Harlem: Season 2

Our favorite best friends are back and this season ain’t playin no games. Camille (Meagan Good) is back with Ian… things are going to say the least but the communication is still rocky as fuck. Angie (Shoniqua Shandai) is still pursuing her career in the arts and finally lands a decent gig but there are some hick ups.. aka another white industry that doesn’t know how to cater to their Black clientele. Tye (Jerri Johnson) is trying to understand why she doesn’t take relationships seriously. Which is ironic since she’s also in the middle of trying to divorce her husband. Quinn (Grace Byers) is trying to make everything perfect while simultaneously making herself miserable.

I love the themes that are being explored in this season especially through the lens of Black/Queer women. They show how depression can happen to people that look like they have it all together. How there is no shame in talking to your physician and especially no shame in taking medication that can potentially make things better and easier for your life. The show speaks on relationships and commitment. Not only romantic but platonic as well. How the way your upbringing/environment can help shape the way you communicate or lack of communication. There’s a scene when we meet Camille’s mom (played by the wonderful Joie Lee, Crooklyn) and there is some unhealed mental illness, some hoarding, some unspoken truths and you get a somewhat idea of why certain conversations can be hard for Camille.

One really important aspect that they cover that I feel like doesn’t get as much talk especially on tv series is navigating white spaces as a Black woman. Especially white work spaces that are suppose to cater to your certain needs (like working on a network/show) and they don’t have products, hair stylist, etc for you and expect Black women to have it already figured out instead of having the resources readily available for them like their white coworkers.

This show really digs deep. I’m so excited to see what will happen for these women. Will Camille and Ian work it out, or did he break up his marriage for his past? Will Tye find true love? Will Quinn put herself first? And will Angie keep standing up for herself and not let the bullshit bring her down?

Season two streaming on Amazon Prime

Swarm

I was so fucking excited when I saw that Donald Glover had another show coming out. Especially after Atlanta finishing up their last season, I was afraid it would be awhile until we got something else from him. But like always, he does not disappoint. Swarm is everything. There are so many layers to this series. With every episode there is so much intention. I found myself coming up for air after each episode. Still debating to myself if I was cheering for Dre. I found myself seeing young awkward Tesia in her. ( but not the killing and harming shit) but the misunderstanding and the impatience.

This series is about a young Black girl name Dre. Dre loves Ni’Jah. Ni’jah is the fucking queen bee, period. If you don’t agree and talk shit on her name you will pay the price. We follow how one night changes everything for Dre, how she loses the only person she has ever loved and the destruction that follows.

The cast in this series is also incredible including Chloe Bailey (Grown-ish), Billie Eilish, Damson Idris (Snowfall), Paris Jackson, Kiersey Clemons (Somebody I used to know, Fairfax), and MOTHERFUCKIN LEON! IYKYK (Cool Runnings, Waiting to Exhale), Cree Summer (A Different World) and of course Dominique Fishback (Judas and the Black Messiah, Power Project)

All episodes streaming on Amazon Prime, also check out their Spotify playlist for all the original songs for the series!

Rye Lane

Yas (Vivian Oparah) and Dom (David Jonsson) meet unexpectedly at a mutual friends art show. Sparks soon fly between them as they end up spending the whole day together. Dom recently had his heartbroken and Yas has just ended her relationship. Through a day of shenanigans and being there for one another meeting ex’s, will they realize that this could be something more.

This movies is genuine and very funny. I wasn’t familiar with both of these actors but will watch whatever is next for the both of them. The acting together didn’t feel forced, it felt natural and breezy and you are just rooting for them both the whole time. Directed by Raine Allen Miller (Jerk 2018), (Christmas to the Maxx 2021) this rom com will have you laughing your ass off but also like me make you remember that ex that you thought you couldn’t live without anymore. Then you found out, fuck that ex, fuck anyone who tries to put you down or your creativity.

Available now on Hulu

Abbott Elementary

I know there is a lot of television shows and movies out right now but the one you don’t wanna miss is Abbott Elementary. A mokumentary based in Philly focusing on a group of passionate teachers working in a low budget public school Abbott Elementary. Despite all the shenanigans, budget cuts, a principle that doesn’t quite get it, they still work their hardest to do what’s best for their students. From the wonderful mind of Quinta Brunson (Vine, buzzfeed, YouTube shorts) who plays naive Janine Teague. Now making a huge splash with this Emmy Award winning television show. Quinta has worked so hard and is finally getting the recognition she deserves. SPEAKING OF RECOGNITION, her co-star, Sheryl Lee Ralph (DreamGirls, Moesha, Sister Act 2) was awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting actress. Which hasn’t happened for a Black Woman in 35 years!

