Undercover Brotha

[spellbound]

When i saw the commercials for undercover brother i actually thought of this website:

www.urbanentertainment.com

Thats where it originally came from. It's been up for over 4 years now. So i guess they got "lucky" by getting some publicity. I don't know how good eddie griffin will be in it. We'll see.

[Bamboozled]

Originally posted by Steeltrap


Nooooooo! Shaq could never look simian!

Now Shaq is my boy and all, but if he's not quite simian looking, can you at least admit that he looks like he's suffered from a bout of Down Syndrome?

[Honeykiss1974]

Originally posted by Soulful Soror



...and, goodness knows they shouldn't have neeeeva, neva, neva, neva, neva, neva....cut off Shaq's mustache & goatee....he looks like the "grape ape"....everytime I see that Nestle's Crunch commercial, I think...."IT'S A GORILLA-LA-LA-LA!"

Grape Ape??????

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by Bamboozled


Now Shaq is my boy and all, but if he's not quite simian looking, can you at least admit that he looks like he's suffered from a bout of Down Syndrome?

Can't even admit that, LOL.
Shaq isn't as handsome as C-Webb, yes, but he's got other advantages -- height, musculature, sense of humor.

[imani1975]

I'm sorry, there is just nothing on Shaq that is attractive. And I absolutely HATE his Burger King commercials. He's just big and black...not saying that's a BAD thing....

There are big, black AND beautiful brothers out there...Shaq is just not one..and Rick Fox..oh boy...I'm SOOOOOO glad he cut that raggedy ann rag top off his head. It still didn't do much for him though. He still tucks his jersey shirt in WAAAAYYYY too tight and he just looks nerdy. And his chin look like a cross between Jay Leno and Mac Tonight. I hate to say it but the only one cute guy on the Lakers is stuck up Kobe. Even though he's very cocky, home boy got skills and he's fine...

[Steeltrap]

What's most startling about this article from the New York Times is that Dolemite is coming out w/a sequel.


May 26, 2002
Gimme a Head With Hair, Again
By JOHN LELAND


rom his home in Cincinnati, Bootsy Collins was trying to explain about the funk the other day. The taxonomy of the funk, he said, was life-sustaining, almost like natural law. But these days, alas, the young do not know. "It's like when I say, "Glory be, da funk's on me,' " he said. "A lot of people don't know what the heck I'm talking about." Mr. Collins was happy for the opportunity to translate. What it means, he said, is, well: "Glory . . . be . . . da funk's . . . on . . . me. It kind of says exactly what I'm feeling."

Mr. Collins, who as a teenager played bass in James Brown's band, turned 50 last year and has not had a hit record since before Britney Spears was born. But if you find yourself watching the N.B.A. playoff games this weekend, you are likely to see him in a sequined suit and star-shaped sunglasses, dropping taxonomy and funky bass on two Nike commercials. And if you look around, you might notice that you have entered a Bootsy moment.

The funk, and all its accessories, has returned to earth. "Undercover Brother," a spoof of 70's blaxploitation movies that opens May 31, bounces with greasy grooves and Afros the size of small dirigibles. "Austin Powers in Goldmember," due July 26, features Beyoncé Knowles of the pop group Destiny's Child as Foxxy Cleopatra, whose Afro literally fills the screen. Halle Berry is remaking the 1974 Pam Grier classic "Foxy Brown." (Original poster copy: "She's brown sugar and spice, but if you don't treat her nice she'll put you on ice.")

Rudy Ray Moore, whose 1975 no-budget film "Dolemite" remains the "Citizen Kane" of kung fu pimping movies, has finished "The Return of Dolemite," and is now carrying a print from city to city, screening it independently, as he did the original. The movie is pure 70's throwback, Mr. Moore said, give or take a little Viagra, the mature action hero's best friend. "I'm an older man that's still in a heavy bag with the girls," Mr. Moore, 65, said of his character's romantic proclivities. "As I say in the movie, I may be old, but I sure ain't cold."

