Ray Charles 'Bio Pic' opens up in 2nd place at box office
According to the latest figures at the box office this past weekend (Fri - Sun), 'Ray' was out nodged by 'The Grudge' at the box office with an estimated take of $20.1 million and 22.4 million respectively.
The bio-pic of the late Ray Charles stars comedian turned actor Jamie Foxx in the title role of the blind music maestro (who lost his sight at an early age) and tells his story from his youth in the early 50s to his rise to stardom in the 60s and 70s, crossing the barriers of Country, Folk, Pop, R&B and soul.
According to Univeral (and reported on Eurweb.com), two-thirds of the audience was aged over 30, and 59 percent was black, Universal said. Exit polls showed that 99 percent of viewers rated the movie "very good" or "excellent," the studio added. Additionally, the "definite recommend" score was in the 90 percent range, against a norm in the 50 percent range, indicating that word-of-mouth will keep the film in theaters through awards season. The rumor mill has the early buzz for an Oscar nod for Jamie's performance in the movie but only time will tell.
source: eurweb.com
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R. Kelly is pepper sprayed by Jay Z's entourage
It's something that shouldn't of happened but it has, it's somewhat disappointing but boys will be boys and R. Kelly was the apparant victim of the 'pepper spray'.
The pepper-spray incident happened about an hour into Friday night's show, when Kelly walked on stage and said he saw two people in the audience waving guns. Kelly abruptly stopped his set around 9:30 p.m. while arena security employees searched for weapons.Finding none, guards told Kelly it was safe to continue performing, but as the singer was making his way back to the stage, a man in Jay-Z's entourage -- apparently miffed that Kelly interrupted the show -- sprayed him and two of his bodyguards in the face.
All three men were treated at St. Vincent's Hospital and released, Jay-Z performed for another 45 minutes after Kelly was sprayed.
Jay-Z publicist Jana Fleishman said the rapper's entourage knew nothing about the incident because it occurred while Jay-Z was performing. Jay-Z "did not attack R. Kelly in any way, shape or form," Fleishman said.
It was later decided that Kelly will be removed from the remainder of the tour for which Kelly is not happy about. Kelly's lawyers are filing a complaint against the entourage member and considering action over the decision to remove Kelly from the tour, said Kelly's publicist Allen Mayer. "The fans deserve better than this," Kelly said in a statement. "I'd like the show to go on. It's really disappointing that Jay-Z and the promoter don't." More to come on this one I'm sure so keep it here.
- Source: billboard.com
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Brandy calls it quits with record label
After calling it quits on her supposed marriage last year, now singer Brandy has thrown in the towel with her label Atlantic Records according to reports. No details were given regarding the split, other than that Brandy requested to be let out of her contract.
Brandy is said to be in talks with a number of labels for a partnership under which she will release future albums. Next up on Brandy's forseeable future is a fall 2005 comedy series with Touchtone Television for Fox, for which she will co-executive produce with her mother and manager, Sonja Norwood.
She is also in talks for what are described as "two other high-profile television vehicles." and is lending a hand on her brother Ray J's upcoming Sanctuary album "Raydiation," that's due next March.
- Source: billboard.com
3rd Annual 'Homegrown Weekend' takes place this month in UK__________________________________________________________________
BBC 1Xtra's 3rd Annual Homegrown Weekend is on the cards again as the nations's number 1 urban radio station will be blazing 54 hours of the finest music from the UK - past, present and future on the weekend of November 12-14th.
The cream of the UK will be passing through the 1Xtra studios for live mixes, PAs and breaking down their views on the scene. It's 54 hours of strictly homegrown sounds. The schedule looks like this:
Friday 12th November
1900-2200 Rodney P & Skitz live from Brighton
The past, present and future of UK hip hop. Rodney P & Skitz will be playing the classics and the big hitters of today. Guests to include Taskforce, DJ Blakey and Roots Manuva.2200-0000 Soul Power with DJ Diggz
Diggz takes a look at the soulful side of UK RnB.0000-0200 Aaron Ross & Benji B
House and broken beats with Aaron Ross & Benji B going back-to-back on the decks experimenting with the adventurous nature and diversity of the genres.0200-0600 Aftershock Records & DJ Q back-to-back
MCs from eight regions battle down to a final head-to-head to decide who is the king of the mics. Each round will take place over a different genre to separate out the combatants.Saturday 13th November
0600-0900 Manny Norte
Quintessentially British, the A-Z of the UK. Manny will pick something to represent each letter of the alphabet.0900-1200 Dev & Reg
Dev & Reg invite their favourite up-n-coming artists, Kano (Sidewinder's best newcomer MC) and Sway, to perform tracks live in the studio.1200-1400 Twin B & Jenna G's UK Anthems
Twin B & Jenna will get listeners and artists on the phone to talk about their favourite UK anthems.1400-1700 Letitia SD
Letitia presents Your UK. Ras Kwame gets an insight from artists as they tour their old haunts, schools, clubs and labels... Featuring C Mone in Nottingham, Oris Jay in Sheffield and L Double in Leeds.1700-1900 The Refix with G Child
G Child looks at the UK's influential RnB producers and remixers. Rishi Rich, Ignorants and Sound Boy will all remix the same track during the show.1900-2100 Saturday Night UK Mixtape with DJ Semtex Excalibah will be joining Semtex playing exclusive UK freestyles over US beats. MCs K9, TB and Too Much will be dropping some hot lyrics.
2100-2300 Hot Sound
The boys will be putting the UK into UKG with live PAs from the grime scene.2300-0200 1Xtra Live from Nottingham
The Takeover featuring Blak Twang, Klashnekoff, Skinnyman, Estelle, Jehst, Yungun, Cappo, Kyza, Mr Thing, Durrty Goodz, Asaviour, Tempa, 45, Mistajam, TL and Shinobi.0200-0600 Pirate Sessions Diva Special with Cameo
Cameo celebrates the resurgence of female vocals in UKG in a discussion with Kdot-T, Sarah J, Carly Bond and Sadie Ama. A look back on the biggest tunes of the year, and the big hitters of the coming months.Sunday 14th November
0600-0900 Fitz
Live PAs from UK's gospel stars.0900-1200 Dev
Dev checks for six UK artists who are about to blow and looks at their story so far.1200-1400 Basement with Ronnie Herel and Omar
Reminiscing about the UK scene through the eighties and nineties.1400-1700 Letitia SD
Letitia presents Your UK part 2. Ras Kwame continues his tour around the UK stopping off with Jenna G in Manchester, Roni Size in Bristol and Brasko in Birmingham.1700-1900 100% Homegrown: State of the UK
No holds barred chat about the state of UK Music alongside live performances including Terri Walker. Ras Kwame and guests take a raw look at some of the major factors affecting the UK black music scene.1900-2100 Homegrown Mixlab with Seani B
Seani focuses on the UK dancehall scene looking at the people behind the tracks and the changing fortunes of the genre. With PAs from Suncycle, JD plus Blackout and Silver Star in the mix.2100-0100 Heartless Crew & Bailey back-to-back
Heartless and Bailey bring the weekend to a climax by chronicling the evolution of jungle to drum & bass with MCs Skibba, Rage and the Ragga Twins showing the range of their skills.
Tickets available at on website at www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/events/hgweekend04/
- Source: bbc.co.uk/1xtra.com