Connect with us

Entertainment

Tyler, Creator’s Chromacopy charts an artist’s journey of self-discovery

Published

on

Tyler, the Creator, new album

On his seventh studio album, Chromakopia, it’s a multi-hyphenate Tyler, the Creator opens the curtain. Across 14 tracks, born rapper Tyler Okonma explores the anxieties that include age and fame, interweaving them along with his own wisdom and a few that come through fastidiously placed vocal messages.

Tyler is a jack of all trades, excelling in a range of industries resembling music, fashion and tv. Just like his hero Pharrell Williams, Tyler is thought for his unconventional fashion sense because the founder of luxury brands Golf Wang and Golf le Fleur, in addition to for his television work on the adult Swim comedy series “Loiter Squad.” He cemented his role as a countercultural tastemaker and controversial rule breaker along with his first mixtape, 2009’s Bastard, and continues to push the boundaries of music – it’s no surprise that his latest release continues to interrupt barriers.

“Chromacopy” starts strong with “St. Chroma” — an introduction to the brand new masked figure on the album cover — with heavy military rhythms within the background of each Tyler and R&B singer Daniel Caesar vocal. At the start, a relaxing female voice is heard: “You are light. It’s not up to you. It’s in you.”

“I never had any doubts in myself,” he raps. “And if I ever tell you that, I’m (expletive) lying.”

As an entire, the album “Chromakopia” represents two-time Grammy Award winner when he turns thirty. In this latest era, he seeks understanding in all elements of his life, just as he seeks to grasp himself.

Not the whole lot is as clear as on “Like Him,” by which Tyler explores his similarities to his estranged father.

Featured Stories

“Give me love and tenderness / Attention, protection (Go),” he sings within the second verse. “How could I ever miss the chance (Go) / that I never had?”

On Sunday night at an album release party in Inglewood, California, Tyler outlined a mission statement of sorts for the album. “Oh, I’m not the guy I was when I was 20,” he said. “I even have gray hair on my chest. Life is life. I just wanted to write down concerning the things I take into consideration when I’m dolo, which is brief for the slang term “solo dolo,” which implies “alone.”

Rather a lot of thoughts: “Hey Jane” details the fear of pregnancy at the highest of a dream production, “Take Your Mask Off” tells the story of various characters afraid to live in the reality. It’s as much about Tyler, the Creator himself, because it is about them. “I hope you find yourself,” he says. “I hope you take off your mask.”

Lead single “Noid” is geared toward celebrities and tackles the paranoia and strange parasocial relationships that include fame in a claustrophobic, transgressive setting. The choir samples the 1977 song “Nizakupanga Ngozi” by the Zambian rock band Ngozi Family.

But the album isn’t only about deep introspection. Tyler is as brash as ever on “Thought I Was Dead” and “Rah Tah Tah,” each of which feature deep bass that reverberates through the listener’s bones.

His funny and outrageous personality can also be not hidden. This will be clearly heard in songs resembling the cheerful “Sticky”, which features Lil Wayne, GloRilla and “Sexy Red” and “Balloon” featuring Doechia.

The entire album, as indicated on the “Chromakopia” cover, was written, produced and arranged by Tyler Okonma. It’s an all-too-early mid-life memoir that many thirtysomethings will discover with: an album that encompasses the whole lot he’s achieved, fears and hopes for the longer term ahead.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Entertainment

‘In Her Words’ Details Hip-Hop’s Triumphs and Failures Megan Thee Stallion – Andscape

Published

on

By

As I watched documentary in regards to the profession of rapper Megan Thee Stallion, I could not help but consider Serena Williams.

When Williams retired in September 2022, she received unanimous praise from the tennis community, celebrating her Hall of Fame profession. But many of the favor seemed disingenuous to me because I remember what it was like when Williams’ profession took off. Those of us who were there when the Williams sisters were thriving remember the body shaming, racism, and micro- and macro-aggressions they experienced. We remember many within the tennis community trying their hardest to beat the Williams sisters at every turn.

At some point in the longer term, Megan Thee Stallion will retire as one of the crucial successful female rappers of our generation – she’s already first woman with three number-one hits in a single yr, he won three Grammy Awards and six nominations. And when her profession involves an end, many individuals within the hip-hop community will stand by her side to have fun her profession, and much of it is going to seem disingenuous because we’ve got a full two-hour documentary that shows exactly how much misogynoir there may be on this heart of hip-hop and what it takes for a lady to reach the face of such harassment.

