Last night (May 7), Seth Rogen hosted Seth Smokes The Bowl, a Hilarity For Charity benefit event at the Hollywood Bowl. The event featured various performers, and at one point between acts, Rogen shared his take on the ongoing Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef.
Rogen started, “If you’re a rap fan, there’s some crazy sh*t going on right now.” He then gave a broad overview of the situation, summarizing by saying the two are feuding by writing “mean rhymes about each other.” When he got the point of Lamar’s “Not Like Us” and Drake’s “The Heart Part 6,” specifically how Lamar accused Drake of an inappropriate interest in underage women and Drake refuted it, Rogen said, “I would say as soon as you are asserting in a rap song that you should not be a registered sex offender, you’ve lost the rap battle.”
He added, “What’s crazy is these are not, like, personal correspondences: These are songs! These are hit songs! These are No. 1 and 2 on iTunes, like, right now! These are songs the Apple algorithm is telling my mother to listen to while working out.”
He then compared the song to Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know,” which is famously believed to be about Dave Coulier. After pointing out the relative mystery behind the song’s official, confirmed meaning, Rogen continued, “But now Kendrick is like, ‘F*ck you Drake, you’re a pedophile.’ And these are hit… people are dancing to these songs! Could you imagine going to a club and seeing a room full of people dancing to a song about you being a pedophile? Especially if you were one? I don’t know if he is, but if he was, I assume that’d be a very alarming moment in your life. ‘Oh no, they’re on to me.’”
The hood classic Menace II Societydebuted in 1993 and the cast included many legendary and now accomplished actors. Instantly, the movie became a beloved film for black families all over the globe. And the actors became household names. The movie tells the story of a teenage drug dealer who commits horrific crimes with his friends. But by the time he decides to leave his life of crime, it’s too late. Let’s take a look at the cast then and now 31 years later.
Tyrin Turner
Tyrin Turner has made guest appearances on television shows such as Chicago Hope. You might also remember seeing Turner in Hype Williams’ 1998 film Belly, where he played a perm wearing hustler named Big. For over twenty years, he’s written comedy material for Jamie Foxx and Affion Crockett. He currently has a role in the Hulu series Missing Persons Unit.
Larenz Tate made an impression in our hearts from many roles. His classic characters have showed his widespread ability across the acting spectrum; from playing a socially ackward teen finding his sexuality (The Inkwell) to portraying a mentally unstable Vietnam vet turned bank robber (Dead Presidents.) And who could forget his portrayal of Frankie Lymon in the biopic Why Do Fools Fall in Love? (1998) and most recently as Councilman Rashad Tate in 50 Cent’s Power Book franchise.
Best known at the time as Lena James from A Different World, Jada Pinkett-Smith went on to star in numerous feature films as well. Pinkett Smith executive produced and starred in the television medical drama Hawthorne. She also received an Emmy for her Facebook podcast called Red Table Talk. Jada released her autobiography,Worthy in 2023, where she speaks on her life and controversial marriage to Will Smith.
One of the most widely recognized actors of his generation, Samuel L. Jackson is one of the highest grossing actors of all time. His films have grossed over $27 billion worldwide. In 2022, he received the Academy Honorary Award. The highly prolific actor has appeared in over 100 films; many of them classics that we’re sure you’ve seen.
Clifton Powell was born in Washington, D.C. He graduated from the Duke Ellington School of Arts. Powell primarily plays supporting roles in films. He received a nomination for a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture in the biopic Ray in 2005.
At the time of Menace II Society, cast member and rapper MC Eiht was known for being one-fourth of the rap group Compton’s Most Wanted. His song Streiht up Menace would become the movie’s theme song, and his two subsequent albums would inflame his infamous beef with DJ Quik. He’s also known for playing the character Ryder in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Khandi Alexander
Although you may not know her by name, Khandi Alexander is definitely a familiar face in numerous films and TV shows. Alexander has had significant parts in What’s Love Got to Do With It?, Scandal and played Dr. Alexx Woods in CSI: Miami. She is also a dancer who worked with and choreographed Whitney Houston’s international tours.
