In a word association game with the prompt “Nickelback,” a common first response might be “hate.” The Canadian band is tremendously successful, but for years now, they’ve been a group that many just see as cool to dislike and make fun of. That’s not SZA, though, as she considers herself a fan.
During a conversation with Variety about what SZA has been listening to lately, she said, “The other day, you know what I pulled up? Creed, Nickelback, Train ‘Drops of Jupiter,’ just a whole bunch of that…” The interviewer facepalmed at this point and after some laughter, SZA continued, “I know, I know! Wait, you know what’s crazy? Do white people hate Creed and Nickelback?”
The interviewer gave a, “Well…,” and SZA continued, “Why? Black people love them! They rock! That sh*t is bomb! Why do you all hate it so much? That voice…”
The interviewer replied, “They’re just kind of cliché. Did you know one of Nickelback’s producers is now working with Morgan Wallen?” SZA continued:
“OK, I don’t know if that’s where I was headed in the realm of, ‘Yay, I was listening to Creed and Nickelback the other day in childhood nostalgia!’ [laughs] But I like Creed so much — ‘Higher?’ Why are you hating on it? Have you ever felt more inspired and uplifted in your life? I’m in the car and I’m blasting ‘Higher,’ I feel like it’s a gospel song. The vocals are going crazy and it’s also somehow slightly romantic, it just feels so fun. Because even if it’s cliche, he’s so f*cking dead-ass! I will be a Creed fan forever. Like, it started just on a whim in the shower, ‘Oh, let’s play this,’ and then it became a week of Creed and Nickelback [laughs].”
SZA is an artist with a diverse music taste. Quite frankly, if you want to be on her level, you have to have multiple frames of reference. Overall, you can hear these various influences in her music. However, there are a few artists out there that you probably didn’t know SZA actually champions. Two of those artists are none other than Nickelback and Creed. These two post-grunge bands have been ripped apart by critics, however, the songstress believes they are amazing.
During an interview with Variety, SZA made her fandom be known. “The other day, you know what I pulled up?” she asked. “Creed, Nickelback, Train ‘Drops of Jupiter,’ just a whole bunch of that. I know, I know! Wait, you know what’s crazy? Do white people hate Creed and Nickelback? Black people love them! They rock! That shit is bomb! Why do you all hate it so much?” She then went on to profess her love of Creed’s massive hit, “Higher.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 03: SZA winner of the Best Pop Duo Group Performance Award for ‘Kiss Me More’ poses in the winners photo room during the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 03, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
“I like Creed so much — ‘Higher’? Why are you hating on it? Have you ever felt more inspired and uplifted in your life?” she asked. “I’m in the car and I’m blasting ‘Higher,’ I feel like it’s a gospel song, the vocals are going crazy and it’s also somehow slightly romantic, it just feels so fun. Because even if it’s cliche, he’s so fucking dead ass! I will be a Creed fan forever. Like, it started just on a whim in the shower, ‘Oh, let’s play this,’ and then it became a week of Creed and Nickelback.”
Hopefully, her co-sign will lead to more people listening to these artists. At the end of the day, they are extremely over hated. Let us know what you think of her comments, down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the music world. We will always be sure to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists.
From Variety, Michael B. Jordan is returning to the director’s chair. Hollywood producer Irwin Winkler,of famed “Rocky” and successful “Creed” franchises, recently revealed the fourth film is in development with Jordan poised to direct in this latest spinoff of the iconic “Rocky” film series.
Jordan’s first shot at directing was for “Creed III,” where he returned in his role leading role as heavyweight champion, Adonis Creed. Jonathan Majors starred opposite Jordan as Damian Anderson, the antagonist who faced off against Creed in the ring. “Creed III,” hit theaters in March, and landed with a knockout punch, setting an opening weekend record for the franchise with a strong debut of $58 million. Notably, the first three movies of the franchise combined for over $663 million worldwide.
