Entertainment
How the first-ever I Made Rock ‘N’ Roll festival celebrated the diversity of black music
Photo credit: Gabrielle Minion
For over a century, the origins of rock & roll have been disputed by fans, critics and historians alike. The sound derived from the rhythm and blues music of the Nineteen Forties defined a whole generation inside a decade. On Saturday, May 18, 1000’s of people got here to the American Legion Mall in Indianapolis, IN for the inauguration I did a rock’n’roll festival. The event, organized by GANGGANG and Forty5, aimed to focus on the Black influence on the rock genre.
The festival, which featured a range of artists, exuded a positive atmosphere and had an Indian vibe. During I Made Rock ‘N’ Roll, participants could enjoy performances by Inner Peace, Meet Me @ the Altar, Joy Oladokun, Robert Randolph, Gary Clark, Jr. and the evening’s fundamental star, Grammy-nominated musician Janelle Monáe. Monáe, known for her exceptional creativity and artistry, spoke about the pivotal role people of color played in the origins of rock & roll and the way continually pushing boundaries is crucial to its development.
“Our blackness is in the DNA of rock & roll, from gospel to blues to artists like Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Jimi Hendrix, Little Richard and Jackie Shane,” Monáe tells ESSENCE. “Rock & Roll would not exist without us and we’re continually redefining it. I all the time thought rock and roll was spirit. It’s greater than just wearing a leather jacket or playing the guitar. It’s the spirit of that person. I see it in lots of things and in many individuals and I am honored to represent it.
From the outside looking in, the development of the event seemed smooth, but in point of fact it was years in the making. In times of uncertainty for this country, the impetus for the festival was provided by the isolation of the global crisis. Although the initial idea was born out of a scarcity of connection to the world, I Made Rock ‘N’ Roll evolved into something much larger.
“In 2020, when everything in the world was disconnected from each other – from the race pandemic to the health pandemic – we thought that if everything in 2020 was about what divides people, then art and culture are what divides people connects,” says Alan Bacon, co-founder and president ALGAE. “We really just wanted to understand the power of art. How can we concentrate beauty, equality and culture in this sector, in this genre, within this platform, to activate the creative economy? But at the same time, convey a message that is needed, especially at this moment in time and history.”
accompanied throughout the entire festival. From murals paying homage to Black Rock & Roll to local vendors selling music and themed merchandise, guests were each informed and entertained during their stay at the American Legion Mall. The history of Chuck Berry’s breakthrough album “Sweet Like Sixteen” to Jimi Hendrix’s iconic performance at Woodstock occupied places for everybody to see. This timeline of greatness showed not only what Black people did for rock, but for music as a complete.
“It’s the culture we know today,” says Gary Clark Jr. about the power of black music. “I mean, it influenced the way people play instruments, the way people write songs, the way people dress, the way people talk. It’s in all the things we do. This culture is predicated on what people think is cool, and we’ve been cool for a very long time.
Staying true to its mission of creating equality in the arts, this historic event did just that. “I Made Rock ‘N’ Roll is just another big, visible experiment to show what GANGGANG does, which is to show beauty and truth,” says Melina Bacon, co-founder and executive director of the company. This truth overturned today’s narrow and exclusionary view of rock music and showed the world what the genre really was.
Beyond the festival itself, the beauty of Indianapolis was striking. With dozens of events happening in the area – including the Indy 500 and the Pacers playoff series – travelers from around the world flocked to boutique hotels like Bottling AND Alexander, where they may rest and in addition get a taste of the city. Right next to the former is the Garage Food Hall and Pins Mechanical Co., the perfect place to spend an awesome evening with delicious food and even higher drinks.
While Indy as a complete is an exceptional place, the true soul of the city lies along the legendary Indiana Avenue strip. In the late nineteenth century, this avenue was a bustling, well-known district of theaters, jazz clubs, shops, offices and residences. It also became the home of the Madam C. J. Walker Building, which served as the Walker Company headquarters, in addition to the center of entertainment, business and commerce for the city’s black community from the Nineteen Twenties to the Nineteen Fifties. Now it stands as a testament to African American ingenuity and a logo of the city’s wealthy history.
