Since Murphy returned to the spotlight with Netflix’s Dolemite is my Name in 2019, his plan was always to get on the road again with a new comedy special. He had tour dates set and in place—and then COVID happened. He told Complex that while he still wants to do stand-up, he needs new material since so much time has elapsed since. “[It’s a] whole different world since the pandemic,” he said. “But my show won’t just be stand-up; my show will be music and stand-up.”

Murphy had a shortlived yet successful music career, releasing three studio albums and a hit single “Party All the Time,” which peaked at no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in 1985. A return to music seems fitting for the comedian who loved to incorporate singing in his early comedy specials.

Another benefit of Hollywood adjusting to the pandemic is Murphy’s ability to launch his third act. He has a string of movies set to be released including his latest project with Netflix, You People. The Kenya Barris-directed film is Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner with a modern-day, sneakerhead twist. A Jewish man, Ezra (Jonah Hill) falls in love with Amira (Lauren London), a Black woman whose family is Muslim. Their love is strong but so are the cultural, societal, and generational differences between them and their families. Murphy stars as Amira’s father Akbar, who does just about everything to make it difficult for the two lovebirds to make it down the aisle.

“Most romantic comedies don’t have an edge to them,” said Murphy. “This had this edge because of this racial conversation. And I thought that made it unique.”

You People is Barris’ feature directorial debut and even though he’s worked with the comedian before on Coming to America 2, Barris says that working with Murphy is still intimidating. “Honestly, I’m scared of him, but at the same time, making Eddie Murphy laugh is like Kobe being like, ‘Not a bad shot,’” Barris told Complex. Barris also complimented Murphy’s “surgical” acting skills, saying, “The way that he knows his lines, knows everyone else’s lines, knows the scene. I understand why he was at one time the biggest movie star in the world.”

You can watch Murphy alongside Hill, London, and Nia Long, in You People, streaming on Netflix on Friday, Jan. 27. Read our brief chat with him below.

You described You People as a gift that fell from the sky because you weren’t planning on it. Was there a particular scene in the script that made you especially want to take on this role?
No scene in particular, just the overall situation. [I thought] “Hey, this could be fun.” Most romantic comedies don’t have an edge to them. This had this edge because of this racial conversation. And I thought that made it unique.

One of the great scenes in You People was when Jonah Hill’s character brought up the GOAT, which he named as Malcolm X. Over the years you have named some of your GOATs, obviously Richard Pryor, Muhammad Ali, and Marlon Brando. Out of those names, if one’s got to go. Which one are you getting rid of?If I had to lose one GOAT?

Yeah. Richard Pryor, Muhammad Ali, or Marlon Brando?
Yeah, Brando would go first. Yeah.

Why?
I’m Richard’s offspring. I’m Richard’s creative offspring. I don’t exist without Richard. And I don’t achieve the heights without Muhammad Ali. No one inspired me more in life. Muhammad Ali is my hero. He’s my hero. And I think he’s the greatest African American that was ever. So those two have… Sorry, Marlon.

Sorry, Marlon.
Marlon is just the best actor ever. Those other guys, they’re in my DNA.

You’ve mentioned that you had about two to three hours of loose material in your phone memos. Is that something that you’re going to revisit now that the world is operating more normally? And how much more phone memo material would you say you have since then?
I do want to do stand-up again. A lot of the stuff that was in my phone, it’s a whole different world since the pandemic and we got a new president, it’s just a different world. So it was a lot of stuff that was in my phone, that it’s old stuff now.

So the plan is, I’m doing a movie now. And there are two other films that I’m supposed to do. Then I’m going to try to get some new material in and see if I could still do stand-up. But my show won’t just be a stand-up show; my show will be music and stand-up. Because I can’t just get on the stage and just do jokes because I have all this other stuff now. I’m thinking about how to put together a live show that has everything.

You People hits Netflix on Friday, Jan. 27.

Article Source: https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/eddie-muphy-talks-you-people-stand-up-return-interview

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While sending out announcements for his latest Blonded merch sale, Ocean indicated he’s interested in making a longer piece of work again. In a cryptic statement on the back of a round of posters, Frank referenced the string of loosies he dropped in the fall of 2019, which included the tracks “DHL,” “In My Room,” “Dear April,” and “Cayendo.”

“In the summer of 2019, Blonded produced a photo series shot on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019 by photographer Michael Marcelle,” the statement read. “The photo series follows the story of a fictitious Recording Artist as he navigates the radio system. In one scene the actor Jeremy Strong plays a Chairman of a major record label. On the walls: a clock, two framed records. The Chairman is flanked by another figure. Both are dressed in suits, wearing ties, and are positioned behind a long boardroom table. They are opposite a shadowed figure in the foreground—the Recording Artist—whose subjectivity the viewer is to inhabit.”

Frank Ocean hints at a new album on the back sides of the posters sold in his latest merch drop

“The Recording Artist has since changed his mind about the singles model, and is again interested in more durational bodies of work.” pic.twitter.com/QMIFB4DTiX

— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) January 17, 2023

Referring to himself as “the Recording Artist,” Frank said he believes the model of one-off tracks is “outdated,” adding that “releasing singles is more suited to modern consumption habits where people curate their own playlists which are then shared within private circles.”

After calling the aforementioned strategy counterproductive, the statement reads, “The Recording Artist has since changed his mind about the singles model, and is again interested in more durational bodies of work.”

Since dropping his last album Blonde in 2016, Frank has released loosies including 2017 classics “Chanel,” “Provider,” “Biking,” and “Lens,” as well as the aforementioned handful of tracks in 2019. The infamous four-year wait between Channel Orange and his sophomore LP was long ago eclipsed by the wait for his next one.

Article Source: https://www.complex.com/music/frank-ocean-renewed-interest-albums-moving-away-from-singles-loosies

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Questlove, who curated the 15-minute spot on Sunday’s Grammy telecast, will have a role in the special, though his exact title is to be determined. Jesse Collins, an executive producer of the Grammy telecast, will produce the special.

While many will assume that the success of the spot on the Grammy telecast led CBS to hurry a special into production, the special was in the works before anyone knew there would be a segment on the telecast, according to a source.

Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, hinted at the upcoming special in a statement announcing the telecast segment. “For five decades, Hip Hop has not only been a defining force in music, but a major influence on our culture,” he said. “Its contributions to art, fashion, sport, politics, and society cannot be overstated. I’m so proud that we are honoring it in such a spectacular way on the Grammy stage. It is just the beginning of our year-long celebration of this essential genre of music.”  Read More…

Article Source: https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/grammy-salute-to-hip-hop-special-details-50th-anniversary-1235250238/

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