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Welp, The ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Reviews Appear To Point Toward Another ‘Cowboy Bebop’ Live-Action Mess

Avatar The Last Airbender
Netflix

Considering M. Night Shyamalan previously made an ill-fated live-action film adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Netflix had its work cut out for it. Determined to succeed where Shyamalan failed, the streamer locked itself into delivering a new live-action series that would allow for more breathing room to translate the sprawling epic that unfolded in the acclaimed animated series.

With Season 1 now streaming on Netflix, the reviews are coming in, and well, they’re not great. Granted, the overwhelming consensus is that the live-action series easily clears the low-bar of the Shyamalan film, but critics still found themselves struggling with the show’s pacing, performances, and the overall question of why Avatar needed to be adapted into live-action when it worked so well as a cartoon.

Some critics are also comparing Avatar to Cowboy Bebop, which was a poorly received attempt to turn a beloved anime into a live-action series. That realization particularly stings, given that Netflix recently delivered a surprisingly well-received adaption of One Piece, which raised hopes for Avatar.

You can see what the critics are saying below:

Kelly Lawler, USA Today:

There was so much potential in this story − about a world in which some people have the superpower to control water, fire, earth and air through what is called “bending” − to create something gorgeous and striking in a live-action medium. Not as a shot-for-shot recreation, but as its own epic that embraced the themes and tone of its source material. But out of fear of angering die-hard fans, lack of time and/or budget or a fundamental misunderstanding of what “adaptation” really means, the new “Avatar” is a regretful mess in its first season. Both too slavish to the original and too far removed from it, the new “Avatar” fails in every way. And it’s infuriating.

Aramide Tinubu, Variety:

While the show’s visuals and its Asian and Indigenous stars add authenticity to the series, the performances of the majority of the cast, no matter how earnest, don’t hold up to the weight of the narrative. Many of the series’ portrayals lack the extensive emotion needed to carry a show centering on the horrors of genocide, war and totalitarianism. Tonally, “Avatar: The Last Airbender” should stand alongside the nuanced sophistication of the “Harry Potter” movie adaptations or Disney+’s “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.” But instead, cheesy acting and some Disney Channel-like dialogue turn what could have been a resounding epic adventure into a whimpering thud.

Joshua Yehl, IGN:

About half the episodes feel like they’re hustling to get through more plot than they have time for. On one hand, there’s some admirable condensing in the writing, stitching together thematically complementary elements from multiple episodes of the cartoon while also squeezing in some delightful fan service. But it comes at the expense of breathing room for all those characters and events. The result is erratic pacing, conversations that take sharp turns out of nowhere, and a general sense of unwieldiness. On the flip side, when the show takes its time, we’re treated to some truly amazing stuff.

Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge:

More than anything else, the new Avatar’s pacing is what makes it feel out of sorts — not simply because of how fast the show moves but also because of how that speed creates a sense of urgency that doesn’t seem to emanate from many of the characters themselves. With a bit more room to breathe, the show’s subplots could have felt richer and its central heroes more compelling — and helped Netflix have another One Piece instead of a Cowboy Bebop.

Coleman Spilde, The Daily Beast:

While it’s far less condensed than Shyamalan’s film and with decently ambitious worldbuilding, Netflix’s version of Avatar rarely strives to differentiate itself from its predecessor. For those simply looking for a faithful spin on their favorite childhood show, this may be enough to delight the senses; the bar is, after all, pitifully low. But to an outsider, Avatar: The Last Airbender screams “adaptation,” with its rigid character archetypes and careful side-stepping of any notable or unique alterations. The show is lost in its fan service, a calculated (and occasionally impressive) effort to right Shyamalan’s 14-year-old wrong. But all that care becomes the series’ collapse, leaving it crushed under the weight of expectations, forever searching for any point to its existence.

