Otherworldly Videos: Zincgraff

Written and directed by Cameroon-born, San Francisco based filmmaker Lino Brown, Zincgraff is the story of a reclusive painter who holds onto a lost love through his memories and hallucinations in order to finish a portrait of her. Brown described the film as “an internal exploration of a relationship and the timeline of dissolution & empathy, […]

Modern Griots Reviews: Middle of Nowhere

The United States has the largest incarcerated population in the world, yet it is easy to forget about prisoners and their lives before and outside of prison. We usually do not think about these lives that our made invisible to us, hidden away in cells, and how prison steals possible futures of them and their […]

Otherworldly Videos: Labrinth

Labrinth feat. Emili Sande – “Beneath Your Beautiful” Take off the masks of beautiful and perfect, I want to see what’s inside. I like the use of screen imagery in connection with the song lyrics.

Modern Griots Review: Kiini Ibura Salaam’s “Ancient Ancient”

The ancient mysteries of life hold in their grasp the power of seduction. We find seduction, being led away, in a sexual experience, a sensual touch, the coming of a new life or death, the physical movement of bodies in a dance, the allure of magic, the call of nature, the possibility of a new […]

…An Album By Its Cover: Fear of a Black Planet

As we near yet another doomsday date in December and with yet another revelation of the fears of seeing Black people talk to each other via the release of Obama’s speech at Hampton University right before the debates, here is a post about the album cover for Public Enemy’s 1990 album, Fear of a Black […]

The My-Stery: Frankensteinian Females

Last week, I wrote about how the ideas about creation in Frankenstein can be found in records like “Dr. Funkenstein” and “Monster.” Since Nicki Minaj is on “Monster,” I want to continue the Frankenstein theme with women. Although Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, most of the women seem to be weak, secondary characters in the story. […]

A Strange Look at Columbus Day….

I was looking for something different to post for this Columbus Day and while searching, I came across a number of “interesting” views of Columbus. For many, including myself, we look at Christopher Columbus as someone who exploited and dehumanized indigenous populations for his personal benefit and is credited with, although technically he did not, […]

Modern Griots Spotlight: Kiini Ibura Salaam

“Sexuality-cum-sensuality is the experiential link between mind and matter, the vivid and eternal refutation of the alleged dichotomy between them. This understanding … is the throbbing glistening heart of Kiini’s body of work. This book is alive. Be not afraid,” is how author Nisi Shawl (Filter House) introduces Kiini Ibura Salaam‘s latest collection of short […]

Otherworldly Videos: Flying Lotus

“Putty Boy Strut” Machines consuming machines.

The My-Stery: We Fear Our Own Creations — From God/dess to “Dr. Funkenstein’ to ‘Monster’

Parliament – “Children of Production” Recently, I read Therí A. Pickens‘ pieces about Kanye West’s “Monster” and it inspired my own thoughts on “Monster” from the view of Frankenstein, which led me to listen to songs from Parliament’s The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein. I wondered how all of these strands of ideas fit together. These […]