Entertainment
Usher To Headline The 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show In Las Vegas
LOS ANGELES — Usher recently revealed that he will anchor the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in Las Vegas.
On February 11, the NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation announced that Usher will headline the halftime festivities at Allegiant Stadium. The music superstar, who has won eight Grammys, expressed his eagerness to perform on the NFL’s grandest stage.
“It’s an honour of a lifetime to finally check a Super Bowl performance off my bucket list,” Usher said in a statement. “I cannot wait to give the world a performance unlike anything they’ve ever witnessed from me before.”
The album “Confessions,” which sold over 10 million copies in the United States and garnered him eight nominations and three Grammy Awards in 2005, served as the catalyst for Usher’s ascent to superstardom. Ray Charles’ final album, “Genius Loves Company,” published two months after the legend’s death, won Album of the Year.
“Confessions” is one of the best-selling music albums of all time and spawned multiple No. 1 singles, including “Yeah!” with Ludacris and Lil Jon, “Burn,” and “Confessions Part II.” His special edition album featured a duet with Alicia Keys entitled “My Boo,” a smooth success. The epic album will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year.
Usher, 44, is headlining his “Usher: My Way” residency in Las Vegas, earning rave reviews and sold-out performances. Sunday also marks the commencement of an eight-night run of performances in Paris. Usher is anticipated to conclude his Las Vegas residency in early December before performing at the Super Bowl halftime show a few months later.
Usher recently revealed that he will anchor the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in Las Vegas.
The performer has served as a coach on NBC’s “The Voice” and has appeared in several films, such as “Hustlers” and “Light It Up.”
Jay-Z, the founder of Roc Nation, described Usher as the consummate “artist and showman.”
“Ever since his debut at the age of 15, he’s been charting his own unique course,” he said of Usher, whose self-titled debut album was released in 1994. He has released eight studio albums, including songs such as “U Got It Bad,” “U Remind Me,” “You Make Me Wanna,” “Nice & Slow,” and “Love In This Club” featuring Jeezy.
“Beyond his flawless singing and exceptional choreography, Usher bares his soul,” Jay-Z continued. “His extraordinary voyage has propelled him to one of the world’s grandest stages. I can’t wait to witness the wonder.”
The halftime performance will be co-executive produced by Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins and Roc Nation. Director Hamish Hamilton returns. It’s the second time the NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation have worked together.
Usher recently revealed that he will anchor the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in Las Vegas.
Last year, a pregnant Rihanna performed a spectacular halftime display while suspended from a platform above the field – her first solo performance in seven years.
Apple’s Vice President of Apple Music, Apple TV+, Sports, and Beats, Oliver Schusser, said, “We are so proud of what we were able to accomplish with the NFL and Roc Nation last year, and with Usher set to take the stage, we’re looking forward to another incredible Halftime Show from one of the world’s all-time greatest performers.”
He will join the likes of Beyoncé, Madonna, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Coldplay, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, U2, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, and Katy Perry, who have performed at Super Bowl halftime performances.
“Usher is an icon whose music has left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape throughout his career,” said NFL Head of Music Seth Dudowsky.
SOURCE – (AP)
Entertainment
Tim Burton’s ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ a Box Office Success Gets 4.5 Stars
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice preview reportedly made $13 million for Warner Bros. Fans gave it 4.5 stars on Comscore/Screen Engine’s PostTrak, while both parents and children under the age of 12 gave it 5 stars.
The sequel has a current budget of $90 million, with room to grow.
The sequel starring Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega, and Winona Ryder had 59% female attendees, with 73% of those attendees being 25 and older. In terms of gender, 62% of the children were girls and 38% were boys. Last night, the Latino and Hispanic community had an impressive showing at 36% of the total audience.
According to Yahoo Entertainment, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice social media reach With 508.6 million followers across TikTok, Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram combined, Beetlejuice is 41% ahead of the norm for the action comedy sci-fi genre.
“Jenna Ortega has stunned her 38.2 million Instagram followers with 103.1 million views, while Michael Keaton has 1.58 million and Willem Dafoe has 155 thousand,” the social media analytics company adds.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice a Remarkable Sequel
Additionally, they mention, “Convo for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice A remarkable feat for a sequel, Beetlejuice has received mostly good reviews from audiences who have praised the film for its originality and sense of purpose. ‘At first, I thought this was another Scream movie, then I thought it was the Wednesday Season 2!’ A number of fans, including new viewers, are ecstatic to see Jenna Ortega in a horror film.
According to fans of the 1988 original, “My inner child from the 80’s is screaming!” when asked about the style of Jenna Ortega’s flicks. I’m more pumped up for this movie than any other! “I admire the practical effects and the attempts to make it look like the old movie!!” is one commenter’s praise for the show’s expert production values and impressive use of special effects.
You can count on seeing a plethora of costumed fans at the movies this weekend.
A large number of collectible concessions are also available. Beetlejuice jack-in-the-box popcorn buckets are available at Cinemark, competing with Sandworm and Wolverine
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For Nicolas Cage, Making A Serial Killer Horror Movie Was A Healing Experience
Entertainment
Trump film ‘The Apprentice’ finds distributor and will open before the election
NEW YORK — Trump Film | After failing to generate interest following its Cannes Film Festival screening, “The Apprentice,” starring Sebastian Stan as a teenage Donald Trump, has found a distributor who intends to release the film right before the election in November.
Director Ali Abbasi, a Danish-Iranian filmmaker, had prioritized releasing “The Apprentice” in theatres before electors voted. After major studios and film distributors declined to bid on the project, Abbasi complained on X in early June that “for some reason certain power people in your country don’t want you to see it!!!”
Trump film ‘The Apprentice’ finds distributor and will open before the election
In a statement issued Friday, Steven Cheung, the Trump campaign’s communications director, described the film’s release as “election interference by Hollywood elites right before November.”
“This ‘film’ is pure malicious defamation, should never see the light of day, and doesn’t even deserve a place in the straight-to-DVD section of a bargain bin at a soon-to-be-closed discount movie store, it belongs in a skip fire,” Cheung tweeted.
The prospect of legal action was one factor that decreased interest in “The Apprentice”. After the film’s Cannes premiere in May, Cheung labeled it “pure fiction” and stated that the Trump team would pursue a lawsuit “to address the blatantly false assertions from these pretend filmmakers.”
“The Apprentice” follows Trump’s rise to dominance in New York real estate, guided by defense attorney Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong). Late in the film, Trump is seen raping his wife, Ivana Trump (portrayed by Maria Bakalova). In her 1990 divorce deposition, Ivana Trump alleged Donald Trump raped her. Trump rejected the claim, and Ivana Trump later clarified that she did not mean it literally but rather that she felt violated.
Abbasi has stated that Trump might not despise the film.
Trump film ‘The Apprentice’ finds distributor and will open before the election
“I would offer to go and meet him wherever he wants and talk about the context of the movie, have a screening and have a chat afterwards, if that’s interesting to anyone at the Trump campaign,” Abbasi stated during the May election.
Briarcliff Entertainment has published several films, including the 2022 documentary “Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down” and the Liam Neeson thriller “Memory.” The indie distributor is led by Tom Ortenberg, who helped Lionsgate distribute Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11” and, as CEO of Open Road, supported the best picture Oscar winner “Spotlight.”
SOURCE | AP
Entertainment
Hanumankind: The Indian Rapper Who Overtook Kendrick Lamar on Global Music Charts
In a remarkably short span, Indian rapper Hanumankind has made a significant mark on the country’s emerging hip-hop scene.
His track “Big Dawgs” has not only topped global charts but also briefly overshadowed Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us.” The BBC delves into the extraordinary ascent of Hanumankind, whose real name is Sooraj Cherukat.
At 31, Cherukat, also known as Hanumankind, radiates an electrifying presence in the “Big Dawgs” music video.
Filmed in a maut ka kuan—a dramatic performance space where drivers execute gravity-defying stunts inside a colossal wooden barrel—Cherukat commands the scene with an intense energy, surrounded by daring drivers zipping past him.
The track, a collaboration with producer Kalmi Reddy and director Bijoy Shetty, has amassed over 132 million streams on Spotify and 83 million views on YouTube since its release in July, propelling Cherukat to international fame.
On the surface, Cherukat’s music follows the hip-hop tradition of portraying gritty street narratives through raw, explicit lyrics. However, a deeper look reveals a rapper navigating his multifaceted identity through his art.
The Roots of Hanumankind’s Sound
Born in Kerala, Cherukat’s childhood was a global journey due to his father’s work with a major oil company, leading him to live in France, Nigeria, Egypt, and Dubai. His formative years in Houston, Texas, were crucial in shaping his musical career.
Houston’s hip-hop scene is unique, known for its distinctive “screwed-up” remix style influenced by the local use of cough syrup. Cherukat has often cited Texas hip-hop legends like DJ Screw, UGK, Big Bunny, and Project Pat as major influences.
Although his style reflects this heritage, it has evolved since his return to India in 2021 after dropping out of college.
Having earned a business degree and worked with firms like Goldman Sachs, Cherukat left the corporate world to pursue rap full-time, a passion he had previously juggled alongside other commitments.
Cherukat’s music reflects his attempt to reconcile his cosmopolitan experiences with his Indian roots. His tracks often highlight the struggles of southern Indian street life, combining intense vocal delivery with engaging rhythms.
His song “Genghis,” filmed in Bengaluru, critiques national issues through a gritty lens.
Challenging Rap Norms and Navigating Criticism: Hanumankind’s Unique Path
In “Big Dawgs,” Cherukat diverges from the typical rap glorification of wealth, focusing instead on small-town stunt performers from impoverished backgrounds. “These are the people that are the real risk-takers…Those are the big dogs, for real,” he told Complex.
Despite his innovative approach, Cherukat faces criticism. Some argue that his English lyrics may limit his appeal to non-English-speaking Indian audiences and that his style too closely mirrors Western artists.
Abid Haque, a PhD student, believes that while Cherukat’s inclusion of South Asians in the Western rap scene is notable, his music sometimes feels disconnected from Indian reality.
Cherukat himself navigates this duality. He views his return to India as a way to explore his sense of belonging. “I think it really moulded me as someone who never really had a place to call home… and that kind of shaped the way I perceive music, people, and culture,” he explained.
Yet, he also embraces a broader perspective: “I’m not an Indian rapper, but I’m a rapper from India,” indicating his position outside the traditional Indian hip-hop scene.
Hanumankind’s unique style has attracted both admiration and criticism, often encountering resistance from listeners who struggle to categorize him. His distinct approach and refusal to conform to expectations have, however, resonated with many fans.
“He isn’t trying to cater to an Indian audience, which shows in his music, and he is unapologetic about it,” said Arnab Ghosh, a Delhi-based psychiatrist.
Cherukat’s journey, marked by his adaptability and dedication to authenticity, represents both a triumph and a challenge. As he continues to break boundaries and redefine expectations, Hanumankind remains a compelling figure in the global hip-hop landscape.
“You keep certain things as your roots, but it’s up to you to adapt to the environment and go with the flow, as long as you don’t compromise on integrity,” he once said, capturing the essence of his remarkable career.
Source: BBC
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