Rob Base, the pioneering hip‑hop artist best known as one half of the duo Rob Base & DJ E‑Z Rock, has died at the age of 59 after a private battle with cancer. His death on May 22, 2026, was confirmed through a statement shared on his official Instagram account, prompting an outpouring of tributes from fans and fellow artists.
Rob Base—born Robert Ginyard in Harlem—rose to fame during hip‑hop’s golden era, helping bring the genre into the mainstream with the 1988 smash hit “It Takes Two.” The song, created with his longtime friend and collaborator DJ E‑Z Rock, became one of the most recognizable and widely sampled tracks in hip‑hop history. It reached the Billboard charts, earned platinum certification, and influenced generations of artists across genres.
According to the family’s announcement, Base passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones after keeping his cancer diagnosis private. The statement honored him as a “loving father, family man, friend, and creative force whose impact will never be forgotten.”
Rob Base’s contributions extended far beyond a single hit. His energetic delivery, charismatic stage presence, and ability to blend hip‑hop with house music helped define the sound of late‑1980s rap. Tracks like “Joy and Pain,” “Get on the Dance Floor,” and “Make It Hot” further cemented his place in hip‑hop history.
Even decades after its release, “It Takes Two” remained a cultural staple—featured in films, commercials, sporting events, and sampled by artists including Snoop Dogg, The Black Eyed Peas, and Gang Starr.
Base is survived by his children De’Jené and Robert Jr., as well as Dysell, his late wife April Ginyard’s younger cousin, whom the family adopted. His first wife, April, passed away in 2013; he later married director and playwright Lynette Blackwell.
Tributes flooded social media following the announcement, with fans expressing shock, gratitude, and admiration for an artist whose music became the soundtrack of countless lives. Many highlighted how Base’s upbeat, infectious sound brought joy to parties, clubs, and communities for nearly four decades.
Rob Base’s influence on hip‑hop is undeniable. His work helped shape the genre’s early commercial rise, and his legacy continues to echo through the artists and audiences he inspired.
Grizz Chapman, the beloved actor best known for his role as Grizz on 30 Rock, has died at the age of 52. His passing on May 22, 2026, has prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans, colleagues, and family members, all honoring the gentle‑giant presence who became a standout favorite on the Emmy‑winning NBC sitcom.
Grizzwald “Grizz” Chapman, celebrated for his warm, soft‑spoken comedic presence on 30 Rock, died peacefully in his sleep on May 22, 2026, according to family members and his representative. He was 52.
Chapman, who stood nearly seven feet tall, appeared in 80 episodes of the series across all seven seasons, forming one half of Tracy Jordan’s loyal entourage alongside Kevin Brown’s Dot Com. His understated humor, towering physicality, and genuine chemistry with the cast made him one of the show’s most memorable recurring characters.
Though no official cause of death has been released, Chapman had openly battled kidney disease for many years. He underwent a kidney transplant in 2010 after spending years on dialysis and later became a spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation, using his platform to raise awareness about hypertension and kidney health.
Family members, including his cousin Donte “Hammer” Harrison of the Harlem Globetrotters, shared emotional tributes, noting that Chapman “fought his battles with strength and dignity until the very end” and passed away peacefully.
In addition to his signature role, Chapman appeared in several television series, including The Blacklist, Blue Bloods, and The Good Fight, and acted in films such as The Cobbler, Money Monster, and Life of the Party. He also created his own YouTube sketch series, Grizz Chroniclez, showcasing his comedic range beyond the sitcom world.
Born in Brooklyn in 1974, Chapman’s path to acting was unconventional. He met Tracy Morgan while working as a bouncer at a strip club, a chance encounter that led to his casting on 30 Rock and ultimately changed the course of his life.
Chapman is survived by his wife, Diana, and their two children.
