Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: L.E.P Bogus Boys “Commas” track reaction
While flipping through the channels in a moment of boredom I happened just out of curiosity to stop on MTV Jams when this ridiculous example of what Hip Hop is not, came on. “Commas” The whole song is bragging about what they don’t have.
We immediately got a flash back of a horrible spoof commercial we’d seen from Optimum Cable from a year or so ago in which they had “Hip Hop” skeletons dressed up like the fools in the “Commas” video standing around selling the image of showing out “bling” as the way to attract customers from the inner city projects.
The Optimum commercial, we both found uninspiring and insulting and yet somehow L.E.P Bogus Boys managed to top that impression with their track Commas.
What we would call “Now & Later rappers” one can’t even call rappers because you need to at least be able to say something somewhat intelligent or clever to get ears to perk up.
For those of you out there of our generation (meaning 30 somethings who grew up during the golden era of Hip Hop and real talents) to witness the end of that era and the beginnings of today’s generation of “Hip Hop” artists, L.E.P Bogus Boys definitely picked the right name for their group. Bogus
In short L.E.P Bogus Boys are a bunch of wannabe non talent having jokers who’ve made a song that means little and adds nothing to Hip Hop as an art form other than to promote stupid stereotypical empty materialistic B.S.
The video for Commas furthers this by going back to the same ole formula of showing a bunch of fools with all this gawdy jewelry on talking about they need commas after their commas throughout the track while showing examples of unrealistic unattainable displays of wealth.
In one part of the video some female is in a bathtub filled with stacks of money and then shifts to a scene in a kitchen where cereal has diamonds being poured onto it as if the diamonds were the milk.
It’s all fantasy of course. However, the message we took from this heinous display is one, they don’t have a fraction of this shit they’re rapping about and two if you are dumb enough to believe them then buy their album buy their song so that while they rap about it now they can hope to get it later. “Now & later” rappers.
Then you might just see L.E.P Bogus Boys on MTV Cribs faking it once again showing a mansion that they don’t own, cars they can’t afford to put gas in, and others will think that’s how you become rich. All this without adding anything of value or substance to society or the people they are targeting with this utter basura they call music.
This is Lil Wayne’s hustle now. Lil Wayne isn’t fit enough to even lick the shoes of juggernaut greats such as Tupac & B.I.G, let alone go bar for bar with the likes of Nas, Em, Big Pun,Talib Kweli, Jay -Z, Scarface, or even Lupe Fiasco. However, we understand “the show” must go on and so this is the only thing they know how to do and the only method of selling records to youth who have forgotten, or are too young to recall, what real Hip Hop is.
This is exactly the point made by Kendrick Lamar in Big Sean’s “Control”. When they rap about being so great because of money and bling but have no real skill, and aren’t saying anything, we call that being utter frauds posing as artists. Support the real artists we say not this fraudulent crap!
Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Blame it on the weather
For the past two days, I’ve been feeling under the weather and as such I turned to one of my favorite comfort foods to eat when not feeling so good or capable of eating a heavy meal. Ladies and Gentleman, I give you Hot N Sour Soup de jour.
Not opposed to the classic chicken noodle soup but I like spicy soups. Also as a side note for vegetarians and vegans alike in contrast to the chicken found in chicken noodle soup, Hot N Sour soup has no meat in it. Just vegetables and chunks of chopped tofu.
Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: THE Film Committee 4th Edition
It’s been a minute since we checked in and did a list of additions for the film fan’s library.
Akan Bosemann: I was sitting back the other day flipping through channels and this Spike Lee Joint came on that took me back in time. If you love the beautiful game of Basketball, then “He Got Game” is a must have in your library.
Ray Allen’s acting debut is authentic and powerful. The father and son bond and the importance of that relationship is the heart and central theme of this film. Made me want to hug my dad. That scene at the end on the court between Denzel and Ray was simply honest. Incredible. Life.
T.D Moody: This is a classic and in our current era of “black history” films such as “The Help” and “The Butler” I select the stirring “A Lesson Before Dying”. A young black male sentenced to death has to be taught he’s a man not a “hog” before his execution.
Jesse Murphy: I’m going back a ways with my pick this time around. Anyone remember “White Men Can’t Jump”? Nuff said.
Steve. D: Ok so being that we’re officially 9 days into Shoctober my selection is Machete. This by far is one of the goriest blood and guts violent films I’ve ever seen. I appreciate the style of cinematography and the writing. I was persuaded to find out what this film was about in lieu of Machete Kills due out this week.
Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Monday Night Dinner at Home…Sort of.
