Diverse World Fashion Harajuku Shoot BTS & Edits

"Take It To The Streets"

The Faces of Black Feminism: Revitalizing Black Women’s Voices in the 21st Century

“Black women have been feminists since before the word ‘feminist’ existed,” said Aiesha Turman, a scholar-practitioner based in Brooklyn, N.Y. These words were uttered during an interactive panel in November open to the public which was hosted by the Brooklyn Museum on behalf of MAPP International of New York City and 651 Arts of Brooklyn, N.Y. The panel was titled: Beyond Binaries and Boxes and consisted of 5 women who are current contributors to the ever-growing space that Black women take up within feminism currently. Panels and multimedia articles on feminism are popular in specific communities, yet at times, Black women are left out of many conversations on feminism in the 21^st century which is problematic. 


There are many Millennials and women of Generation Y contributing to the voice of Black feminism on social media, on online self-publishing sites and on behalf of media platforms or at companies in which they work on a daily basis.

Mainstream feminism’s method of storytelling at times rarely highlights the trailblazers within the revitalized Black feminist movement in Western culture. Their contributions to the movement carry on the messages of Black feminism which the originators Alice Walker, Audre Lorde and bell hooks created years ago.

Curio Shop Event.

Last Undergrad Homecoming Looks.

Wednesday - Top Flite 

Travis Scott Days Before Rodeo Review

Sex, drugs and rock n’ roll is a cliché definition of the world of 22-year-old Houston, Texas native Travi$ Scott AKA La Flame. The Very G.O.O.D. Beats (G.O.O.D. Music; Kanye West)/Grand Hustle (T.I.) signee  isn’t new to the Hip-Hop scene. Many underground music junkies discovered Scott through his album which was a major hit last summer, Owl Pharaoh. Some listeners may compare Scott to one of his music mentors, Kanye West. But, it’s seemingly a lazy comparison. Scott has a cult-like following similar to Mr. West, but there’s a southern twist on his work since he’s from Texas.

His cult-like following derives from his ability to capture the fast-paced culture within Houston. In an interview on David Rosenberg’s radio show Scott said, “I try to morph my personality into beats”. The title of the album ‘Days Before Rodeo’ is described by Scott as, “I feel like my life is a rodeo… I made this album for Houston”. Scott credits Kid Cudi and Michael Jackson as two of his musical influences in terms of performances and musically. He also credits major southern artists like U.G.K.’s Bun B and Pimp C as curators of Houston rap. But, what is also important to him is keeping the authenticity of his own experiences in Houston as a creator. In the interview Scott further expresses his well thought out process behind the project and his production work as a presentation of how he views his world full of open-minded people, a thorough vision and just over the top “rock star shit”.  

Scott makes it very clear in his Rosenberg interview that Houston is a flashy world within Texas with its’ own culture. Grills, cars, chopped n’ screwed tracks and fashion are staples in Houston. He also expresses that his work is an attempt to “give Houston a new vibe”. Scott is mentored by Kanye and T.I. which he believes humbles him.

What is concrete in the interview by Rosenberg is the fact that Scott is one of the few fresh, creative minds in the fast-paced Hip-Hop industry currently. His ability to create art is directly connected with how he expresses himself. Scott is thorough, calculated and a fine example of what Southern culture can birth/nurture in the 90’s and offer to Hip-Hop.

Vintage Leather.

Out & About.

Fine Ass Feminist.

PARTYNEXTDOOR 2 Review

Releasing  on July 29, 2014 was a piece of work which was arguably at the top of the list of releases to come out in 2014, PartyNextDoor 2 by a 21-year-old who is talented as hell and the reason I believe in R&B again. PartyNextDoor 2 singles released prior to the album dropping include ‘Her Way’ (dropped on July 13) and ‘Recognize’ (dropped on July 15).  Being a protégé of Drake sets artists up for a fan base stemming from the obsessed Tumblr junkies like myself who discovered The Weeknd on Tumblr over a year ago. Heavily influenced by the drug culture, PartyNextDoor paints a pretty picture of his world in Canada and his travels. But through and through, there’s something different about PartyNextDoor that was missing in R&B and computer generated music. Listeners realized this if they’ve listened to PARTYNEXTDOOR’s original self-titled EP digitally released last year on July 1. If you’re a pirate like me you had the EP months before that release.  The vocals in cohesion with the production as a whole make you want to listen to the music over and over in order. I’m guilty of doing this when I first discovered PartyNextDoor. When ‘Make A Mil’ the single dropped last year in the spring this is how many listeners were introduced to PartyNextDoor. That was also the way he presented his entry into the world of Ovo Sound an entity of Warner Brothers Music via Drake.  Little known facts for the fact obsessed out there, ‘Come Thru’ and ‘Own It’ off of Drake’s most recent album featured some background vocals from PartyNextDoor. The talent that lies within PartyNextDoor is how he seems to know the right things to say to the analog girls in the millennial generation. Fortunately for him some listeners don’t care about lyrics but as a Tumblr girl born in the 90’s who grew up listening to Jodeci, R.Kelly, Boyz II Men and old school R&B before black boy bands it was crazy how deeply attached I got to PartyNextDoor. It’s almost hard to stop listening to his music. The tracks on PartyNextDoor 2 are the ghosts of So Far Gone brought back to life to haunt overly emotional, naïve women who are drawn to men that are hipsters that probably used to intern and write at Complex.  PartyNextDoor 2 sexually objectifies women in a way that almost has not been done before. It’s a peek into the looking glass of how emotionally hip artists view women. This creates a comfortable barrier for men and women alike. The hint of drug culture, Canadian culture, the scenery of Miami and emotionally riveting beats combined with unique vocals make the album some of the best music released in all of 2014.

Shooting with Acidcupcakes.com!

Acid Cupcakes is an online vintage store created by two dear friends of mines, Gabrielle Alicea and Simone Webb! Gabrielle is a very talented artist and Simone is a fashion stylist and wardrobe consultant. These two #girlbosses are from Buffalo, New York. I met Gabrielle in high school and she inspired me to conceptualize my personal style when I met her and now that I reminisce she inspired me to pursue styling as a career. Her art (painting, drawing, etc.) is breathtaking and she even does tattoos. She recently graduated with an art degree from a school in Orlando, Florida. Simone, I met her thru Gabrielle as I was a college student. Her style as well as Gabby's is very unique and 'so NY'. Simone is a current Fashion Merchandising Student in NY! I gravitated towards their energies not only because of their 'grind hard' mentality but their love for art and fashion inspired me so much!

When they launched Acid Cupcakes I fell in love with their ability to price items at great rates. The two also shoot items prior to posting them on the site which gives the items a personal touch before they are purchased online. Acid Cupcakes has a great following on social media platforms. An Acid Cupcake Girl is an eccentric girl who loves adventure and has a taste for rare items no one else has. If you looked up Acid Cupcake Girl online you would see Rihanna and Nicole Richie. Acid Cupcake Girls aren't afraid to test the waters and embrace their personal style! I hope this shoot inspires you readers to want to be an Acid Cupcake Girl! I think I was initiated as one during the shoot! ;)

To check out their site Acid Cupcakes visit it here! To view Gabrielle's work click here! To view Simone's styling work visit that here!

Happy viewing, xo.

July Haul + Gifts.

Sunday Pleasantries.

Superga, Am I A Blogger Yet?

Pressed in July.

Jay-Z Reasonable Doubt Review

Reasonable Doubt was released on June 25, 1996 as Jay-Z’s first studio released album on behalf of his own label Roc-a-Fella Records. It is evident in this album that Jay-Z had an old money, mob family type of vibe. Kevin Liles of Warner Music Group and Def Jam Recordings said that “Jay was a very cultural rapper” with a “conversational style” in the Dalorsworld Documentary on Reasonable Doubt. Reasonable Doubt is the foundation of everything Jay-Z has done throughout his rap career including creating Roc-A-Fella Records from the ground up. In Reasonable Doubt his rhyme scheme is very intricate and also visual, seemingly coded for the environment which he was a part of during the 90s.

Objectification of Black Women & Black Womanism v. Feminism

     

           In Western culture women of color are often stigmatized and portrayed negatively which causes countless issues within many power structures in society. The symbols associated with black women create dichotomies and major division in Black America which are constantly at battle with one another in the new media of the black millennial generation. The “hypersexualization” of women of color throughout time is problematic due to how Black women are presented on a grand scale. The control of the Black women’s image has been prevalent since women of color were on slave plantations prior to Reconstruction. The conceptualization of women of color and the images associated with them have been in the hands of the white male power structure. In the age of new media and throughout time following Reconstruction Black women have slowly and steadily began to control their own images.

Michael Eric Dyson vs. Stephen A. Smith Remarks on Mark Cuban's Post Racial Society Comments

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban’s remarks pertaining to society’s challenges with racism and Donald Sterling exposed the issues white males have with racism, bigotry and prejudices in society. Mark Cuban’s remarks highlighted his white privilege, proved he believed we live in a post-racial society and he also attempted to balance his statements by addressing stereotypes. “I know I'm prejudiced, and I know I'm bigoted in a lot of different ways,” Cuban said. His remarks were alarming and problematic due to the negative connotations associated with his diction.

Once Again Review - John Legend

Once Again Released Oct. 16, 2006

As the second neo-soul studio album by the talented, John Legend, ‘Once Again’ is a beautifully composed piece of work. Released by GOOD Music and Sony Music Entertainment late in 2006, the album had great reviews according to The Rolling Stone, The Observer and The Village Voice. John Legend according to Wikipedia.com “co-wrote and co-produced the bulk of the album, working with collaborators such as Kanye West, will.i.am, Raphael Saadiq, Craig Street, Sa-Ra, Eric Hudson, Devo Springsteen, Dave Tozer and Avenue.”

