Denzel Washington stepped into Frank Sinatra’s shoes with 2004’s The Manchurian Candidate, and even Will Smith took a stab at it with the reboot of I Am Legend (inspired by the 1971 Charlton Heston starrer, The Omega Man). Both actors have been known to break the color barrier when it comes to casting, but before recently many women haven’t been able to accomplish the same.

Denzel Washington in “The Manchurian Candidate”

Will Smith in “I Am Legend”

That is, until 2008 when we saw TV veteran Debbie Allen direct her Tony award-winning big sister, fellow small screen legend Phylicia Rashad, in the role of Big Mama in the first all-black production of Tennessee Williams’ classic play, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.  The revival—which also starred Anika Noni Rose, James Earl Jones and Terrence Howard—earned rave reviews and helped usher in a new wave of black talent to the stage. It also challenged the narrow perceptions of black characters by mainstream audiences.

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And it didn’t stop there. Just last month, another one of Williams’ plays, A Streetcar Named Desire, added some color to the Broadway stage. Soul Food alum Nicole Ari Parker stepped into the role of Blanche, previously played by Vivien Leigh. She joined Blair Underwood as Stanley (formerly portrayed by Marlon Brando), with Broadway newcomer Wood Harris as Mitch and Tony nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega (Rent) as Underwood’s leading lady, Stella. Although none of them earned Tony nominations, despite being critically acclaimed, each performance has spellbound audiences since the show debuted on April 22^nd.

So when news broke out that the once colorless drama Steel Magnolias was getting an all-black remake, even fans of the original 1989 movie got excited. Then came the incredible cast announcement: Queen Latifah will executive produce the film for Lifetime television, and star in it along with Alfre Woodard, Jill Scott, Adepero Oduye (Pariah), Rashad and her newly minted Tony-nominated daughter, Condola (Stick Fly). The all-black female cast, originally led by Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Dolly Parton, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Julia Roberts, respectively, is set to dazzle audiences in the film that will reportedly air later this year.

Expect to see more stories like these getting the black treatment. With the success of the aforementioned productions, and expected praise for Steel Magnolias, this trend may prove to be one of the ways black actors can find diversified roles that will further spotlight their talent.

Candice Frederick is an NABJ award-winning journalist, movie contributor for Bitch Flicks, and film blogger for Reel Talk. Follow her on twitter.

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Find out why Kevin McCall is an artist who has the potential to explode in 2012 in this exclusive video!

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On Wednesday May 2, 2012 Swizz Beatz hosted the fourth annual charity auction for The Bronx School of The Arts at Marquee in New York City.

Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz On Why They’re Soul Mates

His wife Alicia Keys, New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony and his wife Lala were among the notables in attendance. Swizz’ son KJ got the donations started by offering up $5,000 to help his peers expand their curriculum.

The record producer and entrepreneur has made no secret of his passion for painting and has passed that that love down to his children.

“Art has been such an inspiration in my kids life,” he told the audience. “Egypt walks around the house and is able to identify four major artists at 18 months. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for art.”

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Rick Ross, who just partnered with Swizz for a big and tall line, donated $25,000 of his Maybach bucks to the worthy cause.

Much love to my brother @rickyrozay for his amazing donation at my Bronx Art School auction blessing fam!!!!!—
SWIZZ BEATZ (@THEREALSWIZZZ) May 03, 2012

Watch our footage below where Swizz ends up out-bidding his attendees for a priceless guitar autographed by The Rolling Stones.

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]]> http://giantlife.com/577098/swizz-beatz-auctions-autographed-rolling-stones-guitar-for-charity-video/feed/ 0 Pedro Martinez hugs a teammate during game Swizz-Beatz-Damon-Marks-Guitar http://giantlife.com/577092/our-5-favorite-samuel-jackson-movie-quotes-video/ http://giantlife.com/577092/our-5-favorite-samuel-jackson-movie-quotes-video/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 18:00:54 +0000 The Urban Daily http://giantlife.com/?p=577092 ]]> Before Samuel L. Jackson returns this Friday in the mother of all superhero movies, The Avengers, TheUrbanDaily.com looks back on some of the iconic actor’s most unforgettable lines.

You Can Pay Samuel L. Jackson To Yell At You!

From his fun family films to his curse-spewing dramas we all appreciate, here are just five memorable quotes from the thespian’s prolific four-decade career:

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Candice Frederick is an NABJ award-winning journalist, movie contributor for Bitch Flicks, and film blogger for Reel Talk. Follow her on twitter.

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Dawn Richard

“It was the best and worst thing that ever happened to us,” Dawn recounted about the fame that came with being a part of Danity Kane and star of a reality show. “We broke records; we weren’t prepared for it.” After Danity Kane disbanded, Dawn Richard was retained on Bad Boy Records to sing for the forward-thinking trio Diddy-Dirty Money. Even though their only album Last Train To Paris spawned several hits and club bangers, Dawn Richard asked to be released from the label.

Instead of joining the professional graveyard that houses former Bad Boy artists like Black Rob, Dream, Cheri Dennis, G-Dep, Total, Craig Mack and Shyne, Dawn Richard has proved that life can be very good after leaving Bad Boy Records. Her latest project the EP “Armor On” went #1 on iTunes in only three hours, and this major feat was accomplished without Diddy seven months after leaving the label.

Unlike her former label mates, Dawn Richard has positive things to say about Diddy. During her conversation with Michael Scott Jones, the moderator and Multimedia Director of Interactive One (parent company of this site) at the Apple Store, she referred to herformer boss as a “genius.” Dawn Richard added that she looks up to Diddy as a mentor, and retains the upmost level of respect for him. She says, ”He’s always been a business man–he doesn’t owe you anything; he’s a boss.”

With Danity Kane, Dawn Richard stepped into the pop world, Dirty Money introduced her to hip-hop, and her mixtape “A Tell Tale Heart” was all about R&B. She describes her EP “Armor On” as progressive R&B, but notes that it does not belong in a box. She likens the sound to her hometown of New Orleans as says, “it’s like gumbo, but it’s worldly.” Hear why Dawn Richard is blowing up on iTunes by clicking here.

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Dawn Richard Rocks Sky-High Hair & Shoulder Pads For Connect Mag

Aubrey O’Day On Danity Kane: “Nobody Talks To Dawn”

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Dawn Richard

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Call him Dr. Love.  Comedian Kevin Hart is pulling double duty starring in two romantic comedies, Think Like A Man and The Five- Year Engagement.  In The Five-Year Engagement, Hart plays Doug, a post-grad psych student with an unusual fascination with self-pleasures of the flesh.

Destination Weddings: Is It Better In The Bahamas?

Hollywood’s hottest new funny man told TheUrbanDaily.com why he thinks women should encourage their partners to “spank the monkey.”

The Five-Year Engagement is in theaters Friday April 27th. Go to Moviefone.com for showtimes.

Listen to the funniest stand-up comedians on BlackPlanet Radio!

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Who: NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders and his wife Pilar

When:  2008

Network: Oxygen

Why We Watched: Deion Sanders’ nickname is “Primetime” because of his exploits on the football field. Would that showmanship translate to reality television? After a horrendous attempt at a rap career during the 90s, the only way Sanders could go was up. Additionally, viewers wanted to see how the notorious playboy fared as a mild mannered family man.

Impact: Not much at all. Unlike The T.O. Show there was nothing to hold viewers’ interest. I would have liked to see elements of Sanders’ emotional 2011 NFL Hall of Fame speech and the relationship with his mother sprinkled into the show. Instead, Deion’s ignorance is on full display when it comes to parental skills. You’re not sure if he is trying to be funny when talking to his kids about sex or if he really believes that “Jack and Jill went up the hill, but not to fetch a pail of water.” Deion and Pilar’s show proved that not every famous family should appear on television.

Aftermath: Evidently, all the drama that would have made this show decent happened after its cancellation. Deion and Pilar are currently in the midst of a nasty divorce where “Neon” Deion has allegedly turned out the lights on any monetary support of his wife. Sanders’ oldest daughter Deiondra has taken to cyberspace to question the intentions of her stepmother (to put it nicely) and Pilar is fighting to maintain the financial stability she was accustomed to.

Just this week the two exchanged assault charges with Pilar allegedly jumping Deion with a friend . Sanders went on Twitter to add gasoline to the fire. If there was ever going to be a season 2, their latest outburst would have definitely raised the anticipation for it.

Tami Talks: I didn’t watch this one but I wish they would do one now with all this divorce stuff now, that would be juicy.

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Giant Magazine is now…GIANTLIFE.COM

Giant Magazine’s legendary in-depth celebrity interviews, exclusive coverage of cultural events, and special features of emerging talent in the African American community have a new home on the Internet.

GIANTLIFE.COM launches with the debut episode of our new exclusive video series, Cover Stories, hosted by Chief Content Officer Smokey D. Fontaine

The series’ debut episode features 12-time Grammy award winner Alicia Keys.

Forthcoming episodes will feature 50 Cent, supermodel Sessilee Lopez, former LisaRaye and actress Paula Patton.

Check out our past interviews with Paula Patton and Joe Jackson.

Check back soon for even more developments at GIANTLIFE.COM, part of the BlackPlanet Universe.  And make sure to check out our new super fresh mobile home page!

Ten years ago, the world lost one of the industry’s best quadruple threats–Aaliyah Dana Haughton was inarguably one in a million. Aaliyah definitely dedicated her life to successfully entertaining the masses with her numerous talents, her warm, friendly demeanor, and her stunning beauty both inside and out. Therefore, today, a huge number of blogs and websites have chosen to pay tribute and their respects to the artist by featuring her unique, highly popular music videos and other accounts of those who knew and loved her first-handedly. Let’s take some time to honor that relentless dedication by watching her brightest and best moments caught on film. To save you the time of going on a wild Google chase, we’ve compiled the best of all the online Aaliyah memorial and tributes out there.

10 Essential Aaliyah Songs
Choosing an ultimate favorite song from such a prolific artist has proven to be a difficult task, time and time again. Well, thanks to The Rap-Up online, they’ve skipped the stress and decided to go with the top ten most essential Aaliyah songs, including the videos. Relive the fun times of trying to get down her complex choreography in your brother’s bandana. Reminisce on the class, beauty and chill manner that this young woman never failed to exude in her performances. The Rap-Up has got you covered from 1994′s “At Your Best” (please stay away from the glass!) to 2001′s “Rock the Boat,” the video that had every woman (and man!) making a mad dash to the stores to cop their all-whites.

