By:ShaneKidd-Walker
It was January 2016 when I first left New Orleans fulltime I traveled a state East to attend Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi I remember being scared shitless I didn't know anyone and became a bit of a turtle hermit One day, I decided to explore the campus I think it was a Thursday night I may be wrong, and he's going to kill me if I am But I ran across the courtyard and up came these two dudes
One stood about 5'9, but the other dude stood about 6'4 So, I gave them a side eye at first But the 6'4 dude started spitting something When he started rapping, I immediately fell into the melody and vibed This would start a friendship that has lasted for the better part of a decade During the inaugural season of Industry Shakedown (Alcorn Run), he came on to the show for the first time and showed Brotha Do-Right and me a wonderful time. We enjoyed the banter so much that we had him back in the second season. And it was more of the same.
We'll tell you about 95 Da Mastermind, but De'Shane wants to tell his friend Matthew Nelson how much he means to him I watched you develop into a bonafide emcee this last decade The title rapper needs to be better for you We should call you an artist Thank you for helping me a lot over the last decade The Industry Shakedown appearances, photo ops, and the Trill Mag Story helped me go viral I say this from my heart I love you nigga Real shit, my G!
Mississippi boasts a rich and influential musical heritage that has significantly shaped American music Rooted in the state's diverse cultural landscape, Mississippi has been a cradle for various musical genres, from blues and gospel to country and rock 'n' roll
The blues, arguably Mississippi's most renowned musical export, originated in the state's Delta region in the late 19th century, shaped by the experiences of African Americans living and working in the oppressive conditions of the Jim Crow South. Legendary figures like Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and B.B. King emerged from this fertile ground, influencing generations of musicians worldwide.
Southern influences and unique lyrical styles characterize Mississippi's history with hiphop Emerging in the 1980s, Mississippi hiphop initially struggled for recognition but gained prominence with artists like David Banner, Big K R I T , and Rae Sremmurd Their music often reflects the state's struggles with poverty, racism, and social issues while celebrating its culture and resilience Mississippi hip-hop continues to evolve, contributing to the genre's diverse landscape
95 da Mastermind, real name Matthew Nelson, is a Jackson, Mississippi rapper, has carved a unique niche in the hip-hop scene with six projects under his belt, comprising four mixtapes and two EPs
His singles "Crew Love" and "Rollin'" have garnered attention for their surprisingly dark against a bright backdrop type construction What does that mean?
Well, it’s simple Hailing from the heart of the South, 95 da Mastermind brings a blend of Southern influences and personal storytelling, captivating audiences with his distinctive style and unwavering authenticity.
Although he had been making music since his teen years, it was at Hinds where he began to truly hit a stride “Man Hinds was a time for us bro,” he said “It felt as if everything was working We had just met, you and I, it was everyone was in their final semester The music was right, the vibe was right, everything felt right ”
“You have to have an audience. If not, then it’s that much harder to break through. “95 Da Mastermind.
Through the last couple of years, 95 Da Mastermind has been in the studio cooking up what is now known as the album “The Food’s Good Here ” However, things weren’t what they seemed behind the scenes Let’s say a lot has happened Including tensions with the label Empire “Things were crazy at the label,” Nelson told Industry Shakedown “Some of the tracks that are on the album, I did not want to put on there. It was like a titfor-tat back and forth with them. It got to the point where I was like Man fuck it.”
Nonetheless, the EP dropped on 8 April 2023 and has since become a well-performing staple (more on that in a bit) With the track “Fat Ass” “The Food’s Good Here!” has become a hit among those in the state and Mississippi and the Southeast Region. But why the name Fat Ass? In a 2023 interview with Trill Mag, he explains why.
“It’s the life I have been living,” he told the publication “I’m the fat kid from Jackson I’ve been backstabbed and betrayed by everyone You name it I want to teach it My music is head up and chest out ” The song is a biographical piece about how things are in West Jackson A lot may not know this, but the capitol of Mississippi is pretty tough. With its mixture of rural and industry, some have it easy, while others don’t.
