Chronological timeline of references to professional basketball player Alonzo Mourning in the genre of Hip-Hop/Rap. Samples taken from 1993 - 2012.

supervillain:

Phil Spector on how John Lennon talked him into not killing Mean Streets over using “Be My Baby” without permission.

This is a fascinating video for a few reasons. Like any Phil Spector interview, it’s a window into his megalomania—“no disrespect.” But this time, he’s sort of right in his assertion that “Be My Baby” made Mean Streets. It’s hard for me to think of a better use of a song in a film. It’s not like Scorsese could have plugged in, say, “Stop in the Name of Love” and get the same effect.

So the story is also an interesting look at young Scorsese’s naivete. Since the song was perfect, I can imagine his being so afraid that permission for it would be denied that he wouldn’t ask at all. I can see him believing that his art was so pure that a detail like that would work itself out. And, oddly enough, it kind of did.

brightwalldarkroom:

The Great Gatsby (1974) as The Great Gatsby (2013). 

Pretty clever. Baz Luhrmann’s version was too vulgar and excessive; Jack Clayton’s version wasn’t vulgar and excessive enough. There’s still a lyrical, moody version out there somewhere.

Best album of the month: Jai Paul- Jai Paul

Best song of the month: Charli XCX- “You -Ha Ha Ha”

(Source: Spotify)

Steven Soderbergh’s “State of the Cinema Address”: Important.