The young MC is back at it again. Diggy Simmons has collaborated with director Phil the god once more to fashion out this far too short music video. Watch Diggy freestyle over a Mobb Deep instrument. I’m telling you, this kid’s got game, look out. His second mixtape released in early September; download Airborne here. It features the Lupe Fiasco & Pharrell assisted track “Oh Yeah!” Been slacking? Download his first mixtape The First Flight here.
[Via RapUp]
“Do It Like This” follows “The Time (The Dirty Bit)” to become the second single off The Black Eyed Peas’ forthcoming album The Beginning. It’s another thumping dance anthem you should enjoy. I’m sorta bummed that the Peas have failed to produce a radio smash single this time around; in my opinion the two released singles do not live up to the catchy chart-topping hits “Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling” of yesteryear. At least we can look forward to the album releasing soon, so we should wait before making any rash judgments. There’s bound to be a money-maker somewhere on the album. The Beginning drops November 30. Look after the break to watch a fun music video preview of “Do It Like This”; it features the Peas in 8-bit style, the rad theme of the album.
[Via Dipdive] Continue reading Single: The Black Eyed Peas – “Do It Like This”
Today Kanye West’s fifth studio album released. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy has been a long time in the making. After being shunned by controversy (read: the Swift incident), Kanye left the public spotlight and eventually made his back into the studio to create new content. Complex editor-in-chief Noah Callahan-Bever gained access into Avex Honolulu Studios in Oahu, Hawaii during Kanye’s peak of creativty as the master rapper and producer worked day and night on Twisted Fantasy. ‘Ye covers the December 2010/January 2011 cover of Complex, and in it Callahan-Bever takes the reader through the life and times of Kanye working on the album. The article has been posted and it’s an intriguing look into the way Kanye handles his business when he means business. The first half of the article follows Kanye in the studio and sheds light on his extremely high level of dedication towards his music. The second half features block quotes from Twisted Fantasy collaborators and guest artists such as Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver), Pusha T, Kid Cudi, Nicki Minaj, and Q-Tip. Read the article here. Also, be sure to look in the gallery below to browse through some stills from the story; click here to view the full Complex gallery.
[Via Complex]
Counting down the days until Tron: Legacy hits theatres on December 17? That’s less than a month away people! Well I’ve got a treat for you. Embedded above is a video that will take you on the set of the upcoming sci-fi flick. In the 15 minute behind the scenes look you can expect to witness the following:
Guess I should have mentioned this earlier, but beware of spoilers. So go ahead, mash play, and let the soothing sounds of Daft Punk provide a rocking backdrop to some fantastic BTS action.
[Via Collider]
And the fanboys and girls shrieked! That’s right–Buffy the Vampire Slayer is being primed for a comeback, but this time around Buffy (TV) creator and beloved showrunner turned Avengers director Joss Whedon is not attached to the project. Today Warner Bros. and Atlas Entertainment announced that a Buffy reboot film is in the works. Atlas’ Charles Roven and Steve Alexander and Vertigo Entertainment’s Doug Davison and Roy Lee are signed on to executive produce the upcoming vampire flick. Whit Anderson, actress turned screenwriter, will pen the script. If you didn’t know, Buffy actually started out in the movies. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created by Fran and Kaz Kuzui, hit theatres in 1992. Joss Whedon worked his magic to spin the feature into a long-running TV series on The WB (1997-2003). Warner Bros. managed to option the rights to Buffy from the Kuzuis to Atlas and Vertigo. Let’s take a look at some choice quotes surrounding this surprising announcement.
Says Roven of Atlas: “Generally, I wouldn’t have said,‘Let’s revive this,’ but Whit’s take is pretty compelling and a lot of fun, and it’s interesting to see all of this reimagined. This is a completely new reboot. Tone is extremely important, and you want the audience to realize what is at stake and the peril is real, but at the same time what’s going on should be fun and inviting and keep everyone engaged. It needs to be relevant to today too, and that is what Whit has found a way to do.” … “There is an active fan base eagerly awaiting this character’s return. … While this is not your high-school Buffy, she’ll be just as witty, tough and sexy as we all remember her to be.”
And Whedon made sure his two cents were heard ’round the world shortly after the announcement: “Obviously I have strong, mixed emotions about something like this. My first reaction upon hearing who was writing it was, “Whit Stillman AND Wes Anderson? This is gonna be the most sardonically adorable movie EVER.” Apparently I was misinformed. Then I thought, “I’ll make a mint! This is worth more than all my Toy Story residuals combined!” Apparently I am seldom informed of anything. And possibly a little slow. But seriously, are vampires even popular any more?”
You’re going to want hop after the break to read the rest of Whedon’s remarks. In so many words, he is not happy about a Buffy comeback at this moment in time (he’d prefer it come “after [his] death”), but he understands that the situation is out of his hands. Buffy fans, what say you? Can a Whedon-less Buffy survive today?
[Via LATimes; EOnline; Deadline] Continue reading ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ will resurface in reboot film, Joss Whedon not attached
With fellow Lost collaborators J.J. Abrams (Odd Jobs, Alcatraz, M:I3) and Damon Lindelof (Cowboys & Aliens) having found work post-Island duty, it was only a matter of time before Lost co-showrunner Carton Cuse spilled plans about his next exciting project. In a simple tweet today Cuse pointed his followers to a Variety news article that details his upcoming ABC series Point of Honor. According to Variety, ABC is “eyeing it as a major event series”, so this is definitely something to get pumped about. Cuse has teamed up with Randall Wallace (Secretariat) to write and executive produce this Civil War-based drama. “The two are keeping mum on details other than to say it will be a story focusing more on fictional characters than on historical figures,” says Variety. Cuse confirms it will be a serialized show with a clear-cut “beginning, middle and end.” Cuse describes it as “very different from anything on TV right now.” Both Cuse and Wallace share a deep interest in Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War era; Cuse admits that he and Wallace “just clicked” during early meetings about conceptualizing the show. Time will tell if this new partnership can live up to the Cuse/Lindelof success story that came out of Lost. With Cuse’s knack for smart, engaging storytelling and Wallace’s past experience working on Braveheart (there he proved he could use “historical events and connect them to fictional characters”, Cuse points out), I have little doubt Point of Honor will impress when it airs at an undisclosed time on ABC. Cuse and Wallace are currently writing the script.
While we’re here talking about Carlton Cuse, do yourself a nice favor and read this fantastic interview that takes you on a journey through his interesting and fascinating career thus far. It’s a great read!
[Via @carltoncuse; Variety]
The upcoming FOX drama Locke & Key spearheaded by Josh Friedman (showrunner/executive producer/writer), Steven Spielberg (executive producer), and Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman (executive producers) has just cast its star player. Miranda Otto (War of the Worlds) will play Nina Locke the mother of three children “who survive an unspeakable horror and attempt to rebuild their lives at Keyhouse, their family home in Lovecraft, Massachusetts.” Want a more extensive synopsis? You got it! “It is a mysterious New England mansion, with fantastic and transformative keys hidden inside its walls that are also being sought by a hate-filled and relentless creature with ties to the Locke family’s past who will stop at nothing to accomplish his sinister goals.” Sounds like spooky fun doesn’t it? Expect Locke & Key to air on FOX this summer. Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo, Never Let Me Go) is currently in negotiations to direct the pilot.
[Via Deadline]
Jorge Garcia is island hopping from one J.J. Abrams show to another. Lost’s Hurley will be joining Abrams’ show about the famous prison Alcatraz. And Deadline’s got some insight into the mysterious plot. It “centers on a group of missing Alcatraz prisoners and guards who reappear in the present day. It chronicles the efforts of a team of FBI agents to track them down and unravel the mystery behind their disappearance thirty years prior.” And who will Garcia play, you ask? A “hippy geek” Dr. Diego Soto, “the world’s foremost expert on Alcatraz.” If you’re a Lost fan you must be feeling ecstatic! Michael Emerson (Ben Linus) and Terry O’Quinn (John Locke) are returning to television in Abrams’ Odd Jobs (working title) and Garcia is set to return in another Abrams series. Life is good, huh?
The Alcatraz spec script was written by Elizabeth Sarnoff (Lost, Deadwood), and she will serve as executive producer along with Abrams and Bryan Burk (Alias, Lost) on the Warner Bros. TV/Bad Robot project. FOX picked up a pilot commitment for the show back in September, and production will begin in January.
[Via Deadline]
If you are a proud owner of an iOS device today is your lucky day. Apple has finally unleashed iOS 4.2, and it brings oh-so-much to the aging iPad and a handful of sweet features to the iPhone and iPod touch. Here’s the laundry list of new features coming to the iPad: multitasking, folders (you can store up to 20 apps inside a folder), Game Center, and updates to Mail (Unified Inbox, fast inbox switching, a threaded message view). In other words, it’s playing catch up with the iPhone and touch. Also bear in mind that the physical toggle switch on the iPad’s side no longer acts as an orientation lock; now it’s a mute switch, just like it is on the iPhone. The lock has been moved to the dock tray that also houses the iPod controls. With the new update, all iOS devices will gain the ability to find and highlight specific words and phrases on web pages in Safari, select new fonts in Notes, beam video and audio with AirPlay, and print wirelessly with AirPrint. Let’s talk about the latter two new features because they are exciting additions. With AirPlay you can stream music, video, and photos wirelessly from your iOS device to Apple TV and AirPlay-enabled speakers. On the video front, you can only stream files you’ve purchased from iTunes (or managed to convert to make playable in iTunes) and from YouTube. If you try to beam video content from Netflix or the ABC app, for example, only the audio will cross over. Bummer, I know. If you want to print wirelessly with AirPrint, you must own a compatible printer; Apple says HP Photosmart, HP LaserJet Pro, and HP Officejet will be the first to support it. iOS 4.2 is compatible with iPad, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, second and third generation iPod touch, and the latest iPod touch. You’ll be prompted to update the next time you open iTunes.
Right on cue Apple TV owners received the 4.1 firmware update today, granting them the ability to harness the power of AirPlay. That is, of course, if they also own a compatible iOS device.
Last, the MobileMe Find My iPhone feature no longer requires a MobileMe subscription to access and use. Apple has turned it into an app, and it’s available in the App Store today. In case you forgot, Find My iPhone helps you locate your missing device on a detailed map. You can also have it display a message or play a sound to make finding your missing device easier. And if you are forced to give up the search, you can remotely lock or wipe data from the lost device. The free Find My iPhone feature is available for iPhone 4, iPad or new iPod touch (4th generation).
Look after the break for Apple’s PR.
[Via Engadget, here & here] Continue reading Today in Apple news: iOS 4.2, Apple TV 4.1 get unleashed; MobileMe Find My iPhone feature goes free
Here’s an update for you from Camp Netflix. A new $7.99/month plan gives subscribers the option to instantly stream TV shows and movies from their computer (or any Netflix-compatible device), and nothing else. If you’re the type of couch potato that rarely orders new DVDs by mail on a regular basis, this is the plan for you. If you prefer to stick with your current plan which includes unlimited instant streaming and DVD shipments there’s a price hike you should become aware about. The two most popular unlimited plans–the 1 DVD out at a time and 2 DVDs out at a time–are a dollar more than before, so prepare to cough up that extra Washington. Browse the chart embedded above to learn about the rest of the price increases. With Netflix instant streaming and Hulu Plus both priced at a low $7.99/month, you can safely say it’s on.
[Via NetflixBlog]
Black Friday is right around the corner, and Nintendo know how to celebrate. Starting November 26 you can pick up the Nintendo DSi in two brand new colors, orange and green! The new colorful DSis will come bundled with a copy of Mario Party DS. $149.99 is the price. These new systems join the limited-edition red Nintendo DSi XL bundle and red Wii bundle in honoring the 25th anniversary of the Super Mario Bros. game on the NES. Mario Party? Really? Well, at least the new colors pop. Look after the break to see the packaging for Mr. Green.
[Via Joystiq] Continue reading Nintendo DSi goes orange and green for Black Friday
Today FOX announced their 2011 midseason schedule and it includes the return of Kitchen Nightmares and American Idol, four series premieres (The Chicago Code, Million Dollar Money Drop, Mixed Signals, Bob’s Burgers), and some series program shuffling. American Idol will now air Wednesdays and Thursdays, and it will serve as a lead-in to Human Target and Bones on those respective days. So what does all this mean for the fantastic sci-fi series Fringe? Not good things. Beginning January 28 the show will be bumped to Friday nights, also known as the the graveyard for ratings-deprived TV series (read: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Dollhouse). Now before you start panicking, you should know that FOX has made this move with good intentions. According to Deadline “almost half” the show’s viewers record-and-watch using DVRs, and FOX prez Kevin Reilly has high hopes that Fringe’s cult following will stick with the show no matter what night it falls on (you’ve got that right, partner!). “Fringe has a very particular, loyal audience,” says Reilly. “If [Fringe] could stay near the current levels, we’ll get a big trade-up on Friday and will solve our problem there.” Fringe will replace The Good Guys in the 9PM slot. Though they won’t commit to cancellation just yet, FOX has confirmed that Guys and Running Wilde will not be receiving additional episodes this season.
Update: I managed to find a juicier quote from Reilly on the Fringe Friday situation: “We are not killing the show. Over the last week, over 45% of the audience time-shifted the show. That’s almost half of the dedicated audience watching it on their DVRs. It’s been such a loyal fanbase. I will be really disheartened if the viewer base decides to not watch because it shifted one night. I hope they go with it, and if not they have the option of picking it up on their DVRs. If it does anywhere near what it did on Thursdays, we can glue that show to the schedule because it can be a big win for us.” And there you have it–no need to jump to scary conclusions just yet, Fringe fans.
Look after the break to view the FOX midseason schedule.
[Via Deadline, here & here; EW] Continue reading FOX announces midseason schedule, moves ‘Idol’ to Thursday, bumps ‘Fringe’ to Friday