N.O.R.E. is responsible for getting DMX's samples cleared for the "VIEWS" track "U With Me?", perhaps squashing a longstanding beef in the process.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/nore-helped-drake-and-40-clear-dmx-sample-on-views-news.21371.html
Saturday, April 30, 2016
N.O.R.E. Helped Drake & 40 Clear DMX Sample On "VIEWS"
N.O.R.E. is responsible for getting DMX's samples cleared for the "VIEWS" track "U With Me?", perhaps squashing a longstanding beef in the process.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/nore-helped-drake-and-40-clear-dmx-sample-on-views-news.21371.html
Kanye West & Dr. Dre To Appear On DMX's Next Album
According to Swizz Beatz, DMX is planning a major return, collaborating with the likes of Kanye West and Dr. Dre.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/kanye-west-and-dr-dre-to-appear-on-dmxs-next-album-news.21370.html
DJ Khaled Was Arianna Huffington's Date To White House Correspondents' Dinner
Because obviously.
DJ Khaled joined Arianna Huffington as her date to the White House Correspondents' Dinner Saturday night and obviously documented all of it on social media.
The pair posed arm-in-arm on the red carpet.
Keep living your best life, DJ Khaled.
Watch Larry Wilmore Make Everyone Nervous At The 2016 White House Correspondents' Dinner
Comedian Larry Wilmore brought his A-game while hosting the 2016 White House Correspondents' Dinner.
He cracked plenty of jokes about President Barack Obama and other politicians, and had lots of sharp one-liners about the media.
Watch his full speech above.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Watch Larry Wilmore Make Everyone Nervous At The 2016 White House Correspondents' Dinner
Comedian Larry Wilmore brought his A-game while hosting the 2016 White House Correspondents' Dinner.
He cracked plenty of jokes about President Barack Obama and other politicians, and had lots of sharp one-liners about the media.
Watch his full speech above.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
French Montana Buys Selena Gomez' Mansion For 3.3 Million
French Montana has bought the former home of Selena Gomez in Calabasas.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/french-montana-buys-selena-gomez-mansion-for-33-million-news.21369.html
Here's What Obama Has To Say About Donald Trump
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama saved his jokes about Donald Trump for late in his White House Correspondents' Dinner remarks, but didn't spare the Republican frontrunner.
Trump attended last year's dinner but was not in the room this year. Obama joked that it should be the perfect place for Trump -- a room full of reporters, celebrities and cameras.
"Is this dinner too tacky for the Donald?" Obama said. "Is he at home eating a Trump steak, tweeting out insults to Angela Merkel? What is he doing?"
He praised Trump's foreign policy chops, noting that the businessman previously owned the Miss Universe pageant and has extensive experience with "Miss Sweden, Miss Argentina, Miss Azerbaijan."
Obama also noted one area where Trump's experience might come in handy -- closing the Guantanamo Bay detainment facility.
"Trump knows a thing or two about running waterfront properties into the ground," he joked.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Ray and Janay Rice -- Baby On the Way!!
NFL free agent Ray Rice and his wife Janay are about to become parents all over again ... Janay just announced she's got a bun in the oven. A noticeably pregnant Janay took to her Instagram page Saturday to make the announcement ... and said she's…
Here Are All The Celebrities Attending The 2016 White House Correspondents' Dinner
Washington, D.C. got a little more glamorous this weekend as celebrities descended on our nation's capital for the 2016 White House Correspondents' Dinner.
Such famous faces as actors Will Smith, Rachel McAdams and Kerry Washington, singer Aretha Franklin, model Kendall Jenner and more attended the event, rubbing elbows with journalists and politicians.
Check out some photos from the event below:
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
DJ Khaled Was Ariana Huffington's Date To White House Correspondents' Dinner
Because obviously.
DJ Khaled joined Ariana Huffington as her date to the White House Correspondents' Dinner Saturday night and obviously documented all of it on social media.
The pair posed arm-in-arm on the red carpet.
Keep living your best life, DJ Khaled.
Anderson .Paak "The Season / Carry Me / The Waters" Video
Anderson .Paak releases a new video to the "Malibu" songs "Carry Me / The Season" as well as "The Waters."
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/anderson-paak-the-season-carry-me-the-waters-video-new-video.37404.html
Birdman Feat. Neno Calvin & Hot Boy "Fuk Em" Video
Birdman addresses his haters in the new video to "Fuk Em," featuring Neno Calvin and Hot Boy.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/birdman-feat-neno-calvin-fuk-em-video-new-video.37403.html
iLoveMakonnen - Jag Feat. LuiDiamonds
ILoveMakonnen links with Awful's LuiDiamonds for "Jag," a smooth, carefree banger produced by Tunji Ige.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/ilovemakonnen-jag-feat-luidiamonds-new-song.1969600.html
Dallas Cowboys Draft Star Basketball Player Rico Gathers
Want to feel non-athletic? Boy, do we have a story for you!
Rico Gathers, a 22-year-old who set a school record while playing on Baylor University's basketball team, was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday.
The last time that Gathers played football was in middle school.
The former All-American forward (6 foot 8 inches and 273 pounds) averaged 11.4 points per game in his 2015-2016 season at Baylor and set a school record for rebounds. He had 292 offensive rebounds over his last two seasons with the team, more than any other major conference player, per ESPN. His coach encouraged him to spend his final year of college eligibility with the football team, but Gathers opted to go pro instead. He has been training for the gridiron since his school was eliminated from the NCAA tournament last month, the NFL reports.
It's unclear how good Gathers was at football in middle school.
Dallas selected him in the sixth round (217th pick of the draft), hoping that those hops he used to grab rebounds translate to catching footballs.
The risky pick has a precedent: Jimmy Graham, Julius Thomas and Antonio Gates were all college basketball players who went on to become successful tight ends in the NFL.
"I'm all about that physicality," Gathers said of making the transition. "Can't wait to touchdown!" he tweeted after being picked, with the hashtag, #FromRebounds2Touchdowns.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Ronda Rousey -- Crazy Beach Workout ... Ready For The Ring (PHOTOS)
Ronda Rousey will train on land, sand and water to make sure she isn't beaten again. The former UFC Champ hit up Venice Beach Saturday with her team and one thing's for sure ... Rousey looks as mean and focused as ever. You'll remember, TMZ Sports…
Amy Schumer Doesn't Need Your Permission To Decline A Selfie
Amy Schumer announced on Instagram that she will no longer be taking photos with fans after a man demanded that she stop and pose for a picture.
