Chuck D. making feature film debut
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Rapper Chuck D., the charismatic front man of the group Public Enemy and a political rap pioneer, is going to make his feature film debut.
Chuck, also one of the most well-respected songwriters and activists in both the music and film industries, seemed the logical choice when Will Ferrell and Adam McKay cast the leader of the Alarm Clock, a militant political group in the upcoming "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy."
"Will and I wanted an outspoken basketball player or a rapper to play the role," McKay told Zap2It from the "Anchorman" set. "We were bouncing around names and we said, 'Yeah, someone who is really out there, like Chuck D.' So, Adam said, 'Let's just ask Chuck.'"
Public Enemy's "Fight the Power" appeared in Spike Lee's 1989 "Do The Right Thing" and became the anthem for a generation of frustrated youths.
Marsalis unveils music ed Web site
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Jazz at Lincoln Center Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis opened an educational Web site to complement to the center's Jazz for Young People curriculum.
The interactive Web site contains original audio and video clips, photos, biographies and activities for students, teachers and parents. The public will also find this site useful as a resource for learning about jazz music and history, the acclaimed trumpeter told a National Press Club luncheon audience this week.
The Web site will connect users to more than 17 lessons. Each interactive lesson explores musical concepts, styles, and jazz practitioners using a variety of media. The first three lessons to be offered correspond to the Louis Armstrong, improvisation and Latin jazz lessons in the Jazz for Young People curriculum.
Additional lessons will be added throughout the year to the Jazz at Lincoln Center-produced site, www.JazzForYoungPeople.org.
Movie pirates may affect Oscar voters
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Pirates may be forcing movie studios to stop the long-time practice of sending Oscar voters movies on tape and DVD.
The Motion Picture Association of America sent major studios a proposal whereby studios would agree to send out no screening cassettes or DVDs during awards season, Daily Variety reported.
The response is mixed and there was considerable doubt it ever would come about. Some feel the proposal is a nice idea, but voters have been able to watch nominated films at home for 15 years. That was before the current rash of movie pirates began grabbing up advance copies.
Studio executives have always been ambivalent about the mailing of screeners. On one hand, they want their films to be seen by the maximum number of voters. On the other hand, they want the picture to be seen on the big screen.
"It's an insult to the cinematographer, for example, to watch his work on TV," one exec said.
'Baby Boy' gives 'Tailfeather' the boot
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- "Baby Boy" bounced "Shake Ya Tailfeather" from its roost at the top of Billboard's Hot 100 this week, hitting the top of the chart in a scant eight weeks.
Beyonce's latest also remained the fastest growing radio track for the seventh straight week and topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart for the second week in a row. "Baby Boy," featuring Sean Paul, also tops Airplay Monitor's Rhythmic Top 40 chart.
"Tailfeather" dropped to No. 2 after four weeks at the top.
YounBloodZ's "Damn!" featuring Lil Jon, broke into the Top 10, moving from No. 11 to No. 9 on the Hot 100, and hitting No. 2 on the R&B chart.
R. Kelly's two singles from his "The R. in R&B Collection: Volume 1" -- "Thoia Thong" and "Step in the Name of Love" -- moved to No. 13 and No. 6, respectively.
In its sixth week on the chart, Ashanti's "Rain on Me" moved to No. 20 on the Hot 100 and No. 11 on the R&B chart.
Teen star Hilary Duff has the hottest track at retail, "So Yesterday."
