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Cynthia Erivo Joins Snoop Dogg Biopic as Afeni Shakur Alongside Jonathan Daviss

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Cynthia Erivo is entering the story of one of hip-hop’s most influential figures, as the actress has been cast as the late Afeni Shakur in the upcoming Snoop Dogg biopic. The film is set to explore Snoop’s time at Death Row Records, and the casting also brings Tupac Shakur’s mother into a story that is closely tied to the rapper’s legacy.

Universal Pictures confirmed Erivo on Wednesday, November 4. She’ll play Afeni, Tupac Shakur’s late activist mother. Her casting adds another big name to an ensemble led by Jonathan Daviss, who was on “Outer Banks” and will play Snoop Dogg.

Jones will also play Tupac, while Camron London will play Snoop’s mother, Beverly Tate. Together, they form a group of central figures whose lives and relationships drive the story of Snoop’s career and his connection to Death Row Records.

The project is called “Snoop” and is from Craig Brewer, who worked on “Hustle & Flow.” Southern California is producing it, and Snoop Dogg is producing it. His involvement gives the project a direct line to the artist whose life and career are being brought to the screen.

Erivo’s casting will likely garner attention as well, given the conversation about her previous portrayal of another prominent Black American historical figure. The British actress has been criticized for playing Harriet Tubman, and her new role as Afeni Shakur has raised a few eyebrows for similar reasons. We don’t know the specifics or scale of the latest criticism, but the response places her casting in an ongoing conversation about depicting important Black American figures.

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Afeni Shakur’s presence is especially significant to the film’s subject matter in terms of her connection to Tupac. Snoop’s rise through Death Row Records inevitably brings to mind the late rapper, and the decision to include his mother widens the film’s scope beyond the artists themselves. Erivo is set to star as a woman whose role in Tupac’s life and story is central to the family history being depicted.

Meanwhile, Daviss is cast as Snoop, with Jones playing Tupac. London’s turn as Beverly Tate adds another family member to the cast, affording the film a chance to feature the people closest to Snoop as it charts his ascent.

“Snoop” is moving along in Southern California, with a cast that combines actors playing several familiar names from hip-hop history. Erivo’s casting as Afeni is one of the latest major moves as the project moves forward under Brewer’s direction and Snoop’s producing involvement.

More details on the release date and the film’s full storyline are yet to be released. The casting confirms that Afeni Shakur will have a role in the upcoming biopic, with Erivo playing the role.

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Jamie Foxx Welcomes Third Child With Alyce Huckstepp at 58

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Jamie Foxx, 58, has welcomed his third child as he and his girlfriend, Alyce Huckstepp, begin a new chapter. The newborn is the couple’s first child together and Huckstepp’s first, bringing Foxx back into the world of baby care decades after he first became a father.

The arrival comes after Foxx earlier joked about becoming a father again at an age when many people might be thinking about grandchildren. Now the prospect he once joked about has come true as the actor and entertainer welcomes a new family member. The news is another personal milestone in a life that’s included a long career in entertainment and fatherhood at different stages.

The baby’s sex and name have not been revealed. Foxx’s reps also haven’t publicly commented on the arrival, keeping those details private for now. What is known confirms the birth and that the couple is tied to the child, but it adds no more information about when the baby arrived or what the couple has chosen to do publicly to mark the occasion.

Foxx has two daughters from previous relationships. His oldest, Corinne, is 32 and was born during his relationship with Connie Kline. He shares a younger daughter, 18-year-old Anelise, with ex Kristin Grannis. The new arrival is his third child, and a new experience of parenthood at 58.

Foxx is entering another stage of fatherhood, having raised children through very different periods of his life his oldest, younger daughter, is old enough to have a newborn. But his earlier comments about becoming a dad again were in jest, and now the arrival has made it real.

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The baby is Huckstepp’s first child. So the couple’s new arrival is her first experience of parenthood, while Foxx brings his experience as a father of two into the new family chapter. They haven’t disclosed how they plan to live with their newborn.

Foxx’s family has been part of the public conversation about his personal life for years, especially through his daughters. Corinne and Anelise are older now, and the arrival of a third child has brought a new dimension to the family. The couple has yet to reveal any details about the baby’s identity, and Foxx’s reps have not made a confirmed public statement.

The 58-year-old Foxx is returning to the baby stage of parenting. The jokes he made earlier about being a father at this age now mean something different now that the child is here. While fans may be curious about the baby’s name and gender, those details haven’t been shared.

For now, the confirmed news is that Foxx and Huckstepp have welcomed their first child together, making Foxx a father of three.

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Fat Joe Sets Return to NPR’s Tiny Desk, With New Set list Still Under Wraps

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Fat Joe is returning to NPR’s “Tiny Desk” for another performance, giving fans a new chance to hear the Bronx rapper run through his catalog in the intimate concert setting. He’s due back Thursday, November 5, five years after first appearing on the hit performance series.

The upcoming concert was announced Wednesday, reigniting interest in what Joe might bring to the desk this time. His 2021 debut featured such well-known songs as “Lean Back” and “All the Way Up,” but the setlist for the new performance has not been revealed. “That leaves fans wondering which songs will be played, and whether or not he’ll have any special guests.”

NFR Podcast announced Joe’s return on social media, helping spread the word. The premiere date is now known, but details about the performance are still few. No one has confirmed a full setlist or possible guest appearances, so listeners will have to wait until the concert to see how the rapper approaches the opportunity.

There is a wealth of music for Joe to draw from, including material from his latest album, Organized Rhyme, which was released in August. The project gives him a recent body of work that could potentially enter the performance, but there’s no indication yet that songs from the album will be included. His vast catalog also allows for a set that could revisit familiar favorites from throughout his career.

The Tiny Desk has a different feel from a traditional concert stage; for a rapper whose catalog includes some major crowd-pleasers, the stripped-down setting allows for a more intimate approach to the music. Joe’s last outing showed that he was willing to bring his records into that space, and his return has people wondering how he will shape the next performance.

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The five-year gap between appearances also adds to the sense of occasion. His first visit is still linked to performances of “Lean Back” and “All the Way Up,” two tracks that helped define the earlier set. It’s not yet clear if he will repeat either track this time, as the organizers have not disclosed the songs or the structure of the performance.

The announcement, however, has not been hampered by a lack of detail. With a new album due out in August and years of music behind him, Joe has several paths he can take. Still, speculation about the setlist and possible collaborators remains just that until the performance is made available.

The only confirmed news is that Fat Joe is back on “Tiny Desk” Thursday, November 5, for now. As for the rapper’s second appearance, fans will have to tune in to see whether he leans on his best-known hits, highlights, or brings a mix of both.

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