Updated Podcast Diet!

While at work today, I was typing away while listening to a podcast as I regularly do now, and I had a thought. Since I haven't written on here in a while, and I'm currently having an indecisive moment when it comes to books (no reviews coming anytime soon), why not write about the type of art that's engaging me the most right now? Since my last roundup I've latched onto about 13 podcasts that I listen to both actively for entertainment or information and passively for welcome distraction or background noise to help me focus, and I'd like to share them with you. Here they are, in no particular order.

2 Guys and a Girl (Xavier, Jade, and Jay): Three friends in NYC talk about current events, Black music, personal stories, and whatever else comes to mind. Highlights include "Cocktail of the Week", "Say No to Co-Workers", and "Fucked Up Song of the Week".

Bodega Boys (Desus Nice and The Kid Mero): Two comedians and TV personalities from the Bronx shoot the 'ish. Intelligent content with satisfyingly ignint delivery. Highlights include "the art", Desus' Ben Carson impressions, and pretty much everything else.

Black Girls Talking (Fatima, Aurelia, Ramou, and Alesia): Four 20-somethings from different parts of North America come together to talk pop culture, media representation, self-care, variations of Blackness, and other topics that concern them as Black millennial women. Highlights include their "Bonus" episodes, which tend to be more specialized and often include interviews with special guests.

Jinjja Cha (Girl Davis and April): Flaunting a made-up phrase meaning "real tea" in Korean, two Black women from opposite sides of the pond (Girl Davis in London, April in Kansas City) spill all the tea about Korean music and culture, K-pop gossip, and all things related to Korea and the expat life. Highlights include 2-hour episodes (as of late), the listener letter segment "Anonymous", song reviews, and Girl Davis' exquisitely impassioned and informative tangents.

Melanin Millenials (Imrie and Satia): A pair of 20-somethings in London of Jamaican and Guinea Bissauan descent (respectively) discuss current events, politics, identity, and Twitter happenings from a British perspective. Highlights include "Your Comment Should Not Be Free" and "Afrobate".

We Just Got Back/WJGB (Tam, King Cam, and Boj): After having spent time studying/working in the UK and the US in particular, these three friends discuss their lives in Lagos since returning to Nigeria. Think UPN's 'Girlfriends', except more unabashed, with lovely Naija accents, and in podcast form. Highlights include their embarrassing stories, occasionally bizarre sex talk, and insights on dealing with Nigerian men's expectations.

Mostly Lit (Reckless Rai and Alex Reads/AJ): A cousin podcast of Melanin Millenials, Rai and Alex are British book nerds who discuss literature within the context of current culture and society, especially as it pertains to colonialism, trends, and POC experiences. Highlights include Alex's voice,  their  book recommendations, and their most recent Disney episode.

Your Black Friends (Eric Vincent, Martin Weiss, and Camille Johnson): For melanated and non-melanated people with no Black friends, this trio of  Detroit area residents and UofM grads volunteer to explain topics related to Black culture, hip-hop, current events, the Metro Detroit area, and Twitter/Instagram/Snapchat happenings. Highlights include their occasional shouting matches; hard to listen to but it's impressive that they leave them in the finished product anyway.

Sisterly Love (Shaina and Candice): Two sisters from Mississippi chat while offering tidbits of wisdom to get you through the day, flecked with Bible verses and Christ-centered inspirational thinking. Highlights include short episodes (under 30 minutes), and delivering a Word that is easily applicable to everyday life.

My Brother, My Brother and Me/MBMBaM (Justin, Travis and Griffin McElroy): Three brothers take random questions from Yahoo! Answers and their own inbox and answer them as if the askers of those questions are actually listening. A mostly irreverent, mostly phony advice show that has some hilarious moments. Highlights include custom jingles in the "Money Zone", and the last question of every episode, which always goes unanswered.

RISK! (Kevin Allison): Curated and edited recordings from RISK! storytelling events around the country, with the occasional radio-style recording thrown in for good measure. Each episode and event is themed, and featured speakers have the freedom to talk about whatever they want. Lots of honesty, vulgarity, laughs, and occasional crying. Also astonishingly sex, kink, body, and LGBT positive. Can't pick a highlight because all of the episodes are excellent in their own way.

Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People, a.k.a. Beautiful/Anonymous (Chris Gethard): Comedian Chris Gethard allows anyone to call him, talk about whatever they want, and keep up a conversation for up to an hour. The only rules: Chris can't hang up, the caller can't tell him their name, and the phone cuts off exactly at the 1-hour mark. Like RISK! this one's all about connecting with people, but the spontaneity of it and the way that Chris' kindness and humor get people to keep talking make it truly special. Highlights include "The Most Amazing Destruction", which I'm listening to as I write this list.

2 Dope Queens (Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams): A hybrid storytelling event and stand-up comedy show in which comedian friends Phoebe and Jessica perform their podcast live in Brooklyn, often joined by their various comedian friends. Highlights include the freedom with which the hosts display their friendship and the candid stories they tell during their opening sets.

All of these podcasts come highly recommended from yours truly. I wouldn't be surprised if my podcast diet expands even more during the remainder of the year, and if so I'll definitely have another list coming up for you. Happy listening!

Shut up and take my money, Stromae!

Mannn. I don't care that I paid to see this same concert in Detroit Royal Oak back in September. I don't care that I just sat for two hours and watched this whole concert over again for free, reminiscing. Come December 11th or shortly after, this DVD will be mine. Stromae, you've changed my life and you've got an eternal fan in me. Je vous remercie de m'avoir profondément inspiré.

Current Podcast Diet

Below is a list of my current podcast diet, in order of familiarity. The ones I listen to most are in bold. I might spend more time writing about each one later (like I've already done with The Read). But right now I just wanted to leave this list here because I've been listening to podcasts almost around the clock recently, plus it's a convenient excuse to introduce a particular episode that is affecting me as I write this.

Love Hour (Kevonstage/Kevin Fredericks and Melissa Fredericks)
The Read (Kid Fury and Crissle West)
The Black Dad Podcast (Jamal Press and Murphy)
Another Round (Heben Nigatu and Tracy Clayton)
The Friend Zone (Assante, Dustin Ross, and HeyFranHey) 
MMHMM, GIRL (Lola and Babs)
Last Name Basis (Chescaleigh/Francesca Ramsey and Patrick)
For Colored Nerds (Brittany and Eric)

I'm currently listening to an episode of For Colored Nerds titled "Anything But Silence". Until this moment I'd never heard of writer Ashley Ford. But as I listen to her story about having a seemingly unfeasible passion, loving to write, not being able to thrive in situations she doesn't care about, and being prompted by long-held shame and guilt to share as little of herself with others as possible, yet still striving to develop and project her voice... she. is. me. Thank you for talking about your journey to becoming a professional writer and what you believe art is for. Bless you. If anybody's reading this, I hope you give this a listen and that it reminds you of something you've let go of in some way.

All Things Get Better.

Discovered this song on Saturday, have listened to it almost everyday since, and it lays me out every time. Can't get through a single listen without tearing up. Thank you Kirk Franklin, for continuing to use your gift of song and story (Lawdhammercy, those lyrics!) to heal hearts even after two decades. And thank you Geoffrey Golden, for coming out of the gate strong after winning Sunday Best. We young'uns need peers like you set the example that you're setting.

This.

Korean and Japanese men collaborating? Rapping to trap music? And goin' hard? You can't tell me that Black people, the hood, and the things we create aren't all things powerful and transcendent. This is all the proof you need. You're welcome.

Favorite Song of the Year (so far!)

Ugh, this song. YAAAS, this song! This song is a godsend!

When I'm unnerved from dealing with rude customers at work. When I want to get my mind right. When I just need to get my bones movin', blood flowin', and butt jigglin'. This song is there. It's just full of so much self-love, finesse, and bold dignity. It makes me want to look all my problems and all those rude people in the face, yell "BYE, FOOL!" and hit a smooth shmoney dance before waving them off like the stench from yesterday's trash and strutting away. The beat is one thing, but the lyrics! The lyrics are sophistiratchet gold! Oh, let me count the ways:

I'm a classic man
You can be me when you look this clean/

I got charm like a leprechaun, mummaf***a
Now y'all f***in' with the wrong mummaf***a/

I'm the- I'm the man, who are you, mu'f***a?
Shine bright like a jewel, mu'f***a
Even under fire I'm cool, mu'f***a/

The ladies on my elbow ain't for the show 
Every madame on my team is a top general, oh/

How can you not believe that you're the brightest, most beautiful, most capable, most resilient being to ever walk the earth after listening to this song? I sing and hum "Classic Man" to myself to keep me sane.

