Chris Stokes | |
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Born | Christopher Brian Stokes July 21, 1969 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Occupation |
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Years active | 1995–present |
Label(s) | |
Relatives | Juanita Stokes (sister) |
Website | www |
Christopher Brian Stokes [1] (born July 21, 1969) is an American record executive, film producer, talent manager and screenwriter. He is the son of actress Irene Stokes and older brother of singer Juanita Stokes. He is perhaps best known for being the founder of The Ultimate Group record label in 2000, whose roster included B2K, Omarion, Jhené Aiko, Marques Houston, IMx and NLT, among others. Stokes has been involved in the controversial mis-management and alleged sexual abuse of young artists previously signed to TUG.
Stokes first became connected with film and television through the talent he managed. In 1992, Marques Houston made his acting debut in the animated comedy film Bébé's Kids , and received his big break as a regular on Sister, Sister in 1994. All three members of Immature appeared in the film House Party 3 (1994).
His first film credit came in 2001 as the writer and director of House Party 4 , which starred Immature, which by then had transitioned to their new name IMx. He is perhaps most well known as the writer and director of the 2004 dance movie You Got Served , [2] starring members of his TUG record label. The cast included Lil' Kim [2] and Marques Houston. [2] The film opened at #1 at the box office during Super Bowl weekend with $16 million grossed in its first week.
He also wrote and directed Somebody Help Me and Somebody Help Me 2 , two horror films. The first, Somebody Help Me, was released to DVD on November 13, 2007 and made a television premiere on BET on Halloween 2007. [3] Both were distributed by Vivendi. The company's second feature, No Vacancy, another horror, was completed in 2011 and the first of Stokes' films not star talent from his music career. It was distributed by Grindstone / Lionsgate Home Entertainment. [4]
Also in 2011, Stokes returned to the dance battle genre with the dance-drama Battlefield America , starring Marques Houston, Gary Anthony Sturgis, and Lynn Whitfield. The film follows a young businessman whose community service obligations require him to turn a group of misfit kids into a dance team.
In 2018 it was announced Chris Stokes signed a 3-picture deal with Viacom, "We Belong Together," "Running Out of Time," and "Fall Girls." [5] "We Belong Together" launched BET Network's original movie franchise by premiering simultaneously on BET and BET Her, produced by Chris Stokes' Footage Films production company. [6] In August 2019, BET+ announced a new legal thriller "Sacrifice," to be written, directed, and produced by Chris Stokes through his Footage Films production company, and starring Paula Patton. [7] In May of 2020, Stokes' new musical series "Howard High," starring Marques Houston debuts on subscription-based platform UrbanflixTV. [8]
In 2020, BET+ acquired "Trigger," directed by Stokes. It is set to be released this summer as a BET Original on their streaming platform. [9] Also this summer, BET picked up thriller "Always and Forever," directed by Stokes and starring Lauren London, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Deborah Ayorinde, Rocsi Diaz, Wood Harris and Loretta Devine. [10] In September of 2020, BET+ announced that it would turn its original film "Sacrifice" into a series, ordering 10 episodes to be written, directed, and produced by Stokes. [11]
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | House Party 4 | Writer, Director | Cameo appearance as "Ray Ray" |
2004 | You Got Served | Writer, Director | |
2007 | Somebody Help Me | Writer, Director, Producer | |
2010 | Somebody Help Me 2 | Writer, Director, Producer | |
2012 | Battlefield America | Writer, Director, Producer | |
The Helpers | Writer, Director, Producer | ||
Boogie Town | Writer, Director, Producer | ||
2016 | Only for One Night | Director | |
Boy Bye | Director | ||
2017 | 'Til Death Do Us Part | Writer, Director | Filming |
2018 | Always & 4Ever | Writer, Director | Filming |
2018 | We Belong Together | Writer, Director | BET Television Movie |
2018 | Running Out Of Time | Writer, Director | TBA |
2019 | Fall Girls | Writer, Director | |
2019 | Sacrifice | Writer, Director | BET Original |
2020 | Howard High | Director | TV Mini-Series |
2020 | Trigger | Director | TV Mini-Series |
In 2007, Stokes launched a clothing and fashion line, [12] the Christopher Brian Collection, which debuted at Magic (trade show) in Las Vegas February 2007. [13] The line featured Kim Kardashian as the principle spokesmodel and was available at Dash, her Calabassas boutique. [13] Promotional images for the brand featured topless pictures of Kim Kardashian wearing just the Christopher Brian pants. [14]
B2K is an American boy band that was active from 2000 to 2004, and again from 2018 onwards. In 1998, the group was formed by American record producer Chris Stokes. They released their self-titled debut album on March 12, 2002. The album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and number one on the U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Robert George Kardashian was an American attorney and businessman. He gained recognition as O. J. Simpson's friend and defense attorney during Simpson's 1995 murder trial. He had four children with his first wife, Kris Kardashian : Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and Rob, who appear on their family reality television series, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and its spinoffs.
