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Ryan Coogler (Getty Images/Kevin Mazur)Graphic: Jimmy Hasse

This story is part of our Hip-Hop: ’73 Till Infinity series, a celebration of the genre’s 50th anniversary.

In the 50 years since hip-hop rolled out of the Bronx—after DJ Kool Herc mastered the art of looping breaks, and the great...

Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.

A Compassionate Spy (Steve James)

See an exclusive clip above.

The latest film from acclaimed documentarian Steve James, A Compassionate Spy, comes with a fascinating subject: the spy who leaked nuclear information from the Manhattan Project to the Soviet Union, therefore ensuring that America could not establish a nuclear monopoly on the world. It’s easy to see why James would be drawn to the spy, Theodore “Ted” Hall, and his wife Joan as he has often been interested in using individuals as the framework to explore larger societal issues. Utilizing a hybrid of recreations, archival footage, and modern-day interviews, James crafts a portrait of a man, a relationship, and the sheer weight of the decision to betray your country to save the world.

If you're looking to pinpoint the greatest year in hip-hop, it's going to start with a one, followed by a nine, another nine, and end with a number no higher than five. The genre that grew out of Bronx house parties thrown by sonic pioneers like DJ Kool Herc, and survived the faddish exploitation of the early and mid-1980s had finally come of age. Obviously, there were groundbreaking LPs released prior to the '90s, but it wasn't until we entered the final decade of the millennium that explorers like Hank Shocklee, Dr. Dre, DJ Premier, and Prince Paul refined their sounds to bring hard-hitting East Coast beats and blunted West Coast G-funk grooves to the ears of audiophiles across the country.

Hollywood was listening. They weren't necessarily getting it, but they were listening. Mid-'80s films like "Breakin'," "Beat Street" and "Krush Groove" captured the excitement of the...

Good night, Papa Nez. The music world is mourning today for the late, great Michael Nesmith, and celebrating his long, weird, beautiful life. He died today at 78, just weeks after the Monkees’ final show on Nov. 14. He was the coolest Monkee, the rock star of the band, the tall, lanky Texan in the wool hat. Nobody did more to eroticize aviator shades and sideburns than Nez. But he was the band’s dedicated musician, writing a slew of cowboy-hippie classics: “Tapioca Tundra,” “Listen to the Band,” “Circle Sky,” “Auntie’s Municipal Court,...

Mark Anthony Morales, the hip hop legend better known as Prince Markie Dee of the Fat Boys, has sadly passed away. While the cause of death has not yet been revealed, the news of Morales's passing was confirmed by his manager, Louie "Uncle Louie" Gregory, with an emotional post on Twitter. Morales was just 52 years old, passing on the day before he would have turned 53.

Forever in my Heart. Prince Markie Dee was more than a rapper; he was one of my very best and closest friends. My heart breaks today because I lost a brother. I’ll always love you Mark and I’ll cherish everything you taught me. Tomorrow is your birthday, swing my way big bro. pic.twitter.com/XcIsHixOoc

— Louis “Uncle Louie” Gregory (@UncleLouie) February 18, 2021

"Forever in my Heart," Gregory writes of his late friend. "Prince Markie Dee was more than a rapper; he was one...

On August 14th, 1987, pioneering hip-hop heavyweights the Fat Boys cemented their status as one of rap’s premier pop culture ambassadors with the simultaneous release of their platinum-selling fourth album Crushin’ and their breakout comedy Disorderlies. With a matchless mixture of skills, charisma, a tireless work ethic, a sense of humor and a powerful mouth-powered rhythm machine, the trio of Mark “Prince Markie Dee” Morales, Damon “Kool Rock-Ski” Wimbley and Darren “Buff Love” Robinson (a.k.a. “the Human Beatbox”) was integral in bringing rap music to the attention of mainstream audiences.

Mark Morales — the rapper, actor and music producer better known as Prince Markie Dee of the trailblazing rap group The Fat Boys — died Thursday at the age of 52. A cause of death has not been made public.

