Behind the Mask: Shakilla’s Visionary Loc Scultping

Recently I was part of Going If you would like Natural’s 10th anniversary photoshoot event at Afropunk and my hair was styled by a gifted hair stylist and jewelry maker Shakilla, who calls herself a loc sculptor, and her work is filled with truly divine masterpieces. Her styling business, A Manifestation of a Vision, is […]

Moving on the Wires: Articles and Posts from This Week

Below are some news stories and opinion pieces that I collected over the week. Since Facebook is changing up its system of how posts are viewed and is fishy with what it considers as “violating community guidelines,” I will post the articles I come across during the week on Sunday along with posting them there […]

Modern Griots Reviews: “Finding the Funk…

…and getting the respect!” Author, music historian and filmmaker, Nelson George, said at a rough cut screening of his latest film, Finding the Funk, that funk music was a music for outsiders. Reaching its peak in the 70s and early 80s, the short time between the eras of soul and post-bop/funky jazz and the rise […]

Otherworldly Videos: Meridian’s “Truth”

Meridian – “Truth” This video is interesting. Before I saw the quote at the end, it made me think of how the introduction of an alien or new tool or culture can change another society, and the benefits and/or dangers of that introduction. Some of the clips are from a South African film, The Gods […]

Modern Griots Interviews: X Black Superheroes

The New York City-based duo of Sefu Kafele and Rachel Burrell joined forces to form X Black Superheroes. Together, Kafele, the Malcolm X-inspired lyricist, and Burrell, a singer and poet with Tracey Chapman mixed with Lauryn Hill style and sound, use their music to raise awareness of people, political, and social issues that often do […]

Modern Griots Interview: Alex Kelly

Three words could describe singer-songwriter Alex Kelly — fiery, funky and fierce. The fellow Queens, NYC native covers a range of styles in her music from electronic to dance to rock to pop. Her first step in setting her music career into motion was meeting Robby Takac, bassist of the Goo Goo Dolls, who picked […]

Art of This World: Jaszmine Asha Hawkins

Jaszmine Asha Hawkins is a New Jersey-based visual artist whose artwork is vibrantly and beautifully unusual with her “big-lipped” and “alien-looking” figures. Currently she is looking for galleries who will showcase her work. For more information about her and to contact Hawkins, visit on her facebook or twitter page.

Modern Griots Review: Afropunk Fest Pushes Beyond Boundaries…

When councilwoman Letitia James said that Afropunk was about going beyond boundaries, she was right and this year’s festival did that in several ways. After last year’s cancellation due to stormy weather and my first attendance at Afropunk Fest two years, there have been big changes, some for the good and some for the maybe […]

Otherworldly Videos: Nef Prez’s “I Am Other”

Film student and Afropunk member Nef Prez premiered her short film, I Am Other, which celebrates various people who consider themselves misfits in society and proud of it.

Behind the Mask: Coco and Breezy

Meet Coco and Breezy, who describe their style as “futuristic punk princesses.” Be sure to catch them on Rip the Runway and Afropunk‘s collaboration on BET.