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blaze with us August 13, 2020
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Dizzy Wright and Demrick drop ‘Blaze With Us 2’, talk bud and healing

We live in a stressful world. Some of us find comfort in the calming activities of smoking a joint and vibing out to some tunes. Don’t worry Blaze with Us 2 is the perfect 2020 album for just that.

From the creators of the first Blaze with Us; Dizzy Wright and Demrick, the album brings us to a place with fewer worries. The tracklist’s ultimate goal is that we relax and heal away from what life may throw at us next.

I got a chance to speak with Dizzy and Demrick about their ongoing collaborations and their love of marijuana. We also discussed their latest project Blaze with Us 2 and its desired and real impact. During the onslaught of negativity via the pandemic and police brutality we explore how music can heal.

Listen to the full interview below:

The discussion was a lengthy and engaging one. We covered everything from veganism to advice for the up and coming in the music industry.

Dizzy Wright x Demrick

Dizzy Wright (né La’Reonte Wright) and Demrick Ferm both have a long list of music industry achievements. They’ve racked in millions of plays and regularly work alongside music giants like Cypress Hill and Xzibit as well as fellow industry heavyweights like Swizzz and Logic.

The duo met in 2014. At the High Times Cannabis Club, Cypris Hill rapper and leader B-Real won the Stoner of the Year award. Dizzy and Demrick happened to be there at the right place at the right time. But they didn’t foresee a long term friendship and music partnership right away.

“To be honest, when we first got introduced me and Demrick did a record but we just did a record kind of regular.” – Dizzy

That record was “We Still Here” which is on Demrick’s 2015 album Losing Focus. 

Dizzy and Demrick’s relationship as artists and friends grew while they were on the road and in the studio together.

“I was able to spend some time with Demrick on the road. […] I realized that his vibe was a lot similar to mine. So then we ended up going to the studio.” -Dizzy

That first studio session and subsequent sessions led to the creation of the first Blaze With Us project.

“I think we cracked out maybe seven records that night and just was up all night drinking, smoking, being creative. And a lot of those records ended up being on the first Blaze with Us. Yeah the chemistry has been strong outside of the studio, in the studio, since we got in the studio that first time.” – Dizzy

Demrick shared a story from the duo’s beginnings. Dizzy and Demrick had gone to a concert in North Carolina following their collab on “We Still Here.”

Marijuana in the state was at the time and still is very illegal, which didn’t deter Dizzy from blazing on stage.

“He was laughing you know. I’m kickin it with him on stage while he’s performing. He comes over to me, he’s blazin on stage security kind of trippin but he hands me the blunt. As soon as he hands me the blunt, security grabs me and kicks me out the venue. As security is pullin me out the venue Dizzy’s like “Nah man hey man don’t do the homie like that”” – Demrick

It’s not surprising knowing that after that the duo would work on the first Blaze with Us  project and later Blaze with Us 2, which is the debut release from Cinematic Music Group’s new imprint Smoker’s Club Records.

Songs to Smoke to

The west coast duo has built not only a musical reputation but also one as cannabis connoisseurs. This love for bud is what makes Blaze with Us 2 the best smoking album of 2020. Bud is something that the artists make sure to have on hand whenever they’re in the studio.

“When we in a studio, 100% of the time, we blazin’. If we go to a studio that don’t allow smoking,  we give them a real hard time. And we still make that trip outside to blaze. You know, niggas, we do whatever we got to do to get the work done, but we always keep the weed burning.” – Dizzy

Each song on Blaze with Us 2 follows a different smoke vibe. It’s perfect for the different scenarios or specific relaxation atmosphere you’re going for while filling your bowl, rolling your jay, or even vaping some herb.

“I like smoking and getting creative. Usually they go together you know. […] I might blaze up and throw on some music and kind of see what comes out of it. […] I kind of use smoking as a tool to enhance my creativity.” – Demrick

“Hotline” and “Medicated” feel like the late-night vibe. You can just imagine how the songs were made in those late-night/early-morning studio sessions where creativity strikes and you can’t leave until you get it all out on a track.

Knowing this, I asked the duo what music fans can expect to be playing in the background if they ever got a chance to cyph with them. Their answers showed some of the influences found on Blaze with Us 2.

“I love reggae. You know, if I had the vocals shit I’d probably do more reggae. Records like “Don’t Worry.”  It was a really nice vibe to be able to tap into considering I love reggae so much.” -Dizzy

“Don’t Worry” brings in the beloved Reggae influence that would be almost disrespectful to exclude in an album dedicated to the devil’s lettuce. The music video for the song just dropped and it’s sure to be a fan favorite.

“I would say that my favorite smoking music is probably just just beats with no lyrics on” – Demrick

“Motivated Stoner” is a bonafide slow jam. The perfect song for chill highs. Not to mention a song with lyrics that refute the idea that weed causes laziness or lack of ambition.

“But I got a lot of smoking songs I like. I’ll be honest, I like R&B music too. But I like soothing more chill type shit.” – Demrick

The album also has several rap-along tracks, with “We Ain’t The Same”, “Rolled Right” and “Ziploc”  for those looking for higher energy hip-hop.

“I like some hip hop shit with a message on it. I might I might tap into that.” -Demrick

Smoke Sesh with Tommy Chong

Several of the songs have excerpts from Dizzy and Demrick’s conversation with none other than one of Cannabis Culture’s most historically legendary figures: Tommy Chong. I asked the duo how that relationship came to be and what it was like talking to someone who’s been around smoking weed for as long as we can remember.

“[Meeting Chong] was kind of like a trip for me because you know, Tommy Chong’s been famous forever in all kinds of genres. From, releasing comedy albums and music albums. Even in the beginning just being around when marijuana was so illegal.” – Demrick

Their conversation, some of which made it onto the album, was about what it was like for Chong to be blazing back in the day, and how he views the herb’s role in his life today. The duo expressed that they were not only awestruck by the opportunity to converse with the legendary Chong, but also that they connected and related to him on a deep level. So much so that it turned into inspiration within their music.

