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Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is one of the foremost minds when it comes to music history and will lend his expertise to bring attention to one of the greatest bands to ever exist. The Roots drummer, among other honorifics, was announced to direct a new documentary centered on the career of the legendary Earth Wind & Fire band.
Cleverly mentioning the new gig on the 21st of September, a callback to Earth Wind & Fire’s track that mentions the month, Questlove shared the message on his Instagram post that we’ll share below.
From IG:
Coming in 2025…..the definitive story of the elements…..
The story of how a band led by a genius from Chicago changed our way of thinking, our minds and our hearts
Having been baptized in the afrocentric joy river of this powerhouse unit, I’ve learned about them, I’ve learned about us & more importantly I’ve learned about and rediscovered myself in the process
I’m so excited to be directing a documentary preserving their positive but VERY vulnerable and real story of Soul, Self & Struggle
This is the story of joy, persistence, love, pain, magic and self discovery
This is Earth, Wind & Fire
According to a report from Variety, Earth Wind & Fire’s Philip Bailey, Verdine White, and Ralph Johnson shared in a statement, “We look forward to this in-depth journey of our band, and are so excited to have Questlove directing the documentary.”
This isn’t Questlove’s first time directing as he made his debut with the Academy Award-winning Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) film which also won a BAFTA Award, and the Sundance Grand Jury Prize among other honors.
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Questlove has revealed that he will direct an upcoming documentary about Earth, Wind & Fire.
The Roots drummer, whose also been working on a Sly Stone doc, fittingly made the announcement on Saturday (Sept. 21) through his Instagram account, noting that the EWF project is slated for 2025 and will be the “definitive story” of the iconic R&B band.
“The story of how a band led by a genius from Chicago changed our way of thinking, our minds and our hearts,” Questlove wrote alongside a teaser clip. “Having been baptized in the afrocentric joy river of this powerhouse unit, I’ve learned about them, I’ve learned about us & more importantly I’ve learned about and rediscovered myself in the process.”
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The Grammy- and Oscar-winning filmmaker added, “I’m so excited to be directing a documentary preserving their positive but VERY vulnerable and real story of Soul, Self & Struggle. This is the story of joy, persistence, love, pain, magic and self discovery. This is Earth, Wind & Fire.”
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Questlove’s Earth, Wind & Fire doc will also include exclusive access to the group’s archives of visual, audio and written material, along with the approval of the estate of Maurice White and the band, according to a press release (per The Hollywood Reporter).
Earth, Wind & Fire’s Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson said in a joint statement, “We look forward to this in-depth journey of our band, and are so excited to have Questlove directing the documentary.”
With classics including “Shining Star,” “Let’s Groove,” “Reasons” and “September,” the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees have topped Billboard‘s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart eight times, earned seven top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and sold more than 90 million albums around the globe.
Questlove took home an Oscar for best documentary feature in 2022 for Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), which he directed and executive produced.
See Questlove’s announcement on Instagram below.
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The Wendy Williams saga continues. Her representatives claim she was only paid $82,000 for the controversial documentary on her life.
As spotted on Huffington Post the media mogul’s caretakers are taking action against the production company who developed the Lifetime series Where Is Wendy Williams?. Released earlier this year the four part project gave her fans a behind the scenes look into the rollercoaster life of the former talk show host. The footage showed that the Ocean Township, New Jersey native was dealing with mental health issues, alcohol abuse as well as being placed under guardianship. Ultimately a large portion of her fanbase felt that the documentary showed her in a poor light.
Earlier this week Wendy Williams’ legal team filed a suit against the state the procedures alleging they “viciously and shamelessly exploited” her and depicted her “in a highly demeaning and embarrassing manner. According to court documents she was only paid $82,000 for her participation and her rights. “This is a paltry sum for the use of highly invasive, humiliating footage that portrayed her in the confusing throes of dementia, while Defendants, who have profited on the streaming of the Program have likely already earned millions,” the filing reads. “As our complaint shows in painful and excruciating detail, A&E, Lifetime and Mark Ford viciously and shamelessly exploited Wendy Williams for their own profit while she was obviously incapacitated and suffering from dementia,” said Kaplan Martin LLP and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP in an exclusive statement.
