Blood Orange: Angel’s Pulse

Dev Hynes has dropped another gem. This one goes by Angel’s Pulse. He produced and mixed this project by himself with contributions by very talented friends including: Toro y Moi, Ian Isiah, Justine Skye, Project Pat, Gangsta Boo, Tinashe, Arca, Joba and Kelsey Lu just to name a few.

Angel’s Pulse is somewhat a darker project. Projecting thoughts on grief, letting go, self worth or feeling the lack of and learning growth. Tracks vary from calm instrumentals, soft vocals swimming through R&B beats, some feel like gospels reminding us of what we’ve lost to trap sounds reminding us what we still have.

Photography by @renellaice

Dark & Handsome ft. Toro y Moi

What I love about this track is the beginning lyric, “Nothing last forever and I told you” Dev’s delicate voice rings loud as he speaks his truth. “Fears because the past and future scare me” We don’t know what life will bring us, or what it may take away. We can’t fall over every time the cookie crumbles.

Benzo

I love the music video to this song, Dev is brilliant at executing his thoughts into visuals. The lyric “Open the door, leave me with arms exposed” I feel like you could interpret to how it resonates with you personally because it makes me think of my scars. Physically and figuratively. Am I still worth it if you can still see my failures?

Birmingham: This song samples The Balled of Birmingham by Dudley Randall. It brings to life about the four little girls who died Sept. 15th 1963 when their church was burned down by racist southerners. Sounds of a gospel reminding us what we lost and sadly what we continue to lose in the Black community even to this day. “ Oh, here’s the shoe my baby wore, but baby where are you?” How many Black Mother’s will continue to lose their babies? How many Black Mother’s will have to continue to fight for justice for their babies?

Dev Hynes directed Benzo// Source @devhynes

Gold Teeth ft. Tinashe, Gangsta Boo & Project Pat

After most of the tracks are softer, you then get tracks like Gold Teeth that give you more of that trap feel. Those deeper beats that remind us we’re still alive. We’re still hustlin’. We’re still making this shit happen.

Take it back ft. Arca, JOBA, Justine Skye

My favorite line is by JOBA “What’s clear as day is dark as night/ I cannot see shit, back out with all my demons, blacked out for all my reasons/ my reflected image vanished in an instant.”

I feel like that speaks for itself. Dev Hynes is so artistic and finds ways to express himself outside of the box, so there is never limitation to what this man can do. Angel’s Pulse is streaming on all platforms. Do yourself a favor and go give it a listen.

Issa Rae Presents: Late Expectations #Shortfilmsundays

Every Sunday you can find a new short from a variety of different artist from different places in the world. This current #Shortfilmsundays film “Late Expectations” really stood out to me. Directed by Laurie Arakaki and written by Thais Francis. This film is about a young Black woman that finds her paths unclear, with a full ride to college, a boyfriend she’s been dating for the past 4 years and a best friend who might be more than that.

Check out Issa Rae Presents on YouTube every Sunday to catch up on aspiring new actors, writers and directors! Do you have an idea? I encourage you to submit your work to Issa Rae’s platform!

Dreamville: Revenge of the Dreamers III

Rap Camp they called it. Where the signed artist of Dreamville were able to show their talent, and just go in. J.Cole invited a plethora of artist and producers to come together and show what they were made of and if you’ve listen to the album, that’s exactly what they did. The plus side,  J.Cole actually had some outsiders on here too, which is funny since homie doesn’t usually do features.  All the artist on the album include: Lute, DaBaby, JID, Bas, EARTHGANG, Young Nudy, Cozz, REASON, Deante Hitchcock, Childish Major, Zoink Gang, KEY!, Maxo Kream, Young Baby Tate, Guapdad 4000, Buddy, Omen, Mez, Davoinnne, Ari Lennox, Baby Rose, T.I., Reese Laflare, Smino, Vince Staples, Mereba, Kendrick Lamar  and of course J.Cole.  

