docuseries

2Pac’s “Dear Mama” Docuseries Nominated For An Emmy

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Recently, it was revealed that the Allen Hughes-directed docuseries on the life of 2Pac has been nominated for an Emmy. Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur was released in April of this year on Hulu. The series’ first episode became the most-viewed premiere of an unscripted series in FX history shortly after its release. The show is nominated for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series. It will go up against with 100 Foot Wave, the U.S. And The Holocaust, 1619 Project, and Secrets Of The Elephants. The 2023 Emmy Awards ceremony is set to take place in September of this year.

The president of FX Entertainment, Nick Grad, previously spoke on the success of the docuseries. “It’s only fitting that Allen Hughes definitive piece on Tupac and Afeni Shakur delivered a record performance for us and it speaks to Tupac’s enduring legacy,” he explained. “Allen’s examination of Tupac viewed through the prism of his mother Afeni is a fascinating take that really gets beneath the education and experience that shaped his life and inspired him to become one of the greatest artists ever.”

Read More: 2Pac’s $200K Custom Crown Ring To Be Auctioned

Allen Hughes Shares News Of Nomination

Though the show was extremely well-received by fans and critics alike, there was one person who was underwhelmed by Dear Mama. Last month, 2Pac’s biological father Billy Garland weighed in on the series, revealing that he was actually “disappointed” by it. “We did an interview for about two hours,” Garland explained, “After I saw the interview in the documentary, I was slightly disappointed, let’s just say that. I didn’t like it. It was more about something else, than about 2Pac, if you know what I’m saying.”

“If I knew it was about ‘Dear Mama,’ I might’ve still did it, but I probably wouldn’t have,” he continued, “Not for nothing.” He went on to explain that he didn’t like suggestions that his son was bipolar. Garland says that 2Pac’s behavior was only a reaction to the “betrayal” he had faced in his life.

Read More: Mutulu Shakur, Activist And Stepfather Of 2Pac, Dead At 72

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Tupac’s Father Disappointed With Hulu’s “Dear Mama” Docuseries

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In a recent interview, Tupac’s biological father, Billy Garland, shared his thoughts on Hulu’s docuseries on his son. Garland told The Art Of Dialogue that he initially denied an interview for the documentary, but was later convinced by director Allen Hughes. He stated that he didn’t know the footage itself would be used in Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni & Tupac Shakur, and was disappointed when he saw it in the series.

“We did an interview for about two hours,” he explained. Garland went on to say, “After I saw the interview in the documentary, I was slightly disappointed, let’s just say that. I didn’t like it. It was more about something else, than about 2Pac, if you know what I’m saying. If I knew it was about ‘Dear Mama,’ I might’ve still did it, but I probably wouldn’t have. Not for nothing.” Later on in the interview, he discussed being asked if his son was bipolar, to which he responded that didn’t think so.

Read More: Biggie Smalls Allegedly Cried When He Heard Tupac’s “Hit ‘Em Up” Diss

Garland’s Interview

It was also recently announced that Tupac will be receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Ana Martinez, shared a statement with LA Times about the star. “Tupac Shakur was a rapper, actor, activist, poet, and revolutionary,” she said. Martinez added, “This iconic artist has continued to be part of the zeitgeist for decades after his passing and will continue to be an important cultural figure for many years to come. Surely, as one of L.A.’s own, Tupac’s star will be added to the list of most visited stars.”

The fact that the icon is only now receiving a star confused various social media users and artists. “It took them 25 years + to give Tupac a star on Hollywood Blvd? Y’all got him f****ed all the way up,” YG wrote on Twitter. Boosie Badazz also shared his thoughts, writing, “Tupac ain’t ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME?” He added, “WTF THE DISRESPECT. Don’t worry he saying F**K YALL from the Grave.”

Read More: Tupac Will Have An Oakland Street Named After Him

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Hulu’s “RapCaviar Presents” With Tyler, The Creator: Episode 1 Review

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RapCaviar Presents is a new docuseries on Hulu. It extends from the Spotify playlist, RapCaviar, which also has a podcast series hosted by music journalist Jinx. Across the six episodes, various rappers are covered, and their careers are discussed. These artists are chosen based on the central theme of each episode. This ranges from the hyper-masculinity in rap being erased to the continuous rise of women in the genre. The first episode is “Breaking The Mold – Tyler, The Creator.” It features interviews with Tyler’s famous friends Pharrell Williams, Vince Staples, radio host Big Boy, and one of Tyler’s managers, Christian Clancy.