In the first two “Creed” films, Sylvester Stallone starred alongside Jordan as Rocky Balboa, mentoring Adonis, the son of his former rival turned best friend Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). “Creed 3” was the first installment in the series sans Stallone.
Variety reported in March Jordan and Amazon were in talks for both a film and television series expanding the “Creed” universe. Although details were not known, sources indicated that Prime Video may be a home to the franchise after Amazon’s acquisition of MGM.
Deadline first reported the news of “Creed 4,” with a clip on X (formerly Twitter) of Winkler announcing the film.
Winkler said “We’re planning to do ‘Creed 4’ right now — it’s in the works — and we think we have a really good story, a really good plot because of the strike, like everybody else,”
“Probably a year from now we’re going for pre-production.”
At Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles event, Winkler further mentioned the undeniable success of the “Rocky” franchise, which opened the door wide open for the “Creed” spinoff.
“Michael and the creative team had the beautiful vision from the start to create a wholly new and different experience for this movie,” Winkler said. “It had to be firmly cemented in what we all [know] the ‘Creed’ and ‘Rocky’ movies for… it had to have great action, boxing, but we also really examined what kind of movie we were making.”
He went on to add “And a lot of that, those early days with Michael were spent crafting how we were looking at the Damian character, which is why I think everyone responded to the depth, not only on the page, but also on the screen. You spend half the movie having deep sympathy for him and understanding his vulnerability.”
Michael B. Jordan will once again be stepping into the director’s chair for the next installment in the Creed franchise. Producer Irwin Winkler confirmed the news during Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles event on Saturday, praising Jordan for doing a “great job” on the last film. In addition to directing, Jordan will still star in the movie.
“We are planning to do Creed IV right now,” Winkler said onstage during a panel for Creed III. “We have a really good story [and] a really good plot. We got a little delayed because of the strikes, but about a year from now we’re going into pre-production.”
Irwin Winkler at Deadline Contenders Film: Los Angeles held at the Director’s Guild of America on November 18, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Deadline via Getty Images)
Jordan made his directorial debut with Creed III. While he’s opted to do so again with the next film, Jordan did previously admit that it was a difficult task. While speaking with Collider, last year, he described it as “torture.” “It’s torture, but at the same time, it’s so much fun. It was the challenge of accomplishing it all, with the multitasking nature of developing the story, trying to stay in shape, and giving all the departments what they individually needed, to go do their job,” he told the outlet.
He continued: “It’s really hard to put into words. Every day was a struggle, but honestly, it was the team of people that I had around me that got me through it. You’ve really gotta surround yourself with the right help, so that you can focus on the things you need to focus on. Sometimes that’s doing two things at one time, or three things at one time. It’s just part of the job. Once you step behind the camera, the undertaking that it is, from the outside looking in, it’s tough.” Be on the lookout for further updates on Michael B. Jordan and Creed IV on HotNewHipHop.
Last month, Creed supporting actor Jonathan Majors was accused of domestic assault, but the estranged girlfriend has since retracted her accusations. Those allegations ran parallel with the promotion of the third installment of the boxing flick, with many people criticizing both Majors and Michael B. Jordan’s appearances at public events. Now, Dipset general Cam’Ron said that his sole reason for not watching the new Creed movie was because of a photo shoot featuring Jordan and Majors.
Cam took to IG to post an image from the shoot between the two actors, with the caption reading, “This was the reason I didn’t see ‘Creed.’”
Even Fabolous chimed in on the post, saying, “This was a funny promo shoot for a boxing movie.”
Michael B. Jordan has become well-known in the industry as both a director and actor, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t still humble. The California native recently joined the R&B Money podcast to explain how life was during his time on The Wire. Contrary to popular belief, he wasn’t always the handsome movie star many know and love him as today. Jordan’s most prevalent memory of that time is how broke he was, despite starring in such an iconic show. People would recognize him in public, and yet his bank account was sitting at an unfortunate zero.
