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There is no doubt that Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine’s cultural contributions as music producers and entrepreneurs have transformed the landscape of both the music and tech industries. The complete breadth of their meteoric rise—both independently as creatives driven by a passion for music, and together as a dynamic entrepreneurial duo—is impeccably captured via filmmaker Allen Hughes’ original, vivacious storytelling for the four-part HBO docuseries The Defiant Ones.
Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre from the official trailer for The Defiant Ones. (Screenshot Source: YouTube, User: HBO)
Jimmy and Dre as Architects of Contemporary Culture
Hughes’ The Defiant Ones provides an empirical look at the professional evolution of Dr. Dre, founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment, and Jimmy Iovine, co-founder of Interscope Records, illustrating their ascension to modern-day mogul status. An unconventional “pursuit of the American Dream” narrative, Hughes says he was inspired by Jimmy and Dre’s ability to keenly focus on their own gifts and talents, leveraging all the qualities that made them unique to make their dreams come true. Their success as record producers and entrepreneurs is proof that mastery of this can ultimately create a foundation for high achievement for anyone in any industry.
“They [Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine] taught me that identifying what your gift is or your passion, putting blinders on, and just focusing on that while tuning out everything else is the quickest way from A to B in becoming a success,” Hughes said, in his interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE.
The docuseries highlights both Dre and Jimmy’s fearless approach to identifying fresh, raw talent as well as their relentless work ethic. While seemingly very different men, it’s clear that Jimmy and Dre’s mutual appreciation for pushing creative boundaries to challenge the status quo has paved the way to their success in the music industry. As sound engineers and music producers, each has had their hands in crafting the iconic melodies that define the generational soundtrack for the latter half of the 20th century and the new millennium. Their inherent ability to look past the trends of “the now” in order to cultivate the sound of the future is what enabled Jimmy and Dre to nurture the careers of numerous groundbreaking artists, such as Ice Cube, Eazy-E, and N.W.A; U2, Bruce Springsteen, Eminem, No Doubt, Snoop Dogg, Stevie Nicks, Tupac Shakur, Lady Gaga, and many others.
As entrepreneurs, the successful launch of Beats Electronics and Beats Music modernized platforms for music consumption, raising the bar of expectation for how we hear and process sound by simply enhancing how we listen to music. Not to mention, Apple’s procurement of the Beats empire back in 2014 is still considered the largest business acquisition in history, reportedly costing the tech giant a cool $3 billion; thus validating Jimmy’s initial instinct to “f*** sneakers and do speakers” as right on the money—literally and figuratively.
Like Eminem tells Hughes in the film, “Jimmy Iovine is the levitator; Dre is the innovator.” Independently, Dre and Jimmy have each demonstrated their musical genius and entrepreneurial prowess. However, when they come together and their powers combine, they are an unparalleled force to be reckoned with. From fostering the careers of some of the greatest artists of all time, to their shared entrepreneurial coup with Beats’ acquisition, Jimmy and Dre have done more than just move the needle of culture. In fact, I would venture to say that they’ve taken that needle and scratched it across the turntables of life, tattooing an incredible legacy into cultural consciousness by forging this revolutionary path of their own design.
One-on-One With Allen Hughes About HBO’s ‘The Defiant Ones’
But why take my word for it, when you can hear straight from the mastermind behind the film? Check out BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s exclusive interview with Allen Hughes, director and executive producer of The Defiant Ones.
(Source: YouTube, User: Black Enterprise)
Dr. Dre Amps Up the Soundtrack
Though the soundtrack for The Defiant Ones is rich with nostalgia, after a brief hiatus as a solo artist, the film’s release has given Dr. Dre a great opportunity to debut some new music. Check out his latest single “Gunfiyah,” featured in Part One of the four-part series.
(Source: YouTube, User: Beats 1)
To learn more about The Defiant Ones, click here. For more information about how and where to watch the HBO docuseries, click here.
There is no doubt that Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine’s cultural contributions as music producers and entrepreneurs have transformed the landscape of both the music and tech industries. The complete breadth of their meteoric rise—both independently as creatives driven by a passion for music, and together as a dynamic entrepreneurial duo—is impeccably captured via filmmaker Allen Hughes’ original, vivacious storytelling for the four-part HBO docuseries The Defiant Ones.
Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre from the official trailer for The Defiant Ones. (Screenshot Source: YouTube, User: HBO)
Jimmy and Dre as Architects of Contemporary Culture
Hughes’ The Defiant Ones provides an empirical look at the professional evolution of Dr. Dre, founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment, and Jimmy Iovine, co-founder of Interscope Records, illustrating their ascension to modern-day mogul status. An unconventional “pursuit of the American Dream” narrative, Hughes says he was inspired by Jimmy and Dre’s ability to keenly focus on their own gifts and talents, leveraging all the qualities that made them unique to make their dreams come true. Their success as record producers and entrepreneurs is proof that mastery of this can ultimately create a foundation for high achievement for anyone in any industry.
