Brands Built off Black Culture are Really Quiet Right Now

It has been an insane week. Unforgettable and heartbreaking. We are living in the times when black people are being killed just for being black. Over the past couple of days we have seen thousands, millions around the country marching and protesting in the name of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and the countless names killed at the hands of the police. Now is when it is so important for our voices to be heard.

On social media you can’t help but see videos and photos of the last few days. You see people speaking out, sharing petitions, links to donate and where to organize for the next protest. What you also see or don’t are the brands getting behind the #BlackLivesMatter movement. It was the brands that did not speak out that got some attention, and it was because their brand has been built off of black people.

Brands like PrettyLittleThing (PLT) and Fashion Nova rely on their black followers and influencers to boost their products. You would think that they would be the first to speak up, right? PLT has been very active in the comment sections of every #VERZUZ battle on Instagram, but it was only on Saturday that they chose to share their thoughts on what has been happening. A now deleted tweet depicting a hand in hand drawing with “Stand together,” written underneath. See the deleted tweet below. Fashion Nova, has one post of George Floyd lost in the mix of all of their posts of a sale and products. I would think that a fashion brand that embedded themselves in black culture would have a bit more to say.

In a video posted from the protest in Atlanta, there were protesters looting in Gucci. The Italian fashion brand did not comment on the event, but on their instagram they shared a poem about racism. Cute, but not enough. First, it wasn’t even something with thought into it, I have seen that same photo of a poem everywhere on instagram. Second, the caption was just a mention of the poet. You can see the post down below. Lasty, Gucci is Gucci because of black people. The brand has been worn by countless black celebrities. And it can easily be said that it is because of black pop culture why Gucci is so popular. Can’t forget to mention the racist sweater Gucci tried to sell the world last year. Or how they blatantly copied Dapper Dan in 2017 and said it was “homage.” A brand whose rise to popularity in America by Black Americans needs to use their platform to speak up.

Brands with their lack of acknowledgement of the last week has taught me who and who not to buy from. There are more brands who had a lack of things to say or post, share them with us @accessreport and tell us your thoughts on this issue.

Report: Bria Ward

Virtual Concerts & Fundraisers & Events, Oh my!

We are living in unprecedented times, as the coronavirus pandemic has been sweeping the globe. For many of us in the United States mid March is when changes started happening and lock downs began being implemented. This greatly changed how entertainment, concerts and other events are being held. Many of us can no longer go to a Broadway show, a movie theater, a benefit dinner or a concert. Events that were already scheduled to happen in person had to be transitioned to online events, many of which are free.

There have been numerous online events. On April 26th GLAAD, the world's largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group hosted “Together in Pride: You Are Not Alone.” This event featured performances from Kesha, the cast of Broadway's “Jagged Little Pill,” among many others. Throughout the night over $225,000 was raised for Centerlink and other local LGBTQ+ centers. Another event this April was, “Take Me To The World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration.” It was put on by Raul Esparza and featured numerous Broadway stars including an iconic performance via zoom of, “Ladies Who Lunch,” by Audra McDonald, Meryl Streep and Christine Baranski. Yet another event was a virtual benefit via instagram live for Say called “Under One Moon.” Say is a nonprofit organization that benefits those who stutter. The highlight of the night was an appearance by actress and activist Mariska Hargitay and her husband Peter Hermann.

Looking forward there are numerous exciting online events in the upcoming weeks. On June 27th Josh Groban is holding a virtual concert to sing his numerous hits throughout his career. Tickets will be on sale June 1st, the ticket will include an online access code as well as a T-Shirt for an extra $5. June 7th there will be a free Broadway Tony Awards celebration. Although the awards themselves have been rescheduled this event will be hosted by Tony nominee Lonny Price and will raise money for the American Theater Wing and The Broadway League. On June 6th Barack Obama, Lady Gaga and BTS will be a part of a 2020 Youtube virtual commencement ceremony for graduates. A quick google search reveals even more amazing events, some from local places like orchestras as well as some nationwide events. So please check that out. Stay safe, stay connected and stay entertained.

