Ra's Roundup #42
Hello Hello everyone, I’m back with another roundup for you. I felt more compelled to include commentary on some of this months more heavier topics. This is formally a trigger warning as some of the text in this roundup may induce stress, dismay and anxiety upon reading.
Editor’s Note:
if you wish, listen to this month’s Audio Editors note as you read and scroll
One thing that’s changed about me since beginning new medication for bipolar disorder 4, almost 5 years ago is my grip on reality. I have always been fond of theology and spirituality and consider myself of syncretic belief (a combo of many religions and beliefs). During mania, it was so easy to go down a fanatical rabbit hole and I often found myself confused and out of sorts while absorbing religious texts or spiritual material. However now, while I find myself still seeking these same readings and teaching from various cultures I am much more capable of making my own mind up about the contents of whatever I’m reading.
The grip on reality is firm. I am able to accept what’s really going on without letting it kill my joy or make me into a martyr.
The grip on reality is firm. We can get a bit anxious or a bit lonely or a touch reckless but, I’m firm in my self discipline I will not sabotage what I have, for something I crave in a fraction of a moment. We don’t have to be victim to our moods or emotions and we can listen to our feelings without letting them take over or spiral out of control.
The grip on reality is firm. I know sometimes we can get lost in the sauce so it can be helpful to run a background check on your own thoughts and opinions. Run something you’ve been thinking about by a wise family member or friend (not Chat GPT or google) and get their perspective. Hearing another perspective can bring us back to our shared reality the one that lives outside our own heads. As a virgo, I’m learning this feels more comfortable than, straight-up asking for help. I usually pose the question like.. hey could I run something by you? What are your thoughts on…?
Let’s get into this months roundup!
This show flyer for Ike and Tina is incredible. It advertises Tina Turner as the main event with her legs out and all. The graphic type on this is also excellent. We know of the abuse she went through with Ike and through all that, she was turning it out.
There is so much abusive behavior still in the music industry, we are being reminded of this as Cassie Ventura took the stand this month in the RICO case against Sean “Diddy” Combs. I unfortunately spotted a lot of commentary against Ventura which we so commonly see when woman name their victimizer. We saw it with Megan the Stallion and the case with Tory Lanez. We saw it with Rihanna and Chris Brown; who has continued to garner support from other artists amidst recurring assault cases most recently cracking a tequila bottle over a producers head. New developments poured out about Smokey Robinson sexually assaulting his housekeepers. In the words of Amy Winehouse, What kind of fuckery is this?!
Bad guys still play a large part in the music and entertainment industry and well, government too. So how do we deal with these behaviors in our communities and root them out over time? It’s a question I don’t really have an answer for but I do have more questions. Can we, the village, raise better behaving individuals or is it a case of a few bad eggs? Or is it the money, fame and power that changes the playbook for these individuals. I wonder…
Dandies
The Met Gala this year was full of perspectives on, and homages to Black Dandies. While it didn't feel like a groundbreaking theme that provoked out of this world fashion it was met with formal critique and conversation from several media outlets. They all clamored to talk about who the dandies were, and who they are today and, if the word still stands up at this moment in time. I’ve met a few dandies in my life and they were more than just men in suits they were people who believed clothes make the man even more than whatever status they were given at birth.It’s that concept alone that is so much a part of the way people dress themselves today, to turn themselves into something; to enhance their aura.
via wrestler: Jade Cargill Wrestlemania 2025
Chema Madoz
The Plug
My latest work of music is up on all Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and Bandcamp.
Articles and Intel
1.
“During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, 87 percent of online abuse targeted women athletes, according to a World Athletics study, and most of the comments were sexual or racist in nature.”\
“A study conducted by the NCAA and Signify during the 2023-24 season found college women basketball players receive three times more online abuse compared to their male counterparts around March Madness.”
Protect Women.
2.“There is one thing that is damaging to a man in service, and that is to seek riches and honors. you will remain untarnished as long as you lead a meager life.”
from Hagakure, the way of the samurai.
3.“Other people’s opinions of you don’t determine your value” — fragment from my co-star horoscope
On the Tube
I didn’t watch Sinners ya’ll but im invested in the conversations surrounding it. Somewhere in this interview someone says, “The thirst is, Less blood more community” and that’s such a radical thought when put into the context of the real world; the desires of the people vs. the desires of ‘the man’.
Bethann Hardison, one of the first black supermodels is one of the most engaging guests to be on Fashion Neurosis• in fact I heard another interview Hardison did and her confidence and candor is truly enjoyable to take in. Like so many famous people, the calling to fame came early in life, Hardison was a child star tap dancer before moving into fashion modeling later in life. Really she was a consultant giving tips and suggestions to uplift those in her community. This repeated plot of starting young is to me a reminder to do what feels most natural, like a kid would!
•Fashion Neurosis is a YouTube talk show by Bella Freud the great-granddaughter of Sigmund Freud the famed founder of psychoanalysis.
Janet Jackson’s smash hit performance during the AMA’s of “Someone to Call My Lover” and “All For You”. The way she danced through the chorus parts and sang the verses was peak professionalism we got the best of both worlds and Miss Jackson just looked like she was having so much fun! I also loved the choreography because lots of the moves I wanted to immediately do myself!
Soundbank
There was this period in between 2001-2005 where Jay Z was doing a lot of collabs. Neptunes, Linkin Park, and Punjabi MC all being music of different genres brought out a different side of Jay. I definitely lime wired or stole this from somewhere because I played this song so much and the instrumental version remains on my workout playlist.
This song popped into my head, I attempted to sample this song a long while ago. It such a beautiful song, with a rich sound and lush mixed background vocals.
Greentea Peng’s new album TELL DEM ITS SUNNY is refreshing in general. I like this particular song because it interoplates My Neck, My Back by Khia.
They play this song at work and it’s so funny to me. It was written by Courtney Love which (Curt Cobain’s baby mom) explains a lot.The melodrama of 90’s emo rock is a fun little detour to take for me. The song is actually quite serious in nature despite how bratty the tone is…
From Wikipedia:Speaking of the song, reviewer Tim Grierson stated that "'Miss World' ties a deceptively candy-coated melody to a sad tale of drug abuse and distorted body image as Love hits upon a familiar theme of the album: the dichotomy of how ugly you feel on the inside while trying to appear beautiful to others."
My Dad played this song in the house recently, I instantly looked up the song. The American singer, guitarist and trumpeter played and sang all of the parts in this song.
This song also plays at work and I thought it was some old rock jam, but its a black women… I’m gonna tell you guys I hate this song so much but she has over 4 million monthly listeners so maybe you’ll actually like this song, heck you’ve probably already heard it! I’m here for black women getting mass acclaim so, let’s go!
I really like the instrumental versions of KAYTRANADA’s TIMELESS. Especially this song, it doesn’t need vocals.
This song came up on my Spotify discover weekly, it’s giving Pride Month as the lines in the first bar go something like “ Pulled Up, Di*k Hard in a mini skirt” very relatable to a certain gay and nonbinary demographic.
Juneteenth is also on the horizon this month and I am excited to celebrate the freedom of Black people.
I hope y’all have a splendid month!
Big Love,
Ra