Second Listen Sunday: Prince, N-E-W-S
Following the lukewarm response to Sisqo’s second album in 2001, Dru Hill returned with a new member Scola in 2002 for the vastly underpromoted Dru World Order. The group would spend the next eight years touring and eventually add new member Tao for its fourth album InDRUpendence Day this week’s Second Listen Sunday pick.
Slow Jam Saturday: Mark Middleton, I Do
Mark Middleton broke into the music industry as a member of Blackstreet, joining the group in 1996 for their sophomore album, Another Level. Middleton’s vocals were prevalent on the massive single “Don’t Leave” and a personal favorite, “Never Gonna Let You Go.”
Sundance Review: To Live Die And Live
With his latest film, To Live and Die and Live, writer and director Qasim Basir returns to filmmaking after a four-year hiatus. In his latest film, Basir introduces us to Muhammad (Amin Joseph), a handsome, strong Hollywood director. Muhammad tries to navigate through a rebuilt Detroit’s gorgeous and alluring landscapes.
Single Review : October London, Back To Your Place
Soul singer October London is steadily making a name for himself in the genre of R&B. By blending classic soul sounds with contemporary R&B, October London is carving out a space for himself in the music industry. A South Bend, Indiana native, he hit the scene in the summer of 2016. The first time I heard his voice was on “Revolution,” the closing song on Snoop Dogg’s Coolaid album.
Sundance Review: A Thousand and One
Singer Teyana Taylor gives an honest and heartfelt lead performance in A Thousand and One from Focus Features. The writer & director of the film, A.V. Rockwell, makes her debut with the film that follows unapologetic and free-spirited Inez (Teyana Taylor), who kidnaps six-year-old Terry (Aaron Kingsley Adetola) from the foster care system.
Anna Kendrick delivers a career best performance in Alice, Darling
Academy Award nominee Anna Kendrick delivers another strong performance in Alice, Darling from Lionsgate. Kendrick portrays the titular character; a woman pushed to the breaking point by her psychologically abusive boyfriend, Simon (Charlie Carrick).
Second Listen Sunday: Dru Hill, InDruPendence Day
Following the lukewarm response to Sisqo’s second album in 2001, Dru Hill returned with a new member Scola in 2002 for the vastly underpromoted Dru World Order. The group would spend the next eight years touring and eventually add new member Tao for its fourth album InDRUpendence Day this week’s Second Listen Sunday pick.
Slow Jam Saturday: Delegation, Oh Honey
One of the best things about growing up in the nineties was experiencing the joy of a Bad Boy remix. The label’s female R&B trio Total was enjoying the success of their song “Kissing You” when Puff dropped the remix in the late fall of 1995. The remix h carried the subtitle Oh Honey and was smoother than the original version.
Michelle Monaghan saves Blood from the doldrums
Director Brad Anderson teams up with writer Will Honley for his latest thriller, Blood from Vertical Entertainment. Jess (Michelle Monaghan), a nurse and mother recently separated from her husband Patrick (Skeet Ulrich), moves her daughter Tyler (Skylar Morgan Jones) and young son Owen (Finlay Wojtak-Hissong) back into her family farmhouse.
Maybe I Do is a charming romantic comedy
Television writer and Oscar nominee Michael Jacobs brings together a quadrant of Hollywood veterans for his directorial debut Maybe I Do from Vertical Pictures.
Second Listen Sunday: Jason Weaver, Love Ambition
Actors releasing musical albums has been a norm for as long as I can remember. While many like Jamie Foxx find success, others (who shall remain nameless) aren’t so lucky. One such talent was Jason Weave, who released his debut in 1994 on Motown records.
Slow Jam Saturday: El DeBarge feat. Babyface, Where Is My Love
El Debarge broke into the music scene as a member of one of the eighties’ best family groups at the Motown label. When El left the group in 1986 for a solo career, industry insiders expected El to succeed tremendously. Motown didn’t allow El to write or produce anything on his first album. Thus the album didn’t cross over to the pop charts or connect with R & B audiences.