“They [Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine] taught me that identifying what your gift is or your passion, putting blinders on, and just focusing on that while tuning out everything else is the quickest way from A to B in becoming a success,” Hughes said, in his interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE.
The docuseries highlights both Dre and Jimmy’s fearless approach to identifying fresh, raw talent as well as their relentless work ethic. While seemingly very different men, it’s clear that Jimmy and Dre’s mutual appreciation for pushing creative boundaries to challenge the status quo has paved the way to their success in the music industry. As sound engineers and music producers, each has had their hands in crafting the iconic melodies that define the generational soundtrack for the latter half of the 20th century and the new millennium. Their inherent ability to look past the trends of “the now” in order to cultivate the sound of the future is what enabled Jimmy and Dre to nurture the careers of numerous groundbreaking artists, such as Ice Cube, Eazy-E, and N.W.A; U2, Bruce Springsteen, Eminem, No Doubt, Snoop Dogg, Stevie Nicks, Tupac Shakur, Lady Gaga, and many others.
As entrepreneurs, the successful launch of Beats Electronics and Beats Music modernized platforms for music consumption, raising the bar of expectation for how we hear and process sound by simply enhancing how we listen to music. Not to mention, Apple’s procurement of the Beats empire back in 2014 is still considered the largest business acquisition in history, reportedly costing the tech giant a cool $3 billion; thus validating Jimmy’s initial instinct to “f*** sneakers and do speakers” as right on the money—literally and figuratively.
Like Eminem tells Hughes in the film, “Jimmy Iovine is the levitator; Dre is the innovator.” Independently, Dre and Jimmy have each demonstrated their musical genius and entrepreneurial prowess. However, when they come together and their powers combine, they are an unparalleled force to be reckoned with. From fostering the careers of some of the greatest artists of all time, to their shared entrepreneurial coup with Beats’ acquisition, Jimmy and Dre have done more than just move the needle of culture. In fact, I would venture to say that they’ve taken that needle and scratched it across the turntables of life, tattooing an incredible legacy into cultural consciousness by forging this revolutionary path of their own design.
One-on-One With Allen Hughes About HBO’s ‘The Defiant Ones’
But why take my word for it, when you can hear straight from the mastermind behind the film? Check out BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s exclusive interview with Allen Hughes, director and executive producer of The Defiant Ones.
(Source: YouTube, User: Black Enterprise)
Dr. Dre Amps Up the Soundtrack
Though the soundtrack for The Defiant Ones is rich with nostalgia, after a brief hiatus as a solo artist, the film’s release has given Dr. Dre a great opportunity to debut some new music. Check out his latest single “Gunfiyah,” featured in Part One of the four-part series.
(Source: YouTube, User: Beats 1)
To learn more about The Defiant Ones, click here. For more information about how and where to watch the HBO docuseries, click here.
Graduation season has rolled out and many are prepping to take the next step onto the college or university campus of their choice. And per usual, a big part of successful acclimation to a total 180 degree change in environments, rules, goals, and expectations is pledging a sorority or fraternity—whether you’re carrying on a proud legacy or a newbie looking to find a sisterhood or brotherhood that will help you weather the challenges and celebrate the wins.
(Image: Wikimedia/Tabercil)
Actress, Keisha Knight Pulliam: Delta Sigma Theta
Many know her as Rudy from the ’80s TV classic The Cosby Show, but this Spelman College grad has since grown up to become a mom and award-winning actress who has worked with the likes of Tyler Perry, Queen Latifah, and Viola Davis. A community advocate, she is also the founder of Kamp Kizzy Foundation, which provides mentorship programs for children.
Actress, Phylicia Rashad: Alpha Kappa Alpha
Another forever-famous alumnus of The Cosby Show fame, Rashad has become a living legend, with honors and nominations for Emmys, NAACP Image Awards, and Screen Actors Guild. She’s also the first black actress to win a Tony for best actress in a play for her role in a revival of A Raisin in the Sun. Her latest power move: playing the antithesis of Clair Huxtable, a sinister matriarch on Fox’s hit show, Empire.
Singer, K. Michelle: Delta Sigma Theta
Gaining notoriety on VH1’s Love & Hip Hop franchise and eventually moving on to her own show, this Memphis-bred singer-songwriter has accolades under her belt that have far surpassed reality TV fame, including a Soul Train Music Award and an NAACP Image Award, and she continues touring nationwide, all while serving as a Jack Daniels endorser and taking a leap into the entrepreneurship pond with her Puff & Petals boutique restaurant in Atlanta.