The rappers Snoop Dogg, OutKast, Ludacris and Cee-Lo, not content to sample the music of 70's funk, are dipping into the outrageous wardrobes and hair products as well. "That was the last period in music that humility was prevalent," said Cee-Lo, who flaunts his humility in a cloak of black and white feathers. The cross-promotion alone has been dizzying. Snoop, who makes a cameo in the Nike ads, performs the theme song from "Undercover Brother." The accompanying video features a cameo by Mr. Collins. These days, Snoop refers to the older musician as Uncle Boot.

And between Nike ads, a new Burger King commercial shows Shaquille O'Neal dressed as Shaft. The latest campaign for Zima is knee-deep in funk and 'fro.

"It's crazy how this collective thing happens," said Michael Nash, fashion director of Vibe magazine. "Two months ago I was in Brazil, and everybody was dressed like Madonna in the 80's. Here, I'm seeing some great Afros."

The Nike commercials are directed by Allen and Albert Hughes, whose films include "Menace II Society" and the 70's-retro "Dead Presidents." The spots incorporate 70's film clips of the American Basketball Association, complete with blacktop moves and giant hair. And of course, the funk.

"We wanted to go back to the funkiest root of hip-hop, which was Bootsy," said Jimmy Smith, a writer at Wieden & Kennedy who conceived the ads. "And go back to the funkiest part of basketball, which was the A.B.A. After our hip-hop ads, this was a way of lightening up." For Mr. Smith, 40, showing globes of hair was a natural move. A year ago, he combed his dreadlocks out into an Afro. On a good day, he said, he gets eight inches of loft.

Allen Hughes saw an act of cultural reclamation in the funk. These days, the prototypical hip-hop gangsta looks roughly like Eminem. The Bootsy look is harder to copy. "White people can flip their hair behind them when they get out of the swimming pool, but they can't have an Afro," Mr. Hughes said. "Only we can do that."

Mr. Hughes drew a distinction between the do then and now. The Afro in the 70's, he said, was part of a cultural and political moment. "The Afro now is retro," he said. "But I have to admit I've seen some real-deal Afros lately, so I can't hate on that. It's making a big comeback."

The funk revival also reflects a generational ripple in black America, said Malcolm Lee, 32, who directed "Undercover Brother." (He is Spike Lee's cousin.) The core audience for hip-hop is now too young to remember a time when people sang and played real instruments. "It's great to remind kids that there was music before Ice Cube," Mr. Lee said.

From her perch at Invashea Hair Studios in Harlem, Gena Mable was not surprised to see the ads. Ms. Mable, a stylist, said her customers started asking for Afros a few months ago. The trend was unusual, she said, because instead of percolating up from the streets, it came from the top down.

"Everyone's trying to look like what they see on television," she said, "like in an Angie Stone video or `That 70's Show.' "

The customers most likely to 'fro, she added, were those who did not remember the look. "It's the younger kids that's going back into the 70's look," Ms. Mable said. "The parents are more modern, they're getting wash-and-sets. I don't see too many older women wearing it."

For Mr. Collins, the return comes at an opportune time. His voice recently graced the Fatboy Slim song "Weapon of Choice," which won a Grammy Award for best video last year. He is now working on a new album, with Snoop Dogg, Macy Gray and others. It will be his first album of new music in the United States since 1995.

When the time came to shoot the commercials, Mr. Collins never discussed wardrobe with the agency. He simply showed up with his purple suit, matching top hat and star-shaped glasses. "The good thing about funk," he said, "is that it always shows up. If it's a party, a real party, it always shows up. Next year you might not hear about it, but you can never get rid of that mug. It's like the bugs that won't die. You spray Raid on the mugs, but the mug always survives. The funk will always survive."



Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company | Permissions | Privacy Policy

[jojapeach]

[color=royal blue]My Greek sister, Steeltrap, thank you for the article.

OK, there are some things that should just be left in your memories and never rehatched, ie Whodini, those banana hair clips from the '80s, and definitely Dolemite. The last time I saw him on TV, my stomach turned.

I'm feeling everybody on Rick Fox and that mess he had on his head, and, yes, Shaq does look like Grape Ape's long lost twin.

