TV/Film Archives

More Faces of Color Are On Screen But Diverse Writers Are Still Treated Like The Walking Dead

Great strides have been made in the visibility of diverse characters on television in recent months, but many would justifiably argue that it's too little too late, and that much work is left to be done. Viola Davis recently became the first African-American woman to win an Emmy for Best... Read more

October 26, 2015 Lifestyle, TV/Film

Two “Empire” Execs Sign On For Sugar Hill Records / Sylvia Robinson Biopic

As Straight Outta Compton dominated cinema box offices in 2015, another Hip-Hop label biopic is in pre-production. The Sugar Hill Records story is in development with Warner Bros. Pictures, according to The Hollywood Reporter. For the unnamed script, two executives from FOX's hit series "Empire" have signed on. Producer Malcolm... Read more

October 21, 2015 News, TV/Film

Raury Makes TV History With Powerful Performance & Conversation (Video)

For the first time in the show's history, Comedy Central's "The Nightly Show" featured a live music performance. Singer and rapper Raury was the artist chosen for the honor, and justifiably so. The show's host, Larry Wilmore, has rightfully dedicated much of his content to current issues of race relations in... Read more

October 20, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Tracy Morgan’s SNL Return Is A Special TV Moment. Watch The Full Episode (Video)

Last night, into early this morning (October 18), Tracy Morgan returned to host "SNL" (f/k/a "Saturday Night Live"). The highly-successful cast alum returned to the storied NBC live sketch comedy show a year removed from an auto accident. The June 2014 incident on the New Jersey Turnpike took the life... Read more

October 18, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Hip-Hop Gave Syl Johnson’s Career New Life. A Film Featuring RZA Shows It (Video)

From Wu-Tang Clan, to De La Soul, to Kanye West, Syl Johnson's music has permeated the Hip-Hop consciousness through sampling. However, many audiences—new and old—are not hip to the 79 year-old Holy Springs, Mississippi native. A onetime label-mate of Reverend Al Green at Hi Records, Syl's churned out R&B, Soul,... Read more

October 17, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Has Obama Done Enough For Race Relations? Jeezy’s Response May Surprise (Video)

Last night's episode of "The Nightly Show" was the first to air since the weekend's historic Million Man March, a landmark event in which hundreds of thousands took to the streets of Washington, D.C. to partake in the "Justice or Else" March. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the... Read more

October 13, 2015 TV/Film, Video

A Documentary Uncovers the Man Behind the Inspiration of the Game’s ‘El Chapo’ (Video)

With just two days until the Game's The Documentary 2 arrives in the form of Disc One, the excitement is at a fever pitch. A slew of leaked songs, promotional singles, and news of the double album's track list have made this one of the most highly anticipated projects of... Read more

October 7, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Prince Paul & Wordsworth To Feature On “Mr. Peabody & Sherman” Series

This week (October 9), Dreamworks Animation Studio will launch its latest series, "Mr. Peabody & Sherman." Appearing exclusively on Netflix, the series is a reboot of the famed "The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show" time-traveling affiliates which aired from 1959 to 1964. Former "SNL" cast member Chris Parnell is the voice... Read more

October 5, 2015 News, TV/Film

A New Film Shows How Stretch & Bobbito Helped Launch the Careers of Nas, Jay Z, Big Pun & More (Video)

In the 90s, Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Garcia hosted a seminal radio show every Thursday night (technically early Friday morning) that would become one of the most important platforms in Hip-Hop. Throughout the decade, they served as de facto ambassadors, introducing audiences and the world to unsigned and undiscovered artists... Read more

September 30, 2015 TV/Film

36 Years Later, The Warriors Take Their Last Subway Ride Home. Can You Dig It? (Video)

A lot has changed in New York City since Walter Hill filmed The Warriors. While the Wonder Wheel remains, much of Coney Island has changed when standing on Stillwell Avenue. More than 35 years after the cult classic released, Rolling Stone filmed as cult fans organized "Swan" (Michael Beck), "Cochise"... Read more

September 25, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Black Moon’s ‘Powaful Impak’ Is The Focus Of A Duck Down Feature Documentary (Video)

In looking at Hip-Hop artists and consistency, Heads regularly point to De La Soul, Outkast, and A Tribe Called Quest. There are acts who made extensive catalogs, by-and-large, never disappointing fan-bases. Is Brooklyn, New York trio Black Moon not one of them? Buckshot, DJ Evil Dee, and 5FT have released... Read more

September 18, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Grab Your Charles Dickens. Ice Cube Is The Next Mr. Scrooge.

In music, in film, and in life, Ice Cube is many things. Some of his greatest successes in each have come with the Los Angeles, California native as cranky, irritable, and just downright mad. Whether that's film roles in Higher Learning, 21 Jump Street, or Ride Along, or songs through... Read more

September 17, 2015 News, TV/Film

Did You Know Ice-T Was Once Arrested for Possessing a Bomb…Which Was Fake? (Video)

Anyone with an internet connection over the last 48 hours was made well aware of the story of Ahmed Mohamed, a high-school student in Texas whose incredible skills in science and engineering got him arrested. The 14-year-old constructed a working clock out of his pencil case and, in a moment... Read more

September 17, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Jimmy Fallon & Justin Timberlake are Back at It: Check Out Part 6 of Their History of Rap (Video)

It was a big day for Hip-Hop in late-night television yesterday. With Kendrick Lamar's awe-inspiring performance on Stephen Colbert's "Late Show" last night and the return of the Fallon-Timberlake duo to the "Tonight Show," there is plenty to go around. Since 2010, the two have partnered in medley-style performances of... Read more

September 10, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Tavis Smiley Gets D’Angelo’s First TV Interview in 10 Years and It’s Masterful (Video)

On September 2 and 3, the incomparable D'Angelo sat down with Tavis Smiley for the singer's first long-format television interview in over a decade. The conversation spilled over into two episodes of Smiley's PBS show, which is not surprising considering the magnitude of the subject at hand. In the first... Read more

September 4, 2015 TV/Film, Video

23-Year-Old Anthony Sadler Prevented a Terrorist Attack. The Hero Shares His Story (Video)

On August 21, three friends were heading to Paris from Amsterdam as their Euro Trip winded down. After spending some time in the Netherlands, the three Americans opted to head to France, but before they arrived, they were thrown into a harrowing situation that earned them international acclaim. Sacramento, California... Read more

September 2, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Tower Records’ Place in Music History Is Being Remembered in New Doc (Video)

It goes without saying that every generation of music fan has its earliest, almost primordial memories of when and how it fell in love with music. For some, these memories conjure up images of a live show or a particular lyric that sounded like it was written just for the... Read more

August 31, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Cam’ron Raps. He Acts. He Can Also Run A Human Resources Department (Video)

Frequently, major companies make the news for questionable practices regarding employee rights. Human Resource departments are put in place to enforce best ethical relations in making a work space, both internally and externally—with everybody's rights respected. Larry Wilmore's "The Nightly Show" opted to make light of recent reports of a... Read more

August 18, 2015 TV, TV/Film, Video

Wu-Tang Affiliate Hell Razah The Subject Of Upcoming Documentary

Since the mid-1990s, Hell Razah (a/k/a Heaven Razah) has been a prominent figure within the Wu-Tang family tree. A founding member of the Sunz Of Man, Razah—alongside Killah Priest, Shabazz the Disciple, Prodigal Sunn, and 60-Second Assassin would eventually tackle the Billboard Top 20 through 1998's The Last Shall Be... Read more

August 18, 2015 News, TV/Film

Master P Shows His Historic Rise to Success in Self-Directed Documentary (Video)

Master P, the New Orleans rapper and business man who transformed the way artists negotiated with record labels, is releasing a self-directed documentary called Ice Cream Man: King of the South in Spring 2016. The platinum-selling MC scored a handful of hits, most notably 1997's "Make 'Em Say Ugh," but... Read more

