Young Thug was arrested on a slew of RICO charges last May, but the case has yet to go to trial. The jury selection process, meanwhile, is expected to take months. According to court docs obtained by AllHipHop, more than 1,000 people could be called as potential jurors.
As the docs explain, “The Jury Clerk shall send a sufficient number of subpoenas to result in the appearance of an additional 1200 prospective trial jurors: 300 on February 24, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.; 300 on March 17, 2023 at 9:30 AM; 300 on April 28, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.; and 300 on May 19, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. The prospective jurors will watch a pre-recorded reading of the indictment for this case and hear preliminary jury instructions from Chief Judge Glanville on these respective dates.”
Prospective trial jurors will also be required to complete a questionnaire prepared by the court under oath and return them to the jury clerk before leaving. They will then be examined for “potential hardships” such as a mental or physical disability.
Young Thug has a list of people he wants called to the witness stand, including Lyor Cohen. The former Def Jam executive and now YouTube’s Global Head of Music is one of 36 people included on the list. Kevin Liles, who co-founded 300 Entertainment with Cohen and previously served as EVP at Warner Music Group, is included as well.
The jury selection process for Young Thug’s trial began in early January, but as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, Judge Ural Glanville said jury selection will take months.
Kodak Black is reportedly facing a warrant for his arrest. According to TMZ, the Pompano Beach native failed a recent drug test, therefore violating the terms of his bail conditions. A judge signed off on the arrest documents on Thursday (February 23) and they were filed in Broward County court the following day. The paperwork states Kodak Black should be arrested immediately if he’s encountered by authorities.
Kodak Black has allegedly missed one drug test and failed another. Traces of fentanyl were said to be found in the latest one, although just how much is unclear.
Kodak was arrested last July for possession of a controlled substance without prescription and drug trafficking. Police claimed they found around 31 oxycodone pills in his car following a Ft. Lauderdale traffic stop. They also confiscated more than $70,000 in cash. He posted $75,000 bail and was released but was required to stay clean. As of Saturday night (February 25), Kodak Black hasn’t been picked up—at least not yet.
Danny O, an upcoming artist, and passionate optimist has cultivated a new work that is catching a buzz from all over the states. With this record, Danny O creates a depiction of human emotion as the darkness from obstacles and challenges in life tug at character and morality.
Listening to this record you can almost instantly relate to exactly what Danny O’s message is. The creative method behind this record shows off Danny’s top-tier skills in penmanship.
Have a listen for yourself by checking out the link below:
Aaron Skyy has returned with a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit. After facing tremendous personal struggles, he has emerged from darkness into the light with a triumphant return to music. Skyy’s perseverance is an inspiration to us all and his new project “THE Return” serves as proof that no matter what life throws at us there is always hope.
Aaron Skyy has been on the music scene since he was 19 years old. Skyy has worked with and for various companies, and major labels, including MCA & Motown. Skyy didn’t get his first break until around the early 2000s with Randy Phillips who was the CEO of a label called Red Ant Records. Randy was also the former CEO/president of the Gasoline Alley who signed Sublime, and was known for AEG Live and as Michael Jackson’s manager. When Randy signed Aaron Skyy at Red Ant, he had great expectations for the success of his album “Skyy’s the Limit”.
Aaron Skyy has also been on tour with artists such as Maxwell, Donell Jones, and Beyoncé. Around the time his album started to really take off in the UK. Things took a turn while circling back to the United States. Aaron and his team discovered he had an illness called hydrocephalus. Several years have passed since then and now Aaron Skyy is back with fire in his eyes with a new love and appreciation for music and life.
Skyy faced a daunting challenge with hydrocephalus. This condition caused a build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in his brain, which threatened to take away his life. Despite the darkness that filled Aaron’s world for so many years, he explained “the fight that I had to push through with my brain surgery, I feel like people should do whatever you need to do to get healed, to better yourself, and to push through difficult periods in your life.”
Aaron was determined to move away from it and into the light. Aaron Skyy is well on his way to reclaiming those steps he had once already conquered in the past. Coming back into the music space, Aaron Skyy is excited to make a return with his new album called “THE Return“, allowing him to express himself freely without fear of judgment or ridicule from others and allowing Aaron to clap back at the ones who said he fell off.
