-
Queen Sugar's Latest Episode Brings Addiction and Trauma Front and Center
There’s a scene in the latest episode, “Oh Mamere,” of season 4 of Queen Sugar that is maddening to watch. In it, Darla Sutton (I legit had to look up her character’s last name; I’m not sure I’ve heard it uttered a single time on the show), played by fountain of youth-er Bianca Lawson, is…
-
I Got a Ring Video Doorbell and Now I Pretty Much Want to Move
I don’t know when, exactly, I decided to get a Ring video doorbell, but I do know that one day I got it in my head that I needed some minor surveillance around my door, after a series of unfortunate events. Events like the various times both UPS and the USPS claimed to have delivered…
-
My 4-Year-Old Did One of Those Things Kids Do to Remind You Why Being a Parent Is Awesome
Parenting, in practice, is a lot of work. Sure, it’s work that most of us who have the privilege of being parents love, but there are days when everybody can use a break. Especially when you have little ones, which I do. I have three children, aged 3, 4 and 10. As kids get older…
-
Travels With Panama: The Trying to Get to Miami for NABJ's Conference Edition
I’m not saying that somebody has it out for me when it comes to air travel, but I’m not saying somebody doesn’t either. I’ve made several trips in the past two months and they’ve all come with their fair share of shenanigans. I wrote about the one that ended my on-again, off-again relationship with American…
-
VSB’s Absolute, Yet Debatable List of the 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time…Definitely, Maybe
You’ve probably seen a ton of lists circulating on social media lately ranking the 50 greatest rappers of all time. I don’t know who did the first one, but somehow Joe Budden—an extremely talented and gifted wordsmith—ended up in the No. 3 slot ahead of arguably, at minimum, 10 rappers easily better than him. Because…
-
Rapsody's Upcoming Album, Eve, Pays Homage to Black Women; 1st Single 'Ibtihaj' Keeps It All the Way Live
Rapsody, the North Carolina lyricist known in hip-hop circles as a rapper’s rapper, has consistently delivered on both her individual releases and features. In 2017, Rapsody (born Marlanna Evans) dropped her critically-acclaimed and Grammy-nominated album, Laila’s Wisdom (Jamla/RocNation). The first record on the album—the title track—has been in my personal rotation nonstop ever since and…
-
7 Thoughts About Chance the Rapper's 'Debut' Album, The Big Day
On Friday, July 26, after much leadup and life changes for one Chancelor Bennett, aka Chance the Rapper, he independently released his “debut” album, The Big Day. Boasting a shit-ton of songs, largely about relationships and the leadup to “the big day”—his wedding, presumably—he uses his “big day” (“debut” album release day) to focus on…
-
I'm Glad the Harriet Tubman Biopic Is on Its Way, So Some of You Can Finally Learn About the Underground Railroad
The trailer for the biopic about Harriet Tubman—called Harriet—recently hit the internets; the movie hits theaters in November. The film (perhaps controversially) stars Cynthia Erivo in the role of the most famous Harriet of all time. I have no facts to back up that statement but I feel it in my soul so I’m going…
-
Meek Mill's 2008 Conviction Has Been Thrown Out and He's Getting a New Trial
Meek Mill might be getting a new lease on life. According to the Associated Press, on Wednesday, a Pennsylvania appeals court overturned his 2008 conviction on gun and drug charges. A three-judge panel unanimously granted Meek a new trial because of evidence of police corruption. Additionally, the court overturned the parole violations that landed him…
-
Meek Mill Keeps the Dream Going With Launch of Dream Chasers Records
It might be official: Meek Mill is better at catching the dreams he’s chasing than everyone else. Meek Mill (born Robert Williams) and RocNation announced in a pair of Instagram posts the launch of Dream Chasers Records, a joint venture label between the two in which Meek will serve as president and be responsible for…
