I Wish I Missed My Ex, Samples & More
My grandma used to always say once you turn 25, it’s like time is speeding by. I’m not sure if that can be used to explain how I feel about realizing that we’ve already passed the half-year mark, but there’s something to be said about how fast time is going currently. On my end, I’m just about to hit my seven-month mark living in DC--that time zoomed by, and I’m also just a few months away from my thirty-flirty-and-fun 30th birthday (I will send a wishlist in the next few newsletters FYI).
Also speaking of time flying by are any of you watching Love Is___ on OWN? I’ve been a fan of the Akil’s for a while, and love Will Catlett. He’s been on my two all-time favorite YouTube series: That Guy and The First, and it’s like seeing your cousin grow up and flourish. The show is also adorable--two people from different worlds in the late 90’s meet and fall in love with each other. Since we already know the end of the story--it’s a love story of the Akil’s, it’s adorable watching how the relationship grows. Not to mention, the soundtrack for the show is love--all the songs from my childhood. They have curated a playlist that goes along with the show that you can stream here. Also, if you’re interested in learning more about the couple and the show, my favorite podcast Essence’s Yes Girl! Did an interview with Mara which you can listen to here.
Also an update, I put my dad on the case and found out that Issues my favorite magazine store is not closing. They are relocating to another location in Oakland near MacArthur BART--for now. With that being said, there's still time to donate to their Indiegogo campaign.
Currently Listening: Teyana Taylor - K.T.S.E
Like many, I have been sitting with the Teyana Taylor's new album K.T.S.E for a few days, and I am still unsure of how I feel about it. I think if she hadn't released the fire album that is VII that I still listen to religiously, I would think that this album was great, but let's be honest Kanye West did a disservice to her in more ways than one.
First, it doesn't help that Kanye West forgot how slavery worked and that America technically has never been a great place to people who looked like him--so with him being affiliated and protested by many in her fanbase, some people are just ignoring all GOOD Music albums altogether. If you were to put your feelings of Kanye to the side, the rollout that he did for the album was an epic fail. If an album is coming out on a certain date, make it come out that day—there are many of us who write album release dates in our planners. This album came out the next day, with Pusha T and Kim Kardashian saying things on social media about how Kanye was still working on the album.
There are some good moments on the album though. I love the lyrics on "No Manners" and see the whole "I got a man, but no manners" line will be a caption for #CoupleGoal pictures all summer. I also love "WTP" because honestly, life. Check the album out yourself and let me know what you think.
This Week's Playlist:
Since I made a point to talk about how some of the sampling on this album was TOO much for my soul, for this week's playlist, I put together a list of some of my favorite samples for a playlist I call: "Sample Summer." Listen to it here
Other Listens:
EP: Yazmin Lacy - When The Sun Dips 90 Degrees
I've been listening to the Yazmin Lacey's album When The Sun Dips 90 Degrees all week. Honestly, I just added it to my playlist because the cover was pretty, but I'm in love. The five-track EP is a mix of soul and jazz, with great lyrics. The song, "Something In My Heart Trusts" makes me laugh. Listen to the EP here.
Track: Mahalia "I Wish I Missed My Ex"
I can't stop listening to Mahalia's new song "I Wish I Missed My Ex." It's such a catchy song and puts me in a such a good mood whenever it comes on. After watching the video it made me like the song even more because honestly, it doesn't make much sense. You'll have to watch it here to get what I mean and make sure to listen to the song here.
Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Adrian Younge - The Midnight Hour
A Tribe Called Quest's Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge joined forces for a new album The Midnight Hour and it's beautiful. The album was recorded with a full orchestra and a jazz rhythm and features many guest appearances and great takes on classics like Luther Vandross's "So Amazing." Listen to the album here.
Project: KTRA
I don't have much to say here other than I love Kaytranada. Like love, love, love, and this project is basically a clear guide and reason as to why I love him. Download the project complete with a digital booklet here.
LP: Eli Ingram - Love You Really
Although this isn't a new album--it was released last year, I can't stop listening to the Eli's album Love You Really. You may remember her from her cover of Kendrick Lamar's "Poetic Justice" that went viral a few years ago--she also had a great EP that came out right after that too. Well now she's back with this album and I love it especially "Table For Two" "Getaway" and "Sweet & Sour." Listen to the album here.
Currently Reading:
With moving, I haven't been reading books currently, but I have updated my Goodreads list with books that I plan to read this summer. Additionally, here are some good reads I've read around the web:
I wasn't able to attend Ellevate Network's Mobilize Women conference, but there were some great takeaways that they put together in this PDF about how women can elevate in their careers.
I'll be living solo dolo soon, and recently saw people sharing this article on Twitter. "And while many young people find living will emerge as live-aloners get older and less mobile. In the United Kingdom, for example, where a "loneliness epidemic" has inspired the appointment of a minister for Loneliness within Parliament, living alone has been identified as a leading cause of loneliness."
One of my most favorite internet finds, is my new favorite newsletter Quarter Cup Crisis and it's awesome. Here's the concept behind the newsletter: “Food — cooking it, documenting it, sharing it — is among the handful of things I find solace in when the anxieties of realizing who you’ll be for the rest of your life kick into high gear. I'm figuring out how to make the perfect quiche and I'm figuring out who the hell I am, and who I want to be. Sign up for 25 recipes before I turn 25, as well as tips and advice, existential crises and pantry and kitchen recommendations.”
Interesting read on Marriage and Motherhood not being milestones for adulthood. "In 2018, the one-size-fits markers for adulthood have evolved. Now, many women are finding that personal independence, like a first paycheck, living alone for the first time, a first solo vacation, paying off one's student loans, or being able to financially support one's parents is a more noteworthy milestone than marriage." What do you think?
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