1.
Spike Jonze
–
Spike Jonze is an American director, producer, screenwriter and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television. Jonze is well known for his music video collaborations with Daft Punk, Fatboy Slim, Weezer, the Beastie Boys, Björk and he was a co-creator and executive producer of MTVs Jackass. He is currently the director of Vice Media, Inc. He is part owner of skateboard company Girl Skateboards with riders Rick Howard and he co-founded Directors Label, with filmmakers Chris Cunningham and Michel Gondry, and the Palm Pictures company. He has been nominated for four Academy Awards, Best Director for Being John Malkovich and he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay, the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay, and the 2014 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Her. Jonze was born on October 22,1969 in Rockville, Maryland and his father, Arthur H. Spiegel III, was a distant relation of the Spiegel catalog family, and founded APM Management Consultants. His mother, Sandra L. Granzow, is a writer, communications consultant in developing countries and his brother, Sam Squeak E. Clean Spiegel, is a producer and DJ. He also has a sister, Julia and his father was from a German Jewish family, while his mother has German, Scottish, and English ancestry. Jonze attended the San Francisco Art Institute in San Francisco, California, when he was a junior in high school, Jonze spent time at a Bethesda community store, where the former owner Mike Henderson gave him his nickname Spike Jonze in reference to Spike Jones. He fronted Club Homeboy, an international BMX club, with Mark Lew Lewman and Andy Jenkins, the three also created the youth culture magazines Homeboy and Dirt. In 2006, he was nominated by the Directors Guild of America for Outstanding Achievement in Commercials in 2005 and he was nominated for a body of work that included Hello Tomorrow for Adidas, Lamp for IKEA, and Pardon Our Dust for The Gap. He was a producer and co-creator of MTV television series Jackass and Jackass, The Movie, also directing some of the segments. Jonze has acted in videos and films, his most prominent role was in Three Kings as the sweet, dimwitted, casually racist Conrad. Jonze was a co-founder and editor of Dirt magazine along with Mark Lewman and Andy Jenkins, as well as an editor for Grand Royal Magazine and senior photographer for Transworld Skateboarding. In the past, Jonze shot street skateboarding videos, most notably Blinds highly influential Video Days in 1991 and he co-directed the Girl Skateboards film Yeah Right. and the Chocolate Skateboards video Hot Chocolate. In the closing montage of Yeah Right. Spike is shown doing a nollie heelflip in loafers and he is co-owner of Girl Skateboards. Jonze has many alter egos, including Richard Koufey, the leader of the Torrance Community Dance Group, the Koufey persona appeared when Jonze, in character, filmed himself dancing to Fatboy Slims The Rockafeller Skank as it played on a boom box in a public area
2.
Kanye West
–
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, fashion designer, and entrepreneur. Intent on pursuing a career as a rapper, West released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004 to widespread critical and commercial success. He went on to pursue a variety of different styles on subsequent albums Late Registration, Graduation, and 808s & Heartbreak. In 2010, he released his fifth album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy to rave reviews from critics, West released his abrasive sixth album, Yeezus, to further critical praise in 2013. His seventh album, The Life of Pablo, was released in 2016, Wests outspoken views and life outside of music have received significant mainstream attention. He has been a frequent source of controversy for his conduct at award shows, on social media and he is the founder and head of the creative content company DONDA. His 2014 marriage to television personality Kim Kardashian has also been subject to media coverage. He has won a total of 21 Grammy Awards, making him one of the most awarded artists of all time, three of his albums have been included and ranked on Rolling Stones 2012 update of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list. He has also included in a number of Forbes annual lists. Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2005 and 2015, West was born on June 8,1977 in Atlanta, Georgia. His parents divorced when he was three years old, after the divorce, he and his mother moved to Chicago, Illinois. His father, Ray West, is a former Black Panther and was one of the first black photojournalists at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Ray West was later a Christian counselor, and in 2006, opened the Good Water Store and Café in Lexington Park, Maryland with startup capital from his son. West, was a professor of English at Clark Atlanta University, West was raised in a middle-class background, attending Polaris High School in suburban Oak Lawn, Illinois after living in Chicago. At the age of 10, West moved with his mother to Nanjing, China, according to his mother, West was the only foreigner in his class, but settled in well and quickly picked up the language, although he has since forgotten most of it. When asked about his grades in school, West replied, I got As. West demonstrated an affinity for the arts at an early age and his mother recalled that she first took notice of Wests passion for drawing and music when he was in the third grade. Growing up in Chicago, West became deeply involved in its hip hop scene and he started rapping in the third grade and began making musical compositions in the seventh grade, eventually selling them to other artists
3.
