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NEWSLETTER
Updated: March 11, 2004
Gospel
takes the spotlight this week with tonight’s
airing of Tonya Lee Williams
Gospel Jubilee. Be a part of this soulful
television special on Thursday, March 11, 2004 by tuning into CBC-TV at 9:00
pm. Daniel Igali took us for a
journey through the airing of his documentary on CBC’s Life & Times this
past Tuesday. In addition, this past Saturday afternoon, he qualified for
the 2004 Olympic games! Please
see my EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Daniel the day
after his qualification and a related article under SPORTS NEWS. Check out
pictures from this special weekend in my PHOTO GALLERY.
My sympathy goes out to both Steve Moore
and Todd Bertuzzi and their
families. What a tragedy for hockey fans everywhere - especially in
Canada as it is our national sport. Perhaps this situation will make the
league take notice of unfair practices on the ice.
It seems every day there are more shootings - perhaps they are only getting
more media coverage but regardless - let me put out this plea to assist police
and be active in our respective communities in finding a way to stop the gun
violence taking over our great city. As the quote from Julia Farquharson says in the article under OTHER NEWS, "For the love of God,
please put the guns down.
Don’t forget to make a special note of
all the Canadian content. We have so much to be proud of! There’s
still a lot more exciting information below in the form of magical MUSIC NEWS, fantastic FILM NEWS, tantalizing TV NEWS, trendy THEATRE NEWS, spectacular SPORTS NEWS and
outstanding OTHER NEWS.
This newsletter is designed to give you some updated
entertainment-related news and provide you with our upcoming event
listings. Welcome to those who are new members. Want your
events listed by date? Check out EVENTS.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH
DANIEL IGALI
Interview With
Daniel Igali, Olympic Champion
I first met Daniel Igali at the offices of Joel Gordon (pictured
right) of V Formation
Productions, director and co-producer of his most current project, Wresting with Destiny, which aired this past Tuesday on CBC.
Wrestling with Destiny profiles
Canadian Olympic champion Daniel Igali. I went to the private screening of
this documentary last week - it was a very moving and insightful look into the
life of an intriguing individual, a man who thrives on achieving the
impossible. Even more exciting, on the night of the screening (Saturday,
March 6), it was announced that Daniel has now qualified for the2004
Olympics. Earlier that day, Daniel had wrestled and won against Zoltan
Hunyady of Fergus, Ont., in a best-of-three Saturday to earn a spot on the
Olympic team in the 74-kilogram class. (See related story under SPORTS NEWS.) See pictures from this special
weekend in my PHOTO GALLERY.
Joel Gordon, who battled Malaria and was near
death during the filming of this documentary is currently launching a new
website with clips from the documentary in case you missed it! Check it
out HERE.
We conducted the
interview en route to the airport for Daniel’s departure back to Vancouver on
Sunday, March 7, 2004.
What do you hope people will
take away with them after seeing Wresting with Destiny?
I hope they see the
struggle that people face when they come to a foreign land. I hope they
also see the link between Canada and the third world. I also hope that
they see that I am not just a wrestler but that I’m a human being too.
When I initially came
here in 1994, I wanted to stay here. It was because the Canadian
wrestlers were my idols. I wanted to wrestle like them. In 1998,
the first year that I qualified to be on the Canadian national team, I found
out that no Canadian wrestler had won the World Championships. That was
the biggest thing I had to deal with because I had this complex where I started
thinking that if they haven’t done it, and I wanted to be like them, then how
much less were my chances to do it? That is something I struggled with
for the longest time. I spoke with therapists and coaches – we worked on
this for ages because I couldn’t get out of it. I don’t even know what
broke it. I remember one day that my coach told me “Daniel, there’s a
first time for everything so you could be the first one to do it. You
know how you wanted to be like the Canadians? Now you’re like them and
you’re going to be better and everybody else will want to be like you – and be
better.” And now that’s what happened. Nine years ago when I came
here, I wanted to be like them but when I found out that they hadn’t won a
World Championship, I was distraught. Even when the Olympics came around,
it wasn’t as big a barrier because I knew I was a World Champion then.
So, I had an opportunity to win the Olympics. But the World Championship
– going in and knowing that nobody had done it before was devastating for
me.
What was the more meaningful
win for you?
It was the World Championships.
My biggest victory to date has been the [2000] World Championships. It
was even more satisfying for me because the American I beat in the finals was
someone I had lost to three straight times within a year! And I beat him
at the World Championships and after that I beat him at the Olympics – very
satisfying. His name was Lincoln McIlravy.
I remember wrestling him three times and being exhausted to the point where it was
difficult to walk after all the matches. When I beat him, he was more
tired than I was and that for me was more satisfying than even the victory
because I knew I had overcome him – both physically and mentally. That
was satisfying beyond belief.
What was the most difficult
thing about having someone following you around to do a documentary on your
life thus far?
I think the most
difficult thing initially was not knowing where it was headed – not knowing
when it would be aired. It was something that I knew that Joel [Gordon]
was taking on because he thought it was worthwhile. I didn’t know what
would happen. But on the personal level it was more the fact that
initially the cameras were there and I didn’t not how to react – if you should
“act” for the cameras or not. That went away after awhile and you could
be just natural and not worry about the cameras. Initially though, it was
about ‘how should I portray myself’, ‘should I just be me or should I be an
actor?’
Did you act?
No, not
necessarily. There were some parts that we had to recreate things but for
the most part, it was just me being me.
Now this is a project that has
taken approximately four years and a lot happened in your life. There
were things that happened during that period of time that were necessary for
people to get the complete essence of your life. So, we saw a few things
- the struggle to come to this country, to win a Gold medal and even losing a
family member. It’s hitting us now in the right time. What was the
most enjoyable thing for you about having completed this documentary?
For me, the
documentary unveiled so many feelings that I had bottled inside. Growing
up in Nigeria, as a man, you are always told to be strong and not talk about
things. There might have even some parts of it that Joel did not show but
I would get emotional talking about some of the issues. Like my dad’s
death was a big blow. Maureen’s [Matheny]
death and the recurring dreams and things that happened with Maureen were very
emotional for me but it brought it out and I became a freer person because we
constantly dealt with them.
Do you think that you’re going
to try to “drop the veil” a little more in your life now?
Yeah, but you have to
have the avenue to do that. When this came out, I didn’t even know it was
going to head in that direction but questions kept being asked and then you
start responding to them, it came out. Afterwards you felt that there was
this huge burden taken off your shoulders.
Do you think that it was
because someone was asking the questions?
Somebody was asking
the questions but if a reporter from Paris called me up and spoke to me about
those things, I wouldn’t be as open but once I got to trust Joel and he became
a good friend, I could just talk to him. So, it was very therapeutic for
me. But I think that trust element came along because it was over a
period of time and I don’t think I would have done that with someone I just
met. It was ultimately very good for me on the therapeutic level.
It might be a different
documentary if this was completed in one year, without the benefit to you
personally.
It could very well
have been.
If you had to recommend to the
powers that be some suggestions in raising the profile as well as the funding
for amateur sport in Canada, what would it be?
This has been an
age-old question and an ongoing discussion. There are different streams
of thought in this regard. Amateur athletics [in Canada] do not get the
kind of attention they get in Europe or America because in Canada, we’re quite
a bit nonchalant and we’re very engrossed with professional sports, especially
hockey. I think that the profile of athletes is not in the forefront
because companies do not see any benefit in sponsoring an amateur athlete when
they can sponsor a basketball player and have him on television every day.
Both of them kind of go hand in hand. Now, it’s not just the government,
it’s the corporations, the media – they all have to work in tandem to get it
done. And it does not help that the highest performers in the system like
me, get $1,100 a month. And so it’s a very sad commentary.
One of the questions
we always get asked when we talk to kids at schools is ‘how do you
survive?’ We’re now saying to kids that they should get involved in
sports and these kids are asking us how do you survive in sports. We’re
saying ‘well, it’s not about the survival, it’s about the sport’. I mean,
it doesn’t make any sense to tell them that. So, there’s a long-winded
answer but it requires everybody - the government, corporations and media to
make it work. And until we have that mesh, it’s going to be very
difficult.
Even when you break
through in sports like wrestling, you may have one person or corporation that
says we’re going to try to take care of your training and living expenses but
you’ve got to have a mortgage, you’ve got to have a life. Nothing else is
going to guarantee it for you. You’ve got to look at your life after
sports by working or doing other things. You can’t have any meaningful
investments through what we do. So, it’s a difficult route we all tread
on.
Where could people write to
support amateur sport? How could people reach you if they wanted to support you
financially?
My site -
www.igali.com.
What do you do when you're not
training, wrestling in matches, speaking or doing personal appearances?
Do you have any hobbies that are just for you?
What is happening now
is that my spare time is for school. I’m doing my masters at SFU so I use
my spare time to catch up on school. If I’m not doing that, I do play
video games. I have a soccer game that I play. I play in the
English league, the Italian league, the French league. Those are the kind
of things that keep me going. Sometimes I go out with my friends and we
go bowling. On Sunday evenings also, I play indoor soccer. I’m a
big sports fan. My favourite is watching soccer. Arsenals are my
favourite team in the English premier league. So, I follow all their
games. I try to make sure that I catch all their games on TV.
What would be your ultimate
dream be if money or any obstacles were no consideration?
That’s a tough
question. I definitely want to get involved with kids at a level
different than what I am now. Because I know the value of sports and I
want to use sports to do that and I know what sports has done for me in my
life. Everything I’ve ever done in my life has been through sports –
friends, everything I own. So, I want to use that as a vehicle to reach
out to kids a bit more. Other than that, if I were to choose what I would
want to be, I would want to be comfortable enough to be somewhere where I won’t
have TV or any of these modern distractions and live on a farm or something
with my kids and my wife. Just something simple – somewhere that I won’t
have any worries at all. Any of the modern worries.
That’s one of the
things that I’m doing in Nigeria – with the school project is a gym that is
dedicated to where kids can come and play. Paul Nemeth one of my biggest
supporters, and he wasn’t covered in the documentary, but I went to university
for four years on his scholarship and he gave me $50,000 for my school
project. He was very interested in the gym and in kids being able to go
and play in that gym. So, I think with this school project that is going
to happen – where kids will have the opportunity to be able to further their
goals and lose themselves by playing in a safe environment. I’ll make
sure they have a basketball court, an indoor soccer field and a wrestling
mat. That is coming to fruition in a way but if I’m going to live in
Canada, I’m going to try to recreate something like that here too.
If you reflect on your life in
general – not just your career -but your life, what do you think is the biggest
thing that sports has taught you and/or given to you.
If it hadn’t have
been for sports, I wouldn’t be in Canada. I think that sports opened me
to a new world here in Canada and gave me a new lease on life. Coming to
Canada is something that God had pre-ordained for me but it was through the
sports vehicle that I got here. So, that is one thing that I will remain
ever grateful for - that I was given the opportunity to come to such a
land. And to be able to contribute to a society that I believe in my
heart is the greatest place to live on earth.
Congratulations - You’ve now
qualified for the 2004 Olympics. What’s next for you?
Thank you! I
will still be doing my schoolwork. It keeps me grounded. I remember
before the Olympics – the summer of the Olympics -I had two courses in school
and I know how that helped me. Because I wasn’t totally frustrated with
training – I still had something to go back and do. I’m one of those
people that who have to stay busy all the time. So, I will still have
school. I’m planning on going to Nigeria in about six weeks for about one
week just to go and see my people back home. It’s always very refreshing
and invigorating to go home and come back. I’ll do that and then training
will receive the priority in my life until the 2004 Olympics.
You were mentioning in the
documentary that you’re thinking about retiring and what you want to do at that
point. You were talking about a committee that you wanted to be on – tell
me a little bit more about that.
The IOC
(International Olympic Committee) is the governing board for sports
internationally. They have about 120 members worldwide and on that board,
they have eight athletes that represent the interests of athletes. They
elect four every four years so right now, the last four people elected, their
term has expired and they’re going to re-elect four more people. So,
every country puts in candidates – we had Charmaine Crooks representing Canada
at the IOC board. Her time is now up so we had a mini-election within
Canada to elect a representative to the IOC Athletes Commission and I was the
person that was elected. In 2004 at the Olympics, all the athletes would
have to vote for four more people to go join the four others on the
board. If I’m lucky enough to be voted as such, I would be an IOC member,
which would really be great because then you can really fight for the interests
of athletes for their welfare, education, financially, for training grants –
all those things that athletes need. Especially athletes from the third
world countries, they need it more. Because I come from Nigeria, a third
world country, and I live now in Canada; I have an understanding of both
worlds. I think I would be a great candidate to represent Canada at the
Athletes Commission at the IOC.
I think that you are a perfect
example of what can be done by someone when they’re embraced by Canada.
We are very proud of you and consider you a transplanted Canadian. So,
congratulations on 2004!
Thank you very much.
HOT EVENTS
Tonya Lee Williams Gospel Jubilee – March 11, 2004 on CBC-TV at 9:00 pm
Join Tonya Lee Williams and some of Canada’s hottest vocalists for an
inspirational evening entitled Tonya Lee Williams Gospel Jubilee. Be a part of this soulful television special
on Thursday, March 11th, 2004 by tuning into CBC-TV at 9:00 pm. EST.
Tonya Lee Williams Gospel Jubilee is an exhilarating one-hour
celebration of gospel music, history and singing sensations. Set on an atmospheric revival church stage
in front of a live audience, Tonya Lee Williams guides us through the trials
and tribulations of sprit and history.
The infectious songs of gospel will guarantee you get on your feet and
dance! Joining Tonya on stage are
internationally award winning singing stars:
Deborah Cox gets the crowd on their feet with her solo
numbers, Glenn Lewis sings a memorable and touching duet with
his mother Betty Lewis (first time ever performing together), Kim and Jackie
Richardson’s mother and daughter
duet bring down the house, and the heart wrenching performance of Jully Black to
her Mother, all supported by the exceptionally inspirational Sharon Riley and
Faith Choral. Also
performing are Londa Larmond, the D’Neuve Contemporary Dance Theatre and many
more. Gospel Jubilee musical director
Joe Sealey leads a team of harmonious angels for a night of heaven on
earth.
The special also includes an historical element exploring the roots of
Gospel, its emergence within the Canadian cultural mosaic and the tremendous
impact Gospel Music has had on our lives over the years. Tonya Lee Williams Gospel Jubilee will make
your spirit soar and feet tap all through the hour. Infused with dance, history and most importantly the
electrifying, exhilarating and soulful sounds of Gospel Music, Tonya Lee
Williams Gospel Jubilee is an inspiration, a party and a night to
remember. Filmed before a live audience
at the Bathurst Street Theatre in Toronto, Tonya
Lee Williams Gospel Jubilee is a must-see television event!
Busta Rhymes In
Concert - Friday, March 12
WINNER
BEST LIVE PERFORMER .. "Source Magazine” Busta’s first Toronto appearance alongside Bishop and Kyprios inside the Docks this
Friday. Come and check an awesome trio of talent and let’s show Busta
what Toronto is all about!
FRIDAY, MARCH 12
BUSTA RHYMES IN CONCERT
Featuring Bishop and Kyprios
The Docks
11 Polson Street
Doors open: 9:00 pm - Performance by Busta Rhymes at 11:00 pm
416.469.5855
$25 in advance (inc. Taxes), more at the door
All Ticketmaster Locations 416.870.8000
Online via www.nitelifeinfo.com,
or in person @ the Docks
For more information CLICK
HERE TO LAUNCH EVITE
Irie Midnight Moon
Party
No Irie Midnight Moon Party this Friday – stay tuned!
THOUGHT
MOTIVATION NOTE: Ain't
feelin' it?
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com - by Jewel Diamond Taylor -
www.DoNotGiveUp.net
Do
you feel trapped at home with the children or with no car? Have you run
into a career wall at your job or a dead end in your relationship? Do you feel
stuck living somewhere you don’t want to be? Do you feel like you’ll never
finish your classes to graduate and get out of debt? When you are in the
season of waiting and in between where you used to be and where you want to go,
don’t give up. You can choose to go through the seasons in your life resisting
and angry. Or you can grow through the seasons in your life. Learn to motivate yourself. Let your
self-talk affirm your strengths, faith, courage and self-esteem. Tell yourself
you can make it and that you can succeed in spite of it all. Five things
to remember when you're going through... prayer, patience, planning,
persistence and perseverance. I agree with Oprah Winfrey's statement,
"Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next
moment."
MUSIC NEWS
UMAC and Galaxie Unite For Juno Fest Urban Showcase
(March
5, 2004) *A bevy of exciting Juno and Grammy-nominated soul, R&B, reggae
and hip hop stars are set to take the stage at Red's Entertainment Centre on
Saturday, April 3 for a sensational music showcase as part of Edmonton's JUNOFest
festivities. Produced by the Urban
Music Association of Canada (UMAC), in cooperation with Galaxie, CBC's
Continuous Music Network, the Galaxie Urban Showcase features a
multitude of stars and fabulous local talent for music fans, guests, industry
and media inside Red's - West Edmonton Mall - one of the city's premier live
music venues. " The Galaxie
Urban Showcase will be one of the best Canadian urban events thus far for
2004," said UMAC president, Trevor Shelton. "As the first occasion
when Canadian Juno and Grammy-nominated urban artists perform on the same
stage, this will truly be an historic event in Canadian urban music history. With the range of national talent slated to
perform, UMAC is thrilled to partner with Galaxie and JunoFest to bring this
incredible show to Edmonton."
Scheduled performers include Juno nominees Blessed
and Carl Henry, (Best Reggae
Recording), who hail from Toronto and Montreal respectively and 2004
Grammy-nominee Fresh I.E. of Winnipeg
(Best Rock-Gospel Recording), who became the first Canadian rapper to score a
Grammy nomination earlier this year. Kia Kadiri, the sensational rapper/singer from
Vancouver, Northern Alberta’s War
Party, along with Edmonton's Jeff Hendrick, Politic
Live and Darkson Tribe
round out the talent, with other acts to be confirmed later. A west coast
favourite, Kadiri's highly anticipated debut album will be released
nationally through Maximum/Universal on April 13th, 2004. Best known for their 2001 release “Feelin’
Reserved, War Party is one of Canada’s premier Native hip hop
collectives. Hendrick recently
won Calgary's VIBE 98.5’s
“Unsigned Vibe” talent contest, while Politic Live and Darkson
Tribe are two heavyweight hip-hop crews from E-town.
The
showcase starts at 10 p.m. with Flava Entertainment DJs Shortround &
Echo on hand to spin beats between sets. Red's is located inside West
Edmonton Mall, #2556, 8770-170 Street.
'Canadian Idol' Finalist
Releasing Debut Album
By KAREN
BLISS --
For Lowdown
Audrey
de Montigny, the only francophone contestant and
female finalist in last year's Canadian Idol competition, will release her
debut album, simply titled "Audrey," on April 20. The 18-year-old Ste-Julienne, PQ native was
signed to ViK Recordings/BMG Music Canada after her elimination from the show.
Simon Fuller's 19 Management also picked up her option. "People say to me -- even other kids in
the show say, 'I know you guys signed Audrey. You'd have to be stupid not to,'
so it was very obvious to sign her," says Toronto-based Jeff Rogers, the
Canadian representative for 19 Management. "She was a unique contestant in
the show and obviously a very good singer and obviously has the whole
package." The majority of de
Montigny's album will be comprised of French-language songs mainly produced by
Canadian Tino Izzo (Jacynthe, Mario Pelchat, Roch Voisine), plus one by
Montreal-based Belgian Rick Alisson (Lara Fabian). The few English tracks were
produced by Toronto's Chris Perry and Adam Alexander, aka Perry Alexander
(Shawn Desman, Ryan Malcolm, In Essence, Keshia Chante).
The track listing has not yet been selected, but there's a pool of
songs available for de Montigny written by Izzo, Alisson, Perry Alexander, as
well as Diane Cadieux, David Foster, Olivier Brion, Alex G, and Rupert
Gayle. "I was the person involved
on this because I find that Audrey is amazing, particularly in French,"
says Anne Vivien, the former A&R manager for the French division of BMG
Music Canada, who executive produced the album but is no longer with the
company. "In English, the market
is huge. There are many incredible vocalists, but she has an English
voice, like some flavour or taste, with some air on the voice, but when she
sings like this in French, it's beautiful. In English, it's something like a
jazz girl or the soul voice (and) we have a lot, but in French it's very
unusual." The first two singles
will be French and serviced to radio in Quebec; the third might be English.
"When you look at this girl, the first step is to go in
French and to open through Quebec," says Vivien. "The French market
is huge. It's bigger than the U.S. There are 120 million francophone people all
over the world, so it's not something that you want to forget. "She did not speak English (very
well), and I think when you want to make an international album you have only
one chance. When I say international, it's an English one, so I'm not only
talking the Canadian market. It's the big global market." De Montigny has been taking English lessons
and admits she understands the language much better than she speaks it.
"My problem is I'm shy," she says, sitting in a small room at
Toronto's Audiolab Studios, where she has been recording the English material
with Perry Alexander. Her father Jean,
who has taken leave of his marketing job at a large trucking company to act as
her agent, is there to translate when needed. "I remember Audrey when she
start with Canadian idol, she just say yes or no," he says. "Now,
it's more (that) she's just shy."
