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Observations of An Ex-Cop in La La Land |
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The New Soulful Hollywood!
Steve Harvey, who may be the new Bill Cosby. |
Some new black stars are
shaking up Old Hollywood
By ANDY MURCIA
of TheColumnists.com
The first time I visited Hollywood, California, with my wife, actress-singer Ann Jillian, was back in 1976. It was quite an eye-opener for me, I thought I had seen it all as a cop back in Chicago, but was I ever wrong.
Ann and I attended a lot of swanky dinners and events. On one such black-tie occasion I found myself shaking hands with many of the big stars that I had only seen in movies. I’ll never forget meeting one of them: A first class gent named Sidney Poitier.
As a boy I first enjoyed his performance in “The Blackboard Jungle” and afterwards in many other films. And here he was in person, looking me in the eye and giving me that trademark big smile as we shook hands.
Today’s African-American actors owe many thanks to Sidney and others of his generation who gently pried the Hollywood door open for them. That's the same door the current generation of “hip-hop" actors have kicked in!
Not many of this new breed have Sidney’s quiet strength or his good manners. Some are loud, bold, and come armed.
The new breed of African-American in Hollywood draws its stars from the rap and hip-hop music world. They’re black and street smart. Many have real talent. The most successful “stars” of this group have learned how to work within the predominately white, Jewish power system that accounts for most of the big players in the entertainment industry. These young “stars” have shown the big players that their products sell big and generate big money.
Hollywood was already in the process of dumping much of its aging blue-eyed money-maker crop anyway, so this was a door that opened right on time. These “stars” not only could sell tickets to movies and draw ratings for TV shows, but they also could sell recorded music in vast quantities.
Large audiences of all races are enjoying this new entertainment experience, including me. Granted, much of the humor is a bit low-brow. As for the music, well, it's pretty basic, but it's just right for shaking a booty to, if that's your trip. It’s not unusual for a CD or DVD of the soundtrack music to put a film in the green, even if the box office was a bit weak.
These new stars also have their hand in the pocketbooks of most parents today, selling their kids upscale, baggy “hood” type clothing styles, and their updated version of slang talk. So what if your kid's pants drag the street and his cap's on backwards? They've taught the suburban white kids how to properly say “mother-f" and other curse words and how to shorten the spelling of “whore” down to “ho.”
They often employ as many bodyguards as Al Capone in his prime. When they refer to females as “bitches” in song lyrics, they kick respect for women out the door. Why any females, especially black females, would stand for this is beyond me.
At first I was a little shocked by all this, but soon got to the point where I hardly noticed the downside. Yes, I think I’ve been desensitized, much like maybe you or your kids have, because I’ve started enjoying their music and pictures! Like rhythm and blues seduced us kids back in the 1950s, rap and hip-hop music has entranced the current generation.
I know the hills here in
Hollywood have seen many generations of actor hopefuls come and
go, but will the current one be any different then the last?
You bet they will. The Sidney Poitier old school of first class
gents is all but gone now and the few wilder ones from his era
are just too old to raise hell anymore.
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who opened doors for scores of future black movie stars. |
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On occasion today some of the new “stars” are involved in serious crime, such as the drive by-shooting murder of ToPac in Las Vegas. P Diddy Combs beat a shooting rap stemming from an incident at a New York City nightclub. When he was found not guilty, he used the resulting publicity to sell us his clothing line. Sure, Edward G. Robinson and Jimmy Cagney fired lots of gunshots, too, but only in their movies. Some of the new bad boys of Hollywood do it in the movies, but they also do it for real. They give new meaning to today's slang saying, “keep it real, baby!”
But those guys are a minority. Most of the new African-American stars are living and working very hard just like the older actors of yesteryear. Their days are filled with appointments for interviews, photo sessions, creative meetings, “doing lunch” and all the other studio biz demands upon their time. Most are finding their butts dragging by the time they get home to their “Casa in the Canyon.” They’re learning that the housekeeper is the one who is laying out by their pool while they are inside a jet or a hotel room on the road.
On rare occasion a black actor asks me my advice here in Hollywood. I tell them if they’re fortunate enough to get in on the big money, they should listen to the advice my father gave Ann Jillian and me. He said, “save your money, as nothing lasts forever.”
How true. It’s sad
to see a for-sale sign up on the homes, boats, and car toys of
actors/entertainers who spent their money foolishly. So many
lived way above their means and are in hock up to their talented
necks. The wiser actors who saved are still living here and living
nicely. You’d be surprised at some of the big contemporary
names that have gone belly up. They do most anything to make
a buck. They sell us many products and services on home shopping,
and many waste their talents doing infomercials. Once upon a
time it was unheard of for a big name actor to even do a commercial.
Times have changed and I don’t think for the better in this
respect.
Still other big names of the past made so many fortunes yet died before getting out of debt. Seeing Sammy Davis, Jr.’s home go on the market was a sad day for Ann and me. We knew Sammy well and knew how much he loved his estate in Beverly Hills. We remember the many “dinner and movie” nights there with him.
Today many of the better mansions here are owned by Arabs (those making the big oil moolah), some by wealthy industrialists. A good many are owned by a lot of wealthy lawyers who keep all the other big money folks out of hot water. Sure, there are still a few big name actors owning homes but nothing like it was in the “old days” of Hollywood.
I often see tourists taking the Hollywood tour bus rides to see the “stars' homes.” Little do they know that the turbaned fellow driving through the gate in a Rolls is NOT the chauffeur to a star. Today he’s the homeowner!