Los Angeles Film Festival
–
The LA Film Festival is an annual film festival held in June in Culver City, California. It showcases independent, international, feature, documentary and short films, since 2001 it is run by the organization Film Independent, which also has been arranging the annual Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica since 1985. The festival began as the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival in 1995, the LAIFF ran for six years, until it was absorbed into Film Independent in 2001. At its height, the LAIFF attracted 19,000 attendees, today, the LA Film Festival attracts more than 36,000 visitors. With an attendance of more than 36,000 people, it more than 100 feature films. The event also includes world premieres of such as Disney/Pixars Brave, and a variety of panels, seminars. The Festival features signature programs including the exclusive Filmmaker Retreat, hosted by a film director. In 2010, the Filmmaker Retreat was hosted by Kathryn Bigelow, in 2011, it was hosted by George Lucas at his Skywalker Ranch. In addition to films, it also screens short films created by high school students. Films submitted to the Festival are reviewed by Film Independents programming department, in 2011, the Festival showed over 200 films, music videos and shorts from over 30 countries. The first LAIFF took place over the course of five days in a single location, in 1996, the LAIFF expanded to include the Directors Guild of America Building in Hollywood. In 2001, the Festival became part of the organization Film Independent, in 2006, the Los Angeles Times became the Festivals main sponsor. In 2010 the Festival was moved to the Regal Cinemas at the L. A, live complex in downtown Los Angeles, with additional screenings at several other downtown venues including the Downtown Independent, Orpheum Theatre and the REDCAT Theatre. The Festival also has a tradition of screenings at the open-air John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood. Free screenings are scheduled at California Plaza, in conjunction with Grand Performances, today the LA Film Festival attracts over 36,000 visitors. The LA Film Festival is a festival in all categories for Film Independents Spirit Awards. It is also a festival for the short films categories of the Academy Awards. During the festival of 2009, festival officials was approached by Dole Food Company, Dole urged festival officials to immediately cease and desist their sponsorship of the documentary Bananas. *, directed by Fredrik Gertten
4.
