LL COOL J Talks Paying Homage to Femcees in Hip-Hop: ‘Women Gave Birth to Everything’

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent It took a pandemic and a lockdown for “Drive” director Nicolas Winding Refn to make a directorial comeback in Denmark, where he had delivered the “Pusher” trilogy early in his career. “Sometimes the strangest things come in mysterious ways, and this is one of those,” Refn says of “Copenhagen Cowboy,” his Netflix original series, slated to world premiere Sept. 9 at the Venice Film Festival. Since “Drive,” Winding Refn has directed the Bangkok-set thriller “Only God Forgives,” with “Drive” star Ryan Gosling; “The Neon Demon,” with Elle Fanning playing an aspiring model in Los Angeles.; and the Amazon Prime Video series “Too Old to Die Young,” starring Miles Teller as a grieving cop in crime-ridden Southern California. He was preparing another project set abroad when the pandemic hit.

Nurseries are at 'breaking point' in Greater Manchester in the cost of living crisis, with owners facing a 'mass exodus'.

"And when it's flattering, you feel good."And that's like half the battle at the beach, isn't it?"Vicky also spoke candidly about body acceptance and turning our backs on crash dieting for good.Speaking about crash dieting in time for summer, Vicky claimed that the moment is "over".She said: "It's so over, isn't it?"I don't think you should have to fit in your clothes, I think your clothes should fit you."And we are learning so much as a society," she added.The star went on: "I think those, 'lose 10 pounds in 10 days' and crash diets and shameful articles and stuff where we like to poke fun at people at the beach, it's all over."That culture is done and now we're far more progressive and accepting and inclusive," she explained.The Geordie Shore personality also addressed Victoria Beckham comment where she labelled thin as "old-fashioned" in a recent interview.Vicky spoke passionately about the importance of body acceptance and embracing how you look.She said: "I don't care what you look like, I don't care whether you're super skinny with itty bitty boobs."I don't care whether you're really curvy with a gorgeous great big bum, I don't care whether you're toned, tall, tiny, whatever."Like, being you is attractive, being you is beautiful, and accepting that and celebrating that."So that's what we need to do," she emphasised.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic It’s fair to say that Abbey Road Studios is the most documented recording facility in the world, but only if you count the crosswalk outside. Otherwise, the nine-bedroom mansion turned studio hasn’t really had its day in the cinematic sun, the way that more modest studios like L.A.’s Sound City and Alabama’s Muscle Shoals have. Making up for that with an A-lister-filled movie treatment is “If These Walls Could Sing,” the first feature-length documentary from Mary McCartney, who has a hell of a shared Rolodex to draw upon in gathering the firsthand rock ‘n’ roll anecdotes you expect and want in a film like this. She’s also savvy enough to know that the guy working in the back gluing irreplaceable mid-century microphones back together deserves a few seconds of screen time, too.

Marta Balaga German helmer Alex Schaad takes on the body-swap trope in Venice Critics’ Week title “Skin Deep,” produced by Walker + Worm Film in co-production with Bayerischer Rundfunk and Donndorffilm. Beta Cinema, which handles the sales, has shared its trailer exclusively with Variety ahead of the film’s world premiere at the Italian fest. The intimate, character-driven story sees a young couple – played by “And Tomorrow the Entire World” actor Mala Emde and Jonas Dassler – deciding to visit a remote island, hoping they might be able to solve their problems in a place that literally allows you to be someone else. But Schaad, who co-wrote the script with his brother Dimitrij, wasn’t trying to deliver another “Freaky Friday,” eschewing easy laughs for a much more philosophical approach.

The Weeknd’s Saturday night concert at Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles came to an abrupt end around 9:30 p.m. The singer, who was wrapping up a two-night run at the stadium, said he had lost his voice and didn’t feel he could provide the show that people paid for. “I don’t know what just happened… but I just lost my voice. This is killing me, I don’t want to stop the show but I can’t give you the concert I want to give you right now,” he said to the crowd of roaring fans. “I’m gonna make sure everybody’s good — you’ll get your money back — I’ll do a show real soon for you guys. But I wanted to come out and personally apologize.” “You know how much this kills me, I’m sorry. I love you thank you so much,” he said before exiting the stage.

Dave Grohl broke down in tears on stage while singing "Times Like These" at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute concert at London’s Wembley Stadium on Saturday. The 53-year-old Foo Fighters frontman was performing with his band at the star-studded event that honored their late bandmate, who died unexpectedly in March at the age of 50.

The FADER’s “Songs You Need” are the tracks we can’t stop playing. Check back every day for new music and follow along on our Spotify playlist. Listening to the music of Romeo Santos can feel like stepping into a harlequin romance novel in the best way possible.

Sad news for fans of The Weeknd.

