Latest news with #Modu
Business Wire
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Chi Modu® Estate Retains Ownership of the Iconic Biggie Smalls Images
BUSINESS WIRE)--Following a confidential settlement reached in 2024 between the Estate of renowned photographer Chi Modu and the family of famed rapper Christopher Wallace, better known as Biggie Smalls and the Notorious BIG, the Modu family is delighted to announce that it retains sole ownership of the iconic hip-hop photos of Biggie. "Above all, I am happy that the Modu family maintains complete control of Chi's artistic work,' said Mrs. Modu. More specifically, the settlement confirmed a number of important principles: (1) the Chi Modu Estate alone owns the copyrighted images and, as such, the Estate is (2) free to sell copies of the photographs in any form including NFTs, and (3) those who wish to use the photographs for any purpose must obtain permission from the family and pay license fees to do so; and (4) the Wallace family alone controls Biggie's right of publicity. The settlement ensures that Chi's powerful images are unencumbered for editorial uses, purchases (including NFTs), and are available for limited licensing opportunities. Sophia Modu, the widow of Chi Modu, only now feels ready to publicly address the settlement and the impact of her husband's passing. 'It took a while for me to work through the settlement with Notorious B.I.G., LLC, and to be emotionally prepared to address this publicly. Above all, I am happy that the Modu family maintains complete control of his artistic work,' said Mrs. Modu. Chi Modu's images, captured during a groundbreaking era in '90s hip-hop history, remain a testament to his unique eye and cultural insight. 'Chi spent many years as the Director of Photography for The Source magazine in the '90s,' Mrs. Modu continued. 'While he was compensated very little for his artistic services, the magazine agreed that Chi would retain the rights to his photographs of hip-hop artists that graced its pages. Chi's photographs remain his—in life or in death.' With the litigation now behind them, the Estate looks forward to monetizing Chi's archival material through editorial channels, creative collaborations such as photographic exhibitions, and emerging platforms such as NFTs. 'Throughout the case, I've learned how crucial it is for photographers to understand their intellectual property rights. If creatives are not fully aware of the intersection of art, business, and law, they can unintentionally give others an excuse to claim their images or work products,' added Mrs. Modu. ArentFox Schiff LLP, a prominent national law firm, represented the Chi Modu estate in this matter on a pro bono basis. About The Chi Modu Estate Celebrating his 35+ year career in photography, the Estate of Christopher Chijioke Modu remains the sole owner and manager of the iconic photographs taken by the legendary artist and photojournalist, Chi Modu. Additionally, the Estate holds trademarks on Hip Hop Images™, his name, and his iconic signature. The estate manages the licensing of his archival material for collaborations, exhibitions, and emerging platforms such as NFTs. Its assets include unique photographs of The Notorious BIG, Tupac Shakur, Nas, Eazy-E, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and many other hip-hop icons. Please visit for images personally curated by Chi Modu or contact Sophia Modu: +1.917.558.2012
Time Out
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
5 new restaurants in Singapore to check out this June 2025
June is here, and with the mid-year mark comes a fresh crop of new restaurants in Singapore waiting to be explored. From rooftop Italian dining inspired by coastal lighthouses to sizzling chicken offcuts that'll change the way you think about Korean barbecue, you'll want to make space on your calendar – and in your belly. This June, you can sip on aperitivo by the sea at 1-Alfaro, dive into bold Latin American flavours at Cudo, and join the hype train at Tokyo's cult-favourite Pizza Studio Tamaki. There's also something for noodle lovers – Kyo Komachi brings regional Japanese udon specialties to Vivo City – and a whole new take on KBBQ at Korea's Song Gye Ok. Here are the hottest new tables in Singapore to book right now. Explore Singapore's 2025 restaurant openings by month: 1. 1-Alfaro A brand new lifestyle destination by 1-Group, the folks behind well-known concepts like Wildseed, Atico Lounge, and Botanico @ The Summerhouse, launches this month. 