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R&B singer Sebastian Mikael shares thoughts on his latest EP, soul music, and the importance of authenticity. (Photo: Tabbytha Ferguson)

Conformity is the last thing on Sebastian Mikael’s mind.

With just over 10 years under his belt as an artist, the singer is all too familiar with the ramifications of conformity, the stifling of creative freedom, and the placement of a label’s expectations at the forefront. However, he has no desire to return to that place.

Nowadays, the Sweden-born, Boston-

An ode to the “Queen of Funk” and the audacity of her sophomore album.

This note serves as a formal petition to the folks over at Merriam Webster: the definition provided for the word “audacious” does not suffice.

Sure, phrases like “intrepidly daring,” “marked by verve,” and “contemptuous of decorum” could provide a fair level of understanding.

Yet, a word that seeks to communicate such zeal for boldness needs a stronger, more tangible representative. One whose impact can be felt, seen, and

A deep dive into Black artistry and how Black musicians are the blueprint.

American music comprises a number of genres and distinct sounds, but they all have one thing in common. The rhythms, flows, and cadence are found in the fabric of the Black diaspora.

From the second enslaved Africans set their feet upon the shores of the Americas, music became an essential aspect of Black American culture. It was through music that they could trek through their arduous tasks. It was through music that t

D’Angelo’s “Voodoo” was released on January 25, 2000. 24 years later, How Does It Feel?

There’s something that most if not all great artists have in common, and it is the perpetual strive toward perfection.

It is often said that perfection is an illusion that, when sought after, does nothing but hold you back. And maybe there’s some merit to this premise. Maybe the impossible task of attaining perfection is why Michael Eugene Archer, or D’Angelo, has only released three projects in the nearly

Racial profiling, and the overall criminalization of minorities, cause Black people to be perceived as aggressive and likely to engage in suspicious activity. These presumptions lead to an undeniable difference in the treatment of Black people and white people in various situations.

The disparity in perception is often heightened in situations where one seems to be visibly upset or enraged. It has been especially notable when looking at the protests over social distancing and shutdowns, which a

Is Kenya Barris’ new sitcom a try-hard attempt at portraying Blackness, or do I need to get past the first episode?

For years, the media has been anti-Black. It has aided in the perpetuation of an array of stereotypes that ultimately undermine the capabilities of Black people. And sometimes, it is not just from non-Black writers.

Black writers and content creators, too, contribute to the anti-blackness that tends to be inherent in the media we consume, whether it is done so subtly or blatantly

To whom it may concern,

I write to you in a state of mind where the following sentiments fight for dominance:

Yet these words only barely scratch the surface of how I feel every time I see that another Black life has been stolen.

Two summers ago, in the summer of 2018, I heard about Antwon Rose, an unarmed 17-year-old that was shot and killed by a cop in East Pittsburgh.

Before him it was Philando Castille, and Eric Garner, and Sandra Bland, and Tamir Rice, and a multitude of others whose na

“En Black” is a series exploring different perspectives on Blackness, the Black identity and how this influences everyday life.

The term manhood is defined as being a condition that distinguishes men from children and from women. Within the context of societal influence, this entails traditional masculine traits, such as courage, fearlessness and strength.

While concepts such as these allow for the human to label and organize how one experiences life, they do not always account for other facto

“Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground.”

Writer, statesman and abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass uttered these words during his delivery of the “West India Emancipation” speech in 1857.

Frederick Douglass agitated the status quo in an effort to procure freedom for enslaved peoples and independence from the nasty grips of imperialism and colonialism. As time progressed and degrees of freedom were achieved, effo

True art does more than appeal to the eye.

It is compelling. It tells a meaningful story.

Most of all, it connects deeply to the emotions of the onlookers.

In the case of the talented Bisa Butler, her tantalizing textiles execute all three of these attributes to the fullest extent. As an artist who works exclusively with fabric, her attention to details, textures and layering are quite important in producing portrait quilts.

“Dear Mama”, a 2019 dedication to mothers, resonated deeply with me

Women never cease to amaze me.

Although women are often written off and overlooked due to societal standards and misogyny, their work in shaping some of society’s most influential attributes is never lacking.

Hip-hop and rap music have served as a strong force in amplifying Black culture, touching upon various issues and breaking down musical boundaries.

As strong as women are, it comes as no surprise that they have a prominent place in the genre.

Through their creative flows, sick wordplay

Entertainers often say that any publicity is good publicity.

Regardless of the potential negative attention that one might receive as the result of scandal or controversy, the traction that these situations bring can be extremely profitable.

In an age where social media functions like any other job, conflict and the ramifications of the so-called “cancel culture” are often extremely beneficial because people can attract support, whether it is intentional or unintentional. Every click and every