Celebrating Community
Vlane Carter’s entrance into the restaurant business was an uncanny venture. Born in New Jersey and raised in the South Bronx, the restaurant owner and sci-fi author initially sought a career in law enforcement, but later enjoyed a successful stint in IT. Before he opened Action Burger, Vlane’s fascination with sci-fi was already laying the ground for what would become […]
The topic of student debt is often a confusing and uncomfortable one, with no immediate or foreseeable solutions. For most folks, discussing lingering student loan debt can feel pointless. While there is a general understanding that the current system isn’t beneficial or sustainable, there appears to be little to no reformative action, or outrage from legislators – or, to some […]
Today, hearing Afrobeats punching through speakers in many NYC bars and clubs is the norm. The rise of Afrobeats in recent years tells an interesting story about music’s ever-evolving landscape. Afrobeats isn’t Dancehall or Reggaeton, yet these genres do have a shared ancestry, surprisingly or not. Much like hip hop, Afrobeats’ far-reaching roots have made the genre a poignant sound […]
The Queen Bee is back. 9 is Lil’ Kim’s first major commercial release in 14 years. Kimberly Jones, famously known as Lil’ Kim, is a hip-hop legend with a legacy stamped on rap music. There is a time before Lil’ Kim and after Lil’ Kim. Her entrance into hip hop is a marker in the evolution of rap. While other […]
The legacy of harsh punishment and imprisonment of black people gives context to the outrage over the hugging of convicted murderer Amber Guyger, by Judge Tammy Kemp. Amber Guyer is the Dallas police officer who entered Botham Jean’s apartment, one floor above her apartment, and shot and killed him, believing that he was an intruder in what she thought was […]
Latin America is the region of the Americas where countries or territories speak Latin-derived Romance languages like Spanish, French, and Portuguese. The term “Afro” denotes Africanness, African heritage, and in essence, blackness. With this knowledge, the term Afro Latino seems simple enough to understand–a black person from a country in the Americas that speaks a Romance language. Afro Latino as […]
Fetishizing Black men The thirst for gratification, validation, and power often leads many men, prominent and not, to destroy their own lives as well as the lives of others. The story of Ed Buck and his victims is one that involves wealth, deadly fetishes, meth, and racism. Here’s what you need to know. Fetish: a form of sexual desire in […]
The Billboard charts have long been the industry standard when it comes to determining music’s popularity and success. However, recent years have seen controversy surround Billboard. To varying degrees, Billboard has been affected by industry tricks to boost streaming numbers and song plays with bots, payola, etc. Additionally, the Billboard charts’ historical dependence on radio airplay has made the chart […]
Black voices and stories have historically been silenced or pushed to the background. Afrofuturism puts a spotlight on black stories, and conceptually, the genre places black subjects in settings that didn’t usually include or consider them. Afrofuturism, in short, is where the themes of black culture throughout the diaspora meet technology and science fiction, usually via an artistic medium. Though […]
There are a ton of parties that spring up (and disappear) throughout the city. In New York, plenty of weekends are a tug-of-war between your FOMO (fear of missing out) and pestering indecisiveness. There are so many options – your bed, takeout and Netflix usually being a staple and comfortable one. If you’re too lazy to go out clubbing or […]