Under The Sun // J.Cole’s Verse : With their rendition of “if you miss me from the back of the bus” intro the song goes from this sweet ballad and evolves into deep trap beats. J.Cole immediately goes in.

Source @realcoleworld

Nothing new under the sun, nobody fucking with son 
I got a couple of sons, a couple of guns 
A couple of niggas that bust up the party and fuck up the fun 
She digging me and I’m cuffing her friend 
She ig'-ing you while we fucking for fun 
I got her suckin' her thumb, that’s my lil' baby 
She call me daddy like grandmama baby 
If this Sunday dinner, my hand on her gravy 
I been on the craziest wave, if I'm on the stage 
An M is my minimum wage 
This ain't no kennel, behave 
Niggas is with all that barking, we send 'em a stray 
So in a way we the dogcatchers 
How many bullets your dawg catchin'? 
Sawed-off, raw dog fashion 
Hauled off, hope God catch him, damn 

Self Love // Baby Rose’s verse : Self Love is this year’s anthem to every tired Black woman out there. This was my first time hearing the artist Baby Rose who is on this track with Ari Lennox and Bas. Baby Rose’s voice is distinctive. Her soulful low bellows are reminding you to put yourself first.

Source @babyrosemusic

Tired of all this faking 
Wearing all of this makeup 
And meanwhile feeling complacent 
Fitting in, feeling basic and 
Meanwhile tryna replace him 
But all these feelings are makeshift 
Hard for me to face it 
When everything is changing, ayy 

 1993 // Cozz’s Verse:  Old School Smoke song with a sweet beat. First time hearing Cozz and his first was one of my favorite verses. He makes it sound easy. But overall a fun track that takes you back in time.

Source @cozz

Tell me why you wanna come get high tonight 
I only got one reason, I'm top dog tonight 
I let the broads borrow my room and I got caught tonight 
Drunken partying, slobbering, 'nother sloppy night 
Always fight with my mama, but look, on my leave night 
I'll call her, when I'm a baller, I promise that I'ma score you 
Until then, I'ma ignore you, it's nothing personal (Sorry) 
I'm just tryna fuck a couple girls and go 
Can't do that while I'm on the phone 
I'm not a mother's boy, I'm a motherfucker 

 PTSD // Dante Hitchcock’s Verse: I love how this song starts, it’s soft with a steady beat and then Mereba (an artist I had the pleasure of seeing perform live) come through with her profound tone. Artist Deante Hitchcock really stood out, this was my first time hearing this artist and I was impressed with his lyricism. I’m really excited to dive into his solo work.

Source @deantevh

A lot of dead niggas livin' through me, shawty, but not in the literal 
Most 'em dead 'cause they ain't follow they dream 
The power of a higher entity entered me 
Mentally, physically, spiritually, I'm on a whole different energy 
Fuck the world, but I need you to remember me 

Don’t get it wrong, this whole album is track to track but these are the verses that personally stood out to me. I’m really impressed by all the collaborations and thought this was a wonderful representation that rappers and singers/multi talented artist can work together and accomplish something so meaningful. Below is the documentary to this journey. Very well done.

Documentary 

She's Gotta Have It: Season One

Based on Spike Lee's first film in 1986, he's evolved and adapted this film to a must see T.V. series on Netflix. (GENIUS) She's gotta have it, follows Nola Darling. An inspiring artist who lives in Fort Greene, Brooklyn New York. Nola Darling is a woman who feels comfortable with her sexuality, meaning she doesn't feel the need to stay in generic societal boxes. She identifies as a polygamist, meaning she believe in having more than one partner/lover. Through this series it follows Nola Darling juggling her three men and their very different personalities. We have Jamie Overstock, he's the Black somewhat conservative that got out the hood, but still knows where he comes from. This relationship is especially tricky since he's a married man. Greer Childs is a pretty boy model and photographer. Greer thinks only of himself and truly believes he's the only man that can make Nola wet. Mars Blackmon is a sneakerhead bicyclist that keeps it real with Nola. He only wants the best for her and wants to succeed in her art.

