TV/Film Archives

Bill Nye Drops Serious Science On Climate Change & Calls Out the Media & Republicans (Video)

Bill Nye's name rings familiar to generations of kids who grew up able to love science, thanks to his ability to make learning cool. Along with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Nye stands tall as one of the "rockstars" of academia, thanks to the his iconic PBS television show Bill Nye... Read more

April 6, 2016 TV/Film

Black Donald Trump Supporters Are Put On The Spot & Defend Their Candidate (Video)

Political double-talkers abound, and it's no surprise why. Politicians have to appeal to so many different kinds of people, that often times they end up tangled in humorous hypocrisy. One need not look far for examples of hypocrites in our political arena, like the elected officials who vote anti-gay only... Read more

March 22, 2016 TV/Film

“Empire” Star Jussie Smollett Takes The Media To Task For Its Coverage Of Donald Trump (Video)

Last night, Comedy Central was once again the sight of an engrossing, multi-dynamic look at American racial politics, thanks to the perspectives shared on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. With many of today's top news stories approached from perspectives of people of color, the show often delves into the... Read more

March 16, 2016 TV/Film

Chris Rock & Ice-T Discuss Making “New Jack City” On Its 25th Anniversary (Audio)

Twenty five years ago tomorrow (March 8, 1991) New Jack City was released to theaters. Largely conceived and written by Barry Michael Cooper, and directed by Mario Van Peebles, the film starring Wesley Snipes would live well beyond its impressive theatrical run. A quarter century later, the Warner Bros. movie... Read more

March 7, 2016 Audio, TV/Film

Nobody Beats The Biz Markie. This Documentary Trailer Shows Why (Video)

For more than 30 years, Biz Markie has been a Hip-Hop multi-threat like no other. The Long Island, New Yorker raps, DJ's, produces, dances, acts, and sings. While the B-I-Z would ultimately pave the way for everybody from Digital Underground to Devin The Dude, Gnarls Barkley to The Pharcyde, he... Read more

March 7, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Zoe Saldana Looks Better in Blueface Than Blackface. What Happened, Miss Simone? (Video)

Less than a week after the 88th Academy Awards took place during a maelstrom of controversy surrounding the lack of diversity in Hollywood, the official trailer for an upcoming biopic about iconic singer Nina Simone was released, and the controversy continues. Starring Zoe Saldana in the lead role, Nina tells... Read more

March 4, 2016 TV/Film, Video

This Documentary Treats Masta Ace’s “Disposable Arts” Like The Masterpiece It Is (Video Premiere)

Fifteen years ago this October, Masta Ace released his sophomore solo album, Disposable Arts. The Jcor Records release marked the Brooklyn, New York MC's first album after a six-year period. While signed to Big Beat/Atlantic Records, the Masta Ace Incorporated alum aimed to return to his solo catalog. The recordings... Read more

February 27, 2016 Exclusive, TV/Film, Video

Xzibit Cast As Crooked Record Executive In Upcoming “Empire” Episodes

Veteran MC Xzibit has made a solid career out of acting. In addition to his hosting on series such as MTV's Pimp My Ride, the onetime Loud Records star lyricist has appeared in XXX: State Of The Union, 8 Mile, and TV reboot Hawaii Five-O. According to Deadline, Mr. X-to-the-Z... Read more

February 25, 2016 News, TV/Film

See The Side Of Compton That Makes Kendrick Lamar’s “Keisha’s Song” A Reality (Video)

Following the captivating first part of Noisey mini-documentary Bompton, viewers got an inside look at the city of Compton. Kendrick Lamar and 20-year best friend Lil L are among the hosts in a voyeuristic ride through the gang-controlled streets that have affected Rap music for the last 30 years. While... Read more

February 20, 2016 TV/Film, Video

A Documentary on the Black Panthers Depicts Events That Are Still Happening Today (Video)

Last year, a documentary film on the earliest days of the Black Panther Party hit select theatres across the country. Directed by Stanley Nelson, the celebrated filmmaker behind such powerful social examinations as Freedom Riders and The Murder of Emmett Till, The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution is an... Read more

