Things that make me happy... BET Hip Hop Award Cyphers - 2011 edition (now airing on BET)
Okay sure it is annoying that each year they make up new categories that make very little sense. But the show is still worth a watch.
Is hip hop dead? Nah! For 2 hours once a year BET feature veterans and new rappers on best segment of any award show on TV... The Cypher. From the DJ in the background to the street feel of the set, this reminds me of raps hey day. Yo MTV Rap style...
So for the real hip hop lovers... check out the rhyme.
Eminem Group (Would have to be the master of this... Consistently great flows every year)
Ludacris and Busta Group (My favorite... Busta gave a full dissertation on this one).
Estelle Group
Chris Brown Group (Chris Breezy letting of some steam)
Rick Ross Group
BOB Group
Most Rapper Representing: Atlanta. But what is always fun to see is the diversity of sounds, flows and people in these cyphers, women, latino, french, even a disable rapper... BET is reaching out.
Things that make me happy... HBO Documentary - The Latino List
I remember when I was growing up that Sept/Oct was Hispanic Heritage Month. February (the shortest month - hmmm what's up with that) was Black history and always featured specials on TV about black heritage. March was Woman History and did the same with women history and issues. Likewise, the beginning of fall was time to learn and focus on Latino culture. Growing up in a vibrant Hispanic neighborhood might have peaked my interest in Latin culture and started my lifelong love of Latin inspired cultures. So with that in that in mind, I was so pleased to watch another installment of one of my favorite HBO documentary series... The Latino List. This documentary is the latest project of Timothy Greenfield-Sanders who gave us the Black List Vol 1-3 (if you haven't seen check it out netflix and youtube), and the tastefully produced Thinking XXX (a portrait of stars of adult films that was also featured on HBO).
Like his previous works, Greenfield feature profiles of several prominent Latinos as they discuss various topics from a Latino perspective. They explore everything from the meaning of being Latino in the 21st century to lessons learned growing up Latino in America. The people come from different professions and backgrounds but all have insightful tidbits of wisdom on their lives as Latinos.
What I like the most about this documentary it gives many a glimpse of the life's, struggles, and hopes of people. We see the similarities that we all share and some subtle differences that make us interesting and better Americans. There are teachers, writers, actors, politicians and yes... even an astronaut. But most of all this documentary is meant to inspire all of us, but especially young people to see people who look like them that have succeeded in some aspect of life. Maybe the Latino List II may feature our first Latino president... its just a matter of time.
People featured:
Gloria Estefen
Emilio Estefen
America Ferrera
Sandra Cisneros
Jose Moreno Hernandez
Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch
John Leguizamo
Eva Longoria
Robert Menendez
Armando Christian Perez
Juan Antonio "Chi-Chi" Rodriquez
Anthony D. Romero
Eddie "Piolin" Sotelo
Justice Sonia Sotomayor
Julie Stav
Dr Marta Moreno Vega
If you like Latino List you should check out the exhibit at Brooklyn Museum of Art that features 25 large photographs of the accomplished Latino people featured in the film until December 11th 2011. There is also an IPhone app that has stories of people on the street (in Spanish) speaking about people that inspire them.
Most impressive interviews
America Ferrera
Justice Sonia Sotomayor
Things that make me happy this week... Mountaintop the Play
Mountaintop, now playing on Broadway for a limited time, is a play about a re-imagined day before Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis. The play stars Samuel Jackson as MLK near the end of his journey and Angela Bassett as an unusual visitor on a mission. This play portrays MLK as a man. Not the legend or great civil rights leader... but a man weary of the burden on his shoulder and fully aware of his role in the movement. This is not the typical portrayal of MLK, but Jackson does a great job bring his unique talents to make MLK human... an every man's man. Bassett matches the stature of the iconic Jackson as a southern chamber maid who was fated to meet MLK on April 2nd 1968, the day before his assassination. The two superstars revisits the Ike and Tina chemistry on stage that gain them critical acclaim in the 1993 film, "Whats Love Got to Do with It".
A few short facts
-No intermission, go to bathroom first.
-No other supporting actors. Just these two on stage... why dilute a good thing.
-Its a stageplay not a musical. But it keeps your attention. Good writing (thank the playwright Katori Hall from London)
I really enjoyed the play for several reasons.
1. These actors rarely do stage work now a days so seeing these two masters of the craft doing live is a true joy.
2. Some of the creative minds behind last year's hit Fences, starring Denzel Washingtion, are part of the creative team of Mountaintop. Kenny Leon (director) and Branford Marsalis (Original Music) both lend there considerable talents to this play.
3. Its funny and poignant throughout. And by the end you can see that actor Samuel L Jackson disappear and he really transforms into the essence of Dr. King.
There really weren't many negatives but you should warn that this stars Samuel L Jackson and he is known for his signature way with a four letter word or two... and Mrs. Bassett can certainly hold her own in this respect as well. And there are times that you cringe... and times that you have a guilty laugh or two. But in the end of this journey it all comes together to tell and wonderful story about the realization of ones destiny.
This play serves as a reminder of an legendary figure in US (and the world) that help move our nation along its journey to that distant Mountaintop.
Seeing these two made me wonder, what other famous movie actor would you like to see return to Broadway in a play?