@officialspikelee

Nola, while dealing with her partners, figuring out what she wants not just in her personal love life, but within her art careers, gets sexually assaulted one night. She decides to no longer live life by the male gaze. She uses her art to start "My name isn't" campaign and to take a stand to these unrealistic beauty standards, double standards and fake ass people that feel like they can speak for women. 

@officialspikelee

She's gotta have it, is so important and relevant right now. Honestly, it's always been relevant when it comes to shining a light on the double standards between men and women when it comes to expressing their sexuality and having control over it.  A man can have many sexual partners and be seen as cool or just casually dating with no consequences. But if a woman has more than one partner, she is seen as a nympho and too sexually driven. You can't be a lady if you have your legs open. It also shines a huge light on sexual harassment towards women.

The fact that men feel they can come up to women they don't know and start cat-calling and expect women to accept it or feel like they are some special chosen unicorn is fucking ridiculous. But more importantly how Rape Culture even in the smallest forms are so dangerous towards girls and women.  The fact that women can't say NO without fear of being called a bitch, or worse, endure violence is a true representation of how men and society believe women should be treated.

Hats off to this wonderful adaption to Spike Lee's first film.

Streaming online on Netflx.

OH, AND MY NAME SURE AINT NO MUTHAFUCKING BLACK BITCH!

Review on Season 2 Coming Soon.

R.LUM.R

 I've been waiting for this moment and after much anticipation, Reggie Lamar Williams or better known as  R.LUM.R was able to take time out of his busy schedule and tour to have a phone interview with me. R.LUM.R is a singer and songwriter. He's sound is a mix of R&B with a splash of Pop. His vocal range is prodigious and overall has a very humbling vibe and just out here creating relatable music for all. 

T: Thank you so much for taking time out, really appreciate it

R: No, thank you for taking time, this is awesome. 

T: I know you've been on tour, and you just got back to the States, How's that been treating you?

R: The tour has been great. Um.. I think you start to learn alot of things about yourself, you learn how trave effecs you and your body and your mental state. Being on the road and figuring out allthe logistical stuff. I know this is a boring answer, but most of it is just travel, and organizational things and most of tht stuff. But they pay off is incredible, to go to places like Denmark and people know the songs. Over sea crowds are the best and they are so excited to sing along. 

T: Was this your first time over seas?

R: This was my first time going to play, So we went to London, Denmark, Berlin, and South Korea. 

T: That's awesome, sounds like you had an amazing experience... Oh! and congratulationd on recently being on Jimmy Kimmal Tonight!!

R: Thank you, it was a lot of fun and Jimmy is very very nice, even taller than expected. (Haha)

T: So, you've got you EP After Image coming out soon, what was the inspiration behind the title?

R.LUM.R Photo by @nolanknight

R: After Image is the equivalence of the reflection of life, a point of reflection or process that life can be so bright or it can dance in a certain way that is leaves an after image of something. like an out line reflection of something, after something has already moved from a certain space or spot or moment in time. 

T: Do you think that's a part of the process when writing? Having all these reflections of living your life and just trying to figure your shit out?

R: Yeah, that's definitely a part of it, I like it because having the ability to write about these things, you can make it your own, you can take a non-ficiton and make it half fictional. You get to create the outcome, the middle and ending. You get to create the world in a sense. So you can create something that is an ideal version of something bad that has happen to you or talk straight through it and try to figure it out through words.

T: You've been getting so much attention latly and having these amazing experiences and as your name gets bigger, what do you want your audience to get from the music you create?

R: I woud say my message is to try and understand eachother and put yourself in someone else's position. I think for me is the process of trying to understand myself and other people and me getting in contact with people and vice versa. I think that's what's important, writing about these experiences and the things I think about it and alot of times is me recreating these roles so other people don't have to go through that. 

T: Soo, what is next for you? are you working on any new music?

