Adam Yauch Says No Soundtrack Disc For 'Gunnin’ for That #1 Spot'

How shitty is the music industry these days? Real shitty. Despite having a movie that boasts tracks by Jay-Z, the Notorious B.I.G., Nas, million-plus seller Lil Wayne, Public Enemy and the Beastie Boys (a new track recorded for the film, titled "Bass Line Is Nice"), director and B-Boy Adam Yauch says there will be no soundtrack CD to his upcoming basketball documentary "Gunnin' For That #1 Spot." “The music industry is having so much trouble right now that nobody really wanted to pay for the clearances,” Yauch lamented to New York magazine.

It's kind of sad considering that everyone who has actually seen the film makes note of how music-centric it is. NYMag says the film is filled with new Beastie tracks (plural, their must be another) and a mix of seventies R&B and funk (strangely they make no mention of the aforementioned hip-hop).

In an Apple store Q&A during the Tribeca Film Festival, the interviewer hosting the talk said the film was filled with good music. Asked about his approach for the music Yauch said, "Music and film is both about pacing and shaping thing together. We were just looking for music that has the right feel in the scenes. There wasn't a specific agenda other than we were trying to pick a lot of New York music because the film is a NY based film. Sometimes [we'd look for] themes in the lyrics, but it was mostly just playing around [with songs] and seeing what felt right."

The graying Beastie Boy also said he was "documentaried-out," and said he had hoped to work on a narrative feature film project some time in the future. "That's def something I'm interested in. There's a few ideas [kickin' around]," Yauch said, noting he had already wrote a script with a friend about graffiti writers.

The musician turned director said he's influenced by bad films that don't work. "I enjoy seeing where things go wrong, you go - 'it sucks' - and then you try and figure out why things don't go right."

Yauch noted that his favorite Beastie's video is "So Whatcha Want," and one of his directorial inspirations was "Rosemary's Baby," with "all those wide lens shots."

As for the Beastie Boys? They're working on another record right. He joked that collaborators on the next album would hopefully include Gordon Lightfoot, Abba and that Justin Timberlake had turned them down. "We put the R in retarded," he laughed.
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Biggie Biopic Video Diary Reminds Us They Shot On Location And On Location, Location, Location...

"Notorious" producer Wayne Barrows, the former manager of the Notorious B.I.G. (aka Christopher Wallace) has a blog for updates on the hip-hop biopic. They've posted another video diary of the film which isn't exactly exciting, but it's something. And they let you know they shot in on location in New York and Brooklyn! How about that? [Congratulations?] Is it just us or does Jamal Woolard/Gravy look a little too thin to be playing Biggie? Someone's gotta feed that kid some extra burgers. "Notorious" is already locked in for a January 16, 2009 release date. Diddy says he likes it.

We wanna know when in tarnation are we finally going to see photos of Anthony Mackie as Tupac?
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'The Wackness' Mixtape: More Music Inspired By The Film

The upcoming 1994-set coming of age comedy, "The Wackness" is really going out of it's way to market itself virally and on the web and make you aware of itself. You'll recall they just released some fake '94 public access show onto YouTube and now the filmmakers are hosting free screenings around the country. Even cooler is this Muxtape-like, mixtape application from MixWit that goes a step further by letting you embed the mix right onto your blog, webpage, etc.

'Wackness' director Jonathan Levine made the mix and the filmmakers are basically the first people to utilize Mixwit for a movie. All of those songs featured are East Coast hip-hop released in 1994 and not on the soundtrack, but the producers are trying to keep the tunes all 'Wackness'-inspired. All of the hip-hop songs actually featured in the film - including Biggie, Nas, Method Man, etc. - are listed here in an earlier post where we exclusively revealed the movie's tracklist. Meth himself has a part in the film as a Jamaican weed dealer.

Tracks on this mix include Biggie's "Party & Bullshit," Smif N Wessun's "Bucktown," Jeru The Damaja's "Come Clean and tracks by the long-gone RZA/Prince Paul classic project, Gravediggaz, Digable Planets, A Tribe Called Quest and Nas. Have at it, when we get a sec we'll make our own mix, but unlike Muxtape where you can upload whatever, here you're limited to what's available on Skreemr/Seeqpod.

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First Look: The ‘Notorious’ Cast; Diddy Gives Derek Luke Some Helpful Suggestions And Friendly Tips

MTV was on the set of "Notorious," the upcoming biopic of the lauded Brooklyn rapper, Notorious B.I.G (Christoper Wallace). They also have the first two exclusive photos of the cast (Jamal Woolard as Biggie and Antonique Smith as Faith Evans). More on their report here.