Directed by Nneka Onuorah, the film takes us through the parallel worlds of Megan’s best public achievements and her deepest personal tragedies. The first half of the documentary shows Megan finding her footing as an MC and performer under the tutelage and direct guidance of her mother, Holly Thomas. In the documentary, viewers learn that it was Thomas who shot Megan’s guerrilla freestyle and twerk videos, and they get to see first-hand how close they were. Thomas’ death from a brain tumor in 2019 is a devastating moment within the documentary and a real crossroads moment for Megan, who spends the remainder of the film looking for the community, happiness and peace that her mother provided her.

The documentary shows Megan’s pursuit of fame and her rise to superstardom, in addition to the person attempting to cover her scars with thin plasters. What’s particularly telling is that Megan returned to the road three weeks after her mother’s death. The juxtaposition of Megan’s public success and personal sadness is heartbreaking. And all of it ended on a night in July 2020, when rapper Tory Lanez shot Megan within the foot.

The documentary tells Megan’s entire story from that evening – from her friendship with Lanez to the character of their argument. It also includes an animated reconstruction of the shooting. Megan also explained why, just months after Minneapolis police murdered George Floyd, the police turned to a black woman, she refused to place the blame on a black man, even at her own physical risk. Meanwhile, the identical Black man she was attempting to protect began his own series of disgusting public attacks.

Megan Thee Stallion arrives in a Los Angeles courtroom on December 13 to testify within the trial of rapper Tory Lanez.

The shooting and fallout dominates much of the film’s second half and indicts Lanez, showing us the extensive trauma his act of violence has caused to Megan. But Lanez is merely a vehicle to debate the final hatred Megan has experienced by the hands of too many Black men.

The most damning moment of the documentary comes from a video montage of all the boys who defended Lanez after Megan admitted he shot her. Assembly features Joe Budden, DJ Akademik, 50 Cent, DaBaby AND Chris Brown. All the boys query, insult Megan and defend Lanez. Meanwhile, all of them had their very own accusations of molesting women. The clip ends ominously with Sean “Diddy” Combs supporting Lanez and admitting that he also has a dark side. Not to be lost in all this, there’s also a clip of LeBron James playing Lanez’s music on Instagram Live.

This also happens after the following montage through which essentially the most outstanding people in rap, including: Snoop Dogg, of all peoplecriticized Megan and other female rappers for showing their bodies and rapping about sex. While all of us could have assumed how deeply these moments would affect Megan, the documentary showed us moments of her crying, scrolling through social media, second-guessing herself, and being overly critical in moments where she might need previously been safer.

The media also bears a number of blame for this case, with bloggers and newspaper headlines being the important protagonists of this case. And, satirically, lots of these publications have learned nothing. Megan admitted within the documentary that she he lied to Gayle King the news that Tory Lanez has not had a sexual relationship has turn out to be the leading takeaway from the identical publications and social media accounts which have demonized her for the past half-decade. Headlines again appeared all around the Internet calling Megan a liar and using her revelations about her relationship with Lanez to disqualify her testimony about what happened the night of the shooting.

All the hate and trauma culminated in Megan having a mental breakdown and having to take a month off from a wellness camp. At the top of the documentary, he finds some semblance of peace in Lanez’s conviction. While this moment provided catharsis for the rapper, all of it made me sad. The notion that Megan needed to turn to the identical criminal justice system that so often oppresses black women to feel safest, and that she couldn’t find safety in a community that ought to have avoided Lanez and reclaimed her in the primary place. Unfortunately, she couldn’t depend on her community to guard her from trolls and harassment. Megan’s story is a direct rebuke to so many “fathers of girls” and toothless performative gestures of “protect black women” because lots of these men selected to side with the perpetrator somewhat than side with the lady he molested.

Megan Thee Stallion has survived and overcome a lot and that is an enormous a part of what makes her rise so special. But it’s hard to understand that perseverance without also acknowledging that she shouldn’t have been so resilient. There should not be a world where she needed to endure a lot abuse and public backlash for simply surviving an assault and telling her story, for being on the forefront of a revolution about women’s bodily autonomy in hip-hop, for being certainly one of the most important female stars rap in history.

doesn’t let anyone pass. It is an outline of all those that have found themselves on the unsuitable side of history and a pre-emptive rebuke to anyone who tries to pretend otherwise.

