Author: wazup
Republic Records Will No Longer Use the Word “Urban” to Describe Music
In a move that could be described as woefully overdue, Republic Records will stop using the term “urban” as a synonym for hip-hop, R&B, and other music pioneered by black artists. Republic is the home of such artists as The Weeknd, James Blake, Taylor Swift, and Ariana Grande. In a social media statement, the label indicated that, “Effective immediately, Republic Records will remove “Urban” fr...
Barack and Michelle Obama Host Virtual Graduation Ceremony with Beyoncé, BTS, Lady Gaga: Watch
On Sunday, June 7th, Barack Obama and Michelle Obama will host YouTube’s virtual graduation ceremony “Dear Class of 2020”. Streaming live and for free on YouTube, the festival-style event combines classic commencement day themes with a diverse array of entertainment. Joining the Obamas for “Dear Class of 2020” are Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, BTS, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Missy Elliott, Justin Timberl...
How to hide faces and scrub metadata when you photograph a protest
While showing up at a protest can demonstrate your opinion to the world, you may not want your face — or the faces of other protesters — to be included, especially when there is the possibility that authorities will collect and use that information (as they have for tracking movements during COVID-19 social distancing). As a result, many consider it vital to obscure the faces of people in any phot...
Video game companies only stand for what you make them stand for
On May 25th, the police killed George Floyd, and in every state, protests against police brutality and anti-black racism have been ongoing ever since. For reasons that risk trivializing a serious moment in history, the brands have also decided to speak up, too, issuing statements of solidarity across social media platforms. This, for better or worse, is to be expected: we live in the age of the Br...
Mark Zuckerberg says Facebook will ‘review’ policies on speech promoting state violence
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg released a lengthy statement on his personal page on Friday saying he supports the Black Lives Matter movement and will begin engaging in a series of reviews of company policy. Specifically, Zuckerberg says he and company leadership will review its controversial stance around “threats of state use of force,” following President Donald Trump’s statement about shooting p...
Jeff Bezos says ‘black lives matter’ in response to angry customer email
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos issued a public pledge of support to the Black Lives Matter movement on Friday. The chief executive did so in reply to a customer email criticizing his company’s response to the death of George Floyd and ongoing protests around the country against racism and systemic police brutality. Bezos posted his reply publicly on Instagram. Right now, Amazon.com has a prominent “Black L...
I Just Managed to Create 5 Summer Outfits All for Under £170 Each
This week, it was reported that the UK has experienced the sunniest spring since records began. And, of course, in typical Brit style, we have managed to simultaneously celebrate by basking in any patch of sun we can find while still complaining about being hot and bothered. For those unfamiliar with the UK’s social behaviours, moaning a...
There Are 518 Dresses on Topshop Right Now—Here Are the 20 We Want to Buy
So what are the trends that Topshop is backing this season? From floral dresses and roomy smocks to long-sleeve numbers and sassy silhouettes, there’s something for everyone. We’ve got our eyes on the dresses that are versatile enough to carry right through to autumn, so many of the below styles will look just as good with sandals as they do with knee-high boots. It’s a...
Everyone’s Comparing This Affordable Skincare Brand to The Ordinary
Let’s play a game: Name the most minimal, most buzzworthy and most affordable skincare brand available right now. If you shouted The Ordinary, we commend you. The brand does, indeed, offer up a spectacular lineup of skin heroes, and some of the brand’s main talking points are simplistic, in-demand formulas clocking in at very impressive (i.e., budget-friendly) price points. H...
7 Brands I Always Champion as a Black Beauty Writer
As a Black woman, it’s been obvious for a long time that many brands barely consider me—and women like me—in their board rooms, beauty labs and marketing strategies. With global campaigns often only championing and catering to one skin tone, as well as only presenting one version of “beautiful,” I’ve often felt so alienated. And it isn’t just me—this is a feeling that...
Singapore ends two-month virus lockdown
Singapore on Tuesday began allowing activities that “do not pose a high risk of transmission” to resume after two months of lockdown. Despite reporting the second-highest number of coronavirus cases in East Asia, the government chose to stick to its plans of easing restrictions from June. Asides China, Singapore has recorded more coronavirus cases than any country in East or South-East Asia. Yet, ...
Olivier Giroud explains decision to extend Chelsea stay
Getty Images Olivier Giroud has opened up on his decision to extend his stay at Chelsea, outlining his plans to “keep winning trophies” and show Frank Lampard “he can count on me”. Giroud completed a surprise move to Chelsea from Arsenal back in January 2018, and has since scored 21 goals in 76 outings for the club across all competitions. The World Cup winner played a key role in the Blues’ run t...