We also have Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris, Unaccompanied Minors, Dear White People) who plays Gregory, at first just a substitute teacher who turns full time, while also hoping to be more to Janine.

Janelle James (Central Park, Black Monday) who plays the hilarious principal Ava Coleman who just doesn’t get it and continuously only looks out for her instead of the school.

With season 2 out the story continues with the teachers doing their best to make the school better, students happy and for their personal life’s to get more interesting! I’m team Janine and Gregory- let’s go!

Willow: <coping mechanism>

The pure growth in every album is pretty astonishing. I love the flow of Willow. She easily combines different genres to create her sound. I do enjoy this album alil more than the last. Compared this albums sounds less commercial. Not as many features, which I personally enjoy.

Willow still has this ethereal sound with notes of pop punk, hard guitar rifts and sad emo Black girl vibes that I could only dream of when I was younger. I will say Willow is very consistent in her themes. Very relatable content regarding, mental health, relationships, growth, healing & coping. I think everyone had some time during the pandemic to ask themselves, is this who I want to be and are these the things I really want/what I want to spend my life doing. We all have different coping mechanisms but are they healthy or toxic?

SZA: SOS

IT FINALLY HAPPENED. Our girl, SZA came through with another album. BITCH!! She came through hard as hell too! With a whopping twenty-three tracks. We were blessed. This album is definitely a totally different vibe. I will say some of the themes feel somewhat like CTRL, dealing with insecurity and messy relationships but this time, SZA sounds more sure of herself in a way. The lyrical stories in each track sound very intentional. The sound itself throughout the album is varies. We have her lo-fi R&B sounds but with poppy punk notes that makes my lil emo heart very happy. SZA is not only singing but home-girl has bars too.

Overall, I am very happy with this amazing collection of talent that she graciously bestowed upon us. I heard rumors that this may be her last album. I hope that is not true. She is such a gift and so talented. But with that said, Do you sis!

Some* of my favorite tracks and lyrics that stood out to me include:

Kill Bill: “ I get the sense that you might really love her, the text gon’ be evidence, this text is evidence”

Love Language: “Text me like I’m waiting for you to come lie to me, ruin my day sayin shit to hurt me, I can’t compete. Still on the way, I lay awake if you’re not around me. I’m so on to you, still gone for you.”

Seek & Destroy: “I can’t stand it, the urge. Is so demandin’ the purge. So necessary, the art of war. Goddamn it, I’m drained. Now that I’ve ruined everything, I cannot complain. Now that I’ve ruined everything I’m so fuckin’ free.”

This album goes hard. Fuck with it 🖤

NOPE

Jordan Peele fucking did it again. Starring Keke Palmer, Daniel Kaluuya, Steven Yeun, Michael Wincott and Brandon Perea who plays Angel. (Part of the comic relief. New face for me and i really loved his work too.) But this one was different. Good different. I just really loved how this movie has everything, the Sci fi aspect, the suspense. I felt like i was constantly on the edge of my seat, just impatient, I needed to know what was coming next NOW lol. Every time the next scene was something better than I could ever imagine.

The camera work was impeccable. The shots were creative and engaging. The ending was insane. I know I’m getting ahead of myself but without spoiling too much. This movie was exciting, terrifying in some aspects with the creativity with the UFO aspect but also endearing. Keke and Daniel gave us some real sibling vibes.

I also really enjoyed seeing Michael Wincott who plays Antlers Holst. A incredible cinematographer that they happen to convince to help them with a “money shot.” His face might look familiar from the cult classic The Crow.

Very creative work, and it really just got me very excited to see what else Jordan Peele has up his sleeves. What other genres will he incorporate into his work. 10/10 recommend.

Go support Black Films, Black writers, Black actors, Black Directors. We have so much to say and show and it’s all so brilliant.

Alice

Alice is a Sundance film that came out in January. Directed by Krystin Ver Linden. Starring KeKe Palmer (NOPE, Light Year), Common (The Hate U Give) and Jonny Lee Miller (Elementary, Hackers). Keke plays Alice, an enslaved woman. She never leaves the plantation and nobody really comes in or out. Alice knows something isn’t right. That the world can’t be limited with only misery and torture. Alice suddenly realizes everything she has ever known is a lie and that more is happening out in the world.

Alice soon finds out it’s really 1973 and that There’s a revolution going on. That Black people have been fighting and continue to fight for equality, for the right to be a human being. For the right to live. With the help of a new friend Alice plans on making things right and making sure the family that owned her and her parents get what they GOT COMING! Because Alice wants what she deserves—FREEDOM.