Report: Rebecca Vanderkooi

Imagination Can Lead to a Deeper Meaning

Creativity can be found in anyone. From markers, color pencils, and crayons there is always going to be a way to let your creativity run wild. When a toy/kids company makes a statement about diversity you have to listen because kids are next generation. Have you ever been coloring and can’t find the right shade for a princess or prince? Well, I am so excited to share this brand new product from the creators of Crayloa. Crayloa is a company that was founded by two cousins named Edwin Binney and C.Harold Smith in 1885 in New York City. It was originally named Binney & Smith Company until 2007. In the late 2007s the company name was changed to Crayloa because it would reflect one syllabus name. As time went on fast forward to 2020 the brand has become one of the most popular for kids and parents when it came time for arts and crafts. That’s why it is so important for Crayloa to come with colors of the world skin tone crayons. This product contains “24 colors representing people of the world and 8 crayons for eyes and hair”. This crayon box represents that Crayloa is getting more diverse and want children to understand the variety of skin tones and how different they are from their own skin tone.

Report: Tykaia Rose

Open Letter From Access PR

Dear Friend,

What were you doing at this time a week ago? Maybe you were working out, grocery shopping, or spending time with your family? I bet you didn’t expect to find yourself watching the death of a black man by police, yet again. Or maybe you did… It makes you wonder, how many more times are we going to go through this?

First and foremost, we at Access PR want to offer our deepest condolences to the loved ones of George Floyd. His name will be among the many we remember as all of us fight for in demand for justice and respect. 

In response to the recent events of protesting all over the U.S. and internationally, we are in full support of this outrage. If you’re wondering what’s the point or what the big deal is, then you’re apart of the problem. If you’re not disturbed by the murder of a black man at the hands of police, then you’re apart of the problem. If you see nothing wrong with the unlawful, inhumane, and racist treatment of black people all over the country at the hands of police, then you’re apart of the problem. 

In a time when the color of your skin is a threat, you’re already a target and anything you do can cost you your life, even if you comply. When we’re faced with racist police officers beating and killing us, a President who favors and encourages them, what must we do? We must scream, chant, and march. 

We must scream in outrage. We must chant in protest. We must march in unity. Enough is enough. It won’t stop unless we make a change. In a world where you wonder when black lives will actually matter, the answer is when we make them matter. So yes, we scream, we chant, and we march. It’s more than making a statement, we’re making a point that black lives matter. 

It’s about creating a peace that makes it so our future children don't have to live in fear. Stand up, so that you don’t have to wonder if you’re next. Let’s move to end racism. Let’s move to end police brutality. It’s time to make our voices heard. We ask you to stand in solidarity and support in the best ways you know how; peaceful protest, spreading awareness through media, organized movements and groups, donations, signing petitions and more.

To all the black men and women out there, we love you and we’re with you.

In support of efforts against racism, we’ve pledge donations to the following organization:

The Movement For Black Lives Funds

Black Visions Collectives

Philadelphia Bail Fund 

We’re also creating a fund to support Black Owned Small Business affected by COVID-19 and the recent protests. Donation link to follow. 

In favor of change,

Access PR

Privacy in the Public Sphere and the Man on a Bridge

On May 22, NYPD scaled the Brooklyn Bridge in an attempt to secure a man who was threatening to jump off. The man stayed perched on the Manhattan-side tower of the bridge for three hours as cops negotiated with him. At 3 p.m., officers were able to convince him to voluntarily come down before taking him into custody.

“Brooklyn Bridge” was trending on twitter as the negotiations were happening. The tag was full of tweets from onlookers who were posting their worries, wishes, and opinions on the man as he smoked cigarettes from atop the tower.

Arguments sparked over posts that contained photos and videos taken by those watching the scene. Many claimed that openly posting such images was disrespectful to the suffering of the man; these criticisms were often countered with the idea that because the man decided to do this in a public setting, it was a given that there would be people posting recordings.

Reliance on recordings has become commonplace; culture has become largely intertwined with society’s need to digitally collect memories, moments, and events. This though brings up the question of what is and isn’t proper to document, as well as the issue of what is personal when it is put in a public space. Technological documentation has desensitised the public by normalising the expectation that there is no privacy in the online world. Empathy has become overridden by a need to expose and produce.

