A Broadway musical is planned for Michael Jackson’s album, “Thriller,” reports The New York Times. The Nederlander Organization will showcase songs from the album and Jackson’s “Off the Wall” album in the production. Jackson will be active in the musical’s creation.
50 Cent revealed his new production company at the Sundance Film Festival, an independent film festival, reports Reuters. Cheetah Vision’s first film, “The Dance,” will star the rapper and actor Nicholas Cage.
This year will also mark his directorial debut. In March, 50 cent will give away his movie, “Before I Self Destruct,” with his new album of the same name. The film is about a young man who turns to crime to support his younger brother after his mother is shot to death.
“It’s an opportunity to make sure my fans get to see my first piece,” he said of the film, which he also wrote and produced. “It actually allowed me to show cause and effect to some of the actions that I wrote about on the album.”
The rapper can be seen in the movie, “Streets of Blood,” later this year with Val Kilmer and Sharon Stone. He will also began filming the movie, “13” with Mickey Rourke.
This summer, D’Angelo is set to release his first album in nine years entitled, “James River.” D’Angelo will also collaborate with several artists on the release including Prince, Gnarls Barkley’s Cee-Lo Green and Raphael Saadiq.
D’ Angelo will also tour this summer in the United States and Europe, reports Billboard magazine.
Actor Idris Elba is set to appear on six episodes of the NBC series, “The Office,” reports Variety. Elba is cast as a new rival to star Steve Carell’s character. Elba is best known for his roles on HBO series, “The Wire.” Later this year, Elba will star with Beyonce in the movie thriller, “Obsessed.” Click here to see the movie trailer from an earlier Suite 411 post.
Death Row Records was sold for $18 million to Wide Awake Entertainment, according to Variety. The record label filed for Chapter 11 protection three years ago. The sale encompasses Death Row’s music catalog, which includes Dr. Dre’s The Chronic, Tupac’s All Eyes on Me and Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle.
On Jan.25, Death Row’s electric chair, Suge Knight’s cigars and Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s Source awards will be auctioned.
Jennifer Hudson, 27, will perform at the Grammy Awards broadcast Sunday, Feb. 8, at 8 p.m. on CBS, reports People magazine. Hudson is nominated for three Grammys, including best R&B performance for her duet with Fantasia, “I’m His Only Woman.”
The Obamas celebrated Michelle’s 45th birthday Saturday on the train tour from Philadelphia to Washington D.C., reports People magazine. There was a surprise birthday party held onboard. On a stop in Wilmington, Del., the crowd serenaded birthday with the Happy Birthday song.
Kimora Lee Simmons, designer of the Baby Phat clothing line, is four months pregnant, reports US magazine. The father is her boyfriend Djimon Hounsou, an actor who has starred in the movies Blood Diamond, Gladiator and Amistad.
This will be her third child. Kimora, 33, has two daughters with her ex-husband, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons.