Slow Jam Saturday : Timex Social Club, “Only You”
You know the voice. The moment Michael Marshall starts singing the hook in Luniz’s “I Got 5 on It,” anyone who grew up in the nineties knows exactly what time it is. However, nearly a decade before that 1995 hip-hop classic, Marshall was already responsible for another instantly recognizable vocal.
“The Weight” Review: Ethan Hawke Carries a Familiar Story With Quiet Strength
Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke and Oscar winner Russell Crowe bring their talents to “The Weight,” the latest film from Vertical. Directed by Padraic McKinley, the film features a screenplay by Shelby Gaines, Matthew Chapman, and Matthew Booi, based on an original story by Booi and Leo Scherman.
“The Fix” Review: Good Men, Bad Choices and an Action Thriller in Need of Repair
Outspoken actor Zachary Levi takes on an action role in “The Fix,” produced by Inaugural Entertainment. Guy Moshe directs the film and co-writes the screenplay with Mark Bacci and Ron Hutchinson.
Untold: Mr. T: I Pity the Fool Review: The Man Behind the Mohawk
For many of us who grew up in the eighties, Mr. T was not introduced through just one avenue. He was everywhere: on cereal boxes, in cartoons, in toy aisles, on television as B.A. Baracus in “The A-Team”, and of course, opposing Sylvester Stallone as Clubber Lang in “Rocky III.”
Second Listen Sunday: Anita Baker, “Rapture”
There are some albums you revisit because of nostalgia, and then there are albums you return to because they remind you just how high the standard used to be. Anita Baker’s Rapture falls into that second category. Released in 1986, the album did more than make Baker a star. It helped define what sophisticated, grown R&B could sound like without losing any soul, sensuality, or personality.
Slow Jam Saturday : Gwen Stefani, “The Real Thing (Slow Jam Mix)”
Gwen Stefani had already established herself as a significant force with No Doubt when she released her debut solo album, *Love. Angel. Music. Baby* in 2004. This week, while my iPod was on shuffle, one of my favorite songs from that project, “The Real Thing,” came on. Although the original version has an upbeat new-wave feel, the Slow Jam Mix takes it to another level and is the perfect choice for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday.
“The Gentlemen” Season 2 Review: Guy Ritchie Keeps the Criminal Charm Sharp
Guy Ritchie’s television continuation of his film “The Gentlemen” returns with the confidence of a show that understands its brand: sharp suits, sharper insults, and criminals who treat bad ideas like inheritance. Season 2 wisely avoids merely replaying Eddie’s introduction to the underworld.
“LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian” Review: The Fun Returns in Brick-Sized Form
After a disappointing summer movie, it was refreshing to see Din Djarin and Grogu back in a format that reminds us how fun these characters can be. “LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian” uses a clever party setup, featuring Din and Grogu reuniting with their misfit allies to celebrate their adventures while a new pirate threat looms.
Second Listen Sunday : Randy Jackson, “Randy &the Gypsys ”
Unless you’re a music purist, mentioning Randy Jackson from the famous family is likely to elicit a joke. However, any serious Jackson fan knows that Randy had musical achievements long before the punchlines. Before he was old enough to buy a drink, he had already co-written “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” and “Lovely One” with Michael Jackson.
Slow Jam Saturday : Dazz Band, “Heartbeat”
R&B fans are still raving about the Joe and Donell Jones Verzuz, which Joe easily won in my book. I’ve always been a fan of Joe, so while revisiting his catalog I was reminded just how much I loved the 2014 bop “Love & Sex, Pt. 2.”
Single Review: Romeo Miller, “Selfie” and “Doin Something feat. Trevor Jackson ”
Romeo Miller was one of those artists who was never really on my radar. When he hit the scene, I was 20, and at that point there was only room for one kid rapper in my music collection. That said, I always felt Miller had natural charisma, and for years I figured his true calling was acting after seeing him in the film “Honey”.
“Colony” Review: Yeon Sang-ho Finds Fresh Blood in Familiar Zombie Territory
Horror director Yeon Sang-ho returns to the world of Korean zombies with his latest film, “Colony”, released by Well Go USA. Co-writing the screenplay with Choi Gyu-seok, Yeon explores familiar genre territory while avoiding the typical outbreak formula. Instead, “Colony” introduces an intriguing twist to the infected mythology and delivers the intense, blood-soaked spectacle audiences expect from the filmmaker.