The amiable and modest Puff Daddy tried to give actor Derek Luke some helpful tips and friendly suggestions on how to play him.

"What kind of criticism [did] Puffy give me? Oh, man, I tried to stay away from him," Luke explained. "You know, 'cause I just wanted to get a heart. I was inspired by who he is today but mostly how he started. But to be honest ... man. He just looked at me, and he was like, 'Yo, you do something wrong, trust me, I'll let you know.' So, I believe, that was good."

And with that we out for the weekend, peace in the Middle East with chicken grease.

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Sneak Peek: Derek Luke As Puff Daddy In Biggie Film, 'Notorious'

Is that Didd's at a white party? The latest issue of Entertainment Weekly has a shot of actor Derek Luke in his crispy whites as Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs in the Notorious B.I.G. biopic, "Notorious" as found over at /Film.

Sitting throne next to him is Jamal Woolard (the rapper Gravy) as the Biggie himself (Christopher Wallace; who we've already seen shots of).

For all those on the planet who worries about the quality of this biopic (everyone), keep in mind at least that Luke has done some superb work. His small, but effective turn in David Mamet's "Spartan" (super underrated film, btw) was choice. Anthony Mackie who plays Tupac in the film, is a badass thespian too.

Then again Diddy just endorsed the film too and we all know he's not the greatest authority on things that are actually good.

The music supervisor Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie thinks that Gravy getting capped in the ass in '06 makes more than qualified to play the part." I believe that Gravy has studied hard enough; I think he got enough battle scars from the streets that he could pull it off."
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Diddy Says Rapper Playing Notorious B.I.G Is The Mack Dad; Opinion May Or May Not Be Reputable

Hip-hop mogul and unintentionally hilarious YouTube clip making satirist Sean Diddy Combs is claiming the actors on the set of "Notorious," the currently filming biopic of slain Brooklyn rapper The Notorious B.I.G. (born Christopher Wallace) are doing eerie and spot-on impressions of the real-life people they're portraying.

"Gravy, the guy playing B.I.G., it was just too eerie for me to be on that," Combs told MTV. "Gravy's killing it. If I tell you he's killing it, then that's all we need to say, you know what I'm saying? I don't think anybody could have done a better job."

"People asked me years ago who you'd want to play me, and I said Derek Luke ... so it was just destined. I got to see him do his thing, and it was scary for me. I had to leave, 'cause he was acting just like me."

Keep in mind, Diddy is E'd out a lot and not really there half the time, so everything he always says is pretty much suspect.

In other news of black musicians now in films (wow, classy segue), Cedric The Entertainer is assuring anyone who will listen (those skeptical people?), that Beyonce is also killing it on the set of "Cadillac Records" as Etta James.

“I mean, Beyonce’s just dope anyway, but you’ll be surprised by the little subtleties she’s brought to this character to make it pop,” Cedric also told MTV. “Plus, it’s a period piece, so it feels a little bit back in time. She was able to be amazing in this character, with this subtle love affair with the Adrien Brody character.” Read more...

Was Notorious B.I.G. Casting Call One Plus-Sized Publicity Stunt? Was Diddy's Associates Behind Tupac's Death?

Believe it or not, we're not that skeptical and we kind of think it's lazy and deeply cynical to assume every little move that becomes covered in the media has an ulterior motive and or is a calculated publicity stunt. But we're changing our tune on this one a little.

So you'll remember the Notorious B.I.G. biopic - creatively titled "Notorious" - that finally found its lead actor after a long and exhaustive, nationwide search. Cast in the role of Biggie Smalls was Brooklyn rapper Gravy, aka Jamal Woolard, best known for being shot in the ass outside of Hot 97 in spring of 2006 (pictured as Biggie to the left in a new shot released today).

We wrote previously:

Nah Right reminds us that Gravy was rumored to be in line for the Biggie role nearly two years ago, which make us all think : what was the point of auditioning every overweight hustler under the sun? Maybe cause Gravy wasn't quite right and they wanted to continue their search for the perfect match?

But in a piece that ran in the New York Times this morning (via Vulture), the director George Tillman Jr. ("Soul Food," "Barbershop") admitted that Gravy wasn't part of the open casting cattle call in October and that the rapper had been "under consideration since November, and was quietly being groomed... before being officially selected."

"We set up a boot camp for three months just for him,” Mr. Tillman told the Times adding that major musical performances in the film would generally use B.I.G.'s recorded voice (and Woolward rapping skills would be used where needed).