It is with moments like these, moments in which a human’s suffering is put on full display, that it is important to disconnect from screens and be mindful that there is a beating heart behind every pixelated face. The man on the bridge came down alive, but many do not make the same decision he did. Remembering that everyone should respect the privacy of other’s emotions and humanity can help those in pain heal, move on, and be safe.

Photo credit 1: https://www.nycgo.com/articles/guide-to-the-brooklyn-bridge

Photo credit 2: https://isorepublic.com/photo/capturing-sunset/

Report: Nicolette Schneiderman

Black Lives Matter

James Baldwin once said, “To be a negro in this country is really never to be looked at.” The recent murders of numerous black men have sparked protests all around the country. The leading cause is the murder of the innocent man George Floyd in which it was caught on video of a police officer kneeling on his neck for a total of 8 minutes until he died. This all took place with three other officers present. Along with George Floyd, the past few weeks have been traumatizing for the black people in America. We have lost Sean Reed, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor all in a span of one to two weeks. There might even be more that we know nothing about. Black people have had ENOUGH.

Through this hard time, the question is why them? Is it because they are so strong, so innovative, so smart? Is it because despite anything you throw at them, they still rise to greatness? Is it because even when all odds are systematically rigged against them, they STILL find a way to prevail? Many black people feel as though the appropriation of their culture is done every day, yet their lives are unimportant to the average white police officer. The Black Lives Matter movement is a call to action.

This has happened before and if there was no video, there would barely be a case for many of these young black men. How many black men had no video? Why does there even need to be a video for the wrongfulness of these officers to be taken care of? The past few days have been historic due to the riots in Minneapolis, Washington D.C, Atlanta, and even New York City. The Black Lives Matter movement is a great cause to bring light to situations and fight for justice. Black people must be heard.

Report: Soila M Douce

The Death Industry, COVID-19, and the Invisibility of Compassion Fatigue

COVID-19 has completely overwhelmed our healthcare workers the past few months. Hospitals have been scrambling to scrape together tests, machinery, and time; as they run low on supplies, they’ve been wracking up sick patients in the ER waiting rooms.

Hospitals aren’t the only places that have seen a sudden increase in bodies though– the death care industry has also experienced an influx of corpses that are in need of care. A Brooklyn funeral home made headlines back in April after an odor was reported wafting from a U-Haul truck parked outside. Upon investigating the report, NYPD discovered approximately 100 bodies stored in the back of the trucks.

When questioned, the owner of the funeral home explained that they had run out of space for all the bodies. As the epicenter of the outbreak, New York City has struggled to manage the body count. Morticians are racing to take care of the corpses that are flooding their establishments. Eric Adams, the Brooklyn Borough President, addressed the situation with the funeral home, stating “we have an emergency going on right now. I’m surprised we don’t have cars stuffed with bodies.”

Adams has begun to put together a task force in an attempt to curtail the problematic overflow. The situation is traumatising for both the families of those who have died and the workers who have to care for them post-mortem. “We’re going to bring people in the room in every aspect of this industry and sit down and hear directly from them what we should be doing to coordinate this operation,” he explained.

Medical workers have been in the public eye as they take care of the living, but those who work in the death care industry are fighting to do what they can to take care of the dead. Now in the time of COVID-19, they are up against a seemingly insurmountable wall of grief and compassion fatigue. Morticians, like nurses and doctors, now have to handle an unprecedented amount of stress that largely goes unacknowledged.

Report: Nicolette Schneiderman

The Power of The Digital Space

The digital space is slowly, but surely changing our societal traditions. Now that COVID-19 is in the picture, some of these changes might be for the better. For people who are not familiar with the term “brick and mortar”, it is the presence of physical buildings, such as stores, factories, offices, etc. Prior to the pandemic, some brick and mortar stores were struggling financially due to the rise of online shopping. With some malls being closed due to social distancing, many stores will struggle to stay open because they are not generating the necessary revenue to survive this economic crisis. For instance, “J.C. Penney filed for bankruptcy after years of decline and debt”, tweeted @business. Brick and mortar stores depend on traffic and without that it is almost impossible for them to survive.

