Pasc 82__________________________________________ (Chi' Jîortlanù (Dbseruer September 17.2003 Focus ‘Sir M ix-A -L ot’ ends 7-Year Hiatis “Sir Mix-A-Lot " Anthony Ray works on his new album in his studio in Auburn, Wash. (AP photo) Grammy winning rapper releases new album (A P )— The man w ho introduced big butts to pop culture is back. Sir M ix-A -L ot, w ho earned a Grammy for 1992’s"Baby Got Back” and then all but disap p eared , re turned T uesday with a new album , "D ad d y ’s H om e.” The 39-year-old S eattle-b o rn rapper left the recording industry in 1997 shortly after the killings o f Tupac Shakur and N otorious B.I.G. "I w alked aw ay pretty disgusted w ith the g am e," said M ix-A -Lot, w hose real nam e is A nthony Ray. "It w asn ’t about m usic anym ore. E veryone w as talking about the sam e thing, sh ooting guns and b ein g hard. T he creativ ity w as g o n e.” R ath er than b ecom e an o th er g angsta copycat, M ix-A -L ot sim ply stopped m aking records. He produced som e artists and hooked up w ith a rock band. The Presidents o f the U nited States o f A m erica, in a rap-rock collaboration called Sub set. T he group recorded 13 tracks, but never released any o f them. “T hey w ere burned out with the business ju st like 1 w as," M ix-A- Lot said. “ W e m ade som e songs and w ent on tour. It w as cool be cause it w asn ’t about putting out a record, it w as ju st about the music.” B eing out o f the spotlight did n 't bother M ix-A -Lot, but the itch to m ake records returned years later after hearingcreati vity coming back, in particular the sounds ofth e Black Eyed Peas, Ludacris and Missy I lliol. “ I didn't miss the industry, I missed the actual music,” Mix-A-Lot said. "I missed working in the studio. I was still producing songs. But 1 missed doing a record, putting it out and seeing what it’s going to do.” M ix-A -L ot is often branded a one-hit-w onder because he never recaptured the success o f "Baby G ot Back," w hich received the 1992 (iram m y A w ard for Best Rap Solo Perform ance and has becom e a perm anent fixture in pop culture, having been featured in the movie “C h arlie’s A ngels" and the hit tele vision series "F riends.” On “ D addy’s H om e,” his sixth album , M ix-A -L ot set out to show critics and o th er rappers that his skills have im proved during his absence. “ I upgraded m y lyrical style big tim e,” M ix-A -L ot said. "I got the chance to show I can flow, bounce, and ride w ith anybody.” James Brown Returns to Famed Apollo (A P) Jam es Brown will return The concerts will be held at the to H arlem in N ovem ber to celebrate A pollo on Nov. 20 and 21. Special o n e o f his greatest perform ances. guest stars will be announced at The 70-year-old G odfather o f th e p ress e v en t, Dan F o rm an , Soul w ill hold a press conference B ro w n 's publicist, told The A sso on T hursday, Sept. 18 in M anhat ciated Press on T hursday. Afterw ard, Brown will givea free tan to announce tw o concerts m ark ing the 40th anniversary ofhis “Live concert, Form an said. at th e A p o llo ” a lb u m , w h ich B ro w n ’s "L ive at the A pollo” chronicled his landm ark perfor album , released in 1963, contains m ance at the fam ed Apollo Theatre. classics such as “ Please Please Please” and “N ight T rain.” James Brown Become a community ■* radio hero! Donate some o f your valuable time lhe Portland Observer call 5 0 3 . 2 8 8 . 0 ! 3 3 email ads@portlandobserver.com Residential & Commercial Realtor e Get involved... Call 503-^92-7607 CANNON'S RIB EXPRESS = _ (FORM ERLYCHUCK HINTON'S) Catering & Take-Out O ur S pecialty : R eal H ickory S moked B ar -B-Q • S andw iches • Salads • C h ic k e n • P o rk Ribs • Beef Ribs ‘Three’s Company’ star John Ritter Dies ( A P)— John Ritter, a master ofsitcom silliness w ho ruled TV com edy with "T h ree’s C om pany" died o f an unde tected heart problem . He w as 54. Ritter becam e ill T hursday and un derw ent surgery at Providence St. Jo seph M edical C enter in B urbank for a tear in his aorta, a rare m edical condi tion that can hit w ithout w arning. He died shortly after 10 p.m. T hurs day, publicist Lisa K asteler said. He w as accom panied by producers, co w orkers, his w ife and his 23-year-old son, Jason, said Susan W ilcox, his assis tant o f 22 years. The son o f Tex Ritter, a W estern film star and country musician, Ritter was an effortless funnyman who - given the chance - could handle dram a as well. Friends re called him as loving and