The Color Purple: HD Edition 2012

I have a problem. It goes a little something like this: George Lucas shows up on The Daily Show with John Stewart to promote his new film, Red Tails. A film, George proclaims, has been a 23-year labor of love.  Okay, great. No problem. But then George does something that raised my eyebrow. Take a listen for yourself here.

Okay, so let me get this straight. George "Money Bags" Lucas personally finances a film that took 23 years to make, figuratively speaking.  Yet the film almost doesn't get released because 'Hollywood' wouldn't fund its distribution.

I call bull.

If George REALLY wanted to see this film get released, he wouldn't have had to go through normal distribution channels to get it done. He's GEORGE %#&#^% LUCAS. Translation: He *IS* Hollywood!!! George can get virtually anything he wants out of Hollywood. He would've phone half of Hollywood, "Hey, yeah...it's me. Your father. Yeah, the one who runs Industrial, Light & Magic. Yeah, you know...98.9% of all films in Hollywood get done with my company's resources whether you like it or not? Yeah, now you remember. Well, I need something done."With one simple interview, here is what the Lucasarts emperor accomplished and some random facts to consider:

1. If Red Tails fails, it's because it wasn't DISTRIBUTED or MARKETED correctly. Because, somehow Hollywood just has NO IDEA of how to market a 'Black' film. (Again, I call bull. If Meteor Man or B.A.P.S. can secure distribution...)

2. Black Americans are now -seemingly out of the blue - EMOTIONALLY interested in supporting something that 'Hollywood' wouldn't (or didn't know 'how' to) support. The Red Tails marketing onslaught began in the middle of 2011. TWENTY ELEVEN.  I heard about it. I saw the trailer. I was unmoved. Apparently so was everyone else.  I barely heard a peep from anyone of any race, color or creed about the film.

3. George made six movies about the future. A cast full of color. But only two Black people. Three if you count Jango Fett (Aborigine actor). And you already know the deal regarding Jar Jar Binks. Don't mistake George's interests as totally sincere. This is all about entertainment.

4. Red Tails is getting released on MLK weekend....a few weeks before Black History Month. Look at my face. Now look at what I typed. Now look at my face. Now look at what I typed. If you haven't gotten the message by now, just close your browser window and go back to sleep.

5. In a recent public message, Jon Bon Jovi said, "Last night I went to see a movie, it was explained not as Black History Film nor was it a Military History film, it was an American History Film. It is called RED TAILS and was made by the great George Lucas." Okay, everybody just calm down. Especially you, Jon. Hollywood wouldn't fund the film's distribution because of its 'all Black cast' but upon viewing the film one is to think that it's NOT a film about Black people?

"Ya know, Tyrone, I don't see you as Black. You're like... cool!" This madness must stop. Jon has basically given the 'go ahead' to anyone who thought this might be a 'Black' movie. "Oh, don't worry! You'll enjoy it! Yeah, they're Black...but it's not about *that*!" New Jersian, please.

I could go on but I think my point is clear. I am in no way, shape or form anti-Red Tails. Do I want to see the movie? No, not really. Will I see the movie? Eventually. It'll probably be a fun ride with those same four actors we see in every period piece about Blacks in the 40's-60's.

(That one guy with the square head, from The Great Debaters, just has an old classic look. It's like he was born for these rolls. It's simply amazing and not fair to people like Wesley Snipes!).

In the end, I just don't need George Lucas and the little marketing stormtroopers in his head trying to convince me that I should see it with subliminal messaging. And anyone getting caught up now waving a Red Tails flag after hearing George spit that nonsense should be ashamed of themselves for allowing themselves to be hoodwinked, bamboozled, and led astray...

Go see the film because YOU want to see it.

As usual, thanks for reading...

Bigg Russ

A Heavy Contribution...

I have a lot to say about Heavy D...

