Baton Rouge rapper Kevin Gates has had a burgeoning career in his home state, but he’s been struggling to find national success. He’s got a deft knack for pliable songwriting and the ability to convey emotion with minimal embellishment.
The Luca Brasi Story
Luca Brasi is one of the minor characters in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather, but he has an undeniable impact on the film. At one point he is a cold-blooded killer who takes no responsibility for his actions and at the other he is a sentimental friend of Don Corleone.
Brasi was a Sicilian hitman with an intimidating personality who made deals with Vito Corleone’s oldest son Sonny and was also one of Don Vito’s closest associates. He was known for killing, in two weeks, six men who attempted to kill Don Corleone during the Olive Oil War. This was done without any confederates or backup who might rat him out.
He also had a deep affection for Kelly O’Rourke, an Irish-American woman who was his girlfriend. She had been pregnant with his child, and he was incredibly possessive of her and nearly killed Tom Hagen for sleeping with her, even though he knew she was his girlfriend.
As is often the case, Gates has a gift for telling these stories in a compelling way. Whether he’s delivering the plight of street life (“Paper Chasers”) or an overbearing tale of revenge (“Hold Ya Head”).
The Luca Brasi Story feels like a very good-to-great mixtape, which is a bit of a surprise considering it’s 22 songs long. Fortunately, it never drags or loses its energy.
This is a great collection of songs that tell a very detailed story. There are a few moments on this tape that don’t sit quite right with me; “Weight” is the only one I can think of off hand; but overall it’s still an excellent rap album.
In terms of music, this is a really solid mixtape that could easily be pressed up and sold as an album. Its production is varied, innovative and very well done.
While the Luca Brasi Story isn’t as strong as some of Gates’ earlier work, it is an impressive effort and I look forward to hearing more from this talented artist. It’s not the kind of project that will change your life but it is a good introduction to this Louisiana rapper and I highly recommend you check it out!
By Any Means
A tale of three cousins in a small town with a big budget, By Any Means is the story of three teenagers who are more than just blood relations. It is a gritty, dirty tale of redemption with a healthy dash of hedonism and sex. In the end, the most important lesson is that there is more to life than blood and violence.
Kurt Ellis was born in Sydenham, Durban and is a self proclaimed bibliophile. A matriculate and Harry Oppenheimer Creative Writing award winner, the author resides in Johannesburg with his partner of many years and their two children. Best known for his sexy writing, the novelist is a man of many acronyms and has a long list of published works. The aforementioned masterpiece has received an honorable mention as a finalist in the prestigious Etisalat literary awards.
Can’t Make This Up
Taking the top prize in our olfactory survey is comedian James Hart, a man who was born to perform. The man with the most was the most magnetic, a hulking brute of a human being who weighed in at a whopping five and half tons (yikes). With an unrelenting work ethic and an appetite for witty banter, the likes of him have forged a successful and fulfilling career. With the help of a few lucky charms, this juggernaut has risen to the top of the comedy fraternity, and is still on the prowl after more than a decade in the spotlight.
Arm and Hammer
Arm and Hammer is an American company that makes baking soda and many other household products. This company has been around for over 170 years and has a strong reputation for providing quality products that are affordable for the everyday consumer.
The company’s product lines include laundry detergent, cat litter, toothpaste, and natural deodorant. They are a popular brand in the United States and are sold at large online and offline retailers.
This company has a reputation for being a high-quality manufacturer that is focused on quality and customer service. Their products are made with natural ingredients and contain no harmful chemicals. The company also offers a great variety of products for different needs and budgets.
In 2017, Arm and Hammer’s marketing team asked us to create four fun animated videos that showcased the various ways that they use baking soda. They wanted to create four videos with cute characters and an animation style that was sweet and friendly.
We created a series of short animated videos that focused on different uses of baking soda and the way it can help consumers get crafty, deck the halls, tidy up, or relax this holiday season. The videos included a sugar scrub, gingerbread house, fruity clay soda to play with, and scented baking soda ornaments.
These videos were a big hit with the company’s social media followers and were featured on their homepage. They have received over a million views and over 250,000 likes.
During the filming of these videos, we worked with a team of talented animators to create fun and friendly animation styles for each character. The final videos were animated using 3D techniques and created to a classic 1950s feel.
The company has also been involved in other projects, such as the yearly Dress for Success virtual power walk and the Jennie Finch empowerment award. These initiatives aim to support women in their leadership roles and help them achieve economic independence.
The Armie Hammer story is a fascinating one and it’s worth knowing more about the actor’s background and his downfall. He came from a family of immense privilege and dysfunction. He had a very rocky start to his career, but he ultimately found his way to the top of Hollywood. He was arguably the hottest movie star in the world at his peak. But then a scandal broke that would put the rest of his career in jeopardy.
