Entertainment
The documentary “Freaknik” tells the untold story of an Atlanta street party
LOS ANGELES (AP) – If you have ever attended Atlanta’s wildest gathering called Freaknik, be careful: You may appear in a brand new Hulu documentary about the legendary street party that became popular because of folkloric tales of traffic jams, public nudity and highway debauchery.
Many of these photos will undoubtedly be featured in “Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told.” But the documentary doesn’t solely give attention to the hypersexual environment and public safety concerns surrounding the festival that began 4 many years ago. It also tells the story of how this iconic event began as an easy black college cookout that eventually attracted 1000’s of people from across the United States, defining Atlanta as the cradle of culture and music.
“It’s more a question of culture. “This is the Atlanta version of ‘Beat Street,’” said Jermaine Dupri, who executive produced the project together with several others, including Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell and 21 Savage. The documentary premiered Tuesday night at SXSW in Austin, Texas. It will stream on Hulu on March 21.
“This is our story about our contribution to culture,” Dupri continued. “Through the music and the parties that happened during Freaknik. It’s much more than just people standing on top of cars and playing music outside.”
“Freaknik” will feature perspectives from Killer Mike, Jalen Rose, CeeLo Green, Rasheeda and Too $hort. The project features Freaknik founders Emma Horton, Amadi Boone, Monique Tolliver and Sharon Toomer, who discuss the origins of the festival and the name Freaknik – a mixture of picnic and freak. The inspiration for the song was the 1978 song “Le Freak” by R&B group Chic.
Dupri initially questioned whether the documentary would focus solely on the sexual nature of the festival. But the music mogul believed otherwise after meeting with Swirl Films producers Jay Allen and Nikki Byles, who told him the documentary would give attention to the full story.
“We want people who haven’t experienced Freaknik to relive the good, the bad and the ugly,” Allen said. “The people who were there will be able to tell their stories and their truth.”
Dupri wants viewers to see how Freaknik has elevated Atlanta’s now thriving hip-hop music scene and helped it turn out to be a destination for Black entrepreneurship and empowerment. He heard criticism about the documentary “putting Black people backwards.” There were also reports that some women would take legal motion to dam the documentary’s release for fear of potential exposure in the flashback clips. It is unclear whether a lawsuit was ever filed.
“It’s all educational. For me personally, it is Black history,” said Dupri, who attended Freaknik. “For those who need that reassurance, I would never allow my name to be associated with anything that would take a shine to Atlanta or do anything that I felt would undo that culture.”
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Uncle Luke called these critics “hypocrites” for participating in Freaknik’s lewd activities, after which criticized this generation for admiring hip-hop artists corresponding to Cardi B, Ice Spice and Sexyy Red, who’re known for his or her suggestive performances.
“They’ll get a taste of their own medicine,” said Luke, who was considered the godfather of Freaknik for bringing his provocative nature to the festival. The footage was mostly crowdsourced, with some of his VHS tapes converted to digital format.
Byles secured other recordings by reaching out on social media and knocking on the doors of former Freaknik participants, who passed on what they were comfortable communicating.
“It’s easy to point fingers at someone else’s children and say they’re living the life they actually lived as parents,” said Uncle Luke. “I wanted to show this perspective. But there’s also this great myth about Freaknik. Many people on the West Coast have heard about it. Some people have heard these stories. It was this story that was never really told. We wanted to tell this story of where it really came from.”