August 17, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Talib Kweli Shares Thoughts on Bernie Sanders & the Women Behind Black Lives Matter (Video)

Fresh off the release of a new single and a new (free) album, Talib Kweli has had a whirlwind 24-hours, and now the Brooklyn MC has brought his thoughts about today's socio-political climate outside the booth and onto television. As a guest on last night's episode of Real Time with... Read more

August 15, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Re: Definition: How Toys Are Changing the Conversation About Gender (Video)

Earlier this month, a major retailer announced it would be doing away with gender-specific signage in some of its aisles, which means that no longer will things like bedding or toys be organized by "Boy" or "Girl." It is the latest development in a nationwide conversation about gender that has... Read more

August 13, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Quentin Tarantino & Sam Jackson Are Re-Teaming For The Hateful Eight (Video)

Today (August 12), filmmaker Quentin Tarantino has released the trailer for his eighth studio film, The Hateful Eight. Set in the 1800s, the Western stars leading men Samuel L. Jackson (who has worked with the writer/director for more than 20 years), along with Kurt Russell (Escape From New York, Tombstone).... Read more

August 12, 2015 TV/Film, Video

The Documentary About The Real “KIDS” Who Inspired The Movie Has a Trailer (Video)

The movie KIDS has resonated in the collective consciousness for more than twenty years, not just because of the controversial issues it addressed--HIV, teen sex, teen drug use--but also because of the authenticity in which those topics were covered. Many of its stars were first time actors and they fully... Read more

August 11, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Remember The 50th Anniversary Of The Watts Riots By Revisiting Wattstax (Video)

Fifty years ago today (August 11, 1965) the Watts Riots began. In South Central Los Angeles, California, the Watts Rebellion (as it also known) would last one week. The historic event followed a Black motorist, Marquette Frye's traffic arrest by a white Los Angeles Police Department officer Lee Minikus. Frye was... Read more

August 11, 2015 Throwback, TV/Film, Video

Happy Birthday to Kool Moe Dee, Who Transformed the Nature of Battle Rap (Video)

On August 8, 1962, a man was born who would revolutionize the way freestyle battles operated, forever leaving his mark on Hip-Hop. Years before he would have that impact, however, he was already forging the path of a pioneer, finding success in the early days of a culture that many... Read more

August 8, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Bad Boys For Life. Will Smith & Martin Lawrence’s Franchise Gets New Editions

In the 20th anniversary year of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence's Bad Boys film, fans have more than nostalgia to look forward to. Sony Pictures has confirmed box office dates for 20 films, as reported by Variety. Within the extensive lineup, a February 2017 box office date has been set... Read more

August 6, 2015 TV/Film

Celebrate Jon Stewart’s Final Week on the ‘Daily Show’ with These Hip-Hop Moments (Videos)

On Friday, August 7, late-night television will lose one of its most beloved hosts, as Jon Stewart retires from his 16-year tenure at the helm of Comedy Central's flagship news-satire program, "The Daily Show." Along the way, Stewart has lambasted politicians, society, corporations, and the average citizen in equal parts... Read more

August 3, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Hannibal Buress Discovers Meek Mill is Not Trending in Beverly Hills (Video)

In the world of Hip-Hop, there is perhaps no more visible story right now than the Drake vs. Meek Mill beef. Ardent users of social media may be feeling like they're seeing the story everywhere, which is probably not an incorrect observation, depending on who one asks. The back and... Read more

July 30, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Queen Latifah & Mary J. Blige Ease Into “The Wiz” Remake

1970s remakes are all the rage these days. As Questlove partakes in an upcoming Roots remake starring Laurence Fishburne, NBC has revealed plans to remake The Wiz. Originally an adaptation in its own right (of The Wizard of Oz), the 1978 film was co-produced by Berry Gordy's Motown film division, and starred... Read more

July 29, 2015 News, TV, TV/Film

‘Kids’ Turns 20 Today & Still Has Plenty of Surprises in its History

On this day in 1995, a film entered theaters that, while under-performing at the box office, left an impression on viewers that has yet to subside. Even though it is one of the most discussed films in a generation (if not more), there are still aspects of Kids' history, production,... Read more