Jidenna, our resident classic man. Many thanks and blessings to you, sir! Walkin' round dressing and carrying yourself like somebody's smoothly distinguished uncle or grandpappy. Go 'head on!

Mystikal is Back!

If that name doesn't immediately ring a bell, and neither do the phrases "Shake it fast, show me watchu workin' wit" or "Danger! Get on the flo'! The n*gga richea! Sang it!", then you are too young for life and don't even bother reading the rest of this. For everyone else...

"This performance is dedicated to all the playa-hatin' teachers that won't let a lil' gangsta shine."



Mystikal. Sir. That unmistakable voice. I don't know what happened to you, where you went, or how you and  Mark Ronson got linked up. But I'm glad you're back and I applaud you. This beats the pants off of "Uptown Funk" for me any day. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for coming back and showing the world that you still got it.

That is all.

On Repeat: The Read

It seems that podcasts are becoming more and more the rage lately, and like many media trends, I was originally more than happy to let this one pass me by. That was until about 3 weeks ago, when I was first introduced to The Read. Around that time I came across an Ebony Magazine article about Black women who are doing extremely well for themselves in the realm of podcasting, and The Read was among the programs listed. I'd heard mention of The Read once before via LoveHour (a podcast that I only listen to casually, also included in the article), and after reading Ebony Mag's short write-up I decided to give them a listen.

And let me tell you, it was downhill from there. After I listened to their very first episode, I just couldn't stop listening. I even downloaded SoundCloud for easy access, and ended up spending nearly 3 weeks catching myself up on all of their work, which amounts to over two years' (117 episodes) worth of pop culture trash talk, ranting righteously about social issues, and "reading" people for their ridiculousness.

The Read has been around since 2013, and is hosted by friends and media personalities Kid Fury and Crissle. Both are transplants to NYC from the South (Kid Fury from Miami, Crissle from Tulsa, Oklahoma). Both are Beyoncé stans. They're also both black, gay, and Christian, which I think adds a refreshing perspective to their commentary since I personally don't know any people who publicly identify as all three. None of those things define all that these two individuals are, but they do offer insights that I've never heard before, and I feel like I'm learning about a whole new side of life thanks to them. The structure of their episodes has evolved over time, but the current one is as follows. First they chat briefly about how they're doing and how their week is going. Then they recognize one or two individuals who represent #BlackExcellence due to their achievements and how they represent for our people. Then they get into the meat of the episode, which is hot topics, where they talk crap about celebrity goings-on that they claim not to care about. Next is an advice column-like section where they answer two or three questions emailed to them by listeners. And last but not least is the main event, a segment that they call, "The Read".

Now, for those who aren't familiar with AAVE (especially as it intersects with LGBT and Atlanta slang), to "read" someone means to tell someone off. When you read someone, you're telling them about themselves with all the anger, sharp tongue, voice-raising, bluntness (and often profanity), that you deem necessary. (This is not to be confused with "shade", where you say something rude, dismissive, or straightforward to/about someone without actually saying it explicitly.) During the last segment of each episode, Kid Fury and Crissle both have their turn setting a person, a group of people, or an organization/institution straight for doing or saying something that they believe is rude, ignorant, racist, despicable, petty, or just plain stupid. Or you know, all of the above, if the shoe fits.

If you listen to one episode of theirs and don't get the appeal, just listen to a few more and let it sink it. Sure, on the surface Kid Fury and Crissle are loud, vulgar, and slightly petty themselves, but they're also exquisitely self-aware, unbothered, and brilliant at the same exact time. Plus they're hilarious! And I love them for it. Trust me, you don't know what you're missing! Give The Read a chance and I don't think you'll regret it!

Most recent episode: Because it Applies



Past favorites (in chronological order):

Say No to F*ckboys
Paula's Best Dish
Beyoncé Holiday Spectacular
Live One Year Anniversary Show
In My Skin
All Shade
The Upheaval
Ghetto Gratitude
Read & Green
B*tch U Guessed It: The Read Turns Two
The Snatching
Window Lives Don't Matter
Hazed

On Repeat: "carmen"

When I was in Paris last summer my host mom told me that Stromae is a genius, and this song and video are only further proof of this fact!

