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5 Ways Pepsi’s Latest Ad Proves Corp. America is Out of Touch

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5 Ways Pepsi’s Latest Ad Proves Corp. America is Out of Touch

In case you haven’t heard, Pepsi released a new commercial featuring Kendall Jenner; sounds innocent enough right? WRONG. From start to finish, which is about two and a half minutes, the ad is so tone deaf to the reality that it might as well be Mariah Carey on NYE. Honestly, though, this train wreck may have been worse. Here are five ways Pepsi’s ad all but confirms just how out of touch corporate America is with us.

1. They released the “civil rights” themed ad with a nonperson of color portraying the protagonist

Admittedly, when the ad started it had the potential to be something positive…like maybe for five seconds. From there it starts going in this weird direction and depicts Kendall Jenner as a model doing a shoot by the street as a protest is occurring. Kendall at first is unaware of the literally massive movement of people, but as the shoot goes on she is increasingly more and more distracted by the crowd. If I didn’t know any better I’d infer that she doesn’t actually know what the protest is about, because for real though who becomes social conscious in like 2 minutes? She’s actually shown leaving the photo shoot for the “protest” only after a guy looks at her with that classic cheesy ass “come with me” face. Ultimately Kendall saves the day by leading the protest to the cops and handing one of them a Pepsi. There’s a lot wrong with this picture but my biggest question is why oh why would they choose Kendall Jenner??? Pepsi could have found any person of color, and social leader, maybe even a politician, man go find Obama, ANYONE other than Kendall Jenner. L.

2. They released the ad on the 49th anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination

Now I don’t know if this was a coincidence or if it was a marketing strategy, but the ad debuted on the 49th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination. Like many black leaders and activists during his time, Dr. King was harassed, terrorized and ultimately killed simply because he believed in fairness and equality. At the time of Dr. King’s assassination, he was considered to be enemy #1 by the FBI; yep, a pastor protesting and leading people in peace were once considered the most dangerous man in the world. Why bring this up? Because you won’t find any mention of that, true activism, or quite an honesty much factual truth in Pepsi’s ad. Of all the times to drop a commercial capitalizing off of the various social movements happening around the country/world, Y’all couldn’t have picked any other day? L.

3. The backlash from Twitter that they clearly were not expecting.

The backlash from Twitter was swift, unforgiving, and at times pretty hilarious, which gave some levity to the situation.

But, of course not everyone understood the outrage over the ad.

At the end of the day, I don’t want people to focus on the ad itself, because it’s pretty insignificant compared to some of the atrocities being committed across the globe. It’s the institutional racism, corporate greed, and misrepresentation of a narrative for personal gain that I’m trying to point. Honestly, I’d rather people dismiss Pepsi like they’re dismissing us. Pepsi does, however, need to be called out on their BS for trying to sell us a narrative, and for their weak/out of touch social commentary. L.

4. The ad romanticized the different social movements going on around the world

The way Pepsi lumped all the protesters together gives off the impression that they don’t see individual causes. Also, the representation of certain groups and the roles they play seemed pretty off; the last protest I saw didn’t really look like that Pepsi ad. That’s not to say that any individual social issue is necessarily more important than the next, but I think it’s crucial to at least try to acknowledge the differences and work to move forward from there. Pepsi’s ad almost feels like America trying to sweep our voice under the rug, but in the most “politically correct” way possible while still making money. If Pepsi had taken the time to donate to some of the causes that it was pseudo supporting, then maybe the backlash wouldn’t be so severe. Instead, this major corporation played off of what they saw as a trend to promote their brand. L.

5. The use of their product as the solution to the worlds problems and the blatant ways they’re trying to profit off of the social commentary “trend”

So I’ve been noticing more and more companies doing these commercials in “support” of or to “bring awareness” to a certain cause. Some of them, like Nike’s latest ad, sit well and don’t overly push their product. Pepsi, on the other hand, tried to “unite” the world with a soda that people don’t even really like. Their use of “resistance culture” and the purely capitalist motives behind their latest campaign are sickening and disturbing. Women are being abused, people of color are being abused, LGBTQ people are being abused, or the environment is being abused, our MFing legal system is being abused every single day! Here, have a Pepsi, just forget about it

Here’s Everything We Know About KDot’s New Album

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Here’s Everything We Know About KDot’s New Album

In all likelihood, Kendrick Lamar will drop his fourth LP on April the 7th. Seriously, this is real. I mean he said it himself in his first single of 2017, “The Heart Pt. 4,” produced by DJ Dahi, Syk Sense, The Alchemist, and Axlfolie, which he released in late March.

Since, he’s released another single, “Humble,” produced by super producer Mike-Will-Made-It with a co-produced visual to match which he co-directed, this is a slight diversion from what Kendrick did for his last album To Pimp a Butterfly.

