19 minute read
Hollywood Buzz
HOLLYWOOD SPOT LIGHT
Chez Hadley
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“The Porter“
Inspired by real events, The Porter is a gripping story of empowerment that highlights the moment when railway workers from both Canada and the United States joined together to give birth to the world’s first Black union and helped fuel the civil rights movement.
Set in the 1920s, the hourlong drama follows the journeys of four ambitious souls who hustle, dream, cross borders and confront barriers in the fight for liberation - on and off the railways that crossed North America and has been dubbed “an amazing piece of history”.
The first season, set primarily in Montreal, Chicago and Detroit as the world rebuilds after the First World War, depicts another battle as it ripples through the Black community in Little Burgundy, Montreal — then known as the “Harlem of the North.” For the American and Canadian men working as porters, it’s a fight for equity and dignity. For the women in their lives, facing sexism and colorism, it’s a battle to claim their independence and identity, and if change isn’t coming for them, they will come for it.
Ronnie Rowe, Jr. (of Star Trek Discovery) stars as the idealistic Zeke Garrett, determined to work within the system to bring about change; his efforts are complicated by his best friend and co-worker Junior Massey (Aml Ameen) who’s using his position as an invisible worker to smuggle whisky from Montreal to Chicago.
Award-winning actress Alfre Woodard serves as executive producer and plays the role of Fay, a brassy brothel owner. The series makes its BET debut on May 5.
OUT THIS MONTH
Doctor Strange/Multiverse of Madness • May 6 The Ravine May 6 Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers May 20 Top Gun: Maverick May 27
BET to Debut Kingdom Business This Month
Look out May 19 for Yolanda Adams, who is set to break out her acting chops in “Kingdom Business and show the world that there is more to this powerhouse recording artist than her hitmaking vocals. Adams stars–alongside Serayah of “Empire” fame in the hourlong drama series. She plays the Queen of Gospel Music and First Lady at First Kingdom Church and at the label she runs, Kingdom Records. (There couldn’t be any better casting). While her husband, Calvin Jordan is the Bishop, she runs the show. But the label is in trouble. The answer may be a new powerhouse performer on the Atlanta gospel scene – a young pole dancer, Rbel (Serayah), whose talent and pedigree may bring her closer to God and gold than she ever imagined.
But that’s also where the fireworks begin as
Serayal and
Adams characters battle for supremacy. The show–whose producers include DeVon
Franklin and Kirk
HOLLYWOOD BUZZ Franklin–features Tamar Braxton, La’Miya Good, Michael Jai White and Michael Beach. L.A. Focus/ May 2022 12
Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat Secures $100 Million Investment
Kevin Hart is building a comedy empire with his Hartbeat Productions which recently secured a $100 million investment from a private equity firm. The company will use its new funding to augment existing brands and franchises and create new properties capable of connecting with global audiences. The company already has a wide range of projects set up at a host of digital platforms, streaming services and networks, and also has a wide and avid social media following. “The creation of Hartbeat and our capital raise with Abry represent a new era in comedy,” Hart said. “This all started out with a mission to keep the world laughing together and I’m so proud our teams have delivered on that, putting in the hard work to build the most innovative and inclusive comedic storytelling company. “In an industry that loves to say no and close doors, I’ve been bullish about forging our own path and using our success to open doors for others,” he continued. “I can’t wait to bring the world more comedians, experiences, and stories with humor and heart.”
NeNe Leakes Slams Bravo with Lawsuit
Former Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes has hit the Bravo network with a lawsuit alleging a hostile and racist work environment. The suit claimed that Bravo fostered a corporate and workplace culture in which racially-insensitive and inappropriate behavior is tolerated – if not, encouraged. Among the lawsuits claims were that in 2012, castmate Kim ZolciakBiermann allegedly used the N-word to refer to Leakes and other housewives after a dispute. She also allegedly implied that Leakes used drugs and called her home a “roach nest.” Also that Zolciak-Biermann allegedly made “racially offensive and stereotypical” comments about the new home of housewife Kandi Burruss. The lawsuit alleges that Leakes’ complaints of racism led in part to her being forced off the show in 2020 before its 13th season. Defendants in the suit include executive producer Andy Cohen…In other reality show news, Season 10 of “Basketball Wives” is set to debut on May 16. Returning are veteran cast members Jackie, Malaysia, Jennifer along with Brandi, Angel, Duffey, Brooke and Brittish…Those not returning include Evelyn Lozada and Tami Roman. Roman has signed on with VH1 to host “Unfaithful: Caught in the Act”, a six part series that will explore the subject of infidelity through the point of view of the person who learns they aren’t the only one in their significant other’s life.