Flashing Lights (Kanye West song)
–
Flashing Lights is a song by American hip-hop artist Kanye West. It features Detroit R&B singer Dwele and contains vocals from Australian singer Connie Mitchell. West co-wrote and co-produced the song with Eric Hudson and released it on November 22,2007 as the single for his third studio album. The singles cover art was designed by Japanese pop artist, Takashi Murakami, the single received acclaim from music critics and is cited as one of the best songs on Graduation. The song features Detroit R&B singer Dwele on its chorus and contains vocals provided by Connie Mitchell of the Australian electronic group Sneaky Sound System. The collaboration came about when Kanye met Mitchells bandmates Angus McDonald and Daimon Downey at a diner in Sydney, seeking musical inspiration, West asked McDonald for ideas, who in turn suggested that he be introduced to Mitchell. After their meeting, West asked Mitchell to record vocals for the song, Mitchell later admitted that while she previously didnt know who West was and never really cared for hip-hop, the collaboration had changed her views. As a result of its popularity, Flashing Lights was utilized by media outlets. In December 2007, the song was used in an ad campaign for French vodka Cîroc and it is featured in the popular action-adventure video game Grand Theft Auto IV on the in-game contemporary hip-hop radio station, The Beat 102.7. The song came to be included on Now Thats What I Call Music 27, the promo won gold at the North American Promax Awards. The song has been confirmed to be included within the setlist of the music video game Scratch. The song appeared in one episode of the MTV series My Life as Liz, Flashing Lights is an electronic-tinged hip-hop/R&B song composed in the key of F♯ minor. It is written in time and moves at 90 beats per minute. The main and background vocal range for the song spans nearly three octaves, from C4 to E5. After the introduction, in which Mitchells processed vocals repeat the titular hook four times, following a break, the song enters a passage where its heavily manipulated hook echoes in and out before the coda draws the composition to a close. Flashing Lights received widespread acclaim from music critics and was widely regarded as the best song on Graduation. Alex Fletcher of Digital Spy highly approved of the single, awarding it a four-star review, mixing chilled-out electronics, jittering synths and laid-back, old-skool hip-hop, he creates a sumptuous track that grows more intriguing with every listen. Billboard gave a review, claiming that it does a great job of reintroducing Miami Vice-esque keys
5.
See You in My Nightmares
–
See You in My Nightmares is a song from Kanye Wests fourth studio album 808s & Heartbreak. Produced by West and his former mentor No I. D. the song features a duet between West and rap artist Lil Wayne. It was to be sent to radios on March 10,2009, while to Rhythm/Crossover radio on February 28,2009. Though not released as a single, See You in My Nightmares still managed to enter the top forty on charts in Canada, along with Amazing, See You in My Nightmares charted without actually being released as a single following the release of 808s & Heartbreak. In the U. S. the song was certified as a Hot Shot Debut and that same week, it also a Hot Shot Debut on the Pop 100, peaking at number twenty-seven. The song was a Hot Shot Debut once more in Canada, West has collaborated with Spike Jonze to direct a short film, We Were Once a Fairytale for See You in My Nightmares. According to Jonzes producing partner, Vincent Landay, the project was mostly for fun and is not necessarily a video for See You in My Nightmares. Set to run between ten and fifteen minutes, the film was shot near the end of January within two days in Los Angeles and has received editing over the course of several weekends. Its plot is based on a developed by Jonze, who then reached out to Kanye under the belief that hed be perfect for it. On October 18, “We Were Once a Fairytale” was leaked to the Internet and posted on Mr. West’s official Web site, kanyeuniversecity. com. Mr. Jonze said the film was leaked from the postproduction studio of a friend. “I think he was like, ‘Oh, it’s out, i’ll link to it, ’ ” Mr. Jonze said. On October 19th the video was removed from the site, with only a message left from West saying SORRY I HAD TO TAKE IT DOWN. The video, however, can still be found on video sharing websites and is now available through iTunes. Information taken from 808s & Heartbreak liner notes, songwriters, Kanye West, Ernest Wilson, Jeff Bhasker, Dwayne Carter Producers, Kanye West, No I. D. Recorders, Andrew Dawson, Anthony Kilhoffer Keyboards, Jeff Bhasker Strings arrangements, violins, Emma Kummrow, Igor Szwec, Luigi Mazzochi, Gregory Teperman, Olga Konopelsky, Charles Parker Viola, Davis Barnett, Alexandra Leem. Cello, James J. Cooper, III, Jennie Lorenzo, bass, Miles Davis Mixer, Manny Marroquin Engineer, Jeff Chestek Assistant engineers, Montez Roberts, Rick Friedrich, John Stahl Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
6.
