Month: October 2018

grandson Band: Rocking ‘N Rolling with the Truth

“We can do two things when confronted with uncomfortable truth,” Canadian American musician Jordan Edward Benjamin told Billboard Magazine. “We can ignore the evidence, gaslight the victims, obfuscate facts and distract the public, or we can try and tackle these issues head-on and demand that systematic failure be met with systematic change. I believe art, and rock ‘n roll, must always side with the latter.” A quick snippet from any of Benjamin’s songs will let you know his mind is made up. ‘grandson,’ as he is affectionately known, decided early on that he would use his artistry to talk about hard truths. His debut EP, A Modern Tragedy vol. 1, conveys these truths with thought-provoking lyrics, genre-blending sounds, electric guitars, heavy metal clangs, unexpected bass drops and one-of-a-kind vocals.

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Nyakim Gatwech: A Shot in the Dark

Who determines what is beautiful? Too often we are told that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that’s not fully true. At very young ages we are bombarded with images that indoctrinate us with what society deems as attractive. However, in reality most people do not meet these unrealistic beauty standards. It’s possible that someone may be well into adulthood before they finally learn how to embrace their features. This was indeed the case for 25-year-old Sudanese model Nyakim Gatwech.

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Baj: Decatur At Heart

“What’s most important to me is to be relatable. I don’t want to be out of reach, I want people to know that I am a regular person...I’m not out here to compete with anyone.

I’m going to try to outdo myself every single time.”

-Baj

Introverted, laid back and down to earth, she is the epitome of a “girl next door.” At 5’4 and 125 pounds, the singer/dancer/songwriter is simple and low key, embracing her very own authentic flavor and style.

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Hip-Hop and Versace

For a limited time, a modernized pair of Notorious B.I.G.’s Versace sunglasses will be sold online and in stores at Barneys New York. The famed sunglasses were worn by the rapper during his rise in the 90s. The thick black rimmed, dark shaded sunglasses with a golden medusa symbol on either side were featured in Biggie Small’s music video for “One More Chance” (‘95) and later popularized through the rapper’s hit song and music video “Hypnotize” (‘97) as well as through sporting the look at award ceremonies.

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Jermaine Dupri: Cultural Curren$y:

There aren’t very many people who have worked with nearly every superstar in hip-hop and R&B, especially during the 90s and early 2000s. However, So So Def  CEO Jermaine Dupri is an exception to the rule. From discovering his own artists like Kris Kross, Usher and Bow Wow, to working with fellow hip-hop heavyweights in the game like Jay-Z and Ludacris, to R&B and Soul royalty group Xscape, Mariah Carey, and the late Aretha Franklin, Jermaine Dupri’s hands have touched hit after hit for nearly 30 years. His name deserves to be mentioned among today’s well-known hip-hop moguls like Diddy,  and Dr. Dre.

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Casey Kelley: Elevate, Empower, Educate

In a society where certain groups are taught to be ashamed of or embarrassed of their community, like people of color and members of the LGBTQ community, empowerment and representation is necessary, particularly for the youth. America’s black youth are among these groups, unfortunately black people are taught from a very young age that they are less than.

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