Mos Def Archives - The Playlist

‘Jeen-Yuhs’ First Look Teaser: New Kanye West Documentary Coming To Netflix In 2022

Rodrigo Perez — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 18:15:53 +0000

In many circles, Kanye West is known as a musical genius, that’s probably undisputable, he’s recorded some classic hip hop bangers. I’d argue, West is also a man who has shown himself to be an incredibly arrogant jackass (see him trying to steal Taylor Swift‘s MTV Awards moment way back when), backed Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, ran for President, and wasted millions of dollars in the process, has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and maybe right now is not the best time to tell his story.

Continue reading ‘Jeen-Yuhs’ First Look Teaser: New Kanye West Documentary Coming To Netflix In 2022 at The Playlist.

Review: ‘Bouncing Cats’ Details Breakdancing In Uganda, Suffers From Inexperience

The Playlist Staff — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 08:42:17 +0000

Review: 'Bouncing Cats' Details Breakdancing In Uganda, Suffers From Inexperience

Continue reading Review: ‘Bouncing Cats’ Details Breakdancing In Uganda, Suffers From Inexperience at The Playlist.

Bruce Willis Stars In The New Gorillaz Video ‘Stylos’

Kevin Jagernauth — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:00:00 +0000

Pitchfork pointed us to the new Bruce Willis-starring Gorillaz video for their single “Stylos” off their forthcoming album “Plastic Beach,” that will hit stores next week. In the expensive looking clip, the animated members of the group are fleeing from an incompetent cop, only to find Willis soon on their tails with a big-ass gun. It’s essentially one big, long and actually, not all that exciting car chase. The song itself isn’t that great, with Mos Def sleepwalking through his guest verse and the track only comes to life when Bobby Womack comes along and belts out the chorus.

Continue reading Bruce Willis Stars In The New Gorillaz Video ‘Stylos’ at The Playlist.

Raaaaaaaandy Calls Out Rappers For Not Delivering Their Verses, Mixtape Is Delayed

Kevin Jagernauth — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:24:00 +0000

As we announced back in December Raaaaaaaandy (aka Aziz Ansari) was working with TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek, The Have and DJ Granwizerd on a mixtape that was supposed to drop this month, and with only a few days left to go, you might be wondering, “where is it?”

Well, Raaaaaaaandy has an answer: rappers are missing their deadlines. Following a quick video update a few days ago (which you can watch below) Raaaaaaaandy has dropped “Aaaaaaaangry,” a pretty funny new single that hit the web yesterday.

Continue reading Raaaaaaaandy Calls Out Rappers For Not Delivering Their Verses, Mixtape Is Delayed at The Playlist.

Mos Def and Damon Dash Collaborating On Documentary About Pioneering Black Punk Rockers, Death

Oliver Lyttelton — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:23:00 +0000

The NME has uncovered an interview with Mos Def in the new issue of Filter Magazine, (the one with the excellent Karen O/Spike Jonze cover), where he announces that he’s teaming up with Damon Dash to produce a documentary on punk pioneers Death. The film will be directed by music video helmers Coodie & Chike, whose videos for Kanye West’s “Through The Wire,” and an earlier collaboration with Mos Def on “Ghetto Rock,” show a certain flair for documentary.

Continue reading Mos Def and Damon Dash Collaborating On Documentary About Pioneering Black Punk Rockers, Death at The Playlist.

First Listen: Beyonce, Mos Def, Nas & Jeffrey Wright Sing For ‘Cadillac Records’

Rodrigo Perez — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:48:00 +0000

We didn’t care much for “Cadillac Records,” the Chess records biopic seemed to be the 101, greatest hits of the Chicago label’s history and while that works in some cases, especially if you’re not an expert in the story (which we’re not), but it’s like the script’s beat points were lifted from Wikipedia. It also doesn’t help that the film is kind of cornball-ish (the voice over makes you want to strangle yourself), ham-fisted melodrama (the guy who plays Little Walter is just too over-the-top).

Continue reading First Listen: Beyonce, Mos Def, Nas & Jeffrey Wright Sing For ‘Cadillac Records’ at The Playlist.

Embargo Busting? Variety’s ‘Cadillac Records’ Review Hits Early

Rodrigo Perez — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:52:00 +0000

Are the rules different for Variety? Is that how it works? Yes, we realize they have about 10 trillion times more juice than us and most of the rest of bloggers out there, but an embargo is an embargo, no? Doesn’t make sense if people don’t play by the rules does it?

“Cadillac Records” reviews aren’t supposed to hit until the week of release (next week), but Variety has already posted theirs, penned by John Anderson.

