While a heatwave blankets the world, we’re throwing it back to winter. Earlier this year, we took the redesigned 2022 Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring off-road and into the snowing mountains of West Virginia after a pampered ride from NYC. Both on and off road, the Corsair is a truly impressive SUV, even if it had a little mud on the tires (we got it nice and clean after the test, of course!)
Rapper, singer, and songwriter, 6lack has announced a new partnership with Johnnie Walker and Blacktag. He had a show stopping performance at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival to celebrate “Black Art is Forever”, a celebration of Black creators and Black art hosted by Kenya Barris (the creator of the ABC sitcom, Black-ish). The event also honored recipients of the First Strides Creator Grant.
The work that Johnnie Walker and partners Blacktag – a global platform that aims to create economic empowerment for Black artists and technologists –and Kenya Barris are doing to spotlight and inspire Black creators and the community resonated with 6lack, and why he wanted to partner up with them and join them in celebrating and inspiring all rising creators so that they can feel empowered in continuing their amazing work.
They have a First Strides Creator Grant program, empowering the economic advancement of Black creators as part of their ‘First Strides’ initiative, which is so important for amplifying the voices of the community and enabling future generations of artists.
The Knockturnal’s correspondent, Payton Wilson, sat down exclusively with 6lack to discuss his partnership with Johnnie Walker, new music, LVRN, working with Eli Derby, East Atlanta Love Letter, his dream collaborators, and more.
Get transported to Columbia as you dine at El Cartel Restaurant on 9th Avenue. This new, family-owned restaurant serving Colombian cuisine and culture, is operated by Bill Arango.
The Knockturnal got the chance to speak with activist and actress Jameela Jamil who has recently partnered with P&G’s Always to help in the fight to end period poverty and support Congresswoman Grace Meng’s Menstrual Equity for All Act. This act would help systemically end period poverty in the U.S. Today, Jameela also delivered a keynote speech in Washington, D.C., to encourage policymakers to support the bill to drive systemic change. The fight to end period poverty is due to lack of access to period protection. Period poverty is a serious problem which affects people all around the world. One of the stigmas surrounding period poverty is that it only happens in unwealthy countries, but even in the most economically developed countries period poverty is an extremely serious issue. In fact, here in the U.S., nearly 1 in 5 girls have missed school because they didn’t have access to period products. Since the launch of Always’ #EndPeriodPoverty program in 2018, Always has donated over 160 million period products to people in need around the world, including more than 50 million in the U.S., in partnership with organizations like Feeding America®, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. “Millions of people across our nation suffer from a lack of access to period products and are forced to forego educational or employment opportunities because of it,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY). “As we celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28th, I urge everyone, including legislators, to support my Menstrual Equity for All Act. It is the first whole-of-government approach to address this issue and would help end the problem of period poverty.” To further help raise awareness around the prevalence of period poverty across the country and motivate society at large to support the bill, Always partnered with Jameela Jamil, who spoke to us on the issue.
You are partnering with P&G’s Always to help end period poverty and support Congresswoman Grace Meng’s Menstrual Equity for All Act, so could you just talk to us a little bit about why this was so important for you?
It’s so important to me because it is so maddening, frustrating, and shocking that even in 2022 we are even having this conversation. In 2022, in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, we have 3.5 million girls a year not being able to go to school because they don’t have access to period protection. We have 1 in 5 girls in the United States, and we’re talking in the millions here. This isn’t just in unwealthy states this is an issue in major cities as well like Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta. I think the subject has just been ignored because when we hear the phrase “period poverty” we think of the countries that don’t have this much wealth, and yet the United States is managing to fail 50% of a population by not making sure everyone has access to the dignity and protection of period products. These statistics are ridiculous it makes me so upset.
Has this been a project that you have always been passionate about or has learning more about the term “period poverty” and partnering with P&G’s Always made you more passionate?
Oh no, it’s something I have always been passionate about. I remember just a few years ago the UK went through a similar motion and we had tremendous success over there. It just has never occurred to me that in the United States of America that this was going on. So when this was brought to my attention, and I was offered the chance to partner up with Always and their amazing work in this area to not only donate a million pads to Feeding America® and trying to help in the fight to end period poverty, but to also it was just an honor to be a part of this fight and spreading awareness. I really think a lot of people don’t know, and part of that is we still find periods quite awkward to talk about which is something that also has to end because it’s such a natural event that nobody should feel any shame about. I’ve always tried to use my platform to raise awareness about important issues, and this is very high up on my list because I can’t believe what young people are going through the indignity of being neglected to this degree that you are now having your education suffer. It is mortifying.