When asked about the style of her first album, de Montigny at first
defers to her dad. "Most of the song on the album is in big ballad because
Audrey feel very easy on big ballad," says Jean. "She sing all the
time big ballad. Now time for her to change, going on the uptempo, dancing,
R&B, funky blues, music. She's just starting to know that because she never
knew that."
Born in Ste-Julienne, PQ, the middle child of three girls,
Montigny used to sing at school and at weddings. Her father is a former DJ, who
played music all the time at home. Her younger sister dances "like Janet
Jackson" and her older sister also sings. At 13, de Montigny got a singing
coach. She also took piano lessons, but hasn't composed original songs. "I
try but I'm not very good," she says. "I would like to write because
I think it's important to express myself and my songs." De Montigny's first time in a major
recording studio was to record the song "Meme Les Anges," a song
written by Cadieux and Izzo after they spent time with the young singer getting
to know her personality and musical taste. Released by ViK./BMG as a commercial
single in Quebec on Nov 4, it quickly went platinum (10,000 units). "Because she was on Canadian Idol, in
the rest of Canada everybody start to love Audrey, but in Quebec, they really
don't care what happens with the Canadian Idol. They completely focus on
Audrey," says Vivien. "Everybody talk about Audrey. There was a
French singer singing in English contest so the Quebec person, the fibre, the
heart of the Quebec people, start to bond, so it was not the contest for them.
It was more the girl. So we have a huge pre-awareness of this girl in Quebec."
Rogers says that 19 Management had the option to pick up any of
the contestants on Canadian Idol within a certain time period. The company's
Tom Ennis, Chrissie Harwood and Shonadh French all came to Toronto for the show
on a regular basis. Simon Fuller flew in for the finale in mid-September, but
had also seen the television clips. "He came in for the end and told her
we're going to work with her," says Rogers, who was hired to head up the
Canadian office around that time.
"It's 19 Management. It's one of the biggest management companies
in the world, so generally people are pretty happy when we pick up the option.
That's one these things with this show, or this contest. You get a really good
record deal and you get one of the best management companies in the world if
you win. And all of the runners up, there's the potential that we could sign
them. And same with BMG," Rogers adds.
"You basically get the best possible deal you could ever get. In
fact, it's a deal you'd never get. In fact, everything about this deal is
really good ---- you get a great record deal with a great company, which is
completely dedicated to your record from day one. So that doesn't even happen.
It takes a long time, once you get a record deal to get them on board and get
them to pay attention to the record, no matter how committed the A&R person
or how hot the act is."
Vik/BMG plans to get de Montigny back in the studio to record a
full English album sometime this year. "The main objective is to continue
to solidify her presence in Quebec, but also she has a lot English speaking
fans too from the show and we want to get them a record too," says Rogers.
Frank N Dank Present the Long Awaited Official LP "X-Tended
Play"
Source: www.frankndank.net
With numerous vinyl singles under their belt, it's hard to believe
that Frank
N Dank have only one LP "48 Hours" which in actuality was
never even officially released due to creative differences with their then
major record label MCA. Now signed to independent label Needillworks? Ent., FND have delivered a brand new album entitled "X-Tended
Play" due to hit stores early 2004. As finishing touches are added to this
long awaited album, "X-Tended Play" delivers nothing less than the
signature Frank N Dank brand of Detroit Soul and boasts production credits by
some of Hip Hop's finest as well as up and coming batch of beatsmiths including
world renown J. Dilla (Slum Village), Saukrates (Gilla House/Def Jam), Ohno
(Dudley Perkins/Cali Wild), The 2 Swift Household & more. Stay tuned for
the first single "Sexy" which is about to drop in the next month.
Frank N Dank are ready to get filthy. Stay tuned!
Background: Hailing from the gritty streets of Detroit, Michigan,
Frank N Dank embody the blue-collar ethics and passion for music that has been
the rep for the Motor City for decades.
Long time collaborators of super producer JayDee aka “Jay Dilla” (Slum
Village, Busta Rhymes, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Common, Tribe Called Quest),
Frank N Dank were introduced worldwide on the groundbreaking LP “Welcome To
Detroit”. Since the success of “Welcome
To Detroit”, they’ve released numerous 12"s for labels including Groove
Attack, ABB, Mummy as well as an array of white labels/bootlegs. Their
vinyl-only club banger “Take Them Clothes Off” (released by ABB Records) is one
of the few tracks that have been able to spend months on urban charts without
cd, video or radio rotation. To this day, the track is still receiving play at
peak times in the clubs. Frank N Dank are also featured on the up coming Jaydee
& Madlib collaboration album entitled “Jaylib” (released by Stones
Throw). Now signed to Canadian based
label Needillworks? Entertainment, Frank N Dank are putting the final touches
on a new LP entitled “X-Tended Play” set to release in February 2004. “X-Tended
Play” boasts production by JayDee, Kardinal Offishall, Saukrates, Ohno, Young
RJ and Kemo to name a few. After
hitting the clubs with their last single, Frank N Dank are ready to attack the
clubs and radio with their brand of Detroit Soul. Expect nothing but the best, these Motor City professionals have
toured & shared stages with the likes of Slum Village, Tribe Called Quest,
Common, The Roots, Wyclef Jean and fellow Detroit underground veteran Phat Khat.
I had previously done a recap after one of Frank N Dank’s shows in
May last year. Check it out HERE.
Canadian
Radio Music Awards Provide Early Recognition to Up-and-Coming Music Stars
Source:
Canadian Association of Broadcasters
(March 6, 2004) *Canada’s private radio broadcasters and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB)
celebrated Canada’s hottest up-and-coming music artists on Saturday March 6,
2004, at the 7th annual Canadian
Radio Music Awards (CRMA) held during Canadian Music Week. “The CRMAs provide early recognition to our
best new artists,” said Glenn O’Farrell, President and CEO of the Canadian
Association of Broadcasters. “Initiatives like the CRMAs and many others
demonstrate that radio broadcasters contribute in a meaningful way to the
expression of Canadian culture.”
“These awards are born from radio,” said Gary Slaight, President and CEO
of Standard Broadcasting Corporation and one of the founders of the CRMAs.
“These awards recognize the artists that are heard on radio, but are also a
tribute to the tremendous contribution to the rising of Canadian stars by
private radio.” To increase visibility
of the awards and the artists honoured, Standard Broadcasting Corporation and
Craig Media Incorporated partnered to televise the awards nationally on March
13 and 14 on MTV Canada, A-Channel Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg, as well as
on Toronto 1. Created and funded by
Canada’s private radio broadcasters, the CRMA are the only national industry
awards that exclusively profiles and recognizes Canada's emerging
English-language music stars. The winners are determined by votes from radio
station program and music directors and on-air personalities from across
Canada. Nominees are selected based on radio "spins" in different
radio formats as recorded by Broadcast Data Systems (BDS) for one year. Three non-voting awards were also presented
during the 2004 CRMA: the FACTOR “Breakthrough” Award for most airplay for a
new artist, the SOCAN Songwriter Award for most airplay for a songwriter, and
the Chart Topper Award for most airplay overall. See below for the complete
list of the 2004 CRMA winners. Again
this year the CRMAs, hosted by radio personality Carla Collins, included the
Fans' Choice Award that was awarded, for a second consecutive year, to Avril
Lavigne. Radio listeners from across the country could vote online for their
favourite radio artist at the Canadian Music Week Website. Canadian private radio contributes over $75
million a year to talent development initiatives that include the CRMAs, the
Radio Starmaker Fund / Fonds RadioStar, and FACTOR / MUSICACTION to name only a
few.
Best New Group or Solo Artist (ROCK)
THREE DAYS GRACE - (I HATE) EVERYTHING
ABOUT YOU
Best New Group (CHR)
LILLIX - IT'S ABOUT TIME
Best New Solo Artist (CHR)
FEFE DOBSON - TAKE ME AWAY
Best New Group or Solo Artist (COUNTRY)
DERIC RUTTAN - WHEN YOU COME AROUND
Best New Group or Solo Artist (HOT AC)
LILLIX - IT'S ABOUT TIME
Best New Group or Solo Artist (MAINSTREAM AC)
SHAYE - HAPPY BABY
Dance Urban Rhythmic:
KESHIA CHANTE - SHOOK (THE ANSWER)
Factor "Breakthrough" Award
THE SALADS
Songwriter Award Sponsored by SOCAN
SHANIA TWAIN
"Chart Topper" Award
SHANIA TWAIN
Fans' Choice Award
AVRIL LAVIGNE
Reggae, R&B, Hip-Hop & Crunk in Jamaica
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com
(Mar. 4, 2004)
Beenie Man, Shaggy, Chingy, TOK, Tamia, Ying Yang Twins, Lil Jon
and
others for Jamaica Spring Fest. Spring Breakers and Jamaican music lovers
will get a chance to revel in the latest in live performances from some of the
hottest dancehall, R&B and hip hop acts, when Jamaica Spring Fest 2004
touches down in Montego Bay Jamaica.
Jamaica Spring Fest 2004 which is a promotion staged jointly this year
by Radio One out of Atlanta, Air Jamaica, and Holiday Inn Sun spree Resort and
Danga Zone Entertainment out of Montego Bay will unfold from April 22-25. The
concert dates are April 23-24 at the Caribbean Beach Park. Among the big names scheduled to perform are
Beenie Man, Shaggy and Rik Rok, hot rapper Chingy, TOK, R&B singer Tamia,
the crunch kings Ying Yang Twins and Lil Jon and the Eastside Boyz, Cecile,
Camron, Sasha, Tanto Metro and Devonte, J-Kwon, Glenn Lewis, Kool Moe D, Free
from BET's 106 and Park, Trina, Petey Pablo, Mr. Vegas, Don Yute, ATL, Lil
Flip, Marques Houston, Omarion formerly of B2K and Cee-Lo. Steve Harvey is
scheduled to make an appearance, while MTV host La La formerly of top
California urban radio station the Beat, will host the event. Marsha Meadows, National Director of Urban
Promotions at Radio One told this writer in an interview last week, that this
will be the second staging of the event in Jamaica. 'We were here last year and everyone had a good time. This year
every one is looking forward to doing it again,' said Miss Meadows. She said Jamaica was chosen as the venue for
the Spring Break based on its culture, the warmth of the people and the good
vibes. 'I love Jamaica and its like a
home for me. I love the music the people. It had all the elements of a good
Spring Break event,' Miss Meadows explained.
Asked if assembling the line-up of performers was a difficult task, she
said 'We had no problem at all. Everyone is just excited about coming
down.' The Jamaica Tourist Board, Air
Jamaica and other sponsors have assisted the radio station in getting the event
off the ground. 'We haven't had any
problems with the logistics of getting things going. This year its going to be
even bigger and better than last year,' said Miss Meadows. The official press conference to launch the
spring break event will he held in Kingston last night.
Kobayashi - Montreal's LIVE Hip Hop Band
Excerpt from www.cyberkrib.com - by Nehal (nehal_e@hotmail.com)
It's not often you'll hear
Dizzy Gillespie and Rakim covers played by the same artists in the same live
set, but this Montréal band managed to pull it off. Kobayashi played
their first ever Toronto performance, and did so well enough to leave a
memorable impression. Having played at the Montréal International Jazz
Festival, and performed with Metalwood, Karl Denson and DJ Greyboy, Kobayashi
is touring in new markets, promoting the release of their second EP the
night we took the city. Kobayashi
played on January 28th at the Reverb - the Chameleon Project opened for them,
and between-performances music was provided by DJ Aram Scaram and DJ O.S.U.M.
Kobayashi are: Billy Cicalo
(drums), Radu Falcon (bass), Josh Gearey (tenor saxophone), Evan Melnyk
(turntables), Omari Newton (vocals), Franco Proietti (alto saxophone), Hadiya
Roderique (vocals) and Chris Tauchner (keyboards). Kobayashi more or less took the stage on time, shortly after
11:30pm - an appreciated sign of professionalism. Within the first couple of
minutes, Tauchner (keyboards) astounded the audience with his dexterity on the
keys - the deejay followed suit, then the drummer, and throughout the show, the
rest of the band displayed their skill.
I've never seen a deejay work as hard as Melnyk did in conjunction with
live musicians, but he held his own pretty well, and at some points during the
performance even managed to shine.
Gearey and Proietti
(saxophones), were definitely the most energetic of the musicians, and at times
were the only visual aspects of the show worth paying attention to. I say this
because although all the musicians were pretty good, and their material (both
original and covers) was well worth listening to, their stage act seemed to
lack excitability. The band members gave the impression that although they were
playing the same songs, the fact that they ended up on the same stage was a
fluke, and they largely ignored each other. This seemed like a distinct lack of
stage chemistry, which needs to be rectified if they plan to draw a larger
audience through live performances.
Cicalo (drums) and Falcon (bass) did their jobs well. I don't remember
much about their performance aspects, which means neither one of them messed
up, and they didn't draw attention to themselves (see above note about stage
performance). When Newton (male
vocals) took to the stage, he was warmly welcomed by the audience members.
Although at times his rhymes were almost incomprehensible, his stage presence
managed to turn up the energy a couple of notches. Even though his lyrics of
his raps seemed to merge, Newton flowed all right on the relatively slower
delivery of Eric B. and Rakim's "Don't Sweat the Technique", one of
the covers Kobayashi managed to do justice to.
The self-proclaimed "token
female", Hadiya "D" Rodrique, alone was definitely worth going
to the show for. Note to Kobayashi - give D more stage time. Her vocals ranged
from almost-lazy trip-hop to coherent, intelligent-sounding rap flows. She
mesmerized, enticed and forced her listeners to pay attention to her without
wailing and screaming beyond her range. At times, it almost seemed that the
rest of the band existed only to make her sound good. Kobayashi's set lasted for over an hour, but didn't seem that
long at all. There were people moving - about halfway through the show, the
band played a jazz instrumental that got feet tapping so hard, some people just
had to up and dance. For an
audience-demanded encore, Kobayashi did a respectable version of The Roots
feat. Erykah Badu "Baby You Got Me" (and I only grant them
respectable because I will judge covers of The Roots harsher than most). Kobayashi ("Montréal's Acid Jazz,
Electronica, Funk Band") lived up to their self-described mix of styles -
I'd suggest including jazz, hip-hop and trip-hop, that way they could lay claim
to more music genres and broaden their target audience. All in all, Kobayashi
put on a very good show; I'd definitely recommend checking them out for
something a little bit different and enjoyable. If you like the sound of the band, their second EP the night
we took the city is also worth picking up. Five tracks (one of them is a
remix) of original material provide good all-round atmosphere music for
whatever you plan on doing.
Unfortunately, I showed up too
late to catch the Chameleon Project's opening set, but I did manage to hear
their last song - an instrumental version of Barrington Levy's
"Murderer". That definitely piqued my interest enough - on the
strength of that cover alone, I'm planning to catch one of their next shows.
What's
the Deal with Canadian Music Week?!
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com - by Tamara Smith /
eurfeedback@eurweb.com
(Mar. 9, 2004)
When this time of year rolls around, it's common to see Canadian Content
covering the annual Canadian Music Week (CMW) festivities. However, for the first time in as long as Canadian
Content has been a weekly feature, CMW will not be featured, at least in the
usual fashion. This year CMW did not
see fit to grant media accreditation. Apparently, an online publication,
boasting the title of one of the [top five urban entertainment] sites in North
America, is not recognized or reputable enough to report on Canada's urban
talent for an international audience.
Not the wisest move, but okay, that's fine. It's not as much CMW that
would suffer without the coverage, it's the struggling artists that are
attempting to use the festival as an avenue to gain recognition. Purchasing a
wristband seems to be the only fair option.
After holding the line with Ticketmaster for over half an hour, I'm told
that apparently wristbands have to be picked up at a special gate all the way
at the Skydome. On top of that, the location closed during my
holding-time. Now, I'm all for
investing in Canadian music, but now, not only am I expected to pay, but pay at
least twice (presuming that this "special gate" is open the next day
and I'm able to get there to purchase a wrist band). Sorry, but I don't have a
money tree growing out back!
Fortunately, the majority of artists featured at this year's festival
have been featured in previous Canadian Content reports. Otherwise, I'll be
looking forward to North by NorthEast and the Toronto Urban Music festival to
catch up!
Record Sales On The Rise
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com
(Mar. 4, 2004)
*For
three years, record sales have been in a slump. But now music execs everywhere
are jumping up out of their seats with glee for the latest numbers. Experts credit the sudden influx of
consumers buying more music to the crackdown on legal download services which
has slowed piracy. The promise of a lifting economy and a better selection of
products and formats made the list as well.
Album sales last week were up 8% over the corresponding week a year ago
and so far this year are up 12% over 2003, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Mid-February registered the biggest sales in any weekly cycle, excluding the
Christmas season, since SoundScan began tracking in 1991. Reportedly there were a surge of sales for
Valentine's Day gift shopping, a post-Grammy spike and the new Norah Jones
album, which sold 1 million copies its first week. Sale gain began in September
and posted gains in year-to-year comparisons for 11 of the next 15 weeks. "It's not surprising to see CD sales
up, but I'd be surprised to see sales rise significantly over the next
year," says Phil Leigh, senior analyst at Inside Digital Media. "The
long-term trend continues to be downward and could stay that way for two
decades as the business moves to digital distribution. During that period,
we'll see random fluctuations."
Vandross Continues To Inspire
Source: Associated Press
(March
8, 2004) LOS ANGELES—Soul crooner Luther
Vandross won four NAACP Image Awards in
a weekend ceremony that blended politics with a wide range of honours for works
by and about people of colour.
Vandross is recovering from a stroke and was not at Universal
Amphitheatre on Saturday night to pick up his prizes for best male artist and
his music video, song and album titled Dance With My Father. The
sentimental favourite won four Grammys last month. Singer Beyoncé was named Entertainer of the Year. The Gospel music comedy The Fighting
Temptations won for best movie.
Cuba Gooding Jr. was honoured as best actor for Radio, and Queen
Latifah was named best actress for Bringing Down The House. Hip-hop group OutKast won for outstanding
duo or group, and American Idol Ruben Studdard won best new artist after
crooning from his seat in a performance early in the night. Studdard thanked his grandmother for
"being part of the struggle in the '60s," one of several references
to politics and the civil rights movement.
Ray Charles was inducted into the NAACP Hall of Fame after a tribute
performance by B.B. King, Stevie Wonder and Bonnie Raitt. "They do so much to help so many,"
Charles said of the NAACP. "I want you to know this is truly an honour and
I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
NAACP
President Kweisi Mfume noted the importance of the upcoming presidential
election, saying his organization wants to register and turn out another 2
million people in the November election. "If you don't vote," Mfume
said, "you really don't count."
The awards by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People are determined by show business professionals and NAACP officials
nationwide. The ceremony will be broadcast over two hours on Thursday night on
Fox, starting at 8 p.m. Toni Morrison
won best fiction literary work for her novel Love. Special awards went to the Dave Matthews
Band and T.D. Jakes, a nationally known evangelist and pastor of Dallas-based
The Potter's House, one of the country's fastest-growing churches, with 59
ministries. Comedian Bernie Mac, who
won outstanding actor in a comedy series and outstanding comedy series for
Fox's The Bernie Mac Show, thanked those who supported him when he was
making the rounds of comedy clubs.
"For 43 weeks a year, for 18 years, you came to see me," he
told the audience. "So when I came
to television, I was ready, and I thank you so much."
Denyce Graves -- The Joy of “Breaking the Rules”
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com -
by
Deardra Shuler
(Mar. 4, 2004) I have heard it
said that none of the pleasures of life are truly worthwhile without a bit of
pain to propel one to their greater heights. Thus, having grown up in a single
parent home in a poor Washington, D.C., neighbourhood, opera singer Denyce Graves, knows full well the bitter
taste of struggle and therefore can appreciate the ambrosia of fame. She grew
up sheltered by a mother who kept her and her siblings busy. On any given day, Denyce was either involved
in praying, sewing, reading or singing. Though, the only music her mother
allowed in the house was gospel. This way of life, established a spiritual
foundation that has remained with Graves to this day. Because she was shy,
skinny, tall and considered “un-cool,” Graves wasn’t the most popular kid among
her peers who nicknamed her Olive Oyl. So, perhaps, she was merely following
her predilection for being different, when at age 14, Graves became interested
in opera. The young Graves applied to the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and
was accepted. “I started learning about
classical music. A teacher gave me an opera recording of "Cavalleria
Rusticana" by Pietro Mascagni. That truly enraptured me. Then a girlfriend
of mine introduced me to a recording of Leontyne Price singing Puccini arias.
We cut class and listened to Leontyne all day long. It was then and there, we
decided we were going to become just like Leontyne Price,” recalled the
talented mezzo-soprano.
There
is a warmth and genuineness to Graves that was easily discerned as we talked.
In fact, the love she showed her dog, Madison, who was competing for her
attention during our interview was evidence of her caring. “We play the door
game with Madison. Close the door. Open the door. In and out,” chuckled Graves.
“We indulge him because -- why not! My philosophy is that you know when you get
a dog their lives are short. Maximum may be 14 or 15 years. So when my husband
and I are quiet at home, we let Madison be the king. He is 5 now and he holds
us prisoner. He even travels with us sometimes. He has been on over 600
flights. I am getting ready to go to London for 6 weeks to perform Delilah in
Samson et Delila, so Madison, won’t be traveling with me this time,” said the very
pregnant Graves. Anyone training to be
an opera singer knows its hard work. Learning language is a big part of opera.