Charles S. Dutton has retired from acting, but is best known for his role in the television series Roc. He also had a memorable role in the film A Time to Kill in 1996. His accolades include three Primetime Emmy Awards and three NAACP Image Awards.
Glen Plummer has quite a long acting resume that spans over three decades. His most memorable roles were in Colors (1988) and in the compelling drama South Central (1992) where he played “O.G.” Bobby Johnson. He is currently working on a film entitled Alien Storm.
Xzibit has teased a reboot of the classic MTV show Pimp My Ride. Fans on social media are all excited about the series’ potential return. Pimp My Ride aired from 2004 to 2007 with Xzibit as its host. Xzibit would take people busted down cars and pimp them out at West Coast Customs garage. They would go wild on these cars, putting anything from fishtanks to video gems to fully functioning BBQ grills in this vehicle. The series is from a bygone era on MTV, and fans are nostalgic about it.
Xzibit posted a picture on Instagram on Wednesday, which sparked excitement among fans. Fans immediately suspected that a reboot of Pimp My Ride is in the works. The post, which features a top-down view of a tricked-out muscle car, was accompanied by the caption, “It’s Time To Get Back To Customizing Cars.” The post also features a cryptic date, which might indicate when the news will be officially announced. Fans hope it is real and an announcement will be made next week.
Fans are wondering if the show will indeed come back and how wild the customizations will be. Back in the day, Xzibit’s car customizations were out of control. Some were even so wild that they would seem impossible to drive. The show’s popularity and nostalgia come form the customizations but also Xzibit’s hosting capabilities. He was entertaining as a host and had some very memorable and hilarious moments. If it comes back, hopefully, X will be back as its host.
Rapper Xzibit was a well-known and accomplished rapper before the sereis, but it took his fame to a new level. With Xzibit and the program both so successful, viewers were taken aback when Pimp My Ride was canceled after just six seasons. X hasn’t always had a good relationship with the show’s creators, despite him hinting at the show’s comeback if there was any time to bring the show back, it’s now. Overall, it will be an exciting and nostalgic sensation if the Pimp My Ride Reboot is real. What wild pimped-out customizations can you make with 2024 car technology?
Kendrick Lamar really goes after Drake on “Euphoria,” with most of the bars leaving very little doubt about what exactly he means. There is one portion of the diss track that has raised some uncertain eyebrows, though: At one point, Lamar raps, “Am I battlin’ ghost or AI? N**** feelin’ like Joel Osteen / Funny, he was in a film called AI / And my sixth sense tellin’ me to off him.”
While Joel Osteen is a televangelist, the lyrics seem like they’re really more about similarly named actor Haley Joel Osment, which has left some listeners confused (and dropping Abbott Elementary references).
Meanwhile, Osment himself has subtly weighed in: As some have observed, Osment liked Lamar’s tweet sharing the song. Whether this is Osment taking Lamar’s side or simply giving a quiet nod to his unexpected role in the situation as a whole, who knows. But, we know that he’s at least aware of the fact that he got roped into the big hip-hop beef of the moment.
Perhaps relevant is the fact that in a 2017 interview with Uproxx, Osment said Flying Lotus’ “Massage Situation” was his most-played song at the time. Given that Flying Lotus and Lamar have a history of working together, perhaps Osment’s X (formerly Twitter) like really is a Lamar co-sign.
Mo’Nique is using some harsh language to rekindle her years-long feud with Oprah and Tyler Perry by criticizing them once more. She is currently touring with Katt Williams, who, as you may know, set the world on fire, calling out half the entertainment industry on Club Shay Shay. During Williams’s latest stop in his comedy tour, Mo’Nique got up on stage. The comedian and she went on a wild rant against Oprah and Tyler Perry. Her rant was full of a lot of profanity to help give even more context to her visible disdain for the pair. In her wild rant, she referred to Perry and Oprah as”coon motherf*****s.”
