35 SHOTS OF RUM

This is a meditative and wonderful little movie exploring a father/daughter relationship that becomes complicated when the daughter starts seeing a young man. Directed gracefully by Claire Denis. It also uses The Commodores soulful "NightShift" in a very beautiful and haunting way.

THE MAGNIFICENT LENA HORNE (June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010)

Gone. But never ever forgotten. Lena, it is because of your uncompromising spirit that barriers in the movie industry have been broken down. You, screen goddess define icon. You define sophistication. An actress, a singer, a civil rights activist. Your legacy lives through me and through us all.

THE BLACKEST KIDS YOU KNOW

The Boondocks is airing it's third and final season on the Adult Swim channel which premiered last Sunday. It's a rather premature end, for many of us Boondock fanatics who love the controversial animated social satire which deals with race in America unlike any show ever on television (maybe since The Richard Pryor Show which made NBC super nervous). Where the Family Guy, another very funny animated show exploring it's own scathing commentary on American stupidity, The Boondocks is by far it's college-educated older brother. The way in which The Boondocks handles issues of race, class, gender, and American ignorance with intelligence and gut-busting humor comes primarily from it's cast of characters: militant Huey, outrageous Riley, clueless Grandad, and self hating Negro Uncle Ruckus. The show is definitely hated by many of the people it has offended. The Boondocks never ever plays it safe. I am always in deep admiration of works of art that courageously vocalize the "unsayable." America's greatest contradiction is it's ability to be both exploitative and politically sensitive. Thank God the Boondocks just doesn't give a f***!

WHO GOT THE SOUL?

Lately, I've been in deep musical depression. It comes from any attempt to watch a music video or listen to the radio and what I hear is saddening and dismal. What happened to the SINGERS? You know those voices that were soul shattering, earth rattling... those vocalists who penetrated your soul? Those voices that allowed you to close your eyes and ride a cosmic wave. Ummm.. it's almost terrifying to realize that black music almost completely lost what made it so profound and powerful in the first place.

So with all that being said, I'd like to honor at least 25 of my favorite vocalists of all time. At least pay homage to those who used the music as an art form to express the existential beauty and pain of human emotion.

This ain't a list of the GREATEST. Just my favorites!! No real particular order...


1. OTIS REDDING: The amount of soul he infused into a song could send a rocket ship into space. In my opinion, the greatest soul singer to ever touch a mic. If you don't believe me listen to "Try A Little Tenderness"

2. MARVIN GAYE: His voice is the closest thing to paradise without actually going to an island of white sands and crystal blue waters. He is true soul seducer. His voice could literally reach out to you and remove your clothes layer by layer. Don't even get me started when I hear him sing "Distant Lover" or "Just to Keep You Satisfied." True sanctified soul.

3. SAM COOKE: He had the perfect marriage of gospel and R&B. He was a soul stylist. He gave this beautiful vocal instrument a sophistication that has never been matched.

4. TEDDY PENDERGRASS: His raw, powerful voice is probably the reason I am even on this earth. For that alone, I thank him. He sang with such aching, raging passion. He was undeniably a true soul stirrer and completely underrated.

5. CHAKA KHAN: The woman's vocals are effortlessly amazing. I can listen to her sing the phone book. There's this beautiful wildness to her style. She sings with such abandon. Whether it's with Rufus on a song like "Do You Love What You Feel" or something tender like "Love Me Still"...her voice takes you through the fire.

6. GLADYS KNIGHT: Her voice may be the closest you can get to Heaven without actually dying. Seriously! Listen to her version of the "Makings of You." She's just got phenomenal, untouchable soul.

7. ARETHA FRANKLIN: The Queen she Be! She can be sultry and sexy and then raw and gritty. She is a powerhouse vocalist with an unbelievable ability to really get inside the barriers of the human soul.

8. PATTI LABELLE: When I hear Patti sing "You Are My Friend" instantly tears come to my eyes. She has that kind of vocal ability. Her voice soars like a rocketship.

9. NINA SIMONE: She has one of the most distinct voices in music. Her voice is deep and as infinite as you would imagine the ocean to me. And just as haunting.



10. PRINCE: The man has range! The Royal Purple One has such a unique and beautiful way of conveying emotions: whether it's erotic or godly-he knows how to straddle that fine line and sing with passion and fearlessness.

11. DONNY HATHAWAY: His voice provoked such deep emotion that it could bring a tear to the hardest thug's eye. He sings with such conviction and such divine tenderness. His voice is holy in every sense of the world--a force of supernatural magnificence and if you listen to "A Song for You" or "Superwoman" you'll see what I mean.

12. STEVIE WONDER: Oooh his distinct voice can truly knock you off your feet! Similar Hathaway in his very emotive vocals. He has such effortless angelic texture to his voice whether it's a social commentary like "Living for the City" or a romantic ode like "Overjoyed". Stevie simply transcends.

13. AL GREEN: He has the aching tenderness in his smooth, gritty vocal. He brings that fish-fry in mid-July soul. He's a super bad brotha with gospel-delic fervor and silky sexy seduction all at the same time.

14. TEENA MARIE: If you could hear the angels sing, then they'd all sound as luminous and ethereal as her. Wow. Whenever I listen to a song by her, I feel all warm inside. Her voice is so magical and pure.

15. MINNIE RIPERTON: Speaking of pure and magical, her pitch-perfect range is one of the most beautiful sounds on the planet. My favorite song by her is "Memory Lane" -- the way she just oozed cosmic soul.

16. CURTIS MAYFIELD: Talk about Soul Brotha Number 1. He was a true soul stirrer. His soft, satin vocal could melt an iceberg.

