Month: December 2020

Black Pumas: Bring on the Accolades

The 2020 Grammy Awards were full of big names in the “Best New Artist” category, such as Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X, but a surprise stuck out among the rest: a band called Black Pumas. They’ve performed on late-night shows, reached over 50 million views for the live session of their song “Color,” and they have gained nearly 300,000 followers on Spotify; but most people still haven’t heard of them. They didn’t grow through social media or viral dances. They have received acclaim and success because of their innate talent for lyricism and the unparalleled sound that Black Pumas’ two members bring to the table.

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Stephen Wiltshire: From Memory to Paper, His Artwork Shines

When people think of autism, words like “mute,” or “special needs,” or “withdrawn” tend to get thrown around in a room or you might even hear whispers as if there’s some taboo surrounding the disorder that affects 1 in 160 people or 1% of the world’s population. 

Now, what if I told you that once upon a time there was a mute 5-year-old autistic boy who began communicating with the world through the language of drawing in a way no other child has ever done? Oh yeah, and whose net worth is now 4 million dollars! Stephen Wiltshire is an artist in his own right and he has not let his autism diagnosis get in the way of that.

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Nanushka: Saving the Planet with Fashion

One of the defining characteristics of the fashion industry is the constant changing of trends. Every six months, fashion brands churn out a new season of looks, and buyers are expected to embrace the new while discarding the old. The fast pace is certainly entertaining from a consumer perspective, but an oft-overlooked drawback is the huge impact that it has on the environment.

According to BBC, ten percent of global carbon emissions come from the fashion industry, and it also contributes 20% of the world’s wastewater. With climate change becoming a more urgent issue each passing day, the fashion industry needs to pursue more sustainable methods of production. Luckily, fashion designer Sandra Sandor is stepping up to the plate with her eco-friendly clothing brand Nanushka.

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Korporate Bidness: Chicago Affairs

Aight, so peep... There’s this guy out in Chicago who has been doing his thing on several different levels. In the midst of all of the negativity that surrounds the city, it’s refreshing when you hear about a young Black man doing something positive to spread joy in the Black community. He started out with rap as his primary focus, then transitioned to observational comedy skits, and both have led him to become a contributor to Chicago youth activism. The man I’m talking about is none other than Korporate, on Gaude!

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D Smoke: Seamless Rhythm + Flow

Wordplay, storytelling, and melody are only a fraction of what Inglewood native Daniel Anthony Farris encompasses in his music. Better known as “D Smoke,” crowned champion of the 2019 Netflix hip-hop competition series Rhythm + Flow, it should be no shock that he has been nominated for two Grammy awards since the release of his EP “Inglewood High” and second studio album “Black Habits.” 

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