january journal
the first monthly recap of 2023
i’m trying a new thing this year where i keep up with the monthly musical releases, which will ultimately make it easier to compile the year-end list. this has inspired me to do a month-in-review format, not limited exclusively to music.
read on to explore some topics that are at the front of my mind in this first edition.
RIP Gangsta Boo
it was a somber, bittersweet start to the year for the world of hip-hop (and music at-large). on Jan 1, Memphis rap legend Gangsta Boo (neé Lola Mitchell) passed away while she was home visiting family. once the news broke, tributes instantly began pouring in of her talent, generosity, and support for the generations she inspired. i’m sad that this is where her musical legacy ends as she reportedly had so much in the works. may Gangsta Boo rest in peace.
please stop the “eat the cake, Anna Mae” punchlines
it’s so disheartening that Tina Turner and her survival of domestic abuse continue to be a running joke for folks. for instance, why was a TikTok parody of her fleeing a dangerous situation as portrayed in the film What’s Love Got to Do With It racking up the type of likes it did? i won’t be linking the video for obvious reasons.
i know that film is a bit of a Black classic, but as a whole, we need to 1) be more respectful to how the living are portrayed in media in order to not reduce them to an object of ridicule and 2) reevaluate whether we need to hold onto certain media as times evolve.
for instance, i was honestly more prepared to rank Glorilla’s EP last year in my favorites until that unfortunate line in “PHATNALL.” as a Tina Turner stan and a supporter of survivors, i think it’s been past time to retire this phrase. Rihanna’s “Cake” is literally right there if you need a new reference point for such pastry-related innuendos.
the song speaks for itself
from Atlanta’s proposed Cop City to Memphis PD’s treatment of Tyre Nichols and beyond, the following 1988 track remains prescient:
the fashion month pre-cursor
before the official FW23 fashion shows start rolling out (and some already have), designers are sharing their couture collections. more to come on this later! but for now, please enjoy this outstanding image from Robert Wun’s debut couture collection — which he told Vogue was a “couturier’s horror story in itself.”
albums i missed in 2022
i’m sure i’ll be uncovering music i missed in 2022 for quite some time, but here are some starters that i enjoyed this month:
Jitwam — Third
soulful lyrics and experimental production from an artist with a wealth of worldly influence.
Poppy Ajudha — THE POWER IN US
British artist Poppy Ajudha was a mainstay back when i hosted a college radio show; outside of a few features1, i hadn’t listened to her in a few years so it’s not a complete surprise that i missed this album. overall, THE POWER IN US is a radical, feminist call to action. i can get down with that.
MorMor — Semblance
the first time i heard MorMor’s voice was over the speakers in a Free People store years ago. the song “Heaven’s Only Wishful” completely captivated me and stopped me right in my tracks — i had to Shazam it urgently. MorMor refines his alt-soul sound on Semblance, the artist’s debut album.
agajon — nag champa
German producer agajon offers undeniable hip-hop grooves and feel-good sentiments with his debut album.
january 2023 releases
Velvet Negroni — Bulli
this one is full of honest and edgy lyrics - you may ask yourself “Did he actually just say that?” a few times while listening!
poolblood - mole
mole is a cohesive, alt-folk debut project from Maryam Said, who performs as poolblood. the Toronto artist is signed to singer Shamir’s Accidental Popstar record label and i recognize a kindred punk spirit between the two.
Ice Spice — Like..?
i’ve said it before and i’ll say it again: Ice Spice is absolutely the moment and she knows it. on her debut EP Like..?, the Bronx rapper combines her prior singles with a couple new tracks for a fun, buzzworthy project that should quiet any naysayers who tied her success to internet virality alone. folks tend to fizzle out after going viral when they lack talent and awareness to keep up the momentum — i don’t think that’s the case here AT ALL.
Lil Yachty — Let’s Start Here.
i’ve never really been a big listener of Lil Yachty’s music. but as a fan of neo-psychedelia, i had to see what the hype was about with the rapper’s latest release after it drew many comparisons to Tame Impala. while the latter’s influence is undeniable, i think we do both the album and psychedelic genre a disservice in assigning this contribution to Kevin Parker alone.
i seek out “alternative” Black artists on a consistent basis and i think Steve Lacy, Yves Tumor, and Childish Gambino’s “Awaken, My Love!” are also valid contemporary reference points for the sound Yachty is exploring. especially when feature artists on LSH like Foushee and Diana Gordon are constant collaborators of Lacy’s. and who can forget Gordon’s contribution to Tumor’s 2020 hit “Kerosene”? all i’m saying is Yachty didn’t reinvent the wheel, but kudos to him for trying something different artistically .
january journal, the playlist
without further ado, here’s the first monthly playlist of 2023. recurring themes include: opulence, knowing one’s worth, and radical emotional transparency in the name of love.
(apple music)
a couple of those aforementioned feature tracks are on this monthly playlist btw :)