bigted Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 LL Cool J Plays Shy Guy Role Says It Reflects Real Life -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LL COOL J PLAYS SHY-GUY ROLE IN 'LAST HOLIDAY': But rapper says character wasn't that much of a stretch. courtesy of www.eurweb.com *LL Cool J has known Queen Latifah for decades through mutual adventures in the rap game, but neither had really gotten to know each other until production began on their latest film, "The Last Holiday." "I didn't know Latifah has the sense of humor that she has," said LL during interviews for the movie this past weekend in Los Angeles. "I knew she was a nice person, because I've seen her around many times for years, but I didn't know she had that type of a sense of humor. I didn't know she was so laid back and relaxed." At nights during the shoot, LL said his crew spent time with Latifah's posse tearing up the local bowling alley, "going crazy and sliding down the lane," laughs the rapper. "Sliding into home base to get strikes." Hopefully, audiences will laugh as much in the theater as the actors did during their free time. The film is an update of the 1950 film starring Alec Guiness in the title role of George Bird, an agricultural machinery salesman who find out he hasn't long to live and embarks on a last holiday. Latifah, as Georgia Bird, is a cookware salesperson for a New Orleans retail outlet who takes a dream vacation to Europe upon finding out that her days are numbered. LL plays Sean Matthews, a shy, soft-spoken man who carries a secret torch for the lady. "That's the thing that made [the role] attractive," said LL, who turns 38 on Saturday. That was the fun part of the role, the fact that it was an opportunity to play against type, against what people expected me to do. Most of the time, especially in film, people are gonna assume, 'Oh, it's a rapper, it's hip hop.' So this was an opportunity to do something different." Despite the role being a departure for the New York native, LL says he shares one trait with his character. "What a lot of people don't know about me is that I am shy," he says. "I've never been the guy who went up to girls and asked them for their phone numbers. He wasn't that far away from me, as far away as a person may assume. We all have different pieces to us and different aspects of our personality." Born James Todd Smith in Bay Shore, Long Island, LL has been busy these days taking advantage of the opportunities introduced as a byproduct of phenomenal success in the rap game. In a road similar to his co-star Latifah's, platinum records were followed by a television series, then films and, eventually, business ventures. "Every rapper or musician who goes platinum or double platinum is gonna get a movie opportunity, that's just the way it works. Whether you like it or not, that's just the truth," admits LL. "But are you gonna be able to take advantage of it? Is it something you love? Do you truly wanna do it? Are you killing time? Those are all questions that get answered over time." For LL, opportunities that have come his way include a nine-picture production deal at Lionsgate and his Todd Smith clothing line, two ventures that give the rapper as much joy as a hit record. But those aren't bad either. His next disc, titled "Todd Smith," hits the street in March with Jennifer Lopez on the first single, plus guests appearances by Mary J. Blige, 112, Ginuwine, Mary Mary, Teairra Marie, Lyfe Jennings, Pharrell Williams, Jermaine Dupri, Juelz Santana and Broadway. In explaining the use of his birth name as the album title, husband and father of four says it's because, "I'm revealing something else. I'm going to another dimension musically that's totally different from what I've done in the past. It was an opening up. I was more collaborative with the writing than I've ever been, I've allowed other people to be involved with helping me write the songs, with creating the music. It was like an opening up and inviting in of everyone." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turntable Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 Ladie`s Love a shy-guy? :lolsign: "I'm revealing something else. I'm going to another dimension musically that's totally different from what I've done in the past. It was an opening up. I was more collaborative with the writing than I've ever been, I've allowed other people to be involved with helping me write the songs, with creating the music. It was like an opening up and inviting in of everyone." Whats up with that? Please, dont let this be another Definition or 10... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigted Posted January 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 Maybe LL means that the material'll be a lil' more personal than his recent albums if he talks about opening up, there'll probably be more personal songs than club songs on this album... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turntable Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 So thats why he uses more Co Writers? I think this Album is about newer Artits he likes and wants to support to he gives them space on the Album. But I seriously hope this is gonna be as personal as The G.O.A.T. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigted Posted January 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 (edited) It's too early to tell how the album's gonna be but March ain't that far away so we'll see soon enough, I'm looking forward to seeing the movie wit Queen Latifah when it comes out this week too, it sounds like they had a lot of fun hanging out on the set.... Edited January 9, 2006 by bigted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerkot Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 Arent you LL fans a bit worried about the number of collaborations? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigted Posted January 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 Well actually not really 'cause I think that the collabs'll make the album more interesting, I think "G.O.A.T. Featuring James T. Smith" is one of his best albums he's done and that had a lot of collabs, hopefully "Todd Smith" is on the level as that album.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Snoop Posted January 9, 2006 Members Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 when do they start filmming? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turntable Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 Well actually not really 'cause I think that the collabs'll make the album more interesting, I think "G.O.A.T. Featuring James T. Smith" is one of his best albums he's done and that had a lot of collabs, hopefully "Todd Smith" is on the level as that album.... Fughidabowdit Feat. Method Man, Redamn and DMX is probaly one of my favourite Songs ever. I wish they would be a Crew since then! "Queens is" turned out great too. Actualy all of them. But this is probaly gonna be diffrent since it are total diffrent Artists. Except from Juelz and Freeway but we allready heard those,lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpinJack AJ Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 Thanx so much 4 the article!! I've been dying 2 see this movie since i 1st knew it waz shooting. I'll be there opening nite...afterall, 2 of the people i admire the most are in it. The new album is what i'm dying 4. I don't know how i feel about him letting others get down on the songwriting tip...but if he's dropping an album every year or 2, i guess it dosen't bother me that much. It looks like alot of new school talent is on it...but LL wouldn't do his fans wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Hero1 Posted January 9, 2006 Admin Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 It looks like another bad queen latifah movie.. but this new LL album sounds interesting..could be his "willennium" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigted Posted January 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 (edited) That's dope how LL works with different artists all the time, that definately gives his music a different sound to it, and it ain't really a big deal if LL has a lil' help writing his lyrics 'cause FP does too, as long as it doesn't make it a weak album, then there's a problem.... btw, the movie comes out this weekend, they finished shooting it months ago.... btw, Queen Latifah can't be making that many bad movies since she recently got a star on the Hollywood walk of fame... LL's gonna be on TRL tomorrow talking about the movie, maybe he'll talk more about his album too.... Edited January 10, 2006 by bigted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpinJack AJ Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 Tim, what makes u think this movie will bad. They are airing the trailors like crazy here in the US and the movie looks real good and inspirational 2 me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Hero1 Posted January 10, 2006 Admin Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 well the trailer I saw it made it look like they were getting Latifah to do her usual "schtick" which she's done in bringing down the house..taxi..etc playing the same role.. I know Latifah is better than that..Just doesnt look a great movie to me..you'll have to tell me what you think when you see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turntable Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 You liked the original Last Holliday you will probbaly like this. At the end it is juts a remake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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