Rap icon Too $hort and his manager David Weintraub are taking Hollywood by storm.
The music collaborators are making their foray into feature films as executive producers of the highly-acclaimed film Freaky Tales with an all-star cast led by Pedro Pascal, Tom Hanks, Jay Ellis, Normani and Ben Mendelson.
“After years of producing hit reality shows, I knew it was time to take everything I’ve learned about storytelling and character-driven entertainment and bring it to the big screen,” Weintraub told Us Weekly.
“Freaky Tales is my passion project — four years in the making, alongside Too $hort, bringing 1987 Oakland to life in the wildest way possible. This isn’t just a movie; it’s an experience, a raw, high-energy ride unlike anything audiences have seen before.”
Angus Cloud Honored With Touching Tribute at Sundance Film Festival
The movie is dedicated to Wayne “Loc” Shaw, Short’s brother who passed away, and Angus Cloud, who died at age 25 in 2023. Cloud’s mother attended the film’s premiere on March 19 to see her son’s final performance on the big screen.
“Angus gave an amazing final performance,” Weintraub said. “He was a truly talented kid.”
The anthology thriller — which took home the official Sundance Selection honor last year — is set in 1980s Oakland connecting the worlds of punk, hip-hop and basketball. The vision of directing duo Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (who also wrote and directed Captain Marvel), the movie weaves together four stories that centers on underdogs throughout the Bay seeking justice as they all come together in a blowout action revenge fantasy.
$hort, who hails from the East Bay city, returns to the big screen 32 years after making his acting debut in 1993’s Menace II Society. Playing a quadruple threat, he’s not only acting but narrating Freaky Tales. He’s also portrayed on screen by Oakland superstar rapper Symba, who plays Short’s younger self. The movie is named after Too $hort’s iconic hit record Freaky Tales and the chapters of the movie are named after his songs.
All of the Projects Angus Cloud Had in the Works Before His Death
Too $hort told Us, “I waited a long time to come back and be a part of a feature film. It was something we had to be a part of as it was a culturally-defining story about the insanity of what the Bay culture is really about. This movie is a totally original story but based on legends from the Bay.”
“Oakland has always been my muse,” he added, “and Freaky Tales is a heartfelt tribute to my city and its vibrant culture. This film is more than just entertainment — it’s a reflection of the streets that shaped me.”
Freaky Tales hits theaters on Friday, April 4.
