Public Enemy’s recent, guest-star-laden What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down? is, undoubtedly, the greatest album ever made by a hip-hop group 35 years deep into its career – in that it’s almost certainly the only album in that category thus far. That distinction aside, it’s genuinely excellent in its own right, with Flavor Flav – whose status in the group seemed unclear for the while – fully in the mix, and an energized Chuck D leading the way.
Chuck D talked about making the new album (which largely...
Chuck D talked about making the new album (which largely...
- 12/30/2020
- by Brian Hiatt
- Rollingstone.com
Hip-hop heroes the Sugarhill Gang helped celebrate Conan O'Brien's return to New York City with a performance of "Rapper's Delight" on Conan Monday.
On the stage of the legendary Apollo Theater, original members Michael "Wonder Mike" Wright and Guy "Master Gee" O'Brien cruised through portions of their original verses with breathless ease (the group, reasonably, did not perform the full version of the song, with Wonder Mike unfortunately nixing the "Food just ain't no good" verse).
Meanwhile, new member Henry "Hen Dogg" Williams – in for late co-founder Henry "Big Bank Hank...
On the stage of the legendary Apollo Theater, original members Michael "Wonder Mike" Wright and Guy "Master Gee" O'Brien cruised through portions of their original verses with breathless ease (the group, reasonably, did not perform the full version of the song, with Wonder Mike unfortunately nixing the "Food just ain't no good" verse).
Meanwhile, new member Henry "Hen Dogg" Williams – in for late co-founder Henry "Big Bank Hank...
- 11/1/2016
- Rollingstone.com
The music industry is mourning the loss of a pioneer in the rap community. Big Bank Hank, who was a member of the Sugarhill Gang rap group, passed away Tuesday morning in New Jersey after a long battle of cancer. He was 57. The group's manager confirmed the death to Rolling Stone and said his bandmates Wonder Mike and Master Gee were informed of the news. Hank, who was born Henry Jackson, is well-known for his single "Rapper's Delight." The multiplatinum hit was one of the first rap songs played on the radio and became the first hip-hop single to become a Top 40 Billboard chart hit. The 1979 classic tune has lived on thanks to memorable renditions from Brian Williams and Ellen...
- 11/11/2014
- E! Online
Big Bank Hank, one of the three members of the pioneering hip-hop group The Sugarhill Gang, has died of cancer. He was 57. Hank, whose real name was Henry Jackson, helped the hip-hop genre to burst through into mainstream music with the band's 1979 hit, "Rapper's Delight." The rapper died Tuesday, and the other two members of the group, Guy "Master Gee" O'Brien and Michael "Wonder Mike" Wright, were notified that morning, according to Rolling Stone. "So sad to hear about our brothers passing," his bandmates said in a statement to the magazine. "The three of us created musical history together with the release of 'Rapper's Delight.
- 11/11/2014
- by Sheila Cosgrove Baylis, @sheilabot
- PEOPLE.com
He was one of the early hip hop pioneers and sadly Big Bank Hank lost his battle with cancer at 57 years of age.
The Sugar Hill Gang star, whose real name was Henry Jackson, paved the way for guys like Kanye West, Jay Z, Eminem and the Beastie Boys, along with his band maates Wonder Mike and Master Gee.
In a press release, Master and Wonder declared, “So sad to hear of our brother’s passing. Rest in peace, Big Bank.”
Big Bank Hank was famous for lyrics like- “I’m Imp the Dimp, the ladies’ pimp, The women fight for my delight. But I’m the grandmaster with the three MCs, That shock the house for the young ladies, And when you come inside, into the front, You do the freak, spank, and do the bump, And when the sucker Mc try to prove a point, We’re a treacherous trio,...
The Sugar Hill Gang star, whose real name was Henry Jackson, paved the way for guys like Kanye West, Jay Z, Eminem and the Beastie Boys, along with his band maates Wonder Mike and Master Gee.
In a press release, Master and Wonder declared, “So sad to hear of our brother’s passing. Rest in peace, Big Bank.”
