"Win Y'all Hearts Before I Win a Grammy": Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Grammy Wins
Well, it was what we thought it was. The 2014 Grammy Awards came and went, with the same frustration and disappointment that seems to follow the milestone award ceremony year-to-year. After a run-up to the show that included the judges for Hip-Hop suggesting that Macklemore & Ryan Lewis not be included in the rap category for their album, The Heist, which eventually stayed put, winning that and sweeping the rap category. A lot else happened at this year's Grammys, but this may have been the biggest robbery since Naughty By Nature's Poverty's Paradise beat out 2pac's Me Against The World in 1996, the first year the title was a part of the festivities. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis deserve a ton of credit, and they certainly received it last night, but The Heist was not the best rap album of the year by any stretch. To be fair, Kendrick's Good Kid, m.A.A.d City should have been last year's Rap Album of the Year, having been released in October of 2012, but nonetheless was the most powerful album on the list by far.
Last night Macklemore & Ryan Lewis very well may have realized both the best and possibly most damaging moment of their careers. A lot was written about 'white privilege' in hip-hop and the Grammys at large and the inevitability of the Seattle rapper walking away with the golden gramophone. To be fair, The Heist deserves accolades, but different ones. It is a huge independent success that has laid a road for artists like Chance The Rapper to keep from signing, and furthered the ability of an artist to create music creatively and find an outlet, but even he knew what would happen if the Grammy voters were as un-inventive as ever, choosing him for every award available. In an interview with The Source Macklemore said: "“We’re up against Kendrick, who made a phenomenal album. If we win a Grammy for Best Rap Album, hip-hop is going to be heated. In terms of [that category], I think it should go to Kendrick. He’s family. TDE is family, and I understand why hip-hop would feel like Kendrick got robbed [if he didn’t win]."
One thing is for sure; Kendrick got robbed. No one in the building or watching on TV last night can dispute that, but at least they got it wrong with the right guy. With a message behind his music that saw 33 gay marriages happen live onstage, Macklemore allowed an optimistic spirit in a year when we crept to the edge of the fiscal cliff several times while battling each other over petty social issues seemingly on the daily. The hip-hop game needed a breath of fresh air and got it in Kendrick Lamar, but the greater world needed a breath of fresh air from day-to-day life, and that's what Macklemore & Ryan Lewis provided. On his 2009 mixtape, The Kendrick Lamar EP, K Dot rhymes, "See y'all don't understand me/My plan B is to win y'all hearts before I win a Grammy." With those bars in mind, perhaps no one understands Kendrick's loss better than him.
Macklemore's text to Kendrick afterwards.
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[Video] 2014 Grammy Awards Performance Recap
While the awards may have left some excitement on the table, the performances of the 2014 Grammy Awards certainly did not disappoint. Jay-Z and Beyonce started things off with a rousing performance of their track "Drunk in Love" from her recent release that got the energy going in the Staples Center. Lorde performed her 2013 seminal track "Royals" to a certain degree of minimalism, sporting a darker new look and Pharrell and Daft Punk teamed up with none other than Stevie Wonder for a rendition of "Get Lucky" which went on to win record of the year and Kendrick Lamar linked up with Imagine Dragons for an inspired performance than skipped across songs, opening with "m.A.A.d City" which had at least two in the front row out of their seats. Alas, all the showmanship was thus in vain to the almighty Macklemore & Ryan Louis whose Teflon-esque evening continued into their live performance as they trumped the rest of the field by hosting 33 gay marriages onstage with Madonna. There's a lot you can do to create entertainment, but I have to say there's not much more than that. We rounded up the whole lot of Grammy performances and have them streaming here below for your viewing pleasure. Check them out and stay tuned to RH for continuing Grammy coverage.
Beyonce & Jay Z: "Drunk In Love"
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Imagine Dragons & Kendrick Lamar: "Radioactive"
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Lorde: "Royals"
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Pharrell, Stevie Wonder & Daft Punk:
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Katy Perry & Juicy J: "Dark Horse"
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Taylor Swift: "All Too Well"
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Keith Urban & Gary Clark Jr. "Cop Car"
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Pink: "Try"
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Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Mary Lambert & Madonna 'Same Love"
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[Sundance Video] The Raid 2: Berandal Q&A, Iko Uwais pencak silat demonstration
[Ruby Hornet will be at Sundance Film Festival 2014 providing coverage of the festival's 30th year. Keep it tuned to Ruby Hornet this week as we share reviews, interviews, photos, and more at one of the country's largest film festivals.]
In a festival full of film premieres, The Raid 2: Berandal was arguably one of the biggest films to screen at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The first film in the franchise, The Raid: Redemption, was a sleeper hit introducing many to the wonderful martial art, pencak silat, as well as a new style of action film that is actually prioritizes action over narrative. Following the film's premiere last week, the cast and crew of The Raid 2: Berandal gathered together to answer a short fan Q&A, as well as a pencak silat demonstration by the film's star, Iko Uwais. Enjoy the videos, and keep it tuned to Ruby Hornet as we wrap up our Sundance Film Festival 2014 coverage throughout the week!
[Trailer 2] Blood Ties
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Guillaume Canet, one of France's top actors, will have a new film coming out to the public in late March. Blood Ties focuses on the dynamic between two siblings in 1970s New York who couldn't be any more different. With Chris (Clive Owen) being freshly released from prison on good behavior and brother Frank (Billy Crudup) as a cop with a bright future, the pair seems to be set up for rivalry. However, their father Leon (James Caan) appears to favor Chris regardless of his poor life decisions. Frank reluctantly attempts to give his brother a chance at redemption, but certain betrayals may never be forgiven.