1-Alfaro takes inspiration from the lighthouses of Emilia-Romagna in Italy, and fittingly, this new spot is perched on the rooftop of Labrador Tower, overlooking the sea. Dig into classic Italian plates and sip on aperitivo – the restaurant La Torre and bar La Luna at 1-Alfaro are run by the same team behind Monti, so you know they mean business. Feast on a spread of handmade tagliatelle ($28) and pinwheel pasta ($22), grilled meats ranging from Australian ribeye ($148) to Iberico tomahawk ($78), and then mosey over to La Luna for sundowners, whether it's wines (from $12), cocktails (from $16), or sharing jugs ($40) that you fancy. Once the sun sets, the mood turns electric with a live DJ spinning till late. Address: Labrador Tower, Level 34, Singapore 118479 Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am-1am; Sat 10am-1am; Sun 10am-midnight Expect to pay: Around $80 per person with drinks. 2. Song Gye Ok Think Korean barbecue and you'll most likely picture thick strips of samgyeopsal (pork belly) or slabs of galbi (beef ribs) over the grill instead of chicken. But prepare to have your perception changed after June 5, because Korea's famed grilled chicken restaurant Song Gye Ok is opening its doors in Singapore. The chain commands hour-long queues in Seoul – and mind you, these hungry patrons are usually locals, not tourists. Head down to Telok Ayer to sample Song Gye Ok's assorted grilled chicken platter ($98), featuring six chicken cuts including rare bits like chicken neck fillets, gizzards, hearts, and chicken breast softbone. It's a medley of textures and flavours that highlight the oft-overlooked parts of the chicken that can be just as delicious as the thighs, wings, or drumlets. On top of that, you'll also find Modu 's samgyetang on the menu – in particular the perilla seed, collagen, and spicy hangover soups. Address: 113 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068582 Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, 5pm-10pm; Sat-Sun 11am-10pm Expect to pay: Around $60 per person including additional sides to share. 3. Pizza Studio Tamaki The pizza fever in this city never dies, and Tokyo's Pizza Studio Tamaki is here to prove it with its legendary Tokyo-Neapolitan slices. This popular pizzeria from Roppongi officially opens to the public on June 10, taking over a unit in Duxton where the cocktail bar Tippling Club used to be. Maybe it's because of its celebrity-endorsed status (both Justin Bieber and Jeff Bezos have dined here) or its stamps of approval from Michelin and 50 Top Pizza, but we hear PST has already racked up some 2,000 reservations in its opening month alone. What sets the pizzeria apart is its dough, lightly fermented for 30 hours for a softer, fluffier texture, which is almost mochi-like in the way it pulls apart. The peel is also dusted with a fine layer of salt before the pizzas are slid on and fired up in the oven, adding a subtle savoury touch to each bite. Address: 38 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088461 Opening hours: Daily noon-3pm, 5pm-11pm Expect to pay: Around $60 per person with drinks. 4. Cudo The people behind Siri House and Mediterranean restaurant Moxie bring us Cudo, a new Latin American restaurant at Stanley Street. Executive Chef Steven Chou spent years travelling around New York, New Jersey, Mexico City, and Cancún, so everything at Cudo is tinged with the same punchy flavours and soul. A popular pick here is the lunchtime exclusive Cubano – sandwich stuffed with pork jowl, belly, Emmental cheese, and pickles – which is part of a reasonably priced $28 lunch set. But if you're dropping by for dinner, you'll get to try Chef Steven's Disco Fries ($16) – golden fries baked with Cotija cheese, beef gravy, chorizo, and salsa; and the squid ink pasta ($36) with lobster bisque cream and grilled tiger prawns. Stay for desserts like the tres leches ($14) with milk-soaked sponge and coconut cream, or the toffee plantain ($15) topped with vanilla ice cream. Address: 13 Stanley Street, Singapore 068732 Opening hours: Mon-Thu 11.30am-10.30pm; Fri-Sat 11.30am-11.30pm Expect to pay: Around $90 per person with drinks. 5. Kyo Komachi Remember when Himokawa udon (wide, flat noodles from Gunma, Japan) took the internet by storm early last year? Now, Umai in Guoco Midtown won't be the only place you can visit to try this unique dish – you can also check out Kyo Komachi in VivoCity, an udon-specialty restaurant highlighting the many versions of udon across the different regions in Japan. All the noodles here are handmade with Unryu wheat flour, imported from Japan. The signature Himokawa udon set ($14.90) comes with two sauces – pick curry for a richer flavour, sesame sauce, or the classic shoyu if you prefer something lighter. While you're here, sample the other udon dishes, including comforting, bubbling pots of Nabeyaki hot pot (from $16.90); white curry udon (from $12.90) from Ebisu, Tokyo; or fusion maze-udon (dry noodles, from $16.90) with toppings like ebi chilli, tom yum, or basil.
