“NOTORIOUS” Movie Must-Haves

Here’s a list of not-so-obvious people, places and things that the “NOTORIOUS” movie wouldn’t be complete without. Read and let me know your thoughts.

(In no order of importance)

Lance “UN” Rivera (friend/business partner, Untertainment)

Bad Boy Labelmates/collaborators 112, The LOX, Mase, Total, Carl Thomas and Black Rob

The Commission (short-lived rap group comprised of Jay-Z, Charli Baltimore and BIG)

Charli Baltimore (lover, female rap artist)

Cam’ron (Untertainment artist, acquaintance)

Misa Hylton-Brim (Bad Boy stylist, friend, Puff’s ex-girl)

Mary J. Blige (collaborator, friend)

Craig Mack and DJ 4-5

The “BIG/MACK” marketing campaign

Cheek Del Vec, Trife, Klepto, Larceny and Bugsy (Junior Mafia members)

Bonz Malone (wrote first Biggie cover story for The Source and almost signed BIG to Island Records)

Matty C (ran The Source’s “Unsigned Hype” column that featured BIG; passed BIG’s tape to Puff)

Dream Hampton (veteran journalist/friend of BIG)

5001 Flavors leather jerseys

Walker Wear denim suits

Did we leave out anything? If so, leave a comment.

6 Reasons Why NOTORIOUS is a B.I.G. Deal

6. The film might provide an interesting glimpse into the mystique of the Bad Boy empire during its heyday (Bad Boy went from making history with B.I.G. to ’making the mess band’ with Danity Kane…WTF?)

5. There hasn’t been this much buzz in the Hip-Hop community about a film since Hype Williams’ BELLY. (No sequel please.)

4. Today’s Hip-Hop generation will finally have a film to call their own, adding to past classic flicks about/influenced by Hip-Hop music and culture (Breakin’ I and II, Wild Style, Krush Groove, Beat Street, etc.)

3. It’s authentic. Starring Brooklyn’s own Gravy plus having cats like DJ Enuff, D-Dot, Lil’ Cease and Money L appear in the film lends much credibility to “NOTORIOUS”.

2. Lil’ Kim’s discontent with the film could possibly be the motivation for her to write her own book or movie. Don’t front, Kim would cake off at the box office.

1.   And finally, a Biggie Smalls biopic could possibly greenlight a Tupac Shakur biopic. Now what true Hip-Hop fan wouldn’t want to see that?

Rest In Peace to both the Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur. One Love.

* (Reasons were not listed in order of importance)

“NOTORIOUS” hits theatres nationwide on January 16, 2009.

BOOK REVIEW:”Midnight: A Gangster Love Story” by Sister Souljah

Although Sister Souljah’s newest book, “Midnight”  was touted as the long-awaited sequel to her lauded street-lit classic, “The Coldest Winter Ever”, the good news is that it is not.   Instead the book is a fascinating prequel that explains one young man’s journey from birth to mid-teens as a Sudanese immigrant  to a graduate (with honors) of the school of hard knocks.

The book re-introduces Midnight, (prior to him working  for drug lord Ricky Santiaga),who readers will remember as the mysterious, handsome drug dealer that Winter, Santiaga’s daughter, lusted after in “Coldest”.   Surviving is no easy feat for Midnight as he endures the perils of growing up young, Black and poor in Brooklyn, an extreme departure from the comforts he enjoyed as the son of an elite Sudanese political advisor, who has since disappeared from Midnight’s life.  Falling in love with Japanese beauty Akemi only complicates things for Midnight as he tries to hold steadfast to his Muslim faith and manhood in a land far from his native Sudan.

What makes ”Midnight” so compelling is Souljah’s ability to describe Midnight’s experiences so vividly and authentically.  Her writing captures the innocence in his fears, mistakes and even his prejudices all while entertaining you with rich characters and compelling storylines. While some may not agree that “Midnight” is urban fiction (especially since there is no mention of the Santiaga family), the novel exhibits Souljah’s growth as a writer while delivering  a powerful, modern love story.

Highly recommended, ”Midnight” showcases Souljah’s strength at creating realistic, creative stories that give a voice to the complexities of urban people, written in that authentic way that only she can.