You are also delivering the keynote speech in Washington, D.C. today, to encourage policymakers to support the bill were you nervous at all for that?
I wasn’t nervous for it, I just felt very excited and very honored to be able to talk about this subject. I just feel very hopeful that we can be a part of waking people up and also reminding all the people reading this interview that we have the power to change the situation. I feel as though we have been deliberately deterred away from this conversation and we haven’t been made as aware of how severe these things are. Now we know we must use all of our power as the people as the masses to put pressure on all of our elected officials to make sure that they support this important act. We also need to look at who we are allowing to represent us in power. We really need to be as educated as possible and we are learning with everything we are seeing with the reproduction rights being rolled back that we can not be complacent because it is to our detriment to not use all of our voting power and all of our opportunity to engage and change the situation for half of the population.
You talked about how it starts with the people, so what can people at home do to better support this cause?
Call your elected officials. Truly that is the first place to start because they do listen if enough pressure is applied. We have seen this again and again, as soon as the people become politically motivated and they group together and join forces we have seen astonishing turn outs. This is something that could actually be quite simple to deal with we just have to apply the pressure. They benefit from our inaction and our silence. We can not let them get away with this gross negligence anymore because it is mortifying, offensive, and frankly inhumane.
How did this support and partnership with Congresswoman Grace Meng come about?
Well that was via Always. Always was already working with her and I was able to join in to utilize my platform to be able to further the awareness around this subject because so many people don’t know. Nobody ever hears the word poverty and thinks about the United States, and there is so much poverty in the United States. No one would ever presume that in the United States of America we have period poverty. People need to understand that no one is galvanized to act because we don’t even know that it’s happening.
With reproductive rights currently being challenged I think it is also the perfect time to be bringing in period poverty into the discussion because it is very real and there is a stigma, so what do you think some of the steps those who do not have periods could take to also support and care about this act?
They should also be calling their elected officials otherwise people with periods are going to bleed all over their belongings, on their couches, or clothes because there are real consequences for everyone involved. We all win when we deal with this subject head on. It’s really important. It’s going to impact you in some way it’s going to impact someone you love, someone you know in some way so join the fight! We can not just keep looking at these subjects that are about basic human rights us “us” and “them” and “not my problem”. By now of all times we must learn that we must take on every fight together. We are deliberately divided because together we are so much stronger so we need to come together.
After not being able to celebrate the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Annual Vision Gala for two years, due to Covid-19, the Vision Gala came back with a bang of excitement! DTH choose powerhouse Dancer, Actor, and Director, Debbie Allen as the Award Honoree of the Year!
RÜFÜS DU SOL, is an Australian group from Sydney, that consists of Tyrone Lindqvist, Jon George and James Hunt. When they aren’t bringing their ambient sounds to the white sand beaches of Tulum, they’re vibing out with musical festival junkies at Coachella, Lollapalooza or Electric Forest. The trio who now play stadiums worldwide, began back in 2010 and just won their first Grammy in the best dance/electronic recording category for their track “Alive.”
This past summer in July of 2021, the group put out ‘Alive’ as their first song in 3 years. Frontman Tyrone Lindqvist said “It’s a heavier song in some ways, but at its core it’s hopeful.”
They originally caught the attention of partygoers in 2015 when their single “You Were Right” won the ARIA Award for Best Dance Release. Their Grammy win follows two previous nominations in 2020, so for them the 3rd time was definitely the charm.
“It’s not the reason we make music, to get accolades, but it is nice to have recognition and have people identify with the work,” they told Billboard ahead of receiving the award.
The hit DJs celebrated their evening with a special one-night only event at private nightclub, Intrigue, inside the Wynn Las Vegas. The post-Grammys festivities began with a red laser light show forming into hues of magenta and cyan. The performers focused on playing songs to get the crowd bobbing up and down to the deep bass. Fans immediately were cheering in congratulations and offered a warm applause in between transitions of beat drops. Their set lasted until around 4:00am, ending with one of their most popular hits, ‘Interbloom’ to close out the late night into early morning.
The Wynn just announced a few days ago that RÜFÜS DU SOL signed a DJ residency for 2022 so fans can expect to see more of them there. RÜFÜS DU SOL is no stranger to the epic Wynn nightlife scene and will fit in seamlessly. Recently, they played a set during the Art of The Wild Festival at XS nightclub.
