Tuesday, October 03, 2006

All Access DVD To Spinoff On TV; Features Young Dro, Lupe, Rick Ross

All Access DVD has partnered with Starz In Black to produce 12 original episodes of All Access TV, a monthly television show that premiered two weeks ago.
The joint venture calls for Starz to air 12 episodes once a month as a part of the network's In Black Original series production.
The first episode, which has been featured in reruns, follows Young Dro on the road as he promotes his debut
album Best Thang Smokin'.
The show also includes segments with Lupe Fiasco and Rick Ross.
"We're trying to take what we do on the street level, but increase our production value," All Access DVD founder James "Kraze" Billings told AllHipHop.com. "It's not totally different than what we do on All Access, but as far as bringing it to TV for the masses to see, that's the triumph--to make that appealing on a commercial level."It's still raw and gritty as far as environment, but we have some things that's gonna make it compete with
TV shows," he concluded.
Kraze and his popular
DVD series gained notoriety primarily through outlandish interviews with artist such as Joe Budden, who was paired with former model-girlfriend Gloria Velez.
Based in part on the
DVDs, Kraze envisions the program as "All Access meets 106 & Park."
"There will actually be
videos," he explained. "It's different because the artists are still in their element, but it's uncensored. Unlike BET and MTV, they can really be themselves. With certain cable networks, they give you the polished version. This is polished, but it still gives you the raw, in your face. It's still gritty in terms of where we go, but the production competes with regular television. You gonna be like, 'Oh s**t, they definitely stepped up their game.'"
Next for Kraze, who also struck a licensing deal with Starz and owns the show, is plans for episode two. He recently confirmed
Lloyd Banks and Young Buck as participants.
"I think the format in particular will keep people interested," Kraze said. "[For example], when Rick Ross says: 'All my life I've been hustling,' then we cut to the video, then it will come back to him talking about how his life changed. I'm proud of it, I think they'll respect the value of the production, but we kept it real to what we do, which is rare."
A new All Access DVD is set drop in November.
The DVD will debut several new segments, including one on popular 'hoods and interviews with Gillie Da Kid and Maino.