Russell Simmons is looking to restart his Def Poetry Jam and is talking with Grammy-winner Chance the Rapper to host it. Simmons teased the new project, which would be called All Def Poetry, today on Instagram, saying the potential series is in the works at HBO. Simmons has a long-standing relationship with HBO, where he has been under back-to-back first-look deals. Simmons’ original Def Poetry Jam was a spoken-word poetry series hosted by Mos Def that ran on HBO from…...
- 7/14/2017
- Deadline TV
Louisa Mellor Sep 28, 2017
To mark National Poetry Day in the UK, we celebrate a dozen of TV’s best worst fictional poets…
The best words in their best order. That’s how Samuel Taylor Coleridge summed up the task of a poet.
See related Star Trek: Discovery episode 2 review - Battle At The Binary Star Star Trek: Discovery episode 1 review - The Vulcan Hello Star Trek Discovery: take our special quiz here!
Not everyone, however, can be Coleridge, nor can they follow his advice, as this slim volume of fictional TV poets proves…
12. Charlie and Dee – It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Makeup... smearin'/No power steerin'/He be talkin'/but we don't be hearin'/Speaks like Zeus/Smells like poops/Rage all over from his head down to his shoes.
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’s alliances between Dee and Charlie are always excellent value. She’s ridiculous,...
To mark National Poetry Day in the UK, we celebrate a dozen of TV’s best worst fictional poets…
The best words in their best order. That’s how Samuel Taylor Coleridge summed up the task of a poet.
See related Star Trek: Discovery episode 2 review - Battle At The Binary Star Star Trek: Discovery episode 1 review - The Vulcan Hello Star Trek Discovery: take our special quiz here!
Not everyone, however, can be Coleridge, nor can they follow his advice, as this slim volume of fictional TV poets proves…
12. Charlie and Dee – It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Makeup... smearin'/No power steerin'/He be talkin'/but we don't be hearin'/Speaks like Zeus/Smells like poops/Rage all over from his head down to his shoes.
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’s alliances between Dee and Charlie are always excellent value. She’s ridiculous,...
- 10/6/2016
- Den of Geek
From the director of “Heaven Can Wait” and “Change In The Game” comes “Divided Time” a mini documentary on the challenge of balancing fatherhood and pursuing the hip hop dream. “Both my friend and I lost our fathers not too far apart and we wanted to do something to honor them,” said filmmaker Will Feagins jr. Years later, “Divided Time” was born, which features local Atlanta superstars, including Ekundayo and Def Poetry’s Abyss and many others. A young indie filmmaker on the rise, Feagins was featured on S&A last year here, in a piece profiling his past work. His short Documentary “Underexposed: Indie Hip Hop in Atlanta" will...
- 6/16/2014
- by Karen Marie Mason
- ShadowAndAct
Just as Wichita State fans were starting to heal ... Arsenio Hall ripped open the wound again with a pretty funny spoken word take on all the March Madness carnage.Arsenio did an awesome tribute to Def Poetry on his show last night ... debuting a poem about all the Ncaa bracket busting -- and taking jabs at the Shockers, the Syracuse Orangemen, and degenerate gamblers in general.Check it out ... the highlight might actually be his shot at Lauryn Hill.
- 3/27/2014
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Exclusive: Hip-hop mogul, film and television producer and entrepreneur Russell Simmons has signed with Wme for representation in all areas. He was at CAA. The representation shift follows the Def Jam founder’s decision earlier this year to move full time to Los Angeles to focus on building his film and TV businesses, run by Jake Stein and recently appointed Chris Conti, respectively. Under a two-year first-look deal at HBO, which Simmons inked in May, he is executive producing a high-profile new drama project from 12 Years A Slave director Steve McQueen. Simmons’ other entertainment endeavors include being the co-founder of the new YouTube channel All Def Digital and of the production company Simmons-Lathan Media Group with partner Stan Lathan, which was behind HBO’s Def Comedy Jam and Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry and hit feature The Nutty Professor, among others. Simmons also is the owner and founder of Rush Communications,...
- 11/8/2013
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Over a decade ago, Staceyann Chin burst onto the scene with Russell Simmons’ “Def Poetry Jam” on Broadway. Sharing the stage with other prominent poets and hip-hop artists, she garnered a Tony Award for her performance.
Chin, known for candidly revealing her frustrating childhood in Jamaica -- a country known for homophobia -- said she became aware of a growing interest in her experience as a Jamaican lesbian immigrant. In 2010, she released her critically acclaimed memoir, The Other Side Of Paradise.
Chin, 40, a lover of “a good story,” is now working on a new book about motherhood and parenting. When she’s not writing, on stage or traveling the world, she's hosting comrades for tea, wine, “crap TV,” or political talk. In the living room of her Brooklyn apartment, her daughter by her side, Chin chatted with HuffPost about homophobia, Jamaica, motherhood, and more.
What urged you to write your memoir,...
Chin, known for candidly revealing her frustrating childhood in Jamaica -- a country known for homophobia -- said she became aware of a growing interest in her experience as a Jamaican lesbian immigrant. In 2010, she released her critically acclaimed memoir, The Other Side Of Paradise.