He felt liberated as if for once all of the burdens had been lifted off his shoulders. Aaron is truly excited to start working again by showing the world what positive light has to offer.
He gives thanks to Randy Phillips and his family by stating “I wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for him. Although I have to say I wouldn’t even have gotten this far now if it wasn’t for some other very important people like my parents, Thomas & Azalea, my uncles Keith and Jack, my son Jölon, my fam day ones Ryan Torres, Manny, Dave Young, Max Lux, Floyd (Sprng Brk), CJ (Chris Johnson), Jaycen Joshua and my cousin Vince Whitley.”
In conclusion, Aaron Skyy is looking ahead to a bright future and he is excited to share his new music with the world. He has worked hard and has been generous enough to give a helping hand and the opportunity to young producer JAECEA. He is also thrilled about the potential of the South African artist Stefan Benz who looks to be set for international success. It will be interesting to hear Aaron’s album “THE Return” when it’s released and to see what other exciting projects he has in store for us all.
Learn more about Aaron Skyy by visiting the links below:
Black Twitter was in an uproar after a video was leaked showing a man being interrogated about the YSL gang/ Young Thug case.
In the video, that was stolen from investigators and made public, a man says, “This is a murder that’s about to take place with some very hot people, and [inaudible] the stuff that I know right now should be able to help me get out my situation.”
One posting of the video on YouTube has received over 30 million views according to WSB-TV.
In the comment section, people have responded with threats against the man’s life— causing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to have concerned for the witness’ safety.
One person wrote, “That [expletive] deserve every bullet he got coming.”
“U gon die goofy,” another said with rat emojis.
“It puts people’s lives in danger,” Willis says. “My worst fear is that it is used as an intimidating tactic and people might be hurt.”
Though the video was recorded about a year ago, the defense only received the video a couple of months back. Many think the defense might have leaked it. Keith Adams, the attorney representing the defendants, said, “I’m happy to have them make a determination or find out where it came from. I know it didn’t come from us!”
The district attorney wants Judge Ural Glanville to order an investigation into how the video got leaked.
She also wants a motion filed to rule that defense attorneys can only view videos like this one in her office, adding a caveat that the lawyers are not allowed to record them.
Adams said he is against this and says it implies the YSL lawyers leaked the video.
“You don’t just file a motion and make these allegations when you’ve got absolutely no basis to back that up, and that’s what’s happened in this case,” he said.
Adams thinks this is unreasonable and that the prohibition is unconstitutional.
You’re missing out if you don’t like, share and follow Hip Hop/R&B artist Nubia Emmon. From the “Live Music Capital of the World” – Austin, Texas she comes from a family of musicians including multi-platinum producer Salih Williams who was responsible for a slew of hits including Still Tippin’ (Mike Jones), Draped Up (Bun B), Me and my 64 (Mike Jones), Sittin’ Sideways (Paul Wall) among other hits, her Uncle Tomar of Tomar & the FCs, and her father Karriem Williams who is her manager.
Inspiring feelings of nostalgia for the 90s and early 2000 R&B/Hip Hop music, Nubia Emmon reminds us of that groundbreaking and exhilarating time period. She brings cool laid-back swag, energetic spontaneity, and her own unique artistry to the music scene.
“I like to tell stories with my music,” she says. “I was born in the 90s and I love the music of that era when R&B was dating Hip Hop,” she laughingly says. “I want to show how you can merge R&B and Rap music in telling stories about love and just life in general.”
Nubia has performed all over Texas as well as out of state and has been burning up the scene in Austin steadily with multiple projects. Fresh from releasing her smokin’ single “Trip”, she’s set to release “Give ’em Hell” (produced by DSII) on March 10, 2023. In addition, she was a feature in fellow Austin-based artist Chakeeta B’s new single “Heartbreak Hotel.”
If that’s not enough, Nubia is part of the trio podcast, The Flex Cast which focuses on current events and hot topics. In addition, she will be performing during Austin’s annual SXSW and gearing up to participate in the upcoming Sister’s Network 5K walk to raise breast cancer awareness in Houston, Texas this April. Keep an eye on Nubia Emmon, she’s definitely an artist to watch!
