One of the greatest unsolved mysteries of our time may have had a different ending if it had happened today.
That’s according to Emmy-winner Anthony Hemingway, director and executive producer of the new true crime series “Unsolved”, which tells the story of Biggie and Tupac.
He points out that the killings, which took place over two decades ago, occurred at a time when hip hop and rap weren’t as mainstream as they are today. There was also no social media back then.
Today, those two factors would probably have culminated in a different outcome, says Hemingway, who also produced “The People v. OJ Simpson.”
“Unsolved” attempts to answer the questions behind the shootings of the two rival rap superstars, examining not just what happened but the context surrounding the events.
“This was a period of time that was on the heels of the O.J. trial, the Rampart scandal, even [the] L.A. riots,” Hemingway explains. “L.A. at the time was volatile."
Add to that tinderbox the notorious reputations of both Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.
“We’ve only really been given the negative of their story,” he says.
In an attempt to change that, Hemingway’s series tries to “humanize” the two rappers and put forth an idea of “who they could’ve been today.”
“[The] theme that really drove us through the story is perception and how perception challenges your best judgements, how perception dictates treatment,” he says.
Hemingway hopes the series will “shine a light on what we continue to struggle with -- the injustices that are happening, that have just been systemic for a very long time.”
“Unsolved: The Murder Of Tupac and Notorious B.I.G.” premieres on February 27 on USA Network.
The holiday weekend saw Disney+ and Netflix competing head-to-head for streaming views as the Disney behemoth kicked off the unofficial start to summer with its release of "Obi-Wan Kenobi" and Netflix responded with the first part of "Stranger Things" Season 4. The streaming giants caught the eye of Wall Street, and Seth Schachner, the managing director at consultancy Strat Americas, joined Cheddar News to break down the heavy hitters. "This is a very tough, competitive game, and I don't see it getting any easier," he said. "I think you'll probably see more consolidation."
The founder and president of Cyborg Mobile Kobie Hatcher has been on a strong trajectory to disrupt his industry with a program called The New Technologists. It's not only meant to address the diversity gap within large tech companies but also help pave the way to transform the lives of young BIPOC students. He joined Cheddar News to talk about how he's working to make a difference with the lack of diversity in tech. “There's truly no lack of talent out there. It's just identifying them and letting them know that, hey, I've been in the tech sector for over 20 years. I see you. I know what you can bring, bring it, we need it," Hatcher said.
Catching you up on the entertainment headlines of the day with "Top Gun: Maverick" soaring up to a record opening at $160.5M, Harry Styles also hitting number one on Billboard with "Harry's House," Netflix released images of Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in "Maestro," and more.
Constituent service platform Indigov recently raised $25 million in a Series B funding round. Indigov bills itself as a constituent relationship management tool that helps elected officials improve the way they organize, respond to, and engage those they serve. The startup's services are being used by federal, state, and local governments across the country, including the U.S. House of Representatives. Alex Kouts, founder & CEO of Indigov, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
The 2022 NBA playoffs are intensifying as four teams vie for an NBA finals berth. Tonight, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors can book their finals ticket with a win over the Dallas Mavericks, while Miami will be feeling the 'heat' tomorrow night, facing elimination against the Boston Celtics.
And with the growing popularity of sports betting, the NBA playoffs offers a potential money-making opportunity for fans. Trysta Krick, host of BetMGM Tonight, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
As the holiday weekend arrives, travelers are bracing themselves for higher gas prices amid the inflation surge, but Robert Sinclair, AAA spokesperson, joined Cheddar News to discuss how the higher costs likely won't hold people back this Memorial Day Weekend. “We're near pre-pandemic levels. Nearly 40 million people are traveling. And of that total, about 35 million will be driving to their destinations," he said.
Terry Dunn Meurer, executive producer of the 'Unsolved Mysteries' podcast, joins Cheddar News to discuss the new season and why people are obsessed with true crime.
Catching you up on the entertainment headlines of the day with "Top Gun: Maverick" making $19.3M in previews, BTS heading to the White House, and "Ozark” reclaiming the throne as number one in the Nielsen streaming ratings.