“Soon as we left talking with Tommy Chong, we went directly to the studio. […] So, you know, that’s just kind of a testament to how inspired we were and how we wanted to do something different and put some good energy out there. It was kind of life-changing.” -Dizzy 

A Higher Podcast

The conversation with Chong also led to an increased interest in working on a podcast. From my time speaking with Dizzy and Demrick, it was apparent that they would make great hosts for any dialogue-based medium.

“I came across the podcast that Crazy Bone did. And I thought it was really good. And I was thinking to myself, like, yeah, maybe one day, this might be really cool to do. […] When I see how people use their podcasts, and they use those platforms in a really good light. I enjoy it.” -Dizzy

The artists had actually tried their hand in something similar titled “BLAZE WITH US RADIO 🎙DIZZY WRIGHT X DEMRICK” using ‘stations’ on YouTube. The artists played samples of their music, discussed their lives, and invited fans to call in all on a live platform.

 

“We were able to take phone calls and play some music and just, you know, kind of make it our own little thing. Guess we got like a little taste of it. So I thought that was pretty cool.” – Dizzy

Weed and Music as Medicine

Their conversation with Chong also highlighted the way they viewed weed in a similar way to music: as medicine for healing.

“I treat weed kind of like my medicine.” – Dizzy

With this line of thinking, Dizzy and Demrick viewed music as medicine as well and settled on the idea that healing was necessary for the current social climate. I asked them about how the pandemic and protests affected their music release.

“First we started out with the pandemic, and then, all this, this revolution, the energy and all these protests. […] it was like, is this the right time to drop music? Because we know that music heals and we know that music creates an energy that can ease the mind, especially this album.” – Demrick

The artists were also adamant about making sure their music was not a distraction from the events happening in the world, but rather a space for relaxation and healing from those troubles. Dizzy drew similarities between the internal conflict of releasing music during these times and the conversation around whether the NBA should come back. He highlighted how some say the NBA should return as a way for relief from issues plaguing society. Others opposed its return citing it as a distraction, pulling the focus away from more important matters.

“The whole world had to shut down. And the whole world was seeing what was going on, because of the George Floyd situation. So my biggest thing is that I didn’t want us -I don’t ever want us to be a distraction.” – Dizzy

Ultimately the duo decided to release the music when they did to offer some hope and healing to the world. Dizzy explained that the decision was made in order to try to shift the world’s energy from negativity to some positivity for a while. It was also because of his own experience with how the music made him feel during a time that was quite dark.

“But the music that me and Demrick was making, was making me feel better. Right as I was listening to it at the crib, and I was just thinking to myself, I feel selfish. It feels selfish not to let everybody else maybe get the same type of vibe and the same type of energy.” – Dizzy

Leveling Up

With the pandemic sidetracking so many artists I asked the duo what advice they would give up and coming artists. The answer was to keep collaboration alive as well as work on your catalog of music.

Dizzy emphasized the importance of not skipping opportunities or as he called them “levels.” Honing your craft and using those 10k80 minutes each week is important. Dizzy is of the mind that you lose out on a lot if you make it big too quickly.

“I feel like a lot of artists want to come out and just be, you know, level 10. I think every level is worth embracing, embrace every level. If you’re on level three, don’t skip to level seven. Because four or five or six got some fire moments. The route is a little slower, but you’re growing. You’re getting more wise and you’re understanding the game a little more. [You’re] leaving yourself room to continue to grow and be the artist that you want to be especially if you love it.” – Dizzy

 

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Don’t worry about it 🎶 #BWU2

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Demrick focused on working with other artists. There’s no doubt that his advice has truth in it. He and Dizz had been working together for quite a while and have always come out with some heat.

“Music is created in bands. Even when you’re producing you’re with the producer and the rapper. That’s a couple of people together. There’s something about that […] unity that can turn out something great. So I would just tell artists don’t run away from it. You know, you gonna get your credit. […] It doesn’t have to be all you, you know? The win is with the team man for real.” – Demrick

And the win really is with the team, specifically Dizzy and Demrick. Their work together continues to be great and their album Blaze with Us 2 might be one of the best albums of 2020. It’s definitely the best and most versatile album to smoke to so far.

You can stream Blaze With Us 2 on all major platforms. And check out the duo’s merch here.

cardi b August 13, 2020
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Chill fam: Let Cardi and Meg’s explicit ‘WAP’ be a BOP and go

Not every sexual female song has to have the intention to “empower.”

The explicit “WAP” track by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion has blown up since its release this week. And the conversation around the song has been exhausting.

With immediate rejection and ridicule from (mostly male) hip-hop heads and conservatives alike, saying the song is “too vulgar.”

Explicit ‘WAP’ explodes on social

The song stands for “Wet Ass Pussy” and dropped with a music video featuring two of today’s hottest female rappers, Cardi B and Meg Thee Stallion in several sexy outfits walking around a mansion talking about all things sexual pleasure.

In brief terms, it’s a song about female sexual pleasure and desire. And it’s gone viral with an insane amount of fan engagement.

In defense of “WAP”

But with criticisms from the same old people about how the top female rappers only rap about sex and use their bodies to make it big, the backlash has come from the other side.

Some took to ridiculing the men who claim to be heterosexual but are uncomfortable with female sexual pleasure. In fact, some are even trying to say that a wet ass pussy is a medical condition. 

The hypocrisy

Let’s not forget how the sexuality of women of color, especially that of Black women is often politicized as hedonistic or only for male consumption, but that’s a LONG conversation for another time.

Many users also pointed out the disproportionate response of angry uproar over sexual lyrics vs, the lack of support for Megan Thee Stallion when she got shot. In fact, many thought it okay to joke about violence against women, but let a woman enjoy her ‘wet ass pussy’ that’s going too far right?

Just let it be a Bop

A number of people sought to redirect the conversation into defending the song as #Empowering. With multiple users on Twitter and the blogosphere arguing that Cardi and Meg are seeking to do great feminist work by owning their sexuality and speaking on female pleasure in unapologetic terms.

While we appreciate messages of empowerment and positive sexual freedom for all, and particularly non-cis-het male sexual freedom sometimes a song is just a song.

Female artists shouldn’t need to be inspiring and goddesses of social change to be able to rap about their bodies. That’s possibly the best and most accurate message behind the song.

