vaughn Sees “Potential” On His New Record
Top Dawg Entertainment’s unveiled a slew of new singles this year, a strong indication that there’ll be a surplus of new music from one of hip-hop’s elite labels. This week, Ray Vaughn slid through with a high-energy banger titled, “Potential.” Instead of delivering an outright showcase of his lyrical prowess, he takes on menacing production with grade-A brags from top to bottom, reflecting on his come up.
Ray Vaughn released a 3-song pack in 2021 titled, Peer Pressure, marking his debut on Top Dawg Entertainment. The short EP offered fans a glimpse at his potential, and with the release of his latest single, it could be a sign that he’s preparing to drop a full length in the near future.
Check out his latest single, “Potential” below.
Quotable Lyrics
Bad bitches next to me now, I got the recipe now
They see what I’m cookin’, they say I’m good lookin’ but can’t get a text from me now
Full court press, Patek, Patek, I might go Celine a bitch
I put on my threats direct and teach my lil’ bros leadership