‘Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys’ Premieres On A&E August 25

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A&E presents “Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys,” the first official documentary about the iconic Grammy®-nominated musician and legendary founding member of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan.

Co-directed by Emmy® and Peabody Award-winning Director Sam Pollard (MLK/FBI, Black Art: In The Absence of Light) alongside his son Jason Pollard (Get Me Roger Stone, Bitchin’ The Sound and Fury of Rick James), the two-hour special premieres Sunday, August 25 at 9pm ET/PT on A&E.”Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys” Premieres Sunday, August 25.

Produced by Pulse Films (Beastie Boys Story, Meet Me in the Bathroom), Four Screens, and the Ol’ Dirty Bastard Estate in association with GroupM Motion Entertainment, “Ol Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys” features access to his closest friends and family, including Mariah Carey, Wu-Tang Clan members Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, ODB’s wife Icelene Jones, his son Bar-Sun Jones, his parents, recording industry executives, and more.

With never-before-seen personal archive shot by his wife, Icelene, this culture-defining special humanizes ODB as a man, a father, and a husband like never before. This definitive documentary provides an intimate picture of ODB’s life and reflects on the lasting impact he had on music and culture.

Born Russell Jones in 1968 in Brooklyn, NY, ODB developed a unique persona and rhyme style that set him apart from his contemporaries. In his short 35 years of life and long after his passing, ODB has had a significant influence on a whole generation of fans and performers.

The documentary centers on ODB’s solo career, from his first album release in 1995 until his untimely passing from a drug overdose in 2004. Charting his meteoric rise and heart-breaking fall, the film interweaves a modern narrative that looks back at his trauma-filled childhood to examine how it influenced the man and artist he would become.

A celebration of his artistry and legacy, the documentary is an unflinching look at the complexities of his life including addiction, adultery, fame, mental illness, sudden wealth, race and criminal justice, and asks the question of just how complicit the media and music industry were in hastening his demise.

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Drake Fan Creates ‘Family Matters’ Online Video Game; Players Can Keep Grammy Away From a Digital Kendrick

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Ayo, fans are wild. Drake fans to be exact. ICYMI, earlier this month, Kendrick Lamar fans kept up the same energy with the Compton rapper’s Drake feud by launching an online video game inspired by the epic chart topping diss track “Not Like Us.” 

The game, was reminiscent of the piñata scene from the song’s visual – basically a generic twist on the classic whack-a-mole, featuring OVO owls as targets. Gotcha. Kill owls. Call PETA. Kidding.

In response to that gamer trolling, a Drake enthusiast created *Family Matters: The Game*, which can be played online. Check it out: https://playfamilymatters.com

Get this, when you start the game, and a lo-fi Family Matters beat drops, an on-screen message reads: 

“Kendrick just opened his mouth, someone go feed him a Grammy right now. Tap the Grammy to feed Kenny. Don’t miss or he’ll be sad.” 

Then gameplay involves a moving arrow that indicates where the Grammy will be thrown when you click or tap, while a pixelated Kendrick Lamar moves side-to-side. 

Low key genius. 

If you miss, Lamar’s character grimaces, makes a sad sound, and a tear rolls down his face.

Super petty. 

Obviously, te game’s theme draws from Drake’s lyric in “Family Matters,” where he raps, “Kendrick just opened his mouth, someone go hand him a Grammy right now.” 

LOL Ya’ll got too much time on your hands!

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HBO Docuseries ‘STAX: Soulsville, U.S.A.’ Nominated For Two Emmy Awards

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Stax Records is thrilled to share that the critically acclaimed HBO docuseries STAX: Soulsville, U.S.A. has been honored with two Emmy® nominations including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series. This prestigious recognition highlights the series’ exceptional storytelling and its profound exploration of the cultural and musical impact of Stax Records.

Stax Records is critical to American music history as one of the most popular soul music record labels of all time. In 15 years, Stax placed more than 167 hit songs in the Top 100 on the pop charts and a staggering 243 hits in the Top 100 R&B charts. It launched the careers of legendary artists such as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Rufus & Carla Thomas and Booker T. & the M.G.’s, among numerous others.

