The means.

June 18, 2019 by Tesia Pennie

The means. is a woman of many talents. Originally from Philly, now a North Minneapolis local artist. Her sound is slick, smooth and welcoming. Her tones can vary from smooth jazz notes to her bellowing like Adele to deep rap lyrics into the air. Her lyricism triumphs most. Her vocal range is crazy reminding of her versatile style touching everything from Jazz, Soul, R&B, Rock and Hip-Hop. She writes all her own music and it shows. Her depth is undeniable. She recently did a show for MN Live and The Walker Art Library. A program that show cases local artist to the community. She played tracks from her 2017 album, Gifts by the means.

You can find The means. On Spotify

How did you start singing/rapping?

I started singing several times in my life lol The most recent being when I moved to Philadelphia and I didn't have friends or anything like that, The means. was actually kind of borne out of my first experience with deep depression. For lack of anything else to do I got up and went to an open mic and that was the first time I ever sang into a microphone I think that was 2013.

Was music a big part of your life growing up?

Music was a part of my life I think subconsciously everyone in my family loved music, we always had something on. I loved to sing a but it wasn't something that was encouraged as a lifestyle.

What are some of influences that helped shape your music?

I'm not sure I have any that helped shape the music specifically. Definitely have entertainers that helped shaped ME and how I deliver my performance. Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, Baby Face, TLC, Tina Turner and Frank Sinatra.

How did you come up with the music name “The means.?”

I never really wanted a stage name or any kind of alter ego for performance. But I did want to discern what I did on stage from "normal" life. So, I'm always Sherri, what I do is The means.

How would you describe your sound?

I think one of my best friends and great DJ, DJ Jclef said it best once: “My music is in the hip-hop/pop/dance realm but, sonic-ally I'm more of a rock singer.”

What would you like people to get from your music?

I'm a writer first. And I believe in the power of music and words, so I only write what's honest and true to my experience. I hope people find my songs relatable and I hope they make people feel something.

Who/what are you currently listening to lately?

All depends on the situation, but in my free time I mostly listen to NPR lol

Anything new coming up for you music? Events?

I am always pulling something together last minute so you just have to stay tuned. But I'm excited I get a few new songs released this summer and working on my first music video.

Day by Day

June 06, 2019 by Tesia Pennie

Some days I feel like a hermit

I’m not sure what I’m doing

Some days distractions come to play

Some days all I can do is cry, praying to my parents we will be together again

I’m almost a month strong on antidepressants

This time

Some days sharp objects smile like old friends

Some days I can ignore my inner demons

Some days

I can face the world

Some days

Poem by Tesia Pennie

Note* Black girls that don’t always feel like magic. We’re not alone, don’t stop fighting your demons but know that it takes time. Only you know your journey. It’s not always going to be easy. In fact, it’s going to be extremely difficult, but so worth it in the end. Please keep fighting. I am.

Ari Lennox: Shea Butter Baby

June 06, 2019 by Tesia Pennie

Ari Lennox has finally blessed us with a new album, Shea Butter Baby. It’s beautiful, raw and true. She talks of independence, growth, sex and weed. I don’t know about y’all, but this is the album I needed this summer.

The 28 year old Lennox, is headlining her first tour with Shea Butter Baby, showing her pure talent and precision. Not to mention, homegirl writes all her own songs. Pure unfiltered pleasure in each lyric.

This Relatable heroine takes us on a journey of growth through each song using her flawless vocal range and passionate melodies to remind us of our power.

Some favorite tracks include New Apartment, Speak to me, Static and of course Shea Butter Baby ft. J.Cole

J.I.D + SABA: Catch Me If You Can Tour

May 21, 2019 by Tesia Pennie

Sunday night May 19th at First Ave, JID and Saba finally came to Minneapolis and did they give a show! This year has been pretty awesome with Smino being here as well and now I got to see J.I.D and Saba! Not to mention Noname was just here last year!

Saba performed his tracks from Care For Me which included my personal favorites, Broken Girls, Calligraphy and of course Heaven All Around Me. Saba’s energy was raw and passionate.

Mereba was sensational. This was my first time seeing her live and even knowing about this artist! (I know, wtf) but I immediately fell in love with her voice. She played tracks from her newest album, The Jungle Is The Only Way Out. She and J.I.D also performed Sandstorm together.

Everyone was ready and hyped for J.I.D to finally hit the stage. Everyone was singing along not missing a beat! Homie played tracks from DiCaprio 2 and The Never Story.

Honestly, Sunday night was a night of Black Excellence. I know that shit sounds corny but it’s true. It was just a great experience, even being surrounded in a “Kanye Concert” there was this shift in the atmosphere. There wasn’t any bullshit, people stayed in their lane and it was a good time. I love it when that happens. Each artist shared a piece of them on stage and I can’t wait to see them live again!

Rico Nasty: Anger Management

May 21, 2019 by Tesia Pennie

Rico Nasty is a powerhouse of energy. First known for her singles Hey Arnold and iCarly the now 22 year old is making a name for herself with tours, performing at Coachella, Sugar Trap Label and just straight up getting the recognition she deserves.