Kim Kardashian shared a poignant tribute to her late father, Robert Kardashian, on what would have been his 79th birthday.
In an emotional Instagram post, the 42-year-old reality star shared cherished childhood photos and videos of her dad, whom she lost almost 20 years ago.
She also reflected on the grandchildren who never had the chance to know their grandfather.
“Happy Birthday Dad – it’s almost getting to the point where I’ve had to remember you longer than I’ve known you,” she wrote. “Its (sic) been 20 years since we’ve celebrated your birthday here on earth. But I will take it because I had the best dad in the whole wide world and am so lucky I had 22 years with you!”
She added, “There’s so much I wanna tell you and show you and so many little humans I wish you knew because God you would love them so much! I can close my eyes and hear your voice and remember the funniest little things about you that make me so happy. I’ll never ever let that go.”
On September 30th, 2003, the late attorney, who fathered Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and Rob with ex-wife Kris Jenner, lost his battle with oesophageal cancer at age 59.
His four children have since had 10 kids between them, with Kim sharing four youngsters with her ex-husband Kanye West.
Dame Dash, the Hip-Hop mogul responsible for the success of rap legend Jay-Z, the Diplomats, State Property, and more, is still giving back to the community.
The Harlem native took a trip to Richmond, VA on Friday, Feb. 24 to speak to school students to push them to get into science through his new children’s book with his fiancée.
According to WTVR, the Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder and his lady Raquel Horn read their new book, “Dusko Goes To Space” to children in kindergarten, first, and second grade.
Dash believes parents and teachers have to meet children where they are at.
“If a kid loves video games when teaching use video games, For a kid who loves space, we will teach him in space. He loves music, he loves acting, whatever it is, you know, we’re gonna teach them in their language,” Dash said.
In addition to reading their latest project, the couple taught the students various motivational affirmations to help them with language arts, comprehension, and other learning skills.
One of the things Dash has been incredibly vocal about is self-awareness, ownership, and control. Horace Mann once said, “Education is the great equalizer,” and Dash believes all kids should have access to it.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has created a “crisis team” for this year’s Oscars in response to Will Smith’s slap.
At the 2022 Academy Awards, the “Men in Black” actor famously slapped presenter Chris Rock onstage after the comedian made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
He returned to his seat, and the ceremony continued as normal, with Smith winning Best Actor shortly after.
AMPAS chief executive Bill Kramer has now revealed in an interview with Time magazine that the organization has set up a response team should a crisis occur at this year’s ceremony on March 12th.
“It is our hope that we will be prepared for anything that we may not anticipate right now but that we’re planning for just in case it does happen,” he said. “Because of (the slap) last year, we’ve opened our minds to the many things that can happen at the Oscars.
“But these crisis plans – the crisis communication teams and structures we have in place – allow us to say this is the group that we have to gather very quickly. This is how we all come together. This is the spokesperson. This will be the statement. And obviously, depending on the specifics of the crisis, and let’s hope something doesn’t happen and we never have to use these, but we already have frameworks in place that we can modify.”
Earlier this month, AMPAS president Janet Yang acknowledged that the organization’s response to the slap was “inadequate.”
Academy officials, who later claimed Smith was asked to leave the auditorium after the incident, later publicly condemned his actions and launched a formal review. They subsequently revoked his membership and banned him from attending the ceremony for 10 years.
The Independence Day star had already resigned from the Academy and apologized for his behavior by that time.
Kylie Jenner has candidly opened up about suffering from postpartum depression after the arrival of both of her children.
In a cover interview with Vanity Fair Italy, the Kylie Cosmetics mogul admitted that the condition was “very difficult” after she gave birth to her daughter Stormi in 2018 and “more manageable” after the arrival of her son Aire in February 2022.
“I have experienced it. Twice,” she shared, before giving her advice to new mothers who might also be struggling. “I would tell those women not to overthink things and to live all the emotions of that moment to the fullest. Stay inside that moment, even if it is painful.”
The 25-year-old explained that she thought her depression would “never pass” but she eventually came out the other side.
“I know, in those moments you think that it will never pass, that your body will never be the same as before, that you will never be the same,” she continued. “That’s not true: the hormones, the emotions at that stage are much, much more powerful and bigger than you. My advice is to live through that transition, without fear of the aftermath. The risk is to miss all the most beautiful things of motherhood as well.”