The HBO Original four-part documentary series STAX: Soulsville, U.S.A., an official selection of the 2024 SXSW Film & TV Festival and winner of the TV Premiere Audience Award, is directed by filmmaker Jamila Wignot. The series, a production of Laylow Pictures and White Horse Pictures in association with Concord Originals, Polygram Entertainment, and Warner Music Entertainment, debuted on May 20 on HBO and is available to stream on Max. The docuseries is produced by Jamila Wignot and Kara Elverson; executive produced by Ezra Edelman, Caroline Waterlow, Nigel Sinclair, Nicholas Ferrall, Scott Pascucci, Sophia Dilley, Michele Smith, Jody Gerson, David Blackman, Charlie Cohen, and Ron Broitman. For HBO: executive producers, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, and Tina Nguyen.

“We are proud that the docuseries has received critical acclaim and, most importantly, that the Stax artists and legacy are being recognized and respected as a cornerstone of American history,” shares Executive Producer Michele Smith, VP, Estate & Legacy Brand Management at Craft Recordings.

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UK Grime Rapper ‘Skepta’ Will Be Subject Of New Documentary Opening the Door to Cultural Impact of His Journey

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In case you’re not up to speed on the UK Grime rap scene, let’s first put ya’ll on with a quick snapshot of who Skepta is, and what he represents to that world.

Joseph Junior Adenuga, widely known as Skepta, was Born in Tottenham, Haringey, London, to Nigerian parents. Skepta moved from Lagos to London at the age of three. Check it, there’s a huge Nigerian community in the UK, and their influence across English culture is well documented, and celebrated, especially in music and film. 

Skepta’s heritage interestingly traces back to the Falash Mura community in Ethiopia. As a producer and DJ, Skepta has become synonymous with the North London grime scene, particularly through his associations with Roll Deep and Boy Better Know.

The moniker “Skepta” is derived from “sceptre,” though he modified the spelling to create a unique identity that would be easily searchable online. Simple, makes sense. 

Skepta’s music career began with a victory in an MC battle, where he beat out over 300 contestants, including Tempa T. He soon partnered with his brother JME and took off across London with his hit single “Private Caller,” which he produced. This track featured many members of his Meridian Crew from Meridian Walk in Tottenham. Okay, now we’re all caught up.

Now, onto the new documentary in the works. The H.wood Group, co-founded by John Terzian and Brian Toll, are venturing into multimedia production, with the doc about the British grime rapper as one of their marquee film projects. Get this, the film will be co-directed by BAFTA nominee Hector Dockrill and produced by Terzian, Toll, and Jeremy Allen for H.wood Media, along with Dwight Okechukwu of 1PLUS1 Production.

Here’s what Terzian said about the project: ”H.wood Media is about telling the stories behind the personalities who shape culture, and Skepta is undeniably the perfect subject for us,” 

Terzian went on to add “His story is one of modern identity, the immigrant experience of ‘growing up in a place that is not your home,’ mental health, and finding one’s true self. His emotional and inspiring journey will resonate with audiences around the world, and we are honored he entrusted us to tell his story and work with us on future storytelling.”

Okechukwu expressed his enthusiasm: 

”I am thrilled and excited about our new partnership with powerhouse H.wood Media, based in Los Angeles. As we embark on this collaborative journey, I am truly excited about the endless possibilities that lie ahead. I find Jeremy, John, and Brian very inspiring and supportive. It’s a great pleasure to be working with partners that move so efficiently.”

Get this, earlier this year, Skepta released his first short film, ‘Tribal Mark,’ co-directed with Okechukwu. Speaking to Variety, Skepta shared his dreams for the short becoming a franchise: “I hope that the next thing is the feature film. I want to do the first one, and then I want to step back so I can let another Black actor come and do it. We would love to have a fast forward of ‘Tribal Mark’ that goes into the future of his life, and it’s Denzel Washington. I’m shouting out to Denzel.”

The doc promises to take a deep look into Skepta’s world, not only focusing on his rise in the grime scene, but the cultural impact of his journey and his path towards self-discovery.