Hooters have been banned from sponsoring an under-10s football team in Nottingham just days after sending a host of glamorous waitresses to pose with the children. A deal between Burton Joyce FC and Hooters was announced earlier this week, sparking outcry on social media.

caused a stir.Channon personally knew the leading figures of his day – from Winston Churchill and his son Randolph, who Channon loathed, to Queen Elizabeth (later, the Queen Mother) – and was unsparing in his character assassinations of each.For the last four years, I have pored over the original material, which spans almost 40 years and totals some 1.7 million words, distilling it into three volumes – all uncensored.This final volume picks up the narrative in July 1943, just after the fall of Mussolini, and covers the final years of war, as well as the breakdown of Channon’s marriage to Lady Honor Guinness, together with his affairs with various well-known men.Towards the end of the war, he met and fell in love with playwright Terence Rattigan, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship. There was also tension between Channon and his long-standing partner Peter Coats, a gardening writer who became chief of staff to the Viceroy of India, Lord Wavell during the war.

UFC world when she twerked at the weigh-in, but her antics were cut short as she choked out by Stephanie Egger. The 27-year-old made her UFC debut on Saturday evening - having been signed to the promotion earlier this year. Perez had previously appeared in the Argentinian promotion Samurai Fight House, where she held the bantamweight title.And after twerking at the weigh-in, with the UFC cutting the act out of broadcasts, Perez couldn't repeat the feat in the octagon.

UFC star Ciryl Gane was once forced to deny he had 'locked eyes' with ring girl Arianny Celeste when weighing for a bout. The Frenchman was headlining UFC Paris on Saturday evening, but despite his superstar status in France - he can't rival Arianny's net worth.

Courtney Stodden is very publicly slamming Bethenny Frankel.

J Balvin was able to get Pope Francis to pose for some very rare selfies!

Marta Balaga Following the Venice Film Festival premiere of her Biennale College Cinema title “Palimpsest” – about two people that start to age backwards – Finnish helmer Hanna Västinsalo will continue to play with sci-fi elements in “Space Hobos: How to Bum a Ride from Sector B12 to Module C9.”  “It’s about workers like plumbers, welders or cleaners, trying to make their way in the world of space travel,” Västinsalo explains to Variety in Italy.  “The core of the story is drawn from my own experience of being a starving artist and trying to make it. Not always knowing how to pay rent or having money to buy groceries.”

Ben Croll Some films spring from abundance, while others are born of a need. Premiering in competition in Venice, Rebecca Zlotowski’s “Other People’s Children” clearly falls into the latter camp. “I’ve often used cinema as a guide for living, only aspects of my own life hadn’t been told,” Zlotowski tells Variety. “I imagined a 40-year-old woman, nearing the end of her fertility, who is a stepmother to others, and thought, why hadn’t we seen that character before?”     Filling in the missing pieces, Zlotowski’s romantic drama follows Rachel (Virginie Efira), a Parisian high school teacher who feels pangs of maternity when she falls in love with a recent divorcé – and with him, his four-year-old daughter. Tinged in bittersweet tones, the film tracks the ecstasies of a new and all-enveloping love affair and the tradeoffs that arrive with mid-life relationships. Because in this particular love-triangle – as common in the real world as it is rare on screen – there are certain bonds a new partner cannot join.

Music’s wildest night! The 2022 MTV Video Music Awards are headed back to New Jersey, and the event promises to be full of memorable moments — and surprises.

Missy Elliott has received the honor of having a street named after her in the town she grew up in. The plan to rename a street in Portsmouth, Virginia Missy Elliott Boulevard was approved on Wednesday (via Wtop) with the rapper herself confirming the news.

Festival headliner LL Cool J, Rock The Bells has a mission to elevate Hip-Hop culture from its roots to the modern day via content, commerce and experiential moments. Saturday’s event at Forest Hill stadium far exceeded that goal, with families, fans, and Hip-Hop heads young and old gathered in unison to rap along with artists like Roxanne Shante, Scarface, N.O.R.E., Lil Kim, Ice Cube and many more.

Lil Kim rocked Dolce And Gabbana as she lit up the stage this Saturday at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens in New York City.The 48-year-old was part of a glittering star-studded lineup performing for LL Cool J's Rock The Bells hip-hop festival.Rock The Bells is making its grand return this year with a day-long extravaganza of performances, a decade after the last time it happened. Making it happen:Lil Kim rocked Dolce And Gabbana as she lit up the stage this Saturday at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens in New York CityShe slipped into a saucy D&G ensemble that shimmered with sequins and allowed her to flash not only her midriff but also her amply endowed cleavage.Accentuating her unmistakable features with makeup, she showed off her shapely legs in a set of intricately embroidered D&G stockings.