HDBeenDope has formally joined the Roc Nation family.
Tuesday, the Brooklyn artist officially announced his signing to Roc Nation, saying in a statement that “serendipity” played a pivotal role on his path to signing with Jay-Z.
“I’m a writer and artist from Brooklyn signed to Hov. Those of you who love hip-hop like I do understand how special that is,” HDBeenDope said.
“I’d love to tell you it just happened out of nowhere but the truth is the intent has been consistent through and through. I think they call that serendipity. I’m here for legacy, living in the now, and creating for the future. That’s what I’m about, that’s what Roc is about. That’s what we are about.”
Last year, HDBeenDope dropped Side A: The Preface EP, which featured multiple tracks produced by Earl on the Beat.
As fans already know, HD has also been busy with his FreeVerses series, the most recent Erikson Corniel-directed entry of which can be seen below.
“As an executive, when you know, you know!” Shari Bryant, co-president of Roc Nation, said of bringing HD into the fold. “Between the charisma, the style, the energy, the lyricism, and his unique creative approach, it was clear to us that we needed HD to be a part of what we were rebuilding here at the Roc Nation label. We are excited for the world to see what he has to offer.”
Roc Nation co-president Omar Grant, meanwhile, pointed out how HD, in his words, “represents everything a Roc Nation artist should be,” with artistic consistency chief among those qualities.
“His approach to music and all creative aspects are intentional,” Grant said. “He has a sharp attention span for detail which you see embedded in his musical storytelling and across his visuals. We’re thrilled to have him on the team and show the world what’s to come.”
Below, catch a preview of HDBeenDope’s “Wake ‘Em Up,” which is dropping on Friday, September 9.
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Andrew Lincoln is the name most commonly associated with AMC’s The Walking Dead. The actor, also known for his work in the film Love Actually, the Strike Back series, and the TV movie Old Vic in Camera: A Christmas Carol has played the main character Rick Grimes for 9 of the 11 seasons of the walker (zombie) apocalypse series.
His absence has left a hole in the popular series that hasn’t quite been filled regardless of which characters took leadership roles or plots that followed his departure. Thankfully Lincoln will be returning to The Walking Dead Universe in a spinoff with Danai Gurira, who also left the show in season 10.
Together they will be reprising their roles as the power couple Rick and Michonne, the king and queen of the apocalypse. While fans are overjoyed to see his return in the currently unnamed Rick and Michonne spinoff, the talented actor hasn’t shied away from the horror genre.
In fact, fans will be able to see Lincoln’s stellar acting capabilities once again in the upcoming Netflix series Cabinet of Curiosities. Created by the brilliant Guillermo del Toro, the eight-episode series might just be the type of show to truly embody the thrills and chills of spooky season.
What role will Andrew Lincoln play in Cabinet of Curiosities?
Don’t believe us? You can watch the official teaser trailer here:
Joining Lincoln in the cast are the likes of talented individuals such as Rupert Grint, Nia Vardalos, Ben Barnes, DJ Qualls and F. Murray Abraham. Just what kind of scary stories does del Toro have in store for his impatient fans and viewers?
Which role do you think Lincoln will be playing, hero, villain, or someone else entirely? Cabinet of Curiosities airs on Netflix October 25.
Will you be watching Cabinet of Curiosities? Share your thoughts about the upcoming series in the comments below!
Say it ain’t so! That’s the general consensus from Outer Banks fans after the show’s lead Chase Stokes took to Instagram to debut a new hairstyle that has left his fans shocked and devastated.
In a new Instagram photo dump, Stokes celebrated 30 with a series of photos including one shot that showcased his new haircut which has left fans speechless. Gone are Stokes’ signature long and wavy locks, as the actor is now rocking a high and tight new do.
Stokes definitely has no problem pulling off the look and still looks amazing, the new style has caught fans by surprise as Stokes has long been known for his long hair which is a signature to John B’s look in Outer Banks.
“You literally just shocked the whole world,” commented one fan summing up the effect Stokes’ new look has had on his fans. “We weren’t ready for that, Chase,” echoed another.
Why did Chase Stokes cut his hair? (2022)
So what exactly inspired Chase Stokes to cut off his signature locks leading to his new look? While Stokes has not directly commented on the new look, it appears his haircut is connected to his upcoming role in the new film Valiant One.
In the film, Stokes is set to star as a member of a group of U.S. Army non-combat tech soldiers who must band together to protect a civilian tech specialist and find a way out of North Korea after their helicopter crashes on the North Korean side of the Korean Demilitarized Zone.
While little is known about Stokes’ character, the fact that he’s a member of the military seems to suggest that Stokes cut his hair for the role.
The new hairstyle Stokes is rocking in the above Instagram photo matches up with the signature high and tight style members of the military have been known to rock.
Chris Evans shares what his first reaction was to seeing Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. Although de Armas has been acting since she was a teenager, it wasn’t until her roles in films like Blade Runner 2049 and Knives Out that the star became well-known to American audiences.
Knives Out saw de Armas take on the role of Marta Cabrera, a nurse who becomes embroiled in a complex murder mystery plot alongside Evans’ nefarious character, Ransom. De Armas later collaborated with Evans again on this summer’s The Gray Man, an action thriller from Netflix in which she played a supporting role.
After a fan-favorite turn in No Time to Die, de Armas is next slated to appear in Blonde, a fictionalized account of the life and death of 1950s icon Marilyn Monroe. The film, which is written and directed by Andrew Dominik, is based on a book of the same name by author Joyce Carol Oates.
The first trailer for Blonde has already shown off de Armas’ impressive transformation into the late starlet, with the actor boasting a noticeable physical transformation and accent.
The NC-17-rated Blonde earned a 14-minute standing ovation at its Venice Film Festival premiere but relatively mixed reviews from critics. Most agreed, however, that de Armas’ performance is particularly impressive.
In a new interview with Variety, Evans recalls his first reaction to seeing de Armas’ camera test as Monroe in Blonde. Speaking more generally, Evans says that he thinks Blonde was “incredibly demanding” for his Knives Out co-star and that he remembers de Armas being very excited about the role. Check out Evans’ full comment below:
“I think this was one of the first opportunities she had to really sink her teeth into something incredibly demanding. I didn’t see one bit of fear; I saw excitement. I remember looking at [her camera test] and saying, ‘OK, that’s Marilyn … where’s your shot? That’s you? Holy s–t! You’re going to win an Oscar for this!’”
Could Ana de Armas Win An Oscar For Playing Marilyn Monroe?
Although de Armas is now a very well-known actor in Hollywood, Blonde marks the actor’s first major transformation for a leading role.
Trailers for the film have already shown off just how immersed de Armas became in the world of Monroe and, as has been seen with a number of films in the past, the Academy Awards does have a penchant for recognizing actors who undergo significant transformations, especially when it comes to embodying iconic historical figures.
While reviews for Blonde may be mixed overall, Evans’ suggestion that de Armas could be a contender for Best Actress is certainly not without precedent.
It remains to be seen how Blonde will fair with general audiences upon its release on Netflix, but if early reviews are any indication, de Armas’ performance alone will be reason enough for many viewers to seek the film out.
Despite glowing reviews for de Armas’ performance, however, Blonde’s graphic subject matter and NC-17 rating could deter at least some audiences. However, it’s unclear if the controversial rating will have any impact on her Oscar chances.
Thankfully, fans of de Armas now have less than a week to wait before Blonde releases on Netflix and they can see whether Evans’ glowing endorsement rings true.