What Teyana Taylor's Retirement Teaches Us About Supporting Creatives
Teyana Taylor recently announced her retirement from music and it took the world by surprise. After just releasing her critically acclaimed album, ‘The Album’ that even made legends such as Elton John join in on the praise, it's hard to see why Teyana Taylor has decided to give up her role in the music industry.
Teyana Taylor recently announced her retirement from music and it took the world by surprise. After just releasing her critically acclaimed album, ‘The Album’ that even made legends such as Elton John join in on the praise, it's hard to see why Teyana Taylor has decided to give up her role in the music industry. According to Taylor herself, she expressed she felt “super unappreciated as an artist, receiving little to no real push from the ‘machine,’ constantly getting the shorter end of the stick, being overlooked.” With this announcement, Teyana Taylor got major love from fans and even fellow peers in the music industry such as Swiss Beatz, The Game and Janet Jackson.
With the retirement of Teyana Taylor, can this teach us how to appreciate creatives and artists as a unit. How can we be more supportive of creatives in the industry that may not be pushed by a major record label, agency or brand? Even those who are pushed by a major machine such as Teyana Taylor or Tinashe during her time with RCA records have felt how lonely it can be in the creative industry. It's a hard spot to be as a creative to constantly showcase your talents and be vulnerable enough to let people into your creative process only for them to shut you down or not give you the proper support you need.
This begs the question, is it better to be a creative and work independently? Once Tinashe was released from her label, that gave her more room to grow and release amazing music projects and even collaborate with other artists that were more aligned with her brand. Seeing Teyana Taylor’s retirement playout only made me realize that many of the talented artists not only in the music industry but in many sectors of the creative industries are not supported financially or even emotionally. By just posting someone's artwork or commenting on their process on social media is a big boost to help them get one step closer to their goals. Even checking in on their wellbeing can be a big help and give them the tools to keep going. Be sure to check in on your creative friends even if everything looks good from the outside, you never know how your support can help them to continue to succeed and grow.
Anderson .Paak's "Lockdown" Examines the Current Movement, And Why We Can't Let Up
Released on Juneteenth, "Lockdown" perfectly captures what will go down as one of the most significant movements in human history.
In the month since George Floyd’s murder we have heard from multiple artists who have spoken about the importance of the protests that have followed. R&B singer/rapper Anderson .Paak dropped a track of his own titled “Lockdown” on Juneteenth that not only discussed the protests, but it also talked about other events that are intertwined with the message behind the protests.
Before the protests began we were all still focused primarily on the COVID-19 outbreak, and .Paak himself asks “Speakin’ of the COVID, is it still goin’ around?” which is followed with the question “Plus unemployment rate, what, forty million now?” It’s hard to ignore the role the pandemic and mass unemployment have had in sparking the protests, especially since the virus has disproportionately affected Black communities and the government’s response to providing help to these communities is nowhere to be found.
But .Paak also touches on some of the more Orwellian aspects of the protests that few other artists have pointed out. He notes the “secret agents” planted in the crowd, a reference to the undercover officers that were spotted in the crowd at multiple protests. It could also be a reference to the uniformed officers that were caught on video destroying storefronts likely in an effort to shift the blame to the protestors. Speaking of destroying storefronts, .Paak also brought up incidents of looting and seems to address the fact that the media focused a lot of its attention on the uncommon incidents of looting and ignored the very common incidents of police brutality that took place at these protests. This is not the first time we’ve seen .Paak get political and spit some woke lyrics, but it is certainly one of the most notable. There is also a version of the song that features a very powerful verse from Jay Rock.
Aside from the lyrics, the beat is a typical smooth, funk inspired instrumental that we’ve come to expect from .Paak. While the sereneness of it may not seem like a great compliment to the distressed lyrics, it encapsulates the faint hopeful tone of the track. His final utterance of “we ain't gotta stop 'cause they tell us to” and the cover art for the track which features .Paak holding a sign that says “The People Are Rising” seems to hint at optimism that real progressive changes will come out of these protests, and we have seen small steps taken in the right direction since the protests began. Police department budgets across the country are being slashed with money being reinvested into communities that desperately need the funds, and the country is slowly reckoning with its past as statues of former Confederate generals and Confederate flags are being taken down.
But the cover art also features the names of 39 people who had their lives taken away by those whose duty is to protect and serve. So, while change may seem inevitable at this point, we can not forgot those who lost their lives because these changes were not implemented sooner.
Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and Irked Music Geek
Report: Michael Rosen
112 Verzuz Jagged Edge
Music lovers have all been waiting for is set to happen, 112 versus Jagged Edge
We have received countless Verzuz battles, from Erykah Badu vs Jill Scott to Teddy Riley vs Baby Face. Little did fans know that we’d get a new one. Just a few days ago, Swizz Beats and Timbaland teased fans on Instagram Live with the idea of having two famous R&B/Hip Hop groups come head to head. Which two groups you ask? Music lovers have all been waiting for is set to happen as 112 versus Jagged Edge has been confirmed to battle on Memorial Day at 8pm EST. Fans are excited and debate as to which group has what it takes to win.The 90’s era has always been a feel good vibe, so why not have it on Memorial day?
As you know, Jermaine Dupri signed Jagged Edge to So So Def Records in the late 90’s. Some hits include, “Where The Party At?,” “Let’s Get Married,” “Promise,” and much more. 112 was discovered by Diddy who was then signed by his label, Bad Boy Records. They produced hits such as “Cupid,” “Peaches & Cream,” “Dance with me,” and much more; there’s no telling who will win in this epic battle. Although 112 is no longer a group, some fans are worried if they would all attend the Verzuz battle. It was then confirmed by Daron (former member of 112), that he and Q will not participate due to a legal issue. Could this affect 112 negatively? Guess we have to wait to find out! So pull out your dancing shoes and popcorn because it’s on ladies and gentlemen!
Due to COVID-19, we are all focused on finding various forms of entertainment. Whether it be Quarantine Radio hosted by Tory Lanez, Live-streamed concerts or Verzuz created by Swizz Beats and Timbaland. This battle is a great way to keep fans on their feet and have a great time while practicing social distancing.
Are you tuning in? Make sure to watch on Instagram live @theofficial112 or @official_je.
Photo Credits:Instagram: Verzuztv
Report: Jessica Tamay
The Alternative Experience
Leading up to the year 2020, the energy throughout the black community was at an all-time high. I had witnessed success from peers on a personal level and from celebrities on a global scale…
In a time like this it almost feels necessary to talk about the pandemic that we are currently going through all across the world. Whether you’re rich, poor, black, or white, this moment in time is something that we will remember forever. I have struggled in deciding how to approach the opening moments of this editorial without being too cliché. As I sit in quarantine, in solitude, patiently waiting for a positive shift to happen, I can’t help but to reminisce. Around this time last year when I was preparing to attend fashion week in New York, to be amongst the world’s top creators, the eagerness to be etched in a moment of cultural history was something I took pride in. At the time, this wasn’t an experience that I believed would be vital to my growth and existence in this particular space. Boy was I wrong.
Now, back to reality. This moment in time is just as important to not only my personal growth, but also to the growth of our culture as a whole. Leading up to the year 2020, the energy throughout the black community was at an all-time high. I had witnessed success from peers on a personal level and from celebrities on a global scale. From attending Culture Con, where I experienced an outpour of knowledge and felt an abundance of acceptance, to fashion week where I witnessed a young collective make their stamp in the fashion industry. Naturally, when you see people who look like you and share similar experiences as you succeed, your confidence surges. Then, all of a sudden as our community is gearing up for another year to remind the world that the culture doesn’t move without us, everything stops! At least that is what I thought was going to happen.
Many different emotions raced through my mind, as I am sure they did with you as well. Was the ability to collaborate done? Will live events and shows become obsolete? Will I have to give up what I’ve built just to overcome this? These were a few of the questions I posed to myself in hopes to innovate a way to survive as a creator, but to also sustain content to keep my end consumer happy. In this instance of uncertainty, I took time to step back and observe. Doing this reminded me that we are a group of people who persevere and make the best out of every situation we are forced into. The ability to do so is what separates our culture from the rest and allows us to continue to elevate.
It started with DJ D-Nice bringing entertainment to us live and direct to our households via Instagram. Little did he know that what he did would be the beginning of history that we’d never seen before. Since then, Sean “Diddy” Combs held a dance-a-thon that raised over $5 million for Covid-19 relief. If that wasn’t enough for innovation, Swizz Beats and Timbaland have been hosting battles between some of the top musicians in history. Their most recent battle between Baby Face and Teddy Riley literally reached Instagram Live’s capacity, with over a 500,000 viewers. This put things into perspective and made me realize that creators are going to find ways to create no matter what the circumstances are. In the same thought I began to look at this situation for what it could possibly be foreshadowing.