So what was the point of this rather large and media-heavy casting call news? Was it all just publicity stunt to drum up attention for the film that starts shooting next Monday (but apparently is still revising it's script; way to go down straight to the wire)? Sure is looking that way.

Meanwhile, the official blog of "Notorious" producer Wayne Barrow (Biggie's former manager) has launched with various updates on the film.

Cheo Hodari Coker, the author who penned the first draft of the film's screenplay and authored the B.I.G. biography, Unbelievable: The Life, Death, and Afterlife of The Notorious B.I.G. , defended the choice of casting Woolward to skeptics.

"I think people should give Gravy a chance," Coker told hiphop elements. "Nothing in Forest Whitaker's previous body of work, as good as it was, prepared you to see him to embody Idi Amin. The same guy that hustled Paul Newman in "The Color of Money" was the same guy that played a Ugandan dictator."

The same piece revealed that rapper Guerilla Black and R&B singer Sean Kingston were up for the roles of Christopher 'BIG' Wallace.

In very related and controversial news, a report from the L.A. Times is claiming that P.Diddy's people put the hit on Tupac Shakur that launched the east/west coast rap rivalry and eventually took the lives of both Shakur and the Notorious BIG.

Now, newly discovered information, including interviews with people who were at the studio that night, lends credence to Shakur’s insistence that associates of rap impresario Sean “Diddy” Combs were behind the assault. Their alleged motives: to punish Shakur for disrespecting them and rejecting their business overtures and, not incidentally, to curry favor with Combs.

Diddy has already commented on today's allegations: “This story is beyond ridiculous and completely false. Neither Biggie nor I had any knowledge of any attack before, during or after it happened. It is a complete lie to suggest that there was any involvement by Biggie or myself." Read more...

Call Him Big Poppa; Notorious B.I.G. Movie Finds Its Star; Derek Luke Plays Puff, Anthony Mackie Playing Tupac

After a long and exhausting nationwide search that included desperately reaching out to the Internet and any plus-sized homies vaguely resembling a famous 350 lbs rapper, the long-gestating Notorious B.I.G. biopic has found its man.

The Fox Searchlight film project, "Notorious," has cast Jamal Woolard, aka the Brooklyn-based rapper Gravy, to play rap icon Biggie Smalls (Christopher Wallace), a.k.a. the Notorious B.I.G., in its upcoming biopic.

Name actors like Derek Luke (David Mamet's "Spartan"), Angela Bassett and the young thespian heavyweight Anthony Mackie ("Half Nelson") have all been cast in the film as well.

Luke will play Sean 'Puff Daddy, Diddy' Combs, the BadBoy impresario and record executive who helped launch Biggie's career with 1994's classic debut Ready To Die. Mackie will play his West Coast rival Tupac Shakur (holy shit!) and Bassett will play Big's moms Voletta Wallace.

Not a total unknown, Gravy released a number of indie hip-hop albums before being signed to Warner Bros. in the late '90s, but made headlines in 2006 - and perhaps is best known for - when he was shot in the buttocks outside the infamous New York hip-hop radio station Hot 97 and finished his appearance on the show before being taken to the hospital. A few weeks later he was banned from the show by host Funkmaster Flex.

OK, we've been extremely skeptical about this project from the get-go, but wow, this top notch casting news is unexpected and fucking phenomenal.

Now the things we have to worry about are this allegedly, mediocre script that leaked and whether Gravy can act or not.

Nah Right reminds us that Gravy was rumored to be in line for the role nearly two years ago, which make us all think : what was the point of auditioning every overweight hustler under the sun? Maybe cause Gravy wasn't quite right and they wanted to continue their search for the perfect match?

Gravy admitted even in May of 2006 that he and Biggie didn't share too many similarities aside from looks. "Look at me, let's be honest here," Gravy, told MTV. "I don't sound nothing like him, but people stop and look and be like, 'Look at his stomach! Look at this nigga. Damn!"

George Tillman Jr. ("Soul Food," "Barbershop") has been tapped to direct. Principal photography has been scheduled for a March 24 start according to a press release for the film. Joining the cast are mostly newcomers including former 3LW member Naturi Naughton, Dennis White, Julia Pace Mitchell and Antonique Smith, who's a dead-ringer for a young Faith Evans.

The film is already set for a January 16, 2009 release date.