While the negative/underwhelmed reviews far outweighed the positive, there were a handful of critics who warmed to the Avatar live-action remake despite any flaws and the insurmountable task of living up to the original Nickelodeon series. You can some of their thoughts below:

Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone:

In the absence of the original creators, showrunner Albert Kim and his team have made a solid, fairly respectful adaptation of this tricky, tricky subject. Most of the roles are well-cast, the production values and special effects are top-notch, the action is lively, and many of the big emotional moments land well. No one who watches will consider it an abomination, whether they know the source material or are just clicking play because the algorithm told them to. At the same time, this new version makes a few iffy choices, and on the whole bumps up against the low ceiling that greets almost any such attempt at taking on an iconic work.

Paul Tassi, Forbes:

It is not as good as the animated series. Of course it isn’t. This is painting the Mona Lisa with colored pencil, where it may be great in its own right, but it’s just an entirely different medium that could never live up to the original masterpiece. So I think you have to grade on a bit of a curve here. I don’t know how superfans will react to the series, and I’m sure many of them will not be forgiving of aspects of it. I also don’t know what this will do for “onboarding” new fans who haven’t seen the original, which is how I approached Netflix’s One Piece adaptation (which was good!). Here, all I can say is that as a fan, I thought they did a solid job.

Jack Seale, The Guardian:

The landscapes sparkle, there is a giant six-legged flying bison that carries everyone spectacularly from place to place through the clouds and the young cast are up to the task. Ousley and Kiawentiio strike up a nicely spiky sibling relationship as Sokka and Katara, while Cormier gives Aang the right mix of boyish cheek and inherent authority, as the three of them uphold the impression that a child and two teenagers can defeat genocidal authoritarians with wholesome pluck, gentle sarcasm and the ability to summon a hurricane. The Airbender franchise has confidently revived itself; this won’t be the last we see of it.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is now streaming on Netflix.

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Here Is The Bad Bunny Merch Available At The ‘Most Wanted’ Tour

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Bad Bunny‘s Most Wanted Tour is officially underway. The internet-breaking Puerto Rican superstar kicked off the tour last night at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, giving fans their first glimpses of his newest electrifying stage show — and the merch they can look forward to taking how at future stops. Fans on the Bad Bunny subreddit shared photos of the merch table, which includes a huge assortment of t-shirts and other commemorative accessories in various colors. Items include:

  • “Most Wanted” t-shirts and hoodies featuring a poster of Bad Bunny’s face.
  • “Monaco Grand Prix” t-shirts
  • “NADIE SABE” t-shirts featuring a graphic of a bullrider
  • “TELEFONO NUEVO” t-shirts
  • “GRACIAS POR NADA” t-shirts and canvas shopping bags

Check out photos below:

Bad Bunny’s Most Wanted Tour Dates:

02/23/2024 — Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena
02/24/2024 — Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena
02/27/2024 — Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center
02/28/2024 — Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center
03/01/2024 — San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center
03/02/2024 — San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center
03/05/2024 — Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
03/07/2024 — Portland, OR @ Moda Center
03/09/2024 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
03/13/2024 — Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena
03/14/2024 — Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena
03/15/2024 — Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena
03/20/2024 — Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
03/23/2024 — Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
03/26/2024 — Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center
03/28/2024 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
03/29/2024 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
03/30/2024 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
04/04/2024 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
04/06/2024 — Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
04/09/2024 — Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena
04/11/2024 — Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
04/12/2024 — Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
04/13/2024 — Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
04/17/2024 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden
04/19/2024 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
04/20/2024 — Hartford, CT @ XL Center
04/22/2024 — Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
04/24/2024 — Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
04/26/2024 — Austin, TX @ Moody Center
04/27/2024 — Austin, TX @ Moody Center
04/30/2024 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
05/01/2024 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
05/03/2024 — Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
05/04/2024 — Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
05/07/2024 — New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
05/10/2024 — Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
05/11/2024 — Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
05/14/2024 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
05/15/2024 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
05/17/2024 — Orlando, FL @ Amway Center
05/18/2024 — Orlando, FL @ Amway Center
05/21/2024 — Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
05/24/2024 — Miami, FL @ Kaseya Center
05/25/2024 — Miami, FL @ Kaseya Center
05/26/2024 — Miami, FL @ Kaseya Center

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Emma Stone Explained Why She’ll Never (Jokingly) Call Taylor Swift An ‘A*shole’ Again

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There are certain things in life you don’t joke about: anything that happened less than 22.3 years ago, Taco Bell taking the 7-Layer Burrito off the menu, and Taylor Swift. Emma Stone learned that the hard way.

