In the past week, there have been three incidences of violence at, or immediately following, premieres of the film 'Notorious,' which is based on the life of the Notorious B.I.G., the Brooklyn rapper who was tragically slain in 1997.The first occurred on January 13th, when DJ Drama was assaulted by members of Young Jeezy's CTE crew at the Atlanta premiere of the film. Then, Friday night, four men were stabbed at a Brooklyn nightclub which was hosting an afterparty for the film's NYC premiere. One of the men suffered multiple stab wounds and is listed in critical condition.
Finally (hopefully), a Greensboro, North Carolina movie theater has suspended future screenings of 'Notorious' after a shooting occurred at the film's premiere on Friday.
One man was rushed to a local hospital after shots rang out, following an argument in the hallway of the Grand 18 theater. 700 people were evacuated, including the film's star,Jamal "Gravy" Woolard, who resides in Charlotte.
"We can't say whether or not this shooting is in direct relationship to the movie 'Notorious'... We just can't say," a Greensboro policeman said, following the incident. The police have yet to make a statement regarding the relationship between the shooting and the actor/rapper. The victim, 32-year-old Clive O'Conner, was shot twice in the abdomen. He underwent surgery Friday night and is said to be in stable condition.
While it's easy for the mainstream media to argue that this violence is a result of the film's subject matter and target demographic, we'd like to point out that that there was also a shooting in Philadelphia at a recent screening of 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.'
Reader Comments(1 of 1)
lobo121148at 1-19-2009
Anytime you get a group of young black people together who are in the Hip-Hop generation, there is going to be a problem. They can't settle disagreements with words, so the go for the knife or gun. IF they showed this movie at the Inaugural, they'd have to call out the National guard to keep the peace. Obama won't be able to stop the trend of black on black violence. The same traits that attracted white voters to him, well spoken, educated and standing for personal accountability are the same things that THUG rappers despise. They don't want to hear "old school" guys like Bill Cosby or Obama telling them to quit fathering babies out of wedlock or get a education. That's "WHITEY" talk, they want to hear the welfare check is in the mail!
Elmoat 1-19-2009
You know something, I agree with the statements of lobo121148. You know, its time that we as black people stand up instead of putting each other down. Its no surprise to me that there were uprisings at the premiere of this movie. The deaths of BIG and Tupac are still touchy subjects for alot of people and while I may not agree with Puffy making this movie, I do feel the unnecessary acts of violence and drama are only signs that while the media may portray us having gotten past this tragedy people still feel some kind of way that justice has not been served. On the contrary that still gives no one the right to commit an act of violence against another. After all we've been through as black people, its time for a change.
FireBallat 1-21-2009
I agree with both of you. Thogh, regardless of what was in the movies message or what it was at all. It's what the people that attended the film did with that energy. There are no lessons learned by deaf people. Don't look to the president to end violence. Chicago was worse when he left it then when he got there. Besides, its still a cultural "thing", parenting should be done at home. That should end the violence, simply dont breed violent children, put guns in their hands and expect them to use their "better judgement". And for christs sake, when they do kill and shoot and do drugs or just "chill" versus work PLEASE stop saying they were a beautiful child that was an "aspiring.....ANYTHING". I am so sick of dead black kids who took their guns and wound up dead themselves with their mommas hovering over their cold dead useless bodies screaming for their "lost" child. Grow up. They went to the gangsta movie to be a part of being a gangsta hoodie. Call it what it is.
bennettcaramelbat 1-19-2009
You know it appears no matter how far we have come as African Americans it goes to show that we don't take life serious as we should. If one continues to show stupidity in a viewing of a movie,when will we ever wake up? I thought a new day has come especially with the first African American President and his platform is about CHANGE! Apparently, not for all. I was sadden to hear about a digging of an old grave !!!
Gaztoat 1-20-2009
Elmo and bennettcaramelb,I know how you feel.The worst part about this is,the people trying to kill each other should be building each other.But nahh,that would be too much for them to just watch a movie and comment-they have to act it out.I feel like all rappers want to be BIG and Pac...which really makes them look more stupid.
ACat 1-20-2009
I really feel sorry for all the good black people in this country that get painted with the same brush as these thugs. It will take a bottom-up movement to change, not top down.
Christopherat 1-21-2009
Now now, calling out the hip hop generation is unfair. You can't blame us all for the actions of a few crack babies. Besides comments about how crazy the generation below you is is half the reason they are like that. A generation cannot learn when thier parents are scared of them. We need leaders not lectures. We cannot have people say what to do and expect it to happen. We need plans, seminars, and a way of talking that doesn't sound like blame. We cannot band aid the problem rather we need to catch it before it becomes a problem.
boxdogat 1-21-2009
AC
at 1-20-2009
I really feel sorry for all the good black people in this country that get painted with the same brush as these thugs. It will take a bottom-up movement to change, not top down.
************
It will "take" people dropping the rhetorical catch phrases and raising their families and neighborhoods in an emotionally, physically, educationally healthy environment. I cant buy the argument that a 21 year old is a lost child. I just don't get looking them in the eye and having them convince me that thuggery and murder is the right path. FIX YOUR INDIVIDUAL families, don't wait for the government to. All the thugs'll be dead and the next gen of sperm donors will be in the exact same position as the last. BTW, bo is no MLK. MLK Jr fought against oppression and discrimination for everyone. BO has no idea of what day to day ghetto life looks like. None.