Chin, 40, a lover of “a good story,” is now working on a new book about motherhood and parenting. When she’s not writing, on stage or traveling the world, she's hosting comrades for tea, wine, “crap TV,” or political talk. In the living room of her Brooklyn apartment, her daughter by her side, Chin chatted with HuffPost about homophobia, Jamaica, motherhood, and more.
What urged you to write your memoir,...
- 2/23/2013
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
Every year, precisely the week before we toast to a new edition of the Sundance Film Festival, there is a lucky set of a dozen or more scribes who head of to the Sundance resort as part of the January Screenwriters Lab. For the 2013 edition, this year’s dozen includes some familiar names and fairly diverse international mix and at the top of the list we find Andrew Renzi who’ll be at the fest the week later with his short Karaoke! and will be workshopping his feature film Franny. Russell Harbaugh who brought his queasy The Celebration-esque short Rolling on the Floor Laughing to the fest the year before, will also be receiving support on his debut entitled, Love After Love. Jan Kwiecinski whose most recent short was part of The Fourth Dimension project will tackle The Incident, and K’naan, an artist who is already had practice at...
- 12/17/2012
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Writer/director Prashant Bhargava and producer Jaideep Punjabi were the recipients of the rising star film awards for Best director and Best picture for the feature film Patang (The Kite). The awards ceremony was held in New York City on October 23rd, 2012. The jury consisted of Indian Film Critic Rajeev Masand; India Abroad Editor Arthur Pais, Singer/Songwriter And Goldspot Frontman Siddhartha Khosla; American Actress And Musician Janina Gavankar And American Actor Maulik Pancholy.
Patang is one of the most critically celebrated indian films of the year. Patang had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival and its north american premiere in competition at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film has gone on to play at 30 film festivals worldwide and won numerous accolades including best feature narrative at the Hawaii International Film Festival, best world narrative at the Indy Film Festival, special jury award and the best feature narrative...
Patang is one of the most critically celebrated indian films of the year. Patang had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival and its north american premiere in competition at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film has gone on to play at 30 film festivals worldwide and won numerous accolades including best feature narrative at the Hawaii International Film Festival, best world narrative at the Indy Film Festival, special jury award and the best feature narrative...
- 10/29/2012
- by Press Releases
- Bollyspice
Like most city kids, Lemon Andersen's life revolved around his apartment building. And like too many city kids in precarious situations, he wound up on the wrong side of the law.
Andersen's story from three-time felon to playwright is told in "Lemon," airing Friday Oct. 19 (check local listings), on "Voces on PBS" as part of Hispanic Heritage Month, though technically the month ends earlier this week. Lemon is his nickname, which came about because he was so blond as a kid.
Andersen's parents had drug problems, and his beloved mother, Millie, died of AIDS. He talks lovingly about his mom.
Andersen turned that pain into poetry, catching the attention of Russell Simmons, who hired him and eight others to perform in "Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam," honored with a special Tony Award.
The film shows how he, his wife and children live with her parents in a cramped apartment with a total of 13 people.
Andersen's story from three-time felon to playwright is told in "Lemon," airing Friday Oct. 19 (check local listings), on "Voces on PBS" as part of Hispanic Heritage Month, though technically the month ends earlier this week. Lemon is his nickname, which came about because he was so blond as a kid.
Andersen's parents had drug problems, and his beloved mother, Millie, died of AIDS. He talks lovingly about his mom.
Andersen turned that pain into poetry, catching the attention of Russell Simmons, who hired him and eight others to perform in "Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam," honored with a special Tony Award.
The film shows how he, his wife and children live with her parents in a cramped apartment with a total of 13 people.
- 10/19/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Democrats outnumber Republicans in California’s 30th congressional district — which represents rich L.A. suburbs like Santa Monica, Malibu, and Beverly Hills — 48 percent to 26 percent, according to the Los Angeles Times. But there’s one high-profile resident of the Fightin’ 30th who isn’t afraid to voice her support for Mitt Romney: Dionne Davenport, fashionista and graduate of Beverly Hills’ Bronson Alcott High School. Or, at least, Stacey Dash, the actress who played Dee in the big screen and TV versions of Clueless.
Fresh off the pages of EW’s Reunions Issue, Dash made waves yesterday when she tweeted a Romney endorsement.
Fresh off the pages of EW’s Reunions Issue, Dash made waves yesterday when she tweeted a Romney endorsement.
- 10/8/2012
- by Hillary Busis
- EW.com - PopWatch
Just a few days ago, The New York Times highlighted English-language television’s failure to attract Latino audiences in an article called “ NetworksStruggle toAppealtoHispanics”. As the fastest growing demographic whose purchasing power exceeds $1 trillion, it’s no surprise that, “...they desperately want to appeal to the more than 50 million Latinos in the United States...” What is hard to believe, though, is that they still haven’t figured out how to do it. It’s really not that difficult. We want to see true-to-life characters that reflect the diverse experience of Latinos, not stereotypes.
