We’ve seen enough performative bullshit come from wealthy celebrities in social isolation, so we put together a playlist to inspire protest. The last few days on social media have been very… weird. Particularly with the overwhelming amount of wealthy celebrities who have come online to sing to us on their Instagram stories or on Twitter;...
Tag: Kendrick Lamar
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Miley Cyrus’s Hip Hop Ban Symbolizes the Purity of White Womenhood
For artists like Miley Cyrus, blackness is an outfit. She made money from treating black women and femmes like props, and used hip-hop to appeal to the white kids her age. There comes a time during a celebrity’s career when they shed one persona for another. This isn’t uncommon; artists need to evolve and grow...
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When Black Music Is Not Accessible To Black People: Thoughts on Kendrick Lamar Ticket Prices
Given that the cost to see Kendrick Lamar live ranges from more than $120 to more than $1,000, it’s no surprise that the average fan at one of his shows is white. Since the release of his third studio album, DAMN, rapper Kendrick Lamar has been receiving a mountain of backlash for his song “Humble.” His...
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French Montana: Starting Sh*t on Twitter Doesn’t Make You Relevant
Slut-shaming from French Montana, who dates Kardashians, clearly enjoys oral sex, and parades around music videos with beautiful women is so played. I. Literally. Cannot. A simple-minded, backhanded troll has catapulted French Montana from whatever studio where he was rapping about fame, fortune and bitches, back into the discussion of his relevancy to rap culture and race...
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Why Kendrick Lamar’s Take on “Natural” Women Doesn’t Matter
Are we so starved for cishet men to appreciate actual so-called “natural” beauty that Kendrick Lamar showing a woman’s stretch marks is revolutionary? Over the weekend you probably 1. Watched Kendrick Lamar’s new music video directed by Dave Meyers for his single, “Humble,” and 2. You probably read a few pieces and insightful threads on...
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Thundercat Is Back With “Drunk,” Feat. Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald (!!) And A Song About a Cat
The new Thundercat album, “Drunk,” blends a wide range of sounds and features Kendrick Lamar, Kamasi Washington, Pharrell and Wiz Khalifa. Thundercat’s third full-length album, Drunk, just dropped — and it is full of the funky, eclectic songwriting and production the artist is known for. With major contributions from psychedelic hip-hop favorite Flying Lotus, the two artists, along...
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Post-Inaugural Playlist: 15 Songs to Stoke Your Revolutionary Fire
Here are 15 revolutionary songs that will help motivate you to do the necessary work towards systemic change. We came, we saw, we marched and shut it down. Now what? According to U.S.A. Today, over 2.5 million people marched for women worldwide on Saturday January 21. This direct action is a historic and record-breaking success....
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Music Monday, 10/10: Latinx Heritage Part 4
This week’s Music Monday playlist is the fourth and final installment of the Latinx Heritage Month playlists. It focuses on super-danceable hip-hop, reggaeton, R&B and some other surprises. What could be a more fun way to continue a beautiful celebration of diverse identities than dancing your way through it? Luny Tunes featuring Don Omar, Sharlene and Maluma...
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Sir the Baptist: How a Preacher’s Son Stood Up For Queer, Black Lives
Chicago native Sir the Baptist is a hip-hop artist whose star is rising rapidly; he’s been called “one of the chosen ones” by Universal Music, and he recently signed to Atlantic Records. Wear Your Voice chatted with him during this year’s Afropunk Festival in New York. During our conversation, Sir the Baptist provided some very insightful...
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Between Beyoncé, Kendrick, Janelle and Sheila E., 2016’s BETs were a Musical Feast [Playlist]
Curated by WYV Senior Editor Monica Cadena When the BET Awards hit, they are on FIRE. This year’s 2016 Awards were absolutely no exception to this rule. From Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar’s utterly brilliant, water-soaked performance of “Freedom” to the sterling tributes to the too-soon-gone Prince, this year’s ceremony gave incredible performances that he, too, would...