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Senior Editor at The Root. Award-winning culture critic, consultant, 
and friendly neighborhood NDA signee everywhere else.

Inquiries: deathtoadverbs@gmail.com

Laughter & Lexapro

Teyana Taylor's Great 'Escape'

On the opening salvo, Taraji P. Henson warns that “flames are greedy things.” And over the course of the next 47 minutes, spread out over a cornucopia of impassioned pleas, carnal affirmations, and fiery diatribes—many of which are brought to life by a who’s who of Issa Rae, Jill Scott, and other celebrity crushes—it becomes abundantly clear that Teyana’s been through the fire. More specifically, she’s survived the hellish flames of heartbreak and emerged from the other side healed and whole.
The Emancipator

Colman Domingo on ‘Sing Sing,’ and using art as a catalyst for racial healing

“We’re able to see these incarcerated men as human beings and not just a statistic,” he said. “It’s not a prison film at all. It’s a film about human beings that are incarcerated. They’re doing the work of healing inside with this Rehabilitation Through the Arts program. We see that as necessary to ensure they’re healthy and doing some real work to eventually [return to their] communities again and help heal those they may have harmed.”
The Emancipator

For Black male voters, apologies are in order, and some respect would be nice too

Each of these aspersions is used to justify the infantilization of Black men. While Black boys are perceived as menacing adults, their adult counterparts are treated the opposite by politicians and society at large. The very concept of White fragility requires a certain level of paternalism, leaving Black men to endure a reality in which we’re treated like pets instead of peers. As long as our views align with their goals, we get scratched behind our ears. But should we dare deviate from the script and imperil their delicate savior complex, suddenly we’re “pussy,” “ain’t Black” — as Biden once famously declared — or worse.
The Root

Much Like Biz Markie, Showtime's All Up in the Biz Is Larger Than Life

In the closing moments of Showtime’s moving All Up in the Biz documentary, a tearful Big Daddy Kane—who’s universally revered for his stoic nature and unwavering cool—ponders a life that never was thanks to the intervention of hip-hop’s court jester: the diabolical Biz Markie. And while countless others take turns throughout the film reflecting on their own rapport with a man who meant much more to them than “Just a Friend,” one can’t help but wonder if hip-hop itself would pose the same question if offered the opportunity to do so.
CBC

Is 50 Cent the right person to produce a Diddy documentary?

After a grueling bidding war between streaming networks, rapper 50 Cent has sold the rights to Netflix to produce and house his forthcoming documentary detailing rap mogul Diddy's tumultuous career.

Jay Connor is a culture critic and senior editor at The Root. Tayo Bero is a culture writer & columnist at The Guardian. They join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to discuss 50 Cent's reputation for trolling, and whether his involvement might affect how the doc tackles Diddy's personal & professional woes.
The Root

‘When You Write Music History, You Can’t Leave Us Out’: Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Stake Their Claim as Music Royalty

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are kind of a big deal.

In the decades since Harris’ humble beginnings as the 16-year-old secret weapon behind the Minneapolis-based funk outfit Mind & Matter, the legendary production duo has accrued over 100 platinum certifications, 16 Billboard Hot 100 number ones (and counting), five Grammys, a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, countless other awards, and the unwavering respect and adulation of their peers.
The Root

‘I Don’t Like To Be Comfortable’: After Conquering Music, Anderson .Paak Has NxWorries

What do you give the man who has everything?

From Grammy Awards to an elusive Dr. Dre co-sign to an extremely lucrative Las Vegas residency, Anderson .Paak—born Brandon Paak Anderson—seemingly has it all. But when you have a limitless well of gifts to draw from, it’s abundantly clear that the Oxnard, Calif., native has barely scratched the surface of his potential. So why not “Leave the Door Open” for it?
The Root

Help! I Can't Stop Listening to Steve Lacy's Gemini Rights!

Nearly every track is a master class in guile and seduction, as intricate guitar chords, casual ketamine references, and mellifluous melodies lull you into orgasmic bliss—right before they crawl into a cocoon and evolve into something entirely new by the end of each song. One of the best examples of this is “Sunshine,” a worthy frontrunner for song of the year, that starts off as a breezy ode to that complicated dynamic between exes that your therapist keeps warning you about (“Why can’t we just get along? Or, at least, let’s get it on?”) before Lacy inhales a can of Popeye’s spinach and transforms the song into what I would imagine the birth of Christ sounded like—away in a manger and all.
Louisiana Endowment of the Humanities

Changing Role of the Black Press in Louisiana Life

Today’s News: The Changing Role of the Black Press in Louisiana Life

A virtual forum presented by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and Xavier University of Louisiana

Black-centered journalism has shaped lives and sparked movements in Louisiana, from the nation’s first Black daily to digital media outlets like The Root. On Wednesday, May 18, join the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and Xavier University of Louisiana for a free, virtual forum where we’ll hear from writers, publishers, and editors on the changing role of the Black press in Louisiana and American life.
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