In turn her team is looking for the production company to forfeit all earnings on the project to cover her medical expenses. The defendants have yet to formally respond.
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Curious to learn more about the behind-the-scenes lives of child stars like Demi Lovato? The singer’s new documentary Child Star was released Tuesday (Sept. 17) on Hulu.
According to Hulu’s press release, this documentary “explores the highs and lows of growing up in the spotlight through the lens of some of the world’s most well-known former child stars.” Get ready to watch sit-down interviews with your favorite stars in Hollywood, archival footage, and highlights showcasing the perspective of a child star.
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The documentary showcases the stories of former child stars including Drew Barrymore, JoJo Siwa, Raven-Symoné, Christina Ricci, Kenan Thompson, Alyson Stoner and more sharing some of the challenges that they faced at a young age.
On Tuesday, Lovato posted a photo of herself with Child Star co-director Nicola Marsh behind the scenes of the documentary. “I am so proud to say that Child Star is streaming on @hulu now! I can’t wait for you all to see it,” she captioned the photo adding, “A huge thank you to everyone who was a part of this project and helped to make it possible.”
Keep reading for details on how to watch Child Star.
How to Watch Child Star Online
Child Star is available now to stream on Hulu. The 97-minute documentary dropped on Tuesday.
Not subscribed to Hulu? Hulu is currently offering a 30-day free trial, which you can use to watch Child Star for free. Hulu’s streaming plans start at $7.99/month after the free trial, but if you’re a student, you can join for just $1.99/month.
Stream documentaries, movies, reality shows like The Golden Bachelorette and more with a subscription to Hulu+Live TV ($77) which includes Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ in addition to 90+ channels.
Keep in mind, if you love to watch music documentaries, you can stream a variety of them on Hulu, including The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney Spears, Amazing Grace, The Beatles: 8 Days a Week, Amy Winehouse: A Final Goodbye, Billie, Madonna and the Breakfast Club, Bad Rap, 69: The Saga of Danny Hernandez, Zappa, The Jesus Music, Chasing Train: The John Coltrane Documentary, Moby Doc, Glee: The 3-D Concert Movie, Oscar Peterson: Black & White, Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds With Shane MacGowan, Show Me the Picture: The Story of Jim Marshall and Cunningham.
Watch a sneak peek of Child Star below.
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It seems Irv Gotti does not have the green light to produce a documentary on DMX. The rapper’s family has denied working with the mogul on any upcoming content.
As reported by Hypebeast, the late great MC’s estate has made it clear that they are not in business with the Murder Inc. Records founder to create a project based on Darkman X. His ex-wife Tashera Simmons took to Instagram to make a formal statement on the matter. “In light of the recent speculation, we want to clarify that we are not currently working with Irv Gotti, nor have we agreed to partner with him on any content related to Earl Simmons, including a biopic,” she wrote.
She went on to add that they will be very thoughtful and intentional on how they bring his story to life. “Earl Simmons, known professionally as DMX, is an iconic figure in the music industry whose life and story hold significant importance. As we move forward with any potential projects related to his legacy, we are committed to ensuring that they are handled with the utmost respect and integrity,” she added.
“We appreciate the support and interest from fans and the public regarding Earl Simmons’ story. Any official announcements regarding future projects will be communicated through our official channels.”
Last week, Irv Gotti confirmed that he had a “minor” stroke back in February. “Irv has been struggling with diabetes for years, which caused him to have a minor stroke over six months ago,” his representative said in an exclusive statement to the Shade Room. “He has since changed his diet to eating more healthy. He’s been successful in making a full recovery. Irv is not in a rehab facility. He is at home with his family, enjoying life.” In that same report the celebrity news site reported that Gotti revealed he was working on the DMX biopic. He has yet to formally respond to Tashera Simmons’ statement.
Telling her story in a documentary was not difficult for Mon Laferte. On the contrary, the Chilean-Mexican singer-songwriter tells Billboard Español, narrating part of her past in front of a camera provoked “a certain nostalgia,” mainly when remembering her pregnancy and the birth of her son.
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“I think how crazy I was, going singing when I was three months pregnant, with my belly all over the place — and then with my baby, three months after birth, and I was on stage!” the artist explains from Mexico City, with a chuckle.