Aaliyah’s Top 5 Trendsetting Looks
Don’t front ladies. You know you tested out at least one of Aaliyah’s style staples. Whether you rocked the side-sweep bangs or the peek-a-boo Tommy Hilfiger boxers under low slung, baggy pants, Aaliyah knew how to balance the tom-boy and the sexy like no other. Danielle Cheesman of Hello Beautiful lists the star’s most memorable style trademarks in this great photo gallery.

Celebs pay tribute to Aaliyah
Cash & Caviar features Youtuber LewwSpally87′s compilation video, in which all the major R&B and Hip Hop artists share their thoughts on Aailyah and her music. Be forewarned, this video will get you pretty emotional, if only because of the intimate clips of the songstress and the touching things everyone had to say. From Drake to Destiny’s Child and everyone in between, the legends and the newcomers, you’ll definitely want to know who had the biggest crush on her, who was heavily influenced by her melodies, who would often just goof around with her in the studio and more.

Best Oscar Musical Moments: Aaliyah
Aaliyah made many musical strides with her music and videos, but she also made Oscar and music history. At the 1998 Academy Awards Show, the star, then only 19 years-old, became the youngest artist to perform at the prestigious ceremony (and continues to hold the title.) While Titanic beat out Anastasia in the award category, Aaliyah certainly stole the show, displaying her wide vocal range and her wise-beyond-her-years demeanor.

9. Public Enemy “Night Of The Living Baseheads”
More effective than any D.A.R.E. class you were forced to sit through, Public Enemy’s “Night Of The Living Baseheads” video managed to both make you laugh, while scaring you away from the evils of freebasing cocaine. “Night Of The Living Baseheads” was a rather unorthodox video, cleverly interrupting Chuck D’s performance scenes to a mock newscast (Flavor Flav as co-anchor? Genius!).

GET MORE MUSIC VIDEOS THAT MADE THE LIST HERE!

8. L.L. Cool J “I’m Bad”
LL Cool J’s girl gets kidnapped while posting anti-drug flyers on the street. LL assembles his posse who take out the bad guys (who all just so happen to be rich white guys… MESSAGE!). The video’s narrative, coupled with LL’s iconic performance scenes make this one of the best videos of the 1980s. “Gimme that walkie talkie!”

GET MORE MUSIC VIDEOS THAT MADE THE LIST HERE!

“We could all die here today…I don’t wanna die, I’d rather dance my life away…”

Deep down, I always thought you had to love an artist who made a party record about the possible end of the world. And now, looking back at my original introduction to Prince, for the purposes of this essay, it occurs to me that of course I was a Prince fan: Prince is the perfect pop star—who’s artistry and fame pre-dates the overwhelming nihilistic glamour of rap culture—for a bright, curious 80s era adolescent with raging hormones and a slightly askew way of looking at the world to embrace as his own personal Pop Saviour.

ALSO READ: The Pursuit Of Thandie-Ness

I discovered Prince—in a serious way—early in high school, when my cousins down south introduced me to a track called “Free” from 1999. I’d been familiar with the Minneapolis kat’s radio hits like “I Wanna Be Your Lover” but I hadn’t yet discovered the kinky majesty and sonic sensory overload that came from the deep album cuts, the insistence on rhythm meeting melody and colliding up against harmonies that defined the true meaning of a Prince record.

“Free”, with it’s lighter-than-air groove that nonetheless felt almost orchestral in its martial sturdiness and its quasi-political bent, sounded like news to me; it was also the first time, I believe, that I heard Prince scream. And when you hear that sound for the first time you even give in or step away.

Here’s what I did: I bought 1999 as soon as I got back to New York and lived in that record like a trappist monk, to quote another obsession of mine back then, lives in his faith.

Again, the hits were great—“Little Red Corvette” is, simply, one of the best car songs of all time—but it was a song called “Let’s Pretend We’re Married” that seduced me into eternal fandom. I hadn’t ever heard pop music so brazenly funky, a keyboard line so creamily expansive, a lyric so earth-shakingly raw yet so poetic: Right in the middle of the song, as the groove is growing to an apocalyptically orgasmic frenzy, Prince’s voice emerges from the mix to intone: “Marsha, I’m not saying this just to be nasty, but I sincerely wanna fuck the taste out of your mouth.”  Did he really just say that?, I remember thinking. I was fifteen years old, probably lying on my bed reading a V.C. Andrews novel instead of doing my homework. Yes, he had said it.

But it hadn’t seemed crude or vulgar. It was so right for the groove, so to-the-point real, that it shot through me like an arrow and showed me that pop music was most definitely a purely primal thing, an experience both personal and tribal. Prince made music you wanted to dance to by making music you wanted to whisper to yourself (or someone else) in your most private of moments.

I was hooked.

The worst fight I ever had with my freshman year roommate in college—the only one that came, almost, to blows—was over Prince. By then, having discovered the strange paradise that was Dirty Mind and the hidden intricacies of Controversy, I was, of course,  the biggest Purple Rain fan in the world, convinced that there would never ever, in my lifetime, be a better pop song than “When Doves Cry” (of course there was, two years later, Prince fashioned a ditty called “Kiss”; then a year later buried “Forever In my Life” deep in the tracks of Sign O’  the Times, but I digress).

My entire side of that small room I shared with Matt in Perkins Hall was covered with Prince posters and paraphernalia: Appollonia 6 posters and The Time album covers and Sheila E. magazine clips. One Friday night, having finished my French homework, I was blasting—for the third time—“Happy Birthday, Mr. Christian”, the opening track of the Appollonia 6 album and Matt, my roomie, wasn’t having it. He asked me to turn it down; I told him, basically, to fuck off. He was sick of everything Prince, he told me. I was sick of him, I said, because anybody who didn’t love Prince and his artists the way I loved Prince and his artists had more taste in his mouth than in his heart. Soon, the Resident Counselor had to sit us down and make us apologize. I apologized, but I didn’t mean it.

This argument was about the best artist in the world, the man who tackled politics and sex and religion, who liked girls but sang about possibly being bisexual, who lived and breathed music in a way the rest of us could only imagine. Matt’s Pink Floyd obsession couldn’t compare…

If I had more room I’d write about the time I was in London and saw “Sign O the Times” in the Virgin Mega Store and, because I’d be damned if I was gonna wait til I got back to the US to buy it and hear it, made one of the salesgirls put it on and stood there and listened to it while my friends went on about their lives. Or I’d write about the time I was assigned an interview with Prince and spent one afternoon at Paisley Park listening to Diamonds and Pearls right at the man’s side before watching him and the band run through the set of their upcoming concert, in front of just me, sitting on a folding chair with my stomach in my throat the whole time. Or maybe I’d write about the time I was at a Grammy party back in the 90s and the man himself waved me over and said, “I heard what you said about me on TV,” then smiled from the confused look on my face. He was kidding me. I was still shocked that he even remembered my name.

As I’ve gotten older, my Prince obsession has lessened a bit; it had to, it’s hard to be a fanatic when the thing you’re fanatical about stops being sublime and starts to seem bored—which Prince did seem, to me, in the mid-90s, even though—“Curious Child”? “The Sun, the Moon and the Stars”?—every Prince album since the beginning always has  that one shining sublime moment of pop mastery that first drew me in showed its colors. and reminds me that there was a time when I knew that I’d found the weird, crazy, brilliant, eclectic, sexy, bold genius every true music nerd like me needs to remind himself that he exists—and that his existence is shared and understood by at least one other soul. Perhaps Prince said it best on “Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)”:

“You think you’re special?…So do I.”

READ THE EXCLUSIVE GIANT INTERVIEW WITH PRINCE

The Black Rockstar: Prince

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In this exclusive new episode of Smokey D. Fontaine‘s “COVER STORIES,” actress Paula Patton gives up the hilarious dish on:

• Men:  “You guys are animals…you’re wild beasts.  Men need to be tamed!”
• Her body:  “In High School…I learned it was good to have a big butt!”
• Her husband, singer Robin Thicke: “We met at a teeny bopper party.  He moved fast…”
• Race:  “White boys don’t have a fear of the law…”

And much much more….  Watch NOW!

And if you love this, also check out COVER STORIES EPISODES with:

ALICIA KEYS revealing how she used to diddy-bop to Reasonable Doubt…

SUPERMODEL SESSILEE LOPEZ about the glories and struggles of being a black woman in fashion

And Smokey Fontaine’s history-making interview with JOE JACKSON

In this historic interview by editor Scott Poulson-Bryant for the re-launch issue of GIANT magazine with BEYONCE KNOWLES, the diva talks about her first time sharing a stage with The Purple One while rehearsing with the Grammies.

Hear how she stole his mic, did his “wooo-ooop” yell, and had Sasha Fierce come out!

The Black Rockstar: Prince

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ALSO:  Click HERE to watch Prince perform “Purple Rain” for the very first time, live from the First Avenue club, Minneapolis.

Remember the love letters you passed around in class, “Do you love me? Check yes or no.” And, those cutesy songs where young R&B and pop singers would pledge their undying love to an anonymous girl, usually female fans convinced themselves they were the so-called anonymous girl.

Well, GIANT has the TOP 10 school playground love songs. Boys everywhere used these songs to pick-up girls during recess, on the walk home or on the playground. Take a trip down memory lane, and listen to our favorite pre-teen and teenage love songs.

1. Jackson 5 – “A B C” (1970)

2. New Edition – “Candy Girl” (1983)

3. Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back” (1969)

4. Jackson 5 – “All I Do Is Think of You” (1975)

5. Soul for Real – “Candy Rain” (1995)

6. New Edition – “Cool It Now” (1984)

7. Lil’ Bow Wow – “Puppy Love”

8. Usher - “You Make Me Wanna” (1997)

9. Justin Bieber – “One Time” (2009)

10. Justin Bieber – “One Less Lonely Girl” (2009)

Honorable Mentions:
B5 – Entire “B5″ (2005) album
Lil’ Romeo – “Somebody’s In Love” (2001) and “True Love” (2002)

For more T.I., click here to see his exclusive GIANT photo gallery!

And for more T.I., click here to read his GIANT coverstory!

Controversy is defined as a state of lingering municipal heated debate over a matter of opinion. Rather its science and religion, philosophy and finances, politics and economics or a matter of sex and race, controversy is infinite. Recording artists understand this very well and recognize that music videos are their standing room-only epitaph to speak out against whatever current topics they that are plaguing them or speak for topics they are advocating. Here are some serious in-your-face music videos that are we consider the most controversial of all-time.