Big Bank Hank was famous for lyrics like- “I’m Imp the Dimp, the ladies’ pimp, The women fight for my delight. But I’m the grandmaster with the three MCs, That shock the house for the young ladies, And when you come inside, into the front, You do the freak, spank, and do the bump, And when the sucker Mc try to prove a point, We’re a treacherous trio,...
- 11/11/2014
- GossipCenter
Big Bank Hank -- the Sugarhill Gang rapper best known as "the grandmaster with 3 MCs that shock the house for the young ladies" -- died early Tuesday morning ... TMZ has learned.Hank -- born Henry Jackson -- had been suffering from cancer. We're told he passed away in the greater NYC area around 2 Am. Hank was one third of the famous Sugarhill Gang ... which had the first mainstream rap hit "Rappers Delight" in 1979.His group...
- 11/11/2014
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Brian Williams has had a killer rap career thanks to the editing wizards at "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon." Here are his greatest hits to date. Where will his newest jam "Baby Got Back" rank? The result may shock you, player. 7. "Good Vibrations" Nope, that's not a Beach Boys singalong. Brian's version of the Funky Bunch's flyest moment is hot for a few beats. Turn your cap backwards and flex, guys. 6. "Regulate" Brian's take on the Warren G. classic is as smooth and sultry as the original, but he adds his signature "W-i double-l" flow. 5. "Bust a Move" This cover makes me think Brian's ready to handle "It Takes Two" And Vanilla Ice's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" theme. It's only a matter of time, right? 4. "Gin and Juice" Brian really starts to impress us with his Curtis Mayfield-like coolness here. Picture Allison Williams' dad enjoying that...
- 6/17/2014
- by Louis Virtel
- Hitfix
Keith Urban learned how a few encouraging words he spoke backstage after an awards show inspired a contestant who auditioned for American Idol on Wednesday.
Casey Thrasher, 22, a father of two young children from Tuscaloosa, Ala., recalled his unexpected yet inspirational meeting with Urban after the CMAs in 2012.
"You were humble enough to come over and speak to me. You said, 'I believe in you, brother,'" Thrasher said, before launching, appropriately enough, into an emotional performance of "Believe" by Brooks & Dunn.
"I love you. Not 100 percent perfect … but you had so much feeling," said Jennifer Lopez, while Harry Connick Jr. added,...
Casey Thrasher, 22, a father of two young children from Tuscaloosa, Ala., recalled his unexpected yet inspirational meeting with Urban after the CMAs in 2012.
"You were humble enough to come over and speak to me. You said, 'I believe in you, brother,'" Thrasher said, before launching, appropriately enough, into an emotional performance of "Believe" by Brooks & Dunn.
"I love you. Not 100 percent perfect … but you had so much feeling," said Jennifer Lopez, while Harry Connick Jr. added,...
- 1/30/2014
- by Wade Rouse
- People.com - TV Watch
Keith Urban learned how a few encouraging words he spoke backstage after an awards show inspired a contestant who auditioned for American Idol on Wednesday. Casey Thrasher, 22, a father of two young children from Tuscaloosa, Ala., recalled his unexpected yet inspirational meeting with Urban after the CMAs in 2012. "You were humble enough to come over and speak to me. You said, 'I believe in you, brother,'" Thrasher said, before launching, appropriately enough, into an emotional performance of "Believe" by Brooks & Dunn. "I love you. Not 100 percent perfect … but you had so much feeling," said Jennifer Lopez, while Harry Connick Jr. added,...
- 1/30/2014
- by Wade Rouse
- PEOPLE.com
American Idol continued with auditions in Salt Lake City where judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr. recruited a lot of young talent to Hollywood, including stand out Tessa Norman.
Austin Wolfe, 16, kicked it off with a strong rendition of Imagine Dragon’s “Radioactive” that won over the judges immediately. Keith and Harry loved her from the get go when she introduced herself – they were immediately jealous of her rock star name.
Another 16-year-old stand-out was Kenzie Hall, who showed off her range and guitar playing with John Mayer’s “I’m Gonna Find Another You.” To quote J. Lo, “She’s one of my favs…She was great.”
