HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY AMERICA!

Wishing all of my friends and readers a Happy and safe 4th of July! xoK

THE STAR: DREAMS CAN COME TRUE

When the Star card appears, you are likely to find yourself feeling inspired. It brings renewed hope and faith and a sense that you are truly blessed by the universe at this time.

Focus on your dreams, your aspirations and your goals with hope and optimism. You can find a way for them to manifest in your life.

The Star is your wish card. Make a wish and believe in it. Find the courage to follow your heart and your dreams can come true!

To receive the Star in your reading means that you have gone and passed through a terrible life challenge. You have managed to go through this without losing your hope.

While you suffered, you perhaps were not aware of your own strength, but you are now perhaps recognizing that the loss helped you discover your own resilience and inner power. It is only now that you can really appreciate all that you have.

WRETCH 32: BRITAIN'S HIDDEN GEM

We apologize if we're wrong, but we're guessing you've never heard of Wretch 32. That doesn't surprise us. The British rapper is 35 years old now and probably has fewer years ahead of him at the top of his game than he has behind him.

His chance of cracking the mainstream in the United States of America is probably gone for good. That's a real shame because we're about to make a case for him being the most underrated rapper of all time.

Calling Wretch - real name Jermaine Scott Sinclair - a rapper at all might be doing the man a disservice. He grew up on the UK's 'grime' scene around ten years ago but stayed on its underground.

While Stormzy and Dizzee Rascal have broken through to the mainstream, Wretch stayed underground and chose to partner with people like Avelino rather than some of his more globally-recognized peers. Stormzy became a global megastar. Wretch has stayed in the shadows. He might be fine with that, though. In fact, we suspect he prefers it that way.

Wretch 32 appears to have the same philosophy when it comes to music and commercialism as Akala - another prodigiously gifted British rapper. He believes more in content than he does in making money. Snoop Dogg - one of the most iconic rappers of the past 30 years - is so commercial that his likeness has been used to promote an online slots game called ‘Pimped.’

Usually, musical online slots are reserved for people like Dolly Parton or Elvis Presley. Snoop and many of the other big-name American rappers exist in a world of commercialism that Wretch openly raps against.

He isn’t popular enough for a mobile slots to be built around him, but it’s inconceivable that he’d ever approve of one being made anyway.

Right now, we’re living through the era of mumble rap. Thousands of column inches have been devoted to whether mumble rap is a fair term to use in the past, and we’re not seeking to re-open that debate here.

Whether or not you think it’s fair, though, even the most ardent supporter of the current scene would have to concede that lyricism as an art form has taken a dive in mainstream rap over the course of the past five years. Very few people rap about real issues anymore.

Rap has returned to a place where the most popular tracks are all about money, clothes, houses, chains, and women. It’s like the bad old days of the late 1990s have come round again, and nobody has anything original to say.

The reason that the American rap audience thinks that nobody has anything original to say, though, is because the American rap audience doesn’t open itself up to British rappers. Wretch 32 and Akala are just two of a whole host of British rappers who put a lot of great content into their tracks, including Bugzy Malone, Aitch, Giggs, and Kano. Wretch 32 in particular, though, is a master of wordplay. His setups are unbelievable, and his punchlines are constant.

Watching Wretch in full flow isn’t so much like experiencing a track as it is experiencing a lesson on how a track should be put together. He even offers his thoughts on the process in his now-iconic ‘Fire In The Booth’ session with Avelino, hosted by Charlie Sloth.

We mention 'Fire In The Booth' because, years after the last show aired, the show is starting to make headway in the USA via YouTube. Drake even went to the BBC's studios to take part in a 'Fire in the Booth' session. He didn't do very well. 'Fire In The Booth' is a freestyle show where the good rappers are separated from the great ones, and Drake fell short of putting in a classic performance.

Wretch 32, however, offered us a standout bar in his shared performance with Avelino:- "We've all got bars, but nobody here's a brewer - I'm bringing a sandwich to the beach in the hope of finding tuna." It's a clever piece of wordplay and an astute observation of the current scene.

Everyone can rap, but almost nobody has an original bar to serve because they can't 'brew' them. Wretch 32, meanwhile, is happy to experiment. He's happy to take his sandwich to the beach to find out if there's any tuna there to fill it with rather than staying at home and using what he's got. The fact that 'tuna' is a play on words with 'tune' is the icing on the cake as far as the line goes.