Surprisingly, in today’s society everyone does not prefer to shop online. There is a nuance to physically shopping in stores, like the ability to try on clothes to make sure that they fit, which online shopping does not offer. Despite that, most people still prefer to shop online. This generation is what some people would consider a “microwave generation” because we prefer to have everything instantly. Online shopping falls in line with this theory because you can make purchases immediately and you do not have to worry about large crowds or long lines.

There are more perks shopping online than in the stores. In many cases, retailers offer broader selections and more deals online. A big part of shopping is finding the best deals, which comparatively brick and mortar stores do not have. Brick and mortar stores have fallen behind because they are unable to offer anything that will set them apart from online shopping.

While brick and mortar is dying, live streaming has become more popular than it already was. Usually, concerts and festivals would be right around the corner. Since those things can not happen, artists have turned to Instagram and Facebook live to hold virtual concerts, the most popular being the battles. These live battles have caused artists’ streams to increase at a rate no concert would be able to do. With so much free time, people are more open to listening to artists they never heard of or cared for, which artists have taken advantage of.

Platforms like Hulu, Netflix, and Prime Video have also seen another spike since the beginning of the pandemic. With movie theaters being closed, many people have turned to these streaming platforms. While most movies and tv shows on these platforms are not new, they do have some original films that have competed with movie theaters and cable in streams. For example, Netflix has produced films like Tiger King, Money Heist, When They See Us, and Orange Is The New Black. The digital space is in the process of redefining the social world. Change is inevitable and now that we’re in the middle of a pandemic, change might come quicker than expected.

Report: Brionna Thompson

The Ryan Murphy Series "Hollywood," and its 1940s Costumes

Ryan Murphy's newest TV masterpiece is the Netflix show Hollywood. It centers around the TV and film industry in the 1940's, with aspiring actors and directors trying to make it big. It is almost a "what if" look at the industry, with fictionalized versions of well-known figures, like Rock Hudson.

Since the show is a period drama, the fashion and costumes were a big part of the series. Costume designers Lou Eyrich and Sarah Evelyn based the fashions on "golden age cinema". They used a color palette of golden browns, pinks, caramels, reds, greens, and purples. Evelyn and Eyrich call this palette "harvest tones". They also took references from famous 1940's icons and movies, like Woman Of The Year, Casablanca, The Red Shoes, The Killers, Gilda, and Gentleman's Agreement. "As we looked at the characters and made the tone board, we developed style icons for each of the characters", Evelyn says about their process. Evelyn and Eyrich also worked closely with the hair and makeup departments, to determine the looks. "If Ryan chose a specific hair color or wig", Evelyn said, "that would affect our work greatly".

Many of the costumes were custom made because, "1940s clothing is extremely difficult to find and generally very small", Evelyn explains. However, some of the pieces were bought from vendors who specialize in vintage clothing.

Several of the show's actors enjoyed their costumes, some even got attached to them. "We definitely had characters who got attached to their costumes and wanted to take stuff home", Evelyn says.

Report: Anna Bechtel

Different Decade, Different Look: 25 Years of Oprah

On May 25, 2011 our favorite talk show came to an end. The Oprah Winfrey Show is iconic in daytime tv history. This long running talk show ran through multiple decades, and as the decades changed so did Oprah’s style. She was able to keep her looks fresh and new from the fist show which aired in 1986 to the last show which aired this week nine years ago. Let’s take a look at Oprah in each decade.

On the very first Oprah Winfrey Show, she wore a red oversized suit and the notorious hairstyle of the 80’s. The large clip earrings that she’s weaning is considered vintage now but in the 80's that was the go to for any business woman.

Oprah is a total transformation since the 80’s. This simple black turtleneck and jeans look could work now but for the 90’s she was right on parr. Her big buckled belt and shorter teased hair just screams 90’s.

In the 2000’s it was in style to wear bright colors and in 2003, Oprah wore a tailored bright red suit with a matching bright red pump. Her simple, brushed back, sleek hair and bright suit was a really popular look in the early 2000’s as we see in multiple movies from those times.

The show ended in the beginning of her fourth decade as a talk show host. They had come a long way but on her very last show she kept it simple and classy with a little detail in this knee length baby pink dress. The 2010’s was all about keeping it classy and that's exactly what Oprah did for her last episode. Her hair is long straight and beautifully positioned as she waves goodbye to the most iconic talks show ever.