Violence

“Stan” By Eminem

The storybook narrative to this hip-hop epic tells the chaotic saga of Stan (“Final Destination” star Devon Sawa), his young pregnant girlfriend (“Dido”), and his downward spiral due in part to his infatuation with Eminem. The infamous scene in which is referred to as the most visceral moment is when a gagged and bound Dido, left for dead in the trunk of Stan’s 90-plus speeding car, is told to “shut up!” by a high-on-depressants Stan. The car-crash relationship ends with the two flying off a bridge and into water.

“Stress” By Justice

The Parisian electro-house duo caused a commotion when they let loose this rabid dog of a video clip with a chorus of disapproval. The film, shot in a shaky-camera documentary style, follows a squad of urban youths in Justice’s famous “cross” jackets probing the city streets. There was uproar because some thought all of the depicted youths were of African descent. Which was false: the mob of trashing teens varied in ethnicities. But the worst part is that these heinous droogs commit several acts of arson, GBH, grand theft, joy-riding, sexual harassment and vandalism before beating up the cameraman and spitting on the lens.

“Jeremy” by Pearl Jam

Naturally, this video clip is probably the most controversial video of all-time, nix to the blasphemy seen in crucifixion Christ influenced videos like Madonna’s “Like a Prayer.” Here we see an adolescent boy who is overlooked by his parents and tormented by school bullies. At his breaking point, the boy walks into class during a lesson armed with a hand pistol and stands in the front of the class. Then, he nonchalantly puts the glock in his mouth and fires away. The music video climaxes with the school children shocked, covered in his carnage.

“Born Free” by M.I.A.

World pop bad-ass M.I.A. was out for blood, in more ways than one, in this 9-minute music video epic. This X-rated NSFW viral work of art is an annotation on the nonsensicality of genocide and the ignored back alley ethnic cleansing around the world. The Romain Gavras clip depicts an armed force running through an urban tenement, pulverizing a couple in the midst of love-making, ignoring a man while he utilizes hard recreational drugs, and violently detaining a red-headed young man, placing him on a bus with other gingers while other keffiya-wearing gingers toss rocks and glass bottles at the armored vehicle containing the gingers. They are driven to a dessert, forced out of the bus and then told to make a run for it. Then, when no one moves, a trooper shoots a tween in the skull and the gingers are forced to run across a minefield. How fun!

“What it Feels Like for a Girl” by Madonna

The Guy Ritchie-directed film shows a pissed Madonna on a crime spree. After leaving a motel room high on pills and drunk off alcohol, she pilfers a Camaro, drives recklessly, crashes into a bunch of punks, takes an elderly lady from a nursery home, embezzles money after zapping a man at an ATM, assaults people’s officers with a pellet gun, mulling over teens by car, vandalizes property, sets fire to a gas station, and then commits suicide by driving into a steel pole.

Racism and Politics

“Gutta Time” By Master P.

Rappers have done very stupid things. Very stupid things like start crappy ragamuffin fashion lines, putting their posse on their payroll only to go bankrupt (sound familiar?) and play into minstrel stereotypes. But when the uncompromising lyrics to “Gutta” went multimedia in 2006, we saw a music video Birth of a Nation: “This video is an artistic statement without racist intent… it is not an endorsement of the KKK,” said the disclaimer. What happens next? Defeated by black basketball players aka the No Limit crew, the bitter Ku Klux Khan members with machine guns leave a note stating they’ve lynched the victors the following day. And the point? We’re still waiting…

http://player.ordienetworks.com/flash/fodplayer.swf

“Show Me” by John Legend

While humanitarian John Legend is a relatively play-to-safe kind of soul-folk singer, this clip, used to launch the Show Me Campaign is one of 2000s most poignant and controversial videos. Directed by documentary filmmaker Lee Hirsh and shot in Zanzibar and Tanzania, the video explores the life of a deprived South African urban youth in thorny living conditions. Noticing that he can have a better life in a more developed country—with edification, proper health care, public transportation and cultivation—he mounts the wheel well of an airplane instantaneously before take off. With no food and zero heat, the result is tragic. It is an homage to young stowaways Yaguine Koita and Fode Tounkara, who died mid-flight from Guinea to Belgium in July 1999.

Drugs

“Purple Pills” By D12

Critics can argue that the song’s promotional music video was tantamount to PG-13 in comparison to its litigious lyrics. Lyrically, the song makes references to golden seals, Mushroom Mountain, uppers and downers, coke, LSD and the title track substance, ecstasy. That’s more drugs than a Bolivian drug cartel! The clip is a telepathic vision quest for all the burnouts with its hallucinogenic excursion.

Religion

“Hate Me Now” By Nas featuring Puff Daddy

Is there a spot in hell for one of hip-hop’s finest emcees? Predicting there would be imminent hullabaloo, the self-proclaimed street disciple issued a statement to precede the clip stating, “Nas believes in the Lord Jesus Christ and this video is in no way a depiction or portrayal of his life or death…” And pigs can fly. The original cut also had Puffy dangling on a cross too, but the devout catholic had it omitted. Somewhere along the line, Puff Daddy and two cohorts cracked a champagne bottle and other office supplies over Atlantic Records executive Steven Stoute, Nas’ manager.

“Like a Prayer” by Madonna

When 1989 commenced, Madonna unveiled gospel choir dance-pop jam “Like A Prayer” and kicked off her most controversial career zeitgeist. This wasn’t the first time Madge caused controversy; in 1986, her video for “Papa Don’t Preach” on her True Blue album, showed a “teen” Madonna pregnant.  This time, she took a different approach, featured burning crosses, suggestive dancing in a church, stigmata and Madge passionately kissing a black saint a la Jesus. Obviously, The Vatican slammed the clip for merging erotica and religion and Pepsi revoked Madonna’s endorsement deal.

“Heart Shaped Box” by Nirvana

Anton Corbijn directed this acid-induced thrill ride. Beginning with the grunge rock gods watching an elderly man being administered medication via IV drip, the video unloads into an abstract surrealist al fresco vista inspired by The Wizard of Oz. The video features some heavy stuff—an elderly man (dressed as Santa Claus) climbs onto a crow-invested cross, a little girl dressed in a Ku Klux Klan get-up reaches for human fetuses in a tree, and an obese woman reenacts the front sleeve of the album by wearing a suit with human organs painted on it with angel wings fastened to her back. Disturbing, but beautiful.

Sleaze

“Black or White” by Michael Jackson

By all means this clip is not a very “X-rated” kind of video from the King of Pop. However, it’s at the climax when MJ get to the manhandles his private parts, zips his fly and then engages in an act of vandalism on a car with graffiti-ed slurs and a swastika on exterior. Some critics had it right—it looked like he had gotten off by defeating racism.

“Justify My Love” by Madonna

At the eve of her unleashed Sex, Madonna’s notorious porno-chic coffee table book, this 1990 hyper-raunchy video featured a ravenous pansexual Madge who divvied up a bunch of kind carnival sex fiends with the-partner, model Tony Ward. The clip, filmed in a cosmopolitan bordello that caters to eccentric lifestyles, shows pegging, androgyny, girl-on-girl action, gay sleaze, ménage à trios and some heavy BDSM.

Britney Spears – “Baby One More Time”

There’s still this wandering thought circling behind the universal praise of this video, and that is, why wasn’t this banned or put on during MTV’s late cycle? While it turned a teen pop tart into an overnight megastar, in one shot, Britney’s debut basically had an under-age Lolita shimmying provocatively in a Catholic schoolgirl uniform. If there was ever a way to shed the squeaky clean Mouseketeer rendering, Britney canned it here.

Britney Spears – “Slave 4 U”

All the holler and carrying on didn’t happen because a coming-of-age Britney simply wore the typical skimpy clothes. In this clip, a hedonistic Brit gets licked on the face by a glistening sex pig bystander and gets passed around like a collective bedroom toy.

“Dirrty” by Christina Aguilera featuring Red Man

Platinum blonde bombshell teen Aguilera had disappeared into the either for a short time before emerging from the ashes with obsidian curls and sun-kissed tangerine tan lines. No longer the rosey-cheeked lass, she returned as a makeup-splattered insatiable sex kitten. The David LaChapelle video depicts “a post-apocalyptic orgy” featuring X-Tina riding into a nightclub via motorcycle, then lowered from a cage into a boxing ring wearing nothing but a bikini and ass-less chaps. There are other avant-garde characters here too: foxy boxers, furries, female bodybuilders, contortionists, tattoo aficionados, cock fighters, fire-breathers, krumpers, lucha libre fighters, and mud wrestlers. But critics really chimed in, hinting at urolagnia or “water sports” when X-tina and back-up danced and splashed while getting sprayed with aqua in a lavatory.

“Gett Off” by Prince

His songs aren’t just ode to horny hedonists or wild one-night stand creatures of the night. This foray into the underbelly of Prince’s imagination riffs into a sexy dance number where two young women (amply named Diamond & Pearl) slide under one another’s legs, let Prince slither in between them and strips a girl down to her bra and panties. The ultimate male fantasy.

http://www.livevideo.com/flvplayer/embed/DA74EA51CF8B40298C66AF7A782FD261

“Juicebox” by The Strokes

The dingy New York garage punk band featured three sex scenes in this clip. While the band rocks out in a neat radio office, six strangers and onlookers have a night out on the town. A lesbian couple make love on a balcony while being photographed by what could only be described as a pornographic freak-show director; after texting, a gay interracial couple shack up in a toilet stall while a voyeur watches; and fireworks explode in the back of a yellow taxi while a straight couple copulate. However, it a hilarious finale ensues when the straight boy falls out of the cab, getting sick after going down on the girl. Results? MTV chopped and screwed the final edit to air, and director Michael Palmieri reportedly removed his name from the clip.

Giant’s Most Controversial Video Musical Artists

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These hot tamales are even too spicy for us!

1.

“Pagan Poetry” by Björk

By all defaults, Björk–the unparalleled queen of kooky–has had some very controversial work that should be on this list, however, this one will stick with us for a while. The 2001 Nick Knight-directed clip featured a scantily-clad star exhilarated and jumping for joy, distorted, rotoscoped stock footage of the Icelandic soprano doing the do with partner Matthew Barney, and then the climax—a graphic corset body piecing that will have you going Eek!

2.