As we sit at home and time elapses, technology continues to evolve. Small businesses and brands are starting to go under. Does this mean that this way of life will become a norm for society? Will attending New York Fashion Week or Culture Con in the future mean opening my app and attending the events virtually? Will these experiences hold the same value or will these just be opportunities that anyone with a phone can attend? The ability we have to adapt to anything has always been great, but this alternative experience could be the downfall of the great experiences we have grown to love in creative industries.
Report: Myles Matthews
Bri Steves Is Doing Music Her Own Way
Bri Steves continues to expand on what it means to be a musician with her coverage feature at Wildfire: The Series.
“Understanding that the thing you cannot waste is time— put into perspective how bad you want success and move to achieve it.”
Bri Steves changes gears for Wildfire: The Series. Catch the artist in a new light as she interviews creatives and guests about their event experience. The event, taking place April 30th, is aimed at providing a platform for emerging creatives and artists to showcase their designs and talents.
The 21 year old rapper/songwriter began her music career during her senior year of high school. “Writing poetry sparked my love for stringing words together, and listening to Camp Lo, Marvin Gaye and early Kanye West did it for me.” With encouragement from friends, Bri Steves decided to dive into recording. Like many other creatives, Bri Steves draws inspiration from her family, specifically her mother. "I looked to my momma. I know that sounds cheesy, but she's a formidable woman. I want to be the same." For everyday inspiration, the recording artists finds that she looks to anything out of the ordinary; colors, people, etc.
The summer of 2015 changed everything for Bri Steves. Originally, she planned on attending a fashion internship in New York, but instead she met her mentor, Dyshon Penn and manager, Dave Ghetto. The trio instantly had connection. "I finally got around people who understood the place where I was at musically and who could pour knowledge into me about getting better, that's what I was searching for." Very close to quitting music, meeting the new duo put everything in perspective for Bri Steves. She promptly called back the internship, declined the offer; she then purchased studio equipment and never looked back. She currently has several tracks on soundcloud. Some of which she has performed at World Cafe Live and Pubb Webb. With a list of growing events and appearance, you can find them all at bristeves.com
In the upcoming year, you can expect to see Bri Steves traveling much more and expansion within her brand. In the expansion, she plans to become more of channel for young girls. Also with goals to become more polished and respected within her industry. For the month of April, she has a few shows in addition to Wildfire, including one with REC Philly. Expect to see her at April 30th at Wildfire: The Series.
Quick Q&A with Bri Steves
We saw that you attended SXSW this year, what was your experience like?
Eye opening. I saw first hand how the music business is highly a relationship business. Networked with a lot of people down in Austin and made some great plans for the future. As an artist, I learned a lot; whether it was performance wise, watching other performers or having to first hand travel out of state to represent myself with my team.
During a set what is something you do to set yourself apart from other artists?
I have a pretty tight relationship with my Dj, DJHvnlee, and her scratching throughout my set is pretty important. I prefer a great show experience, so I'll rotate between drums and other instrumentation to make my set bigger. Mixing in whats hot now for my audience is very important to me, and being super interactive with the crowd.
What advice would you give to anybody who wants to do your job (or at least begin the journey)?
Quit your day job and pursue what you want all the way. It'll be lucrative if you put your time into it. But 10,000 hours is needed to be great at anything. Understanding that the thing you cannot waste is time-- put into perspective how bad you want success and move to achieve it.
If you could collaborate with any artists, who would it be?
In the city, it'd be Chynna Rogers and Joie Kathos, I admire their swag, flow and work ethic. J. Cole is definitely on my list for the big leagues, he's one of my biggest inspirations musically, alongside Kendrick Lamar.
Learn more about Bri Steves at www.bristeves.com
Curated by Niani Patterson (nianipatterson@aol.com)
At the rise of Covid-19 many of us first questioned the timeline of fashion week and would we see the regular calendar continue - the question weighed over many of us for months! It was refreshing to see design houses and designers across the globe take advantage of the uncertainty and plow into production mode - thus my interest in Jerri Reid New York - The Black Designer based in Brooklyn New York wow’d instagram with his latest collection paying homage to the Black Is King film which debuted earlier this year in July. I was taken aback at quick of a turn round the young designer produced and released his well crafted designs reflecting some of the films most memorable moments.