The world of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War returns with another high-stakes mission, and this latest installment proves there’s still plenty of fuel left in the Jack Ryan franchise. Blending political intrigue, covert operations, and explosive action, Ghost War gives audiences exactly what they come to expect from the Tom Clancy universe — tension, intelligence warfare, and global danger.
This time, Jack Ryan finds himself caught in a dangerous international conspiracy tied to rogue military operations and hidden geopolitical agendas. As the threat escalates, Ryan must rely on strategy, instinct, and trusted allies to stop a crisis that could spiral into global catastrophe.
One of the reasons the film works so well is John Krasinski. Krasinski continues to bring a grounded quality to Jack Ryan, making him feel believable as both an analyst and reluctant action hero. Instead of playing the character as invincible, he leans into Ryan’s intelligence and humanity, which keeps the story engaging even during the film’s biggest action moments.
The supporting cast also strengthens the movie. Wendell Pierce brings authority and emotional depth, while the rest of the ensemble helps maintain the film’s gritty espionage atmosphere. Visually, the movie feels cinematic, moving confidently between intense action sequences and quieter moments of suspense.
What stood out most to me was how the film balanced modern action with old-school political thriller energy. It feels like a throwback to the kind of smart espionage movies audiences used to see regularly in theaters — films driven by tension, strategy, and global stakes instead of nonstop explosions alone.
I genuinely liked this film. It kept my attention from beginning to end, and I appreciated that it didn’t try to reinvent the franchise unnecessarily. Instead, it focused on delivering a solid, entertaining thriller with strong performances and enough suspense to satisfy longtime fans of Jack Ryan and newcomers alike.
While some moments follow familiar action-thriller formulas, the movie still succeeds because it understands its identity. Ghost War knows it’s here to entertain audiences with smart action, espionage drama, and compelling characters — and for the most part, it accomplishes that mission.
For fans of political thrillers and action-driven spy stories, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War is definitely worth watching.
Humor Mill Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Let it burn,” sang Usher at The Roast of Kevin Hart, which lit up the No. 1 spot on the English TV list with 13.5 million views. The special put the actor and comedian in the hot seat for all the smoke from Sheryl Underwood, Chelsea Handler, Jeff Ross, Pete Davidson, Draymond Green, Tony Hinchcliffe, Regina Hall, and more. Plus, Dwayne Johnson, Teyana Taylor, Tom Brady, Lizzo, Venus and Serena Williams, and Katt Williams made surprise appearances, adding fuel to the fire. Shane Gillis hosted the raw and ruthless night of laughs, which streamed live from the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, as part of Netflix is a Joke Fest.
Swapped is flying high at the top of the English film list, collecting 26.4 million views. The animated adventure debuted to record breaking demand, claiming the highest viewership for any Netflix animated movie in its first two weeks. Since its launch, it has amassed 80.6 million views. The film centers around Ollie (voiced by Michael B. Jordan), a chipmunk-like pookoo taught to stay hidden from the aggressive, bird-like javans such as Ivy (voiced by Juno Temple). When the two sworn enemies accidentally swap species, they are forced to walk in each other’s feathers and fur, and must work together to save their magical wilderness.
Another highly watched movie featuring a lovable animal character is Remarkably Bright Creatures, which floated to the No. 2 spot on the list with 20.3 million views. The quietly profound adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt’s hit novel stars Sally Field as a grieving widow who stumbles on a life-changing discovery, thanks to unlikely friendships with a local newcomer (Lewis Pullman) and a giant Pacific octopus (voiced by Alfred Molina).
The Crash drove up to the No. 3 spot on the list, earning 11.7 million views. The true-crime documentary recounts a horrific 2022 collision in which a car traveling 100 miles per hour led to two passenger deaths. What first appeared to be a tragic accident began to look like the scene of a calculated crime.
Nemesis locked in at No. 3 on the English TV list, bringing in 7.1 million views. The critically acclaimed thriller series from Power franchise creator Courtney A. Kemp introduces two men on opposite sides of the law – an expert jewel thief (Y’lan Noel), and a brilliant police detective (Matthew Law) – each of whom grows increasingly obsessed with the other’s talents.
