One query ran through my mind about Quincy Jones. This happened long before his death on Monday became international news. But the query is straightforward, yet complex.

How did one man live?

Jones was born two months after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s inauguration in 1933 and died just days before Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election. Meanwhile, Quincy Delight Jones Jr. he lived a unprecedented American life and had no problem telling about his journey to anyone who would listen. Jones has never seemed hooked on the highlight. Instead, his innate charisma and gift for gab took center stage. His stories were boastful, because considering who he knew and what he had experienced, how could they not?

Throughout his seven-decade profession, Jones has amassed rather a lot over 4000 songs. Many of the songs are embedded within the country’s history, and most of the artists who got here to define the sound of American music, from Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra and Count Basie to Donna Summer, Dinah Washington and plenty of others. The best-selling album of all time, Jackson’s, wouldn’t have been possible without Jones’ genius. Culture critic – said Bomani Jones Jones’ distinctive talent “made everyone else better.” This much is undeniable. Jones’ musical legacy is as unparalleled because it has ever been and will be.

This was partly because Jones’ music was not relegated to the studio or radio. The depth of his catalog and talent to inform stories through music also resonated deeply in film and tv. Jones’ musical imprint can be seen in culture-changing works equivalent to (Jones created the theme song), composing the film soundtrack, and A King’s Ransom more. For Jones, his assists were just as quite a few. Jones almost composed the soundtrack to the 1995 classic, but calmly directed Babyface to alter his appearance. The soundtrack became probably the most beloved in cinema history.

But what involves mind for Jones is how amazing the stories he has told over time have been. Jones’ storytelling skills were audacious. His Interview from 2018 became an easy classic because it brought back memories with everyone from Marlon Brando – and his alleged sexual proclivities – to Michael Jackson and even Donald Trumpa person he described as a “crazy f***er” and a “f… idiot” who was “mentally limited” and “couldn’t stand him.” Then 85, Jones’s grandfatherly ability to talk with out a filter led him to debate who assassinated President John F. Kennedy and his love and artistic contempt for The Beatles.

“They were the worst musicians in the world,” Jones said of the group. – They weren’t funny motherfuckers.

This was just the tip of the iceberg. Jones’s life and interviews could function a research masterclass. Go back through the a long time and also you will discover a man who was used at so many critical moments in American history. He once claimed that Detroit Red was his team’s drug dealer long before he became Malcolm X. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recalled vacationing with Jones at his home and family. Jones’ decision to assist starting in 1993 was a daring move that paid off tenfold and altered the way in which people checked out music magazines. became one in every of the distinctive voices of authority in hip-hop and R&B in a decade that saw each genres skyrocket in popularity and influence.

Mentoring was also a part of his story. Jamie Foxx gave Jones credit helping him properly prepare for his Oscar-winning role Jones’ best friend, Ray Charles in Późny Nipsey Hussle Listening to interviews Jones has given over time about creating the wax poetics of Hearing Jones on how he and Jackson curated the album directly led to Hussle applying the identical process to his own breakout project, Grammy nominee Tupac Shakur , who once criticized Jones for his interracial marriages, almost became Jones’ son-in-law and was engaged to his daughter Kidada on the time of his 1996 murder. Will Smith said Jones, the producer, “let me use your wings until mine are strong enough to fly.”

Trying to put in writing down every story Jones ever told and each life he touched is futile. Quincy Jones lived for 91 years, however it is unattainable to find out what number of incarnations he actually lived during this era. He was a walking wealthy man, collecting titles equivalent to jazz musician, producer, composer (in 1957 he moved to Paris to check composition with Nadia Boulanger and Olivier Messiaen), people connector, filmmaker and plenty of more. Jones used his power to empower others. He was a highly respected influencer long before social media corrupted the term. It’s much more unattainable to understand how many lives Jones modified along the way in which. The lives of celebrities and the lives of bizarre men or women were influenced by a person who made probably the most of life, in seemingly every way possible. In Jones’ case, I often wondered if he realized how invaluable his own memories were. I’m sure he did, that is why he talked about them a lot.

The historian has all the time held probably the most necessary positions within the Black community. This is how our stories are passed on. This is how immortality is achieved. I have a look at America and where it’s inevitably heading. Books are banned. It is forbidden to show history, especially black history, the precise course of events. People like Jones were necessary because he spoke the reality in a way that couldn’t be quantified.

The music he created echoes in corners of the universe still undiscovered. I hear Tevin Campbell’s lyrics from Jones’ 1989 classic “Tomorrow (A Better You, A Better Me)” in my head.

” Campbell sings. “.”

In a rustic where Jones has never shied away from criticism, these 35-yr-old texts resonate in a way they could never have before. We must proceed to inform ourselves that we’re closer to heaven than to hell, even when we feel the warmth of the hearth around our necks. Jones has lived this mantra for a long time, generations, and a number of other different shades of makeup that America has tried to placed on to cover its true identity. Now Jones is not any longer here. Preserving Black history is maybe the best tribute to Quincy Jones that any of us could imagine. Because now, greater than ever, their survival has never been more in danger.

Pharrell Williams has experienced stratospheric success in his profession. The 13-time Grammy Award-winning artist, who currently heads Louis Vuitton menswear, is the epitome of ambiguity. However, he was not all the time so prolific.

Long before his former production duo, The Neptunes, and the band NERD were topping the charts, Williams was just one other worker who was fired from McDonald’s. Three different times, to be precise.