“Relax” by Frankie Goes To Hollywood

The dance-pop Liverpool band’s Welcome to the Pleasuredome debut, introduced the world to one of the naughtiest shag songs ever written, and it established itself as too racy for the like of the BBC. The video, featuring a ultra-sleazy, super passé gay club complete with a topless peroxide blonde, an obese nude Caligula figure and S&M boys, the clip ends with the bound singer showered in whipped cream aerosol when he sings “when you’re gonna come.”

3.

“Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-A-Lot

This ‘90s slapstick hip-hop summer anthem is a club starter if there ever was one. But back when its accompanying video first came out, it was banned by MTV. There was something oddly familiar about that mountaintop he was standing on!

4.

“Tip Drill” by Nelly

Ladies get ready to grab your pepper spray! It’s evident that Nelly loves a big, full, round, impeccably smooth butt and this video is jam-packed with all of the baby-oil soaked, gelatin-wobbling buttocks you can feast your eyes on.  So as the focus of the video, we’re not surprised when women’s groups claimed the clip demeaned women—especially when Nelly takes a credit card and slides it down the crack of a super sexy lady.

5.

“Rock DJ” by Robbie Williams

The British bad boy sex symbol left Take That and wanted to be taken seriously as an artist and then, he released this 2000 grotty go-go boy exhibitionist fantasy. Ending credits note that “No Robbies were harmed during the making of this video.” Hard to believe, seeing that this Vaughan Arnell-directed video features Robbie tearing his flesh and organs away, tossing them at the fawning fans until all that remains is a skeleton.

6.

“Closer” by Nine Inch Nails

Rihanna went to this video for inspiration on her funky summer anthem “Disturbia.” Fitting, see as to how “dark” her music’s gotten. Taking place in a sci-fi decadent 19^th Century mad scientist’s laboratory, the critically-acclaimed Mark Romanek-directed music video features NIN frontman Trent Reznordepicted shackled to a strappado in S&M fetish gear licking a phallic instrument, a simian bound to a cross, a nude woman wearing a crucifix mask, a diagram of a vulva, and a pig’s head spinning on a rotating device, to ensue controversy. The video invoked protests by animal cruelty groups, political commentators and sex columnists everywhere. Sadly, very little outcry came when they released the video for “Happiness is Slavery,” where some poor bloke drops trou, offers himself as a sacrifice to a machine as it saps his blood. We wonder why…

7.

“Me So Horny” by 2 Live Crew

This corny in-your-face 1989 music video has controversy written all over it, due in part to explicit obscene lyrics. But it’s the dancing women fashion choices that had critics hankering to pull it off the air: Rotoscoped G-sting bikini bottoms, and sports brassieres.

8.

“Part of Me” by Royce Da 5’9”

Shot in homage of The Twilight Zone, this love-sucks kiss-off shows a shallow, fornicating adulterer and ladykiller going back and forth between two women. The two women are done wrong after having two seperate steamy one-night stands and so they get their revenge. So, they play possum and come back to his place for a ménage à trios. Too bad he falls asleep some time later and wakes up in a bathtub, with his “piece” missing, left in a blooded plastic bag.

Most Controversial Directors

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Black Hollywood: the ebony Shangri-la of showbiz. In tinsel town, behind the flash bulbs of paparazzi snapshots, behind the casting cattle calls and behind a storyteller’s script is the film director. These hot-bloodied visionaries are the eyes and ears of the camera’s aperture. Visionaries like Hype Williams, Robert Townsend and Kennen Ivory Wayans have leaped into the limelight, looking to expose the grit of the world, allowing us to experience (or rather re-experience) the magnitude of the ailments of mankind. It is because of this that these men are huge influences on pop culture. But, how influential? Here is the list of our 7 all-time favorite directors in black Hollywood.

Tiny

F. Gary Gray (*New Edition*)

You know, it’s rare. We’ve usually left out some important figures in our bevy of lists and other incarnation, sometimes to the satisfaction or the chagrin of our readers. But we heard concerns about our Small, Medium, Giant inventory of directors African-American cinema, and our readers were right on the money when director F. Gary Gray was left off. He should be noted for his work. The director of the buddy dramedy Friday, one of the funniest films ever conceived, broke new ground by showing the African-American experience in a hood setting from the eyes and growing pains of twenty-somethings. In a sense, it was a bigger, better Clerks. Its stars Ice Cube—already a rising acting talent with Boyz n the Hood and Higher Learning—and Chris Tucker became movie stars. His follow-up, crime drama Set it Off delivered the most stunning performance of Queen Latifah’s career and influenced the later half of 90s hip-hop.  However, despite his work in music videos (“It Was a Good Day” by Ice Cube, “Waterfalls” by TLC, “Ms. Jackson by Outcast), we haven’t seen Gray surpass his 90s heyday. The Italian Job: Bust. Be Cool: A Bust. Law Abiding Citizen: A Bust. See, where we’re coming from?

Small

Lee Daniels

Once upon a time, Lee Daniels was a better producer than he was director. His directorial debut Shadowboxer was a bust. The Oscar-winning Monster’s Ball—a film he produced—won Halle Berry the coveted Best Actress award. So, when he finally produced the goods—directing another Oscar-winning picture, Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire—we were on the fence. Making history as one of the second African-American director and the first openly gay director to be nominated for an Oscar, he indeed proved he was a giant.

Smedium

Antoine Fuqua

Directing music videos for Coolio, Toni Braxton and Prince, Antoine Fuqua left his MTV rotation cloud nine to direct Hollywood blockbusters Tears of the Sun, King Arthur, Shooter and the recent Brooklyn’s Finest. But, he truly shined when he tapped Denzel Washington to star in the now-legendary Training Day, and we enjoyed the hard-boiled intensity and the “black Oscar night,” in which Washington won his second Oscar.

Medium

The Hughes Brothers

Known for directing hood films like Dead Presidents and American Pimp, the Hughes twins, Albert and Allen ditched their terrifyingly visceral take on the ultra-violent gun-toting 90s thug life hood films epitomized in the critically-lauded Menace II Society. After winning top honors at the MTV Movie Awards, the urban hostility and authoritative significant messages of the film coupled with Lorenz Tate take on a sociopathic inner-city teenager “O-Dog,” the boys started experimenting. With films like the Jack the Ripper period thriller From Hell and the post-apocalyptic action suspense driven The Book of Eli, the boys are getting off to a good start.

Large

John Singleton

When you think of a Giant, especially when you think of directors, chances are you’ll think John Singleton. Kicking off his career with hits Boyz n the Hood, Poetic Justice and Higher Learning, which showed the jarring inner-city decay of South Los Angeles in the mid-90s, Singleton became the first African-American to be nominated for the Oscar. Despite directing landmark music videos like Michael Jackson’s “Remember The Time,” he released cult classic Baby Boy, revenge film Four Brothers and action film 2 Fast 2 Furious. We can’t hate on a man who is on his grind.

Mammoth

Tyler Perry

The Renaissance man known for combining womanism, church and drag is just as controversial as he is acclaimed. The actor-director and playwright left his days as a luminary in Southern theatres and released the now-legendary Diary of a Mad Black Woman starring the whoop-ass take-no-prisoners matriarch Mabel “Madea” Simmons in 2005. Only four years later, he ranked on the sixth highest-paid man in Hollywood by Forbes magazine, grossing a collective $400 million worldwide.

GIANT

Spike Lee

Born Shelton Jackson Lee, “Spike” is solely responsible for splicing race relations and art as well as pushing poverty, crime and the dilapidation of the black community to the forefront. He is also responsible for presenting blacks as cognizant, conscious and sensual—not sexual—beings. His iconic production studio, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced nigh 40 films since its 1983 debut and the hard work has won Lee an Emmy and two Oscar nods. His signature “A Spike Lee Joint” is also plastered on monumental films Do The Right Thing, Mo’ Better Blues, Jungle Fever, Malcolm X, Crooklyn, Clockers, Get On The Bus, Summer of Sam, Bamboozled and Inside Man… to name a few. Simply put, he’s the man. Our only regret (and his as well) is that he lost to Driving Miss Daisy in 1989 for Best Picture.

Talking With… Wyatt Cenac

Talking With… Eamonn Walker

Talking With… Malcolm D. Lee

Talking With… Spike Lee

With Proposition 8 having been overturned recently, black America is going through a change in perspective. From the spyglass of your average pop-culture junkie literati to the TV set of the humdrum family man to the subway rag of the fashion-forward mall rat, change is happening and people are reacting. Homosexuality  and the LGBT community are still banging out the kinks in their argument to get the same rights of their peers. However, day by day, the tidal waves pull and inch back and heterosexual black people become more accepting of their differences with their LGBT peers. So, we decided to take a look at the black LGBT people that changed (and are changing) the world as we know it.

1.

James Carroll Booker III

James Carroll Booker III, yet another that left this world at a young age, was a vanguard New Orleans soul brother musician and rhythm and blues all-star that had massive jazz following.

2.

Bessie Smith

Gale Force wind songstress, often referred to as “The Empress of the Blues” was the most celebrated American blues singer of the 1920 and 1930sn and is often noted as being one of the greatest vocalists of her area and one of the most influential.

3.

Beverly Smith

This Cleveland Ohio feminist and health advocate is the instruction of Women’s Health at the University of Massachusetts, and was one of the three National Black Feminist Organization members who pioneered one of the widely read talk pieces on black feminism, the “Combahee River Collective Statement” in 1977. One of the most enlightening minds of the century, she has also written on identity politics.

4.

Rebecca Walker

Described by Time Magazine as one of the 50 future giants of America, feminist writer and the bisexual daughter of Alice Walker, Rebecca Walker has written for every lifestyle rag under the sun. One of her books, One Big Happy Family, argued gender identity and sexual orientation, questioning rather non-nuclear family foundations like polyamory, single motherhood, mixed race clash-culture kin and gay adoption parenthood was changing the face of suburban America. Co-founder of the Third Wave Foundation, which assists transgender youths and young women, also spoke out about her year of neglect by her cultural icon mom Alice, even challenging her mother’s famous philosophy: that motherhood is servitude.

5.

Meshell Ndegeocello

Incorporating funk, hip-hop, jazz, reggae, rhythm and blues, rock ‘n roll and soul in her repertoire, Meshell Ndegeocello has been cited as one of the most significant singer-songwriters of the 20th and 21st centuries. Her critical acclaim has garnered 10 Grammy nominations, and the multi-instrumentalist singing rap star is often noted for kindling the flame that could become the neo-soul movement. Her image as well as that of other neo-soul and R&B dance queen Janet Jackson, helped promote same-sex equality.

Janet Jackson

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6.

Ethel Waters

Legendary American blues and jazz Broadway thespian contralto Ethel Waters was the second ever African-American ever nominated for the prestigious Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress the 1949 film Pinky. Beginning in the black vaudeville circuit and carnivals before recording her iconic standard “Stormy Weather” and the gospel spiritual “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” Waters was went on to become the highest paid performer of Broadway.

7.

Paul Winfield

Portraying historical luminaries like that of Martin Luther King, Jr. in the TV miniseries King, the Emmy-nominated Paul Edward Winfield wowed audiences in the landmark cinematic film Sounder. His Academy Award-nominated depiction of a besieged Louisiana sharecropper breaking his back to support his family in the Great Depression won rave reviews from critics and audiences alike.

8.

Bayard Rustin

U.S. civil rights activist and principal organizer of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, Bayard Rustin was an expert in nonviolent resistance and was one of the first to advocate the constitutional civil liberties of gay and lesbians at a time where homosexuality was seen as a criminal act.

9.

Alan Greg Rogers

Debate over the end product of the effectiveness of the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy shined through following the death of Alan Greg Rogers, who was the first acknowledged gay combat fatality of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A army major and intelligence officer for the U.S. military, Rogers was an ordained pastor and the that worked around the clock to bridge the gap between LGBT culture and the military community.

10.

Marlon Riggs

The landmark Tongues Untied was not just an achievement in LGBT culture, but also an achievement in documentary storytelling. Spoken word poet and gay rights activist Marlon Riggs understood this and his litigious cinematic public television pieces often met with protest because they were funded by National Endowment for the Arts.

11.

Essex Hemphill

A cerebral pugilist of civil rights and equality, Essex Hemphill’s poetry was one of a kind, depicting graphic, visceral depictions of struggle and the grotty chaos of African Ameircan gay life. Appearing in The Advocate, Essence, Gay Community News, High Performance and RFD Magazine, he confronted the overlooked subject of racism in the gay community, the HIV/AIDS epidemic and debunked the nuclear family concept, challenging others to investigate other family structure.

12.

Tarell Alvin McCraney

A few years ago, Tarell Alvin McCraney graduated from the Yale School of Drama with a degree in playwriting, acquiring the prestigious Cole Porter Playwriting Award upon graduation. Since, he has become a pioneer of post-Prop 8 black and gay civil rights. The New York City playwright’s debut, The Brother’s Size, which premiered at The Public Theatre in New York in 2007, transplanted Yoruba mythology to the contemporary projects in Louisiana. The semi-autobiographical play Wig Out is a pensive gaze at the New York drag club circuit and explores the experience of the urban, gay black man. He even wrote a piece on Hurricane Katrina. Now with his epic Brother/Sister Trilogy, headlining the acclaimed Steppenwolf and Marcus: or the Secret of the Sweet, the third component of the trilogy being opined by the Young Vic Theatre in London, McCraney has established himself as a serious go-to artiste. How accomplished is he? Before 30, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company as a consulting artist-in-residence.

Celebs Who Need To Intern

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13.

Wallace Thurman

One of the prominent unsung supermen of the Harlem Renaissance, Wallace Thurman’s magnum opus The Blacker the Berry: A Novel of Negro Life, explored colorism in the black community through the eyes of a dark-skinned woman from Boise, Idaho. The novel, which illustrates Emma Lou Morgan, a darker black woman who encounters bigotry and prejudice by lighter-skinned black people questioned beauty and value, issues that are still being questioned and analyzed today. Maybe, Thurman was born in the wrong time.

14.

Anthony Woods

Operation Iraqi Freedom vet Anthony Wood was discharged from the U.S. military for violating the army’s “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in 2008, launching his bold step forward in politics. Eventually he went on to run for the U.S. Congress in California’s 10th congressional district. The win would have allowed Woods the prestige of becoming the first openly gay African-America in Congress had he won the bid. He only received eight percent of a special election vote. Now, serving for nonprofit Mission Serve, Woods has become the poster child of the post-Prop 8 gay rights movement.

15.

Phill Wilson

After the lost of a lover to the very virus one has gone to war with, what does one do? HIV-positive, Phill Wilson founded the Black AIDS Institute in 1999 and never looked back, becoming the chief pioneer in the fight against AIDS in the black community.

16.

Patrik-Ian Polk

Noted for his highly sensual portrayals of the black and Latino LGBT experience, film director Patrik-Ian Polk kicked off his career with the independent Punks. Seen as the male parallel to Waiting to Exhale, the award-winning feature made its world premiere at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. But it was his smash hit TV series Noah’s Arc which debuted on MTV’s Logo in October 2005 that turned this humble shutterbug into a fat cat firebrand.

17.

Richard Bruce Nugent

Washington, D.C. artiste Richard Bruce Nugent was a writer and painter whose stark and daring visuals, rather spoken or illustrated, spoke volumes. The Harlem Renaissance juggernaut’s literary brilliance shined with his short story “Smoke, Lilies, and Jade” is still regarded by many egghead intelligentsias as the first publication by an African-American to canvas homosexuality freely. One of the writers of art zine Fire!!, Nugent created amazing art along with other unsung heroes like his roommate Wallace Thurman, and close friends Zora Neale Hurston, Aaron Douglas and Langston Hughes.

18.

Tracy Chapman

Four-time Grammy Award-winning recording singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman pioneered the singer-songwriter movement in the early-to-mid 90s that included Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan and (much later) Fiona Apple and Alanis Morisette. Her self-titled album and its first single “Fast Car,” allowed her to take home the award for Best Contemporary Folk Album at the 31st Grammy Awards and was ranked on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Role Model Or Entertainer

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19.

Sapphire

Slam performance poet Ramona Lofton was a wayward hippie just looking to create and manifest through her art before dousing herself in the literary flame of poetry. Defying her given name, she became Sapphire and began self-publishing which resulted in her first collection, Meditations on the Rainbow in 1987.Her second collection of poems American Dreams, drew praise from several critics, but it was her only novel to date, Push, that sparked a bidding war. Eventually offered $500, 000 to finish the novel, the novel was published by Vintage Publishing and went on to sell a payload cluster of hundreds upon thousands of books, recently turning up on the silver screen. Winning several awards including the coveted, Best Adapted Screenplay for Geoffrey S. Fletcher.

20.

Lee Daniels

Lee Daniels is a big part of black history. Okay, he’s practically a legend. Why? The acclaimed African-American film director and cinematic producer had a few bad turns being films Shadowboxer and The Woodsman to screen. But after producing Monster’s Ball, where he saw the first black woman win the Oscar for Best Actress, he became the only the African-American to be nominated for his Best Director for his work with Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire. He was also nominated for Best Picture, solidifying anticipation for his follow-up.

21.

Alice Walker

Legendary womanist poet Alice Walker is notorious for writing on race, gender and the politics of sex and sensuality. Her magnum opus, her critically-lauded novel The Color Purple, which encompassed these topics, won her the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1983 and drew as much controversy as she did praise. Her road to fame from her humble beginnings as the eighth child of Georgia sharecroppers, Walker helped recover lost work of art from Zora Neale Hurston and has become an outspoken activist against female circumcision.

22.

George C. Wolfe

A theatre and film director, playwright George Costello Wolfe is not stranger to dramatics. Introducing his raw talent with the musical Paradise in 1985 and the play The Colored Museum in 1986, now seen as significant works of art in the African-American lexicon of the theatrical and literary worlds, Wolfe begin his rise as an award-winning director when he took home the Obie for the off-Broadway production of the Spunk, an adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston stories. Then came his Drama Desk Award win for Outstanding Book of a Musical for his 1991 musical Jelly’s Last Jam, a bio-musical of jazz icon Jelly Roll Morton. Then came his Tony win for directing Angels in America: Millennium and his creation of the tap musical tour de force Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk, winning his second Tony. Serving as the artistic director and producer for the New York Shakespeare Festival/Public Theater for over a decade, he directed several Broadway faves including Take Me Out (examining machismo and sexuality in the sport world), Caroline, or Change (examining servitude and class among the black and Jewish people in the Civil Rights era) and Topdog/Underdog (a study on kin, poverty, machismo and politics through the African-American experience). A rebel, he decided to step away from theatre to focus on film, the result: Lackawanna Blues, his cinematic directorial debut.

23.

Audre Lorde

Describing herself as a “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet,” Audre Lorde redefined the laws and manacles of feminism. Not by pointing the finger of the oppressive patriarchy, but by pointing at the race restraints of feminism that latched on to the values white middle-class women as reflected in Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique. She became an enemy of the National Organization for Women for her critiques. Anti-war and anti-oppression, the civil rights valkyrie brought to the idea that there were various subdivisions of women, a theory that was not the norm in the pre-Civil Rights era. She also identified homophobia, racism and sexism as a nexus to change stating that they all came from the malfunction to distinguish tolerance and difference among our fellow men and women. In her words, “as long as society continues to function in binaries, with a mandatory greater and lesser, Normative and Other, women will never be free.” Spoken like true outlaw.

24.

Richmond Barthé

Celebrated sculptor is known for his strikingly exquisite works of art which includes a sculpture of a Cuban featherweight “Kid Chocolate” on display at the Art Institute of Chicago and a Toussaint L’Ouverture Monument in Port-au-Prince. A true artist, he played with shapes to articulate his internal conflicts in relation to racial identity, the politics of sex and sensuality, religion and eroticism.

Gay LGBT That Reshaped Our Lives

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The Top 10 Black Gay And Lesbian Figures Of All-Time

MLK’s Niece Calls Gay Marriage Genocide

New York Man Kills Boy Toddler “For Acting Like A Girl” [OPINION]

Get this: Aubrey Drake Graham, better known by his mononym Drake, wants to play the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama.

“I hope somebody makes a movie about Obama’s life soon because I could play him,” Drake said in a recent interview with Paper magazine. “I watch all the addresses. Anytime I see him on TV, I don’t change the channel, I definitely pay attention and listen to the inflections of his voice. If you ask anyone who knows me, I’m pretty good at impressions. Slowly but surely, I’m not in the study mode because nobody’s called me about anything, but I just pay attention so when the day comes I’m not scrambling to learn how to speak like him.”

The state of the world is changing and several men and women of color have done a lot to alter the landscape of pop culture. But with a few of figures in cinema, stage or music, it’s interesting that there is a legion of lookalikes in LaLa land. For those who have made a lasting impression in their art, influencing thousands with their style and raw talent, wouldn’t it be cool to see their lookalikes play them in a big-budget movie? We thought so too. Whether we hate them, or love them, here are the people we’d love to see captured on film by some of our favorite (and not-so favorite) actors.

1.

Richard Pryor – played by Marlon Wayans

Marlon Wayans has been cast in the role of one of the most influential comedians of all-time, the ever relevant Richard Pryor. Known as “The Picasso of Comedy,” Pryor was known for his obdurate inspection of racism mixed with graphic language is exactly what Wayans needs, especially after shocking audiencesw ith a magnificent delivery in Requiem for a Dream. Let’s only hope we’ll see him accepting the Academy Award for Best Male.

2.

John Coltrane – played by Donald Glover

After launching a self-campaign to star in the 2010 reboot of the Marvel Comics emblem Spider-Man, the unthinkable happened: Donald Glover got positive feedback. People were thrilled at the concept of having an African-American Peter Parker. While the NYU grad did not land the coveted role, we’re nominating him for an Oscar-worthy role as jazz luminary John Coltrane. The saxophonist bandleader who struggled with drugs and other ailments (as most geniuses) has not gotten the green light and who better to play him than a comedian? After all no one knows pain more than a comedian, right? While most would nominate Nate Parker, who may resemble the star in some aspects, Glover who is also an instrumentalist would give the icon an air of charm.

3.

Miles Davis – played by Wesley Snipes

So Snipes was sentenced 36 months in prison for tax problems. But, can’t we see an effort behind bars? If rap artists can make records behind bars, why can’t actors? It’s simple: Get a big production superpower company and mock up a few scenes of the biopic in a stoneyard! It’s brilliant… or if a studio decided to wait 36 months on the critically-acclaimed actor to play the megastar multi-instrumentalist trumpeter Davis, that wouldn’t be too shabby either.

4.

Oprah Winfrey – played by Viola Davis

There are icons that have gone above and beyond the brightest stars and became a hypergiant, but the struggle for some has been no crystal stair, but in fact, a hell on wheels rollercoaster. Known by her mononym, Oprah is the most influential talk show host in history. In fact, the syndicated Harpo mogul has topped Forbes most powerful list and has been noted by Time.com and CNN as “the most powerful woman in the world.” Vanity Fair even noted she is so influential that she’s only second to the Pope in followers.  If you need someone to play powerful and sophisticated with serious bravissimo acting techniques, well who better than her doppelgänger, two-time Tony Award winner Viola Davis? The Oscar-nominated star would tell a visceral tale and give an air of humanity to the superwoman façade of the confession culture queen.

5.

Rush Limbaugh – played by Mel Gibson

How apropos! This role could get Gibson on track to Oscar gold, while winning support from insensitive, racially-nescient ultra-conservative fans and getting press coverage of weekly protests at several cinemas from au courant chest-beating liberals. With constant claims of racism (he referred to Latinos as “wetbacks,” and blacks as “niggers”), pro-colonialism (Apocalypto), anti-Semitism (The Passion of the Christ), Homophobia (his interview with Spanish newspaper El País), misogyny (the Oksana Grigorieva tapes) and xenophobia (Braveheart), Gibson is a sugar pill for the tabloid junkie and a pin cushion for liberal political pundits. Sound familiar? With a little makeup, this aficionado of cigar culture—who battled with alcoholism—is a shoe-in for the part.

100 Most Influential

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6.

Sam Cooke – played by Anthony Mackie

So, it’s settled: Anthony Mackie is a successful working actor with an outstanding craft to hone his skills in the right direction. He even charmed the pants off of critics for his charismatic performances as the king of Thug Life, Tupac Shakur. But we see gold, if he were to play the riveting role of Civil Rights soulman Sam Cooke. Cooke’s murder and conspiracies afterward have become one of the most iconic pop culture conspiracy theories ranking with the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Muhammad Ali’s phantom punch and George W. Bush’s 2000 election. It’s bound to be great storytelling at its finest.

7.

Lena Horne – played by Paula Patton

Lena Horne, celebrated for bridging the gap in bringing a presence to the growing power in African-American artists in cinema, as well as being an emblem of the Civil Rights era, a film was supposed to made. In fact, dance-pop queen Janet Jackson was scheduled to portray her. Then, Alicia Keys, but the project has since been in development hell. Why not get an experienced actress that looks like the celebrated jazz singer. After all, Tony-winner Leslie Uggams portrayed an older Lena alongside Nikki Crawford as a young Lena in the stage musical adaptation of Stormy Weather, not long ago. Patton would bring heart to the role and with a quick study of the Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, Patton may make a star turn a la Angela Bassett in What’s Love Got To Do With It.

8.

Ethel Waters – played by Jill Scott

Ethel Waters was a phenomenal five-star tour de force singer with bell tower pipes and an old soul that could make one sit in a dark corner and cry into a pillow within moments of the first note. Her epic rendition of “Stormy Weather” was placed in the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Library of Congress. Her performance in Cabin in the Sky was also a huge victory at time, as she was nominated for the prize. Jill Scott, known for her airlifting, motto vibrato soprano and her big-time actor chops is perfect for the role, not just in appearance but her enviable depth. Note her standout performance in Why Did I Get Married: her bloodcurdling cry after discovering her philandering husband was cheating on her with a close friend… epic.

9.

Debbie Harry – played by Charlize Theron

Okay, this may seem like a wild card, but one has got to admit that Theron has got moxie. The Oscar-triumphant Afrikaan chameleon has played sexually-harassed class action icon and a grotesque street-walking serial temptress with ease and to play the queen of new wave punk, Blondie’s Debbie Harry would be fantastico. She’s got spunk, flair, fashion, and a back story that will give you goosebumps. Theron, a cineaste by trade, would have critics and audiences drawn to the role like a moth to the flame.

10. & 11.

Richard “Cheech” Marin & Tommy Chong – played by Michael Peña & Javier Bardem

Think about it. Where would films The Big Lebowski, Friday and Pineapple Express be without Nice Dreams and Still Smokin’? Hip-hop also has the lovable droogs to blame for tours like Up In Smoke that featured artists Dr. Dre, Eminem, Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg. Bardem, a stellar thespian who has also taken home the Oscar, would work as a young Chong on merit alone, while Peña who is a skinnier carbon copy of Cheech, would surprise critics with his diehard honesty and laugh-out-loud comedic timing.

25 Stars and their doppelgängers

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12.

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – played by Chiwetel Ejiofor & Taraji P. Henson

Wouldn’t this pairing be terrific: Briton Chiwetel Ejiofor as the changling Prince of Motown and Jersey City girl Taraji P. Henson as the dynamic doo-wop princess? It’s a match made in heaven, and we’ve only got one question: why aren’t studios getting the hint?

13.

Smokey Robinson – played by Terrence Howard

Motown megalith and quiet storm pantheon Smokey Robinson knew a thing or two about struggle and if you listen to the Motown 60s-heyday, you can tell. The Hustle & Flow leading man can cry on cue (and we’re sure to see plenty of those in this film), and isn’t too far off from the Hitsville U.S.A. legend when it comes to appearances.

14.

George Clinton – played by Nelsan Ellis

Known to True Blood fans as the part-time road crew, part-time short order cooking pusher and gay prostitute Lafayette Reynolds, Nelsan Ellis is known to be one of the most offbeat actors in Hollywood. Before his vampire days, Ellis was a critically acclaimed actor who has played militant brother man in The Express and shared the spotlight among stars Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx in The Soloist. Imagine if he were to be draped in space-age polyester bodysuits, drenched in Technicolor disco wig factory extensions, and smoked enough Buddha grass to land a tin foil mother ship on the Houston, Texas Summit. The Julliard grad would kill the role of the Godfather of Funk, and we would be standing outside of the red carpet on Oscar night with protest signs if he doesn’t get the gold.

15.

Minnie Riperton – played by Maya Rudolph

The expression “Life imitates art” wouldn’t quite cover the term. While, it would be amazing to see a young Esperanza Spalding (arguably this generation’s Minnie Riperton), Jill Scott and Deniece Williams (as both can sing whistle register), her daughter Maya Rudolph is one we’d ask casting agents to phone. Rudolph’s dynamic comedic timing, sensuality and honesty would be the selling point for this film. Portraying the mother that she lost at such a young age, and her rendition of her mother’s signature song “Lovin’ You” on the album’s soundtrack list would be loving and might even win the SNL fave a Grammy.

16.

Groucho Marx – played by Adrien Brody

Adrien Brody has come along way from his Summer of Sam days. With star turns in Love The Hard Way and Dummy, the Queens kid blew up with his thought-provoking performances as Holocaust survivor Władysław Szpilman in The Pianist, getting just about every accolades possible. Why not up the ante with quirky comedy legend Groucho Marx. How can he start? Put on an exaggerated stooped posture, put on a pair of circular glasses, slap a cigar in his mouth, and design a thick greasepaint moustache on his mug with matching eyebrows.

GALLERY: Celebrity Transformers

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17.

LL Cool J – played by Columbus Short

So, is it too soon to make a film about one of the greatest hip-hop stars of all-time? We say not so. Stomp The Yard standout Columbus Short would slaughter the role of hip-hop icon LL Cool J. Why? Well, other than his beefcake physique, Short is a sophisticated hip-hop choreographer and award-winning actor with the swagger to bust a rhyme and swoon the ladies.

18.

Donna Summer – played by Anika Noni Rose

Tony-Award winner Anika Noni Rose dazzled her way to the top, glimmering upward as Disney’s first black princess and bewitching us all as Lorrell Robinson in the crowning achievement Dreamgirls. Imagine her as the queen of disco! Having gotten a glimpse of the sassy powerhouse in bellbottoms and platform heels, we’d love to see her take the mantle as one of music’s most beloved pop goddesses. Why’d we watch it? Plot: A record-breaking disco queen amongst the dingy denizens of Studio 54 nightlife repents and becomes a gospel artist. Imagine the soundtrack.

19.

Ruby Dee – played by Zoë Saldaña

Ruby Dee, one of the poster children of the 50s black cinema renaissance movement, has been the face of change of what Hollywood has come to expect of an ingénue and a loving mother, taking on callus roles and battling through it. Saldaña, who is one of the leading women in Hollywood has faced prejudice and sexism, has a lot of fight in her… some even say, too much. Saldaña, given the role would not only show Hollywood the example of the “strong, black, powerful Nubian queen” shtick, but also show how Dee became the pre-Civil Rights starlet we now adore and the struggle it took to be taken seriously because of her race and sex.

20.

Josephine Baker – played by Kerry Washington

This one is a toss-up, but either Sanaa Lathan (a courage actress) or Beyoncé (an amazing performer) would be spectacular choices to pick out of a hat, if a tinsel town fat cat decided to run with a well-written script about the life and times of the Bronze Venus. However, when it comes to modus operandi, subtext and of course, beauty… who else better than Kerri Washington. Known to play outrageous roles as a sultry man-eater, transwoman or the youngest wife of a polygamous bloodthirsty dictator, Washington would do well as the bon vivant Black Pearl… While some may argue that she won’t grab gold for it, she’d land on that list of highest paid actresses and the studio would have a sleeper hit on their hands.

21.

Martha Reeves of Martha & The Vandellas – played by Aunjanue Ellis

Beautiful, refined, talented and yes… out-of-the-box, Aunjanue Ellis is known for her heavily-sophisticated roles in films Ray, The Express and In Too Deep. Having played Zora Neale Hurston in Brother To Brother, singing her little heart out, we’re sure she can play the role of Motown belter Martha Reeves. With a youthful look and an old soul, it won’t hurt her to turn in a box-office star-turn. In addition, Martha and the girls ended on a different note than their more-successful studio sisters The Supremes, and the journey the audience would take with them would be enlightening.

22.

B.B. King – played by Blu Mankuma

Known to many as a supporting actor, Mankuma displays a spellbinding sensitivity to his scene partners, something that is not so bad. With an extensive resume as a voice actor, film and TV star, he’s experienced enough to handle a meaty role. Watch his work with fellow biopic nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor in 2012. No doubt , he will be a great person to cast in role of blues guitarist B.B. King. The Canadian actor may even give Jeff Bridges and Robert Duvall a run for their money for best guitarist in a motion picture.

23.

Alvin Alley – played by Brian J. White

Attractive, a hard-boiled actor, a talented mover-and-shaker and an excellent source for role model material, its time for Brian J. White to get gritty. If asked to play one of the most innovative dancers in history (and obviously one of the most important by far), he should take the role, no questions asked. Sure, he already played gay but has he been nominated for an Oscar?

24.

Sammy Davis Jr. – played by Elijah Kelley

Get ready to make Elijah Kelley a household name because he’s staring in the ultimate football ensemble film Reds this fall and then he’s portraying legendary Rat Pack song-and-dance man Sammy Davis Jr. The film will focus on the younger Davis, Jr., struggling with many racial issues and epithets, including his relationship with white actress Kim Novak and of course, his prime alongside The Rat Pack.

25.

Angela Davis – played by Vivica Fox

Who has more sass, more fire, and who has a sharper wit than Vivica Fox on a set? …We’re still waiting. The Angela Davis project is way over due, and Fox just keeps getting better.

Young Hollywood Shoot

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Other stars we’d love to see get the greenlight:

1.

Big Mama Thornton – played by Gabourey Sidibe

She may not have gotten Oscar gold for her work in Precious: Based On The Novel “Push” By Sapphire, but she’d kill in the role of the woman that gave Elvis his signature hit.

2.

Andy Warhol – played by Johnny Depp

The thespian with a kink for playing quacked, ultramodern eccentrics would blow the cap off of his portrayal of pop art bohemian bellweather Any Warhol.

3.

Shirley Chisholm – played by Angela Bassett

A history maker played by a history maker: the initial major-party African-American aspirant for President of the United States and the first woman to run for the Democratic presidential nomination gets played by the first African-American to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. The result, a year of accolades.

4.

Tallulah Bankhead – played by Fran Drescher

It’s perfect. Both women are funny, charming and have smoldering sex appeal (voice withstanding).

5.

Mary Wells – played by Gabrielle Union

The Queen of Motown gets played by the queen bee of black inner-city youth cheer teams! But seriously, have you seen someone more adept at taking on the role?

6. & 7.

Akira Kurosawa & Toshirō Mifune – played by B.D. Wong & John Cho

It’s a shot in the dark, but both men have a name and while the resemblance maybe a tad bit… “off”… the performances will be stellar, the action sequences would be dynamic and Cho would be in the best shape of life!

8.

Harry Belafonte – played by Daniel Sunjata

Belafonte was a beefcake in his prime and with Sunjata taking up the mantle and playing a role that ultimately dictates how people unfamiliar with Belafonte’s work, would be a synch! Not only does Sunjata got the look, he’s got the passion.

9.

David Bowie – played by Cillian Murphy

Honestly, we’re more concerned with whom we will see play Iman than her “Thin White Duke” hubby. If there was a person that could honestly play the extraterrestrial glam rock space invader, the carnivorous scene stealing Murphy should be on speed dial.

10.

Desmond Tutu – played by Don Chedle

It would be a meeting of the minds from one humanitarian to another, as Chedle would share with the world not only Tutu’s struggles as the anti-apartheid Most Reverend, but his experiences in understanding the method behind the madness.

10 Actors Guaranteed High Honors For This Role

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The new remake of “Nightmare on Elm Street” has just hit a theater near you, and we are particularly excited about the return of the only villain with enough swag to rock the fedora and the melted face together.

The throwback horror flick is based on the premise that a few haunted teens are tortured by uber-scary clawed villain-Freddy Kreuger-in their dreams; the effects of which (ie death and or mutilation) carry over into real life.

In honor of the return of Freddy, we have composed a complete guide for how to be villain. If you are so inclined, take notes just in case an opportunity to take over the world or a few nightmares ever presents itself. Hey, you never know.

We recommend these:

Jason Mask

$8.99

Fake Mustache

$5.00

Black Cloak

$48.00

There you have it. You are now well on your way to being a villain. If you need a few more pointers, watch Freddy do his G thing in the trailer for “Elm Street.”

http://www.nightmareonelmstreet.com/widget/NOES_widget.swf

Also, check out a few of your favorite villains below:

Classic Villains

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Sequels are often seen as mediocre films, conditional on the buying power of their box-office success. There are only a few ways to make a sequel “work.” It either has to be an immediate continuation of the original film or it has to have higher stakes, bigger conflict and it has to introduce characters and catchphrases that will enlighten us.

Here are 17 sequels that not only went above and beyond their expectations but were actually better than their original films.

1.

Aliens

Set 57 years after its predecessor, the sequel to the 1979 film Alien is still regarded as a point of reference for the all-out, full-fledged blockbuster action and sci-fi genres. Fighting the pesky, gooey, acid-regurgitating insecticides with the bladed scorpion-like barbs, James Cameron’s clang-crash intergalactic caper was a 1986 epic! “It made the first Alien look like a cucumber sandwich,” noted leading lady Sigourney Weaver. The movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including a Best Actress nomination for Weaver as the post-traumatic paranoid Ellen Ripley, which is considered a landmark in a horror/ science fiction films. Add a few hard-hitting, trash-talking, tough-as-nails space marines and you’ve got one of the best films ever made.

2.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

While the first Terminator film arguably launched bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger into superstardom (evening Best Actor honors at the 1992 MTV Movie Awards, imagine that!), T2 is simply the Magna Carta of popcorn-breathing action flicks. With iconic cheese ball one-liners like “Hasta la vista, baby,”  T2 is more so known for its vanguard computer-generated effects, which marked the first use of natural human motion for a CGI liquid metal character.

3.

The Godfather, Part II

To anyone who has seen the riveting sequel to The Godfather, this is a big fat “Duh!” Constantly labeled one of the greatest films ever made—and often criticized as being superior to the original—we see unbelievable Oscar-winning acting by Robert De Niro who plays the up-and-coming Mafia man and an outrageous scene-stealing performance by Al Pacino, who plays one of the greatest roles of his career. His legendary performance as Michael Corleone, the newly-appointed Don should have won him the award for Best Actor. Whether he’s giving the kiss of death to his disloyal brother Fredo or cold-bloodedly slamming door on his wife Kay’s face after she aborted their unborn child without telling him, he was evil at its finest. Premiere.com had it right; he is “American cinema’s prince of darkness.”

4.

Mad Max 2

Simply put, this action-packed, machismo doomsday apocalyptic thriller was a litmus test for the nuclear blow-out genre that spawned hits like Death Race and Resident Evil. We see this non-stop kinetic comic-book rollercoaster ride speed off into the depths of a post-holocaust war zone full of all the ultraviolence, car chases and explosions one could muster! While the plot is thin, it’s still miles ahead of the first road movie installment.

5.

The Dark Knight

Unlike its predecessor or any other superhero film, The Dark Knight redefined the comic-book movie, with A-game performances by the entire cast, and introducing a now primo legendary nemesis. Director Christopher Nolan noted, “We gave a Francis Bacon spin to [his face]. This corruption, this decay in the texture of the look itself. It’s grubby. You can almost imagine what he smells like.” A look inspired by punk rock legends Pete Doherty, Iggy Pop, and Johnny Rotten, the late Heath Ledger noted that his impish anarchist is a “psychopathic, mass-murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy.” His best performance to date.

6.

The Empire Strikes Back

One of the greatest sci-fi films of all-time, Empire said has one of the greatest cliffhangers of ever written into a script. The dynamic “No, I am your father!” is still a line for the ages. Yoda’s one-liner isn’t bad either: “Try not! Do, or do not, there is no try.” Spoken like a true Jedi Master.

7.

Iron Man 2

Cue the fog machines, signal those LED lights! This high-octane canon in the Iron Man mythos is one of legends. Robert Downey, Jr. is stunning as an ailing Tony Sparks up against the wall and in need of a sidekick… none of that “two against the world” crap here. And the showdown between an inebriated Sparks and a damage control James Rhodes (played by Don Chedle) is epic.

8.

Clerks II

Try arguing with a hardcore Kevin Smith fanatic and you’ll get the horns! Does this sequel surpass the original black and white indie standard? “It had a bit more heart to it, was significantly more fun to watch, the humor was cleverer yet far dirtier, and in a lot of ways more mature in it’s themes,” one film iconoclast noted.  While said snob ignored the holiday getaway irreverence that made the first a classic, Smith’s zero-to-hero pot-smoking, minimum wage, zero-focus white-dude-with-zilch-to-do shtick was defined here.

9.

House Party 2

For good reason, House Party part deux is on this list because it surpassed its predecessor—one of the greatest party films of all-time—on several levels. Wit, plot (this time, they conduct an impromptu pajama party), celebrity cameos (hip-hop sovereign Queen Latifah, New Edition’s Ralph Tresvant, fashion icon Iman, comedy legend Whoopi Goldberg, Louie Louie and Young Black Teenagers), and dare we say it, better acting from a grieving college bound Kid and a skirt-chasing, record label obsessed Play. Not to mention, the soundtrack is bananas and still makes us go ape!

10.

Bride of Frankenstein

Time magazine noted in their list of greatest films ever made that “this is one of those rare sequels that is infinitely superior to its source.” Ideally, it is. In fact, The Bride’s (played by Elsa Lanchester) conical hairstyle, with its ashen lightning bolt sketch streaks on each side, has become an emblem of Gothic horror. And its plot—with the modern Prometheus coercing its creator into creating a mate for it is bone-chilling.

11.

Dawn of the Dead

While some would not say its better than the original Night of the Living Dead, its unanimous: it’s just as good, if not equal to it. Barricaded inside of a suburban shopping mall amidst mass hysteria, the gore fest has become an instant cinematic classic. With a nexus to assessments of American megacoroporations decadence and commercial consumerism excess, film critics and historians have called this a triumph in the horror genre.

12.

Desperado

Replacing actor Carlos Gallardo in favor of movie icon and Broadway star Antonio Banderas, Robert Rodriguez kicked-off a jamboree of kinetic explosive energy and sultry, white hot sexual healing with the second part of his critically-acclaimed Mexico/Mariachi Trilogy. With deeper emotion, and more action, this film put Banderas over the top and made him a household name.

13.

The Two Towers

Some moviegoers hated the film because they were thinking logically: “Why don’t they just teleport or fly or take a boat to destroy the One Ring in Mordor?” But, its simply about the journey. And the really spaced-out characters. In the film we see Gollum come back more maleficent than ever and one of the best (if not the best) conflicts of all time, The Battle of Helm’s Deep.

14.

Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan

The first film, Star Trek: The Motion Picture was an effort that tried to be an larger than life epic was a critical word-of-mouth failure. Simply put, this movie single-handedly saved the Star Trek franchise and turned a fleeting TV pastime into an iconic influential sci-fi work of art. Don’t believe us, check out how many times Spock’s dramatic death and its following funeral proceedings have been parodied.

15.

Toy Story 3

What happens to a toy after the kids have grown up and left the house? That’s the idea that Pixar had when they finally settled on weeding out a variety of stories and finally settled on a singular, intricate idea. Known as the film series that made Pixar famous, the epic following our favorite plastic playthings, shows toy aficionado Andy going to college. Showing a rumination of loss of childhood pastime, ephermerality and love (organic or synthetic), Toy Story 3 delivers, in essence, the perfect trilogy.

16.

Kill Bill Vol. 2

Splatterpunk Quentin Tarantino opted for blood-thirsty, samurai slaughterhouse chic in the film’s predecessor. Techincally not a sequel (because it’s actually one 6-hour film), Volume 2 shows audiences the bride’s origins—even unveiling her real name, shows antagonist Bill as a scorned lover and not a sadistic mass murdering killer, coughs up a delicious soundtrack by the RZA and others, introduces far more complex characters and most importantly, delivers jaw-dropping monologues and dialogue, which were missing in the first film.

17.

The Silence of the Lambs

Jonathan Demme’s Oscar-winning epic left the LGBT community and feminist outraged by the transsexual who skinned overweight women alive in order to design a woman suit for himself (err, herself) because he was “too disturbed” to get gender reassignment surgery. No doubt, this was a cinematic triumph, but this not-technically-a-sequel to 1986’s Manhunter challenged conventions by casting its leading lady (Jodie Foster) and male protagonist (Anthony Hopkins). Foster’s intelligent approach to Clarice Starling and Hopkins’ brilliant portrayal as the primeval psychiatrist and cunning cannibal Hannibal Lecter is a dish best served cold.

17 Sequels That Were Way Better than the Originals!

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Takers: Top Seven Coolest Bank Heist Movies

Rapper Drake Wants To Play Obama In Movie

Who Should Play The Lead Role In These 25 Biopics?

There are a slew of new  rappers taking the game by storm as of late. First up, Canadian-import Drake knocked the proverbial ball right out of the album-sales-park, selling 462,989 copies of his much anticipated album in its first week. Who’s next to bat? We’re guessing hot new artist J. Cole. With the release of his new single “Who Dat,” Cole is using his underground buzz and his sizzling new video to catapult himself from the underground sector into rap’s upper echelons. Oh, you didn’t know? We’re about to put you onto this future GIANT.

Here are five interesting things you should know about J. Cole:

1.

Roots

J. Cole was born in Frankfurt, Germany, but was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He is bi-racial having been born to a Black mother and a White father.

2.

Unorthodox

J.Cole decided to attend college in New York City in order to place himself at the apex of the city’s thriving music industry. He attended St. John’s University on an academic scholarship, majored in communication and minored in business. In a largely unorthadox move for a hip hop artist, Cole graduated magna cum laude. If you thought Kanye’s “college dropout” steez was hot, then college graduate is definitely the new black.

3.

Flagship Artist

Cole is the first artist signed to Jay-Z’s label, Roc Nation. A major accomplishment indeed.

4.

Big Backing

Cole has managed features on tracks with many of today’s httest artists. He appeared on Jay-Z’s album The Blueprint 3, on the track “A Star Is Born,” and Wale’s debut album, Attention Deficit in the song “Beautiful Bliss.” Cole has also stated that he worked with producers such as No I.D., Pharrell, Jim Jonsin and Salaam Remi for his upcoming debut album.

5.

All He Needs Is One Take

He shot the video for his new single “Who Dat” in one take. Check him out below:

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12449882&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

50 Won The Battle, But Has Rick Ross Won The War?

What Makes A Breakout Star?

Lately, being a bad chick is oh-so-good.

The other day I watched a music video for Rapper Ludacris’ latest single, “My Chick Bad” in which he explains the dynamics of being a bad chick.

With the help of a few of the baddest, bad-girls in the game, Luda put down a track explaining the A-B-Cs and 1-2-3s of badness. As the raunchy rap riddle came to an end, I sat trying to figure out the formula for badness. I mean, really…what makes a bad chick? I am a college graduate with a dual degree in history and political science. I work hard, I have a promising career, I am independent, confident and I take pride in myself. Doesn’t that make me bad? After taking the lyrics at face value I came to the conclusion that I am a mediocre chick at best.

Apparently badness is measured in terms of waist to hip ratio, food (ie, lettuce, cheese and cheddar) and expensive boots. Huh?

This confused me. All of the time and effort that I put into my own personal betterment was seemingly irrelevant according to the rap geniuses that wrote the song on badness. When I first listened to  Maya Angelou explain the depths of being phenomenal:

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size

But when I start to tell them,

They think I’m telling lies.
I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

I screamed from the rooftops, “I am a phenomenal woman!” So why, then, do the likes of Luda, Trina, Eve and Diamond have me doubting my badness? It would be too easy to write this off as silly rap-talk, both ignorant and meaningless. No, I decided; there must be something meaningful in the bowels of this bad-chick-debauchery. Again, I listened closely and took notes on what exactly this motley crew considers necessary in order to achieve near perfection. Believe it or not, Diamond, Eve and Trina at times did manage to hit the nail right on the head!

No one reads Shakespeare once and fully grasps the immensity of his hold on the complexities of love and life. You must always push yourself to dig deeper in order to fully indulge in his brilliance. I dug deeper into “My Chick Bad,” and I did not find Shakespeare or brilliance, but i did find some level of redemption.

Sure, I expected raunchy, imbecilic references to big booties and sex appeal. In that respect, my expectations were fulfilled. But oddly enough, nestled between the narcissistic lines lie a few jewels that every woman could use and every man should expect. Ladies, want to know how to be a “bad Chick?” Fellas, want to know whether or not your chick is bad? Here, with GIANT‘s help, is the blow-by-blow analysis of “My Chick Bad.”

As it turns out these girls are actually brilliant and perceptive! Or at least, with our help they are…

There you have it. Want to be a bad chick? Refer to the far right column.

Thank us later.

Take a look at the video with your newly enlightened mind in case you needed a visual guide:

STYLE FILE: Only Built For Cubannie Links

Is Rihanna Qualified To Teach “Rockstar 101″?

In this debut episode of COVER STORIES with SMOKEY D. FONTAINE hear why the phenomenal ALICIA KEYS says she is sooooo happy right now!

And check out her amazing pictures from the Winter ’10 Preview issue of GIANT here:

GIANT Gallery: Alicia Keys

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Related:

See former GIANT cover girl PAULA PATTON (from Precious) steam it up here.  Is this the sexiest celeb video ever?

Or want some MAXWELL??  See him here

That was Whitney Houston.

Your first college girlfriend who knocked you off your feet. Your best ride or die sister who comforted you through the low times, waiting for you to exhale. Your wise and warm teacher who taught you from her own, extensive experiences.

That was Whitney Houston.

That intense sense of loss and sorrow emanating from the black community clearly illustrates the very real way that Whitney Houston connected with each and every one of her listeners. It’s never easy to lose a legend, but it’s extremely painful to lose family and that’s what happened February 11, 2011. As the many friends and fellow performers that she inspired and influence step forward to share their intimate stories on the late icon, those of us who only knew her from afar are recalling our special moments with Whitney in our own ways. Whether creating that epic Whitney playlist, watching her several films, hitting up the karaoke with your best group of friends, we have decidedly taken a bittersweet trip down memory lane to those moments frozen in time by Whitney’s remarkable presence.

The voice, beauty, charisma and love all culminated into an irreplaceable artist and human being who was just as human as she was ethereal. And yet, as close to Whitney as we felt, we also kept her at arms length once she began her tragic descend into addiction. Perhaps Whitney’s downfall showed us something all too familiar that we chose to berate and mock the formerly angelic performer, instead of coming to terms with her susceptibility for temptation and self-injury?

Our close girl friend; our auntie; our girlfriend; our beloved consoler now needed some understanding and love from her legion of supporters, but what the new Whitney showed us was reality, and not an escape. Our projections of perfection had crumbled before our eyes, so without the presence of her commanding and confident stature to build us up, we proceeded to use her downfall as a step ladder.

Yes, Whitney and her close circle played a major role in her ending up in the state she was in, but we can’t help but feel a tad bit guilty can we? Because while Whitney did inflict self-damage onto herself, she also gave us some of the best times we’ve ever had growing up, period. This public deluge of love and sorrow and regret from the media, Hollywood, and the internet proves this. And though it may be too late to reciprocate the love that Whitney poured out in each performance, it’s not too late to bolster, encourage and support those of our family members who are still with us. As many others have said of Whitney’s passing, let this tragic moment serve as a lesson.