Footnotes
Tracee Ellis Ross
Hometown: Los Angeles Age: 49 Big Break: “Girlfriends” Recent Projects: Black-ish Tracee Ellis Ross–whose Mom is superstar Diana Ross–made her acting debut in 1996. A year later, she debuted as host of Lifetime’s reality show, The Dish, but it was with the lead role in the hit UPN series “Girlfriends”, that Ross experienced a career breakthrough. The show aired from 2000-2008. A string of film and TV roles followed before being cast in the groundbreaking “Black-ish” in 2014, leading to mainstream success. The series finale aired last month. Here are some of her thoughts. On the show’s impact on television? I think that our show started a golden Renaissance in television. We really transformed what was happening on television and gave the industry permission and an understanding that a black family–a family that doesn't just happen to be Black, but is Black and outwardly Black–can be universal and identifiable for everybody. And that we could tell stories that were uniquely our own and needed to be shared.
On if the show was created to entertain Black people or to educate white people on how Black people live: This show is made to tell the truth about our lives. Who watched it and who was interested in it is sort of what happens. Sometimes that's marketing, sometimes that's the channel that's on. It was an expansion of our humanity and I think a lot of people who are not in that experience are very interested having a better, more expansive understanding of a culture that they might not know. I also think it's a universal show about a family and people identified across the board.
On what initially drew her to the show: One of the things that originally drew me was the fact that Beau Johnson was not just the wife. I have no interest in playing a reflection of my husband. I was interested in being a full woman. We are moms, we are wives... we are not wives, we are friends, we are daughters, we are all these different things. We have jobs and juggle all those things. Beau Johnson was a reflection of that. The perimenopause story came out of what's happening in my life…the growing pains of this beautiful age. The postpartum episode obviously was something I've never experienced. I actually think that was one of my favorite things that we explored. You got to see the generational shift of how Ruby's generation was not given the safety, the space to actually understand and have compassion for that very real experience of postpartum depression.
On working together as a cast: We had a ball at work. Some of that was an amazing cast that got along naturally, but after eight years that's something that doesn't happen. Anthony and I had eight years together, not a single fight. That is a testament to a whole bunch of grownups working together who respect what they do and also have a humility about the opportunity we were given.
RedCarpet Style
The stars seemed to go for broke in their red carpet looks at the Grammy Awards, which —for the first time—were held on the glittering Las Vegas Strip.
H.E.R. red carpet look from Dundas was inspired by Aretha Franklin
CYNTHIA ERIVO stunned in this silver Louis Vuitton gown TINASHE went old school glamour in this pink Coperni gown
TIFFANY HADDISH sparkled in this shimmering gold Prada gown MEGAN THEE STALLION was a showstopper in this Roberto Cavalli animal print
Eye OnGospel
Marvin Sapp Life Story Headed to TV One
Filming is officially underway for a biopic on the life of gospel icon Marvin Sapp. The film–exec produced by Sapp–is on track for an August 21 release on TV One. Chaz Lamar Shepherd (“Marvel’s Luke Cage” “The Game”) has been cast in the starring role of Sapp. Ambre Anderson (“Power Book II” “Manifest Evil”) will portray Sapp’s late wife, MaLinda Sapp. “It is an honor to tell Marvin Sapp’s life story,” said TV One’s Executive Producer Jason Ryan. “His vast contributions to gospel and American music are undeniable. We know this film will resonate with our viewers.”
The Marvin Sapp biopic–titled “Never Would Have Made It”–chronicles the recording artist and preacher’s Michigan upbringing, battle against teen alcohol abuse, love for MaLinda Prince, rise in the music industry and growth in his faith. Sapp came into prominence more than 30 years ago as a member of Commissioned and is widely known for his award-win ning, chartt o p p i n g crossover hit “Never Would Have Made It.” Currently, he is an author, radio show host and senior pastor of The Chosen Vessel Cathedral in Dallas and pastor emeritus of Lighthouse Full Life Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan — the church he founded with his late wife.