In response to the Nyt article Esther Cepeda, NBC Latino Contributor, says it well, “...give the maids, bad boys and victimized immigrants a rest. Yes, those are real-life characters, but there’s no reason why art can’t imitate a diversity of life...How about casting Latinos as up-and-coming-politicians, overachieving college students, folksy-vegan-all-organic environmental activists, or the overscheduled suburban soccer mom-slash-superstar mommy blogger?” I would totally watch that show!
Maybe the execs should take advice from people like Cepeda. Better yet, they should hire people like Cepeda! But, instead of hiring bilingual and bicultural Latinos and Latinas to write, produce, and direct TV shows, American television executives run focus groups, spend money on market research, and scratch their heads--dumbfounded and unable to solve the conundrum. Meanwhile, other organizations have it figured out.
Year after year--the New York International Latino Film Festival packs Manhattan theaters with bilingual, bicultural Latino moviegoers. The very same demographic that TV execs and movie studios are clamoring to attract but fail to. Why is it that the entertainment industry’s most sought after group of consumers attends this festival by the tens of thousands? Because, the stories they see are diverse, complicated, new, different, multilingual, and reflect their own experiences. Television and studio executives might benefit from coming to the festival and taking some notes. These are the true-to-life kind of stories Latinos want to see on their T.V. and movie screens (and on their computer screens too.)
Documentaries at the New York International Latino Film Festival
Buscando A Larisa (Looking for Larisa)
U.S. Premiere/ 79 Minutes/ Mexico
Director: Andrés Pardo
Screening at 4:50 Pm | Wed, Aug 15 | Chelsea Clearview Cinemas
One day filmmaker Andrés Pardo stumbles across 2,000 feet of Super 8 footage at a flea market in Mexico City. Home movies shot during the 1970s, at their center is a lovely young blond-haired girl, Larisa. Teaming up with a photographer friend, Pardo decides to track down Larisa. He takes his search to Facebook, the internet, and the press.
Tickets: http://nylatinoff.festivalgenius.com/2012/films/buscandoalarisalookingforlarisa_andrspardo_nylatinoff2012
El MÉDico: The CubatÓN Story
New York Premiere/ 85 Minutes/ Cuba-Sweden
Director: Daniel Fridell
Screening at 7:00 Pm | Wed, Aug 15 | Chelsea Clearview Cinemas
High up in the Sierra Maestra mountains, where Castro’s revolution began, “El Médico,” a doctor and musician, serves the cause. When a Swedish music producer sees “El Médico” as the next big thing, Communist ideals collide with capitalist dreams. Should “El Médico,” listen to his mother and serve his community as a doctor or take advice from his producer and make “sexy ringtones”?
Tickets: http://nylatinoff.festivalgenius.com/2012/films/elmdicothecubatnstory_danielfridell_nylatinoff2012
Esperando A Los Bitles (Waiting for the Beatles)
New York Premiere/ 92 Minutes/ Mexico
Directors: Diego Graue & Raymundo Marmolejo
Screening at 6:30 Pm | Fri, Aug 17 | Chelsea Clearview Cinemas
Beatlemania is alive and well…in Mexico, where a fervent following pays continuous tribute to the groundbreaking Liverpool quartet. Fans compete in cover band competitions, obsessively collect memorabilia, and bemoan the fact that ‘Los Bitles’ never performed in Mexico. This hilarious and touching documentary shows that the genius of the Beatles transcends decades, continents, language and culture.
Tickets: http://nylatinoff.festivalgenius.com/2012/films/esperandoalosbitleswaitingforthebeatles_diegograue_nylatinoff2012
Hija (Daughter)
U.S. Premiere/ 84 Minutes/ Chile
Director: María Paz González
Screening at 2:30 Pm | Sat, Aug 18 | Chelsea Clearview Cinemas
Filmmaker María Paz González and her mother journey across Chile in a Volkswagen Beetle, searching for long-lost family members. María's mother, who was adopted, knows little of her personal history and goes in search of a sister she has never met. María hopes to connect with her father, a man she knows little about.
Tickets: http://nylatinoff.festivalgenius.com/2012/films/hijadaughter_marapazgonzlez_nylatinoff2012
Closing Night Film + After Party
Lemon
88 Minutes/ U.S.A.
Directors: Laura Brownson, Beth Levison
Screening at 6:30 Pm & 7:00 Pm | Sat, Aug 18 | Chelsea Clearview Cinemas
Three-time felon, one-time Tony Award winner, Lemon Andersen is an acclaimed poet who broke out on Broadway in Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam. But Lemon has landed back in the projects and is desperate for a way out. He turns to the only things he has left, his pen and his story. This beautifully crafted film follows his efforts to stage a comeback at the Public Theater as he battles demons from his past.
Tickets: http://nylatinoff.festivalgenius.com/2012/films/lemon_laurabrownson_nylatinoff2012
The New York International Latino Film Festival runs through August 19th at the Chelsea Clearview Cinemas.
