Posts by Thomas Golianopoulos
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The ‘Perfect Guy’ for the Job: Why the Screenwriter of ‘Menace II Society’ Had to Wait 22 Years for His Next Hit
The writer of the no. 1 movie in America has been waiting a long time for this.
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Before #BlackLivesMatter: Remembering ‘Hip Hop for Respect’ and Rap’s Response to Police Brutality
In 1999, some of hip-hop’s brightest minds tried to spark a revolution of their own.
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Follow the Leaders
Big Daddy Kane and Rakim were the alpha and omega of rap’s golden era. Nearly 30 years since their prime, Kane has settled into the nostalgia circuit, while Rakim continues to move in the shadows, plotting a comeback. This is the story of how hip-hop grows old.
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De’aundre Bonds Gets His Second Second Chance With ‘Dope’
Amid the ’90s nostalgia in ‘Dope’ — the coming-of-age tale set in Inglewood, California, that was released recently to enthusiastic reviews — one of the most unexpected throwbacks in the film is a cameo from the actor De’aundre Bonds, reprising his role of Stacey from the 1999 film ‘The Wood.’
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Messiah Music: Investigating the Hidden Meaning of Lupe Fiasco’s ‘Tetsuo & Youth’
“Put on your thinking caps. Go in a nice dark room every so often and just put it on, let it play all the way through and have fun.” This little gesture sparked something in Lupe Fiasco fans, a fervent, imaginative bunch to begin with.
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John Singleton Reveals How Ja Rule Blew His Chance to Be in ‘2 Fast 2 Furious’
When The Fast and the Furious, a mid-budget B movie about cars starring the injured quarterback from Varsity Blues and a man named Diesel, made $40 million in its June 2001 opening weekend, everyone associated with the film — from the stars to the Universal suits to the stunt drivers — had one thought: SEEEEEEEQUEL!!!!!
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Family Business
The Los Angeles Lakers are on the verge of completing their worst season ever — no Kobe Bryant, almost no promising youth, and little hope for the immediate future. Team president and ultimate boss Jeanie Buss remains as bright and optimistic as the California sun — but would she fire her brother Jim, VP of basketball operations, for failing to keep up his end of the bargain? The only thing thicker than blood is NBA championship gold.
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The Oral History of Jay Z’s ‘Annie’ Anthem, ‘Hard Knock Life’
Officially released in October 1998, ‘Hard Knock Life’ was Jay Z’s biggest hit to date, reaching no. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and pushing his third album, ‘Vol 2 … Hard Knock Life,’ to more than 5.4 million copies sold. It was the beginning of one of hip-hop’s most amazing runs.
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Q&A: Nas’s Brother, Jungle, on Life in Queensbridge and the New Doc ‘Time Is Illmatic’
The most powerful scene in ‘Nas: Time Is Illmatic’ doesn’t include Nas.
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Can TNA Get Over?
Rumors have swirled about the demise of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Is this the end for the company? And will professional wrestling ever support two major promotions again?