Another engrossing drama staying hot is Man on Fire. After topping the chart for two weeks, it landed in the No. 5 spot with 5.5 million views, totaling 29.1 million views to date. The series adaptation of A.J. Quinnell’s book series stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as John Creasy, a former Special Forces mercenary who takes a dangerous job that hits close to home – all while battling extreme PTSD.
True crime audiences also streamed the second season of Worst Ex Ever, which rose to the No. 2 spot on the English TV list with 8.1 million views. The documentary series dissects incidents of love gone wrong through interviews with survivors, victims’ families, and investigators.
Speaking of relationships, the fourth season of Perfect Match launched in the No. 9 spot on the list with 2.3 million views. Hosted by Nick Lachey, the dating competition gathers singles from the Netflix Reality Universe, Love Island, Vanderpump Rules, and other hit shows, as they pair up and take on physical challenges that put their budding romances to the test. The eight-episode season concludes on May 27.
Berlin and the Lady with an Ermine stole the top spot on the non-English TV list with a bounty of 6.2 million views. The latest limited series in the Money Heist universe is the second installment after Berlin and the Jewels of Paris, with Pedro Alonso reprising his role as the cheeky titular thief. This time, he summons the crew to Seville, Spain, to one-up an ambitious duke who has his eyes on a Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece.
My Dearest Assassin fought its way to the top spot of the non-English film list, garnering 6.2 million views. The Thai action-drama follows Lhan (Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul), a girl with a rare blood type who’s rescued by a family of assassins, and seeks revenge on the same ruthless hunter who once murdered her parents.
KARTAVYA premiered in the No. 2 spot on the list with 4.7 million views. Written and directed by Pulkit (Bhakshak), the Indian thriller follows a police officer (Saif Ali Khan) who must decide how far he’ll go to uphold his duty. Will he choose to investigate a journalist’s suspicious death, or will he shirk his responsibilities in order to protect his younger brother from impending doom?
The second season of Devil May Cry, which debuted in the No. 6 spot on the English TV list with 4.1 million views, dives just as deep into family affairs. The latest episodes of the action-fantasy series see Dante, an orphaned demon hunter for hire, in a battle against his estranged twin brother, forcing him to finally confront his own demons.
Global superstar Will Smith is officially returning to the action-thriller arena, signing on to star as an FBI agent in Supermax, an upcoming feature that has already sparked major industry buzz following a significant worldwide rights acquisition by Amazon MGM Studios.
The project, originally developed by Miramax, quickly became one of the market’s most sought-after packages, culminating in Amazon securing global distribution rights in a high-profile deal that underscores continued confidence in star-driven theatrical and streaming releases.
Supermax centers on a federal agent navigating a dangerous crisis tied to one of the world’s most secure prisons, blending psychological tension with large-scale action. While full plot details remain tightly guarded, early descriptions position the film as a character-focused thriller combining intense action sequences with moral and political stakes.
For Smith, the role represents another strategic step in his ongoing career evolution. Known for balancing blockbuster spectacle with emotionally grounded performances, he returns to a genre that has long defined his box-office appeal while embracing darker, more complex storytelling.
Production is scheduled to begin this summer, signaling a fast-moving timeline that reflects strong studio confidence in the project’s commercial potential. Industry observers see Supermax as part of a broader trend toward globally appealing action films anchored by recognizable stars and cinematic scope.
Amazon’s acquisition highlights the streaming giant’s continued push into premium action programming designed to compete across both theatrical and digital landscapes. By securing worldwide rights, the studio positions Supermax as a marquee release capable of reaching audiences across international markets.
As anticipation builds, Supermax stands poised to combine star power, suspense, and franchise-level ambition — reinforcing Will Smith’s enduring status as one of entertainment’s most bankable action leads while signaling another major play in the evolving streaming-era blockbuster race.