Continue reading Embargo Busting? Variety’s ‘Cadillac Records’ Review Hits Early at The Playlist.

‘Cadillac Records’ Soundtrack To Be Offered In Double-Disc Edition Featuring More Songs, Q-Tip And Buddy Guy

Rodrigo Perez — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:28:00 +0000

We already posted the details on the “Cadillac Records” soundtrack, it comes out December 2 via Columbia records and features R&B Chess Records classics as sung by Beyoncé, Nas, Mos Def, Jeffrey Wright, Raphael Saadiq and Beyonce’s younger sister Solange, right?

Sorta, there’s more. Apparently, there’s also going to be deluxe double-disc edition offered with new artwork (pictured) that features more songs, plus an appearance by Q-Tip, Buddy Guy and the film’s score composer, Terrence Blanchard (Spike Lee’s constant music man).

Continue reading ‘Cadillac Records’ Soundtrack To Be Offered In Double-Disc Edition Featuring More Songs, Q-Tip And Buddy Guy at The Playlist.

First Look: Mos Def As Chuck Berry And More ‘Cadillac Records’ Photos

Rodrigo Perez — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:07:00 +0000

As we noted earlier this week, the biopic about estimable R&B label Chess Records, titled “Cadillac Records” is now coming out December 5 via Sony. The soundtrack. which features many of the actors singing R&B classics, including Beyoncé Knowles, Mos Def and Jeffery Wright, plus appearances by rapper Nas, Raphael Saadiq and Beyonce’s younger sister Solange, hits December 2 (apparently Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest is on it too, we musta missed that).

IMDB a bunch of images of the film including the first look at Mos Def as Chuck Berry, Cedric The Entertainer as Willie Dixon and more shots of Knowles portraying Etta James and Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters.

Continue reading First Look: Mos Def As Chuck Berry And More ‘Cadillac Records’ Photos at The Playlist.

‘Cadillac Records’ Coming Out December 5, Soundtrack Featuring Beyonce, Mos Def, Nas, Jeffrey Wright & Solange Hits December 2

Rodrigo Perez — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:22:00 +0000

Something to add to the Oscar season perhaps? Hey, don’t scoff, “Dreamgirls,” did it. Maybe not entirely successfully, but the musical movie sure stuck its foot in the door.

“Cadillac Records,” chronicles the rise and fall of Chicago 1950’s R&B record label (Chess Records) is now set for a December 5 release and could be this year’s “Dreamgirls” if it’s lucky. Either way, they’ll be a ton of classic songs in the film.

Continue reading ‘Cadillac Records’ Coming Out December 5, Soundtrack Featuring Beyonce, Mos Def, Nas, Jeffrey Wright & Solange Hits December 2 at The Playlist.

Further Proof That IMDB Is Unreliable

Rodrigo Perez — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:35:00 +0000

Rihanna was rumored to be making her acting debut in a film called “Mama Black Widow,” alongside Mos Def. IMDB, which can seemingly be updated by any monkey added the info to their database. Well, guess what?…

Continue reading Further Proof That IMDB Is Unreliable at The Playlist.

Mos Def To Play Chuck Berry In ‘Cadillac Records’ R&B Film

Rodrigo Perez — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:08:00 +0000

It was only a few weeks ago that we saw pictures of Beyoncé as Etta James in the film, “Cadillac Records,” chronicling the rise and fall of the titular estimable Chicago 1950’s R&B record label.

Now rapper/actor Mos Def has been cast to play o.g. rocker Chuck Berry according to Variety. Actress Gabrielle Union has been tapped to play Geneva Wade, the girlfriend/wife of Muddy Waters to be played by Jeffery Wright. The film centers around R&B magnate Leonard Chess (played by Adrien Brody) and the estimable 1950’s Chicago R&B record label Chess Records (in the film transposed to Cadillac Records).

Continue reading Mos Def To Play Chuck Berry In ‘Cadillac Records’ R&B Film at The Playlist.

Is Michel Gondry’s Proposed ‘Be Kind Rewind’ “Sequel” Proof That He’s Lost The Plot?

Rodrigo Perez — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:39:00 +0000

Anyone who’s seen Michel Gondry’s “Be Kind Rewind” know there’s no need for a sequel. In fact, anyone who’s seen the trailer can figure this out.

It’s a light, fluffy comedy with no need for a part two. But this hasn’t stopped Gondry from concocting another hair-brained idea to revisit the bumbling half-wits of his DIY paean.

And don’t worry about spoilers if you haven’t seen “Be Kind Rewind” yet, there is no real plot that that film.