Kylie shares Stormi and Aire with her on-off boyfriend, Travis Scott. Reports arose in January that they had split again.
Elsewhere in the interview, the beauty mogul named Kim Kardashian as her favourite sister at the moment as they are both going through “similar experiences”, presumably meaning her split from Travis and Kim’s divorce from Kanye West and breakup with Pete Davidson.
“Kim has changed so much recently. We are very connected, she is always the first sister I call when I need something. We have been going through a lot of similar experiences lately,” she noted.
Gangsta Boo has been gone almost 2 months now. And some of us are still thinking about her. When she died, it was basically said that she overdosed on drugs. But immediately there were rumors that came out of that.
Now, if the all the things I’ve heard – some of which are very off – I can say that a lot of people feel that there was some foul play. The rumors played out almost immediately after Gangsta Boo died. The truth is a lot of the speculation was suppressed, because there was a certain fear that there could be repercussions behind that. And nobody really wanted to deal with it, or could deal with it. There was essentially nothing anyone could do since she already died. Nobody has been blamed for her death like in the Mac Miller situation for example. So, for those that forgot: there were three arrests, and football numbers doled out in that case. Like Boo, Miller was given drugs laced with fentanyl.
With Boo, there are no arrests and no investigation that we know of. It was largely accepted that she simply died because of an overdose from laced drugs. Those drugs had fentanyl in it and she probably did not know. We’ve seen this happen time and time again with regular people as well as famous people. There doesn’t seem to be anything that we can do about this epidemic plaguing our communities.
Right now fans of Gangsta Boo are waiting anxiously to see what the results of her album will be. The Boo Print. She was working on the album prior to her death and she was putting it together for quite a while. The word on the street is that famed producer DrummaBoy is the one orchestrating the whole thing. You already know he’s one hell of a producer and he was incredibly close to Boo. So, we can pretty much know that it will be taken care of and it will be dope. I think it would be great for her to close the loop in her illustrious career with another classic album. Boo has had a number of classic moments but not enough attention is paid to her classic albums.
On Thursday, Feb. 23, in a fireside chat with LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Dapper Dan talked about the intersection of Black History Month and the celebration of Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary. One of the conversations he talked about is the comments made by Kanye West and his position on his relevancy in fashion.
The fashion icon did not sugarcoat anything but did not throw the controversial creative under the bus, according to WWD.
“I think there’s a lot of confusion with a lot of the information coming from Kanye,” he said.
“Now, some of the things he said I totally don’t agree with, but there’s glimpses of what he says that are true,” he continued.
“One of the things that I don’t think people understand about Kanye is that with all of his money, he couldn’t launch a brand successfully,” Dap said referring to the GAP deal. “A lot of people couldn’t understand why that is. They tell designers all the time, ‘why don’t you get your own brand?’ as if we can go put it in the toaster and pop it out. It’s not like that. Kanye tried to point that out to people.”
“He just couldn’t articulate it right,” the Harlem native added. “There are certain messages that Kanye had that made sense, but there’s the other side to it.”
The next day, Dapper Dan joined April Walker, Karl Kani, the founders of FUBU, Shirt Kings, Special Ed and the Lo Life Crew, Haus of Swag, Riche Threads, Malik Dupri, and Pepper Jacques at Ralph McDaniels’ and Video Music Box’s “DRIP” Phat Fashion Show, sponsored by the City of New York and the Universal Hip Hop Museum.
It was the very first activation of the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop in New York City.
SZA “deeply applauds” Taylor Swift for re-recording her albums following a dispute over her masters.
The singer-songwriter, real name Solána Imani Rowe, and the “Shake It Off” star are often competing for top spots on the music charts.
But in an interview for Billboard, SZA named Taylor as one of the women in the music industry whom she looks up to the most.
“Even Taylor letting that whole situation go with her masters and then selling all of those f**king records. That’s the biggest ‘f**k you’ to the establishment I’ve ever seen in my life, and I deeply applaud that s**t,” she revealed.
