entertainment - Broadcast Interactive Media

A4
Thursday, January 15, 2009
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ENTERTAINMENT
His B.I.G.
film debut
ASKED & ANSWERED: TEAIRRA MARI
‘It was nice, it was fun
and I enjoyed the ride’
BY LEILONI DE GRUY
STAFF WRITER
W
hile many 17 yearolds dream of the
moment leading up to
the prom or high school graduation, in 2005 Teairra Mari had
her heart set on being Roc-AFella/Def Jam Records’ leading
lady. Her debut album, “Roc-AFella Presents: Teairra Mari,”
reached #5 on the Billboard 200
and #2 on the Top R&B/HipHop Albums charts. And with
performances on shows like
the American Music Awards,
“TRL,” 106 & Park” and “The
Tyra Banks Show,” Mari seemed
poised for superstardom, with
some comparing her favorably
to a labelmate, Rihanna, whose
debut LP was released the same
year. Then in 2006 while working on her sophomore album,
Mari received an unexpected
call from an executive informing
her that she was being dropped
from the label. Spiraling into
depression, she decided to exit
the music industry for a year,
but Cudda Love, a producer
instrumental in rapper Nelly’s
career, offered Mari a deal she
couldn’t refuse. Now 21 and
signed to Interscope/Fo’Reel
Ent., Mari has an entirely new
sound on a new album, “At That
Point,” which is scheduled for
release this spring. Her video
for the first single, “Hunt 4 U”
was released this week and has
already received more than a
million views on the popular
Web site www.worldstarhiphop.
com. In an exclusive interview,
Mari discusses her new music,
the effect of label politics and
striving to reclaim her career.
How have you changed both
personally and vocally since
your debut album?
I have just changed so
much because I’ve grown into
a woman. I learned so much
about myself [and] about life. I
was a teenager, and I thought I
knew it all. When you live, you
learn and you grow. On top of
naturally growing, reading and
praying, I’ve been getting to
know myself more and want to
get to know myself more … It
reflects musically. You know
that I’ve grown because you
hear it in my vocals, even the
topics I choose to talk about,
the production, everything, it’s
like it’s 10 steps up to me. I am
so happy. I remember on my
first album, I was recording and
I was so unenthused, I wasn’t
enthusiastic about it at all. I
was nervous and feeling like
‘I don’t know about this stuff.
This is not really what I want to
do,’ but this time I just feel like
this is exactly what I want and
I’m happy and that’s the most
important thing.
What topics do you touch on
with your new album, “At That
Point”?
So, a lot of people were saying
that they were confused about
the topic of [my] single, [“Hunt
4 U”], the topic of my single is
talking about how you fall in
love with a guy then he starts
to change. So, you’re looking
for the guy [you] fell in love
with. Where are you? It’s like
this is not you, you’re changing,
I don’t like this. [Basically,]
I’m on the hunt for that sweet
incredible you that I love. One
of my favorite songs [on the
album] is “Find My Way Back,”
which has actually been leaked.
It’s about me messing up in a
relationship, maybe cheating on
a guy or anything; whatever, I
messed up and I want to find
my way back to him. Oh, there’s
this record I have called “From
My Head to My Heart” and
its about how the truth has to
travel to far from head to my
heart. You know sometimes you
just don’t get it when you’re in
love and sometimes you react
off of your heart. Well, most of
the time your heart is your first
reaction. It’s saying I may do
dumb things just because I’m in
love and the truth has to travel
to far from my head to my heart.
I like that song a lot.
What happened with your
contract with Roc-A-Fella/Def
Jam Records?
I didn’t really face any problems, that’s why it was shocking
when I got dropped. It was very
family-oriented. I love Jay[Z], he was a great mentor and
Interscope
Her own career now back on track, Teairra Mari says that she feels no competition with former labelmate
Rihanna, who became a superstar around the time Mari was dropped from Def Jam Records.
taught me so much and I’m still
grateful for those teachings and
everybody at the label. I mean,
like I said, I’m human and of
course I may have had words
with a couple of people because
I’m an artist and I may want
to do this but they want me to
do that but that’s normal and
everybody goes through that. I
didn’t really have any problems
over there. It was nice, it was
fun and I enjoyed the ride. So,
when I did get that phone call, I
was shocked. My mouth was on
the ground.
Did the executives or anyone from the label give you an
explanation?