Other young aspiring singers who made the cut included Briston Maroney, 15, Kylee Adamson, 18, Michael Simeon, 19, D.J. Bradley, 20, Emily Rottler, 17, country singer Laurel Wright, 18, and diva in the making, Tessa Norman, 19. Tessa had the judges in the palm of...
Austin Wolfe, 16, kicked it off with a strong rendition of Imagine Dragon’s “Radioactive” that won over the judges immediately. Keith and Harry loved her from the get go when she introduced herself – they were immediately jealous of her rock star name.
Another 16-year-old stand-out was Kenzie Hall, who showed off her range and guitar playing with John Mayer’s “I’m Gonna Find Another You.” To quote J. Lo, “She’s one of my favs…She was great.”
Other young aspiring singers who made the cut included Briston Maroney, 15, Kylee Adamson, 18, Michael Simeon, 19, D.J. Bradley, 20, Emily Rottler, 17, country singer Laurel Wright, 18, and diva in the making, Tessa Norman, 19. Tessa had the judges in the palm of...
- 1/30/2014
- Uinterview
A summer treat for all of you New Yorkers, taking place tomorrow, Wednesday, July 10, starting at 5:30pm, at Marcus Garvey Park Lawn A (Mount Morris Park West between 122nd and 124th Streets). Presented by Maysles Cinema's Summer of Music, The Marcus Garvey Park Alliance, Reel Harlem: The Historic Harlem Parks Film Festival, Tedsmooth's Old School Jam and Harlem Hip-Hop Tours. The event includes a screening of Roger Paradiso's Sugarhill Gang feature documentary, I Want My Name Back, and will feature a special performance of Rapper's Delight with Legendary MCs Wonder Mike, Master Gee and Grandmaster Caz (The Cold Crush Brothers) and special guests Melle Mel (Grandmaster...
- 7/9/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
I Want My Name Back, directed by Roger Paradiso, centers on Master Gee & Wonder Mike of the Original Sugarhill Gang who, 30+ years after the historic recording of their iconic mega-hit Rapper’s Delight, have come back to reclaim their identities and rightful place in Hip Hop history.Described by the subjects as the "classic label versus artist battle" story, the film is said to give the audience an honest inside look at the origins, trials and tribulations of the original Sugarhill Gang.Post its premiere at the 18th Slamdance Film Festival in January, One Village Entertainment, an entity of Robert Johnson's Rlj Entertainment,...
- 5/29/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
I Want My Name Back, directed by Roger Paradiso, centers on Master Gee & Wonder Mike of the Original Sugarhill Gang who, 30+ years after the historic recording of their iconic mega-hit Rapper’s Delight, have come back to reclaim their identities and rightful place in Hip Hop history.Described by the subjects as the "classic label versus artist battle" story, the film is said to give the audience an honest inside look at the origins, trials and tribulations of the original Sugarhill Gang.Post its premiere at the 18th Slamdance Film Festival in January, One Village Entertainment, an entity of Robert Johnson's Rlj Entertainment,...
- 5/22/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Courteney Cox's well-received but low-rated sitcom "Cougar Town" made the leap from ABC to TBS this year, the type of last-minute-save move that's becoming more and more common as smaller networks and streaming sites look to capitalize on solid shows that have a following but that aren't performing well enough for their original home to keep them going. And the fourth season of "Cougar Town" has gone well enough that TBS announced this afternoon that it was renewing the comedy for a fifth round. "Cougar Town has been everything we hoped it would be: a smart, big-hearted, laugh-out-loud comedy that shines a bright light on the TBS brand," said the network's Michael Wright in the announcement. "This season, the brilliant cast and immensely creative production team on Cougar Town have crafted their best episodes yet, and we couldn't be happier inviting them back for more." "Cougar Town" is the creation of Bill Lawrence ("Scrubs,...
- 3/25/2013
- by Alison Willmore
- Indiewire
It took all week but Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon finally revived their "History of Rap" series with "History of Rap 4" on Friday (March 15) night's "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon."