Kendrick Lamar will drop his fourth LP on April the 7th (2)

Well Kendrick has been pretty outspoken about the themes that he worked into the album and how they differ from TPAB. I think he wanted a visual representation of “i” because it offered a much different view than we were accustomed to getting from KDot. It was a declaration that he loved himself and his community. Even though it received mixed reviews, it honestly set the tone for the album (we just didn’t know it at the time). It also served an interesting role in the album, as it ended up sounding different and included a different perspective. Kendrick’s video for “Humble,” had a multitude of images and themes like body positivity, that also have received mixed reviews but the majority of people have praised him for his views and fresh perspective. The song also serves as a warning shot to any rapper cough cough Big Sean, Drake* that he is the best rapper in the game. In an interview with T Magazine, he spoke about his focus for the new album.

“I think now, how wayward things have gone within the past few months, my focus is ultimately going back to my community and the other communities around the world where they’re doing the groundwork,”

Kendrick Lamar will drop his fourth LP on April the 7th (3)

Besides that, I think he’s certainly going to focus on the election, and how he feels we can move forward as a community. Both singles, present timely topics but sound wise, they differ from the avant-garde jazz and funk vibes TPAB gave off. Still both tracks were straight heat, but even with that said, I think the best is yet to come. Kendrick has always been innovative and worked with extremely creative producers and engineers so I definitely expect the production to be forward-thinking and creative. In an interview after the release of “The Heart Pt. 4,” Syk Sense stated that the instrumental selection for the project is of a different wave and style than what we’re used to.

Maybe his features from 2016 are a clue into where he’s headed?

Kendrick Lamar will drop his fourth LP on April the 7th (4)

In 2016 Kendrick collaborated on Danny Brown’s Really Doe, DJ Khaled‘s Holy Key which ironically enough featured Big Sean as well, Sia’s The Greatest, BJ the Chicago Kid‘s The New Cupid, and Beyoncé‘s Freedom from her magnum opus, ‘Lemonade’. This year we’ve heard his verses on Thundercat‘s Walk On By as well as Mike-Will-Made-It’s Perfect Pint which also featured Rae Sremmurd and Gucci Mane. The Holy Key part is particularly important because pretty much the whole world thinks these two have been dissing each other ever since they shared that track. Recently Big Sean was on the record saying that Kendrick didn’t kill him on Control (even just writing that made me make a “Conceited Meme” face) hinting that there was some bad blood between the two. Whatever Big Sean may have started, it looks like Kendrick is ready to end it and possibly drag Big Sean’s career too, “Oh God!”

Sometime after the release of The Heart Pt. 4, someone leaked a track list for the album, which is still untitled btw. The fourteen song listing is honestly so good, it feels too good to be true…and it probably is. Now being reported as fake, the songs include many collaborators from TPAB as well as dream collabs such as D’Angelo and Andre 3K. Check out the full list below, and watch out for Kendrick Lamar’s fourth LP scheduled to drop April 7th!

Kendrick Lamar will drop his fourth LP on April the 7th (5)

Tracklisting:

1. “Purple Hibiscus” (produced by Sounwave and Terrace Martin)

2. “Counterfeit” (produced by Rahki and Taz Arnold)

3. “Trust Everyone” (produced by DJ Dahi, Terrace Martin, and Thundercat)

4. “Delusional (Like You Haven’t)” ft. Anderson .Paak and Anna Wise (produced by Sounwave)

5. “Product” ft. Andre Benjamin (produced by Kanye West and Taz Arnold)

6. “Richard Nixon” (produced by LoveDragon)

7. “None of Your Business” ft. Anna Wise, Kanye West and Q-Tip (produced by DJ Dahi, Kanye West & Sounwave)

8. “Double Standards” (produced by LoveDragon & Rahki)

9. “If You Had Me, You Lost Me (Interlude)” (produced by Flying Lotus and Mono/Poly)

10. “Commercialized, Failed Experiments” (produced by Alchemist, Cardo, and Swizz Beatz)

11. “Ten Steps” ft. Bilal, D’Angelo, & Thundercat (produced by Sounwave and Terrace Martin)

12. “Paranoia, Is Love Stronger Than Death?” (produced by K.L. and LoveDragon)

13. “Rest in Paradise (Interlude)” (produced by Terrace Martin)

14. “Swim with the Fishes (God Said)” (produced by Sounwave and Terrace Martin)

Chewing Gum: Season 2 Is Back!

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Chewing Gum: Season 2 Is Back!

The wait is finally over, Chewing Gum fans! The British comedy is making its way back to Netflix…As. Of. Today. Yes, today!

If you aren’t familiar with the series, don’t you even think about diving into Season 2 just yet. The week has only just begun and there’s a good chance you don’t have a single lick of time on your hands to binge-watch the first season. But never fear, I am here to give you a quick lowdown; one that you can successfully squeeze in during your next lunch break.

