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It's been 26 years since John Singleton shook up Hollywood with Boyz n the Hood, his feature film debut and a semi-autobiographical story about a Crenshaw teenager trying to live an ordinary life during the height of the Crips/Bloods gang war. Now, the first African-American ever nominated for a Best Director Oscar revisits the crime-ridden Los Angeles he once observed first-hand – and offers a larger, much-needed historical context that helped shape those mean streets.

Singleton's new FX show Snowfall (which debuts on July 5th) follows Franklin Saint (Damson Idris), an ambitious L.

James Bond double features used to be so popular that they would routinely out-gross many new films. The first double feature took place in 1965 with a team-up of Dr. No and From Russia With Love. By 1980, the double features were starting to fade but United Artists did put together this combo of two Roger Moore blockbusters: Moonraker and The Spy Who Loved Me. Cinema Retro reader Hank Reineke kindly provided this rare newspaper advertisement from a long-defunct New Jersey drive-in theater that presented the double bill in 1980.

The Hollywood Interview is sad to report the untimely death of rapper/actor Heavy D at age 44. I interviewed Heavy D for Venice Magazine, back in June of 2005, as he was making his theatrical debut in Hollywood, in the play "Medal of Honor Rag." He was a soft-spoken, thoughtful man whose imposing physical presence couldn't hide what seemed like an inherently gentle nature. Of the hundreds of hours of interviews I've logged over the years, ours was one of the most memorable. He will be missed. Rest in peace.

Heavy D Changes His Tune In

Medal Of Honor Rag

By

Alex Simon

It’s fair to say that Heavy D was one of the first rap/hip-hop artists whose work crossed over into the “mainstream,” earning him points with urban fans as well as those in the suburbs. While many people were left with a bad taste from what they...

Hip hop legend Heavy D died Tuesday, November 8 in Los Angeles, according to MTV News. He was 44.

Heavy, who was born Dwight Arrington Myers, was mostly known for his role in the group Heavy D & the Boyz. The group recorded an array of hip hop dance hits like 1991's "Now That We Found Love" and 1994's "Nuttin' but Love." Heavy also composed the theme music to the sketch comedy series, "In Living Color."

Heavy D was transported to an L.A. hospital after a 911 call was placed from his Beverly Hills home. The call was made around 11:25 a.m. Pt to report an unconscious male, but when the ambulance arrived, Heavy was conscious and speaking. He was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead a few hours later at 1 p.m. Et. As of now, the cause of death is unknown.

Heavy was also a film and television actor,...

Rapper had a string of hip-hop dance hits in the '90s; the cause of death is so far unknown.

By Rob Markman

Heavy D in 1991

Photo: Ron Galella / Getty Images

New York rap legend Heavy D died Tuesday (November 8) at age 44, MTV News has learned through a source.

Heavy, who was born Dwight Arrington Myers, was most known for his role in the group Heavy D & the Boyz. Together, the group recorded an array of hip-hop dance hits like 1991's "Now That We Found Love" and 1994's "Nuttin' but Love." Aside from his own hits, Heavy rapped on Michael Jackson's 1991 hit "Jam" and a remix to Janet Jackson's 1990 single "Alright" from her Rhythm Nation album.

Photos: The life and career of Heavy D.

According to a press release from the Beverly Hills Police Department obtained by MTV News, the Mount Vernon, New York, Mc was transported to...