Gospel’s Best and Brightest
Last month in Nashville, BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) celebrated the best and brightest in gospel music at the 2022 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards. BMI’s Gospel Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Publisher of the Year and the top 20 songs of the previous year were all honored. BMI’s Gospel Songwriter of the Year was a four-way tie between Aaron Lindsey, J Drew Sheard II, Kierra Sheard and Jeshua “TedyP” Williams. GRAMMY, Dove and Stellar Award-winning songwriter, Aaron Lindsey was honored for two chart-topping songs, “It Belongs to Me,” co-written and performed by Juan and Lisa Winans (feat. Marvin Winans) and “Thank You for It All,” co-written by Jarmone E. Davis and Marvin Sapp. J Drew and Kierra Sheard were honored for cowriting “His Love” and “It Keeps Happening,” which marked Kierra’s “first #1 single at Gospel radio as a solo artist and her third #1 overall on the Gospel Airplay chart,” as quoted from The Christian Beat. This also marks the first time that siblings have received this honor at a Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards ceremony. GRAMMY Award-winning songwriter/producer Jeshua “TedyP” Williams was honored for his work on “Hold Me Close” and for co-writing “Trouble Won’t Last” with Keyondra Lockett, who won her first BMI award for the hit single.
BMI’s Gospel Song of the Year was “Speak to Me,” cowritten by Troy Taylor and featuring samples from Donnie McClurkin’s 1996 single “Speak to My Heart.” The hit single, performed by Koryn Hawthorne, spent 41 weeks on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Chart. This was McClurkin’s fifth BMI Gospel Award, and Taylor added his first BMI Gospel Award to his collection of honors, which includes three BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards.
Unstoppable
CeCe Winans is simply unstoppable. The multiple award-winning singer recently added three more Grammys to her collection: Best Gospel Performance/Song “Never Lost”; Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song; “Believe For It” and Best Gospel Album.
“To God be the glory! This is amazing. Thank you to everyone who played and sang on this album. All the songs are just amazing. I am so humbled to win three more Grammys”, Winans said.
The 15 time Grammy winner teamed up with brother BeBe, for a special VERZUZ TV performance on Easter Sunday. The sibling musical battle featured Mary Mary vs. BeBe & CeCe Winans for a night of celebration and appreciation of dynamic contemporary gospel music.
Family Matters
The gospel community is sending up prayers for Kirk Franklin, whose estranged son, Kerrion, is being held without bond after being arrested in Los Angeles. Kerrion–a cast member on the Zeus Network reality TV show Bad Boys: Los Angeles was arrested after being pulled over by police in a car that belonged to a woman who is missing and presumed dead.
“Things have just been happening around me. Feeling like I’m being set up, feeling like people are trying to catch me doing wrong,” Kerrion told Atlanta talk show host Larry Reid on his self-titled show. “After I was already booked in jail, they’re trying to put extra gun charges on me. Over the past year, I’ve had multiple vehicles like, I’m a producer, filmmaker, like, I just love entertainment, but it comes with a lot.”
He maintains that the woman sold him the car and believes that she is alive. Meanwhile, his father, Kirk Franklin, has made no comments on the 34-year old’s arrest.
hroughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the
Tname Demetrius “Meech” Shipp, Sr. appeared in the credits as writer, arranger, and producer on some of Hip Hop, R&B and New Jack Swing’s biggest music. He was a collaborating force with music sensation Teddy Riley, to co-produce Bobby Brown’s selftitled album “Bobby”. As an inhouse producer at Death Row Records, he worked on Makaveli’s “The Don Killuminati” project. Too many credits to mention, Meech (as he prefers to be called) has a discography loaded with familiar song titles that make soul music lovers say, “Oh yeah, that was my jam!”
From Tupac to Snoop to Soulja Boy and even Troop, Meech is very well known among several music camps for his creative influence behind the studio mixing board. He earned much respect as a composer on the movie soundtrack “Juice” (1992). He also earned props for the song “Toss It Up” (1996) by Makaveli featuring Danny Boy, Aaron Hall, K-Ci & JoJo, and “That's the Way Love Is” (1993) by Bobby Brown.
As with anyone’s well-lit story of success, Meech, 52, also has a dark side to his story. The native of Carson, California was raised a preacher’s kid in a two-parent home and the eldest boy of four siblings. With a natural affinity for playing bass guitar, drums, and organ in church, this gifted virtuoso was a victim of childhood bullying.
When most school students are worrying about if they’ll pass the next math test or finish a book report on time, Meech was fretting for his life every day just passing through the hallways It was in his elementary school when he remembers getting a drink from the water fountain and for no reason was attacked by fellow school aged bullies who had already begun to affiliate with gangs. “I got jumped out of nowhere,” Meech recounts. “One moment I was sipping water and the next I was seeing stars.”
Convinced no one had his back but himself, Meech became a gun owner at the innocent age of thirteen. He admits to stealing the weapon from a car in the church parking lot that was owned by an older aged deacon of his parent’s church.
