Plus, a new weTV series investigates gun violence in the world of hip-hop music, a new album from the Spice Girls, and a new podcast from CNN Audio delves into «The James Brown Mystery.»
Change is good, yes?
I’ve been thinking about mixing it up when it comes to this newsletter, but I’d like to hear from you. What would you like to read about? Are there some sections you like more than others? Do you feel like I’m missing something that will liven up your brunch conversations?
Drop me a line and let me know.
In the meantime, let’s get to this week’s round-up.
‘Blockbuster’
True confession: I have my old Blockbuster membership card somewhere around here.
I was a regular at my neighborhood store in Baltimore which is why I was thrilled when I learned of this new comedy series based on the #throwback movie rental chain.
In the eponymous show, Randall Park plays Timmy Yoon, “an analog dreamer living in a 5G world” who manages the last Blockbuster location out there. He’s out to prove his store provides “something big corporations can’t: human connection.”
What a great message. The series is streaming on Netflix now. Yes, you read that right – you can now stream a show about movie rentals.
‘Hip Hop Homicides’
Sadly, with the recent death of rapper Takeoff, this new WEtv show feels more timely than ever.
Produced by 50 Cent and Mona Scott-Young, and hosted by Van Lathan, the series will be “taking a ‘big picture’ look at the epidemic of violence in hip hop.” Given that at least one rapper has lost his life every year to gun violence since 2018, the topic is ripe for examination.
The first episode, which looks at the 2020 murder of rapper Pop Smoke, is available on WEtv.