I say accurate because more than anything Cardi B seems to be referring to the song as nothing more than a BOP that is also a huge money-making success. She also had something to say to those who criticize female rappers for using sexuality as a commodity to make big bucks.

Charts on WAP’s side

A quick look at rap and hip hop History will show you that male rappers have been writing sexually suggestive and outright blatant rap songs forEVER. I’m talking to you CeeLo.

“disappointing on a personal and moral level.[…] There was once a time when we were savvy enough to code certain things…. But now music is shameless, it is sheer savagery.” – CeeLo Greene on WAP

So it’s quite a waste of time to come at female rappers who decide to do the same and make some money off it too.

Damn, just let us have some fun and let some women get that bread.

And if you’re of the mind that you’re tired of sexual songs being everywhere, why don’t you put your money where your mouth is and support female artists that don’t do that. Oh but you just wanna run your mouth?

Siri, play explicit “WAP” again.

beach body August 10, 2020
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Do you suffer from negative Instagram influencer body image too?

As a lot of us have been in lockdown through the summer, talks about being “summer ready” with a beach body have somewhat quieted.

However, we can still quickly point to what an “ideal” or “Instagram influencer body” is. So the question remains even in quarantine, Do you suffer from negative Instagram influencer body image?

What is the ideal IG body?

You’ve seen it on the TL and your IG feed, sizable but perky breasts, wide hips that begin immediately under the belly button, and a flat lightly toned stomach.

Don’t forget the lifted butt with absolutely NO stretch marks in sight. Oh and absolutely NO body hair either.

Most of these are rare anatomical body parts separately, together they are sculpted by expert (or not so expert) surgeons.

Take the wide hips that begin under the belly button, this is not a naturally occurring anatomy. But you wouldn’t really know that considering the amount of ‘perfectly’ curved women on your feed.

 

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SKIMS.COM

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The other issue with this phenomenon is that these influencers are often seen promoting specific workouts, or supplements and tea – OH MY GOD THE SKINNY TUMMY TEAAAS.

This further props up the illusion that this perfect body could be yours at the very low price of some tea powder and a billion sit-ups and *special* squat workouts.

All of this to achieve that ‘slim thick BAWDY’. Note that slim thick is a recent development. I say recent, meaning the last decade or so. Slim thick or thicc – with two c’s as it often stylized is at an odd juxtaposition when you first hear it. It was first popularized by Fetty Wap’s song “Jimmy Choo” where the lyrics include:

“slim thick with yo cute ass”

But the general message is the same, being thin or slim in all the right places, and at the same time curvacious or thicc in all the right places with not much room for variation.

Race and the Influencer Criteria

These (mostly) women are also overwhelmingly white, white-passing, or ethnically ambiguous with several Eurocentric features. This is not lost on the average follower or passing viewer.

In fact, many  YouTubers such as Snitchery and Jackie Aina have lamented and pointed out the monotony of the perfect Instagram influencer face and makeup.

You need to have thick brows that still have definition. High cheekbones with no skin imperfections or spots unless they’re light freckles. A small straight nose, full lips, full wavy or curly hair that’s not “unruly” and long lashes.

 

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Sol ☀️❤️

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Your overall skin should be lightly tanned to very tanned for white women, or lighter-skinned and totally even for women of color.

This has also sparked the conversation about white womanhood, and who gets to be labeled “white.” Because new beauty standards pull from non-white ethnic backgrounds while keeping some base eurocentric features alive, some women of color have been labeled white by other POC.

@vixenesha on TikTok had much to say about the topic. She herself being a Pakistani woman, sees the erasure that follows the appropriation of ethnic features by white women. She also discusses in multiple tweets, the pressures of eurocentric beauty standards, leading to her getting a nose-job.

The legacy of media beauty standards

Women have always been subject to strict beauty standards with the help of media. With social media, it’s only that much more apparent and yet subliminal.

Our eyes glaze over these images as young adults more often than not. We’ve consumed enough IG model shoots to last us a lifetime and it might almost look all the same to us at this point.

But for younger viewers, specifically younger femme presenting viewers, these bodies shape their perception of what it means to be beautiful, desirable, and valuable.

#BodyPositive Movement

However, there are positives images out there. With more access to media and media-making tools, (phones with great cameras, editing software, and recording software) “regular” people are able to produce content and distribute it on their platforms as well.  Regular meaning people who do not seek to achieve or present the “ideal Instagram body.”

This constitutes the origins of the #BodyPositive movement.

Artists like rap duo SU’LAN show the realities of women’s bodies. The models blew up on twitter after posting their post-partum stretch marks on the TL to much support and love from fellow users.

Artists like the hyper-sexualized Doja Cat also speak on and display unphotoshopped images of themselves. One notable instance of Doja Cat’s less than perky breasts for an album cover shoot.

 

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@jabarijacobs

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Models who are plus-size are also seeing a rise in representation with more companies including these beautifully larger women in their clothing lines. Some of the notable plus-size models are Ashley Graham and Iskra Lawrence.

Consumer Capitalism had to ruin it

However, consumer capitalism has hijacked the Body positive movement. Meaning big brands who historically and still promote the same unattainable beauty standard try to cash in on the movement’s popularity.

Sure we love diversity in shape, color, ethnic background, and hair texture, but which images and types of diversity media chooses to showcase is still a problem.

The previous examples still adhere to many restricting beauty standards, SU’LAN’s Saunsu and Emahlani are still conventionally attractive and thin, Doja is still light-skinned, and Graham and Lawrence are still white.

What to do?

Overall the mission of acceptance and prevalence of diversity in beauty continues.

Consider in the meantime however, what performative beauty standards you’ve stopped adhering to while locked at home.

Which ones do you feel relieved to not have to continue upkeeping?

Tupac
2pac July 27, 2020
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Why is it so hard for young rap legends to make it past 25?

The music industry has had the curse of 27 for decades. The 27 Club members include extremely talented artists dying at the age of 27. The ongoing curse would become infamous first with artists like Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison and later Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse. While the 27 Club has more of a creepy magical vibe on Hollywood legends, young rap legends have been dying far more frequently and at younger ages. 

Many extremely talented rappers see their lives cut short before the young age of 25. Here are a few examples that show a striking pattern.

