Jumping the Gun…

Aside

The internet is all ablaze with the news that filming for a Jimi Hendrix biopic starring Andre 3000 is currently underway in the UK. Already there is rumor of dramatics on set. Some say Hendrix’s estate, is denying that any such film will be made, stating their insistence in their refusal to license Hendrix’s original music to score any such film project. Additionally, some question whether or not Dre has the acting chops to pull off the role.

Filming began over the weekend and some “cell-phone” quality images have leaked to the media showing 3Stacks in a Jimi Hendrix, curly afro wing and red bell bottoms.

Roger Ebert gives the photos 2 thumbs up stating that Dre’s “curly fro had just the right amount of bounce-to-sheen ratio”.

Zack Heines for the New York Daily says “3 out of 5 stars“. Heines writes “I would have given it 5 stars, but all the pictures I’ve seen of Jimi Hendrix are in black and white, and [Andre] was clearly in color and high definition!”

Maggie Shepard of the Osh Kosh Bugle says “…I saw his chest. OMG! I saw his chest!”

At this rate, we won’t have to see the film when it comes out. Thanks to all of the speculating, paparazzi photos and over-saturated entertainment news outlets out there, we’ll have a high-quality bootleg dvd complete with cast and crew commentary before the script’s complete.

IJS

Haciendo Más

Never judge a book by its cover, or a HOME DEPOT by the quality of the undocumented workers loitering about. Snap judgements as such limit your experiences. You never know what you might discover when you take a chance, throw caution to the wind or invite a friendly Mexican guy over to your house for tea. I mean, sure he’s handy at plumbing and adept at dry wall installation. He may even be well-versed in all your gardening and landscaping needs. But that doesn’t mean he’s not skilled in the medical art form of  chiropractice or quite possibly a seasoned veteran of the stage and screen.

…Just watch the clip.

Kick… Start…

"Lo End Theory" ©Fahamu Pecou from HARD 2 DEATH 2011 charcoal and acrylic on paper

A brief trip down your memory lane may jar memories of films like Menace II Society and an almost countless number of cinematic attempts at “Hollywoodizing” the hip hop community. These films and the many others like it set the stage and tone for what was implicitly attributed to being the “African American experience”. I remember seeing Menace in the theaters at 18 and instantly assuming my own impending demise in a drive-by or some other gang-related activity. It is important to note that not only were there no gangs or gang activity in my small town of Hartsville, SC (at that time), but I was also a mild-mannered, college-bound teen whose worst offense may have been the fact that I cursed when no adults were around. However, films like Menace colored my perspective on the world and my place in it.

Throughout the 90’s a slew of films like Menace beckoned black audiences to theaters in droves. Boyz in Da Hood, Clockers, Dead Presidents, Set it Off, Jason’s Lyric, New Jersey Drive and so many others I can not recall became a part of our collective psyche. Young, old, black, white; we watched, cheered, laughed, cringed, and moved in time with the images that “shaped black manhood” (and womanhood in many cases). Even those who had never seen any of these films were influenced by this media-based construction of black (male) culture. For some non-black people, their first experiences with black people was what they gleaned from media.

Gangsta rap music parallels the course and influence of films like Menace, championing the most vile aspects of urban depression and angst. Infectious beats mesmerized minds and bodies responded in rhythm. (Sometimes) clever and visceral lyricism painted vivid scenarios purporting to represent what was real in the streets. Both film and music appeals to our sense of cool. Our society idolizes cool. We reflect the cool that appeals to us. We embody cool.

But the cool can be (and often is) cold and bitter. The cool is often presented without its inevitable consequence. It is in this thinking that I begin my latest endeavor, “If Heaven had Heights…”. “If Heaven” is a multimedia project exploring black male representations in popular media. The works in this series range from paintings and performance to experimental animation and digital video.

I’ve recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for this project and would appreciate your support! There are some great incentives attached to your support – over and above the fact that this is a much needed dialogue. Please join The 15 Project in supporting this initiative and tell a friend:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/495104247/if-heaven-had-heights

O… That’s funny…

She’s gone from poor southern girl to determined journalist to actress to talk show host to media mogul to now… comedienne!