Mon Laferte, Te Amo, which arrived on Netflix on Thursday (August 1), is an intimate portrait in which the singer of “El Beso” and “Tu Falta de Querer” reveals details of her professional and personal life, from her crude childhood and her start as a singer in her native Viña del Mar, to her arrival in Mexico in 2007, and how she managed to become a Latin music star. But it is, above all, “a story of strength, of resilience,” she says.
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Directed by Camila Grandi and Joanna Reposi Garibaldi, the documentary finds Laferte in the middle of an international tour, just weeks away from becoming a mother. In the back and forth between stages, dressing rooms and her home, Norma Monserrat Bustamante Laferte (her real name) recalls a complex childhood, marked by the abandonment of her father and economic struggles, as well as the differences that distanced her from her mother at a young age.
Then, a painful event caused an even greater estrangement with her mother, who was involved in a relationship with an alcoholic man who used domestic violence and abused Laferte sexually, the artist narrates in her biographical chronicle.
“Talking about my mother in a documentary was very healing,” she says. “I’ve had a difficult relationship with her, at times of much love, and at times of friction, of disagreements with her since I was a child. But over the years, I understand her much more, and today there is greater empathy.”
Motherhood is undoubtedly the common thread in Mon Laferte, Te Amo — where the figures of her grandmother, her mother and herself as a new mom are the protagonists.
The artist compares her experience to that of Beyoncé, whose documentary Homecoming (2019) records the days leading up to her highly anticipated performance at the 2018 Coachella Festival and the emotional path the American superstar and also mother went through, from creative concept to the concert’s moment.
“I remember in the documentary, she was rehearsing all day, she was with her baby, and in my ignorance I thought, ‘She should go home to rest, and then come back,’” Laferte says. “But when I became a mom, I understood her a lot because there is something about needing to feel again like yourself before pregnancy and giving birth.”
Other passages in Mon Laferte, Te Amo talk about her life after leaving school, her beginnings as a singer in local bars in Chile and her relationship with a man 21 years older than her who soon became her first manager, and she the victim of emotional and economic abuse.
It also tells of her time on Rojo, the Chilean National Television show that made her known, and her arrival in Mexico, where she had to start over again years later to conquer the most important music market in the Hispanic world.
“Many women can see themselves reflected in this documentary, we go through the same things,” says the four-time Latin Grammy winner. “Not all of them are singers, but it is like the daily life of a woman — facing the challenges that society demands of us, and that we demand of ourselves.
“I demand a lot from myself to be a great artist, but also to be the best mother in the world,” she adds with a smile.
Mon Laferte’s documentary arrives as the Chilean star — and naturalized Mexican, as of November 2022 — continues her Autopoiética Tour in support of her 2023 album of the same name.
Mon Laferte was also just confirmed to participate at the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Week, which will be held Oct. 14-18 at The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason in Miami Beach, Florida.
Ayra Starr always envisioned herself as the “Black Hannah Montana.” But in her new Amazon Music documentary Dare to Dream, which Billboard can exclusively reveal premieres Thursday (Aug. 1), fans will be able to take a closer look at Ayra the global Afrobeats star and Oyinkansola the Beninese-Nigerian girl.
Directed and produced by HOMECOMING, the 23-minute short film explores how Starr made her dreams come true. Dare to Dream captures her international journey, traveling between her birthplace of Cotonou, where she eventually returns to a swarm of eager fans; her homebase of Lagos, where her musical career started after signing to Don Jazzy‘s iconic Mavin label; London, where she’s sold out shows; and Los Angeles, where she attends the 2024 Grammy Awards after scoring her first nomination for best African music performance with her 2022 hit single “Rush.”
“I’ve always wanted to do this to inspire African girls all over [the world], Black girls, girls in general to keep going and do what they believe they were born to do. I’m just a regular African girl, you understand. And I’ve come this far, and I want them to feel like, ‘Oh, I can relate to that,’” she told Billboard following her documentary premiere, adding that she started filming Dare to Dream almost one year ago. While watching the full doc for the first time on Tuesday evening (July 30) at The Culver Theater in California for the official premiere, she kept thinking to herself, “Hmm, I like that angle. I should’ve shot more like that.”