Before Mo’Nique got to her rant, she got the crowd to join her in an “F* YOU OPRAH WINFREY, F* YOU TYLER PERRY!!” chant. Some audience members were eager to join in the fun. Others appeared apprehensive at the fire being thrown Oprah’s way, which is why Mo’Nique called out some Oprah admirers in the crowd. She even urged a man in the audience to have sex with her in order to bring Oprah “back to Black.”
Mo’Nique Goes On Wild Tirade Against Oprah And Tyler Perry
At one point, Mo’Nique professes that she does, in fact, have love for Oprah but then immediately calls her “simple-minded” and a “raggedy b***h”. Mo’Nique declares she won’t take back any remarks made on the set. She also, at some point, called in to question the nature of Oprah’s friendship with Gayle King and alluded to their possible romantic involvement. The comedian said, “I’m too motherf***ing old to be scared of this bitch. I’m too old to be intimidated by this bitch. I’m too old to hold the motherf***ing truth.”
Mo’Nique’s hatred and beef with Oprah and Tyler Perry stems from the comedian believing she was blackballed by the powerful Hollywood figures. She claims she was blackballed after she refused to do press for her role in 2009’s Precious. Over the years, the comedian has constantly attacked Oprah and Tyler, accusing them of attempting to ruin her career. On Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast, Mo’Nique claimed to have a damming recording of Tyler Perry admitting to bad-mouthing her. Perry has denied those allegations. Overall, it is a giant mess, and Mo’Nique is dangerous with a microphone in her hand.
Ethan Hawke is one of Hollywood’s greatest actors, and there are tons of movies to prove this. Yet, despite starring performances in many movies, Ethan has yet to win an Oscar. Ethan has been nominated for the prestigious awards four times. His first nomination came in 2002. He was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor category for his role as Jake Hoyt in the 2001 movie Training Day. Ethan starred alongside legendary actor Denzel Washington in the classic. Denzel won the Best Actor Award for his role as Alonzo Harris in Training Day and gave his costar Ethan some words of wisdom after he lost the Best Supporting Actor award to Jim Broadbent.
Ethan discussed Denzel’s advice during a chat with CNN’s Chris Wallace onMax’s Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace. During the interview, Ethan revealed what Denzel whispered in his during the Oscars, saying, “You don’t want an award to improve your status. You want to improve the award’s status.” When asked if he would have preferred winning the Oscar in 2002, Ethan replied, “No… I mean, yeah, I guess. I was at the Oscars sitting next to Denzel Washington and nominated against Ian McKellen.” He added, “I had already won. It was impossible for me not to see it any other way.”
As Denzel rightly said, Ethan doesn’t need an award to improve his status. Despite never winning an Oscar, he remains one of the best in his profession. Throughout his career, Ethan has adapted to the times and ensured he is good enough to play any role. Unsurprisingly, he has a rich movie list and has excelled in most of them. However, some stand out among the rest. Here are seven of Ethan Hawke’s best movie roles.
Ethan Hawke always gives memorable performances in his movies, and his performance in the 1989 film Dead Poets Society didn’t disappoint. He portrayed schoolboy Todd Anderson, starring alongside the late Robin Williams, who played the inspirational English teacher John Keating. Despite being one of Ethan’s earliest Hollywood roles, he portrayed the creative and anxious Todd to perfection. Through Ethan’s portrayal of Todd, viewers understood the schoolboy’s need for caring and motivational people in his life. Dead Poets Society also gave movie lovers a glimpse of how well Ethan could handle such roles.