Comedy legend Chris Rock is stepping into a new cinematic space, joining actor Paul Rudd in the upcoming film Goodnight, Lamby, a project produced by acclaimed filmmaker Darren Aronofsky and selected for the Cannes Classics program.
The film represents a notable creative pivot, blending humor, nostalgia, and emotional storytelling within a project designed to resonate with both festival audiences and mainstream viewers. While plot details remain largely under wraps, Goodnight, Lamby is described as a character-driven story that leans into heartfelt themes while allowing its performers room to explore layered performances.
Rock’s involvement signals another chapter in his ongoing evolution as an actor. Long celebrated for his groundbreaking stand-up and sharp cultural commentary, Rock has increasingly gravitated toward dramatic and unconventional roles that challenge audience expectations. His pairing with Rudd — an actor known for balancing comedic charm with emotional depth — suggests a film driven as much by character chemistry as by narrative ambition.
Aronofsky’s role as producer adds additional intrigue. Known for supporting visually and emotionally bold storytelling, his creative influence hints that Goodnight, Lamby may blend artistic sensibility with accessible storytelling, positioning the film as a standout entry within the Cannes Classics lineup.
For Rock, the project continues a broader trend among top comedians expanding into prestige cinema, proving that comedic instincts often translate powerfully into dramatic performance. The Cannes selection further underscores the growing recognition of comedians as serious contributors to auteur-driven filmmaking.
As anticipation builds ahead of its festival presentation, Goodnight, Lamby stands as a reminder that comedy and cinema have always shared common ground — storytelling rooted in humanity, vulnerability, and connection.
With Rock, Rudd, and Aronofsky collaborating, the film is already generating buzz as one of the most intriguing cross-genre projects heading to the international festival stage.
In this special edition of Box Seats, we discuss the Netflix Special of The Roast of Kevin Hart. In this episode, the comedians discuss the pros and cons, and they give their take on what everyone is talking about.
The comedians who joined the topic are comedians Howie Bell, Tony Tone, Mike Shawn, Damien Jones, and Maurice Smith. Filmmaker Jason Hayes also joins the show.
Watch the full episode above!
Class will be back in session at Hillman College in the fall.
Netflix announced Wednesday that A Different World, a sequel to the 1987-93 NBC sitcom centered on students at an HBCU, will premiere in the fall. Several members of the original cast will reprise their roles alongside a new group of actors playing Hillman students, and the show’s creative team also includes alumni of the original.
Along with the premiere announcement for A Different World, Netflix announced a few new series orders at is upfront: The Retrievals from Maid and Sirens creator Molly Smith Metzler; Barbaric, based on the comic book by Michael Moreci and Nathan Gooden; Myron Bolitar, from David E. Kelley and author Harlan Coben; and teen drama Calabasas, from Bridgerton creator Chris Van Dusen and the L.A. exurb’s most famous resident, Kim Kardashian.
A Different World centers on Deborah (Maleah Joi Moon), the youngest child of Whitley (Jasmine Guy) and Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison), who is beginning her first year at Hillman, her parents’ alma mater. “She finds the shadow of her parents difficult to escape as she sets out to build her own legacy, while having the time of her life, alongside a whole new generation of Hillman’s best and brightest,” the show’s logline reads.
Alijah Kai, Cornell Young IV, Jordan Aaron Hall, Kennedi Reece, and Chibuikem Uche also star, along with original series alums Guy, Hardison, Darryl M. Bell, and Cree Summer. The new cast also includes Vincent Jamal Hooper, Elijah J. Roberts, Renee Harrison, Famecia Ward, Dasan Frazier, Tichina Arnold, Joshua Suiter, Raven Goodwin, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Norman Nixon Jr. Also reprising their prior roles are Karen Malina White, Ajai Sanders, Dawnn Lewis, Glynn Turman, Charnele Brown, Jenifer Lewis and Jada Pinkett Smith.
