Throwback Movie: The Hollywood Knights

Aw man.

I haven’t seen this movie in ages, and it’s definitely one I’ll need to order from Amazon. Though it was widely derided as an American Graffiti rip-off, The Hollywood Knights had very little in common with that film aside from the “one last night” setup. It has more in common with movies Porky’s and American Pie, both of which are mentioned in the above trailer for its home video release but actually came out after Knights, and believe me when I tell you, it’s wayyyyyyyyy raunchier than either of those films. The “one-armed violinist” scene comes to mind. Ha!

Event: Touré – Who’s Afraid of Post-Blackness? Book Launch Party (Sept. 13)

Whether you love him or hate him, one thing is surely true—Touré has a new book coming out, and you do not. The author/journalist has written Who’s Afraid of Post-Blackness?: What It Means To Be Black Now, which is about, well, exactly what it says on the tin. Touré attempts to explore what it means to be black in America in the age of Obama.

Examining the concept of “Post-Blackness,” a term that defines artists who are proud to be Black but don’t want to be limited by identity politics, Touré divulges intimate, funny, and painful stories of how racial expectations have shaped his own life, and explores how the concept of Post-Blackness functions in politics, art, culture, and more. The book also includes insights from a wide spectrum of contemporary luminaries, from Cornel West to Malcolm Gladwell to Kara Walker to David Paterson to Chuck D.

On Tuesday, September 13, Greenlight Bookstore hosts the launch of the book with a party featuring refreshments and music from DJ FRiTZO, along with a chance to meet and talk with Touré.

Publishing: NaNoWriMo Novel by Erin Morgenstern Earns 6-Figure Deal After 30 Rejections

Now here’s a tale of success that warms my cold, wretched heart. Next month, author Erin Morgenstern will publish The Night Circus, her debut novel which actually began life as a National Novel Writing Month manuscript. Circus received 30 rejections from literary agents before Morgenstern garnered a “high six-figure advance” from Random House. From The Wall Street Journal:

Very little from [Morgenstern's] early draft survived, but she had an idea that excited her. She worked in bursts over the next several years, writing a sprawling, plotless series of vignettes featuring magicians, acrobats, and a pair of psychic twins. Thirty literary agents rejected her.

Throwback: Kris Kross – “The Way of The Rhyme”

Sunday was the birthday of my homegirl, DC’s very own DJ Heat. And, like the very bad friend that I am, I neglected to wish her a happy birthday. So, this post will serve as my belated birthday wish to her.

I love you, Heat!!

Quote: Dear Publishers, Please Do Not Stop Making Books

Throwback: Blackstreet featuring Jay-Z – “Call Me”

Jay-Z and Blackstreet worked together quite a bit in 1997. Teddy Riley’s R&B supergroup provided guest vocals on Jigga’s “The City is Mine” from his sophomore album In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, and Jay returned the favor with this guest verse on the remix to Blackstreet’s “Call Me.”

Throwback: Jon B. and Coko featuring Jay-Z – “Keep It Real”

In the mid-90s, romantic Black films experienced a resurgence, and one of my favorites from that period was Chris Cherot’s low budget charmer Hav Plenty. Not only did I feel the song mirror my life to a fuckin’ t, it also had a bangin’ soundtrack thanks to film producer Tracey Edmonds and her then-husband Kenneth. You may know Kenneth by his stage name, Babyface.

Like with Waiting to Exhale the year before, Babyface executive produced the film’s soundtrack, and this track was one of the highlights. Featuring my generation’s favorite white boy crooner, SWV’s lead vocalist, and (of course) Jay-Z, “Keep It Real” was a jaunty, midtempo tune that often stayed on repeat in my stereo’s CD player.

Remember those? Ha!