Freaknik was an extensive street party throughout Atlanta from 1983 to 1999. The three-day event, held in April, was organized by black students (Morehouse and Spelman colleges) from the DC Metro Club who were stuck on campus during spring break and decided to assemble in a park to beat the boredom with boom boxes, coolers, and food.
Over the years, Freaknik has turn out to be a grassroots spring break destination, attracting roughly 250,000 partygoers from across the country. The event was so massive that it spread throughout the city center and concrete areas.
However, as Freaknik’s popularity grew, the uncontrollable crowds brought so much of problems. By the mid-Nineteen Nineties, the fun-filled event turned unruly and eventually faded into oblivion after sporadic looting, massive traffic jams, and lewd activities. City authorities shut down the event after tensions continued to escalate between festival-goers, law enforcement and native residents.
Toomer, one of the original organizers, stated that she was impressed by the way the documentary presented the full history of Freaknik. Toomer is upset that the festival has ended, but she hopes that viewers will understand the true essence of their work.
“I think people will have that moment of, ‘I didn’t know that,’ and they will kind of appreciate it,” she said. “I’m excited about it. It was truly – in its best and worst years – a special event. Over the years, having to start a conversation with a word has been frustrating, unlike the experience that so many young black people have had.”
Director P. Frank Williams said the documentary shows the convergence of politics, media, music and culture. He said that it will also affect those that tried to resurrect Freaknik, but to no avail.
“I know people on the Internet and they’re all looking for candy, fun, girls, turnout and cars,” Williams said. “We gave it to you in case you watch the video. But there are also vegetables, which is black culture. Black identity. I’m attempting to go against a system that was preparing for the (1996) Olympics and didn’t necessarily want these kids on the streets. It’s a much deeper story.
“Everyone is worried about their aunts and all these memes,” he said. “But I hope that when you watch, you will see that we did much more than just party.”
Entertainment
Mara Brock Akil wants to make a movie “Girls” – only needs financing
Until now, the cultural trace of the story of Mara Brock Akil is undeniable. Her latest series, “Forever”, had all of us in our feelings last weekend (including this creator). But for fans of her earlier work “Girlfriends”, “Love Is” and “The Game” there’s also also also one query that never disappears: Will we ever receive the precise sending for ladies “girls”?
Apparently Akil wants it as much as we do.
In a recent seat in “Sherri” Akil said she was trying to revive the movie “Girls”
“I want to tell this story … I want to write an epic film (” Girls “); I tried to tell this story, “Akil admitted before I revealed that its biggest road blockade on this project was financing.
“So I have a good idea for us now,” she added. “Where is your phone? Do you know someone who has $ 50 million on your phone? Do we have five people who have $ 10 million? Do we have 10 million (people) who have five?”
Considering what variety of viewers Akil loves the work, social media users were shocked, hearing that the creator of “girls” is trying to get financing their projects.
“From the CV Mara Brock Akil should not be begging you to invest in her stories. This is crazy,” commented one user About the actual fact.
“If sex and city got two spinoff films, we can finish girls, someone will open their wallet” Another user wrote on Twitter.
While Shepherd was joking about “handing over the album” to finance the film, she also emphasized how difficult it’s to get projects in Hollywood, even throughout the case of essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably probably probably probably probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably probably probably probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably essentially probably probably probably probably essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably probably essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably probably essentially probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably essentially probably probably probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably the most respected names in the game. The premiere of “Girlfriends” in 2000 and ran for eight seasons, giving us 172 episodes with the participation of Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Jill Marie Jones, Persia White and Reggie Hayes. The program suddenly stopped in 2008 through the writers’ strike, leaving too many unanswered fans about Joan, Toni, Maya, Lynn and William.
Still, Akil didn’t lose hope. And she didn’t lose gratitude for the fans base, which stays to be going to history.
“I really want to thank the audience because you didn’t let go and (I),” Akil added.

To
Entertainment
Janelle Monáe, Fast Cars & Future Worlds: Cadillac’s F1 Launch means a new era of American innovation – Essence
Courtesy
Under the shining lights contained contained contained contained throughout the style of Art Deco South Beach, the new era of American perfection roared to life. Cadillac, a luxurious automotive brand, has long been related to innovation and cultural prestige, presented its official team Formula 1-TWG Motorsports X Cadillac F1-on one night the celebration, which gathered fashionable, future design and non-systemic expression. In the middle of all this, standing like lightning between heritage and future energy, he was an artist and 10-fold grammy nominatedJanelle Monáe.

In the re-image to the Queen Theater contained contained contained contained throughout the style of the Nineteen Forties-the night-transformed Cadillac-Monáe club delivered performances for a crowd as electric for the rationale that vision of the brand. It was a deliberate collision of speed, style and telling stories. Guests very very like Victoria Monét, Micalene Thomas and Jurnee Smollett were present.
“The brand had just had a place in my heart,” Monáe said, asked why she said “yes” to the performance. “Cadillac was part of my life since I was once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once small. My dad had two sedans and the wood of the fleet. I just remember how he was with him contained contained contained contained throughout the automotive, and he was collecting me from school in Cadillac. This is more more more vulnerable to be the one American company that represents the innovation, because they could thoroughly be contained contained contained contained throughout the automotive.
This kind of full moment every time you realize what this premiere really represents. Cadillac is currently the one American luxurious brand entering the exclusive, dominated by the euro world of the Formula 1-SPORTH racing, which, which, Historically, he didn’t sculpt his place for a black presence. Until now.
And then he’s monáe-defective, futuristic, deeply rooted. An ideal character to anchor the evening.
There is a reason why Monáe moves so freely contained contained contained contained throughout the media – Music, Film, Literature, Fashion – but he throughout the least times feels as whether it’s just starting. He sees no boundaries. He doesn’t consider staying in a single lane.
“I always discover new things about my art and who I am, allowing myself to redefine how I look at life, music and creativity. I am constantly building global building,” says the singer “Electric Lady”. “I’m in the middle of the world now – I am building more music, more visualizations, more communities, more great ideas that, hopefully, will open the future for more artists and will be as innovative as they want.”
And you greater than likely can feel that when approaching cooperation. For her it’s about energy. It’s about resonance. It’s about constructing something that did not exist before.
“I am very non-binary in the way I think about where I can go, who I can be and who I can work. She is always sexy for me, when I can cooperate with an artist or a company or with another community in which I can not necessarily be every day, and we create something that is one of a kind,” he says.
This spirit was dense in peace. A mix of creation – musicians, technological entrepreneurs, designers, athletes and influential – like all of the tissue of real -time culture.