Chewing Gum (previously known as Chewing Gum Dreams) was originally a one-woman show by writer and comedian Michaela Coel for her senior project at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The story initially focused on a 14-year-old named Tracey, but once UK-wide television channel Channel 4 picked the series, the narrative changed its protagonist to a 24-year-old virgin in East London trying to break away from the restraints of her religion, explore and experience all the things life has to offer her.

The first season was a huge hit on British TV in 2015 and eventually blessed American entertainment with its presence when the series cut a deal with Netflix and premiered in October of last year. I think the major reason for its success is because people naturally fell in love with Tracey and her story.

Chewing Gum has this edge to it, unapologetically unafraid to touch on subjects that are often unrepresented in mainstream television, such as: the importance of women exploring their sexuality and colorism.

We haven’t seen a show yet that truly gave black women variety in roles. Black women are often painted in the same light: promiscuous, unfriendly, and only desirable when they have lighter skin and European features.

Tracey is a virgin. She’s down-to-earth. She’s dark-skinned with a wider nose and fuller lips. She doesn’t fit the typical mold set by society and that only makes her even more stunning.

You may not be a woman, nor a virgin, but here’s the special thing about Chewing Gum. The storyline has many layers to it, which allows any viewer to resonate and relate to it in some way, whether it’s to a specific person or situation. The show addresses it all: stereotypes of living in the projects, interracial dating, experiences growing up in a West African-Christian household, rivalry between siblings…you name it. Chewing Gum is changing the game right now and we are here for it.

For those who didn’t ignore Netflix when they suggested Chewing Gum to them last year, Season 2 looks like it won’t disappoint. If you haven’t already, check out the trailer for it below:

Start your binge now! 

Producer Essentials: 5 Kits That’ll Create Instant Fire

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Producer Essentials: 5 Kits That’ll Create Instant Fire

Every producer goes through those rough patches where it seems like nothing you make sounds good enough or your instrumentals just kinda sound the same. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been at it for a while, “beat block” is natural and actually a really helpful thing to encounter. It means your ears are ready for a new sound; these five sample packs and drum kits are everything you need and more!

Drums That Knock Vol. 4 is the perfect kit for people who want to stand out and sound different. Decap is known for his crisp drums, and this pack is everything we’d expect from him. It comes with 13 Analog 808s, 23 Kicks,19 Snares, 8 Hihats, 9 Clap Loops, 19 Melodic Loops, 16 Percussion Loops, 14 Percussion One Shots, 22 Shouts, and 14 Textures. The fourth installment in a series of drum kits, I’d definitely recommend this one for those people that know what they’re doing. If you’re starting out however, and you’re overwhelmed by the amount of drum packs out there, Decap’s Drums That Knock Vol. 4 is an essential.

I know y’all heard ‘Zoom’ off of Future’s (second to) last album. The dope ass melody you hear can be traced to this sample pack. !lmind’s “The Shaolin Story” sample pack is full of creative loops that you can chop or use as is to cook up as much heat as your heart desires. It comes with 20 loops, and costs about $30, but it’s worth every penny. Check out the whole catalog of Blapkits while you’re at it, sometimes just looking through kits can give you a better understanding of what you want your sound to be.

Cardiak is super producer with a signature sound all his own, but his new Cold Air Vol. VII can get you close. I’d recommend this one for those producers looking to vibe out and create the waviest beats possible. This pack comes with over 80 audio files and 20 complete ideas made by the man himself. Samples include BPMs (thats’s a life + time saver) as well as all the  stems. Something that young producers make the mistake of doing is buying drum kits that aren’t compatible with all DAW systems, luckily this one is so no worries. Check out the demo below and go to Flatline Kits to see everything this guy has to offer.

The Zaytoven Drumkit is an essential for any young producer looking to break into the trap scene. Crafted by the trap sound master, this kit is loaded with 81 awesome drums, loops, 808’s, and samples that’ll have your monitors/speakers (hopefully are using monitors and not headphones) boomin’. Check it out here

Producer Essentials 5 Kits That’ll Create

Bless Jazzfeezy! You may not have heard of him but you’ve most definitely heard his work on More Life. The Jazzfeezy Drum Kit Vol. 1 is honestly one of the most complete drum kits that I’ve come across. This behemoth comes filled with 101 sounds, you read that right, 101 sounds! In it you’ll find 19 snares, 9 Claps, 8 808s, 7 HiHats (Open), 4 Vox / Chants, 2 Beatbox, 2 Tambourines, 1 Crash, 1 Shaker, 17 Custom Loops, 9 Kicks, 8 HiHats (Closed), 7 Percussion sounds, 2 Live Snares, 2 Snaps, 2 Tom, 1 FX sound. I’d recommend this to those producers who are just starting to put their sound together, this kit will certainly provide you with all the tools you could possibly need.

All these kits are dope, and there’s certainly a million more that I could’ve included but these are one’s that will for sure spark ideas and creativity. The music game, and especially producer scene is getting increasingly diluted everyday so it’s paramount that you stand out in any way possible. Make dope music, don’t rely on the kit, believe in your own ideas and do everything you can to be original!