“That song on some coming-of-age shit, Shane,” he said “Man, it’s niggas serving packs daily, still having trouble making rent While you got them, the niggas in the industry, getting fat ass cuts from our music ” With its rags-to-riches yet humbly patient rhetoric, 95 explores what it means to be an artist while traveling through the landmines of politics, poverty, racism, religion, and knowledge
As of this writing, 95 is no longer with Empire
Well, now here we are. The big bang of 95 career. In a later article, Sista Vizion discusses how “Oppenheimer” was the Magnum Opus of Christopher Nolan’s career. Well, if that’s the case, the “Yahtz 20K” puts 95 Da Mastermind on the right track.
Becoming a hit, it recently reached the Top 10 in Brazil And justifiably so; have you heard the song? It features a longtime friend and collaborator, GUDDASIPPGOOD, and contains a braggadocious yet mellow flow with some melodic lyrics
Hip-Hop Since 1987 stated:
“Da Mastermind’s understanding of what it takes to make a hit in today’s diverse music landscape The track’s popularity is a testament to the artist’s talent and the dedicated team that worked tirelessly to reach a wide audience.”
Yahtzee 20k has an influence that goes beyond its position on the charts; it captures the essence of Brazil's thriving music scene on a cultural level.
The single's power comes from its ability to meld genres, fusing aspects of classic Rap music with contemporary hip-hop sounds, which has increased its appeal
The song has become an anthem thanks to its catchy lyrics and upbeat beat that make people want to dance The popularity of the song also reflects his artistry
By: Brandon “Beezy” Corbin @its.beezy_
“I’m not finna go to war with my son in the other trench!”
Season 3 of Raising Kanan premiered on Starz the same day as they announced yet another confirmed season of the spin-off.
Given how everything concluded within the mindblowing finale, fans of viewers of the Power franchise would have already figured out that yet another season was imminent
Many questions from Season 2 were answered, but not all-important ones, such as “Whom the hell is Kanan meeting Breeze”? All we are left with is our behinds on the edge of our seats and speculation
The beginning of the season picked right back up on Raquel’s growing feud with the Italian mafia in New Jersey, led by Sal Basselli after he sent his men to shoot up all of Raq’s drug fronts and homes
This hit, however, was immediately solved by their most new connect, Stefano Marchetti, who ordered Raq to take Sal off the board because of his ego.
Who better to get the job done than good ol’ Uncle Marvin? However, a couple more new big problems loomed in their direction: Kanan’s growing hatred for his mother and the Unique’s older brother Ronnie Mathis being released from prison
Ronnie surprised Unique’s baby mother with his release by showing up at their house, staying in it, and eating their cereal. It is quickly shown how Ronnie was an unemotional sociopath who wanted nothing more than to get what he lost when he went to prison: respect in the streets.
Ronnie gets released from prison and comes back with a diabolical vengeance. He does so much as brutally beat a security guard with a car door, steal a random new Camaro, and even savagely stab Raq and Unique’s original connect, Dean, portrayed by veteran TV actor Lawrence Gilliard, Jr. Meanwhile, a lot of people’s heads have been out of the game such as Kanan’s Uncle Lou, and Unique, who has been having a sneaky affair with Raquel… surprisingly.
Starz/EndofEpisode Inc
Starz/EndofEpisode,Inc
“YEAH, IT WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN THE FIRST TIME TWO CHARACTERS IN THE POWER UNIVERSE WENT FROM TRYING TO KILL EACH OTHER TO SLEEPING WITH EACH OTHER.”BEEZY
However, after Ronnie outs that affair to Unique’s baby mother, they end up coming to a brutal fist fight that ends with Unique coming out on top… that was until Ronnie pulls a dick move and grabs a blunt object to knock Unique out and beat him to death. Yes… Ronnie went so far as to kill his brother and dump his body in some ditch!
While Ronnie is wreaking havoc throughout the streets, Kanan is secretly thriving with his new slick drug operation while staying in his best friend Famous’s apartment, whom he has slightly been falling out with
Even though this spin-off is called “Raising Kanan,” the titular character seems like the most minor character this season, but he may have gone through a significant breakthrough with his family
While he is thriving, who became interested in working with him while feuding with Raq? Ronnie! Kanan wanted to prove wrong to his cousin Jukebox and his parents that he could be his own man, even though he isn’t one yet
Raquel felt she had no choice but to use her slick ways to get her son back home She gets herself past Famous in his apartment so she can plant a gun in Kanan’s backpack and get caught with it at school.