You Got Served is a 2004 American dance drama film written and directed by Chris Stokes, who was also the business manager of the performers who were film's main characters: recording artist Marques Houston and the boy band B2K. The plot follows a group of dancers, who take part in a street dancing competition. You Got Served was produced by Marcus Morton, Cassius Vernon Weathersby, Billy Pollina, and Kris Cruz Toledo, and filming took place Between May 1, 2003, and June 25, 2003. The Columbia Pictures division Screen Gems released the film on January 30, 2004—the weekend of Super Bowl XXXVIII. It opened at #1 at the box office during its opening weekend, and grossed $16 million in its first week.
Immature is an American R&B boy band, managed by record producer Chris Stokes. Its members include Marques "Batman" Houston, Jerome "Romeo" Jones, and Kelton "LDB" Kessee, all natives of Los Angeles, California, where the group was formed. The group released four albums under the Immature moniker including On Our Worst Behavior in 1992 which included former member Don "Half Pint" Santos, later replaced by Kessee, Playtyme Is Over in 1994, then We Got It in 1995 and finally in 1997 released the album, The Journey.
William Ray Norwood Jr., known professionally as Ray J, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, television personality, actor, and entrepreneur. Born in McComb, Mississippi and raised in Carson, California, he is the younger brother of recording artist and actress Brandy Norwood and the first cousin of rapper Snoop Dogg. In January 2017, he competed in the nineteenth season of the UK reality television programme Celebrity Big Brother.
Marques Barrett Houston is an American R&B singer, songwriter and actor. A member of the R&B group Immature/IMx from 1990 until 2001, Houston went solo in 2003. As an actor, he is best known for his role as Roger Evans in the television comedy Sister, Sister.
The BET Awards is an American award show that was established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually, and are broadcast live on BET. The annual presentation ceremony features performances by artists, and some of the awards of more popular interest are presented in a televised ceremony.
TUG Entertainment, was a record label/Management Company that was once home to such artists as B2K, Omarion, Marques Houston, Mila J, O'Ryan, Jhené Aiko, One Luv, 2 Much and NLT, Simon Phenix/Rawwtunez for Universal Records. TUG CEO Chris Stokes is responsible for many films involving TUG roster members e.g. You Got Served, and his most recent project is Somebody Help Me, a horror film which includes in its cast Omarion and Marques Houston.
Jerome Jones is an American rapper, singer and actor. He is a member of R&B singing group Immature/IMx and released his solo debut album Food for Thought in 2004.
Somebody Help Me is a 2007 American horror television film starring Marques Houston and Omarion, written and directed by their music producer, Chris Stokes.
House Party 4: Down to the Last Minute is a 2001 American comedy film. It is the standalone fourth installment in the House Party film series as it has no connection to any of the preceding films or the subsequent film House Party: Tonight's the Night. It stars IMx, and is the only film in the series to not star Kid 'n Play. This is IMx's second House Party film; they also appeared in House Party 3 when they were known as Immature and portrayed entirely different characters than they do in this film.