The rap medleys have become a regular thing for the pair and this installment was particularly impressive and expansive -- ranging from 1981's "Apache (Jump On It)" by the Sugarhill Gang to current chart-topper Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' "Thrift Shop."
Related: Watch video from Justin Timberlake's secret SXSW concert
Watch the video in the player above and check out the complete song list below:
Sugarhill Gang, "Apache (Jump On It)" (1981)
Grandmaster Melle Mel, "White Lines (Don't Do It)" (1983)
Kurtis Blow, "Basketball" (1984)
Fat Boys, "The Fat Boys" (1984)
Run Dmc, "Its Tricky" (1987)
Beastie Boys, "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" (1987)
LL Cool J, "Going Back to Cali" (1988)
Slick Rick, "Children's Story" (1989)
2 Live Crew, "Me So Horny" (1989)
Public Enemy, "Fight the Power" (1989)
A Tribe Called Quest,...
The rap medleys have become a regular thing for the pair and this installment was particularly impressive and expansive -- ranging from 1981's "Apache (Jump On It)" by the Sugarhill Gang to current chart-topper Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' "Thrift Shop."
Related: Watch video from Justin Timberlake's secret SXSW concert
Watch the video in the player above and check out the complete song list below:
Sugarhill Gang, "Apache (Jump On It)" (1981)
Grandmaster Melle Mel, "White Lines (Don't Do It)" (1983)
Kurtis Blow, "Basketball" (1984)
Fat Boys, "The Fat Boys" (1984)
Run Dmc, "Its Tricky" (1987)
Beastie Boys, "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" (1987)
LL Cool J, "Going Back to Cali" (1988)
Slick Rick, "Children's Story" (1989)
2 Live Crew, "Me So Horny" (1989)
Public Enemy, "Fight the Power" (1989)
A Tribe Called Quest,...
- 3/16/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Justin Timberlake knocked it out of the park on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon last night, wrapping up "Timberweek" with the highly anticipated fourth installment of "The History of Rap" (everything from Sugarhill Gang to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis), sitting down for an interview to recap the week's festivities (don't know if I realized it earlier this week, but Jt's Michael McDonald is spot effing on) and, best of all, dropping an out of this world medley of hits from the first two albums: "Like I Love You," "My Love," "Cry Me A River" (with bonus "N*ggas In Paris" break, naturally) and "Señorita."
| Follow Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Fallon, The Roots, Music and TV on Ology |
Get ready to pick your jaw off the floor—check it all out below.
Interview
History Of Rap Part 4
Greatest Hits Medley
What were your favorite "Timberweek" moments this week? Drop a line in the comments below!
| Follow Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Fallon, The Roots, Music and TV on Ology |
Get ready to pick your jaw off the floor—check it all out below.
Interview
History Of Rap Part 4
Greatest Hits Medley
What were your favorite "Timberweek" moments this week? Drop a line in the comments below!
- 3/16/2013
- by Brett Warner
- Celebsology
Justin Timberlake knocked it out of the park on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon last night, wrapping up "Timberweek" with the highly anticipated fourth installment of "The History of Rap" (everything from Sugarhill Gang to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis), sitting down for an interview to recap the week's festivities (don't know if I realized it earlier this week, but Jt's Michael McDonald is spot effing on) and, best of all, dropping an out of this world medley of hits from the first two albums: "Like I Love You," "My Love," "Cry Me A River" (with bonus "N*ggas In Paris" break, naturally) and "Señorita."
| Follow Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Fallon, The Roots, Music and TV on Ology |
Get ready to pick your jaw off the floor—check it all out below.
Interview
History Of Rap Part 4
Greatest Hits Medley
What were your favorite "Timberweek" moments this week? Drop a line in the comments below!
| Follow Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Fallon, The Roots, Music and TV on Ology |
Get ready to pick your jaw off the floor—check it all out below.
Interview
History Of Rap Part 4
Greatest Hits Medley
What were your favorite "Timberweek" moments this week? Drop a line in the comments below!