Medical Vs. Recreational: This Is Weed In 2019

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Medical Vs. Recreational: This Is Weed In 2019

In the year 2021, legal weed in North America is slated to hit $22.6 billion in revenue. But pot smokers will not be spending their money on marijuana the way they do today. According to a comprehensive new report from the Arcview Market Research, “recreational” cannabis spending will supercede medical marijuana sales for the very first time in 2019.

What does this mean for consumption?

Simple.

New users are likely to flood the recreational market in the next few years, with some switching over from medical marijuana programs in their respective states. California and Canada, which could legalize marijuana as early as July 1, 2018, are projected to drive major growth because of their population sizes. Although a majority of Americans live in states with access to cannabis for medical use, the recreational age is upon us, changing the way everyone consumes marijuana for the first time ever.

Tom Adams, the editor and chief of Arcview Market Research, says that the lives of medical marijuana patients “have not changed much.” “They go into the same stores — or even nicer or bigger stores, now that there are a lot more of them — and they just shop at the medical cash register,” Adams says.

Note: (Dispensaries often times have a counter for recreational sales and a counter for medical sales, or the retail shops specialize in one market. Washington folded its medical market in 2015.)

The only difference and area of debate that remains is taxation.

Medical vs. Recreational This Is Weed In 2019 (2)

According to Adams, people who buy marijuana for recreational use in Colorado can expect to pay between %15 and %20 more than medical patients. This is due to the 2.9% state sales tax (plus local taxes) on both varieties of marijuana, but it waives the 10% state marijuana tax for patients. Although many dispensaries are offering steep discounts for medical buyers, when California rolls out its recreational market in 2018, the state will impose a %15 tax sales of the drug for recreational users.

The argument?

Well it kind of sucks to be honest. It’s a game of semantics if you look more closely.

For example, in New Jersey, patients may qualify if they suffer from a deliberating or life-threatening disease, such as cancer, epilepsy, or multiple sclerosis. Meanwhile, Californians can get a recommendation via an app. By comparison, it seems as though the recreational market seems much more lax. Take for example Colorado, where there are more dispensaries than Starbucks and McDonald’s combined. Both residents and tourists alike can buy up to one ounce of cannabis with a valid ID that shows they’re over 21. The same is true in Washington and both states topped $1 billion in legal cannabis sales in 2016. So why impose strict legalities for those who are applying for medical?

According to our friend, Adams, the “recreational market will overtake medical in revenue in 2019. The gap will continue to widen as (presumably) more recreational markets come online.There’s huge growth in the user base when you stop requiring people to get medical recommendations … when you have stores selling edibles and concentrates, and not just the dealer around the corner selling bags of weed,” Adams says.

Well I guess we will just have to wait for the verdict. But let’s pray that we end the debate and allow everyone-recreational and medical users consume the same way.

Your thoughts?

How Zane Lowe Reimagined Radio, The Music Industry For Good

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How Zane Lowe Reimagined Radio, The Music Industry For Good

Zane Lowe’s presence and influence in the music industry is undeniable, so whenever he drops a gem, it would be wise to listen.

New Zealand’s Zane Lowe is the most powerful DJ on the planet, but it his affinity for breaking new records and adjusting to the growing age of music that makes him a rebel or chameleon of sorts. The Auckland Grammar boy started hosting TV and radio shows as a side gig to actually producing music.

Initially a part of the Hip Hop group, Urban Disturbance and then the more successful electronic group Breaks CO-op, he moved to London in the late 90’s and rapidly moved from XFM and MTV to his breakout spot as one of the biggest radio hosts on BBC’s Radio where he premiered tracks, interviewed artists and yelled a whole lot. But, it wasn’t until 2015, when Apple approached him to launch their own station, the antithesis to the old age of music exposure and consumption.

Zane Lowe Reimagined Radio

“It’s about being able to get great music to an audience on a global level. I know that there is an opportunity to come out here and to build something that will reach parts of the world that I’ve never reached before…”

He states on his move to Apple, where he has found the balance between the artist and fan. “I really want a platform for the most passionate people who love music,” he says. “I want to be able to bring that human experience, that we all had growing up with record stores, but actually make it something you can listen to in a world where you’re left to your own devices.”

During the keynote address, Lowe states “We had three months to build Beats 1 from scratch… the first question we asked on day one was… is this even radio?” Lowe recalled. “Radio had been driving pop music in the world for 50 years, and for all of those years, that was the only way to get a hit record. I’m not sure that’s still the case. Radio listenership like that is declining and in some cases gone. The Norwegians are turning off their FM signal. Where does new music fit on the most terrestrial radio these days? With few exceptions, mainstream music radio has not been a driving force for change for some time. That’s why college, pirate, digital and blogs do the groundwork for it.”