TV & Radio Mogul, Cathy Hughes: Alpha Kappa Alpha
Hughes is the founder and chairperson of Urban One Inc. (formerly Radio One Inc.), a powerhouse media enterprise (and BE 100s mainstay) that is the driving force behind cable network TV One, radio syndicator Reach Media, web publisher Interactive One, and marketing firm, One Solution. Her résumé boasts a who’s who of media industry awards and honors, from the NAACP Chairman Award, to the ADColor Lifetime Achievement Award, to induction into the American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame. As the first black woman to lead a publicly traded company, Hughes has revolutionized and diversified entertainment, news and media options for audiences of color.
Haircare & Beauty Mogul, Lisa Price: Sigma Gamma Rho
A veteran and frontrunner in the natural haircare movement, Price’s line of products have become a staple in the closets, bathrooms and salons of African American professionals and celebrities around the world. Partnering with companies including Macy’s and Walt Disney and getting early backing from entertainment industry heavy-hitters including Jay Z, Mary J. Blige, and Jada Pinkett Smith, Price took her homegrown business to multimillion-dollar levels, and in 2014 she joined an elite group of entrepreneurs when her company was bought by international beauty behemoth L’Oréal.
Educational Leader, Elmira Mangum: Zeta Phi Beta
When Mangum was appointed president of Florida A&M University in 2014, she became the first woman to permanently hold the post in the school’s more than 100-year history. Before that post, she served as senior associate provost at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and as vice president for budget and planning after being a member of the adjunct faculty in the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. Since stepping down as head of FAMU, Mangum has served as a research scholar at the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions and the University Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education.
Singer & Actress, Brandy Norwood: Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sold-out tours. Platinum albums. Hit TV shows. Broadway and off-Broadway success. Though under 40, Norwood is a Hollywood and music industry veteran who has influenced a generation of young musicians, singers, and fans—from her signature braids to her coming-of-age experiences on and off-screen. With more than 20 years of entertainment industry success under her belt, she’s still at it, performing this summer in North America and Canada on stages with artists including Monica, Bobby Brown, and Keith Sweat.
Music Legend & TV Host, MC Lyte: Sigma Gamma Rho
An award-winning pioneer in hip-hop and beacon of female empowerment, MC Lyte is one of the history-making rap icons whose imprint on the culture can’t be denied. From music she transitioned into acting, having had roles on shows including In Living Color, Moesha, and My Wife and Kids, and served as co-host of syndicated radio show “Cafe Mocha.” As a philanthropist and community activist, she continues to lead her nonprofit Hip Hop Sisters, an organization that empowers women through media, mentorship, and events. She’s also the CEO of Sunni Gyrl Inc., an entertainment management and production firm.
Politician, Loretta Lynch: Delta Sigma Theta
Lynch was the 83rd Attorney General of the United States—and the first African American woman to hold the post—appointed by President Barack Obama. She previously held the position of United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York under former President Bill Clinton and Obama. In the latter position, she oversaw efforts against major terrorism, organized crime, and public corruption. As U.S. attorney general, she led efforts to expose corruption in professional soccer, gender discrimination, and police bigotry and brutality in response to the killings of unarmed black men at the hands of police officers and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Olympian and Medical Professional, Flora Hyacinth, M.D.: Zeta Phi Beta
Hyacinth is a chiropractic doctor, three-time Olympian, former holder of a world record and a fitness enthusiast. A native of St. Lucia, she competed in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
She was a record-holder in 1987 when she became the first woman to triple jump over 45 feet, and in 2003. Venturing into business, she founded her own fitness studio, Flo Fusion Fitness—and competed on season 8 of American Ninja Warrior—and chiropractor practice in California.
It’s time to treat yo’ self and your loved ones to the magical world of Sailor Moon! We’ve compiled this magical girl gift list to keep yourself, your home, and your friends in […]
The post Sailor Moon Gift Guide for All True Moonies appeared first on Geek.com.
The television side of the MCU hasn’t crossed over to the film side yet for many reasons. However, I think Robbie Reyes would be the perfect bridge to officially connect these sides of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and also for Marvel Studios to have the first R-rated film on their roster. If you’ve watched season four of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., or at least have a good idea of what happened in the season, you’ll know that Robbie Reyes a.k.a Ghost Rider appeared; and he was freaking awesome! Robbie Reyes needs a solo project, and he should be one of the characters that should get an R-rated film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll probably know that I’m passionate about the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Whether I’m tweeting about characters I’d love to see join the MCU, praising a film or an episode, or even sometimes being disappointed by something, and gushing about an actor in the MCU; you’ll know that I do not stray away from discussing Marvel despite how much I love Marvel. One thing that Marvel Studios/Marvel Television has done right however is Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. AOS is one of the more diverse projects the MCU has done, which is one of the reasons I love that show. Also, they just tell really damn good stories. And one of the best stories and characters, they have brought to life is Robbie Reyes played by Gabriel Luna.