Tupac

Possibly the MOST beloved rapper of all time, who’s untimely continues to be mourned by hip hop heads old and new. Tupac Amaru Shakur was murdered on September 13, 1996. The manner of his death continues to be a mystery amongst the hip-hop community and music world at large.

Tupac’s influence on hip hop is an everlasting one, which includes iconic hits as well as a budding and strong acting career. His message and activism in the Black community are also what makes him such a beloved figure. Shakur died at 25. RIP. 

Biggie

Another beloved rapper with the same huge hip-hop influence realm as Tupac is Biggie AKA Notorious B.I.G. Christopher George Latore Wallace, similar to Tupac died as a result of a drive-by shooting in L.A on March 9th, 1997. Biggie Smalls was 24 years old. His legacy lives on in his music, including a posthumous album Life after Death. Forever the rapper that put Brooklyn on the map, RIP Biggie.

Lil Peep

Bringing it to more recent rapper deaths, a stream of high profile passings began with the accidental drug overdose of artist Lil Peep. Born Gustav Elijah Åhr, Lil Peep many credit the artist as being among the new school of rappers that brought emo-rap mainstream. A lethal dose of fentanyl took the life of the SoundCloud rapper whose fans idolized him for voicing their sadness, vulnerability, and mental health battles. He was working on the album Come Over When You’re Sober, Part 2 before his death. Lil Peep died just 2 weeks after turning 21.

Jimmy Wopo

Born Travon DaShawn Frank Smart, Jimmy Wopo was fatally shot on a Monday afternoon in the Pittsburgh neighborhood he helped make famous. Wopo was set to sign a contract with Taylor Gang Entertainment, the label founded by Wiz Khalifa. He died at the young age of 21.

XXXTentacion

A controversial figure in hip-hop, especially posthumously, XXXTentacion was murdered during an apparent robbery. Born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy, the rapper was among the rising emo-rap roster of artists. Known for both his emotionally deep music as well as his assaults on women, X died on June 18, 2018, at 20 years old. 

Juice WRLD

Another emo-rap legend, Juice WRLD died of an accidental drug overdose and subsequent seizure. Jarad Anthony Higgins often spoke about his struggle with substance abuse in his music. His posthumous album Legends Never Die was released on July 10th, 2020, 7 months after his death. Juice WRLD was 21 years old. 

Lexii Alijai

Up and coming rapper Lexii Alijai, née Alexis Alijai Lynch passed away after a drug overdose on January 1st, 2020. She was 21 years old. The Minnesota rapper sought to support her family and her community via her music. She died of a fentanyl overdose before she could see all her dreams accomplished.

Chynna

Chynna Marie Rogers was a Philadelphia model who surprised the world with her rapping skills. Known mononymously as Chynna, she worked with A$AP Mob on the Cozy Tapes and released her album in case i die first in 2019. She died on April 8, 2020, at the age of 25 of an accidental drug overdose much like her mentor A$AP Yams.

Pop Smoke

The latest hip hop death to shock the community is Brooklyn’s Pop Smoke. Born Bashar Barakah Jackson, Pop was viewed as the second coming of 50 cent, with a promising career stretched out ahead of him. The King of New York was shot February 19, 2020, during a home robbery in L.A. His posthumous album Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon, was of great fan anticipation and artistic scrutiny. Controversy over the album cover, track selection as well as the posthumously added record-label-chosen features was high. RIP Pop Smoke, he was only 20 years old. 

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you cannot say pop and forget the smoke 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾⁣ ⁣ @realpopsmoke was more than a rapper. his artistry was a movement and it instilled in us a new kind of confidence. ⁣ ⁣ it was just last summer that we pulled up to his album release party for his debut project Meet the Woo. back then we knew there was something special about him. we knew he was going to pop. ⁣ ⁣ you could feel the energy in the room and in that moment it felt as if the room stood still as dior played and everyone was dancing to his music. ⁣ ⁣ there were a lot of great things in store for this young man. may we woo forever 😤⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #popsmoke #meetthewoo #woo #brooklyn #bkstandup #drillmusic #drillartist #restinpower #rippopsmoke #gonetoosoon #legendsneverdie #tooyoung #justice #findthem #prayersneeded #sadday #thisdayinhistory #rapmusic #upcomingrappers #legacy #meetthewoo2 #diordior #lifestylechange

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Many of these young rappers died as a result of murder or due to an accidental drug overdose. Their fans were among the most shocked, as they were anticipating hearing much more from the artists.  Most had much more life and music to give. 

But what do their similar and untimely deaths say about the status of hip hop and rap?

The rap community needs to raise awareness around substance abuse, mental illness, and squashing beef in healthier ways. We don’t want to lose any more young artists to these preventable issues.

RIP to all we’ve lost.

10K80 July 2, 2020
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Submit to Kulture Hub! Here’s our killer content pitch guide

Everyone wants their voice heard, and at the Hub, we believe in making it easier for creatives to be themselves and reaching the world with their craft. Maybe you’ve had a way with words forever, or maybe you’re just starting to find your voice. This guide is to help you craft a killer content pitch to Kulture Hub.

We’re always open to new ideas. We all know there’s more to…well everything. But there are only 1080 minutes in a week so if you want to use some of yours to speak out to a likeminded community or the world we’re here for it.

The brainstorming phase

Sometimes you get an amazing idea and it comes with all of the bells and whistles pretty much mapped out. Other times you have a less fully-fledged thought, and it needs some work. Both are valid in the realm of content creation consciousness.

The brainstorming phase is where you get to take a theme like youth-led organizations, or Black voice actors and turn it into a set of related ideas to cover.

For example, youth-led organizations could go the route of different missions, like climate change, or anti-gun violence, or racist/sexist dress codes.

The black voice actors could extend to children’s shows, animated films, or independent adult animation.

The goal is to stretch out to anything that pops up into your mind when you think of your initial idea. There’s more to any single idea too!

It’s from this phase that you will come out with what is considered an “angle.”

The angle phase

An angle is like a ‘thesis’ to your pitch, it covers the who, what, when, where, and why of your content. For example, Gen Z activists are heading more self-led organizations than previous generations. How are they different from the more traditional organizations out there?