Rihanna and The Oversexed, Erotic Image of The Black Woman

A few months ago it was announced that Robin “Rihanna” Fenty  would win the  Council of Fashion Designers of America 2014 Fashion Icon Award. The songstress is a pop icon that undoubtedly turns heads for her striking beauty and perfectly conceptualized looks. Her stylist Mel Ottenberg and Adam Selman, a designer she had previously worked with were the major influences on her nearly naked dress she wore to this year’s CFDA Awards. The Swarovski crystal encrusted dress was custom designed and made by Adam Selman and a team of individuals. The translucent, mesh dress had over 230,000 Swarovski crystals. On Josephine Baker’s birthday June 5^th, Rihanna tweeted a photo of her next to the iconic entertainer stating:

“Happy birthday to the late Josephine Baker! You have and will continue to inspire us women for decades to come!”

This creates a paradigm between women of color who are entertainers and viewed as oversexed in the eyes of the mass media. The mass media as a whole ‘over reports’ on the sexually deviant lives of women of color by presenting them as wild, hot, highly sexual beings. Shows on VH1, Bravo TV, etc. associate negative connotations with being a Black women in Western culture. Artists such as Rihanna, Beyonce and countless others are seemingly always in the spotlight. Their images are worth money which explains why in the mass media some Black or non-black women are obsessed with the images they see of these two stars. It all perpetuates a false reality since viewers, listeners and readers do not literally know the lives of these women.

AMERIKKKAN KORRUPTION - CAPITAL STEEZ

AMERIKKKAN KORRUPTION came about during a time in my high school years where everyone was following fads and trying to fit in and naturally I did the same. It got to a certain point where I asked myself why? I started to open my eyes, I was a slave to television, media, and the daily motions of what we call the AMERIKKKAN Dream. My only intentions are to get the AMERIKKKAN Public to open up that 3rd eye just a little bit, and from there we ALL can grow. –Capital STEEZ of ProEra

ProEra based in Flatbush Brooklyn has a cult-like following and an underground appeal. The rappers, producers and artists whom make up ProEra are known for their inherent ability to make great hip-hop. The topics they talk about in their music makes mainstream artists obsolete to hip-hop heads. One of the most unique members committed suicide almost two years ago, Courtney Jamal Dewar.

Elliot Rodger UCSB Shooting and Stabbing Rampage

In Isla Vista, California mental illness and misogyny are links to the reckless acts done on behalf of Elliot Rodgers a young individual enrolled at UCSB. It’s important to first point out the media coverage of this unfortunate day. The story was presented in a manner that had undertones of the mental issues and social issues Elliot Rodgers had. His rampage left 6 individuals dead and many others hurt. When headlines on Twitter from news sources were running down my timeline it became difficult for me to click the links to read the stories.

Nas Tracks In Depth

If I Ruled The World (Imagine That) 1996 

I remember growing up in the 90s hearing this song on the radio. This track appeared as the last song on Nas’ second album It Was Written. The lyrics in this song are profound and it holds deep historical context in reference to issues Black Americans are currently dealing with. Nas speaks about marijuana, better housing, the ‘miseducation’ of Blacks, traveling, imprisonment of our men and him ruling the world. It is seemingly a utopia he effortlessly spits to listeners. What helps this song move smoothly is the addition of Lauryn Hill’s soulful voice in the hook at the middle and in the bridge as well as the chorus. This track respectfully is one of the greatest songs Nas has ever released. Simply because it is an uplifting song in which his feelings towards the youth, current Black Americans and how he feels about America currently. 

North Miami Art Museum Art Feud

The Miami Museum of Contemporary Art according to the New York Times has two different directors. One, Babacar M’Bow was appointed by the city manager and yet another has an office in the museum, Alex Gartenfeld. This confusion is only a small piece of the major issues which are a part of the feud happening between the board of trustees and North Miami. According to the New York Times article which appeared in print on May 18, the museum’s board hopes to leave North Miami and merge with the Bass Museum of Art in Miami Beach. The board believes North Miami hasn’t taken care of the building.

Mama's Gun Review - Erykah Badu

Mama’s Gun Released Nov. 21, 2000

Erykah Badu’s second studio album released on behalf of Motown Records was an iconic album. As a Neo-Soul artist Badu goes against the grain and explores jazz, funk and blues. Her ability to deeply express her feelings and actions through song allows listeners to understand her strength within the genre, neo-soul.  

Badu’s soothing vocals are reminiscent of Black artists who sang passionately during the Harlem Renaissance such as the iconic Billie Holiday. 

Magic Johnson and White Patriarchy

According to CNN.com “[Magic] Johnson became an involuntary figure in the controversy after Sterling named him in the leaked recording”. Due to the issues surrounding race relations throughout American history the Donald Sterling recording expose is prevalent in American’s minds. Sterling’s interview on Tuesday night was shocking to many as proven online as thousands of individuals live tweeted during the interview.