Robbie Reyes is a legacy character of the mantle Ghost Rider; though he is not the first Ghost Rider, he should be the only active Ghost Rider in all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Gabriel Luna and the writers of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. have done a wonderful job bringing Robbie to life. Gabriel is so compelling as Robbie, and I want more than just a recurring role on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, has recently said that at some point they’ll make an R-rated film. So, why not a Robbie Reyes/Ghost Rider R-rated film?
Not only would this be Marvel Studios first R-rated film, it would be Marvel’s first film led by a Latino actor playing a Latino character. Representation of POC in mainstream media is very important, especially in comic book properties where often times non-white people don’t get to see themselves as heroes or the leading protagonist. Latinx people have some of the lowest representation in film and T.V. already that isn’t a comic book property, so you can imagine where the representation is at for Latinx people in comic book properties. This would be a perfect opportunity for the film side of the MCU to explore Latinx community while giving us a complex and compelling protagonist.
I got to chat with Desiree Rodriguez about the importance of Robbie Reyes being on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, and also the idea of him having his own solo film in the MCU:
Let me first say, I’m not a big Ghost Rider fan. The first Ghost Rider anything I watched was the original movie with Nicholas Cage. That being said, when I read Felipe Smith’s Robbie Reyes: Ghost Rider I was instantly pulled in. A persistent aspect of Latinx representation in comics is the lack of authenticity of our community. Robbie felt authentic probably due in part that Smith himself is Afro-Latino. Latinx fans are hungry for better representation in our media; Robbie is a great opportunity to explore that hunger further. He was very popular during his story on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and rightfully so, Luna did a great job portraying the character. Latinx audiences make up a huge portion of movie goers, why not bank on that untapped pool?
I couldn’t agree more with Desiree! Why not bank on that untapped pool? And Marvel Studios has become such a staple in mainstream media, that I’m sure people of all races would show up. However, a Robbie Reyes solo film with Gabriel Luna headlining the film, Marvel would bring an even bigger Latinx audience to their films going forward and possibly introduce new readers to the comics as well. If people are shown that people similar to them existence in this world and are heroes, anti-heroes, and love interests, they’re more likely to show up to see said project. This is an opportunity that shouldn’t be passed up whatsoever.
A Ghost Rider/Robbie Reyes solo film is a perfect film for Antoine Fuqua to direct. Robbie Reyes is a Los Angeles resident who works as a car mechanic trying to make a better life for his disabled younger brother. Just imagine a Ghost Rider film in the same vein as Training Day. Robbie working in the car shop in the day, picking up his brother from school, and then at night being the flaming skull vigilante protecting Los Angeles from worse threats than him.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. already gave us some of his background story and how the mantle of Ghost Rider was passed down to him. I think a film would be nice to give a bit more in depth detail on his background and the passing of the mantle. Though it would be a short lived role, it would be pretty cool to actually see Johnny Blaze for a brief second in the MCU. Maybe Norman Reedus is the right contender to be the man who passes the torch to Gabriel Luna. AOS definitely proved that Robbie Reyes is the Ghost Rider we need right now in this world; however, I’d love if this R-rated film actually leads up to the events of when he first meets Daisy Johnson (Chloe Bennett) on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Aside from Blade, there is no other character that I’m passionate about getting an R-rated film from Marvel Studios other than Robbie Reyes/Ghost Rider. Gabriel Luna does a wonderful job at playing a multi-layered character who’s trying to protect his brother, make a living, and also take out some scum. He is compelling, charming, sensitive, and a badass all in one as Robbie Reyes.
How do you connect Robbie Reyes to the film side?
Simple. And here comes a spoiler warning!! SPOILER Robbie Reyes can travel through different dimensions and space! which would be the perfect way to connect him to the worlds of Guardians of The Galaxy, Doctor Strange, and even Ant-Man because of the quantum realm. His ability to do this was introduced on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. this past season, and hopefully will get to be explored more while he’s a part of the MCU. Since Robbie already met Agent Coulson, who started on the film side of the MCU, that would obviously be another reason for him to crossover. Maybe Nick Fury gets involved?
Even if Robbie Reyes doesn’t get a solo film, he definitely should at least have a spin-off series — whether it be on Netflix, another streaming site, or on ABC’s network. I haven’t had enough of Robbie Reyes and Gabriel Luna in the MCU, and oh boy, do I want more. Do you?
Your move, Marvel.
