'Adam was always into doing the craziest stuff,' director Ric Menello tells MTV News of the late Beastie Boy.
By Nadeska Alexis
The Beastie Boys in 1987
Photo: Getty Images
Adam Yauch leaves behind an impressive catalog of music and videos with his Beastie Boys brothers Ad-Rock and Mike D, but "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)" and "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" are, without a doubt, two of their most iconic releases. Ric Menello helmed the videos for both songs, with some help from co-director Adam Dubin, and looking back now, Menello tells MTV News, jokingly, "If I knew that people were going to be looking at them 26 years later, I would've done better!"
While attending graduate school for film at Nyu back in the '80s, Menello befriended a young Adam Yauch, Ad-Rock and Mike D, who kept him company at his part-time job as a desk clerk,...
By Nadeska Alexis
The Beastie Boys in 1987
Photo: Getty Images
Adam Yauch leaves behind an impressive catalog of music and videos with his Beastie Boys brothers Ad-Rock and Mike D, but "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)" and "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" are, without a doubt, two of their most iconic releases. Ric Menello helmed the videos for both songs, with some help from co-director Adam Dubin, and looking back now, Menello tells MTV News, jokingly, "If I knew that people were going to be looking at them 26 years later, I would've done better!"
While attending graduate school for film at Nyu back in the '80s, Menello befriended a young Adam Yauch, Ad-Rock and Mike D, who kept him company at his part-time job as a desk clerk,...
- 5/4/2012
- MTV Music News
"You're just a butter knife — I'm a machete!" So rapped Antonio Monterio Hardy (better known in the hip-hop world as Big Daddy Kane) on "Ain't No Half-Steppin'" (a classic tune from his 1988 debut Long Live the Kane). While just about every rapper boasts about his or her abilities on the microphone, Kane was the real deal. His smooth, bombastic style bridged the gap between the old school cats and the next generation of rappers.
If there was one year that saw hip-hop really explode, it was 1988. While rap music had slowly been insinuating its way into the mainstream since the release of Run-d.M.C.'s Raising Hell in 1986, the 12 months that made up '88 saw a handful of rap records perform well commercially but also found many groups reaching their artistic apex. Hip-hop was finally coming into its own, both as a commercially viable brand of music and as a true envelope-pushing art form.
If there was one year that saw hip-hop really explode, it was 1988. While rap music had slowly been insinuating its way into the mainstream since the release of Run-d.M.C.'s Raising Hell in 1986, the 12 months that made up '88 saw a handful of rap records perform well commercially but also found many groups reaching their artistic apex. Hip-hop was finally coming into its own, both as a commercially viable brand of music and as a true envelope-pushing art form.
- 12/28/2010
- by Kyle Anderson
- MTV Newsroom
It's almost time for Christmas, which means that the mood around the MTV Newsroom is getting pretty festive and everybody is going to start hitting the road soon (or just getting ready for a long winter's nap). We'll be taking off Friday (December 24) in observance of the holiday, but if anything huge happens, you know you can always count on your friends here at MTV News to deliver up-to-the-minute information on all the latest breaking news.
In the meantime, if you need to get into the Christmas spirit, we have got the best solution known to man (or beast): Run-d.M.C.'s "Christmas in Hollis," one of only a handful of truly exceptional pop-oriented Christmas songs (including Shane MacGowan's "Fairytale of New York," Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" and the recently-released Coldplay track "Christmas Lights"). Produced by Rick Rubin in 1987 for a pair of...
In the meantime, if you need to get into the Christmas spirit, we have got the best solution known to man (or beast): Run-d.M.C.'s "Christmas in Hollis," one of only a handful of truly exceptional pop-oriented Christmas songs (including Shane MacGowan's "Fairytale of New York," Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" and the recently-released Coldplay track "Christmas Lights"). Produced by Rick Rubin in 1987 for a pair of...
- 12/23/2010
- by Kyle Anderson
- MTV Newsroom
Last week, Wake-Up Video commemorated an important moment in the history of hip-hop that saw the beginnings of musicians being properly compensated for the use of their songs in samples in rap tunes. On this day in 1969, another huge moment occurred in the history of sampling, as James Brown and his band recorded the song "Funky Drummer," a track that would go down in history as (likely) the most-sampled track of all time because of its drum solo.