Or, why independent animated shows are the way to go for up and coming Black voice actors.

You may notice that these angles look very much like KH headlines, that’s not a coincidence. Headlines are what reel audiences in. Of course, your angle should cover all the important questions, so it’s okay for it to be longer than a single sentence.

The quick pitch phase

Now in the quick pitch phase, you may already know everything that you’d like to cover in your content. Despite not having done all the writing or all the video storyboarding, or all the audio treatment for your content, you’re confident in how the idea will play out.

If this is the case, you’re welcome to contact the KH team with your pitch and angle in this form. Keep in mind that we might ask some questions about you’re pitch so be ready to answer those or at least have a good idea of when you will be able to produce the results.

If you’d like to take some more time with your pitch we recommend going into the next phase.

The in-depth pitch phase

This is where you complete all your research, an outline with detailed bullet points for editorial and audio content, or a storyboard for video concepts.

Having these in-depth organized ideas in your pitch makes it more attractive, credible, and also just easier for you to hit the ground running when you get the all-clear from us.

Whatever kind of content you are creating, make sure it’s clear and easy to follow. We trust that you’re passionate about the concept you’ve chosen, so don’t shy away from showing that through dedicated outlines!

The all-clear from KH phase

This is the part where you’ve sent your pitch over (in-depth or quick pitch) and the KH team has discussed your concept with you and how we can publish your work. We will have also discussed a deadline for your completed submission.

This is the time to lock in, complete research, and produce the content in your pitch. Let your passion guide you, and feel free to reach out with any ideas that might come up while you’re working.

The completed content phase

Of course, this is the point where you’ve already completed the content in question and you’re sending it over to KH. We will look it over, and discuss any edits we recommend making to fit the platform. But the end result is to get your work published on Kulture Hub!

But maybe you really wanted to have a completed project before sending it over to KH for potential publishing. Or maybe you have a project you’ve worked on in the past and you’re looking for a home for it on the web to reach as many as possible.

Kulture Hub is definitely open to receiving completed projects, whether they are editorial, video, or audio. If your work fits with our publication, we’ll work on getting it up on the platform for others to see. We will always credit you for your work and you can use it to show others everything you’ve done!

Reach out to support@kulturehub.com with your pitches and we can get to work.

Album Art June 30, 2020
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Respect the Woo: Why Pop Smoke deserves a better album cover

Team Yé has been throwing us some basura lately when it comes to their creative output. The “Wash Us In Blood feat. Travis Scott” video dropped today and we don’t understand why West is tryna wash us in this dookie.

It’s like the work of an amateur editor with two hours to complete a forgettable school assignment that they’re hoping they can pass off as deep or abstract enough to get a passing grade. You’re just not on that level of enlightenment to understand how hot this is -head ass.

Our newsroom was rife with appropriate commentary on the Pop Smoke album cover screw up:

“Tired of the privilege. Not everything they (team Yé) do is hot and it’s clear. Thought you could fool us. HA!”

Respect the woo at all times

Here’s the thing though, you can mess with your own art, but don’t you dare fuck up someone else’s. Virgil Abloh has come under major scrutiny for his cover art for Pop Smoke’s posthumous album Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon.

C’mon Abloh you can’t just phone this in and hope everything attached to your name is gonna be hot. This is the King of New York, you gotta do way better.

Respect the Woo.

While we’re here let’s bring up another time team Ye messed up a chance at working with Pop smoke’s music. The “GATTI” track. You may remember fans violating Scott on Twitter when the song dropped last December.

The collab between JACKBOYS and Pop was an amazing match, but unfortunately Scott is just not the right transition. Smoke is so raw. His energy is Canarsie, the energy is Brooklyn, the energy is hot.

Scott’s auto-tune takes you out of that to a less physically present place. A different world. This is great on other songs, but not with this one. This was a contentious convo within our newsroom.

“It’s such a high-energy popping song and Travis’ tinny auto-tune heavy flow is so unfitting for it”

But let’s get back to today’s artistic blunder.

An album cover only fit for a King

Abloh has since deleted the IG post sharing the album art and is hopefully working on an alternative. However, the community that loves Pop Smoke came armed with amazing album art alternatives worthy of the King of NY.

If Gabrielle’s art is not your style, here’s another version by @studiocreativiti.


Or try something more focused on the album name “Shoot for the stars, Aim for the Moon,” like @godsgiftEM, it’s wallpaper worthy.

So if you need any art inspo Virgil here’s plenty. Or better yet just let one of these fans and artists bless the cover art and call it a day.

You don’t have to be involved in everything.

academic June 20, 2020
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Educate Yourself: A guide to literature for the #BLM era

If you’ve always been on board with the #BLM movement, or you’re new to the fight, you’re probably becoming familiar with a set of academic ideas.

While getting snippets of info from twitter about the history of civil disobedience, you may be wondering where to get all this knowledge.

You’re learning here and there that riots have always been a part of American history when it comes to civil rights and you wonder why you never realized that before.

There have been amazing threads of info on Twitter, and links to literature to help those looking to deepen their education on the issues that are at hand.

If you’re white you should know by now that it’s not your Black coworker, friend or acquaintance’s job or any Black person’s job to educate you on Black issues and history. If you’re Black and looking to get to some knowledge but don’t seem to know where to start we understand.  And wherever you fall in between that construct of a binary we got you too.

Here’s your guide of #BLM era resources for you to educate yourself.

Black History Month Library

via Charles Preston

Journalist and Activist Charles Preston keeps this link to resources open for the public. The resources include specific folders for different topics like Black Music and Black sports. The Black History Month Library dedicates Other folders to iconic and legendary leaders and individuals such as Bell Hooks, Angela Davis, Frederick Douglas, and James Baldwin. There are fun interactive resources like the Black Panther Study Guide which explores the very real research and considerations taken from history to put together the world of Wakanda.

The particularly helpful folders currently may be the Police/Prisons/Mass Incarceration folder, and the Black Communism/Marxism as well as Black Feminism/Womanism.

It might be useful to choose a folder or 2 you’d like to focus on alone or with friends. The goal is to try to not only obtain general knowledge about these important topics but also to foster discussion.