Download: Notorious B.I.G. - "Ready To Die"
Download: Notorious B.I.G. - "Things Have Changed"
Watch: Gravy featuring Akon - "About Me"
Watch: Gravy freestyle
Watch: Gravy on the "Smack" DVD

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Short Cuts: Biggie Film, 'Wild Things' Pushed To Oct 09, Duran Duran Doc, Issac Hayes; More

The script for the Notorious B.I.G biopic, naturally titled, "Notorious," has leaked (or at least NYMag has gotten their claws on it). If you thought trying to cast this film via the Internet was a bad/desperate idea, you might not be totally surprised that the script is apparently not very good. "The 113-page screenplay...makes the unfortunate decision to pack an entire (albeit short) life into a two-hour movie." [Vulture]

Spike Jonze's allegedly embattled "Where The Wild Things Are" adaptation has been set for a October 16, 2009 release by Warner Brothers. Does 20 months from now imply major reshoots? The test footage that leaked online was shot around the summer of 2004 and Jonze has been reportedly working on the film since 2002. [/Film]

Slightly old (from late last week), but we wanted to have it mentioned somewhere. David Fincher is making a film and it's not about a serial killer or the tedious paperwork and time-sheets involved in catching one or invoicing for hours spent chasing one. The fastidious director's next project will be not be a "Fight Club," musical, but an adaptation of the transgressive Charles Burns graphic novel, "Black Hole." The depraved tale chronicles 1970's teens who contract a sexually transmitted disease that produces horrifying physical mutations. Screenwriters Roger Avary ("Pulp Fiction") and Neil Gaiman apaprently penned a previous draft, but it is unknown whether Fincher will be start fresh or use their work. [JoBlo]

Shout yo mouth, bad mutherfucker icon Issac Hayes is going to play himself in a musical comedy called, "Soul Man," that stars Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac. Grammy winning nu-soul artist John Legend will also have a part in the film. [Reuters]

A new upcoming fan-made Duran Duran documentary titled, "Something You Should Know," features interviews with life-long Duran-y's No Doubt, Korn, Moby, Kelly Ripa, Michelle Branch, Barenaked Ladies, and the Scissor Sisters. The film is tentatively scheduled for a July 2008 release. [Paste]

With one afro on the way - Will Ferrell's "Semi-Pro" basketball movie, some clueless writer suddenly declares the '70s, the new "g0-to era for comedy." We're glad you've been asleep at the wheel for the last decade. [Associated Press]
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Is Casting Biggie Smalls Impossible? Pretty Much

Voletta Wallace (Notorious' moms) says to fill the requirements of playing her son Biggie Smalls, all on needs to do is have size 13 shoes, weigh around 230lbs and can act capture B.I.G.'s swagger (not to mention can carry the weight of one multi-million dollar film on their shoulders, as they're likely going to be an unknown). Sure, no problem. We're willing to bet this film will literally take years to cast (like it hasn't already, hence this big campaign to plus-size schmucks the world round). Best of luck with this one. [ed. This video wont embed properly. Feel free to assume that further fucks the chances of ever casting this thing and then watch the semi-desperate plea to find Big Poppa) Read more...

Strummer Gets November Release; Biggie Gets Unknown; "Dedicated" Soundtrack (Mostly) Finalized

The North American rights to Julien Temple's documentary, "Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten" has been acquired by IFC. The film will finally get a proper U.S. release date on November 2. The soundtrack, which we already wrote about, has been out for months features 20 music tracks including three previously unreleased Clash tracks (demos) and an unreleased version of reggae classic, "Natty Rebel" by dubmaster U-Roy, among other tracks influential to the late Strummer (Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan; the rest of the tracks are audio excerpts from the film).

We should post our review soon. Thumbs up aside from some mediocre b-roll here and there if we want to be TV producer nerds about it. Glowing testimonials by the usual suspects (Bono, Don Letts) are typically reverent (though Letts is very impartial), but Johnny Depp's still-in-Pirate-make-up/half get-up appearance is more than a little amusing. [IndieWire]

The producers of the upcoming Notorious B.I.G. biopic will try and fill the role through an open cattle call. Man, best of luck with that one. The film, "Notorious" has been seven years in the making. Apparently anyone can send an audition videos here. If you're thinking these filmmakers seem desperate, you are absolutely correct. [AP]

We wrote all about Deerhoof's musical involvement in the new Mandy Moore movie (actually Justin Theroux movie), "Dedicated," a few days ago. We mentioned there were songs by Cat Power, Fischerspooner and the Strokes in the movie, but final additions include Lightning Bolt and Joanna Newsom. The soundtrack disc is due September 11 on Koch, a tracklist is forthcoming. [The Playlist]

Marty Scorsese's Rolling Stone tour documentary, "Shine A Light" has been pushed back seven months. [Reuters/Daily Swarm]
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