6. Gattaca (1997)
Ethan Hawke played Vincent Freeman in the 1997 sci-fi thriller. Gattaca was Andrew Niccol’s feature directorial debut, and he didn’t think of a better person to play his lead character than Ethan. The movie also starred Jude Law, Loren Dean, Ernest Borgnine, and others. Ethan’s character, Vincent, was born naturally but has to deal with surviving in a society with genetically engineered people whose best traits are enhanced. Vincent faces discrimination and struggles, which he must overcome if he wants to achieve his dream of going to space. Thanks to Ethan’s excellent portrayal of the movie’s main character, viewers can feel Vincent’s pain and understand his struggles as he deals with his challenges.
Ethan Hawke starred alongside Julie Delpy in this romantic trilogy directed by Richard Linklater. The first installment, Before Sunrise, premiered in 1995, followed by Before Sunset in 2004 and Before Midnight in 2013. In the trilogy, Ethan played an American student, Jesse, who fell in love with Céline, a French girl he met on a train. The trilogy follows the lovers as they grow older and navigate different phases of their lives separately and together. Ethan and Julie displayed great onscreen chemistry in the movie, which showcased his dynamism as an actor. Hence, it wasn’t surprising that Before Sunset and Before Midnight earned Academy Awards nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay.
4. Reality Bites (1994)
This Ben Stiller-directed romantic comedy told the story of a friend group who just finished college. It starred Winona Ryder as Lelaina Pierce, Ben Stiller as Michael Grates, and Ethan Hawke as Troy Dyer. As usual, Ethan excelled in his portrayal of the annoying yet charming Troy. Reality Bites is widely regarded as a Generation X movie, with many members of that generation considering it as Ethan’s definitive film.
3. First Reformed (2017)
Ethan Hawke showed his incredible ability to excel in just about any movie role with his five-star performance in First Reformed. In the film, he played Pastor Ernst Toller, a struggling local church leader dealing with a personal crisis. Ethan gave arguably one of his best acting performances in this role. Although the film focused on sensitive topics, it did so expertly, telling a powerful story backed by Ethan’s impressive acting.
2. Boyhood (2014)
Richard Linklater had every detail well-thought-out in directing this classic coming-of-age drama. The film starred Ethan Hawke alongside Patricia Arquette, Lorelei Linklater, and Ellar Coltrane. It told the story of Ella’s character Mason Evans Jr.’s childhood and adolescence while growing up in Texas. Ethan and Patricia play Mason’s divorced parents, while Lorelei portrays his sister, Samantha.
Incredibly, the movie’s filming began in 2002 and concluded in 2013. The lengthy production span was due to Richard’s quest for the film to be about growing up. Thus, the director developed the movie’s script year by year, incorporating each actor every step of the way. Also, the movie’s cast participated in writing its script and were allowed to include their life experiences in their character’s stories.
Ethan Hawke remained committed to his role in the movie and produced a strong and inspiring performance. The actor earned a second Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance. Additionally, Boyhood is also among Ethan’s most successful Box Office movies.
1. Training Day (2001)
This crime thriller is arguably the movie that really shot Ethan into the limelight. Starring alongside the iconic Denzel Washington is no mean feat, but Ethan held his own and delivered a memorable performance in the film. Ethan played police officer Jake Hoyt, who seeks promotion and has to pair Denzel’s cop, Detective Alonzo Harris, on a training mission. The police officers encounter life-threatening scenarios as they navigate the crime-ridden neighborhoods. Ethan delivered a flawless portrayal of his character, with Denzel’s superb acting ensuring Training Day remains a classic crime thriller to this day.
Byron Allen is mentioned by name in media mogul Soo Kim’s racial discrimination case against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Kim said in a filing on Wednesday, April 24, that the FCC was sabotaging a $8.6 billion agreement to buy Tegna Inc. He asserted that he wasn’t the “correct type of minority” to achieve the diversity objectives of the FCC. Tenga is self-described as a media company that is leading the way in the digital era and using important investigations, uplifting stories, and creative marketing services to better our communities.