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Marvel Honcho Gives Positive Update On ‘Blade’ Reboot After Major Delays

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Here’s the download … 

Kevin Feige, the Marvel Studios President, has confirmed that the Blade reboot is still progressing even with all the pivots within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). 

Whew. Take a deep breathe. Blade is still about to get active!

Feige made it clear that the film would more than likely have an R-rating, keeping the same energy from the previous Blade trilogy. 

Another reason to clap. Yes, thank you!

He emphasized quality over speed, and stressed the need to take time to ensure the film meets  all of our impossibly high expectations.

Listen, take all the time you need, just not too much, ha!

The reboot, has seen numerous delays and even loss its second director in 2024 alone. Sheesh. 

Feige assured fans that the film, starring Mahershala Ali taking over as the iconic vampire hunter, is still a priority for Marvel Studios.

In a recent interview with BlackTreeTV, Feige dished on the possibility for more R-rated MCU films after the highly anticipated “Deadpool and Wolverine.”

“For the last few years, as we’ve been trying to crack that movie, the most important thing for us is not rushing it, and making sure we are making the right Blade movie. Because there were some great Blade movies years ago. They were all rated R. So I think that’s inherent – like Deadpool – that’s inherently the character of Blade.”

Get this, in another interview with Blavity’s Shadow and Act, Feige said:

“We are committed to the movie and we’re so committed to it that we’re not going to make it until it’s right. [It] has been frustrating for us and for some fans that it’s taken a while but we have a writer working on it now. I’ve read half of his new draft and it’s feeling good so far.”

Okay, we’re gonna chill out and relax but this can’t take forever. Feels like we’ve waited decades for Blade to return – oh wait, we kinda have. 

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Watch: New Trailer For ‘Bel-Air’ Season 3 Teases a Familiar Face From Original ‘Fresh Prince’

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“Bel-Air” is returning for its third season, promising more drama, intrigue – all that good stuff. In the season three trailer, Joseph Marcell, best known for his role as Geoffrey, the smart mouthed butler who waited on the Banks family in the original ’90s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Well, we didn’t have that on our bingo card. 

Get this, Marcell’s new role in “Bel-Air” is being kept close to the vest.

But showrunner Carla Banks-Waddles hinted to The Wrap that Marcell is playing a “mysterious member of the Banks family’s past.” A ha. 

Now onto the trailer, Marcell’s mysterious character delivers a cryptic line to Will (Jabari Banks): “There’s always going to be a price — that’s on you.” Whether the news is good or bad, it’s left for interpretation.

At least we do know the main cast will return for Season Three, including Jabari Banks (Will), Adrian Holmes (Phillip Banks), Cassandra Freeman (Vivian Banks), Olly Sholotan (Carlton Banks), Coco Jones (Hilary Banks), Akira Akbar (Ashley Banks), Jimmy Akingbola (Geoffrey), Jordan L. Jones (Jazz), and Simone Joy Jones (Lisa). Guest stars Joseph Marcell and Karrueche Tran also appear in the new season.

Reflecting on bringing Marcell onto the show, Banks-Waddles shared the logistical challenges due to his schedule and residence in London. 

She went on to explain, “We had a couple of ideas, but we weren’t sure on availability and storyline, and he’s the one that made sense. It was even tough for him because he doesn’t live here; he lives in London. He’s very much a working actor, does plays, was in the middle of a play, so just getting him here to L.A. for the availability was a feat. We weren’t even sure that was going to work out. So we had a couple of ideas for ways to get some O.G. cast in, and he was at the top of that list.”

Sounds like a nice bit of nostalgia adding Marcell. We’ll see how it all goes down when “Bel-Air” premieres on Peacock,Thursday, August 15.

Check out the new trailer here:

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Megan Thee Stallion To Executive Produce Hulu Reality Series ‘Playground’

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Houston rapstress Megan Thee Stallion has set her new sights on television production after she has landed the executive producer spot on a new reality series title Playground, that is slated to debut on Hulu on July 26.