- 3/16/2013
- by Brett Warner
- TVology
2012 appears to be the year for younger, i.e. under 10 years old, underground fests to blow it wide open and go for broke. This time it’s the 4th annual Oakland Underground Film Festival that is expanding its horizons into a blowout four-day, much more densely packed affair, running on Sept. 27-30 at several different locations.
Expanding on the types of films they screen, this year Oakuff is jammed pack with a wide variety of documentaries, thrillers, a bevy of short films and a special tribute to blaxploitation films hosted by BadAzz MoFo’s David Walker.
The fest opens on the 27th with skateboarding filmmaker Stacy Peralta’s latest, Bones Brigade: An Autobiography, which documents his own involvement with California board culture along with peers like Tony Hawk and Rodney Mullen. Following that will be Ya’Ke Smith’s complex drama about the effects of child molestation.
Other documentaries in...
Expanding on the types of films they screen, this year Oakuff is jammed pack with a wide variety of documentaries, thrillers, a bevy of short films and a special tribute to blaxploitation films hosted by BadAzz MoFo’s David Walker.
The fest opens on the 27th with skateboarding filmmaker Stacy Peralta’s latest, Bones Brigade: An Autobiography, which documents his own involvement with California board culture along with peers like Tony Hawk and Rodney Mullen. Following that will be Ya’Ke Smith’s complex drama about the effects of child molestation.
Other documentaries in...
- 9/25/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
To celebrate their 5th anniversary, the Arizona Underground Film Festival has expanded to a whopping nine nights on Sept. 21-29 for a cinematic event the likes of Tucson has never seen before!
The shenanigans kick off with the opening night film The Legend of Kaspar Hauser, an experimental Italian feature directed by Davide Manuli and starring Vincent Gallo as the hero and the villain to a strange young boy, then end with the closing night film Jason M. Solomon’s nostalgic documentary 7 Years Underground: A 60′s Tale, which profiles the legendary Cafe Au Go Go in NYC that hosted such up-and-coming acts such as Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, George Carlin, Lily Tomlin and more.
In between those two films lies a twisted carnage of movie mayhem, including Spencer Parsons’ demented homage to ’70s mystery cartoons Saturday Morning Massacre; Michael Melamedoff exploitative semi-doc The Exhibitionists; Stephen Amis’ Australian WWII sci-fi...
The shenanigans kick off with the opening night film The Legend of Kaspar Hauser, an experimental Italian feature directed by Davide Manuli and starring Vincent Gallo as the hero and the villain to a strange young boy, then end with the closing night film Jason M. Solomon’s nostalgic documentary 7 Years Underground: A 60′s Tale, which profiles the legendary Cafe Au Go Go in NYC that hosted such up-and-coming acts such as Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, George Carlin, Lily Tomlin and more.
In between those two films lies a twisted carnage of movie mayhem, including Spencer Parsons’ demented homage to ’70s mystery cartoons Saturday Morning Massacre; Michael Melamedoff exploitative semi-doc The Exhibitionists; Stephen Amis’ Australian WWII sci-fi...
- 9/14/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 5th annual Arizona Underground Film Festival, which will run on Sept. 21-29 at various venues around Tucson, Arizona, has officially released the titles of six of the films that will be screening at this year’s event.
It’s clear from this half-dozen batch of movies that the fest will be sticking to its successful formula that has allowed it to grow by leaps and bounds since 2008. That formula consists of offering up a diverse batch of fun genre fare, controversial exploitation films, crowd-pleasing music documentaries and somewhat unclassifiable cinematic oddities.
The titles and brief descriptions are below. The full lineup will be available on Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film in early September.
The Legend of Kaspar Hauser, dir. Davide Manuli. In this Italian update of the Werner Herzog classic film, which was based on a true story, controversial American actor Vincent Gallo tackles the dual roles...
It’s clear from this half-dozen batch of movies that the fest will be sticking to its successful formula that has allowed it to grow by leaps and bounds since 2008. That formula consists of offering up a diverse batch of fun genre fare, controversial exploitation films, crowd-pleasing music documentaries and somewhat unclassifiable cinematic oddities.