You know what [Roc-A-Fella
executive v.p.] Jay Brown called
me and he said, “We’re going
to let you go. You’re young and
you could do so much. Don’t let
this get you down. We’re going
to let you go.” That was it.
What effect did this have
on you?
It was crazy. I didn’t tell any
of my friends or family for like
six months because I just didn’t
want to have to answer any
questions because every time
CALENDAR
I thought about it I went into
a downward spiral. I was just
thinking ‘what am I going to do
with my life?.’ I was a young
girl, I didn’t have any direction.
They turned me and my mom
against each other. This whole
music industry turned me and
my mom against each other so
I didn’t have anybody to call.
At that point, I was a lonely girl
and I was like ‘What am I going
to do? What am I going to do
with my life?’ I had no clue.
I was down, I was depressed,
I’m just keeping it all the way
real, it was horrible, but once
people started finding out
I had already dealt with it
within myself so I could take the
questions and I was prepared.
What happened from there,
and what led to your new deal
with Interscope/Fo’Reel Ent.?
I was in Detroit because I got
dropped right before my prom
… None of my friends and family knew that I was dropped
but obviously word was getting
around in the music industry. My
friend called me and said ‘this
guy named Cudda [Love] wants
to work with you, is it cool that
I give him your number?’ and I
Compiled by
Marisela Santana
MUSIC
■ An Evening with Brian Wilson
As the driving force behind the Beach Boys, he
won a place in pop music history that has stood
the test of time; with the eponymous “Smile”
he earned wide recognition as a solo artist,
songwriter and composer of the highest order.
Jan. 15. The Grammy Museum, 800 W.
Olympic Blvd., L.A. (213) 765-6800
■ Barrington Levy
The Jamaican danceghall and reggae star’s loyal following reaches
from here to the U.K. and beyond,
as recent collaborations with
today’s hip-hop and rock stars continue to win over a new generation
of listeners. Jan. 16. Key Club,
9039 Sunset Boulevard, L.A.
(310) 274-5800
was like ‘give me his number
and I’ll call him when I want
to.’ I wasn’t going to call him, I
just didn’t want to deal with the
music industry anymore, I was
just going to sing because I love
to sing. I can sing at the clubs
on the corner. One night I was
up really late, I was in L.A., and
I was sitting there bored and I
was like ‘I’m going to call’ and
so I called him and we talked
for like an hour. He told me how
he’s been following my career
and how he wanted to work
with me and how he wanted
to fly me out to L.A. to cut a
few records and see what the
chemistry was [like]. So, we did
that and everything went great.
I didn’t sign to him when I first
met him because I was so nervous about committing myself
to anybody again or trusting
anybody again because I was
so young and confused. I came
out to here [L.A.], the chemistry
was great. I didn’t sign with
him for about a year so that held
things up and then finally [last]
year I was ready and we did it
and we’re doing it.
For the complete interview
with Teairra Mari, visit us at
www.wavepublication.com
■ Shadow of the Villain
Kevin Dulude explores the dark side of humanity
in his one-man show, which features old-fashioned storytelling and performances of songs
originated by artists ranging from Al Jolson to
Madonna. Jan. 17. Playhouse Theatre Players,
600 Moulton Ave., L.A. (323) 227-5410
■ The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit
Ray Bradbury’s comedy examines the supposed magical
powers of a suit in the window of an East L.A.
department store, and the lengths several young Latino
men go to in their goal to use it to their romantic, professional and personal advantage. Stars Adrian Elizondo
(pictured) Through Feb 15. Fremont Centre Theatre,
1000 Fremont Ave., South Pasadena. (323) 960-4451
■ Pippin
Michael Arden (pictured) stars as the magic of musical comedy and the beautiful expressiveness of sign
language come together in the story of Charlemagne’s
son and his quest — and travels through battlefields,
pleasures of the flesh, revolution, and finally love and
domesticity — to find meaning in his life. Previews
begin Jan. 15. Centre Theatre Group/Mark Taper
Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A. (213) 628-2772
■ Tilted Frame
Bringing together the best of Los Angeles
comedic improv — including veteran Patrick
Bristow (Groundlings, Ellen, Puppet Up)
— to co-direct and featuring a rotating cast of
established performers who come from diverse
improv backgrounds,Each show will feature
signature formats like Craigslist and P.O.V. and continue to be an everchanging interactive, multi-technological experience. Thursdays through
Feb. 12 Theatre Asylum, 6320 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A. (323) 962-1632
COMEDY
■ Mike Epps
The comic actor never strays too
far from his roots in standup,
where he keeps audiences roaring with his riffs on topics from
drug abuse to child-rearing.
