BV Entertainment Newswire March 3: Mos Def, Smithsonian, BET, Sarah Jones

Mos Def-initely Happening

Rootsy rapper Mos Def stars in the suspense drama ‘16 Blocks,’ alongside box-office heavyweight Bruce Willis . In the Richard Donner-directed flick, shot in real-time on the streets of New York City, Def plays a petty criminal set to testify before a grand jury on the same morning that a burned-out, alcoholic NYPD detective inherits the task of taking him the few blocks to the courthouse. The fast paced story unfolds before filmgoers’ eyes and Def’ delivers one of his best performances on screen. It could arguably put him on the fast track to Hollywood stardom like other hip-hop stars, Queen Latifah, Will Smith and Ice Cube.

“I think this is a career-making role for him,” Willis said. “I think people are going to see him in a much different way.” The ‘Moonlighting’ star, who catapulted to Hollywood royalty with the mega-selling ‘Die Hard’ movie franchise, added he was first moved by the rapper/actor after seeing him in ‘Monster’s Ball.’ They became friendly when Def invited him to see his critically acclaimed turn in the play ‘Topdog/Underdog.” “I said 'Man, you're awesome', just a tremendous actor,” said Willis. Def initially passed on ‘16 Blocks,’ but after Willis got involved in the project, he persuaded him after a closer look at the script, which deals with police corruption. “I really enjoyed making this film,” Def (nee Dante Smith) told Black Voices. “Working with Bruce was great and I am glad he reached out and asked me to be a part of it.”

Donner, with an impressive catalogue of films including ‘Superman,’ ‘Conspiracy Theory’ and the ‘Lethal Weapon’ series, said Def was amazing. “If you read his lyrics, he’s a poet, a prophet, a philosopher… he brings incredible dimension and brightness to the character.” Def, who also appears in 'Dave Chappelle's Block Party' (also opening today) recently completed the film ‘Journey to the End of the Night’ and will release a new album via Geffen Records this year. “I love him and he's just like a little angel,” added Willis, “and in real life too.”

Highbrow Hip Hop

This week, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History announced the launching of a collection initiative for a forthcoming exhibition celebrating hip-hop culture titled ‘Hip-Hop Won’t Stop: The Beat, The Rhymes, The Life.” Revered pioneers Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Herc, Ice T and Grandmaster Flash joined industry veterans Russell Simmons and Fab Five Freddy in a special ceremony at New York’s Hilton Hotel, where Smithsonian brass unveiled plans for the multi-year project, which will trace hip hop from its origins in the 1970s to its present global phenomenon status. “We have to think creatively about what American History really is,” curator Marvette Perez told Black Voices. “It’s not just dead white men, it’s many other things.” While other museums have paid homage to hip-hop and hosted various exhibits, in the past, Perez – a 16 year veteran of the Smithsonian—stressed the importance of giving it “a different twist, and put it in a different context.” MC Lyte, who contributed one of her journals to the collection, is excited about the project. “I am truly amazed out how hip hop has grown and seems to have no boundaries,” the Brooklyn bred MC told Black Voices. “It's an absolute pleasure to make a contribution to such a huge part of history.” According to Perez, the collection process for the exhibit, which will be permanently housed in the Smithsonian’s Washington, DC base, may take up to three years to complete.

Jazzmatazz

On March 1, the BET Jazz channel evolved into BET J, with a goal to reflect the overall diversity of today’s music and culture. Essentially, this means that the newly named network (with new logo) will encompass related genres including blues, soul, R&B, Caribbean and neo-soul music. “BET Jazz was one part of a journey which now will deliver an even broader cross-section of African-American culture,” said Paxton Baker, Executive Vice President and General Manager for BET Digital Networks. “We’ve long been the catalogers and chroniclers of a great artistic voyage that has been authentically Black and authentically BET at every turn. Our new chapter under BET J will be even more exciting, enticing and multicultural. In fact, the ‘J’ in our new network name is now more indicative of the complete musical and cultural ‘Journey’ rather than only jazz.”

Extended Bridge

The critically-acclaimed Broadway transfer “Bridge & Tunnel,” written and performed by award winning slam poetry superstar Sarah Jones, has extended its original limited engagement at the Helen Hayes Theatre. A new block of tickets through July 9 are now available for the one-woman show, which was originally set to close its limited run on March 12. The show has been playing to packed houses ever since it debuted on Broadway Jan. 26. It was first presented off-Broadway at the Culture Project, where it was co-produced by multiple Academy Award winner Meryl Streep.