With my mood matching that of the day’s weather staying in at home on a gloomy day felt great. I mean what a luxury to do nothing but listen to music and lounge about while contemplating what to have for dinner.
The brilliant idea of heating up Thai food I bought the day before but hadn’t gotten to just made sense. It’s as if I knew without knowing that I’d not venture out to the city today and would at some point face the question of what to have for dinner. I mean apples, oranges, juice, and cookies can only hold you over for half a day right?
Welcome to THEJNSREPORTS: In Between Men Season II Continued…Reactions and Impressions Episode 6 – 9
Episode 6: La Familiar – Reactions and Impressions
Episode 6 starts us off with immediate drama as Paul is in the hospital with Dane by his bedside after his overdose on prescription drugs that he could only get from Dane putting his (Dane’s) career in jeopardy. Paul seemed believably desperate. We were surprised at his initially warm demeanor promising Dane he won’t reveal where he got the drugs from yet almost as quickly blackmailing Dane when he starts to leave.
From the start I liked this because we’re starting to really get into more serious issues facing the guys as Dalton too comes face to face with a guy he dated in the distant past. The initial warm intro is offsetting because of the sudden cold and calculated delivery of his lines which were spot on.
The guy playing this character Gustaffson’s assistant, absolutely nails the scene with his screen presence and the effortless look of a sadistic villain with the cold low tone in every word he carefully delivers to Dalton during their brief interaction. The Klingon Proverb “Revenge is a dish best served cold” immediately came to mind.
When the scene shifts to the bar we get to see Cain affectionately hugging on Dalton in front of the guys creating a cute if not awkward moment. Dane unloads about Paul O.Ding and looks to be brow beaten which doesn’t happen.
My favorite part of this episode however, is the “Gentleman’s Club” meeting for Dynamic where a couple of anti-gay ad guys shove their feet so deep up their own asses while talking disparagingly about the orientation of their client and implying the bigoted stereotype that there aren’t any gay men who are masculine while doing their bumps of coke. Bill overhears their remarks sizes them up and then classily waits for them to come out the bathroom before giving them the business so to speak.
Again the look on both those guys faces when they realized that they had just met their client in the John was just priceless. “You assholes today have no shame” was the perfect return for the remark in the John where he said “these faggots today have no shame”. Now back away my scotch can’t breathe”. I laughed my ass off!!! It reminded of an episode of True Blood where the character Lafayette told the homophobic pigs who said they didn’t order “a burger with AIDS”, what time it was.
Brian’s secret of being arrested for gay bashing was a good touch because up till now we haven’t known much about him other than he’s the cousin of Kendra. We’re Interested to see how this particular story develops. One thing’s for sure, it doesn’t fit that someone who seems so cool with all these openly gay men would have something like that in his past. Great writing and conflicts.
Episode 7 La Familiar Pt. II
It’s official, I’m fully invested in this show. There is brutal, if not undenial honesty and truth being expressed in this episode throughout. It’s surreal to the point that I sat still reflecting on the fact that I’ve had conversations eerily similar to some of those had between the guys in this particular episode.
I had ambivalent feelings in this episode because for myself personally the belief in God and being born again is not to be taken for jokes. I replayed the scene in my head several times and came to the conclusion that this was an honest expression of what it is like when some one becomes overzealous in any facet or genre of life. Paul doesn’t come across as extreme as Dane makes him out to be when he simply asks that they all say grace.
All that being said, I have to admit that I too on often occasions during a family prayer in which a certain person known to pray in excess of even the most patient of persons threshold, would open an eye and look at my sister or brother and even mother some times and share a smile at the long windedness of the prayer.
The hand holding for such lengthy periods just left one’s hands clamy and disgustingly moist from my brother’s grip. He’d been known to sweat profusely and this I reluctantly have to admit only hardened my resolve against longwinded prayers. There I said it.
Getting back to the show. I found it a cathartic moment to witness Dalton humble himself, not care about losing the job he pitched for, but being a man, being honest and telling the truth to someone he owed it to, and not just for himself but for this person who carried this insult and baggage for so long wanting closure.
Dalton didn’t react vengefully he was understanding and forgiving and seeking the same. His honesty and doing good is what in the end made him grow as a person. Again great message and acting. Great show!!!
Episode 8: Two for One
This “Two for One” episode had us gagging not just because of the play on words in which one could take that to mean a menage a trois, or gangbang, a training session, the run through,…whatever lol. But because, come on, who hasn’t had a moment like this where two suitors are intersted simultaneously and you get caught in the middle. My brother “geniusly” points out it could also be taken to mean Happy Hour.