Jan. 23. Grove of Anaheim,
2200 East Katella Ave., Anaheim.
(714) 712-2700
VISUAL
■ Passages: Photographs in Africa
An exhibition of dramatic images that portray timehonored African ceremonial traditions of the passing from one life phase into by critically acclaimed
photographers Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher,
known for their vibrant images of African life captured the photographers have spent over 30 years
traveling throughout the continent to document
customs, rites of passage, and aspects of ceremonial
practices. The exhibition features more than 90 large-scale photographs and six
documentary videos, plus a selection of jewelry, masks, sculpture, and other
African artifacts, drawn from the Bowers Museum’s holdings. Through Aug.
16. Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main Street, Santa Ana. (714) 567-3600
What other similarities did
you see?
The Brooklyn swagger. You
can’t buy that. You got to be
born with swagger. I’m just
a regular person making it
happen. We’re from the same
hood, and that helped a lot, and
I know the struggle and I know
how to rap. I hope people see the
movie, they’re going to be like,
he’s here. I think I’m finding my
path [in life] just like Big. He
had a daughter just after he got
his big break and my daughter
was born on March 10 and he
was killed March 9.
■ Ceremonies in Dark Old Men
Glynn Turman (pictured) heads the cast of this
ensemble drama about a Harlem family that
dreams of a better life, but pursues it in a manner
that proves tragic. The performances, which also
star Rocky Carroll and John Cothran, Jr., will be
recorded in front of a live audience to air on L.A.
Theatre Works’ weekly radio series, “The Play’s The Thing.” Through Jan. 18.
Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A. (310) 827-0889
MUSICAL
■ It’s The Houswives!
The hit rock musical comedy follows as
three young moms get their humble start at
the PTA talent show, then go on to “clean
up” as the most celebrated, yet unlikely
girl group in history with their “domestic”
brand of rock ‘n’ roll. Through March
29. Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura
Blvd., Sherman Oaks. (323) 960-5563
How did you capture
the essence of Christopher
Wallace?
It was an honor to play Big.
I tried to stay humble and roll
with the punches. I went to
my own Biggie boot camp. I
studied so many things, the
walk or the wobble, his vocal
cadence, breathing patterns
and memorized all his songs
front to back. I pushed myself
physically. I went from 285 to
340 pounds. My doctor joked
that I was ready to die.
THEATER
■ Ludacris
While his many forays into Hollywood have
won him substantial visibility outside hip-hop,
the Atlanta rapper always seems most
comfortable onstage with a mic in his hand.
Jan. 23. Bridges Auditorium, 4th St &
College Way, Claremont. (909) 621-8032
■ Howlin’ Blues and Dirty Dogs
Barbara Morrison stars in raucous
celebration of the life and times of
legendary blues singer Big Mama
Thornton. Opens Jan. 22. Stella
Adler Theatre, 6773 Hollywood
Blvd., Hollywood. (310) 462-1439.
NOTORIOUS from page A1
on a tenement roof top, then
drops out altogether and
becomes a teenage father in the
bargain.
But everything changes
when a freestyle rap tape that
Wallace created for fun ends up
in the hands of then-aspiring
rap mogul Combs, played by
Derek Luke, whose marketing
bravado transforms his protégé into a cultural phenomenon
almost overnight.
Known in the underground
hip-hop world as “Gravy the
Rapper,” Woolard is being hailed
for his breakout performance
and recently spoke in New York
about the making of the film.
DANCE
■ Wac Alumni Show: Any One Home - The Reunion Tour
Graduates of UCLA’s renowned World Arts and Culture program reunite
to show what they learned — all fields are represented, but dancers will
spend the most time art center stage Jan. 16, 17. UCLA Campus,
120 Westwood Plaza, L.A. (310) 825-2101
Those wishing to place announcements in the weekly calendars should mail information to The Wave, 1730 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
90015, fax to (213) 835-0584 or e-mail to msantana@wavepublication.com. Items will be published on a space-available basis.
The deadline for all submissions is Friday at 5 p.m. Please include the name and telephone number of a contact person.