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Starr hopes Dare to Dream isn’t the last time you’ll see her on the silver screen. When asked to choose what her first movie role would be during the doc’s Q&A portion, she responded, “I want to be in a high school movie, like the ones we grew up watching, like a Euphoria type. I feel like I would play that so well — the main mean girl.” The audience erupted in laughter before she continued: “That’s what I want to do. I would eat that role up! It would come so easy for me…. I’m not a mean girl at all, but I grew up watching Sharpay [Evans in High School Musical] and Maddy [Perez in Euphoria], just like the mean girl that’s never that mean. They’re just real. You know when women know what they want… I want to be that woman.”
Dare To Dream is currently streaming on Amazon Music’s YouTube channel and app. It will be available to stream on Prime Video in the coming weeks.
Starr is also the first Afrobeats artist to be named Amazon Music’s Breakthrough Artist, an emerging artist program that champions new talent early on in their careers through enhanced playlist support, social media campaigns, an Amazon Music Original song, marketing opportunities and bespoke editorial content. The Breakthrough Program has previously featured rapidly rising stars like Chappell Roan and Benson Boone.
“Ayra Starr was an obvious choice for our latest Breakthrough artist. A one-of-a-kind talent leading the exhilarating world of Afrobeats, her early successes have already been thrilling,” said Alexis Cueva, artist relations for Amazon Music, in a press statement. “With Ayra joining the Breakthrough family, we’re excited to support her as she continues to garner worldwide acclaim and represent Nigeria’s music scene on the global stage.”
Watch Dare to Dream below.
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Demi Lovato is making her directorial debut on Hulu’s upcoming documentary, Child Star, and she has recruited an all-star lineup of fellow child stars for the project. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Drew Barrymore, Kenan Thompson, Christina Ricci, Raven-Symoné, JoJo Siwa and Lovato’s Camp Rock co-star Alyson Stoner are all set to […]
The Greatest Night in Pop, deep dive into the 1985 recording session that produced “We Are the World,” is nominated for outstanding documentary or nonfiction special — and Lionel Richie is celebrating the accomplishment. “I am still amazed by what we accomplished in 1985 and I’m even more amazed after receiving an Emmy nomination for […]
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It’s been almost 20 years since the Hip-Hop world mourned the sudden passing of the iconic Wu-Tang Clan member, Ol’ Dirty Bastard. And though many of today’s generation of Hip-Hoppers probably aren’t familiar with the man’s musical genius, A&E will be putting many on to game as they have a documentary centered around the “Brooklyn Zoo” artist on the way.
Recently, A&E announced that after years in development, they will be premiering Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys on August 25, and the documentary will feature never-before-seen footage of Dirt McGirt courtesy of his wife, Icelene Jones. Delving into the life of Russell Tyrone Jones, the man, and Ol’ Dirty Bastard, the entertainer, A Tale of Two Dirtys will showcase sides of the Wu-Tang Clan legend that many of us weren’t familiar with before he passed away in 2004.
With interviews from his fellow clansmen such as Ghostface Killah, GZA, RZA, and other music heavyweights like Mariah Carey and Damon Dash, the documentary is sure to shed light on the man that Big Baby Jesus (ODB) was whenever he wasn’t one of his many alter egos in the entertainment industry.
In a press release for the upcoming project, Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s wife, Icelene Jones, explained how elated she feels to finally get this documentary out to the public.
Said ODB’s wife, Icelene Jones, administrator of the estate of ODB, “I am absolutely thrilled to have brought this project highlighting my husband’s life to the screen with my partners at Four Screens. They brought this dream to reality and I am forever grateful. ODB was and is an inspiration to my family, children and fans across the world. Like all of hip-hop, I have missed him dearly. And this project has solidified my belief that he is alive and well in all of our hearts.”
Yeah, heads still bump “Brooklyn Zoo” and “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” like it was still 1995 ’round the streets of New York. We love that man.
Directed by Sam Pollard (MLK/FBI, Black Art: In the Absence of Light), and his son Jason Pollard, Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys is sure to have day one Wu-Tang Clan fans glued to their TVs and might even garner him some new followers come August 25.
Check out the teaser trailer for the documentary below, and hit up the comments section to let us know if you’ll be tuning in come next month.
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