#black culture events NYC

[chewwytwee]

Okay so i reallllly like mad men, but something that's been bothering my entire watchthrough is how nice they make it look to live in the 50s. It borders on revisionism with how kind and socially conscious all of the characters in the show are. When watching the sopranos you didn't really get the feeling that you wanted to be in the mob, not just because of the stakes but because the people and culture are bad. Tony Sopano literally chases a black kid out of his home because he hates the idea of his daughter dating a black guy, but the show set in the 50s and 60s is too afraid to touch any social issues besides a vague pro-feminist 'women can be just as good as men in their own way!'.

[sepptember]

there's a post about Pro-Palestine small businesses on instagram by @.counseling4allseasons and i wanted to share that post here.

mentioning businesses that aren't on this post are encouraged!! I'll reblog them to my account or add them to the post. If any of the links don’t work, please let me know.

note that all of the businesses in the insta post might not be included because I struggled to find the link, and some links may lead to an instagram account instead of a website.

Apparel:

Chérine Caftans - Moroccan traditional wear

Hirbawi - Kufiya factory in Palestine

HULM Kicks - Palestinian-owned shoe store

Watan Worldwide - Cultural clothing/merchandise store

Ayan Resources - Palestinian-owned clothing brand

herababyco - Baby clothes

Modestveencouture - Palestinian-owned boutique with wedding, prom, and engagement dresses

Zaytoonas Stitches - Palestinian-owned embroidery store

Dignitii - modest active wear

Nöl Collective - Palestinian-owned traditional wear

RUUQ - Hijab body suits

Dar Collective - Cultural merchandise

Shopdehma - Modest clothing brand

Nayabhijabs - Hijabs

House of amiri - Children's clothing

this business is currently not stocking their inventory because they are working on broadening their brand. support by following them is still highly encouraged.

Yemen Wear - cultural Yemen apparel

Pali Power - Palestinian athletic apparel

Le dressing de moon - Palestinian thobes

La Farrah Boutique - Palestinian thobes

Skincare/Makeup/Fragrances:

Farsalicare - Skincare brand

Yaskinnatural - Skincare brand

Dyfbeauty - Makeup brushes

Mora Cosmetics - Muslim-owned clean makeup

Kadi perfumes - high-quality perfumes and fragrances

Alwafa Shop - Natural skincare

Abumiskperfumes - oil-based fragrances

Dr. Sebaa Co. - Muslim-owned skincare brand

Savana Goat - Natural and artisanal goat soaps

Lerenu - Scalp & haircare

Inika Organics - Organic makeup

Tuesday in Love - Wudhu-friendly nail polish

Home Goods:

Inspire me home decor - Interior design/home decor

The Little Bulbul - Islamic puzzles/mugs/prints

Olive & Heart - Palestinian owned candle shop

Candlescape & Co. - Palestinian owned candle shop

Create & Crescent - event kits and crafts

Kilim Design Store - carpet and flooring.

With a Spin - Home decor

Lifestyle:

Feyre Creations - events merchandise

Khair Designs - Interior design

Soul Detox - Palestinian-owned black seed oil mix and health capsules

Sophologynic - Palestinian-owned wellness-kits and organic honey

Creations By Sal - Custom wedding products and gifts

Crescent Moon Bookstore - Palestinian-owned children’s bookstore

Little Muslim Craft Store - Crafts for Muslim children store

Modefa - Home decor

Sitti soap - Natural soaps and more.

Vidamin Wellness - Organic vitamins

Mysalah Mat - Interactive prayer mat

The Happy Bakers - Egyptian-owned cookies

Little Busy Hands - Customized themed sensory bins

Shahrin Azim Henna & Jagua Artist - Henna Services, New York/NJ

Accessories:

Oroboros Watches - Egyptian-owned watch store

Kiro - Egyptian Jewelry Brand

Elegant Bijoux Jewelry - Lebanese-owned jewelry

Canava Handmade - Luxury Arab handbags States NYC

Deeya Jewellery - Luxury gold plated bridal/formal jewelry

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Walter Einenkel at Daily Kos:

Donald Trump's disastrously racist rally at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Sunday was epitomized by Tony Hinchcliffe’s hack bigotry. The Joe Rogan-cultivated comedian called Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage" and labored through a 12-minute set filled with “jokes” about Latinos and Black people.

