March 2006 Archives

The early word from the ATL movie is that T.I. and Big Boi do a capable job in their turn as actors. You have to wonder though, would talented Black actors have brought even more to the roles?

If a male Black actor claps every time a rapper dies, then you can't blame him. For the past decade there's been a cascade of emcees putting quotes in their government names and making the flip to Hollywood, word to Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges. In the past rappers were regulated in movies to bit parts for marketing purposes while the real actors shined. Now they play the stars while the pro actors stand around as props.

I call this the Larenz Tate Phenomenon.

My dude who runs the Strictly Business blog recently did an insightful campaign analysis on Reebok. Since the sneaker company signed up 50 Cent and Jay-Z, they've posted a double digit revenue increase. Reebok, or "RBK" as they now want you to call them is a perfect case study on how hip-hop can transform a brand.

But they gotta watch out. Strictly Business points out RBK is now signing up emcees who won't make credible pitchmen. For instance, new signess Lil Wayne is known for rocking BAPE, and Lupe Fiasco is better suited for a skateboard shoe that matches his "Kick, Push" anthem.

MTV is schitzo. One moment they do something that advances the awareness of their audience, and then literally a half hour later they'll smack us in the face with some low brow entertainment.

Case in point - this week MTV showed a documentary about 3 students who traveled to Darfur to see for themselves the ruin caused by Sudan's war. Informative and positive? Sure.

Now let's flip the MTV coin. This week they also announced a new show called "Yo Momma". I'm embarrassed to even explain what this show is about.

I got love for the independent online mags like SOHH and other all hip-hop sites that cover rap music on the web. However, there is a long list of corporate backed hip-hop magazines that tried to harris their way online, with dreams that their brand and money could buy them an audience. Their motivation was the bottom line of a spreadsheet, not love for the culture, and hip-hop fans have always been good at sniffing that out.

Where are all these sites now? Most have died, and now only exist in what I like to call the Online Hip-Hop Graveyard. Let's take a stroll past some of the tombstones.

Ludacris is really feeling himself. Two of the movies he acted in last year, "Hustle and Flow" and "Crash" won some type of Oscar last night.

Hype off his Hollywood success, it looks like my favorite ATL rapper is giving up going for the #1 spot and wants to focus on movie making. Step #1 for him - go by his government name, Chris Bridges. When Jon Stewart introed Luda at the Oscars, he came on as Chirs "Ludacris" Bridges. That's a straight Will "Fresh Prince" Smith move!

His next stop is guest starring on Law & Order: SVU as Tracy "Ice-T" Morrow's nephew. How ironic.