Zane Lowe Reimagined Radio

Lowe goes on to critically analyze the boundaries of music distribution and artists who are pushing the boundaries like Beyonce’s incredible rollout for Lemonade or Tyler, the Creator creating his own app. He also highlighted Frank Ocean’s decision to debut “Chanel” on Beats 1 and play it for nearly an hour with no break, stating “Could we have done that using traditional models… using the old expectations of what artists should do for the U.S.? No. Look at all this creativity, we need to reflect on it. It’s our job… to be a conduit. Between the artist and the fan. Technology has freed us all. And now, music moves fast. So, to survive… we have to move fast too.”

In fact, Beats 1 radio breaks all the rules of radio. One day you might tune into London host Julie Adenuga playing thirty minutes of grime tracks or Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koeing interviewing the owner of a New Jersey bagel store. “I don’t think anyone would be interested in talking about Beats 1 if we had just tried to be another outlet for ten massive pop songs on massive rotation with no real risk taking. You’d just be like ‘well we have that’. Every country has that, it’s called terrestrial radio.” Instead, Lowe’s underlying mission is to think of the fans.

Check out the full interview here to hear more gems from Zane Lowe.

Is There Something Wrong With Using Groupon On A Date?

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Is There Something Wrong With Using Groupon On A Date?

On Tuesday, 25-year-old Tiffany Nunn from New York took to Twitter to express her opinion of a guy using Groupon on their date…and let’s just say Twitter did not agree.

https://twitter.com/GorgeousNotBadd/status/846774877830950916

She claimed that she would leave her date if she found out Groupon was being used to pay for it. It wasn’t long before her tweet blew up, sparking debate on the social media site. From the looks of it, it seems like the majority of Twitter users are confused by Nunn’s statement, saying there is nothing wrong with using the coupon service.

https://twitter.com/Keefosabe/status/846824557910675457

https://twitter.com/cavemank_27/status/846858242705817600

https://twitter.com/pinkspanishfly/status/846816678155575296

You’re probably thinking, hmm…this conversation has happened before. Well, that’s because it has. More than once. In fact, it happens all the time. It wasn’t too long ago that people were downing dates at Red Lobster and TGI Fridays. We live in a generation where we believe we’re too good for certain things. It’s unfortunate how the focus is always on stunting for other people rather than simply just enjoying yourself and having a good time.

I’m genuinely surprised that there’s even Groupon slander. Like, have you ever used Groupon? It gives you the opportunity to do things you might not usually afford otherwise at a discounted price. It doesn’t even have to be because you can’t afford it. You might just want to save your pockets, and who doesn’t want to do that?

Five Rap Icons Deserving of A Biopic

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Five Rap Icons Deserving of A Biopic

Likely spurred by the immense critical and commercial triumphs of Straight Outta Compton in 2015, it seems that biographical films based on musical greats is the new big thing. Tupac is finally receiving his proper due with All Eyez on Me, set to hit the big screens this summer. Meanwhile, BET found success with The New Edition Story earlier this year, prompting the network to green-light a mini-series chronicling Nas’ ascension to hip-hop stardom. Also, a Master P based film entitled King of the South has also recently been announced to be in production.

Nonetheless, there still remains a significant number of bonafide rap legends whose stories deserve to be told through film. Here are five icons in the hip-hop world who are worthy of a biopic.

1.) Jay-Z

Five Rap Icons Deserving-1
Let’s be real here. In terms of legends, Jay-Z is easily next in line to receive motion picture treatment. Recalling his transition from his humble beginnings as a drug dealer from the infamous Marcy projects in Brooklyn to his meteoric rise as a successful rapper creating his own empire, Jay-Z’s story is practically the quintessential “rags to riches” story we’ve been accustomed to seeing (and loving) in biopics. Plus, with an artist as influential as Hov, his film could also provide glimpses into the lives of so many others, including Biggie, Dame Dash, Kanye West, and Memphis Bleek. Oh, and who wouldn’t want to see how ended up with Beyoncé?

2.) Lil Kim

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We gained some insight into the Queen Bee’s life in 2009’s Notorious but it should be common knowledge that Lil Kim’s story spans far beyond Biggie. Before becoming one of the most defining figures in female rap, Lil Kim was a teenager living on the streets of New York forced to peddle drugs and have sex with men who housed her after being kicked out of the house by her father. Of course, it was during this time where she met B.I.G., who played a major part in catapulting her career as a femcee. Since his death, however, Lil’ Kim luckily has bounced back from abusive relationships as well as a highly-publicized stint in a federal prison for perjury charges. Kim’s story has all of the makings of a good film.

3.) Wu Tang Clan

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Considering there are more people in “the Clan” than there are Supreme Court justices, it may be pretty hard to produce a film where every single member receives their fair pay. Nevertheless, as the most important rap group of all time (inarguably), Wu Tang Clan’s story is one that is absolutely deserving of being told. As we get to see the collective forming and crafting their classic debut Enter the Wu (36 Chambers), each member embarking on their solo efforts, and the untimely passing of Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Wu Tang’s story is probably better off told through a mini television series in the vein of New Edition or the Temptations.