By the time he tells you that people are trying to minus his plusses to divide his people later on in the same track, you're hooked. You've become a Wretch 32 fan.

Once that moment happens, you’ll go down a rabbit hole of incredible Wretch 32 performances. He’s done no less than five ‘Fire In The Booth’ sessions with Charlie Sloth, and all of them are worth finding and enjoying. He’s also done three ‘Daily Duppy’ shows, which are also freestyles, and his ability to dissect a sentence and put an original twist on a word or a phrase will blow your mind on all of them.

Once you’re done with the Daily Duppy performances, seek out his track ‘Antwi’ and prepare to be even more astonished by the level of performance he’s able to offer when standing alone and giving out emotions rather than observations. He’s a talented, nuanced performer. There are hundreds of YouTube videos of American rap fans finding Wretch 32 for the first time and reacting to his performances. All of them are blown away. All of them become fans.

There are subtle differences between rap and grime, and we know that not every rap fan can become a grime fan. On some level, though, all of us fell in love with rap because we appreciate great lyricists. Words are all rap is, and content is what makes rap great.

Wretch 32 has been delivering better content than almost anybody else in the game for years now. Again, borrowing one of his own lines, it would be called suicide if he fired at the top. Wretch 32 is a UK star who should have become a world star. If you’re not on the hype train already, it’s time to book a ticket.

THE EMPTY HEARTS TO RELEASE 2ND LP IN AUGUST!

THE EMPTY HEARTS

ELLIOT EASTON (THE CARS), CLEM BURKE (BLONDIE),

WALLY PALMAR (THE ROMANTICS) & ANDY BABIUK (THE CHESTERFIELD KINGS)

The Empty Hearts—four rock and roll lifers—are proud to announce The Second Album, out August 28 on Little Steven’s Wicked Cool Records. Hear their new song “The Best That I Can” and watch the video for “The World’s Gone Insane,” recorded before the world had gone even more insane. The Second Album will be available on vinyl, CD, and all streaming services, and available for preorder here.

“We wanted to make an album like the ones that really captured our imaginations when we were coming up,” says Elliot Easton, guitarist and founding member of The Cars. “The sort of record that, when it came out, you'd get together with a few friends, maybe get a buzz on, turn the lights down and listen from beginning to end—like those classic late '60s records that took you on a little trip.”

Easton is joined by Blondie drummer and fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Clem Burke, along with hitmaker Wally Palmar of The Romantics on lead vocals and bassist Andy Babiuk of The Chesterfield Kings. One of their heroes, Ringo Starr, plays drums on “Remember Days Like These.” “In a way, it’s given us The Beatles’ seal of approval!” adds Clem, who backed Ringo on tambourine.

THE SECOND ALBUM OUT AUGUST 28 (WICKED COOL RECORDS)

“THE BEST THAT I CAN” LISTEN
“THE WORLD’S GONE INSANE” WATCH

Produced by Ed Stasium (Ramones, The Talking Heads) and The Empty Hearts, The Second Album was made in the spirit of 50s and 60's rock and roll, the music that first inspired all four members. The album was recorded with the intent to tour worldwide, including dates with Blondie.

“The Empty Hearts have done it again!” says label head Little Steven, who named the band from his secret list of unused names. “Could this album be timelier? I’m thinking NOT!

WAS LORD LUCAN KILLED AND FED TO TIGERS?

Lord and Lady Lucan

Richard John Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan, commonly known as Lord Lucan, was a British peer who disappeared after being suspected of the murder of the family nanny. He was an Anglo-Irish aristocrat, the eldest son of George Bingham, 6th Earl of Lucan by his mother Kaitlin Dawson.

In November of 1974, a 39-year-old Lord Lucan vanished. He had left behind the bloody, gruesome mess of his children’s nanny, Sandra Rivett.

People knew Lucan as this quiet man until Thursday, November 7, 1974. That same evening, after being at the gambling lounge, Sandra Rivett was bludgeoned to death with a lead pipe in Lucan’s basement. Lucan believed he had killed Lady Lucan, but he was mistaken when she went into the kitchen to get tea. After killing Rivett, he attacked Lady Lucan and escaped.

Fleeing his home, he went to Sussex to a friend’s home, sent some letters, and left again. The following day, his blood-stained car was found abandoned at the Newhaven, East Sussex port. From there, the trail went cold.