Whether we saw it coming or not, whether we like it or not, social media has become part of everyone's lives. This goes even for people who aren't on any social media sites, because many still spend time ridiculing people who are, and many find themselves having to explain or defend their choice not to get involved in this dizzying non-stop world of online vices and distraction.

And because this is now a part of everyone's lives, Stromae confronts us with his vision of possible consequences.



Now of course, we won't literally die from social media use. Our bodies won't shut down from, say, tweeting too much. But what does often happen is that people spend so much of their time scrolling, viewing, sharing, and amassing likes, friends, and followers that they no longer go out and have real experiences or form in-person relationships apart from all that. They let social media monopolize their attention and consume their every being. (Hence, the humongous man-eating Twitter bird and its minions delivering unsuspecting social media addicts as sacrifices.) In that sense, such people do stop living.

But what's Stromae without a little genius AND irony? Even with his criticism of consumerism and social media use, this video is reaching millions of eyes through what? YouTube. And he's also been promoting the single through illustrations posted on what? His new Instagram page, where his character in the music video continues to craft his make-believe life before our very eyes (meta, anyone?). And talk of this song, this video, and Stromae's message is going to blow up where? All over the Internet. I mean, just look at what I'm doing right now! I'm writing about this on my blog, and then I'll share this post on Facebook when I'm done... so along with all the other netizens around the world, I'm also proving his point!  And this doesn't get past Stromae either. He's well aware that this is the world we live in today; we can no longer escape technology, neither its good nor its bad. But to what extent do we allow it to alter how we live our lives? I've written about this question before, and it's almost frightening to be reminded that we don't know where this virtual reverie is taking us.

Having said all that, I encourage you to enjoy this work of art! But don't let the message go over your head (I don't see how it could, but still). This is a grand opportunity for all of us to reflect on our habits. Thank you and well done, Stromae!

On Repeat: "BILLS!"

This came on the radio during my drive home today and... Lawdhammercy. I'm calling it. If this song doesn't become a monster hit around the world, something is wrong.

Those simple yet catchy lyrics? The accurate description of the day-in, day-out life of responsible adults? (So I hear at least; this chick can't relate since she doesn't have any bills yet, but I hear Ma and all the other grownups talking about it all the time so it must be true. Folks will have you out here thinking there's nothing more to life than bills, monotony and exhaustion, but I digress.) And THEM CHURCH CHORDS?! Anyone who's grown up in church and listens to the song will know exactly what I mean. THEM PIANO CHORDS IS CHURCH CHORDS. I don't know how this man managed to mix church chord progressions with EDM untz-untz and make it sound good─no, better than good!─but he did it and I'm all for it.

I can totally see this tune having an effect similar to what Big Sean's "IDFWU" has had on people the past couple of months. On the one hand it's a club-banger that will get people on their feet with the quickness. But it's also the type of song that people love to lose their minds and scream along to for release, recalling all the crap they've gone through that the song makes them think about. Bitterness + humor + danceable beat = blazing song. Why not? I can hear folks scream-singing already:

I GOT BILLS! I GOTTA PAY
SO I'M GON' WORK, WORK, WORK, EVERYDAY!

Bravo to you, LunchMoney Lewis, for being seen as a #BeautifulBigandBlack family man in your MV and doing your thing with this song. Your debut single, to boot! If this is only the beginning then wooo-wheee, I'm scared of you!

On Repeat: "Every Moment"

I've been really down lately, and while I was at work this morning I remembered this song. It's called "Every Moment" by forever JONES, and it's certainly not new. But it's one of my favorite gospel songs because it conveys vulnerability, sadness, and hopeful reliance on God so delicately. Its production and musical style are also not what you'd typically hear from a black gospel group. I especially love this song for the analogy it makes about God as a bird; an ever-present, covering force that's not only watching over us, but is right here beside us. He floats in the air, as breath and life itself. My favorite lines are especially:

You're in the midst of chaos, hiding me beneath your feathers
You will keep my heart from failing
--
He will stretch his wings to cover you when troubled times appear
Giving courage to the fearful heart, forever standing near

I've been playing this song over and over literally all day, mouthing the words to myself. At work, on the bus to and from class, as I write this post. Even when I wasn't actually listening to it, I was hearing it in my head. All the while tearing up but trying no to let the tears fall, desperately wanting to believe that the assurances in this song truly apply to me too. I'm ashamed to say that I'm still too blue right now to be fully convinced. But I'll keep listening to it over and over tomorrow, the day after, and however long it takes for me to be certain that I haven't been forgotten. And I hope that this song blesses you and enables you sit for a quiet moment and contemplate the presence of God in your life.

