Entertainment

Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” Could Be the Next Big Sports Anthem – Andscape

Published

4 months ago

June 7, 2024

IAM

On an early May evening, Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux headed to the batter’s box in the third inning against the Florida Marlins when rapper Kendrick Lamar “Not like us” thundered from the loudspeakers. Set to walk-up music, the acclaimed Compton, California songwriter’s KO of Drake – punctuated by a deeply personal struggle – raised eyebrows. Lanier “DJ Severe” Stewart, the Dodgers’ musical director in control of song placement, was initially apprehensive about playing the bruising song.

“I’m a fan of both Drake and Kendrick. “I wanted to stay calm because I didn’t know how controversial the lyrics of ‘Not Like Us’ would be,” Stewart told Andscape. “But the song came together because now that Gavin and other players (around the league) have asked for it, I have a free license to play it.”

But few imagined that “Not Like Us,” a relentless diss track, can be chosen as the next ubiquitous sports anthem and potentially join jock jam favorites like “Queen”We will rock you“Ozzy Osbourne”Crazy train“Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock”Requires two” and “Usher”Yes!”

In only a month, Lamar’s song, produced by DJ Mustard, has already change into a well-liked favorite with Stewart. Dodgers resident DJ Fuze he used the track to fireplace up fans during pre-game warm-ups. Even renowned Dodgers organist Dieter Ruehle added a song that topped the charts to your traditional playlist.

Lamar has long embraced by the Dodgers faithful. Now the Pulitzer Prize-winning artist as well-known in Los Angeles culture as Pink’s Hot Dogs, Lowriders and Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant has created a mainstream hit that transcended baseball’s hallowed cathedral of late Dodgers sportscaster Vin Scully.

“TNT was used”Not like us” during the NBA Playoffs broadcast. The song was played in arenas across the NBA, including: TD Garden in Boston to the Target Center in Minnesota (shout out to Timberwolves defenseman Anthony Edwards). Las Vegas Aces, defending WNBA champions, they added the anthem to your playlist, identical to me Chicago heaven AND storm in Seattle.

The Michigan Wolverines, the 2023 College Football Playoffs champions, clearly took sides once they used “Not Like Us” as the soundtrack to their Season 2023. And Lamar’s song was played abroad Feyenoord Rotterdam football match in the Netherlands.

Rapper Kendrick Lamar performs at the Life Is Beautiful 2023 Festival on September 23, 2023 in Las Vegas.

Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images

“‘Not Like Us’ works on every level,” Stewart said. “The sport may be very competitive. People prefer to talk nonsense to the opposing side. Everyone will latch on to this refrain. It’s a really direct song. This mainly means declaring to the opposing team, “You’re not on my level.” “

And it is not nearly professionals. Marching bands from historically black colleges and universities have been followed on social media buzz around potential findings for “Not Like Us” this upcoming football season. Fans even publicized the potential most important drum choreography and march band sheet music.

For Jana Lynn Walker, Florida A&M graduate and former piccolo player in the university’s famed marching band “100,” “Not Like Us” has all the makings of an HBCU game day staple. Walker co-hosts the series X Spaces, wherein he breaks down and predicts that Lamar’s song will change into the homecoming favorite.

“From the very beginning of the fanfare that graced the brass and woodwind sections, backed by the underlying drum beat and the sousaphones driving that bass line, the song had the ability to transform a crowd into a community,” Walker explained. “HBCU bands uniquely uphold the spirit of black culture through music, and since Kendrick’s song ‘Not Like Us’ demonstrates its cultural significance as well as being a huge hit, playing it is not only an obvious but welcome addition to the repertoire.”

Sports anthems date back to “Take me out of here to play football”, a groundbreaking baseball song first written in 1908. Fast forward to 1977, when Chicago White Sox organist Nancy Faust heard fans at Comiskey Park singing the chorus of the 1969 hit “Na Na Hey, hey, kiss him goodbye” after 4 games with the Minnesota Twins. She then began playing the song when the opposing pitcher was faraway from the game, and it soon became a well-known song at sporting events. The modern sports anthem was born.

