The Double Scoop

Insecure Season 1 Review

Authors: The Double Scoop

If you don’t know who Issa Rae is by now, it will only be a matter of time before you do. The rising actress, writer, director, and producer is turning heads and gaining attention in the film world.

We became fans of Issa after watching her web series Awkward Black Girl back in 2011. The series was very successful and it really established her fan base. Since the series Issa has produced and been apart of several projects; she even started her own media company called Issa Rae Productions. Her work caught the eye of HBO executives which landed her a deal to create her own successful show on the network called Insecure which she stars in and produces. The 8 episode first season recently ended and HBO has already given the green light for a second season. Talk about some serious BLACK GIRL MAGIC 😉

Since we don’t have HBO luckily we were able to binge watch and stream the first season using the HBONow app (Thank goodness for 30 day free trials). The first episode was very reminiscent of her web series Awkward Black Girl and even included some of the characters from the show. It’s almost like a spinoff but broader because it addresses more life topics and gives viewers a more in depth look into the lives of the other characters like Issa’s long term boyfriend Lawrence and her best friend Molly.

Insecure follows Issa and her best friend Molly as they navigate life in their late 20s. In the first episode Issa celebrates her 29th birthday and it makes her begin to question the direction of her life. The show highlights the experiences that many young black millennial woman face: a dissatisfying job, the pressure that comes along with leaving your 20’s behind, infidelity, love, friendships, and finding yourself. The series also addresses more serious topics like racial stereotypes and sexual double standards among men and women. The topics are nothing new but Issa’s wit, humor, and perspective gives the show a refreshing modern day touch. Being millennial women ourselves, the show is very relatable. It’s raw, authentic, hilarious and a little ratchet. Who doesn’t love a little ratchet?! 😉 And the show’s soundtrack never disappoints; the music really complements the show. One thing we like is that you become invested and attached to the characters. The characters are very relatable and they remind you of people you may know in your own life.

The season finale left viewers on edge with the status of Issa and Lawrence’s relationship. It’s going to be a long wait before we get to see what changes are going to take place in the character’s lives next season. It’s all good though because we know Issa and her creative team are behind the scenes creating magic. We are sure the wait will be well worth it!

It has been amazing watching Issa’s career grow over the years and we can’t wait to see how far it will continue to go.

Jamie Foxx Will Produce Marvin Gaye TV SERIES

Author: Amy Nicole

Over the last three decades many attempts have been made to produce a Marvin Gaye biopic, but none have been successful due to disapproval from the late singer’s family.

The 2013 film “Sexual Healing” was the last attempt at producing a Marvin Gaye biopic. Lenny Kravitz was originally cast to star in the film but was later replaced by actor Jesse L. Martin. Due to lack of funds and family lawsuits, the movie stopped production three weeks before completion. Check out the trailer for that unreleased film here.

Jamie Foxx recently managed to gain the family’s approval and is set to executive produce a tv series about the singer’s life. Suzanne de Passe of Passe Jones Entertainment and Marvin Gaye III (Marvin Gaye’s son) will also serve as executive producers for the series. The film is said to be a powerful and defining telling of Marvin Gaye’s life.

The late singer is best known for his hit singles What’s Going On, Let’s Get It On, and Sexual Healing. In 1984 he was fatally shot by his father at age 44.

I’m a huge fan of music biopics so I’m excited to see this series! Jamie Foxx is very talented so I’m sure he won’t disappoint! What do you guys think about the upcoming series?

Josh Waters

Author: Ashley E.

20 year old singer and song-writer Joshua Waters knew at an early age he had a passion for performing and singing, but it wasn’t until around his freshman year in college that it became clear to him music is what he wanted to pursue professionally. Josh was so adamant about his music career that he decided to drop out of college to eliminate having a plan B option. He knew not having a plan B would force him to put everything he had into his music.

He and a few other talented artists are known to some as “The God Particles,” and they are changing the way artists and music from Mississippi are perceived. I caught up with Josh for a quick interview to talk about his rising career and plans for the future. Check it out below!

Ashley E: I know there is a group of you all. You and some other Mississippi artists are known as “The God Particles.” How did all of you link up?

JW: Yea shout out to D. Horton, Dev Maccc and Kway. I knew Kway prior, he was like a older brother to me. I had a show with Kway back in March or April at Offbeat and before that show I felt he was the best rapper in Mississippi until I heard D. Horton and Dev Macc that night. After the show they both came up to me and told me they were fans of my music and since then we’ve been working together. We all just have this chemistry…..we are like family.

Ashley E: You have a single out called That Road. What was the inspiration behind that track?