XSankofaat 1-21-2009
What is the difference in young White's exacting violence against others and young Blck's doing the same thing? Their sources of inspiration. How many times have you read about White kids who kill their family members because they were denied access to a video game or because they wanted to inherit the life insurance or because they wanted to cover up a robbery they committed in their own home or because they wanted to see a much older guy witha prison record and the family didn't approve? Or how about the ones who kill their kid because they found out that it's hard being a Mom and trying to party too. We have Black's who kill with robbery being the motive, or because someone dissed them (or their sister or their girl or their buddy or their fav rap artist). NONE OF THESE REASONS cited are good reasons, but they all speak of a a society in which selfishness or a sense of undeserved entitlement are the rule. And for the record, BOXDOG, BO seems to have a handle on what's going on. He may not have been raised in poverty & despair, but he knows it when he sees it and he CHOSE to go to work in an area that is nothing like where he comes from and make a difference. Now he has broadened the scope of that area to the entire country. Give the man a chance. His intentions for us (all of us) are good.
game1231at 1-21-2009
this is really pathetic. all this violence over a movie for christs sake. biggie wouldnt allow all this violence to happen if he were still alive. i really wanted to see this movie but i guess im gonna have to wait till it comes out on DVD cause of these animals who have to cause trouble. i wanna be able to go out to a movie and not worry about getting stabbed or shot which is pathetic. what the hell has america come to today?
Sexy Girlat 1-22-2009
I don't beleive that all the violence was caused strictly because of the movie. The article does state that it also happened after a screening of 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' however; I know that the audiences got rowdy, Biggy's songs were some of the most memorable and hype jams created. They bickered probably when someone was being too loud or said something "out of pocket" and obviously certain people escallate the situation. Either way I dont blame it on the movie because people would have behaved this way regardless..and we all know that. Its not right but its the truth. So called thugs will always make it harder for decent people to try to live above the stereotypes already put upon us. That is just my opinion.
madison familyat 1-22-2009
While I agree that there are definite problems with our young people I know that the movie in and of it self was not the cause of the violence you get the wrong people topgether at 7-11 and the chance for violence is great. The movie was a lousy movie and there was no graphic violence. There was implied violence in the Tupac murder scene, and the gun shots from the moving car which was not clearly shown. The worst thing about the movie was the Lil Kim sex scenes and the vulgarity. We have to figure out how to stem the violence among all our people which is much more wide spread than at venues featuring hip hop activity. Even though it was a lousy movie I think it is ridiculous to blame the movie content for the violence. Let try to find out what the systemic solution is so we don't resort to censorship of art (yes it is still art though this particular genre is very bad).
Kochat 1-23-2009
Shock o Shock trouble at a black event. I am so surprised.
carrieat 1-25-2009
Where is the love?! I watched it- without incident with my child, who's also been to, oh my! a rap concert too- that also went great, respectably and ever so politely without incident! No incident- amongst all the troublemakers and hatemongers out there who want to see the rest of us imprisoned by their ideas of whats up. My son is in band at school, he may well major in music someday.
BIG left the streets while he was still a minor child- for the aesthetic pursuit of music and to support himself and his family, aspiring to do things many middle aged and lazy Americans can't even seem to intellectually grasp- of all races. Divorce rate speaks for family appreciation doesn't it? For our whole country! BIG was married, like the rap star of the concert my son and I attended. Going against the grain can be a good thing.
Some are about making a future out of music - like many revered musicians- this movie was simply a small but revered portion of rap history from the 90's, something many of us lived, (unlike the likely younger mischeivous "present but not necessarily permanent failures" causing trouble after the shows, youth require many things, including experience, both good and bad in which to grow up as pertain to any race/culture/creed/non belief too!).
A couple isolated incidents and the greedy,envious hatemongers- fear-mongering terrorists, in my opinion and many others who know one when we take one, but, here wastefully haters chime in, claiming in truth, but, just attention needy- but, you're a non entity to his fans, especially myself as a white woman. I'm so tired of these haters and their empty sounding/aberrant selves.
I experienced and enjoyed the 90's rap scene,can reminisce nostalgically on it, and include my child, because 15 years later- much to all of it- was without incident.
The hater hostility generally come from externally- like here! Lots of haters all up in this post, it's like watching gay porn and claiming to be straight, why are you here again? To spread hate- to compensate for? Feeling left out? You too can own a copy, or ring-tone, diversity, wow, enjoy! Imagine, someday you too might grow up and quit being so SHALLOW! Give it a try, because you haters just make it obvious that you are resigned to reek of failure, can't you find someplace else to come up short?
Stop looking for opportunities to bully and hate on others, go irritate you're own mother- I don't know how you non adapting, non survivors made it this far, near completely on mama's teat I imagine, look at you hanging onto BIG's for attention. BIG who grew intellectually- and jealously was cut down by a hater, who merely skank around anonymously in hate, as you have here. You haters are all the same, nothing but ignorance to add to anything.