February 18, 2016 TV/Film, Video

LL Cool J & Puff Daddy Learn About Their Complex Family Trees & Are Deeply Humbled (Video)

Having launched in 2012, the PBS television series Finding Your Roots merges genealogy and celebrity in a reality show which documents notable people tracing their ancestral heritage. Hosted by well-known public intellectual Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the show provides its guests with research-based documentation about where their respective families originated... Read more

February 17, 2016 TV/Film

Vh1’s The Breaks Will Expand Into Full Series

Last month (January 4), Vh1 premiered a made-for-TV movie The Breaks. Partially based on Dan Charnas' book, The Big Payback, the series starred Hip-Hop artists ranging from Method Man to Phonte, Torae to Prince Paul, among others. The leading roles belonged to R&B sensation Mack Wilds, as well as Afton... Read more

February 16, 2016 News, TV/Film

The “Roots” Reboot Trailer Proves Alex Haley’s Story Is Another Must-Watch Event (Video)

Last summer, it was revealed that A&E Studios was remaking Roots. Alex Haley's 1976 novel was famously filmed for television, premiering on PBS in 1977. Almost 40 years later, the gripping slavery narrative returns—with a host of stars (Forest Whitaker, Lawrence Fishburne, Anna Paquin, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Anika Noni Rose,... Read more

February 13, 2016 TV/Film, Video

QBert, DJ Premier, Jazzy Jeff Speak On Evolution & Pressures Of DJs In Doc Trailer (Video)

Films like 2001's Scratch have covered the role of DJs in Hip-Hop music's genesis. However, the artist who uses turntables and mixers to create, alter, and present music live spans across genre. Soundtrack: The Story of the DJ is a forthcoming film that examines the mix-master. The film, made by... Read more

February 12, 2016 TV/Film, Video

A Documentary On Organized Noize Looks At The Genius & Drama In The Dungeon (Video)

Organized Noize is one of the most impactful musical groups of the last 25 years. The Atlanta, Georgia-based trio of Sleepy Brown, Rico Wade, and Ray Murray would be deeply responsible for the mainstream (and critical) success of Outkast, TLC, Goodie Mob, and a litany of other acts, ranging from... Read more

February 9, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Mac Miller Reflects On Career, Addiction & Rap Identity In Revealing Mini-Doc (Video)

In the last five years, Mac Miller has transcended from a mixtape sensation to a proven commercial juggernaut. Unlike so many rapid industry upstarts, many argue that his art has gotten much more honest, skillful, and innovative. In that journey, the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native became a sought-after producer, relocated to... Read more

February 6, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Black Thought Raps About the Super Bowl With Help From “Tonight Show” Fans (Video)

To Heads, it's no secret that the Roots are arguably the greatest band in Hip-Hop. When Jimmy Fallon brought the Philly crew with him to The Tonight Show, millions of new fans were born, and thanks to the many musical skits and interludes on the show, America gets to see... Read more

February 5, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Don Cheadle’s Portrayal Of Miles Davis Captures His Fiery Cool (Video)

After years in the making, Don Cheadle's Miles Davis biopic has its official trailer. The Miles Ahead film, starring Cheadle in the lead, also features Ewan McGregor (who plays music journalist Dave Brill). Based on the trailer, the film captures Miles' life in 1979, a period when he was in... Read more

February 2, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Rakim’s Meteoric Rise & Lasting Impact Are Examined In A New Documentary (Video)

2016 marks 30 years since Eric B. & Rakim released debut single "Eric B. Is President." With "My Melody" (as it was listed then) as the B-side, the Zakia/4th & B'way 12" single would transform Hip-Hop in lyrics, in production, and in style. Director Kaze has produced and edited a... Read more

January 29, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Activist DeRay McKesson Calls “All Lives Matter” A Distraction (Video)

DeRay McKesson has become a key voice in contemporary American race politics. The former teacher and current social activist began to amass a considerable Twitter following in the wake of the shooting death of Mike Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri in the summer of 2014, and as... Read more