17. LUTHER VANDROSS: What can you say about the most sophisticated soul man there is? Just take one listen to "A House Is Not A Home" and be forever transformed.

18. ETTA JAMES: Now no one sings with this kind of hard, gut-bucket blues anymore. She must be made of fire, 'cause this soul mama has got a hell of a voice! That may sound corny but listen to "I'd Rather Go Blind" and tell me I'm wrong. I dare you.

19. MICHAEL JACKSON: Don't let his moonwalk fool you, Michael could sing. He had such a unique voice. And during his prime, it was one of the most beautiful voices ever. "Lady of My Life" is a true testament to the mastery of his vocals.

20. JILL SCOTT: One of the few contemporaries who truly is carrying the legacy of soul in every vocal demonstration. She reminds me of a great jazz singer with her vocal stylings. Jilly from Philly is no F'ing joke, believe that. She can throw down in the soul kitchen.




21. RICK JAMES: Yes he's a super freak but he had an operatic powerhouse vocal that could shatter glass... when I first heard "Fire and Desire" I stopped dead in my tracks and have yet to recover.

22. MAXWELL: Another contemporary who understands the art of crooning. He is sexy as Prince, smooth as Al, and has tender as Donny--what a hell of a package!

23. DARYL HALL: One of the kings of 80's pop, no doubt but when you hear a song like "Sara Smile" you know this man understands how to give good soul.

24. SMOKEY ROBINSON: "ooooh baby, baby" is all he gotta say... and I'll cruise with him, anywhere!

25. ANITA BAKER: The very definition of quiet storm. Her voice is a soulful tornado of mystifying midnight.

THE GENIUS OF PAUL MOONEY

Everyone who knows me knows that Paul Mooney is my favorite comedian of all time. And if anyone knows anything about Richard Pryor, you'd know that Paul Mooney was Richard's best friend, writer, and designated driver. Paul Mooney is also a legendary comedian who broke down doors for black comic writers when those words had never been used in a sentence: "black comic writer"... yeah, he was there from the beginning, paving the way and being brutally honest about race in America. The reason so many don't know Mr. Mooney has a lot to do with why I love him so. He would never compromise his integrity to be more famous. He is a comedian who doesn't sugar-coat and saturate so that mainstream (white) audiences can laugh comfortably. Mooney makes it plain! He is hysterically funny and incredibly brilliant, one of the smartest and definitely one of the most respected comedians of all time. The great comedians all acknowledge him as one of the greatest.

A fascinating interview was posted on popmatters.com and it made me want to acknowledge the brilliant Mr. Mooney on my page as well.

Paul Mooney's also written a tell-all memoir called "Black is the New White" about his complex, loyal friendship with Richard Pryor, Hollywood, and life. It's a very entertaining read and a sharp observation of the industry as a whole. And there are definitely a few surprising revelations.

He has a new upcoming stand up special on Showtime called "It's the End of the World" and it's a not to be missed event. Definitely check your local listing.

And if you remember Homey D. Clown from "In Living Color": Paul Mooney created that. Yeah, peoples, he's just that good.

The Greatest Story NEVER Told...Until Now: "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks"

Thank God for the fierce curiosity of Rebecca Skloot. I would have never heard this story if it wasn't for her brave and fascinating scientific journalism. This is a history no one outside of the science community knows and a history everyone on earth should know.

Amazon.com gives a brief and descriptive passage about the contents of the book: "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a fascinating and moving story of medicine and family, of how life is sustained in laboratories and in memory. Henrietta Lacks was a mother of five in Baltimore, a poor African American migrant from the tobacco farms of Virginia, who died from a cruelly aggressive cancer at the age of 30 in 1951. A sample of her cancerous tissue, taken without her knowledge or consent, as was the custom then, turned out to provide one of the holy grails of mid-century biology: human cells that could survive--even thrive--in the lab. Known as HeLa cells, their stunning potency gave scientists a building block for countless breakthroughs, beginning with the cure for polio. Meanwhile, Henrietta's family continued to live in poverty and frequently poor health, and their discovery decades later of her unknowing contribution--and her cells' strange survival--left them full of pride, anger, and suspicion. For a decade, Skloot doggedly but compassionately gathered the threads of these stories, slowly gaining the trust of the family while helping them learn the truth about Henrietta, and with their aid she tells a rich and haunting story that asks the questions, Who owns our bodies? And who carries our memories? "--Tom Nissley

Buy this book! Henrietta Lacks deserves you know her story because her life has probably saved yours.

Richard Pryor Biopic starring Marlon Wayans?

Yes. You heard it right. Looks like Marlon Wayans will be starring as Richard Pryor in the Bill Condon (Dreamgirls) directed biopic about the genius comedian's life. For some reason, I have very few qualms about this and that's only because comedians have truly impressed me as dramatic actors. Mo-Nique in "Precious," Jamie Foxx in "Ray," Robin Williams in "Good Will Hunting" among other roles, Eddie Murphy in "Dreamgirls" just to name a few. I so rarely watched the Wayans brothers movies and am usually humiliated that movies like "White Chicks" and "Dance Flick" even exist. But I do know that Marlon Wayans had an impressive, critically hailed dramatic performance in 1999's "Requiem for a Dream."



Truthfully, I am just happy that someone is attempting to make a strong, worthy biopic of Pryor's life. I did not enjoy "JoJo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling" as much as some people. I find Richard Pryor to be one of the most fascinating entertainers to have ever lived and I really hope that his biopic lives up to the triumph that he so richly deserves.

Marlon you got your work cut out for you. Don't let us down.