We are constantly reminded that this is the lady who raised one of the most manipulative characters in the Power franchise! Although this got Kanan home for a while, this did not stop him from rampaging.
Ronnie and Kanan made themselves a deal with old heads Snaps and Pops, portrayed by Wendell Pierce and Erika Woods, and this displeased Raq deeply
Everything going on with Raq and Kanan makes you forget what her brothers Lou and Marvin were up to and the turmoil Det Malcolm Howard (Omar Epps) has been going through this since he had to put down his very own partner for getting ready to expose him and his past!
But while Marvin has been going through one of the best character developments in the Power franchise, Lou has been regressing from being Raq’s top, nonchalant hitter to the family drunk, causing more problems for Raq to handle again
Also, even though Marvin has become more of a supportive father to Jukebox and a great friend to Gerald ever since getting over anger management, his presence in the streets still has a heavy effect on Jukebox’s future in singing.
Speaking of the future in music, Famous may have the worst mother in TV history.
Right as Famous is about to be discovered for a rap song he made, he is randomly arrested for a murder he committed last season: Freddy.
Famous would not have gotten arrested if his mother hadn’t found the gun he used in his closet, got scared, and then turned it into the police.
Dammit, Ma! The finale, as usual, proved once again why Raising Kanan is one of the best spin-off series of the Power franchise (It is understood why some people say that it actually is the best spin-off).
Not only did writers end up throwing a usual curveball, but the way that the late 80s and 90s are captured in the show has been phenomenal since season 1.
Raq and a reluctant former Det. Malcolm Howard, Kanan’s father, comes to a final confrontation with Ronnie so that she can pay him to get her son back from being kidnapped.
When it is revealed that the kidnapping was fabricated by Kanan, Kanan pulls a move that the good old adult Kanan would have pulled. He kills Ronnie right as he gets the money from Raq! I guess Ronnie shouldn’t have tried to kill Raq, as Kanan told him not to.
Yeah, sure, this made Raq pretty proud of her own flesh and blood to prove himself to her.
“Power never ends”Courney Kemp & 50 Cent
Man what? Of course
Anyway, she realized right then that there was still unfinished business. She remembered how Howard wanted to turn Marvin into the feds so that he could take the rap for everything. How dare he think Raq would turn in everyone’s favorite Uncle Marvin! So, guess what Raq does right after Kanan shoots Ronnie Meyers?
She uses Ronnie’s gun to shoot Howard right in front of Kanan Good job, Kanan, but Mama will always get a little more diabolical My biological dad had to go Oh and after they left, someone that we thought was dead turned out to be the exact opposite: Unique.
I guess that’s two people Ronnie failed to take out. After this whole event, I think you could say that… Kanan is officially raised.
This season ended explosively, yet still left many unanswered questions that longtime fans could have answered in their definite and possibly final season 4.
What will Unique do now that he is back from the dead? Who in the flying hell is Breeze, and when will we finally meet him? When will Kanan meet Ghost & Tommy?
What turns Jukebox into one of the most heartless characters on Power? Will Lou recover in rehab and return to being his sister’s number one?
After another season of Power Book II: Ghost and Power Book IV: Force drops later this year, season 4 of Raising Kanan shouldn’t be too far behind.
WWW.REALLYGREATSITE.COM
“To me, hip hop will never be right until female rappers have a stronger voice in it.”