January 27, 2016 TV/Film

Leave It To SNL To Provide Comic Relief To Oscar Controversies (Video)

Since its days known as Saturday Night Live, SNL has been a podium for making light of headline news and strong social discourse. This month, the specific 2016 Oscar nominations (and lack thereof) prompted very public dialogue surrounding the diversity of its nominating committees. Meanwhile, the Academy of Motion Picture... Read more

January 24, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Chasing The Cat Makes Key & Peele Gangsta In Their First Feature Film (Video)

When word broke that Key & Peele was ending after its fifth season last year, fans were dismayed. The outrageous sketch comedy show had filled a void that had been lacking for several years after Chappelle's Show left the air. Not to worry, though. The dynamic duo of Keegan-Michael Key... Read more

January 23, 2016 TV/Film

Taggers Played an Integral Role in Graffiti’s Rise. A New Film Tells Their Story (Video)

In some form or another, graffiti has been around for millennia. Inscriptions, carvings, frescas, and a host of other places where art meets the streets can be found in nearly every civilization, but something particularly influential happened right here, in the United States. The place which birthed Hip-Hop culture served... Read more

January 20, 2016 TV/Film

“Wheels Are In Motion” For An O.D.B. Biopic, According To RZA

As N.W.A. is now associated with Oscar nominations thanks to their Straight Outta Compton biopic, at least two other Hip-Hop films are under way. Tupac Shakur's biographical film All Eyez On Me is said to be shooting, while Daz Dillinger's Death Row Records vignette, Dogg Pound 4 Life, has begun... Read more

January 19, 2016 News, TV/Film

Straight Outta Compton Gets An Oscar Nomination

Although N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton was not included in the recent Golden Globes Awards (or even its nominations), the Academy Awards see the film differently. This morning (January 14), the nominations for the 88th Academy Awards were announced. Variety reports that the F. Gary Gray-directed film is nominated for... Read more

January 14, 2016 News, TV/Film

Spike Lee’s Latest Documentary Looks at Michael Jackson’s “Off the Wall” (Video)

Spike Lee has had a very busy few months, promoting and celebrating the release of his most recent film, Chi-Raq. The satirical comedy explored some heavy topics, namely the ongoing epidemic of gun violence in Chicago, where the murder rate is so high, the city has drawn comparisons to war-torn places... Read more

January 14, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Afeni Shakur & Suge Knight Roles Cast In Tupac Biopic. Here Are Photos.

The principle characters in Tupac Shakur's life are being cast for upcoming biopic, All Eyez On Me. Tupac will be played by Demetrius Shipp, Jr., while the part of The Notorious B.I.G. was given to Notorious alum and former rapper Jamal "Gravy" Woolard. Now, two additional figures closest to Shakur... Read more

January 13, 2016 News, TV/Film

“Adult Rappers” Is One Raw & Real Documentary About Hip-Hop Careers (Video)

Securing a career in Hip-Hop music is extremely hard. If you're lucky enough to achieve it, there is no guarantee that it will be glamorous. For a culture often portrayed in the mainstream as lavish, luxurious, and braggadocious, most working artists will be quick to tell you otherwise. Adult Rappers... Read more

January 12, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Stream “The Breaks” and Hear DJ Premier’s First Film Score (Video)

On Monday night (January 4), Vh1 premiered The Breaks. The film, inspired by Dan Charnas' book, The Big Payback, dramatically captures three Hip-Hop hopefuls living in 1990 New York City. One dreams to work at a hit Rap management firm. Another character wants to be a successful producer, and discover... Read more

January 7, 2016 TV/Film, Video

The New Dramatic Series Surrounding Hip-Hop’s Genesis Gets A Full Trailer (Video)

In early summer, AFH reported on upcoming series The Get Down. Directed by Baz Luhran (The Great Gatsby and Moulin Rouge), the upcoming episodes are set in the late 1970s Bronx, New York where Hip-Hop was born. Indicative of the Incredible Bongo Band "Apache"-scored trailer, the culture is at the... Read more

