Latest news with #BasedOnATrueStory
1News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- 1News
Renowned Fat Freddy's Drop founder Chris Faiumu dies
Fat Freddy's Drop founding member and beatmaker Chris Faiumu has died. Chris Faiumu was known by his stage name DJ Fitchie or DJ Mu and helped develop the band's widely regarded sound. In a post to social media, the band confirmed its "talismanic founding member, production maestro, selector and brother" had died. "This is a seismic shift in our world. Sending alofa to the Faiumu & Duckworth aiga, and to MU's wider aiga of friends and fans worldwide," the band wrote. ADVERTISEMENT "Tears flowed on receiving word that your journey had taken you to the heavens Chris DJ MU Fitchie. "These were all the titles you were famously known by for your miraculous works to all music makers of Aotearoa and the whole world. " Growing from Faimu's already established career, Fat Freddy's formed in 1999, following his experimentation with live instrumentation and vocals in his DJ sets. In 2005 the collective of Wellington musicians burst onto the national scene with the release of their first studio album Based On A True Story. Chris Faiumu pictured in 2004. (Source: 1News) The album sold over 100,000 copies in New Zealand and spent 108 weeks consecutively in the Top 40. At the New Zealand Music Awards that year it won Album of the Year, Best Aotearoa Roots Album and the People's Choice Award. Fat Freddy's Drop also won Best Group. ADVERTISEMENT The band enjoyed local success in New Zealand and also attracted huge crowds at festivals and their own headline gigs across Europe and Australasia. In October 2014, Fat Freddy's Drop sold out London's O2 Academy. More recently, the band regularly toured Europe and UK, making the trip twice in 2024 with both summer and winter drops. In 2024, the band released its sixth studio album entitled SLO MO, with nine bass-heavy new songs. Reporter Isobel Prasad caught up with the band as it drops its sixth studio album this week. (Source: 1News) At the time, Faiumu described the mix as "Afro rhythmic soul music, an exploration of Black music from Polynesia". The band has sold in excess of 500,000 albums. ADVERTISEMENT Other New Zealand DJs took to social media to pay tribute to Faiumu following his death. Shapeshifter wrote they were "deeply saddened" by the news. "Mu was and still is a massive inspiration to Shapeshifter. We have toured and shared many stages together with the mighty @fatfreddysdropnz Our deepest and dearest of condolences we would like to send much warmth and love to Nicole Mia and the whole FFD family." "Beyond heartbroken," wrote Wellington's DJ Jazzywhut. Another Wellington DJ Rodrigo Pantoja said Faiumu was "an inspiration and a total legend, to say you'll be missed is an understatement. "Thanks for the music bro, we'll continue to dance." ADVERTISEMENT
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Fat Freddy's Drop founder Chris Faiumu dies
Chris Faiumu. Photo: Sarah Hunter Chris Faiumu, the founder of the band Fat Freddy's Drop has died. More widely known as Mu and DJ Fitchie, he was the man behind the band's signature sound. Fat Freddy's Drop's 2005 album Based On a True Story is the third highest selling album ever by a New Zealand artist. It remained on the Top 40 charts for two years. The band was also well known for its live improvised performances, and toured internationally. The band celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. Tributes for the musician have been posted social media, with people sharing warm stories about his career, and grief at his passing. More to come... Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Will Smith says Oscars slap fallout was brutal
Three years after he slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars, Will Smith says making a mistake so publicly was "brutal". "The last few years for me have been really deep reflection," the actor tells 1Xtra's Remi Burgz. "After the Oscars I shut it down for a minute and really went into the internal work and just taking a big, strong, honest look at myself." Will was banned from the awards ceremony for 10 years after he hit the comedian for joking about his wife's shaved head - a result of alopecia, a hair loss condition. "For the first time in my career, [I was] having to deal with a level of disapproval that I never had to experience," Will says. "The addiction to the approval of others that I had to dissolve, it was brutal." At the 2022 ceremony in Los Angeles, Chris Rock mocked Will's wife Jada's appearance. Clips showing Will immediately marching on stage and slapping him across the face and telling him to keep his wife's name out his mouth have been viewed millions of times online. Will resigned from the Oscars Academy shortly after, saying his actions were "shocking, painful, and inexcusable". The 56-year-old tells 1Xtra the fallout has also given him to time to reflect. "It was just like there was a manhole cover over some unexplored areas and the manhole cover came off," he says. "It was scary for a minute what was in there. "But then all of a sudden, all these new thoughts, new energies, new creativity came through like a geyser and it started showing up as music." Earlier this year Will released his first album in 20 years, Based On A True Story, and tells 1Xtra he asked for advice before heading back to the studio. "When I started writing, I called Jay Z and I called Kendrick," he says. "Kendrick said you have to say those things you've always been scared to say and Jay Z said don't even go near it if you're not trying to tell the truth." The new music hasn't been a hit with critics. Pitchfork said it