One of the year's biggest hip-hop releases will be on the small screen.
Netflix has revealed the trailer for Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell, the anticipated documentary on late US rapper The Notorious BIG, who was known by fans as Biggie.
Premiering on the platform on Monday, March 1, the production was completed with the support of the artist's – real name Christopher Wallace – estate.
Mother Voletta Wallace and collaborator, now turned entertainment mogul, Sean "Diddy" Combs are listed as executive producers and are also interviewed for the film.
The news comes four years after the documentary was first announced in 2017, under the different title Notorious BIG: One More Chance.
In an official statement at the time, Voletta said the documentary would celebrate Biggie's contribution to hip-hop and US youth culture.
“It brings so much joy to my heart that my son Christopher’s music has made such an impact on the music community,” she said.
“His stories have positively inspired so many young men and women over the years, and still influencing the youth all over the world today.”
With the documentary's promotional campaign under way, here are four other things to know about Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell.
1. A new way of telling the story
A lot of screen time has been dedicated to the rapper, with the 2009 film Notorious and the 2018 Netflix drama Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious BIG looking at Biggie's rise to stardom and his death in 1997 at the age of 24.
As the first documentary produced with the blessing of his estate, Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell should provide a fresh perspective into the life of the artist.
2. It goes back to Biggie’s roots
Previous film and literature about Biggie’s life often focused on the heady days of fame and his tragic demise, but what is less explored is how he came to be.
Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell aims to shed light on that aspect, and in turn tell a story about how hip-hop flourished in the New York borough of Brooklyn, where Biggie was born.
"We were immersed in Brooklyn in the '70s through the '90s," director Emmett Malloy told Rolling Stone.
"It is easy to see how much Brooklyn has changed since Christopher Wallace was a kid, but it’s also clear that many things about being a young black man in this country have not changed.”
3. It will be close and personal
A lot of hip-hop documentaries, such as 2017's Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine tribute The Defiant Ones, come packed with star-studded guests.
The new Biggie documentary instead focuses more on quality than quantity. Since the film looks at the rapper's early days, the production is built around three in-depth interviews with mother Voletta, Combs and childhood friend Damian "D Roc" Butler.
Such an approach should give the film a certain winning intimacy.
4. The title has its own story
The film's title is inspired by the much-loved Biggie track I Got a Story to Tell.
As part of his final release, the 1997 double album Life After Death, the track details an encounter with the partner of a US basketball player. With Biggie dying two weeks before the album's release, rumours still continue to swirl on who the celebrity athlete was.
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Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
COMPANY PROFILE
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It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
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About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Where to apply
Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
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Company name: OneOrder
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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