Ice Cube and Common to Conduct ‘Barbershop 3’ Town Hall Special on Social Issues
The hottest franchise property this spring doesn’t have any leveled cities, declarations about whether men are or are not still good, or bulging muscles writhing beneath colored spandex. Barbershop: the Next Cut, the third installment in the Barbershop Cinematic Universe, will debut on April 15 and undoubtedly upend the many box-office records that Batman vs. Superman set over the weekend with ease. But Barbershop is more than simply a film; it acts as a social force, tapping into the significance of the barbershop as a key pillar of black community, where neighborhoods can come together to laugh, enjoy the company, and shoot the bull over politics, societal ills, and the unending debate over who’s really top-five-dead-or-alive.
Deadline reports today that as an extension of the film’s commitment to engaging with crucial issues facing the black community, stars Ice Cube (former N.W.A. affiliate and one-time star of Are We There Yet?) and Common (Academy Award winner and one-time star of Selma, so now we know who’s had an easier time transitioning out of the ‘90s) will conduct a town hall-style forum for VH1 as part of their Behind the… series.
The program seeks to explore the intersection between pop culture and relevant sociopolitical issues, and so Common and Cube will lead a no-BS discussion with black and white teens about topics ranging from urban violence to young-adult sexual safety to the power of artistic expression as personal balm. Of course, there will be plenty of time for a little cross-promotion behind Barbershop, but as elaborate tie-ins go, this sure beats the hell out of a black hamburger. If you’re gonna advertise a new project, the least you can do is affect a little positive change while you’re at it.
The special will air on VH1 come April 11 at 10 P.M., with co-stars Nicki Minaj, Anthony Anderson, Cedric the Entertainer, and more on hand to discuss black life in America, with a specific focus on Chicago. With this commendable move, Common, Cube and the rest of the gang bring the barbershop into America’s living room.