“Singing is a very small part of it but also it’s a huge part,” explained
Denyce. “You have to train, develop technique and learn to listen to your body.
It’s about learning how to really sing. Opera singing is the art of beautiful
singing. It’s a refined art so there are lots of rules. And really that is why
I am excited about the show I am doing on PBS. The show is entitled, “Breaking
the Rules.” The show tends to go against the rules that the establishment has
taught about opera. Not that I abandoned my technique, I just decided to have
fun with it and become more playful. Sadly, a lot of people don’t really
understand or know opera; so, opera, has been the bunt of jokes and
caricatures. Opera has suffered under the stereotypes. Since opera is performed
in several languages, I myself speak Italian, French, German, and of course
English. Every opera singer has to learn Italian. There is no way you can get
around that. The material is so rich in the Italian language because Italian is
really the singing language,” explained the beautiful diva. Graves will not be the only one “Breaking
the Rules.” Her husband, David Perry, is the producer of the show and Graves
will be joined by Grammy Award winner Patti Labelle, as well as soulful
performers Take 6, in the 90 minute national TV special entitled: Denyce
Graves: Breaking the Rules. The PBS program will be broadcast nationally on
most PBS stations throughout the month of March, 2004. Graves will perform
“Love Remembered” in a duet with Labelle, a song especially written to
compliment the unique sound of both artists. “I have loved Patti Labelle for
years and fortunately for me, she agreed to perform in the show with me. We had
a grand time doing the show together. Patti is so joyful. She is one of those
people, who I believe, enjoys the whole life process,” offered Graves. “And
Take 6… what can one say about them? Come on, how great are they? They’re
great! They are all fine musicians. There is great intelligence in their work.
The Take 6 guys are real musicians who are real virtuosos with their
instruments. Plus, they are all really great guys,” remarks Denyce. A
collection of songs will be performed in the upcoming PBS special - from
classical to gospel, R&B to jazz. Take 6 will even perform a special
version of “Wade in the Water.” Also, on the bill, is one of opera’s young
rising stars, Jessica Swink, who will join Graves in singing Barcarolle, the
last known works of German composer Jacques Offenbach from “Tales of Hoffman.”
“We had the world premiere of the show in Philadelphia last month but the show
will be everywhere this month. Also, I don’t want to forget to mention that
young conductor, Vincent Thomas, will be featured on the show as well.”
Graves
did her undergraduate work at the Oberlin College Conservatory and the New
England Conservatory in Boston and then an apprenticeship with the Houston
Grand Opera in Houston, Texas. She experienced her first real breakthrough in
opera when she performed her first production of Carmen in 1991 with the
Minnesota Opera. Later she sang Carmen at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
From 1988 to 1990, she sang with the Houston Opera Studio where she met Placido
Domingo and continued to excel, eventually performing in some of the most
famous opera houses in the world, including the Vienna State Opera in Austria,
London’s Royal Opera at Covent Garden, The Bastille Opera in Paris, Berlin’s
Deutche Opera and the San Francisco Opera. “My calendar is pretty full. I have
a lot of singing engagements. As a matter of fact, I’m booked until the year
2007. An opera is being written for me now that I am pretty excited about. It’s
based on the true life story of Margaret Garner. She was a slave that was
forced to be the mistress of her slave owner. She bore him 4 children and later
beheaded them. I am sure this woman felt devalued and dehumanized and yet here
it is years later, her life has been made into an opera,” pondered the graceful
star. Throughout the ups and downs of
her life, Graves has come to appreciate her highs and takes a philosophical
viewpoint. “I know there is a greater intelligence out there somewhere. I am
51/2 months pregnant and so grateful. I am endlessly fascinated by all of this.
You know, science has proven that energy cannot be destroyed, it just changes
form. We are all just constantly evolving and changing all the time. I am still
in search of who I am. I am on the quest of who I am and discovering who I am,
more and more everyday.”
Anita Baker Brings The Rapture
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com
(Mar. 5, 2004)
*"For
so looooong," we have missed the melodic voice of Anita Baker and
have been tormented by contests like American Idol and fly-by-night talents in
search of her sound. And now, after a
decade our prayers have been answered. La Baker is back on the scene. The
Grammy-winning R&B diva has signed a deal with Blue Note Records to produce
at least two albums, and expects to release her first project before the end of
the year. "I'm so excited,"
the singer said in an interview on Wednesday with the Associated Press. "I
do see that there is a demand for what I do, and my fans are still there." Baker contacted the head of Blue Note
Records, Bruce Lundvall, about recording a jazz album and he was interested in
a jazz album, but also an R&B album from her as well. "She is one of the great artists, no
question about it," Lundvall told the AP. "There's not another voice
out there like hers, it's instantly recognizable." The melodic alto whose soul-stirring voice
recalls greats like Sarah Vaughn, became one of R&B's top artists in the
late '80s and early '90s with hits like "Sweet Love," "Rapture"
and "Giving You the Best That I Got." But she dropped off the music scene nearly a decade ago after
releasing the album "Rhythm of Love" in 1994. At the time, the
married melody maker had two young sons (now 10 and 11 years old), a mother
suffering from Alzheimer's, and a father dying of bone cancer. Baker's father died in 1998; her mother died
in 2000. After her mother's death, she felt she could focus on her music
career. "It was almost like I was
given permission when she passed."
Baker began touring, but she doubted whether people would buy CDs of her
smooth, adult R&B in today's marketplace. But she has been surprised by the
response to her return. "I didn't
know that anybody would give a hoot," she laughed. "I'm pleasantly
surprised."
Connie Mizell-Perry: Open, Honest
Excerpt from www.allhiphop.com - By Nolan Strong
October
30, 2002 shattered the lives of more than just the man the world knew as Jam Master Jay. On the day the news broke, families,
friends and loved ones of Jam Master Jay's seemed to have cracked as well. It's now apparent that Jason Mizell was more
than just a Hip-Hop DJ. He was a man
whom many friends depended on and counted on for their livelihoods. Like the
countless of other mothers across the world that know the horror of losing a
child before their own life expires, Connie
Mizell-Perry is trying to cope with the
loss of her son and the break up of her family. There's a saying. "Show me your friends and I will show you
your future." If only someone
would have shown Jay his future, maybe the present wouldn't be so painful for
those who loved Jam Master Jay.
AllHipHop: What did you initially think
the reason was for you son being shot and killed?
Connie Mizell Perry: I had no thoughts
about a reason. I never dreamed that he had an enemy that would want to kill
him.
AllHipHop: Shortly after Jay was killed,
there were a number of theories about the motives behind his murder. Did you
know any of the characters Jay associated with?
CMP: I never met the ones that you
might consider shady, but Jason saw people as people. He didn't look at them
for what they did or how they thought. That's the way I taught him. I tried to
show him that we look at people for who they are.
AllHipHop: The theories were that Jay was
killed over an old debt. First it was cocaine, then it went to watches, then it
went back to a drug deal gone wrong, then it shifted to the people in the
recording studio. Did you know the individuals in the studio?
CMP: I didn't know Randy Allen's
sister Lydia High. She wasn't here when I was living here. I knew Randy from
childhood. I don't know what to think about that. I do believe it was someone
that Jason knew. Definitely.
AllHipHop: There was a lot of press around
Randy Allen's name and the police said they were investigating him pertaining
to the events that transpired that evening. Have you heard from him?
CMP: I haven't seen Randy at all.
I saw him at the wake. I haven't seen or spoke to him since then.
AllHipHop: Jay's nephew Boe, who is your
Grandson, and Randy are still very close. What do you think about Jay's nephew
being so close to someone that is being investigated for the murder of his
uncle?
CMP: My grandson is caught up in a
situation. Jason signed an agreement with Virgin Records, I guess. Boe tried to
get out, but they said he had to stay due to whatever contract they had signed.
I don't see him as being very happy with the situation. There are some things
he may know that we don't know, but he is still trying to work with Randy to
finish the contract. I don't see him staying with Randy.
AllHipHop: The day after Jay was shot and
killed didn't Boe go with Randy for three days somewhere? From what I heard,
they threatened Randy with police action to get Boe back. Is that true?
CMP: That was me. Boe didn't
disappear. Randy came and told Boe the same night Jay was killed, that they had
to finish their Rusty Waters record. It was a must that they finish it. He came
and took him to New Jersey or somewhere. He called his mom and told her that he
wanted to be with the family after Jason had died and he couldn't get there
because he didn't know where he was and didn't have a way to get back. They
asked Randy and he said they were working, but they were really just in a room.
When he left, he thought he was going to the studio. I got tired of waiting and
I'm the one who told the guys to call Randy and if Boe wasn't back in two
hours, I was going to call the cops for kidnapping.
AllHipHop: Was he being held against his
will?
CMP: Yes, he was being held
against his will. Look, what friend is more concerned with that when their
friend has died? He thought more of making money, than having Boe be with his
uncle, when his uncle was always there for him. Boe called me to let me know he
was OK and that he would be home.
AllHipHop: Is it possible that Boe had
anything to do with Jay's death?
CMP: No way. He is still not
right. Just the mere thought that Jason is gone is hurting him and he's still
suffering from it. Jason was like the father he didn't have. He always took
care of Boe. That's the worst thing that anyone could have said.
AllHipHop: So from the inside there's one
person that's the puppetmaster pulling the strings?
CMP: That's the way I see it.
That's Randy. Boe has to go through Randy for everything, even to get his pay.
It's fixed up so Boe can't get his direct pay from the record label, he always
has to go though Randy or his sister Lydia. I knew it shouldn't be that way. I
know Russell (Simmons) and them didn't hold Jason's money when he first got
started. Boe had relied on Jason, who believed in Randy. Boe asked me "why
would Uncle Jason put me with Randy if Randy is so bad?" I said "I
can't answer that." So he was really confused.
AllHipHop: How do you feel the police are
handling the investigation?
CMP: I don't know anything about
that. I'm the mother but they wouldn't explain to me, even when I came up from
North Carolina for the funeral, they didn't ask or tell me anything. They
haven't even told me the status of the investigation.
AllHipHop: They have never told you the
status of your son's murder?
CMP: No.
AllHipHop: There is a police station in
the area that Jay was shot and killed. How could that have happened with the
police being so close?
CMP: I don't know. That's what
makes me think it was all inside. If the security tape was working all along,
why wasn't it working that night?
AllHipHop: What do you think about some of
the allegations published about Jay, in particular the drug dealing?
CMP: If Jason was into something
like that, I would have never known. I don't think any child tells their mother
bad things that they plan to do. At the same time, you have quite a few addicts
that said because of Jason, they stopped using. If he was dealing drugs, you
would think he would try to keep everyone on it. He wouldn't have encouraged
them to go straight. So that's the part I don't understand.
AllHipHop: There's a theory floating
around that Jay and three men went down to Baltimore to sell kilos of cocaine
and were subsequently robbed by a guy known as Yakin. Do you know who he is?
CMP: No, I've never heard of him.
I can see Jason going, but was it for Jason or was it for Randy? Jason was
forever bailing Randy out, all his life he went to bat for Randy. I think it
could happen, but the reason for him going, and I knew him well enough to know
that if Randy was in a jam and if he could help him out, he would go to bat. So
if it went sour, or bad, or wherever it went, I don't believe it was his, I
think he was trying to help somebody.
AllHipHop: What was the climate with his
friends like before he died? Was there any tension between any of them?
CMP: I only saw him during family
gatherings when I came up.
AllHipHop: How do you feel his friends
have handled it? There's almost a million dollars in reward money being offered
to the person or persons that help catch the killer and no one has come
forward.
CMP: I can't answer that. The
person that gets the reward would be the person that did it. If they know the
truth they should come forward and tell the truth. I can imagine that whoever
did it is most miserable, not knowing what hour or day someone is going to hit
them. I wish no ill will towards anyone but in due time, they will be found.
AllHipHop: How is Jay's wife and sons
coping with this?
CMP: (Laughs) I really can't
answer that. I have spoken with Terri (Jay's wife), maybe three times since he
has passed. I don't know where she lives and I haven't seen the boys at all
since he died.
AllHipHop: Do you think that's deliberate?
Is she keeping them from you?
CMP: Well, I don't know anyone
that can keep them from me, other than Terri herself. I never did anything to
her, I held her in high regards as my daughter-in-law and she always treated me
well. I don't understand and I try not to dwell on it too much. I would love to
see the kids because I miss them. Those years...the man who took Jason's life
also took my whole family. I see Jason's oldest son and I talk to him often.
AllHipHop: Adidas put out a limited run of
a Jam Master Jay sneaker and there were some other fundraising events. Did the
family see any of that money?
CMP: Right now we have two
families. It's me and my children (Jay's sister Bonita and brother Marvin) and
Terri and her family. Terri and her family benefited from what I gather. But my
family hasn't received anything from anybody.
AllHipHop: What happened with Jay's
business affairs? I am sure he gets money from publishing, album sales and the
likes.
CMP: Terri is the administrator
for his estate, so it would all go through her.
AllHipHop: What about the physical assets?
CMP: I don't know anything about
the business or the things Randy and his sister dealt. The home, that is about
the only physical asset that he had. I don't know about any of his dealings.
AllHipHop: So you don't know anything
about an alleged insurance policy that was taken out on Jay, should anything
happen to him?
CMP: Yes I have heard about the
insurance policy.
AllHipHop: Here we have perhaps one of the
most influential men in all of hip-hop and very important in pop culture dead.
His celebrity friends have stopped talking about it and it seems the
investigation is at a total stand still.
CMP: It's like a merry-go-round.
But it all goes back to that studio, where it started. How did the killer get
in and how did they not know who it was? There are so many lies. First he had
on a mask, then they gave a description of a man and his son and that threw it
to someone else. I wish they would solve it.
AllHipHop: Are you involved with the
charitable work that Jay's brother Marvin is doing?
CMP: Yes, I am the chairman of the
Jam Master Jay For Youth Foundation.
AllHipHop: What are your goals for that?
CMP: We hope to reach children. We
have the Jay Whip that we purchased. We are going to wrap the van and raffle it
off to raise money for scholarships for 1,000 children that want to go to
college. It will be based on their academic and financial needs. Our goal is to
raise $2 million dollars to help children across the United States. We want to
benefit the young people in the community because Jason cared about them. My
dream is to keep the legacy alive and keep the home Jay was raised in. God is
going to bless me to do that. If I sell
it, he won't have any ties left to Queens.
Outkast Desires Acceptance: Andre 3000 wants in at
Julliard
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com
(Mar. 5, 2004) *With OutKast being
at the top of its game, grabbing the top award for album of the year for
"Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" at the Grammys, Andre 3000 should be a shoe-in for classical
music training. The rapper recently
told Rolling Stone magazine that he would like to study classical music. During
an interview with the eccentric rapper he said, "I want to go to Julliard
to study classical music. I've been thinking about it for about a year. But
things got kinda busy. This record took off. I can't be in school right now.
But I'm taking saxophone and clarinet lessons. I'd study classical composition
and music theory. Like, now, I was working on songs for Gwen Stefani's album,
and I could tell her how to sing them but not the range." He also responded to rumours of an OutKast
break-up that have been surrounding the group since their last release. He
said, "There'll be two more OutKast albums. I'm willing to accept that no
matter what I do next, it may not be as big as 'Hey Ya!' or OutKast. But it's a
growth thing. Paul McCartney and John Lennon never did anything as big as the
Beatles. But they still did some cool sh-t on their own." In addition to his aspirations of enhancing
his musical talents, Andre is also busy filming his role in the "Get
Shorty" sequel, "Be Cool." He'll play the role of a hardcore
rapper in the film, which also stars John Travolta and Cedric The
Entertainer. Next up for OutKast is the release of a new single, "Roses."
The group will also begin production on a movie in May for HBO.
Motown Artists Continue To Lose Royalties
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com
(Mar. 5, 2004)
*R&B
greats who paved the way for today's top selling artists are still losing money
to the music industry. Two founding
members of the Motown group Martha and the
Vandellas have lost their case to void a contract that gives half
their royalties to a New York company that sued record companies on their
behalf. "There is no evidence of
fraud or deceit," US District Judge Robert H. Cleland wrote Wednesday when
dismissing the lawsuit. He said the contract was not unclear or unconscionably
generous to the company. Former
Vandellas Rosalind Ashford Holmes and Annette Beard Sterling, both of Detroit,
sued in March 2003 to throw out their contract with Artists Rights Enforcement
Corp., which twice sued on their behalf to get royalties. In 1984, the pair signed with the company,
saying that "for the preceding 20 years, they had received no royalties
from Motown (Records) and that in response to their inquiries, they had been
given the stall and the run-around," Artists Rights President Charles
Rubin told The Detroit News. In 1989,
Motown agreed to a lump-sum payment for past royalty payments. In 1994, they
sued again in California, and the singers began receiving higher payments from
Motown. Their lawyer, Gregory Reed,
said the company has collected $400,000 in royalties for his clients, but kept
$200,000. Lead singer Martha Reeves didn't sign the agreement with Artists
Rights. An appeal is possible, Reed
told the Detroit Free Press.
Jay-Z Bootlegging Gets Creative
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com
(Mar. 5, 2004)
*Jay-Z has to give props to fans who would go
as far as to bootleg his music and put together a kit that can be used to make
their very own unique mix of his music.
Just a week after one online group protested EMI Music's clampdown on
The Grey Album by organizing "Grey Tuesday," another group comes
forth with tools for fans to make their own Jay-Z remix albums. "The Jay-Z Construction Set" was
created by two anonymous 23-year-olds to give fans a chance to produce their
own Black Album remixes and to compare them with several other popular ones
already circulating on the bootleg circuit, reports MTV News. The kit includes Jay-Z's The Black Album's a
cappella vocals, hundreds of vintage music samples and simple audio editing
software that will allow users to create their own instrumentals. Also included are nine CDs' worth of The
Black Album remixes - including The Grey Album from DJ Danger Mouse, The Brown
Album from producer Kev Brown and The Black Remixes from producer Ninth Wonder
and various hip-hop images for construction of a custom CD cover. "The Jay-Z Construction Set" was
launched late Tuesday night by a couple of young men that go by code names:
Claire Chanel and Scary Sherman. They're distributing the toolkit via the
peer-to-peer network BitTorrent. A preview of the kit and instructions on how
to use BitTorrent are available at jayzconstructionset.com. "At no point will [that] site serve as
a hub," Chanel told MTV News. "We launched the process off by getting
a few CD-ROM copies into the hands of some people ... and by placing a copy on
the BitTorrent network. We hope it will spread from there." Theoretically, a user will be able to
create their own remix album and add it to the toolkit, which would then be
hosted by their computer for another person to download. In its original form,
the toolkit files total 649 MB.
Norah Jones Rules Jazz
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com
(Mar. 5, 2004)
*Norah Jones is one to reckon with on the music
scene. The phenomenal voice of soul that resonates through the artist is second
to none. As the daughter of India's classic sitar master, Ravi Shankar, and
former music promoter Sue Jones, the jazz chanteuse has a rich musical
foundation that is paying off at the cash register. Her new album, "Feels Like Home," topped the charts
for a third week in a row, according to data released by Nielsen SoundScan on
Wednesday. Jones' album has almost
garnered double platinum success. The singer's sophomore album sold about
281,000 units in the week ended Feb. 29, bringing her three-week total to 1.7
million, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The album sold over a million copies in its first week of release ending
Feb.15, becoming the first to pass the 1 million mark in a debut week since
'NSync's "Celebrity" sold nearly 1.9 million copies in July 2001,
Nielsen SoundScan said. Jones'
follow-up to her Grammy-winning blockbuster debut "Come Away With Me"
was also a big seller in the digital domain, with four tracks from the new disc
selling in the top 200 digital tracks, according to Jones' Blue Note
label. Rounding out the top five albums
this week, according to Nielsen SoundScan, were "College Drop Out,"
by Kanye West at No. 2, selling 132,000 units, and "Tough Luv," by
Young Gunz, at No. 3, selling 128,000 units, ranking fourth was
"Fallen," by Evanescence, selling 125,000 units, while "When the
Sun Goes Down," by Kenny Chesney, stands at No. 5 with 95,000 units. Jones, 24, is set to perform as the musical
guest on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" this weekend.
Stephanie Mills Feels Good All Over
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com -
by
J.C. Brooks
(Mar. 5, 2004)
Stephanie Mills is preparing to step back on the
music scene with a welcomed blast from the past of good music. Her songs that are staples in the R&B
world, such as "I Feel Good All Over," "I Have Learned to Respect
the Power of Love," and the platinum selling single "Never Knew Love
Like This Before," are just a glimpse into what we can expect from Ms.
"Sweet Sensation." The petite
singer with the giant voice burst onto the scene as "Dorothy" in the
Broadway version of "The Wiz," where her rendition of
"Home" would forever stir the spirit of audiences worldwide. She went
on to score numerous hits in the 80's and enjoy tremendous success in R&B.
She has recently starred in the plays "Nativity" and
"Ragtime." As she returns to
the music world, Mills has immense life and recording experience to inspire and
motivate those who also have aspirations of beginning a recording career. Lee
Bailey, the founder of the EUR/EURweb.com, sat down with Ms. Mills to talk
about life, love and the recording industry.
"I still make my home in the Charlotte area. I was born and raised
in New York, but I've been staying here on and off for the last two
years." Mills also touched on her
marriage and what has changed.