Netflix picked up the series in 2025 and wrapped filming on the 10-episode season in April. Felicia Pride (Bel-Air, Grey’s Anatomy) serves as showrunner and executive produces with A Different World alums Debbie Allen (who directed most of the original series and helmed three episodes of the new season), Reggie Rock Bythewood, Gina Prince-Bythewood, and Tom Werner. Mandy Summers also exec produces.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Veteran comedian and actor Mike Epps is doubling down on his relationship with Netflix, securing a deal to deliver two additional stand-up comedy specials for the streaming giant.
The agreement marks another major milestone in Epps’ enduring career, reinforcing his status as one of comedy’s most consistent and relatable voices. Known for his sharp storytelling, Midwest authenticity, and ability to turn everyday experiences into unforgettable punchlines, Epps continues to prove that longevity in comedy comes from staying connected to the audience.
The new specials follow the strong reception of his previous Netflix projects, which showcased his evolution from club comic to global entertainer while maintaining the raw humor that first made him a fan favorite. With decades of stand-up experience behind him, Epps brings a seasoned perspective to the stage — blending personal reflections, cultural commentary, and signature improvisational energy.
Netflix’s continued investment in Epps reflects the platform’s ongoing strategy of partnering with established comedians who bring built-in audiences and proven performance power. In an era where stand-up comedy remains one of streaming’s most reliable genres, Epps represents a bridge between classic comedy traditions and modern digital audiences.
For fans, the announcement signals more than new specials; it’s confirmation that Epps remains deeply rooted in stand-up despite success in film and television. His comedic voice — grounded, observational, and unapologetically real — continues to resonate across generations.
As production details and release dates are finalized, expectations are high that the upcoming specials will capture Epps at a new stage of life and career, offering fresh material shaped by experience, growth, and an ever-expanding perspective on culture and comedy.
With two new specials on the horizon, Mike Epps isn’t just returning to the stage — he’s reaffirming his place as one of stand-up comedy’s most dependable hitmakers, proving once again that authenticity never goes out of style.
Media mogul, entertainer, and television personality Nick Cannon is preparing to give audiences an unprecedented look into one of the most talked-about aspects of his life — fatherhood — through an upcoming Netflix docuseries centered on raising his 12 children with six different mothers.
The project promises an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes exploration of Cannon’s unconventional family dynamic, offering viewers insight into the realities, challenges, and philosophies that guide his approach to parenting. Known for balancing multiple careers as a comedian, actor, producer, and host, Cannon now turns the camera toward his most personal role yet.
Rather than focusing solely on headlines or public debate, the series aims to humanize the experience of modern co-parenting. According to early reports, the docuseries will follow Cannon’s daily routines, family coordination, celebrations, and the emotional responsibilities that come with maintaining strong relationships across a large and blended family structure.
For years, Cannon’s expanding family has fueled public curiosity and social media discussion. The Netflix series seeks to move beyond speculation by allowing audiences to witness firsthand how communication, scheduling, and shared parenting responsibilities operate within his world.
The show also reflects a broader trend in entertainment toward deeply personal storytelling, where celebrities invite viewers into private spaces once kept away from public view. Cannon’s willingness to document his life signals both confidence and vulnerability, presenting fatherhood as a central pillar of his identity rather than a side narrative to his career.
As a longtime host and media entrepreneur, Cannon has built a brand around openness and connection with audiences. This docuseries extends that philosophy, blending reality television with documentary storytelling while exploring themes of family, responsibility, and modern parenthood.
While release details and episode structure are still emerging, the project is already generating conversation about evolving definitions of family in contemporary culture. Whether viewers tune in out of curiosity, admiration, or debate, the series positions Cannon at the center of a larger cultural dialogue about parenting, relationships, and public life.
With Netflix continuing to invest in personality-driven storytelling, the docuseries stands poised to become one of the platform’s most discussed reality offerings — giving audiences a closer look at the man behind the headlines and the family that defines him.