Fonzworth Bentley
–
Derek Watkins, better known as Fonzworth Bentley or Farnsworth Bentley, is a musician and author. He is perhaps best known for being Sean Combs former personal valet and assistant, as first seen in Making the Band 2 and he was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He first appeared rapping on Da Bands 2002 album Too Hot for TV, in the track Cheers to Me, in 2003, Bentley was featured on the Good Day, Good Sir skit on OutKasts Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. In 2004, he had a role in the video of Kanye Wests The New Workout Plan. His debut album, C. O. L. O. U. R. S. was released via iTunes on April 26,2011 and he was also featured, playing the violin in the Yes We Can music video in support of Barack Obamas 2008 presidential campaign. Bentley was a producer for Borrow My Crew in 2005, in which he allowed one boy, Cory Cole. Since 2008, he has been hosting the MTV series From Gs to Gents, in 2007, Bentley authored an etiquette book, Advance Your Swagger, How to Use Manners, Confidence and Style to Get Ahead. In May 2009, Bentley hosted one of the parties following the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington. In 2007, Bentley contributed to KnowHow2GO, recently, Bentley sang as a member of the chorus for We Are The World, a remake of the original for Haiti, in February 2010. From Gs to Gents Top Ten Gentlemens Club Confessions of a Celebrity Assistant VH1 Fashion Rocks All Shades of Fine,25 Hottest Women of the Past 25 Years P
7.
Lil Wayne
–
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American hip hop recording artist and author from New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1991, at the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, in 1996, Lil Wayne joined the southern hip hop group Hot Boys, with his Cash Money label-mates Juvenile, Young Turk and Lil Doogie. Hot Boys debuted with Get It How U Live. that same year, Most of the groups success came with their platinum-selling album Guerrilla Warfare and the 1999 single Bling Bling. Along with being the flagship artist of Cash Money Records, Lil Wayne is also the Chief Executive Officer of his own imprint, Young Money Entertainment. Lil Waynes solo debut album Tha Block Is Hot, was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and his subsequent albums, Lights Out and 500 Degreez, went on to be certified gold. Wayne reached higher popularity with his fourth album Tha Carter, which was led by the single Go D. J. and his appearance on Destinys Childs Top 10 single Soldier, that same year. The album was followed by Tha Carter II, as well as several mixtapes, Wayne gained more prominence with his sixth album Tha Carter III, which became his most successful album to date, with first-week sales of over one million copies in the United States. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album and includes the hit singles Lollipop, A Milli, following the success of Tha Carter III, Wayne decided to record a rock-esque album titled Rebirth. The album, released in 2010, was certified gold by the RIAA, in March 2010, Lil Wayne began serving an 8-month jail sentence in New York after being convicted of criminal possession of a weapon stemming from an incident in July 2007. Waynes eighth album I Am Not a Human Being, was released during his incarceration and his 2011 album and first following his release, Tha Carter IV, sold 964,000 copies in its first week of availability in the United States. It includes the singles 6 Foot 7 Foot, How to Love, on September 27,2012, Lil Wayne passed Elvis Presley as the male with the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with 109 songs. The record has since passed by other artists. Lil Waynes thirteenth studio album, Tha Carter V has been delayed multiple times and has no scheduled release date, Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. was born on September 27,1982, and grew up in the Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana. His mother, a cook, gave birth to him when she was 19 years old and his parents divorced when he was 2, and his father permanently abandoned the family. Although Wayne and Birdman have a relationship and Birdman calls Carter his son, Waynes biological father. Lil Wayne has also spoken about his stepfather, Rabbit. Carter has a dedicated to Rabbit, who was murdered before Carter became a star. Carter enrolled in the program of Lafayette Elementary School and in the drama club of Eleanor McMain Secondary School
8.
