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 Peacock reboot of the beloved Will Smith sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," simply re-titled as "Bel-Air," takes a different, dramatic approach compared to the '90s comedy. Actor Cassandra Freeman joined Cheddar News to discuss bringing a revamped Aunt Viv to life with the updated backdrop in mind. "When I first heard about it I just thought why would anyone want to mess with a classic? It's a classic for a reason," she said. "And then after a year I finally saw the trailer that Morgan Cooper, our creator made and it was amazing."
February 20 marks what would have been Kurt Cobain’s 55th birthday, and NFT gateway Pop Legendz will be offering up a collection of rare images from a 1991 Nirvana show in Philadelphia that took places days before their monster hit album "Nevermind" was to be released. Faith West, the founder of Pop Legendz, music journalist, and the photographer who captured it on film joined Cheddar News to talk about the historic event and the NFT sales where half the proceeds will go to charities like the Trevor Project and GRID Alternatives. “I showed up at a small club, 150 people, not quite know what to expect, brought my camera, and halfway through the show I knew music history was being made," West said of the iconic evening.
In a thrilling overtime finish, 23-year old NASCAR driver Austin Cindric clinched the 64th annual Daytona 500 win. Narrowly beating out legendary race car driver Bubba Wallace, Cindric earned his very first NASCAR cup series victory, and became the second youngest driver to win The Great American Race. Daytona 500 Champ Austin Cindric joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss his historic victory.
More than two years into the pandemic, Americans are ready to go out and splurge. With Covid cases falling and restrictions rolling back, many companies are seeing a surge in demand for everything from hotels to restaurants to sports games. Lindsey Roeschke, travel & hospitality analyst at Morning Consult, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss trends going on in the industries right now.
To combat slumping ratings, the Academy Awards are undergoing a radical slimming down, with eight awards to be presented off-air during next month’s telecast.
Two Blackhawk helicopters crashed near a Utah ski resort Tuesday morning, forcing the closures on part of the mountain but leaving no crew members seriously hurt.
Equip is a virtual treatment platform for eating disorders, and recently raised $58 million in a Series B round led by The Chernin Group. The company aims to revolutionize treatment for eating disorders by delivering virtual care teams and clinical expertise directly to families' homes. Equip says the need for its platform has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Eating Disorder Association's helpline has had a 107% increase in contacts since the start of the pandemic. Kristina Saffran, CEO and co-founder of Equip, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
U.S. stocks ended today's session sharply lower on the heels of rising geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Melissa Brown, Managing Director of Applied Research at Qontigo, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Tonga's main internet connection to the rest of the world has finally been restored more than five weeks after a huge volcanic eruption and tsunami severed a crucial undersea cable.
As we celebrate Black History Month, Cheddar is highlighting prominent Black Americans who are carving their own historic paths and trailblazing in their fields. Today we feature athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick.