“I vowed that day that the bullying, the running, and being scared was over,” said Meech who had been in more fights than he could ever count as a child. “That gun was my pass to go anywhere and be comfortable. I was not running anymore, and nobody was taking anything from me — the days of being thrown around and punched on were done.”
With his defiant new attitude and sense of security came an onslaught of poor choices that offered no positive results for the young victim turned gang leader. “I had to become a man overnight,” Meech surmised. “I was beating kids in the head with padlocks in high school. Plus, I had to teach my friends how to not be afraid.”
In the height of the 1980’s crack epidemic—that swept through predominantly black neighborhoods in the U.S. resulting in tougher crime policies—Meech drifted deeper into the streets. He became a powerful influencer among thugs, so much so he employed more than sixty teens on any given weekend to make crack runs to addicts in the hood. “I had kids who were able to make more money than adults,” he boasts.
Although Meech was still a minor living at home, he was in demand as a dedicated member of the Crips. Unlike most of his counterparts, he survived some of the biggest Crips-Bloods wars of his time in inner city Los Angeles.
“Keep in mind, I am playing for the church every Sunday... The hymns and the music that everyone was shouting and celebrating to. Yet I am on the organ broken on the inside as a kid,” offers Meech who is a father of four. “I had no self-love and had already purposed that I would die as a teenager. So, I wanted to make sure that my presence was known before I got out of here.”
By age 16, Meech was serving a four-and-a-halfyear sentence in a juvenile secure youth camp. He was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and discharging firearms into a crowd. He was released early, and back on the streets by age 18—serving just enough
time to make him rethink what got him incarcerated and to determine it wasn’t worth repeating.
While on lockdown Meech was required to attend chapel services regularly. There, his piano skills were discovered and showcased. He leveraged his talents to negotiate with the chaplain to have recording equipment brought to the facility so that he and some fellow inmates could record music. One of his peer’s had a father who worked close to the music industry and connected them to R&B legend Ray Parker Jr.
Within one year of his release, Meech found himself in a business meeting that landed him full access to the studios at Solar Records, the label responsible for such artists as BabyFace and LA, Howard Hewitt and Shalamar, Atlantic Starr, Klymaxx and serval other R&B groups. “I was in the studio every day,” said Meech. “I was seeing the Whispers, Dick Griffey, and even Suge Knight who was doing security. They would walk by me and speak, but nobody knew why this kid was there every day.”
At age 19, Meech signed his first management contract with legendary entertainment guru Wes Crocket. Around this time, he and Suge Knight were both being groomed for the music industry under the mentorship of Griffey, Crockett, Clarence Avant, and others. The relationship with Knight, Meech describes, “he was the big brother I always wanted.”
Now a fulltime music industry professional, Meech admits to becoming too comfortable in the settings his position earned him. He believed it was a safe place to rehabilitate from the trappings of thug life. Sadly, that was not always true. At music industry events and parties, he witnessed violent fights where some left their enemies for dead. He also encountered more rival gang activity between those he worked with — a few of whom held celebrity status. Still, Meech persevered doing what he loved most, and was fortunate to maneuver his way around the business to work on gospel music projects with Kirk Franklin, Donny McClurkin, the Gospel Gangstaz and Trin-I-Tee 5:7.
“The scripture that I am living today is that your gifts will make room for you,” quotes Meech from Proverbs 18:16. “Everybody that I have been fortunate to come across who made positive deposits in me, they make who I am now almost seem like a dream. I beat so many odds being a troubled youth, and even when I would leave home going to that building (at Death Row Records) I had one purpose, to make it back home — because everybody in there was a target.”
With a greater sense of maturity and focus and a cleared rap sheet, Meech is now mentoring youth and helping them avoid destructive pitfalls. He takes young people under his wing to empower them with positive direction, affirmations, and inspiring messages.
“Don’t expect people to know who you are, you have to show them,” Meech advises his mentees. “It’s the responsibility that comes with your talent and gifts. You have been given something and you have to manage it. You have to be the CEO of your life.”
Borrowing from his own advice, Meech’s story of success has expanded to include being the CEO of a branding agency Push the Line and launching a new men’s cologne Sboy by Draco.
“What drives me today is the honor of those who went before me and those who are coming after me,” says Meech, whose son Demetrius Shipp, Jr., was cast as Tupac Shakur in the biopic film "All Eyez On Me" (2017). “I am for the good of people in our community and for the children. We owe them so much and there is nobody stopping us from doing what’s right.”
I vowed that day that the bullying, the running, and being scared was over. That gun was my pass to go anywhere and be comfort“ able. I was not running anymore, and nobody was taking anything from me – the days of being thrown around and punched on were done.”
