US rapper releases album from jail

YOUNG Thug fans awoke Friday to a new album from the Atlanta rapper, who is embroiled in a sprawling gang conspiracy trial and has been imprisoned since May 2022.

The 15-track record entitled Business is Business includes features from Drake, Future, 21 Savage, and Travis Scott, and is Young Thug’s first LP since 2021’s chart-topper “Punk.”

The 31-year-old born Jeffery Williams was one of 28 alleged street gang members swept up in a racketeering indictment accusing defendants of myriad predicate offenses that support an overarching conspiracy charge, including murder, assault, carjacking, drug dealing, and theft.

The indictment shook the rap world in Atlanta, where Young Thug is considered among the industry’s most impactful figures who has been elemental to forging contemporary rap’s sound.

Prosecutors say Young Thug’s record label – Young Stoner Life, an imprint under 300 Entertainment – is a front for a crime ring, and have held up song lyrics as evidence of the accusation, a strategy that has raised eyebrows and drawn rebuke.

The case has proceeded at a glacial pace: jury selection began in January and is still underway some six months later. AFP his to enter the venue on time, the show started with Bruno Mars greeting the crowd, saying, “What’s up, okay ba kayo?” He expressed his love for the Philippines and aimed to keep the audience singing and dancing throughout the night. While I missed some of the initial interactions, I did get to experience Bruno Mars engaging with the crowd. He asked, “Masaya ba kayo?” before launching into a medley of hits he had worked on, including

“F**k You” by CeeLo Green, “Young, Wild & Free” by Wiz Khalifa, “Grenade” with an extra request for dramatic smoke, “Talking to the Moon,” “Nothin’ On You” by B.o.B., and the soulful “Leave the Door Open” by Silk Sonic Songs like “When I Was Your Man,” which Bruno Mars revealed as one of his most challenging to sing, “Locked Out of Heaven,” and “Just The Way You Are” were equally captivating, with Fil-Am singer exuding boundless energy as if he had just opened the show.

Bruno Mars’ stage presence was simply mesmerizing. His energy was infectious, radiating from every move he made. From his electrifying dance routines to his interactions with the crowd, he commanded the stage with confidence and charisma. It was clear that he was giving his all, pouring his heart and soul into every performance.

But it wasn’t just his stage presence that captivated the audience. Bruno Mars’ vocals were in top shape, delivering powerful and soulful renditions of his hit songs. As he effortlessly transitioned between high-energy dance tracks and heartfelt ballads, his voice soared through the arena, resonating with every member of the audience. His vocal control and range were truly impressive, showcasing his versatility as an artist.

Throughout the concert, Bruno Mars made sure to engage with the crowd, constantly interacting and connecting with his fans. He kept the energy levels high, urging the audience to sing along, dance, and participate in the experience. With his infectious smile and genuine enthusiasm, he created a sense of unity and joy within the arena.

The combination of Bruno Mars’ boundless energy and his impeccable vocal performance created an unforgettable concert experience. Despite the challenging journey to the venue, the seven songs I got to witness were more than enough to pacify my earlier annoyance caused by the travel time. Bruno Mars’ dedication to his craft and his ability to captivate a massive crowd reaffirmed why he is a global superstar.

Images courtesy of Live Nation Philippines

ARIAS BY ALWIN IGNACIO

VIVAMAX’S current cinematic comeon, Hosto, is essentially a love story and a tale about the struggles and survival of an overseas Filipino worker.

Yes, the trademark sexual encounters are still present but portrayed with restraint and delicacy. The encounters that pushed the boundaries of daring and wildness felt mechanical, lacking bliss or happiness in the eyes of the actors involved. It became apparent that these scenes were obligatory, a means to enhance their financial situation.

There are many kinds of love highlighted in the Jao Daniel Elamparo-directed movie. The “it’s complicated kind,” with Vince Rillon as Patrick and the love he has for his wife and child and a young miss who offers love for convenience and citizenship status in Japan.

Patrick, also shares a different kind of love with Daniel, Jay Manalo’s gay character. His relationship with Daniel is the most constant and solid as his immediate family knows and accepts it.

Manalo’s Daniel is affluent and supports not only his partner’s needs and wants, but his entire family as well, with the wife and kid included in the equation. Then, Thea, Angela Morena’s character loves Patrick just because she loves him. Well aware of the man’s marital complication, the reality did not stop her to offer herself, her heart, and the citizenship that Rillon’s character needs to secure his immediate family’s future and fortune.

“The ‘all mine to give’ kind of love, where one does not know how to reserve some for oneself and maintain sanity, was skillfully portrayed by Denise Esteban. On the other hand, Ali Asistio’s character effectively depicted the user-friendly type of love, utilizing love and romance in a predatory manner, resulting in detrimental emotional consequences, of course.

These many portraits of love, acted out by Rillon, Manalo, Morena, Esteban, and Asistio on the silver screen bring the feels and the heartstring pulls.

Manalo as Daniel was perfect as the gay character who loved until it hurts and is painful, but continues to love anyway. The conversation scene of Daniel with his gay friends about his relationship status with Patrick, and that final scene wherein he could no longer contain the hurt with regard to the separation with finality with Patrick, showed how emotionally committed Manalo was to his small role that was so impactful.

The OFW struggles and survival, there was nothing new to it since there have been countless movies that already showcased such realities. However, what makes the presentation fresh and novel, is the purity and sincerity that Rillon infused and invested in Patrick. The naiveté, the doses of hopeless romanticism, and that twisted symbol of hope that Morena’s character Thea represented. And at the end of the day, love for family always matters and is supreme.

Yes, Hosto with the stamp of approval of its creator Brillante Mendoza, is a rare kind