Morales’ death was announced by Sirius Xm’s Rock the Bells radio, where he hosted and DJ’d. “The Rock The Bells family is heartbroken to learn of the passing of Mark ‘Prince Markie Dee’ Morales earlier today. That voice and his presence can never be replaced. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones,” the station said via Twitter.

Born in Brooklyn in 1968, Morales co-founded what would become The Fat Boys as the Disco 3 with his friends Damon “Kool Rock-Ski” Wimbley and Darren “Buff Love” Robinson. As The Disco 3, the group shot to early success after winning a rap contest built around Morales’ and Kool Rock-Ski’s raps and Buff Love’s groundbreaking beatboxing,...

The Proud Family EPs Bruce W. Smith and Ralph Farquhar are expanding their relationship with Disney, signing a wide-ranging, multiyear overall deal to produce animated and live-action series and movies for Disney Branded Television. It is the first deal to be officially announced under the new division established as part of the recent restructuring, headed by Gary Marsh.

Under the deal, Smith and Farquhar will work closely with Meredith Roberts, senior vice president/general manager, Television Animation, Disney Channels, and Ayo Davis, executive vice president, Creative Development and Strategy, Disney Branded Television. The agreement provides separate funding for Farquhar and Smith to find and develop emerging talent and bring unique projects and voices to Disney.

Created by Smith and executive produced by Smith and Farquhar, The Proud Family aired on Disney Channel from 2001-2005 and was one of very few animated series at the time to center around an African American family.

Cooley High director Michael Schultz will be honored October 24 by the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center as part of its 26th annual African American Film Marketplace and the S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase, which runs from October 23-November 29.

“Michael represents the best of the best in Hollywood, a true genius at what he does,” said Bherc president Sandra Evers-Manly. “Cooley High is a classic that launched the careers of several phenomenal actors and inspired a generation of filmmakers. A renaissance professional, Michael has placed an indelible imprint on the stage, film and television industries.”

Cooley High was “so important during its time because of the cultural content as well as its box office performance,” she said. “It’s a comedy turned drama coming-of-age story of high school friends that reached beyond communities and lines of color and gave voice and validation to lives never explored on the big screen.

When LL Cool J heard that authorities in New York had indicted two men in the murder of Jam Master Jay, the pioneering DJ for the hip-hop trio Run-dmc who was killed in 2002, he felt relief. “I’m just so happy that they got indicted on that,” LL tells Rolling Stone. “And I’m just glad that they’re one step closer to a conviction. It was an absolute tragedy. [Jay] will always be forever respected by me.”

The rapper had previously showed his appreciation for the DJ by sending a...

A dazzling and frank dance musical, Boaz Yakin’s Aviva is an ambitious picture free from the restraints of traditional narrative–an ode to young urban living as young lovers Eden and Aviva settle down and settle into familiar gender roles. The question of gender roles is a loaded one, in fact. We’re told that Eden (played by Tyler Phillips as a man and Bobbi Jene Smith as a female) was intended to be a woman, played by a man, in a role written by a man. Eden’s lover, the luminous Aviva, is portrayed in female form by Zina Zinchenko and sometimes in the male form by Or Schraiber. The rules of the game–the movie within the movie–are explained as each character is introduced to us posing nude, in either a domestic or professional space, by the film’s female narrator. Confused yet? Aviva is as confounding as it is explicit,...

The Prince estate has unveiled the colorful animated video for “Holly Rock,” one of the tracks featured on the recent posthumous collection Originals.

As Prince’s YouTube account notes, “Holly Rock” was tracked at Los Angeles’ Sunset Sound studios in April 1985, the same week that Prince recorded his hit single “Kiss.”

“‘Holly Rock’ was recorded for inclusion on the original soundtrack for the 1985 movie Krush Groove,” the Prince estate states. “While Prince gave Sheila E. sole writing and producer credit, he actually produced the track himself and co-wrote it with Sheila.

“It’s not about me at all,” says Rick Rubin — renowned record producer, hip-hop pioneer, possessor of one of the world’s truly magnificent celebrity beards — at the very beginning of Shangri-La, Showtime’s four-part docuseries that premieres tonight and is … well, ostensibly about him. He’s talking to the project’s co-director, Morgan Neville; the Won’t You Be My Neighbor? filmmaker is asking Rubin about what the focus of the series should be. The subject sort of demurs, deflects, dodges the invitation to step into the spotlight. He mentions the artists,...