Rico Nasty is LOUD and BOLD just like her aesethic. She’s not afraid to be herself and incorporates punk, rock, and emo to her wardrobe reminding the world that Wierd Black girls are out here!!! “I’m the best at being me, a lot of y’all can’t relate” and “try to box me in, I don’t need no oxygen, you could leave me to die, I was born to win.” - Sell Out

What I love about Anger Management is the fact that it’s so hype. Rico’s raspy vocals tie into the chaos of beats the Kenny provides. They are an incredible team of sound. Bouncing of each other with so much energy. Rico Nasty can’t wait to let you know she’s 100% that bitch and more. “You hoes can’t pull it off like me, talk like me, bet you wanna be the boss like me. All these hoes wanna sauce like me, floss like me, walk up once the club with no ID.” - Big Titties

Rico Nasty has also been through a lot the past year with the passing of her son’s father. But she kept with the grind and she lets you know this in songs like Again: “Let me take a deep breathe, I ain’t going broke again. I did it all on my own, ya dig?”

What I love about Rico Nasty is the fact that she doesn’t let the music industry try to shape her or over sexualize her. Too often in the music industry especially with female rappers, Especially Black female rappers they are so quick to make us into an object. Rico Nasty is far from that but a natural force.

Anger Management is streaming on all platforms. Get your life and go listen.

Pivot Gang: You Can’t Sit With Us

May 06, 2019 by Tesia Pennie

Pivot Gang, is a Chicago base Hip-Hop collective that consist of Artist Saba, Joseph Chilliams, SqueakPIVOT, MFnMelo, Frsh Waters, Dae Dae and John Walt (RIP) . This is their first album as a collective, You Can’t Sit With Us. It consist of 13 tracks full of gems and spot on features. The album features, Kari Faux, Smino, Benjamin Earl Turner, Sylvan Lacue, Jean Deaux, Femdot and Mick Jenkins.

The first thing I notice about Pivot Gang is the fact that each of these artists do solo work and all sound completely different. Each artist has their own style and yet they can come together and create a whole new sound. There’s a deep appreciation for Hip-Hop in this album. A very old school feel mixed with new age Black teen angst. The sound is fun though, you can sense this energy of them feeding off each other. Pivot Gang is also serious. They came too far and lost too much to end anything anytime soon.

Their lyricism is dope. The way they build on top of each other. How they each bring their own personal skill together and create such harmony. Some tracks come off a little corny but I say that in an endearing way, showing they can be playful and still have technique. Here are some tracks that I really liked.

Mortal Kombat: First off, I just love the beat and the sound of Saba’s voice is everything to me. “Yeah, I’m from Chicago, not no Chi-raq/ But I respect that, because you know we from the violence.” And I am loving Kari Faux’s new album too so I was so happy to see her as a feature, I love her verse “Excuse me? Are you talking to me? Cause my name ain’t Ayye and my time ain’t free/ Yeah I know you want to fuck but you ain’t qualified.”

Mathematics: This might be one of my favorite songs just because it’s so amazingly absurd. It immediately starts with some classic love notes: “Uh, sit that ass on my face, till I look like an orangutan.” Homies over here sounding real sleek and shit. Another dope verse is by Joseph Chilliams and Femdot, “Came through drippin, I’ma fuck a princess/ my friends call me Ariel/ New shit sound like Tha Carter did/ choppin on the net like Vince Carter did.”

Bad Boys: The beats and instrumentals go real hard on this track. This is your typical brag song but with dope references and sound. “I sleep in a high tower like Steve Harvey Show.” The best verse to me though is by MFnMelo, mf goes hard on it. “And her system feelin solar, that full moon effect/ late night talking, you know bold the texts/ keep it risky, publicly get private kissy/freak on like messy, she just tryna get magoo/safety off, raw form when I shoot.”

This collective is extremely focus and it shows. I’m really looking forward for their future projects and to see what they are doing individually. It’s amazing to see this genre of Hip-Hop where young Black youth can just be themselves without any explanation.

Their album You Can’t Sit With Us is available on all streaming platforms.

RIP John Singleton

April 29, 2019 by Tesia Pennie

John Singleton was an American Director from Los Angeles, Cali. Best known for his film Boyz in the Hood, Poetic Justice and Shaft. Because of directors like him, Black film is evolving more and more. His vision and message is still so important, especially with White America repeating the same cycles. Gun violence is real. Poverty is real. Police using their power and ego to make fucked up judgements are real. Communities need more substanable options to truly gain equity. Rest In Peace, John 💜

Marsai Martin

April 26, 2019 by Tesia Pennie

Marsai Martín is the next up and coming force in Hollywood. Known for her role as Diane Johnson in ABC’s comedy Black-ish. A tv-show about an upper class Black family living in a pro-dominate white neighborhood. The parents (Traces Ellis Ross & Anthony Anderson) navigate how to teach their children to live in White America. She’s been starring in Black-ish since 2014.

At the age of 10 years old, she pitched the idea for the movie Little. After going through all the right channels it was approved! Marsai got the idea after her mother introduced the 1988 film Big (Tom Hanks) to her. It was very important to Marsai to make this a modern tale in the perspective of a Black Woman.

Little is a comedy about a powerful yet demanding tech executive (Regina Hall) who suddenly wakes up as a little kid. She must return to her middle school that once crushed her nerdy soul as a child. With the help of her assistant April (Issa Rae) she finds her way back to a grown ass adult!

In an interview with The View, Marsai mentions how it’s important to her that Black kids see themselves in movies, tv-shows etc. It’s important and powerful for them to know they have options!

If you haven’t seen Little, please support! It’s hilarious, and with these three women you can’t go wrong! I’m also impressed for how young Marsai is, the throwbacks in this movie are gold.

I’m personally very excited to see this stream of up and coming Black female actresses and their determination in making a change in the film industry!