The 36-year-old states in his interview that he was booking multiple jobs in his early career. On several occasions, Jordan was told he was overqualified for the jobs he chose to apply to. “Me and Sterling applying to Jack in the Box. You know what I mean?” He bashfully expresses the embarrassment he felt from having to work in fast food despite his celebrity status. “And these n***as gonna know who I am. So it’s not like oh it’s just a random person. I was willing to take the L.”
Michael B. Jordan Applied To Several Fast Food Joints Before His Financial Success
Now, at 36 years old, Jordan leads a highly successful career. His rise to fame was as honest as could be, and an unfortunate reality for many stars. Although his role in The Wire was a pivotal moment in his career, he was unaware of the fact while searching desperately for his next gig. Still, the Marvel actor can look back on it and laugh as he has secured himself financially. Now, fast food workers are able to recognize him in some of the hottest films hitting theaters recently.
Black Panther, the Creed series, and Without Remorse are just a few of the titles that have landed the Hollywood heartthrob at his current level. Biting the bullet paid off for him in the long run, and his situation goes to show what can happen when an artist chooses humility over pride. Now his old coworkers get to tell everyone they know that they once worked with Michael B. Jordan. Stay tuned for any updates on his upcoming projects and your other favourite celebs.
Actor Michael B. Jordan, 36, previously linked to model and entrepreneur Lori Harvey, 26, may be newly single, but that doesn’t stop him from getting to work. Best known for his performances in movies like Without Remorse, Creed, Black Panther, and Fruitvale Station, Jordan shows a versatile acting range with his ability to transform from boxing champ mentored by Rocky Balboa to human torch in Marvel’s, Fantastic Four to the oppressed family man in the true story about a thoughtful and hardworking man facing tragedy amid an an unlawful arrest. Though an act, thoughtful and hardworking seem to describe Jordan to a tee.
Michael B. Jordan’s Relationship With Socialite Lori Harvey
(L-R) Michael B. Jordan and Lori Harvey attend the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/FilmMagic)
Once Michael B. Jordan and Harvey split from longtime and very public relationship in 2022. Jordan exemplified himself as a true gentleman by saying nothing but good things about socialite ex, Harvey. He’s remaining positive about his future relationships stating on SNL, “Now, most people after a breakup are like, ‘I’m gonna get in better shape.’ But, I was already in Creed shape! So, I had to be like, ‘Alright, I guess I’ll learn a new language.’ Anyway, estoy en Raya.” Meaning he’s joined the elite dating app, Raya in hopes of finding love. Harvey, previously linked to rapper Future, 39 in 2019, is now dating actor Damson Irdis, 31.
Though Jordan remains single, he is still hard at work. Not only does Jordan dedicate his time to changing his physique for his demanding roles like Creed I, II, and III, he was also named one ofTIME’s 2020 100 Most Influential Peoplein the World for his charity and volunteer work. He donated customized sneakers to the largest African American women and girl’s nonprofit in the US, GirlTrek.
New York Times Ranks Jordan as 15th Greatest Actor of the 21st Century
Michael B. Jordan speaks onstage during the Creed III Launch. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Ralph Lauren)
With his personal life and charitable work to the side, Jordan focuses mostly on his new role as both director and producer to his upcoming movies, Creed III and I Am Legend 2. Not only that, but Jordan will be taking on roles in both movies. It’s no wonder New York Timesranked Jordan as the 15th greatestactor in the 21st century. He shows true skill while personifying his demandingly gripping roles which take leadership, strength, emotional depth, and physical endurance, all while taking the lead behind the camera as well.
For his role in Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse, Jordan talks about how the character-work while developing his role for lethal US Navy Seal, John Kelly who was seeking revenge from Russian hitmen in the killing of his pregnant wife and unit members, was something that resonated with him on a personal level. He says it wasn’t only the necessary endurance for the role that made him train harder, but the story itself. Jordan also states that getting through the second half of the set was difficult, as the training was strenuous. But, he made it work.