4.) A Tribe Called Quest

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It was impossible for me to only choose only rap crew so it’s only fitting to also include the pioneers of alternative hip-hop: A Tribe Called Quest. In an era dominated by gangsta rap, the Tribe offered jazzy, feel-good music with their seminal albums The Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders. Judging from the documentary about the collective (Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest), there was not much explosive drama going on behind the scenes that would really be of interest to most viewers. However, out of respect of the late Phife Dawg, I’m all for a Tribe-based biopic.

5.) Big L

Five Rap Icons Deserving-5
One of the most overlooked rappers of all time – prominently due to his untimely death in the early years of his career – Big L deserves to have his life displayed on the big screen. Although the Harlem native only released one mildly successful album during his life (1995’s Lifestyles ov da Poor & Dangerous), Big L was larger than life in the underground circuit. Although he was never able to fully reach his potential after quickly being dropped by his record label and being murdered in a drive-by shooting at the age of 24, Big L established himself as a trailblazer of the “horrorcore” rap genre later emulated by the likes of Eminem and Tyler the Creator among others. A proper biopic would help further extend his legacy.

Air Jordan Gives The Retro High 1 The “Royal” Treatment

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Air Jordan Gives The Retro High 1 The “Royal” Treatment

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Is the NBA the Most Woke Sports League?

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Is the NBA the Most Woke Sports League?

The NBA has been an outspoken advocate of many social issues, including policy brutality, gender/marriage equality, cultural inclusion and societal change. From the commissioner, Adam Silver, on down to players like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Paul, the league is filled with people looking to promote positivity, inclusiveness, and hope.

Teams across the league have different Heritage Nights to honor different cultures. For example, the Philadelphia Sixers have Indian Heritage Night, Jewish Heritage Night, Hispanic Heritage Night, Greek Heritage Night. Other teams like Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat also have a Filipino Heritage Night.

Black History Month is something that the league as well as the players themselves make a point to celebrate and honor. The NBA even has an entire series dedicated to Black History Month where current players and coaches talk about Black pioneers in the game of basketball. You can check out Clipper’s Doc River talk about Bill Russell below.

Not to mention Noches énebéa or Latin nights, a program the league started they celebrate over nine games NBA fans and players across Latin American and U.S. Hispanic communities. They’ve been doing the Latin Nights program since the 2006-07 season, so they’re 10 years strong this year! Check out the promo video the NBA made for it below.

NBA Cares, the league’s global social responsibility program, was started back in 2005 with the hope that it would expand the NBA’s focus on addressing important social issues around the world. Players and coaches go out into the communities and work on different service projects.
NBA the Most Woke Sports League-1
Individual teams also have their own community engagement programs such as reading and fitness programs, eco friendly service projects, and hometown hero welcomes/in game experiences.

Like the NFL and MLB, the NBA has made it a point to schedule games overseas. Since 1990, they’ve been holding regular-season games outside of the United States and Canada; now the NBA is holding games in countries like China, the U.K., Mexico, and (the continent of) Australia. Additionally, the Basketball Without Borders program is a joint effort with FIBA to develop young talent across the world and to give them opportunities they otherwise may not have had access to. They empower participants to promote positive social change in their communities as well as give them info on education and health. NBA the Most Woke Sports League-5

To this point, the NBA and FIBA have put together 39 camps in 24 different cities across 20 countries, including participants from 5 different continents; that’s huge! Showing how global minded they are, and rightfully so. Their development of global talent may not get everyone in the league but it certainly has an immense positive impact on the lives of the youth they reach.

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Netflix In April: What’s New And What’s Leaving?

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Netflix In April: What’s New And What’s Leaving?

As April is quickly approaching, we prepare to say goodbye to several of our favorite television shows and films on Netflix. But never fear. They never leaves us empty handed. As many are leaving, more will be arriving to the streaming service this weekend.

5 Films And Television Shows That Are Leaving Netflix Next Month:

1.) Stomp The Yard 
Netflix In April-1
A dance movie classic. After the death of his brother, troubled L.A. street dancer DJ moves away to Georgia to attend Truth University. There, he tries to concentrate on his education and pursuit of a love interest, but finds himself trying to balance it all when he joins a fraternity.

2.) Menace II Society 
Netflix In April-3
Another classic. The film tells the story of 18-year-old Caine from South Central Los Angeles trying to figure out his path: sticking to a life of crime and violence like everyone else around him or finding a way out.

3.) Superman: The Movie, Superman II, Superman III, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, AND Superman Returns
Netflix In April-4
Yes, Netflix is actually getting rid of five Superman classics. If you get the chance, binge-watch them all to see how it all started for Clark Kent.

4.) Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 
Netflix In April-6
High school student and professional slacker Ferris Bueller is determined to cut class one last time before graduation, but he has to be careful. His principal is adamant about catching him in the act.