While backstage at the 2024 Golden Globes after winning Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for her performance in Poor Things, Stone referred to Swift, who was in the audience clapping for her, as an “asshole.” She added, “I’ve known her for almost 20 years. I was very happy she was there and she was also nominated tonight, which was wonderful. And yes, what an asshole.” She was clearly joking, but some Swifties weren’t laughing.

“I definitely won’t make a joke like that again,” Stone told Variety, “because I saw headlines that really pulled it out of context.” She then pointed at herself and said, “What a dope.” (I need one of these shirts but with “Emma” instead of “Homer.”)

Besides, Stone is allowed to call Swift an “asshole” because they’ve been friends for a long time. The two met “at the Young Hollywood Awards when [she] was 18 in LA,” the Oscar-winning actress said last year. “We just kept in touch ever since and became great friends.” Swift may or may not have even written a song about her. Maybe that’s the issue: Stone thinks Swift is a jerk for not calling the song “When Emma Goes on Jeopardy.”

(Via Variety)

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What Time Does Bad Bunny Go On Stage For ‘Most Wanted Tour?’

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Bad Bunny kicked off his Most Wanted Tour last night (February 21) at Salt Lake City’s Delta Center, with many surprises in store for fans.

His next stop is the first of two nights at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena this Friday, February 23, and eventually, Benito will make his way to other major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and more. The last shows of his North American leg of the Most Wanted Tour will be four dates in Miami.

For those who are heading to one of Bad Bunny’s upcoming tour dates, here’s what to expect about when he’ll start performing.

What Time Does Bad Bunny Go On Stage For Most Wanted Tour?

According to a Reddit thread where someone asked what time Bad Bunny goes on stage, another user corrected that he actually started the show at 8:50 p.m., rather than at just 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. last night. This also received some upvotes, seemingly confirming the user who shared Bad Bunny’s start time.

Whether this will continue to be the same time he starts each concert on the tour is still a question. Fans will just have to wait and see, to compare to other shows.

For more information about Bad Bunny’s Most Wanted Tour, including tour dates and how to purchase tickets, visit here.

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Denis Villeneuve On The Crazy Privilege Of Making ‘Dune: Part 2’

denis villeneuve dune 2
Getty Image/Merle Cooper

As mentioned to Denis Villeneuve ahead, his press tour for the first Dune movie was interesting in that it’s rare we see a movie with almost universal acclaim – including a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Picture – and Villeneuve is basically out there saying, “But just wait for the second movie.”

Here’s the thing: after now having seen that said second movie, good grief he wasn’t kidding. While the first film introduces us to a whole host of interesting characters and concepts and worlds, the second film puts all of those attributes in motion – and adds Austin Butler’s sinister and absolutely demonic Feyd – and delivers one of the most phenomenal sci-fi adventures ever put to screen. Remember, Dune was supposed to be an unfilmable book. And the 1984 movie, though endearing these days, was kind of supposed to prove that. Dune: Part Two very much proves it is a filmable book.

Picking up where the first part leaves off, Paul (Timothée Chalamet), and his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) have joined the freman, led by Stilgar (Javier Bardem). Stilgar believes Paul is their savior and will lead them to victory versus the invaders who are there to take precious spice. Paul doesn’t quite buy that he’s the savior, but agrees to fight alongside Stilgar and Chani (Zendaya) and complete the numerous challenges required of him … which includes mounting and riding a sandworm.

Ahead, Villeneuve explains why, first, he really needs some sleep and why it might be a while before we see the third chapter (and adaptation of Frank Herbert’s second book), Dune: Messiah. He tells us why this second chapter was both challenging and unbelievably fun to make – and goes into great detail about how he made the sandworm riding scene look so spectacular. He explains why Austin Butler can channel pure demonic evil so well as Feyd (with no speedo like Sting wore) and why it was so important to have a scene of Josh Brolin’s Gurney playing the baliset. Also, did I mention that Villeneuve really wants some sleep?

