Latest news with #StraightOuttaCompton
Stuff.tv
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Stuff.tv
KEF's XIO soundbar takes the fight to Sonos and co
Despite successfully dabbling in both hi-fi and home cinema for many years, you might be surprised to learn that the KEF XIO is the British brand's first soundbar. What should be less surprising is that it's shaping up to be equally adept at handling both movie soundtracks and music. Inside is a real ensemble cast of speakers: a pair of standard full-range drivers, four P185 bass drivers, and six Uni-Q MX drivers, two of which are pointed upwards to fire Dolby Atmos sounds at your ceiling. That 5.1.2 setup is supported by 12 Class D amplifiers, with a combined 820 watts of power, so your neighbours should be in no doubt what's happening next door when you crank it up to watch a movie. That means the KEF XIO is a bit of a whopper. It's over 1.2m wide and weighs 10.5kg, so you'll need a big stand and even bigger TV to do it justice; anything under 55in might look a bit silly. With KEF aiming for the XIO to deliver a best-of-both-worlds performance, you also get Wi-Fi and Bluetooth onboard, with support for AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect and more, so it should be simple to switch from Straight Outta Compton (the film) to Straight Outta Compton (the album) and both will sound equally awesome. If you want even more bass you can plug in a subwoofer, but there's also a KW2 RX receiver available for £149 that allows you to connect one of KEF's subs wirelessly. It's available in either black or grey, which is pretty standard for a soundbar, but the svelte design and finish looks a cut above a lot of cheaper options. The KEF XIO will set you back £1999/$2500 and is available to buy now.
7NEWS
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
The most sampled song in history is one you've never heard of
You've heard it in everything from N.W.A's Straight Outta Compton to UK rave anthems and video game soundtracks. But chances are, you've never heard the original song. In 1969, a now-obscure American soul group called The Winstons released a B-side titled Amen, Brother. Buried within it — at around the 1.26 mark — is a six-second drum solo that would become the most sampled audio clip in music history. Known as Amen Break, the beat has appeared in more than 6,000 tracks — and continues to be sampled more than five decades later. From hip hop to jungle, drum and bass and breakcore, Amen Break has not only formed the rhythmic backbone of entire genres, but also traced the evolution of sampling and the blurred lines of musical ownership. A beat born from turntables For artist and producer Alexander Burnett — the frontman of Sparkadia and the creative force behind records by Thelma Plum, Hayden James and Flight Facilities — Amen Break's appeal goes beyond nostalgia. 'In the early '80s, DJs started to use two turntables to loop the same drum sections from records — which created a groove for MCs to rap over,' he told 'These drum loops or 'breaks' were used as a tool to create a new musical work with new lyrics and melody over the top.' Amen Break — played by the late drummer Gregory Coleman — became a go-to for crate-digging producers thanks to its explosive snap and gritty texture. 'It has the right swing, energy and grit,' Burnett said. 'If you drop it into a session sped up, the song already sounds like UK jungle or drum and bass. If slowed down, it becomes '90s hip hop.' From underground to global chart domination The break's earliest high-profile use came in the 1980s, with inclusion in tracks by pioneers such as Mantronix and N.W.A. N.W.A's title track Straight Outta Compton is renowned for heralding the arrival of West Coast hip hop and Dr Dre's signature sound; a blueprint still emulated today. From there, the sample exploded across the UK rave scene of the '90s. Producers like Goldie, Roni Size and Shy FX chopped and flipped the beat into high-energy soundscapes that defined jungle and drum and bass. It has since popped up in everything from Mantronix's King Of The Beat to David Bowie 's Little Wonder and Oasis 's D'You Know What I Mean?. It's also featured in TV shows Futurama and Top Gear and the the video game Grand Theft Auto. Originality, ownership and the sampling debate Despite its ubiquity, Amen, Brother's creators saw almost no financial return. Neither frontman and copyright holder Richard L. Spencer nor drummer Gregory C. Coleman received royalties or sample clearance fees during their lifetimes. Coleman died in 2006, never seeing compensation for the solo that would define entire genres. Spencer, who called the sample's use 'plagiarism', chose not to pursue legal action; but fans didn't forget. In 2015, British DJ Martyn Webster launched a crowdfunding campaign titled The Winstons Amen Breakbeat Gesture, urging fans to give back. It raised more than £24,000 ($45,600), which was presented to Spencer in a public show of thanks. 'Copyright has historically been about melody and lyrics rather than rhythm,' Burnett said. 'That being said, the drum break has created so many incredible new works, so there should be compensation.' 'On the other hand, many of the original artists who sampled it may not have had the means to use the break if they had to pay compensation up front. I'd like to think we have the technology to address this issue moving forward in 2025.' A legacy beyond one track While Amen Break is the most famous, it's not the only revered loop. The Incredible Bongo Band's Apache (1973) delivered a tribal, bongo-heavy groove that became a hip hop staple, sampled by everyone from Sugarhill Gang to Missy Elliott, Nas and M.I.A. James Brown's Funky Drummer (1970), featuring Clyde Stubblefield's solo, has been looped in classics like Public Enemy's Fight The Power, Dr Dre's Let Me Ride and George Michael's Freedom! '90. But Amen Break stands alone: a six-second mistake-turned-masterpiece from a forgotten B-side, now the most sampled piece of music ever recorded.