NyilffWebSite
FindNyilffonFacebook
FollowNyilffonTwitter
Written by Juan Caceres and Vanessa Erazo, LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature onSydneysBuzzthat highlights emerging and established Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow@LatinoBuzzon twitter.
In response to the Nyt article Esther Cepeda, NBC Latino Contributor, says it well, “...give the maids, bad boys and victimized immigrants a rest. Yes, those are real-life characters, but there’s no reason why art can’t imitate a diversity of life...How about casting Latinos as up-and-coming-politicians, overachieving college students, folksy-vegan-all-organic environmental activists, or the overscheduled suburban soccer mom-slash-superstar mommy blogger?” I would totally watch that show!
Maybe the execs should take advice from people like Cepeda. Better yet, they should hire people like Cepeda! But, instead of hiring bilingual and bicultural Latinos and Latinas to write, produce, and direct TV shows, American television executives run focus groups, spend money on market research, and scratch their heads--dumbfounded and unable to solve the conundrum. Meanwhile, other organizations have it figured out.
Year after year--the New York International Latino Film Festival packs Manhattan theaters with bilingual, bicultural Latino moviegoers. The very same demographic that TV execs and movie studios are clamoring to attract but fail to. Why is it that the entertainment industry’s most sought after group of consumers attends this festival by the tens of thousands? Because, the stories they see are diverse, complicated, new, different, multilingual, and reflect their own experiences. Television and studio executives might benefit from coming to the festival and taking some notes. These are the true-to-life kind of stories Latinos want to see on their T.V. and movie screens (and on their computer screens too.)
Documentaries at the New York International Latino Film Festival
Buscando A Larisa (Looking for Larisa)
U.S. Premiere/ 79 Minutes/ Mexico
Director: Andrés Pardo
Screening at 4:50 Pm | Wed, Aug 15 | Chelsea Clearview Cinemas
One day filmmaker Andrés Pardo stumbles across 2,000 feet of Super 8 footage at a flea market in Mexico City. Home movies shot during the 1970s, at their center is a lovely young blond-haired girl, Larisa. Teaming up with a photographer friend, Pardo decides to track down Larisa. He takes his search to Facebook, the internet, and the press.
Tickets: http://nylatinoff.festivalgenius.com/2012/films/buscandoalarisalookingforlarisa_andrspardo_nylatinoff2012
El MÉDico: The CubatÓN Story
New York Premiere/ 85 Minutes/ Cuba-Sweden
Director: Daniel Fridell
Screening at 7:00 Pm | Wed, Aug 15 | Chelsea Clearview Cinemas
High up in the Sierra Maestra mountains, where Castro’s revolution began, “El Médico,” a doctor and musician, serves the cause. When a Swedish music producer sees “El Médico” as the next big thing, Communist ideals collide with capitalist dreams. Should “El Médico,” listen to his mother and serve his community as a doctor or take advice from his producer and make “sexy ringtones”?
Tickets: http://nylatinoff.festivalgenius.com/2012/films/elmdicothecubatnstory_danielfridell_nylatinoff2012
Esperando A Los Bitles (Waiting for the Beatles)
New York Premiere/ 92 Minutes/ Mexico
Directors: Diego Graue & Raymundo Marmolejo
Screening at 6:30 Pm | Fri, Aug 17 | Chelsea Clearview Cinemas
Beatlemania is alive and well…in Mexico, where a fervent following pays continuous tribute to the groundbreaking Liverpool quartet. Fans compete in cover band competitions, obsessively collect memorabilia, and bemoan the fact that ‘Los Bitles’ never performed in Mexico. This hilarious and touching documentary shows that the genius of the Beatles transcends decades, continents, language and culture.
Tickets: http://nylatinoff.festivalgenius.com/2012/films/esperandoalosbitleswaitingforthebeatles_diegograue_nylatinoff2012
Hija (Daughter)
U.S. Premiere/ 84 Minutes/ Chile
Director: María Paz González
Screening at 2:30 Pm | Sat, Aug 18 | Chelsea Clearview Cinemas
Filmmaker María Paz González and her mother journey across Chile in a Volkswagen Beetle, searching for long-lost family members. María's mother, who was adopted, knows little of her personal history and goes in search of a sister she has never met. María hopes to connect with her father, a man she knows little about.
Tickets: http://nylatinoff.festivalgenius.com/2012/films/hijadaughter_marapazgonzlez_nylatinoff2012
Closing Night Film + After Party
Lemon
88 Minutes/ U.S.A.
Directors: Laura Brownson, Beth Levison
Screening at 6:30 Pm & 7:00 Pm | Sat, Aug 18 | Chelsea Clearview Cinemas
Three-time felon, one-time Tony Award winner, Lemon Andersen is an acclaimed poet who broke out on Broadway in Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam. But Lemon has landed back in the projects and is desperate for a way out. He turns to the only things he has left, his pen and his story. This beautifully crafted film follows his efforts to stage a comeback at the Public Theater as he battles demons from his past.