Black Women’s Resistance Toolkit in the Era of Trump

Crowdsourced by a Community of Survivors

If you’re looking for a set of resources that center Black women specifically then look no further than the ones shared by Black Women’s Blueprint.

This living document has 181 resources that look to promote healing as well as resistance with relevant literature.

Among the list of sources you’ll find academic staples in race and feminist theory. “Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence Against Women of Color” by Kimberle Crenshaw is a good one.

 

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#AhmaudArbery

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You’ll also be directed to contemporary literature in the form of novels, poetry, and blogposts like Memoirs Of A Black Queer Revolutionary Mother.

Anything James Baldwin

If you’ve seen the film I am Not Your Negro and felt inspired to pick up Baldwin’s literature get ready to be flooded with beautiful prose and biting historical commentary.

Baldwin’s works are essential when learning about the civil rights movement. They’re also extremely useful in understanding the systemic issues that are ongoing. Many of his essays are a necessary first-person account of life as a Black man during that time. It may come to a surprise to you (or not) that much of what he speaks of has not changed in our current world.

Some recommendations are “The Fire Next Time” to get a good understanding of who Baldwin was. And “Go Tell It on a Mountain” is a fictional novel but very much a commentary on race, sex, class, identity, and the American ghetto.

Some Ta-Nehisi Coates

To bring in a contemporary perspective, we’d recommend checking out writer, journalist, and activist Ta-Nehisi Coates. The Case for Reparations published in the Atlantic in June 2014 is a well researched and organized explanation of Black U.S. history, Black struggle and you guessed it the case for reparations.

For a personal story on being a Black man in America read or listen to Between the World and Me. Coates is also the latest writer for the Black Panther comics.

All of Angela Davis  

Angela Yvonne Davis is an American political activist, philosopher, academic, and author. The academic world uses her books and literary works as texts for intersectional feminism and race theory. Here are a few links to free pdfs of her work:

The legendary Women Race & Class

The very relevant Are Prisons Absolete?

And perhaps an interview with Angela Davis in Globalism and the prison industrial complex

NoName’s Book Club

If you’d like some more discussion in your reading, try reading with NoName’s Book Club.

The artist with amazing lyricism and storytelling skills brings her political knowledge to fans and comrades looking to educate themselves. That could be you, so pick up a book and check out the discussion with peers.

Furthermore, you’re bound to learn something and perhaps the literature will inform your activism to organize smarter and affect change in your community.

#blacklivesmatter June 10, 2020
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How music artists protesting police brutality are showing support

We often look to our favorite artists for inspiration and guidance during difficult times.

While we acknowledge being a music artist does not mean you’re required to be a leader in all things activism, there are many artists that have used their platform to speak out against police brutality and racism.

Many artists receive backlash from their own fans and still many others are pressured by their record label to not get involved with “sensitive” subjects. Summer Walker is one of the latest to speak on this hypocrisy. So we’ve decided to highlight a few artists to follow for #BLM content and anti-police brutality resources.

Noname

Noname is known by many for her revolutionary and deeply knowledgeable politics. Her book club has always highlighted men and women writers of color as well as essential ideologies that reconstruct our sense of building positive community.

Some might consider her politics “extreme” but in reality, her perspective is one that is historically pro-Black. She also does not shy away from making sure that narratives that are not mainstream get her full attention and support.

https://twitter.com/noname/status/1268190832349175816?s=20

If you’re looking for a good consistent resource for well thought out liberation information, Noname and her network got you with the political education.

https://twitter.com/noname/status/1267893440089427968?s=20

Noname also got you with the hot takes and the hot ideas. Run that shit up.

https://twitter.com/noname/status/1267164479927664640?s=20

Cardi B

Cardi B has always been dropping the truth on historical and institutionalized racism. She always speaks out against police brutality. She’s been active politically, and you all heard about her coronavirus videos.

Her content can be entertaining but if you stay passed the funny moments you’ll learn a lot. She’s always down for a sophisticated conversation on history and government.

Lately, she’s been discussing police brutality through topics like why protests are important and the value of voting.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA9DkW-Aa4K/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

She also calls out those who twist her message or try to claim she hasn’t always been for the cause.

The Weeknd

Abel has not stayed silent during all this either. He’s been sharing important #BLM knowledge on his socials, and he’s been involved in important initiatives for the cause.

The Weeknd signed an open letter along with other artists calling for the Defunding of the police and increased funding for social programs like healthcare and education.

He has also donated up to $500k to several racial equity organizations such as  Black Lives Matter and The Colin Kaepernick Know Your Rights Camp Legal Defense Initiative and National Bail Out fund.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA60WgJBgRD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

He even called for the music industry which makes so much off of Black musicians and artists to donate and stand with the cause.

Billie Eilish

Being Black is not a prerequisite for caring for Black causes. The artist who has often been used as an example of how Black culture can influence white audiences and art, has offered up her huge platform to support #BLM.

For the past 6 days, since the George Floyd protests began, Billie Eilish has been posting content meant to educate and mobilize around the cause of anti-police brutality, including calling out the hypocrisy of #AllLivesMatter arguments.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAzwncfFm7G/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Tory Lanez

The king of Quarantine Radio has always been vocal about the injustices inflicted upon the Black community. This time is no different.

He is a constant voice on the protests and offers up ideas to help the cause. He even addressed the role of looting and positioned the idea of having businesses clearly show their support in order to avoid it.

He’s also been protesting and marching with the people, putting action behind his words.

SAINt JHN

Sometimes actions speak louder than words. SAINt Jhn took his 100k video budget for his song Roses with Future plus some of his own money and is donating it to Bail Funds for protestors and across Black businesses.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA3a7l_jj1L/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

SAINt Jhn is also regularly sharing commentary on police brutality and videos of police attacking peaceful protesters. He also emphasizes the importance of self-educating to have the greatest and most positive impact.

Beyond that, SAINt JHN is offering up his time, money, and art to help the cause.

Killer Mike

We all know Michael Render AKA Killer Mike as an amazing pro-Black political organizer and mobilizer of political participation. He’s always doing the work when it’s in the mainstream news and when it’s largely forgotten.