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Snoop Dogg biopic gets its director, Coming 2 America, Dolemite Is My Name-fame Craig Brewer to helm film
Craig Brewer, known for helming such films as Hustle & Flow and Dolemite Is My Name, is set to direct the biopic of Snoop Dogg. Universal Pictures has set Craig Brewer to film the definitive biography of Snoop Dogg's rise from hip-hop artist to renowned entertainment magnate. Brewer will contribute revisions to a script previously written by Joe Robert Cole. The film will be produced by Snoop Dogg, Brian Grazer and Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker. SVP Production Development Ryan Jones will oversee the project for the studio, reported Deadline. The Snoop Dogg film marks the first movie under Death Row Pictures' overall contract with NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios. It is an offshoot of Death Row Records, the label that established Snoop Dogg's career and is now embarking on an ambitious new chapter with the expansion. The strategic shift strengthens the brand's reach beyond music, ushering in a new era of imaginative on-screen storytelling. Universal has found success in the historical hip hop space with the F. Gary Gray-directed Straight Outta Compton, the story of the seminal rap group N.W.A film that was nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar and grossed more than USD 200 million. Before that came 8 Mile, which starred Eminem in a drama based on his life and rise. Grazer produced that film, which grossed USD 250 million and won an Original Song Oscar for "Lose Yourself." Death Row's upcoming slate of projects starts with the Snoop Dogg biopic. Beyond film, Snoop will return to NBC's musical competition series The Voice this fall, reclaiming his red chair for Season 28. On top of that, he will continue to partner with NBCUniversal on cross-portfolio opportunities; he was a breakout star on NBC and Peacock's coverage of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, reported Deadline.
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Snoop Dogg film to be helmed by Craig Brewer
Craig Brewer, known for helming such films as 'Hustle & Flow' and 'Dolemite Is My Name', is set to direct the biopic of Snoop Dogg. Universal Pictures has set Craig Brewer to film the definitive biography of Snoop Dogg's rise from hip-hop artist to renowned entertainment magnate. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Brewer will contribute revisions to a script previously written by Joe Robert Cole. The film will be produced by Snoop Dogg, Brian Grazer and Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker. SVP Production Development Ryan Jones will oversee the project for the studio, reported Deadline. The Snoop Dogg film marks the first movie under Death Row Pictures' overall contract with NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios. It is an offshoot of Death Row Records, the label that established Snoop Dogg's career and is now embarking on an ambitious new chapter with the expansion. The strategic shift strengthens the brand's reach beyond music, ushering in a new era of imaginative on-screen storytelling. Universal has found success in the historical hip hop space with the F. Gary Gray-directed Straight Outta Compton, the story of the seminal rap group N.W.A film that was nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar and grossed more than USD 200 million. Before that came 8 Mile, which starred Eminem in a drama based on his life and rise. Grazer produced that film, which grossed USD 250 million and won an Original Song Oscar for "Lose Yourself. " Death Row's upcoming slate of projects starts with the Snoop Dogg biopic. Beyond film, Snoop will return to NBC's musical competition series The Voice this fall, reclaiming his red chair for Season 28. On top of that, he will continue to partner with NBCUniversal on cross-portfolio opportunities; he was a breakout star on NBC and Peacock's coverage of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, reported Deadline.
Mint
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Snoop Dogg film to be directed by Craig Brewer
ANI Published 7 Jun 2025, 09:20 AM IST Washington DC [US], June 7 (ANI): Craig Brewer, known for helming such films as 'Hustle & Flow' and 'Dolemite Is My Name', is set to direct the biopic of Snoop Dogg. Universal Pictures has set Craig Brewer to film the definitive biography of Snoop Dogg's rise from hip-hop artist to renowned entertainment magnate. Brewer will contribute revisions to a script previously written by Joe Robert Cole. The film will be produced by Snoop Dogg, Brian Grazer and Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker. SVP Production Development Ryan Jones will oversee the project for the studio, reported Deadline. The Snoop Dogg film marks the first movie under Death Row Pictures' overall contract with NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios. It is an offshoot of Death Row Records, the label that established Snoop Dogg's career and is now embarking on an ambitious new chapter with the expansion. The strategic shift strengthens the brand's reach beyond music, ushering in a new era of imaginative on-screen storytelling. Universal has found success in the historical hip hop space with the F. Gary Gray-directed Straight Outta Compton, the story of the seminal rap group N.W.A film that was nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar and grossed more than USD 200 million. Before that came 8 Mile, which starred Eminem in a drama based on his life and rise. Grazer produced that film, which grossed USD 250 million and won an Original Song Oscar for "Lose Yourself." Death Row's upcoming slate of projects starts with the Snoop Dogg biopic. Beyond film, Snoop will return to NBC's musical competition series The Voice this fall, reclaiming his red chair for Season 28. On top of that, he will continue to partner with NBCUniversal on cross-portfolio opportunities; he was a breakout star on NBC and Peacock's coverage of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, reported Deadline. (ANI)
