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Ol’ Dirty Bastard ‘Biography’ Documentary Coming to A&E

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The life of Wu-Tang Clan founding member Ol’ Dirty Bastard will be commemorated in an all-new A&E Network documentary. Biography: Ol’ Dirty Bastard marks the first documentary to be approved by the late Grammy-nominated rapper’s estate. The Pulse Films, Four Screens and Ol’ Dirty Bastard Estate production is co-directed by Emmy and Peabody Award winner Sam Pollard and his son Jason Pollard. It is set to premiere next year.

Biography: Ol’ Dirty Bastard holds exclusive rights to never-before-seen personal archival footage filmed by Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s wife, Icelene Jones. The Brooklyn-native rapper, né Russell Jones, died of a drug-induced heart attack in 2004. He was 35. Explore Ol’ Dirty Bastard Wu-Tang Clan See latest videos, charts and news

“I am thrilled to tell the full story of my husband,” Icelene said in a statement. “With this documentary, the world will learn about the son, husband, father and artist. I’m proud of the team that we built, including Pulse, my production partners Nicole Beckett and Messiah Jacobs at Four Screens, and our directing team, the Pollards.”

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The two-hour documentary features commentary from Jones’ family and friends as it unveils the full scope of his life beyond music. It also takes a deep dive into his upbringing and its effects on his adulthood.

Biography: Ol’ Dirty Bastard highlights much of ODB’s success, from his time in the iconic Wu-Tang Clan (with fellow members RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God and Masta Killa) starting with their debut studio album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) in 1993. The group earned their first and only Grammy nomination in ’97, and ODB scored two Grammy nods for his solo work as well.

Elaine Frontain Bryant, executive vice president and head of programming at A&E, said in a statement, “A&E continues to be an industry leader in definitive documentary storytelling. Biography: Ol’ Dirty Bastard will present viewers with the untold story of the man and musician who made an immense cultural impact across just a few short years.”

Sam Bridger, executive producer for Pulse Films, said in a statement, “At Pulse Films, we are passionate about making music documentaries that tell intimate and unique stories about the world’s most iconic artists. ODB completely redefined what it meant to be an MC. [He was] a genius who lived and breathed his art. We are thrilled to have Sam and Jason Pollard on board, who are the perfect filmmakers to tell this amazing story for the first time. There will never be anyone quite like ODB and we are so grateful to his family and friends for inviting us into his world.”

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Behind Closed Doors: Nas Opens Up About the Events that Led to Cutting Ties with R. Kelly

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Photos by Harry Borden, Ron Galella/Getty Images

In the world of music collaborations, there are some that stand out as iconic moments in history. One such collaboration was between the legendary rapper Nas and the talented R&B artist R. Kelly on the remix of Nas’s hit song “Street Dream.” This remix, known as the “Street Dream Remix,” brought together two powerhouse artists from different genres to create a musical masterpiece that still resonates with fans today.

In 1996, the Queensbridge rapper Nas was one of the hottest artists in the urban music industry. That year he released his second studio album “It Was Written” with standout singles “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)” and “Street Dreams”. The album was a commercial success, selling 270,000 copies in its first week and debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.

The second single “Street Dreams” brought together Nas and R. Kelly for an epic remix that was change Hip Hop forever. This collaboration seamlessly bridged the realms of hip-hop and R&B, forging a unique connection between disparate musical spheres. It not only captivated a diverse array of fans but also highlighted the artistic flexibility of Nas and R Kelly, setting a new standard for future music collaborations. The “Street Dream Remix” emerged as a cultural phenomenon, propelling the artists into the limelight and solidifying their influence in their respective genres.

The music video was shot by Hype Williams in September 1996 and R. Kelly was so impressed by the collaboration he wanted to build a working relationship with Nas. R. Kelly also wanted to record a joint double album with Nas so they could cross promote a multi-city tour and marketing events.

Unfortunately this major moment in hip hop history would never happen, due to R. Kelly. Nas was featured on the remix version of “Did You Ever Think” from Kelly’s 1999 “R” album, but they recorded together again. Watch the video below from our friend Karceno4Life to find out more:

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Bruno Mars Allegedly Has $50 Million Gambling Debt With MGM Casino

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Photo courtesy of The Brand Guild

Bruno Mars might be in some hot water with MGM.

The “24K Magic” singer announced a multi-year residency with MGM Resorts International in 2016, performing at the hospitality giant’s Park MGM resort in Las Vegas.

However, the relationship between the 38-year-old and the hospitality giant may have gone sour as the singer’s gambling has allegedly racked up large debts at the poker tables in Las Vegas, according to NewsNation.

“He owed millions to the MGM,” a Vegas insider told the outlet.

Another source added that the debt is as high as $50 million.

“[MGM] basically own him. He makes $90 million a year off of the deal he did with the casino, but then he has to pay back his debt,” added the insider, claiming that the singer only makes $1.5 million per night after taxes.

Part of Mars’ MGM contract reportedly included the creation of The Pinky Ring, a cocktail lounge inside the Bellagio Resort. NewsNation reports that another project is in the works as well.

[Read More via Complex]

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Steve Stoute Blames Dame Dash For Jay-Z, Roc-A-Fella Records Break Up

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Steve Stoute is talking about what caused the downfall of Jay-Z and Dame Dash’s friendship and working relationship—and Dame has something to say about it.

On the latest episode of Club Shay Shay, the music executive recalled how Dame, now 52, and Hov, 54, couldn’t keep Roc-A-Fella Records afloat. According to Stoute, Dame “blew it,” and it’s incredible how he did that, especially when he had Jay-Z, “the most important artist of his generation,” in his corner. Host Shannon Sharpe specifically asked how “that relationship that was so good sour so fast.”

“Dame’s antics, were just, it became—people over time, you mature,” 53-year-old Stoute said. “It’s like you have friends at 16, but by the time you turn 19, they were still doing the same shit when you were 16. … You start spending less and less time with them because of that.” 

Our podcast FRSHOUT Hip Hop breaks down the recent damning comments from Steve Stoute on Dame Dash.


[Watch the full clip @ FRSHOUT Hip Hop]

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