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Uncertainty Brewing: Strange Clouds on the Horizon For SoundCloud

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Eric Gasa

Start those 30-day free premium trials because SoundCloud might not be here much longer.

A death knell resounded in the halls of SoundCloud’s Berlin headquarters last Tuesday after the user-based streaming service swiftly laid off 40 percent of its staff and shuttered two offices in a closed meeting. Co-founder Alex Ljung said the decision was made in order to “ensure our path to long-term, independent success.”

Initially thought to be a rumor, reports of the site’s inevitable demise sprouted online. Sources at SoundCloud told TechCrunch that founders Ljung and Eric Wahlforss confessed that the company has only enough money to last until Quarter 4, or approximately 80 more days.

The news has left underground MCs, DJs, amateur producers, and other unsigned artists scrambling to archive their music on SoundCloud before they’re gone forever. Unlike competitors, Spotify and Apple Music, SoundCloud allows users to upload and share their own tracks and audio content.

For the independent music world, Rome seems to be burning because love it or hate it, SoundCloud served as the springboard for countless artists such as Lil Pump, Playboi Carti, Lil Uzi Vert, and Young Thug. This rise in underground viral hip hop led to a loose subculture of SoundCloud rappers; a subversive brand of amateur MCs raised on bassy beats, Percocet, and viral hooks.

As for the company’s financial ailments, experts cite SoundCloud’s inability to brand itself as a big streaming platform like Spotify (which it’s not) instead of capitalizing on the app’s truly organic uploading features for young artists and listeners alike.
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Marvel Announces Exclusive Agreement With Writer Donny Cates

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Donny Cates joins the House of Ideas as the new writer of Doctor Strange

New York, NY—July 18, 2017—Marvel Entertainment is excited to announce that writer Donny Cates, who has brought his talent to comic powerhouses such as Image (God Country, Redneck), IDW (Star Trek), and Dark Horse (The Paybacks, Ghost Fleet, Buzzkill), will now bring his explosive storytelling to Marvel in an exclusive agreement.

“I’ve wanted to write for Marvel since I was a little kid, so the opportunity to come into this incredible world and play with all of these amazing characters is a dream come true for me,” said Cates. “Everyone at Marvel has been great to work with, and we’ve put our collective heads together to make some really special stories for the fans. I’ve never been more excited to tell the stories that I’m telling today. I feel like a kid again. Albeit a kid who is inflicting…just terrible things upon all your favorite characters.”

Today, Marvel can also reveal that Cates, along with artist Gabriel Hernandez Walta, will be the new creative team on DOCTOR STRANGE taking over the title in November. And with this new team comes a new Sorcerer Supreme- Loki, the Norse god of Mischief!
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Legion M Gives Back To Fans With Exclusive Party For Marvel Legend Stan Lee

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Celebration Set To Take Place Following Lee’s Imprint Ceremony At TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood

Marvel Heroes and Filmmakers to Gather in Support of Stan Lee at TCL Ceremony

LOS ANGELES, CA (July 18, 2017) – Legion M, the world’s first fan-owned entertainment company, will celebrate Marvel legend Stan Lee with a party today, the same day Lee puts his hand- and footprints in cement in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

Both the Chinese Theatre ceremony and the after-party are part of Legion M’s recognition of the incredible work of Lee in his 95th year. The day will start off with the imprint ceremony at 11am, hosted by director and comic fan Kevin Smith, and will end with a party at a private home in the Hollywood Hills that will be reminiscent of Tony Stark’s Iron Man retreat. Those expected at the hand and footprint ceremony include actor Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, actor Clark Gregg (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), director James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy 1 & 2), director Jon Watts (Spider-Man Homecoming), actor Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk), and producer Tom DeSanto (X-Men 1 & 2). Attendees and presenting sponsors of the party are Stan Lee Collectibles, Akyumen Technologies Corporation and Celsius Fitness Drink.
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COMIC-CON WEEK: Claudio Sanchez Brings Sci-Fi Odyssey “The Amory Wars” to San Diego Comic Con

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Exclusive Tandem Variants with Boom! Studios, Signings, and his own booth, #1732

July 18, 2017 – Los Angeles, CA – Claudio Sanchez returns to San Diego Comic Con this year with his NY Times Bestseller, The Amory Wars. His latest 12 issue series, Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, hit comic shops in April via Boom! Studios and Claudio’s own Evil Ink Comics.