The Prince estate is releasing a 15-track album comprising previously unreleased songs. Originals will first stream on Tidal from June 7th – 20th before receiving a physical release via Warner Bros. on June 21st.

The album comprises songs from Prince’s “Vault” recordings, which were selected by Troy Carter on behalf of the late singer’s estate alongside Jay-z. The set hails from recordings the artist made from 1981 through 1991 that he primarily composed and wrote for others, many of which became hits, such as Sheila E.’s “The Glamorous Life” and the Bangles’ “Manic Monday.

Krush Groove screens Wednesday, December 7th at 8pm Schlafly Bottleworks Restaurant and Bar (7260 Southwest Ave.- at Manchester – Maplewood, Mo 63143) as part of Webster University’s Award-Winning Strange Brew Film Series.

You never know what’s brewing at Webster University’s Strange Brew cult film series. It’s always the first Wednesday evening of every month, and they always come up with some cult classic to show while enjoying some good food and great suds. The fun happens at Schlafly Bottleworks Restaurant and Bar in Maplewood (7260 Southwest Ave.- at Manchester – Maplewood, Mo 63143).

I’ve never seen this month’s Strange Brew pick, Krush Groove, a movie based on the early days of Def Jam Recordings, but apparently it’s a must see for all Hip Hop historians.

Krush Groove (1985) is a movie about the struggles of early rap groups trying to make it big in the 80’s when rap...

Deadmau5 and Feed Me have teamed up on a new mau5trap mix over the weekend, delivering two hours of expertly curated music. The two producers split the airtime in half, with each contributing an hour to the mix.

The first hour is handled by deadmau5, who mixes in an eclectic array of tracks with music by Attlas, Four Tet, DJ Shadow and more. The second hour of the mix is curated by Feed Me, who takes the opportunity to spin some of his recently released Family Reunion Ep as well as a few IDs.

During the mix, deadmau5 also reveals the release date for the next edition of mau5trap’s We Are Friends series, stating that label’s next compilation will arrive on August 12. Of course, we’re also still waiting on the upcoming Feed Me/deadmau5 collab that was teased back in June, but we’ll take...

The Revenger: Liam Neeson is set to star in The Revenger, an action-comedy from the writing team of Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant (Night at the Museum). The duo sold the movie on the strength of their pitch, which is being kept under wraps; now they need to write the script. Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland) will direct. [Deadline]   Def Jam: Reportedly, Michael B. Jordan (Creed) and Jonah Hill have been considered by Universal as possible candidates to star as Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin, respectively, in a movie about the early years of influential record label Def Jam Recordings. The project is still in the preliminary stages, but the studio recently enjoyed big success with the musical bio-pic Straight Outta Compton. The 1985 film Krush Groove featured a...

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"Straight Outta Compton" has reached yet another milestone this week, becoming the highest grossing music bio-pic ever. At currently $136 million and still counting, it beat out the previous No.1 film in that category, "Walk The Line" - the film about Johnny Cash, which grossed nearly $120 million, and held that record for a decade. "Ray," the Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles film, now drops to third, with $75 million. Clearly "Compton" has touched a nerve with black audiences. There were other hip-hop films before it, going back to "Krush Groove" thirty years ago in 1985. But, with the exception of the Eminem film "8 Mile," which made...

Blondie was one of the seminal new wave bands of the 70′s, and their influence is still felt forty years after their introduction (they were inducted into the Rock Hall Of Fame in 2006).

Debbie Harry‘s solo career has not reached the same heights as Blondie, but she remains a true rock icon. Today is her 69th birthday, so let’s celebrate with a look at some of her greatest songs, both solo and with Blondie.

This is a good place to start your Essential Debbie Harry Collection.

20. For Your Eyes Only

Year: 1981

Album: The Hunter

Chart Peak: N/A

“For Your Eyes Only” was originally written for the 1981 James Bond film, but the producers turned it down in favor of the Bill Conti song performed by Sheena Easton. Blondie decided to release their song on their ill-fated final album The Hunter. It’s understandable why they went with the Sheena song,...