R:  Yes, I'm constantly writing, and coming up with ideas. We are still finishing the tour so it's just been giving me time to take everything in and all the new experiences and getting ready for whatever next is to come. 

T: Youre going to be in MN soon, why Duluth? (Not hating, I was just surprised it wasn't in the cities)

R: Yeah, so the festival they were really interested and reached out and very persistant so we agreed and were looking forward to it, I've never been to be Minnesota so it should be a great time.

T: So what's been your favorite spot so far during the tour, or one that just really stood out to you?

R: It was really cool to be in South Korea, like literally 14 hours across the globe, literally in the future and they know the words and they are so excited to see you there, that was really really cool to see and feel. But the most exciting thing, is meeting all these new people and the impact of social media and fans coming up to me and telling me their user names and shouting me out on there and i'm like "Hey, I remember you too!" 

T: What kind of music did you grow up to? What got you into it?

R: My mother had us listening to a lot of Jazz ad R&B, like Anita Baker, Sade, Earth Wind & Fire, stuff like that. Then in middle school I was introduced to bands like Linkin Park (RIP Chester) and I was just like "Yo, what is this" You know, they opened alot of different genres to me, and they even had a rapper so i was down for it.  And i started getting into hard rock and just a serendipity of music that was being introduced to me. 

T: I love that, it's always so refreshing when you get introduced to all this music and your just so happy that it's out there and your just like "this is what i've been missing, this is what i've been waiting for."  But, thank you so much R.LUM.R for your time, we at Culture Piece are so excited for your new EP and your future in music! Thank you. 

R: Thank you, Tesia. 

If you haven't had the pleasure of listening to R.LUM.R's new EP After Image, check it out below. It's a 6 track EP incuding one of Spotify's top playing songs, Frustrated and his singles Love Less and Close Enough. This album is full of chill vibes about the frustrations with relationships, not  knowing when to let go and learning to love yourself and your significant other.  New music coming this month July of 2019.

*article was originally published couple yrs ago.

Blood Orange: Negro Swan

You asked me what family is

And I think of family as community

I think of the spaces where you don't have to shrink yourself

Where you don't have to pretend or to perform

You can fully show up and be vulnerable

And in silence, completely empty and

That's completely enough

You show up, as you are, without judgment, without ridicule

Without fear or violence, or policing, or containment

And you can be there and you're filled all the way up

So we get to choose our families

We are not limited by biology

We get to make ourselves

And we get to make our families

-Janet Mock

Blood Orange Photo by @renellaice

Devonte Hynes, also known as Blood Orange  came out with his fourth album, Negro Swan (2018). Homie came through with this thoughtful depiction of all the feels, anxieties, expectations and on-going depression within the Black Queer community but while going through this journey, your learning to see the light in life.  Personally, this album came right on time. The world has been feeling heavy and confusing lately. finding an album to confide in like Negro Swan is a gift.  It’s a reminder that we are so fucking majestic and true, and we should never apologize for that. WE SHALL CONTINUE TO ALWAYS DO TOO MUCH.

Blood Orange creates these day dreaming sounds that drifts you into another consciousness.  Negro Swan is filled with funk, jazz and dance pop notes wrapped in an R&B blanket. It just shows you, that we can’t be limited. Their features go hard too, including: Diddy, Tei Shi, Janet Mock, A$AP ROCKY, Project Pat, Ian Isiah, George Anne Muldrow and Steve Lacy. The originality is uncanny. This exploration and realization of letting go and being yourself can be difficult but so fucking worth it in the end. Some favorite tracks:

Charcoal Baby

What I love about this song, is the instrumentals, it feels light, fun, there’s guitar and this pop dance feel to it. But when you listen to the lyrics, they seem to be the opposite. “No one wants to be the Negro Swan; can we break sometimes?” Hynes says, this song is supposed to be a celebration of Black skin, so maybe it is fitting.  They want to see us bend and crack, but we don’t let them.  We are consistently resilient even when we mentally feel like were breaking.