On Repeat: "Tokyo City Underground"

I was distracted watching Japanese music countdown videos this afternoon and look what I came across! It's a song called "Tokyo City Underground" by a band named Passepied, and it's pure. magic. The pace changes, the high-energy, the jazz undertones, the sophisticated musicality... it's almost out of this world how special this song is. The high-pitched singing (yes, that is her real voice) started to grate my ears when I first heard it, but now after a few listens I just find it charming. Passepied's style is very similar to that of Soutaiseiriron), another Japanese pop/rock band known for its high-pitched vocalist, mysterious persona, clean production, instrumental layers, experimental sound, and often anime-worthy tunes. However, what makes Passepied different is that they're a little more daring and willing to be seen. Plus the animation in this video is pretty cool. Check out "Tokyo City Underground" below!

On Repeat: "La La La"

Heard this gem on the radio during my drive home yesterday and I was so captivated by it! I haven't heard anything like it in a long time, if ever. Oddly enough though, it felt really familiar as if I'd heard it many times before. The song's style and lyrical content are not what you'd typically hear from American artists, so I wasn't surprised to learn that it's European. "La La La" is by a relatively new British producer called Naughty Boy, with vocals by English singer named Sam Smith. What impresses me so much about this song is that while EDM, it's also soulful, and the lyrics are surprisingly profound! I can listen to it without wanting to bang my head against a wall (sorrynotsorry to any EDM fans reading this). The lyrics speak of needing to drown out the toxic words of a controlling partner who thinks they know everything and can never seem to shut up:

I'm covering my ears like a kid
When your words mean nothing, I go la la la
I'm turning up the volume when you speak
'Cause if my heart can't stop it,

I find a way to block it, I go
La la, la la la la la na na na na na

When I checked out the music video I was shocked to find that it came out in April 2013. I'm hopping on the train an entire year late! Directed by Ian Pons Jewell and shot in Bolivia, the music video is colorful yet weird and confusing in a highly effective way, blending the Wizard of Oz and the legend of El Tio and adding a modern twist. I say highly effective because it seems to have increased many people's cultural literacy in a way. "La La La" currently has over 286 million views on YouTube, and many viewers have been looking up information on what its meaning is supposed to be. And now, millions of people are vaguely aware of El Tio/Bolivian myths who hadn't given a thought to it before (myself included). The song and video are practically perfect. Job well done to Naughty Boy, Sam Smith, and Ian Pons Jewell!

On Repeat: Busy Doing Nothing

This whole thing makes me so happy! I've been a fan of Crystal Kay since freshman year of high school, and I've followed her career as she endured numerous ups and downs. From debuting in 1999 at age 13, to being one of Japan's most popular and successful artists from 2002-2007, to experiencing a decline in popularity and releasing albums that flopped commercially, to cancelling a national tour and switching from Sony to Universal, to going quiet for a year,  to releasing one last Japanese album before taking up second residence in New York in 2013 (2012?) to build a career and basically start over in the US market, to appearing in an American artist's music video and going to the Grammys.... To this! As a fan, I am so incredibly proud of her! "Busy Doing Nothing" is fun, the lyrics have some substance, and it still has that  Crystal Kay-esque sound that fans of her Japanese music like myself have come to know and love. Plus, she looks amazing like always! The styling! Those ABS. Those curls!

Obviously this song and music video are only a small start to what I hope will be bigger things and greater recognition. I guess the reason why I'm so happy right now is that Crystal Kay is once again embodying the idea of having no limits and transcending categories. As a half-African American half-Korean woman, born and raised in Japan, and having a long career as a Japanese artist singing in Japanese and English, she just.... can't be boxed in. And now she's following her dreams of debuting in the US, showing folks that she has the potential to make it anywhere. Anywhere. Thinking about everything she's been through, everything she's done, and everything she represents for so many people.... I can't help but be elated! She really is an inspiring human being.

Visit Crystal's US links here and here. Here Japanese ones are here and here.

On Repeat: "Doin' It Right"

I know this song has been out for a while. I don't keep up with Daft Punk, so please excuse my being late on this.