Kim feels like he doesn’t feel as important as an Asian businessman dealing with a black-owned business. The CEO also alleged that “the FCC killed the deal motivated by the belief that Mr. Allen’s Black-owned company deserved greater solicitude than [his] Asian American-owned company.” This is an accusation of racial discrimination and a toxic environment where race is prioritized. Byron Allen is a former comedian who turned into a Media mogul. He recently offered $14.3 billion to acquire Paramount Global. Allen is known for acquiring major, established companies to increase his portfolio.
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 21: Byron Allen speaks onstage during the 2nd Annual theGrio Awards at The Beverly Hilton on October 21, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Byron Allen AMG/TheGRIO Awards)
Byron Allen is a big name in the case. Kim said in a statement, “I am suing the FCC because they need to be held accountable for racially discriminating against me. The disparate and unfair treatment in my case is undeniable and unnecessarily divisive. Every person appearing before the FCC deserves to be treated equitably.” The case certainly involves some messy business for Kim and everyone involved.
The FCC dropped its deal with Kim to buy Tenga in favor of Allen’s bid. Hence, there was an accusation that Kim was not the right kind of minority for the deal. “Race was a negative for Korean American Soo Kim, but it always seemed to work as a positive for Byron Allen,” the complaint alleges. The suit then calls Allen and his company “the right kind of diversity.” He asserts that racial preference is the reason the FCC decided against the deal. Byron Allen is named in the lawsuit, and there will surely be more updates as the case develops.
Fans just got their first glimpse at the upcoming Mufasa: The Lion King prequel trailer over the weekend, subsequently revealing a few big surprises along the way. The movie musical, set to premiere in theaters in December 2024, will star Beyoncé alongside her daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. The film will be Blue Ivy’s feature film debut, at only 12 years old. Although details about the upcoming Lion King prequel remain scarce, the initial trailer reveals several exciting developments, allowing us to focus on a few key details. Let’s take a look at the trailer and behind-the-scenes info at our disposal, and examine what we can expect from the Mufasa: The Lion King prequel film.
Mufasa: The Lion King is a prequel to 2019’s The Lion King, starring Beyoncé and Donald Glover. The 2019 film is itself a remake of the 1994 animated classic of the same name. While 2019’s The Lion King had a few original songs in it, the film mostly relied on updated renditions of the original music from the cartoon. They released an album on streaming platforms to accompany the film, featuring both original material and existing Lion King music. The project was titled The Lion King: The Giftwith performances from Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Pharrell Williams, and others.
Now, Mufasa: The Lion King will consist of wholly original music, as the prequel serves as a brand new outing for the franchise. Moreover, Hamilton‘s Lin-Manuel Miranda will be composing and writing the original songs, as part of an ongoing deal with Disney. For now, we’re not sure if Blue Ivy will be singing any songs herself for the film, or if she’ll just be voice acting and leaving the songs to another performer. Of course, it seems likely based on her front-and-center inclusion in the cast, and her superstar musician parents, that Blue Ivy will be displaying her singing voice in the film for the world to hear.
Beyoncé And Blue Ivy Will Play A Mother & Daughter
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 11: (L-R) Blue Ive Carter and Beyoncé perform onstage during the “RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR” at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 11, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood)
It should come as no surprise that Blue Ivy will be playing the daughter of Beyoncé’s character in the Mufasa: The Lion King prequel. In the film, Beyoncé is slated to reprise her role as Nala from 2019’s The Lion King, alongside Donald Glover’s King Simba. According to a report in People, Blue Ivy will be playing the couple’s young daughter, Kiara. Kiara first appeared in the 1998 animated Lion King Sequel The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride. Despite being a sequel to one of the most revered and well-known Disney films of the last several decades, Simba’s Pride has remained relatively unnoticed since it debuted direct to video in the 90s. This means that, for most fans, Blue Ivy’s rendition of Kiara will be their first exposure to the character.