For his role in the Creed trilogy, Jordan had to train harder than ever before, Mentored in the movie by none other than Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa, for his role as boxing champion Adonis, Jordan had to dedicate all day to training, yet again. Jordan’s character in Creed faces both wins and losses as he battles in both the ring and his life. Being the son of the late heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed, Adonis has to prove himself as a boxer to not be taken lightly. As the franchise has three separate films, Jordan has had to not only stay in training mode for multiple years, but stay mentally focused as well.
He’s Apart Of The Marvel Movie Franchise
Jordan’s next standout role was his act as antagonist in the Black Panther. Here, Jordan played an American blackmercenary operative who challenged T’Challa, played by the late Chadwick Boseman. His character battled for the revenge of his father who was murdered by T’Challa’s father, the black panther. T’Challa accepts Jordan’s character, Erik Killmonger, aka N’Jadaka, request to avenge his late father. The two go on to battle in another film where Jordan had to again rigorously train his physical body forthe role.
Michael B. Jordan’s role in the true story of a young black man, Oscar Grant, murdered by a police officer on duty at a train station in Oakland, CA., was yet another standout role where he embodied a strong man who upon being cornered to his demise, held his dignity to the very end. Winning multiple awards at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival for its clutching dramatics of an innocent man, Fruitvale Station was a role where Jordan had to develop a deep character portrayal of a father, loyal friend, and grocery store worker.
In the film, Grant, upon a ride on the train one morning, was caught up in a bust. He was taken aside by police, and in an effort to first suffocate Grant, an Officer stands off and pulls his trigger. The officer proceeds to cuff Grant after shooting him on his backside, ending in Grant’s unlawful death.
Michael B. Jordan’s Favorite Roles
Though Jordan played many iconic roles, he says that playing Vince in Friday Night Lights was fun to take on. He had never played organized football and enjoyed the first role where he had to physically prepare himself. Jordan also says his role as Adonis in Creed was a good learning experience. He had to train 2-3X a day 6x a week for over a year with a strict diet.
To no surprise, Jordan’s acting roles have led him to more than just accolades and awards. He’s trained his body so hard that People Magazine named him as 2020’s Sexiest Man Alive. With Creed III released, Jordan can be found preparing for interviews regarding his exemplary acting and directorship of the movie. As for Jordan’s next role after Creed III, he will be starring alongside Will Smith in I Am Legend 2. Also producing the film, we should expect a very focused Jordan as the next year unfolds.
2023 is shaping up to be actor Jonathan Majors’ standout year. Following the cancellation of HBO’s Lovecraft Country, he’s gone on to receive accolades for the show and other works, including an NAACP nod to 2022’s Devotion. Magazine Dreams followed the war film, appearing at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival in January. He’s now onto his third biggest project of the year thus far, with a star role in Creed III. The Michael B. Jordan-directed film, which sees the men going head to head in the ring, releases this Friday (March 3).
As he rolls through Creed III premieres and corresponding interviews, Majors has opened up more than ever. In his latest chat with NPR, the performer expounds on the pain he endured during the movie’s filming. Jonathan tells Ayesha Rascoe “I remember when we doing Creed, there were days I just couldn’t feel my arms. I’m just throwin’, you know? I’m just fightin’ my a** off.” It’s safe to say the training he endured for the film was grueling as he also notes the physical standards in his current roles. Aside from Creed III, Majors just made his Marvel debut in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, appearing as the supervillainous Kang.
Jonathan Majors Says There Were Days He Couldn’t Feel His Arms
Jonathan Majors was recently featured on Ebony’s digital cover in conjunction with this year’s roles. His stylist took inspiration from an anime, dressing the actor as One Piece character Donquixote Doflamingo. While a majority of his fans were pleased with the photoshoot’s outcome, others were dismayed by the feminine aspects. Majors, who was named “Hollywood’s Most Wanted” in the article, took the comments in stride. Ignoring the critics, he instead praises the rich Black culture he witnessed during the photoshoot. “It’s always good to make a ruckus,” he adds. “When it’s a positive ruckus, make the positive ruckus.”