When I see a hot shot rap, hip-hop, actor-dude driving into his estate in the hilly Canyons, I wonder how long he'll be able to keep it? These “stars” seem to move a lot. Some will stay and others will sell fast if they strike out. Who are they you ask? Well, the real big money folks on the hip-hop actor “who’s who” list, are names like J-Lo, Chris Rock, my fellow Chicago guy, Bernie Mac. J-Lo placed very high on the under 40 wealthiest list, somewhere in the hundreds of millions, or so it was reported.
Just the other day I met a young black contractor named “Evan.” He’s remodeling a big home job right across the street from my house. Most of the workers are black as well as all of the executives who stopped by from time to time. A white guy (a racist no doubt) was walking near this house when he stopped to look and commented to me as I walked by. “Jeez, they have enough blacks there to make a Tarzan movie!” I made like I didn’t hear him, I didn’t respond and just kept walking.
I like “Evan.” He seems like a decent guy and he even helped me get a plumber to change some faucets in my home. Evan runs the crew with an efficient yet friendly hand. I was curious as to where he got his money to buy the expensive home. Evan said he got his money from Will Smith and Will’s brother. He was not seeking any investors. Anyone in show biz knows that Will Smith is a very, very, rich man and his brother is not in any soup line either. Will is very talented. He can rap and act and I’d guess he invests wisely.
While picking up a pizza the other night on Ventura Boulevard. I was standing in line behind a big, tall lady. It turned out to be Queen Latifa of “Chicago” fame. She’s another rapper-turned-actor with way more dough then this pizza joint. She and her lady-friend just prefer to get their own slice.
There’s also Ice Cube, LL Cool J, Beyonce, Snoop Dogg and many others. The list goes on and on. They’re making big money now, so much so that the other night at dinner I comically asked my Broadway-trained wife, “Are you sure you can’t rap?”
The look she shot me was priceless! Yes, she enjoys my sense of humor as well as her semi-retirement.
Will Hollywood ever be the same after this rap, hip-hop, actor generation splits? Sure it will. Hollywood just keeps grinding it out and soon those who are first will be last, all in due time. Until then, the current generation of rap, hip-hop, actors have definitely made their mark on the Hollywood scene.
Take TV for example, I never thought I’d be watching a show titled “Pimp My Ride.” The host is a rapper named “Exhibit” and he’s extremely talented. I watch it every chance I get with Ann and our son. It’s like “the millionaire” visits your old car. We really enjoy seeing all the cool things these funny young guys do to those old cars and for people who really can’t afford to do it themselves. Mr. Exhibit, if you read this, “please pimp my ride!”
Another favorite of ours is black actor-comic-DJ-Host Steve Harvey. He has a funny sitcom, a hit morning radio music-talk show that I laugh out loud listening to while riding my bike. Steve also does great stand-up and he can host. I think he might be this generation's Bill Cosby. Anyone who watched the recent Emmy telecast saw the aged and bloated Garry Shandling still doing his whiney jokes. The show's ratings were very low. I put my vote in for Steve Harvey to host next year. The Emmys could use a hip, young, black comic. Steve looks great and he connects with people from all walks of life. I think Steve Harvey is arguably the best new comic on the scene today. No, I don’t manage him.
Some of the estates here have lost some of their stuffy old looks. Expensive sports courts (and other money toys) are now visible. So while Spielberg plays on his tennis court, it’s not unusual to see the likes of a Gary Payton, Magic, Denzel, or Ice Cube hitting the lay ups! You bet they’re integrated here in L. A. I’ve seen the hot, white actor who's on everyone's “A" list being allowed to play, too. I’m not saying he can jump with these guys, though.
Seeing Snoop Dogg and his “people” in a multi car procession taking Snoop for an outing might make most white folks freeze, but I feel right at home. It makes me think I’m back working a beat car in a bad south-side Chicago “hood.”
In those days, when I would
see a “thug ride” approaching, I’d head for cover
while reaching for my .357 magnum. Nowadays I just listen to
the hip-hop beat coming out of those thunderous bass speakers.
Man, it’s so loud it makes my bum ear hear again!
At first I didn’t like the noise and while I still don’t
think of it as real “music,” I do enjoy the rhythm
tracks and how it all goes so well with basketball. I’ve
come to love basketball. But don’t get me wrong, I still
wouldn’t trust Snoop Dogg anymore then I would ever smoke
whatever it is he says he smokes! I have to admit though, Snoop
Dog is about the most unlikely looking movie star since Rin Tin
Tin! But did Rin Tin get all the women Snoop gets?
This generation of “actor” will pass through here much like those that came before it–either they will drug themselves to death, kill themselves off, go broke or just cool out like all the other actors of yesteryear have. But sure as I’m an old cop, I’m positive some of these new cats will be doing just fine as they take their final bows. Those who will save their money, be nice to all people, and stay healthy will do the best.
All in all, this current
generation is doing the best they can. And personally, I like
seeing the underdog get a shot at the brass ring. But “listen
up, my homies, don’t keep my solid advice here on the down
low, take it wide baby–it’s all good. Yeah, it’s
all good. Ya kno wha I’m sayin? Yeah, keep it real baby!
Gotta go, Bro."
Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you that I’m learning how to communicate
with my new neighbors. Welcome to the new Soulful Hollywood or
should we re-name it “Soulywood”?
©2004 by Andy Murcia.
The caricature of Andy Murcia is ©2003 by Jim Hummel. The
photos of Steve Harvey, Will Smith and Snoop Dogg are courtesy
of their websites.
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