January 6, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Ice Cube, Kevin Hart & Conan Go for a Ride Along With a Student Driver (Video)

Ice Cube and Kevin Hart are on a media blitz, promoting their upcoming film, Ride Along 2. Arriving in theatres on January 15, it serves as a sequel its very successful 2014 predecessor, Ride Along. In promoting that film, the legendary MC and megawatt star comedian visited Conan O'Brien's self-titled... Read more

January 6, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Killer Mike Schools Stephen Colbert on Systemic Racism in America & How To End It (Video)

On last night's episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Killer Mike (born Michael Render) dropped some knowledge on the state of race relations in this country, something he's been doing for years through his music but which has only recently become something that mainstream media have begun to acknowledge.... Read more

January 6, 2016 TV/Film

The Role Of Biggie Is Cast In The Tupac Biopic. And You’ve Seen Him Before…

In 2016, the Tupac Shakur biopic All Eyez On Me is slated to reach movie theaters. Starring Demetrius Shipp, Jr. as the late Hip-Hop superstar, the L.T. Hutton-produced film also stars veteran Hollywood actor Hill Harper. The role of Tupac's close friend-turned-nemesis has also now been cast. Jamal Woolard has... Read more

December 23, 2015 News, TV/Film

Forget Kris Kringle. Santa Claus is from Harlem & His Name is Cam’ron (Video)

Earlier this year, Comedy Central's The Nightly Show brought in an unexpected Human Resources professional in a sketch responding to the summertime report that Amazon's work conditions were horrible. Host Larry Wilmore introduced the sketch by explaining their desire to make sure the show's offices weren't committing the egregiously awful... Read more

December 22, 2015 TV/Film, Video

The Role Of Tupac Shakur Has Been Cast For His Biopic. Here Are Photos.

Following a year that saw Tupac Shakur briefly portrayed in N.W.A. film Straight Outta Compton, production of the late Rap star's own biopic is well under way. All Eyez On Me is the title for the Morgan Creek Entertainment work that chronicles the life, music, and controversy surrounding Shakur. The... Read more

December 20, 2015 News, TV/Film

Macaulay Culkin Spoofs Home Alone…By Channeling Reservoir Dogs. (Video)

Film Home Alone has become a holiday classic. The John Hughes-directed Macaulay Culkin franchise is full of elaborate pranks, family-friendly humor, and always a feel-good takeaway. After multiple films (two starring Culkin), several scenes, lines, and Wet Bandits pitfalls are etched in the hearts of generations. Twenty five years later,... Read more

December 17, 2015 Lifestyle, TV/Film, Video

Supreme Is Knocking Out The Streetwear Competition & Providing Re-Seller Gold (Videos)

In the "hype-beast" era of street-wear, Supreme has lived up to its name. The New York City-originated brand is 21-plus years deep in the game, and popularized by everybody from the late Harold Hunter, to Slick Rick, to Mike Tyson. Behind the red-and-white lettering, is a sub-culture. Supreme's cache extends... Read more

December 16, 2015 Lifestyle, TV/Film, Video

Pusha T Brings Crutches, Crosses, & Caskets (& Some Sunshine) to “The Daily Show” (Videos)

Pusha T is closing out 2015 with an impending release that has been getting buzz for what seems like years. King Push: Darkest Before the Dawn arrives Friday (December 18), and in preparation for it, he's been dropping some serious heat. In November, the Timbaland-produced "Untouchable" arrived, followed up with... Read more

December 16, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Logic’s Star Shines Brightly with Help From the Roots on “The Tonight Show” (Video)

25-year-old Logic has had a whirlwind couple of years, shattering all preconceived notions about what a real MC looks like or where a real MC comes from. The Maryland native was born Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, and since signing to Def Jam and releasing not, but two immensely successful... Read more

December 8, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Big Daddy Kane Returns To Acting, Opposite Keanu Reeves In This Trailer (Video)

In addition to one of Rap's most respected musical careers, Big Daddy Kane is also a professional actor. The Brooklyn, New York native starred in 1990s films like Meteor Man and Posse, before making a return to Hollywood in the 2000s. Recently, Big Daddy Kane has been touring, recording, and... Read more