They also just announced their North American summer tour which kicks off in Chicago starting June.
To find out more about RÜFÜS DU SOL follow them on Instagram (@rufusdusol) and buy tickets for their tour: https://www.rufusdusol.com//tour
Michael James Shaw joined the cast of The Walking Dead as Mercer beginning on the eleventh season.
The head of the army at The Commonwealth is intimidating, but also a person that does not hesitate to make his words known. Mercer is also in a relationship with The Princess (played by Paola Lazaro) and he is beginning to open up to her. Where can this lead for the rest of the season? We will have to find out.
In this exclusive interview, Michael James Shaw talks about Mercer and Princess’ bond, putting on the armor during the hottest months in Georgia, and much more!
The Knockturnal: You have a great bond with Paola, and it really comes out during the beginning of this episode towards the middle. Especially the scene when Mercer admitted that he killed his own soldiers. So what was that like for you to develop these scenes with Paola?
MJS: “Is actually pretty easy because Paola is like one of the first friends I made here when I moved over there last year. She’s a wonderful human being and a phenomenal actress. And it was quite easy to take the leap and create the connection between the two characters. I don’t think he’s really allowed many people into his personal life while being in the Commonwealth. I think there’s a distance that must be maintained in order to maintain respect and stature in the society that they built. And I think that him allowing her into his darkness is a moment of vulnerability and also a step in developing trust with each other. It opens the door for a stronger bond between the two of them. And I feel like if he hadn’t allowed her in on that moment, the relationship couldn’t progress and develop.”
The Knockturnal: In the comic book series, Mercer and Max were not family related. The show did an interesting twist and revealed that these two are siblings. How did you react when you first found this out?
MJS: “When I found out that Margot was playing my sister, I was excited because in a way, we have bonded in a similar way in life. She’s had my back since I moved out here. She’s a wonderful human being. And again, one of the most fun actresses to work with because she’s down to earth and down to go for it. Me and Margot really trust each other and let the emotions fly! So, yeah, I was overjoyed when I found that she was actually my sister.”
The Knockturnal: During Mercer’s conversation with Max, I could not help but notice that he was working out. Knowing that he is the head of security at The Commonwealth, I can bet that Mercer has to stay in top shape. Did you have a specific workout scene to prepare you for your role as Mercer?
MJS: “I’ve been consistent with my workout routine and in the last year and a half, I’ve learned Jujutsu. I’ve been doing workouts prior to going to set at 5:00am and sometimes at 3:00am if I have to. And it was just a natural window into my preparation because I actually got to do one of the workouts in a scene. But I think that was part of building the character and creating that same discipline within myself. So when it came to doing a workout in the scene, I was like, ‘Fuck yeah, let’s just do it man.’ I probably did nearly 100 reps of each exercise. And I had built myself to be able to maintain and do that over the year.”
The Knockturnal: I also want to bring up The Commonwealth’s army suit that you had on since you joined The Walking Dead. How were you able to keep cool when it came to the very hot weather in Georgia?
MJS: “I wasn’t able to keep cool. The summer was tough. It was a family effort from makeup and costumes department. They would be throwing fans at me whenever we had a moment between takes and dabbed me with towels to remove my sweat. There’s something about being in the element and actually working or just actually feeling the fatigue or the heat. It kind of adds to your experience and I think it comes across on screen. I even enjoyed the moments of the bitter cold. I am not sure if you notice, in the first few episodes of 11A, in some of those Commonwealth interview scenes, you can see the breath coming out of our mouths because it was so cold in the studio. But I think it’s all part of that element and you kind of feel it comes across on screen. So yeah, heat or cold, I was loving every moment of it!”
The Knockturnal: It seems like a revolt or uprising is brewing within The Commonwealth. Knowing that we saw protests in the real world within the last few years, do you believe that the world is ready for these kind of potential scenes or stories on The Walking Dead?
MJS: “I cannot say for sure yet if a revolt is brewing or a riot is brewing at The Commonwealth. But it’s interesting that a lot of times how art can reflect on life. We can point out some of the the high points as well as the low points of humanity. And I think you can look forward to seeing a lot of that paint it out in our remaining season!”
On Saturday, December 18 People’s DTLA, a cannabis dispensary kicked off their grand opening with a 12-hour celebration.
As the year quickly approaches its final days, the world’s funniest women have gathered together to toast to a new year and roast the heck out of the wild year that was 2021.