Barely six months after its shocking conclusion, Power is returning to the small screen.
Streaming weekly on StarzPlay, the spin-off of the series, Power Book II: Ghost picks up with crime baron and nightclub owner Ghost's son, high-school student Tariq (Michael Rainey Jr) aiming to follow in his father's gritty footsteps.
Rapper turned executive producer 50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, says fans should expect the same shady business dealings, family drama and pulsating soundtrack that defined the original Power. It's no coincidence, he says, that the programme has been described as a hip-hop version of the 1980s hit soap opera, Dallas.
Ever a student of the game, 50 Cent studied some of the marketing campaigns behind that landmark series and applied what he learnt to Power. "When we chose the finale, the marketing towards the end is: 'Who shot Ghost?' right? And it's very similar to [Dallas character slogan] 'Who shot JR?'
"But it resonates differently because in the inner cities, where there are a lot of tastemakers, they have also been subjected to [similar] situations," he tells The National.
“So, while it does seem like you're copying or you're using the marketing from something that already happened before, in Hollywood projects that is a consistent thing. That is kind of cool actually in that you are able to build a whole new excitement because your audience is different.”
And that audience is growing. Having premiered in 2014, Power went on to become one of StarzPlay's most popular offerings, with figures rising from an average of 4.7 million viewers to 10m viewers over six seasons.
Growing up on screen
Power established 50 Cent as a major new force in the US television industry (he went on to launch two other crime dramas, The Oath and For Life), and developed the acting prowess of Rainey Jr, who over the years transformed Tariq from a shy and lanky 13-year-old to a street smart and malevolent character, similar to his father.
Although on screen Tariq, 19, exhibits some of the arrogance of youth, on set, Rainey Jr is the model student. "What made it easier was the great talents on the show," he tells The National. "It allowed me to really just sit back and absorb the things I see them do, and see how that could help me. It was about paying attention to the older people that work with me."
While Tariq's character arc reached a climax with a bang at the end of Power, Rainey Jr says in the new series he dials down the tension to give a more nuanced performance.
Power Book II: Ghost finds Tariq trying to figure out the intricacies of running the mini crime empire formerly run by his father. At the same time, we also find him enjoying the freedom that comes with high school.
"The energy of the show is much more youthful. You finally get a chance to see Tariq just being a kid and not in 'Tariq mode', where he is just grinding and doing something for his mother, grandmother and sister. You can see him be a normal kid for once. This makes the show more fun," he says.
"But at the same time, it is still Power. It is still gritty and has all the action. It just has a different vibe to it."
Redefining blackness
This grittiness is also underscored in the changing fortunes of Tariq's mother, Tasha, played by the indomitable former singer Naturi Naughton. While Power's debut episode introduced Tasha as she strolled into a club like she owned the place, which she did, the new series begins with her in jail and awaiting trial.
With the flashy clothes and palatial home replaced by a prison uniform and cell, Naughton tells The National she had to dig deep for her performance.
“It's a huge difference because Tasha has fallen from grace, she really does have to sit with herself and ask how she got there,” she says. “Most of the time with the episodes you're going to see her reflecting on what she did wrong and how things could have turned out differently.”
Naughton describes Tasha as "an honour" to play because of a depth often not afforded to black characters in mainstream television. "What this series does is continues Power's legacy and that thought process of how blackness is defined," she says. "For me, to be a black woman and to be seen as a fully multifaceted and multi-dimensional character is a blessing because, oftentimes in Hollywood, you only see a version of a black woman that is kind of cookie cutter."
Rainey Jr adds: "Power is definitely a game changer. Especially me being in New York, some of the things that go on in the show are accurate," he says. "The new series continues to make things relatable because there are lot of people out there who are doing and experiencing the same things the characters are doing."
No longer 'In Da Club'
50 Cent believes the power of his loyal fans has also helped the show. He says it is for those who grew up with his music in the clubs 17 years ago.
"My core audience were in college in their heyday in 2003, when they used to party at every possible moment. And at that point, I had the largest debut album [Get Rich or Die Tryin'] in hip-hop. So they couldn't party without me. There was no way you could escape me.
"But by now, they're already successful in the field that they were studying to be in and are committed in life ... That audience is not partying at every available moment any more, but I know that they will tune in."
'Power Book II: Ghost' streams weekly from Monday, September 7, on StarzPlay. More information is atarabia.starzplay.com
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The Case For Trump
By Victor Davis Hanson
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Game is on BeIN Sports
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine 2.4L four-cylinder
Gearbox Nine-speed automatic
Power 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.4L/100km
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Company%C2%A0profile
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Ferrari
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Company%20profile
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The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
More on Quran memorisation:
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Match statistics
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 36 Bahrain 32
Harlequins
Tries: Penalty 2, Stevenson, Teasdale, Semple
Cons: Stevenson 2
Pens: Stevenson
Bahrain
Tries: Wallace 2, Heath, Evans, Behan
Cons: Radley 2
Pen: Radley
Man of the match: Craig Nutt (Harlequins)
Strait of Hormuz
Fujairah is a crucial hub for fuel storage and is just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route linking Middle East oil producers to markets in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond.
The strait is 33 km wide at its narrowest point, but the shipping lane is just three km wide in either direction. Almost a fifth of oil consumed across the world passes through the strait.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait, a move that would risk inviting geopolitical and economic turmoil.
Last month, Iran issued a new warning that it would block the strait, if it was prevented from using the waterway following a US decision to end exemptions from sanctions for major Iranian oil importers.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