JW: I was dating this young lady in college and it didn’t work out. It’s like when you’re trapped in the world or lost in the world, you don’t really know who you are. Everybody you meet is pretty much the same until you meet someone that knows who they are. You feel like that person is just so different or not like everyone else. I was that “different” person to her; a step out of her comfort zone as far as dating goes. I was her experiment.

Ashley E: Who are some of your musical influences?

JW: This is one of the most difficult questions I am asked. There are so many… Musiq Soulchild, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, BJ The Chicago Kid, Jazmine Sullivan…. As a singer maturing and coming into my sound more, I try not to listen to a lot of singers because I don’t want to bite anyone. I’m trying to make music for myself. I listen to a lot of hip hop.

Ashley E: Is your family supportive of your music career?

JW: Well it’s just me, my mom and my brothers. My dad passed when I was 6. My mom was actually a singer so she really pushes me to pursue my talent because she was unable to pursue hers. She supports me 100 percent.

Ashley E: That’s great that you have that support. A lot of parents and just people in general encourage pursuing the “safe route.”

JW: Yea there were so many people against my decision but I left college so I wouldn’t have a plan B. I have a one year old son now too so I’m putting all my energy and time into my music. This has to work.

Ashley E: How far do you want to take your career?

JW: Man I have no limits. It’s not me, it’s God. I sing a lot about love because God is love. God gives me the ideas when I’m writing music. I’m walking in the purpose He gave me so as far as He allows me to go. I’m leaving Mississippi soon moving to Atlanta but I plan to come back. It’s not in a sense to get rich and come back and give people money. I want to get more knowledge about the game, make connections, and come back to create a platform for artists here. There is so much talent here but we don’t know what to do with it.

I got a chance to see Josh perform for the second time in Jackson, Mississippi on the Silas Gullah Gullah Island Tour two weeks ago. He performed a new single called This Fire that hasn’t officially been released. The song is fire just like the name! Josh was very excited about the track and gave me some details about a possible industry feature.

Check out more about the rising star here.

Author: Amy Nicole

For most people the reality that Donald Trump will soon be our new commander-in-chief is slowly starting to sink in. Seriously….. a man who has been blatantly disrespectful to women and who has made very ignorant and disrespectful comments about minorities, veterans and people with disabilities will soon become the next president of our country!

I can’t say I was thrilled about Hillary Clinton being the next president, but I definitely believe she was more qualified than Donald Trump. The fact that so many people felt that a man with no experience in politics is equipped to run a country completely baffles me. I think it’s crazy that out of all the candidates that could have ran for office he was considered the best option.

Protests have erupted all across the country by people opposed to Trump’s election win. I definitely don’t think he was the right choice for president but at this point what can we really do about it? The decision has been made.

dump-trump — Photo Credit: Chicago Tribune

Although I was shocked by the election results, I really can’t say that I was all that surprised by the outcome. To be real a lot of people (especially people of color) opted not to vote in this election because they didn’t support either presidential candidate. I don’t agree with that decision but to each his own.

We didn’t just vote for the president in this election, we also voted for other important state leaders. I live in North Carolina and my ballot had over 30 candidates which included U.S. senate representatives, house representatives, governors, lieutenant governors, etc. What people fail to realize is that the officials elected into the smaller offices have a big impact on a lot of the bills and laws that can be approved by the president.

I have male friends who have said that they don’t believe President Obama did anything for the black community but I don’t agree. A lot of the bills that President Obama tried to pass while he was in office were rejected by members of the opposite party who were elected as house representatives. So when people say their vote doesn’t count, it actually does.I admit I haven’t been that up on politics like I should be but for this election I took the time out to research different candidates and to learn more about their positions and job duties.

So now that the election is over and done with where do we go from here? A few days ago I was driving to work and I heard Al Sharpton say on the radio that we have survived a Bush presidency and a Lydon B. Johnson presidency, we can definitely handle a Trump presidency.

I think Trump’s election win was a wake-up call to a lot of people. We need to do a better job of educating ourselves on how politics and legislative can affect us. We also need to put our differences aside and unite as American people.

I will never forget the night President Obama was elected into office. Just to think at one point in time the life of a black person was equivalent to that of an animal. Fast forward to 2008 and I was able to witness the first black man get elected as president of the United States. It was such a historic moment in time that I will never forget! I’m definitely going to miss the Obamas being my first family; I don’t think there will ever be another first family quite like them. Although I may not have agreed with everything that President Obama did while he was in office I believe he had the best interest of the American people at heart. I really appreciate everything that he has done for our country.

