The State of Hip Hop
By Amanda Nyang'oro | Fall 2018
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After hearing altercations such as the Nicki Minaj and Cardi B feud, XXXtentacion’s fatal death from a drive by shooting and various claims of rappers being charged with assault the world of hip-hop may seem like a whirlpool of hatred and anger.
However, this could not be further from the truth. The surge of “mumble rappers” or emo-rap have left the older generation of hip-hop heads thinking that the younger generations have forgotten what hip hop is meant to represent. At its core, hip-hop is about love and acknowledging the troubled lives that people of color, especially black people, go through.
Hip-hop is how we speak the truth of our struggles and it makes all the difference that it be spoken by people who look like us. Hip-hop was crafted in the streets of New York in house and block parties during the 1980’s that left communities broken and craving joy in some aspect in their lives. Hip-hop was the creative outlet that expressed the pain that people in the ghetto were going through in a way that also allowed us to connect with others on an emotional level.
If we fast-forward to 2018 we can say that hip-hop is still doing just that, despite what the old hip-hop heads might think. Many have dismissed “mumble rappers” such as 21 Savage, Trippie Redd, Smokepurpp and Ski Mask the Slump God simply because they believe they aren’t say anything of value.
This is not the case, if you really listened to their projects as oppose to rely on the singles that are overplayed on radio, you would find that these rappers speak on issues that are currently prominent in their communities.
An example would be Trippe Redd’s latest project, “A Love Letter To You 3”, released in November 2018. He’s album tackles issues such as love and drugs and how they play into the state of his mental health. His song ‘Loyalty Before Royalty’ makes you think about the importance of family and friends all while trying to live a life that could let him into heaven. Songs such as “Toxic Waste” and “1400/999 Freestyle” talk about the grappling hold that addiction can have on a person trying to find their way in today’s technology driven world. The topic of love is addressed in songs like “So Alive” as Redd discusses how the power of love can help fight thoughts of suicide and depression.
On the flip side, women and their status in hip-hop have elevated this year as we start to see more female rappers getting recognized in the game. Of course, we cannot forget about the two trailblazers — Nicki Minaj and Cardi B. Their projects “Queen” and “Invasion of Privacy” have topped the charts and given a generation of women new anthems to soundtrack their lives as they grind to success.
Although their feud may have caused tantalizing drama for The Shade Room followers, at the end, the two squashed their beef so they could go back to more important things — the music. Other female rappers such as Rico Nasty and Princess Nokia have grown with their respective projects “Nasty” and “A Girl Cried Red”. An unapologetic abrasive attitude is brought in the former while the latter allows for a softer approach to emotional topics such as heartbreak.
Love, drugs, mental health and money have been the common themes that have surrounded the hip-hop world these past few years. Mental health is the most important takeaway that we should be discussing as a community, especially in the black community. We have these rappers discussing difficult issues that the younger generations are struggling with but are using drugs to suppress instead of saying them out loud.
It would be wise that we see these projects as what they are — reflections of the state of our youth. Instead of the old hip-hop heads shutting them down, we should open our arms to the shift and discuss these issues that are happening in our community. Educating ourselves on what the youth needs by actually listening to the youth is the best way in helping them.
J Cole is a great example of how the older rappers can lend a helping hand in discussing these issues of mental health and drug addiction through their art. His minimalist project KOD (aka Kids On Drug, King Overdose and lastly, Kill Our Demons) gives wisdom to the younger generation in a simplistic, straight-to-the-point manner. Although his album may have not topped charts his works can still be used to start conversations such as how addiction can creep up on you, love in a digital age and the dangers of greed.
With the death of beloved rappers such as Mac Miller and XXXtentacion, fans around the world have shared just how much the music of these rappers helped them get through hard times that life throws at us. Their tragic deaths have reminded us to celebrate our idols while they’re here with us and to notice the changes in behavior when they’re silently crying out for help. Mental health is an ongoing battle and until we as a community start seeing it as such we can then hopefully help this generation of pill popping suppressors.
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https://www.theblackprintau.com/zine
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March For Our Lives
By Amanda Nyang'oro | Spring 2018
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On March 24, 2018, the youth re-claimed their power. All their organizing, planning and strategizing came into fruition as hundreds of thousands of people, from toddlers to seniors, came together to march against gun violence. As we heard the powerful speeches and performances on Saturday, one thing remained clear --- the youth has had enough of hearing empty promises from adults who have blatantly compromised their safety for money, time and time again.