5.) House, M.D.: Seasons 1-8
Netflix In April-5
Why this show was ever cancelled is beyond me. The protagonist of House, M.D. is Dr. Gregory House, an unconventional medical doctor…or should I say medical genius. Despite struggling with his personal addiction, he’s in charge of team of doctors who are dedicated to cracking medical mysteries.

5 Films And Television Shows Coming To Netflix Next Month:

1.) Chewing Gum: Season 2 
Netflix In April-7
This British television sitcom will have you dying of laughter. The show is about a 24-year-old shop assistant Tracy Gordon, a sheltered, religious virgin who is trying to break out of her comfort zone and explore the world. I highly recommend checking out Season 1 of Chewing Gum right now!

2.) Dear White People: Season 1 
Netflix In April-8
Based on the 2014 film Dear White People, this now 10-episode Netflix series follows the same plot of a group of students of color navigating their way through a predominantly white Ivy League college, dealing with the racial tensions present there.

3.) The Get Down: Season 1 Part 2 
Netflix In April-9
Everyone’s favorite musical drama is coming back on Netflix with a part 2 of its first season. Part 1 introduced us to a group of teenagers growing up in the South Bronx in the midst of both a rising hip-hop and disco scene. Catch up on their story here.

4.) Schindler’s List 
Netflix In April-10
Any Liam Neeson movie is a movie for me. This 1993 film was based on the life of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved more than a thousand Polish-Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by hiring them to work in his factories.

5.) Bill Nye Saves The World: Season 1 
Our cool childhood science teacher with a twist. Bill Nye The Science Guy is back and ready to save the world. In this 13-episode series, Bill will be debunking anti-scientific claims and myths in topics like sex, global-warming (look out Trump), GMOs, technology, alternative medicine, and more. Take a look at what he has in store for the adult version of our middle school selves here.

THE GRAM SPOTLIGHT: Saada Ahmed

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THE GRAM SPOTLIGHT: Saada Ahmed

hypefresh would like to introduce you to our Gram Spotlight today: Saada Ahmed.

Saada is the co-founder of Every Day People, a collective that puts together awesome events ranging from stellar brunch parties to Nike events.

Not long ago she did a REVOLT feature, talking about her battle with anxiety. Not only is she our Gram Spotlight but she is the official Women in Charge

Check out his photos and be sure to follow him on Instagram.

CymcoLé: From Lacrosse Star To R&B Princess

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CymcoLé: From Lacrosse Star To R&B Princess

Hailing from a world of sports CymcoLé is making her own name in the entertainment industry.

An artist of many talents, it’s hard to believe that she is only 20 years old. The emerging singer, songwriter, athlete, and model arrives with a unique blend of R&B and pop, sprinkled with island and Latin influences, which comes vividly to life in her music.

We caught up the up-and-coming R&B princess:

Who is CymcoLé, not personally but musically?

I would say I am a R&B, Pop, Caribbean, Trap artist mixture. I am a mixture a lot of different influences, I try to be very versatile with my music. My music is very fun and energetic most of the time.

Can you describe for our readers/listeners who haven’t listened yet what they can expect from your EP Shadows? What’s your most prized creation (song) from it?

Shadows has kind of an edgy, pop, R&B feel; it really goes off my father being an MLB player and me having to come out of his shadow to make my own name for myself. So, all the songs on the EP have an alternative meaning. Meaning, they always have a second meaning to what I’m actually saying. My favorite song on the EP is “Fix It,” because it’s very fun and catchy. It has this Pop-Caribbean feel to it. When I was on tour everyone stuck to it and also a song I love to sing.

What is your process for selecting songs to record and put on your EP?

Most of the time I’ll go to the studio, I like to be very involved in the process as well as the beat making. So, if the beats are already made we’ll sit and we’ll talk about what we want the sounds to be like. I’m just very involved in the process, I don’t like to be the artist that comes in and has the songs already written for her and just sings it.

You have such an eclectic style which is rare these days. Who or what was the direct influence to your style?

I am very influenced by Rihanna, Beyoncé and I’m really influenced by a lot of Caribbean music. I grew up listening to a lot of Latin music, originally, I did Latin music but I realized I didn’t want to go down that lane. So, in my music you’ll hear a lot of Latin influences. As for the edginess, I like to come off fun but also serious.

CymcoLé From Lacrosse Star-1

The “Bombs Away” video looked like a lot of fun shooting. Were you inspired by the 90’s when you did it or what was your inspiration for it?

Yes, I love the 90’s! I love everything about it, I think it’s slowly starting to make a comeback. I am super inspired by Janet Jackson, so you can see the link and connection to that in the video.

Do you remember the exact moment you decided you were going to start music and take it seriously? What was that day like for you?

I actually cried the day I figured out that music was what I wanted to do. I played sports for a very long time, so coming from an athletic background I was doing the opposite of what my family does. But my mom was into musical theater, so I went with what my mom loved, and my dad was the one who was into sports. It was tough trying to do both at the same time, until one day they told me I had to choose. I chose music, me and my sister moved out to LA where I really gave my all into my my music career and at that point I wasn’t turning back from it.