buoyant. “ It’s like there is a big tear in the w o rld ’s heart," actor H enry W inklertold “ E ntertainm ent T onight” on Friday. "H e w as extraordinary in every aspect o fh is life, especially as a father. His children w ere there at every m om ent o fh is life." John Ritter Epic and In tim a te Novel tells a familiar familial tale T h e b u z z s u rro u n d in g A p ril R eynolds' first novel, "K nee-D eep in W onder” is alm ost as thick as her plotline. R eynolds w as aw arded the Zora N eale IIu rs to n /R ic h a rd W rig h t F o u n d atio n a w ard fo r w o rk -in progress and O prah W infrey's book club inquired about the book before she had finished it. The novel depicts three genera tions o f black w om en in the deep South, offering an unforgettable portrait o fth e South and its history and an unflinching exploration o f fam ily, m em ory, and longing. W hile literarily am bitious and m ature, R eynolds’ story is deeply personal. The story draw s deeply from R eynolds' father’s background and search for his past after defying d o cto rs’ expectations follow ing a stroke. Take a Trip Wally Tesfa The level o f commitment is up to you. Volunteers are needed to answer phones O ctober 23—28 = Advertise w ith d iv e liity in Music legend Johnny Cash is shown in this scene from his video “Hurt. “ Also known as the Man in Black,' Cash s unsteady voice carried a burden of mourning and defiance that struck a nerve with young listeners raised on rap, punk and hard rock. Cash, 71, died Friday of respira tory failure caused by complications from diabetes. Multi-Million $ Service Prudential Northwnt Take a trip through tim e to find the hottest poetry, hip hop and soul influ encing Portland W ednesdays at the Ohm . $7 cover. 3 1 NW I st Ave. Kennedy School Coltrane Bash M cM enam ins K ennedy School throw s its fifth annual birthday bash and m usical tribute to revolutionary jazzm an John C oltrane from local m usician Bryan D ickerson and friends. The birthday celebration is at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18.5736 NE 33rd Ave. For more information,call 503-249-3983. cases. For m ore inform ation, call 503-282-8846. Wild Party Excite y o u rch ild with a birthday party in the w oods, m eadow or near a pond, hosted by Portland Parks and Rees staff. T hem es include forest fairies, Indian legends, L ew is and C lark exploration, anim al track ing, cam ouflage critters and “w h at’s in a w aterdrop.” Parties begin at $ 100 for 10 ch i Idren, inc I udi ng gam es, activities and favors. For m ore inform ation, call 503- 823-3601. Fairy Forest Heading Out Northwest Properties 1730 NE IOth Ave. Portland, OR 97212 CELL 503 267-7586 • wtesfato pru-nw.com pru-nw.com G et a quick glim pse o f fairy I ife, build fairy houses and sing and dance to fairy songs at a Fairies in the Forest party at the Hoyt Arboretum from I to3:30p.m . Sunday, Oct. 5. C o st is SIO per child, free for parents. For registration, call 503-823-3601. Bookies Sports Bar and Lounge offers entertainm ent T hursdays through Saturdays in O ctober. M utha Funk Jam plays T hursdays, DJ "T L uv’ jam s on Friday, Oct. 3, Black N otes perform s S aturday, O ct. 4 and O cean 503 perform s Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10 and 11. t ü An Independently owned and Trees Have Friends operated member of The Prudential Real Estate Affiliates. Inc. PIZZA AGO GO We Deliver! F rien d so fT reeshostsaC om m uniT reefestival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m . O ct. 5 at 3117 NE MLK Blvd. The celebration includes fun tips for identifying trees, a naturescape garden tour, paperm aking and other show- A Living Classic The W est End Players perform H arper L ee's "T o Kill a M ockingbird" w eekends from Oct. 19 through Nov. 2 at the W est End Theater, 1220 S W T ay lor St. Tickets areS 10. F orm ore inform ation, call 503-288-7465. ¿ » Q U IC K T R I P I DISCOUNT ÇJGARjnjTES A go going to North Portland, Swan Island, The Pearl, NW, and Downtown... When you want it HOT + You gotta have it NOW! HOURS M on.-Thurs. I lam -9pm Fri.-Sat. I lam-1Opm Sun. I lam -8pm CATERING EVENTS LARGE AND SMALL Fish Sandwich - $8°° Fish Dinner - $10°° FRIDAY & SATURDAY * * * N ew L ocation * * * 5410 N.E. 33 rd 503-288 3836 503*335*0300 324 0 N. Williams Ave @ Cook Street i East Trip has moved to a New Location Directly across the street at 5832 N.E. MLK Same friendly faces with same excellent service. Love you all and appreciate your business.