The drums in question were played by Clyde Stubblefield, who would later come to be known as "The Funky Drummer" because of his work on this particular track. As it stands, "Funky Drummer" isn't much of a song — there's no real vocal performance from Brown and the groove just sort of ebbs and flows. Instead of a proper vocal, Brown mostly encourages various members of his band, egging them on as they jam.
The drums in question were played by Clyde Stubblefield, who would later come to be known as "The Funky Drummer" because of his work on this particular track. As it stands, "Funky Drummer" isn't much of a song — there's no real vocal performance from Brown and the groove just sort of ebbs and flows. Instead of a proper vocal, Brown mostly encourages various members of his band, egging them on as they jam.
- 12/20/2010
- by Kyle Anderson
- MTV Newsroom
At every step of their music industry and lyrical innovation, the hip-hop group Public Enemy has been a magnet for irony.
A collective of self-proclaimed radicals lead by rapper Chuck D and hype man Flavor Flav, they've championed positive black causes and shouted out everyone from Jesse Jackson and Martin Luther King to Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan. But one of their most memorable contributions to mainstream music was a cover version of their own song "Bring the Noise" with thrash metal group Anthrax.
They railed against the scourge of freebase cocaine in "Night of the Living Baseheads," then Flavor Flav developed a crack problem.
They blasted a fictitious woman for watching garbage TV in "She Watch Channel Zero?!," then Flav became a reality star in Flavor of Love on VH1.
Now the group has announced its plans to flip the script on the major-label-driven music business model by making...
A collective of self-proclaimed radicals lead by rapper Chuck D and hype man Flavor Flav, they've championed positive black causes and shouted out everyone from Jesse Jackson and Martin Luther King to Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan. But one of their most memorable contributions to mainstream music was a cover version of their own song "Bring the Noise" with thrash metal group Anthrax.
They railed against the scourge of freebase cocaine in "Night of the Living Baseheads," then Flavor Flav developed a crack problem.
They blasted a fictitious woman for watching garbage TV in "She Watch Channel Zero?!," then Flav became a reality star in Flavor of Love on VH1.
Now the group has announced its plans to flip the script on the major-label-driven music business model by making...
- 10/7/2009
- by Tyler Gray
- Fast Company
Morgan Creek is in a legal turf war with the estate of Tupac Shakur.
The Rick Nicita production banner has sued Amaru Entertainment, the company run by Afeni Shakur, the late rapper's mother and executor, alleging in a Los Angeles Superior Court filing that the company has backed out of an agreement to sell his life rights for a film adaptation.
Negotiations between Morgan Creek and Amaru began in November, about the time former CAA partner Nicita joined the banner, for life rights that would form the basis of the untitled project.
According to the complaint, a written contract was in place for life rights, with Morgan Creek claiming that Amaru is "refus(ing) to honor and perform a contract of a production of the film based on the life of Tupac Shakur." The company seeks damages and other relief.
But late Wednesday, Amaru's lawyers denied the existence of a deal.
The Rick Nicita production banner has sued Amaru Entertainment, the company run by Afeni Shakur, the late rapper's mother and executor, alleging in a Los Angeles Superior Court filing that the company has backed out of an agreement to sell his life rights for a film adaptation.
Negotiations between Morgan Creek and Amaru began in November, about the time former CAA partner Nicita joined the banner, for life rights that would form the basis of the untitled project.
According to the complaint, a written contract was in place for life rights, with Morgan Creek claiming that Amaru is "refus(ing) to honor and perform a contract of a production of the film based on the life of Tupac Shakur." The company seeks damages and other relief.
But late Wednesday, Amaru's lawyers denied the existence of a deal.
- 2/18/2009
- by By Steven Zeitchik and Matthew Belloni
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Picture this: the year is 1985; a little girl is in her pajamas and seated in front of the TV entranced by the awesomeness that is Krush Groove. I've listened to a lot of music over the years, but I always came back to hip-hop. Come to think of it, I've listened to it, read about it -- heck, I've even watched every junky documentary that came my way. Not to mention that, to this day, when I hear It's Tricky, I make sure the volume is maxed out. So you would think that a Run Dmc biopic would be good news, right? I don't want to sound like a pessimist, but I'm not keeping my fingers crossed, and here's why: The Hollywood Reporter announced that Notorious screenwriter, Cheo Hodari Coker, has signed to adapt Bill Adler's (the group's former publicist), Tougher Than Leather: The Rise of Run-dmc -- The Authorized Biography.
