Celebrating Community
In late 2015, I browsed through the sometimes strange, uncharted corners of YouTube (as I regularly do) – laptop on belly, fingers (middle and pointer) on mousepad, I discovered The Grapevine TV, and haven’t stopped watching since. To see long-table conversations with numerous intelligent and expressive young black people, discussing topics with such kitchen-table honesty, for me, was a dream […]
Since the late 1950s, the Grammys have represented the summit of success in the music industry. Musicians all over the world have dreamed of holding a golden gramophone. The Grammy is considered one of the big four entertainment awards, alongside the Emmy (TV), the Oscar (film), and the Tony (theater). As a child in the early 2000s, I sat in […]
Grammys Less than two weeks have passed since Lizzo conquered the 2020 Grammys, opening up music’s biggest night in the wake of the tragic passing of global icon Kobe Bryant. Lizzo performed her chart-topping single “Truth Hurts” in a medley of her other songs, and won three awards: Best Urban Contemporary Album, Best Pop Solo Performance, and Best Traditional R&B […]
Technology has transformed all of our lives and continues to do so at an increasing rate. The post-industrial era is a term coined by French sociologist Alain Touraine in 1969 and later popularized by sociologist Daniel Bell in 1973. This era marked the transition from a factory production-based economy to a service-based economy. The post-industrial era has brought with it […]
The recent death of Juice WRLD (pronounced “juice world”) is yet another famous causuality by drug abuse. Jarad Anthony Higgins, age 21, was a gifted and rising musician, praised critically and supported by devoted listeners. During his short career, Juice WRLD would release hit songs like “Lucid Dreams” (peaking at number 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart), complete an international […]
Vlane Carter’s entrance into the restaurant business was an uncanny venture. Born in New Jersey and raised in the South Bronx, the restaurant owner and sci-fi author initially sought a career in law enforcement, but later enjoyed a successful stint in IT. Before he opened Action Burger, Vlane’s fascination with sci-fi was already laying the ground for what would become […]
The topic of student debt is often a confusing and uncomfortable one, with no immediate or foreseeable solutions. For most folks, discussing lingering student loan debt can feel pointless. While there is a general understanding that the current system isn’t beneficial or sustainable, there appears to be little to no reformative action, or outrage from legislators – or, to some […]
Today, hearing Afrobeats punching through speakers in many NYC bars and clubs is the norm. The rise of Afrobeats in recent years tells an interesting story about music’s ever-evolving landscape. Afrobeats isn’t Dancehall or Reggaeton, yet these genres do have a shared ancestry, surprisingly or not. Much like hip hop, Afrobeats’ far-reaching roots have made the genre a poignant sound […]
The Queen Bee is back. 9 is Lil’ Kim’s first major commercial release in 14 years. Kimberly Jones, famously known as Lil’ Kim, is a hip-hop legend with a legacy stamped on rap music. There is a time before Lil’ Kim and after Lil’ Kim. Her entrance into hip hop is a marker in the evolution of rap. While other […]
The legacy of harsh punishment and imprisonment of black people gives context to the outrage over the hugging of convicted murderer Amber Guyger, by Judge Tammy Kemp. Amber Guyer is the Dallas police officer who entered Botham Jean’s apartment, one floor above her apartment, and shot and killed him, believing that he was an intruder in what she thought was […]