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Blair Underwood stopped by Very VH1 today to make us swoon talk about his new NBC cop show, Ironside, and we seriously had to consider the principles of mathematics. Because, seriously, this guy is 49 years old? Is he some kind of vampire? Well, if you watch the Spreecast, you will get a sense of his maturity, but we think it’s pretty hard to tell his real age from project to project. Check out the photos from some of his memorable roles above and see if you can sort them into chronological order. Answer key after the jump.

Answer:

G: Krush Groove, 1985

I: The Cosby Show, 1985

B: One Life to Live, 1985-86

F: L.A. Law, 1987-94

D: Something New, 2006

E: Sex and the City, 2003-04

H: In Treatment, 2008

A: The Event, 2010-11

C: A Streetcar Named Desire (on Broadway), 2012

[Photo: Getty Images]...

Channing Tatum holds a chihuahua

Birthday shoutouts go to Mindy Kaling, who is 34, Mick Fleetwood is 66, and Michele Lee is 71.

Remembering the Upstairs Lounge mass murder, 40 years later.

Martina Navratilova on the lack of gay male tennis players.

Impatient Nation Demands Supreme Court Just Get To The Gay Stuff.

Meet Walle, the winner of this year’s Ugliest Dog Contest. Wait, seriously? I call B.S.

Below you can see Tony winner Billy Porter appear on Totally Biased to talk about Kinky Boots and being out since the 80′s.

The Out List debuts on HBO on Thursday night, and below you can see a brief snippet, including Neil Patrick Harris.

And here he is celebrating Global Smurfs Day.

And here’s The Weekly ShoutOUT™. Each week we’re going to focus on one out athlete/performer and feature a daily pic and career timeline. We’ll be showcasing the big names,...

Ever since TMZ posted a crazy video of Too Short running from cops during a DUI bust ... everyone has wondered, What The Hell Was He Thinking???? Well now we finally know. Short was out in L.A. Friday night at KDay's Krush Groove Concert ... when our photog broached the subject, and the rapper fully admitted he ran away from the police because he really thought he had a chance to escape.But we all know...

Rapper-turned-actor also updates MTV News on his in-the-works FX series 'Eye for an Eye,' N.W.A biopic and fourth 'Friday' film.

By Tamara Palmer

Ice Cube

Photo: Kameron Zach/MTV News

As the clock struck midnight on April 29, ringing in the 20-year anniversary of the day three police officers were acquitted in the Rodney King trial and the start of the Los Angeles riots, Ice Cube was imploring a sold-out crowd at Kday's Krush Groove concert at L.A.'s Gibson Amphitheatre to never forget what happened in 1992.

The upheaval fueled the direction of Ice Cube's The Predator later that year. The album remains his career bestseller, a home to express songs like "We Had to Tear This Mother----a Up" as well as a wry hit like "It Was a Good Day." Two decades on, he still believes in music as a vehicle for social change.

'I think music always has the power to change, heal, bring understanding and bring people together,' Cube tells MTV News.

By Rob Markman, with reporting by Tamara Palmer

Ice Cube performs in Los Angeles on Saturday

Photo: Kameron Zach/MTV News

On April 29, 1992, Los Angeles erupted after a jury acquitted four Lapd officers accused of beating Rodney King. It was dubbed the L.A. riots, as thousands of people took to the streets in protest. There was looting, arson and widespread violence. The indelible imagery has lived on through archived footage, art and, of course, music.

Albums like Dr. Dre's The Chronic and Ice Cube's The Predator were strongly influenced by the racial tension and social powder-keg conditions that preceded the riots and the aggressions and flared tempers in the aftermath. In many ways, West Coast hip-hop music in the early 1990s helped those outside of L.

New York -- Blair Underwood's weird ride to becoming Stanley Kowalski onstage in "A Streetcar Named Desire" started four years ago with a dashed hope.

The actor had wanted to play Brick in an all-black Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," but had lost the part to Terrence Howard, fresh off his Oscar-nominated turn in "Hustle & Flow."

"What are you going to do?" Underwood says, shrugging his shoulders.