“The spirit of Indiana Avenue continues to drive us,” explains Melina. “We can integrate our local teams, employ lots of of people, and create jobs for the creative economy in Indianapolis. Indianapolis has an enormous base of creative resources. And it isn’t the typical narrative you hear from or about Indiana.
“And I think in terms of our history, the descendants of those great men of Indiana Avenue are still alive,” he continues. “We are literally still here. So it is not the spirit that is alive and well; so only people alive and well want to continue to push this narrative forward.”
Entertainment
Kendrick Lamar Releases Surprise Album ‘GNX’; group chats are going crazy
There are few things more exciting than receiving an infinite barrage of text messages at the very same time in numerous group chats. This normally implies that something vital has happened in popular culture. Well, the exact same thing happened about noon on November 22, within the yr of our Lord two thousand and twenty-four. Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, higher often called Kendrick Lamar, released the album “GNX”, nod towards Buick Grand National Regal GNXa rare muscle automobile released in 1987 – which also happens to be the yr Kendrick was born.
“GNX” is coming to the tip of what has been a banner yr for Kendrick Lamar. From epic diss records geared toward Drake, to creating the largest song of his profession (and a Drake diss track) on “Not Like Us”, to the “Pop Out” concert streaming live to tell the tale Amazon Prime, Kendrick won this yr. He even received seven Grammy nominations, mostly for “Not Like Us.” And this victory will proceed in the brand new yr. In September, it was announced that Kendrick would stay Super Bowl 2025 headliner will happen in New Orleans. This announcement sparked some controversy and comments from several New Orleans legends similar to Juvenile and most notably Lil Wayne, who felt disrespected; Kendrick immediately refers to this topic within the opening song of the album (all stylized in lower case), “wacced out murals”.
The thing is, Kendrick didn’t sleep for many of 2024. And then, while the remaining of us were minding our own business, listening to other albums that had just dropped, like Ice Cube’s “Man Down,” I began receiving text after text… and I knew that would only mean that something vital happened.
At this point in my life (and possibly even yours), Kendrick Lamar releases are a drop-everything-and-listen event. I immediately went to the streaming service, launched “GNX” and pressed “Play”.
I need to admit that the primary time I heard the album I used to be a bit confused. Kendrick has probably never been more popular or famous; if there was ever a time to drag a Kanye West and release his own version of “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” – an album largely produced as Kanye’s best and most representative of Kanye’s greatness – now could be the time. “GNX” has a far more modern West Coast vibe and is certainly more for his die-hard fans than anyone who just began gaining attention due to his beef with Drake. Maybe that was the purpose; possibly not.
Either way, I can imagine that folks whose favorite lines are “OV-Ho” won’t be immediately thrilled. I wasn’t immediately blown away (though very amused by how sensitive Kendrick is to what people say about him on social media, well, everyone), but as is all the time the case with Kendrick albums, repeated listens are likely to correct any immediate monotony that I even have about his projects. For example, now that I’ve listened to it just a few times, I can not wait to listen to black college bands playing “tv off” style, which seems like a cousin of “Not Like Us.” The Shoot, Bayou Classic, which also takes place yearly in New Orleans on Thanksgiving Day, stands out as the first time we hear a band playing “TV off.”
Since the album didn’t come out long enough to be reviewed, group chats and social media were abuzz with immediate reactions. This is the a part of music releases I really like, where everyone seems to be listening to the identical thing, offering premature takes that will not even delay the following day. I’m not different; I’m sure I’ll say something about this album that can sound silly by Monday. Shoot, I can have already done it. But that is what happens when great artists release music. We spend time with others after which we refer to them, analyze them, criticize them, praise them, destroy them and let all our prejudices fly free. Love it.
It’s value noting that certainly one of Drake’s diss tracks that did not appear during last summer’s fracas was titled “The Heart Part 6,” and was an apparent try to usurp Kendrick’s pre-album practice of removing a non-album song titled “The Heart.” Well, Kendrick has a song on his recent album called, you guessed it, “The Heart, Pt. 6,” which I feel will probably be released soon Drake. Good job, Kenny.
Argue.