His continuous self-education and passion for Black advancement also takes into account groups that intersect with Blackness or have proximity to Blackness.

https://twitter.com/katarenamatos/status/1267925708975804416?s=20

Some of his views may be controversial on the surface such as his pro-gun stance however his arguments are well-thought-out. We should uphold his voice in general as a credible one in the movement for Black liberation.

He is of course one half of the rap duo Run The Jewels, where he and his partner El-P regularly rap about social issues, and their latest album RTJ4 is no exception.

During this time, Killer Mike continues to be a leader and voice, being that correspondent on so many talk shows and news segments.

#blacklivesmatter June 9, 2020
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RIP George Floyd: We’ll never forget the impact you left on the world

A year ago today was Goerge Floyd’s funeral. As the community lays a father to rest, we must look at how his life and death have impacted our world. RIP George Floyd.

The life of George Floyd was love for others

Before we look at George Floyd’s impact, we’d like to take the time to honor his memory. George Perry Floyd was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and raised in Cuney Homes in the Third Ward of Houston, Texas.

Floyd attended Yates High School where he played on the basketball team and helped lead the football team to the Texas state championships.

During his younger years, Floyd told a fellow classmate and friend, Jonathan Veal, “I want to touch the world.” He was likely talking about playing for the NFL or NBA. 1993 was the year he graduated high school and went on to be the first of his siblings to go to college. He had achieved an athletic scholarship.

Floyd returned home early, however, without a degree. He would lose several years of his life to arrests. After prison, George Floyd saw the birth of his daughter Gianna Floyd and dedicated his life to helping others.

He became more involved with his church. And later he signed up for a Christian program that provides drug rehabilitation and job placement in Minnesota. He decided to move to Minneapolis for a fresh start, with a new job.

In 2017, he worked as a security guard at a homeless shelter and transitional housing facility called the Salvation Army’s Harbor Light Center. He also took a job as a bouncer at Conga Latin Bistro, a restaurant and dance club.

His coworkers at the homeless shelter knew him as a genuine, thoughtful, and caring man who walked them to their cars at night. Floyd’s peers Conga Latin Bistro remember him as humble and humorous. His roommates remember him as pious and thoughtful, often praying with them.

After Officer Chauvin murdered George Floyd while other officers watched and stood lookout, his death sparked protests first in the city of Minneapolis, then across the U.S. and later the world.

#BLM and calls for justice

The protests reignited the Black Lives Matter movement and helped bring charges against the officers that murdered Floyd. The protests also displayed the police brutality that Black and Brown people face regularly.

They also highlighted how police in riot gear respond with violence to peaceful protests. Several videos and reports have circulated showing clear intent on violence towards otherwise peaceful protests.

There is an ongoing fight to bring the police who are responsible for these violent acts to justice. Just today, thanks to video evidence from a nearby protestor, the NYPD officer who shoved a woman putting her in the hospital has been charged with assault.

Dismantling an unjust system

These calls for justice are simultaneous with calls for new ideas that radically change the corrupt system. The protests brought ideas like defunding of police and demilitarization to the mainstream conversation on policing.

The police departments are overprepared with riot gear and military-grade equipment. This contrasts with the lack of resources for the medical community dealing with an ongoing pandemic. Visuals of this emphasize the deep priority issues that state and local governments have.

The introduction of ideas that have lived under the label of “radical” for decades are being more accepted. Calls for the defunding police include redirecting those funds to positive social programs for the community.

#DefundThePolice has seen some positive response with Minneapolis City Council members beginning the process of dismantling the Minneapolis Police department. New York plans to cut NYPD’s $6 billion funding. Other cities and states are looking to follow suit.

Police brutality is a global threat

Floyd’s death became the cry heard around the world, with oppressed peoples like Paris, France’s North and West African populations fighting against their own systems police brutality and Guadalajara, Mexico’s people rejecting the corrupt and cartel backed police.

As 6-year-old Gianna Floyd aptly said, “Daddy Changed the World.”

Police brutality and its’ role in state-sanctioned violence is not just an American concept. It’s one that runs deep in many countries. the world understands deeply Floyd’s death and the outrage that followed.

RIP George Floyd

As the world mourns George Floyd, it mourns the countless deaths of Black and Brown people at the hands of police. To honor him today and in the future, we must continue the fight for justice.

#blacklivesmatter June 3, 2020
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John Boyega on the racist tone-deaf discussion on George Floyd’s murder

Police brutality against POC in the U.S. is globally infamous especially with the advent of social media. People from all over the world are watching as police continue to kill young Black men and women.

Actor John Boyega is no different, but he’s taken it a step further and used his platform to express what we are feeling: frustration and anger.

Boyega’s response to the ongoing crisis of police brutality was in no doubt exacerbated by the killing of the late George Floyd on Monday, May 25. Officers were responding to a “forgery in process” when they killed George Floyd.

The Killing of George Floyd

 

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George Floyd, a Houston native, moved to Minnesota “to be his best self,” as one friend put it. He worked security at a restaurant, where he developed a reputation as someone who had your back and was there for you when you were down. “Knowing my brother is to love my brother,” Philonise Floyd, George’s brother, told CNN’s Don Lemon Tuesday. “He’s a gentle giant, he don’t hurt anybody.” Floyd, 46, was killed Monday, his last moments caught on video. While being arrested, Floyd was held down by a Minneapolis police officer’s knee. The video shows Floyd pleading that he is in pain and can’t breathe. Then, his eyes shut and the pleas stop. He was pronounced dead shortly after. That officer and three others involved in the incident have been fired. (📸: Courtesy Ben Crump Law Firm)

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Floyd allegedly tried to use a $20 bill that staff at Cup Foods suspected was fake, Floyd left the store peacefully when the staff wasn’t willing to take the bill. Staff called 911 according to their procedures when dealing with potential fraud.

Floyd was still outside the store with police arrived, and according to video evidence, the store owner and his surveillance video and several other witnesses, he was complying with police. Nine minutes later George Floyd was on the ground with officer Chauvin‘s knee on his neck and several other officers watching.

Witnesses implored the officer to stop because Floyd could not breathe and his nose was bleeding. Officer Chauvin killed George Floyd on the scene with asphyxiation.