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The Parkland kids had a clear vision for their demonstration. It was personal, it was heartbreaking and it was real. What we heard that day were more than just speeches, they were desperate pleas from children that have been affected by everyday gun violence. Children that had experienced the deaths of family members, best friends, schoolmates and teachers, all at the hands of people who were able to access guns a lot easier than they should have.
The organizers knew that if they were to fix America’s gun problem, they needed to hear the voices of all of the communities that are affected by this issue everyday—and not just in schools. You could see that the Parkland kids were determined to share their moment and, most importantly, their spotlight with Black and brown kids from cities like Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
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Just a few days before the march, Stephon Clark, a 22-year-old Black man was shot eight times in the back and killed by two Sacramento police officers in Clark’s grandmother’s backyard. According to reports, the officers who shot Clark said they believed he was pointing a gun at them. However, no weapon was found at the scene, only a cell phone near his body. Why wasn’t his name mentioned at the march?
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They next day, demonstrators closed off an interstate protesting this horrible case of gun violence. But this didn’t quite fit into the gun control agenda that the Parkland kids had worked so hard to present to the world.
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Many took to social media to express that something was missing, an aspect of this issue that is much harder to tackle. The Black Lives Matter movement focuses on gun violence perpetrated by the police, but those stories of gun violence were sadly left off the March For Our Lives agenda. Many will understand that the politics revolving around police brutality are tougher to tackle—given that this aspect could threaten the mainstream support that has strengthened the platform the Parkland kids have won.
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But whether we want to believe it or not, these issues are connected.
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The Parkland kids saw police come to their aid on that tragic day, but this is not a perspective that many communities across America can relate to. Creating an effective and sustainable youth movement cannot be possible unless they incorporate diverse perspectives. Although the Parkland kids have done a tremendous job so far in building coalitions beyond their suburban bubble, this is only a start. In order to progress, we need to start seeing and understanding the connections between Black Lives Matter and March for Our Lives.
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Both of these movements challenge the systematic violence that has manifested itself in different forms in this country. But in order to help the communities that are affected by everyday gun violence, we need to start in the police academy. Addressing the violence perpetrated by police against people of color will have a significant effect on the interactions between the police and their communities. We need to understand that police shootings are part of the gun violence issue in this country. If we do not include that violence in the gun control narrative, then we will end up failing the people who suffer the most.
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https://www.theblackprintau.com/zine
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AU Excellence: Esther Lawal
By Amanda Nyang'oro | February 2018
Esther Lawal isn’t your average pre-med student. Although the 19-year-old sophomore aspires to be a plastic surgeon to help people achieve their ideal form of beauty, she is so much more. As a musical theater major, dancer, singer, hair stylist and an all-round make-up & fashion enthusiast, Esther Lawal is definitely a force to be reckoned with.
She started out her freshman year under AU’s Mentorship program, a semester-long program under the School of Professional & Extended Studies, where she was able to gain valuable experience at the International Children Arts Foundation.
“I really loved interning there. I would help contact donors and find scholarships & grants that would help the organization fund their programs. They want to help children realize their artistic potential and I wanted to be a part of that,” Esther explains.
Whether it be her eccentric lip color, her outfit of the day or her intricate self-made hairdo, every time the Nigerian-born teen walks into a room, people tend to notice. Nonetheless, staying true to herself as she navigates through chemistry and biology labs has definitely not been easy.
“I feel like I’m stereotyped as a person who is not serious enough to be a medical student because when people see me; I have my nails done, I have grey lipstick, wild hair or my skin is showing because I’m just unapologetically myself,” Esther says. “I feel like when people hear pre-med and then musical theater, it’s just like, ‘Oh! Really? That’s a combo...’ and then they try to sugarcoat it somehow by saying it’s impressive. But low-key they’re wondering whether or not I can do it.”
Despite discouragement from fellow peers, Esther believes that being both a pre-med student and a musical theater major is something that she can definitely handle. She has learned to deal with the negativity by accepting it at face value. “It gets old really fast. At one point you have to stop getting annoyed by it because people are people, there’s nothing I can do about it, so I just take in the reaction and then keep it moving.”