It’s easy to wander away in Formula 1 gloss and chic silhouettes. But Monáe doesn’t move through the world, making wealth. When the subject of luxury appeared, it was measured. Intended. Even a bit delicate.
“I grew up with my parents’ parents. My mother was a janitor, my father was a trash, my grandmother served food for 25 years. I watched the uniforms and live payments. My dad bought a used Cadillac at auction.”
For her, luxury was not about labels – it was about safety. It was Sundays contained contained contained contained throughout the kitchen. It was a bill that did not hang over your head. It was safety, not throwing away.
“I try to use all my possibilities to take my family and let them experience what I experience. I hope that one day we will simply be able to remove this division [the idea that] Luxury is only for a higher level or people who earn a certain amount of money, “it stopped briefly.” I want people like my parents work for the community, have more access to things that have one percent. “
There is throughout the least times something quiet radical in watching a black woman occupying a place in high-power rooms-he does it without compromise. This made the presence of Monáe in Miami so significant. Not only did she appear. Changed the atmosphere. Its performance was electric.
It was a kind of performance that not only entertained, but completely calibrated the room again. This moment, tonight – was about honoring the roots throughout the dream of ahead. It was about taking space that weren’t originally built for us and remodeling them into our image.
It was a real present evening. Reminder that black creativity, black perfection and black luxury are fundamental.
When Cadillac is preparing to take his place on the F1 net, the meaning of voices very very like Monáe cannot be overestimated. Her presence and vision are rooted in capital, expression and expansion, and if the long term of Cadillac resembles the world he builds, it’s a step forward.
Entertainment
Taraji P. Henson played in the upcoming thriller Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry Studios is preparing for the next release of the film – and that is one other thriller. This summer, Taraji P. Henson, Teyana Taylor, Sherri Shepherd and others are to look in the upcoming thriller of Perry “Straw”.
According to Netflix“Słomiana” concerns the “Lonely Mother, whose world spreads in chaos, when her day goes from evil to worse to catastrophic, when she tries to take care of her sick daughter. Pushed to the edge through the world, which seems indifferent to her existence, is forced to face impossible elections in a society that does not offer her safety net.” Taping her character Janyah as a single mother was something she could confer with from experience.
“Janiyah is a woman who doesn’t have much in life, but she has a lot of love for her child,” said Henson Entertainment every week. “I’m a lonely mother, so I understood her journey and her struggles. She is a lonely mother who tries to utilize the cards which have been given in her life best.
Noticing how the film “shows how easy it is that people in a difficult situation can be disregarded or deprived of civil rights by a system that is to protect them,” added Henson:
“If likelihood is high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high it’s possible it’s possible likelihood is high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high you almost actually can possibly possibly possibly be a fighting single mother, you likely can in no way times pay for this extraordinary lunch, and kids who cannot afford this extraordinary lunch, get a separate lunch. And you already know what is happening then? Children begin to hassle your child. As parents, they feel the pain of our youngsters deeper than them, so it meant for her.
The film, which based on Henson is crammed with “crazy twists”, which could surprise the viewers, was reportedly shot inside 4 days, while the actress worked on one other project.
“Thinking that we shot in four days when I was still working on” Night Fight Night “,” Henson explained. “But that is what I like in Słrier Perry; he’s fast, and I’ll even be fast. He knew he had a limited time with me. He used it accurately … The topic is a bit dark, so I used to be once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once glad that I used to be once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once living only in the world of this character for 4 days, because this energy is transferred, and just somewhat little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little bit of a follow you. I used to be once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once glad when it happens, and I’m very different from one other character.
“Straw” takes place at Netflix on June 6.

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