Better still,why not fast food chains? They’re always advertising 2 4 1 specials. A friend of mine likes to say “they don’t wanna leave no money on the table…Dollar Menu.” Ok back to the episode. We have to ask first, who hasn’t been guilty of the simultaneous date interests cosmic collision experience ala Massamiliano, Dalton & Eli in Two for One?
Dalton, played by (Nick Matthews) reaches for the Oscar but doesn’t quite get it for his great peformance in how he handled Eli’s unexpected appearance at dinner. The awkward expression on everyone’s faces especially Massimiliano, had us feeling the heat and tension of the hot seat Dalton just experienced. Talk about getting caught with your pants down.
One could almost see the scene go further downhill like “Murphy’s Law” where Cain would also shockingly be in the same restaurant and see Eli’s entrance while Dalton’s seated next to Massimiliano.
After seeing all three of these sexy guys, if we had to pick our money would be on Cain. That includes whether it were a romantic, and/or physical showdown between all three for Dalton’s affection. However, many a pimp have said, “If you follow the pimp manual step by step you will get out of situations like that unscathed”. Note: Not a pimp, don’t know any, just sayin that’s what we had heard. LOL
I could see it now, first Eli and Massimiliano blame Dalton for this debacle and call him a ho, Dalton says their open, he can’t and won’t choose and leaves and Eli, Caine, and Massimiliano fight each other for Dalton’s affections only to ultimately forget Dalton and start dating each other in a sick twisted Twilight-Zonesque sort of way…maybe, uh absolutely. Moral to this story here though is be careful what you wish for. Dalton did set the ground rules as an “open” relationship.
The episode gets even better when Ben’s outed by Jeremy his über brown-nosing rival. With the slimy smarmy backstabbing geek look he embodies that everyone loves to hate. We all knew that ship and news would have to sail sometime but did he really have to blow up Ben’s spot like that? Uh that’s a hell no!
Now Ben and his ex are being coaxed to work more closely together on the ad campaign since the cat is out of the bag. Rekindling the past while living in the present shows the problem. One has to choose one person but it’s very difficult to do when the heart loves so many. In any case this is a definite favorite episode to date.
As for Brian I knew that there was an explanation to the gay bashing revelation. Wrong place, wrong time frozen in disbelief ends up taking the blame for a gay bashing that he didn’t actually take part and yet didn’t really stop due to his shock of the moment.
Dominick (Dalton’s ex) and Dalton’s interaction over a business opp once again had us in stitches. The play on words and his interest in Dalton’s personal as well as professional life is classic behavior of an ex flame. All these options leave us anticipating lots of shenanigans to come in Season 3. You can just see Dominick trying even harder to get back into bed with Dalton using any means necessary.
Episode 9: Wake Up Call
What an awesome way to end the season! I have to retract my prior statement and say this is my favorite episode to date. Really lookiing forward to season 3. In this episode we see Mr. Hit it and Quit it Ben Reed under the weather and being tended to by his ex who takes the opportunity to feed him soup and seductively steal a kiss. Like the saying goes the way to a man’s heart is through food. Cooking and feeding someone says a lot. His getting the promotion is just what the doctor ordered.
Brian too shows us how he is quite the ladies man. His scene in the kitchen where he’s bout ready to drop trow and as he said “Put some olive oil on it”, absolutely hysterical!! Clearly that’s the trouble with having a roommate. LOL His wake up call for an ex partner testing positive for HIV another sobering curve.
As for the revelation that Brian’s homophobic friend Sam’s girlfriend is none other than his coworker he’s been banging. Whoa!!! don’t envy anyone caught in the middle of a situation like that. Kudos to Brian though for stepping up and ending that mess once he knew the situation.
Questions to be answered in season 3 will definitely include does Brian tell Sam that he’s been with his girl? Which also begs the question how could a woman so interested in the gay bashing story in Brian’s past, be dating a homophobe?
Dane’s new patient a soldier looks every bit the part of a sexy new love interest or in the very least hookup in waiting. Both guys give us a great scene and appear clearly into each other while Dane tries to keep their interaction strictly professional however, his online hookup profile gives him away. It was cool to see two guys genuinely sit down talk and get to know a bit about each other over wine and not just have sex on their first night. We’ll be interested to see where this goes.
What’s great in this episode is also the addressing of today’s current hot button topic Gay Marriage. I.B.M does a great job with the time it has in giving us the human faces vested in this issue and showing us why there is such a strong battle to legalize Gay Marriage across the country. Whether you agree or disagree with it. Showing the human side to any argument is always more powerful than just spouting off. Wethe audience, want to see the people that are affected by the issue at hand.