- 2/5/2009
- by Jessica Barnes
- Cinematical
Other than all the movie titles you will read about below there are a few fanboy related items some of you may be interested in checking out: MTV talked to Darren Aronosfky about Robocop. Sylvester Stallone told Extra, "Yeah, we are doing another Rambo, but the conflict is whether to do it in America or a foreign country." Bd says Ghost Rider 2 is in the early stages of development. Arrow in the Head says Resident Evil 4 has a script written by Paul Anderson but he won't direct and they trying to lockdown Milla Jovovich. IESB is reporting Batman 3 is in the scripting stage, Dan Mazeau is writing The Flash and Get Smart 2 is coming in Spring 2010. With that out of the way let's get to the rest of it because there is a lot! Title: Furry Vengeance
Studio: Summit Entertainment
Director: Roger Kumble (College Road Trip)
Screenwriter: Not Available...
Studio: Summit Entertainment
Director: Roger Kumble (College Road Trip)
Screenwriter: Not Available...
- 1/30/2009
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Cheo Hodari Coker is planning to write the big-screen adaptation of Bill Adler's "Tougher Than Leather: The Rise of Run-dmc -- The Authorized Biography."
The film will examine the history of what is certainly one of the most influential hip-hop bands ever. The group was run by Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "Dmc" McDaniels and Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizel. Mizel was shot to death in Queens in 2002.
Run-dmc launched a great career during the 1980s and produced hits like "It's Like That," "It's Tricky" and "My Adidas."
"It's an extraordinary rags-to-riches journey that I'm eager to bring to the screen," producer Dallas Jackson told The Hollywood Reporter.
Coker most recently co-wrote "Notorious," which focused on the life and career of Christopher Wallace, who was also known as Notorious B.I.G.
The film will examine the history of what is certainly one of the most influential hip-hop bands ever. The group was run by Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "Dmc" McDaniels and Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizel. Mizel was shot to death in Queens in 2002.
Run-dmc launched a great career during the 1980s and produced hits like "It's Like That," "It's Tricky" and "My Adidas."
"It's an extraordinary rags-to-riches journey that I'm eager to bring to the screen," producer Dallas Jackson told The Hollywood Reporter.
Coker most recently co-wrote "Notorious," which focused on the life and career of Christopher Wallace, who was also known as Notorious B.I.G.
- 1/30/2009
- by Franck Tabouring
- screeninglog.com
At least three SpoutBlog commenters will be happy to learn that Notorious screenwriter Cheo Hodari Coker is next adapting Bill Adler's book on Run Dmc, Tougher Than Leather. Two weeks ago, when I responded to the Biggie Smalls biopic with a list of 5 Dead Rappers Who Need a Biopic, I excluded Run Dmc's Jam Master Jay on account he was a DJ, not a rapper. But SpoutBlog readers nevertheless pointed out my error and suggested he and his group get a biopic anyway. Another screenwriter goes from one bio to another: A Mighty Heart scribe John Orloff <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr ...
- 1/29/2009
- by Christopher Campbell
- Spout
At least three SpoutBlog commenters will be happy to learn that Notorious screenwriter Cheo Hodari Coker is next adapting Bill Adler's book on Run Dmc, Tougher Than Leather. Two weeks ago, when I responded to the Biggie Smalls biopic with a list of 5 Dead Rappers Who Need a Biopic, I excluded Run Dmc's Jam Master Jay on account he was a DJ, not a rapper. But SpoutBlog readers nevertheless pointed out my error and suggested he and his group get a biopic anyway. Another screenwriter goes from one bio to another: A Mighty Heart scribe John Orloff <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/co ...
- 1/29/2009
- by Christopher Campbell
- Spout
Cheo Hodari Coker, the writer of the recent Biggie Smalls biopic Notorious, has signed on to adapt Bill Adler's Tougher Than Leather: The Rise of Run-dmc -- The Authorized Biography. The film, titled Tougher, is being developed by DJ Classicz, the urban arm of Davis Entertainment. Tougher will explore the history of hip-hop's first superstars: Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "Dmc" McDaniels and Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell, who was shot to death in his Queens studio in 2002. With such hits as "It's Like That," "It's Tricky," "My Adidas" and "Walk This Way," Run-dmc exploded from the Queens neighborhood of Hollis onto the international stage with the help of future mogul Russell Simmons. An early MTV staple and platinum-selling act, the group influenced much of rap's future royalty. Retired since Mizell's death, Run-dmc will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 4. Adler, the group's former publicist,...
- 1/29/2009
- by James Cook
- TheMovingPicture.net
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