Lord Lucan and Nanny Sandra Rivett

The most successful detectives from Scotland Yard still had no idea where Lucan went; the mystery is still talked about today. With the body of Lucan still not found comes the countless conspiracy theories as to what may have happened to him.

Son of murdered nanny claims he’s tracked down suspected killer Lord Lucan in Australia

Many believe he skipped the country and lived abroad undercover for the rest of his life. Even today, there have been many sightings of Richard John Bingham, the 7th Earl of Lucan, reported around the world. He’s apparently been seen in Africa, India, and New Zealand, however, none of those rumors of his sighting can be proven.

Two stockbrokers known as Stephen Raphael and Philippe Marcq knew Lord Lucan quite well from their Mayfair gaming club. Raphael was one of Lucan’s closest friends as well. Raphael has a different story to tell about how Lucan really disappeared.

Marcq claims Raphael told him that after Lucan committed the murder, he had traveled to a private zoo in Kent that was owned by his close friend John Aspinall, the founder of the Clermont Club.

At the zoo, he and other friends had discussed what would happen in the future for Lucan; they told him that what he did would mean he couldn’t talk to his children ever again. The reason Lucan had tried killing his wife was that he and his wife were in a constant custody battle, and he wanted full custody.

As a result, Lucan’s friends told him he ought to disappear for good. Without a body or even proof of death, the law and probate would not be able to grant his estate for at least seven years.

While Lucan thought that his friends meant hop a plane and skip the country, they had other plans in mind. They had given him a pistol and from there, Lucan went to another room and shot himself. Not wanting to have the body discovered, the friends had a solution. Marcq said that Lucan’s body was fed to one of Aspinall’s tigers. Although it was gruesome, it was an effective way to dispose of the corpse. Read More

FULL THUNDER MOON FOR THE 4TH OF JULY!

The next full Moon will occur on Sunday, July 5, 2020, at 12:44AM ET, and is known as the Full Buck Moon. It is also known as the Thunder Moon, Hay Moon, or the Wort Moon. Even though this Moon turns 100% full on July 5th (in the Eastern Time Zone), we can all celebrate it on the 4th along with fireworks!

The next full moon will be:

Sunday * 5 July 2020
Moon sign: Capricorn 13° 37'

In other time zones:
WELLINGTON = Sunday * 5 July 2020 * 4:44:25 pm (NZST)
SYDNEY = Sunday * 5 July 2020 * 2:44:25 pm (AEST)
TOKYO = Sunday * 5 July 2020 * 1:44:25 pm (JST)
BEIJING = Sunday * 5 July 2020 * 12:44:25 pm (CST)
BANGKOK = Sunday * 5 July 2020 * 11:44:25 am (ICT)
DELHI = Sunday * 5 July 2020 * 10:14:25 am (IST)
DUBAI = Sunday * 5 July 2020 * 8:44:25 am (GST)
MOSCOW = Sunday * 5 July 2020 * 7:44:25 am (MSK)
BERLIN = Sunday * 5 July 2020 * 6:44:25 am (CEST)
LAGOS = Sunday * 5 July 2020 * 5:44:25 am (WAT)
LONDON = Sunday * 5 July 2020 * 5:44:25 am (BST)
RIO = Sunday * 5 July 2020 * 1:44:25 am (BRT)
SANTIAGO = Sunday * 5 July 2020 * 12:44:25 am (CLT)
NEW YORK = Sunday * 5 July 2020 * 12:44:25 am (EDT)
MEXICO CITY = Saturday * 4 July 2020 * 11:44:25 pm (CDT)
CALGARY = Saturday * 4 July 2020 * 10:44:25 pm (MDT)
LOS ANGELES = Saturday * 4 July 2020 * 9:44:25 pm (PDT)
ANCHORAGE = Saturday * 4 July 2020 * 8:44:25 pm (AKDT)
HONOLULU = Saturday * 4 July 2020 * 6:44:25 pm (HAST)

ARETHA FILM RESPECT: THE QUEEN ARRIVES IN THEATERS IN DECEMBER!

The Queen arrives in theaters this December. See Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin in RESPECT. Watch the teaser trailer now.

Starring
Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Skye Dakota Turner, Tate Donovan and Mary J. Blige

Directed By
Liesl Tommy

Screenplay By
Tracey Scott Wilson