In 2019, Taylor became embroiled in a dispute with Big Machine Records’ Scott Borchetta and record executive Scooter Braun over the master recordings of her first six albums.
Following a highly publicized conflict, the star began re-recording her music, releasing Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version) to critical acclaim in 2021.
Elsewhere in the conversation, SZA listed Lizzo, Beyoncé, Kehlani, and Chloe Bailey as other women in the entertainment industry she respects.
The “SOS” hitmaker conducted the interview to celebrate being recognized as Billboard’s Woman of the Year.
However, SZA confessed she feels a lot of responsibility to use her platform in a positive way.
“It really scares me. But I really want to do something with my time in the sun right now,” the 33-year-old noted. “There’s so much I want to do for other people. I need to do something to deserve that in a way that has nothing to do with me, something that’s selfless and uplifts other women, people, period.”
Nick Cannon is already the father to 12 children (although Zen Cannon died in December 2021). He’s been the butt of endless jokes and has fielded all kinds of invasive questions about his sex life—but, he’s still not ready for that vasectomy. During a recent interview withEntertainment Tonight, the multi-hyphenate left it up to a higher power.
“God decides when we’re done, but I definitely got my hands full,” he said. “And I’m so focused. I’m locked in. But, when I’m 85, you never know I might [have more].”
Cannon shares 11-year-old twins Monroe and Morocco with ex-wife Mariah Carey. He’s also father to Rise, Powerful and Golden with Brittany Bell; Beautiful, Zion and Zillion with Abby De La Rosa; Halo and the late Zen with Alyssa Scott; Legendary with Bre Tiesi and Onyx with LaNisha Cole.
When it comes to juggling them all, he said, “Everybody thinks it’s time management. It’s energy management. [Because] once we’re all aligned, the flow is a lot easier. If there’s any kind of low frequencies or dissension in there that’s what messes up the scheduling. As long as we’re all on the same page and we all got the same goal—to be the best parents we could possibly be—that works and then the scheduling is the scheduling.”
Despite the constant ribbing he receives on social media, he calls his brood of children a “blessing.” He continued, “Hopefully because of what I am able to do, my kids can do whatever they want to do, to be able to be in a position that if they want to be a nuclear physicist, I know somebody at an Ivy League school that I could [hit up]. If they want to go into the military, if they want to be artists, if they want to be actors, it’s a thing where we have the capability. Let’s start talking about it now so we can help your dreams come true.”
Cannon is kicking off his 24-date Future Superstar Tour on Saturday (February 25) at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles. Among the many performing are Symba, 24kGoldn, Big Boss Vette, Hitman Holla, JD McCrary, Traetwothree, Klondike Blonde, DW Flame and POP MONEY.
The late Young Dolph didn’t make Key Glock jump through any hoops to sign with Paper Route EMPIRE.
Key Glock revealed the simple process of getting signed by Young Dolph in an interview with Esquire. The Memphis-bred rapper said the deal came about due to his family connection.
“It really just happened out of the blue,” he explained. “It wasn’t even a plan. I got into some trouble. I got incarcerated. And then close to the time for me to come home, my auntie was married to Young Dolph’s uncle. She told him, ‘You know, Key doing his thing… He just reached out to me and it went from there.”
Key Glock appreciated the freedom he enjoys at Paper Route EMPIRE. He followed in the footsteps of Young Dolph, who stayed committed to being independent.
“They always let me do me, let me be me,” Key Glock noted. “No matter what it was. Music or just everything in life. I go by my rules. You know, I don’t mean to disrespect anybody. It’s just how I move. Play by my own rules.”
Key Glock released his new album Glockoma 2 via Paper Route EMPIRE on Friday (February 24).
Zaya Wade has officially changed her gender from male to female, according to a new report. Dwyane Wade’s 15-year-old transgender daughter has been living as a girl for several years.
TMZ claims a Los Angeles County judge ruled Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade’s legal name and gender change could go forward. Zaya was born Zion Malachi Airamis Wade in 2007 before coming out as trans in 2020.
Dwyane Wade and his current wife, Bring It On actress Gabrielle Union, have been supportive of Zaya Wade’s transition. However, the retired NBA star’s ex-wife, Siohvaughn Funches-Wade, attempted to block the gender change.