Entertainment
New music this week: Tyla, Lola Brooke, Coco Jones and more – Essence
Happy Friday, people! Whether you are drinking a warm beverage or preparing for a fun-filled weekend, this week’s latest music releases set the tone. From sensual R&B melodies to powerful hip-hop anthems, these songs have something for everybody.
Coco Jones leads the pack along with her seasonal album, and Tyla offers a heartfelt change of tone with “Tears.” Miguel’s smooth “Always Time” and Jorja Smith’s tender “Stay Another Day” showcase R&B at its finest, while Lola Brooke and Killer Mike turn up the warmth on “Go To Yo Head” and “Warryn’s Groove,” respectively. Today’s list also includes music from Eric Bellinger, Coi Leray, Blxst and more.
Below you possibly can read our list of latest products.
Entertainment
Serena Williams is cutting short divorce talks for a second time after the couple reunited and put months of rumors to rest
Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian are still doing well despite months of unconfirmed divorce rumors.
On November 17, Williams and the Reddit co-founder took a walk down memory lane and tested one another by asking questions on themselves and their family in a recent promotional ad. The couple ate a few of their favorite meals and meanwhile checked their glucose levels using Hello Lingo, a glucose monitoring device.
Nearly five minutes into the recording, Williams tested her husband’s memory by asking, “Who said I love you first?”
Ohanian, who shares two daughters, Olimpia and Adira, with the tennis legend, responds quickly by saying, “Mmm,” before writing his answer on the board.
“It’s like ‘The Newlywed Game,'” Williams said, writing down her answer, referring to the mid-Nineteen Sixties show “The Newlywed Game,” which tested couples who had been married for lower than two years to see if how much they learn about their relationship. amplifier.
Both Williams and Ohanian turn the board over to reveal their answers and, quite shockingly, they received two different answers. Ohanian wrote that Williams said it first, but Williams claims it was Ohanian.
“Come now. Are you going to lie about this? he declared to Williams, who responded with a laugh: “I said I would be honest.”
“That’s not an honest answer,” Ohanian continued. “I still keep in mind that phone call. Oh, you realize I felt the same, but you certainly said it first.
Williams joked: “My glucose levels were high. I ate some ice cream, my glucose level was too high. Then I tell this guy and I feel like saying things I would not normally say. The moment ended with Williams replaying how she told Ohanian those three special words.
Of course, there was no shortage of reactions from fans who showed their love for the couple and how well they interact of their normal element.
One YouTube commenter he wrote“It’s great to see Serena and Alexis in this normal environment, they are so lovely and have great charisma. I love them even more now and I feel great chemistry between them.”
Someone else said: “I liked this part. They seem to really like each other.”
However, as rumors swirled about problems of their marriage, one fan was confused by the video shared on Instagram.
“I thought I read that they got divorced?” he wrote one person in Williams’ comment section.
Someone else also addressed the rumors, writing: “Where are the haters who said divorce was imminent? Sometimes people will be crazy. Seriously, how are you going to even start assuming things like that about people you have never met?
We got married here 7 years ago. Now we will take these two out for donuts. Happy anniversary 🎉 Thank you for giving me two of the best people we’ve got ever met. You are a tremendous mom. I’m very glad to have met you @serenawilliams @olympiaohanian @adiraohanian pic.twitter.com/5ntPujrYDh
— Alexis Ohanian 🇦🇲 (@alexisohanian) November 17, 2024
This summer, fans began speculating that Williams and her seven-year marriage to Ohanian were in trouble after they noticed she hadn’t posted from him on her social media pages in some time.
Moreover, Ohanian was noticeably absent from the June premiere of the documentary “In the Arena: Serena Williams” and was also absent from her side at the Met Gala in May.
But they got back together this summer after they attended the Paris Olympics with their daughter Olympia in July.
Among the many viral moments spent with the Ohanian family, she organizes: umbrella for his wife and the European commentator – who didn’t realize he was her husband – and called Ohanian Serena’s “umbrella holder”.
The tech guru reacted to the moment hilariously by snapping a photo of himself holding an umbrella over himself and his daughter.
Ohanian joked, “I am also a personal Olympia umbrella owner. Sidebar: You all set the bar too low for me and celebrity daddies only get flowers for *admitting* they have kids.”
The proud dad is probably also Adira’s personal umbrella holder.
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