Officers Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, Tou Thau, J Alexander Kueng were fired after the release of the video. Chauvin has been subject to at least 10 complaints involving shootings and excessive force.

Tou Thau, the officer who stood watch as Chauvin killed Floyd, had previously settled out of court in 2017 for the use of excessive force among other incidents and complaints.

The Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis released a statement stating “Now is not the time to rush to judgment and immediately condemn our officers. ”

According to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, FBI and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are looking into the incident.

Protests Erupt for the Justice of Floyd


Since the death of George Floyd, several protests have broken out in Minneapolis. The protests seem to have begun on Wednesday with people gathering peacefully at the Third Precinct Headquarters until officers in an attempt to disperse the crowds started using flash-bang grenades and tear gas.

Later, mass looting all across South Minneapolis erupted. Officers continued to use tear gas and rubber bullets on looters and protestors alike.

George Floyd’s murder also spurred protests in Memphis and Los Angeles.

Central Park Karen

The same morning of Floyd’s death, twelve hundred miles away we can witness another video detailing the racism of everyday America. This video shows Amy Cooper acting as what’s known as a “Karen,” calling the cops on a Black bird watcher after he asked her to put her dog on a leash as per the appropriate rules of that section of Central Park.

https://twitter.com/melodyMcooper/status/1264965252866641920?s=20

The white woman is unhappy with bird watcher Christian Cooper (no relation) video recording the interaction. She darts towards Cooper dragging her dog by the collar, visibly distressing the animal. Christain calmly asks her not to come closer to him.

Amy Cooper then threatens Christian with calling the police and makes it a point to inform him that she will be telling them that “an African-American man” is threatening her and her dog. At this point, Amy is visibly jerking and choking her dog with its collar.

Amy goes on to call the police and in a terrifyingly Rose in a Get Out way switches her voice and tone to embody the performance of life-threatened white woman we’ve all come to eerily recognize.

When the police arrive on the scene, neither Amy Cooper nor Christian Cooper are present, but the video of the incident has since gone viral. Amy Cooper’s employers have fired her and she released her dog to the animal shelter pending an investigation on the incident.

The space in which the incident occurred makes you remember the unjust incarceration of the Central Park 5. The popular Netflix original “When They See Us” documents the story of 5 young Black boys who were falsely accused and charged with the sexual assault of a white woman jogger in that very same park.

Boyega’s Frustration is also our own…

John Boyega Hates Racists

This is the tweet that sparked a longer conversation filled with POC frustration and white murder-apologists. Twitter first began their dispute on whether Boyega meant white racists or all racists, a truly banal discussion in light of what’s been happening in the United States since it’s conception.

 

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i #RUNWithMaud 💔⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ The killing of former high school athlete Ahmaud Arbery jogging while Black occurred in a Georgia suburb on February 23. The shooters are former investigator with the district attorney’s office Gregory McMichael, 64, and his son, Travis McMichael, 34. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ According to the police report and video recently released, the father and son followed and blocked Arbery’s path and shot him under the excuse that they believed him to be a suspect of recent neighborhood burglaries. (We will not being showing said video). ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ LINK TO SIGN THE PETITION IN BIO.⁣ ⁣ Prosecutor George E. Barnhill, who had the case for a few weeks told the police that the pursuers had acted within the scope of Georgia’s citizen’s arrest statute. Arbery was 25 he would have turned 26 tomorrow.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ He was not carrying a weapon and according to the recently released video can be seen stopped by a truck and grappling with one of the men who was holding a shotgun as several shots are fired at him. The shooters are claiming self defense. ⁣⁣ ⁣ Neither of the shooters have been arrested and after the video calls for their prosecution have swelled on social media, with users actively calling officials to bring justice for Arbery.

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Nevertheless, Boyega set the record straight emphasizing that he is referring to white on Black racism in this instance. Responses from predominantly white Twitter users erupted with either disgust with Boyega’s clarification or an attempt at derailing his point by emphasizing the existence of racism elsewhere.

The tweet went viral with the age-old irrelevant arguments from police violence apologists and POC confusion on how a simple statement such as hating racists could have any opposition.

John Boyega continued to take no shit from BS arguments against the ‘hatred of white racism’ (still crazy that I just wrote that phrase.) Responding with clear explanations on the irrelevance or inappropriateness of the arguments on the discussion he’s having and also with simple outright rejection of rude and simply racist rhetoric.

I’ll say it again FUCK YOU, RACIST WHITE PEOPLE.

Later, John Boyega went to IG live to clearly express his frustrations with the twitter nonsense and redirect the conversation to what matters: Black lives. He began by giving general advice on how to deal with misinformation and interacting with those derailing the conversation at hand.

“It’s very very important that at this time that we ignore ignorance. […] That we ignore people who come through and try to make these situations what they’re not…”

He made it clear that this was NOT an apology video. And debunked some incorrect assumptions on his beliefs.

“I’m not even apologizing, first of all, you lot better fucking believe that, but there’s no way that I have the opinion that there’s no other form of racism. Of course, there are other forms of racism BUT, a Black man was just murdered in cold blood, in the streets state-side AGAIN. While stating that he can’t breathe.”

In response to many claiming he’s not qualified to speak on what happened to George Floyd or any violence against Black people in the US, he reaffirmed his stance on the matter.

“I’m here as a Black man with a great opportunity that you lot know that I’m grateful for but at the same time I’m not here to be playing no games when it comes to that racial shit. I am FOR my people. And that’s it. Period. ”

The rest of the IG Live covered Boyega’s commitment to always block users who say anything racist on his social media. He reiterates that he is not the guy to just let racists run amuck simply because they might be fans of his work.

“And if you’re a fan of me and you support my work and you’re racist and you’re arguing with what I was saying F*ck Off, you f*cking dickheads. Yeah? So it’s straight up like that, that’s how it’s gonna go. And for my whole career as an actor I’m gonna let you guys know this, I’m not the guy.”

He also goes on to explain that while other forms of racism exist in the world, this is not the time to be shining a light on it.

It’s Black people’s time to talk about the very real life and death issue of police brutality and racially motivated state violence. Boyega is not alone in his frustration and it’s good to know we’re not either.

Post updated June 3, 2020.