Tuesday, August 22, 2006
1930s style inspiresOutKast CD and movie
Ask Andre Benjamin of OutKast why the jazzy splendor of the 1930s became the inspiration for the group's new movie and CD and he answers in a word:
"Wardrobe. People at the time just seemed a bit more classy in their dress, even if they didn't have much money," he says.
"The mentality of black people was so different back then," adds OutKast's other member, Big Boi (Antwan Patton). "People walked with their backs straight and their heads high. It was more adult. Nowadays, it's all about catering to the young generation. But, you know, you gotta grow up sometime."
OutKast has been working on that longer than most young musicians. Always part of hip hop's smart set, the duo broke through to a new level of creative maturity and popular success three years ago with the release of their double-barreled album "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below." The genre-smashing CD spawned two No. 1 hits, went platinum five times over, and bagged four major Grammys.
Perhaps the only way to push things beyond that was to straddle not just musical genres but mediums. This week, OutKast will unveil their much-anticipated, two-pronged project called "Idlewild." The CD hits stores today. Friday, the accompanying movie arrives.
If both pillars of the project are grounded in a certain era, they still seem to be happening in a parallel time zone. "The outline of 'Idlewild' may be the 1930s," says Patton. "But we gave it the OutKast twist."
No probe of scenein Madonna concert
DUESSELDORF, Germany -- Prosecutors in Germany said they have decided against opening an investigation into the mock crucifixion scene performed by Madonna at her weekend concert.
A crowd of about 45,000 packed Duesseldorf's LTU Arena Sunday night to watch the first of two German concerts on the singer's worldwide "Confessions" tour.
The scene -- in which Madonna rises from the stage on a mirrored cross while wearing a crown of fake thorns to sing "Live to Tell" -- drew criticism from religious leaders in Italy earlier this month, who condemned it as an act of hostility toward the Roman Catholic Church.
The 48-year-old pop star's representatives have said the scene is not disrespectful toward the church.
Duesseldorf prosecutors said last week they would monitor reports about the concert but would not send observers.
Spokesman Johannes Mocken said Monday that while the concert stunt might be "hurtful to religious people," there was no indication of a criminal offense.
Mocken said the scene was covered by laws protecting artistic freedom.
Madonna was scheduled to perform in Hanover on Tuesday. Authorities there have not publicly expressed concerns about the show's content.
Today's birthdays
Author Ray Bradbury is 86. Heart surgeon Dr. Denton Cooley is 86. Retired Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf is 72. ABC newsman Morton Dean is 71. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Carl Yastrzemski is 67. Actress Valerie Harper is 66. Football coach Bill Parcells is 65. CBS newsman Steve Kroft is 61. Actress Cindy Williams is 59. Country singer Holly Dunn is 49. Country singer Collin Raye is 46. Country singer Ricky Lynn Gregg is 45. Rock singer Roland Orzabal (Tears For Fears) is 45. Rock musician Debbi Peterson (The Bangles) is 45. Singer Tori Amos is 43. Rhythm-and-blues musician James DeBarge is 43. Tennis player Mats Wilander is 42. Rapper GZA/The Genius is 40. Rap-reggae singer Beenie Man is 33. Singer Howie Dorough (Backstreet Boys) is 33. Actress Jenna Leigh Green is 32. Rock musician Jeff Stinco (Simple Plan) is 28.