July 28, 2015 TV/Film

President Obama’s Final Daily Show Interview Brings Powerful Ideas On College Reform (Video)

On last night's (July 21) episode of "The Daily Show," Jon Stewart had no monologue, no schtick, and went on zero tangents. And for good reason. His guest was President Barack Obama, a leader who is entering the final year of his tenure. Stewart is also a leader (of sorts)... Read more

July 22, 2015 TV/Film, Video

From the Beastie Boys to Pharrell: This Film Looks at the Merging of Hip-Hop & Skateboard Culture.

As with any culture, the influences of the few can infiltrate the consciousness of the many, transforming a movement at large into a collection of smaller microcosms. One of Hip-Hop's greatest strengths is its eagerness to embrace the flavors of its surroundings, and while now it is arguably the world's... Read more

July 16, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Kid ‘N Play are the Latest Hip-Hop Icons to Be Honored on TV One’s ‘Unsung’ (Video)

In March of this year, the classic movie House Party turned 25, igniting a hilarious and nostalgic trip down Memory Lane for Heads and movie buffs. A progenitor of the Hip-Hop Comedy canon, the movie starred Christopher "Kid" Reid and Christopher "Play" Martin, a Rap duo also known by their... Read more

July 15, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Superman & Batman…It’s Complicated. Here’s an Extended Look at Dawn of Justice (Video)

In mid-April, Heads got an early glimpse of Batman vs. Superman: Dawn Of Justice care of a 136-second trailer. However, that's about all that was available. Details were slim, using the age-old whisper campaign (and a big budget preview) to drive the discussion. The film starring Daredevil's Ben Affleck as Bruce... Read more

July 13, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Hip-Hop’s Global Influence is Being Documented for an Online Museum (Video)

Hip-Hop's far-reaching influence on the worlds of art, dance, fashion, language, and of course music has long since been considered worthy of documentation. With talks of opening the Universal Hip-Hop Museum in the Bronx and the handful of nationwide efforts to digitally archive Hip-Hop's past (including the Hiphop Archive &... Read more

July 9, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Sole Survivors: A New Documentary Explores the Cultural Obsession With Sneakers (Video)

On the heels of the release of Fresh Dressed, a documentary film examining the marriage of Hip-Hop culture and fashion, a new film being released this summer will extend the examination, albeit with a narrower focus. An exploration of those obsessed with kicks, Sneakerheadz premiered at SXSW earlier this year... Read more

July 7, 2015 TV/Film, Video

This 1976 Mini-Documentary Explores The Complexity of Graffiti Culture Before ‘Style Wars’ (Video)

It the late '70s, a distinctively rebellious trend began to populate the walls, monuments, and empty spaces of New York City, one that would go on to become a founding principle of Hip-Hop culture. Graffiti, despite having been around for millennia, experienced a surge in popularity in the late 20th... Read more

July 6, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Fresh Dressed Continues To Make Rounds, A Film As Colorful As Its Fashion Focus

From Run-DMC rapping about their Adidas to A$AP Rocky's self-proclaimed status as a Fashion Killa, the merging of clothing and Hip-Hop has been a mainstay throughout the culture's history. From track suits, gold rope chains, over-sized shirts, Kangol hats, and entire lines like Sean John and Rocawear, Hip-Hop artists have... Read more

June 27, 2015 TV/Film

DJ Quik Truly Is Unsung. Watch An Incredibly In-Depth Look At His Career (Video)

From his reportedly uncredited assistance with Dr. Dre in the 2000s to his days on Death Row Records working under his government pseudonym (David Blake), DJ Quik epitomizes "unsung." For the television series "Unsung," the Compton, California star MC/producer/DJ is chronicled. Quik's days of underground tapes, assisting other would-be sensations... Read more

June 26, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Fight or Flight: What Would You Do If You Were Faced With The Real Terminator? (Video)