...but literally can’t get it all to flow properly. I've started, stopped, edited, deleted, etc… I'm so frustrated at myself right now because I usually can't shut up about things that mean something to me. Yet now... I feel mentally scrambled.

All I can say at this point is that I’m extremely sad over his passing because I love hip hop. I love it so much because while I was living with an abusive step-father, rap music was one of my escapes. It was my favorite escape because it helped me realize who I was.

I was paid in full.

I was tougher than leather.

I was bigger and deffer.

I was straight out the jungle.

I was a smooth operator.

I was a rebel without a pause.

I was a 100 miles and runnin’.

I was a brand new funk.

I was three feet high and rising.

I was one for all.

I was all souled out.

I was still number one.

I was strictly business.

But above all else… I was from money earnin’ Mount Vernon. I had more bounce. I had my own thang. I let it flow. I was in the mood for love. I was flexin’. I was dedicated. I was mr. big stuff.

I was big tyme and living large.

And the dude living right across town made sure I knew it.

In ten days, I expect to complete my 40^th year in this form. Had it not been for Heavy’s contribution to my mental and emotional peace 20 years ago, I have no idea where I would be right now.

Thank you very much, Dwight.

~ Russell Merritt

Bring That Beat B@ck!!

320: Bring That Beat Back

It's P.E. What more do you need to know?

Bigg Russ

The Next 24 Volume IV...Mix CD Presented by Twix and New Era

320: The Next 24

Don't judge me. I haven't heard it but it's literally been shrinkwrapped since 2002...until now. Someone DL it and let me know how it sounds. LOL!

Bigg Russ

The Highest Form of Insult Is...

Kool Herc is sick and in need of surgery. The problem is, he doesn't have health insurance.

Here's a list of solutions:

• Jay-Z
• 50 Cent
• LL Cool J
• Def Jam
• Eminem
• Interscope
• Live Nation
• Jive Records
• Lil Wayne
• Baby
• Master P.
• Dr. Dre
• Will Smith
• Ludacris
• Puff Daddy/P. Diddy/Diddy/Sean Combs/Jack of all Trades, Master of None
• Russell Simmons
• Lyor Cohen
• Dame Dash
• Ice Cube
• EMI
• Sony
• Universal
• Warner Music Group
• E-40
• Salt-N-Pepa
• Snoop Dogg
• Guerilla Union
• Outkast
• Those mofos' who shot Biggie, Tupac, Freaky Tah and Jam Master Jay (If there was EVER a time to repent, it's now.)
• Jimmy Iovine
• Bert Padell
• Hot 97
• Funkmaster Flex
• DJ Khaled
• Ed Lover
• Viacom
• Sirius/XM
• Nas
• Kelis (C'mon. She's made more money off Nas' money than she did with R&B.)
• Violator Management
• Geffen Records
• Sylvia Robinson
• Queen Latifah
• The RZA
• The GZA
• Inspectah Deck
• Raekwon The Chef
• GhostFace Killer
• Method Man
• (U-God not listed on purpose)
• Rev. Run
• Cablevision
• The National Basketball Association
• Shaquille O'Neal (He still owes us for making OTHER athletes rap.)
• The Source
• Will.I.Am
• Wyclef Jean
• Dizzee Rascal
• MC Solaar
• Redman
• EPMD
• Vanilla Ice
• Ice-T
• Kid Frost
• Cypress Hill
• Gucci Mane (I'd only look at you 1/2 slanted after this.)
• Emmis Communications
• Clear Channel Communications, Inc.
• The Roots
• Fat Joe
• Cam'Ron
• Rick Ross
• An umpteen number of talentless, video 'women' (I kept that clean. Here's a hint: 'We don't love 'em though!')
• Soulja Boy
• KRS-One
• Nelly
• Teddy Riley
• Jermaine Dupri
• De La Soul
• John Singleton
• F. Gary Gray
• Bishop Don Magic Juan
• The Christopher Wallace Foundation
• Ciroc
• Patron
• Grey Goose
• Hennessy (Hell, they should donate a wing of their corporate offices to Kool Herc.)
• Remy Martin
• St. Ides
• Phat Farm
• Cross Colours (In spirit...)
• Lee
• Girbaud
• Nike
• Addidas
• Fila
• Dr. Jay's
• VIM
• 125th Street (From Broadway to Park Avenue.)