"Doin' It Right" came on while I was at the mall yesterday, and as it played I couldn't help bobbing my head along with it. I kept thinking, Hmm, this is different. I like it. But I couldn't figure out who was singing it. When I looked it up, I found out that it was Daft Punk featuring a musician who calls himself Panda Bear.

At first, I misheard part of the lyrics as:
If you lose your way tonight that's how you know your path is bright

When really, it goes:
 If you lose your way tonight that's how you know the magic's right

But it's the same sort of message, so I wasn't too far off. This song is on Daft Punk's 2013 album Random Access Memories. And as to be expected from them, it's a groovy tune that encourages listeners to just let go and see what happens. What a great message to consider as we close out this year and prepare for the new one.

Merry Christmas, everybody!

On Repeat: "Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am"

For my final project in one of my classes I'm analyzing two tribute/charity albums produced by the Red Hot Organization that are dedicated to Fela Kuti.  Fela Kuti did many things and is known today by many titles, so I'll just say that he was a Nigerian composer, musician, and political activist who is credited with founding the music genre known as "Afrobeat". The albums dedicated to him are  titled Red Hot + Riot (2002) and Red Hot + Fela (2013).

Back when I was familiarizing myself with Fela's music, before I'd even gotten my hands on the Red Hot albums, "Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am" struck me so unexpectedly. Its sadness touches me in a very deep place, and it's simply mesmerizing. Not only that, but this song's groove is just so smooth. There's a certain attitude, a coolness even, that gives the song an easygoing feel even amidst its sad lyrics. It creates a space for you to grieve, groove, and heal all at the same time. The tune's infectious, and though I'm still new to his work, I must say that this is my absolute favorite Fela Kuti song.

I'm still learning how to understand pidgin English lyrics, but from what I've gathered this song's message is like the idiom "no rest for the weary". Everyday people are just trying to get by, live good lives, and make the best of what they have, but authorities and people who have power over them seem to have no sympathy and won't leave them alone.

There's a version of the song on both Red Hot album's, but I think the more recent one sounds more like the original. It also emotionally affected me in a similar way. Below is Fela's original from 1972, and My Morning Jacket/Merrill Garbus/Brittany Howard's rendition from 2013. Enjoy!

On Repeat: Black YouTubers (part 2)

Continuing on from part 1, in order of familiarity:

Dormtainment
My best friend Morgan also introduced me to this group. Initially I didn't get what the big deal was about them, but they grew on me and now theirs is one of my favorite channels on YouTube. Dormtainment is a troupe of 6 fine, black, intelligent young men who know how to clown and make people laugh. They started as college students, thus the name "Dormtainment". The content they make is relatable to different types of people, but they don't act like coons just for the sake of views, and I respect them for that. They're all actors, but some write, some sing, some rap, some produce music, some do stand-up, etc. Because these men have varied talents, they also put out mixtapes and music videos in addition to making hilarious sketches. Oh and did I mention that they're fine? Rome's my favorite, in case anyone cares to know. He stars in one of their latest sketches, "I Saw My Friend's Girl Naked".

Black&Sexy TV
I'd heard about this channel a while ago, but I didn't pay it any attention until Issa Rae aired "Roomieloverfriends" on her channel (this is a series that she and Black&Sexy are collaborating on). I thought that with such a forward title, this channel's content might be tawdry. But after giving it a shot, I found that Black&Sexy TV has some of the most well-written and well-acted content that I've seen on Youtube. Its series' portray friendships and relationships in a relatable manner. Most importantly, it represents black people in an honest way without ridiculing us. Below is the first episode of "Roomieloverfriends".




"The Unwritten Rules"
Presented by inkSpotEntertainment, this brilliant series follows one young black college grad as she discusses her frustrations with being the only black co-worker in her office. I've never had a real job so I can't say that I relate to the premise completely. But I definitely experience similar situations being the only black student (or one of few black students) in my classes at school. "the Unwritten Rules" makes clear its purpose of discussing issues of race, especially relations between black and white people (the main characters name is Racy, after all). The reason why I love this show so much and call it brilliant is that it challenges prejudice, ignorance, and white privilege without pretense or apology, while still managing to be lighthearted and funny. Here's the first episode, "First Day", to get you started.