When the first Dune came out, on your press tour I’ve never really seen a director getting almost universal acclaim, and you’re like, “no, no, no. Wait for the second one.”

The thing is, I knew that Part One was like an introduction. Was like an appetizer. And I knew that the Part Two will have all the substance. It was much more emotional movie, with more action. In a way, for a director, it was more exciting for me to do Part Two. There was something about it that it was much more challenging. But it was more playful, and the toys were bigger.

That’s true.

It was much more ambitious and much more complex. But I had a tremendous amount… I had a lot of fun. We started the movie, exhausted. Because we were out on the press tour of Part One. And there was no break in between both movies. But what kept me alive was the excitement of what was coming ahead of me. Actually, I made sure that each word of the screenplay, I would be excited by. And there will be no moment where I will just “do something.” I was making sure that the screenplay was as strong as I wanted. And also, I was excited to go deeper into the character’s relationships. We had barely seen Chani in the first one. I had a glimpse on Stilgar. But, the favorite part of Dune, for me, is the Fremen culture. And I felt that, finally, I had the chance to embrace it, and to go deeper, and to play with it.

It’s out there now that Dune: Part Two doesn’t wrap up the story and ends again on another cliffhanger. Are you glad that’s out there so people aren’t surprised? Because I think a lot of people think this wraps everything up, and it doesn’t.

I was destabilized by the appetite for Dune Messiah. I’m here to talk about Dune: Part II. There’s a part of me who is very happy to be away from the desert.

Right…

For now, I’ve had my share of sand and I would love to take a little break from Arrakis before going back, if ever I go back. I will go back if there’s a strong screenplay on the table. It’s a work in progress right now. So, I have nothing to say about Dune Messiah, other than it could be interesting to finish. Totally finalize the poetry, this arc. But I will say that, for me, I tried to complete the story in the two first movies. And to see that, if it stopped there, there was a part of me that I knew I will have spent enough time in Arrakis.

Well, you’ve said before you want to take a break. You just said again you want to take a break. Does taking a break mean from Dune? Or is there another movie like Enemy in you? Do you want to make movies during this break, or do you want an actual break?

I wish I had an actual break. I don’t think I will have a break.

Okay.

But I think I could have just a little bit… Well, I’m talking about just a few weeks to sleep. I’m just talking about a few weeks of sleeping. And just dreaming. There are many stories that I want to do and I have a lot of projects. And, of course, I love Dune. But it’s like, I think it could be interesting to do a small movie, and then go back to Dune after. Just to give a bit of breathing and to create a little bit of distance. And perspective. And create an appetite also.

Not to mention Blade Runner 2049, too. You had three huge, huge movies in a row.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And no breaks in between. Let’s say that the past ten years I didn’t stop. And I feel I’m blessed as a director, but as a human being, I would love to spend a little bit more time with my family. But I just feel that I want to make sure that the next screenplays I’m working on, I will make no compromise. And I will work on very strong screenplays. And I want to take the time for that. So the answer will be, I will not stop. But I just want to make sure that the screenplays are ready. I will not rush production if I don’t have something solid on the table. That’s the only thing I will say. I will shoot Dune Messiah when it’s like, rock solid.

Well, selfishly, I always want more movies from you. But I do believe you, I can tell from your face. You probably do need some time for you and your family.

[Laughs] That’s with makeup by the way.

Austin Butler in this movie as Feyd is demonic. Where did this come from?

Austin is a very playful actor, very versatile. And I think that we have to put it into perspective that he was just coming out of Elvis at the time. And that’s why, one of the reasons. First of all, I had been absolutely floored by his performance in the movies I’ve seen from him. But, I knew also that he had the strong will to break the mold and to go somewhere he has not been before. And when you have an actor like that, of that talent, that is willing to go too far, to break rules, and to push the limits? It is so rewarding. And I had a lot of fun developing the Feyd-Rautha character with him. And I’m so excited about what he brought to the screen. It’s a very important character in the Dune mythology. If not, one of the most important. And I know that the Dune fans are having high expectations. And I’m very, very excited about our version of Feyd-Rautha. And I’m really looking forward to sharing it with them.