Massimiliano getting back with his wife for his son absolutely crushes Dalton but leaves him open to pursuing one of the other potential love interests in the waiting. Overall this show has tons of drama and story to go and build on. Season 3! Season 3!! Season 3!!!
Q&A with Writer/Creator of the In Between Men Series Quincy Morris
Q: What was your inspiration for creating and writing the show?
QM: Actually when I started writing In Between Men, it wasn’t really a show. The show is partly based on a previous relationship I was in with an Italian guy from Rome. After we broke up, I went into a deep depression for about 8 months.
I was tired of being in the dumps so I decided I would write down, document our entire relationship. Writing was always cathartic for me, so I thought this would help. While I was writing, I also started integrating a lot of my feelings, viewpoints, perspectives I have been carrying around about the gay community for years, and how I oft times feel disconnected to what we know as mainstream gay culture.
I also felt like there were others out there like me who didn’t really see themselves as gay men represented in media in a way that was not, one dimensional, cliche, caricaturish, or the over the top flaming comic relief. So inspiration for the show comes from past relationships as well as political and cultural views.
Q: How did you come up with the lead character?
QM: The lead character is based mostly on myself- my strengths, my flaws.
Q: What are the high and lows of producing a web series show like IBM?
QM: The highs in producing your own webseries, is full creative control and freedom. The ability to collaborate with whomever you want. One of my biggest joys about the producing my own work is being able to give opportunities to people that I think are very talented. It feels good to contribute to the growth of their careers.
One of the lows is having to go out and fundraise and marketing, getting the show in front of as many eyes as possible. But that’s not a challenge exclusive to producing a web series. Those are challenges every filmmaker faces.
Q: Where do you envision the series going in the next Season?
QM: Season 3(it actually feel surreal to even say that) will find Dalton settling down into a nice healthy relationship. But overall, we will continue to see the guys experience life the way mostly everyone else does, in the world at large, and not just in an insular gay world. I think that’s what our show delivers best and what separates us from other shows.
We actually thought that same thing when looking at the show as well. All types of people and lives collide and are expressed in the show. We love that
Q: Can we expect the addition of yet another character to the show?
QM: Season2 had many new characters. We had almost 70 characters in Season 2, 90% of them were new. You will definitely see new characters in Season 3 as well as some returning favorites.
Thanks for your time Quincy it was a pleasure to get to talk to you and get first hand insight into the makings of In Between Men as well as yourself. Great series. Looking forward to Season 3.
Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: IN Between Men Season II: Reactions and Impressions of the popular Web Series
In Between Men Writer/Creator, Executive Producer, Quincy Morris told us where we could see the entire 1st and 2nd season online at Blip.tv in order to give our impressions on his creation. For those who don’t know IBM. It’s a web series that speaks to the issues a gay group of friends encounter while living in NYC.
In my opinion it’s essentially the gay version of Sex and the City and long overdue. Overall I like the cast of the show and the content which deals with real life issues, friendships, and of course what it’s like to be young gay masculine guys that don’t fit the stereotypes of what gay looks or is supposed to act like. With each passing webisode the series takes off and improves. For the purposes of this report. We’re dealing with Season II.
Episode 1: Dying to See You
For the most part the series is short episodes on average of 11-15 mins or more depending. Episode 1 starts off on the premise of friends finding out that Jake a character and friend of the Main character Dalton Fuller, (Other friends included) has died from a ruptured aneurysm. Personally I found there to be a slight lack of emotion in this scene that doesn’t really transfer to me the tragic passing of a close friend that moves me as a viewer enough to really believe it. One could pass this off as simply the shock of the sudden loss at that moment but it takes a bit off of the emotional moments we as the viewing audience are to take from this loss by the group.
We get a “Fuck!” from character Benjamin Reed, and “Can we seem him?” I suppose this can be overlooked somewhat as Dane the MD. Character has a more expected emotional reaction to the sudden loss than the rest of the group. I guess we all grieve in our own way. The episode concludes with the remaining living friends consoling each other and remembering their friend over a meal at a restaurant. Life goes on and so will they.
However, where one character is gone, room is made for the appearance of another and so begins the second season of In Between Men. There is no doubt in my mind with major backing and the budget to shoot longer episodes this webseries could be an even bigger hit produced for a major network like Showtime or HBO. The writing of the show is strong and speaks to critical elements of social exchange and perceptions of who or what “gay” looks acts or sounds like.
