Friday, March 10, 2006

Bada Bing!


Adriana La Cerva (Drea de Matteo) with FBI agents during infiltration on The Sopranos.


Yo, Intelligentsia! The Sopranos is so dope, Nas did a rap remake of the popular show's theme song, "Got Yourself A Gun" on Stillmatic. Not to mention all the other references to the show rappers have made. . .

"I be the east side Soprano, Rob Marciano/
Flow in each channel with the Iverson handle. . . ."

-Black Rob on "Let's Get It"

"Ol' G, big homie, the one and only/
Stick bony, but the pockets are fat like Tony Soprano. . . ."

-Jay-Z on "Crazy In Love"

Arguably, The Sopranos is hands-down the best show on television. When you can actually catch it, that is. Or a new episode, anyway. Hell, it's been almost two years since we all had our eyes glued to the idiot box for the season five finale. Thank the show's evil genius David Chase for that one, folks. But at long last, New Jersey's favorite notorious mafiosos are BACK! Sunday, March 12 at 9pm, capeesh?! Man, I'm GASSED! This is gonna be better than the Super Bowl. Got my Coronas w/ limes, calamari fritti, and the whole nine! Somebody better get whacked real good in the first episode, too!

I'm going to keep this short so everyone can get on with their weekends. (New York basked in a gloriously refreshing 74 degrees today...spring love, HOLLA!) But I wanted to make this post before the season officially kicks off on Sunday night. That way the prediction I'm about to make will be on point. Mark my words, Intelligentsia. . .

ADRIANA IS NOT DEAD!!! And I've got an expert theory (my own) to prove it. I'll break it all down on Monday after the premiere! Just remember that you heard it here first!!


Stay tuned, Intelligentsia. . . .

Sunday, March 05, 2006

It Just Got Easier Out Here For A Pimp


Three 6 Mafia celebrate their Oscar win at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.

"Martin Scorsese - 0 Oscars...
Three 6 Mafia - 1."
-Jon Stewart, host of the 78th Annual Academy Awards


I REMEMBER DEBATING with a friend last year about Jamie Foxx's nomination for best actor for his uncanny portrayal in Ray. My friend had all the confidence in the world that Foxx would win in a landslide. I, however, didn't have faith that the Academy would hand over the coveted statuette to a black actor so easily. After dissing Denzel Washington for the award twice (Malcolm X, 1993; The Hurricane, 2000), I was convinced that Foxx would fall victim as well. I figured, if they wouldn't give it to Denzel for his gripping embodiment of Malcolm X, they weren't going to give it to Jamie for playing Ray Charles. Needless to say, I discovered astounding new belief in the Academy. And last night's 78th Annual Awards buttressed my faith even more.

To see an off-the-mainstream-radar rap group like Three 6 Mafia be nominated for an Oscar with a song entitled "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" is just plain cool. To see them perform the song live at the event is cutting-edge. But to see them actually win the coveted statuette is . . . well, amazing! It's clearly yet another instance of how rap music is helping us realize the American Dream. Three 6 Mafia will probably melt down their Oscars to make iced-out gold grills for their teeth, but who cares!


Three 6 Mafia add Oscar gold to their bling.


I had the distinguished honor of interviewing Samuel L. Jackson last summer for LA-based UNleashed magazine, and here's what he said about the Academy's new recognition of black actors:


"I wouldn't exactly say the Academy is coming around to recognizing black actors. I will say that the voting populace of the Academy is getting younger. The older [conservative] members are dying out. Each person that gets nominated becomes a member of the Academy automatically, and the younger members' tastes are radically different from the old guard. So because the new, younger members are more culturally diverse in their experiences, you have a fairer, clearer voting structure among the peer groups."

Jackson also accurately predicted in the interview that Terrence Howard would be the next big thing in Black Hollywood. "Terrence is extremely talented. He did such an incredible job in Hustle & Flow that he deserves to occupy the next big slot in Hollywood."

So let's give it up to the Academy, Intelligentsia! And let's congratulate Three 6 Mafia, Taraji Henson, Terrence Howard, Ludacris, and everyone in hip-hop culture making contributions to Hollywood. The best has yet to come!


Terrence Howard pimp-walks down the red carpet.



Taraji Henson: "You know it's haaaard out here when you're de-LISH!"



Chris "Ludacris" Bridges: Will he soon knock LL Cool J out of the box?



Queen Latifah throws up a peace sign to the fans!



Will & Jada Pinkett Smith: "Baby, we're the GREATEST!" Awww!


Stay tuned, Intelligentsia . . .
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Location: Jersey City, New York

Joel is a New York-based magazine journalist who has penned articles for KING, VIBE, Star, Us Weekly, Black Enterprise, XXL, and GIANT.

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