“We don’t smoke that sh*t. We just sell it. We reserve the right to smoke for the young, the poor, the black and stupid.” – R.J. Reynolds Tobacco has a long history with the United States. Though it was first discovered around 6,000 B.C., it was not until 1492 that Christopher Columbus, who had been …
The Weeknd is an artist who seems to be in the spotlight more for his highly publicized breakups rather than his music. Over the last three years, he’s gone from dating Selena Gomez, which led to beef with her ex-boyfriend, Justin Beiber, to having an on-and-off again relationship with Bella Hadid. However, these breakups have …
How many rappers must be affected before something is done? XXXTentacion, Nipsey Hussle, and now, tragically, Pop Smoke. What do these three names have in common? Aside from the fact that they were rappers, in the past three years they tragically fell victim to gun violence fueled by envy and hatred at the hands of …
Envy and Homicide: The Dangers of Rappers Idolizing Riches Read More »
Black History Month is the month that is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the remarkable achievements made by African Americans. Achievements that are very often overlooked or purposefully not given the recognition they deserve. So, is there any better way to celebrate Black History Month than with movies that give a new and insightful look …
These Two Movies Are Essential To Watch for Black History Month Read More »
Was Martin Luther King Jr.’s hard work all for nothing? What if Martin Luther King Jr. had survived his assassination on April 4th, 1968? What if instead he was placed in a coma, only to be awoken today? Would he be happy that Jim Crow Laws and other forms of blatant racism have ceased to …
Perhaps the most eerie thing about Life After Death is it’s title. The album, released just sixteen days after Notorious B.I.G.’s unexpected and tragic passing, is the successor to his previous critically-acclaimed debut project, Ready To Die. Harboring a star-studded list of guest appearances sprinkled throughout the twenty-four long tracklist, the album clocks in at …
Ready To Die is perhaps one of the most influential albums of all time. Upon release, the album was met with commercial success and critical acclaim, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard 200. By 2018, it was certified 6x platinum. Often being praised as one of the greatest debut albums ever, it is no …
In 2018, Lil Wayne’s long awaited album, Tha Carter V, finally released. Being the fifth album of Wayne’s Tha Carter series, fans of Waynehad to wait 7 years after the previous installment dropped before they were finally able to listen to the official version. Upon release, the album still garnered praise from both fans and …
On April 9th, 1865, slavery was officially abolished as the Civil War concluded. Three years later, the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified, granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States—including former slaves—and guaranteed all citizens “equal protection of the laws.” However, this did not always translate to the ability to vote, and …
Since the start of his career, Logic has been one of Hip-Hop’s biggest punching bags. From being criticized for having “cringy” lyrics to being revered by some of the biggest names in rap, his love-hate relationship with the Hip-Hop community started with the release of his senior album, Everybody. What was supposed to be an …
“Nobody in the world, nobody in history, has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the moral sense of the people who were oppressing them” – Assata Shakur Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbrey have been the most recent victims of a heinous crime that has plagued the United States since the 1800s: lynching. …
It seems to be a growing trend for artists to release deluxe versions of their albums. Sometimes, it can be a good thing, with Lil Uzi’s LUV Vs. The World 2 being a good example. In fact, I found it much more enjoyable than his highly anticipated Eternal Atake. Of course, deluxe’s can be a …
Navraj Singh Goraya, best known by his stage name NAV, is the “first brown boy to get it poppin’” in the Hip Hop community. Though originally a producer at first, with credits linking him to Drake’s “Back to Back” diss track against former rival Meek Mill, it was not until 2017 that he had his …
Drake’s first full-length body of work since his 2019 feud with Pusha T has finally arrived. Dark Lane Demo Tapes, named after it’s dark and menacing production, features guest appearances from Future, Young Thug, Chris Brown, and more. Despite a star-studded list of guest appearances, one question remains: Is It Good? The album opens with …
Wande was first introduced to me on “BAND$ (feat. Byron Juane)”, and even then I recognized the potential she had as an artist. When a fan described EXIT, her debut album, as a “self-care” project, she agreed. Elaborating further, she stated that it’s “really accurate” and you should “listen to it when you want to …