Not since Dave Chappelle’s “Oprah’s Pregnant skit” have we considered Oprah in such a comedic sense. But the iconic O recently showed her funny bone in a sketch with late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel that should not be missed.

The two bantered about the challenges of populating a television network with substantive content before Kimmel showed “behind the scenes footage” of his pitch-meeting with Oprah. With ideas like Oprah herself repossessing her popular giveaways affectionately known as “Oprah’s Favorite Things” or the riotous “Book Club Fight Club”, I think OWN would definitely attract the 19-30 year old male demographic with ease!

We may not see Oprah headline the next “Queens of Comedy Tour” but we may just find her chillin’ in a Juicy Couture, hot pink velour sweatsuit in the front row clowning it up with Shaq and Kevin Hart. #MAYBE?

When Keeping it Wrong goes Real

I’m sorry. I had to do it… Ladies and Gentlemen…

SHIT GANGSTA RAPPERS SAY

HEROES

In 2011, playwright Howard L. Craft premiered the Jade City Chronicles at Little Green Pig Theatre in Durham, NC. It was a smart, funny and complex play about the life and struggles of a super hero. But not just any super hero, this was Herald M.F. Jones, the super spectacular bad ass protector of Jade City.

The play was a huge success and received rave reviews throughout N.C.’c arts community. Frank Stasio, a producer for NPR on North Carolina Public radio attended the show and later contacted Craft about adapting the work to a radio serial format. Herald M.F. Jones ended up not not only saving the day, but making history as well by becoming the first African American superhero serial in radio history!!!

I recently caught up with Howard L. Craft, writer and creator of Herald M.F. Jones and the Jade City crew to talk about the project, how it came about and what’s coming up next… take a listen:

The Jade City Pharaoh is in the final days of a fundraising effort to generate the capital to continue producing the show and you can support! Log on to: www.kickstarter.com/profile/jadecity, and make a pledge today. You can also tune in to episodes of The Jade City Pharaoh and listen online at http://jadecity.webs.com/episodes.htm

Herald M.F. Jones is a bad muthaf……

Baby Blues…

Rumors of a fake pregnancy scandal have hounded Jay and Beyonce Z since shortly after they appeared on the VMA red carpet in August 2011. Reportedly glowing and showing off her baby bump, the joy was SQUISHED out of the pop diva’s fans’ collective coos when B appeared on an Australian tabloid show a few weeks later and seemingly forgot she was wearing a fake pregnancy prosthetic… I, mean… squished her baby… I mean… What the hell? See the photo after the break… Rumors flew from here to Sydney about whether the Z’s were using a surrogate and just simply toying with fans’ trust and expectations.

Things that make you go... Hellllll naw!

The drama continues after an appearance at Jay Z’s Carnegie Hall performance on Feb 6, 2012 at which Beyonce showed no signs of baby weight anywhere on her body. Experts have come forth to claim that with this being her first baby, her youth- and the fact that she never had a baby (oops-did I say that out loud?) have allowed her to have a rapid snap back to her performance bod.  (I’m making the face again) 😐

Look, in all seriousness, I could care less what she does, but it is a bit odd to lie about things. Many women have surrogates, in fact they’re currently outsourcing wombs in India right now! Some women do it for health reasons and some for vanity. After all, money can buy you any and everything! I mean, I get it… B makes her living on her voice as well as her looks. If she can afford to have someone have her baby, she keeps her body and keeps the dollars coming in… who am I to hate? But damn,  you don’t gotta lie to kick it Craig! #ImJustSayin

CRUSH’N

When I was a young lad, the hottest group around was a singing family with South Pacific ancestry known as the Jets. They were kind of like an exotic Jackson Five meets De’barge. In 1986 they released a song which was an instant pop music hit called “I Got A Crush On You”. It brings me back to a time of secret-admirer love letters and desires of hunchin’ girls during P.E. (ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh)

But I digress… On February 25th, 2012, Atlanta’s Burnaway.org revives the spirit of the good old-fashioned crush. Burnaway, a non-profit online magazine  was founded by Jeremy Abernathy, Susannah Darrow, and Ben Grad. After launching in October 2008, the online magazine quickly gained a reputation for anything but the typical arts dialogue and engagements. Young and fresh in their approach, they feature weekly columns, reviews, interviews and podcasts aimed at broadening the disco use of local and contemporary art.