You come from a family of musicians and professional athletes, your father played for the Cincinnati Reds, what was it like having to pick between the two?

It was kind of hard for me, I played lacrosse for 11 years and had the opportunity to go to a lot of different colleges. I sometimes think about it and miss it so much, but I realized that if I didn’t give it up I wouldn’t be doing what I love to do now. I love to perform, so whenever I get the chance to perform it’s a whole new feeling for me, it’s an amazing feeling actually. I’m glad I made that decision.
CymcoLé From Lacrosse Star-2

Coming from a Latin background in Cincinnati, Ohio, what is it like where you grew up? How has your environment influenced your artistry and music?

My family is from Cincinnati, Ohio but I grew up in Orlando, Florida. Orlando is very suburban and your choices were to be a Disney kid or play sports. So, I did the sports thing and it was very boring. Once I got to the age when I realized I wanted to go out with my friends, I realized there was not a lot to do. I only did one year of high school, then I did virtual school because I worked overseas doing music in Brazil. I lost the whole high school experience because I chose my career.

Can you tell me a little more about what was it like starting your career working with Liana Bank$ and Rich Homie Quan? What is your relationship like with them today? How have they influenced you and your career?

Liana and I worked together on a project, I love Liana she is a really dope artist and we really clicked once we got in the studio. The song with Rich Homie Quan song was actually my first song! After we were done with it originally, we sat on it to see if we were going to get a feature. My executive producer at the time called to ask if I wanted Rich Homie on the song; I was like “That’s awesome! Let’s go ahead and do that.” It was a crazy experience because he sent a video of him doing the verse, and I never worked with someone like Rich Homie before so, I was crying. I really had him featured on my song.

There are many brilliant young female R&B singers breaking into the industry at such a young age, including Justine Skye, Liana Banks, just to name a few. But sometimes it is hard trying to get people in the industry to take you and your vision seriously. In a way, you guys are giving young girls who want be stars faith, some would say that would make you guys an icon. What is that like?

We all have our tough moments where we realize that it’s not going to be a walk in the park. It gets extremely difficult and mind blowing but you must have tough skin. Everyone knows the music industry is not what we know it to be. However, every time I get a tweet or comment from a young individual I get really happy because it’s like ‘wow, I’m reaching people who can relate to what I’m doing and really connect to my artistry. I love the fact that I can do that for these young girls out here. I actually got a chance to host a contest on Musically, and my song was featured on the discovery page, so there was a bunch of little girls making videos to my song, “Bombs Away.”

CymcoLé From Lacrosse Star-3

Any advice for the youth your age or the youth coming up that wants to be in your very shoes right now?

Your career, is your career. You can’t listen to what other people to tell you; listen to what your heart tells you because you create your music nobody creates it for you. In the end, you gotta do what you love and not pay attention to the people around you sometimes because they’ll get in the way of what you’re trying to do.

What do you hope to accomplish with your music going forward? Can you give us an idea of what to expect on your next project? And the rest of 2017?

Mainly just art. I am a very artistic person, I like to do many different things. I’m actually headlining my first show at SOB’s on May 7. 2017. I also just did my first show at SXSW, but this year I’m sure I’ll be doing another tour or two. Performing is my favorite thing about being an artist. I can’t wait to get back out there and show everyone why I am doing this and why I love it. New music, new video, new everything; just really developing a brand. I want people to know that I’m not just an artist, not just one hit song. Lastly, I’m working on some merch and that will be coming out soon. A lot is coming, so stay tuned!

We’re looking forward to see what CymcoLé delivers in 2017. Be sure to follow her on Twitter, Instagram and check out her Soundcloud to stay up-to-date with her music.

Here Are 16 XXL Freshman Artists to Consider For 2017

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Here Are 16 XXL Freshman Artists to Consider For 2017

Here Are 16 XXL Freshman Artists to Consider-1
As the 2017 XXL Freshman approaches, here’s a list of 16 artists to consider for the 10th spot! Presented by MAGNUM Condoms, this is the fans’ opportunity to get involved and have a say in which artist will be featured in the 2017 XXL Freshman Class.

Polls will stay open until April 2nd at midnight, so get in there and vote for your favorite artist by means of any social media platform including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. XXL Mag requires voters to follow XXL and to use the hashtag, #XXLFreshman when promoting the artist of your choice.

Last year’s, 2016 freshman class included artist, Dave East, Desiigner, G Herbo, Lil Uzi Vert, Kodak Black, 21 Savage and Lil Yachty, so don’t forget to tune to find out who wins the coveted XXL 2017 Freshman 10 Spot.

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie

Amine

Cardi B

Young M.A

Casanova

Don Q

Kamaiyah

YFN Lucci

PNB Rock

Madeintyo

Noname

Saba

Ugly God

Nef The Pharaoh

Kur

070 Shake

Click here to vote!

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