Jacinta Howard

WhenWhen NBA star Lou Williams made national news in 2020 for breaking the league’s quarantine bubble to visit the world-famous Atlanta strip club Magic City — not for the performers but for the food — people scoffed in disbelief.
“I remember watching ESPN the next day, and it kind of really annoyed me at one point,” says Nick Love, who served as the club’s brand manager from 2017 until early 2020 when the pandemic hit. “All the pundits were like, ‘Yeah, right, wink-wink. He went to the club ...

Derek Lewis was happy in his role as president of PepsiCo Beverages North America's South Division. He’d been with the company for more than three decades and spent the last 10 years content in his position. Then, the summer of 2020 happened and, like many people, Lewis was compelled by what he saw playing out in the streets of various communities where social justice was at the top of everyone’s mind. It changed things for him, and he began asking himself tough questions, ultimately deciding...

Mary J. Blige kicked off her inaugural Strength Of A Woman Festival & Summit in Atlanta over Mother’s Day weekend and turned the three-day, star-studded event into 72 hours of pure, female empowerment. Presented in partnership with Pepsi and Live Nation Urban, the festival derived its name from Blige’s 2017 released album, and featured a number of sold out events, including two concerts, a comedy night, a Food Truck Village, and a summit packed with celebrity panelists.
Prior to the festival,...

Al takes a psychedelic trip in Amsterdam where he runs into Liam Neeson.
We’re back in Amsterdam for what’s turning out to be a hella long tour for Paperboi/Al. Darius and Al have decided their day will consist of eating a “Nepalese Space Cake” that’s probably laced with Nepalese hallucinogenic honey, (though nobody knows what’s in it for sure), while Earn thoughtfully purchases them a trip to the day spa for afterwards.
Al (who’s rocking a groovy purple hat that Darius compliments) and Dariu...

list
Kendrick Lamar has one of the densest discographies in rap, figuratively and literally. The king of the concept album, with three essentially perfect back-to-back offerings: good kid m.A.A.d city, To Pimp A Butterfly, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning DAMN., K.Dot’s discography is stuffed with hits, deep cuts, and album favorites that span more than a decade, including his two previous offerings, Overly Dedicated and Section.80. One of the most talented, innovative artists of our time, the ...

Another anthology style episode finds a bi-racial high school senior trying to prove his Blackness.
We’re back with another standalone episode, this one written and directed by Donald Glover. Kevin Samuels, the controversial YouTuber personality who recently passed away, makes a guest appearance as Robert S. Lee.
This episode, shot in monochrome, focuses on a white-presenting bi-racial high school senior named Aaron who really wants to go to the same college as his white girlfriend, Kate, and...

TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY might be the most important album of Kendrick’s career.
His subsequent album DAMN. may have the Pulitzer Prize, but TPAB, with its experimental concepts and production, is the album that elevated Kendrick from supremely talented rapper to one of the most intriguing, and yes, trite as it sounds, important artists of our time.
Kendrick called on his regular producer Sounwave to shape the album, but this go-around he pulled some of the most talented artists shaping jazz music...

Augusta has emerged as a hidden jewel of the Southeast—not least because of its proximity to Atlanta, or because it’s the home of the pristine Augusta National Golf Course, where the Masters Tournament is played each year. Augusta’s gorgeous natural terrain has long made it the preferred destination for presidents and other high-society types, because the Savannah River literally runs through it, adding to its unique charms. But the city has also been active in celebrating its public art thro...

In 2020, it’s easy to feel like we’re living in a dystopian tale, and many of us are in survival mode. We naturally look to food, water, safety, clean air, masks, jobs, and healthcare for sustenance. But we also look to stories to keep us going. We at Shondaland understand the power of storytelling because that’s what we do. We also know the power of a good book. Now more than ever, we realize their importance to help us feel connected and comforted during trying times. With that in mind, we ...

One of the most influential, trendsetting artists of all-time, Janet Jackson’s Hip Hop roots run deep. Janet arguably not only shaped the sound of pop music but redefined it when she linked with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis back in 1986 to release her monstrously successful third album, Control. Her creative fingerprints are imprinted on pop music, making her connection with Hip Hop even more significant.

By now, you’ve heard of the Great Reshuffle, the Great Resignation, the Great Reprioritization, the Take This Job and Shove It economy. Whatever you call it, the best description comes from Time: “If April 2020 was the month of pink slips, as the rapid spread of Covid-19 resulted in the loss of 20.5 million jobs, then Fall 2021 [was] the dawn of their revenge.”

At this point, it’s almost cliché to point out the obvious — Missy’s always been ahead of her time. A songwriter, producer, rapper, singer, and artistic visionary, her talent has cemented her as a singular artist whose avant-garde creativity has inspired musicians across genres for decades.

Fish Scales, one-fourth of the southern rap group, Nappy Roots, is standing behind the bar, pouring a beer. It isn’t just any beer though, it’s the group’s signature stout, Kentucky Mud, crafted in collaboration with Atlanta’s Arches Brewery.
And it isn’t just any bar he’s standing behind, either; it’s Atlantucky Brewing— Nappy Roots’ sprawling new 6,000-foot brewery and taproom located in Atlanta not far from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, and Morehouse Col...

After years in the spotlight, singer-actress K. Michelle is headed in a new direction. One that focuses on farm life, country music and helping others find their way.
If there’s one thing K. Michelle is known for, it’s speaking her mind. On an early afternoon in late October, she’s doing just that as she rides through Tennessee on the way to look at some farmland she’s considering to purchase. After years in the limelight, she’s ready to switch directions and put her life on a completely new ...

Rubi Rose
It’s a few days after hip-hop magazine XXL announced its popular Freshman Class of 2021, a list highlighting rap newbies to watch, and 23-year-old Rubi Rose has mixed emotions. On the one hand, she’s thankful to be included among artists she respects on a lineup that includes more women than ever before; on the other, she’s agitated because with the announcement came a lot of negativity—namely, claims that she only made the list because of her looks and past affiliations with male r...