Even the David Lynch Dune movie, people still talk about Sting as that character.

And we didn’t have the jock strap.

No, you did not. Though Dune fans will be happy Gurney plays the baliset? I feel that was important for you to get in there this time. Because I think it got cut in the first movie, right?

Yeah. It’s one of the things that sometimes, when in the editing room, you have to kill darlings for the sake of the movie. And it hurt, but I’m very, I think, severe with the material. And it’s a moment that I really loved in Part One that I had to cut out. And the only way I did this is, I promised myself that I will find a moment to embrace that quality of the character who is Gurney. It’s very important in the book as a musician. And I wanted to make sure that this will be part of Part Two.

The sandworm riding scene, it looks incredible. There’s a fine line between it looks cool and it doesn’t look great. In the 1984 Lynch movie, it looks kind of weird. And I am not putting that movie down, I actually quite like it. But it looks phenomenal here.

I don’t want to compare with what’s been done before. And all due respect with David Lynch, he’s a master.

One hundred percent.

He did the movie at a specific time, where we have to remember that I have the power of computers that they didn’t have at the time. I can do things today that were absolutely impossible.

But I’m wondering, even with the computers, was it still challenging to make it look as great as it does?

It is by far one of the most challenging scenes I have designed in my life. I mean, first of all, to create the technique of the Fremen? That was not really described in the book. I had to come up with a strategy. How to approach a beast like that. How do you approach a sandworm without being crushed by it? How do you jump on a sandworm? What was the Fremen approach to master the beast? And how will we see Paul? Having some intuitive skills, but still being a bit clumsy because this is the first time? How to see the power, and create something edgy. That looks like a motorbike racing. Racing motorbikes or something.

Right…

It was that kind of energy I was looking for. And so I designed the sequence. And I designed a strategy, a technical strategy how I would achieve those shots. And after the meeting, I remember the silence. Because it was really ambitious. I wanted a level of realism and a feeling of danger and speed. That really was very important for me. And it required a tremendous amount of time to do that, and a lot of R&D. But I’m very pleased with the result. It’s something that it’s exactly what I had in mind. When I was a kid, I was thinking about worm riding…

Oh yeah?

That’s the way I figured it out. And I’m happy you enjoyed it.

You’ve got about a month of press left. Then maybe you get to sleep. So I know you’re not done yet. But remember when we would hear that Dune was unfilmable? Is there part of you that’s just like, “Man, I fucking pulled this off.”

[Laughs] I think you can say that. Me? I’m still… having no distance with it, it’s like every movie. When you finish a movie, you have the joys and the pain. And I’m digesting all this right now. And that’s why I need to go back and to think about what just happened. And it’s like, you know what? Before I started the Part One, one of the first very very first meetings, I had with one artist. When nobody knew about the project, but very few producers? I met with Hans Zimmer and we had a dinner together. And Hans absolutely adored the book like me. We are both hardcore fans of the book.

He said to me, it’s a beautiful project but isn’t it dangerous, perilous, to approach dreams from your childhood? Are we bound to fail? And I understand what he meant. It’s like to try to bring your childhood dreams, your teenage dreams, to the screen. It’s a lot of joy and a lot of melancholia. And some you win, and some you fail. And it’s like, I’m still digesting all this. And I’m trying to make peace with all that happened. And I’m talking about myself, not the world. And yeah, it will take me awhile to digest all this. One thing I must say finishing is … of course it was a crazy privilege to do that.

You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter.

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People Were Feeling ‘Leave The World Behind’ Vibes When AT&T Customers Experienced A Widespread Outage

Leave the World Behind
Netflix

As Americans woke up on Thursday morning to reports of a nationwide phone outage, Leave the World Behind quickly started trending on social media as people couldn’t help but notice the similarities between the film and the current predicament. Although, don’t worry, no one has been attacked by a Tesla. Yet.