While others might think that her interesting combo may be a heavy load to carry, Esther believes that being a musical theater major actually helps her handle the stress that comes with following a pre-med track. “When I’m doing a lab report and I have those moments when I’m done and I need a break, I can just take out my music homework and it’s just so much fun because I’m finding key signatures and notes and singing. I feel like it’s kind of like an escape, like a closet to Narnia for me!” Not only is Esther learning about something that she’s truly passionate about, but she finds that it can help take off the edge when she’s stressed out about her science classes.
Esther is a testament that American University has a musical theater program that challenges their students to become more knowledgeable in not only their particular fields but in the world of theater as a whole. “What I love the most, especially with AU, is that I feel like they try to build you to become someone who is very comfortable in your voice, in your own knowledge of music. If you were an actor on Broadway, they don’t want you to just go on stage and then read the lines and act. They want you to know about the stage and what actually goes into creating the production,” Esther explains. “Even with music, you can’t just sing songs. You need to be able to read music, you have to be able to create your own music. They don’t want you to just go with the flow, but to also create your own flow.”
As humans, we naturally have a lot of questions about how our body works and why it works the way that it does. What Esther loves most about studying science and medicine is that it gives you the answers to these fundamental questions, it teaches you how to explain a lot about why things are the way they are. Esther says that being both a pre-med and a musical theater student has helped her to become a more well-rounded person. “I think my studies have helped me to become more flexible towards different ideas and opinions. When people think that something is just “music” or when something is just very surfaced the science student in me, because of the critical thinking skills I’ve gained, allows me to communicate more effectively.” Esther Lawal’s passion and perseverance is admirable and that is why she embodies AU excellence. She is unafraid to show her #BlackGirlMagic as she pursues her dreams by exploring the two worlds that she loves and for that, we commend her.
https://www.theblackprintau.com/blog/2018/2/21/au-excellence-esther-lawal?rq=amanda%20nyang%27oro
A Response to Spike Lee's "She's Gotta Have It"
By Amanda Nyang'oro | December 2017
First of all, I just want y'all to know that “She’s Gotta Have It” is the quintessential meaning of art. When I saw the trailer for this show, I was excited to step into the world of a (relatively) new black female character. I had fallen in love with other leading ladies like "Insecure’s" Issa Dee and "Chewing Gum’s" Tracey Gordon, so I knew I would be just as captivated by Spike Lee’s character, Nola Darling.
I have always admired Lee's work, his directing choices, his soundtracks and how his storylines always instill valuable lessons about navigating life as a person of color. Lee dauntlessly explores issues that aren’t openly discussed in mainstream media and for that, I respect him. In his latest work, "She's Gotta Have It" an original Netflix series and remake of his 1986 film, Lee does just that, re-introducing a character that is unapologetically authentic. Ladies and Gentlemen, Nola Darling.
Darling, played by DeWanda Wise, is a prime example of a multifaceted character. Each mistake she makes is welcomed instead of shamed. She allows herself to fully feel all of her emotions and proudly accepts the fact that she is a work in progress. She lets no one, other than herself, define who she is and is never afraid to live her truth.
The directing and editing techniques used for this show creates a bold, but playful, take on the original black-and-white film of the same name. Intimate moments are captured in extreme close-ups, while colors flow vibrantly through the screen as we eat up each word the characters say. The series, set in 2016, seems more defiant and a lot less dreamy than its movie counterpart.
Lee also presents a beautifully diverse collection of music for the series. From Miles Davis to Floetry, KRS-One and Solange to Frank Sinatra and Prince, Lee goes all out with what can only be considered as the ultimate playlist.
Each episode is more unexpected than the last as we find out more about Nola’s intricate relationships with her lovers, friends and, most importantly, herself. Issues such as sexual harassment, gentrification and even body image within the exotic dance industry are explored in the series that will definitely spark conversations amongst viewers. If you haven’t already binged-watched the entire series, I suggest that you take this next holiday break to vicariously live through Nola’s trials and tribulations.
SPA Kicks Off "Newsmaker" Series with Rep. Mia Love
By Amanda Nyang'oro | November 2017
The Hill’s “Newsmaker” series is coming to AU, featuring Rep. Mia Love. The Kennedy Political Union (KPU) and the School of Public Affairs (SPA) will sponsor the congresswoman on Nov. 29. Love is the first black Republican woman to be elected to Congress, representing Utah’s 4th congressional district.