Because Hinchcliffe’s litany of tasteless insults kicked off a rally for the Republican Party’s presidential nominee, his racist patter received backlash from all corners of the political world and beyond, including Puerto Rican reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny, who endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris shortly after Hinchcliffe’s set was done. (The rapper has 45.6 million followers on Instagram alone, for anyone keeping count). However, it turns out that the disaster could have been an even bigger calamity. According to The Bulwark’s Marc A. Caputo, the Trump campaign identified one “red flag” in the comedian’s set that was nixed before the event.  “He had a joke calling [Vice President Kamala] Harris a ‘cunt,’” a “campaign insider” told Caputo. That’s some real comedic genius.

The blowback has been so intense that Trump’s campaign, known for never apologizing about anything, has distanced itself from that one joke about Puerto Rico. Of course they haven’t denounced Hinchcliffe claiming Latinos have more unprotected sex and babies than others, and that Black people carve watermelons instead of pumpkins at Halloween. “It’s a joke. People need to grow up,” one Trump adviser told The Bulwark, defending the gross racism. “This is what we’re campaigning against: PC culture run amok.”

Tony Hinchcliffe’s bigoted speech at the MSG hatefest Sunday targeted Blacks, Puerto Ricans, and Palestinians disguised as “jokes.”

However, even the heinously sexist Trump campaign thought Hinchcliffe’s planned use of the word “c**t” to describe Kamala Harris was beyond the pale, thus it was axed.

[transgenderer]

i was wondering bc discussions of 'culture' is in vogue rn, my understanding is u ID as white while being 1/8 black, how do ur parent + grandparent with black ancestry ID? do you think your ancestry has an effect on your ~culture~, or what about ur parent or grandparent?

so my dad (1/4) is like. kinda weird about it? he's like, everything-passing. had a no war with iran sticker and got asked if he was iranian, went to mexico, spoke some bad spanish, got the native discount, etc. when i was a kid he would insist i check off both "white" and "african american" if a survey allowed both options. so i think he does the same. in college he was invited to a university event for black students so he came and arthur ashe (the tennis guy) told him he didnt belong there). anyway uh. i think he feels kind of weird about it? but the area i grew up in is pretty multiracial (altho not very black) so "mix of various ethnicities" is like one of the default types of guy there, and he grew up in NYC. my mom was once asked about her experience being in an interracial relationship and she was confused and didnt know how to respond

anyway my grandpa i think IDs much more with "immigrant"+"jamaican" than with black. i mean. he looks like your run of the mill american black guy. but he has a jamaican accent, and has lived in nyc his whole time in america so yknow, immigrant is a significant social role there. also there allegedly (according to my dad, i have not been able to verify this and have tried) a thing in jamaica where the children of slaves and slaveowners could inherit from their father so it was significant if you had white ancestry, like you were a lot richer. my grandpa didnt know his father but also owned like a plot of land+house in jamaica (he sold it when i was a kid, only visited once or twice), not sure whats going on there. he grew up in the middle of nowhere highland jamaica. weird guy. married a british lady (he was there for school?) and moved to the US

anyway im not sure i received much like jamaican culture from either of them except my grandpa would make (or actually i think my english grandma would make it) jamaican food and then i would get autistic about the texture except breadfruit which i love. weird jamaican stories. to the extent that it feels like ive recieved like a cultural influence from either of them its a bit of nyc culture (certain type of argumentative)

[bread--quest]

more details about them are under the cut in case one of them sounds familiar and you want to doublecheck. if you know what the 8th one is please tell me

mr. revere and i: book narrated from the pov of paul revere's horse. she was formerly a british horse but through some amount of shenanigans was given to paul revere instead. she had an entire arc about unlearning her loyalty to england and choosing to side with the americans that was extremely compelling to young me

all-of-a-kind family: jewish sisters on the lower east side in turn of the century new york. i read so many books with that premise but these were my favorites. uhh there were 5 of them, oldest was ella and then i think hattie and then sarah, charlotte, and gertie. it was a series and later there was a little brother who had to get his name changed because he fell down a manhole (long story). they went to the library and coney island and ate soup and did jewish holidays. probably at least 15% responsible for my fixation on nyc. they were everything to me.