While visiting Greenville, South Carolina, a fan "scared the shit" out of her when he abruptly approached the comedian, she wrote. Schumer declined the request but he persisted, allegedly telling her "it's America and we paid for you" in front of his daughter.
On Saturday, she shared a photo of the man on social media, identifying him as the reason why snagging a Schumer selfie might be more difficult in the future.
Read her full post below:
Only an hour before the encounter, Schumer shared a clip from her performance in the city on Friday night, singing the praises of the South. "Greenville makes you feel like mmmmmmm," the caption reads.
Although she was clearly shaken by the incident, it looks like Schumer's day turned around. She followed up the post with photos of herself laughing with friends and enjoying the perks of country life. Apparently, she's also gotten over her fear of horses.
Lexington, Kentucky, is Schumer's next stop on her tour. Let's hope her visit to BFF Jennifer Lawrence's home state goes a bit more smoothly.
We reached out to Schumer's representatives and will update the post accordingly.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Chris Christie 'Would've Gone In And Cuffed' Laremy Tunsil Over Bong Video
Laremy Tunsil has a lot more to worry about than the colossal hit his first NFL salary took after a video surfaced showing him taking a bong hit from a gas mask.
New Jersey Governor and anti-marijuana crusader Chris Christie
Christie, a former U.S. attorney, said that he would have brought his prosecutorial hammer down on Tunsil over the video of him that emerged just before the NFL Draft on Thursday night.
"It's unbelievable," Christie said Friday on the "Boomer & Carton" radio show on New York's WFAN. "Because the bong hits aren't enough. Give me the gas mask too. It's incredible. I can't take my eyes off it. It's unbelievable."
"When I was a prosecutor, I would've gone in and cuffed this guy," Christie said. "I would've been all over it."
(Cue the recording posted above to the 7-minute and 15-second mark for discussion of Tunsil.)
Christie, who abandoned his presidential campaign to line up behind front-runner Donald Trump, is vehemently opposed to legalizing marijuana. When his campaign was still active, he promised he would strictly uphold the federal ban on marijuana, despite the fact that most Americans are in favor of legalization. Though medical marijuana is legal in New Jersey, Christie has also called it a "front for legalization." He was unmoved by the story of a young girl who was forced to relocate to Colorado to access medical marijuana, due to the strictness of New Jersey's program.
But Christie's plan might not be so easily executed. While it is unclear when or where the video was taken, most states have statute of limitations, and Tunsil said the episode "happened years ago."
Furthermore, Tunsil is strong and fast as hell, clocking a scorching 4.33 second 40-yard dash.
Christie added that he felt sorry for the impact the video had on Tunsil's draft fortunes.
"Who's the guy who hates him enough that they had access to that video and put it on?" Christie said. "I mean, wow."
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Riff Raff & Lil Yachty "NEON DEREK JETER" Video
RiFF RAFF and Lil Yachty team up on "NEON DEREK JETER".
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/riff-raff-and-lil-yachty-neon-derek-jeter-video-new-video.37402.html
Will Ferrell Finally Celebrates His 15th Birthday With An Epic Celebrity Drum-Off
Will Ferrell and his celebrity doppelgänger, Red Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, just made good on their promise to deliver another epic drum-off.
After raising raising $500,000 for charity in a drum battle during their "Tonight Show" appearance last month, they reunited for the "Will Ferrell & Chad Smith's Red Hot Benefit, Comedy + Music & Quinceañera” and upped the ante.
The event raised funds for Ferrell and Smith's respective charities, Cancer for College and the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, as comedians Nick Offerman, Jim Gaffigan, and Roy Wood Jr. also performed.
But the highlight of the night was the duo's all-out celebrity drum battle. This time they let some star friends, including Tommy Lee, Fred Armisen, Fleetwood Mac's Mick Fleetwood and, in a surprise twist, a "14-year-old from from Brentwood, California,” do the heavy lifting.
Thankfully, Funny Or Die captured the night on Facebook Live.
The charity event hosted on Friday night at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles also doubled as a chance for Ferrell to fulfill his lifelong dream to have quinceañera. No, seriously. For once, he wasn't joking.
"I have only one great regret in life and it's that I never actually celebrated my quinceañera," Ferrell said in a statement, according to Rolling Stone. "I'd like to think it was just a simple oversight by my mother, but there has been a void inside me for many years. Growing up on the mean streets of Irvine, California, I have vivid memories of all my friends celebrating their quinceañera. Well, on April 29th at the Shrine Auditorium, with Red Hot Chili Peppers and a bunch of other really talented comedians and musicians by my side, we are going to right that wrong, and everyone is invited."
Righting that wrong, of course, meant that Ferrell appeared on stage at one point dressed in a sparkly blue princess gown.
We could have sworn he wasn't over 14.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Riff Raff & LIl Yachty "NEON DEREK JETER" Video
RiFF RAFF and Lil Yachty team up on "NEON DEREK JETER".
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/riff-raff-and-lil-yachty-neon-derek-jeter-video-new-video.37402.html
Chance The Rapper Teases "Chance 3" Artwork
Is this the official art and title?
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/article/21365
28 Grams: Hip-Hop Instagram Recap (April 30)
Everyone got a Jay Z selfie this week.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/28-grams-hip-hop-instagram-recap-april-30-news.21323.html
Celebrities, Politicians Meet Up For 2016 White House Correspondents' Dinner
WASHINGTON, April 30 (Reuters) - With seven performances under his belt, U.S. President Barack Obama will try one last time to bring the house down at the annual White House correspondents' dinner on Saturday, a night of playful ribbing of both politicians and the news media.
The black-tie event, which Obama has previously joked is "a night when Washington celebrates itself," brings together journalists and media moguls, Hollywood stars and policy wonks and the powerbrokers from Capitol Hill.
For Obama, who is scheduled to speak around 10:20 p.m. ET (0220 GMT Sunday), it will be his final correspondents' dinner as a sitting president. Comedian Larry Wilmore, who hosts a show on the cable outlet Comedy Central, will take to the podium after the president's remarks.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters on Friday not to rule out surprises from Obama, who has polished his comedic timing over seven prior dinner appearances.
"I know that the president will certainly poke a little fun at himself," Earnest said, adding that he thought some "good-natured ribbing of his friends will occur as well."
In previous years, Obama has taken on Washington gridlock, political rivals and presidential hopefuls with usually light-hearted, but sometimes pointed, jokes.
Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, who won't be at the dinner, could surface in Obama's monolog.
Back in 2011, when Trump was weighing a 2012 presidential run and was in the ballroom, Obama skewered him for questioning whether the president was born in the United States. He then speculated about the change the real estate mogul would bring to the White House, including bikini-clad women in the front fountain and gold columns by the entryway.
Wilmore, who has been working on his jokes with a small team for the last month, said he plans to talk about the presidential election and Obama's legacy. "I'll definitely bring up race," Wilmore, who is African-American, told cable network C-SPAN. "That's going to be an issue in a lot of different ways."
The dinner, a long-standing tradition, has morphed from a relatively low-key gathering of journalists and their sources into a glamorous red-carpet affair.
Invitees this year include singer Aretha Franklin, actor Morgan Freeman and Super Bowl MVP Von Miller of the Denver Broncos. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is expected to attend, but his rival Hillary Clinton is not.
The dinner has drawn criticism from some who feel that partying with sources is not conducive to hard-hitting journalism.
C-SPAN and a number of other cable outlets plan live coverage.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Drake Says 'Views' Sold 630,000 Copies in One Night
What a time to be alive. Fresh off the release of his fourth studio album Views, Drake toasted its success at a launch party in Toronto.
According to Drizzy, the album-which hit iTunes on Thursday night-has already done massive numbers in the first night alone.
“I got a text message that we sold like 630,000 something records in one night,” he announced to the hometown crowd. “That's the first time I've ever done that shit.”
Views, which features Rihanna, Future, and PARTYNEXTDOOR, will remain an iTunes/Apple Music exclusive for one week before hitting other digital platforms.
Another Canadian superstar, Justin Bieber, was also on hand to celebrate with Drizzy. Bieber showed his support for Views-and debuted his newly-shaved head-at the rapper's launch party and with his review of the album on Instagram.
“Spending the day listening to #views,” he wrote. “congrats drake you did it again…if you haven't got it yet go download #views”
Drake returned the love. “Make some noise for Bieber one time. That's my guy,” he told the crowd before embracing the “Sorry” singer.
That wasn't all for Bieber. He also used Drake's Views meme generator to edit one of his own selfies. In that pic, a tiny Drizzy is seen sitting on the Biebs' shoulder.
Just because Drake is in album mode doesn't mean he's ignoring his duties as Toronto Raptors Global Ambassador. On Friday (Apr. 29), the 6 God showed up to Jurassic Park to perform a portion of “Energy,” pump the crowd up for the Raptors' playoff game against the Indiana Pacers, and to celebrate T-Dot.
“I love everybody in this city,” he said. “I love this city. I'll die for this city.”
Despite his positive vibes, the Raps lost to the Pacers in Game 6 of their first round playoff series. The winner of the next game, which is scheduled to take place tomorrow, will move on to the next round.
@Drake PERFORMED AT JURASSIC PARK pic.twitter.com/WyAAhgUVHC
- Dilveer (@DilTamber) April 30, 2016
'Star Wars: Episode 8' -- Say Hello To The Millennium Falcon (PHOTOS)
Movie honchos have been tight-lipped about everything "Star Wars: Episode 8" ... but now fans of the series can get a better idea of what to expect from the movie's greatest ship. In pics taken over the London set of the upcoming movie it's…
Chris Brown - Socialize Feat. Kevin Gates, Young Blacc & Young Lo
Chris Brown assembles Kevin Gates, Young Blacc and Young Lo on his OHB tape.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/chris-brown-socialize-ft-young-blacc-young-lo-kevin-gates-new-song.1969594.html
Intruder Arrested at Chris Brown's Home
Chris Brown is battling an alleged trespasser once again.
A woman named Danielle Patti, who has been arrested for trespassing on Brown's property in the past, was reportedly caught walking into his home again on Thursday (Apr. 28) at approximately 3 a.m. TMZ reports that Patti waited until the gate at the singer's property was open before making her entry.
Brown was home at the time of the incident, but he wasn't harmed. The alleged intruder was captured by security and held until authorities arrived.
Patti pled not guilty to two counts of trespassing on Friday (Apr. 29). Brown's attorneys are expected to file a temporary restraining order.
A similar incident took place in December when Patti reportedly drove into his house once his gate was open. Police were called and she was arrested then, too. Prior to that, in May, a different woman broke into Breezy's house, got naked, and waited for him to arrive, before also getting arrested.
Brown, however, was seemingly unfazed by the incident. On Friday, he and his OHB crew dropped their collaborative mixtape, Before da Trap: Nights in Tarzana, featuring Young Thug, Jeezy, and Tyga.
Walking & Talking Where Political Angels Fear To Tread
Recent television pictures of protesters outside a rally of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Burlingame, CA, showed them carrying the flag of Mexico on sovereign US soil. This reminded me, yet again, of the domestic political time bomb of illegal immigration amidst our Presidential election this coming November.
The unemployment consequences of various trade agreements and Congress' failure to resolve the issue of illegal immigration lay like molten lava beneath the surface of several communities in various States, waiting to ignite and explode into a national political conflagration.
Periodically, when I travel and stay in different places across our country, the issue of "illegal immigration" among people in various places is like listening to the same music, but hearing very different instruments playing the same tune.
Sometimes the issue of "illegal immigration" is described as an "undocumented persons". The impact of shrinking job opportunities in communities abandoned by long time manufacturing or other corporate employers, until Trump's presidential campaign, has been ignored or subordinated by the "Establishment Leadership" of the Democratic and Republican Parties.
High profile criminal acts committed by one or more "illegal immigrants" has only inflamed the national discussion. Our forthcoming presidential elections may be a day of reckoning. There is wide spread belief, principally, within the traditional Republican party voter base that the Democratic party is for amnesty for illegal immigrants as a way of expanding its voter base upon such immigrants.
Less spoken, publicly, are existential pockets of persistent anger and resentment, justified or unjustified, among, segments of unemployed African-Americans, toward "illegal immigrants". Whether factually so or not, there is a belief that such immigrants make it more difficult for African-Americans to find employment in communities abandoned by former manufacturing employers. Unemployment today among African-American men between the ages of 18-35 in several communities is in excess of 50%!
Until author and law Professor Michelle Alexander wrote "The New Jim Crow-Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" little attention was paid to the devastating unequal application of the enforcement of our Federal drug laws upon African-Americans, especially men, in our Criminal Justice System. Why did it take Donald Trump to bring to the forefront of our national political agenda the unresolved issued of illegal immigration?
Whether one agrees or disagrees with some of Trump's bizarre discussions about building "A Wall" on our shared border with Mexico, it baffles me, as someone who touts his business credentials and MBA from the esteemed Wharton School of Business, why he has not considered more creative options to address the potential economic consequences of illegal immigration within neighboring States like California and Arizona?
For example, why doesn't he use available financial accounting and technology tools to determine what is a reasonably accurate estimate of the per capital cost to those States for providing schools, medical facilities, police and fire protection, public transportation, etc., in communities with 25% or more of "illegal immigrants" or" undocumented residents"?
Instead of his proposed "Wall", why not tabulate the total annual per capital costs incurred by California and Arizona in providing such services to such "illegal immigrants" and send the total amount to Mexico for reimbursement? If Mexico doesn't pay initiate court action to place a lien on their capita account and execute a levy on their government bank account for reimbursement?
Whether you like, dislike, agree or disagree with presidential candidate Trump characterization of the problem of "illegal immigration" and his proposed "Wall", Establishment political leaders who dismiss or diminish his public focus on this issue, do so at great potential political risk.
As I said, our government's failure to resolve this issue remains like hot molten lava beneath the surface of our communities, waiting to erupt and ignite a nationwide political firestorm with potentially profound unpredictable presidential and congressional election consequences.
My thoughts here not intended directly or indirectly to endorse Mr. Trump's prescriptions for the addressing Congress' failure to resolve the issue of illegal immigration. This issue has emerged in importance to the continued hotly debated question about a woman's right to choose to have an abortion after the US Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade
The unemployment consequences of various trade agreements and Congress' failure to resolve the issue of illegal immigration lay like molten lava beneath the surface of several communities in various States, waiting to ignite and explode into a national political conflagration.
Periodically, when I travel and stay in different places across our country, the issue of "illegal immigration" among people in various places is like listening to the same music, but hearing very different instruments playing the same tune.
Sometimes the issue of "illegal immigration" is described as an "undocumented persons". The impact of shrinking job opportunities in communities abandoned by long time manufacturing or other corporate employers, until Trump's presidential campaign, has been ignored or subordinated by the "Establishment Leadership" of the Democratic and Republican Parties.
High profile criminal acts committed by one or more "illegal immigrants" has only inflamed the national discussion. Our forthcoming presidential elections may be a day of reckoning. There is wide spread belief, principally, within the traditional Republican party voter base that the Democratic party is for amnesty for illegal immigrants as a way of expanding its voter base upon such immigrants.
Less spoken, publicly, are existential pockets of persistent anger and resentment, justified or unjustified, among, segments of unemployed African-Americans, toward "illegal immigrants". Whether factually so or not, there is a belief that such immigrants make it more difficult for African-Americans to find employment in communities abandoned by former manufacturing employers. Unemployment today among African-American men between the ages of 18-35 in several communities is in excess of 50%!
Until author and law Professor Michelle Alexander wrote "The New Jim Crow-Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" little attention was paid to the devastating unequal application of the enforcement of our Federal drug laws upon African-Americans, especially men, in our Criminal Justice System. Why did it take Donald Trump to bring to the forefront of our national political agenda the unresolved issued of illegal immigration?
Whether one agrees or disagrees with some of Trump's bizarre discussions about building "A Wall" on our shared border with Mexico, it baffles me, as someone who touts his business credentials and MBA from the esteemed Wharton School of Business, why he has not considered more creative options to address the potential economic consequences of illegal immigration within neighboring States like California and Arizona?
For example, why doesn't he use available financial accounting and technology tools to determine what is a reasonably accurate estimate of the per capital cost to those States for providing schools, medical facilities, police and fire protection, public transportation, etc., in communities with 25% or more of "illegal immigrants" or" undocumented residents"?
Instead of his proposed "Wall", why not tabulate the total annual per capital costs incurred by California and Arizona in providing such services to such "illegal immigrants" and send the total amount to Mexico for reimbursement? If Mexico doesn't pay initiate court action to place a lien on their capita account and execute a levy on their government bank account for reimbursement?
Whether you like, dislike, agree or disagree with presidential candidate Trump characterization of the problem of "illegal immigration" and his proposed "Wall", Establishment political leaders who dismiss or diminish his public focus on this issue, do so at great potential political risk.
As I said, our government's failure to resolve this issue remains like hot molten lava beneath the surface of our communities, waiting to erupt and ignite a nationwide political firestorm with potentially profound unpredictable presidential and congressional election consequences.
My thoughts here not intended directly or indirectly to endorse Mr. Trump's prescriptions for the addressing Congress' failure to resolve the issue of illegal immigration. This issue has emerged in importance to the continued hotly debated question about a woman's right to choose to have an abortion after the US Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Lady Gaga Reached The Edge Of Glory On The Back Of Bradley Cooper's Motorcycle
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper are apparently friends who ride motorcycles together, but all we're getting from these photos is a traumatic flashback to the "Born This Way" album cover.
Seriously, how did we as a culture allow this to happen?
On Friday night, the unlikely duo were photographed on Cooper's motorcycle in Santa Monica on their way to dinner at Giorgio Baldi restaurant. The two arrived in leather jackets and biker helmets on the "Silver Linings Playbook" actor's Ducati bike.
(Side note: If there's a more sacred space on earth than the back of Bradley Cooper's motorcycle, please let us know in the comments below.)
They were also spotted leaving the establishment together. Cooper expertly hid his face from the paps using a trick out of the ol' Leonardo DiCaprio celeb-in-disguise book -- wearing large aviator shades and a baseball cap to avoid onlookers.
If we had to guess why these two were spending time together, it would have to be Cooper's long-gestating "A Star Is Born" remake. He is set to direct the classic story but has had trouble finding a leading lady. Rumors swirled last year that Beyoncé might just be that "star," but Cooper later denied her involvement, calling the reports "just a rumor."
Bey probably picked up the telephone and called Gaga like a collector because without her this might be a disaster.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Friday, April 29, 2016
The Internet Went In After Drake Dropped "Views" And It Was Hilarious
“Drake sounds like he has a turtleneck on.”
Drake's latest album, Views, has finally entered the world.
Blac Chyna and Tyga -- Selling Everything But Kitchen Sink! (PHOTOS)
Blac Chyna and Tyga are putting their past on the market ... holding a 3-day estate sale, and from the looks of it everything must go. It's not your average garage sale ... prices on items range from $500 to $1,200, including a Ms. Pac-Man arcade…
Here Are The Samples Drake Used On "VIEWS"
A list of the eclectic samples that were used in the making of Drake's new album, "VIEWS."
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/samples-drake-used-views-news.21357.html
Video: Young Thug – 'Texas Love'
Thugger hearts Texas. Young Thug caps off the week by releasing a video for his tribute song “Texas Love.” The clip, which he co-directed with Be EL BE, serves as a dedication to the people of Texas that were affected by the recent floods.
“If Texas love was a drug…” he sings, while rapping about popping molly and his lack of features. “No features, I don't do features / I don't like leeches.”
In between footage of the torrential flooding in Houston, Thug stands in front of a wall with Prince's symbol and gets splashed with water, while Houston's own Trae Tha Truth makes a cameo.
“Dedicated to all the loved ones affected by the flooding recently in Texas,” wrote Thug. “My heart goes out to all of whom were lost and still trouble by this tragedy.”
Watch his dedication to the Lone Star State and look out for his next mixtape, I Came From Nothing 4.
7 Pieces Of Marriage Advice For Realists, Not Romantics
Sick of reading the same tired relationship advice about never going to bed angry and the importance of date night?
We hear ya. Below, relationship and marriage experts share seven unconventional pieces of marital advice.
1. Go out without your spouse and remember what it felt like to be single.
The axiom is 100 percent true: Absence makes the heart grow fonder and often leads to spouses actually missing each other -- a hard feeling to recapture after years of being together, said Jenny Block, the author of Open: Love, Sex and Life in an Open Marriage.
"It's important to take some time to get back to being who you were before you got married," she said. "Reconnect with friends. Dive back into the hobbies and pastimes you enjoyed. Do you. Not 'couple you' or 'married you.' Just you. In the process, you may be surprised at how much you're reminded of why you fell in love with each other in the first place."
2. Talk to your spouse in public the same way you did on your first date.
If you love your partner, be respectful of them in public, said Deb Besinger, a life and relationship coach based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Quite simply, don't become the loudmouth couple at dinner who has no problem berating each other between bites of salmon. (Really, no one wants to be that couple.)
"Never name call or dishonor your spouse in public," Besinger cautioned. "This seems like a no-brainer but it's harder to do when you're annoyed with your spouse than you realize."
3. Don't expect your spouse to fulfill your every need.
These days, we depend on our spouses to fulfill and satisfy us in every way -- and that expectation is terrible for marriages, said Greg Cason, a Los Angeles-based therapist.
"Marriages today are folding under the weight of our own expectations: Why do we expect our spouses to be our best friend, dinner companion, dance partner, sexual playmate, money-earner, maid, cook, fix-it person, confidant, caretaker, soul mate, biggest fan, stalwart supporter, chauffeur, dog-walker and bestie, among other things?"
If you're struggling to cut your partner some slack, Cason suggests reciting this Marriage Serenity Prayer: "Grant me the serenity to appreciate what my spouse does provide, the courage to accept the things my spouse does not provide and the wisdom to get those needs met elsewhere."
4. Find your own definition of monogamy.
Today, many couples are exploring versions of monogamy tailored to their own needs. While an open marriage isn't for everyone, there are happily married people who've pursued flings and relationships outside their marriages with their spouse's permission, said Susan Pease Gadoua, a marriage therapist and the co-author of The New I Do, Reshaping Marriage for Skeptics, Realists and Rebel.
"When couples fall out of love or lust, they think the only 'right' option is to end it," she said. "But some partners become monogamish (a term coined by Dan Savage): they give each other permission to go outside the marriage in order to get their sexual needs met."
5. Stop holding your spouse to an impossible standard.
Your spouse is a flawed, imperfect person who acts out when they're hangry and will disappoint you time and time again. The same holds true for you. Don't set yourself up for failure by expecting each other to be soulmates who rarely fight and read each other's minds, Block said.
"Marriage is not about perfection: It's not about finding someone who completes you and makes you feel like a princess," she said. "Marriage is about being perfectly imperfect for and with one another. It's about loving each other and the life you have built together because of all the delightful imperfections, not in spite of them."
6. Take a vacation from your marriage.
It's not going to kill you to spend a weekend -- or a few weeks -- away from your spouse. In fact, it could benefit your marriage, especially if you're experiencing a rough patch, Cason said.
"Sometimes what you really need is a break," he said. "Some couples schedule one weekend a year to take a real break from each other. Others, a week or so. If things are very bad, consider living separately for a few months. Work with a therapist to set up rules including how much contact to have with each other and what you're going to tell your mothers when they ask about it."
7. Recognize that you're not immune to infidelity.
Anyone is susceptible to cheating. If you're in it for the long haul, it's almost inevitable that one or both of you may struggle to stay faithful, whether it's the temptation of an emotional affair or something more physical, Besinger said.
"While no one wakes up one morning and decides, 'this is the day I'm going to cheat on my spouse,' the perfect storm of circumstances, emotions and opportunity can cause an affair to happen for just about anyone."
To stave off infidelity as much as possible, try having an open, honest discussion about it: What's missing from your relationship that might potentially cause you to cheat? How would you handle the fallout of an affair?
"Talk about it and become very intentional about preventing the opportunity," she said. "Be honest with each other: if something unavoidable came up, how would we handle it and if we stayed together, what would our future look like?"
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Denver Broncos Fill Glaring QB Need With Paxton Lynch
Two times the charm for John Elway for successfully drafting the man he wanted after starting way down towards the bottom of the NFL draft for the second year in a row, this time finding the talented man under center he needs in Paxton Lynch.
After dealing a third-round pick to the Eagles and his last place pick in the first-round to move up to 26th and get his man, Elway also accomplished another feat: beating the Cowboys to the punch. They wanted Lynch, too, but arrived too late to the trading party.
From 31st to 26th made all of the difference, after watching patiently as 25 other teams made their selections.
Blockbuster trades dominated this draft, a process that saw a rare selection of back to back first and second picks for quarterbacks after the Rams and Eagles traded nearly the world to get the top two selections.
With the selection of Lynch, it's easy to speculate that the Broncos are no longer interested in acquiring Colin Kaepernick from the 49ers, nor will they be entertaining a trade for Sam Bradford, either. The young Memphis quarterback comes with a strong, accurate arm and true pro potential, but is underrated by many.
After Peyton Manning retired and Brock Osweiler was wooed to the Texans during the offseason, fans were naturally worried about what the Broncos were going to do about their quarterback situation. A fast trade to the Eagles for journeyman backup Mark Sanchez was reassuring, but still did not resolve the long term quarterback situation in Denver.
Lynch's passing record was tremendous last year. He threw for 3,776 yards and 28 touchdowns against just four interceptions.
"It was obviously the greatest feeling," Lynch said of being drafted. "This was a dream come true for me. The Denver Bronco organization is obviously one of the best in the league."
Last year, the Broncos choose Shane Ray after trading up to the 23rd pick. This year proved to be another fast move for Elway and company.
Lynch will join fellow QBs Mark Sanchez and Trevor Siemian on the roster this season to compete for the starting job.
As for Kaepernick's potential with the team, Elway was direct.
"We're going to continue to look at other quarterbacks. We'll stay open to everything. We're probably over with Kaepernick."
Experts say that it will take time to develop Lynch (as they do about nearly every quarterback drafted in the first round).
Lynch tends to humbly disagree.
"I wouldn't say I'm a project. Every QB coming out of college has things they have to work on," he said.
The forthcoming preseason will be telling. But if Lynch is able to grasp the pro formula fast enough, he may just get to be the one calling who's taking snaps during the opening week of the regular season.
Visit NowItCounts.com, The Destination for Americans 50+ for stories that matter to you covering financial, health, beauty, style, travel, news, lifestyle, food, entertainment and sports.
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Beyoncé's 'LEMONADE' Projected to Sell 500,000 Copies in First Week
Queen Bey is back on top. After serving up her visual album LEMONADE to scrutiny, adoration, and controversy, the project is expected to land at No. 1 on next week's Billboard 200 albums chart.
According to Billboard, Bey's latest could sell 500,000 copies and more than 700,000 equivalent album units in its opening week.
LEMONADE made its debut on April 23 following an hour-long special on HBO. Immediately after, the album dropped as a TIDAL exclusive and by Monday (Apr. 25), it was available at other digital retailers, including iTunes and Amazon. This is all happening without physical sales, as those will be available starting May 6.
.@Beyonce's Lemonade is projected to sell 500,000 albums, 900,000 tracks and generate up to 45 million streams in its 1st week in the US.
- Chart News (@chartnews) April 28, 2016
In addition to stellar sales, the album has been receiving rave reviews from critics including Rolling Stone, who awarded it a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. “LEMONADE is her most emotionally extreme music, but also her most sonically adventurous,” wrote the magazine.
Since releasing the album, Beyoncé has also launched her “Formation World Tour” with opener DJ Khaled.
This is not Bey's first time at the top of the Billboard 200. Most recently, she arrived at No. 1 with her self-titled 2013 album, which sold 991,000 units in its first 10 days of availability. Before that, she also reached No. 1 with 2011's 4, 2008's I Am…Sasha Fierce, 2006's B'Day, and 2003's Dangerously in Love.
Johnny Manziel -- Calls Reporter a 'P***y' ... Reporter Fires Back
Johnny Manziel just lashed out at a reporter -- calling the guy a "p***y" for allegedly posting a photo of the QB at an Ohio bar. But the reporter says Johnny is misdirecting his anger ... and THREATENED to catch him in the streets. …
Karrine Steffans Admits She Used To Be Jay Z's "Becky"
Karrine Steffans writes an essay in response to Beyonce's "Lemonade" in which she recounts the short time that she served as Jay Z's "Becky."
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/karrine-steffans-admits-she-used-to-be-jay-zs-becky-news.21360.html
Chris Brown -- I Can't Shake Obsessed Fan ... Another Arrest at His Home
Chris Brown's unwanted guest can't take the hint, 'cause cops say she showed up AGAIN at his home and got busted for trespassing. According to law enforcement sources, Danielle Patti waited until the gate to Brown's home opened before walking onto…
We Dared Shay Mitchell To Do A Bunch Of Embarassing Things On Social Media And She Did Them
Shay Mitchell slays again.
Jon Premosch / Andrew Richard / BuzzFeed
Shay Mitchell, the flawless Pretty Little Liars star (and lover of pizza), is now making her way to the big screen, starring in the new comedy Mother's Day alongside Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, and Kate Hudson - to name a few.
Not only is Shay a beloved actor, but she's also the queen of social media. Seriously, she kills it on Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. Since she's so social media–savvy, when she stopped by BuzzFeed New York we decided to have her play our ˜Wheel Of Dares˜, in which we dared her to do slightly embarrassing tasks on her phone and social media - this is what happened.
And so we had Shay spin the Wheel (wheel) Of (of) Dares (DARESSSS!!).
Those are echo sounds, by the way.
BuzzFeed
The Trailer For 'Submission' Puts The Sex In 'Fifty Shades' To Shame
If "Fifty Shades of Grey" was meant for the "mom" crowd, then Showtime's new scripted mini-series “Submission” is for the more adventurous type.
From the mind of acclaimed adult film director Jacky St. James, the six half-hour episodes debuting May 12 dive deep into the world of BDSM. The series follows a young woman, Ashley, who becomes involved with a mysterious erotic novelist, Nolan Keats, after reading his book, Slave.
Anastasia-Steele-turned-up enters into the complex world of whips, chains, swings and more, as she falls into a dangerous love triangle only to discover her own sexual boundaries and the endless possibilities of BDSM.
"Submission" premieres May 12 on Showtime at 11 p.m. ET.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
How Black Girls Vote Is Getting Young Voters To The Poll
Black Girls Vote was out in full force leading up to Maryland's primary race on Tuesday with the goal of educating and engaging more black voters in the state.
HuffPost's Alyona Minkovski spoke with Ebonee Nelson, the organization's director of program management, on the day of the primary race, to hear more about how the organization aims to empower black women through the political process. The non-partisan, grassroots organization, which launched in November, focuses on registering people to vote, encouraging them to head to the polls and spreading awareness in schools.
"We wanted to help mobilize those community members," she said. "We wanted to talk to them, engage with them, find out why were they so angry. [We] wanted to help translate those keywords, [that] vocabulary that they're not familiar with. Help educate them [and] break that down into layman's terms."
Once the election is over, Nelson said, the organization will be launching BGV University, through which leaders from the group will go to different schools to focus on teaching about the voting process with incentives and games for the students.
Nelson acknowledged that the millennial generation is "our future," and ended on a poignant note.
"If they don't trust in [their] voice and they don't trust in their vote, and they think they don't have a voice, then what do we have for our community tomorrow?"
Learn more about the Black Girls Vote in the video above.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Warren G Gets Booed During 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' Performance
Mount up! Warren G saw his name trending on social media Friday (Apr. 29), but it wasn't because of his raps. Instead, it was the Regulator's singing voice that was the talk of the day.
The Long Beach MC got everyone's attention with a less than stellar seventh inning stretch performance of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves game at Wrigley Field in the Windy City.
He got started on the wrong foot, singing “take me to the ball game,” omitting the word “out.” Then, fans seemed visibly amused and bothered by his vocal performance. Some audible boos could even be heard.
Despite this, a portion of the crowd applauded the West Coast spitter's efforts. And in the end, he may have been a lucky charm as the Cubbies defeated the Braves 6-1 with five runs coming in during the eighth inning.
Prior to this, the G-Funk legend also threw out the first pitch, but avoided any 50 Cent blunders. “Don't get me twisted,” he later wrote. “I know I didn't get the take me to the ball game but my pitch was the best ever how you like that.”
Don't get me F'd^ I know I didn't get the take me to the ball game but my pitch was the best ever how you like that pic.twitter.com/ox040sJUVp
- Warren G (@regulator) April 29, 2016
The Best Quotables From Every Single Song Off Drake's "VIEWS"
From "Keep the Family Close" to "Hotline Bling."
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/article/21359
Key And Peele Are Happy To Think About Cute Cats Instead Of Politics
The title subject of "Keanu" is a kitten, and why you are reading the rest of this article instead of hustling to your nearest multiplex is beyond me. I first saw the movie at its rowdy South by Southwest midnight premiere in March, and even though initial reviews were mixed, there is so much to love about Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele's first joint big-screen venture.
Key and Peele, who ended their popular Comedy Central sketch series last September, star as Clarence and Rell, cousins who infiltrate a Los Angeles drug ring that has seized their new feline friend. Clarence and Rell's ideal weekend includes seeing a Liam Neeson action movie and jamming out to George Michael. But to retrieve little Keanu, they must get through a gangster named Cheddar (Method Man) who operates out of a seedy strip club. In an effort to fit in, the tight-knit duo adopt a performative version of stereotypical, hyper-masculine blackness. "Keanu," then, becomes a rather subversive comedy about race from the same guys who gave us Obama's anger translator.
The Huffington Post had a quick phone conversation with Key and Peele last week to discuss "Keanu," which Peele co-wrote with Alex Ruebens and Peter Atencio directed.
Now that "Key & Peele" is in the rearview mirror, do you ever regret ending the show when you did, given how much comedic fodder this presidential election has provided?
Peele: It's funny -- it's kind of good to be out of the political fray because having to pay attention to all of that is really draining. Some people thrive on it. I myself don't. I find it so frustrating when there's people that are in control, or going to be in control, who -- I don't even know how to describe it. It's just frustrating.
Key: You mean politically it's frustrating for you?
Peele: Yes, it frustrates me so much and it can occupy my mind 24/7 if I don't escape from it.
Key: Comically, you really have to dig in. You really have to analyze and observe. And in turn you're saying, “I don't want to do that because people are making me upset.”
Peele: This is a country where the individual has power, but it doesn't always feel like that.
Key: No, it doesn't.
Are there any sketches you've thought of that you wish you had a platform for?
Key: I don't think so. As you just mentioned that, it's a little bit in the rearview mirror. The focus has been so much on “Keanu” right now, but also on the projects that we're moving forward with. Also, the interesting thing is, given the stuff that we did politically on the show, it was very focused. It mostly manifested through Obama and Luther. There are candidates at this particular moment in time that definitely don't need an anger translator. I don't know about you, Jordan, but there's nothing that comes to my mind in thinking about what I would do. It's truly stranger than fiction, in this particular case.
Peele: Even when we did our show, we would tend to try and make sketches that would still be funny in a couple of years.
Key: Or 20 years.
Peele: Or 20 years. It's what we call evergreen things. It would be less about responding to the thing that Trump said this week, as opposed to making sure that when someone watches us in 10 years they still get it.
Key: I mean, maybe if we were going to do something, we might play a character in a sketch who was a blowhard and who was making promises just based on the whims of the public that day. You're getting that archetypal character, but we wouldn't call that character Donald Trump. Then hopefully you'd say, “Aha, there's a perfect example of that type of politician who will exist ad infinitum.”
Even though neither of you directed “Keanu,” it is clearly your baby. After making this movie and running your own show for so many years, you're also moving on to other people's projects. Is it hard to relinquish control?
Peele: We might have slightly different responses to this. I love writing and directing, so I think ultimately the control is something that I long for more of. I've got a lot of stories that I've been sitting on and a lot of projects I feel I can realize now.
Key: And for me, because my training and my background is as an actor, I relish interpreting other people's work. I don't need to be the coach of the team; I just want to be the best player on the team for the coach, which might just be a people-pleasing quality that I have as a human. But, for me, it's a sense of being able to collaborate with people, mostly Jordan because we speak the same language. When I offer advice, it's only that I want to have clarity. To say to another producer or a director or a fellow actor, “I don't understand this,” or, “If we did that, would this make more sense?” -- that's kind of my modus operandi. My hope is that it's always a dual activity. It's for me, the actor, to clarify how to play the character better and bring the character to life better, and then also to make the project as clear as it can be. So Jordan is right. We have different desires within the industry, but we love working together. That's the thing.
What was your familiarity with underground drug rings and seedy strip clubs before "Keanu"?
Peele: That's a good question. You'll notice that we wanted our characters to play in the world of underground crime and seedy strip clubs as represented in film and TV. In essence, this movie is a commentary on pop culture and how stereotypes and genre tropes have fed us.
Key: Right, you're watching the characters, and it's a lack of actual research. For the characters, who are very much like us, the quote-unquote research they've done is the movies they've seen. So they're only acting within the stereotypes that they know. Peter did a brilliant thing as a director by making the reality of the movie as real as possible. That's why you cast someone as Method Man, so that everyone was real to life and we are putting too much into it because of what our characters saw in the movies.
Did you always know George Michael would be your stereotypical white-people music?
Peele: We did bat around some other names. There are a lot of great stereotypical white artists out there.
Key: I think the reason we fell on the right one -- and George was the best possible choice -- was that as white as he may be, he has a lot of soul. He's the one artist that you can hook your gang members with realistically. There is so much soul and rhythm to that man.
Peele: He's a rebel.
Key: He is a rebel! Yeah!
Peele: And an outsider and a bad boy too.
Who were some of the other names you considered?
Peele: There were quite a few. We had Simon and Garfunkel.
Key: Billy Joel.
Peele: Yep, yep.
Key: Cat Stevens.
Peele: Yep, Cat Stevens. But we figured with a name like Yusuf Islam, it would be too black.
Key: George Michael was definitely the sweet spot.
Peele: We also talked about Phil Collins. We talked about Sting, even.
Who's your favorite pop-culture cat?
Key: Well, from me being a child of the '70s and early '80s, I would probably have to say Garfield. He would be my favorite cat. He was so huge.
Peele: We're also both fans of Jonsey, the cat from “Alien.”
This interview has been edited and condensed.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Key And Peele Are Happy To Think About Cute Cats Instead Of Politics
The title subject of "Keanu" is a kitten, and why you are reading the rest of this article instead of hustling to your nearest multiplex is beyond me. I first saw the movie at its rowdy South by Southwest midnight premiere in March, and even though initial reviews were mixed, there is so much to love about Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele's first joint big-screen venture.
Key and Peele, who ended their popular Comedy Central sketch series last September, star as Clarence and Rell, cousins who infiltrate a Los Angeles drug ring that has seized their new feline friend. Clarence and Rell's ideal weekend includes seeing a Liam Neeson action movie and jamming out to George Michael. But to retrieve little Keanu, they must get through a gangster named Cheddar (Method Man) who operates out of a seedy strip club. In an effort to fit in, the tight-knit duo adopt a performative version of stereotypical, hyper-masculine blackness. "Keanu," then, becomes a rather subversive comedy about race from the same guys who gave us Obama's anger translator.
The Huffington Post had a quick phone conversation with Key and Peele last week to discuss "Keanu," which Peele co-wrote with Alex Ruebens and Peter Atencio directed.
Now that "Key & Peele" is in the rearview mirror, do you ever regret ending the show when you did, given how much comedic fodder this presidential election has provided?
Peele: It's funny -- it's kind of good to be out of the political fray because having to pay attention to all of that is really draining. Some people thrive on it. I myself don't. I find it so frustrating when there's people that are in control, or going to be in control, who -- I don't even know how to describe it. It's just frustrating.
Key: You mean politically it's frustrating for you?
Peele: Yes, it frustrates me so much and it can occupy my mind 24/7 if I don't escape from it.
Key: Comically, you really have to dig in. You really have to analyze and observe. And in turn you're saying, “I don't want to do that because people are making me upset.”
Peele: This is a country where the individual has power, but it doesn't always feel like that.
Key: No, it doesn't.
Are there any sketches you've thought of that you wish you had a platform for?
Key: I don't think so. As you just mentioned that, it's a little bit in the rearview mirror. The focus has been so much on “Keanu” right now, but also on the projects that we're moving forward with. Also, the interesting thing is, given the stuff that we did politically on the show, it was very focused. It mostly manifested through Obama and Luther. There are candidates at this particular moment in time that definitely don't need an anger translator. I don't know about you, Jordan, but there's nothing that comes to my mind in thinking about what I would do. It's truly stranger than fiction, in this particular case.
Peele: Even when we did our show, we would tend to try and make sketches that would still be funny in a couple of years.
Key: Or 20 years.
Peele: Or 20 years. It's what we call evergreen things. It would be less about responding to the thing that Trump said this week, as opposed to making sure that when someone watches us in 10 years they still get it.
Key: I mean, maybe if we were going to do something, we might play a character in a sketch who was a blowhard and who was making promises just based on the whims of the public that day. You're getting that archetypal character, but we wouldn't call that character Donald Trump. Then hopefully you'd say, “Aha, there's a perfect example of that type of politician who will exist ad infinitum.”
Even though neither of you directed “Keanu,” it is clearly your baby. After making this movie and running your own show for so many years, you're also moving on to other people's projects. Is it hard to relinquish control?
Peele: We might have slightly different responses to this. I love writing and directing, so I think ultimately the control is something that I long for more of. I've got a lot of stories that I've been sitting on and a lot of projects I feel I can realize now.
Key: And for me, because my training and my background is as an actor, I relish interpreting other people's work. I don't need to be the coach of the team; I just want to be the best player on the team for the coach, which might just be a people-pleasing quality that I have as a human. But, for me, it's a sense of being able to collaborate with people, mostly Jordan because we speak the same language. When I offer advice, it's only that I want to have clarity. To say to another producer or a director or a fellow actor, “I don't understand this,” or, “If we did that, would this make more sense?” -- that's kind of my modus operandi. My hope is that it's always a dual activity. It's for me, the actor, to clarify how to play the character better and bring the character to life better, and then also to make the project as clear as it can be. So Jordan is right. We have different desires within the industry, but we love working together. That's the thing.
What was your familiarity with underground drug rings and seedy strip clubs before "Keanu"?
Peele: That's a good question. You'll notice that we wanted our characters to play in the world of underground crime and seedy strip clubs as represented in film and TV. In essence, this movie is a commentary on pop culture and how stereotypes and genre tropes have fed us.
Key: Right, you're watching the characters, and it's a lack of actual research. For the characters, who are very much like us, the quote-unquote research they've done is the movies they've seen. So they're only acting within the stereotypes that they know. Peter did a brilliant thing as a director by making the reality of the movie as real as possible. That's why you cast someone as Method Man, so that everyone was real to life and we are putting too much into it because of what our characters saw in the movies.
Did you always know George Michael would be your stereotypical white-people music?
Peele: We did bat around some other names. There are a lot of great stereotypical white artists out there.
Key: I think the reason we fell on the right one -- and George was the best possible choice -- was that as white as he may be, he has a lot of soul. He's the one artist that you can hook your gang members with realistically. There is so much soul and rhythm to that man.
Peele: He's a rebel.
Key: He is a rebel! Yeah!
Peele: And an outsider and a bad boy too.
Who were some of the other names you considered?
Peele: There were quite a few. We had Simon and Garfunkel.
Key: Billy Joel.
Peele: Yep, yep.
Key: Cat Stevens.
Peele: Yep, Cat Stevens. But we figured with a name like Yusuf Islam, it would be too black.
Key: George Michael was definitely the sweet spot.
Peele: We also talked about Phil Collins. We talked about Sting, even.
Who's your favorite pop-culture cat?
Key: Well, from me being a child of the '70s and early '80s, I would probably have to say Garfield. He would be my favorite cat. He was so huge.
Peele: We're also both fans of Jonsey, the cat from “Alien.”
This interview has been edited and condensed.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
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