On White People, Black Perfection, Country Music And America’s DemiseWhen white people have to follow Black rules, madness ensues.Jul 18, 20212346Jul 18, 20212346
The name of this tune is Sha’Carri Goddam.Sha’Carri Richardson, Nina Simone. Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.Jul 5, 20211753Jul 5, 20211753
My 2021 Chet Flippo Award For Excellence In Country Music Journalism Acceptance SpeechPrinted, unedited, in its entiretyJun 4, 2021179Jun 4, 2021179
On Colostomies, Country Music, And Morgan Wallen’s ReturnThe shit has hit the fan.May 20, 202151May 20, 202151
Today, A White Woman Sang To Me About My Demoralized Black Life.“Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose,” sang Janis Joplin as I ran by Black Lives Matter Plaza.Apr 30, 2021217Apr 30, 2021217
Published inLEVELOn Missing Kendrick LamarThe “un-pimped butterfly” created songs that ultimately mediated the eternal universal struggle between good and evil.Apr 23, 2021407Apr 23, 2021407
Would George Floyd Have Been Killed Over A Harriet Tubman $20 Bill?How do you murder a man while he’s holding his freedom in the palm of his hand?Apr 21, 202166Apr 21, 202166
DMX’s “Ruff Ryder’s Anthem” Remix Is A “Swagged-Out Air-Raid Signal”Producer Ken “DURO” Ifill remembers the making of 1998’s biggest remixApr 9, 2021114Apr 9, 2021114
Black Film’s Brilliantly Reparational and Excellently Blaxploitational Moment Will Be…This is just the true Blaxploitation renaissance, but — again, bittersweetly — better.Mar 30, 202169Mar 30, 202169
Why Lil Nas X’s Evolution From Dolly Parton To Madonna Is ImportantLil Nas X “pleased (instead of teased) the Black demon” and evolved mainstream pop’s relationship to race and sexuality.Mar 27, 2021221Mar 27, 2021221
America May Not Survive Its Post-COVID MalaiseLove…like America…is like a dying ember, and only bittersweet memories remain…Mar 20, 2021Mar 20, 2021
Last Week Was The Greatest Black Week In Country Music HistoryThough gains for Black artists in country are still slow to develop, they’re happening in more substantial amounts than ever.Mar 18, 2021Mar 18, 2021
Published inThe RiffSXSW Isn’t Dead. But The Old Music Industry It Supported Is.A “remixed” repost from 2011 that remembers how things were previewed why they are.Feb 25, 20213Feb 25, 20213
Published inLEVELWhy Brooklyn’s Drill Music Is the Heartbeat of My New FilmEddie Huang discusses his directorial debut, and what it was like working with the late Pop SmokeFeb 18, 2021Feb 18, 2021
A brief, sordid history of why country music can’t use rap music’s “n-word.”It’s been quite the trip from N.W.A.’s name to Morgan Wallen’s lips…but that trip’s over now.Feb 8, 2021Feb 8, 2021
On Morgan Wallen, Reckless White Men, and America’s Imperiled FutureIt’s finally time for country music to “stand in the way of a hit.”Feb 3, 20213Feb 3, 20213
Published inCreators HubOn Text Messaging, My Greatest Creative InspirationHow text conversations with my friends have helped develop my most popular piecesJan 7, 20212Jan 7, 20212
Published inLEVELHow I Reclaimed the Blackness Elvis StoleCovid-19 made me go to war with my former idolNov 6, 20201Nov 6, 20201
Published inLEVELIt’s Time For Black Men To Be Sex-Positive — For EverybodyRapper and sex worker King Noire encourages men to redefine sexual social normsSep 30, 20201Sep 30, 20201
Published in730DCLabor Day 2120 saw Vocaloid heroine Hatsune Miku and legendary rap superstar Drake’s virtual…The issues at hand regarding both city management and the music industry that led to the “MM 2020” concert event are notable and should be…Sep 12, 2020Sep 12, 2020