“McDonald’s was my first and only job,” the Virginia native said BBC2 Radio during a recent interview. “I used to be fired three times. I ate chicken nuggets.

To be clear, consuming the product at work only resulted in a single of the three being fired.

“The first two times I only did it because I was lazy,” he admitted. “The third one was like, ‘What are you doing? Are you sitting there eating nuggets?”

Fortunately for him, success with The Neptunes, which he founded with childhood friend Chad Hugo in 1992, was just across the corner. After Williams hung up his apron for good, he formed NERD in 1999 with Hugo and drummer Shay Haley.

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For the subsequent decade, Williams ruled the music scene with self-produced hits including Clipse’s “Grindin’,” Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” Nelly’s “It’s Getting Hot in Herre” and Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl.” Throughout all of it, NERD has gained a dedicated fandom of its own with party-ready hits like “Lapdance,” “She Wants to Move,” and the aptly named “Rock Star.” As a solo artist, the “Happy” artist continues to be a success maker.

In “Piece By Piece,” now showing in theaters, LEGO bricks illustrate Williams’ life story from childhood to his successful music profession.

The polymath also bore fruit in his personal life. Although he is basically a personal person, the husband and father of 4 has made several public appearances together with his family. After welcoming his son Rocket in 2008 with Helen Lasichanh, the couple tied the knot in 2013. In 2017, the family welcomed triplets.

With his latest disclosure, Williams can officially join the list of “hugely successful people who have been fired before.” He’s in good company; the list includes Tyler’s collaborators, The Creator, SZA, Oprah Winfrey and more.

Actor Tom Cruise appears to be on an inconceivable mission as he investigates the Paris Fashion Week dispute between his ex-wife Nicole Kidman (57) and Salma Hayek (58).

In video footage from the Balenciaga show on September 30, paparazzi take photos of the audience.

In the short clip, Hayek tried to show Kidman towards the cameras. The mother of 4 appeared to object and apparently said something to Hayek that many considered a rebuke. While she gave the impression to be making a fuss concerning the “Frida” actress, she turned around and kissed pop star Katy Perry, who had just walked over.

Even after greeting the “Kissed a Girl” singer, she still had what gave the impression to be a fast and offhand exchange with Hayek, which Kidman’s ex-husband clearly wanted answers about.

Now, a report says sources near the “Top Gun” actor say he asked around to seek out out who was at fault, although each women publicly downplayed the awkward interaction that went viral on social media.

According to the alleged informant who talked to On Touch Weekly, Cruise desires to know what really happened between his friend and the mother of his children, and asks many individuals who were there to offer him the small print.

oh, that is Nicole’s “don’t touch me” to Salma at her husband’s brand show, I’m afraid the contract with Balenciaga is in jeopardy 🫣 pic.twitter.com/zqUa6oHfdA

— Louis Pisano (@LouisPisano) October 13, 2024

“(He) follows Hollywood news a lot more than he lets on, and this one definitely caught his attention, and not just because it was about Nicole,” the source said within the interview, before adding: “He’s always been a big fan of Salma and still is “He’s grateful for the support she showed him after he broke up with Nicole.”

This person stated that although nothing is occurring between him and Hayek and “his admiration for her is purely platonic”, in consequence of the box office hit draw “he can’t wait to find out what really happened between her and “Nicole.”

Despite his nosyness, it seems that few of the people actually involved within the incident repeat this information.

When does departure sent story online, lots of their supporters began speaking out.

One person asked: “Why is Tom sticking his nose in this?”

Someone else added: “Better tread carefully, you know Nicole knows his secrets,” while one other joked: “He’ll shut up if you throw a fish at him.”

Tipper said within the article: “Salma is very professional and claims it is all one big fuss about nothing, as does Nicole. They both try to downplay it.”

“That doesn’t stop Tom from sticking his nose in and sticking it to his contacts, trying to get the inside scoop and guessing that his ex-wife is to blame,” they continued.

“The action is getting thicker,” wrote one commentator Daily Mail website. Blaming the actress, who starred within the 2005 Cruise-produced film “Ask the Dust,” one other said: “Hayek was rude. She tried to get Nicole to pose. Her locking arms would REALLY annoy me if I were Nicole. Who does Salma think she is?

A 3rd fan said: “The actresses have known one another eternally. To me it looked like they were comfortable with one another. Nicole is fed up with photos. Salma tries to strike more poses. Nicole has told her friend enough is enough. “A lot.”

While the alleged tipster said Cruise is conducting an off-the-record investigation, he should want to err on the side of caution.

Kidman and Cruise began dating early of their careers, which became public in 1989, across the time he was going through a divorce from his first wife, Mimi Rogers.

Within a yr they were married and had two children, Isabella and Connor. Rumors have it that they broke up resulting from Cruise’s ties to the Church of Scientology. divorce in 2001.

“He’s playing a pretty dangerous game because apparently all of this will come back to Nicole and everyone knows that anything Tom says about her, especially if it’s even remotely negative, triggers an avalanche for her,” she adds: “If he’s not careful, he’ll go after her.” attack and at this stage of his life he is not afraid to take off the gloves.”

Cruise’s curiosity could also be more trouble than it’s price, especially since old wounds are still raw. Time will tell whether his search for answers will mend the connection between Kidman and Hayek – or make matters worse.