Did you memorize the first verse of Wu-Tang Clan’s “Method Man” from reading The Source Magazine’s “Hip-Hop Quotables?” Did you know what KRS-One’s name stood for? Were you “independent as fuck?” For the early 90’s rap kids and independent artist alike comes the documentary Adult Rappers, a rare look into the real lives of working-class rappers. The film features a lot of notable underground artists like Open Mike Eagle, Blueprint, Breeze Brewin, J-Zone, Evidence, Masta Ace, Blockhead, Atoms Family members …
Category: Culture
Culture
Pharrell’s single “Entrepreneur (ft. Jay Z)” is an ode to black businesses. Storied snapshots of black entrepreneurs get elevated out of obscurity and placed center stage before the world. When TMG favorite, filmmaker Darryl Wharton-Rigby saw the video, which included a few notable figures from Japan’s Black community, he knew that he needed to broaden the scope of local individuals profiled in “Entrepreneur.” Enter Darryl’s “Japan Edition.” The music video is a montage of various successful Black businesses and I’m …
My latest Tokyo Weekender article “Why I’m Glad I Got Stuck in Japan During Covid-19” is several hours old and since it got published the response has been a ringing fire house. It’s on fire. I’m mad humbled. Thank you. At the moment my daughter is adjusting to elementary school, which is an incredible challenge. Every morning it’s like she’s getting ready to run through a gladiator course. “Dad, I’m going in. I’m going in,” she says in so many …
The Eternal Flame Project was founded by Cuban artist Erik Ravelo. It is to give hope to all the extraordinary artists out there who are struggling to survive. Now is the most crucial time to be making work. If you are alive then you still have hope. Visit The Eternal Flame Project website and send him a video of your eternal flame of art. …
Here’s my latest, Eye: Notes to a Poet. I wrote about Care Bears, Public Enemy, white Jesus, writer Kiese Laymon, space travel, Brer Rabbit, and artist Sheena Rose. Painter Titus Kaphar contributed a poem and painting. To say that this a big deal or a high honor is an understatement. These people are like Gods to me. I am beside myself. It never occurred to me that I’d ever write about becoming a writer. I always thought that talking about …
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