was "excruciatingly corny" while Rolling Stone described it as "cringey... clunky and dated" in a two-and-a-half star review. But Will says it was a "fun way to express the madness of what goes on in my head". "It is the exploration of what I call the 'despicable prisoners'. "It's the parts of myself that have been banished, the parts of myself I'm not allowed to talk about on the radio, the part of myself I'm not even allowed to acknowledge is real. "Working in that space of authenticity, honesty and imperfection, allowing that to grow into a higher perfection than the imagery of Will Smith is where I am as an artist and as a human right now." Remi's full interview with Will Smith is available to stream on BBC Sounds. Why did Will Smith hit Chris Rock? Will Smith resigns from Oscars Academy over slap Will Smith banned from Oscars for 10 years Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
IOL News
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Will Smith reflects on his transformation after the infamous Oscars slap
Smith described the introspective journey as 'brutal but beautiful' or 'brutiful', ultimately leading to a new era of creativity and self-awareness. In a candid conversation on BBC's "1Xtra" with host Remi Burgz, Will Smith opened up about the profound transformation he has undergone since the infamous incident at the 2022 Oscars, where he slapped comedian Chris Rock. Reflecting on the shocking moment, which was televised worldwide, the actor acknowledged that it forced him to take a 'big, strong, honest look at myself". In the aftermath of the incident, which occurred after Rock made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's hair loss, Smith decided to take a step back and engage in deep self-reflection. 'After the Oscars I, like, shut it down for a minute and really went into the internal work,' he explained during the interview. "All of a sudden, it was like there was a manhole cover over some unexplored areas, and like the manhole cover came off, and it was scary for a minute ... Then all of a sudden all of these new thoughts, new energies and new creativity came through. So, I feel like I'm brand new." He continued: "I feel like the greatest creative period of my life will be in the next, you know, five to 10 years." The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences described Smith's behaviour as 'unacceptable and harmful', subsequently issuing a 10-year ban on his attendance at the prestigious awards ceremony. Nevertheless, the actor appears to have channelled the turmoil into his artistry, marking his return to music with a new album, "Based On A True Story", which also touches on the Oscars incident.
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Will Smith, 56, mercilessly mocked over 'corny' new rap video after comeback album flopped in the charts
Will Smith has divided fans after continuing his music comeback with a brand new single. The 56-year-old released a music video for his new single Pretty Girls on Friday, less than three months after the release of his last studio album, Based on a True Story, which flopped in the charts. In the video, Smith raps about his love of beautiful women while surrounded by four female backup dancers. 'It's a full house, better play your cards right / I'ma post your pic if you pose / Make one phone call, you in Vogue / Head, shoulders, knees, toes / Hold up, wait, pose,' he raps. 'I like BBLs / That stand for "Bad b**ches link up" / Poppin in the club all night in the section / Picture perfect, I swear you perfection.' The song drew a mixed reception online, with one person writing, 'My ears bleeding again good god.' Another commented, 'Somebody stop him, please!' while a third added, 'Need the ghost of Quincy Jones to slap him.' Others said that the song was 'corny' and that it was time for Smith to give up on his hip-hop career. However, others were more complimentary, with one fan gushing, 'This brought a much needed smile to my face. I love the fact that I still get happy when I see Will happy.' Another wrote, 'A song about women that doesn't feel degrading. Good stuff!' The new single comes after Smith made his long-awaited return to music with Based on a True Story — his first album in 20 years. Released on March 28, the project reunited the Men In Black star with longtime collaborator DJ Jazzy Jeff and featured contributions from Teyana Taylor and his son Jaden Smith. He released five singles from the album, including Beautiful Scars with rapper Big Sean. Alongside the album, Smith also announced an accompanying tour — one that had fans in stitches after he revealed the unexpected and unconventional locations for his first-ever UK and European shows. Despite a large promotional push behind the record, Based On a True Story became Smith's first album to miss the charts entirely. Smith has faced controversy in recent years, most notably when slapping comedian Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards in March 2022. Rock was presenting the Oscar for Best Documentary at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood when he joked about Will's wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head. He compared her to the shaved head look of Demi Moore in the 1997 movie G.I. Jane - and Pinkett Smith, who suffers from alopecia, did not laugh at the joke. Smith approached the stage and slapped Rock across the face with his right hand. Rock responded by telling the shocked audience: 'Will Smith just smacked the s*** out of me.' That same evening, Smith won the Best Actor award for his performance in King Richard as Richard Williams, the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams.
