Apollo Theater’s Post

Check out this article featuring my work on Exception to the Rule with The Front Porch Arts Collective! https://lnkd.in/eMq7y72N

The new FOCUS Black: State of Media, Entertainment, and Tech... Read the full story at https://lnkd.in/eejeQ-66 #interculturalvoices

# Addressing the Smear Campaign Against Black Americans in Media Recent events on social media have raised serious concerns about a targeted smear campaign against Black Americans, particularly within the music industry. Disturbing videos involving prominent figures, including Diddy and Nigerian Afrobeat star Burna Boy, have surfaced, sparking outrage and confusion. This campaign appears designed to undermine the integrity of Black music and its leaders, portraying Black American men in a negative light. Such narratives threaten to damage the reputation of the hip-hop genre and its artists, promoting harmful stereotypes that do not reflect reality. As someone who has long criticized the influence of violence and negativity in hip-hop, I am alarmed by this new wave of attacks. It's disheartening to witness a coordinated effort to degrade Black culture and create division within the community. The inclusion of international artists like Burna Boy sends a clear message: the assault on Black culture knows no boundaries. We must remain vigilant and united against these divisive tactics. It is crucial for the community to support one another and challenge these narratives that seek to harm and misrepresent us. #BlackCulture #HipHop #SupportBlackArtists #Unity #StopTheSmearCampaign

Want to learn more about the leaders, stories, music, and politics that make up Black history in the U.S.? Check out these films. https://lnkd.in/eTpuQijb

The Drake and Kendrick Beef: Reopening Wounds or Artistic Expression? Before I sound smart, Yes, I agree with Ike Slimster ... WE need Drake to go back to dropping "Summer Hits" that made a Beach Holiday sound AFFORDADBLE! The recent exchange of diss tracks between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has the hip-hop world buzzing. But beneath the braggadocio and lyrical jabs lies a deeper concern: does this public beef reinforce the racist trope that "Black people can't trust one another?" On the surface, it's a classic rapper rivalry. Competition for dominance, claims of inauthenticity, and personal attacks are all part of the hip-hop battle rap tradition. However, this specific feud between two of rap's biggest stars carries a heavier weight. Historically, Black communities have faced systemic oppression that thrives on division. The "divide and conquer" tactic has been used for centuries to weaken collective power. When Black celebrities engage in public spats, it feeds into a pre-existing narrative that Black success is a zero-sum game. The lyrics themselves can be particularly damaging. Drake's comments about Kendrick's fiancée and Lamar's accusations against Drake play into negative stereotypes about Black masculinity and intrude into their personal lives. However, some argue that these diss tracks are a form of artistic expression. Rappers have always used music to address social issues, challenge each other, and even settle scores. This exchange, they say, is simply another chapter in the long history of hip-hop storytelling. Here's the crux of the debate: Can Black art be honest and critical without succumbing to racist tropes? There's no easy answer. Ultimately, the impact of Drake and Kendrick's feud depends on how we, the audience, choose to interpret it. Do we see it as mindless entertainment or a reflection of deeper societal issues? #Music #Socialmedia #Culture #CultureAntiWoke #KendrickvsDrake #LinkedinMusic

As we come to a close on Black History Month and prepare ourselves for Oscar frenzy, we thought now would be a good time to reflect on the role Black audiences play in film. Because the truth is, racial diversity in movies isn’t just a cultural or moral exercise, it’s a business imperative. UCLA’s 2023 Hollywood Diversity report notes that of the top 10 streaming films in Black households during 2022, every single one featured at least 40% racial minority casts. Some of these might be expected, such as those stemming from Tyler Perry’s studio empire; Perry has a 25% ownership in BET+. (Billionaire entrepreneur, comedy icon, and even godfather to the monarchy* – what can’t Tyler Perry do? Check out this legend’s perspective on AI and its impact on his studio in the comments below.) But others might come as more of a surprise, including Disney / Pixar’s animated film Turning Red, which is set to the backdrop of Chinese cultural traditions. The bottom line on diversity IS the bottom line. And that’s not just #blackhistory, it’s Black Future. #blackhistorymonth #blackhistorymonth2024 *https://lnkd.in/eU7mqbbB

The Fall of Black Hollywood: A Scandal That Will Reshape the Industry When all the sordid details and court cases are settled, there will no longer be a Black Hollywood as we know it. The Diddy scandal and the growing public outcry on social media are just in their infancy, but as the public begins to witness their favorite Black entertainers in uncensored acts of debauchery and depravity, many careers will be destroyed. The old Hollywood will crumble, jobs will be lost forever, and the trust that audiences once had in these stars will take decades to rebuild. What’s been revealed is not just about the money; there’s something more sinister, as if there’s an organized attempt to exploit Black culture, tearing it apart by amplifying its darkest elements. The combination of ghetto life, music, and extreme sexualization has created an industry so perverse it would shock even Satan himself. Figures like Clive Davis, who supported the rise of icons like Diddy and turned rap and hip hop into global money-making machines, had ulterior motives. They handed the reins to street thugs, who exploited the power given to them. As powerful figures like Diddy fall, the Black community is left to dissect every aspect of their destruction, consuming it like they would a hit reality show. It’s a terrible and disgusting business. #BlackHollywood #DiddyScandal #FallOfAnEmpire #HipHopExploitation #IndustryCorruption #HollywoodDownfall #ScandalInEntertainment #CultureShock

Re/GeNeraTioN An Afro-Futuristic exhibition invites us to reimagine time, birth, life, and death. The work is an intersection with black cultural, spiritual and political practices and experiences. The exhibit reconceptualizes reproduction by aligning black hair as a vehicle to transport knowledge, history, and life narratives. The Re/GeneraTioN evolution carries ancestors’ adversities, epiphanies, and jubilation across visible and invisible terrains. These pathways hold memory yet invite and demand forward progression. How do our bodies move through time, dimensions, and spaces? What propels our spirits and keeps us moving as we coexist with the horrific and dehumanizing abuses of systematic oppressions? How do we navigate movement with memory borne from vexed realities while pressing into the now and having control of our futures? Black hair is magical. On the surface it’s dead but deep within our bodies each strain holds a connection to stories, mysteries, codes, self-concept, discovery, and songs of survival. Black hair has found its way to rituals and rites of passages. If wooly coils could speak, what would they say? Simply put, black hair has its own center and centeredness.

Collect Black Art. Read this latest article giving 10 compelling reasons to collect black art.

Why aren’t more Black people in senior-level roles in this industry? Why aren’t people of color the gatekeepers of Black culture, especially when so much of the music that drives this industry comes from our communities? It never made sense to me that individuals outside of our race often dictate our sound, determine how our artists make music, and control decisions about our culture. How can we ensure our voices and contributions are represented authentically if we aren’t in the rooms where these decisions are made? The music industry thrives on Black culture, yet the leadership doesn’t reflect the people who create the heartbeat of this industry. It’s time for that to change.