QueenLatifahWhen the genre of hip hop first burst onto the scene in the late 70s, the genre peaked with the presence of male emcees such as Special K and Kool Mo Dee. The men instantly topped the Billboards with hit after hit, thanks to songs like Rapper’s Delight. It wouldn't be long before Queen Latifah, Mc Lyte, and acts as such showed the world that female rappers can possess that same (if not better) star quality than their male counterparts Female rap showed up and showed out From Grammy Awards to chart-topping domination, the females were a force to be reckoned with. And while some fans believe that female rap is still thriving today, others believe that the subgenre of female rap is going downhill fast
One reason why fans believe female rap isn’t what it used to be is because there are no lyrical phenoms amongst female rappers However, I disagree While I do feel like the rapstresses of today do not compare to the female rappers back in the day, the talent is definitely there. Rappers like Megan Thee Stallion can rap circles around some of your favorite male emcees I mean, have you guys checked out any of her freestyles!? And Megan is not alone; Latto, Tierra Whack, Deetranada, Monaleo, and more can spit a hot bar at the drop of a hat
Now, since I am a fan of female rap, I can admit that while we have our heavy hitters, we also have our Dr. Seus. You know, the rapper who raps in a “one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish type of style. But also, I can say that sometimes, Dr. Seuss's female rappers, such as Sexxy Redd and Ice Spice, mean that the lyrics should be just that They don’t want you to believe that they are one of the greats
TommyBoy
Shutterstock
“I Ialways had a wild streak in me I always wanted to push the envelo[e and do things that people wouldn’t normally do.” - Lil Kim
They are just doing this stuff for fun! Male rap has Kendrick Lamar and J Cole, but they also have Lil Mosey and Lil Pump If male rappers can have fun and not take the genre seriously, so can female rappers Not everybody is going to be a Nicki Minaj or an Eve!
While female emcees took over the game in the early 90s, hip-hop and rap messages shifted Rappers weren’t spitting politically funky rhymes like Grandmaster Flash or Public Enemy By the mid-1990s, rap became flooded with rhymes about big booties and flashy jewelry Female rap was no different With the emergence of Lil Kim and Foxy Brown, sex appeal and provocativeness became the new talk of the town In 2024, the lyrics aren’t any different
From Sexy Redd rapping “Twirl on the dick,” It ain't my fault that I fuck better than yo' bitch,” to Latto rapping “Pussy water, he gon' sink or swim, I just might let him drown,” to Saweetie saying, “Throw it back, you know I ain't holdin' back
Sixty-nine we could be my zodiac.” the women rapstresses of today are not shy about voicing their sexual capabilities and preferences; because of this, they have been receiving a lot of backlash from their male counterparts and the general public If we are honest, female rap has always been that way
From Salt N Pepa to the Queen of sex rap, Lil Kim to Trina, female rappers have always rapped about sex Lil Kim's debut 'Hardcore' album and Trina's 'Diamond Princess' are full of sex rhymes I will say this, though: there IS an oversaturation of sexual rhymes, so I can understand the lyrics get tiring
But if Future and countless other rappers can rap about taking whatever drugs, killing whatever enemies all of the time, female rappers can rap about their vaginas! And guess what: when the male rappers decide to make a freaky song, who do they call for a feature? Oh Ok!
A lot of female rap criticism is weird and slightly misogynistic because the same thing people criticize female rappers for, they do not criticize male rappers for How are people tired of female rappers rapping about vaginas but are not tired of male rappers rapping about murdering and drug us constantly?
How can male rappers get away with having fun on the track but female rappers get labeled "trash" if they do? It's a double standard! People even complain when a female rapper raps about the streets! Folks just will not let female rappers succeed, nor can they admit that female rap is just as good as male rap!
The solution to this double standard is simple: if you ’ re going to criticize one gender of rap, criticize both! Don’t let your hate of women or your misogyny cloud your judgment. If you ’ re going to criticize, let it be genuine criticism You cannot call a female rapper lame because she raps how she raps if there is a male emcee who does the same thing. The problem here isn’t female rap but rap fans who are used to male rappers being the top dogs/ being the more dominant emcees
I get it; we all aren’t used to hearing the presence of female rap as much as we listen to it today. It is time to face that female rap is here and here to stay!
BY: ELIZABETH WILDES
“My dress is broken! I’m pretty sure it happened during 'I’m Just Ken.” - Emma Stone during her acceptance speech for Best Actress
The 96th Academy Awards were held on Sunday, March 10th, and the night was full of long-overdue wins, shocking snubs, and a now iconic, Kenergy-fueled performance by Ryan Gosling. As expected and rightfully so, Oppenheimer won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director.