Episode 2: Under The Big Top
Under The Big Top was exactly what I meant when I said the show gets better which each episode. Due to the fact that these are pretty short episodes it really makes what we the viewers see that much more important to either be pulled into the show or not. Episode 2 Under the Big Top introduces us to a potential new love interest for main character Dalton Fuller via a sexy bar owner with southern charm.
The story is linear and continues to lament the passing of Jake and the planning of his memorial while we get acquainted with the lives of the supporting characters. It ends with narrative similar in style to that of Sex and the City and does so brilliantly while explaining the various nuances of the Gay Scene of NYC.
Episode 3: The Gangbang’s all here
The Gangbang’s all here gives us the memorial service for Jake which is attended by Dalton, Dane the doc, Ben & his brother Andrew, Kyle who was Jake’s boyfriend, Jake’s ex-girlfriend and the introduction of Brian the cousin of Jake’s ex-girlfriend. Dalton’s apartment is immediately pimped out to cousin Brian who is at the moment homeless as he looks for an apartment and who happily accepts Dalton’s couch as his new digs. Dalton feeling backed into a corner doesn’t rescind the invitation.
Curiosity over the orientation of Brian is immediately thrown into question making for fun speculation of what could ensue once Brian moves in. There’s mention of involvement in a gangbang the night before during observation of a moment of silence that I have to admit is pretty funny. This brief period of levity is immediately turned 180 degrees with the surprise appearance at the memorial by Massimiliano the sexy older Italian love interest of Dalton who broke his heart at the end of Season 1.
At this point we immediately can get to see the powerful connection of two lovers seeing each other again for the first time post breakup. The issue of being out and acceptance of what that would mean for two men on different levels of comfortability with their sexuality and openness is discussed as Dalton and Massimiliano agree to have an open relationship. The episode ends with Brian hooking up with Bridgette Lock the assistant of Jake’s ex girlfriend in Dalton’s bed, shattering the initial assumption by Dane that Brian was into Dalton and gay. Big Top fades out on the male bonding routine of playing hoops in the park with Dalton, Massimiliano, Dane, Brian and Ben.
Episode 4: Arts and Aircrafts
It keeps getting better. In Arts and Aircrafts Dalton trying to rekindle the magic with Massimiliano has a day planned for just them two when he is surprised to find Massimiliano has nonchalantly hinted that the day won’t even begin to get off the ground so to speak as he places his passport in plain view on the counter while making a call after having just presented Dalton with coffee. What I always love to have ready happens next which is Plan B no pun intended lol.
Dalton decides to go to the museum alone and meets yet another sexy foreigner this time an Israeli guy with the accent of a french man Eli. The two begin discussing the art work of Chagall. The scene shifts to Brian in Dalton’s apartment getting ready to take a shower when a knock at the door reveals a character Dominick (ex bf of Dalton) who is surprised to see Brian half dressed in Dalton’s apartment.
Looks say it all and the look Dominick gave Brian up and down several times before he closed the door left us momentarily speechless with big grins on our faces. Dane’s occupation is revealed in an unexpected “doctor” visit by Jean-Marc, the guy he helped gangbang the night before Jake’s memorial. The examination ends with a date request from Jean-Marc who we’ve nicknamed “Gangbang Jean”. I have to say that the casting is great as each character gives us enough depth to keep us interested in what they do and what will happen next.
Up next is Ben Reed grabbing lunch from a street vendor which turns into an impromptu hookup date with a construction worker when Ben forgets his wallet in the office and the construction worker takes the opp to play “knight in shining armor” and buys Ben’s lunch. Being a no nonsense hit it and quit kinda guy Ben minces no words with the construction worker and has the booty call set up for that night with the arrogance one would expect from an attractive guy who knows he could have pretty much any man/woman he wants.
Episode 5: Kind of a Big Deal
In this episode we found ourselves pulled into learning about the good doctor Dane’s not so good habit of dealing out prescriptions not specifically for actual patients. Meanwhile, Ben has to deal with a conniving coworker trying to steal his account at work for a multi million dollar ad campaign. The group meets up at another night spot to catch up, shoot the breeze and once again pay tribute to the memory of their now deceased friend Jake.
I.B.M keeps you wanting more. We’re left wondering what will happen when Dane’s love interest is rushed into the ER on an apparent drug overdose at the end of the episode. They just lost their friend Jake and now as an enabler, Dane is facing potentially losing his career not to mention the life of the guy he’s been seeing.
Coming Soon a review of the Web Series In Between Men Season 2 as well as some Q&A with the series creator and executive producer Quincy Morris. Stay tuned.
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