The situation began as the two biggest cell phone providers, AT&T and Verizon, were plagued by user outages. Reports started coming in that other providers like Cricket and T-Mobile were also having issues, which sparked a panic on social media. However, it appears that the numbers may be overblown.

According to the Associated Press, only AT&T experienced a sizable outage and in the early morning:

AT&T had more than 73,000 outages around 9:30 a.m. ET, in locations including Houston, Atlanta and Chicago. The outages began at approximately 3:30 a.m. ET. The carrier has more than 240 million subscribers, the country’s largest.

“Some of our customers are experiencing wireless service interruptions this morning. We are working urgently to restore service to them. We encourage the use of Wi-Fi calling until service is restored,” AT&T said in a statement.

From there, the outages broke down as followed: Cricket had 13,000, Verizon had 4,000, T-Mobile had 1,800, and Boost had only 700. As for the panic that made Down Detector also start to trend, a spokesperson from T-Mobile put the situation in perspective.

“Our network is operating normally. Down Detector is likely reflecting challenges our customers were having attempting to connect to users on other networks,” T-Mobile said in a statement to the AP.

Of course, facts and figures go right out the window when a viral meme is in play. Folks on social media went hog wild referencing Leave the World Behind, which featured a global cyber attack that unfolded in stages. The first step: isolation. Cell phone networks were taken down in preparation for the apocalyptic attack, and people were absolutely getting that vibe this morning.

You can see some of the reactions below:

Leave the World Behind is available for streaming on Netflix. If you can get a signal.

(Via Associated Press)

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Snoop Dogg Spilled About How He Was A Weed Hero For East Coast Rappers Who Had ‘Straight Trash’

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If there’s anyone you can count on for weed, it’s certainly Snoop Dogg. He spilled about how he was helping get better weed to rappers before it was, well, technically legal. In a recent episode of his CGN YouTube show, Snoop talked with Benny The Butcher, and shared that one city in particular did not meet his standards… or anyone’s, really.

“You know what’s crazy,” Snoop shared, according to HotNewHipHop. “How — and I’ma be honest… hey guys, I’m just telling the truth — New York used to be known for trash used to be known for straight trash. No, this is no joke. You can ask the rappers, n****. They used to have seeds and all kind of sh*t in they sh*t. They could be rolling up a blunt putting seeds and sticks, you be like, ‘What the f*ck is you doing?’”

He added, “Sh*t, they didn’t know no better until n**** start catching that flight, f*cking with the real n****s out here cuz we f*ck with y’all, and n**** show the n****s what that sh*t was, and n****s said, ‘Well we can’t get it there, how about we just get it there,’ you dig — and the connection was connected. And there you have it, weed stories one-on-one.”

Apparently, he was name-dropping members of Wu-Tang Clan and Roc-A-Fella as being some of the East Coasters who were picking up better weed.

The YouTube video of Snoop Dogg’s marijuana conversation is age-restricted and cannot be embedded on this page, so watch it here.

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Meet Darrell Booker, The Tech Expert Helping Black Communities Achieve Generational Wealth

Darrell Booker
Microsoft

What would the world be like if the Black community had access to financial health and wellness tools that not only lead to economic mobility, but generational wealth?

In ABC’s Our America: In the Black, Microsoft Philanthropies specialist Darrell Booker seeks to find the answer to that question, exploring how three individuals at different stages of their financial journeys are transforming their lives.

The idea behind the documentary was sparked by a “thought-provoking conversation with an African American financial advisor” and Nzinga Blake, executive producer, race and culture at ABC Owned Television Stations. That financial advisor acted as a mentor to Blake, expressing the importance of normalizing conversations around generational wealth and economic empowerment in the Black community and inspiring her to produce a documentary about what she learned. “I decided to develop a concept around the idea of getting the Black community ‘In the Black’ through storytelling around financial wellness in an entertaining, compelling and informative manner,” Blake tells UPROXX. When she met Booker last year, she knew he’d be the perfect person to help tell that story.