Today it’s unthinkable to not have heard the song Guns N’ Roses “Welcome to the jungle” roar in NFL stadiums, sending fans right into a frenzy during kickoff or witnessing NBA enthusiasts wave their arms backward and forward during Naughty by Nature’s celebratory performance “Hip-hop Bravo” fills arenas. Great sports anthems have a common element in that the best anthems often connect generations. Frankie Beverly and Maze’s 1981 classicBefore I let go” is as popular as the 1998 Juvenile jam “Back to that Azz Up” on the HBCU marching band playlist.

There are also evergreen songs, “Metallica”Enter Sandman” and the White Stripes’ moderate hit became a rallying cry in soccer stadiums around the world “Seven Nations Army” which have change into so synonymous with sports that one forgets that they’d a previous life. That’s why “Not Like Us” is so different from what Stewart described as the “low-hanging fruit” of jock rock glasses.

“I try to find songs that deviate from the norm,” said the veteran Dodgers DJ, whose playlist includes every part from ’60s guitarist Jimi Hendrix’s “”Fire” and the 1976 funk jam Cameo “The stiffness of death” to the classic by Tejano singer Selena “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” and rapper Skee-Lo’s unassuming gem “I’d like” “I like to attract an older audience first, but I don’t want to make it that easy for them. I want fans to pay attention even when the team is on fire,” Stewart said.

Time will tell if “Not Like Us” inspires a sports anthem, say, “Whoomp!” 1993 Tag Team. (There It Is)” – a surprising crossover for the group, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. With over 4 million copies sold and a number of other high-profile television commercials, Cecil “DC the Brain Supreme” Glenn and Steve “Rolln” Gibson survived for much longer than their one-hit wonder duo status.

“Our bread and butter is halftime shows, NBA stadiums, NFL stadiums, MLB first pitches, and now we’re working on NHL third-quarter shows and the upcoming World Cup,” Glenn said. “Because “Whoomp!” (There It Is)” is universal throughout the world.”

As for “Not Like Us,” Tag Team is rooting for Lamar to hitch them in the pantheon of sports anthem royalty. “It shows right in your face: It’s catchy,” Gibson said. “No matter what the tone of ‘Not Like Us’ is, it’s exciting. When you hear this sound, something like House of Pain’s “Jump Around” will trigger. There’s something magical between Kendrick and that beat.”

Keith “Murph” Murphy is a senior editor at VIBE magazine and a frequent contributor to Billboard, AOL and CBS Local magazines. The veteran journalist has appeared on CNN, FOX News and A&E Biography, and is the creator of the men’s lifestyle book “The XO Manifesto.”

This article was originally published on : andscape.com

Entertainment

5 Questions for Jocko Sims

Published

3 hours ago

September 21, 2024

IAM

Hulu’s newest series, How to Die Alone , is the proper mix of comedy with little gems of life lessons hidden in between. Series creator Natasha Rothwell, best known for her role as Kelly on HBO’s Insecure , is an executive producer and co-showrunner who writes and stars within the series.

“How to die alone” follows Mel (Rothwell), “a paid-off, fat, black JFK airport employee who’s never been in love and forgotten how to dream until a chance encounter with death catapults her on a journey to finally take flight and start living life by any means possible.” Actor Jocko Sims, who plays Alex, Mel’s boss and ex, stopped by theGrio for our latest “5 Questions” series to debate the brand new show, what it was like working with Rothwell, what drew him to the project, and more.

Sims says Rothwell and the indisputable fact that the show is a comedy drew him to the project. “I’m just grateful to Natasha for giving me that opportunity, you know, for helping me believe in myself after years of not being able to do it. I wanted to do it. It’s a dream come true. I’m 43. So thank you, Natasha,” the actor says.

