If you’ve ever found yourself putting Jay Z’s Empire State of Mind on constant repeat as you prepare to take on the world, or receiving a much-needed pep-talk from the hook on Nas’ I Know I Can, or maybe you even found yourself whynin’ and wukin’ up your waist during Carnival in 2015 to the hit song Party Done.
In celebration of the US Open, ASICS and Packer Shoes joined forces with Mitchell & Ness to create a limited edition collection featuring tennis-inspired sneakers, apparel, and accessories.
Afro Punk Festival is quickly becoming one of the most popular east coast music festivals after hosting its yearly gathering in Brooklyn, New York for over ten years.
This year, the two day event took place August 27th-28th and featured artists and bands from The Internet, Bad Brains, and Tyler the Creator to Janelle Monae, Ice Cube, and Living Color.
From the eclectic fashion attire of the attendees to the fantastic, though lesser known, artists gracing the stage, attending Afro Punk is a wonderland for care-free individuals looking to embrace their individuality and freedom to live outside of the box. All of this goes hand-in-hand with the ability to enjoy the many hues of the Black and Brown faces around without concern for stereotyping or judgment.
As a matter of fact, Afro Punk’s rules are no sexism, no racism, no ableism, no ageism, no homophobia, no fatphobia, no transphobia, no hatefulness.
Basically, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t come to Afro Punk.
The two day event is full of happy individuals wanting to enjoy themselves in ways that they might not be able to when faced with the expectations and judgment of the world outside of Commodore Barry Park.
Outside of having a safe space to be oneself, the event also boasts of an amazing line up. Probably the most anticipated guest of Sunday night was Janelle Monae who gave a dazzling performance in her signature black and white get up with accompanying bow-tie. Monae, who is no stranger to Afro Punk and has apparently been there since its beginnings, graced the Red Stage on day two and drew a crowd so deep, growing wings and flying felt like the only way to grab a glimpse of the “Hell You Talm Bout” singer’s flowing faux-fur shawl or her flawless Prince tribute.
In-between performances, DJs played their sets while people swirled, wined, popped, locked, nae-naed, stanky legged, and whatever else the music called for while the cool breeze bounced the myriad of kinky-curly tresses swaying across the landscape. And while others moved and grooved on the grass, some made their way around the vendor booths to check out all of the unique items sold by Black owned businesses, get their arms “marbled” with colorful swirls, catch some free promotional items, or have their souls painted across their bodies by Beyoncé’s Lemonade artist Laolu Senbanjo.
Afro Punk Festival 2016 proved, once again, to be one of the most lit, safe zones for people of color (and anyone who wants to simply enjoy good people, good music, and a good life).
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJrS2OHh6Yz/?hl=en&taken-by=janellemonae
Sevyn Streeter is world famous R&B singer and songwriter who’s debut EP Call Me Crazy, But… charted at number 5 on Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album.
We’ve got 5 newly-released tunes that will hopefully help you get through your Tuesday. Plug in your headphones, turn up the volume, and welcome the cooler weather with the musical stylings of De La Soul, SG Lewis, Blind Pilot, & more.
Up and coming British producer/DJ, Jonas Blue, gave us the inside scoop on his musical background, the process behind making his smash hit singles, some of his current favorite tunes, and his plans for the future!
On Thursday night, August 12, BACARDÍ and Swizz Beatz’ The Dean Collection celebrated opening night of No Commission: Art Performs, an immersive 3-day event where art and music collide.
On Monday (Aug. 8th), NYC’s Snoop Dogg fans were invited to the Highline Ballroom to spectate as he sat down with Elliot Wilson as part of the latest installment to his #CRWN series.
This week we’re putting the limelight on recent hip-hop and rap releases that have blown us away. Featuring a song from DJ Drama‘s bangin’ mixtape Quality Street Music 2, NAS and Erykah Badu‘s collaborative track for the much-anticipated film The Wind, and more!
A whimsical play on sounds, one must admit; with formidable creative venture as different musical styles clash all across the spectrum. But the melodic wonder behind this piece doesn’t quite hit its mark.
Tim Young & The Questionnaires, from the beginning, realizes a somewhat harmonious romance as it tackles the audience with brevity – which produces a decent rise, however temporary. This is extremely noticeable within the first couple of tracks in the album – of which deliver with entertaining modesty, but the rest do little to court one’s full attention.
The debut Ten-song album has a strong emphasis on tone, hoping to succeed it’s audience with a myriad of euphonious and mellow-sounding pieces. Questionnaires has it’s origins in the life and times of Tim Young, a person whose musical expression landed him a solid position on as guitar chair in Reggie Watt’s band choir for The Late Late Show With James Corden. But that’s not all. Young cemented his musical career at the age of eleven; having practiced guitar for some time prior and, with that, ascended higher in the industry as he toured and recorded with groups such as: Zony Mash, Fiona Apple and Sweeter Than The Day. As an enthusiast of everything Jazz and music, Tim Young & The Questionnaires is a conglomeration of this learned musical talent.
The Questionnaires administered their debut album at the The Blue Whale Jazz Club in Los Angeles only a couple of days ago. With credits to the fantastic photographs by Jeffery Mayer.
Questionnaires definitely has some golden tracks; “Always On My Mind”, “Lento For Levon” and “Canticle” assailed an almost euphoric tenderness; reminiscent of times past, the present, the future – they have the mind travel in circles as you take solace in the musical genius – of which is most definitely potent in the chords. But, there were others: “Anouman” and “Adagio For Six”, which failed to captivate as strongly as the other tracks. The same wonder that could be found in some pieces was seemingly lost in others. A fundamental problem? Not necessarily so.
It’s not a rudimentary hiccup with the album itself, as Questionnaires certainly supersedes a fair amount of traditional, more “melodic”-advertised albums of it’s kind; with the desire to encompass a host of styles within it’s boundaries a strong one indeed; but, there’s a necessity to retain consistency of some kind. Some tracks simply lack the magic; the incredible and somber feeling professed earlier, as other pieces in the album do.
But this does not infringe wholly on the collection as a whole. Questionnaires expresses value in the little things – with its contents bearing a striking and essential message about the aggregate of life’s every-day problems. It whispers; let us take a step back and enjoy the day for what it is, friends.