"I'm not married any longer. He's in New York and he's
remarried. The two, Stephanie and
ex-husband Michael Saunders, program director of NY's Power 105 radio station
have remained very good friends and the relationship left the R&B sensation
very happy. "I have a
2-and-a-half-year-old named Sarad [Suh-rod]. He's my first child. He's my only
one," she said with a glow in her voice. The singer did not identify the
father. When asked about motherhood she replied, "It's wonderful. It's the
best thing I've ever done. Absolutely the best." Mills wouldn't mind having more children, but she doesn't know if
that's on her "to do" list at this juncture in her life. "I want to, but I'm 46 years old, so I
don't know. Maybe I'll have two more. I'd love to have two more. I'd love to
have three and have a nice little family." But age is not that much of an issue to the singer as she
explains the wonders of technology and women's choices these days. "One of the Pointer Sisters had twins
at 50. Technology is so advanced now…there's so many types and ways to do it
where the baby will be healthy. It depends on how healthy you are. How
energetic you are. How in shape you've kept yourself." The powerhouse singer encourages exercise
and has maintained a regular routine for a very long time. "I workout like three days a week. I do
Pilates and I'll jump rope. I love doing it just because I like to keep myself
in shape and it's healthy for you. And I've worked out really all my life. I've
been working out since I was like 21."
She
is also a vegetarian, but says she eats chicken and fish. This regiment was a
tremendous help in regaining her figure once her son arrived. "By the time he was 3 or 4 months, I
was back in my jeans and small again. I was 126 pounds once he was born. [Now]
I'm maybe about 99 pounds, maybe 100."
Even newer than her newest addition, is the promise of a new album this
year that is, according to Mills, traditional R&B. "I have a new album that's coming out
titled "Born For This," in March. I have a new single that's on the
radio and doing quite well called 'I Can't Let Him Go,' that was produced by
Barry Eastland and Gordon Chambers. I released it independently." "It's a ballad…It's traditional
straight up Stephanie Mills R&B," explained Mills. "There's no
hip-hop on it. My album is R&B. There's no rappers, there's no guests, there's
just me." Mills saw the importance
of doing her new set her way because of the changes in the recording
industry. "I think the industry
has suffered a great deal from people who did not have the knowledge of how to
really do the business that I grew up knowing how to do and I just think there
were a lot of bad decisions made at a lot of bad companies and that's the
result of what's going on." With
all of her whopping success in the music industry, Mills was still a victim of
the "new" industry and was discouraged by record executives to not go
back into the booth. "I really do
believe the industry became driven by producers and executives and not artists.
I think that's why it suffered," she reasoned. "The quality of music
and lyrics went out the window. Just listening to the music today and its
content, the music isn't as good as it was back in the day." Mills explained that the industry was in the
process of changing when she got out.
"When
I dissolved my contract with MCA they were trying to get me to do music and
things that I just didn't want to do. Rather than fight with them, I just left
and did my own thing and kind of re-evaluated my life in Charlotte and when I
was ready to do it and come back."
She added, "That's one of the reasons why I haven't recorded an
album in 13 years or that's one of the reasons I left the business by
choice." But when the singer made an attempt to return to the music
industry, she was discouraged by record executives. "Even coming back, like two years ago and I'd sit down and
have meetings with executives they didn't have a clue what to do and had no
respect for people who had albums and had a history and had a career,"
said Mills. "So it forces you to do it yourself. Especially when you love
to do what you do. You're simply not going to allow someone to tell you your
career is over." According to
Mills, the executives gave no acknowledgement to her history and didn't exactly
try to be diplomatic. The types of things they told her did not match her past
success. "My career was over. That
I'd seen my best days. I didn't have an audience. I was told that on several
occasions," she said. "It wasn't about what you did in the past. It
was about what have you done lately. And that's all they were banking on. I didn't
set out to do it independently, but now I'm glad. I think my decision has been
the wise decision." Her upcoming
projects not only include the new album, but she's already doing some touring. "I'll be touring. I've been doing some
dates with the O'Jays. So, I have a lot of things going on especially with the
single and the single was No. 27 on the charts and it's doing very, very well.
I'm very happy." But a good
friend of hers, Peabo Bryson, has experienced trouble of his own. She was
unaware of his problems with the IRS, but is geared to help out. "I think maybe as a community of
entertainers we should come together to do a benefit for him. I think that we
should reach out." She added an
example of the type of help that friends can offer and how much it means. "When they came after Willie Nelson
that time, his friends bought all of his stuff and then gave it right back to
him. I would definitely participate because it could happen to anybody. I told
(radio personality) Doug Banks that we as a community should step up to the
plate and maybe just help him. Even if it's a little thing, at least it's
something." She continued to
empathize with the entertainer saying, "I feel like that's so sad for an
entertainer to work all those years and entrust your business maybe to a
business manager and they just screw you around. It happens everyday. I know
what that's like." For MORE info,
visit www.stephaniemillsmusic.com.
Eminem's Other Music Life Is Ready
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com
(Mar. 5, 2004) *Not many rap
groups can boast having sold 4 million CDs worldwide their first time out, or
having a member of the group sell more than 50 million CDs as a solo artist (Eminem), but D12 can.
Furthermore, not many can boast having a member produce two of the
hottest singles in 2003 (Mr. Porter -- 50 Cent and G-Unit single's
"P.I.M.P." and "Stunt 101" respectively) and yet another
member appearing in a block buster film, "8 Mile," (Proof) but again,
D12 can. And as if that wasn't enough, the group is poised to release their
sophomore CD, "D-12 World," on April 27, 2004. Made up of Proof, Eminem, Bizarre, Kon Artis
aka Mr. Porter, Swift, and Kuniva, D12 released their multi-platinum #1 hit
debut album, "Devil's Night" in 2001. "Devil's Night" was
received with critical acclaim and spawned two chart-topping single's
"Purple Pills" and "Fight Music" which propelled the group
to superstar status. USA Today said of "Devil's Night": "The
garishly funky beats that underpin the diabolically clever wordplay make the
album hard to dismiss ... . Their diatribes seem born less of anger and more of
disdain for all that's politically correct." Three years later replete with lyrical and personal growth, D12
is set to pick up where they left off with the upcoming release of "D-12
World." Eminem and Mr. Porter are back on the boards producing tracks
along with the likes of Dr. Dre, Kanye West, and Trackboyz. With some help from
label mate Obie Trice, the album is chock full of what we have come to know and
love from D12: in your face lyrics, unique production and over the top antics.
But that's not all, this time around D12 has matured and it's not all fun and
games. Kuniva explains: "At this
point in our careers our business sense has matured in many ways, but as it
relates to the new album we begin to establish our separate identities making
it possible for each member to elevate to the next level within our careers.
With 'Devil's Night,' we were happy for the opportunity to be in the studio and
finally making an album so we took that opportunity to have fun with it. On
'D12 World' there's more of a balance, you'll still find lighthearted material
but we touch on serious subjects as well." For example the heartfelt "Good Die Young," is
dedicated to one of the original members of the group, the fallen Bugz. On the
track which features Obie Trice, D12 pours its heart out about Bugz, who passed
before the group recorded and released their 1st CD, as well as others they
have lost. "'Good Die Young' didn't have a chance of making 'Devil's
Night,'" states Kuniva. "It's just too sentimental." In
addition, on the rugged "Loyalty," the group strays from its "Devil's
Night" formula of all jokes and does a serious proclamation of its loyalty
to its family, Shady Records. But
getting back to poking fun, the CD's lead single, "My Band" with its
tongue-in-cheek subject matter finds the group lampooning the fact that they
have to share the spotlight with Em. On the track, Em and the other members
trade barbs about how the world perceives the group and their backstage
antics. Other tracks to check for
include, "10-9-8," where Em's chants combined with creepy gothic
strings makes this song an exciting street burner, "Brain" where the
group's sexaholic rants over a simmering Mr. Porter beat just keep coming, and
already mixtape classic "Keep Talkin," produced by new jacks Night
and Day with drums programmed by Em, this hardcore jam dares any sucker to step
to this rowdy crew. The ball is already
rolling and Shady/Interscope Records has serviced early leaks of songs like
"6 In The Mornin'" to the streets via DJ Green Lantern and other
mixtape DJs. A video for "My Band" is set to be shot in Los Angeles
at the end of February. D12 formed in
1995 to create a Detroit all-star rap team. The guys met at clothing designer
Maurice Malone's "Hip Hop Shop" in Detroit where local MC's would
meet up to battle and rhyme. Proof suggested that the six form a group and suggested
the moniker D12, for Dirty Dozen, each member representing 2 personalities
(i.e., Mr. Porter aka Kon Artis, Eminem aka Slim Shady).
Featured Artist: Art Of Fresh
Excerpt from www.hiphopcanada.com - By: Johnny Mazaratti [contact]
(March
7, 2004) Toronto, ON - HipHopCanada starts off March with the Art of Fresh who
bring us back to a Pete Rock and CL Smooth kind of vibe. With a Guinness World Record, a thriving
entertainment label, a book, a video, a couple of EPs, and involvement with
numerous recent singles hitting the airwaves, sitting between them, it's
without a doubt that we didn't deserve that we present them as our Featured
Artist. 8:45? Whoa!
HHC: The Art of Fresh consists of 2 parts. D.O. as the emcee and
Slakah The Beatchild on production and vocal harmony. How did you guys link up
and is it difficult to keep a productive working relationship while living in
different cities?
D.O.:
We go way back… Slaks was 15 and starting to make beats. I heard some
potential, but I was just giving him advice. Most 15 year olds don't take music
that serious. He did. Soon after that he was making bangers at age 16.
Slakah:
It's not too hard being in different places. When D.O.'s in NYC I can send him
beats over the internet. He's doing his thing there… I'm doing my thing in
Toronto. When we link up, its no messing around, we get right down to business.
HHC: What is the Art of Fresh all about? A Pete Rock and CL
Smooth kind of vibe comes to mind.
D.O.:
That's the vibe we wanted to bring. With Slakah you got that classic hip-hop
sound like Pete Rock, but Slaks updates that by bringing in the neo-soul style.
CL Smooth is one of the most underated MC's of all time… I compare our styles
cause we both got that wit, plus we got the lyrics for the ladies…
Slakah:
Buttaphat vibes… Hip-Hop soul music for the people.
HHC: Art of Fresh has recently release your "Zone Out"
single to Flow93.5FM in Toronto. What kind of response has the record received
and what are your plans for a national release?
D.O.:
So far the response has been great. People are saying, this is quality HipHop
music… We wasn't tryin to make something "hot" we was trying to come
out with something "good." After setting the freestyle record, cats
expected me to come out on some battle- ready, I'm-set-to-take-over-the-world
type rap… I've got that comin…but we wanted to show people that real hip-hop
music. We just leaked the track to get something out there. I've been keeping a
low profile, so by putting something out there we have more opportunities for
shows and getting out there and showing people the full arsenal.
HHC: Other then this single in particular, what projects is Art
of Fresh working on right now. What can we expect for 2004? 2005?
Slakah:
I don't know if heads is ready yet… Art of Fresh is a long term vision. We have
about 40 tracks right now. Out of that, maybe 8-9 could be singles. We just
stocking up tracks. D.O.'s doing his solo stuff, and I'm producing for other
artists. We're busy, so we don't want to rush an album.
HHC: D.O., which stands for Defy the Odds, is definitely a
suitable name for someone who can freestyle for almost 9 hours; To be precise,
8 hours and 45 minutes is how long you freestyled to be entered in the Guinness
Book of World Records as the Longest Freestyler. How hard was this to
accomplish? Definitely a plus for Canada.
D.O.:
To be honest… the rhyming was the easiest part. The hardest part was physically
keeping my energy high. I was out in the sun for most of the day, walking back
and forth, microphone in hand the whole time. And I was stayin hype the whole
day… Then at the end, I was still getting down and doin 50 push-ups. There's no
doubt I could have gone on longer… For me, it's about representing hip-hop
right and it’s about letting the world know that Canada has some of the best
talent… the best freestylers in the world. I ain't the only one…
HHC: For clarification, was the record broken after you did it?
There was talk that it had been done but nothing concrete.
D.O.:
Yeah I heard something about that for a minute, but officially nah… The thing
about the record is how long it takes. We applied for the record over two years
ago, so we had the official rules. So it's more than just rhyming for that long
and getting ya boy to watch. But rules are made to be broken… if someone did
it, big up! Respect! I don't think it takes anything away from what I did. I
mean, there was no record before. I could have rapped for 10 minutes. I went
almost 9 hours b! And I could have gone longer! Man, I can rap for 24hrs
straight.... Besides, its all about doing it first...
HHC: D.O., You moved to New York for a brief period shortly
after your accomplishment with Guiness. Tell us about what went down while you
were down there with Universal, Def Jam, Rocafella, Jive etc. KRS One, Zulu
Nation?
D.O.:
What set it off was heading down to Miami for the Source Awards. I was in XXL
at the time, so we knew it was going to be a good opportunity, and it was
crazy… I mean, talking to DMC of Run DMC and asking him the longest freestyle…
he was like, "maybe 40 minutes." And after I told him, he was like,
"impossible." We show him the XXL and he was like, "That's the craziest
thing I ever heard!" That's DMC! You know what I'm sayin! So he put me up
on things, gave me some good advice it was cool… Then I got a chance to meet
KRS... and I asked him the same thing, and when I told him how I set it, he was
like "Word!!" He was mad cool… We got into after cause I told him
about my thesis I wrote where I used some of his lyrics to back up my point
"How rappers hustle their words"… We got his comments on the EPK and
on the documentary we workin on, so its fresh... Def Jam - man, that shit was
crazy too. I moved down to New York as soon as I got back from Miami. We were
starting off the meeting and my man was playing music but just asking me more
about the record, so I put in a beat tape and started freestyling… Next thing
you know, cats from Rocafella, Universal… Diplomats, Young Gunz, they up there
checking it out… It was a big group of people. All those companies are in the
same building. So after my meeting with Def Jam, those labels were sayin
"come talk to us next…" It was crazy, my first day there and I was up
in there for 6 hours! They was like,
"This kid is the truth!" We got footage of it all from the
documentary, so we'll have to post some of the A&R's reaction on HHC in the
future…
HHC: People were very happy to see the acknowledgment of what you
had done in XXL. Even MTV has done an interview with you. What kind of extra
opportunity do you see coming your way?
D.O.:
After meeting pioneers like Bambatta, Melle Mel, KRS, DMC, Kane… I recognized
the responsibility you have to represent hip-hop correct after gaining the
credentials I have. The thing about the record is that it’s worldwide. The
press after the event was crazy. People was calling us from Germany to get
down. So it’s about thinking international. I want to tour internationally, and
I want to hit the road cross Canada and the U.S. And you know we got a few
things on the d.l. so we'll see where that takes us.
HHC: D.O., you have taken an interesting and unique approach to
getting your name out. You have recently been doing a lot of shows at schools
around Canada. Give our readers the rundown on how you have been working it.
D.O.:
For the last four years I've run a company called "Stay Driven." It's
about combining hip-hop and education. I used to be a teacher, and wrote my
thesis on hip-hop…"Rap as an Evolution of African-American Linguistic
Practices." I go out to schools across Canada and do a one hour session -
freestyles, video clips, and speech. It's billed as "motivational
speaking" but this ain't Tony Robbins… So far it’s been crazy though. In
February we did 25 shows. Black History month is the busiest time of the year…
next up is South Florida and Spring break… doing shows and hustlin down South.
I think I'm at least in the top 5 in Canada for most shows… It's just that we
keep it on the low…
HHC: How can someone get D.O. to come to their school?
D.O.:
Check out http://www.staydriven.com
- If you're in school… talk to your principal or guidance counsellor.
HHC: Slakah, some serious light started to get shined in your
direction with the great work you did on Arabesque's Choked Up single. How did
this situation come to be and have you been approached by others on a
production/singing tip?
Slakah:
Well, 'Besque heard one of my Promo CD's a few years ago and he was feelin' it.
We talk for a bit and one night I get a call from home boy. He needed vocals on
this track. The thing was he needed them then next day! At this time I was in
Win City (Windsor) and he was in Toronto. But I'm a hustla, So I booked a
studio time at like 12:00 am and laid down some vocals and Fed Exed the package
to him and the track was hot. Right then and there Arabesque and I had a nice
musical vibe going on. I recently Produced his latest singed and did vocals on
it "Mama Dig Me", yet another classic.
HHC: Slakah, as the production and musical harmony of Art of
Fresh, what kind of role do you play in the creation of a song as the Art of
Fresh?
Slakah:
D.O. is "The REAL Good " and I'm "The Feel Good " ... D.O.
like the Lyrical foundation and I'm the musical structure with a touch of Soul.
HHC: Slakah, other then production and singing, what kind of
movements have you been making? Did you make the trip down to NY with D.O. to
push the production end of things?
Slakah:
When D.O. was in NY I was busy in the Studio engineering for some up and coming
projects. I do plan on making a trip to the NYC for some business. In the mean
time I am starting something called the "SOUL MOVEMENT". It will be
the Canadian OkayPlayer.
HHC: D.O. not many people are aware that you an English teacher
and that you recently completed your first novel titled, Jewelz. Tell us about
teaching and where it falls in play with your career and about this book.
D.O.:
Teaching was the fallback. I learned a lot from being on the other side of the
classroom, but when it came time that I could do this full-time - I had to move
in that direction. Jewelz - that's the baby. My first novel. We're checking
publishers right now and we've got significant interest. It's a Donald Goines
type mystery. Next up is a kid's book - for the 10-15 crowd… hip-hop style.
HHC: Between the two of you, Art of Fresh has gained quite a bit
of experience, recognition and overall many accomplishments that will help in moving
the position of the group forward. Is the Art of Fresh looking to get signed by
a major and if so do you think this will happen anytime soon?
D.O.:
It's tight cause we in a great situation. In NYC I get the opportunity to
hustle on the solo tip, but when I get their attention, I let them in on the
Art of Fresh. That puts the group on, but also lets them know Slaks is serious
on the beat tip. He's got American artists on major labels checking his beats.
We're in no rush for a deal though… we doin it right now. Shows and making
music… plus Slaks is a young cat! He got time!
Slakah:
All in due time…
HHC: What message does the Art of Fresh bring to its audience?
From the tracks I've heard so far you guys seem to be very diverse and are
reaching untouched boundaries in lyrical content. What can we expect?
D.O.:
In the words of Ra… constant elevation causes expansion. I try to expand. When
you say you set a freestyle record people expect battle records. That ain't
what I'm bout. I think a lot of the battle scene is played out… I want to rhyme
about concepts no one has ever did. I got a track called "The Hacker"
- its about a computer hacker who starts stalking women… Then on the next verse
I take it from the perspective of the cop. I got "Divine Intervention"
about the things that can happen when you touch too many drinks and get behind
the wheel. I got this new track about the middle east situation, taking it from
a first person perspective of a suicide bomber. Crazy rhymes…
HHC: Is there anything you would like to discuss that hasn't
been touched on? Any shout outs?
D.O.:
Want to send big shout out to all the people up on HHC, shout out to MT, Diz,
Cub, 423 and Carter Styles!
Slakah:
Yeah Check out my new webpage http://www.slakah.com.
Shout outs to HHC people, M.T Arabesuqe, That Nigga Jon Jon, Juice(1)(2)(3) and
(4), all my peeps back in Win City, Soul Clap fam, Phase One fam, blah blah
blah.....
Sting, Annie Lennox Pairing For Tour
Excerpt from www.billboard.com
- Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
(Mar. 8, 2004) As expected, Sting has rolled out plans for a summer tour of North American amphitheaters. Annie Lennox and another act yet to be
named will support on all dates, beginning June 27 in Camden, N.J., pausing
July 29-Sept. 1, and wrapping Oct. 12 in Calgary, Alberta. Beforehand, Sting will complete a run of
North American dates through late March, followed by a previously announced April 21 benefit for the
Rainforest Foundation at New York's Carnegie Hall. A European swing begins
April 28 in Helsinki and wrapping June 20 in Munich. All of the roadwork comes in support of his latest
A&M/Interscope album, "Sacred Love," which debuted at No. 3 on
The Billboard 200 and has sold 1 million copies in the United States, according
to Nielsen SoundScan. Members of Sting's fan club will have early access to
tickets, some of which went on sale today (March 8). The outing will be Lennox's first since brief tours in the United
States and Europe last spring behind her 2003 J Records debut, "Bare.
" Her first album since 1995, the set bowed at No. 4 on The Billboard 200
and has sold 743,000 copies. Lennox recently won the Oscar for best song from a
motion picture for "Into the West," from "The Lord of the Rings:
Return of the King."
Here are Sting/Annie Lennox's Canadian tour dates:
July 13: Montreal (Bell Centre)
July 14: Toronto (Air Canada Centre)
Oct. 9: Vancouver (GM Place)
Oct. 11: Edmonton, Alberta (Rexall Place)
Oct. 12: Calgary, Alberta (Pengrowth Saddledome)
Aguilera, Chingy Make Touring Team
Excerpt from www.billboard.com
- Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.