Since Christopher Nolan has been my favorite director since I was a kid, I will focus on his momentous Best Director win later in this article. Before I start talking about Christopher Nolan, because once I start, I cannot stop, I must highlight some of the other noteworthy wins of the night.
From the beginning of the awards season, it was clear that Da’Vine Joy Randolph would win Best Supporting Actress for her raw and resonant performance in The Holdovers. As for Best Supporting Actor, one of the most beloved movie stars and actors of our time, Robert Downey Jr., finally took home an Oscar after previously being nominated twice before, as he portrayed the patiently vindictive Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer.
His co-star in the film, who played the titular character, Cillian Murphy, won Best Actor for his first leading role in a Nolan film. Murphy and Nolan have made six films together, the first being Batman Begins in 2005, but Oppenheimer marked the first time Murphy was the lead in a Nolan film.
Each of these actors’ wins, while expected, were masterful performances that were strongly deserving to be recognized on the Academy stage. In the biggest shock of the night, Lily Gladstone, the predicted winner of the Best Actress Oscar, lost to Emma Stone (Poor Things), making her a now two-time Oscar winner.
Another notable win, outside of the acting categories, went to the enormously talented brother-sister duo Billie Eilish and Finneas. They earned their second Oscar in the Best Original Song category, making them the youngest two-time winners in Oscar history.
Da’Vine Joy Randolph Emma Stone Christopher Nolan“We don’t know where this incredible journey is going from here but to know that you think I’m a meaningful part of it means the world to me.” - Christopher Nolan
On March 10, 2023, one of the greatest filmmakers of our time earned his first two Oscars After twenty years of creating masterpiece after masterpiece, Christopher Nolan was long overdue to win Best Director To think that he didn’t win for Memento or Inception or Interstellar, I could go on to name each of his films, is truly shocking
.It is rare for one filmmaker to make twelve brilliant films in a row so for him to finally get the recognition he deserves was incredibly rewarding When Oppenheimer was first released on July 20, 2023, many regarded the film as Nolan’s “magnum opus”, meaning Oppenheimer is Nolan’s most important work
Since Nolan has already expressed with certainty his intention to continue making films for at least the next ten years, it feels a little too soon to regard Oppenheimer as his “magnum opus”, but one could argue that Oppenheimer is the culmination of his previous work to date
His first film Following, despite the low budget, is a true Nolan film that plants the seeds that would grow to become his later films, such as Memento, Inception, and Tenet
The latter three films mentioned were released ten years apart from each other and are regarded as Nolan’s most challenging films to understand due to its non-linearity, maximal parallel editing, and playing with both time and perspective
While many of his other films use those same techniques to create a challenging yet rewarding watch for the audience, such as Interstellar and Dunkirk, it is Memento, Inception, and Tenet are his puzzle filmsfilms that command multiple viewings to figure out the events of the film
While each of those films is fiction, Oppenheimer can be considered a puzzle film despite it being based on true events largely due to its non-linear parallel editing and playing with time through editing
Towards the end of the film, this example shows precisely why Jennifer Lame won the Oscar for Best Editing once the truth has been revealed regarding Strauss’s true nature and carefully executed plan to “systematically destroy” Oppenheimer
The film cuts between Roger Robb (Jason Clarke) preparing to interrogate Kitty (Emily Blunt) and the moment where Dr Hill (Rami Malek), years later, exposes Strauss at his Senate confirmation hearing for his plot in hiring Robb to silence Oppenheimer definitively
Nolan similarly plays with these techniques through the “No Time for Caution” sequence in Interstellar, as the film cuts between two timelines Still, the timelines are more so in the character’s perception of time due to the time dilation caused by one character being in a different solar system versus another back on Earth
Christopher Nolan
In this sequence, we simultaneously watch Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) fighting for survival, with flashbacks of his leaving Murph on a planet in another solar system as the adult Murph (Jessica Chastain) is back on Earth, finding ways to save the planet. However, similarly in Tenet, through possibly the most critical moment in the film, the audience learns Oppenheimer has a circular timeline.