These were just the 6 YouTubers/YouTube channels that I tended to watch the most while I was in Japan, but there are tons of other people of color creating quality content on that website. We've got to get our voices out one way or another, right? Please check all of these creators out and continue to support black artists! 

On Repeat: Black YouTubers (part 1)

Even though I went to Japan to study Japanese, English-language videos on YouTube were what kept me sane. I was practically on my own, I was in class all day hearing and speaking Japanese, when I went out  everything was written in Japanese and everyone spoke Japanese, and some days I was incredibly overwhelmed. Some days I just wanted to sit in my room and give my brain and ears a break. Some days I just wanted to hear Americans talking. As ecstatic as I was to have finally left America, I realized quickly that I needed a way to keep my head above water and maintain my sense of self. Black artists/writers/actors/creators on YouTube were that way for me. I'd like to introduce them to you, in order of familiarity:

Playmakers
I started watching the Playmakers about a year ago. A trio made of Ant Davis and brothers Kevin and Jason Fredericks, the Playmakers are what you might call a group of "Christian comedians". Their jokes are clean, but these guys are not in the least but lame or uptight. They make fools out of themselves in the name of Jesus! They're honest, and certainly not afraid to poke fun at Christians or the church from time to time. They gained such a following that they caught the attention of Tracey Edmonds and got a deal with Alright TV, a channel that aims to revolutionize Christian/family-friendly entertainment. Some of the Playmakers' newer videos have also been aired on that channel. Here's their latest video, "Shouting with Strangers".

KevOnStage
This is Kevin Fredericks' personal channel where he uploads his own content.  He's an ordained minister and a married father of two young sons, and sometimes his family appears in his videos. In fact, his sons are actor-comedians as well! In addition to doing sketches, talking about his family and sharing his opinion on current trends and events, KevonStage also answers viewers' questions and gives them advice about living a Christian life and dealing with struggles in a Godly way. Here's one of his latest videos, "Every Thing is Racist", where he makes fun of conscious black folks who see racism in everything.



Issa Rae
I was introduced to Issa Rae by my best friend Morgan, who showed me the web series "The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl" for the first time over a year ago. This series, which draws inspiration from Issa Rae's own life, is about a young black woman's struggle to fit in in the workplace, figure out who she is, and maneuver the difficulties of dating and relationships. It's also what put Issa Rae on the map, making her a well-known actor/writer/director on the internet. She's become so successful that she's started transitioning from the internet to television, writing for or starring in upcoming shows. She does her best to maintain her internet presence of course, and her YouTube channel has a lot of goodies in addition to ABG. My personal favorites are "Rachetpiece Theater" and "Roomieloverfriends". Here's the first episode of ABG to get you started.

I've still got three more YouTubers to talk about, so be sure to check out part 2!

On Repeat: "God is Real/Hare Ram"

This song came on during my yoga class today, and I cried. I was overcome with the spirit and I cried.

The instructor had us on the floor bent over in Pigeon Pose* and I was resting my forehead on a foam block. The whole time before this she had been playing songs sung in Sanskrit, but then she played "God is Real/Hare Ram" by Krishna Das, which is in both English and Sanskrit. At first when I heard the English lyrics I just smiled, but once she had us down in Pigeon I really listened to the them and something powerful came over me. I just kept crying and mouthing "Hallelujah. Thank you Jesus." By the time she had us come out of that pose my block was soaked. Yes God is real, for He has washed and made me whole... I have found a way to live in the presence of the Lord.

Absolutely beautiful. Om shanti. Amen.

*Maybe it was Swan? I learned it to be Pigeon. But at this new studio I've heard "swan" and "pigeon" referring to what I believe is the same pose, so I'm not completely sure. There's a big difference between a pigeon and a swan in real life, but it's not so easy to distinguish their respective poses. But that's neither here nor there.

On Repeat: Jackie Hill

I found this by way of Willie Moore Jr., a gospel radio DJ/rapper/singer who also makes funny yet inspiring YouTube videos. Jackie Hill is a spoken word poet who uses her gift to minister the Word to people. She's based in Chicago, but is originally from St. Louis. Other than that I don't know much about her yet, but I can tell you already that she is phenomenal!


This particular poem of hers "Dangerously in Love" is especially for the ladies. Why be so desperate for a man's love and relationship? Please, don't get caught up! In the words of Jackie Hill, don't be drunk on denial. And don't let your impatience with being alone make you sacrifice your reverence for God.