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"tupac" biopic finally gets the go-ahead

9/20/2013

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Picture
It has been 17 years since the (still unsolved) drive by shooting and ultimate murder of Tupac Amaru Shakur, aged just 25, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and yet the interest in this iconic figure from the rap world remains undiminished. For some time there has been much talk of a motion picture detailing his short, but eventful life being made. All the ingredients are there. Born in Harlem, New York to parents who were members of The Black Panthers, he soon rose to prominence as a major hip hop artist and an actor who definitely had a powerful presence on screen. I still remember his exciting debut as Bishop, the crazy dude who would do anything to gain power and respect in the 1992 urban drama, 'Juice'.

In 2011 the film company Morgan Creek Productions began work on bringing Tupac's story to the screen and hired Antonine Fuqua (who made Denzel Washington's Oscar winning cop thriller 'Training Day') to direct, and even put out a casting call online to find an actor to portray the slain rapper. As is often the case in the movie business, developements caused the ongoing proceedings to come to a standstill. However, everything now seems to be back on track as an announement was recently made. Morgan Creek, in partnership with Emmett Furla Films are in the final stages of negotiations to co-finance and co-procuce the film, "Tupac". Afeni Shakur, Tupac's mother will executive produce the movie. Filming is due to begin in Atlanta in February 2014. As yet no one has been named to take on the title role, but already there is a buzz surrounding the actor Michael B. Jordan, who has impressed US audiences this summer in the powerful 'Fruitvale Station', a film dealing with the true story of an unarmed African American being shot dead by a policeman.

And so the legend of Tupac continues. I decided to include in this story the video for one of my all time favourite Tupac joints, the sexy, smooth, party rocking 'I Get Around' from 1993.

Also here is the trailer for Pac's first big screen outing, 'Juice':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsWto8p7t1E


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'A Boy And His Soul' delivers a passionate message in the music

9/10/2013

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PictureWriter & star of 'A Boy And His Soul' Colman Domingo
Lovers of American 70's/80's black music will find much to relish in Colman Domingo's highly entertaining autobiographical one man show 'A Boy And His Soul'. He clever use of classic records (from such giants in soul music as James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Earth, Wind & Fire, Chaka Khan, The Isley Brothers) throughout the show serve as a perfect backdrop to this funny, and often moving and tender story of a young black boy growing up in urban west Philadelphia during the Carter/Reagan era. These were particularly hard times for the majority of African Americans, struggling to simply survive the harsh economic blues engulfing them.

With the sound of Stevie Wonder's 'As' slowly wafting into the background, we discover Domingo in the basement of his family home, which has just been sold. An ancient looking record player is perched in a corner and he is surrounded by stacks of old vinyl. Records which hold the key to so many memories he has of himself and his (sometimes outrageous) family. Addressing the audience, he declares that being brought up in Philly meant he grew up in the city which produced an abundance of the finest soul music ever recorded, exclaiming this was the home of "TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)". Then right on cue the theatre is filled with the sounds of the Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff composed record of the same name by MFSB featuring The Three Degrees, which also served as the theme song to America's weekly exposure to all things cool and funky, TV's 'Soul Train'. This beginning was quite apt as during this period of time Gamble & Huff's record label Philadelphia International brought much pride to the city of brotherly love with the numerous hit records they produced for artists such as The O'Jays, The Jacksons and Teddy Pendergrass.


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jay-z's 'made in america' documentary headed to showtime

9/1/2013

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PictureRon Howard and Jay-Z
Music mogul Jay Z, along with his business associate Steve Stoute, decided to launch a 2 day music festival to include various genres (hip hop, pop, latin, r&b, electronic dance music, rock) under the banner of 'Made In America', to be held annually in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, over the Labor Day weekend, the traditional end of summer in the US. The first gathering occured on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd September 2012 at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and was headlined by Jay himself and included such diverse artists as D'Angelo, Odd Future and Calvin Harris.

To promote his thinking behind 'Made In America', Jay Z is quoted as saying "Through all the lines and things that are put in place to divide each other, all like-minded people gather together. We're more curious than ever. We create music to express ourselves. And when the world relates, ya know, that's beautiful things. We're trading off each other's culture. So no matter what lines you put - country, indie rock, rap - we're all somehow gonna find a way to come together cause the lines and the titles can never keep us apart."  To further spread the message Jay enlisted the help of Oscar winning Hollywood film director Ron Howard to make a documentary covering this special event. The film would include performances and interviews with several artists including Kanye West, Pearl Jam, Janelle Monae, Rita Ora and legendary rap group Run-DMC, who came together to do their first show in 11 years, after the unfortunate passing of their third member, the iconic DJ Jam Master Jay.


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    EON IRVING

     DJ, Remixer, Producer, Writer
    Involved in the music business since the very late 70's Beginning work at Island Records. DJing since the early 80's both in London and abroad, including the US and Europe. Along the way performing at many high profile events for such luminaries as Prince, Public Enemy and Lennox Lewis.
    Aside from radio and club djing, remixing and production work in the recording studio has meant working with the likes of Loose Ends, Junior Giscombe, David Morales, Gwen Guthrie, Sly & Robbie, Maxie Priest and Madonna.
    An intense lifelong love of cinema has blossomed itself in several ways including presenting to the UK public for the very first time such films as 'Boyz In The Hood', 'House Party' and 'A Rage In Harlem'.
    My passion for music, cinema and all other interests manifests itself through my writing. I am also a Contributing Editor for the music and entertainment website magazine, DeeperThe Beats  www.deeperthebeats.com



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