December 7, 2015 TV/Film, Video

J. Cole’s Record-Breaking Forest Hills Drive Tour is Getting the HBO Treatment (Video)

Since releasing his platinum-selling and universally acclaimed album 2014 Forest Hills Drive last year, J. Cole has continued to claim his rightful place as one of this generation's brightest stars. Not only applauded for his lyrical abilities and his production work - he recently flipped an A Tribe Called Quest... Read more

December 6, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Two 1980s NYC Street Culture Docs Capture The Cool, Even In These Trailers (Videos)

New York City has long been an epicenter for culture. From music, to fashion, to art, the five boroughs and beyond have influenced the world near and far. In the 1980s, the Big Apple was especially influential. Two documentarians of the era are Jamel Shabazz and Manfred Kirchheimer. Shabazz, a... Read more

December 4, 2015 Throwback, TV/Film, Video

Busta Rhymes Won’t Drink the Kool-Aid When it Comes to the Planned Parenthood Attack (Video)

Last night's episode of The Nightly Show was framed around a recent cooking segment that aired on Fox News in which a White host asked his guest - a Black chef - if she makes Kool-Aid for Thanksgiving. The immediate backlash spread across social media, with most feeling his question... Read more

December 1, 2015 TV/Film, Video

23 Years Later, Spike Lee Finally Gets His Oscar & Uses It To Promote Diversity (Video)

It's hard to believe that Spike Lee, the director of such iconic films as Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X has never won an Academy Award for Best Director. The former received the nomination for Best Original Screenplay in 1990 and eight years later, Lee was once again nominated,... Read more

November 17, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Meet The Man Who Set The Internet On Fire As “The Black Stormtrooper” (Video)

Nearly a year ago, when the first official trailer for Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens was released, it was met with the exact type of explosive reaction one might expect to accompany the latest installment of one of the most beloved franchises in cinematic history. However, a... Read more

November 10, 2015 TV/Film

Spike Lee Says Don’t Get It Twisted. “Chi-Raq” Is NOT A Comedy. (Video)

Earlier this week, film director Spike Lee released the trailer for Chi-Raq, a film that takes a look at Chicago's seemingly incessant gun violence, which hasn't gotten so bad, the city has earned itself a moniker that draws parallels to war-torn Iraq. The trailer, which included several comedic moments, earned... Read more

November 6, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Vice’s New TV Channel Re-Invents the Way the World is Shared (Video)

Vice has unveiled a bold, ambitious new venture that aims to change the way stories about the world are shared on television. Viceland - a 24-hour cable channel - will piece together thousands of video packages covering a host of topics, all of which tell the stories, both big and... Read more

November 5, 2015 Lifestyle, TV/Film, Video

Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq Comedy Stars Dave Chappelle, Wesley Snipes & More. See The Trailer (Video)

Spike Lee is fast at work in his first film in more than a year. Following 2014's Da Sweet Blood Of Jesus, the heralded Brooklyn, New York filmmaker is using the violence epidemic of Chicago to apparently elicit some comic relief and food for thought in Chi-Raq. The feature film... Read more

November 3, 2015 TV/Film, Video

These Comic Book Superheroes Are Taking On Their Arch Nemesis, Uncle Sam (Video)

For decades (probably even millennia), graffiti has served amongst its many purposes the promotion of awareness and politically-driven messages. By its very nature, graffiti is an anarchist's weapon, allowing for the promulgation of anti-government (and other forms of push-back) visible to the masses. But what about comic strips? An art... Read more

October 30, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Ja Rule & Irv Gotti Team With Paramount For Series About Murder Inc.

Following the blockbuster success of N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton, an onslaught of Hip-Hop biographies are coming to large and small screens. Last week, it was announced the Warner Bros. had optioned the rights to Sugar Hill Records and its co-founder Sylvia Robinson. Now, it appears that '90s and 2000s... Read more

October 26, 2015 News, TV/Film, Video