(warning for epilepsy!) Remember E.T. with Elliot riding the bike into the sky; that was the first thought I had reading UK rapper Juice Aleem‘s title “MoorKaba Light Bikes” on his EP featuring three versions of this song and “Anumal.” That sense of theatrics and spectacle as well as a theme of elevating oneself are […]
Read More Modern Griots Reviews: Juice Aleem“What these women become is what we will be,” Captain Larnyce Gaines gives the purpose of not only the three travelers from the future, but the underlying message of Futurology the Musical. The women finding power in themselves theme throughout this musical is its driving force and compelling feature. The Paper to Pen production, which […]
Read More Modern Griots Reviews: Futurology the Musical*Still looking for an artist to do design a logo for my blog. For more information, click here. *Remapping the Black Atlantic: (Re)Writings of Race and Space Conference is taking place at DePaul University in Chicago from April 12-14. The theme centers on expanding and remapping Paul Gilroy’s work on the Black Atlantic. *In New […]
Read More Moving on the Wires: Remapping the Black Atlantic Conference, Futurology the Musical, Black Radical Imagination Film, Octavia City …Free Angela and All Political Prisoners, Toussaint, Boneshaker and Alaskaland may seem like distinct films on the surface, but underneath they all have similar themes of people who feel as if they don’t fully fit as if in a state of in-betweenness, and trying to find a place to belong, whether it’s a community, a […]
Read More Modern Griots Reviews: Films at the Crossroads – Revolutionaries and OutsidersEnjoy some videos from these quirky women! Laura Mvula’s “It’s Alright” from her album “Sing to the Moon” Tecla‘s “Fake Tears”
Read More Otherworldly Videos: Laura Mvula/Tecla/Sena Dagadu/Galaxy of Tar/TawiahMany know Sun Ra for his cosmic, avant-garde music and costumes as well as a pioneer in afrofuturism, but there is not as much discussion of the poetry he wrote, which he often put together with his music. He did say, “Poems are music: some of the songs I write are based on my poems,” […]
Read More Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth: Sun Ra PoetryRebelMatic, a New York City punk/hardcore band with a hip-hop twist, are coming out with their album, Elephant Amnesia, the next one after Prey for the Vulture. I asked them a few questions about the inspiration for the album and it’s cover: 1) In the wake of police brutality and killings of people like Kimani […]
Read More Modern Griots Interviews: RebelMaticThis is national poetry writing month. Yay! So, here is one poet I would like to dedicate this month to: Tracie Morris! Last Friday, I went to Speaking the Blues: An Evening of Poetry at the Whitney Museum. The event featured Harryette Mullen, Cornelius Eady, Patrica Smith, Fred Moten and Tracie Morris and her band. […]
Read More Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth: Tracie MorrisJasiri videos from his latest album, Ascension, which was produced by Religion. “Ascension”
Read More Otherworldly Videos: Jasiri XAs you may have heard, Rick Ross came out with the controversial line from his latest song, “U.O.E.N.O.” : “Put molly all in her champagne, she ain’t even know it / I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain’t even know it.” A few days later, he addressed the lyrics with an “apology” […]
Read More Black Girls/Black Women Are From the Future: Something Men Like Rick Ross Need to Know
Sherese Francis 