BuzzSugar

Buzz News Roundup, 7/23

BuzzSugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:32:47 -0700

Despite rumors to the contrary, Access Hollywood is reporting that Tom Cruise will not reprise his role as Maverick in a sequel to Top Gun.
Variety has the news that Hancock director Peter Berg is developing a Hercules film based on a five-issue comic book series by Steve Moore.
According to Reuters, Disney has named replacements for Ebert and Roeper: Ben Lyons from E! and Ben Mankiewicz from Turner Classic Movies. At the Movies with Ben and Ben, anyone?
According to The New York Times, TiVo will introduce a product purchasing feature in partnership with Amazon.
TNT picked up the pilot for Night and Day, a show about an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms from 24 co-creator Joel Surnow, the Hollywood Reporter writes.
Billboard states Nas' untitled album topped last week's sales chart, moving 197,000 copies. Lil Wayne's album and the Mamma Mia! soundtrack rounded out the top three.
The Hollywood Reporter writes that Netflix is closing its Red Envelope Entertainment subsidiary, a film financing and acquisition firm that helped finance No End in Sight and Two Days in Paris, among others.

What to Download: New Music on iTunes

BuzzSugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:30:31 -0700

Tuesdays are big in entertainment-ville: Not only do all the new DVD releases hit Netflix, but new music also pours into stores, including iTunes. So I take a spin through each week's iTunes music releases and pick out some albums and tracks worthy of a download. Here are today's selections:

The provocateur: Finally the album that made headlines long before it was ever released is here, and getting fairly good reviews. The album seems intense, and while I'm already bouncing my head to some of the melodies and rhymes ("Queens Get the Money" and "Make the World Go Round" featuring Chris Brown), other tracks are so thick with messages and insinuations it will take more than a quick listen to suss it out ("Sly Fox," for example, is an all-out attack on Fox News).

A new songbird: Every once in a while I flip on VH1 while I get ready in the morning because that's one of the few times I'm able to find actual music videos on the television. On one such morning, I caught this young Aussie singer (and former star of the TV show Neighbours), Delta Goodrem, and she sounded alright. Kinda reminded me of a slightly more upbeat Sarah McLaughlin. Check out the tracks "In This Life" and "Brave Face" from her self-titled album now available in the U.S. and let me know what you think.

One more pick to go (hint: it's a soundtrack) so read more!

Teen angst: This soundtrack might be to today's youngsters what Empire Records soundtrack was to me back in the day. It's a cute, timely mix of songs from a great little movie, and includes tracks from a range of artists including MGMT, Cat Stevens, and The Ting Tings. And while I may not be a teenager, I'm definitely loving this mix. The folks behind this movie have excellent taste in tunes.

Source

Nas Changes His Album Title: Smart Move?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 08:15:52 -0700

Nas is no stranger to controversy and when he announced that the title of his upcoming album would include a divisive word, he once again found himself and his music under fire.
Jesse Jackson was one among many activists to speak out, saying, "The title using the 'N' word is morally offensive and socially distasteful. Nas has the right to degrade and denigrate in the name of free speech, but there is no honor in it."

Now Nas has announced that the album will drop in July without a title, stating:

[The title] kind of comes off as something that can be disrespectful. Our older black people can take it the wrong way. Some non-blacks can take it the wrong way, and it becomes a thing that becomes controversial in all the wrong ways. I accept that. I'm here to do music. I'm here to rap about what I feel and what makes sense to me.

Interestingly, before the change of heart Nas had garnered the support of fellow artists in the community, including LL Cool J, Reverend Run, and Jay-Z. Even Alica Keys threw in a quote of her own saying, "He's incredible, he's not a fool. If he has something shocking to say, it's because he wants you to pay attention to it."

Ultimately Nas decided against alienating certain fans. Do you think this was a smart move, or did Nas compromise himself as an artist?

Source

Music Video: Kanye West Feat. Rakim, Nas, and KRS-One, "Classic"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 08:09:02 -0700

I love this period of self-reflection that hip-hop seems to be going through right now, with Nas telling us that the genre is dead, KRS-One countering with an upcoming album called Hip-Hop Lives, and Jay-Z boasting about being all grown-up. The new Kanye West collaboration with KRS-One, Nas, and Rakim strikes a similar note, pondering what makes a classic. (Answer: These guys.)

Like the funky bass-laden single itself, the video for "Classic" has a decidedly old-school feel, with DJ Premier fiddling over some 80s-looking electronics and graffiti artists indulging in a little paint-can play. To watch the video, read more

Source

Buzz News Roundup, 12/27

BuzzSugar — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 11:59:26 -0800

Nas moves to the top of the Billboard charts with Hip Hop Is Dead.
Apocalypto fails to play well with the family-friendly holiday movie crowd, says Variety.
TV Guide ranks the worst TV of 2006.
Billboard reports that Danger Mouse will debut a new project, called Underground Animals, with a new album next year.
CBS television pioneer Frank Stanton dies at age 98, according to Zap2It.
Spike Lees signs on to direct a James Brown biopic, according to Variety.
A signed Beatles record sells for more than $100,000 at auction, reports USA Today.

Listen to the Newly Leaked Nas Album

BuzzSugar — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 15:51:07 -0800

With his upcoming album, Nas is declaring that Hip Hop Is Dead, and considering the rather lackluster year that hip-hop has had, he may be right. But Nas's latest release is still one of the most anticipated albums as we finish off the year, so it's no surprise that Hip Hop Is Dead has been leaked on the Web. You can listen to the whole thing on MTV's web site, and if you like it, you can preoder the album before hits stores Dec. 19.