Tickets: http://nylatinoff.festivalgenius.com/2012/films/lemon_laurabrownson_nylatinoff2012
The New York International Latino Film Festival runs through August 19th at the Chelsea Clearview Cinemas.
NyilffWebSite
FindNyilffonFacebook
FollowNyilffonTwitter
Written by Juan Caceres and Vanessa Erazo, LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature onSydneysBuzzthat highlights emerging and established Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow@LatinoBuzzon twitter.
- 8/15/2012
- by Vanessa Erazo
- Sydney's Buzz
On Wednesday, March 21, Theatre Resources Unlimited (Tru) will present "Coloring the Great White Way: Bringing Diversity to Commercial Theater," a panel discussion focused on how to bring more diverse productions and audiences to the traditionally great "white" way.Panelists will include producer Nelle Nugent ("Stick Fly," "Ghetto Klown," "Time Stands Still"); Woodie King Jr., artistic director of New Federal Theatre ("For Colored Girls..."); Donna Walker-Kuhne of Walker International Communications; Kamilah Forbes, artistic director of the Hip-Hop Theatre Festival and director ("Def Poetry Jam on Broadway"); and Melissa Marano, senior client account executive at aka Promotions ("Jerusalem," "The Motherf**er With The Hat," "Stick Fly," "A Streetcar Named Desire"). The panel will take place on Wednesday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal St., NYC. Tickets are $12 (free for Tru members). To RSVP, email TRUnltd@aol.com or call (212) 714-7628 at least a day in advance.The panel will.
- 3/15/2012
- by help@backstage.com (Daniel Lehman)
- backstage.com
Slam poetry. It can be a misunderstood art form, exalted in places like Def Poetry Jam, or snubbed as a silly high school phase. But what Greg Jacobs and Jon Siskel's documentary "Louder Than A Bomb" does so well, is point out how something like slam poetry can offer an outlet, and a way out, for kids trapped in their circumstances. The film follows the Chicago area high school slam poetry competition of the same name, during a particularly dramatic and glorious run in the fall of 2007 and spring of 2008. Focusing on four teens from different Chicago high schools and their experiences with the Louder Than A Bomb competition, the film offers a look into this world and the impact it has on the lives of its participants. The four teen poets-- Lamar, Nova, Nate and Adam-- are clearly the standouts of the competition itself, true success stories for...
- 1/5/2012
- The Playlist
Title: Lemon Director: Laura Brownson, Beth Levinson What happens when your star has fallen? Stardom can be a blessing and I feel most people would relish the moment of getting recognition for their work, monetary compensation for said work and most importantly, being the best of the best. But when all of that goes away, what do you have left? In the new documentary, “Lemon” examines that very question. And following the subject Lemon Andersen, the three things he has left is family, ambition and talent. In the early 2000s, Lemon Andersen was one of the breakout stars of Russell Simmons’ “Def Poetry Jam”. A TV series that highlighted the...
- 11/3/2011
- by Rudie Obias
- ShockYa
While at the Vancouver International Film Festival this year, I had the pleasure of speaking to the writer/director of Patang [The Kite], Prashant Bhargava. A Chicago-born filmmaker of Indian descent, his first feature length work has hit screens in Berlin and Tribeca before making its way to Canada, picking up praise at every screening. A very human tale of a family in Ahmedabad rekindling during the city’s famous kite festival, Bhargava’s film will enchant and intrigue through its exotic locale and very familiar emotions. Speaking about his process, the casts’ performances, and the crowdsourcing release soon to roll out, the following interview touches on personal style and the future of cinema itself. My review of the film can also be read here.
—
The Film Stage: Having seen your short film [Sangam] and now [Patang], there seems to be this theme of clashing perspectives—someone dreaming for progression and another person wanting to escape back to simplicity.
—
The Film Stage: Having seen your short film [Sangam] and now [Patang], there seems to be this theme of clashing perspectives—someone dreaming for progression and another person wanting to escape back to simplicity.
- 10/19/2011
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Kanye West was Kanye before he was… well, Kanye. In this refreshing clip from a 2004 visit to the HBO show "Def Poetry," rapper Mos Def makes one of the best statements of all time! when he introduces the 'Ye as "the future of hip hop." A pre-accordion-shade Kanye then takes the stage, clad in a t-shirt and baggy jeans, price tag still attached to his Adidas kicks, and it almost seems like a joke (indeed, people start laughing) when he starts rap-rhyming about future sartorial glamour.
"This morning I spent a lot of time trying to pick out my outfit because I'm like really into clothes. Imma gona be the best-dressed rapper in the game," Kanye says in a spoken-word poem called "Self Conscious." Though dubious at the time, he's made good on that promise seven years later. But the grandstanding and bravado -- and raw, emotional talent? There the entire time.
"This morning I spent a lot of time trying to pick out my outfit because I'm like really into clothes. Imma gona be the best-dressed rapper in the game," Kanye says in a spoken-word poem called "Self Conscious." Though dubious at the time, he's made good on that promise seven years later. But the grandstanding and bravado -- and raw, emotional talent? There the entire time.