The titles and brief descriptions are below. The full lineup will be available on Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film in early September.
The Legend of Kaspar Hauser, dir. Davide Manuli. In this Italian update of the Werner Herzog classic film, which was based on a true story, controversial American actor Vincent Gallo tackles the dual roles...
- 8/27/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Does this count as an audition for Dancing With the Stars?
Over the weekend, Alfonso Ribeiro — a.k.a. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s preppy, conservative, Tom Jones-loving Carlton — led an army of Angelenos in what fitness company ViSalus is calling the world’s largest simultaneous flash mob. (Apparently, equivalent dances were also done in “hundreds of cities” across the U.S. and Canada.)
But forget the corporate sponsorship. What’s important here is that whether he’s doing his patented “It’s Not Unusual” arm swinging or thrusting his hips to The Sugarhill Gang’s “Apache (Jump On...
Over the weekend, Alfonso Ribeiro — a.k.a. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s preppy, conservative, Tom Jones-loving Carlton — led an army of Angelenos in what fitness company ViSalus is calling the world’s largest simultaneous flash mob. (Apparently, equivalent dances were also done in “hundreds of cities” across the U.S. and Canada.)
But forget the corporate sponsorship. What’s important here is that whether he’s doing his patented “It’s Not Unusual” arm swinging or thrusting his hips to The Sugarhill Gang’s “Apache (Jump On...
- 4/24/2012
- by Hillary Busis
- EW.com - PopWatch
Chicago – Several guests and performances that will appear at the 4th Annual Chicago Movies & Music Festival in April were officially announced today. The festival, which celebrates music in movies in features, documentaries, shorts, concert films, animation, and music videos, will take place from Thursday, April 12 to Sunday, April 15.
CIMMfest will take place at various theaters and venues in the Wicker Park and Logan Square neighborhoods of Chicago, including the newly renovated Logan Theatre. The festival will include appearances by actors and filmmakers, DJ/VJ events, panel discussions and live performances. Some guests that have been confirmed for the festival include actors Horatio Sanz and Joe Lo Truglio and a performance of “Rapper’s Delight” by rappers Wonder Mike and Master Gee (founding members of The Sugarhill Gang).
Josh Chicoine, Director of the 4th Annual CIMMfest Director along with Ilko Davidov, explained his excitement in a press release today: “Now entering...
CIMMfest will take place at various theaters and venues in the Wicker Park and Logan Square neighborhoods of Chicago, including the newly renovated Logan Theatre. The festival will include appearances by actors and filmmakers, DJ/VJ events, panel discussions and live performances. Some guests that have been confirmed for the festival include actors Horatio Sanz and Joe Lo Truglio and a performance of “Rapper’s Delight” by rappers Wonder Mike and Master Gee (founding members of The Sugarhill Gang).
Josh Chicoine, Director of the 4th Annual CIMMfest Director along with Ilko Davidov, explained his excitement in a press release today: “Now entering...
- 3/8/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
You may have heard the song “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang (“I said a hip hop, a hippie, a hippie to the hip hop”), but what you might not know is this song helped hip hop break into the mainstream and helped a genre that, up until that point had been brushed off as a fad, start to take root in our musical history. Even though the group was changing the face (and sound) of the music industry, The Sugarhill Gang found themselves on top of the charts with barely a dime to their name. While this is not the first time we have heard stories of talent swindled by shady and greedy record executives, the story of the Sugarhill Gang is not just about losing money, it is about having their name and the true identity of the band member’s themselves stolen from them. The Sugarhill Gang was originally made up of Wonder Mike...
- 2/9/2012
- by Allison Loring
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Image from the movie “I Want My Name Back.”
“I said a hip-hop, hippie to the hippie” could quite possibly be one of the most significant verses uttered in rap history–but most fans don’t know the legal and financial battle the words unleashed.
The Sugarhill Gang released what’s widely regarded as the first hip-hop hit, the 15-minute“Rapper’s Delight” in 1979, and the single went on to sell 10 million copies. MCs Wonder Mike and Master Gee at...