“During a panel discussion last year, I met Darrell Booker, who shared my passion for empowering communities,” she says. “Darrell was committed to highlighting the nonprofits that Microsoft Philanthropy works with, while I was interested in understanding how these organizations help transform the communities they serve. This chance encounter led to the collaboration of Our America: In the Black.”

The documentary special features Hannah, a young woman in foster care who is on the path to becoming a mechanical engineer, Angel Mercedes a beneficiary of the nonprofit RISE, an organization empowering the sports community to eliminate racial disparity, and Meagan Naraine, who is introduced to Jay Bailey the CEO of RICE, the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs located in Atlanta, Georgia which is commonly referred to as “Black Mecca.”

Below, Booker talks to UPROXX about what he learned while making the series, why the topic of shifting wealth inequality is so important for the Black community, and why it’s important to teach people not only to survive when it comes to financial literacy, but thrive.

Can you tell us about your background? What drew you to this documentary and your role at Microsoft as Philanthropies Specialist?

I come from a tech background, so since the age of 18, I was working full-time as a coder and developer. I moved up to the traditional ranks and had a tech startup. It got to the point that I felt like I was hitting the ceiling of what to do next in this particular field and the social impact space fell into my lap. I was approached by a gentleman who said “You look like a developer, I’m looking for someone to help lead a team. Do you have any connection to foster care?” I said yes because my mom was in care and he told me he was looking for someone to build technology solutions to support those transitioning out of care. So, at that moment my life started to change and I saw how my knowledge in tech could support social good and not just make someone money.

By the age of 18, I was making more money than my parents. I will say I made a lot of mistakes that to this day I’m still kicking myself for. I was a party promoter on the side at the time and I remember pulling out $15,000 from my 401k to throw a party. At the time I was like ‘I’m young, I’ll make the money back’ but that compound interest could have easily been worth a quarter million right now. Who knows? I look back at that time in my life and realize there were lots of people in the community who didn’t know what they needed to know and needed to hear it from someone they could relate to.

You brought up the idea of making more money than your parents which creates this issue of not having anyone around you to share knowledge on how to manage wealth. How do you go about teaching people, not only how to create wealth but to keep it and manage it?

I think often too many times in our black and brown communities, we aren’t having these conversations at home. As a child, you can tell that some things may not be financially right in the household. But, as people who are survivors, it’s ‘Let me just do what I gotta do let me just make this money, let me work some extra jobs.’ In their mind, they have this plan to get where they need to be, but they don’t think ‘Let’s discuss what’s happening with the kids.’ Let’s make them aware of what’s happening financially in our own household so they can learn these things at an early time and you don’t feel like you’re just protecting them. You’re helping them. Because what happens with that cycle is when they get older? They now need to take care of the elderly parents. So let’s all help each other in each generation by setting ourselves up to be able to support each other and have as much knowledge as possible.

How do you take that right step in knowledge though? How do you help people go from surviving to thriving?

Having something to look forward to every day that’s positive and not negative. When you’re surviving, you’re constantly thinking, ‘Okay, what is it that I gotta do to survive?’ If we can do more planning from goals and put those things top of mind, you start to change your mindset from ‘What I don’t have’ to ‘What it is that I need to do to achieve?’ You start checking these things off one piece at a time so that you’re actually building successful habits when it comes to money and finances. Then you develop muscle memory and you’re no longer intimidated because you’re used to it because you’ve plotted out a plan.

What were some of the surprises for you or things you learned that you weren’t aware of from meeting Hannah or spending time with the non-profits?

I would say the story around Angel. Just thinking of how hard it could be because his family are immigrants and they struggle to learn the culture and he has the pressure of sending money back home. It was a real eye-opener. There are people who are working and trying to thrive, not even as much as for themselves, but to be able to support those that are in another place, in another country that aren’t doing that well.

One of the things that the documentary touches on is the idea of saving yourself – that this information is available but you have to seek it out. Why was it important to highlight that?

Let’s not get it twisted. I think there is this element where the rich get richer and keep the knowledge to themselves. I don’t know why as if it’s going to take money away from your pocket to be able to help. When you just look at how we are already behind the curve and just in terms of economic mobility maybe even due to the conditions you were born in and how you’re already in a situation where you’re at a disadvantage, we really have to find ways to seek knowledge ourselves and to be able to implement it. Technology is the greatest equalizer when it comes to all disparities. One of those reasons is that it can disseminate education at a very equitable level.

Another thing I loved about the documentary is that it felt like the information was practical and everything was about meeting people where they are. Was that intentional while making the special?

Yeah, absolutely. You don’t wanna shame people and you also don’t want to make this concept intimidating because it’s so foreign to people. So how do you ease them into it? Showcasing various people in their different journeys makes you feel like ‘Okay, I can relate to that person.’ There are so many people who are in Hannah’s shoes, even if they’re not in foster care, but they’re in high school and they’re trying to get to college and don’t know how to get scholarships. We look at various stages of entrepreneurship with Meagan who’s right at the beginning and then Jay who is providing his skills to entrepreneurs. People have to relate to what they’re watching, that’s the most impactful way to tell stories in my opinion. There’s only so much shock and awe you can have because people want to feel inspired and hopeful. Those are the emotions you want people to walk away with.

Our America: In the Black airs is available on Hulu, ABC-owned television stations and streaming platforms Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku.

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Kid Cudi Might Have Beef With Donald Glover, As His Response To A Fan’s Question Seems To Indicate

Kid Cudi The Book of Clarence Premiere 2024
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Throughout his years as a rap favorite, Kid Cudi has worked with a whole host of collaborators. Recently, one fan suggested Cudi add Donald Glover/Childish Gambino to that roster. Based on Cudi’s response, though, it appears he might not be too keen on Glover.

On X (formerly Twitter) yesterday (February 21), a fan wrote, “@KiDCuDi You and Gambino gotta work on something whether it’s TV, movies, or music we’d love to see/hear it! Your guys’ song Warlords needs an official release!” Cudi shared the tweet and replied simply, “Im cool.”

If Cudi has some sort of issue with Glover, it’s not clear why. As the fan alluded to, Cudi and Glover have an unreleased song together called “Warlords,” which leaked online last year. Cudi answered some other fan questions after the Glover one, but has not yet clarified his stance on his fellow rapper/actor.

Beyond that, early in his music career, Glover actually used to open for Cudi. Last year, he remembered a particularly bad night opening, saying, “At the time, I had a full band and a violinist. I just kept turning to the band and telling them, ‘Next song! Next song!’ I put on a really intense show through the boos.”

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A ‘Mean Girls’ Movie Musical Line That Left Lindsay Lohan ‘Very Hurt And Disappointed’ Has Been Removed

mean girls
Paramount Pictures

Did you know that Mean Girls is the second highest-grossing movie of 2024 so far, behind only Wonka? And that it’s number one among films released this year? (Wonka came out last December.) This goes to show a) it’s been a slow year for movies (save us, Dune: Part Two), and b) the Mean Girls movie musical exceeded expectations. It was also at the center of a mini-controversy involving the original film’s star, Lindsay Lohan. The actress’ representative said that she was “very hurt and disappointed” by a reference to the term “fire crotch” made by Megan Thee Stallion in the movie musical.

TMZ reports that the line has been removed from the digital version.

The rebooted flick — which is now a musical — finally hit VOD this week… so it’s available to rent on all your major players, Amazon and the like. The only difference this time around… Meg’s quote that pissed off LiLo in theaters is completely gone. Indeed… eagle-eyed fans noticed it right away as they started to stream the flick from home — the part where Megan Thee Stallion is supposed to say “Y2K fire crotch is back” has been edited out.

Megan’s line now ends with her saying “we are going back to red,” and cuts to the “Not My Fault” rapper laughing. This is like the Star Wars special editions, except instead of George Lucas adding a scene where Han Solo steps on Jabba the Hutt’s tail, it’s the Mean Girls musical removing a joke about fire crotches. Otherwise, practically identical.

(Via TMZ)