Chi-Raq Archives - Rolling Out

When statements claimed New York Times reporters were being dispatched to embattled Chicago to investigate possible shootings over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, it seemed rather presumptive. While the deadly city, which has taken on the moniker “Chi-raq” due to high numbers of shooting deaths of residents, mostly Black men, it seemed impossible for the publication…

Rapper King Louie, 28, whose real name is Louis Johnson, has been shot in the head in the Ashburn neighborhood of Chicago. His management is reporting that he was grazed and is awake and talking at this time. King Louie has been a staple in the Chicago drill scene with the likes of Chief Keef and…

Snagging her first major role as Rasheeda in Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq (one of the most controversial movies this season), Anya Engel-Adams is ready to see her star rise. Adams sat down with rolling out to discuss Chi-Raq’s message and her bright future. For people who haven’t seen the movie, what frame of mind should they have going into the theater?…

If you’re a fan of ’90s cinema, you likely saw at least a handful of stellar performances from actor Leon. His résumé is chock-full of classic films, including The Temptations, Cool Runnings, Waiting to Exhale, The Five Heartbeats, and Above the Rim. The actor has been active in Hollywood since the early ’80s, and even today…

Comedian Corey Holcomb talks briefly about his experience in Chicago and the Chi-Raq movie at the Horseshoe venue in Indiana.

CHI-RAQ is being criticized for what some feel is an insensitive and exploitative take on the issues currently facing the city of Chicago. Wesley Snipes, who stars as veteran gang leader Cyclops, has heard the critics. But Snipes dismisses the criticisms.

Despite, or maybe because of, the controversy surrounding his latest film, Spike Lee’s musical drama, Chi-Raq, did exceptionally well at the weekend box office. Playing in just over 300 theaters nationwide, Lee’s modern-day take on Aristophanes’ classic play Lysistrata took in an impressive $1.2 million dollars to narrowly miss making the top 10. Even more impressive, and…

The cast of Spike Lee’s new satirical film, Chi-Raq, graced the orange carpet on Dec. 1 at the Ziegfeld theater in New York City. The director was joined by Carmelo and Lala Anthony, Nick Cannon, Teyonah Parris, Wesley Snipes, Ilfenesh Hadera, George Willborn, John Cusack, Rev. Al Sharpton, John Turturro, Erica Watson, and others. The…

Nick Cannon’s typical public persona doesn’t exactly scream “hard-core gangbanger,” so when it was revealed that the actor, host, recording artist and mogul would be starring in Spike Lee’s “Chi-Raq” as a gangleader, a lot of critics scoffed.

Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq opens with a declaration of emergency and shortly thereafter, you hear the voice of Father Michael Pfelger, a white priest from Chicago’s South Side who has long been active against violence in the community.

Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq hits theaters on December 4, and the film has drawn both early praise and derision from fans and critics. At the New York City premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre in Manhattan, Spike, stars Nick Cannon and Harry Lennix, as well as other celebs in attendance, shared their thoughts on community, Black Lives Matter, Chicago and what they hope the audience takes away from the movie.

Felicia Pearson, who is famously known as the character “Snoop” from “The Wire” has an amazing story to share with the world. The odds are stacked against her. She is an openly gay Black woman. In society that comes with its own challenges, in the entertainment industry those challenges can be amplified. We took some time…

Spike Lee offered remarks about his new film, Chi-Raq, prior to it being screened at the Chicago Theater.

Spike Lee introduces Father Michael Pfleger who is played by actor John Cusack in Chi-Raq. Father Pfleger prays for the movie and people at the movie premiere of Chi-Raq at the Chicago Theater.

After 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee and 20-year-old Kaylyn Pryor were senselessly gunned down two hours apart in Chicago, native writer and media personality April Lawson decided she’d had enough. Fed up with what she describes as “apathy” among the men of Chicago and inspired by the upcoming Spike Lee film, Chi-Raq, Lawson has come up with…

The name Chiraq just kind of popped out of thin air. No one staked claim to it. Based on statistics as it relates to the deaths of soldiers in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it made sense. Chicago, which is compared to Iraq in the popular moniker, has always been riddled with violence. “Chiraq” is…

Spike Lee recently released the trailer for his new film Chi-Raq. While in Chicago, we got an opportunity to speak with Clifton “Booney” McFlower, who was a founder of the Cicero Vice Lords and current member of Build Inc,. to get his thoughts on the term, Chi-Raq.

CHI-RAQ

Check out the official trailer for the new Spike Lee Joint, CHI-RAQ, featuring an all-star ensemble cast, including Angela Bassett, Jennifer Hudson, Nick Cannon, Samuel L. Jackson and Wesley Snipes. The film is set to hit theaters on Dec. 4.

Scroll Facebook these days and you will see thousands of people pointing out everything that is wrong with everything. It’s pretty annoying when you think about it because pointing out the problem has never been a difficult thing to do. The challenge comes when solutions have to be implemented and actions must be taken. When…