“I said a hip-hop, hippie to the hippie” could quite possibly be one of the most significant verses uttered in rap history–but most fans don’t know the legal and financial battle the words unleashed.
The Sugarhill Gang released what’s widely regarded as the first hip-hop hit, the 15-minute“Rapper’s Delight” in 1979, and the single went on to sell 10 million copies. MCs Wonder Mike and Master Gee at...
- 1/25/2012
- by Garin Pirnia
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Slamdance has released the line up for their 2012 Slamdance Film Festival which takes place in Park City Utah at the same time at The Sundance Film Festival. Slamdance focuses more on genre type indie films and consists of several films that weren't accepted into the Sundance Film Fest. The festival runs from January 20th to the 26th.
Check out the list below and tell us what you think! Do any of you plan on attending? I always try to catch a few of these films while up in Park City.
Narrative Feature Competition
Bindlestiffs – Director: Andrew Edison, Screenwriters: Andrew Edison, Luke Loftin. (USA)
World Premiere. Three smart-mouthed high school virgins, suspended from school on a graffiti charge, flee to the inner city to live out the plot of The Catcher in the Rye. Cast: Andrew Edison, Luke Loftin, John Karna
Comforting Skin – Director: Derek Franson, Screenwriter: Derek Franson. (Canada) Us Premiere.
Check out the list below and tell us what you think! Do any of you plan on attending? I always try to catch a few of these films while up in Park City.
Narrative Feature Competition
Bindlestiffs – Director: Andrew Edison, Screenwriters: Andrew Edison, Luke Loftin. (USA)
World Premiere. Three smart-mouthed high school virgins, suspended from school on a graffiti charge, flee to the inner city to live out the plot of The Catcher in the Rye. Cast: Andrew Edison, Luke Loftin, John Karna
Comforting Skin – Director: Derek Franson, Screenwriter: Derek Franson. (Canada) Us Premiere.
- 12/15/2011
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
Every year, a pack of wily filmmakers descend on sleepy Park City, Utah to show their films, carouse, and hopefully get noticed by the bigwigs. But did you also know about the Sundance Film Festival? That’s a joke, festival-lovers! Of course, everyone knows about the Sundance Film Festival, but while the bright lights and weary film writer eyes of the ‘dance shine all over Park City, just up the hill, on the top of Main St. at the Treasure Mountain Inn, the Slamdance Film Festival rages on and continues to impress. The festival lives by their own self-professed mantra: “By Filmmakers, For Filmmakers.” As they note, no other festival is fully programmed by filmmakers. Slamdance alums include Christopher Nolan, Marc Forster, Jared Hess, and Oren Peli. Today, the festival announced their in-competition titles for the feature category. The 2012 Slamdance Film Festival feature 18 feature-length competition films, including ten narratives and eight documentaries, with...
- 12/14/2011
- by Kate Erbland
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Ten narratives and eight documentaries are lined up for the 2012 Slamdance Film Festival Competition. Variety's Dave McNary reports that two titles "already generating buzz are Bindlestiffs in the feature lineup and We Are Legion: The Story of Hacktavists in documentaries. Bindlestiffs, directed by Andrew Edison, stars Andrew Edison, Luke Loftin and John Karna as smart-mouthed high school virgins, who are suspended from school on a graffiti charge and flee to the inner city to live out the plot of The Catcher in the Rye. We Are Legion, directed and written by Brian Knappenberger, is a look inside the world of Anonymous, the radical 'hacktivist' collective that's redefined civil disobedience for the digital age."
The other narrative features:
Roller Town from Glen Jm on Vimeo.
Andrew Bush's Roller Town, with Kayla Lorette, Mark Little and Scott Vrooman.
Derek Franson's Comforting Skin, with Jane Sowerby, Tygh Runyan and Victoria Bidewell.
The other narrative features:
Roller Town from Glen Jm on Vimeo.
Andrew Bush's Roller Town, with Kayla Lorette, Mark Little and Scott Vrooman.
