The mission of The Department of Afro-American Research Arts and Culture to identify the global significance of the creative contributions pioneered by an international diaspora of Blackness
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Showing posts with label 2005. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2005. Show all posts

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Hood 2 Hood - The Blockumentary (2005)






















Directed by:
  • Aquis Bryant
Wiki.org
The documentary takes a tour through American neighborhoods with high crime rates. Street gangs allowed Rich Kid Entertainment to capture the day-to-day actions of life in gang-ridden neighborhoods. Rich Kid Entertainment traveled to over 29 different cities and neighborhoods which included the hoods that many music artists grew up in, such as Jay-Z, Eminem, Nelly, Suge Knight, Mac Dre, Michael Jackson, 3-6 Mafia, Juvenile, T.I. and Nas.

The documentary was used by police to help in investigations. A Las Vegas man, an alleged member of the Gerson Park Kingsmen, has been charged with murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

The Boondocks [Season 1] (2005)









Starring:

  • Regina King
  • John Witherspoon
  • Gary Anthony Williams
  • Cedric Yarbrough
  • Jill Talley
  • Gabby Soleil


IMDB.com
This is Adult Swim's most socially conscious and possibly most clever show. It's loaded with parallels to real world events. (A convenience store robbery works as a perfect metaphor for the early stages of Iraqi Freedom.) There are also heavy doses of Eastern influences, with references to Japanese cinema (Zatoichi, specifically) and action scenes comparable to what you'd normally only see in anime. The heavy dosage of quality hip hop is also refreshing. Aaron McGruder is man with good tastes, and they help to make his material so brilliant.

And yes, it is damn funny. John Witherspoon is incredible, and Regina King's voice grows on you after an episode. Also, frequent appearances by Samuel L. Jackson and Charlie Murphy as a couple of rich white boy gangstas lend an unequaled comic value to the show.

Now, onto the controversy factor.

Not to sound like a broken record, but this show is not racist. It does not lampoon black people, nor does it lampoon white people. This show specifically makes fun of just plain ignorant folks. Regardless of race. If you are a viewer who gets offended by the show, or thinks it's just an excuse for Adult Swim to prominently feature the "n-word," then you are exactly who this show is making fun of. (That's not to say that you have to like the show. If you are not offended but still do not like the show, that's your own prerogative.) I always thought that any show that always has to include a moral message must be a crappy family sitcom or kid's show. Not so in the case of Boondocks. Not to sound to preachy, but racial tensions still exist, even if the most common result is a white person being awkward and overly friendly when meeting a black person, saying things like "So, you hear the new Jay-Z?See the new Spike Lee?" This show is just what society needs.

Friday, January 9, 2009

How To Eat Your Watermelon In White Company (And Enjoy It) (2005)









Starring:
  • Mario Van Peebles
  • Spike Lee
  • Gordon Parks
  • Gil-Scott Heron
  • Woodie King, Jr.

I thought about it for a minute....... nah! I could conjure some clever unique style of critique of this film but I won't even do it.

The genuine article at best talks about his exploits better than anyone could but his children, business partners and key women in his life account for a few pivotal moments that is sure to blow your mind to what "MVP" has accomplished beyond what the general public acknowledges him for.

For any of you who do check this out, please share your amazement at how much of a fearless maverick, revolutionary artist and master marketer this Man was and is to this "Blaxploitation" movement we document and towards "The Movement of movement" in general. This doc is a Baaadaaassss Song of an equally incomparable badass Brother.