Personally I will not acknowledge Trump as my president and I’m going to continue to work my ass off so that I can become a self-sufficient entrepreneur. Let’s not let fear invade our spirits as Trump prepares to take office. We need to stop giving so much power and responsibility to other people to make change happen for us. Get out and make stuff happen for yourself! The ball is in our court!

In the words of Kendrick Lamar “We gone be alright”!

Almost Christmas Movie Premiere

Author: Amy Nicole

Last weekend I covered the Almost Christmas movie premiere in Charlotte, North Carolina which was held at the Studio Movie Grill. The event was hosted by “Elevate The Way You Indulge,” a local event planning company.

The premiere kicked off with an upscale red carpet entrance, and afterwards guests were able to socialize and eat in the studio lounge while the dj spinned. The attendees (including myself) got a chance to participate in the internet viral mannequin challenge LOL! After the red carpet affair guests watched a private screening of the film. The night ended on a LIT note with a closing after-party.

The premiere was a celebration of local actor Keon Mitchell who made his film debut in the movie. Keon portrays the younger version of Danny Glover’s character Walter. I was able to speak with Keon about his experience being in the film.

I had a great time covering the event! Check out some of the event footage below:

Quavius Black

“Who you are and who you want to be are choices away….you can follow or determine your fate…” ~QB

Author: Ashley E.

Quavius Black, known to most as “Kway” made a choice to determine his own fate when he decided to drop out of college after the first year to pursue music as a career. He was a straight A student in high school with a 3.7 gpa, and after graduating he was awarded a full academic scholarship to Alcorn State University. Kway had a smooth path to success majoring in computer engineering and graphic design, but things are never clear cut when it comes to what your heart wants and what your mind thinks is right. He realized early on that the non-traditional path to success wasn’t going to be easy when he was kicked out of the house and forced to live out of his car because of his decision to choose music over a degree.
I got a chance to see him perform for the first time a few months ago at a concert in Jackson, Mississippi and I instantly became a fan. His lyrical content, delivery, and the instrumentation in his music caught my attention so I’ve been following his work since. I connected with him for a interview to get to know more about the artist behind the music. Check it out below.

Ashley E: In one of your songs you mentioned that your dad is a pastor. Does he listen to your music?
QB: Not even a little bit. I create pretty positive music so I do send my family some of my content to listen to, but I try to keep myself distant from family affairs because I don’t want to embarrass my dad’s name.

Ashley E: When did you get into music, writing and recording?
QB: When I was younger Lil Wayne and Ray Charles were two of my biggest influences. I know that’s a weird collaboration but I’m a weird guy. I learned to play the piano listening to Ray Charles. When I heard Lil Wayne’s lyrics and metaphors it really made me say this is what I want to do. I love blues, jazz and all kinds of music.

Ashley E: Yea you can really hear the different genres and elements in your music. Do you consider yourself to be just a rapper?
QB: I don’t want to label myself as just a rapper. I’m a music engineer, a song writer, recorder and a mixer.

Ashley E: How far do you want to take your career? Some artists are content once they get to a certain point.
QB: I could be content making music that is sustainable or that I can live off of, but I would never be fully satisfied. I mean I want to go as far as I can. I want to be that person that people approach to score music for their films. I want to direct, write screen-plays, style. It’s all an art form.

Ashley E: You have two singles called Cliche and Cliche Part 2. I listened to both and I got the points you were making about the messages in most mainstream rap music. It’s the usual…. money, drugs and hoes. Tell me what was going through your mind when you created these tracks.
QB: I wrote Cliche about 4 years ago and it was created out of a place of almost hatred for that type of music. I felt like that kind of music was bringing us down as a people and pushing the wrong perspective. When I created Cliche Part 2, it was coming from a place of understanding about why artists created that type of music. When I went homeless and had to live in a trap house with a bunch of other guys waking up not knowing where my next meal was going to come from, I got a better understanding of people being a product of their environment. I could understand only living for the moment and not for tomorrow because right now is all we have.

Ashley E: Do you think it’s harder being an artist from Mississippi with all of the negative perceptions associated with the state?
QB: Maybe it’s harder but I can look at it from two perspectives. Being in Mississippi could be a disadvantage because nobody is really paying attention to artists here. Or I can say it’s the perfect place to be because when people start paying attention there aren’t many artists to pay attention to. People expect to hear static or ABC rap from artists here so when they come across some with quality it makes them stop and take notice.

