Arts & Entertainment
Hip Hop Wired: iOne Digital’s Creative Class 2020
Source: iOne Digital / other Creativity must be encouraged, harnessed and celebrated—always. This year, each of Hip-Hop Wired’s picks for iOne Digital’s Creative Class all have one thing in common: They’ve actively pushed culture forward. These leaders have each carved out careers dedicated to impacting lives by innovating and charging ahead in their respective fields. The 2020 honorees include Dr. Sunyatta Amen, founder of wellness brand Calabash Tea & Tonic; rappers Flo Milli, Substantial, and Guapdad 4000 and Spotify executive Carl Chery. Despite a tumultuous year, each has managed to continue being a light for many during dark times. Find out more about Hip Hop Wired’s honorees here. Source: iOne Digital / other Source: iOne Digital / other Source: iOne Digital / other Source...
The Creative Class Honoree: Substantial
Source: iOne Digital / other Honoree: Substantial The Grind: Rapper, educator and entrepreneur Find Him: @substantialmusic Substantial is both thoughtful and intentional with his words, two hallmarks of a champion rapper and wordsmith, and a credit to his name. What he says carries weight, and aligns with him being tapped as an instructor at Omega School, and business mentor in the company he owns with his wife, Substantial Art and Music. His journey in the music industry has largely been shaped from learning the inner workings of the business, valuing checks over clout and legacy building over instant gratification—evidenced by the fact that he owns over 90% of his catalog. His latest release, Dirty Sneakers, has made inroads on the charts and adds to his impressive body of work, which bo...
The Creative Class Honoree: Guapdad 4000
Source: iOne Digital / other Honoree: Guapdad 4000 The Grind: Rapper Find Him: @guapdad4000 Guapdad 4000’s debut album, Dior Deposits, is a much needed break in what some call a monotonous time in music. Of Black and Filipino decent, he credits both of his grandmothers for passing down their unshakable work ethic, confidence and boldness—the latter evidenced by his decision to share past mental health challenges. While most pick a lane and stay there, Guapdad finds comfort in duality, saying “you can still be confident in actions and sad about things in general”. Building a lifestyle brand is important to the rapper and designer, who aspired to be integrated into the lives of fans in a meaningful way. If this season of Guapdad’s life could be described in a word, it would be evolving...
HBO’s Latest Sneak Peek Of ‘Lovecraft Country’ Has Us Shooketh
Source: Eli Joshua Ade / HBO / Courtesy of HBO When HBO announced its new thriller Lovecraft Country in May, fans were excited because J.J. Abrams and Jordan Peele were associated with the project. However, this latest Comic-Con sneak peek allows us to see what the sci-fi juggernauts have in store for us this summer. The 10-episode series is based on Matt Ruff’s horror novel of the same name. To summarize, the story follows three Black characters as they embark on a road trip across then-segregated America in the 1950s in search of a missing family member. The trio eventually discovers themselves battling supernatural monsters and rampant racism which, in itself, is a horrific theme to explore. The latest sneak peek sets us up for what’s to come. V...
Lil Baby Talks Racism, Police Brutality In ‘Rolling Stone’ Interview
Source: Rolling Stone / Rolling Stone Lil Baby’s music is reigniting a firestorm of sociopolitical awareness in trap music lovers during an era where half of the country is struggling to understand why Black Lives Matter. His single “The Bigger Picture” amassed over 100 million streams since debuting on the charts, a clear indication that the world is paying attention to what the superstar has to say. Source: Rolling Stone / Rolling Stone If you ask him, though, he’s not protesting. He’s just keeping it real with us. In the latest issue of Rolling Stone, Lil Baby details the creative process behind the chart-topping single. “I just rap about my life — all my songs are basically about me,” he explains. “It was at a point where I felt I needed to say something.” When it comes to his vi...
Netflix Drops The Official Trailer For Sam Jay’s ‘3 In The Morning’
Source: Netflix / Netflix Saturday Night Live writer Sam Jay is coming to Netflix with her own special and we are here for it. Source: Netflix / Netflix The hilarious queer comedian, who’s earned her comedy stripes by garnering an Emmy nod for her writing for the iconic late-night comedy showcase, is showcasing her own talent with her first-ever hourlong comedy special, 3 In The Morning. Filmed prior to the pandemic, the Netflix special features the Boston-bred comedian delivers the witty, candid, and raw style of comedy that is perfect for the current sociopolitical climate. “With everything that’s going on it’s hard to laugh at anything these days and I get that,” Jay said in a statement. “I just hope this special provides a little break from the insanity.” Breaking the news to fans, Sam...