DavidDennis Jr. is a senior author at Andscape and the writer of the award-winning book “The Movement Made Us: A Father, a Son, and the Legacy of a Freedom Ride.” David is a graduate of Davidson College.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
Continue Reading

Entertainment

Chrissy Teigen’s sweet video of John Legend with kids backfires as Donald Trump supporters flood her comments

Published

on

By

Celebrity couple Chrissy Teigen (38) and John Legend (45) were outspoken supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris’s efforts to defeat MAGA leader Donald Trump within the 2024 presidential election.

On November 5, the Republican politician emerged as the winner of election night, winning over 290 Electoral College votes, and returned to the White House for the second time after winning the 2016 election.

Celebrity couple Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are blasting MAGA trolls for supporting Kamala Harris over Donald Trump within the 2024 presidential election. (Photo: chrissyteigen/Instagram)

Fans of the president-elect won’t let Teigen forget that she was a robust supporter of Harris’ campaign, a lot in order that her most up-to-date Instagram post about her family was attacked by pro-Trump trolls.

The former “Lip Sync Battle” host shared a video on November 6 of her husband and two children sitting on the piano, with Legend singing to her youngest children, Esti and Wren. Her caption read, “When there are no words, there is music,” paired with a red heart emoji.

While Teigen didn’t make a direct political statement on this particular Instagram post in comparison with others, Trump supporters in her comments slammed the model and TV personality.

Someone wrote: “Let’s go TRUMPPPPP. Now perhaps deal with the belongings you actually find out about as a substitute of pushing a BS agenda that has no effect on you.

Another MAGA advocate wrote, “What a fantastic day today! Proud to be an American. Let’s make America great again.”

Another Donald Trump supporter asked: “Are you leaving the US?” A like-minded person wondered, “When are you moving?… Yeah, that’s what I thought. All talk, no action… just like KAMALA.”

On the opposite hand, many of her followers complimented Teigen’s family for his or her public support of Harris.

“Thank you to the entire family for how much you supported Kamala and Tim! Your spirit, your words, your fight – all of it has made a positive impact on so many! I appreciate you!!!!” one person said.

“We are very happy that you are with us. Your support for Kamala is amazing, your spirit, courage and positive attitude have made a huge difference,” commented a second Harris supporter.

The legend mentioned his family’s possible move from America in response to the Trump administration during a 2020 interview Cosmopolitan throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

“You think about it from time to time,” the “All of Me” singer told the outlet about leaving the United States because of Trump. “We were born and raised here, all our families are here. It would be hard to leave.”

The 12-time Grammy winner continued, “But I don’t know what to do when you have a leader who’s trying to destroy democracy.” At the time, Trump was running against Joe Biden, but Biden believed the general public was “exhausted by Trump’s daily efforts to destroy democracy and the free press.”

Legend and Teigen remained in America throughout Donald Trump’s first presidency, which lasted from January 20, 2017 to January 20, 2021.

Once Trump decided to run for president this yr, they began openly supporting Harris’ campaign, receiving an invite from Legend to perform on the 2024 Democratic National Convention in August.

In October, three weeks before the last day of nationwide voting, the couple posted a video of themselves playing “Vote or Veto” on their Instagram accounts.

The game saw the 2 A-list stars raise awareness of Democratic policies such as abortion rights, free school meals and the $6,000 child tax credit.

They also opposed a national abortion ban, a policy often promoted in right-wing pro-life circles. Apparently, bringing up hot-button topics like reproductive rights caused the parents of 4 children to show off comments on their joint “Vote or Veto” post.

“Okay, we had some fun voting or vetoing @KamalaHarris and Trump’s policies – because let’s be real, some things just aren’t negotiable,” Teigen and Legend said within the caption.

They also added: “This is a personal matter for us and should concern you too. What’s on your must-vote list? Let’s talk about it.”

This stamp of approval for Harris and Trump’s takedown got here after Legend’s appearance Zeteo Mehdi Hasan News. During the interview, Legend reacted to Trump’s Vice President J.D. Vance’s comments about childless women.

“I just don’t understand the contempt he has for people without children. It just doesn’t make sense,” Legend said, before adding: “We don’t desire the federal government dictating when we have now children and what number of children we are able to have.”

