Chris Rock talks about The Music Industry

By The Music Scoop
JR Staff Writer

For years, Chris Rock remained under the shadow of Chris Tucker. He used this as the basis for many of his comedy routines, but many still viewed him as inferior. But, following his 2003 film, Head of State, Chris Rock emerged after years in the game.

Two years later, Rock began producing the would-be hit television series, "Everybody Hates Chris." For one year, the show aired on UPN. The next three seasons would air on The CW and was cancelled in 2009. "Everybody Hates Chris" built a cult following through reruns on BET.

In the later years of "Chris," Chris Rock began receiving invites from several rappers. Ludacris called upon Rock to be a part of his "Everybody Hates Chris" single. Ice Cube also featured his fellow television producer on his own song, "Ya Ain't Gotta Lie (Ta Kick It)." Chris Rock's most famous collaboration came late last year.

Kanye West teamed up with John Legend for a relationship song, "Blame Game," off his comeback album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Following the song, Rock had a two-minute skit, in which he talked to one of the women who had relationships with Kanye West. After coming back from Kanye, Chris Rock said he was going to thank the Chicago rapper for changing this girl. In real life, Chris Rock was just as thankful because he was featured on the top hip hop album of the year.

Chris Rock revealed he loves doing comedic skits on rap albums just as much, if not more, than he likes reading scripts. First off, they do not take half as long as reading film skits and plus he does not have to get made up because no one will see him. Rock went on to say the rap collaborations have boosted his career and he learned many rappers are willing to work with comedians if they just ask. In the future, Chris Rock has plans of asking more.

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Terry Crews returns for Second Season of "Are We There Yet?"

By TV Maverick
JR Staff Writer

Only a few years ago, there was outrage over the lack of black faces on television. Tyler Perry created new avenues for black sitcoms with TBS. Perry has contributed two hit sitcoms for the network, the highly successful "House of Payne" and "Meet the Browns."

Towards the end of 2009, Ice Cube got in on the action and he created his first sitcom, "Are We There Yet?" The show follows his film series, but with new characters. Fresh off his role as 'Julius' on the hit series, "Everybody Hates Chris," Terry Crews became dad.

Terry Crews has become a surrogate father to the black community, due to a lack of role models. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Bill Cosby served a similar role. Crews played on "Everybody Hates Chris" as the stingy father from 2005 until 2009.

Now, he has found a new role as the free-hearted stepfather on "Are We There Yet?" Terry Crews' stock has continued to rise since his small role on Ice Cube's Friday After Next as Damien. Damien was the replacement for DeeBo, who did not return for a third installment of Friday. Since that time, Terry Crews has risen the ranks to become one of the new faces of the new string of black sitcoms on television.

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Chris Rock to narrate Busta Rhymes' new album

By The Music Scoop
JR Staff Writer

With his hit television sitcom, "Everybody Hates Chris," being cancelled last year, Chris Rock has had plenty of free time. He returned to the big screen with Grown Ups and he has other projects in the works. Rock misses television, but he loves having his freedom back.

Chris Rock has been slightly more hip hop than most of the other comedians. Rock has actually used hip hop beats on a few of his comedy albums. He teamed up with the late Gerald Levert for his hit "No Sex (In the Champagne Room)." The song has since become a comedy classic.

Busta Rhymes has always been one of the more eccentric rappers. He is often doing something in order to stick out from other rap stars. But, in recent years, Busta Rhymes has been sounding a lot like the other rappers instead of setting trends. When he first announced this album, Busta promised that he would bring something different to the table.

For his latest album, E.L.E. II, a sequel to his 1998 album, Busta Rhymes has invited Chris Rock onto the album as a narrator. This is the ultimate marriage between hip hop and comedy. The album is slated to come out either next month or next year.

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