Hola, fancy seeing you around here.
Do you notice anything different ?
You're getting this newsletter on a Tuesday.
This is the new day for the newsletter, hope you enjoy it. Just a few notes before you dig into the reads and listens for the week:
First, I tried Philz' new Rose Coffee. I'll be honest, I thought it was a Rosé coffee. When I first knew this was a thing, I texted my two friends who would care and was like WTF? Why would they make a Rosé coffee. I went to Philz to try it out to be told "No, it's not a Rosé coffee. It's coffee made with Rose Water." Nonetheless, it was the bomb and you should try it.
Secondly, by now we've all heard about the regressive abortion bans happening around the country. I hope we all agree that this should NOT be a thing. I don't think the government has the right to tell a woman what to do with her body. Abortions are a human right--and here are a few ways you can get your voice heard about the topic. Additionally, this is a great and powerful read for your Tuesday morning on 11 Powerhouse Woman CEOs who penned a full-page letter declaring 'Abortion Is a Human Right.'
WHAT I LISTENED TO:
Over the weekend I went between two new releases:Tyler the Creator's IGOR and Megan Thee Stallion's Fever and I dig them both for two different reasons.
First, let me just say, there's not much Tyler the Creator music that I do not like. I like his voice, his songs are always entertaining and I like his beat selection most of the time. IGOR follows suit and sounds like the summation of all the years of questions from his previous albums. I think after listening to Dissect's Flower Boy Podcast it really shapes how I listened to this album--perhaps a little more closely, and I love it.
On the other side, was Megan's new album Fever. I will say, I'm here for the new wave of female artists who talk that shit and say it how they mean it -- cc: City Girls, Cardi, even Summer Walker. Also, Megan is just the bomb--she's my second girl crush after Lena Waithe. Anywho, Megan can rap, rap and a good amount of these songs made me want to twerk or touch the ground and gyrate. I thought these reads were pretty interesting about Megan: The Atlantic and The Fader.
In other music news, I am obsessed with Goldlink's new single "Zulu Screams." This song is everything, from the beat to the features. Although I am not finished with the album, I am loving DJ Khaled's new album so far. I do want to say however, the song/video from "Higher" featuring John Legend and Nipsey Hussle made me overly emotional. I don't know if it's the production and the choir or the lyrics, but I kept getting reminded of my favorite church song ever, "I'm Going Up a Yonder." Nipsey also says this part that made me want to tear up:
"Looking back at my life makes my heart race / dance with the devil and test our faith / I was thinking' chess moves but it was God's grace."
MORE LISTENS - PODCASTS
Lately, I've been listening to some pretty good podcasts. If you have any recs , please send them my way.
Phoebe Robinson's Soo Many White Guys with Reese Witherspoon
Phoebe Robinson's Soo Many White Guys with Jemele Hill
Jemele Hill's Unbothered Podcast episode with Common
NPR's Planet Money Episode #912: How Uncle Jamie Broke Jeopardy
Lauren Conrad: Asking for a Friend: Motherhood: It Only Looks Easy on Instagram
Super Soul Sunday: Marianne Williamson: The Spiritual Purpose of Relationships
Hello Monday: Vulnerability Lessons with Facebook's Carolyn Everson
WHAT I READ:
My friend Stephanie suggested that I read the book, "No One Tells You This" by Glynnis Macnicol and I loved it. This book marked two things for me - first thirty-year old library read, and the first book I finished in it's entirety in recent months. What I loved about this memoir is it speaks to a real fear a lot of people have which is growing older, and being alone. I loved how vulnerable Glynnis was in talking about this, but even more, I really enjoyed reading about her mother and her declining health.
A woman should have the right to decide what she wants to do with her body, whether that's getting an abortion and not regretting her decision no matter what trolls/bigots have to say. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the queen of a social media clap back, and she warms my soul. Growing up, my mom was the president of the Bay Area Danielle Steel fan club (random I know) but how the hell has Danielle managed to write 179 books? With my parents being somewhat older in the workplace, this is a conversation we consistently have--when it comes to power in the workplace, 30 is the new 50.
Who gets to call herself a single mom? Speaking of moms and motherhood, how inspiring is this story of mother and recent college graduate, Madelyn McClarey? One of my favorite movies of all time is Spike Lee's Crooklyn. I've watched this movie so many times which is why I for one, don't do pull out couches, always wanted to go on Soul Train and overly fangirled when I saw Delroy Lindo at a Warriors Game. That being said, I overly loved this piece about how Spike Lee Directed Crooklyn - Black Women Brought it To Life.
Black women are getting it done in Chicago and here's how the Shade Room turned Instagram gossip into a media empire. In term of work-life balance, apparently another favorite topic of mine, there can be a silver lining in the burnout which is realizing that you do in fact need to change your ways.
Girlhood Interrupted, do these results seem accurate to you? I can't wait for Ava DuVernay's new series, When They See Us, and here's why she had to tell the story of the Central Park Five. I've had my fair share of rants about Elizabeth Warren not seeming the most genuine to me, but in the wake of the unlawful abortion laws, here's her plan to save abortion laws.