Six episodes of (*5*) are actually available on Hulu. Watch the complete interview above and head to theGrio.com for more “5 Questions.”

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com

Entertainment

Maury Povich’s shocking double life of numerous affairs and sex parties revealed after publication of his wife Connie Chung’s memoir

Published

6 hours ago

September 21, 2024

IAM

Former talk show host Maury Povich and former news anchor Connie Chung have remained married for 40 years. (Photo: @TheMAURYShow/X)

Connie Chung’s latest memoir hit stores on September 17. While the celebrity host was promoting her book, “Connie,” rumors about her marriage to speak show host Maury Povich resurfaced.

Maury Povich, 85, married Connie Chung, 78, in December 1984. The couple has one son, Matthew Jay Povich. Unconfirmed allegations of infidelity have plagued the couple for nearly 20 years.

In 2006, a producer of The Maury Povich Show filed a $100 million sexual harassment lawsuit against the show’s host and other staff members. Bianca Nardi alleged that Povich had a sexual relationship with one other producer, Donna Benner Ingber.

Former talk show host Maury Povich and former news anchor Connie Chung have been married for 40 years. (Photo: @TheMAURYShow/X)

Povich was 20 years older than Ingber. Nardi said the alleged extramarital affair fueled a hostile work environment that included sexual remarks, pornographic videos and parties known to “invite open and familiar sexual activity,” in line with Online radar.

“We do not believe that Ms. Nardi was a victim of unlawful sexual harassment and we intend to vigorously defend this lawsuit,” an NBC spokeswoman said. Rebecca Marks said on the time. The judge ultimately ruled that Nardi’s lawsuit needs to be dismissed decided in closed-door arbitration.

Reports claimed that Connie Chung was “humiliated” over the sexual harassment lawsuit. She was also reportedly upset that her personal life had grow to be a subject of public discussion and divorce was an option. However, the previous CBS Evening News anchor remained married to Povich.

“I did it backwards, but it turned out perfectly,” Chung quotes People in a September 2024 article. “First I forgot about the wedding, then I forgot about the baby. And so I ended up having a career — a long, flourishing career. And then I had a long, flourishing period to raise my son.”

Of the difficulties in her marriage to Povich, Chung said: “If we fight at night, he wants to make up before we go to bed. But when I wake up in the morning, I want to keep fighting. I’m not done yet.”

Connie Chung was born and raised in Washington, D.C. Her media profession began within the Seventies when she was a Washington correspondent for the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite.

Maury Povich, a D.C. native, met his future wife in 1969 while they were each working at television station WTTG within the nation’s capital. Povich was a reporter, while Chung was what was then called a “copy girl” within the newsroom.

“Maury never paid any attention to me,” Chung explained in a May 2022 interview with CBS News. “I would rip the text off the typewriters and give it to him.”

Connie Chung and Maury Povich met again in 1977 in Los Angeles while working at CBS’s KNXT. They dated for seven years before officially marrying in 1984.

Povich returned to the East Coast to launch “The Maury Povich Show” in September 1991. The popular daytime talk show aired until September 2022. Chung has hosted news shows throughout her profession, including “Eye to Eye” for CBS and “20/20” for ABC.

This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com

Entertainment

Joseph Sikora: The Man Behind ‘Tommy’ and His Rise to Television Fame on POWER

Published

9 hours ago

September 21, 2024

IAM

While his breakthrough role could also be Tommy Egan on Power, Joseph Sikora’s acting profession dates back to the Nineteen Eighties. As a baby, Sikora even appeared in a business with music icon Michael Jackson. Learn more about TV, film and stage star Joseph Sikora below.

Józef Sikora’s personal life

Joseph Sikora is a component of Dutch and Polishalthough he was born in Chicago. He has two brothers and was drawn to acting early on. His college education and early success in the teenager industry indicate that acting is a profession he has pursued as doggedly as Tommy Egan pursued revenge within the fictional world of Power. Sikora attended theater school at DePaul University before graduating from Columbia College Chicago in 1998.