Several other performers are on pace to reprise their roles from the 2019 film as well, including Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, and John Kani. Other newcomers to the cast include Mads Mikkelsen, Keith David, and The Walking Dead‘s Lennie James. Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. will lead the cast, as young Mufasa and young Scar respectively. Pierre and Harrison previously worked together on the National Geographic limited series Genius, with Pierre portraying Malcolm X against Harrison’s Martin Luther King Jr.
Oscar Award-winning director Barry Jenkins is set to helm the upcoming Mufasa: The Lion King prequel, from a screenplay written by Catch Me If You Can scribe Jeff Nathanson. With all this talent behind the film, fans are already expecting an instant classic. Mufasa: The Lion King premiered on December 20, 2024, just in time for families to catch the movie for Christmas.
According to Jenkins, it was a real treat to see Beyoncé and Blue Ivy recording lines together. The filmmaker remarked that seeing the Grammy Award-winner “both on the screen and behind the screen, get to be a mother — and how that affected and impacted for the better the work that we were all doing — was just really awesome.” With any luck, Blue Ivy’s big performance will pave the way for a long and lucrative media career.
Beyoncé and her daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, will appear in the prequel story of the iconic Lion King. On Monday, April 29, the first teaser for Disney’s upcoming prequel to the 2019 blockbuster live-action Lion King was released. It offers a great look at Mufasa, Scar, and their home in the African Pride Lands. The trailer, of course, shows Beyonce reprising her role as Nala from the 2019 movie. Blue Ivy voices the daughter of King Simba and Queen Nala. Her character is named Kiara. Kiara was introduced in the sequel to the original animated Lion King 1998’s The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride.
Oscar-winner Barry Jenkins takes the helm of the prequel, promising to deliver a new entry into the Lion King cinematic universe. The 2019 live-action CGI adaptation of The Lion King was a global hit, grossing almost $1.7 Billion worldwide and becoming one of the year’s most successful movies. Furthermore, the success of the adaptation paved the way for more movies, and now we have a prequel that will unveil a story yet untold. All in all, Beyonce and Blue Ivy are a welcome pairing for fans.
Beyonce And Blue Ivy Featured In Lion King Prequel Trailer
The prequel’s official synopsis is, “An official synopsis for the film reads: “Simba, having become king of the Pride Lands, is determined for his cub to follow in his paw prints while the origins of his late father Mufasa are explored.” Donald Glover returns as Simba. Additionally, Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner return as Timon and Pumb. Thandie Newton, Keith David, Mads Mikkelsen, and Tiffany Boone join the returning cast.
Barry Jenkins told People about Beyonce and seeing her relationship with Blue Ivy, saying, “[Watching Beyoncé] both on the screen and behind the screen, get to be a mother – and how that affected and impacted for the better the work that we were all doing – was just really awesome.” Overall, It is certainly a cool feat for the mother-daughter duo. Mufasa: The Lion King hits theaters on December 20th.
The 90-second trailer released on Monday morning, April 29, featuring Beyoncé voicing Nala and 12-year-old Blue Ivy is voicing a brand-new character, Kiara, Nala and Simba’s daughter. According to the YouTube description, the prequel movie centers on Rafiki “to relay the legend of Mufasa” to Kiara, “with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick.” Donald Glover reprises his voiceover role of Simba, and Aaron Pierre voices Mufasa.
“A buddy of mine, Matthew Cherry, made the short film called Hair Love that Blue Ivy did the audio book of,” Jenkins told Entertainment Weekly. “Starting this project and just having that in the ether, I was like, ‘Is it worth a shot? Would Blue Ivy want to do it? Would Beyoncé want to act opposite her daughter? Is it too close to home?’ But once we put the question to them, they both responded with enthusiasm.”
Jenkins added, “What’s crazy is we made the film, and then the Renaissance tour happened, and I think Blue really grew up over the course of that tour. So the Blue Ivy you see in this film, it’s like a time capsule, this very, very, very young stage of her life, and she got to share it with her mom. So, I thought there was some synergy. It could be beautiful.”