“He’s so preoccupied,” Gabrielle Union told Jemele Hill in response to Boosie Badazz’s repeated critical takes about Zaya. “It’s almost like ‘thou doth protest too much Lil Boose’. You got a lot of dick on your mind.”
Boosie then tweeted, “THE WHOLE WORLD [KNOWS] I LOVE WOMEN [AND] THE WORLD [KNOWS] YOUR HUSBAND [LOVES] DICK!! I HOPE U DON’T THINK BLACKS LOOK AT YALL LIKE A POWER COUPLE.😀THEY DON’T!!”
The 40-year-old Baton Rouge native also wrote, “I HAD REFUSED TO TALK ABOUT Y’ALL IN INTERVIEWS [AND] HEAR YOU GO!! GO BANG HIM WITH THAT D#### [AND] WAIT ON A SCRIPT U LIL WHITE GIRL💁♀️.”
Ogcrains does his world tremendous justice with a confessional cadence by laying it all out for his audience. Glorification of the party days and what it means to move past that feels joyous. There is this hard-fought sense of peace that seems to frame each one of his tracks. Melodies waver throughout; bonding with the g gives it the proper understanding of power about it.
Sheer muscle propels the pieces forward, and his vocals seem to drift on into the Southern California sky. Now based out of North Carolina, it is fascinating to see what a little bit of nostalgia can do for the past, of how it can color things in an entirely different hue.
“West Coast Vibes” perhaps best embodies what makes Ogcrains style so refreshingly unique. He has the positive attributes to what that moment meant, the mysticism of that tiny glimpse of something grand. It feels like a celebration, a homage to what life was and will be. Nods to other tropical paradises, like the Maldives, further add to this calmness that he has discovered.
On this one, his latest release, he spans both the past and present, doing it in a way that does feel uniquely earned. Lyrics reflect the sense of peace that the arrangement conveys, with his tender tone feeling particularly warranted given all his growth.
It looks like Lil Wayne is mounting a comeback. A lot of people are calling for it after he showed out on “Kant Nobody,” his latest song. The dude is a phenomenal artist and really should be at the top of these lists in a way that commemorates his greatness!
Give it a listen and let me know if you think this is an indication that Carter VI is on the way,
Latto considered herself a Nicki Minaj fan, which made it all the more frustrating when the two feuded in 2022.
The 24-year-old rapper revisited her beef with Nicki Minaj in an interview with Billboard. Latto admitted it was strange to find herself clashing with an artist she admired for many years.
“It’s difficult navigating through situations like that because there’s a disconnect,” she said. “I will look at myself as a fan of someone and they will view [me] in a whole different light. It’s disappointing. You just got to take it to the chin and keep pushing.”
Last year, problems began after Nicki Minaj complained about the Grammys reclassifying her single “Super Freaky Girl” as a pop song. Nicki Minaj wondered why Latto’s “Big Energy” didn’t receive the same treatment, which led to them arguing on social media.
The dispute quickly became heated with both women engaging in name-calling on Twitter. Latto added to the drama by posting clips of a phone conversation she had with Nicki Minaj.
Earlier this year, Latto appeared to throw a jab at Nicki Minaj in a freestyle. Fans assumed the line “it’s still giving coke” was a diss targeted at the 40-year-old artist.
“Creed III” is the newest chapter in the Creed saga, a spinoff franchise of the “Rocky” films made popular by Sylvester Stallone. For this film, Michael B. Jordan has returned to the role of Adonis Creed and has also taken his place behind the camera to make his directorial debut. This film seeks to raise the stakes for Adonis like never before as we find him fighting his most personal battle yet.
Years after finding fame and success through his boxing talents, “Creed III” finds Adonis Creed at a wonderful place in his life. Now, as a husband, father, and facing retirement to become a flourishing boxing promoter, we suddenly witness Adonis confronted with a hidden aspect of his past that he is forced to face. When a childhood friend and boxing talent named Damien Anderson resurfaces after a long prison sentence, his sights are set on Adonis and reclaiming what he feels has been taken from him. When emotions come to a boiling point, Adonis is forced to take a stand and face Damien in a personal fight where more than just titles are at stake.