SAINT

This track is super electronic with some jazz notes, layers of different voices that blend so well together. You just get swept away into the echoes of his voice.  The video is chill too, with Blood Orange performing very low-key apartment sesh. These words repeating very smooth and calmly throughout the track almost like a meditation, “Your skins a flag that shines for us all, The Brown that shines and lights your darkest thought.”

HOPE

I love the piano introduction with Tei Shi’s soft vocals dancing around the beat. The video switches to scenes in the city, community, to pieces of modern dancing. “I still smile when you come around.” Clips of Black men, are they escaping? Are they free? Are they loved? A story of learning not only what you want but learning you deserve what you want. Diddy closes with this thought “Sometimes I ask myself, like you know, what is it going to take for me not to be afraid to be loved the way, like, I really wanna be loved…”

Negro Swan is a manifesto to Black Men, Black Women, Black Queers, Black Femmes, Black Trans Men and Women, we are worth it, we deserve all the love, but most importantly

take up space and glow in it

& continue to do too much.

Tierra Whack: Whack World

 Tierra Whack’s Whack World isn’t your ordinary album. Whack World has 15 tracks at only a minute each. The album also has a visual short for each track making it insanely short but equally amazing.  Whack world gives you a chance to be in Tierra’s world, even if it’s only for 15 minutes.  You will literally keep this album on repeat!

Tierra is a young 22-year-old Black woman from Philly. Known for her single Mumbo Jumbo, an eerie track and visual about her visiting a dentist like office to come out with a permanent smile walking home to the horrors of the reality of life and seeing other pedestrians, young, old, homeless all living with the same permanent smile.

  The variety of tracks is insane, but it still flows perfectly. From Alternative R&B flows like in Flea Market, to more pop sounds like in Pet Cemetery to even a southern twang sound like in Silly Sam and Fuck Off. Whack transcends all this creativity into one beautiful project.

 Some tracks that stood out to me were, Bugs Life: The video depicts Whack with a grotesque swollen half face and immediately spits out “Probably would of blew overnight if I was white/Rap with a mike wore really baggy tights/It’s alright.” Her flow is ridiculous, and the beat feels like it’s just hitting its climax but before you can start moving to it, it moves on to the next track.  

4 Wings:  Whack uses deeper vocals and its has more of an ominous sound to it.  “Endless nights I cried when Hulitho died/My city needs me I promised I wouldn't fail'em/If you love somebody I promise that you should tell 'em.”   Hookers:  I love this song and video. The beat goes in and Whack talks about not needing a partner that only wants to buy her love. She got money, what she needs is something real.  “Money won’t make me stay/I got my own paper/Move cause you’re in my way/Why you gotta ruin my day, my day.”  In the video Whack is all glammed out in a fur coat and shades the video and song perfectly transition into Hungry Hippo: The beat is slow, her vocals are sexy and confident, “He likes my diamonds and my pearl/I said, thank you I designed it/Not your average girl.”  She’s in the same threads while her and her friends are in an RV party.

Dr. Seuss: This beat is more mellow has more of a somber sound overall. In the video, Whack seems to be stuck in a house, Alice and wonderland style.  The lines the speak to me are “I’m sick and tired of all these niggas lyin'/About all the shit that they be buyin’/You ever laugh just to keep from crying/Think less about living and more about dying.”

 This whole album feels like the ultimate anthem for all the quirky Black girls, shit for any Black girl/femme/ queer that is tired being put into some box that we will never fulfill. Everyday were constantly just trying to live our lives and it feels within that society is always trying to shape us into the Black girls were supposed to be. “They tried to rob me/They cannot deny me/you cannot define me.”

 This album is the exact opposite of that, and it’s fucking magical. Black Women are not called Genius enough and that is exactly what Tierra Whack is, she is a fucking genius. Her creativity and imagination are unparalleled to anything I’ve seen recently.  I am truly excited to what she has next because it can only get better from here.

The means.

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.

@themeansto

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.

Photo by @childishfun

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.