- 9/21/2011
- by Youyoung Lee
- Huffington Post
10. The Daily Show: I very much liked "How I Met Your Mother," "Chicago Code," "The Borgias," "Modern Family," and "The Good Wife," this week but I couldn't bring myself to choose among them for the 10th slot. So, while I don't typically include episodes from talk shows, last Tuesday's "The Daily Show" featured the second best 10 minute segment of the week:
The Daily Show - Tone Def Poetry Jam
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook
The Daily Show - Tone Def Poetry Jam - Lyrics Controversy
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook
9. The Killing: I asked my friend Glacier the other day what he thought about "The Killing," and he was like, "Can't stand it. It moves too slow." What revelations were made this week? Bennett may really have terrorist connections, Detective Linden's son is a jackass,...
The Daily Show - Tone Def Poetry Jam
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook
The Daily Show - Tone Def Poetry Jam - Lyrics Controversy
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook
9. The Killing: I asked my friend Glacier the other day what he thought about "The Killing," and he was like, "Can't stand it. It moves too slow." What revelations were made this week? Bennett may really have terrorist connections, Detective Linden's son is a jackass,...
- 5/16/2011
- by Dustin Rowles
Fox News' tantrum about the poet/rapper named Common who was invited to perform at the White House was the usual deceptively cherry-picked, manufactured outrage they peddle on a nightly basis -- expertly exposed by Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show" (also as usual). The "rough, raunchy and raw" lines quoted by Fox personalities from Common's poems were taken out of context to seemingly mean the exact opposite of what the rapper was actually communicating. The dudes about as "raw" as Arsenio Hall. If you missed Stewart's break down of Hannity and crew's inaccuracy, watch it here:
The Daily Show - Tone Def Poetry Jam
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook
And for an example of the kind of rapper that is Fox approved, look no further than this footage of Hi-Caliber, performing on Fox News. There's no shortage of mediocre rappers,...
The Daily Show - Tone Def Poetry Jam
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook
And for an example of the kind of rapper that is Fox approved, look no further than this footage of Hi-Caliber, performing on Fox News. There's no shortage of mediocre rappers,...
- 5/13/2011
- by Brandon Kim
- ifc.com
Fox News spent the better part of two days criticizing Michelle Obama for inviting the “misogynist” rapper Common to a White House poetry reading. In a 10-plus minute "Daily Show" segment (brilliantly dubbed "Tone Def Poetry Jam") Jon Stewart ripped Fox News for creating the "nontroversy" to fill air time -- pointing out that Common is commonly known in the hip-hop community as a "conscious" rapper -- and launched into a rap of his own. As Paid Content founder Rafat Ali wrote on Twitter, it was the "epic-est ever takedown of Fox...
- 5/12/2011
- by Dylan Stableford
- The Wrap
As of yesterday, conservatives were on attack about Michelle Obama's invitation of the svelte-and-sexual rapper Common to a poetry reading at the White House. Ostensibly bored with its own content and mimetic design, Huffington Post's conservative counterpart, The Daily Caller, went looking for a most-readily decontextualized piece of Common's backstory. In a segment recorded for Def Poetry, he defends Kobe and the King of Pop and suggests burning a Bush of the presidential variety. The piece was such political fodder that even Sarah Palin managed to fire off 25 thoughtful characters about the situation, via Twitter: "Oh lovely, White House..." Fox News, of course, diligently covered the story; the White House retrenched, sort of.
It's easy to launch racism charges at the right's criticism of Common, but that's problematic for two reasons: First, we're betting black country star Darius Rucker wouldn't get the same treatment from Palin and her pals; after all,...
It's easy to launch racism charges at the right's criticism of Common, but that's problematic for two reasons: First, we're betting black country star Darius Rucker wouldn't get the same treatment from Palin and her pals; after all,...
- 5/11/2011
- by Grayson Currin
- ifc.com
'Don't be afraid of the press, as your art is your blueprint,' mogul writes in open letter to Mc.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Kanye West and Russell Simmons
Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage
As Kanye West's drama with the "Today" show continues to unspool, some high-profile observers of the controversy have come out in support of the outspoken Mc.
On Friday, mogul and Def Jam founder Russell Simmons wrote an open letter on his Global Grind website to Yeezy encouraging him to keep his head up, and insisting "there is no need to apologize" for his comments about President George Bush's handling of the 2005 Hurricane Katrina rescue effort.
"When you spoke about President Bush during the Katrina telethon, it was not the particulars of your words that mattered, it was the essence of a feeling of the insensitivity towards our communities that many of us have felt for far too long.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Kanye West and Russell Simmons
Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage
As Kanye West's drama with the "Today" show continues to unspool, some high-profile observers of the controversy have come out in support of the outspoken Mc.
On Friday, mogul and Def Jam founder Russell Simmons wrote an open letter on his Global Grind website to Yeezy encouraging him to keep his head up, and insisting "there is no need to apologize" for his comments about President George Bush's handling of the 2005 Hurricane Katrina rescue effort.