Ashley E: Do you ever get nervous or afraid that the path you chose might not get you anywhere or that it was in vain?
QB: Oh yea. I think all artists go through depression and anxiety wondering if they are wasting their time. And not just artists, but lawyers and doctors wonder if they made the right decision with their career. I dropped out of school for this. I’m 23 and will be 24 soon so the time to make something happen is right now. The thing about being a doctor is that there is a timeline. You know once you go to school for this many years, you have this path laid out for you. You know with all the time you put in for this career, you will have success at the end. There isn’t a timeline or guideline to be a rapper. Your future is uncertain. People call me childish and tell me that I need to grow up but I’m glad I’m not afraid to still be a kid.

Ashley E: Yea we spend so much of our lives living for someone else or being what others want us to be instead of who we truly want to be.
QB: Exactly. You have to ask yourself who are you living for. We have to make ourselves happy.

Quavius is working on a new project that will be released soon. He calls it an “experimental” project and he says it will be something that hasn’t really been heard before. In addition to that he started a “free verse challenge” on his soundcloud. He creates a beat and gives artists an opportunity to send him a verse over the beat. The artist with the best verse wins a free studio session where they can record professionally. It’s a way to inspire artist to keep chasing their dreams.

Check out Kway’s music here.

Queen City Urban Art Showcase

Author: Amy Nicole

Two weeks ago I covered the “Queen City Urban Art Showcase” event which was held at the Music Factory in Charlotte, North Carolina. The monthly event curated by Michael Calloway and Leqyan Wilson features diverse artists from all across the Queen City.

Some of the performers included spoken word artists, live painters, comedians, singers, and other creatives. Attendees had the opportunity to shop at the several vendors that were present, and in between performance sets the dj spinned. There was also plenty of drinks and delicious food available for purchase.

The ambience was very chill and artsy, and the vibe was cool. There were people of all ages in attendance but the majority were art lovers and fellow creatives.

I was able to interview Michael Calloway and some of the performers for the night.

Check out some of the event footage below:

The showcase takes place every month at the Music Factory. Any artist or painter interested in being featured can submit inquiries to Michael Calloway at info@createamazingllc.com.

Marvel’s Black Panther Set To Begin Filming

Author: Ashley E.

Marvel fans are full of excitement as new details have emerged regarding the anticipated Black Panther movie.

The film, which is directed by Ryan Coogler is set to begin filming in January of 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. Tammy Smith Casting announced that they are having an open casting call for film extras on November 4th and 5th in Atlanta.

The film will be set in the fictional African nation of Wakanda where T’Challa (Black Panther) is the reigning prince. The movie will feature an all-star cast that includes Lupita Nyongo, Michael B. Jordan, Forest Whitaker, and Danai Gurira. Chadwick Boseman, the headliner of the film will portray T’Challa.

My sis and I plan on auditioning to become background actors for a few of the scenes. We got the opportunity to be cast as extras in the James Brown biopic “Get On Up” about three years ago which also starred Boseman. The experience was very exciting!

Are you guys looking forward to the movie release?

Moonlight Receives Rave Reviews

Author: Ashley E.

Moonlight has received rave reviews from critics and fans since its October 21st release. Rolling Stone labeled the indie film “The best movie of 2016.” The film which was adapted by filmmaker Barry Jenkins from a play by Tarell Alvin McCraney centers on the life of main character Chiron.

Chiron grows up in Miami surrounded by poverty, crime, and an unstable household. The movie highlights his path to self-discovery as he journeys from childhood to adulthood. Janelle Mona’e, Naomie Harris, and Mahershala Ali are a few of the actors that star in the film.

Check out the trailer here.

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BET SERIES “THE QUAD” GIVES VIEWERS THE EPIC HBCU EXPERIENCE!

Author: Amy Nicole

The last television series that centered around HBCU college life was the show “A Different World” which was popular back in the late 80s and early 90s.

Many people are referring to the the upcoming collegiate series “The Quad” as a modern day version of A Different World. The show will focus on the experiences of several students attending fictional school Georgia A&M University. Actress Anika Noni Rose will portray newly hired university president Dr. Eva Fletcher who is hit with the tough task of bringing the university out of financial difficulty.

From looking at the trailer the series seems to be a mixture of the films Stomp The Yard and Drumline. The show will touch on topics like band hazing and college student promiscuity.

The cast includes Jasmine Guy and Ruben Santiago-Hudson. It also features upcoming actors Zoe Renee, Jazz Raycole and Peyton Alex Smith. The series was created by Felicia D. Henderson (Soul Food) and Charles Holland (New York Undercover). Director Will Packer will also serve as one of the co-executive producers for the show.

The Quad will premiere January 31, 2017 on BET.

Check out the trailer and share your thoughts below!