Derek Franson's Comforting Skin, with Jane Sowerby, Tygh Runyan and Victoria Bidewell.
- 12/14/2011
- MUBI
It's a rare criminal who gets stopped by the police for knitting.
But that's what happened in the shadow of Big Ben, where a covert London posse called Knit the City attempted to cover a Parliament Square telephone box in a knitted cozy, when two bobbies beckoned.
"They immediately started questioning us," says the group's founder, Lauren O'Farrell. "As soon as I told them it was a craft instead of an art project, they were more amenable. If I'd said it was art, it might have suggested something deep and meaningful. But the looks on people's faces completely changed. It made their day. To have that kind of effect makes you want to do it more."
Welcome to the quirky world of "graffiti knitting," a global movement of several hundred artists dedicated to adorning otherwise stoic effigies of urban life--lampposts, statues, mailboxes--with knitted scarves, animals, and wraps. O'Farrell first made...
But that's what happened in the shadow of Big Ben, where a covert London posse called Knit the City attempted to cover a Parliament Square telephone box in a knitted cozy, when two bobbies beckoned.
"They immediately started questioning us," says the group's founder, Lauren O'Farrell. "As soon as I told them it was a craft instead of an art project, they were more amenable. If I'd said it was art, it might have suggested something deep and meaningful. But the looks on people's faces completely changed. It made their day. To have that kind of effect makes you want to do it more."
Welcome to the quirky world of "graffiti knitting," a global movement of several hundred artists dedicated to adorning otherwise stoic effigies of urban life--lampposts, statues, mailboxes--with knitted scarves, animals, and wraps. O'Farrell first made...
- 3/28/2011
- by Susan Karlin
- Fast Company
Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake are the hottest duo in hip-hop - for the moment.
They performed a medley of rap hits on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" Wednesday night when Timberlake was a guest on the show, promoting his latest film The Social Network, the most recent sign that he's well on his way to earning the Egot (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) badge of honour.
In the ensuing two days, the clip has become a viral hit.
Fallon and Timberlake started off with Sugarhill Gang's classic "Rapper's Delight" and then performed jams from artists including the Beastie Boys, the Notorious B.I.G., Jay-z and Eminem.
Fallon, 36, said he's surprised by the success of the skit.
"We never know what's going to viral or get picked up, and this one's beyond what we thought it would do," he said Thursday in a phone interview with The Associated Press.
Though the clip looks all fun,...
They performed a medley of rap hits on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" Wednesday night when Timberlake was a guest on the show, promoting his latest film The Social Network, the most recent sign that he's well on his way to earning the Egot (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) badge of honour.
In the ensuing two days, the clip has become a viral hit.
Fallon and Timberlake started off with Sugarhill Gang's classic "Rapper's Delight" and then performed jams from artists including the Beastie Boys, the Notorious B.I.G., Jay-z and Eminem.
Fallon, 36, said he's surprised by the success of the skit.
"We never know what's going to viral or get picked up, and this one's beyond what we thought it would do," he said Thursday in a phone interview with The Associated Press.
Though the clip looks all fun,...
- 10/1/2010
- by Associated Press and Cineplex Staff
- Cineplex
Last week, MTV News unveiled its list of the Hottest MCs in the Game (topped, rightfully so, by none other than Jay-z). This week marks a key moment in hip-hop history, as the Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" — the first real hip-hop single — was unleashed a full 30 years ago. If you had described the concept of "Rapper's Delight" to somebody ("Hey, I've got this breakdown in the middle of a disco song — let me rhythmically recite poetry over it!") in the age before rap music, that person probably would have rolled his eyes at the very concept. But the concept certainly took off, and after "Rapper's Delight" impacted the pop charts, hip-hop as a commercial force was born and it has rarely relinquished its hold on pop music since.
Though the track consists of the same repetitive bass loop and the rhyming styles of Wonder Mike, Big Bank Hank and...
Though the track consists of the same repetitive bass loop and the rhyming styles of Wonder Mike, Big Bank Hank and...
- 10/13/2009
- by Kyle Anderson
- MTV Newsroom
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.