‘The Wonder Years’ Is Getting An All Black Reboot
Source: Fred Lee / Getty Iconic family sitcom, The Wonder Years, is coming back to TV, only this time it’s going to be all Black. According to published reports, the 1988 coming-of-age dramedy set in the late 1960s and early 70s that told the story of teen Kevin Arnold (played by Fred Savage) and his suburban family, is now getting a reboot that will tell the story of American life during the pivotal Civil Right Era from a Black perspective. Produced by Lee Daniels, the reboot will be set during the same time period, except it will focus on a Black family in Montgomery, Alabama. “How a black middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama in the turbulent late 1960’s, the same era as the original series, made sure it was The Wonder Years for them too,” the show description read. ...
Respect The Architects
Harlem-based producer Crystal Caines has always been the master of her own fate. Raised in a musical household by Guyanese parents, she began making her own music around 16 years old. She started out just wanting to sing, then began to rap, but wasn’t getting the sound she wanted from producers she knew, so she started to make her own beats. A friend gave her a keyboard and she taught herself how to record, mix and produce. “From then on it was a blessing for me to be able to take what I felt here and put it on wax.” Caines released her first single, “Whiteline,” in 2014 and went on to collaborate with A$AP Ferg, MIA and Baauer. Inspired by everyone from Trackmasters to the Neptunes, she crafted a sound thick with 808s and sample-based melodies driven by closed hi-hats. “Everything gotta h...
Issa Rae & Bette Midler Team Up For HBO Special ‘Coastal Elites’
Source: HBO / HBO Issa Rae stays getting those checks. On Monday (Jun 22), HBO announced that Issa Rae and Bette Midler will be starring in the new series, Coastal Elites, a series that will explore the deeply divided politics and the universal pursuit of human connection during the pandemic through a series of confessionals. The series, which was produced entirely under quarantine, “tells stories of breaking down and breaking through in the summer of 2020 that are funny, searing, poignant and now,” HBO said in a statement. The series written by Paul Rudnick and directed by Jay Roach will explore the deeply divided politics and the universal pursuit of human connection during the pandemic through a series of confessionals from five characters played by Issa Rae, Bette Midler, Sar...
Issa Rae & Bette Midler Team Up For HBO Special ‘Coastal Elites’
Source: HBO / HBO Issa Rae stays getting those checks. On Monday (Jun 22), HBO announced that Issa Rae and Bette Midler will be starring in the new series, Coastal Elites, a series that will explore the deeply divided politics and the universal pursuit of human connection during the pandemic through a series of confessionals. The series, which was produced entirely under quarantine, “tells stories of breaking down and breaking through in the summer of 2020 that are funny, searing, poignant and now,” HBO said in a statement. The series written by Paul Rudnick and directed by Jay Roach will explore the deeply divided politics and the universal pursuit of human connection during the pandemic through a series of confessionals from five characters played by Issa Rae, Bette Midler, Sar...
Triller’s New ‘Step Up To The Mic’ To Feature Judges Including Quavo, Takeoff & Murda Beatz
Source: Prince Williams / Getty While most people are sheltering in place and dealing with the effects of cabin fever, some in Hip Hop are still making major moves. Triller, one of the leading social media platforms, has enlisted the services of Quavo and Takeoff of Migos, super producer Murda Beatz, and hit-making songwriter, Starrah, for a new series where they will be in search of the next big music star. The aforementioned four of biggest names in music today will be judges of the show whose aim is to discover America’s next top recording artist. The show is titled Step Up to the Mic and is a unique, all-digital, elimination-style contest that will feature up and coming artists across the nation who will submit audition videos on Triller (#StepUp) for an opportunity to win t...
RenewedAF: HBO Renews ‘Insecure’ For Fifth Season
Source: HBO / HBO Fans of the hit show Insecure can rejoice after HBO announced that the show has been renewed for a fifth season. According to The Hollywood Reporter, HBO announced the pickup comes after premiering only three episodes of the smash hit show’s fourth season, which premiered April 12. “We’re thrilled that Issa, Prentice [Penny], and the whole Insecure team will be getting back together for the fifth season,” HBO Programming Executive VP Amy Gravitt said in a statement. “As we laugh and cringe with recognition, their stories make us all feel a little less alone in the world.” Show star and co-creator Issa Rae responded to the news via Twitter over the weekend, tweeting Saturday that she is “Grateful to officially come back for Season 5.” Although the show, which air...