Will I see Undercover Brother? Yes!!! I'll be defiant and admit to making plans to see it. I am mid-20s (the lower end), and I like the idea of this particular Blaxploitation spoof. I don't think I'll be keen on the remake of Foxy Brown, and we don't need half a decade of films like UB. They had me at the character "White She-Devil" and comedian Dave Chappelle, dressed like a Black Panther, asking UB, "Was it all that I ever dreamed of?" when he learned UB had slept with a white woman.

Frankly, I'm not taking it that seriously as far as the issue of poor quality films targeted towards urban audiences. It's a diverse cast, and they're only spoofing, ie parodying, those horrible Blaxploitation flicks. BTW, I have never, never, never seen Dolemite, Shaft, Foxy Brown, or any films that fit in the Blaxploitation category.

Matter of fact, I think Undercover Brother is kinda like Austin Powers. UB and AP are both undercover operatives that are stuck in a time warp. How many times have I not nearly died laughing at the first Austin Powers? And I'll see the sequel, too. My point: it's comedy, and it's not like All About the Benjamins or any other hood movie. I've had enough those.

Lastly, power to the brothas and sistas bold enough to sport an Afro!!! I love my red (not Crayola red, but it's bright) afro! Imagine seeing it in the sun....... It's not a fad, either. [/color]

[thesweetestone]

Originally posted by Steeltrap


Can't even admit that, LOL.
Shaq isn't as handsome as C-Webb, yes, but he's got other advantages -- height, musculature, sense of humor.

Chris Webber's smile is so pretty. When I se him smile I just melt. Oh my God he's sooo cute!

[nikki25]

Joe Siegel from GMA was reviewing this movie this morning. He was pointing out that it was more of a look at Black stereotypes as portrayed by the media than what most of us thought that it was. It is produced by Spike Lee's cousin, according to Siegel, which may have something to do with its seemingly eery, yet distant relationship to Spike's Bamboozled (if you've not seen that..get to your closest video rental and see it this evening!!!). Maybe I'll see Undercover Brotha at someone's house one day and actually look at it given what Joe has had to say.

BTW, isn't Malcolm Lee the same guy who did the movie, Hav Plenty?

Also, isn't it funny how when people think they have fully explored or are tired of the present, they revert to the past? Since my teens, it seems as if we have continually been reverting back to the seventies in fashions, hair styles, and entertainment. My grandmother used to say it, and today it remains true...every few years, you see the same old styles come back. And, we think its cute...because we are calling it retro with a TWIST. Its just old stuff in a new time.

Getting back on topic...I think that the movie will be interesting. For those who are going to see it this weekend, please let us know whether or not you saw any relationship between this movie and Bamboozled.

[Bamboozled]

Originally posted by thesweetestone
Chris Webber's smile is so pretty. When I se him smile I just melt. Oh my God he's sooo cute!

Yeah, Chris is quite handsome. However, right now I need for him to cut his hair and ditch the head band. I know he's more interested in a championship than a fashion statement right now, but he's just not looking like I know he can. I also lost a bit of fire for him when I found out he was dating Tyra. She seems like she would get on his nerves or something. She also belongs on my short list of people who annoy me to no end. And if they show her cheering in the stands one more time, I think I'll .

[hipshimmy]

I saw an early screening of this film last week. It was okay. I think what really brought the movie out was the music. They used alot of songs from the 70's. Plus Chris Kattan, Dave Chapelle, and Eddie Griffin are already crazy. I noticed that it picked fun at white and black stereotypes. I think if I had to give it a grade, it would get a B-.

[strobelitehoney]

It was pretty funny. But I wouldn't pay to see it again.

[Riley]

Originally posted by Bamboozled

And if they show her cheering in the stands one more time, I think I'll .

ROTFLMBAO!!!!!

Well I am in love with the WEBB man. I DO LOVE HIS SMILE!!!! I do not care what his hair looks like right now as long as he smiles.

[sphinxpoet]

I thought it was pretty funny! I give it a B. Don't rush to see it though!

Sphinxpoet