Blake Holmes

Amaire Johnson: Keyboards Open Doors

Chester, Pennsylvania is a small city, with a population of a little over 30,000 people. It has a pretty rich history of basketball, starting with hall of fame University of Wisconsin men’s basketball coach, Bo Ryan. Several current and former NBA players also call the location home, including Jameer Nelson, Tyreke Evans, and Derrick Jones Jr. of the Miami Heat to name a few. There’s also been some dope hip-hop contributors who hail from the area, like Roc Nation’s Jahlil Beats and one of Big Sean’s favorite keyboardist/producer, Amaire Johnson.

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DC: Tears, Sweat, Blood

Hip-hop since it’s birth was viewed as a counterculture or a subculture. However, within its community, it was perceived as so much more. It was a way in which the youth used multiple platforms to be expressive. Its growth into becoming one of the most influential art forms across the globe has been incredible to watch. Nowadays you have hip-hop influences within nearly every genre of music there is. You also have hip-hop artists across the water having a similar impact both in their home country as well as some success here in the U.S., which isn’t easy to do. London rapper, DC, is steadily growing into the next big thing from the U.K. rap scene. 

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S. Lee Merritt: Breaking the Cycle

I love reading stories of resilience, especially the ones that highlight a person’s troubled past. It’s a story that many can relate to, but through the lens of a black man from the inner city, it’s a different level of compelling. Having seen firsthand so many of my friends grow up with one foot in the streets and the other in the classroom, these are stories that I relate toTo see people overcome immeasurable odds throughout their lives and come out on top is inspirational. Civil rights attorney and activist, S. Lee Merritt, is one of those people whose triumphant story needs to be told. 

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Alfred Conteh: Deeply Rooted

Last month I was scheduled to attend an Art Show and hopefully get an interview or just a few moments to chop it up with artist and sculptor Alfred Conteh here in Chicago. I’m sure by now you’ve seen that our mayor is not having any of it, and unfortunately the show was canceled. So although I was unable to attend, and Conteh was unable to give us a show in person, he did give the public a view of his workspace. On May 7th, Conteh was live on Instagram for Virtual Visits with Art Noir. There he showcased some of his paintings while fielding questions as the viewers posted them. 

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D-Nice: A DJ Saved Our Life

For many of us, it got real this past weekend. Clubs and bars were forced to close, as groups of more than 10 people or more were seen as high-risk when it comes to contracting COVID-19. Some people were taking it more seriously than others. DJ D-Nice was at the forefront and he devised a plan to help people who normally would be out in the clubs looking to have a good time, to still be able to do so from the comfort of their own home. DJ D-Nice live-streamed an Instagram party during the week, and by the weekend he maxed out at over 100,000 live viewers. 

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Max and Jennifer Siegel: Driving Forces for Diversity

Let’s face it, NASCAR is one sport where diversity hasn’t been the focal point. From the drivers to the owners, and even the fans, dating back to its 1948 inception, The National Association for Stock Car Racing has had very few professionals of color. Historically there were hardly any pit crew members, even fewer drivers, and until recently there were no black-owned NASCAR racing teams.

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