Soul Singer DirtyWhite talks influences, NC BBQ and more
Reviews & Dunn – Growing up in North Carolina, when did you realize that you wanted to pursue a music career?
DirtyWhite – Ahhh….thinking back…probably when I started to realize my voice was a force to be reckoned with. I’d guestimate around the age of 16 or 17, probably maybe a little later. However, I didn’t begin to promote myself until probably 24 or 25 years old actively.
A Shot Through The Wall is a promising debut from Aimee Long
Race relations serve as the backdrop of director Aimee Long’s feature debut, A Shot Through the Wall from Vertical Entertainment. Chinese-American Officer Mike Tan (Kenny Leu) is in his early twenties and still living at home with his parents, one of whom is his overbearing mother, May (Fiona Fu).
Honest chemistry from the leads can’t save The Royal Treatment from clichés
After focusing on television series such as Spartacus and Ash vs. Evil Dead, director Rick Jacobson returns to features in Netflix’s, The Royal Treatment. Holly Hester pens the film, a standard romantic comedy full of tropes that viewers will recognize instantly. Isabella (Laura Marano) runs her own salon and isn’t afraid to speak her mind, while Prince Thomas (Mena Massoud) runs his own country and is about to marry for duty rather than love.
Second Listen Sunday: SWV , Release Some Tension
Following a successful world tour supporting their first two albums, R&B trio SWV returned to the studio to begin work on album #3, Release Some Tension. Arriving in record stores on August 12th, 1997, Release Some Tension was led by the single “Can We” (featuring Missy Elliott).
Slow Jam Saturday : Dos Of Soul, Come Around
“Come Around” from Dos of Soul falls into that category and is this week’s Slow Jam Saturday selection.
Dos of Soul was a quartet of three male singers and one female.
Concert Review : MJ Live, The Michael Jackson Tribute Concert
The King of Pop receives his flowers in MJ Live, The Michael Jackson Tribute Concert. Previously in Residency at the Stratosphere Theater in Las Vegas, the show moves to The Tropicana in February 2022.
Shattered is a ho hum thriller
Thriller writer David Loughery continues to milk his bread and butter genre in Shattered from Lionsgate. Luis Prieto directs the film, which follows the story of lonely tech millionaire Chris (Cameron Monaghan) amid an amicable divorce from Jamie (Sasha Luss).
Scream is a fresh entry in the franchise
The newest entry in a beloved Meta horror franchise slashes into theaters from directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett in Scream from Paramount Pictures. James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick pen the fifth film that will please old fans and possibly gain new ones.
Second Listen Sunday : David Ruffin, Gentleman Ruffin
Soul singer David Ruffin had already earned his place in R&B history during his days as the lead singer of the iconic group, The Temptations. Over the next twelve years, Ruffin would release eight additional solo albums, including this week’s Second Listen Sunday selection, Gentleman Ruffin.
Slow Jam Saturday : Force MD’S, Here I Go Again
The world of R&B kicked off 2022 with a somber tone when GOD called Jesse Daniels, of the Force MDs, home. In honor of Mr. Daniels, I wanted to take it back to the group’s second album Chillin’ and showcase the ballad “Here I Go Again”.
Single Review : Bryan Abrams, Because Of You
Initially of the group Color Me Badd, Bryan Abrams is back on the scene with a brand new single titled “Because of You.” An elegant ballad, “Because of You” reunites Abrams with this longtime collaborator Hamza Lee, who assists in the song’s production.
ABFF Film Review : B-Boy Blues
Actor Jussie Smollet makes his directorial debut with B-Boy Blues. Smollet co-writes the film with James Earl Hardy, which is an adaptation of Hardy’s same-titled novel. Mitchell (Timothy Richardson) is a successful advertising executive living in New York who is unlucky in love.