Eric SamulskiMovie Event of the Year
September 6th 2008 21:36
There are few movies that get me really excited anymore. Sure, I was pumped to see Dark Knight and I was really looking forward to Pineapple Express, but there are no movies that I really hear about and anticipate so much that I actually check updates and wait for trailers. At least, there weren't any until they announced they were going to be making a biopic on the greatest rapper ever, Notorious B.I.G.
The movie, Notorious, is scheduled for release sometime in January of 2009, but it couldn't come soon enough for me. You see, as with any kid growing up in NYC in the early and mid 90s, I was listening to Biggie's music in what most consider to be your most formative years. I was immediately drawn to his flow, and later discovered the complexity with which he actually created his lyrics, which were all laid down freestyle (he never wrote down a single rhyme). Then Biggie blew up and he was all anybody could talk about. Whether it was his talent as an artist or his epic beef with Tupac that may, or may not, have resulted in both of their deaths. With simply the basics, a Biggie biopic makes for a great movie. A former crack hustler who used to freestyle on the street becomes a legendary artist, is involved in one of the most dangerous feuds ever and dies the same way as his supposed nemesis at the young age of 24.
However, its the stuff under the surface of the Biggie story that really makes his biopic so worth watching. Few know that Biggie was an honors student before he dropped out of HS after 11th grade so that he could make money in the drug game. People also don't know that he was taught music by a Jazz musician in his apartment building, which is why Biggie is able to manipulate an eight count and accent his rhymes on the right beats. People also tend to forget that throughout the entire beef with Tupac, Biggie never responded to the taunts with hostility. He didn't record any rhymes bashing Tupac and never wavered from the believe that he had anything but love for his former friend. Amidst all the violence and bickering he kept to a personal code.
What's most important about this movie is what it might hopefully be able to do for the rap industry. Since Tupac and Biggie were killed, rap hasn't ever reached the same level. There are still some stars, like Jay-Z, Nas, Eminem, Lil' Wayne, but the majority of the industry is made up of fly-by acts who disappear as quickly as they appear. Maybe shining a light on the artist that Biggie was and what he did for rap will help people understand the need to live up to that legacy.
Most recent updates from the movie itself are good. Sean "P.Diddy" Combs went by the set and claims that he had to leave because he was off-put by how realistic the portrayals of himself and Biggie were. Rapper Jamal Woolard was cast to play Biggie and Derek Luke (Glory Road) was tapped to play Diddy. Other castings include Angela Basset (as Biggie's mom, Voletta Wallace), Anthony Mackie (as friend turned rival Tupac), Naturi Naughton (as Lil' Kim) and Antonique Smith (as Biggie's wife, Faith Evans).
Updates on the movie are regularly posted by Producer, Wayne Barrow on the Fox Searchlight website for the movie. Really Long Link And I'll keep you posted too. It's been a long time since I was this excited for a movie and I can't help but want to talk about it.
The movie, Notorious, is scheduled for release sometime in January of 2009, but it couldn't come soon enough for me. You see, as with any kid growing up in NYC in the early and mid 90s, I was listening to Biggie's music in what most consider to be your most formative years. I was immediately drawn to his flow, and later discovered the complexity with which he actually created his lyrics, which were all laid down freestyle (he never wrote down a single rhyme). Then Biggie blew up and he was all anybody could talk about. Whether it was his talent as an artist or his epic beef with Tupac that may, or may not, have resulted in both of their deaths. With simply the basics, a Biggie biopic makes for a great movie. A former crack hustler who used to freestyle on the street becomes a legendary artist, is involved in one of the most dangerous feuds ever and dies the same way as his supposed nemesis at the young age of 24.
However, its the stuff under the surface of the Biggie story that really makes his biopic so worth watching. Few know that Biggie was an honors student before he dropped out of HS after 11th grade so that he could make money in the drug game. People also don't know that he was taught music by a Jazz musician in his apartment building, which is why Biggie is able to manipulate an eight count and accent his rhymes on the right beats. People also tend to forget that throughout the entire beef with Tupac, Biggie never responded to the taunts with hostility. He didn't record any rhymes bashing Tupac and never wavered from the believe that he had anything but love for his former friend. Amidst all the violence and bickering he kept to a personal code.
What's most important about this movie is what it might hopefully be able to do for the rap industry. Since Tupac and Biggie were killed, rap hasn't ever reached the same level. There are still some stars, like Jay-Z, Nas, Eminem, Lil' Wayne, but the majority of the industry is made up of fly-by acts who disappear as quickly as they appear. Maybe shining a light on the artist that Biggie was and what he did for rap will help people understand the need to live up to that legacy.
Most recent updates from the movie itself are good. Sean "P.Diddy" Combs went by the set and claims that he had to leave because he was off-put by how realistic the portrayals of himself and Biggie were. Rapper Jamal Woolard was cast to play Biggie and Derek Luke (Glory Road) was tapped to play Diddy. Other castings include Angela Basset (as Biggie's mom, Voletta Wallace), Anthony Mackie (as friend turned rival Tupac), Naturi Naughton (as Lil' Kim) and Antonique Smith (as Biggie's wife, Faith Evans).
Updates on the movie are regularly posted by Producer, Wayne Barrow on the Fox Searchlight website for the movie. Really Long Link And I'll keep you posted too. It's been a long time since I was this excited for a movie and I can't help but want to talk about it.
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