The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. in Constitution Hall. Admission is free for current students with a valid AU ID, but a ticket is required. Tickets will be distributed through The Hill.
Mia Love was born in Brooklyn, New York to Haitian immigrants and raised in Norwalk, Connecticut. Love first ran for Congress in 2012 after clutching the Republican nomination, but ultimately lost the bid to Democrat Jim Matheson. Two years later, Love ran again and won.
The “Newsmaker” series will bring “Leadership in Action” to AU, which aims to highlight lawmakers who facilitate conversations about diversity and promote bipartisanship through their work.
The partnership between KPU, SPA and The Hill will bring a number of other newsmakers to headline the event, whom of which will be announced at a later date. The Hill’s Editor-in-Chief Bob Cusack will moderate the discussion.
The Hill is a D.C.-based political newspaper. Its “Newsmaker” series has featured politicians like Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
KPU Announces All-American Weekend Speaker: Gabrielle Union
By Amanda Nyang'oro | October 2017
The Kennedy Political Union has announced that actress and activist Gabrielle Union will be our guest speaker on October 21 at 8:15 P.M. in Bender Arena for the upcoming annual All-American Weekend. There will be no tickets issued for students through Eventbrite but, instead those interested will be admitted on a first-come first-serve basis with a valid AU student ID.
I know. We’re shocked too.
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Here are some (more) reasons why you should be excited:
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You get to see Mary Jane Paul in the flesh.
Union currently stars in the critically acclaimed BET drama series, Being Mary Jane, in which she plays Mary Jane Paul, a successful TV news anchor trying to balance her complicated private and professional life all while searching for her true “Mr. Right”. She has also appeared in a number of films such as “Bring It On” (2002), “Bad Boys II” (2003), “Deliver Us From Eva” (2003), “Think Like A Man” (2012) and “Good Deeds” (2012), to name a few.
2. She’s gives back to the community. Honestly, truly.
Union proudly calls herself an activist and takes part in a number of causes. She is known to show support for the Young Survivor Coalition (YSC), an organization dedicated to the issues that plague women diagnosed with breast cancer. After losing a friend to breast cancer herself, Union serves as an ambassador for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, often traveling on behalf of the foundation and YSC. As a rape survivor herself, she also supports the Rape Treatment Center (RTC) at UCLA.
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3. She has a fashion line. That’s right, you can dress like her too.
Union just released a collection for New York and Company, which consists of 21 pieces ranging from tops and dresses to outerwear. What’s even better is that the line includes all sizes between 0 and 20 so that any woman can look “eclectic and fly”, as Union describes the line, for an affordable price.
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4. She has now added “Author” to her resume.
Union’s new book, “We’re Going to Need More Wine,” is set to be released this month. Her book features a collection of powerful essays that are funny, complicated and true as they explore topics about gender, sexuality, beauty, race, Hollywood and what it means to be a modern woman. So now you can brag to your friends that you’ve seen a New York Times Bestseller before it happens.
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5. She is a true representation of ✨Black Girl Magic✨
As an actress, an activist, a fashion designer and now an author, Union is truly a great representation of what #BlackGirlMagic is. And we almost forgot to mention, she is a living and breathing fountain of youth. At age 44 Union doesn’t look a day older than the Class of 2021. Just watch her 2013 speech at ESSENCE’s annual Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon and you’ll see what we’re talking about. Amazing, right?
Black Girl Magic Rocks NYFW
By Amanda Nyang'oro | September 2017
Now that New York Fashion Week for Spring 2018 is over, we can give you the rundown on the top five things that happened last week that still have us SHOOK.
1. Teyana Taylor slaying every runway she stepped foot on.
2. Rihanna closing her Fenty Puma by Rihanna fashion show like a boss by riding on the back of a motorcycle.
3. Cardi B showing us how it should be done with her top-notch streetwear looks.
4. Leslie Jones being the best hype woman anyone could possibly ask for at Christian Siriano's fashion show.
5. Nicki Minaj telling us what's good once again as she applauded fashion designer Philipp Plein for not appropriating Black culture. Instead, the designer incorporated Black artists into the show by asking Future, 21 Savage, Rae Sremmurd and Yo Gotti to perform.