Legend also sat down with “CBS Mornings” in October to discuss why he decided to campaign for Harris. He specifically discussed speaking out on politics as a star.

“Politics affects all our lives and we are all citizens. We all have a stake in what is happening in this country. We pay taxes here. Our kids grow up here and go to school here,” the EGOT winner explained to “CBS Mornings” co-host Tony Dokoupil.

Legend and Teigen have been married since September 2013, after first meeting in 2006 while filming Legend’s “Stereo” music video. They have 4 children together.

Teigen gave birth to a daughter named Luna Simone in April 2016. Their first son, Miles Theodore, was born in May 2018. Their second daughter, Esti Maxine, was born in January 2023.

Luna, Miles and Esri were conceived through in vitro fertilization. John Legend and Chrissy Teigen’s fourth child, a second son named Wren Alexander, was born in June 2023 via surrogate.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
Continue Reading

Entertainment

Black Hollywood Speaks Out: Kerry Washington, Cardi B and More Express Disappointment in Election Results – Essence

Published

on

By

Photo: Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images

It seems that the more things change, the more they stay the identical. Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss to Donald Trump sent waves of shock and consternation across Hollywood as Black stars expressed their deep frustration, concern and sadness with the country’s decision. Reactions poured in late Tuesday and early Wednesday, and the collective tone was certainly one of regret at what many see as a troubling turn for America.

Cardi B, a staunch Harris supporter who showed up at certainly one of her rallies, shared her disbelief on Instagram. In a video of her observing the outcomes, she bluntly expressed her anger with the caption: “I hate you all.” Later, during an Instagram Live session, she responded to a fan’s query about attending Trump’s inauguration: “I’m sick of you! Burn your fucking hats, motherfucker. I’m really sad. I swear to God, I’m really sad.” Her words echoed as a harsh response, underscoring the depth of disappointment felt by many.

Kerry Washington, who spoke on the Democratic National Convention on Harris’ behalf, he replied to the message, encouraging resilience and self-care. “It wasn’t a mirage. Swipe. Thank you @blackliturgies and @wetheurban for these pearls of love, truth, wisdom and humanity,” she wrote. “Be good to yourself today. There is more work to be done.” Washington’s post was a call for reflection and perseverance, and a reminder that the fight for progress must proceed.

He , Whoopi Goldberg, a longtime Trump critic, didn’t hold back. “He is the president. I still won’t reveal his name. This won’t change,” she said. Her co-host Sunny Hostin echoed the gloomy sentiment, describing herself as “deeply concerned” in regards to the consequence.

Other stars shared equally honest responses. LeBron James posted a photograph along with her daughter, with the caption: “My heart is heavy and remember this time, my princess. I promise to protect you with everything I have and more!! We don’t need their help!” The emotional message highlighted the protectiveness many Black parents feel in the face of political uncertainty.

Actor Wendell Pierce, known for his influential roles in and , shared: harsh assessment election consequences. “For those who have wondered how American society has allowed the sins of our past, know that tonight Trump won the majority despite his lack of character and integrity,” he wrote. “He has demonstrated his racism, misogyny, xenophobia and attempted to overthrow the government through insurrection… He is known for his court attack strategy that will ultimately grant him immunity and repeal his beliefs. His accusations will disappear. This says everything about our society. We absolved this behavior by electing him. A celebration of crime.”

For many black stars, the consequence was not unexpected, however it was painful nonetheless. “It’s an everyday Wednesday for us,” said star Yvette Nicole Brown. “Black people are used to this. The rest of you will be shocked at how America treats you when it doesn’t care about you.”

Former co-host Desus Nice summed up the moment with biting humor: “America having one of these genders reveals that it starts a fire that lasts for about 30 days.” This satirical metaphor speaks volumes in regards to the chaos many imagine awaits the country.

Franklin Leonard, the founding father of the Black List, was energetic on social media throughout election night, capturing the emotions of those that remember the turbulent years of Trump’s previous term. “Too many of you seem to have forgotten how crazy the Trump years were,” he said wrote on X. Early Wednesday morning, he shared his disbelief, adding: “I’m not sure about what just happened, and I’m pretty sure no one else is either.” His posts reflected a broader sense of confusion and frustration over the consequence.

Each response reflects a shared feeling that America’s alternative has once more left many individuals grappling with a reality that they feel feels heavy and all too familiar.


This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending