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Janelle Monae Looking for La-La Land Lookalikes for New Short Film

 

Here's the best part about posting on East coast time: we always give our West coast readers something to wake  up to in the morning. And this morning, if you live in L.A., you still have time to get up, get out and get your fifteen minutes of fame. If you look like soul singer Janelle Monae, that is. 

Yup, according to her MySpace bulletin posted last night, The Wondaland Arts Society and director Alan Ferguson will be holding a casting call today in L.A. at noon, looking for body doubles and lookalikes of the self-described "alien from outer space," all for a chance to play a role in an upcoming short film supporting her track "Many Moons." For those who don't resemble Janelle, don't fret.The bulletin goes on to encourage all "cyboys and cybergirls" to come through as well, as they'll be casting over 100 extras, with 20 of those getting paid. Score! For more info regarding the shoot, check after the bounce. And if you go, of course, let us know how it turns out.

Janelle Monae [MySpace]

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Harlem  |  06/20/2008 at 11:00 AM  |  Leave a Comment  |  Permalink

Oh God in Heaven, Let This Not Have Merit

 

Not for nothing, but we take the CRS project quite seriously around these parts. It's not only the most anticipated Hip Hop team-up in the history of man, but it's also likely to be the most organic. So when we hear that Nelly and Akon are thinking about forming a "supergroup" with Pharrell "El Thefto" Williams, our eyes sideth with the rage of... well.. just rage! According to Nelly:

"Right now it's just a concept. I just got the idea because I love groups like Bell Biv Devoe. When they got a chance to come together. When LSG did it. Nobody has really done it on the Hip Hop level. Nobody has put egos aside and said 'You know what? Let's do something that would be crazy! We don't have that (moment in time) and I feel like we're missing that something special."

While such an enterprise would certainly prop up Nelly and give Akon even more undeserved face time, Pharrell needs to run as far from this "concept" as he can. For that would be a certain darkside from which he'd never be able to return. And by the way, Nelly, BBD was a lazy example.

Nelly, Akon & Pharrell To Form Supergroup? [HHDX]

nOvaMatic  |  06/11/2008 at 11:36 AM  |  Comments (6)  |  Permalink

And Now, the Inevitable Apology

 

Back when I decided I'd no longer post Amy Winehouse items that had nothing to do with her music, I didn't have the foresight to include racist nursery rhymes. So here we are, in the aftermath of yet another episode of "We Found Tape of a Black-Accepted Artist Being Racially Retarded." If you haven't seen it, she goes after The Blacks in a playful, sing-songy video taped by Blake Incarcerated, who set her up by saying the camera wasn't on. He's a keeper, that one! Now she's apologized by saying, "I don't want to play anything down, but I'm the least racist person going." We're not sure by what scale she has determined she's the "least," but since Falwell kicked it last year, we suppose she's in the clear. [SOHH]

nOvaMatic  |  06/11/2008 at 11:00 AM  |  Comments (7)  |  Permalink

Usher Terrorized Bobby Brown By Stealing His Moves, Choking Him Out

 

Do you see a little Bobby Brown in Usher? Because I don't. Sure, there are those unmistakable shared elements of wanton lust and boiling sweat on stage, but it always seemed slightly more sleazy and drunk uncle-ish when imparted by the ex-Mr. Houston. Also, Usher never had a dime bag fall out of his pocket during a televised performance at the Apollo!

I, for one, can't wait for Bobby's memoir Being Bobby Brown: The Truth and Nothing But, mainly because it's certain be filled with the outrageous flights of fancy and rampant egomania for which he's become known. In another preview from the fine folks at BlackVoices, Bobby says "I watched one of Usher's shows and he basically did my whole show...It was as if it was me on stage. The thing about it is, I love seeing that. It's a compliment to me as a performer."

Aaaaand crickets.

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nOvaMatic  |  06/04/2008 at 11:00 AM  |  Comments (7)  |  Permalink

D'Angelo Has Been Spotted!

 

Earlier in the week, the good folks over at the ever-entertaining OKP message boards shared a tidbit of information that got folks all excited: D'Angelo was spotted at the Erykah Badu concert in Richmond, VA on Sunday night.