Terminator Genisys hits theaters next week (July 1). In the lead up to the film, Arnold Schwarzenegger recently put his talents to use to benefit After-School All-Stars, an organization dedicated to providing comprehensive after-school programs that keep children safe and help them succeed in school and in life. He donned... Read more

June 22, 2015 TV/Film

This PBS Documentary On Atlanta Music Reveals Killer Mike’s Daily Routine (Video)

Several weeks back, PBS' "Music Voyager" program took to Atlanta, Georgia. Host Tacuma Bradley hit Peachtree and beyond to spend time with Killer Mike, The Bush Brothers, and Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics, hoping to better understand what makes the ATL such an artistic epicenter. Within the half-hour program, Bradley... Read more

June 18, 2015 TV/Film, Video

The Eminem Show: Marshall Mathers To Produce & Music Supervise New Series

As one of Motor City's most well-known representatives in Hip-Hop, Eminem has put Detroit, Michigan on the proverbial map with projects like the 2002 blockbuster film 8 Mile and its soundtrack (quintuple-platinum selling "Lose Yourself," anyone?). Thirteen years later, he's doing it again - this time for television - taking... Read more

June 17, 2015 TV/Film

What If A Classic Silent Film Was Re-Scored By A Master DJ? (Video)

Before technology brought sound to film, Hollywood still made blockbusters. The "Silent Film" era produced stars like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd. While Chaplin's facial expressions made him a sympathetic "tramp," Keaton maintained a trademark deadpan in action sequences. Lloyd was something of a Jackie Chan of the... Read more

June 14, 2015 TV/Film, Video

MC Ren Gets Ruthless About N.W.A. “Straight Outta Compton” Trailers

N.W.A. had four MCs: founder Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and MC Ren. In the marketing materials for August 14's Straight Outta Compton biopic, Ren feels as though he is not getting proper billing. Specifically, Ren attacked some of the Universal Pictures trailers. This morning (June 10), the Compton, California... Read more

June 10, 2015 News, TV/Film

The Real War On Drugs. Two Men Are Taking On Cartels…And Winning (Video)

Arriving in theaters next month, the Sundance Award-winning documentary Cartel Land is the result of a partnership between Vice and the Orchard, a film and television distribution studio. Both entities are known for their global approach to film-making in an effort to provide audiences with intimate portrayals of life around... Read more

June 6, 2015 TV/Film

Pharoahe Monch Gives An Enticing Performance In Keep Pushing (Short Film)

Producers of the upcoming film Revolutions Per Minute, have released a prequel to the movie, titled Keep Pushing. The visual is set sometime in the early 1990s. Almost 15 minutes long, the short film follows a Bronx, New York rapper by the name of Billy da Kid. The video starts off with... Read more

May 15, 2015 TV/Film

Watch Crazy Hood’s Award-Winning Short Film, Avaricious: The Story Of Will (Premiere)

Miami, Florida-based Crazy Hood Productions is making a strong foray into film, through the Crazy Hood Film Academy. The collective including DJ EFN and Michael Garcia has released Avaricious: The Story Of Will. The work recently won "Best Short" at Key West Film Festival. Premiering on Ambrosia For Heads, the... Read more

May 15, 2015 TV/Film, Video

In A 1-Minute Trailer, True Detective: Season 2 Gives Goosebumps (Video)

In the opening days of 2014, HBO's "True Detective" came, and rocked worlds with its circular storytelling, gripping suspense, and commanding performances by Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson (who also produced). In just an eight episode format, this show was one that had many Heads talking. By design, Nic Pizzolatto's... Read more

May 15, 2015 TV, TV/Film, Video

Nina Simone’s Career, Activism, & Fiery Spirit Examined In New Documentary (Video)

Although Nina Simone only had one single enter the Top 40 (1959's "I Loves You, Porgy"), the iconic singer, songwriter, and political figure has demonstrated impact on music and culture that transcends the charts. The Tryon, North Carolina native, who died in 2003, is the subject of a new documentary... Read more

May 1, 2015 TV/Film, Video