A new documentary, Bitchin’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James, will explore the lows, highs, and very highs of the funk icon’s life story. A clip from the film, which premiered during the Tribeca Film Fest and will get a wide release on an unspecified date via Showtime, focuses on how James gave funk music a pop edge and cleaved his way to commercial success, much to the chagrin of rival groups like Parliament. “All is fair in funk and war,” comments former P-Funk bassist Bootsy Collins in the clip.
The picture features footage from the “Superfreak” hitmaker’s concerts, never-before-released home video, new interviews with the artist’s peers, bandmates and friends, and archival interviews with James. In between the rise and fall, the doc’s producers say it focuses on the “punk-funk” music that was his calling card.
“The ‘wild’ side of Rick James often eclipses his musical genius, but the mathematical equation that is his life depends on all of the numbers to make a whole,” the film’s director, Sacha Jenkins, said in a statement. “Our aim was to create a balanced portrait of a brilliant artist who both chased his dreams and stalked more than a few demons. Still, his influence on funk and popular music and culture is unparalleled, and his eventual rise to the top is easily more compelling than any freebase rush.”
Jenkins’ assessment falls in line with how James, who died in 2004, wanted to be remembered. According to Rolling Stone’s obituary, when asked what his legacy would be in 2002, the artist said he wanted to be thought of “as someone who beat the odds, and as a musician who gave up the truth. My music ain’t no contrived bullshit. It ain’t no sci-fi shit. It’s the real fuckin’ deal.”
VIDEOS
Kanye West has been lauded as a creative genius for often going against the grain and finding ways to make fans relate to his music and visuals, even if it is done through unconventional methods. His new music video for “530” accurately displays that ability, depicting common human experiences via puppets and people wearing masks.
The 47-year-old artist shared the lengthy visual via Instagram, supporting the record which appeared on his August 2024 collaborative LP with Ty Dolla $ign titled Vultures 2. Initially, “530” made headlines for the Chicago producer taking shots at his ex-wife Kim Kardashian and name-dropping Drake. However, the video took things in a different direction.
Puppets are used in the visual to represent women getting lip injections, looking at themselves in the mirror, styling their hair, or running errands. Male puppets also appeared in the video, seemingly carrying on with their everyday activities without paying too much attention to the women around them unless they have been enhanced by surgery. There is also a noticeable difference between some visually frightening puppets wearing masks and others who are much better put together. Watch the “530” video below.
“You a fake bi**h, you don’t really love Ye bi**h, go listen to Drake bi**h,” Kanye West rapped on the record. As for Kim Kardashian, he seemingly reflected on how difficult it was to lose her with the lines “Pray your soulmate got a soul when you meet her/ The crystal ball couldn’t tell me if they’d leave again / Problems too extra large to share it with a medium.” He also addressed how tough it was to co-parent, rapping, “The past year been a strange time/ Visitations on Facetime/ And who gon’ break who’s heart first? Always just breaks mine.”
Ye and Kim K officially got divorced in November 2022 and it was a difficult road afterward, as she soon began dating Pete Davidson. West quickly moved on as well, marrying Bianca Censori in January 2023. As for his on-and-off rivalry with the Toronto superstar, it is safe to believe he may never move on.
When Kendrick Lamar fired the first shot on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That,” the 24-time Grammy winner jumped in and revealed that he was on the “Like That” remix. He also spoke with Justin LaBoy and revealed that he enthusiastically linked up with Lamar, Future, Boomin, Rick Ross, The Weeknd, and A$AP Rocky to aid in the “elimination of Drake.” Listen to the “Like That” remix below.
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