bob ross

Bob Ross’ Estate Initially Declined Lil Yachty’s Request To Feature Him On ‘We Saw The Sun’

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When Lil Yachty dropped his Let’s Start Here album last month, Uproxx’s review contextualized that Lil Boat “is not the first rapper to release an alternative project,” but the album “isn’t just a departure from his own oeuvre; it also differentiates itself from its peers.”

And Let’s Start Here is a first for Lil Yachty in an even more unexpected way.

Yachty was revealed as Billboard‘s new cover star on Wednesday, March 8, and within the cover story written by Lyndsey Havens, Motown Records VP of A&R Gelareh Rouzbehani detailed how Yachty was able to posthumously feature famed painter Bob Ross on “We Saw The Sun!” (Ross died from cancer on July 4, 1995.)

Per Rouzbehani, Ross’ estate initially declined. “I think a big concern of theirs was that Yachty is known as a rapper, and Bob Ross and his brand are very clean,” she told Billboard. “They didn’t want to associate with anything explicit.”

She added, “With a lot of back-and-forth, we got the call. Yachty is the first artist that has gotten a Bob Ross clearance in history.”

Elsewhere in the Billboard cover story, Yachty discussed the difficulties of planning his subsequent tour and the desire to collaborate with Tyler The Creator.

“I would love to do a project with Tyler,” Yachty said. “He’s the reason I made this album. He’s the one who told me to do it, just go for it. He’s so confident, and I have so much respect for him because he takes me seriously, and he always has.”

Tyler was correct in pushing Yachty to put Let’s Start Here out in the world, as it debuted at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums, and Top Alternative Albums charts. Most recently, it served as the perfect palette from which to paint an impressive Rolling Loud California set last weekend.

Lil Yachty Reveals Bob Ross’ Estate Didn’t Want To Clear Sample For “Let’s Start Here”

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Lil Yachty made an unexpected turn in his career when he came through with Let’s Start Here. Over the past few months, people have anticipated Yachty’s next move. The release of “Poland” earned him another viral single that became an anthem of the year. However, he also contributed to Drake and 21 Savage’s Her Loss, which many felt was a promising sign of his next musical endeavor. Yachty produced four songs on the record and even contributed ad-libs to the album.

Between “Poland” and Her Loss, many felt like Yachty would’ve taken his signature sound to new heights. Instead, he leaped into psychedelic rock and delivered a body of work that stands as one of the best in his catalog. With a tight-knit group of collaborators and instrumentalists, he showcased his range as an artist with an unexpected musical direction. He could return to hip-hop in the future but it seems like he might explore this particular genre further in the foreseeable future. 

Lil Yachty’s Bob Ross Sample

Though the project doesn’t have many features, Yachty did manage to include a sample of Bob Ross on Let’s Start Here. Ross’s voice appears on the “We Saw The Sun!” outro following an excellent performance from Ant Clemons. The sample comes from Ross’ The Joy Of Painting as he provides a hopeful message. But according to VP of A&R at Motown Records Gelareh Rouzbehani, the estate of the late painter didn’t necessarily want to clear the sample at first.

“I think a big concern of theirs was that Yachty is known as a rapper, and Bob Ross and his brand are very clean,” Rouzbehani told Billboard in their new cover story with Yachty. “They didn’t want to associate with anything explicit. But Yachty was adamant, and played the track for Ross’ team and also sent the entire album’s lyrics to set the group at ease. With a lot of back and forth, we got the call. Yachty is the first artist that has gotten a Bob Ross clearance in history.” Eventually, they got it cleared and made history together. How do you feel about Lil Yachty’s new album? Sound off in the comments below.

[Via]

Owen Wilson Emulates Bob Ross in New Trailer For “Paint”

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IFC has officially released the trailer for the new comedy Paint. Owen Wilson stars and portrays a Bob Ross-esque character of comedic proportions. In the film, Wilson plays Carl Nargle. He is Vermont’s top TV painter with anything he could ever ask for. He prides himself on his strong fanbase of fawning women and his even stronger perm. What more could he need? However, a younger artist steps into the world of TV painting, giving him competition and derailing his perfect life. Wilson’s character, Nargle, is a clear nod to Bob Ross, who led the PBS instructional painting program, The Joy of Painting, for 11 years from 1983-1994. He passed away in 1995 at age 52.

Wilson leads the film, Paint. He’s known for his previous roles in iconic comedies like Zoolander and Wedding Crashers. Also, fans know Wilson from The Royal Tenenbaums, Bottle Rocket, Marley & Me, The French Dispatch, the Cars franchise, Marry Me, and Loki. Additionally, he has an upcoming film, Haunted Mansion, set to release in April 2023. He will be co-starring with the likes of Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto, Tiffany Haddish, Danny DeVito, and Winona Ryder.

Watch the ‘Paint’ Trailer

Joining Wilson in the film, Paint, is Michaela Watkins (Wanderlust), Wendi McLendon-Covey (The Goldbergs), Ciara Renée (The Flash), Lusia Strus (50 First Dates), Stephen Root (Barry), and Lucy Freyer. In addition, the cast includes Denny Dillon (Saturday Night Fever), Evander Duck Jr. (Orange Is the New Black), Will Blagrove (Inside Amy Schumer), and Ryan Czerwonko (Chicago Med).

Brit McAdams wrote and directed the film. His impressive work also includes Katt Williams: American Hustle, Triviatown, Tosh.0, Atom TV, and #IMomSoHard. Sam Maydew and Peter Brant produced the film with associate producer Aaaa Myers. Wilson, Joel David Moore, Amy Jarvela, and Richard J. Bosner are executive producers for the comedy. Given the talented team surrounding the film and the clear nod to the beloved Bob Ross, there are high expectations for this film. Paint premieres in theaters on April 7, 2023. The film will stream exclusively on AMC+ later in the year. Comment below with your thoughts on the trailer, and tell us if you’re planning on seeing this comedy.

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