By Abbey Cannan
LISTEN: Anderson .Paak – Oxnard
One of my favourite artists right now is Anderson Paak and this album release is an ode to his home town. A true rags to riches story – it was just 2011 that he found himself homeless, living out of a car with a newborn baby son. Fast forward just seven years and he is now at the height of the hip hop game. Produced by the legendary Dr. Dre and featuring collabs with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Snoop Dogg, this will go down as one of the year’s heavyweight releases. One song in particular, “6 Summers,” tackles the absurdities of America’s politics, the gun violence debate and meme culture.
READ: Born-again Blakfella – Jack Charles
Jack Charles has worn many hats throughout his life: actor, cat burglar, musician, heroin addict, activist, even Senior Victorian Australian of the Year. But the title he’s most proud to claim is that of Aboriginal Elder. Stolen from his mother and placed into institutional care when he was only a few months old, Uncle Jack was raised under the government’s White Australia Policy. The loneliness and isolation he experienced during those years had a devastating impact on him that endured long after he reconnected with his Aboriginal roots and discovered his stolen identity. By turns heartbreaking and hilarious, Jack Charles: Born-again Blakfella is a candid and uplifting memoir from one of Australia’s finest and most beloved actors.
WATCH: Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood visits 1969 Los Angeles, where everything is changing, as TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) make their way around an industry they hardly recognize anymore. The ninth film from the writer-director features a large ensemble cast and multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood’s golden age. The film was both gripping and shockingly hilarious, with stars Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie and Leonardo DiCaprio shining in their performances.