Creed III sees Jonathan Majors playing Damian Anderson, a childhood friend of Adonis Creed. After a stint in jail, the fighter is ready to step back into the ring to prove he hasn’t missed a beat. This time around, he challenges Creed in what is sure to be an unforgettable match. The film also sees the return of actors Phylicia Rashad, Wood Harris, and Tessa Thomas.
Approaching the release of the latest Creed film, Michael B Jordan has been engaging in loads of press to promote the March 3rd release date. In a recent interview, the actor stops to chat with old acquaintance and interviewer Lore’l of the Morning Hustle radio show. The red carpet interview quickly took a turn for the worse and it’s all in Jordan’s body language.
In the interview, Jordan confronts the reporter for her past comments about him– sparking a seriously awkward exchange.
After Lore’l introduces her and Jordan’s shared attendance at a highschool in Newark, he unexpectedly replies, “”[I was] the corny kid, right?”
Lore’l laughingly responds, “I did not say that! [I was] misquoted, for sure.”
Jordan remains unimpressed and says definitively, “I heard it.”
The unpleasant exchange stems from a 2021 episode of the Undressing Room podcast, where her co-host said that Michael seemed like “a nice, corny guy” while discussing his then-relationship with Lori Harvey.
Lore’l then responded, “You know what’s so crazy? I went to school with Michael B. Jordan at a point in life. And to be honest with you, we teased him all the damn time because his name was Michael Jordan. Let’s start there, and he was no Michael Jordan. And he also would come to school with a headshot. We lived in Newark, that’s the hood. We would make fun of him like, ‘What you gonna do with your stupid headshot!?’ And now look at him!”
Jordan was not feeling her energy in the slightest even though she continued to deny calling him corny, despite making fun of his name before changing the subject completely. “But yeah, he is obviously killing things out here,” she says. Wrapping up the interview she ensured he is “not corny anymore,” which Jordan brushes off before walking away. He definitely took her past comments personally and was not ready to come with any fake energy.
The Super Bowl LVII gave Creed fans one last peek at Creed III prior to its release on March 3, 2023. The film is Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut after a long history of acting in films. Some of his most notable performances are Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Just Mercy, Farenheight 451, and Fantastic Four. He will return to the character Adonis “Donnie” Creed. Creed III will be the film’s ninth addition to the Rocky film franchise.
In Creed III, Sylvester Stallone’s character, Rocky Balboa, will not be joining Jordan’s Creed. Stallone is not returning to the franchise due to creative differences. However, Tessa Thompson is reprising her role as Creed’s girlfriend Bianca. Additionally, Phylicia Rashad will reprise her role as Creed’s stepmother, Mary Anne. Jonathan Majors is joining the production as Anderson “Damian” Dame, Creed’s newest rival. Previously, Majors was in Loki and Magazine Dreams. He has multiple upcoming projects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Kang the Conqueror.
“Creed III” Trailer
In the trailer, we see how Adonis has made peace with the fact that he has to live up to the legacy of his father, Apollo Creed. However, as he embraces his own journey, his past hinders his growth. Anderson (Majors) comes back into his life after spending 18 years in prison. Apparently, Adonis and Anderson were both stopped by the police as kids. However, Anderson was the only one put behind bars. Anderson returns to get his revenge. After all, he was robbed of almost two decades of his life. This just means he’ll have to face off with Adonis in a massive event that takes place at Dodger Stadium.
Originally, Creed III had a release date of November 23, 2022. However, MGM postponed the release of the film to March 3, 2023. Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin wrote Creed III. Coogler wrote Space Jam: A New Legacy, while Zach Baylinwrote King Richard and has numerous writing projects coming out alongside Creed III (The Order, The Crow, and an untitled Bob Marley biopic). The Creed III screenplay was based on the story by the Creed I director and Keenan Coogler’s brother, Ryan Coogler.