the year of the dog: book about an asian-american girl growing up. her name is pacy and she likes to draw. has a lot of conflicted feelings about being american vs. being part of her family's culture which i related a lot to for reasons that i'm sure you can guess

cobble street cousins: 3 cousins growing up on a street?? actually it was two sisters (lily and rosie) and their cousin tess. they had a cool aunt who was dating a botanist. tess was a broadway nerd. they had a cool attic hideaway. the books were excruciatingly cozy i love them

project mulberry: ANOTHER one about asian-american girls feeling conflicted about culture are you noticing a theme here. uhh a girl and her friend who collects state quarters do a science fair project raising silkworms and then trying to embroider something with them. they get help from a guy who has a mulberry tree and is black and her mom has to confront her inner racism. at one point the author talks to the main character in like the footnotes for some reason

the pushcart war: LOVE THIS ONE SO SO MUCH BTW EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT. uhh its new york in Very Slightly The Future. (it was like 1940s when this was written but the date gets changed with every reprint.) everything is the same but traffic is slightly worse. its supposed to read like an account of an actual historical event. pushcart peddlers get fed up with being literally pushed around by truck drivers and get organized. using pea shooters they make the trucks get flat tires so that everyone can see that they're the main problem of traffic. does a surprisingly good job going into all the ways seemingly small political action can have effects (newspaper articles, local government elections, other unions being affected, even trade with other nations). not exactly a union novel but basically a union novel (to this day i still think of a certain part of it whenever someone brings up union dues). basically radicalized kid me if we're being honest.

the fairy rebel: well it was either that or the rebel fairy can't remember. really weird one honestly. okay so a woman named jan hurts her leg and can't dance and also can't have kids and is like clinically depressed about it. weird beginning to a kids book but it gets weirder. a fairy shows up and makes friends with her and in exchange for jan teaching the fairy what jeans are the fairy makes a magic baby for jan. the baby has a streak of magic blue hair. there are also magic rose presents. the fairy queen is evil and has evil wasps and gives the kid an evil necklace and does some really fucked up stuff like nearly crush the kid under toys. it's okay eventually though i think

haunted doll one: okay so i read this at a campground once and it's probably the most genuinely obscure one on here but. a girl finds a doll and like. touches it? or picks it up or something? and somehow the doll transports her back in time to like a wagon chain exploring the west or whatever. and i think the doll is there in prairie times too. can't remember if the modern girl like possesses the original owner of the doll on the wagon chain or if she just gets prairie isekai'd but i think it's like a recurring event. also at some point someone gets bit by a snake and maybe dies. i don't remember how it ends but the general vibes of the thing terrified kid me So Much that it's haunted me ever since. if you remember this book please tell me

[destinyc1020]

think we are about talking about two different things. I wasnt speaking from the perspective about black creators, I understand the value of awards and I also understand the business of the industry and the systemic institutional anti blackness the runs rampant in the industry. I know why its imporant for them. I speaking from fans who decry at the this idea on where is the love for black films like earth mama or where is the attention ( when we know systemic racism is the reason why some of these black led/ directed films dont get the same attention. I just get the impression that sometimes we only see value in black films when they are talked about by film twitter, when they get awards or box office success. All im saying there is love for black films partucularly at feativals, criterion, musuems, film pereservationists Im saying black films can be loved in different ways and it doesnt need to have same attention of a greta gerwig film or an award nomination to value

A thousand and one literally the talk of sundance, the nyc library hosted an event featuring that movie which followed with a workshop on black story telling, they showed that film at a harlem cultural center, the shelter that I worked with held a special screening with av rockwell where she talked about this. All Im saying this movie in particularly is doing amazing on the local level despite the lack of nominations it has proven to be culturally siginificant film and doesnt need to be nominated for it not be valuable, that validation is nice but not necessary especially when black and poc filmmakers have been praising the film.

Im obvi not naive about how the funding works. Though even if nominations lead to funding and opportunities its still heavily circumscribed and undercut as hollywood only allows certian black stories to be told and told in very specific ways. Rustin being one example of depoliticizing on focusing a narrative that is still heavily sanitized and reductive. Black creators who were once freely able to tell certian stories in indie spaces can longer do that when hollywood gives them "opportunities" so I mean.

African filmmakers like sara maldalor, alice diop, sembane, nikaytu jusu ( who talked about the unease of working with a streamer like amazon) or african american director kathleen collins have expressed the farce of holywood and the illusion of opportunity when working within an anti black, pro military, pro imperial institution.

Oh okay, thanks Anon for clarifying what you meant 😊

[freshdotdaily]

As I recall, we recorded this at Converse Rubber Tracks in like 2013-2014 probably. I wanted to add more to it and get it mastered and crispier sounding. But as I listen back to it now, I like the gritty unfinished Lofi element it has to it, feels like a mixtape cut off an old DJ Clue tape.

As two enlightened black men from Brooklyn public housing who made it past 25 years of age to thrive and create art, there's much to celebrate with this track. I titled it "War Elephants" because Hannibal of Carthage crossed the Alps on Elephants and stomped on many an enemy head in war and this felt like that kinda proclamation.