Good Apollo, which landed inside the Top 200 Comichron Charts even with a large direct-sales platform, focuses on a not-so-ordinary man, Claudio Kilgannon. In the epic series, Kilgannon, with the help of a blue-skinned heroine named Ambellina, is thrust into the unlikely position of leading a rebel army into battle to dethrone an evil dictator. All 4 issues and variants of Good Apollo will be available at the Evil Ink Booth (#1732).
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Action-Packed “Blade Runner 2049” New Trailer Released

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By Creative Media Times

“No one can outrun the truth” in new trailer for “Blade Runner 2049.” Its amazing to think that we are two years away from the original Blade Runner’s dystopian Los Angeles of 2019. Though that film left a lot of unanswered questions and people confused, it has since garnered a cult following.

Now we have a sequel which takes place 30 years after, possibly answering many questions born out of the original. Some of those questions involve the nature of Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) and the trailer shows plenty of the character. We also have a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), out to search for replicants, but could be the one capable of saving the world.

The trailer looks beautiful and spectacular, with a lot more action than the film’s previous trailers. On paper, the movie is in good hands. The director, Denis Villeneuve, not only knows his science fiction, but also directed some really compelling, critically acclaimed films, including Prisoners, Sicario, and last year’s sci-fi hit film Arrival. He is also working on a reboot of “Dune” another 80s sci-fi cult classic.

The film also stars Robin Wright, Jared Leto, Ana de Armas, Barkhad Abdi, Lennie James, Mackenzie Davis, and Sylvia Hoeks.

Here’s the film’s official synopsis:

Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.

“Blade Runner 2049” opens on October 6th 2017.

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Kesha Triumphantly Returns With “Praying”- Review

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By Niy Birden

Kemosabe RCA


It has been a long, courageous fight for Kesha Rose Sebert, a.k.a Ke$ha, but now stylized as simply, Kesha. When she first came out, she was ostracized and criticized for her extensive auto-tune, party glam, drunk- girl-appropriating- cultures tone of music and imagery, and then three years ago we learned that she had been suffering from sexual abuse from her main producer Dr. Luke , who used to be the owner of Kasz only Inc., which partnered with Sony Records.

While the law dispute seems to have quieted down, Kesha’s voice definitely has not. And for good reasons, of course. If anything, her voice is more unique and louder than ever. Most people don’t know that before and during her “Tik Tok” fame in 2009, she was a singer-songwriter. So it’s actually no surprise at all that her return would not only be one to shatter her prior musical image, but it also shatters the opinions of most of her listeners. “Praying” is Kesha’s most powerful song to date. Don’t be surprised if you hear about the next singing competition winner getting their fame through use of this song. It’s that good. With its powerful chorus, whistle tone-like belt, and catchy melody, it makes you wonder what powerhouses Adele and Christina Aguilera are doing with their releases.

Premiering on July 6th as the first single from her new album “Rainbow”, Kesha actually released her new golden song with an interesting music video, filled with religious symbolism, oddly-masked men, and her walking around a very large outside environment, doing a ritualistic dance and prayer straight from the Indigenous people that she so often uses for accessory. While the video isn’t nearly as powerful as the song, it is classically, a very Kesha video. The most visually stunning shots, however, are the almost-still moments when the color of the video is in a black and white shot, with Kesha laying down on a surface, against a landscape of beautiful water. While the shot is supposed to be one of a solemn moment, it creates a beautiful effect on the eye. A similar scene returns at the very end of the video when she is now walking-on water, might I add- but this time, with a golden sunset played out before her. Looks like she’s been praying indeed.
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Disney’s ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ Trailer Shows Plenty Of Star Power

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By Creative Media Times

Walt Disney Studios


Director Ava DuVernay’s live-action adaptation of the classic science fantasy novel is mesmerizing. Disney released the new trailer during the film’s panel at D23 Expo in Anaheim, California on Saturday.

The trailer features scientist Dr. Alex Murry (Chris Pine) talking about traveling through time and space. “What if we are here for a reason? What if we are a part of something truly divine. Imagine, 91 billion light years traveled like that.” The trailer then changes pace as he snaps his fingers and the haunting cover intro of Eurythmics’ 80s hit song “Sweet Dreams” starts playing on the background.

Mrs. Which (Winfrey) then pick up the narration, explaining to Meg Murry (Storm Reid) that “your father has accomplished something extraordinary but also dangerous. He’s trapped by a darkness that’s actively spreading throughout the universe. And the only one who can stop it is you. Be a warrior.”

We then see a series of fantastical end-of-the-world scenes, collapsing trees, characters falling from the sky, and disturbingly strange characters in suburban settings.

‘A Wrinkle in Time’ is based on a 1963 novel by Madeleine L’Engle. It was first adapted for a 2003 television film of the same name which, unfortunately, didn’t receive much attention.

‘A Wrinkle in Time’ stars Storm Reid, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Mindy Kaling, Deric McCabe,Levi Miller, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, André Holland, Michael Peña, Zach Galifianakis, and Oprah Winfrey.

The film opens March 9th, 2018.

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JAY-Z challenges race and wealth on latest music video, “The Story of O.J.”

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Eric Gasa

The Story of O.J.
Roc Nation


JAY-Z’s latest music video will be offensive to some and provocative to others; such is the essence of an artist born both in the tradition and spite of the Brooklyn projects. “The Story of O.J.”, directed by Mark Romanek and Jay himself, is as unsettling as it is campy. Jay rhymes over a sharp beat that cuts right into the heart of the post-racial myth in America.

But it’s the animated visual that makes “The Story of O.J.” all the more provoking. In it, Jay is reimagined as an offensive Disney caricature ala Jim Crow, meant to mimic vintage blackface cartoon characters. The idea isn’t exactly meant to make viewers uncomfortable but rather symbolize the antiquated views black persons still face when in the spotlight.

“O.J. like, ‘I’m not black, I’m O.J.’,” the cartoon Jay rolls his eyes and sighs, “…okay.”
Regarding the lyric, the rapper said in the 8-minute mini documentary, Footnotes for The Story of O.J., “O.J. would get a free space where he’s like ‘I’m not black, I’m O.J.’ Like Tiger Woods would say, ‘I’m above the culture,’…And that same person when he’s playing golf, and playing great, [he’s] protected. When you’re not, they’re gonna put pictures of you drunk driving and embarrass you. That world will eat you up and spit you out.”

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Gary Oldman As Churchill In New Trailer For “Darkest Hour”

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By Creative Media Times

Focus Features

Gary Oldman is Winston Churchill in the intense new trailer for “Darkest Hour”, Joe Wright’s upcoming political drama about Britain’s wartime prime minister, out later this year.

Ever a chameleon and versatile actor, Oldman is unrecognizable in the trailer, which shows Churchill after his appointment as Prime Minister, his decisions under the looming pressures of Nazi Germany, and the fight he instead chose to make.

Joining Oldman is a sterling cast: Ben Mendelsohn as King George VI, Kristin Scott Thomas as Churchill’s wife Clementine, Ronald Pickup as Neville Chamberlain, Stephen Dillane as Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax, and Lily James as personal secretary of Churchill Elizabeth Nel.

Here’s the film’s official synopsis:

A thrilling and inspiring true story begins on the eve of World War II as, within days of becoming Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill (Academy Award nominee Gary Oldman) must face one of his most turbulent and defining trials: exploring a negotiated peace treaty with Nazi Germany, or standing firm to fight for the ideals, liberty and freedom of a nation. As the unstoppable Nazi forces roll across Western Europe and the threat of invasion is imminent, and with an unprepared public, a skeptical King, and his own party plotting against him, Churchill must withstand his darkest hour, rally a nation, and attempt to change the course of world history.

Focus Features will release Darkest Hour in select cities on November 22, 2017. Watch the official trailer below:

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Nick Jonas Returns, This Time With U.K. Newbie and Pop Buddy

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Review: “Remember I told You”
By Niy Birden

Island – Safehouse


Dancehall, dubstep and EDM have created a whirlwind of hits for mainstream radio. This has been happening since the 70’s, but with the era of technology and live retweets, when there’s a hit,there’s a hit. For the song “Remember I Told You”, however, this hit is much more interesting due to the roster of artists featured.

Nick Jonas, the legendary ex-Jonas Brother hailing from the teenage stardom of Disney Channel, has come such a long way. From Disney rock, to young-but-still-impressionable rock, and now to R&B and Pop, Nick actually has quite the discography on his hands. While he has only managed to get genuine hits since the start of his “Chains” and “Jealous” year, the hits he make are charming, upbeat, and, if you’re like me, something that you probably wouldn’t mind listening to.

He’s managed to pair with a lot of notable names in the last few years (including Mike Posner, who joins him again for this song), but for this new release, he’s tapped into a little old school and a little new school with sorta-newcomer Anne Marie, who has her first U.S. hit this year with “Alarm” and pop heartthrob Mike Posner, who you might remember from his earlier hits “Cooler Than Me” and “Please Don’t Go”, or more recently, “I Took A Pill In Ibiza”. So what can come from two veteran artists and one newbie? Electro gold, apparently.
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