"When you spoke about President Bush during the Katrina telethon, it was not the particulars of your words that mattered, it was the essence of a feeling of the insensitivity towards our communities that many of us have felt for far too long.
- 11/13/2010
- MTV Music News
Now in its third year, the Digital Content NewFront is a half conference, half dog and pony show bringing together “content creators, distributors, talent and brands to harness digital creative media opportunities in a post-advertising marketplace.” Hosted by digital marketing agency, Digitas and its branded content arm, The Third Act, the event gives Digitas a very public stage form which to show off its new media expertise, remind current clients why the agency is awesome, and show potential brands the large percentage of mindshare Digitas owns within the industry. The NewFronts also give online original programming a large stage from which to spur curiosity and court potential advertisers. At the end of the day half-day event, though, it’s all about making deals. With that in mind, Digitas has scheduled four Content Pitches throughout the 2011 NewFront. I’ll be covering them live. Here’s the first: Presenter: Dan Bucatinsky (Actor,...
- 6/9/2010
- by Joshua Cohen
- Tubefilter.com
As we originally hinted at a couple of weeks ago, it seems that Comedy Central has ordered a six-episode half-hour, urban and hip hop stand-up series from Russell Simmons and Stan Lathan, it was announced today by Elizabeth Porter, senior vice president, specials and talent, of Comedy Central. The multicultural series hosted by Jb Smoove, ("Curb Your Enthusiasm") will shoot in Los Angeles on February 24 and 25 at the El Rey Theater and is set to premiere this summer.
"We've been trying to get into business with Russell and Stan for a while now and this new stand-up series is an exciting first venture for us to partner with them," said Porter. "As someone who was a huge fan of 'Def Comedy Jam,' working alongside these two incredible visionaries on this series has been nothing short of amazing. With Jb Smoove as our front man and all the fresh...
"We've been trying to get into business with Russell and Stan for a while now and this new stand-up series is an exciting first venture for us to partner with them," said Porter. "As someone who was a huge fan of 'Def Comedy Jam,' working alongside these two incredible visionaries on this series has been nothing short of amazing. With Jb Smoove as our front man and all the fresh...
- 2/23/2010
- by noreply@blogger.com (The Humor Mill Magazine)
- Humor Mill Magazine
We just discovered that Simmons/Lathan TV, the driving force and production company behind the infamous Def Comedy Jam series and the Def Poetry Jam series that premiered on HBO (among many others), is jumping back into comedy after a two year hiatus, but with a different network!
We Hear from our sources that Simmons/Lathan is on board with Comedy Central to bring a comedy series back to television, and so far the word is that there has been no decision on if the 30 minute series will feature several comics or if it’s a one man special per episode.
For those of you who do not know Stan Lathan and Russell Simmons partnered to create one of the most successful franchises in entertainment: HBO’s Def Comedy Jam series, which started the careers of some of today’s biggest television and movie stars, such as Chris Tucker, Dave Chappelle,...
We Hear from our sources that Simmons/Lathan is on board with Comedy Central to bring a comedy series back to television, and so far the word is that there has been no decision on if the 30 minute series will feature several comics or if it’s a one man special per episode.
For those of you who do not know Stan Lathan and Russell Simmons partnered to create one of the most successful franchises in entertainment: HBO’s Def Comedy Jam series, which started the careers of some of today’s biggest television and movie stars, such as Chris Tucker, Dave Chappelle,...
- 1/8/2010
- by noreply@blogger.com (The Humor Mill Magazine)
- Humor Mill Magazine
Warmoth is out today and, with him, Twitter-Wood's enduring fondness for former "Full House" stars. Nothing against Saget, Stamos and Coulier... but your regular Twitter-Wood contributor is their champion here. He'll be back tomorrow, so have no fear: "Full House" will live on at MTV Movies Blog.
So what's up today on the feed? Well, for starters "The State" veteran David Wain, currently in Sicily, had someone snap a super-cool photo of him. It was enough to edge out Paris Hilton's own photo, of a bunch of fancy cakes that she was sent. Presumably for free. In the world of text-only Tweets, Rainn Wilson dropped some knowledge about Pfizer and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star Amber Benson revealed that she has a special connection with pigeons, especially the anorexic ones. "Twilight" star Peter Facinelli also had a pigeon run-in, while bird-watching for the elusive Twitter Bird. Meanwhile, Idris Elba...
So what's up today on the feed? Well, for starters "The State" veteran David Wain, currently in Sicily, had someone snap a super-cool photo of him. It was enough to edge out Paris Hilton's own photo, of a bunch of fancy cakes that she was sent. Presumably for free. In the world of text-only Tweets, Rainn Wilson dropped some knowledge about Pfizer and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star Amber Benson revealed that she has a special connection with pigeons, especially the anorexic ones. "Twilight" star Peter Facinelli also had a pigeon run-in, while bird-watching for the elusive Twitter Bird. Meanwhile, Idris Elba...
- 9/3/2009
- by Adam Rosenberg
- MTV Movies Blog
Although the evening's sole openly gay nominee, Wanda Skyes, didn't win in her category (or even attend the event; Queen Latifah was also absent), the 40th NAACP Image Awards show offered an entertaining and inspiring evening last night.
Halle Berry and Tyler Perry co-hosted the annual awards show that pays tribute to people of color in entertainment, on the eve of the NAACP's one-hundredth anniversary.
Halle Berry sporting different looks during the Awards
Beyoncé kicked it off with a great performance of her song "Halo," set against images of the Civil Rights movement. I don't think anyone was really surprised when she won Favorite Female Singer later in the evening.
Jennifer Hudson received a standing ovation when she won for Best New Artist, and proceeded to knock her musical performance out of the park.
The women who took home awards in the major TV categories include Tracee Ellis Ross (Girlfriends...
Halle Berry and Tyler Perry co-hosted the annual awards show that pays tribute to people of color in entertainment, on the eve of the NAACP's one-hundredth anniversary.
Halle Berry sporting different looks during the Awards
Beyoncé kicked it off with a great performance of her song "Halo," set against images of the Civil Rights movement. I don't think anyone was really surprised when she won Favorite Female Singer later in the evening.
Jennifer Hudson received a standing ovation when she won for Best New Artist, and proceeded to knock her musical performance out of the park.
The women who took home awards in the major TV categories include Tracee Ellis Ross (Girlfriends...
- 2/13/2009
- by sarahwarn
- AfterEllen.com
Hip-hop moguls Russell Simmons and Sean Combs are teaming for an MTV reality project. Sources said Simmons is talking to the cable channel about a series project, tentatively titled Simmons Inc: The First Family of Hip-Hop. Said to be in the vein of MTV's reality hit The Osbournes, the project will chronicle the life of a hip-hop family. Simmons is set to executive produce the show with Combs, Stan Lathan and John Davies. MTV declined comment Tuesday on the project. Simmons, the driving force behind HBO's Def Poetry Jam, is executive producing with Davies' upcoming Court TV documentary special Russell Simmons Presents: Hip Hop Justice.
- 9/29/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Anne Sweeney, ABC Cable Networks Group/Disney Channel Worldwide president, has been named the 2004 recipient of the Chair Award from the Caucus for Television Producers, Writers and Directors. The Caucus will present the award to Sweeney at its annual fund-raising dinner, set for Jan. 16 at the Beverly Hills Hotel, according to Caucus chairman Chuck Fries. Sweeney oversees all of Disney/ABC's entertainment cable networks as well as the Disney Channel's far-flung international operations. Director-producer Stan Lathan also has been tapped to receive the Caucus' Diversity Award for his contributions to fostering racial and ethnic diversity in television programming. Lathan at present is executive producer and director of HBO's Peabody-winning series "Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam" and director of the Tony-winning Def Poetry Jam on Broadway. He has directed the pilots for numerous successful sitcoms, including UPN's Moesha and The Parkers and Fox's Martin.
- 11/9/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- HBO and two PBS stations copped three George Foster Peabody Awards apiece, and ABC News' Nightline took home two honors, the Peabody Board said Wednesday. The board cited 31 programs on 23 outlets as the winners reflected a wide range of subjects -- unlike a year ago, when the events of Sept. 11 dominated the entry box. This year, three winners dealt with Sept. 11-related subjects. For the first time, the Peabody Awards ceremony -- scheduled for May 19 in New York -- will run on national television when A&E airs the event in June. Peabodys went to eight PBS outlets, including three apiece produced by New York's WNET and Boston's WGBH, which won two awards for a pair of ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre productions: American Collection: Almost a Woman and Othello. A panel of 15 judges from the television industry, academia and the media judged the 62nd annual awards, which honor excellence in broadcasting. Other winners include NBC for its new Boomtown series, Fox for an episode of Boston Public and CBS News and 48 Hours for 9/11, a documentary about the events of Sept. 11. HBO won three awards: for its Six Feet Under series; The Gathering Storm, a historical drama about Winston Churchill; and Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam.
NEW YORK -- HBO and two PBS stations copped three George Foster Peabody Awards apiece, and ABC News' Nightline took home two honors, the Peabody Board said Wednesday. The board cited 31 programs on 23 outlets as the winners reflected a wide range of subjects -- unlike a year ago, when the events of Sept. 11 dominated the entry box. This year, three winners dealt with Sept. 11-related subjects. For the first time, the Peabody Awards ceremony -- scheduled for May 19 in New York -- will run on national television when A&E airs the event in June. Peabodys went to eight PBS outlets, including three apiece produced by New York's WNET and Boston's WGBH, which won two awards for a pair of ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre productions: American Collection: Almost a Woman and Othello. A panel of 15 judges from the television industry, academia and the media judged the 62nd annual awards, which honor excellence in broadcasting. Other winners include NBC for its new Boomtown series, Fox for an episode of Boston Public and CBS News and 48 Hours for 9/11, a documentary about the events of Sept. 11. HBO won three awards: for its Six Feet Under series; The Gathering Storm, a historical drama about Winston Churchill; and Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam.
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