Report: Alycia Williams

112 Verzuz 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

Keeping up with Quarantine Trends

As we are in the middle of a pandemic, how does one still dress "trendy?" It's tricky since everyone is stuck at home for the time being. However, even with quarantine going on, people are still finding ways to keep up with different fashion trends. Here's a couple for you so that you can keep in the loop!

One popular one that I've noticed is quite obvious. I've been shopping for nothing but comfort wear since being home. Doesn't everyone want to relax in their pajamas all day? I know since I have a bunch of zoom calls and facetime with friends that I still want to look cute. Matching sets with oversized sweatshirts and sweatpants are so in and incredibly cozy. What makes them even trendier is that people have started a bunch of DIYs and tie-dying or bleaching. It is all over my Instagram and TikTok feed. If you're looking to buy some, I'd recommend Etsy where you can support small businesses.

Another trend fits this period perfectly and that's face masks. I've seen people in supermarkets and walking on the streets wearing not just plain boring ones. I saw one girl wearing a cheetah print mask and another wearing one with bright colors on it. These fun masks make wearing them a lot easier for some people. It allows you to be safe while still being fashionable. People are making them themselves or ordering them online.

Where could you get some cute ones? Kim Kardashian has a fashion line of undergarments called SKIMS, where she has now included a collection of non-medical face masks. It comes in 5 different skin tone colors of Sand, Clay, Sienna, Cocoa, and Onyx. They are all one size fits all. SKIMS is additionally donating 10,000 Seamless Face Masks to charities. The masks became so popular that they sold out in less than 30 minutes! They will be more coming soon if you're interested!

*Photo Credits to @SKIMS Instagram account*

Report: Anna Levitus

Frieze New York's Online Debut

Frieze New York is an international art fair that balances prestige with the elevation of lesser-known talents. One section of Frieze, Spotlight, showcases non-Western art from obscure artists; Diálogos, on the other hand, is a section that celebrates Latin/Latinx and Latin American artists. Regardless of section, however, each art display is extravagantly presented, with exquisite gallery presentations prefacing more ostentatious exhibitions.

In the year bedeviled by the coronavirus, though, Frieze New York was forced to take a different approach to their signature event. Thus, Frieze New York 2020 took the form of a virtual art fair. The fair’s online presence was initially intended for further communication between art dealers and their clients, and now the event has shifted entirely to a digital format for the very first time. Nonetheless, Frieze New York 2020 remains an impressive collection of more than 200 international galleries housed by multiple online viewing rooms and supervised by the art dealers themselves.

Some truly noteworthy examples shine in an already spectacular assortment of masterpieces. The late Keith Haring’s sleek, majestic brushstrokes are on display in a nameless 1982 piece, which is being sold for $3.2 million. Hauser & Wirth are in possession of one of George Condo’s coveted isolation drawings, this one worth $2 million alone. Ultimately, Aquavella Galleries has the fortune of selling the most expensive work of all, an acrylic and oil stick on canvas by Jean-Michel Basquiat, for $5.5 million.

Since everyone with internet access is invited to partake in Frieze New York 2020, the fair will awe a much wider audience with its lavishness, all while exposing them to a new world of artistic talent.

Photo credit: https://hypebeast.com/2020/5/frieze-new-york-online-basquiat-haring-condo-most-expensive-works

Report: Nia Hunt

Targeted

During a time when you didn’t think it can’t get any worse than the Coronavirus, we are thrown a reminder that racism is still very much alive.

It has come to a point that black people can’t do daily hobbies and activities regularly without it costing their life because we fit the description. Once we fit the profile, its nothing but shoot first ask questions later. When will it end?

Ahmaud Arbery and his loved ones are asking the same question. Arbery didn’t think he would end up one of the many names of black people shot and killed for living their lives while fitting the description.

There’s always a depiction of black people that is negative within any community. Usually, it’s that their gangbangers or drug dealers. The ones that become successful have to work twice as hard to prove they aren’t the negative stereotypes that they’ll always be labeled regardless because of where they come from.

Arbery was a young black man unarmed out for a jog when the father-son duo Gregory and Travis Michael noticed Arbery and immediately pursued him as the person responsible for a recent string of burglaries in the neighborhood.

As any right-minded person would, Arbery tried to fight off his assailants with his own self-defense and this resulted in his death.

For so many years the laws in the Southern United States have been against African Americans with a lengthy list of black killings as proof. The laws continue to allow average caucasian citizens to take it upon themselves to decide who is a criminal.

If its not bad enough that the Coronavirus is killing thousands of people daily, black people are still dying just for being black.

From Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, to Michael Brown and so many more and now Ahmaud Arbery.

The real question is when will black lives actually matter?

To be black in America is to be a target in America.

Report: Josephine Coiscou

Kehlani Releases Quarantine Style Music Video for “Open (Passionate)”

She just dropped her latest album and new merchandise for her fans. Kehlani clearly isn’t letting quarantine stop her from putting out some of her best content. One of her most recent music videos “Open (Passionate) was edited herself and was shot quarantine style. Steamy, sexy and visually pleasing with trees and a forest green background, the video starts off with Kehlani soaking in a Jacuzzi with a wine bottle and what seems to look like two mimosas sitting on the side of her arm. Then she’s driving down a vacant highway with her dangling gold earrings and sunglasses. There are moments which capture the eye, when she’s wearing a bold orange dress which brings out her natural beauty down to when she’s standing on top of a car dressed with a dark denim coat and brown Louis Vuitton head scarf giving her an edgy look.

Kelahni’s second part of the track “Passionate,” features her in a much more relaxing setting. She can be seen in the driver’s seat of her own car, bundled up in a two toned puffer jacket that’s grey on the outside and orange on the inside. Although things appear more serene, Kehlani’s melodious voice and captivating lyrics speak to the soul. She sings “It’s only your passion how you move by/You fallin’ head over, right outta the sky/Fatal attraction, you lay down and die/Know how you get, I know how you do it.

If you haven’t streamed Kehlani’s new album “It Was Good Until it Wasn’t,” why not go ahead and do that? After all, Kehlani said in her own words on Instagram that she wanted us to. She posted on her Instagram account 2 days ago saying “it would mean the world to me if you go stream the album, i’m already hella grateful for whatever happens but this would be really insane.”

English singer-songwriter James Blake, who is featured in Kehlani’s song “Grieving” on her new album had some words of his own. On his Instagram account he posted their song together saying “So proud to play a small part on her completely fire album.”

While Kehlani blesses us with some of her best music, other artists are taking the time to live stream their concerts for fans to view, all while in the comfort of their own homes. This month artists such as Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, OneRepublic, Ellie Goulding, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, Sam Smith, James Taylor, Meghan Trainer and Tina are all set to perform for this year’s Red Nose Day Special. Other artists such as Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey, Bon Jovi, Billy Joel and Sing will also be performing live concerts as well. Who knows how long we’ll be in quarantine but it seems this is the new direction music and live streaming are taking.

Photo Credits:

Picture of Kehlani:YourinfoDaily

Picture of Blake Shelton: nbcumv.com

Report: Juana Norales

Labels, Stigmas, and Hornets in the Time of COVID-19

Recently, American beekeepers woke up and found some of their bee colonies beheaded. The perpetrator? Asian giant hornets (also known as “murder hornets”). Originating in Asia, these large bugs have recently made their way over to America. There have been a handful of different sightings, with most of them from concerned bee farmers who worry about the safety of their hives. The hornet’s appearance has also sparked concern en masse though because of their size, sting, and foreignness.

On March 16, President Trump posted a tweet calling the Coronavirus the “Chinese Virus”. This label has been something that has haunted the global Asian community since the WHO named the Coronavirus a global pandemic. The start of 2020 has seen a drastic uptick of race-based attacks. In London, a Chinese young man was publicly assaulted because of his ethnicity and sustained multiple facial injuries. An Asian New York City college student was punched by a passerby who yelled at her about the Coronavirus. Asians can’t walk the streets without getting called slurs. The community fears that there will be an increased surge of racism and violent hate crimes with the President having officially coined the virus as “Chinese”.

The Asian giant hornet’s appearance and name have struck at an inopportune time. Despite first being spotted in 2019, the headlines about them have only surfaced within the last month. Many believe that this timing only works to fan the flames of anti-Asian racism. Sites such as twitter have seen a resurgence of old stereotypes and harmful language surrounding the “murder hornets”.

All of this points to a chilling development in the American conversational sphere– the normalisation of Asian jokes in an everyday setting. People across the country are spouting out jokes about how the continent of Asia is trying to kill Americans with diseases and bugs. They are becoming desensitised to the suffering that Asian bodies go through because of this stigmatised language. While many see it as just another joke, those in the community see it as a callousness that will serve to injure themselves, their families, and friends.

It is greatly important to remember that language has an effect on both people’s emotions and their actions. Refusing to perpetrate and actively calling out stigmatised language helps those who are being unjustly labelled so that they don’t have to fear being assaulted. At a time like this, it is vital to be open-minded, understanding, and kind.

Photo credit 1: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/02/us/asian-giant-hornet-washington.html

Photo credit 2: https://www.newsweek.com/new-york-subway-attack-coronavirus-woman-mask-1485842

Report: Nicolette Schneiderman

Lakeith Stanfield Goes Running for Ahmaud Arbery

Lakeith Stanfield wants to spread awareness, but not with his film work or new music. He wants to shed light to the recent events of Ahmaud Arbery. Videos of Abery’s murder took over the internet and people demanded for justice on social media. In his recent music video, Birds”, he jogs through his neighborhood to raise awareness to Arbery’s tragedy.

He hopes there’s justice that takes place in society. He said, “I'm just hoping that there's some kind of justice that takes place. I'm just hoping that the community and everybody's voices make it aware to the world, I don't stand for this type of situation happening and it just going unseen, unheard. Things like this, there needs to be justice brought upon people whether or not you're intertwined in the justice system or not. Something like this would appear to be pure bigotry, and they need to be accountable for it. So I think everybody should show up, let their voice be heard and show them that this is important. So, I want to just bring more awareness to it. I'm tired of seeing images on the timeline of people getting their head blown off in front of everybody. We got a choice, and we're going to make our voices be heard. Sign that petition, get out there, and let people know you're not going to stand for it.”

Aside from his political undertones in the video, he talked about the themes behind creating the song, “Birds”. He said, “You can hear it throughout the verses it's all critiques of capitalism and the way we consume, and how birds might represent women, they might represent your relationship to women, and privileged nature of some interpersonal relationships, or it could represent money and commerce and the way that we wheel and deal and engage in the exchange of money and what it means and the worth of it all at the end of the day. And the hustle, the hustle and bustle of the American economy now, that's the main thing. It's going there in the next part, like going and pushing off the next thing to get more money”.

Report: Amanda Lou

Erykah Badu Vs. Jill Scott Instagram Live Battle

On May 9, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott graced the world with an amazing Instagram live battle. The battle was hosted by producers, Timbaland and Swizz Beats, and was sponsored by Femme It Forward. The battle attracted some of r&b’s biggest stars and even Michelle Obama. Over the past couple of weeks, Instagram live battles have become very popular and are now being used to bring people together during the pandemic. To no surprise, this battle was highly anticipated as two of neo-soul’s greatest artists would come together to appreciate each other’s artistry.

For many fans that tuned into the Instagram battle last Saturday night, Badu and Scott’s music allowed them to reminisce about a simpler time. With everything that’s going on in the world, the battle offered peace, even if it was only temporary. Being that both artists have been making music for over 20 years, the battle only scratched the surface of each artist’s catalog. Despite that, both women showed how timeless good music is. These Instagram battles definitely have their perks. After the battle, both artists saw an increase in streams. Both Erykah Badu and Jill Scott played a mixture of their hits and deep cuts that some fans were introduced to and others revisited. While the music is what attracted so many people, the virtual concert had a deeper meaning. The message was sisterhood. Aside from the music, one of the most beautiful parts of the Badu vs. Scott battle was the respect that they had for each other as women and as artists. “Jill & Erykah isn’t even a battle… it's a vibe session. They’re just playing full songs, telling background stories and vibing out”, says @theblackreginaG (Twitter), a fan who watched the battle on Saturday. It was clear that both women were genuinely fans of each other’s music, which eliminated the “battle” atmosphere.