“Creed III” is an excellent film that completely exceeds expectations! Written by Zach Baylin and Keenan Coogler (with a story credit by Ryan Coogler), this is a sports-drama packed with rich and soulful themes. We delve into a range of emotions like relationships, loss, guilt, forgiveness, and the role that compartmentalized childhood traumas play in our adult lives. The film has a powerful emotional core that really draws viewers into the lives of these characters and keeps you invested throughout. Between the amazing chemistry of the cast, the performances, and poignant storytelling, which even features shocking moments and surprising revelations, “Creed III” absolutely shines and is certainly a worthy entry to the franchise.
Working with talented directors over his 24-year career has clearly influenced Michael B. Jordan and it shows here. “Creed III” looks great, feels cinematic, has beautiful cinematography, and also utilizes a vibrant and vibrant aesthetic for its visual approach. In terms of shot selection, Jordan seamlessly transitions between various camera angles and vantage points to capture either the quiet intimacy or explosive intensity of a scene throughout the film. Additionally, Jordan’s meticulous use of sound design, score, and soundtrack to accentuate certain moments is an effective sensory component to the overall presentation. However, one of the most surprising aspects of Jordan’s direction is how well he captured the amazing boxing scenes showcased in this film.
“Creed III” contains several boxing sequences throughout the film with each feeling completely different from the next. Not only are the fights well-choreographed and edited, but Jordan has taken a unique approach to filming the action. He utilized his love of anime to influence the feel and look of the sequences. That said, utilizing dynamic camerawork that at times gives us a first-person point of view, the fight scenes in “Creed III” now contain a hyper-stylized, kinetic sense of combat that illuminates the brutality and intensity of the action. Additionally, in the film’s final fight, Jordan creatively takes distinct and artistic liberties to visually draw us closer into the personal nature of the battle between Adonis and Damien.
In terms of the cast, each of the returning actors do an amazing job for this third installment. In short, Michael B. Jordan is excellent here and has never been better in the role of “Adonis”. Tessa Thompson is wonderful as “Bianca”, Adonis’s wife, and mother of his daughter (the adorable Mila Davis-Kent). Phylicia Rashad reprises her role as Mary Anne Creed, Adonis’s mother, and delivers a beautiful performance. Wood Harris also returns as Little Duke, Adonis’s trainer, and gives a spirited performance as well. Also returning to the film is Florian Munteanu reprising his role as Viktor Drago from “Creed II”. Lastly, “Creed III” also features several professional boxers, trainers, and sports personalities which all add a further sense of authenticity to the film.
However, one of the biggest surprises of “Creed III” is the addition of Jonathan Majors as the film’s antagonist, Damien Anderson. Despite Damien’s hardened demeanor, his actual plight in the story makes him a sympathetic antagonist you can also care about. The excellent writing for the character is even further accentuated by the screen presence and phenomenal acting pedigree that Jonathan Majors brings to the role. Majors is sensational and brings a sense of rawness & realism while also having the charisma, look, physicality, and athleticism to be the perfect foil to Jordan’s Adonis Creed. Majors brings such a nuanced approach to the role through his mannerisms, facial expressions, and body language that it’s simply hard for him not to steal every scene he’s in. Jonathan Majors is an absolute force here!
One character that unfortunately isn’t present in “Creed III” is Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa. Between Stallone, the producers and the filmmakers being at odds over multiple issues regarding the Rocky character and the direction of the Creed franchise, Stallone sadly does not appear in the movie. Despite his absence, the story in “Creed III” still functions very effectively while only “referencing” Rocky at moments. However, there is one particular scene in the film where Rocky’s physical absence was truly felt the most. No spoilers though. It is simply hard to imagine Rocky’s lack of presence during a key moment in the movie.
If I had any criticism of the film, it would be that the 3rd act of the film feels slightly rushed. This particular story is so engaging and the performances are so great that you actually want to spend even more time with these characters. Clocking in at a brisk 2 hours, the film could have benefitted even more from having a slightly longer runtime. Despite that critique, “Creed III” still excels by ultimately showcasing genuine character progression, excellent storytelling, and both a grounded and relatable family dynamic throughout.
If you’re a fan of the previous films in this franchise, I highly recommended seeing this when it releases in theatres everywhere on 3/3/23.