Bowie knife
–
The knife pattern is still popular with collectors, in addition to various knife manufacturing companies there are hundreds of custom knife makers producing Bowies and variations. The early history of the Bowie knife is complicated by murky definitions, limited supporting documentation, the Bowie knife is not well defined. By the mid-20th century most would include some combination of blade length, in the mid-19th century, when the popularity of the knife was at its peak, the term was applied to a wide range of blades. Absent a consensus definition, it is impossible to define the origin of the knife. To complicate matters, some American blades that meet the definition of the Bowie knife may pre-date Bowie. The Bowie knife derives part of its name and reputation from James Bowie, a notorious knife fighter, James Bowie left a very thin paper trail, in the absence of verifiable facts his history was buried in unverifiable knife-fighting legend. Historians seriously entertain the possibility that Bowie only fought one personal knife fight and that Sandbar Fight received national publicity within months of the event. James Bowie prominently wore a large knife after the Sandbar fight, the Bowie family provided a variety of conflicting knife histories. His brother Rezin Bowie provided a terse history 2 years after James death, sixteen years after James death someone slightly amended Rezins explanation to include a blacksmith. Rezins grandchildren named a different blacksmith, a later Bowie claimed that the information attributed to John was a lie and that John probably never saw the document, etc. In the mid-20th century a Bowie knife book author took liberties with the historical facts, some documents were misquoted, some reported facts cannot be confirmed, etc. Others incorporated the errors into their accounts of both Bowie and his knives, with no solid definition and conflicting accounts of knife history, many were credited with the invention or improvement of the blade. The historical Bowie knife was not a design, but was a series of knives improved several times by Jim Bowie over the years. The earliest such knife, made by Jesse Clift at Bowies brothers request resembled Spanish hunting knives of the day, the blade, as later described by Rezin Bowie, was 9.5 inches long,0.25 inches thick and 1.5 inches wide. It was straight-backed, described by witnesses as a butcher knife. They are about the size of a common English carving knife, after the Vidalia Sandbar fight, Bowie was a famous man, and the Bowie brothers received many requests for knives of the same design. Bowie and his brothers would later commission more ornate custom blades from various makers including Daniel Searles. George William Featherstonhaugh described them as, These formidable instruments. are the pride of an Arkansas blood, and got their name of Bowie knives from a conspicuous person of this fiery climate
9.
808s & Heartbreak
–
808s & Heartbreak is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Kanye West. It was released on November 24,2008, by Roc-A-Fella Records, West recorded the album during September and October 2008 at Glenwood Studios in Burbank, California and Avex Recording Studio in Honolulu, Hawaii, with the help of producers No I. D. 808s & Heartbreak debuted at one on the Billboard 200. Despite varying responses from listeners, the received positive reviews from most critics and was named one of 2008s best records in several year-end lists. Four singles were released to promote the record, including the hit singles Love Lockdown, by 2013, it had sold 1.7 million copies in the United States. Following the release of his studio album Graduation, the remainder of 2007. On November 10,2007, Wests mother Donda West died due to complications arising following cosmetic surgery involving a tummy tuck, months later, West and fiancée Alexis Phifer ended their engagement and their long-term intermittent relationship, which had begun in 2002. At the same time, West struggled to adapt to his pop star status he had once striven to achieve. The loss, loneliness and longing for companionship and a sense of normality served to inspire 808s & Heartbreak, West stated that This album was therapeutic – its lonely at the top. A photograph taken by Danny Clinch of West kissing his mother on the cheek was included in the booklet liner notes. West felt that his emotions could not be expressed simply through rapping. There were melodies that were in me, he explained, what was in me I couldnt stop. Either call it pop or pop art, either one Im good with, the album was recorded over a span of approximately three weeks from September to October 2008. Recording sessions took place at Glenwood Studios in Burbank, California and at Avex Recording Studio in Honolulu, as implied by its title, 808s & Heartbreak prominently features the Roland TR-808 drum machine. West utilized the sounds created by the 808 and manipulated its pitch to produce a distorted, electronic sound and he felt the characteristic of the sound was representative of his state of mind. According to West, the fact that Hawaiis area code was 808 was coincidental, the realization inspired him to pursue his direction with the album, however. In terms of direction, Wests intentions, according to Mike Dean, were to go against the typical sound of hip hop beat. Overall, West maintained a minimal but functional approach towards the studio production
