When I fantasize about the legacy that I wish to leave behind, a key inspiration is James Baldwin. Besides being one of our greatest writers, I love that he existed in the culture he was a part of, as opposed to just existing around it. I was first inspired by his video interviews where he so eloquently stated his conflicts with Malcolm X’s perspective while maintaining an air of firm respect. He was a critical thinker, and he translated his words beautifully.
This week was the unveiling of The Cross of Redemption, a new book featuring unpublished short stories, letters, and essays. Here’s an excerpt (via The New Yorker):
What we do not know about our black citizens is what we do not know about ourselves; and what we do not know about ourselves is what we do know about the world—and the world knows it. Nothing can save us—not all our money, nor all our bombs, nor all our guns—if we cannot achieve that long-, long-, long-delayed maturity.
After a historical movement to aid Haiti after its disaster, it’s devastating to see how the recent Pakistan floods have been generally under the radar (both by the media and donators). Not to compare tragedies, but it speaks to the 24-hour news cycle that is numbed by “old news” like poor countries experiencing climate trauma.
Spike Lee is such an important artist because he’s able to activate the urgency in what people have forgotten. Five years after Hurricane Katrina, he follows up his startling 2006 miniseries When the Levees Broke with If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise, a new look at how New Orleans is dealing not only with the repercussions of Katrina but also the recent BP oil spill.
A bit discouraging is the fact that even the official HBO YouTube trailer only has like 300 hits…AM I MISSING SOMETHING HERE???? Apparently, we all are.
Okay, let’s get one thing straight. I love me some Nicki Minaj. So does Nico. Dahlak likes to debate, but in the end I know he feels her too. Is George Clinton my idol? Yes. Does my body react uncontrollably to Fela Kuti? Yes Do I hold all emcees to the standards of André 3000? Yes. Do I think Janelle Monáe is the future? Si. Does being a huge fan of Nicki Minaj contradict all that? Absolutely not.
There was a point in high school where I allowed myself to equate all things pop to bad. You can’t blame me, that was the period when Wobble Wobble was hot. These days, I’m less mad at the so-called “mainstream” than I am with those who are fundamentally against things that are pop just because they’re popular. That’s not called criticism, that’s called cynicism. Nicki is a beast on the mic. Her cadences are CRAZY!! She implements theatrics into her delivery, and her music is fun to listen to. When her mixtape dropped last year, it was the most listenable one out of all the other “freshman” ones that dropped that year. Any criticisms of the hypersexualization of her image is based on gendered double standards. Compare her raunchiest rhymes to how today’s top male emcees describe their “stroke” and you realize the only reason some people mind find offense is because of how much weight and speculation is put on the voice of the only female emcee the world is paying attention to today.
Find me a verse where ANY rapper today seamlessly switches up their flow this many times. I’m just sayin.
Trey Songz ft. Nicki Minaj “Bottoms Up”
PS: I know we’re all dudes these days, so if you must, take it from a lady.
Well dip me in chocolate and call me Pocky…it’s about cotdamm time!! As we receive our annual song snippet from André 3000, me wonder if we’re ever going to get this solo and/or OutKast album. I mean, I love these verses and all, but my favorites still remain the epic 8-minute-long-spottieottie type, and we only get those when the albums drop. In the meantime, YES. Yes.
Tomorrow marks the release of Animal Collective’s visual album, Oddsac, which remains the weirdest thing I’ve ever let myself watch for that long. It’s literally an hour of what you see in the video above. When watching it, you might be thinking to yourself, “Isn’t this a bit much?” The answer is no. It’s a lot much. These songs “Screens” and “Mr. Fingers” from the film are great though! Listen without visuals if you don’t feel like spazzing out today.
HARDBODEEE! Here’s a collabo project between Erykah Badu and Rick Ross, two of my favorite writers in music right now. It makes me happy to see their worlds crossing, and how they’ve been influencing each other. Still waiting on her collaboration album with André 3000, but in the meantime this will do!
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