Sikora is usually protective of her private life — a typical approach for a lot of actors and actresses who don’t want their spouses, love lives or children to turn into tabloid fodder or social media topics.

“Power” star Joseph Sikora attends the Lexus Uptown Honors Hollywood at Neue House Hollywood in February. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)

Despite his commitment to staying undercover, it’s common knowledge that Sikora is married to Tania Ribalow, award-winning makeup artist. Sikora married Ribalow in 2014 after they met and fell in love on the set of “Boardwalk Empire.” The wedding was a non-public affair, and most individuals didn’t realize the 2 were married until Sikora revealed the actual fact 4 years later on social media — a formidable feat in an era when many celebrities should not exactly unknown.

Whether Sikora is a parent or not isn’t something that the general public knows. As of mid-2024, there was no news or record of Sikora having children of her own.

Józef Sikora’s profession

Although Sikora landed a number of minor acting roles as a young person, he was not a breakout child star. His first roles were more like one-episode cameos on television series, although he did appear in a number of notable shows. Some of his earliest appearances include one-episode roles on shows like “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” “Walker, Texas Ranger,” and “Frasier.” He also had supporting roles in movies like “Rudy” and “My Best Friend’s Wedding.”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 20: (L-R) Omari Hardwick, Lela Loren, Joseph Sikora and Naturi Naughton attend the red carpet premiere of Season 6 of the series “Power” at Madison Square Garden Concert and Party on August 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for STARZ)

This trend continued throughout his adult profession. Sikora has end credits in programs including Grey’s Anatomy, ER, NYPD Blue, and several CSI series, to name a number of. If there was a serious television drama within the 2000s, Sikora appeared in at the least one episode. He also appeared in Dollhouse, Lost, Prison Break, Without a Trace, JAG, and Monk. During this time, he continued to land small roles in feature movies, including Charlie Wilson’s War and Shutter Island.

Sikora performed in different rolesincluding comedies, although he became known for his gritty, realistic performances in thrillers and crime stories. He played each law enforcement officers and the criminals they pursued.

Actors Joseph Sikora and Omari Hardwick — Actors Joseph Sikora (left) and Omari Hardwick speak onstage in the course of the “Power” panel in the course of the 2015 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour on the Langham Hotel on January 9, 2015 in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Sikora also put his theater background and skills to use, appearing on stage in various shows during this time. However, achieving success in Hollywood can sometimes be a marathon, not a sprint, and Sikora’s profession reflects that. He has appeared in one- or two-episode roles on quite a few television shows, including “White Collar,” “Boardwalk Empire” and “The Good Wife.” He has also landed small roles in feature movies, including “Jack Reacher.”

It wasn’t until he landed the role of Tommy Egan in Power that his big break got here. From 2014 to 2020, Sikora appeared in 63 episodes. The HBO series spawned spin-offs Power Book II: Ghost and Power Book IV: Force, with Sikora reprising his role in each. In Force, Tommy Egan is the lead character, allowing Sikora to further his profession.

Power Series Finale Screened at Paley Center — “Power” stars (from left) Michael Rainey Jr., Joseph Sikora and Naturi Naughton chat after a screening of the series finale in New York City in February (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for STARZ)

Going Beyond “Tommy”

Sikora and others have confirmed the tip of the spin-off series, “Power Book IV: Force.” In statements regarding the plot, the team says the series has come to an end. However, Sikora said that this isn’t the tip of the “Tommy” character and that other concepts are within the works.

As for other projects, Internet Movie Database says Sikora has credits on a project called “Atypical Pirate,” which is in post-production as of August 2024. Sikora also has small screenwriting and directing credits, and given the success of his breakout role, it’s possible he’ll be showing off his creative chops again soon.