Continue reading Is Michel Gondry’s Proposed ‘Be Kind Rewind’ “Sequel” Proof That He’s Lost The Plot? at The Playlist.

Back To The Gondry: The Films That Michel Didn’t Kindly Swede

Rodrigo Perez — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:43:00 +0000

For a film we kind of disliked, we’re sure blogging about this a lot! [ed. nice preemptive strike].

So “Be Kind Rewind,” the Michel Gondry movie that opens up this weekend and isn’t very good, but it marginally charming, right?

In the film Mos Def and Jack Black “swede” (cheaply remake) a bunch of pre-existing “classic” films because they accidentally erase them. They remake “Ghostbusters,” “Robocop,” “Boyz N’ The Hood,” “Driving Miss Daisy” and many more (all the sweded trailers for them are here).

Continue reading Back To The Gondry: The Films That Michel Didn’t Kindly Swede at The Playlist.

Dave Chappelle & ‘Block Party’ Heavily Inspired Michel Gondry’s ‘Be Kind Rewind’ – Or Was It Amanda Bynes?

Rodrigo Perez — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:52:00 +0000

In our “Be Kind Rewind” review we discussed how the film was not only a celebration of cinema, but one of community and the DIY spirit. An interview that ran today in the A/V Club with director Michel Gondry emphasizes this point, but also sheds light on comedian Dave Chapelle’s influence. We had honestly forgotten that at one point early on, it was Chapelle, not Mos Def that was attached to the role of the VHS store halfwit Mike.

Continue reading Dave Chappelle & ‘Block Party’ Heavily Inspired Michel Gondry’s ‘Be Kind Rewind’ – Or Was It Amanda Bynes? at The Playlist.

‘Be Kind Rewind’: Incredibly Silly, Heavily Flawed But Charming Paean To The DIY Spirit

Rodrigo Perez — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:53:00 +0000

Michel Gondry’s “Be Kind Rewind” is a curious and strange film insofar that its greatest strengths – his fierce imagination – become its biggest weakness here. Let’s start off with Emmanuel Levy’s mostly-apt synopsis. “Arguably the weakest and silliest of Gondry’s films, this one-note comedy is basically a short stretched to the limits of a feature-length movie that even reliable pros like Jack Black can’t rescue.”

This mostly nails it except that it’s not “arguably” Gondry’s weakest film, it’s easily his weakest, Jack Black is certainly not a “reliable pro” (more like a tired, one trick pony) and yet ‘Rewind’s does skate by a little bit on its charms and sincerity.

Continue reading ‘Be Kind Rewind’: Incredibly Silly, Heavily Flawed But Charming Paean To The DIY Spirit at The Playlist.

Michel Gondry’s ‘Tokyo’ Short Changes Title, Plus Watch ‘Rewind’ Sundance Performance

Rodrigo Perez — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 01:18:00 +0000

We last asked, would Mos Def show up for the “Be Kind Rewind” concert that happened during the Sundance Film Festival? Nobody really reported it (that we saw), but it happened and Mos was there. ‘Rewind’ opens this weekend and the soundtrack which features Mos Def and score composer Jean-Michel Bernard and also includes songs by JackBlack, Billy Preston (the same song was used in the trailer), Booker T, and musical contributions from Michel Gondry on drums is already in stores.

Continue reading Michel Gondry’s ‘Tokyo’ Short Changes Title, Plus Watch ‘Rewind’ Sundance Performance at The Playlist.

‘Be Kind Rewind’ Soundtrack Concert Happening January 20 At Sundance

Rodrigo Perez — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:20:00 +0000

We told you Michel Gondry and composer Jean-Michel Bernard would be performing songs from the “Be Kind Rewind” soundtrack (which features a lot of Fats Waller songs) at Sundance later this month.

Well, the concert has a date now and it’s Sunday January 20 at the Sundance House at the Kimball Art Center in Park City. Patti Smith and Brooklyn’s the Everyother Brothers will be there as well (there’s also rumors that U2 will be playing Sundance at some point – makes sense considering their 3D movie will debut there).

Continue reading ‘Be Kind Rewind’ Soundtrack Concert Happening January 20 At Sundance at The Playlist.

‘Be Kind Rewind’ Bumped Back Until February 22

Rodrigo Perez — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 23:15:00 +0000

Speaking of Michel Gondry and his new film, “Be Kind Rewind,” its soundtrack, its inventive marketing and all that (like we did today and the last few days). The film is being pushed. That’s right, originally due January 25, the film has been bumped back to February 22 according to our soundtrack sources (and Slashfilm has the same bit of info).

Does this mean ‘Rewind’ won’t play Sundance? Hard to tell and probably not, but it doesn’t bode well for the film that’s been bumped back numerous times (it was originally due in ’07) and late January is generally dumping-ground season for mediocre films not really worth the big-bucks marketing effort.

Continue reading ‘Be Kind Rewind’ Bumped Back Until February 22 at The Playlist.

Michel Gondry, Mos Def & Jean-Michel Bernard To Perform ‘Be Kind Rewind’ Soundtrack At Sundance; Film Gets Inventive Marketing Campaign

Rodrigo Perez — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:13:00 +0000

So you all know about Michel Gondry’s new movie “Be Kind Rewind” which stars rapper Mos Def and comedian Jack Black as bumbling video store clerks that accidentally erase their entire catalogue and then re-make all the films in a misguided, but hopefully funny attempt at not losing customers.

The film is premiering at the Sundance Film Festival later this month and according to a small pearl of info in a recent L.A. Times profile of ‘Rewind,’ Gondry, Mos Def and composer Jean-Michel Bernard (who wrote the score) will be on hand to perform songs from the soundtrack at the festival.

Continue reading Michel Gondry, Mos Def & Jean-Michel Bernard To Perform ‘Be Kind Rewind’ Soundtrack At Sundance; Film Gets Inventive Marketing Campaign at The Playlist.

‘Be Kind Rewind’ Soundtrack Features Mos Def, Jack Black, Fats Waller, Billy Preston, Booker T, & Jean-Michel Bernard Score; Due January 22

Rodrigo Perez — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:12:00 +0000

We reported some of the details surrounding the upcoming Michel Gondry movie, “Be Kind Rewind” soundtrack earlier this year, but now all the deets are in.

As previously reported, the score was composed by Jean-Michel Bernard (he also did Gondry’s “Science Of Sleep” and contributed music to “Human Nature”) and also features Mos Def and Fats Waller.

The soundtrack also includes songs by Jack Black, Billy Preston (the same song was used in the trailer), Booker T, and musical contributions from Michel Gondry (who plays drums, most notably in recent years on the Jon Brion, Kanye West produced track “Diamonds From Sierra Leone”).

Continue reading ‘Be Kind Rewind’ Soundtrack Features Mos Def, Jack Black, Fats Waller, Billy Preston, Booker T, & Jean-Michel Bernard Score; Due January 22 at The Playlist.

The Guide To Sweding: Plus ‘Be Kind Rewind’ Sweded Trailers

Rodrigo Perez — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:11:00 +0000

What the hell is “Sweding?” It’s basically the idea that fuels Michel Gondry’s upcoming ode to VHS-made movie remakes, “Be Kind Rewind,” starring Mos Def and Jack Black.

According to the Be Kind Rewind site, Sweding – “is re-making something from scratch using whatever you can get your hands on.”

Wikipedia describes Sweding as: a neologism first coined in ‘Be Kind Rewind’ that describes the practice of re-creating something from scratch using commonly available, everyday materials and technology.

Continue reading The Guide To Sweding: Plus ‘Be Kind Rewind’ Sweded Trailers at The Playlist.

“Be Kind Rewind” Moves To 2008, Mos Def On Soundtrack

Rodrigo Perez — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:39:00 +0000

As many of you may be well aware, Michel Gondry’s absurdist VHS/’80s movie paean, “Be Kind Rewind,” has been moved from its original December release to January 25, 2008. For the seventeen nerds on the IMDB boards, this officially squelches the chances of the film’s Oscar chances, but if you really thought a film like ‘Rewind’ – as amusing and fun as it may well be – had serious Oscar hopes you need your head examined.

Continue reading “Be Kind Rewind” Moves To 2008, Mos Def On Soundtrack at The Playlist.

The Round Up: Wes Anderson To Open Up The New York Film Festival, Ryan Gosling, Mos Def

Rodrigo Perez — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 13:22:00 +0000

– Wes Anderson’s upcoming film, the “The Darjeeling Limited,” will open the 45 annual New York Film Festival on September 28. This finally give us a hard deadline for our sprawling 3-disc, “If I Were Wes Anderson” opus (finish the fucking thing already, Christ). Festival program director Richard Pena said, “It represents a big step for Wes. I hate to use the word ‘matured,’ but the humor and whimsy he uses is sharper, better focused and used more effectively.

Continue reading The Round Up: Wes Anderson To Open Up The New York Film Festival, Ryan Gosling, Mos Def at The Playlist.