Wow. D'Angelo is like the soul singing equivalent of Big Foot these days so hearing that he was out and about in public is a beautiful thing. Apparently the beloved yet reclusive star was just there at the show chillin' like a villain and getting his Vortex Tour on. I'm not mad at that at all, but now there are so many unanswered questions: How did he look? Who was he with? Was his hair braided? Was anybody able to touch him to make sure that he was real? Does he have his "How Does It Feel" body back? If so, did he have his shirt on? If not, are there pictures? Hey, I'm just keeping it real.

After the initial poster put this on the board, another OKP member posted the message "he back" in response. Simple and cryptic. Thanks. I suppose that at this point, all we can do is continue to wait and see. If D'Angelo can leave the house to go to a concert, then surely he can make his way to the studio. Right?

But, for real, did he have his shirt on?

Butta  |  05/22/2008 at 1:35 PM  |  Comments (2)  |  Permalink

Kanye Vs. Lupe? With Any Luck This is True

 

Not that we want anything to endanger the execution of the oft-mythologized CRS project, but this is too juicy not to post. According to HamptonRoads, Kanye got into it with Lupe Fiasco over a verse for the "Everyone Nose" remix, basically accusing Lulu of stealing from him.

The Neptunes were working on a remix to their single "Everyone Nose" with a verse from Lupe Fiasco. All was going fine until Kanye enters and hears Lupe's verse, which was all too similar to one he had spit not long ago. Ye lost it, accusing Lupe of stealing/finishing his verse -- and that Lupe had the opportunity when he'd looked in Kanye's rhyme book previously. Everyone in the crowded room was laughing, thinking it was a joke, but Ye continued on, basically causing a massive, Naomi-worthy row and P had to calm everything down.

Props to Pharrell for being the moderator in this scenario, what with him being accused of stealing on occasion. So that was real big of him and everything. Perhaps being surrounded by peers that also think he's crazy will cause Kanye to re-evaluate his attitude. Maybe. (Intel via Idolator)

nOvaMatic  |  05/13/2008 at 4:00 PM  |  Comments (3)  |  Permalink

No Kidding: Ray's Family Feels 'Disrespected' by Manager

 

It seems none of our soul legends can ever afford to rest in peace. On the heels of a GQ blog detailing the travails of Godfather of Soul James Brown comes news that music legend Ray Charles' longtime manager, Joe Adams, is being accused by several of Charles' children of mismanaging his estate.

Seems the children have complained to the California attorney general, the Los Angeles County prosecutor's office and the FBI, seeking a formal investigation into Charles' estate, trusts and foundation for possible wrongdoing by Adams. They're crying foul over Adams having too much control over Ray Charles Enterprises and the Ray Charles Foundation, claiming he's showing "disrespect for the family and children" by excluding them from business dealings.

We shake our heads and hope this matter gets resolved quickly and without too much of a public spat. Now, I'm off to listen to Genius Loves Company, and remember the legend that was Ray. [EUR]

Harlem  |  04/22/2008 at 12:35 PM  |  Leave a Comment  |  Permalink

Kanye West Tour Was Glowing...Or Not

 

ill Mami  |  04/18/2008 at 12:30 PM  |  Comments (2)  |  Permalink

The Life and Times of Faith Evans

 

Rumors are circulating blog-wide about a forthcoming Faith Evans autobiography of her tenure at Bad Boy Records as well as her personal and professional relationships with The Notorious B.I.G. and Sean Combs.

KEEP THE FAITH is Faith Evan's first person account of life at ground zero of hip-hop's greatest generation. She'll share the truth about the love affair that changed her life, and the innuendo that rocked the hip-hop world to its core. From her passionate and tragically short-lived life with Biggie, Faith will finally lay the true story on the line. We'll get to see the good, the bad and the ugly side of P Diddy; nobody knew either quite as well as Faith.

A few things. As a huge fan of both Biggie and Faith and an obssessive on the history of Bad Boy, I couldn't be less excited about this. I'm already bored with the idea of the Biggie film, and although I love to archive and inventory random facts surrounding the careers of these people, none of them seem that interesting to warrant any of this. The cover of the book looks suspect, what with the badly-chosen typeface and the photo of Evans era-1995. Also, where's the official announcement from Faye's camp? Side-eye until confirmed.

 

nOvaMatic  |  04/15/2008 at 12:07 PM  |  Comments (2)  |  Permalink