AND WE BACK*

with sonic serotonin and stellar storytelling that saved the season(s)

I don’t wanna talk TOO much about what is on the shower playlist nor the bookshelf this go around. A. I wanted to simplify the reporting because it needed to look less overwhelmingly just words and haphazard pictures; and B. so much of my intake was about just keeping myself afloat I genuinely just don’t have a lot to say and what I would say is more effort than I want THIS particular column to have. I’ll save it for my end of year review. OK so let’s get into it…

MUSIC

Y’all know, I am a huge audiophile and this list is EXTRA long (even after I did my best to trim it) soooo to make it a bit more stimulating I’m gonna put the songs into groupings for y’all’s reviewing pleasure with some SMOL notes where it speaks to me.

TRACKS

Highlighting Neema Nekesa because GIRL!!!! Where is the(/a) full project??? We're ready!!

I really want to learn to DJ, and when I do I will make a mix using 'Stimela' at the core; it's a song that reminds me of my dad and, in adulthood, I'm realizing is such genuinely powerful music. It feel emblematic of something very core to me and I want to bring that to my version of this art form.

Pink is epitome of 'go girl give us nothing' and yet I remain obsessed??? incredible

PROJECTS

Coco might’ve brought R&B back for the girlies idkkkkk who else is giving like this in the new generation? Not any of the men iktm.. peroo estoy dormiendo…

I just saw these quirky Black Baltimore boys in concert and it was so good!!!

As a complete project I think this is one of his most well developed but it doesn’t have any singles that bang like the ones from his previous ones - still worth the listen

I love to see queer africans win 🙏🏿 May Amaarae’s pockets never suffer…

I will regret not having listened to this last year during my end of year review 😭

I think this Kaytra’s best project since he blew up 🙊 just PURE FUN. We deserve!

*I’m not gonna do TOO much right now but I just want to say that I think this is the best return to form since MBDTF. I think Chance has really matured and moved through an ego death in a way that I hope we continue to see flourish in his music and in his return to the cultural commentary.

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BOOKS (COMICS)

The tea is… comic books have kinda sucked for a while. I’m not loving them as much across the board this year, my X-books have suffered HORRIBLY, and it’s just been kinda bleak times in the industry. SOOOO I really have to drink in the good juice when it’s there but there’s significantly less than the musical overview for that reason. I’m doing pics again because it’s faster and easier and more fulfilling visually. So to ensure I am giving credit and access I will drop the cover page of the book or a key issue and the credits pages for each title; and I’m going to separate them by source.

DC Comics

Absolute Martian Manhunter has some of the most uniquely drawn psychic visuals the medium has ever showcased. I am constantly floored by it's genius

Marvel Comics

Indie Comics

Assorted Crisis Events #2 is the best issue of a comic book I've read in a LONG time. I'll come back around to that at the end of the year but the book overall is equally stellar in how it's visually presented (and written by the same author of Absolute Martian Manhunter so he's clearly in his BAG). I couldn't recommend it more.

Special Mention

UM Vol. 1

I wanted so bad to just read a Black queer indie book that was good and I found this title randomly through twitter and I’m so glad I did. I highly suggest y’all consider supporting this writer and their book.

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Ok so we’re back to tarot reflections and backlogged essays after this so stay tuned but it’s good to get back (even though this isn’t how I traditionally do it) into sharing the art I consume because I do really enjoy it.

Let me know what YOU enjoy/have enjoyed/WILL enjoy ☺️