Tyler’s Origins Made Him Unique, But He Wanted To do More

This episode of Hulu’s RapCaviar Presents frames its focus around Tyler’s individuality as an artist. The episode serves as a timeline of his career with the footage it uses. In the opening portions are multiple videos from his time with his collective Odd Future. Longtime supporters will recognize these clips, including popular moments from the infamous “A Day in Ladera” video and other iconic group pictures and footage. And yes, footage from the “Oldie” music video is in it, too. Interviewees spoke about how the group’s style was one thing that set them apart from the rest of the rap world immediately. The footage ends with videos from Tyler’s most recent tour promoting his Call Me If You Get Lost album. Fans will find joy in just seeing how the size of the crowds increased more and more as Tyler’s career progressed.

Tyler’s manager Christian Clancy said he always trusted Tyler’s vision. This goes back to the notoriously controversial video for “Yonkers.” This was released in 2011, long before the RapCaviar playlist was a thing. Tyler was always confident in what he wanted to make. He trusted his ideas and those around him did, too. Those people embraced what he was doing because it was different. However, ‌that’s what was pushing other sources away. Tyler’s music was not getting the coverage he wanted. He later realized people knew him for his antics more than his music career. This caused a shift in his creative output. Rather than just doing shocking things for fun, he changed to making things that showed his talent.

Tyler’s Grammy Loss Pushed Him To A Different Level

Tyler was nominated for Best Rap Album for Flower Boy in 2018 but lost. The episode focuses on how Tyler did not care what others thought of his music and expression. Yet, he still wanted validation from something on a grand scale. He knew he deserved it. This loss pushed him even more, and his following album IGOR won the Grammy for Best Rap Album in 2020. This win was ironic because the album is even less traditional in terms of “rap” than Flower Boy. Hulu’s RapCaviar Presents inserted footage of Tyler’s face on that night, showing his genuine shock at the win. 

Tyler won the Grammy for Best Rap Album again in 2022 for Call Me If You Get Lost. The episode ends around this point with footage of fans speaking about how he impacted their lives. This is fitting because the RapCaviar Presents episode has been about how he has inspired people to embrace their uniqueness. By showcasing his own, he directly inspired them. Many viewers may find this inspiring because they remember when Tyler had the same effect on them years ago. It shows that no matter when someone gets into his music, the same result can come from it. Christian Clancy’s closing quote from the Hulu series is perhaps the best way to frame the entirety of Tyler’s effect on the music world: “If you don’t allow for change, you stay stuck.”

Tyler’s Episode Is For Two Audiences

This debut episode of RapCaviar Presents serves as a decent overview of Tyler’s career. However, longtime supporters may not learn anything new from it. At less than an hour, there is only a limited amount of time to get all the information in. Additionally, the documentary jumps from multiple eras quickly to allow time to include them, with some getting much more time than others. The focus is primarily on how people perceived the music—not how Tyler made it. The documentary echoes something many listeners already know about Tyler: he will do what he wants no matter what. For those unfamiliar with him, this will serve as a good introduction. For those already familiar, this will serve as more of a trip down memory lane and a chance to reflect on Tyler’s growth as an artist.

RapCaviar Presents is available to stream on Hulu now.

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2Pac‘s Former Manager Praises Docuseries, “Dear Mama”

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2Pac‘s former manager, Leila Steinberg, praised the upcoming docuseries, Dear Mama, for its “honesty.” Steinberg spoke about the highly-anticipated series during an interview with SiriusXM’s The Last Mile Radio.

“Well, I wanted to say something about Dear Mama. Last year, [director] Allen Hughes reached out to me and said he was doing the five-part series on FX that’s coming out…April 21st…. Part of [Alan] wanting to really do this piece was about healing, was about honesty, was about all of us looking at what happened. And, so I’m just saying this to say, he’s done an incredible piece,” she said.

2Pac Performing In Chicago

CHICAGO – MARCH 1994: Rapper Tupac Shakur performs at the Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois in March 1994. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)

While Steinburg admitted 2Pac’s behavior could be erratic, she also blamed the music industry for his downfall. “Tupac was not always right. Matter of fact, he was so passionate and so emotional and so often not emotionally literate, not able to control his emotions. And so he let his anger speak first and then later he would apologize or acknowledge things,” she said.

Steinburg continued: “I have to sit here as someone who was close to Tupac until his death, who was present many times when I no longer worked with him in a managerial capacity. I was at lots of video shoots that he did. I was in the studio at Can-Am when he was with Suge [Knight]. And this industry is so destructive, that if I point the finger, I would say that executives and this industry had more to do with his collapse than anything.”

Dear Mama will premiere on FX on April 21, with the first two of five episodes being released at the same time. The rest of the series will air on the following three Fridays. Hulu will also host the episodes one day after they air on FX. For the documentary, director Allen Hughes has said that he and his team focused on finding unreleased audio and video content of Afeni Shakur and her son. Check out a trailer for the project below.

The “Dear Mama” Trailer

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Tyler, The Creator Details Most “Awesome” Parts Of His Rapper Lifestyle

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Things have been relatively quiet on Tyler, The Creator’s front so far this year, though he made waves in a major way earlier this week with his “DOGTOOTH” single. Along with that must-hear track, the California native announced that more will be coming this Friday (March 31) on THE ESTATE SALE edition of his 2021 project, CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST. Aside from the exciting new music, fans also get to see their favourite artist on today’s episode of RapCaviar Presents on Hulu.

In a clip reposted by HipHopDX on Twitter, the OFWGKTA leader reflects on his favourite parts of his highly coveted job. “We’re good with words. We’re good with rhythm. We know pockets. We hear a collection of sounds and one thing and say, ‘Ahh, I know what could go over this,’ that takes a skill,” Tyler explained of the unique talents he and his contemporaries have. He also shared that being able to understand different “narratives” and express what you’re feeling verbally is an incredible feeling to have as a creative.

Tyler, The Creator on RapCaviar Presents

For the 32-year-old, it sounds as though another bonus of rap superstardom is the ability to explore different creative avenues. “You could be multiple choice,” he told viewers. “You could be into this and you could be into this, and you could be into that. It’s ABC. I’m a rapper. I’m also a producer. I’m also a fucking hot dog.” Tyler then addressed the fact that young teenagers with aspirations of working in the industry have such a limited scope of how much creative freedom truly exists for them.

“You got some young kid like 13 thinking, ‘Oh I got to make bravado rap, [or] damn I gotta talk about what you think you would have to talk about in a rap song,’ [but] no, you don’t,” he went on to say. “When I’m flexing on these songs, it’s just about the shit that I really like.” Will you be tuning into Tyler, The Creator’s full episode of RapCaviar Presents on Hulu? Let us know in the comments, and check out his latest single, “Sorry Not Sorry” below.

Check Out His Latest Single, “Sorry Not Sorry”

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Hulu’s “Rap Caviar Presents” Trailers: Roddy Ricch, Megan Thee Stallion, Polo G, Coi Leray, Pharrell & More

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Next week, fans will receive an intimate look at some of their favorite artists on Rap Caviar Presents. What began as a Spotify playlist created by Tuma Basa has become one of the leading sources of the best Hip Hop music releases. It’s a coveted playlist that artists clamor to be on. Now, a new Hulu docuseries will highlight the culture’s most popular artists. We’ve highlighted teasers ahead of the March 30 premiere, and Rap Caviar Presents returns with more information about each episode.

The six-part series will feature the likes of Coi Leray, City Girls, Polo G, Roddy Ricch, Tyler, The Creator, and more. We received a breakdown of each episode, and it looks like the artists will touch on current events, the culture of Hip Hop, facing critics, and their overall experiences as artists. The Igor hitmaker and his peers will address hypermasculinity in Rap. Tyler has defied those norms to amass success. A press release asks, “Can a rapper like him make it past gatekeepers and truly be accepted?”

Rap Caviar Presents Digs Deep

Other episodes include City Girls, who will reportedly speak on “a new generation of women openly celebrating wealth and sexuality. But with greater exposure comes even more vicious attacks and criticism.” Roddy Ricch‘s feature will see the Los Angeles rapper talking about the “constant public scrutiny and internet backlash” he’s endured. In a world where social media is critical, how do artists use the platform to earn fame while navigating negativity?

Polo G discusses mental health, healing from trauma, and breaking negative cycles. Coi Leray had a meteoric climb in Hip Hop, and as a woman in the industry, she’s faced obstacles that were set to displace her career. She wants to “create a space for a new kind of beauty, empowerment, and control,” while showing the world she’s more than just TikTok famous. Additionally, on “Rhyme and Punishment,” Rap Caviar Presents looks into law enforcement surveilling Black Americans. Further, they highlight the targeting of Hip Hop artists. We’ve seen in the YSL RICO case involving Young Thug that the authorities want to use lyrics in court. The docuseries will have artists discuss Hip Hop unifying to “harness its political power to combat the criminalization of Rap.”

Important Discussions In Hip Hop

For fans of Hip Hop—and music, overall—Rap Caviar Presents is a must-watch. Other artists featured include Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Pharrell Williams, Fivio Foreign, Post Malone, and more. Check out the new teasers above and let us know which episode you’re looking forward to the most.

Tupac’s “Dear Mama” Docuseries Gets Gripping Trailer

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Dear Mama, the docuseries about Tupac and Afeni Shakur, just got an emotive and impactful new full-length trailer. Moreover, the FX outing will focus on the legendary rapper’s relationship with his mother, who was a Black Panther and shaped him profoundly. On Wednesday (March 22), a two-minute clip premiered ahead of its April 21 debut on FX. Not only that, but the premiere will consist of two of its five episodes, with the rest coming out individually every following Friday for three weeks. Also, each episode will be available to stream on Hulu the day after its network broadcast.

“It was very difficult for me to be a mom. But I knew very well how to protect my children,” Afeni Shakur says in the short clip. “My mother taught me to analyze society and not be quiet,” a 17-year-old Pac remarks in the trailer. “If there’s something on my mind, speak it. Because – I gotta reiterate it – my mother was a Black Panther and she was very involved in the movement.” Amid photos, video clips, and Pac’s music, the teaser paints a concise, vivid, and emotional picture of their bond.

Tupac’s Dear Mama‘s Full-Length Trailer Is Here

“Wherever possible, we tried to find archival footage that hadn’t been seen. So there’s a lot that we have in the five parts,” series director Allen Hughes explained. “There’s also audio that’s never been heard. And not just some of his acapellas and vocals, there is a lot of stuff of Tupac from his baby years that had never been seen.” Moreover, Hughes also directed the Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine-centered The Defiant Ones.

Furthermore, he shared these details while promoting Dear Mama at the Television Critics Awards winter press tour. Also, he explained that prioritizing new content will help viewers understand some of Pac and Afeni’s decisions more. “For Tupac superfans, I believe that two of the most important things in the project is the never seen before [footage],” he continued. “But most importantly, you get to understand why he made certain decisions.” Check out the trailer above and come back to HNHH for the latest on Dear Mama and Tupac Shakur.

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Jussie Smollett Doc: Osundairo Brothers Speak For The First Time

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The 2019 attack on Jussie Smollett is receiving documentary treatment by Fox Nation. The network is examining the story of the hoax that captivated the world: an award-winning actor was assaulted on the streets of Chicago. News wildly circulated about Smollett being accosted, verbally attacked with racial and LGBTQIA+ slurs, and a noose placed on his neck. At the time, Smollett was at the height of his Empire career, but this scandal caused him to lose the gig. Some say he lost much more.

This month, Jussie Smollett: Anatomy of a Hoax was teased. The five-part docuseries premiered on Fox Nation today (March 13), and we find this case being examined under a microscope. During the investigation, Chicago investigators learned of the Osundairo brothers, fitness enthusiasts, and actors. They told police they were responsible for the attack on Smollett; however, the brothers also stated it was Smollett who hired them.

Osundairo Brothers speak For The First Time

There were several speculative reports during the thick of the Smollett case. The actor faced lawsuits from authorities who claimed he wasted viable resources. In December 2021, Smollett was found guilty of five counts of felony disorderly conduct for making false reports. He was sentenced to five months but was released after six days while he appealed the verdict. Now, the ins and outs of this story have arrived in Anatomy of a Hoax, and the Osundairo brothers are finally speaking out.

Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo testified that they met Smollett through their connections in the industry. They claimed they had a casual relationship with the actor and were hired to pull off this hoax. The pair were also featured in the docuseries’ trailer, where surveillance footage seemingly corroborated their stories. They are captured purchasing items related to the attack. “He told us to make sure we have a red hat for Trump,” one of the brothers says.

Smollett Maintains His Innocence

They even took production to the streets of Chicago, showing where they “waited for Jussie to come before we attacked him.” The brothers appear side by side smiling, and one admits, “We were the ones that did it.” The other chimes in, “Yeah, it was us.” Smollett hasn’t publicly responded to this new docuseries, but he has maintained his innocence. Check out the trailer above.

