Latest news with #DefJamRecords
Boston Globe
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Sterling K. Brown in ‘Washington Black,' LL Cool J hosts a docuseries, and the return of ‘Happy Gilmore'
Advertisement From left: Brittany Snow and Malin Akerman in "The Hunting Wives." Kent Smith 'The Hunting Wives,' Monday on Netflix: The wave of female-driven psychological thrillers a la ' 'Hip Hop Was Born Here,' Tuesday on Paramount+: 'NCIS: Los Angeles' cast member, rapper, and Grammy-winner LL Cool J hosts the original five-part docuseries about hip-hop's history, its music, and culture. The New Yorker, born James Todd Smith, sets the genre's birthplace squarely in New York City. After joining Def Jam Records, he got his bona fides by creating 10 consecutive platinum-selling albums. Interviewing legends Method Man, Big Daddy Kane, Remy Ma, and Jadakiss, among many others, the host uses an anecdotal approach to access the roots of the multi-generational movement. Advertisement 'Match Game,' Tuesday on ABC at 9 p.m. then streaming on Hulu: The game show reboot and resurgence continues with can't-stop-won't-stop 'Only Murders in the Building' star Martin Short as host. Not much has changed except that the purse is larger, and the boundaries of acceptable TV speech have been expanded. 'Match Game,' which first aired in 1962 with Gene Rayburn as host and Johnny Olson as announcer, premiered in black and white. Short will lead a gaudier weekly version. At stake is $25,000 as four contestants battle to 'match' the answers of six celebrities with fill-in-the-blank questions straight off a naughty SAT cheat sheet. 'Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time,' Friday on National Geographic: With raging storms and flash floods in Texas, North Carolina, and New Jersey, the lessons of Louisiana's 2005 Hurricane Katrina still resonate. Armed with two decades of hindsight, the docuseries, directed by Oscar nominee Traci A. Curry, delivers a play-by-play of that catastrophic event, debunking myths, examining political and social repercussions, and offering insights to fuel future preparedness. Advertisement Thelma Adams is a cultural critic and the author of the best-selling historical novel 'The Last Woman Standing,' about Josephine Marcus, the Jewish wife of Wyatt Earp.
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Justin Bieber poses for intimate family portfolio with wife Hailey and son Jack Blues to support 7th album
Justin Bieber shared a fresh collection of photos on Thursday. It was a moody portfolio that was photographed by his pal Rory Kramer in the countryside by a barn, Justin had a toothpick in his mouth for a hillbilly slant as he wore a white tank top that flashed his tattoos and oversized acid-washed jeans slung so low they revealed his underwear. His wife Hailey had on little makeup and her hair down as she looked sleepy while in a white tank top and jeans as well as sneakers. And little Jack Blues, who is almost one, had on no shirt, just white diapers, as his light-colored hair looked longer than usual. The photos served to promote his new album named SWAG. The images were taken to promote seventh full-length album. The 31-year-old teased fans with his return to music with billboards with 'Swag' on them in major cities around the world as he is set to release new music on Friday. Presumably 'Swag' - which has already been blasted online - will be the name of the album, but no confirmation has been made as of yet. has reached out to representatives for Bieber and Def Jam Records and have yet to hear back. The singer's last album release was Justice back in March 2021. The album garnered critical acclaim and spawned successful commercial tracks such as Peaches, a Billboard Hot 200 chart-topper; and the top 10 hits Holy, Anyone and Ghost. The Hollywood Reporter first revealed that Justin will be releasing new music. The billboards - which have been seen from Los Angeles to Iceland - which feature the potential name also include a black and white photo of a shirtless Justin who is holding son Jack Blues Bieber, 10 months, over his head as the toddlers legs hung up in the air. 'Swag' would be an interesting name for an album as it is a slang word which had its heyday in the late 2000s and early 2010s when Justin's career first began. Some detractors on X (formally Twitter) suggested that the term and Bieber's career have become passé. A commenter on the the Pop Base post wrote: 'We left him and his fans in 2015' 'I don't want it,' one wrote while another said: 'Marketing is getting weird these days.' Other fans were excited about the announcement as one posted the 'I used to pray for times like this' Meek Mill/Michael Jordan meme while another wrote: 'King of Pop is coming.' The singer went to Iceland in late April to finish up the project as he famously documented the trip on social media at the time as he was also joined by son Jack. Features on the album were also seemingly revealed as tracklists on some of the billboards list out Gunna, Sexyy Red, and Cash Cobain as collaborators. Bieber shot to fame as a 15-year-old with the release of 2010 single, Baby. A lot has changed in Justin's personal life since his last album was released in 2021 including welcoming a child with wife Hailey. In February 2023, Bieber officially canceled the remainder of his Justice World Tour after the singer said he was diagnosed with the condition Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which can lead to facial paralysis. Bieber had previously had to cancel shows on the tour in the fall of 2022, explaining his absences from the stage in an emotional post on his Instagram Stories. 'Earlier this year, I went public with my battle with Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome, where my face was partially paralyzed,' he said. 'As a result of this illness, I was not able to complete the North American leg of the Justice Tour. He also split from longtime manager Scooter Braun in 2023. Back in January 2023, he sold his entire music catalog - featuring songs from his entire 15 year recording career - for a whopping $200million. His music was to Blackstone-backed Hipgnosis Songs Capital for over $200million the company announced at the time. The star is worth an estimated $300million and has sold 150million records worldwide, making him one of the most successful recording artists in history.
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Justin Bieber makes shock album announcement... and the name is being blasted by fans
Justin Bieber made the shock announcement that he is releasing his seventh full-length album in a matter of hours and he has already received some backlash over it's name. The 31-year-old husband of Hailey Bieber has teased fans with his return to music with billboards with 'Swag' on them in major cities around the world. Presumably 'Swag' - which has already been blasted online - will be the name of the album - but no confirmation has been made as of yet. has reached out to representatives for Bieber and Def Jam Records and have yet to hear back. The singer's last album release was Justice back in March 2021.
USA Today
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Logic explains how therapy and J.J. Abrams led to his directorial debut 'Paradise Records'
Logic explains how therapy and J.J. Abrams led to his directorial debut 'Paradise Records' Show Caption Hide Caption Logic makes directorial debut with 'Paradise Records' The Rapper Logic sat down with Ralphie Aversa to talk about his directorial debut in new semi-autobiographical film, 'Paradise Records.' NEW YORK – What do J.J. Abrams, Seth MacFarlane and Kevin Smith have in common? They all endorsed Logic, the multi-platinum hip hop star, in his application to join the Directors Guild of America. Now the artist, born Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, makes his directorial debut in the Tribeca Film Festival with "Paradise Records," a workplace comedy that pays homage to movies like Smith's 1994 cult classic "Clerks." It was a big undertaking for Logic: He wrote, directed and starred in the movie. But besides the literal co-signings from established names in film and television, Logic's journey from the stage to the silver screen wouldn't have been possible without a series of events that took place almost five years ago. In July 2020, at the height of his career and in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hip hop star decided to "retire" from music. Logic wanted to focus on his family. He also went to therapy. "It's been such an incredible internal and spiritual journey," Logic, 35, tells USA TODAY. "I've learned things like the power of no, literally just how to say 'no.' I used to not do that because I wanted to people-please." Through conversations with his therapist, Logic also came to the realization that he should stay off social media. The artist says he hasn't been on any network in "almost eight years." What started as a personal journey also turned into a professional revelation. Logic parted ways with Def Jam Records, the label on which he recorded seven albums with including the Grammy-nominated single, "1-800-273-8255." The artist now releases music independently and no, he wouldn't divulge a date for his tenth LP "Sidequest." After Smith cast Logic in his 2024 semi-autobiographical film "The 4:30 Movie," he urged Logic to pursue filmmaking. Smith also presented an offer: he would serve as executive producer, editor and reprise his role of Silent Bob alongside Jason Mewes' Jay. Logic stars in the film with his real life best friend, Tremayne Hudson. Other actors who make cameos include Ron Perlman, Rainn Wilson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in addition to rapper Juicy J and comedian Donnell Rawlings. Logic's family, including his father, oldest son and wife Brittney also appear in the project. The artist credits his wife with supporting his latest endeavor. The advice he received from Abrams helped too. The "Star Wars" director reminded Logic that he's "literally making a movie," so the top priority should be to have fun. "(Abrams) said, 'The second thing is you're gonna have every (department) coming to you, all these people constantly asking you for stuff,'" Logic recalls. "'At times it's going to feel overwhelming. Never forget that you're a human being and you have the power to say, "Give me five minutes," walk around your set and figure it out.'" That's what Logic did whenever there was an issue, from an actor getting COVID to an equipment malfunction. He took a break, walked and figured it out. Turns out Abrams was right after all.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Russell Simmons sues HBO for $20 million over doc alleging sexual misconduct
NEW YORK — Russell Simmons has filed a lawsuit against HBO and the makers of the 2020 documentary 'On the Record,' claiming defamation for their allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. The record executive, who's seeking $20 million in damages, is also accusing them of ignoring or suppressing evidence from witnesses who 'refuted and rebutted the accusations falsely made' against Simmons, according to lawsuit filed in New York. 'Despite voluminous support for Mr. Simmons in the form of credible information, persuasive evidence, witness statements and calls for further investigation by notable members of the media, politics and the civil rights movement, the defendants simply disregarded it, and released, and continue to re-release globally, a film that tremendously disparaged and damaged Mr. Simmons with salacious and defamatory accusations that he vehemently denies,' his attorneys, Imran Ansari and Carla DiMare, said in a written statement to Variety. In the complaint, Ansari claims the streamer ignored multiple polygraph tests that 'would have been discovered with due diligence and adherence to accepted journalistic standards.' The documentary made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in January of 2020 and detailed sexual assault and misconduct allegations against the Def Jam Records founder from multiple women. The project was originally to be produced as a part of Oprah Winfrey's deal with Apple TV, but the media mogul later withdrew from the film and it ultimately landed at HBO Max. Along with the $20 million, Simmons is requesting a court order to have the title removed from all of HBO's platforms. Simmons has faced multiple lawsuits accusing him of misconduct. More than 20 women have come forward alleging sexual assault, many of whom participated in the documentary. A spokesperson for Warner Bros., the parent of HBO, told TMZ the company 'stand[s] by the filmmakers and their process, and will vigorously defend ourselves against these unfounded allegations.'