Generally, when you hear the word “battle” there is an implication of some sort of opposition. The music industry is notorious for putting artists up against each other, especially among female artists. It was very important to see that two women can have equal success and not feel threatened by each other. For three hours, the battle exuded peace, love, and the beauty of art. This was definitely one for the culture.

Photo Credits: @Verzuz.tv

Report: Brionna Thompson

How TikTok Has Changed Music's Path To Success

In the first quarter of 2020 alone, the massive social media app TikTok had 315 million downloads. In total, the platform has upwards of 2 billion downloads. Needless to say, this short-form video app is experiencing impressive growth. And it only seems to be improving as more people are staying home amidst the pandemic and have nothing better to do than scroll through the app and learn the latest dance craze.

A large part of the entertainment on TikTok is its music discovery. TikTok provides a kind of music-listening demo to its audience with its 15-60 second videos, and when a particular sound goes viral, it’s great news for the song’s artist. This is because virality on TikTok leads to a boost in streams on other platforms, such as Spotify and Apple Music. Take Arizona Zervas, with a jaw-dropping 2472% increase in Spotify monthly listeners since his breakout hit on TikTok, “Roxanne,” or Doja Cat, with the use of songs like “Say So” and “Cyber Sex” on the platform launching her into stardom. Roddy Rich’s “The Box,” another viral dance song, beat out Justin Bieber’s “Yummy” for the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, despite Bieber’s widely ridiculed instructions to fans on how to boost streams. These are only a few examples of huge success stories as a result of TikTok’s influence.

TikTok's "anybody can get famous, fast" narrative only fuels its trends as millions of people will learn the choreography to a catchy dance or lip sync to an upbeat song in the hopes of getting thousands of views. Many artists have noted this path of success and attempted to curate their songs specifically for TikTok virality. For example, Megan Thee Stallion started the “Captain Hook Challenge” herself by posting a choreographed dance to her page and encouraging others to learn it, while Drake’s “Toosie Slide” features explicit dance instructions within its lyrics and the support of already-famous influencer Toosie, making it an instant TikTok recipe for success.

It is clear that TikTok has had a huge impact on the music industry and the process of reaching fame. It almost seems that for a song to even compete with other current hits, TikTok virality is a crucial component. The answer to what song awaits TikTok fame next lies in the hands of its millions of users, and the creativity or whomever wishes to launch the next viral trend.

Report: Grace Carlos

Get An Inside Look At the "Insecure" Season 4 Soundtrack

Season four of the HBO comedy series, Insecure premiered on April 12, and they’re back with a new soundtrack of bangers and slow jams. Issa Rae and Insecure's music supervisor, Kier Lehman have created the perfect blend of well-known hits and undiscovered tracks for a flawless soundtrack. Here are a list of songs featured in the series:

1. “A Boy Is A Gun” by Tyler the Creator

2. "Sandstorm" by Mereba Feat. JID

3. “Cool Enough” by TeaMarr

4. “Self Motivated” by Tamar Bubble

5. “Numb Numb Juice” by ScHoolboy Q

6. “Feelin It” by Blimes and Gab

7. “Wiggle” by Binki

8. “Big Boss” by Tamara Bubble

9. “Waste My Time” by Zaia

10. “Sky Mind” by Radient Children

11. “Lil Mama” by Lo Village

12. “HopScotch” by Michael Sneed

13. “Feng Shui” by Jidenna

14. “Boy Bye” by Brockhampton

15. “Uno” by Ambjaay

16. “Look At Me” by Poe Leos feat. Kay Dinero

17. “Temperature” by TeaMarrr

18. "Petrol Bliss" by Choker

19. "Ready Set" by Kash Doll feat. Big Sean

20. "Hottest In The City" by Ty Dolla $ign

21. "Attention" by Bosco

22. "Shade" by Sonyaé

23. "You Can't Save Me" by SiR

24. "FUN!" by Vince Staples

25. "Apache" by Incredible Bongo Band

26. "Road to You" by Alex Isley

27. "Mood" by SiR feat. Zacari

28. "Whatever Whenever" by Kamaiyah

29. "Technicolor" by Sunni Colon

30. "Only If" by Steve Lacy

Report: Amanda T Lou