Playground LA is the premier studio for pro dancers to be discovered and book their big break. Classes taught by highly sought choreographers and auditions held by top music artists – including three-time Grammy award-winning musician Megan Thee Stallion – attract the most ambitious dancers in the world – and all the drama they bring with them. Romance, friendships, and tenacity are tested at every turn, as the next hot dancer is always around the corner, trying to beat the established pros for their shot at the spotlight.

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This comes on the heels of the report that MEGAN, her third studio album, debuted at Number 3 on the Billboard 200, the highest for any female rapper in 2024.

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[WATCH] Death Row’s The Lady Of Rage To Play Psychic Miss Cleo In Upcoming Lifetime Special

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The Lady of Rage is back on the silver screen, and this time, she’s set to play the famous TV psychic, the late Miss Cleo.

Yesterday(July 16), Lifetime released the trailer for Miss Cleo: Her Rise and Fall. The Virginia native plays the infamous infomercial queen who capitalized on the public’s belief in astrology.

Miss Cleo was once known for amassing over $24 million a month for the Psychic Readers Network that employed her services before the Feds came in with allegations of fraud.

Miss Cleo died in 2016 after a battle with cancer, and her likeness was subjected to lawsuits. Still, her popularity never wavered, even though many people don’t know what happened to their favorite tarot card reader.

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Marvel Studios Unveils Teaser Trailer and Poster for ‘Captain America: Brave New World’

Marvel Studios Unveils Teaser Trailer and Poster for 'Captain America: Brave New World'

Marvel Studios has released the teaser trailer and poster for the highly anticipated “Captain America: Brave New World,” featuring Anthony Mackie as the new Captain America. Mackie, who previously portrayed The Falcon in the MCU, officially assumed the mantle in the finale of “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier” on Disney+ in 2021.

In this new chapter, Captain America, now Sam Wilson, encounters an international crisis following a meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, marking Harrison Ford’s debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Sam must unravel the mystery behind a sinister global plot before the true villain drives the world into chaos.

The film boasts a stellar cast, including Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Xosha Roquemore, Carl Lumbly, Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, and Harrison Ford. Directed by Julius Onah and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore, “Captain America: Brave New World” promises to be a thrilling addition to the MCU. Louis D’Esposito and Charles Newirth serve as executive producers.

“Captain America: Brave New World” is set to hit U.S. theaters on Feb. 14, 2025.

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Martin Lawrence Developing Dramatic ‘Martin’ Prequel Series 

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Didn’t have this one on our bingo cards today. Martin Lawrence is apparently developing a new series, “Young Martin,” which will offer a fresh, dramatic take on his iconic 1990s sitcom character, Martin Payne. 

Interesting. This reimagining, as they call it, will follow the trend set by shows like “Bel-Air,” which gave a dramatic twist to Will Smith’s life story.

“Young Martin,” an hour-long drama, is set in present-day Detroit and centers on a spirited teenage Martin Payne. The series will explore his journey marked by ambition, humor, and compassion. 

Get this, according to the official logline, the show will delve into themes of family, friendship, and the challenges of balancing adolescence and adulthood. Martin’s quick wit and magnetic personality will lead him into high-stakes situations where he must navigate various obstacles and emotions to find his path to success.

The project, reported by Deadline, is not yet attached to a network.

Unless you didn’t own a TV in the 90s, The original “Martin” sitcom, which aired for five seasons from 1992 to 1997 on Fox, followed Martin Payne, a radio talk show host, as he dealt with the ups and downs of his relationship with his girlfriend Gina (Tisha Campbell) and his friends Tommy (Thomas Mikal Ford), Cole (Carl Anthony Payne II), and Pam (Tichina Arnold). The show’s cast reunited in 2022 for the BET+ special “Martin: The Reunion,” where they shared behind-the-scenes stories and discussed the show’s legacy and impact. Thomas Mikal Ford, an original cast member, passed away in 2016.

“Young Martin” will be executive-produced by Martin Lawrence, Rae Proctor, Robert Lawrence, and Stacy Lyles under the banner RunTelDat, along with Bob Yari, David McPherson, Rosa Peart, and Greg Martin for WonderHill Studios.

Exciting times!

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