He might hate this story, but the first time I saw exQuire rock, was at Bowery Poetry Club. His skinny jeans ripped that night mid-performance because mans was going HARD and rapping for his life on that tiny stage. It left an indelible mark on me. He gave me a copy of his mixtape on CD. The cover was a collage of all his influences, like comics, wrestling, rap, etc. I still have it.

The next time I seent duke was in Pathmark (RIP) on the late night and bruh was acting kinda suspicious so I figured he was shoplifting lol. He later told me he was just nervous. To meet me? I really am just a project baby from Fort Greene who be rapping so when anyone tells me they were geeked to meet me or my music had ANY impact on them, it throws me for a loop. But, I paid attention to brody because I knew what time he was on. Vibes don't lie and him (and SickSentz) were making moves around the city & country. This video is like from 2013. Crazy that's 10 years ago, right?

If you know him as an artist in the mid to post-blog era NYC rap scene, he quickly rose to rap prominence off a Mishka-assisted single that boasted one of the hardest remixes feat. the long-heralded return of indie rap OG EL-P. That rise included a record deal, a single with Gucci Mane, and a host of other things. During this time, I faded to the back to focus on myself and my event series brand. But despite where HIS lengthy accomplishments in music took him, whenever brody & I crossed paths, he always acknowledged my skill, my influence, and my accomplishments. I did a lot for the culture in my hometown to little or no recognition and definitely no pay or recompense. Especially when ppl blow up, they tend to forget all the ppl who they rocked w/ on their ascension. So when people who are doing good in this culture acknowledge ya boy, it holds weight, cuz a nigga was really outside giving many folks the blueprint before I faded to black (that's a Jiggaman reference right there lol). Peep my tiny cameo in this video at 5:01.

It's dope to be appreciated after dipping & returning. Shouts to BMB Spacekid who used to send me beat tape after beat tape and this one was on it. I played beats for eXquire and I skipped this one, but he asked me to run it back, and picked this one to my utter surprise. The rest is history.

Here's a flick of me, eX, MURS, and El-P

Feels right to let this one loose. Enjoy. Support if you can (it's $5) If you can't just share it. Thanks!

[ausetkmt]

As we celebrate Black Music Month and LGBT Pride Month, let us pay tribute to the pioneers and trailblazers who gifted the world with the infectious beats of house music. As house music is experiencing a resurgence in the mainstream, it's important to remember where house began -- decades ago in Black queer clubs. Over the years, house music continues to evolve, thrive, and inspire new generations, carrying on the legacy of its roots while pushing boundaries and breaking down barriers.

So, whether you're on a crowded dance floor, grooving in your living room, or listening on your phone, take a moment to appreciate the magic of house, a testament to the enduring spirit of Black musical innovation and a soundtrack for liberation, love, and unity.

DJ MikeQDJ MikeQ was immersed in the ballroom scene in NYC's tri-state area, where vogueing and ballroom battles took center stage. The Newark, New Jersey native DJ'ed at various ballroom events and clubs, eventually becoming the main DJ for HBO Max's hit series Legendary. MikeQ became one of the first house DJs on a major television series. In addition to his DJing prowess, MikeQ founded Qween Beat Productions, a record label that released music rooted in ballroom and vogue culture. No one slays a beat like DJ MikeQ and the people who came before him -- like DJ Frankie Knuckles and DJ Larry Levan -- would certainly be proud. Listen to a MikeQ set from 2022 above.

DJ Paulie PaulPhilly's own DJ Paulie Paul has been spinning for over three decades -- he is the sound of house in the City of Brotherly Love. Originally from North Philly, Paul developed a cult following as a DJ at the legendary Nile house club in the 1990s, including the late-great DJ Donald Stone and another music master gone too soon, DJ George. Known for his seamless mixing and ability to respond to the crowd's energy, Paul crafts unforgettable experiences on the dance floor. From vogue beats to tribal rhythms, if you are in Philadelphia, be sure to catch a DJ Paulie Paul set. In the meantime, listen above. 

DJ Larry LevanIn the 1970s and 1980s, DJ Larry Levan's residency at the Paradise Garage, a legendary nightclub in Manhattan, became an iconic hub for house music enthusiasts. Levan's musical sensibilities extended beyond the DJ booth. He was also an accomplished producer, remixing tracks for artists such as Grace Jones, Inner Life, and Gwen Guthrie, infusing their music with his distinctive touch. Larry Levan's impact on the house music genre cannot be overstated. Though he left this world in 1992 at only 38 years old, his legacy is forever etched in the annals of dance music history. Listen to a vintage mix from 1979.