At the end of Oppenheimer, we revisit a scene shown in black and white much earlier in the film from Strauss’s point of view of a conversation between Oppenheimer and Albert Einstein (Tom Conti).
Still, this time, the scene is in color and from a different angle as we now see Oppenheimer’s point of view.
Cillian Murphy Agencia EFE Robert Downey Jr. india.com
When the audience pieces the film together, we realize this frightening realization that Oppenheimer shares with Einstein before Strauss gets the wrong idea in the middle of the film’s timeline of events. This moment acts as the catalyst in Strauss’s destruction of Oppenheimer’s credibility and career “We’re not convicting, just denying,” says Strauss
His plot, which is followed in the fusion section of the film, comes full circle, the definition of fusion, to destroy and humiliate his credibility and career By comparing Nolan’s films, it is safe to say Nolan makes films like no other, and these examples are only a few of how Oppenheimer can be described as the culmination of his work to date
While Nolan’s level of Oscar acclaim for Oppenheimer is unquestionably deserving, it is long overdue, yet it serves as a midway point in his career When addressing the Academy and discussing the medium of cinema in his acceptance speech, Nolan says, “ to know that you think that I’m a meaningful part of it, means the world to me ” and I think I can speak for everyone when I say his contribution to cinema is “meaningful” is an understatement Christopher Nolan has taken cinema to new heights and possibilities, enriching our lives and expanding our wildest imaginations
There is no way of knowing where Nolan will take us next, which genres he will make his own, or different ways he will play with time What we do know is that it will certainly be another masterpiece. Whether or not he won Best Director this year, Christopher Nolan will still be one of the greatest cinema directors Still, no doubt, earning this Oscar further solidified his significance to the medium.
Tyler Jefferson
JAMES GUNN REVIVAL
Brotha Do-Right
“YES, I'M DIRECTING SUPERMAN: LEGACY TO BE RELEASED ON JULY 11, 2025. MY BROTHER MATT TOLD ME WHEN HE SAW THE RELEASE DATE HE STARTED TO CRY.”
In an age where superhero blockbusters are the norm, coming up with various ideas for the expanding genre, it is often forgotten where the concept of superheroes came from, which was DC’s most significant achievement: Superman
In the beginning & to this day, the character has always stood for Truth, Justice, & the American way. Still, in the last decade of film and television, plenty of incarnations resemble the character but need to include what he stood for.
As of 2024, the DC Extended Universe has ended with sixteen films and only one Superman solo film in the franchise. While the character has made minor appearances in other films such as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League, & Black Adam, it’s still hard to believe DC’s beloved hero gets the least screen time Starting from a leading character in his films, he is now reduced only to a cameo in others.
As of 2024, the DC Extended Universe has ended with sixteen films and only one Superman solo film in the franchise.
While the character has made minor appearances in other films such as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League, & Black Adam, it’s still hard to believe DC’s beloved hero gets the least screen time.
Starting from a leading character in his films, he is now reduced only to a cameo in others. Ironically, despite him making fewer appearances on the big screen, there have been many attempts from other studios to create their own darker version of the Man of Steel on the small screen.
Instead, if it’s Homelander from The Boys or Omni Man from Invincible, both interpretations have the same concept: What if Superman went rogue?
Copies are a dime in a dozen, but nothing ever compares to the original Superman is more than ju a man who can fly, lift cars, or shoot lasers from h eyes. He is the type to save a cat out of a tree, save someone from falling off a building, or go out of h way to talk to an everyday citizen with a friendly smile. Superman represents what we can and shou be. Down to his core, Superman is just a man who wants to help.
With the conclusion of the DC Extended Universe the rise of James Gun’s new DC Universe is emine and it will once again start with the last son of Krypton, Superman. Already fast assembling its director, cast, & set release date for 2025, it is no exaggeration how important this film's success has be Not only only does it have the task of rebuildin the trust of fans with a dying franchise, but it must remind both fans & critics of why we still love superheroes to this day, the ideology of being a go person in a cruel world
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Ja’Me Buie
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Tyler Jefferson
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Elizabeth Wildes
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