"Stay the Night" is the lead single from IMx's fifth album, Introducing IMx. It reached No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and No. 20 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart in late 1999. It was the group's most successful single as IMx, becoming their third single to earn a gold certification, achieving the feat on December 23, 1999, a little over two months after its release.
Disaster Movie is a 2008 American parody film written and directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. It stars Matt Lanter, Vanessa Minnillo, Gary "G Thang" Johnson, Crista Flanagan, Nicole Parker, Ike Barinholtz, Carmen Electra, Tony Cox, and Kim Kardashian in her feature film debut. Released on August 29, 2008 by Lionsgate, the film is a parody of the disaster film genre and popular culture.
Kimberly Noel Kardashian West is an American media personality, socialite, model, businesswoman, producer, and actress. Kardashian first gained media attention as a friend and stylist of Paris Hilton but received wider notice after a 2002 sex tape, Kim Kardashian, Superstar, with her then-boyfriend Ray J was released in 2007. Later that year, she and her family began to appear in the E! reality television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians (2007–2021). Its success soon led to the formation of the spin-off series Kourtney and Kim Take New York (2011–2012) and Kourtney and Kim Take Miami (2009–2013).
Somebody Help Me 2 is a 2010 horror film starring Marques Houston and Omarion, and is written and directed by their music producer, Chris Stokes. As the sequel, it follows up the events of Somebody Help Me, which was released in 2007. The film also stars Chris Stokes' daughter Chrissy Stokes.
Battlefield America is an American dance-drama film by Cinedigm. It was directed by Chris Stokes from You Got Served. The film stars Gary Anthony Sturgis, Tristen M. Carter, Marques Houston, Kida Burns, Zach Balandres, Camren Bicondova, Edward Mandell, and Kyle Brooks. It was released on June 1, 2012 in American theaters.
"Cold" is a song by American rapper Kanye West, released as the second single from the album Cruel Summer (2012). The song, which features DJ Khaled, was made available for purchase on the iTunes Store on April 17, 2012. Songwriting is credited to West, Chauncey Hollis, James Todd Smith and Marlon Williams, while production was handled by Hit-Boy. Lyrically, the song features West boasting about his personal issues and touching on subjects such as his relationship with Kim Kardashian, his breakup with Amber Rose, and his feelings on Wiz Khalifa and Kris Humphries. Additional vocals are included from DJ Pharris. The song received positive reviews from music critics, who praised West's lyrical performance and the boldness of his subject matter. The song contains an interpolation of "Lookin' at Me" (1997) as performed by Mase and Puff Daddy, and a sample of "Illegal Search" (1990) also performed by LL Cool J.
Jamila Akiko Aba Chilombo, known as Mila J, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper and dancer. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she is the older sister of R&B singer Jhéne Aiko and is known for being in Prince's video for "Diamonds and Pearls" and appearing on tracks by RaRa, IMx, Trey Songz and Omarion. She released several singles in 2006–2009 under the name "Mila J" and then went on a hiatus for a number of years after the shelving of her original debut studio album, Split Personality, before returning as "Japallonia" in 2012 and then reverting to Mila J a year later.
Scott Michael Disick is an American media personality and socialite. He is most famous for starring as a main cast member on Keeping Up with the Kardashians and its spinoffs. Disick's popularity on Keeping Up with the Kardashians led to the development of a house flipping show, Flip It Like Disick, that aired on E! Network. In addition to starring on reality shows, Disick has pursued multiple business ventures, including starting a clothing brand, Talentless, investing in nightclubs, and running multiple vitamin companies.
Jordyn Woods is an American model, entrepreneur, and socialite. She is known for her role on the reality television show Life of Kylie and appearance as "Kangaroo" on The Masked Singer
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