(Mar. 8, 2004) Christina Aguilera has firmed up plans for a 29-city North American tour, kicking
off May 13 in Seattle and closing July 3 near Detroit. Rapper Chingy will
open all dates. Aguilera fans expecting
a retread of the show from her 2003 tour with Justin Timberlake will be
pleasantly surprised with the artist's plans. "I am so excited to be
touring again," she says. "I am switching it up from the Stripped
tour and breaking it down to be raw, and different from anything I've done
before." Tickets for most shows
will go on sale between March 13 and March 20. Aguilera's official
Web site lists specific details for each date. Aguilera is touring in support of her
latest album, "Stripped." Released in October 2002, the RCA set
debuted at No. 2 on The Billboard 200. Chingy will be out behind his Capitol
debut, "Jackpot," which debuted in August 2003 at No. 2 on The
Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In other news, Aguilera's "El Beso Del
Final," from her 2002 Spanish-language album "Mi Reflejo," is
among the tracks on the "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights" soundtrack (J
Records).
Here are Aguilera Canadian tour dates:
May 14: Vancouver (Pacific Coliseum)
Lenny Kravitz Set To Release New Album 'Baptism' In May
Source: Linda Carbone/ Carleen Donovan / KSA Publicity / carleend@ksapublicity.com;
Jasmine Vega / Virgin Records / jasmine.vega@virgin-records.com
(Mar. 8, 2004) New York, NY— Lenny Kravitz will release his highly anticipated 7th studio album Baptism (Virgin Records) on May 18,
2004. The release marks his first new collection of original material since
2001’s Lenny and is being hailed as his most accomplished album to date.
Baptism features 13 original songs, including the album’s debut single, “Where
Are We Runnin’?." The track will impact radio on March 29th with a video
to be shot in the coming weeks. Recorded over the course of
the last year, Kravitz wrote, produced, arranged and performed all the tracks
on the album. He also played the majority of the instruments featured on the
release, including bass and drums, in addition to the guitar. On Baptism,
Kravitz has created an album that is soulful, yet still resonates with its
powerful chords and anthemic hooks and melodies. The end result is a testament
to his career as an artist, songwriter and producer. Said Lenny Kravitz “Baptism marks a musical and spiritual
rebirth. That’s what this album is all about.”
In addition to the single, Baptism features such key standout tracks as
“Minster Of Rock ‘N Roll,” which Rolling Stone called “a psychedelic,
Moog-driven stomper with big –rock swagger,” as well as “Lady” and
“California.” The album also features the song “Storm,” which includes a
special guest appearance by Jay-Z.
Lenny Kravitz has achieved tremendous critical acclaim and commercial success
with a succession of groundbreaking album releases. He holds multiple gold,
platinum and multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA for his albums and
singles, and has earned an array of accolades, including Grammy Awards, MTV
Video Music Awards and American Music Awards. In 2001, Kravitz set a Grammy
record for the most wins in the “Best Male Rock Vocal Performance” category
when he took home his fourth consecutive award for his single “Dig In”
(previously winning for “Again,” “American Woman” and “Fly Away”). In 2003, he
received his fifth Grammy nomination in the category for “If I Could Fall In
Love” off his last album, Lenny.
In support of his new album Baptism, Lenny has announced a world tour
that will kick off in Holland on May 31st at Pink Pop. The tour will hit the US
in August and is expected to hit multiple cities across the country through
October. For concert dates and more information go to www.lennykravitz.com and
www.virginrecords.com.
Motown Rounds Up Two Dozen Chart-Toppers
Excerpt from www.billboard.com
- Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.
Two dozen Motown recordings that topped either the pop or R&B charts are being
culled to create "Motown: #1's," a compilation due April 20 from
Motown/UTV Records/UME. The chronologically arranged set will feature hits by
the Temptations, the Jackson 5, the Four Tops and Stevie Wonder, among
others. The collection opens with the
Detroit label's first No. 1 pop hit, 1961's "Please Mr. Postman" by
the Marvelettes. Boyz II Men contributes the most recent chart topping hit on
the set, 1994's "I'll Make Love To You." The disc closes with a bonus 25th track in Michael McDonald's
interpretation of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." His recording of
Diana Ross' 1970 No. 1 pop and R&B track was featured on his
Grammy-nominated tribute album "Motown," released last year by the
label. The late Marvin Gaye is the most
prolific artist on the set, with four No. 1 hits: "What's Going On,"
"Let's Get It On," "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and
his duet with Tammi Terrell, "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing."
Ross appears three times, twice with the Supremes ("Where Did Our Love
Go," "Stop! In the Name of Love") and once with Lionel Richie
("Endless Love").
"Motown: #1's" follows last month's release of the label's
Diana Ross and the Supremes compilation, "The No. 1s." That set debuted at No. 63 on
Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart and No. 72 on The Billboard 200. A television special paying tribute to the
label will be taped in April in Los Angeles and air in May on ABC. As previously reported, Justin Timberlake had
been tapped to co-host "Motown 45" with Richie, but pulled out citing
commitments to a feature film. A coalition of African-American organizations
had protested Timberlake's involvement in the special.
Here is the "Motown: #1's" track list:
"Please Mr. Postman," the Marvelettes
"(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave," Martha & the Vandellas
"My Guy," Mary Wells
"My Girl," the Temptations
"Where Did Our Love Go," the Supremes
"Stop! In the Name of Love," the Supremes
"Shotgun," Jr. Walker & the All Stars
"I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)," the Four Tops
"Uptight (Everything's Alright)," Stevie Wonder
"Ain't Too Proud To Beg," the Temptations
"Reach Out, I'll Be There," the Four Tops
"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine," Marvin Gaye
"I Want You Back," the Jackson 5
"War," Edwin Starr
"The Tears of a Clown," Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
"What's Going On," Marvin Gaye
"Let's Get It On," Marvin Gaye
"Love Machine (Part 1)," the Miracles
"Don't Leave Me This Way," Thelma Houston
"Three Times a Lady," the Commodores
"Endless Love," Lionel Richie & Diana Ross
"Rhythm of the Night," DeBarge
"I'll Make Love To You," Boyz II Men
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough," Michael McDonald
NFL Cancels
Opening-Game Kickoff Concert
Source: Associated Press
The
National Football League has cancelled plans for a third opening-game kick-off
concert following Janet Jackson's risqué halftime show at the Super Bowl.
The league held free downtown concerts before its season-opening Thursday night
games the last two seasons, but NFL spokesperson Greg Aiello said that
commissioner Paul Tagliabue has put an end to such events. Tagliabue informed the owners of the
decision on Feb. 12, less than two weeks after Justin Timberlake tore off part
of Jackson's costume, exposing her right breast. Tagliabue was incensed at the
action, which generated outrage throughout the country and from Congress. Two years ago, the NFL had its first
Thursday night opening game in New York, and Bon Jovi headlined a concert in
Times Square that afternoon. Last year, the opener was in Washington, and more
than 100,000 people came out in the rain for a concert featuring Britney
Spears, Aerosmith and Aretha Franklin.
Aiello said there might be a different sort of event to coincide with
the game, including musical entertainment. Neither the site of the game nor the
participants have been determined. "No decisions have been made on any
events other than the commissioner telling the ownership on Feb. 12 we will not
have a concert," he said.
Kelis Could Care Less About Being Nasty, er, 'Tasty'
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com
(Mar. 9, 2004) *When first we heard "Milkshake" from Kelis we
thought it was just another quirky, pointless pop song. But when we first
heard the album version we realized there was a point to the song all
right. She recently told the San
Francisco Chronicle that she wasn't embarrassed by the "Milkshake"
videos' implications. "I just
don't take myself so seriously. I don't mean everything verbatim. So there's
nothing to be embarrassed about," she told the Chronicle in Sunday's
editions. "People also have to understand I'm an artist and it doesn't
necessarily mean that's how I am 24/7. It's just a video." The video for "Milkshake," taken
from her latest album, Tasty, features Kelis tantalizing diner patrons with her
sultry sashaying and suggestive poses.
The milk shake theme is echoed on the back cover of her album -- a photo
of the singer, who's engaged to rapper Nas, in her underwear sitting atop a
giant milk shake. (No word yet on
whether or not she'll charge for teaching her "milkshake" method.)
Nelly's Next Nears Completion
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com
(Mar. 9, 2004) *St. Louis probably all a buzz
with anticipation as the summer draws near. That's when their favourite
son, Nelly, usually drops his new
jams. But we all may be able to hear from him even sooner than
that. He's trying to set up a
series of dates for a tour this spring. He's due to launch a string of dates in
early April, and shows so far are booked through the end of that month. Nelly's latest release is his November
release, "Da Derrty Versions: The Reinvention," a remix set that
features new versions of material originally housed on 2000's "Country
Grammar" and 2002's "Nellyville." "I have an album that I'm working on right now," Nelly
said in a recent statement posted on his website. "It should be out in
June. I haven't settled on a title yet, but it will be out in June. I've been
consistent on coming out in June for the last couple of years, so I want to
continue that tradition, so it should be good."
Mario Winans - Heating Up Radio Airwaves
Source:
Universal Music
(March
9, 2004) (New York, NY) - Bad Boy Records'
singer/song-writer/super-producer, Mario Winans' newest single "I Don't
Wanna Know" featuring Enya & P. Diddy is exploding
at radio stations across the country. Winans, who plays
various instruments including the piano and guitar, has produced and
written hits for some of today's hottest artists including Beyonce, Mary
J. Blige, P. Diddy, Carl Thomas, David Bowie, and Jennifer Lopez, is generating
an enormous buzz at radio stations with his new single, "I
Don't Wanna Know," which he self-produced and wrote. "I Don't Wanna Know" is
receiving an overwhelmingly positive response: "Smash! Will be a #1
record" predicts John E. Kage, the music director for KQKS, Denver's top
rhythm crossover station. Michael Saunders, the program director at one of New
York's top hip hop and R&B stations states, "That joint is the most
powerful new joint in America, hands down!" "I Don't Wanna
Know" was leaked at radio stations across the country earlier this
year and listeners immediately fielded stations with request. Although radio
stations officially went for adds on the record one week ago, "I Don't
Wanna Know" already has a listening audience of more than 44 million with strong airplay at urban and
crossover stations in major cities including New York, Los Angeles, Boston,
Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Washington D.C., and Las Vegas. "It
has been a #1 request since we put it on the air," states Chris Tyler, the
music director at WJMN, one of Boston's top crossover stations. The music video
for "I Don't Wanna Know" was shot on location in
Los Angeles by Chris Robinson and features a guest appearance by Bad Boy
Records' CEO P. Diddy. The single appears on his Bad Boy debut CD,
Hurt No More, set to be released on April 27th. It will
feature collaborations with P. Diddy and Nas. Mario Winans,
a member of the legendary, platinum, and award winning gospel hit-making Winans'
family, is from Detroit and is currently completing spot dates in the U. S. to
support the single.
FILM NEWS
Winfield Opened TV Door For Black Actors
Source: Associated Press
(Mar. 10, 2004) LOS ANGELES—Paul
Winfield, an Academy Award-nominated actor who was known for his
versatility in stage, film and television roles, including a highly praised 1978
depiction of Martin Luther King, has died. He was 62.
Winfield died Sunday of a heart attack, said his agent Michael
Livingston. In 1968, Winfield played the boyfriend of Diahann Carroll in
her situation comedy Julia — a role some suggest helped open TV to other
black performers. Four years later Winfield's portrayal of the father in Sounder
earned him an Academy Award nod for best actor. He was Emmy-nominated
for best actor in the title role of the 1978 miniseries King and
nominated the next year in the best supporting actor category for playing a
college chancellor willing to sing spirituals to raise donations for his school
in Roots: The Next Generation. He finally won an Emmy in 1995 for
a guest appearance on Picket Fences. He played a federal judge whose
rulings on bussing inner-city children are challenged by a local resident.
Despite acclaim, Winfield was often relegated to supporting roles,
including playing Jim in a 1974 remake of Huckleberry Finn. Sidney
Poitier hired Winfield for his first movie role in The Lost Man in 1969.
Other significant roles included an appearance in the Broadway play Checkmates
with Denzel Washington, and his portrayal of Don King in a 1995 HBO movie.
Couple Feeds Off Each Other
Excerpt from The Toronto Star - Ashante
Infantry, Entertainment
Reporter
If
you don't like to kiss, then Love, Sex &
Eating The Bones probably
isn't for you. That's the natural
demographic for the romantic comedy, which is now in theatres, according to
writer/director Sudz Sutherland and
producer Jennifer Holness (pictured
right). The Toronto husband-wife team's
first feature film is a racy, rib-tickling tale about Michael (Hill Harper), a
porno addict and aspiring photographer who is moonlighting as a security guard
when he falls for Jasmine (Marlyne N. Afflack), a celibate ad executive. Since its debut at the Toronto International
Film Festival last fall where it won Best Canadian First Feature, Eating The
Bones has been well received at festivals in Sudbury, Halifax, Vancouver,
Palm Springs, Santa Barbara and Victoria (where it won Best Canadian Feature
Film). Yet, last month's screening at
the Pan African Festival in L.A., where it was voted Best Feature Film and
Blockbuster Audience Favourite, also highlighted the obstacles facing a movie
with a predominately black cast.
"The
white people who saw it came to us afterward and said `This is not a black
film, it can play to white audiences;' and the black people who saw it, said it
was smart and funny and perfect for black audiences," recalled Holness in
an interview at the couple's mid-Toronto home.
"It really brought home to us that they see themselves as two
different markets. In the U.S., black people and white people don't socialize
unless they are in a relationship. Here, we're not so separate." The couple has fended off attempts to
marginalize the film. One distributor
suggested calling it "Hooking It Up" — in the tradition of flimsy
African American dating movies such as, I Got The Hook Up, How You
Like Me Now and Booty Call.
"I said. `Absolutely not!'" recalled a still-incensed
Sutherland seated opposite his wife at their dinner table. That would say to
every intelligent black person `Keep out' and to everyone else `Keep
out.'" "Eating the
bones" refers to an ancient practice of slaves, sucking the marrow out of
the rare scraps of meat tossed their way, and is employed as a metaphor for
getting the most out of life. Another
challenge for the movie, which also stars Sutherland's high school pal Ed
Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies, Drop The Beat's Mark Taylor and local
rapper Kardinal Offishal, came from industry advisers who said to use U.S.
currency or no bills at all in a crucial scene involving a money changer.
"That
is the rule of Canadian moviemaking based on a false belief that if we show
Canadian money the movie will not sell in the U.S.," explained
Sutherland. "I said `That's
ridiculous; you're telling me I can't show Canadian money and Canadian money
made this film?'" The film's $2.5
million budget is 33 times that of their previous best, 1999's Gemini-nominated
short film My Father's Hands. Through their production company Hungry
Eyes/Film Food, the couple, who met while attending York University and have
two daughters, have completed dozens of music videos, documentaries and short
films. Some people wonder if their
reality has been adapted in Eating The Bones. The answer is yes, and no.
"I was working as a security guard at the Bay-Adelaide Centre in
the mid '90s, because I needed a job I could write at," said
Sutherland. "One of the things
we'd do to pass time was read porn. It was no big deal; that's how most guys
consume porn. But there's always the one person who goes too far and I saw how
it coloured all his relationships with women." That was the inspiration for a script that aims to debunk racial
and romantic stereotypes. "The
black man is a type that is sold as a super masculine stud or thug and I wanted
to reclaim our humanity," said Sutherland, who grins when he recounts
black male viewers who have told him that the lead character's sexual
dysfunction is "unrealistic."
Meanwhile, Holness, who was headed to law school before being enticed by
Sutherland's film vision, sees herself in Jasmine's support of Michael's
artistic pursuits. They speak in
tandem, Holness tempering Sutherland's bluntness. But clashes are inevitable. On this project it was around the risqué
scenes necessitated by the subject matter.
"I had to protect the female lead, Sudz wanted to push the
envelope," said Holness, 35.
That's
because a director needs "options in the cutting room," explained
Sutherland, 34, but admitted that without his partner's input the film
"could've gone off the rails."
"I think because I'm his wife, he has to give me added
respect," said Holness. "I've
worked with other male directors who see the producer as the enemy. But when
Sudz and I disagree, we really weigh what the other is passionate about. And if
he's really passionate, I walk away."
But this time Sutherland didn't force the issue. "I didn't want to make a movie so
graphic that it would turn people off from the love story," he said. "It's very subtle how you get a female
audience to fall in love with a porn addict.
"And it was important that we made this film a safe place for women
since it's women who flock to romantic comedies and bring their husbands and
boyfriends." "Generally
movies with black casts tend not to do well in Canada," said Sutherland,
"but a lot of those movies aren't smart and this one wouldn't be winning
awards if it wasn't, because those people see a lot of films. "No matter what happens, we all worked
hard and it's still a good movie.
"We still made a contribution and brought a little beauty into the
world."
Thrifty Moviegoers Pick Bones
Excerpt from The Toronto Star - Susan
Walker, Entertainment Reporter
A
coupon worth $6 cash-back on tickets to see Love,
Sex and Eating the Bones is
credited with ringing up good business for the weekend screenings of the
Toronto-made romantic comedy. The movie opened Friday and two of its screenings
at the Paramount sold out, a pretty unusual occurrence for a Canadian
movie. "We have taken the money
that would otherwise be directed to (print and TV) advertising and put it in
the hands of the consumer," said Jeff Sackman, president of ThinkFilm. The
film distributor printed more than 10,000 coupons, inserted them in Toronto
newspapers and spread thousands of them around downtown clubs and other
entertainment venues. Early figures indicate more than 1,500 customers cashed
in the coupons. The cash-back is also valid on cheaper matinee and Tuesday
tickets, so that coupon-holders can see Love, Sex for as little as
$2.50. A coupon can be downloaded from the film's Web site: http://www.eatingthebones.com.
The offer extends until March 19.
"I'm tired of films being promoted in the same old way,"
Sackman said. "This was a really good idea and it did seem to work."
The movie is showing on eight screens in Toronto; it grossed more than $10,000
at the Paramount. The original
marketing plan was to distribute the coupons to high schools, but the movie's
18A rating put an end to that. Directed by Sudz Sutherland and produced by his
wife Jennifer Holness, Love, Sex And Eating The Bones is an
unconventional comedy about a young photographer, Michael, who falls in love
with Jasmine, a very sexy marketing executive. She has chosen celibacy after an
unhappy romance. Michael (Hill Harper) is a porn addict. But when Jasmine (Marlyne N. Afflack) succumbs to his charms, he
finds he has a problem: he can't perform when it comes to bedding a real woman
whom he really loves. Sackman, whose
company also distributed the hit documentary Spellbound, says he'll
definitely employ the same strategy on future releases from ThinkFilm. "It
doesn't diminish the value of the film and it encourages word-of-mouth."
Jazsmin Lewis - Taking
Control
By Ivory M. Jones, Atlanta
She
first grabbed our attention starring opposite Ice Cube in last year’s box
office smash, Barbershop, as his supportive, yet realistic wife
Jennifer. Since then, actress Jazsmin Lewis has been
busier than ever, nabbing a supporting role in ABC’s new drama, “Line of Fire,”
a guest role on UPN’s “Eve,” in addition to filming several films, including, Barbershop
2 and The Beat. Amidst all of this activity, she even managed to
find time to form her own production company. With hands immersed so deeply
into the world of Hollywood, it’s hard to imagine that just a few years ago,
Lewis had never even considered a career in acting. Initially, Lewis initially had career aspirations of another
form—music. Unbeknownst to many, she is an accomplished vocalist, producer and
multi-instrumentalist. Up until eight years ago, Lewis kept her bills paid by
working and touring as a bass player. “I was in the music industry and very
happy there. But the business changed and live musicianship wasn’t there
anymore,” she says, referring to her decision to walk away from the music
industry. Since then, she dove head
first into the world of acting, grabbing her first acting give on the last
season of “Martin.” While it wasn’t the most glamorous role—she only had two
lines—it was more than enough to fuel the fire that burned within her. In an industry that is quick to typecast
African American actresses, she says it can be tricky not falling into that
trap. “Until they see you in other roles, it’s very easy to get typecast into
the same type. You can get stuck doing that for a very long time,” she says.
With that in mind, she formed her own production company, Feline Entertainment.
Her first project, “Gametime,” is set to begin pre-production soon. She also
has a role in a film that is based on the life of Melvin Van Peebles,
tentatively titled, Badass. In the film she plays a prostitute who plays
an integral role in his life. Not one to shy away from controversial roles, she
currently stars in the ABC drama, “Line of Fire,” where she plays a madam who
is married to a mob boss. It is precisely her lack of fear that will keep
Jazsmin Lewis in the game for a very long time. “I just love playing characters
that are different and something that no one has ever seen me do. You get
challenged everyday as opposed to following the same format. I love that.”
Luda Looking To
Hollywood
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com
(Mar. 10, 2004) *Ludacris
is a larger than life type, highly
animated type of individual who brings the radio and the club to life when the
beat drops. That being said, he's also custom made to bring a big screen
character to life as well. He's slated to star in "American
Radio," scheduled to shoot in Los Angeles
in early May, reports Production Weekly. The film, written and to be directed by Gary Hardwick,
tells the story of a Hip Hop intellectual and DJ extraordinaire Kwame
(Ludacris) who hosts a popular morning LA radio show with his crew. Preparing
for Kwame's birthday concert and freestyle rap contest that night, Kwame and
his crew have a confrontation with their rivals and they wind up in a police
station just hours before the concert.
