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Common and Queen Latifah starring in "Just Wright," a new movie

Common and Queen Latifah’s upcoming Just Wright movie is facing a possible delay after gunfire erupted around the film’s set Sunday (August 16) evening in New York City.

One of film’s reps confirmed the shooting and described his reaction:  Feliberto Rivera, 36, was hanging no-parking signs in advance of a shoot for the sports-themed romance Just Wright when he heard gunshots at the opposite end of the block. Rivera said he turned around to see what happened and saw a man sprawled out on the street in front of the Fulton Houses. “I was waiting for him to get up, but he did not,” Rivera said. “He yelled, ‘Help! Help!’” The shooting took place shortly after the unidentified victim parked his car in front of the Fulton Houses around 6 p.m., witnesses said.  (New York Daily News.)
Additional accounts were given on the unexpected shooting:  “We doubt it’s connected to the film,” a source close to the movie exclusively told RadarOnline.com, “But it is a little freaky. Things might be delayed a bit.” The shooting happened while the crew prepped for a scene in New York City Sunday night for the movie. Police confirmed to RadarOnline.com that the shooting took place at 419 West 19th Street in the Chelsea area around 5:45 p.m. Sunday near the Fulton Houses, a low-income housing development. Latifah was to start filming with rapper co-star Common Monday. (Radar Online)
Common was tagged for the film earlier this summer.  Fox Searchlight has tapped rapper-turned-actor Common (Terminator Salvation) as the lead opposite Queen Latifah in sports romancer Just Wright, with Sanaa Hamri directing. Paula Patton has also been cast. Latifah, Shakim Compere and Debra Martin Chase are producing. Shooting starts in mid-July in New York for a release next year. (Variety)
While details are still developing, the film will reportedly center on the life of a basketball player.
Script, penned by Michael Elliot, revolves around a sports trainer who finds herself falling in love with a professional basketball player while rehabilitating him from a career-threatening injury. (Theater Mania)

Boyz to Men launching a hip-hop scholarship soon

Best-selling 90’s collective Boyz II Men recently appeared at Minneapolis’ Institute of Production and Recording to announce the initial planning of their new R&B/Hip-Hop scholarship.

During the visit, the group participated in a Q&A panel with students to share their 20 plus years in the music industry.

“It was an honor having these guys come by our school,” said Brian “Champtown” Harmon, IPR artists coordinator. “They are around first-class, great men. A lot of folks don’t understand their love for Hip-Hop. To have them be down with our scholarship program we are developing is a wonderful thing.”

Between 1992 and 1997, the group dropped five #1 R&B songs and to date have sold more than 60 million albums worldwide, making them one of the most successful groups in music history.

In the discussion, the trio spoke about how Philly Hip-Hop culture contributed to their record-breaking success.

“A lot of people don’t know that we went to the high school of Creative and Performing Arts out in South Philly. We grew up with a lot of guys that are in the business right now,” explained Boyz member Shawn Stockman. “From ?uestlove and Black Thought from the Roots, [to] Amel Larrieux, we all went to the same school…We consider those the magic years because most of the artists that came out of that time got gold records and Grammys and things of that nature.”

The group also spoke of two well known artists that most people underrate as groundbreaking emcees: Will Smith and MC Hammer.

“Before Will was the Fresh Prince, him and Jeff used to do a lot of house parties at Temple University and Drexel,” Stockman explained. “How cats do it now with the buzz, Will was doing it in Philadelphia. He’d kill shows and used to be a beast, especially when Jeff was on the records.”

Chiming in, Nathan Morris detailed that the group was almost signed to Smith’s production company before settling on Motown.

Regarding Hammer, the Philly crooners argued that most emcees today utilize a multi-media blueprint created by the Oakland native in the early 90s.

“Hip-Hop has evolved to what it is and the guys today have gotten smart,” Stockman stated. “You can say Hammer was ahead of time. People front [now] but people danced to Hammer records…He’s another guy that if it wasn’t for him bringing us out of that six month tour…we hit all 50 states. Whether the arenas were packed or not, he still went out and gave an awesome show. And that stuck in our heads, even now. We still were around the right people to build in us that work ethic that we tend to utilize today.”

In addition, the group reflected on their “beef” with rivals Jodeci, and other Philly pioneers such as Steady B, Cool C, and Three Times Dope.

Boyz II Men’s last album was 2007’s Grammy nominated Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA.

By Ismael AbduSalaam

KRS One to perform free on July 22nd

Grab your friends and head to New York on the Chinatown bus to catch the FREE concerts in the park put on by CityParks. All concerts are from 7pm to 8:30pm.  This year’s hip-hop and soul line-up includes:

MC Lyte - July 9th in Brooklyn at Von King Park in the ampphitheater at Lafayette Avenue between Marcey Avenue and Tompkins Avenue.

Sugar Hill Gang – on July 14th at Queensbridge Park on 41 Avenue and Vernon Blvd at the East River

KRS-One – July 22nd in the Bronx at Crotona Park, located at 173rd St. and Crotona Park East.

Slick Rick - July 23rd in Manhattan at the East River Park in the Bandshell (Cross FDR Drive at Delancey St. walking bridge)

Chrisette Michelle - on July 30th in Queens at Springfield Park on 184th Street and 147th Avenue.

Raekwon – on August 12th in Staten Island at the Mahoney Playground on Beechwood Avenue and Crescent Avenue

Black Moon and Smif n Wessun with Live Band – August 12th in Brooklyn at Brower Park located on Brooklyn Avenue and Prospect Park Place.

DJ Premier vs. Pete Rock (hosted by Danny Castro of Lyricist Lounge) on August 18th in Brooklyn at Red Hook Park located on Bay Street between Henry  Street and Clinton Street..

Naughty by Nature – on August 19th in Staten Island at Mahoney Playground on Beechwood Avenue and Crescent Avenue