One of these innovative columns, Art Crush, features dreamy interviews with local artists and arts administrators who make the public swoon (I should know, having been an Art Crush feature in spring 2010).  Burnaway makes these crushes more tangible interactions on February 25th as they present their first annual Art Crush Auction to benefit Burnaway. Attendees are invited to bid on fun experiences with their favorite art crush which ranges from; a picnic and conversation on public art, a walk on role in an indie film, a cocktail party and art collection tour for you plus 10 friends and more!

Don’t miss what is sure to be a fun night full of sexy surprises and did I mention its all hosted by the dreamiest artist (BROmantically speaking) around… Craig Drennen!

It’s going to be a blast! Check out the site for full details and to purchase tickets… not now, but RIGHT NOW.

We now return you to our childhood fantasy flashback, already in progress…

Short month, Long Legacy

Its BLACK HISTORY MONTH… our favorite time of year when we get to learn of all the great contributions made to society by any body other than pilgrims, American Revolutionaries and Ronald Reagan!

Yes, its true. Black people are responsible for just as much cool shit as anybody else, and if you keep your eyes, ears and calendars open this month you can learn all types of fun things! I know some people like to protest the fact that BHM lands in February, the shortest and arguably most misleading -spelling to pronuniciation- month in the year. But don’t get it twisted, its not some secret plot to undermine African American contributions to society. February was chosen by Carter G. Woodson because two of Black America’s heroes were both born in February- Frederick Douglass and the undisputed champ for black people’s rights…(ahem) Abraham Lincoln. Ok, Brother Woodson was stretching a bit on that last one, but hey that was like 400 years ago (or something).

Anyway, we take our Black History seriously at The 15 Project, because let’s be honest, as a black artist… there is a lot of work around this time of year. I ain’t tripping. After all February + income tax time is like an annual economic bailout for a brother who kinda went H.A.M. on some after Christmas sales (you’re welcome Capital One).

Anyway, there is lots of information you can fill your head with this month that’s sure to make you the center of attention at all the cocktail parties and Cultural Center soirees you’ll be invited to over the next 28 days. Plus, with this being a leap year, you get one whole extra day to do something EXTRA BLACK like; go to a baptist church, buy something from West End or Greenbriar Mall, eat at a Soul Food Restaurant or my personal favorite – watch the PBS rebroadcast of Roots!

But seriously though, whatever you do this month, remember that Black History is more than Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights movement. Black History is not just past, but also present and future. Ask the elders in your family to tell your THEIR stories. Fix something that you see is broken in your community. Do something selfless. But most of all move in excellence, you never know who’s watching!

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Keeping it REAL?

So, does it bother anyone else that shows like the REAL HOUSEWIVES of ATLANTA feature no actual housewives or even more… NOTHING REAL? Whatever happened to reality shows that featured reality? Oh that’s right, those have never existed!

I, like most, enjoy a good healthy dose of the idiot box. But I can not suspend my disbelief enough to take most of this gruel we are to consider as good television entertainment. Case in point is the rumored addition of Keisha Knight Pulliam as a new personality on the RHOA. First of all, let me say, I adore KNP. I’ve loved her cuteness since The Last Dragon… enjoyed her precociousness as Rudy Huxtable on The Cosby Show and have even panted a few times at the gah-gah-gorgeous woman she is today! But how does she fit into a show about Real Housewives, when she’s uhhhhh NEVER BEEN MARRIED?!? Somebody got some ‘splainin’ to do.

Maybe the real reason for my confusion and disdain for this news is that, frankly I’m a bit disappointed. I HATE RHOA and all the fuss made over the ridiculous drama that is the show. Honestly I don’t get the draw. But Keisha, really? Is this the best we can do? I’ve heard about your cameos in Tyler Pery films and t.v. shows… ok, I get it. Get your money. But, reality t.v.? Your fans deserve better… YOU deserve better.

Maybe the rumors aren’t true, but if they are and if this is the path you choose… do us all a favor. Don’t go the way of Flava Flav!!! PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ!