Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 January 2005 — Page 18
C3
Xzibif's new CD
shaH'ershis easygoing persona By RYAN PEARSON Associated Press Writer
Like that smiling skydiver on the deodorant ads? Can’t get enough of his sunny joshing on MTVs “Pimp My Ride”? Prepare to meet the cunning, sometimes caustic musician Xzibit was before becoming an actor and TV personality. The Los Angeles rapper begins his fifth album, “Weapons of Mass Destruction,” with a political statement in which President Bush’s words about WMDs are rearranged into a self-incriminat-ing speech: “The tyrant is me.” Cold. From there, Xzibit delivers 14 songs on Sony Urban Music/Columbia that continue to shatter the easygoing persona he’s created outside music in recentyears. “Beware of Us” and “Klack” are as grimy as those clunkers the custom auto shop guys are always transforming. Even one of the club songs has an unprintable title. Xzibit does show his soft side: The single “Hey Now (Mean Muggin)” is a classic Timbaland rump-shaker and “Scent of a Woman” is aheartfelt (tough) love song. Dr. Dre, whose Aftermath crew and trademark sound smothered Xzibit’s lackluster last CD, gets no love on this album. Instead, lesser-known producers and the Strong Arm Steady gang of Krondon, Phil the Agony and Mitchy Slick bring a raw, underground West Coast style that balances out the sung choruses of “Ride or Die” and “Judgment Day.” The X-man’s lyrics are peppered here and there with the politics of the Bush opener, on the Ice Cube-sampling “Criminal Set” and especially throughout “Cold World,” which links tales of a recovering addict and a street hustler who endangers his mother with a portrait of a doomed 13-year-old boy in wartime Baghdad. Bold.
Black actor could be next James Bond
By TRACY SCOTT From BET.com
Colin Salmon, a leading British Black actor, could replace Pierce Brosnan as super spy 007 in the James Bond series. Salmon would be the first Black man to play the part, if selected. No definite decision has been made about who will star in the next installment, the 21st film of the series. Salmon, 41, has had smaller roles in the Bond films as M15 agent Robinson as well as many other roles in movies including “AVP: Alien vs. Predator” and “Resident Evil.” While others like Ewan McGregor, Hugh Jackman and Eric Bana have been bandied about as the new 007, only Salmon has the off-hand recommendation from Bond himself. When asked about replacements, Brosnan told the BBC in 2002, “I’ve heard myself say Colin Salmon - he’s fantastic.”
Comics • Super Crossword • People & Trends Arts£^Entertainment
Entertainment s winners and losers of 2004
By JOSHUA COHEN Staff Writer
Kanye West was one of the biggest winners in Arts and Entertainment in 2004, but he wasn’t the only one. West released his first album, “College Dropout” which sold over 2.5 million copies and scored the rapper/producer 10 Grammy nominations. Usher was also a big winner with his eight-times platinum album “Confessions.” He received eight Grammy nominations and won 11 Billboard Music Awards. Speaking of nominations, Jamie Foxx received three Golden Globe nods for three different roles (best actor for Ray Charles in “Ray,” best supporting actor for Max in “Collateral” and best actor in a TV movie for Stan “Tookie” Williams in “Redemption.”) In the theater world, “A Raisin in the Sun” revival ran on Broadway with Sanaa Lathan, Phylicia Rashad and Sean “P. Diddy” Combs starring in the production. Indianapolis ran its own Broadway hit “Top Dog/ Underdog” at the Phoenix Theatre and also hosted the Broadway musical “The Lion King” at the Murat Theater. Comedy was another winner in 2004. Chris Rock went on tour again with “Never Scared”
and was so popular in Indianapolis, returned for a second show after selling out his first. Dave Chappelle finished his second year of his hit Comedy Central show “Chappelle’s Show” and signed a $50 million contract with the station for two more seasons. Beyonce continued her run of success with a huge tour featuring Alicia Keys and Missy Elliot, which came to Indianapolis in March. She also rejoined with her group Destiny’s Child and released another album, “Destiny Fulfilled.” Locally, Indiana Avenue was a huge winner. The famous avenue was declared its own cultural district and an identity was determined by business owners and city officials to give the district a new identity for tourists andlocals alike. Indiana Black Expo was a winner and, unfortunately a loser as well. With the death of founder Rev. Charles Williams IBE lost a great leader, however in his wake those he left behind put on an extremely successful Summer Celebration that did honor to the late reverend’s memory. Blacks on reality television shows came up on top in 2004. CBS’ “The Amazing Race” saw its first Black winners, married couple Chip and Kim McAllister won the million dollar prize. Fantasia Barrino won a recording contract on “American Idol.” AndEva “Diva” Pigfordbecame the first Black winner on Tyra Bank’s hit show
“America’s Next Top Model.” Unfortunately there were also losers in 2004. Radio One lost a lotwith Willie FrankMiddlebrook being let go, Guy Black moving to New Orleans for his own morning show and president/general manager DeonLevingstontakinganew post in New York City. Fans of Jay-Z and R. Kelly lost big when the Unfinished Business tour was cancelled after the two stars had a disagreement. Although Jay-Z continued with the tour, the show scheduled for Indianapolis was cancelled altogether. Rapper Young Buck was a big loser after being charged with murder. After a fight at the 2004 Vibe awards a man was stabbed. Young Buck was accused and eventually arrested. The Jackson family did not have a good year either. Michael Jackson was charged again for molesting children and was arrested. Jackson’s home and amusement park Neverland Ranch were searched twice for evidence of the singer’s wrongdoing. Jackson’s sister, Janet was involved in an alleged wardrobe malfunction where Justin Timberlake exposedherbreastonlive national television during the Super Bowl halftime show. She was fined by the FCC and faced harsh criticism from angry parents and the media.
Boyz II Men put Hieir spin on classics
By DEBORAH TODD From the Pittsburgh Courier To the NNPA
PITTSBURGH (NNPA) - Be prepared to forget everythingyou’ve ever known about the R&B group “Boyz II Men.” The former quartet known best for soulful ballads and their squeaky-clean, bring-him-home-to-mama, boy-next-door-image is now a trio intent on going against the grain of today’s R&B music. Minus the smooth tenor of Michael “Bass” McCary, Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman and Wanya Morris are back on the scene with a new independent label, an album full of classic remakes and a mission to show that love songs still sell. With the aptly titled “The Throwback Album,” Boyz II Men treats its fans to a collection of old school hits that simultaneously reflect the group’s style while doing justice to the original versions of each song. “We felt like it would be fun to do for us - to put our spin on old classics,” said Stockman, as the group relaxed just prior to a Dec. 4 performance at Club Empire in the Strip District. “We felt like this would be a great flagship album for our new label.”
The group’s new independent label, MSM Music Group, is ahead of many independent labels in the respect that their sole act was declared the Recording Industry Association of America’s “Best Selling R&B Group of the 20th Century.” However, that doesn’t mean the group doesn’t have aspirations beyond selling their own work to the public. “We’re basically just trying to focus on getting the label established as far as the business side,” said Stockman. “We’re making sure that whoever we deal with are people that we’re very confident and comfortable with, so we can continue going with a long lasting type of relationship.” If an aspiring artist hopes to build any kind of relationship with Boyz II Men, they must set themselves apart from the majority of R&B artists out today. As selfproclaimed members of the “R&B Underground,” the group made their dissatisfaction with their genre apparent. “We hear hip-hop ballads as your ballads and there’s no alternative,” said Nathan Morris. “Whatever is more profitable for radio.” The group’s goal is to create a place for themselves and the kind of music they have always sung in an industry that follows an increasingly narrow definition of what makes a hit record.
Indianapolis man expresses his life's lurnaround in poelry By ANNETTE L. ANDERSON had that street mentality, which Recorder Correspondent is nothing but trouble for anyone who believes otherwise. But in It was not so long ago that the fall of 2000, while incarcerone young man took a more ated in the Marion County Jail, I positive direction in his life, knew it was time to change my and at the same time discov- outlook on life. I started trading ered his mission is to inspire other inmates my commissary for others. Dennis Wayne Beasley, paper and pens, and many times an inspiring local poet, decided would fall asleep with a pen in that his destiny is to express my hand. I prayed and wrote. I himself in words - words in the prayed and wrote... many letters form of poetry. to family members.” “When I was younger, I did Beasley continued, “And the not know what direction to fol- thought of having to fight in there low, and I did some things the (jail) to survive was overwhelmwrong way,” said Beasley. “I ► See POETRY, Page C4
Dennis Wayne Beasley Jr., an inspiring Indianapolis poet, is hard at work on another project.
Life and Salvation by Dennis Wayne Beasley Jr. Life and Salvation, the two most precious intimacies in existence, Are often taken for granted and may be extinguished in a mere instance. Although our instinctive reality is to preserve self, Our judgment of success is based on our wealth opposed to our health. Many of us lead an expedition on that dark avenue of crime, Forsaking other obligations that should be completed before the end of our time. Do you honor your parents, cherish your spouses, respect your siblings, and love your offspring? This is simply a fraction of what's meant when said, "Complete other things." Do you only worship yourself by aeguiring for yourself luxurious cars, expensive clothes, and diamond rings? If so, remember what was said, "Complete other things." We are number two and God is number one. We should worship him first - he is the Supreme Being. If we are fortunate in the blessing of life, we'll eventually have to make a choice at the crossroads. Do we go right, left or stay on this path that no one really knows? Likewise, to the fraction of mathematics, the choice can be simple or it can be compound. However, if we choose the right path, and walk it with Christ, it has been written that he won't let us down. Fighting the battle and living the struggle, I found one thing to be true, Translation of the written word says a mustard seed's size of faith would save me, people I know, and will save you, too. No one is holier than thou, or even holier than the next. It's said, "The love of money is the root of all evil, and sin is of the flesh. The understanding is to love ourselves, however, a small amount less. Then compensation will be made and glory will be given, for the Lord Our Father will bless us all.