LL COOL J talked about his new album, “THE FORCE,” collaborating with Eminem on the track “Murdergram Deux,” crediting Michael Jackson as a writer on the song “The FORCE,” learning to rap again, and much more during a track-by-track album special on his new SiriusXM channel, LL COOL J’s THE FORCE Channel.
Featuring LL COOL J’s Rock the Bells Radio host Roxanne Shanté and a live audience, “LL COOL J ‘THE FORCE’ Track-By-Track Album Special” premieres on LL COOL J’s THE FORCE Channel on Friday, September 6, at noon ET and will be available to stream on the SiriusXM app (see more details below). During the show, LL went through his process working with Eminem.
“Me and Em actually went to Dr. Dre’s studio and recorded it out in LA,” LL COOL J said. “We Went together in the studio. And the way the process was: I would write my rhyme. Then I would lay it. He would come in, he would hear it, I would leave. He would write his rhyme. He would record. And we went back and forth in the booth without seeing each other record until we did the very last thing together, where I kinda come together with him a little bit.”
Tune in to LL COOL J’s THE FORCE Channel on channel 79 from now through September 19 at 3am ET in cars and through October 3 at 3am ET on the SiriusXM app.
Get this, ”Fight Night” is adapted from the acclaimed iHeart true-crime podcast of the same name. It delves into the real events that took place in Atlanta on October 26, 1970. Will Packer, who produced the podcast, also serves as an executive producer for the series.
Kevin Hart plays Chicken Man, a hustler striving to make his mark among elite Black mafia members, gangsters, and powerful figures not just in Georgia but nationwide. He throws an afterparty to celebrate the historic fight between Muhammad Ali and Jerry Quarry, marking Ali’s return to boxing after being banned for refusing military draft. FYI, that was a big deal back then.
We won’t say to much but the party takes a disastrous turn when attendees are robbed in what is known as Atlanta’s most audacious underworld heist, with Chicken Man suspected of masterminding the plot. He must then work to prove his innocence as law enforcement seeks to bring justice to the victims.
Don Cheadle plays Detective J.D. Hudson, who faces the complex challenge of investigating the heist, especially since some victims are also criminals. That’s a good role for Cheadle, he has played a great cop or federal agent in several roles in the past.
So the podcast that inspired the limited series, first aired back in 2020, and provides the storyline:
“On October 26, 1970, Muhammad Ali triumphantly returned to boxing in Atlanta, Georgia. But the next morning, national headlines featured one of the biggest heists in history. At the center was a hustler named ‘Chicken Man.’ Fans arrived in Rolls Royces from New York City, wearing vibrant fur coats and diamonds. They entered the arena with engraved invitations, cheering when the first-round bell rang, minus two empty seats. After the fight, many top Black mafia leaders headed to Chicken Man’s house for a celebration, only to be met by sawed-off shotguns. On FIGHT NIGHT, J.D. Hudson, one of Atlanta’s first Black detectives, who helped lead Ali into the ring, was assigned to the robbery investigation by the police chief the next day. When asked years later, ‘When did the investigation end?’ J.D. replied, ‘When everybody was dead.’”
Behind the camera are Shaye Ogbonna and Jason Horwitch who serve as creators and showrunners. Executive producers include Bryan Smiley and Mike Stein for Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat, Will Packer and Sabrina Wind for Will Packer Media, and Conal Byrne, Will Pearson, and Carrie Lieberman for iHeartPodcasts, alongside Jeff Keating, Lars Jacobson, Hart, and Packer.
The first trailer for the upcoming documentary, “Breakin’ on the One,” set to debut on Hulu on June 24. Directed by JamsBash, the film chronicles the origins of breakdancing and its cultural impact. I mean, it’s breakdancing. This has to hit the mark right?
Here’s the official description from Disney/ESPN’s Andscape:
On August 15th, 1981 when a large, excited crowd gathered at the plaza of Lincoln Center in Manhattan for the Out-of-Doors Festival. The highlight of the event was a breaking battle between the Rocksteady Crew and the Dynamic Rockers. What unfolded would prove to be a seminal moment in American culture, a showdown that has reverberated for decades across hip hop, dance, race, and politics. Utilizing a trove of archival material from the 1980s and interviews with those who were there, this is the chronicle of how breaking transformed itself from a niche urban activity to an Olympic sport performed worldwide. It’s the tale of how a handful of innovators from often neglected corners of a struggling city helped create a cornerstone event for a movement, one that grew from its devastated borough origins to influence the highest ranks of sports and entertainment. Spanning much of the half-century since hip hop emerged in New York and became a cultural phenomenon, this is the story of how the breaking battle of 1981 helped create the world as we know it today.
Jason Aidoo, VP and head of Andscape, expressed his excitement about the documentary’s release, stating, “Ahead of its Olympic debut this summer, we are thrilled to bring the story of break dancing to our audiences. This documentary is a testament to the impact breakin’, The Rocksteady Crew and Dynamic Rockers have had on our culture.”
Director JamsBash added, “We are incredibly stoked to help tell the story of these amazing dancers. Kids from Black and brown communities in New York created a unique art form that’s now an Olympic Sport. We love that a small part of that origin is now being celebrated on film.”
Marsha Cooke, Vice President of ESPN Films, remarked, “Breakin’ On the One is a celebration of the community that revolutionized dance, and brought people from across the world together. We are thrilled for this story to finally be recognized, and to bring it to audiences across the globe.”
The film’s executive producers are Jason Aidoo, Dwayne Bray, Heather Anderson, Marsha Cooke, Brian Lockhart, and Burke Magnus. It is produced by Marquis Daisy, Gus Navarro, and Catherine Sankey, with Ashley Bembry-Kaintuck serving as co-producer.
Should be interesting. It’s a doc about a cultural staple that is embedded in Hip Hop. Feels like a must watch in our opinion. Check out the trailer below:
Last month, a woman who called herself “Lagena Gold” went viral after she made allegations that she was the long-lost daughter of condemned singer R. Kelly and the late Aaliyah Haughton. Gold was dragged across the blogosphere because of her claims, with many critics saying that she looked nothing like Kelly or Aalyah. Now, in an interview with Real Lyfe Street Starz, the Detroit native calls Aaliyah her and delves into the difficulties she’s had trying to prve her identity to the world.
Gold discussed the possibility of taking a DNA test, her siblings on her alleged father’s side, his criminal case as well as her plans to release original music.
Yo! MTV Raps officially returns on Tuesday, May 24, with new co-hosts Conceited and DJ Diamond Kuts.
According to Conceited, he has campaigned for the show’s revival since he was cast in the reboot of Nick Cannon’s Wild N’ Out almost a decade ago. As one of the show’s most coveted cast members, the Brooklyn native was first noticed by Cannon after making waves as a battle rapper.
Con says that Cannon, a big fan of battle rap, reached out to him via Twitter to tell him about the show’s revival.
“So he (Nick Cannon) hits me on Twitter,” starts Conceited. “He’s like, ‘yo,I’m bringing Wild N’ Out, and I want you to be a part of it. I’ve always wanted to be on Wild N’ Out as well.”
After an audition, which Con believes was lackluster, he received a call a few weeks later confirming his casting to the hit MTV show.
While Conceited’s Wild N’ Out popularity became a catalyst for new ventures, Reginald Sergile’s humble beginnings began in Brooklyn.
He split his youth between New York City and Florida. While in the South, he noticed the amount of Tri-State natives that migrated to Florida. Although true, the style of living was a complete culture shock.
“Here in New York City, people move at a much faster pace and you have that New York attitude. You rep your borough to the fullest,” he says. “If you go anywhere else, you already have a confidence boost being from here. It’s like a fashion show here in New York too.”
Conceited claims Brooklyn as NYC’s most fashionable borough, although Harlem natives would contest that sentiment.
He became confident in his lyrical ability at the age of 19 after a few years of making his name for himself in battle rap. Once his notoriety grew on the east coast, he took his talents to Da Jungle in Stockton, CA. Later, his battle was featured on WorldStarHipHop, after they initially denied him, and the rest was history.
Conceited quickly became one of the most viewed battle rappers on the internet. His witty bars, dominant punchlines, and his signature “slow it down, I just dissed you” catchphrase attributed to his viewership.
Since his first appearance on Wild N’ Out, Conceited flawlessly shined, especially during the “wildstyle” battles.
After years of campaigning for the revival of Yo! MTVRaps, Conceited manifestation would come into fruition when he was contacted to become the show’s new co-host.
“As far as the process, I did not have to audition,” he says. “I get on a Zoom call about the show, and they tell me that they are auditioning DJs for a chemistry test for a co-host.
No one else stood a chance once the chem test was done with DJ Diamond Kuts. Conceited notes that Diamond Kuts was a no-brainer given her extensive experience. The duo’s chemistry was the bonus.
Conceited’s journey from Da Jungle Battle Raps to hosting Yo! MTV Raps exemplifies his diverse talent as a personality.
Be sure to check out Yo! MTV Raps every Tuesday from May 24 through July 12 exclusively on Paramount+. Featured guests include Freddie Gibbs, Latto, Saba, J.I.D, Shenseea, Tee Grizzley, IDK, and Trina.