Five Questions with Anthony Anderson
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com -
By Wilson Morales
(Mar. 9, 2004) If there’s anyone in this business who has elevated his game and
is worth watching on the big screen, it’s Anthony
Anderson. It’s been a long time since I last saw him on Saturday mornings
with the teen hit show Hang Time, and he’s one of the few guys from those
morning programs who has been able to bring his audience everywhere he’s gone.
The only other guy I can think of is Mark Paul Gosselaar, who played Zack on
Saved By The Bell, and is currently on NYPD Blue. Anderson quickly made an impression as the sidekick in Life,
Exit Wounds, & Two Can Play That Game. Last year was his biggest year to
date as he starred in the successful Kangaroo Jack, appeared with DMX in Cradle
2 the Grave, appeared with Blair Underwood in Malibu’s Most Wanted and had a
television show, All About the Anderson, which is loosely based on his
life. As 2004 begins, Anderson is ready
once again to make a dent in the box office. Already seen earlier this year in
the comedy, My Baby’s Daddy, Anderson also stars in the new film Agent Cody
Banks: Destination London, scheduled for release later this month. In an interview with The Robertson
Treatment, Anderson shares with readers his thoughts about his burgeoning
acting career.
RT: Everything’s coming together
for you on the big screen. At this time last year, Kangaroo Jack came out and
did very well at the box office. Did you think the film was going to do well
knowing its release date was at a time when “bad films” come out in January?
AA: You know what, Jerry O’
Connell and I both did. It’s wild because we talked to Bruckheimer and his
staff once the movie was done what they thought our opening weekend would be.
They came in with some really low numbers and I looked at them like they were
crazy. We just spent 5 and ½ months in the Australian outback and that’s all
that you expect. Everyone knew the work that was involved with it. I’ve been
doing this too long and worked too hard on this project for that to be
acceptable for me, even though the numbers they were coming in with were
respectable in general. How can you expect 18 million dollars from something
like this? We opened with close to 30 or something like that. That’s the number
I saw and that’s the number I told them. Going through the process, Jerry O’
Connell was like, Anthony, this is going to be big. There was an instance when
we were working at the end of the film and we come up to the kangaroo. We’re
not working with live animals; it’s tennis balls for CGI stuff. He knew at that
moment. He compared it to an ET moment when the finger lit up with the little
girl and I got it. That’s when we both knew we were working on something big.
And it was well received.
RT: Where do you want to take
your career because with Kangaroo Jack, the TV show, and Cody Bank 2, a lot of
it seems to be family oriented?
AA: I wouldn’t mind taking my
career there. But I want to do things across the board. Make R rated films and
go back to do PG stuff. I’m an R kind of cat, but that limits your market and
the marketability of a film. That cuts off almost half of the viewing public.
It’s great to sit back with my wife and children and watch my films from
beginning to end, without having to fast forward. It’s good doing films that
are appropriate for a 7 or a 3-year-old. It’s also good making films that my
family and I can sit back and enjoy it, but it’s good on the flipside making a
Romeo Must Die, Exit Wounds, and Cradle 2 the Grave. I don’t want to limit
myself. I believe by making films like that you’re cultivating the next
generation of your audience. That younger generation is growing with me and my
career, it’s built in. There is a method to the madness in my game.
RT: Do you think at this point of
the game it’s wise to reinforce stereotypes?
AA: I don’t think it’s important
to reinforce stereotypes, but these are just facts of life. It’s not like
people go out to make movies that some people might deem inappropriate. Why
should we be ashamed of who we are as a whole, white, black, Asian, brown
green. We all know or have a crackhead in our family. We all know of a mother
that has four children and no father in the house. We all know somebody who
steals. Those are the realities of life. These are just the characters that are
depicted in the film. The film doesn’t hinge on these stereotypes. They’re just
added flavour to the film, often times we overlook all the positives to zero in
on a negativity stereotype. When in actuality it was based on something,
someone was the prototype. Its not like we just picked it out of the air and
just focused on that. That’s the reality that they live in and that’s what this
story is about.
RT: For some reason, there’s
always a debate about rappers and actors and how rappers take most of the parts
from thespians out there trying to find parts. In most of your films, you have
worked with numerous rappers, so what’s your take on the matter?
AA: As long as they respect the
art, as long as they respect what we do, then I’m all for it. I do understand
the logic behind it from the studio and producers of certain genres of films
that they put rappers in. I may not agree with. Just because someone sells 5 or
6 million albums doesn’t mean the same people or going to see that film or that
person act because that’s not what they’re buying. I don’t have a problem with
it as long as they respect what I do. I live, eat, and breathe this. This is
what my energy was created to do, entertain, to have an effect on people’s
lives with my work. If I’m working with someone they need to understand that
and respect this art form, because I’m not going to sit back and let you
bastardize it. I’ve called out some of these rappers, some of the cats that
I’ve worked with, even other actors. I take this seriously.
RT: Do you think you could do a
rap album?
AA: (Laughs) How do you think I
would be perceived if all of a sudden I did make a rap album or became a
singer? I would be criticized; they’d be like what they hell are you doing. I’d
say you’re dancing in my world let me dance in yours. Let me see what I can do.
But to each his own, we should be able to do what we feel and what we want and
be successful. Unfortunately that’s not going to be the case for everyone.
TV NEWS
CBC At Crossroads With VP's Resignation
Excerpt from The Toronto Star – by Antonia Zerbisias
Let the rumours begin. Harold Redekopp, executive vice president of CBC-TV, arguably the most powerful position in Canadian television, is stepping down — and out — in December after six years in the job. You can bet the TV business is already buzzing about likely successors. Redekopp announced his decision yesterday to CBC's board of directors and senior management team. "Let me assure you that I will be working full tilt on my responsibilities with CBC Television until the day I leave," Redekopp, 61, told employees in an internal memo. "That means that I will continue to be accountable, with the rest of our team, for the design and launch of next season's schedule. We will be working hard to consolidate the audience gains we're making this season, and offering Canadians distinctive, high-impact programming of the kind that only the national public broadcaster can offer. At the same time, we will have to confront and resolve some difficult financial challenges in the coming year."
"Harold's departure will be a tremendous loss to the organization," said CBC president Robert Rabinovitch, whose five-year term is up for renewal by Ottawa at the end of the year. "I have come to rely on Harold and will miss his support, his advice and his strong leadership skills. We share the same values and objectives for public broadcasting." Redekopp, regarded as an upright, do-right guy, told me yesterday he hopes to put his public broadcasting background to good use after his departure: "I've always believed that, if you want to help civil democratic society, at the heart of it there has to be a broadcasting component. And that's the area I want to explore." The resignation comes as little surprise to CBC insiders and observers. When appointed in 1998, after seven years as vice-president of CBC Radio and two years as vice-president in charge of regional broadcasting, Redekopp said he would do the job for a limited time. That time came and went but Redekopp stayed on, helming the network through budget cuts, labour woes, a difficult license renewal, a increasingly fragmented TV universe and repeated controversies caused by Don Cherry's Coach's Corner. Cutting through a deeply entrenched culture, he also managed to implement his plan for "integration," which meant breaking down barriers between departments, in both TV and radio. It was a kind of internal convergence move that, for the first time, had CBCers working together to produce and promote their programming. Because of that CBC culture, the betting's on insiders to replace Redekopp. Top internal contenders include:
Tony Burman, he of the mind-boggling job title: Editor in Chief, News and Current Affairs, CBC Radio and CBC Television and Executive Director, CBC TV News, Current Affairs and Newsworld. Could he find room on his letterhead for "vice- president?" Whether this journalist would want to jump from the biggest job in Canadian news to overseeing children's and comedy shows is the key question.
Slawko Klymkiw, executive director of CBC-TV network programming. This ex-news guy designs the TV schedule. But Klymkiw has always seemed uncomfortable in high-profile positions. Becoming vice-president would thrust him into a spotlight he doesn't enjoy and turn him into the kind of suit he seems to loathe wearing.
Jane Chalmers, CBC Radio vice-president. This former reporter turned senior exec ascended to the top of radio only 16 months ago. She may not yet be ready for prime time.
Nancy Lee, executive director of CBC sports. Between Hockey Night In Canada and the Olympics, Lee has the proven ability to handle money and manpower. She could be the dark horse in this race.
Redekopp insists that "a comprehensive search, inside and out" will be conducted and there will be "an orderly transition and succession plan."
Possible outside candidates are:
Susanne Boyce, CTV's programming president. A former CBC producer and executive, she may not want the pay cut and headache that come with jumping ship.
Michael Harris, another ex-CBCer, now running the digital Documentary Channel. Word is, he's has his eye on the top prize at the public network.
Some CBC insiders want to see Trina McQueen, who recently quit the top job at CTV, come back. Others with longer memories might long for the return of Peter Herrndorf, a former CBC-TV vice-president and head of TVO, now in charge of the National Arts Centre. But, as qualified and committed as both may be, neither would likely want to assume the challenge now. "This is an opportunity to put an exciting new team in place," said Redekopp yesterday.
Sex And Candy
Excerpt
from Calgary Sun - by Kevin Williamson
(March 5, 2004) Usually, though, those tour guides look a lot like
Dr. Ruth Westheimer and Sue Johanson — older, non-threatening, maternal voices
of sex education that young and old alike can appreciate. From a decidedly younger and, frankly,
hotter mould is Robin Milhausen, sex-educator and host of Sex,
Toys & Chocolate, debuting March 5 on the
specialty channel Discovery Health.
Milhausen admits her job — she’s a teacher at Indiana University, home
of the world-renowned and sex-pioneering Kinsey Institute — leaves people
nervous and a little perplexed. But
from her perspective, she’s not the one with the strange job — those are the
people toiling away at vocations that have absolutely nothing to do with the
human condition. Like TV critics.
“People ask why am I studying sex and I always ask them, why aren’t you
studying sex? What could be more interesting?
I teach at the University of Indiana and mine is the only class where
nobody falls asleep. “The subject
matter is never boring. I don’t think it’s possible.” Milhausen, who hails from Ontario, was approached by Alliance
Atlantis — producers of Sex, Toys & Chocolate — after they heard a tape of
a call-in show for adolescents she’d made.
She now flies to Toronto for two days a week from Indiana to tape four
episodes. Her co-host is “self-taught life connoisseur” Michael Cho. “I think there is certainly a market for younger, fresher sex
education show. But those women, I idolized them. I’ve followed their careers
for a decade or more. But I think there is definitely room for our show. Sex
with Sue, what she does is amazing … She’s an incredible woman.” As for the questions she fields from
callers, Milhausen says there are always common queries. “We talk about orgasms, that comes up a lot
— ways of enhancing sexual pleasure. People really want to know that they’re
normal — ‘Am I normal? Do other people
like what I like? And how can I make my sex life more enjoyable?’ Those are
questions that seem to come up a lot.”
'Missy Elliott Project' On UPN
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com -
by
Tanya Kersey
(Mar. 4, 2004)
UPN's
new 'dramality' series presently titled "Missy
Elliott Project" has begun searching the US for aspiring
performers to go coast-to-coast with hip hop artist Missy Elliott on one of her
upcoming concert tours. The selected men and women will travel, live together
on the road and compete against each other for the opportunity to become the
next big hip-hop superstar. Open
casting sessions will begin this Sunday, March 7 in Los Angeles. Casting
sessions in Chicago (3/10), New York (3/12), Atlanta (3/15), Arlington, VA
(3/17) and Dallas (3/19) will follow.
Aspiring performers should have a three-minute routine prepared that
showcases their talents as a singer, a rapper, a dancer and an all-around
entertainer. Log onto www.upn.com for more information. The "Missy Elliott Project"
surveillance cameras will be on 24-hours-a-day to chronicle the young vocalists
as they transform into multi-talented hip-hop entertainers, in the process
facing weekly tests that determine who can make the cut. The selected group
will be challenged in a variety of ways while on the road, and with Missy's
guidance, be exposed to top music industry insiders. The Grammy, American Music Award and MTV Video Award winning
Missy Elliott is widely regarded as hip-hop's premiere female artist. Her
influence, combined with millions of CD sales, rivals any of her musical peers.
Vivica Fox Lands On Lifetime
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com
(Mar. 4, 2004)
*50
Cents ol' lady didn't let any grass grow under her feet after their break-up.
She's actually landed herself a new role on Lifetime television. Vivica A. Fox
has replaced Gloria Reuben as the star of Lifetime Television's
rookie crime series "1-800-MISSING," reports the Hollywood
Reporter. The show is based on the
"1-800-WHERE-R-YOU" novels. It centers on an FBI investigator who has
enlisted a young woman (Caterina Scorsone) with telepathic abilities to help
her find missing persons. Fox will play
a new no-nonsense FBI agent who teams up with the psychic girl. With Fox on
board, Lifetime has renewed "1-800-MISSING" for a second season. Reuben, who starred in the series' first
season as a hard-nose FBI agent working with the medium, is set to depart the
show to pursue other projects. "We
support Gloria's decision to leave the show and are grateful for all her
contributions this past year," said Barbara Fisher, Lifetime's executive
VP entertainment. "We wish her continued success in her future
endeavours." This is Fox's first
TV series since CBS' "City of Angels." The agreement with Fox is part
of a wider pact with the show's producer, Lions Gate Entertainment, under which
she will also develop, produce and star in low-budget movies. Her feature
credits include the "Kill Bill" films, "Soul Food" and
"Independence Day."
TV One's 'On Point With Armstrong Williams'
Source: Lynn McReynolds / 410-268-0275 [distributed through BlackPR.com/BlackNews.com]
(Mar. 5, 2004) TV One, the new cable network targeting African American adults, offers viewers a rarely seen personal glimpse of National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice in an interview conducted for On Point With Armstrong Williams, a series of special interviews by conservative commentator and columnist Armstrong Williams. In the episode that premieres Sunday, March 7 from 7-8 PM (ET), the most powerful woman in the world today discusses her life, job, family, faith, the impact of racism on her life and her relationship with the President and other key Administration officials. She also addresses controversial issues such as the University of Michigan affirmative action case and the President's 2003 State of the Union address that included the allegation of Iraq seeking uranium in Niger. The special will also repeat that night at 10 PM (ET) and 1 AM (ET). In discussing the subject of racism, Dr. Rice tells of growing up in a segregated Alabama under Jim Crow, where "you couldn't not see 'Colored Only' fountains." She tells how, as a child shopping with her mother for an Easter dress, a sales clerk directed her to a store room, rather than the fitting room, to try on her dress and of her mother's insistence that her daughter use the fitting room or no purchase would be made. She also tells of being raised by loving parents who taught her she could be anything she wanted to be and of growing up in a nurturing and supportive black middle class community. "There was a very strong sense [in the middle class black community] that Birmingham's problem with segregation was not going to diminish the horizons of those kids," Dr. Rice said. When asked about last year's State of the Union speech, Dr. Rice told Mr. Williams she takes responsibility for the inclusion of the uranium language in the speech, noting, "It should never have been the case that we had in [the President's] speech. . .words that the Director of Central Intelligence didn't want in that speech. I feel terrible about it, and I told [the President] that." Regarding the University of Michigan affirmative action case, Dr. Rice said that, since she had been the Stanford provost and had to deal with similar issues there, the president had asked her opinion on the subject. "I told him. . .that we shouldn't have quotas, that there were problems with the Michigan program, but it was important. . .that race be allowed to be a factor because race is a factor in American life. You can't ignore that." The interview with Dr. Rice was taped February 24 at the Old Executive Office Building in Washington. On Point with Armstrong Williams is an interview series of specials that features prominent Americans in politics and public policy, such as Dr. Rice, Democratic Presidential candidate Al Sharpton and Education Secretary Roderick Paige. Launched in January 2004, TV One (www.tv-one.tv) offers a broad range of entertainment-oriented original programming, classic series, movies, fashion and music that focus on African American themes, issues culture and politics. TV One's investors include Radio One [NASDAQ: ROIA and ROIAK; www.radio-one.com], the largest company that primarily targets African American and urban listeners; Comcast Corporation [NASDAQ: CMCSA and CMCSK; www.comcast.com], the leading cable television company in the country; Constellation Ventures; Syndicated Communications; Pacesetter Capital Group; and Opportunity Capital Partners.
Janet Jackson Does It Live
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com
(Mar. 5, 2004)
*Janet Jackson was supposedly embarrassed by
her brief "flashing" at the Super Bowl, but judging from the nipple
armour, there had to be somewhat of a rush from the incident. So much so, that,
much to the consternation of FCC Commissioner Michael Powell, she will soon
return to television for another LIVE network appearance. Ms. Jackson, 37, will host and perform on
the April 10 edition of NBC's "Saturday Night Live," the network
reported Thursday. The last time the pop diva appeared on "SNL" was
as a musical guest in 1994. The show is
broadcast live on the East Coast from New York City. A spokesman for "Saturday
Night Live" said there are no plans by the network to carry the April 10
show on a special tape-delay, as CBS did for the Grammys and ABC did for the
Oscars to prevent unplanned "activities" in the wake of Jackson's
halftime show. Her new album, "Damita
Jo," is scheduled to be released March 29, and since she is looking for
performance dates to promote the set, what could be better than
"SNL." (Think of the possibilities!)
The appearance on the NBC show will be Jackson's first return to network
TV since the Super Bowl ordeal. Jackson
is scheduled to appear in London next week. Reports say that she will reveal
details of a world tour that will begin this summer.
Man Convicted Of Killing Merlin Santana Gets 25 To Life
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com
(Mar. 8, 2004) *The man convicted of shooting and killing actor Merlin Santana of “The
Steve Harvey Show,” was sentenced to 25 years to life in
prison. Damien Gates, 21, was sentenced in Los Angeles last
Wednesday with the judge calling the killing “truly senseless.” Gates was given
two 25 to life terms, plus 20 years and an additional life term. Santana was shot in the head on Nov. 9, 2002
while sitting in the passenger seat of a friend’s car. Gates was convicted Feb.
5 of the first-degree murder of Santana and the attempted murder of another man
in the car. Two other people were
charged in the case. Brandon Douglas Bynes, 25, who pleaded guilty in January
to voluntary manslaughter and assault. He is awaiting sentencing. The other
person charged is Monique King, 17, who is charged with one count each of
murder and attempted murder. An officer involved in the case testified that
King falsely claimed that Santana had tried to rape her, which prompted the
Gates and Bynes to attack the car.
THEATRE NEWS
Deborah Cox's New Role Written In The Stars
Excerpt from The
Toronto Star - Richard
Ouzounian
(Mar. 7, 2004) At the Palace Theater these days, the first-act finale of
Aida features a woman who lets
her voice ring out boldly as she stands before a blazing orange sky. Deborah Cox is
on Broadway, having just taken over the title role in the long-running Elton
John/Tim Rice musical, and the 30-year-old Toronto singer seems right at
home. "It's exhilarating, exciting
and nerve-wracking all at the same time," is how she describes the latest
step on a journey that has made her the most successful R&B Canadian artist
in history as well as an actor on TV (Nash Bridges) and film (Love
Come Down). "I love
challenges," she admits, "like when people have one idea of what I'm
like and then I turn it around."
It's just after a performance and we're sitting in the bar of the
hyper-chic W Hotel in Times Square. Just the place to interview a music
diva. Except Cox is no diva, and even
in these so-hip-it-hurts surroundings, she is still well-grounded. She sips at
a Chai latte, while her devoted husband, songwriter/musician Lascelles
Stephens, makes sure everything is fine. Mother Jeanette, visiting from
Scarborough, sits at the edge of the sofa.
Family has always been big to Cox, the daughter of Guyanese parents who
moved to Toronto shortly before she was born.
In fact, her earliest performing memory is singing "Happy
Birthday" at a family party when she was only 6. "I was nervous at first, but then I saw the smiles on their
faces and I felt a spark inside me that said `This is my calling, this is what
I want to do.'" And once that
spark ignited, it burst into flame quickly. "When I was 12, I joined my
first band, doing clubs on Queen St." she recalls with a laugh.
"Mamma can tell you stories about writing letters for permission (to sing
in bars)." Jeanette nods in agreement.
"My whole thing was about getting experience. I'd do jingles, sing
backup, anything."
Cox describes her teenage self as "competitive, but in a secret
kind of way. I would always listen to the radio, sing along and try to hit
higher notes than they could." Her idol in those days was Whitney
Houston. "I was pretty driven.
Waking up in the morning, going through my schedules, always busy doing
something." Part of the energy
went into school. Cox attended the Claude Watson School For The Performing Arts
in North York. She shakes her head,
"I was like a sponge back then, experiencing so many things and absorbing
so much." She met Stephens when
she was 17, and at first, their relationship was professional as they wrote
songs and traveled everywhere to try and launch their careers. "The
hardest part," she sighs, "is getting people to believe in you when
you're still nobody." In fact, by
19, Cox had a temporary burnout.
"I was singing in a jazz quartet, doing jingles on the side,
working with my band, but nothing seemed to click. I literally quit and worked
at Vidal Sassoon for a week. I did hair for one week. And then I said `Uh, uh,
girl you gotta get back up and try again.'" And things started changing. She landed a gig as a backup singer
for Céline Dion's world tour and doors began to open. "It's all about
meeting the right people at the right time. Being lucky and knowing what to do
with that luck."
Music biz Svengali Clive Davis took
her under his wing and she exploded on to the music scene in 1995. Within a few
years, she reached the top as her single "Nobody's Supposed To Be
Here" spent a record-breaking 14 weeks at the Number 1 spot on the R&B
charts. Numerous honours followed including two Junos and a nomination as Best
New Artist from the American Music Awards.