Losing the role didn't sour him on the production, which he went to see one night at the Broadhurst Theatre. He was in the lobby during intermission when Stephen C. Byrd, one of the show's producers, spotted him and introduced himself.

Would Underwood be interested in playing Stanley in a multiracial production of Williams' other masterpiece on Broadway? Of course, came the answer. And, fittingly, years later, after shaking off a challenge from Denzel Washington,...

Over 26 years since making his big-screen debut in the iconic hip-hop film "Krush Groove," Blair Underwood has evolved into one today's most sought-after African-American actors. Though he has managed to land a recurring role on "Sex and the City," in addition to starring on NBC's "L.A. Law" and "The Event," his latest television foray is of a much more personal nature, as he follows his genealogical paper trail on NBC's celebrity series, "Who Do You Think You Are?"

During a recent interview with The Huffington Post, the Washington state native opened up on what it was like to explore his family lineage, his new role in Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire," as well as his new signature suit collection.

What attracted you to "Who Do You Think You Are?"

I had seen the show [and I've been a fan of it], and then I was at a NBC party last year and I ran into...

Over 26 years since making his big-screen debut in the iconic hip-hop film "Krush Groove," Blair Underwood has evolved into one of today's most sought-after African-American actors. Though he has managed to land a recurring role on "Sex and the City," in addition to starring on NBC's "L.A. Law" and "The Event," his latest television foray is of a much more personal nature, as he follows his genealogical paper trail on NBC's celebrity series, "Who Do You Think You Are?"

During a recent interview with The Huffington Post, the Washington state native opened up on what it was like to explore his family lineage, his new role in Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire," as well as his new signature suit collection.

What attracted you to "Who Do You Think You Are?"

I saw the show [and I've been a fan of it], and then I was at a NBC party last year and I ran into...

LL Cool J will become the second hip-hop artist to host the Grammy Awards on Sunday.

By Rob Markman

LL Cool J in the mid-1980s

Photo: Paul Natkin/ WireImage

Box. All it took was a simple three-letter word to jumpstart the illustrious career of a hip-hop legend. LL Cool J was unknown when he made a cameo in the 1985 film "Krush Groove" but it wouldn't be long before the rap world began buzzing about the 16-year old boy in the baby-blue Kangol.

In the flick, which was based off the formative years of seminal hip-hop record label Def Jam, LL walked into an office to showcase his talents for label brass and top talent Run-dmc. After he was denied an audition, the Hollis, Queens Mc simply said, "Box," signaling his entourage to cue the oversized boombox and start the music. It was then that LL began rapping his debut...

Chicago, Il - Cinema/Chicago announced that the 47Th Chicago International Film Festival will spotlight a diverse group of actors and filmmakers with Illinois and Chicago connections through two unique Festival programs: City & State and Chicago Connections.

From the Opening Night Presentation of The Last Rites of Joe May starring longtime Chicago thespian Dennis Farina to Xan Aranda.s look into the inner world of Chicago-bred musician Andrew Bird (Andrew Bird: Fever Year), and a short film program featuring promising new Illinois filmmakers (Shorts 1: City & State), this year.s City & State picks showcase the best features, documentaries and short films with roots in Chicago or Illinois. A Festival jury will select the best film in this category, which will be presented with the Chicago Award.

Chicago Connections, a ticketed series of screenings, discussions and Q&A.s, will honor notable native Chicagoans John C. Reilly, Haskell Wexler, Joe Swanberg,...

Aretha Franklin, the Queen Of Soul turns 69 today. Her music has appeared on an extremely long list of film soundtracks that include The Big Chill, St. Elmo’s Fire, Platoon, Goodfellas, Cape Fear, Ali and The Last King Of Scotland. Ms. Franklin made her acting debut in The Blues Brothers.

Actress Lisa Gay Hamilton welcomes 47. The Julliard graduate has appeared in Homicide: Life On The Street, Krush Groove, Ally McBeal, Twelve Monkeys, Beloved, The Practice, Sex And The City, Jackie Brown and many more productions to numerous to name. Lately, you can find her on Men Of A Certain Age. The actress also directed the documentary film Beah: A Black Woman Speaks in 2003. The film is about pioneering black actress Beah Richards.

Stage, screen and television actor James McDaniel turns 53 today. Born and raised in Washington D.C., he’s appeared in dozens of productions including All My Children, Hill Street Blues,...

The Purple One delighted the Izod Center crowd at his Welcome 2 America Tour stop on Friday with a career-spanning set and some special guests.

By Hillary Crosley

Prince (file)

Photo: Jens Dige/Scanpix/Afp Photo

What man can make three-inch gold heels and a glittering top work? Only Prince, of course.

On Friday, the Purple One performed at New Jersey's Izod Center for his Welcome 2 America Tour before a packed crowd, seated well into the nose-bleeds. Drawing from his early catalogue, the icon began the show with a medley of "Let's Go Crazy" and "Delirious."

Working a stage shaped like the symbol he was "formerly known as," Prince strutted in a black suit detailed with gold trim while sporting his signature short haircut. His band included three background singers -- dressed in everything from feathers to polka dots -- a female bassist, two keyboardists and a drummer.

Maintaining the energy,...

Before Spike or Tyler or Lee Daniels or Antoine Fuqua or George Tillman and all the other countless of black directors working today there was Michael Schultz.

Back in the 70′s Schultz was on the busiest black directors on the scene directing everybody’s favorite Cooley High (…well almost everyone favorite. I still can’t get into the film) and others like Which Way is Up?, Car Wash, Greased Lightning, The Last Dragon and Krush Groove. Is there anyone who hasn’t seen his films? And he’s still very active working today doing features such as Woman Thou Are Loosed (which though mines the same thematic mineshaft as a Tyler Perry film is far superior than any of his films) and TV directing numerous episodes of Chuck and Brothers and Sisters among many other TV shows.

Fortunately in the current issue of the retro movie magazine Shock Cinema (Don...

Kendra Wilkinson-Baskett isn't letting mommyhood get in the way of having some bootylicious fun. The E! reality star jumped on stage at Kday radio's Krush Groove concert on Friday night in L.A. to do some rather rigorous booty shaking while her rapper pal Too $hort performed his hit, "Blow the Whistle." But you're not going to believe who's taking Kendra to task for the impromptu performance—former porn star Jenna Jameson! "I think it's weird when new moms act exactly the way they did when they didn't have babies," Jameson tweeted. Another tweet read, "You don't see me acting out like a heathen." Um, okay, Ms....

Picture this: the year is 1985; a little girl is in her pajamas and seated in front of the TV entranced by the awesomeness that is Krush Groove. I've listened to a lot of music over the years, but I always came back to hip-hop. Come to think of it, I've listened to it, read about it -- heck, I've even watched every junky documentary that came my way. Not to mention that, to this day, when I hear It's Tricky, I make sure the volume is maxed out. So you would think that a Run Dmc biopic would be good news, right? I don't want to sound like a pessimist, but I'm not keeping my fingers crossed, and here's why: The Hollywood Reporter announced that Notorious screenwriter, Cheo Hodari Coker, has signed to adapt Bill Adler's (the group's former publicist), Tougher Than Leather: The Rise of Run-dmc -- The Authorized Biography.

TV One, a channel that targets black viewers, said Monday that it has signed a multiyear agreement with Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution to acquire rights to a slew of theatrical titles and off-network series, including UPN's All of Us and Eve. The deal, which marks the biggest programming acquisition for the network in its two-year history, also includes rights to such series as Living Single, For Your Love, Hangin' With Mr. Cooper, The Parent 'Hood, Wanda at Large, All About the Andersons, Fastlane and A Man Called Hawk as well as recent episodes of Showtime at the Apollo. Through the agreement, TV One also is renewing rights to air the comedies Roc and Martin. In addition, TV One has snapped up rights to a range of movie titles, including windows on such films as The Color Purple, Malcolm X, Lean on Me, New Jack City, Purple Rain, Shaft and Superfly. Other movies in the deal include Round Midnight, Rosewood, Boiling Point, Uptown Saturday Night, Strictly Business, Cabin in the Sky, Krush Groove and Sparkle.