Contemporary rap classics, regional hits, deep cuts, and standouts from some of rap’s youngest stars have become the soundtrack to protests around the country. As the nation continues to erupt in protest in demand for justice for Black lives, chants of those slain, as well as chants like “Black Lives Matter” and “No Justice, No … Read moreFrom “Fuck Tha Police” To “Dior”: What Is Soundtracking Protests Across The…
J. Cole’s new song “Snow On Tha Bluff” is a notable miss from the rapper. The song’s commentary is undermined by lyrics directed at an unnamed woman perceived to be Noname. When the news of Oluwatoyin “Toyin” Salau’s murder broke on Twitter, I became overwhelmed with anger and sorrow. Another one — another nurturer, fighter, … Read moreJ. Cole’s “Snow On Tha Bluff” Is A Missed Opportunity To Uplift…
Photo Credit: Instagram Quaker Oats shared, “We recognize Aunt Jemima’s origins are based on a racial stereotype.” Soul singer Kirby recently created a viral TikTok video exposing Quaker brand Aunt Jemima for its racist origins. In the short clip, she describes the quickest way to make a “non-racist breakfast.” The video was viewed over 1 … Read moreAfter Kirby’s Aunt Jemima TikTok Video, Brand Announces Name Change
For all that he’s accomplished, Buju Banton has no desire to be referred to as a legend. He wants to be a vessel. The Gargamel, as he is affectionately known by his sprawling reach of fans across the globe, is guided by one directive: “My message is simple: peace and love,” he tells me over … Read moreBuju Banton isn’t Interested in Legacy
I was 13 when I watched a plane hit the second tower from the corner window of my East Flatbush classroom in Brooklyn. I remember thinking that 9/11 was the scariest thing I would ever experience in my life, but more than that, I remember the screaming of ambulances and whirring of the helicopters that … Read moreA Letter From the Editor: Welcome to the New Okayplayer.com
We tasked Chloe x Halle with the responsibility of interviewing one another about their current realities while allowing them to space to imagine their future. Even the most exciting moments of the year have been undercut with the salty sting of current realities. The same applied for Chloe x Halle on what was supposed to … Read moreChloe x Halle Are Imagining the Future on Their Own Terms
Photo Credit: Joshua Galloway for Okayplayer.com On “Snow On Tha Bluff,” J. Cole gets some things off of his chest. J. Cole has released his first song of 2020. The song is called “Snow On Tha Bluff” and was posted on the rapper’s YouTube page on Tuesday (June 16th.) The song’s artwork is a notepad … Read moreJ. Cole Appears to Send Shots at Noname on New Song “Snow…
Graphic: Taron Joyner for Okayplayer.com The Breakfast Club continues to adhere to a golden rule: information and accessibility may be a benefit of their now-prominent platform, but it is only secondary to entertainment at all costs. When Power 105.1’s lynchpin morning show The Breakfast Club — hosted by Charlamagne tha God, DJ Envy, and Angela Yee … Read more‘The Breakfast Club’ Calls Itself “The World’s Most Dangerous Morning Show” —…
Graphic: Taron Joyner The Animal Crossing video game series first debuted in 2001. Nineteen years later, and the latest installment in the franchise has become a go-to for casual and veteran Black gamers alike. “This is much easier to deal with than life.” Danii is explaining the appeal of what has become the unofficial game of the … Read more‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ Is Serving As A Means To Connect Black…
(Photo by Dimitris Lampropoulos/NurPhoto via Getty Images) The nonprofit has raised over $30 million in the past few weeks following George Floyd’s death. The Minnesota Freedom Fund is under fire after it publicly revealed it had only spent $200,000 to bail out protestors after raising millions over the past few weeks. After George Floyd’s death, … Read moreMinnesota Freedom Fund Gets Dragged After It Spent $200K Of Millions In…