Jussie Smollett Docuseries Will Highlight Hoax Attack As He Appeals Conviction

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Buckle up for the next wave of the Jussie Smollett controversy. The singer has been living his best life away from scandal but is about to return to the true crime limelight. It was announced this week that a new docuseries about Smollett’s 2019 encounter with the Osundairo brothers is being made. Fox Nation helms Jussie Smollett: Anatomy of a Hoax, a five-part series set to premiere on March 13.

In early 2019, Smollett alleged that while walking in Chicago, he was attacked by two white men. He claimed he was taunted with racist and anti-gay slurs and even appeared with a noose around his neck. He received widespread support from activists and fans, but later, Chicago police alleged Smollett staged the entire incident. A lawsuit was even filed against the actor, and as more information was shared, he was let go from Empire.

The Osundairo Brothers Say It Was All Fake

ATLANTA, GA – JUNE 08: Jussie Smollett attends the “B-Boy Blues” Atlanta premiere at Silverspot Cinema at The Battery Atlanta on June 8, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)

Later, police tracked down Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, brothers, athletes, and small-time actors. They reportedly met Smollett on the set of Empire and had regular correspondence with him. They claimed they worked with the actor in the attack, and it was speculated that Smollett orchestrated the event for sympathy. He denied every theory of blame and, until today, maintains his innocence. In court documents, Smollett demanded a new trial and stated, “In the present case, instances of prosecutorial misconduct were clear and egregious.” His legal team also alleges prosecutorial misconduct.

However, in 2021, he was convicted of five counts of felony disorderly conduct. There was reportedly a sixth count involving lying to investigators, but he was acquitted. Smollett was released from jail pending his appeal, but he still faces 150 days. Meanwhile, Fox Nation issued a statement about their upcoming docuseries.

A “Deep Dive Into A Scam”

“Anatomy of a Hoax takes a deep dive into a scam that reverberated through the worlds of entertainment, pop culture, and politics. We’re excited for viewers to hear the real stories behind this scandal from the Osundairo brothers for the very first time,” said John Finley, Fox Nation Executive Vice President.

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Conway The Machine Announces New Album & Docuseries From His Drumwork Label

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Conway the Machine just announced a new album and docuseries on the way from his new music collective, Drumwork. Moreover, this news comes almost a full year after the 40-year-old lyricist left his longtime label, Griselda. Still, the future is bright for the “Scatter Brain” rapper. Furthermore, the upcoming projects will highlight each of Drumwork’s members, which are not apparently set in stone. “We here!!!” Conway captioned the post. “They doubted us, now we gon make them respect this Drumwork s**t! Time to etch this s**t stone! DW the album & docu-series on the way.” While fans are already ecstatic, he hasn’t shared a release date as of yet.

However, his departure from Griselda is not a sign of bad blood or enemy status when it comes to his former label mates. In fact, in Conway’s announcement post on Instagram, fellow MC extraordinaire (and Griselda member) Benny the Butcher commented a slew of fire emojis. Also, Conway spoke to Ebro last year about the realities faced in his decision to leave. “It ain’t nothing to even trip off, for real,” the Buffalo native expressed. “I don’t know what’s going on… everybody just doing so much man, just on the individual side that we don’t really kinda be having the time to really connect all the time and link.

PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 21: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY – For Non-Editorial use please seek approval from Fashion House) Conway the Machine attends the Casablanca Menswear Fall-Winter 2023-2024 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 21, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pierre Suu/Getty Images)

Moreover, he continued: “We don’t all live in the same city no more, we don’t really hang out and do shit no more, see each other. So all these conversations we don’t necessarily get to have all the time.” However, in the time since those statements, Conway built an impressive team at Drumwork. Furthermore, it started when he signed Buffalo rapper Jae Skeese to Drumwork Music Group in January of 2021. Upon the announcement, Skeese posted a picture of him and the Machine, calling it the moment he “always prayed for.”

“I’m happy to announce the ink is dry!!” Conway wrote in his post with the same picture. “It’s official!! The first artist signed to @drumworkmusic CONGRATULATIONS KING @jaeskeese this is just the beginning the REAL work begins NOW!! I believed in u from the start and I know when it’s all said and done u gon be in that top 5 convo… it’s up!!!” Skeese dropped his first Drumwork single, “Against The Grain” with Conway and Griselda’s Flee Lord, last March. Stay tuned to HNHH for the latest on Conway the Machine, Drumwork, and a new batch of top-notch MCs.

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