Posted at 10:30h
in
Reviews
Dir: Lee Daniels
Starring: Mo’Nique, Mariah Carey, Paula Patton, Lenny Kravitz and Gabourey Sidibe.
Based on the book Push by Sapphire,
Precious’ story is one of harrowing sadness, unwavering strength and ultimately, triumph. She is physically and sexually abused by both of her parents and after being expelled from school for being pregnant, she finds herself at an ‘alternative school’. Here, guidance comes in the form of a new teacher by the name of Miss Rain (
Paula Patton) and she finds friendship with her classmates. Soon, an illiterate Precious (
Gabourey Sidibe) learns to read and starts to raise her baby alone. Her life seems to be finding direction until misfortune rears it’s ugly head once again with the re-appearance of her mother, Mary (
Mo’Nique).
Precious’ life is harrowing and although few people have gone through what she did in the movie, her story isn’t unique. You can see yourself in aspects of Precious and the glimmer of hope and strength running as an undercurrent throughout the movie unites everyone. In short, the movie was intense, immense and ultimately exhilarating. One of those films that leave you with a swelled feeling in your chest, a lump in your throat and a deep desire to leave the theatre and do something amazing with your life.
With her debut EP, titled Every Girl, released for free download at the tail end of 2011 building buzz towards the first album, New York singer Bridget Kelly recently got onto the phone with SoulCulture to share her musical inspirations [Mariah Carey - “She’s my all time favourite”] and the influences that drive her work ethic [“Jay Z gives 100% every show,” and re: Beyonce, “she doesn’t demand anything of anybody that she can’t do - and she is a superhero”], also discussing her approach to songwriting as a newbie and the role artist development plays at her label, Roc Nation; “that’s the driving force.”
Music Box was released on August 31, 1993 by Columbia Records. After selling over 15 million copies of her self-titled debut album, 
Before there was Hype Williams, Little X and Benny Boom, there was Lionel C. Martin.
From 1987 to present, Martin’s videography reads like a scroll of all of the great talents of the past 25 years in urban and popular music. Martin is responsible for giving urban music videos life and authenticity at a time where Hip Hop and R&B desperately needed a pioneer to deliver a quality product for the world to see. Martin has produced videos for TLC, Stevie Wonder, R. Kelly, Public Enemy, Bell Biv Devoe, Big Daddy Kane, Jay-Z, Keith Sweat, Toni Braxton, Boyz II Men, SWV, En Vogue, MC Shan, Jodeci, Mariah Carey, Jill Scott, Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, Notorious B.I.G., Father MC, Hi-Five, Tupac, N’Sync, Backstreet Boys and many more.
Martin, a native of Queens, NY, was a trailblazing force in the 1980s when he helped launch the Video Music Box channel with his childhood friend, Ralph McDaniels in 1984. The Video Music Box channel was only seen in the Tri-State area at the time. The Tri-State area consists of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Martin was one of the first hosts on the show and his moniker was (The VidKid). The channel would play every Hip Hop video from the popular artists of the time period.
After its inaugural year, Martin devised an idea to expand the channel’s brand and this move helped to make the channel achieve legendary status. Martin alongside McDaniels made the decision to travel extensively through the emerging hip-hop scene to cover parties and shows to illustrate the influence that Hip Hop culture was having on New York City and the surrounding areas. It would prove to be pivotal in shaping the career path of Martin.
During this time, the Video Music Box channel was the only Hip Hop program in syndication on public television in the United States. It gave a voice and face to a culture that would begin to dominate the mainstream in the forthcoming years. Whilst working on the Video Music Box channel, Martin would see the types of videos that would come in from the artists and thought that the Hip Hop culture needed to have better representation for the art form. This is where his voyage of directing music videos begins.
Recently, SoulCulture sat down to talk with Martin about his contributions to urban music videos, behind the scene stories and the importance of maintaining pride in urban culture.