Notorious Review

Notorious B.I.G is arguably the greatest rapper of time. So it comes as no surprise that his life would be retold in a biopic, 2009 film NOTORIOUS. The film chronicles Christopher Wallace’s transition from school boy to rap legend. Overall, I thought the film was well made. However, there is one major misstep in acting. And her name is Angela Bassett.

She’s been in countless movies before and she always sometimes is expected to give a moving performance. In NOTORIOUS, she doesn’t really do anything special in her short screen time. Still, I would be able to overlook her performance if she would have done one thing: Speak with a Jamaican Accent!!

Angela plays Biggie’s mom, Ms. Voletta Wallace – that (like every true fan knows) speaks with an accent. Along with her lifestyle, Ms. Wallace’s speech reflects her culture, her home, and is a huge contrast from the traditional life in Brooklyn in the late ‘70s. Without the accent, this integral piece of authenticity is lost in the film.




For me, Angela’s unaccented portrayal was not only surprising, it was disappointing. The other actors went the extra mile to accurately recreate the experience: Derek Luke learned choreography to dance like Diddy! Even Naturi worked long nights at Hunts Point to research Lil’ Kim’s character (kidding!). Seriously though, refraining from the accent takes away from the authenticity of her character.





Imagine if they casted some well-known actor* to in the lead role and he sounded sounding like B.I.G.? Totally ruins the movie the movie. Star-power or not.


Maybe I’m just rambling on about a minute topic, but, there’s not much else to go on. The movie is a recreation of events that we could have thought of ourselves. Yet, what else could we expect from filmmakers (and contributors) who were determined to justify Biggie’s wrongs as he becomes a saint in his last days because of the murder of his best friend, Tupac. And by this realization, I can’t be mad. All in all, NOTORIOUS is a feature length film about the Notorious B.I.G.

And we’ll always love Big Poppa.


*No one could fit the role. No pun intended.

Pride & Prejudice

Today, Tuesday, January 20, 2009, Barack H. Obama was sworn in as the first (irrefutably) African-American of the United States of America. As a country with an extensive history of racial tension between Whites and Blacks, this event is shows that America 52% of Americans are indeed ready for change. For most of us, Barack’s ascension to power validates the audacity of hope. For many African-Americans, Barack and the “Yes We Can” movement has given us the push we need to realize our full potential. And not to rain on anyone’s parade, but that’s a damn shame.

Now don’t get me wrong, the idea of positively inspiring a nation of people is truly astounding. I’m more upset at the fact it took this Presidency to awaken the greatness of my people.

In a clip on BET (forgive me y'all), a brother said that he now believes anything is possible. This sentiment has been echoed many times recently, especially in the form of “Now I can really tell my little (Black) babies, ‘You can be President one day!” The truth is little Black babies, you never needed Obama to out swag his political opponents to realize the Presidency: all you need is you!

Yes, President Obama President Obama President Obama(*)’s election is a step in the right direction, but you little Black babies should have already been on the path to greatness. America LET President Obama President Obama President Obama into office. Don’t LET the opinions of Americans to determine your worth.

It’s like saying if we didn’t have President Obama President Obama President Obama, you little Black babies would say ‘Well he tried, but it’s never gonna happen’ I’mma rob somebo
dy.’Yes, it’s very “inconvienient” to be Black in America at times, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t always strive to become great as (or greater than) our potential. And no
t to knock President Obama President Obama President Obama’s ability to inspire, but what about looking inside ourselves? Have we become so entangled in a web of apathy that we cannot access our intrinsic self-determination? President Obama President Obama President Obama might have followed an example, but way before he got to Harvard, he was already blazing his own trail.

I urge us all to do the same, but let’s be our own reason to take the first step. When American tell you we can’t, you reply: YES WE CAN!!

*Get familiar with that... PRESIDENT OBAMA!!

BONUS: *Props to Joshua Hill