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Best of the week's blogs
The last Unashamed Tour took place in 2013 and filled venues around the U.S. with thousands of fans. The 2019 tour will take place in March and April in eighteen cities around the country.
On January 16th, known to Reach Records fans as 116 , the label announced on social media that there would be an Unashamed Forever Tour. is going to feature the entire Reach Records’ roster: Lecrae, Andy Mineo, Trip Lee, KB, Tedashii, WHATUPRG, 1k Phew, and GAWVI. This will be the first time that all the artists on the current roster have done a tour together.
Following the recently unleashed ‘White Cement’ iteration, Jordan Brand are preparing to dress the Jordan 89 Racer in the famous ‘Bred’ colourway.
I’m going to be 100 percent real with you. This album is not for every Christian. This is next level Hip Hop that will challenge your mind. It’s like reading a book. If you like swagged out trap music you will be disappointed. I’m just being honest. Talented 10th is Sho Baraka’s first full album since he left Reach Records and became an independent artist and I really feel it’s his best work yet!
Let me give you some background. The phrase "talented tenth" was first used in 1896 by Northern white liberals like the American Baptist Home Mission Society. They wanted to build black colleges to train Negro teachers. Later, W. E. B. Du Bois used the term to title an essay he wrote and published in September 1903.
Talented 10th is more sonically diverse than his last album, "Lions and Liars". The production is complexed but it's still simple and focused if that makes since. Lyrically, Sho is very blunt and raw. He doesn't tell you what you want to hear. He tells you what you need to hear. The album cover is designed to look like a book and his tracks aren’t tracks but chapters.
Talented 10th is one of my favorite albums right now. For those, not knowing, I'm talking about the third studio album by Sho Baraka. It's his first solo release since leaving Reach Records in 2011. The album title and concept was based off the essay of the same nameby W. E. B. Du Bois.Well, I was blessed with the opportunity to chop it up with Sho. We talked about everything from the album's concepts, to his favorite books, emcee's and albums. Peep the transcript
Malachi: Before we get into the new project I want to take it back. How did you start your group “Hello Revolution”? Read More Here
This year's BHM collection, highlighted by iconic Nike, Jordan and Converse silhouettes, was inspired by an assortment of national African patterns, brought together onto modernized prints in a theme of Afro-futurism in sport. Read More Here
Admit it: Christian hip-hop has not always had the finest reputation. Clumsy vocal delivery, cliched lyrics, and the cheap production are just a few common problems. The latter in particular can be a serious obstacle for groups who cannot afford the royalties that can come with sampling other artists. That means a fledgling act can either assemble a live band (which can be costly) or program its own beats and hooks (which can sound contrived).
Sackcloth Fashion does a little of both, and the result is a fine debut. Something for Everyone to Hate sometimes finds itself propelled by live drumming, such as on "Spoon Fed Gospel." Other times guitar (and Jewish harp!) accentuate the rhymes, as on "Dang." Solid programmed beats aid MC's Steve Trudeau, Tim Trudeau, and Luke Geraty on "Rising Sons" and "The Guest List." Both those songs also feature the obligatory guest artists, such as E-Roc, B-Twice (of Brainwash Projects), and Ahmad. Spreading one's resources this broadly could indicate a lack of focus, but for Sackcloth Fashion everything works towards a healthy musical variety full of lightning fast rapping.
Essence has named four actresses as its annual Black Women in Hollywood honorees. They are Regina Hall and Amandla Stenberg, who both starred in “The Hate U Give,” KiKi Layne of “If Beale Street Could Talk” and Jenifer Lewis of “black-ish.”
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THINGS we found along the way
Have a great week folks.
Malachi @ The_Oracle_Mag
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