If I haven't made my point perfectly clear, PLEASE let me know and I'll do my best to provide more solutions.

Consider me a hypocrite but I find it EXTREMELY offensive to ask the FANS of hip hop to donate to Kool Herc's bills when we haven't been made privy to what ails him. And since the REAL fans have been 'donating' to hip hop for years via mis-managed contracts (Hey, it ain't MY fault if you were so hard up on 'getting a deal' that YOU didn't read your contract.), bad music, unsolved murders, contradictory messages, false feuds and other such nonsense I don't feel we should ante up ONE MORE RED CENT until those who've eaten for YEARS off US put their bling where their mouths are.

Kool Herc, get well soon. You're in my prayers.

Thanks for reading...

Bigg Russ

It's been a long time...

I should'na left you. I'll be back soon...

Bigg Russ

News. (Not) News.

I've been thinking.

This is what I've been thinking:

• Am I the only one not surprised to hear about a male flight attendant exiting his job... sliding down some rubber... through the back door?

• And Montana Fishburne's daughter... Please. So NOW it's news that a Hollywood famous so-and-so's daughter decides to screw on camera? Sure, I get the fact that it's Morpheus' offspring and all (I was gonna type Furious Styles' offspring ... but didn't want to lose half of you) but it's not really news. The real news here is that she wants to pattern herself after Kim Kardasian. I hate to break it to Female Fishburne but K.K. (the sexy one) isn't really a porn star per se. She's an opportunist. (Albeit, not as opportunistic as Ray J ... but hey, when you're that untalented you gotta make up for it somehow.) F.F. (the one who's not keeping it on the downlow) should do her homework. Can she at least show love for a REAL porn star like Vanessa Del Rio, Angel Kelly or Tera Patrick? Where's the respect?!

• A-Rod hit his 600th homerun. So what? And I'm a Yankee fan. Yeah, I shouted it out on my Facebook status and all that... but let's be honest. Baseball is tainted. Kinda like F.F. There's no going back. Mind you, that's not to say that A-Rod's accomoplishments aren't grand in scale. I'm just sayin'... shoot me up witht the same enhancement drugs he used and I probably couldn't hit the ball to center field (LOL @ probably). 'Roids don't make you the Hulk, they enhance your natural ability. Still... sucks to know it'll forever be seen as 600*. The ONLY homerun dude we should pay attention to from this point on isn't in the MLB yet. Believe that.

• Guiliani's daughter getting arrested for shoplifting. Nothing newsworthy here either. A Guiliani committing a crime?! Fruit. Tree. Something like that. Sephora gets no props for not teaching her spoiled ass a lesson either.

• Isiah Thomas gets re-hired by the Knicks ... then turns the job down. That's not news. The news is that something actually GOOD happened for the Knicks. It won't help them get wins but at least they're just that much less a group of laughing stocks.

• On a more personal note, someone just told me they didn't know Tyler Perry was gay. NOT knowing Tyler Perry is gay IS news. I should've called Fox.

• 700 people are dead and 1000 missing in China. That's not news. Whenever anything happens in China, a massive amount of people die. No disrespect meant to those dead or missing and the families and friends of them all ... but real news would've been had they said, "This just in... 5 people have died from [INSERT RANDOM EARTH-BORN UPHEAVAL HERE]! This ISN'T the worst disaster to hit this country in decades..."

• Google offices raided by Korean police. KOREA. I'm shocked they let Google in there to begin with.

I think I might need to start thinking less.

Thanks for reading.

Bigg Russ