A tale about the inevitability of family, Canet's latest film also stars Mila Kunis (Ted), Zoe Saldana (Avatar), and Matthias Schoenaerts (Bullhead). It can be expected in theaters on March 21, 2014.
[Trailer] Only Lovers Left Alive
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The dark mythology of vampires is one that people have been fascinated with for centuries. While the popular Twilight saga may have caused many to believe that these blood-sucking fiends are merely a “fad” for fictional works today, they would be shocked to know that the sensationalized love story was just another tale to put into the vault of other creative works about the creatures.
Only Lovers Left Alive takes on the challenge of entertaining audiences with a dark, vampire romance. Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston take on the roles of two vampires who have been in love with each other for centuries in the new film written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. A selection for both Cannes and Sundance, the film seems to be something that will take an edgier approach to the topic that is seemingly becoming clichéd these days.
Only Lovers Left Alive will be in theaters April 11, 2014.
Coachella 2014 Line Up Announced
The day that many music festival fans have all been waiting for is finally here: the revealing of the 2014 Coachella line up. Headlining this year’s highly anticipated two weekend festival in April will be Muse, Arcade Fire, and a reunited OutKast, followed by a line up filled with much variety and amazing talent. Revolt TV revealed OutKast’s reunion and plan to perform at Coachella late last year. Muse had been highly rumored due to strong hints from the band, but nothing was official.
However, there remains much to be anticipated from this exciting line up. Lorde, the youthful alternative act creating much Grammy buzz will be performing amongst the likes of many legends. The EDM scene will once again be a driving force as well with big name acts such as Skrillex and the recently popular Zedd, followed up by many other captivating, similar acts. Local Chicagoan and highly acclaimed artist Chance the Rapper will also get a piece of coveted performance time during the crazy dual weekend festivities. Receiving much critical acclaim from all over the country in the past year, one could only imagine a good turn out for his set.
Other performances will include the Replacements, Queens of the Stone Age, Beck, MGMT, Empire of the Sun, Ellie Goulding, HAIM, Pharrell Williams, Foster the People, Motörhead, Cage the Elephant, Fatboy Slim, A$AP Ferg, Grouplove, Bastille, Neutral Milk Hotel, Disclosure, Broken Bells, Capital Cities, CHVRCHES, John Newman, Flosstradamus, City and Colour, and many more.
2014 marks the third year in which Coachella will be divided between two weekends, with the first of the festivities being the weekend of April 11-13 and the second weekend being April 18-20. Festival passes will go on sale beginning this Friday, January 10, at 10 AM PST. While tickets will be available for both weekends, passes for week one will only be sold with a shuttle combination as opposed to the second weekend. More info regarding tickets, festival details, and a full line up can be found on Coachella’s website.
[via LA Times]
Rick Ross Sues LMFAO
William Leonard Roberts II, also known as "Rick Ross," has found himself in the news quite a bit as of late. Most recently, a lawsuit has been filed in Florida in both his name and Jermaine "Mayne Zayne" Jackson, one half of the production duo The Runners, alleging Copyright Infringement against the pop duo LMFAO for their 2010 song "Party Rock Anthem". In the song the phrase "Everyday I'm shufflin'" is sung, which is similar to the chorus of Roberts' 2006 song "Hustlin". Interestingly, LMFAO's publisher, Kobalt Music Group was joined as a defendant on the lawsuit by Kia Motors America, who licensed "Party Rock Anthem" for commercials.
The lawsuit reads, according to The Hollywood Reporter, "The use of 'Hustlin' ' in 'Party Rock Anthem' is readily apparent, despite the slight change from 'Everyday I’m hustlin' …' to 'Everyday I'm shufflin' …' and constitutes, [among other things], the creation of an unauthorized derivative work..." And that the lyric is, "performed in a manner to sound like" Ross. They also call it "[...]an obvious attempt to capitalize on the fame and success of 'Hustlin''... The phrase is so important to the success of 'Party Rock Anthem,' that LMFAO launched a highly successful clothing line, Party Rock Clothing, that features the phrase on T-shirts and other clothing items."
Roberts also ended his ongoing civil trial with former drug kingpin "Freeway" Ricky Ross, who had been suing him for appropriating his image and life story into a successful rap career. A judge found Roberts not guilty on that charge earlier this week, just after releasing a verse on Kanye West's "Bound 2".
[via The Hollywood Reporter]
[Video] Quentin Tarantino's next film will be another Western
Last year's Django Unchained was one of Quentin Tarantino's most financially successful films in his illustrious career, grossing more than $425 million worldwide. However you may feel about it (I personally felt mixed about it), Django was one of Tarantino's favorites. On The Tonight Show, he announced his plans for his next film to be in the Western genre. The director elaborates:
I haven’t told anyone this publicly, but I will say the genre: It’s a western. I had so much fun doing Django, and I love westerns so much that after I taught myself how to make one, it’s like ‘OK! Let me make another one now that I know what I’m doing,’
There are no plot details yet, but Tarantino has said the film will not be a sequel to Django Unchained, which is more than alright with me. However, this means that his previous plans to revisit the World War II setting. Watch the full interview with Jay Leno below!
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[via Collider]