But Cox was restless. In addition to her excursions into film and TV,
she went against all her advisors' advice by going out on tour with Sarah
McLachlan's Lilith Fair in 1999 and spent time in Africa as a spokesperson for
the Christian humanitarian organization World Vision. Once home, Cox found her music career cooling and it wasn't easy
to face at first. "Yeah, I'll be honest, it hurt, but you learn to develop
a thick skin and put things in perspective. Look, once when I was starting out,
I was with a band and they paid us $10 to get off the stage because we weren't
singing what they wanted to hear.
"But now I know there are people who want to hear me, the only
question is how many?" While
searching for that answer, she was asked to audition for Aida, easily
landed the role and began rehearsing shortly after the birth of her son,
Isaiah, now 8 months old. She pauses
and looks out the window at the crowd in Times Square with a sense of inner
calm. "I'll tell you something. If there are millions out there that want
to hear Deborah Cox that's great, but if there's just a few people who want to
catch me in a club, that's great too."
She doesn't have to worry. These days thousands of fans are packing the
Palace Theater who want to hear her sing. R&B's loss may be Broadway's
gain. And if we're really lucky, maybe
we'll see her onstage in Toronto.
New Stars Revive Broadway
Excerpt from The Toronto Star - Richard
Ouzounian
The Elton John-Tim Rice version of Aida
has been playing for just four years, which makes it the runt of the Disney
litter, next to Beauty And The Beast (10 years) and The Lion King (6
1/2 years). But it never achieved quite the super-hit status of its
predecessors and so it has been dipping into the pop diva pool to find leading
ladies for some time now. The most notable (for fame, but not necessarily for
success) to date has been Toni Braxton.
But all that has changed with the addition of Toronto's Deborah Cox in the show's title role. Cox had a huge R&B following in the late '90s with songs like
"Nobody's Supposed To Be Here," but in recent years she found herself
more and more uncomfortable with the machinations of the music industry and so
she branched out into TV and film. It was probably inevitable that she wind up
in a Broadway show, but even her biggest fans would be amazed at just how
wonderful she is. From the moment she
steps onto the stage of the Palace Theatre, something magical happens. Cox has
that combination of style, assurance and sheer chemistry that true stars
possess. Her singing is wonderful;
that's to be expected. But her acting is the real revelation. In the wrong
hands, Aida can look like a cardboard epic wrapped around some pop
tunes. With Cox in command, it becomes a substantial and satisfying piece of
musical theatre. In
short, Deborah Cox is the best Aida yet. Her powerhouse performance combined
with her thrilling voice makes this long-running show a brand-new hit all over
again.
'The Color Purple' Comes To Life As Musical
Excerpt from www.billboard.com -
A musical version of Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel
"The Color Purple" will have its
world premiere in September at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre before what is
expected to be a Broadway run. The book has been adapted for the stage by
playwright Marsha Norman, who wrote "'night, Mother" as well as the
book for the musical version of "The Secret Garden." The score for "The
Color Purple" is by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. The musical, a joint venture with New
York-based Creative Battery and Scott Sanders Productions, will open the
Alliance's 2004-2005 season for a five-week run, Sept. 9-Oct. 17. Opening night
has tentatively been set for Sept. 17, according to Sanders. The show is
directed by Gary Griffin. No casting has been announced. "The Color Purple" is told
through the eyes of Celie, a timid young Southern woman, who is raped by her
father, gives birth to two children and suffers years of cruelty married to an
abusive man. Whoopi Goldberg played Celie in Steven Spielberg's 1985 screen
version that also featured Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover. "This is a developmental production
for our creative team to put the show on a stage in front of an audience for
the first time and to learn what's working and what's not -- and to prepare it
for coming to Broadway," Sanders said.
"The Color Purple" had a reading in New York in February,
featuring Jesse L. Martin, Anika Noni Rose and La Chanze as Celie. A workshop
production is planned for June in New York, Sanders said. "The story is
set in rural Georgia and as Alice and I talked about where we wanted to put
this in front of an audience for the first time, we really felt that bringing
this project back to the South was an important thing to do." Sanders said another factor in his decision
to produce the musical in Atlanta was the reputation of the Alliance, which has
staged premieres of works by such playwrights as Pearl Cleage, Sandra Deer and
Alfred Uhry. In 1998, the theater staged "Elaborate Lives: The Legend of
Aida," which eventually became the long-running Broadway hit
"Aida."
SPORTS NEWS
Canadian Wrestler Daniel Igali Knows Athens Olympics Will Be A
Challenge
Excerpt
from www.canada.com - Julie Scott, Canadian Press
(Mar. 7, 2004) Daniel Igali isn't fooling himself. He knows things have changed since he won a
gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Back then, the freestyle wrestler from Surrey, B.C., was going in as the
world champion in the 69-kilogram division and was relatively unknown to
Canadian sports fans. Now, he's ranked 11th in the world in a heavier weight
class and has had a rash of injuries, including one that required
career-threatening neck surgery last year. He's also become one of Canada's
most popular amateur athletes. He
admits he's got a lot of work ahead of him if he's going to return to the
podium this summer in Athens. But he's not going merely to participate, and if
he feels by June or July that he won't be a contender, he may even back
out. "I've been on top of the
podium and I know how it feels," he said. "I want to recreate that. "But if I feel that I can't compete at
that level, then I would have to call it.
I won't make that much of a fool of myself." He's not worrying about that right now
though. In fact, he's excited about the challenge of what is likely to be his
final Games. "If I win at the
Olympics, it would be my biggest achievement ever in my life," he said.
"There are six or seven people that I haven't even wrestled.
"It's a challenge for me and I'm looking forward to it but,
at the same time, it keeps you up at night." Igali defeated Zoltan Hunyady of Fergus, Ont., in a best-of-three
Saturday to earn a spot on the Olympic team in the 74-kilogram class. The
wrestle-off, which took place during the CIS national championships at Brock
University, was necessary after Igali was unable to compete at the Olympic
trials in December due to a rib injury.
Igali earned Canada the Olympic spot in the 74-kilogram class during a
qualifying tournament in Bratislava, Slovakia, in January. Guivi Sissaouri of
Montreal has already qualified in the 60-kilogram class, while Ottawa's Evan
MacDonald has earned a spot in the 66-kilogram class. The rib injury and neck and back problems have dogged Igali
since Sydney. He says he's finally starting to feel healthy.
"I've had pretty good training for the last two and a half
months," he said. "Since the Canadian trials, when my ribs healed up,
I've been going pretty steady."
As long as he remains free of injury, Igali will focus on getting
some matches against the top-ranked wrestlers in his new weight class. He has
yet to face the top-ranked competitors.
The five-foot-six Igali has had to adjust to battling taller and heavier
opponents in the 74-kilogram class. The 69-kilogram division was eliminated by
FILA, the sport's world governing body, when the weight classes were
restructured so the International Olympic Committee could make room for women's
wrestling at future Games. "I
think it's going to be a lot tougher than it was in Sydney," said
Igali. He said most of his fellow
competitors in the new weight division have come down from a heavier division,
while he has had to move up. "You
have to try to overcome that (his size disadvantage) with speed and scout them
out and have a game plan for every one of them, which takes a lot of time, and
I do that well," said Igali. "When competitions come, I spend most of
my time watching my opponents, trying to devise strategies for them."
He said it's finally getting easier. "I think I've grown into the weight class now," he
said. "I'll know where I stand as time goes by." He hopes to get a start at seeing what he's
up against at a World Cup event next month in Azerbaijan. Igali, 30, a native of Nigeria, has lived in
Canada since he competed in the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria. He became
a national hero at the 2000 Olympics when he knelt to the floor and kissed a
Canadian flag after winning a gold medal in the 69-kilogram class. While he's adored by Canadians, he admits
they may not realize what he's up against.
"This notion that I should just go and win, because that's what
everybody thinks, a lot of times (they) don't really know about the sport, they
don't know about your opponents," he said. "There's that expectation
and it's good. I think it's healthy."
Veteran Arrives To Assist Raptors
Excerpt from The Toronto Star - Doug Smith, Sports
Reporter
(Mar. 5, 2004) The Raptors hope
an old, steady hand can help them salvage the rest of the NBA season. Ending a
couple of days of speculation, the Raptors signed veteran point guard Rod Strickland to
the roster today and the 37-year-old should be in a Toronto uniform tonight to
face the New York Knicks. Strickland, who was waived by the Orlando Magic was
expected to take his physical today before signing a contract for the rest of
the season. "He's a good, veteran
player," Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald said. "We've got some
good, young players, but we need some experience." Now in his 17th NBA season, the 6-foot-1
Strickland was averaging 6.8 points and 4.0 assists for the Magic. He has also
played for New York, San Antonio, Portland, Washington, Miami and
Minnesota. Strickland's arrival will
affect the Raptor' backcourt, allowing Milt Palacio and Roger Mason Jr. to
fulfil the roles they were meant to have.
Palacio, more suited as a tempo-changing backup, will see his role
reduced from the too-heavy 35 minutes a night he has been logging in the
absence of Jalen Rose and Alvin Williams, while Mason Jr. is better right now
as a third-stringer rather than a raw second-year player thrust into a key
role. And when Rose returns, which is
expected to be within two or three weeks, having Strickland on the roster will
give coach Kevin O'Neill the same backcourt flexibility he had when Rose and
Williams were both healthy. "Rod's
obviously a veteran who's been with a lot of teams and who has been very
successful for a lot of years," O'Neill said last night. "Hopefully
he can give us some help at the point and help Milt out a bit." Palacio admitted Wednesday in Washington
that his increased workload is "different, not difficult" from what
he's used to. And he has been struggling. After making his first six shots in a
loss to Boston at home on Sunday, he has gone 1 for 15 from the field. To make room for Strickland, who will make
the pro-rated portion of the veteran minimum salary of just over $1 million
(U.S.) for the rest of the season, the Raptors are expected to waive guard
Jannero Pargo. And because Strickland
was placed on waivers before last Monday at midnight, he will be eligible to
take part in the playoffs if the Raptors are able to hang on to a post-season
slot. Meanwhile, the Raptors might have
a chance as early as Monday to jack up their pursuit of ex-Boston Celtic Vin
Baker. A hearing will be held that day
to determine whether an NBA team can sign the veteran power forward, who was
waived and had his contract terminated by the Celtics last month.
Knicks' Thomas, Wilkens Played Key Roles For Raps
Excerpt from The Toronto Star - Doug Smith, Sports
Reporter
(Mar. 5, 2004) To last any
length of time in the cutthroat world of professional sports takes equal parts
defiance and self-confidence and the ability to put failures — however
significant and however frequent — in the past. Tonight at the Air Canada Centre, in a remarkable turn that no
one in this city and few anywhere in the NBA could have foreseen even three
months ago, two of the league's greatest survivors will be on display. Lenny Wilkens and Isiah Thomas, written off
almost too many times to mention, arrive as the head coach and president,
respectively, of one of the NBA's most storied franchises, the men responsible
for turning around the fortunes of the New York Knicks, their current
two-wins-in-10-games slump notwithstanding.
Not bad for a couple of basketball lifers who couldn't get the job done
in Toronto and who were unemployed when this season began. Wilkens endures on the strength of his
dignified personality. "He's really more than a survivor, but in this
business that's a good word," says Washington Wizards coach Eddie Jordan,
a close friend and huge supporter of Wilkens. "He commands respect because
of what he's done, what he's achieved and how he carries himself as a human
being." Thomas, who has been an
NBA general manager and head coach as well as a broadcaster and owner of a
minor league in the last decade, survives because of his ability to make quick,
decisive moves and because he values winning over anything else. "I was a guy who came into the league
at (6-foot-1) and everybody told me I was crazy when I stood up and said the
first day of training camp the Detroit Pistons would win the NBA
championship," he said the day he was hired in December to resurrect the
moribund Knicks. "I'm the same guy
who went to Toronto and they said you're crazy for going to Toronto. I was the
same guy that went to Indiana and everybody told me you're crazy for taking
that job, because the team was totally dismantled. "Each one of those places (has) turned out to be extremely
successful and I'm more than confident that I'll find a way to get this job
done." With Thomas turning over
nearly half the roster in less than three months in a series of bold trades and
with Wilkens bringing a sense of calm, the Knicks have gone from a listless
group of underachievers into a legitimate playoff contender.
The Knicks, with the
Thomas-acquired Stephon Marbury energizing the offence, lead the Raptors by
percentage points in the battle at the bottom of the East's playoff race,
lending an importance to tonight's game that goes beyond the return of Wilkens
for the first time since he was fired by the Raptors last April. Wilkens refused to get caught up in his
return to Toronto ("I'm the type of person who, you move forward,
really," he told reporters in New York yesterday) but Thomas and Knicks
captain Allan Houston know there are bound to be some pangs of emotion. "Probably not (yesterday), but when he
walks out on the floor, he'll have some memories," Thomas said. "And
he'll probably be professional and block those things out and do the job he's
required to do, but I'm sure there will be some emotional tugs at
him." Houston, just back from the
injured list, knows it's not just any, old regular-season game for the
coach. "I would suspect he's an
honest man, a wise enough man probably to admit it's not like any other game,
but at the same time, I'm sure he'd rather be in the playoffs than win this
game," Houston said. Thomas was
the face of the Raptors for the franchise's first three years before a very public
falling out with then-owner Allan Slaight sent him scurrying to the NBC
broadcast booth. He later found himself coaching the Indiana Pacers, taking the
youngest team in the NBA to the playoffs for two successive seasons. That ended
badly, as it often does with Thomas, when he was fired last summer by new
Pacers general manager Larry Bird, an old nemesis.
But his exile didn't last long.
While the entire league was waiting for the Knicks to make a coaching change,
they went higher, firing general manager Scott Layden and replacing him with
Thomas. For Wilkens, the recent past
would make anyone wonder why Thomas would hire him to coach the Knicks. In each
of his previous two jobs — Toronto and Atlanta — he was paid huge amounts of
money not to coach, about $10 million (U.S.) by the Hawks and $5 million by the
Raptors. He was perceived as a man
resting on his laurels. "He had
opportunities to be a GM, but he said the coaching bug was not done and when he
said that I knew there would be an opportunity for him somewhere," Jordan
said. Wilkens' survival is due mostly
to his distant past. "You never thought we would be able to get a hall of
fame coach to come coach the team," Thomas said when he hired
Wilkens. "We pride ourselves in
that we want to be the best and having the opportunity to go out and select the
best, I think he is the perfect fit."
Lebron James To Star Off The Court
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com
(Mar. 8, 2004) *Basketball star LeBron James will be doing more than just starring on
the B-ball court. The young NBA-er is in talks to star in and develop a Spike
Lee joint. "We're still in the
planning stages," said James’ agent Aaron Goodwin. "We don't have a
script yet. We have a production team in place. Spike has been interested for
months now, and LeBron is excited about the project." Lee, who is known to be a huge fan of the
New York Knicks has been close to the game, and not just because of his courtside
seats. He has directed a series of commercial for TNT’s NBA coverage, and his
film “He Got Game,” about a young basketball star featured then NBA rising star
Ray Allen. Incidentally, Cleveland Cav
James is being sued for $15 million for allegedly backing out of an oral
contract to participate in a documentary about his rise to stardom. The
project’s producer, Joe Marsh, reportedly tried to get Lee to direct the film.
FITNESS NEWS
Eating out and Eating Smart
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com -
by
James Andrews
(Mar. 4, 2004)
We
are a nation on the move and in the midst of the chaos of our lives, we tend to
eat out regularly. According to the National Restaurant Association, the
average American over 8 years old eats out 4.2 times a week, or 218 meals per
year. Maintaining a healthy eating
strategy is difficult enough at home; however eating on the go makes healthy
eating tougher. Though eating out can be tricky, with proper preparation you
can have almost as much control over what you consume while you are out as when
you eat in. Below are some TUF TIPS for smart eating:
-
Do not be afraid to ask for what you want. When you are eating out ask
questions. Whether it is about ingredients, methods of preparation, portion
size or substitutions, know what you are ordering. If your server cannot give
you an appropriate answer, politely ask for the manager or someone who can.
-
Be a regular. If you go to the same places often, the staff will get to know
you by name and will become familiar with your tendencies and preferences.
-
As demanding as you are about getting your food your way, be as generous when
tipping. If you take care of those who take care of you they will go the extra
mile for you to get your meal to you the way you want it.
-
Choose restaurants that can provide you with food choices that meet your needs.
For example, KFC and Popeye’s do not serve rotisserie chicken, thus a
restaurant like Boston Market might better serve your dietary needs.
-
Stop eating when you are satisfied. Many restaurants provide you with more food
than you would normally eat. When you are full, have your plate taken from you
or even better, when your food is served to you and it appears to be too much
split it and immediately have the server bring you a box to put some of your
order into and set the food aside.
-
Pass on the dessert. Do the same on unwanted appetizers, drinks, or extra side
dishes. Extra food that you would now normally eat at home means extra
calories.
TUF Tips for specific food types:
Chinese
Always ask about the oil content in food, whether it is fried, braised or
cooked in a wok. Try to stay away from egg rolls, fried noodles and fried
wantons because they are full of saturated oil.
Mexican
As with all foods, stay away from the fried items, specifically tortillas and
refried beans. Stick with baked tortillas, non-fried beans, and chicken dishes.
Fajitas and soft tacos are generally good choices, hold the cheese and sour
cream. Salsa and black beans are great sides and appetizers, however stay away
from the fried chips.
Delis
Sandwiches, can be good options relative to the fat laced choices of fast food.
If your sandwiches have three to five slices of meat, whole grain bread,
mustard or low-fat mayo your meal could be considered quite healthy. Stay away
from tuna, chicken ad egg salads, they are generally smothered in mayonnaise.
Try to choose lean meats such as turkey breast and lean roast beef. Add
lettuce, tomatoes and onions. Lastly, fight the temptation to have a bag of
chips, instead choose fruit or a side salad.
Pizza
Surprisingly, pizza can be a sensible food choice if the proper toppings are
selected. If you keep away from pepperoni and sausage and stick with veggies
and fruit toppings, two small slices and a side salad can be a healthy meal.
Even better, if you can get a pizza with light cheese or even hold the cheese,
you are doing even better.
TUF TIPS Eating out thesaurus:
Buttery, buttered -- higher fat and calories
Casserole -- hidden fat
Creamed -- high in fat
Crispy equals fried
Gravy connotes fatty and high in calories
Sauteed implies butter, therefore fatty
TUF Choices:
- Avoid buffets, the temptation to eat all you can usually over does your will
to eat moderately and under control.
- Salads and vegetables are better side dishes than soups and other dishes with
high fat content; however eat the salad with dressing on the side. Beware—make
sure that you do not overdo it on the cheese, bacon and dressings.
- 86 the butter on your dinner rolls.
- Stay away from fried foods and “junk foods.”
- Stick with red sauces, such as tomato sauces and salsa, they tend to be lower
in fat then their white and brown counterparts.
- Stick with foods that are steamed, poached, broiled and roasted.
- Watch what you drink. Most drinks are low in fat, with the exception of milk,
most milkshakes; however many beverages are high in sugar. Therefore try to
stay with diet beverages, such as teas, black coffee, unsweetened fruit and
vegetable drinks.
- Temper your desire for dessert. If you must indulge in a post entrée delight,
share a portion or stick with fruit cups, yogurts, gelatine desserts and
sorbet.
The
next time you are eating out remember the suggestions above. Eating out and
eating smart can be a challenge, but with practice and planning it can be done.
OTHER NEWS
'For the love of God, put the guns down'
Excerpt from The Toronto Star - Kerry
Gillespie And Joseph Hall, Staff
Reporters
Julia Farquharson lifts up a photograph of her son,
clad in black, lying in his coffin.
"This is Segun Farquharson," his mother says, holding out the
picture to a hushed Malvern-area church audience. "This is what guns laid on my doorstep. For the love of the
almighty God, please put the guns down."
Farquharson, whose son was shot to death during a North York robbery in
2001, was a featured speaker yesterday at a hastily arranged anti-gun rally in
the city's troubled Malvern district. About 100 area residents crowded Malvern
Presbyterian Church on Nielson Rd. to hear religious leaders, politicians,
victims and senior police officials pray for, plot and demand an end to the
recent gunplay that has shaken the northern Scarborough community. In the past month alone, at least five
people have been killed or injured in street shootings within blocks of the
church. Young gunmen have shot at least 10 people in the area since April,
killing five. In a fiery oration,
pastor Orrim Meikle of Rhema Ministries said that part of that community
involvement would require area clergy to get out from behind their pulpits and
take their messages of peace to the streets.
"I think in this particular season there has to be straight talk
and plain talk. We have sat around in corners and argued theology," Meikle
said. "But the problem is in our
streets. Our hands are too clean. Our sleeves are no longer up," he said.
Four
men were shot in three incidents between Wednesday evening and Thursday
morning. Brenton Charlton, 31, was shot
and killed as he drove with his friend Leonard Bell, 43, in the Neilson Rd. and
Finch Ave. E. area during Wednesday evening rush hour. Bell was wounded but is
expected to survive. Patrick
"Dalton" Pitters, 19, was killed when he opened the door to a pair of
home invaders at a friend's Pharmacy Ave. apartment early Thursday. Jayvien Piper was shot just before 11 p.m.
on Wednesday in the McCowan Rd. and Sandhurst Circle area. So far this year,
there have been 12 slayings in Toronto, with 31 still under investigation from
last year. Piper was on his way home
from night school on Wednesday when a man with a gun chased him down. He was shot in the head and died in
Sunnybrook hospital two days later. “We’re continuing to interview family and
friends about his background to see if there is anything that is part of
this," Detective Rudy Pasini said yesterday. "He was coming from night school," he added. "He
was trying to get his Grade 12 to go to college." Those dashed hopes resonated at the anti-gun
rally in Malvern.
"Enough
is enough, we've been terrorized ... and we have to stop this nonsense,"
said area councillor Raymond Cho (Scarborough-Rouge River). "These people
are acting like terrorists." Many
of the young gunmen, he added, were the likely pawns of drug and crime
lords. He suggested attacking the gun
problem with a combination of stronger policing, including the use of
helicopters, tougher gun laws and sentencing, better recreation and youth
programming, more work and educational outlets for young people and stronger
parental and community involvement in their lives. It was Farquharson, however, who was living the real-life
aftermath of her 24-year-old son's shooting death. "I want everybody to take a look at this picture," she
said, panning the room with the photograph of her dead son. "This is a young man in a coffin and
there are many more young men in coffins just like this one. This is a human
being. Look at it all of you."
Farquharson,
who is a founder of United Mothers Opposing Violence Everywhere (U.M.O.V.E.),
said her son's death has focused her life on trying to stop gun violence from
taking other young men down.
"Although my son is dead I am not dead," she said, to nods and
amens from the crowd. "And we must
carry on his legacy by trying to save other young men from destroying other
young men by the senseless use of the gun.
"I ask you as mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, if you know of
your sons or brothers using or carrying a gun and shooting other young black
men, tell them to stop the senseless killing of their own kind. I'm begging
you." Farquharson joined all of
the other speakers in saying that the community must work with police and all
levels of government in a co-ordinated effort to curb rising gun use. She also spoke directly to the area's young
people, a few of whom ventured into the church for the rally. "Don't live by the sword. Your actions
will catch up to you some day."
Shane
Lyn, 19, said he would try to preach the anti-gun message to his Malvern
peers. But Lyn also said that Toronto
schools, with their zero tolerance policies on violence, shared part of the
blame for the gunplay, much of which is gang related. "Kids get kicked out of school for fighting and they have
nowhere to go and nothing to do," he said. "So they look to gangs for excitement and
acceptance." In the Piper case,
detectives are interested in talking to anyone who may have seen a 1995 or 1996
dark green two-door Honda Civic with a light interior and a silver coloured
muffler that extends several inches past the rear bumper. The car was parked on Sandhurst Circle just
east of McCowan Rd. at the time of Piper's shooting. The suspect got into the car after shooting Piper at
approximately 10:50 p.m. Wednesday. If
you've seen this car, please contact Pasini at 416-808-7409.
‘In’ Crowd Moves Further West Along Queen St.
Excerpt from The Toronto Star – by Murray
Whyte, Entertainment Reporter
Behind
the storey-high arched windows on the second floor of the Spin Gallery on Friday, Stewart Pollock was having a bit of a
problem. "There was an inch of
dust on the floor in here at 8:30 this morning," said Pollack, a taut,
wiry presence in near-constant motion, buzzing through the cavernous,
wooden-floored space near Queen St. W. and Dovercourt Rd. But the clean-up, a by-product of extensive
renovations taking place downstairs, is the price of admission to the hottest
district in town. "People have been speculating on this area for
years," he said. "Now, what's happened here in the past six months is
just amazing." By
"here," Pollock means the distant reaches of Queen St. W. — west of
the foreboding monolith of the Queen Street Mental Health Centre, at Ossington
Ave., to the fringe of Parkdale at Dufferin St.
Since
the late 1990s, tiny independent galleries have clustered along the strip,
between the used appliance stores and all-night doughnut shops, in search of
cheap rent. But in the past year, larger galleries, such as DeLeon White and
Edward Day, have migrated down from the tony environs of Yorkville. Steven Bulger Gallery, a longtime fixture on
Queen St. W. at Manning Ave. — now a pricey retail zone — migrated west to near
Dovercourt Rd. to occupy space in a building bought by Mongrel Media, an
independent film distributor. High-end
art dealer Olga Korper recently bought a building at Queen and Ossington. The
Museum of Canadian Contemporary Art, long housed in North York, has secured a
10-year lease in the area as well.
Condominium developments stand in various states of completion within
eye-shot. Cafes and boutiques are commanding more of the desolate streetscape.
Even the city has gotten in on the act, replacing the neighbourhood's
weathered, rust-fringed street signs with an updated label: Art + Design
District. Underneath Pollock, a posh
old clothing store, 69 Vintage, is under construction (hence the dust). In the
same building, which as recently as December was a shabby repository of used
industrial kitchen equipment, a stylish pub is preparing the remaining
space. And with all that come the
crowds.
"I
would say 300 people came through here last weekend," said Pollock, who
moved to the new space about a month ago, from Queen and Bathurst Sts.
"That's totally different than on Bathurst. I mean, that's just
incredible, isn't it?" And then,
of course, there is the anchor to which the new arrivals cling. The Drake
Hotel, just a couple of blocks west, at Queen and Beaconsfield Sts., has become
the neighbourhood's most potent magnet, attracting people from all over the
city who might never have thought this gritty urban strip as the ideal place
for a night out. But suddenly, with the Drake's opening last month, it is. And
not everyone is pleased. On Friday
night, the same evening that Spin held its typically chaotic opening for the
exhibition "Monkey See, Monkey Do," down the street at the Drake, a line-up
was building on the sidewalk. Inside, locals grumbled quietly about the throngs
of suburbanites impinging on their turf.
"Weekends,
it's all 905ers in here. It's brutal," grumbled one neighbourhood regular,
who asked not to be named. "Something's got to be done." For Ferdinand Suzara, owner of Studio
Brilliantine, a design boutique he opened seven years ago near the corner of
Queen and Dovercourt, it's not time to push the panic button yet. "It was just us out here for the
longest time," he said. "Right now, it's a big plus. People aren't
thinking of us as the fringe anymore. You get all sorts of people coming who
wouldn't normally venture out here."
Still, Suzara is as wary as anyone of the dangers of being an urban hot
spot. "The last thing that anyone wants is for it to get too clean,"
he said. "Hopefully, all the independent galleries will be able to stay,
because that's what makes this area different. If it just becomes an outdoor
mall that's the same as anywhere else, then what's the point?" Pollock, for one, is contributing to
difference, not sameness. While he benefits from the burgeoning walk-in
traffic, the stridently independent identity he and his partner, artist and
curator Juno Youn, have cultivated remains intact. That's clear in the eclectic array of work on the walls — all
primate-themed, in keeping with the show's title — from such senior artists as
Attila Richard Lukacs to neophytes, such as Rachel Kim.
It's
evident, too, in Spin's opening Friday, a packed, anarchic affair flowing with
beer and wine, that featured performances by a drag queen and a man suspended
from the ceiling by hooks through his flesh. Evidence of a rapidly sanitizing
post-urban playground it is not.
"I don't believe in controlling anything that goes on here,"
Pollock says. "Yorkville galleries have suffered in the last five years,
and it's that mentality — they just give you the up and down, decide if you
have enough money, and ignore you if they think you don't." Pollock lights a cigarette and gives the
neighbourhood turnover some thought. "Art is intimidating enough
already," he says. "The dealers down here are making an effort to
make it as welcoming as possible."
The scene at Spin on Friday night may have been a little much for the
neighbourhood's recent long-distance drop-ins, but Pollock wants them to know
they're welcome all the same. Who knows? Maybe the invaders might end up on the
side of the invaded. "It opens
their horizons, doesn't it?" he says, and then laughs. "It makes them
a little more Queen St., I guess."
Goldbloom Appointed Star publisher
Excerpt from The Toronto Star - By Nicolaas Van Rijn, Staff Reporter
Michael Goldbloom, the Star's deputy publisher and senior vice president of
strategy and human resources, will take over direction of the newspaper as
publisher May 5. The announcement was
made just before noon Friday by Rob Prichard, president and chief executive
officer of Torstar Corp., which owns the Star.
Goldbloom, 51, succeeds John Honderich, who announced Jan. 25 that he is
leaving the paper with which he's been associated for 28 years, the last 10 as
publisher. "I am absolutely
delighted to announce Michael's appointment as publisher," Prichard said
as he introduced Goldbloom to a meeting of the newspaper's key managers.
"He is superbly qualified for the role." Goldbloom, who was publisher of the Montreal Gazette for seven
years before joining the Star in 2003, "is a Canadian of the first rank,
and will be an outstanding leader for Torstar's flagship newspaper,” Prichard
said. As publisher of the Gazette,
Prichard noted, Goldbloom was in charge of Montreal's only English-language
daily, one of Canada's major metropolitan newspapers. "Under his leadership, the Gazette significantly improved
its content, credibility and profitability," he added. Dr. John Evans, chairman of Torstar Corp.,
expressing "the greatest confidence in Michael's leadership," said he
looked forward "to his continued outstanding contributions." Goldbloom, who said he had "a deep
appreciation for the very important role of the Toronto Star in our city and
country," vowed to "continue the fight to ensure the Star remains the
leading daily newspaper in Toronto’s intensely competitive newspaper
market." And he promised to
protect the Star's voice and the Atkinson Principles of social justice that
form its philosophy. "Like my
predecessors, I am fully committed to ensuring the Toronto Star remains an
advocate for social justice issues and Canada's leading voice of liberalism and
crusading journalism," said Goldbloom.
Honderich, 57, said the appointment left him "delighted."
Goldbloom, he said, "is a true newspaper man and is committed to the
principles and traditions that have made the Star so great."
Queen
Latifah, Outkast Winners At NAACP Image Awards
Excerpt from www.allhiphop.com - By Clarence Burke Jr.
(March 7, 2004) Outkast and Queen Latifah were winners at last night's 35th Annual NAACP Image Awards, which
took place in Los Angeles at the Universal Amphitheatre. Outkast took home an award for Outstanding
Duo or Group, while Queen Latifah snagged the Best Actress award for her role
in the comedy, "Bringing Down the House." Luther Vandross was the big winner of the evening, winning four awards. Vandross is
recuperating from a stroke and was not on hand at the ceremonies to accept his
awards. Cuba
Gooding Jr. won Best Actor for
"Radio" while "The Fighting Temptations" took home Best
Movie honours. The Gospel music comedy
"The Fighting Temptations" won for best movie. The highlight of the evening was the
tribute performance to Ray Charles by B.B.
King, Stevie Wonder and Bonnie Raitt, before the music giant
was inducted into the NAACP Hall of Fame.
The 2004 Image Awards were hosted by Jill Marie Jones, Golden Brooks,
Tracee Ellis Ross and Persia White who star on UPN's hit series
"Girlfriends." The 35th
Annual NAACP Image Awards will air on Thursday, March 11 at 8pm EST on Fox.
Beyonce's Super Band Members
Excerpt from www.eurweb.com
(Mar. 4, 2004)
*How
'bout a hip hip hooray for Beyonce's band
one time?! Yep, the boys in the band
showed their good Samaritan sides yesterday.
Lead guitarist Shaun Carrington, bass guitarist Kern Brantley and
drummer Nisan Stewart, in town to rehearse for a tour with Beyonce, came to the
aid of a 91-year-old driver, chasing and holding down a suspected
carjacker. Police said Reynold Caleen,
a great -grandfather of nine, tried to fight off a knife -wielding suspect when
he grabbed the elderly man's wallet in the parking lot of a Walgreen's store
Tuesday — knocking the suspect's knife out of his hands and kicking him several
times as the pair wrestled to the ground.
The AP reports that the two band mates pulled in front of the suspected
carjacker as he tried to drive the elderly man's car out of the parking lot —
and chased him on foot when he got out and ran. The suspect was charged with armed carjacking and battery of a
person over 65, a felony in Florida.
Image Entertainment & The Source Sign Distribution Deal
Source: Kiwan
Anderson / The Source / kiwan@thesource.com
(Mar. 3, 2004) CHATSWORTH, CA - Image Entertainment, Inc., a leading licensee
and distributor of DVD programming, announced an exclusive audio distribution
deal with The Source, a leading
hip-hop and youth lifestyle media/entertainment company. The multi-title audio agreement begins with
the June 29, 2004 release of Hip Hop Hits Volume 8, the latest title in the
successful CD series. The Company contemplates a minimum of three releases
through December of 2004, including a definitive box set with bonus materials
representing 25 years of Hip-Hop. With platinum and gold titles and sales
exceeding 4 million units, the firmly established Hip Hop Hits line was
previously distributed by Def Jam Records and is one of the most successful CD
compilation lines on the market. “With
the current disarray happening at major record labels, the time is ripe for
independent distributors to make their mark in Hip-Hop,” said David Mays, CEO
of The Source. “As Hip-Hop music and culture evolves back to its indie roots,
The Source is extremely proud to align ourselves with a strong, proven and
committed distribution partner such as Image Entertainment.” “The agreement with The Source is further
evidence of Image’s determination and commitment to significantly grow our
presence in the audio format,” explained Image CEO Martin Greenwald. “Retail
has been very supportive of the brand, and I look forward to working with David
Mays to take his programming to new sales levels through the Image system. We
will be working with The Source to create compelling programs and expand the
audience for Hip-Hop and urban entertainment. This is a very important
agreement for Image, and all of us look forward to working with this
world-class brand.”
Winferno Snapzip: First to Compress and E-mail With Ease
Source: Poonam Balani / pbalani@pr-vantageny.com
(Mar. 4, 2004) BOSTON -- Everyone
likes to take photos and then share them with family, friends and co-workers. A
quick way to share photos is to e-mail them. However, as photos are very large
files, e-mailing these can cause long delays, they can freeze a computer while
trying to send, or even fail to be sent due to the size. Winferno
Software announced SnapZip(tm)
for users that like to e-mail photos but haven't found an easy-to-use solution
up until now. SnapZip is the only program that allows users to easily zip and
e-mail photos with one mouse click, and is compatible with other leading Zip
programs. The most efficient way to
send large files is to compress or 'zip' them before e-mailing. Up until now,
there wasn't a user-friendly compression program available and of the programs
that exist, none can compress photos, and offer compatibility with other Zip
programs. For the first time, users don't have to fuss with complicated
programs and have a solution to e-mail photos with ease. SnapZip intelligently
uses a combination of "lossless" and "lossy" compression on
photos and documents. With Winferno
Software's SnapZip, zipping large files reduces the size of the file and
average of three to four times. Even multiple photos can be saved in one zipped
file and then quickly and easily e-mailed. There is no learning curve to
SnapZip. An easy-to-use graphical interface guides the user to simply drag and
drop files to zip them. Once the file has been zipped, the program instantly
asks the user if they would like to e-mail the zipped file, and then
automatically creates an e-mail in the user's default e-mail program with the
files attached.
"In
the past I've used other compression programs like WINZIP, which was mediocre
but SnapZip has definitely made it easier since the process (zip and e-mailing
of photos) is so painless," said Mark Leonardelli. "I've already
recommended SnapZip to others."
"I
love your SnapZip program. It is so easy to use and much better than other
programs I've tried before," said Doug Beckling. "I will tell all my
friends about this one for sure. This is a must have for anyone.
AAA+++++++." "Winferno's
SnapZip program is great. I send a lot of photos, and I send them
frequently," said Patricia Martin. "On a scale of 1-5 with 5
exceeding expectations, I rate SnapZip a 5." In addition to using SnapZip to easily compress, e-mail and store
photos and documents, SnapZip can also be used to back up files. Since less
space is required to save files, up to five times as many files can be
duplicated and saved to a disk or a CD for back-up purposes.
Pricing
and Availability SnapZip is available now on the Winferno website and
retail price is $29.95. All Winferno software comes with a 30-day, 100% money
back guarantee. About Winferno Software
Founded in 2000, Winferno Software is a privately held corporation based in
Boston, Massachusetts. Winferno developed Secure IE(tm), the first Internet
security software tool, to protect consumers from web browser security threats,
a menace not satisfactorily addressed by other products on the market. In
addition to safeguarding users from Internet-based dangers, Secure IE enhances
productivity and can speed up downloads faster than other web browsing tools.
Winferno is also dedicated to providing research professionals with a powerful
suite of research tools, offering Research-Desk(tm), a productivity application
that has been inducted into the Microsoft Windows User Group Network's Hall of
Fame. The company has patents pending for the technology underlying its core
products, Research-Desk and Secure IE. For more information on Secure IE visit
www.secureie.com. For more information on Winferno visit www.winferno.com.
CD RELEASES
Tuesday, March 9, 2004
CEE-LO Cee-Lo Green Is The Soul Machine (Arista)
GLENN
LEWIS Back For More (Epic)
HARRY BELAFONTE Platinum &
Gold (BMG Heritage)
POINTER
SISTERS Platinum & Gold Collection (BMG Heritage)
VARIOUS
ARTISTS Bad Boy's 10th Anniversary - The Hits (Bad Boy)
WYNTON
MARSALIS The Magic Hour (Blue Note)
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
BIG BOI OutKast Presents - Big Boi's Boom Boom Room (DVD)
(Arista)
JOE
JACKSON Afterlife (Outside Music)
BRANFORD MARSALIS 'The Steep Anthology'
(Sony)
SUGARHILL
GANG The Best of Sugarhill Gang (DVD) (Rhino)
USHER
Yeah (Arista)
EVENTS – MARCH 11 - 21, 2004
Tonya Lee Williams Gospel Jubilee – March 11, 2004 on CBC-TV at 9:00 pm
Join Tonya Lee Williams and some of Canada’s hottest vocalists for an
inspirational evening entitled Tonya Lee Williams Gospel Jubilee. Be a part of this soulful television special
on Thursday, March 11th, 2004 by tuning into CBC-TV at 9:00 pm. EST.
Tonya Lee Williams Gospel Jubilee is an exhilarating one hour
celebration of gospel music, history and singing sensations. Set on an atmospheric revival church stage
in front of a live audience, Tonya Lee Williams guides us through the trials
and tribulations of sprit and history.
The infectious songs of gospel will guarantee you get on your feet and
dance! Joining Tonya on stage are
internationally award winning singing stars:
Deborah Cox gets the crowd on their feet with her solo
numbers, Glenn Lewis sings a memorable and touching duet with
his mother Betty Lewis (first time ever performing together), Kim and Jackie
Richardson’s mother and daughter
duet bring down the house, and the heart wrenching performance of Jully Black to
her Mother, all supported by the exceptionally inspirational Sharon Riley and
Faith Choral. Also
performing are Londa Larmond, the D’Neuve Contemporary Dance Theatre and many
more. Gospel Jubilee musical director
Joe Sealey leads a team of harmonious angels for a night of heaven on
earth.
The special also includes an historical element exploring the roots of
Gospel, its emergence within the Canadian cultural mosaic and the tremendous
impact Gospel Music has had on our lives over the years. Tonya Lee Williams Gospel Jubilee will make
your spirit soar and feet tap all through the hour. Infused with dance, history and most importantly the
electrifying, exhilarating and soulful sounds of Gospel Music, Tonya Lee
Williams Gospel Jubilee is an inspiration, a party and a night to
remember. Filmed before a live audience
at the Bathurst Street Theatre in Toronto, Tonya
Lee Williams Gospel Jubilee is a must-see television event!
FRIDAY, MARCH 12
BUSTA RHYMES IN CONCERT
Featuring Bishop and Kyprios
The Docks
11 Polson Street
Doors open: 9:00 pm - Performance by Busta Rhymes at 11:00 pm
416.469.5855
$25 in advance (inc. Taxes), more at the door
All Ticketmaster Locations 416.870.8000
Online via www.nitelifeinfo.com,
or in person @ the Docks
For more information CLICK
HERE TO LAUNCH EVITE
EVENT
PROFILE:
WINNER
BEST LIVE PERFORMER .. "Source Magazine” Busta’s first Toronto appearance alongside Bishop and Kyprios inside the Docks this Friday.
Come and check an awesome trio of talent and let’s show Busta what Toronto is
all about!
SUNDAY, MARCH 14
SOULAR
College
Street Bar
574
College Street (at Manning)
10:30
pm
$5.00
EVENT
PROFILE: Featuring Dione Taylor, Sandy Mamane, Davide Direnzo,
Justin Abedin, Dafydd Hughes and David French.
MONDAY, MARCH
15
VIP JAM WITH
SPECIAL GUESTS
Revival Bar
783 College
Street (at Shaw)
10:00 pm
NO COVER
EVENT
PROFILE: Featuring Rich Brown, Joel Joseph and
Shamakah Ali with various local artists.
TUESDAY, MARCH 16
JAM
SESSION
Lava
Lounge
507
College Street (west of Bathurst)
10:30
pm
NO
COVER
EVENT
PROFILE: Featuring prolific Canadian talent, Calvin Beale,
Michael Shand, Joe Bowden, Thomas Reynolds and various local artists.
SUNDAY, MARCH 21
SOULAR
College Street
Bar
574 College
Street (at Manning)
10:30 pm
$5.00
EVENT
PROFILE: Featuring Dione Taylor, Sandy Mamane,
Davide Direnzo, Justin Abedin, Dafydd Hughes and David French
Have a great week!
Dawn Langfield
Langfield Entertainment
www.langfieldentertainment.com