DJ Ron HardyDJ Ron Hardy is a true pioneer of the Chicago house sound. His distinct style, unyielding passion for music, allowed him to connect to house heads and shape the evolution of house music worldwide. Ron Hardy's name remains synonymous with  the relentless pursuit of sonic exploration that defines the spirit of house music. He passed away in 1992 at 33 years old. Listen to a classic mix from 1986 above.

DJ Frankie KnucklesBorn in 1959, the pioneering DJ began his career spinning soul, disco, and R&B music at clubs in New York City. He relocated to Chicago and was soon coined the Godfather of House.  In 1997, Frankie Knuckles won a Grammy in the Remixer of the Year, Non-Classical category, and in 2004 a street in Chicago was renamed Frankie Knuckles Way. The following year, Knuckles was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame. He passed away in 2014 at 59 years old but his legacy in house music is immortal. Knuckles mastered the resilience, creativity, and cultural significance that this genre represents. Listen to his set from  2013 above. Happy Pride and happy Black Music Month!

[queerbrownvegan]

NYC folx, I'm hosting an event on Thursday Sept 21st. Free food and drinks, music from Gaia Quartet, and panels with Willow Defebaugh from Atmos, Wawa Gatheru of Black Girl Environmentalist and Sophie Strand author of The Madonna Secret!

Our event series, Symbiocene, is our chance to celebrate the role of joy, art, culture and community on our journey to collective liberation + a regenerative future.

Get your tickets here 🪴

[longlistshort]

Renée Stout’s exhibition at Marc Straus in NYC, Navigating the Abyss, presents a collection of her recent work in various mediums. From sculpture and painting to photography, her skillful and inventive work draws you in.

From the press release-

Starting out as a photo-realist painter depicting life in everyday urban neighborhoods, Stout soon developed an interest in the mystical and spiritual traditions in African American communities. Fascinated with fortunetelling and the healing power of Hoodoo, Vodou and Santeria still practiced within the African Diaspora in the American Southeast and Caribbean, she delved into ancient spiritual traditions and belief systems. She has drawn inspiration from a wide variety of sources such as current social and political events, Western art history, the culture of African Diaspora, and daily city life. While her artistic practice is rich with references and resonances, her works are eventually unique manifestations of her own imagination, populated by mysterious narratives and imagined characters derived from the artist’s alter ego.

In this exhibition, we encounter a group of portraits depicting Hoodoo Assassins and Agents (#213 and #214) who, in Stout’s imagination, are healers, seers, and empaths from a Parallel Universe in which fairness and balance rules. Erzulie Yeux Rouge (Red Eyes) is a spirit from the Haitian Pantheon of spirits whose empathic nature makes her a fierce guardian or protector of women, children, and betrayed lovers. Ikengas, originating in the Igbo culture of Southeastern Nigeria, are shrine figures that are meant to store the owner’s chi (personal god), his ndichie (ancestors) and his ike (power), and are generally associated with men. Stout’s Ikenga (If You Come for the Queen, You Better Not Miss) is a powerful female figure with her breasts and horns turned into weapons, and she is adorned with jewels and charms to boost her powers. Beyond the playful yet powerful imagination of these female characters are serious undertones of political commentary as Stout ponders the concepts of these deities while witnessing the recent rulings in our society that infringe on women’s rights.

In Escape Plan D (With Hi John Root, Connecting the Dots) Stout maps out her potential escape to the Parallel Universe when the daily news weighs unbearably on her psyche.

Visions of the Fall, in Thumbnails is a series of five small paintings that comments on the current state of our world and its imagined future with the titles as upcoming stages of its evolution.

American Memory Jar is an entirely black sculpture consisting of a glass jar covered with thin-set mortar, plastic and metal toy guns, topped with a doll head and adorned with a bead and rhinestone cross pendant. Memory Jugs are an American folk-art form that memorializes the dead adorned with objects associated with the deceased. Stout’s jar is a bitter but painfully accurate assessment.

While Stout’s work alludes to history, racial stereotyping, societal decay, and a set of alarming tendencies in our socio-political structures and ecosystem, it also reveals possibilities and the promise of healing. Various works reference healing herbs, potions, and dreams. Herb List, Spell Diagram and The Magic I Manifest speak of Stout’s belief in the power of consciousness, in the existence of more solid and fertile grounds, and of individual responsibility.

There is one overarching narrative that clearly emerges from Stout’s work – her personal history and spiritual journey as a woman and as an artist.

This exhibition closes 3/5/23.

[howhow326]

Computer was beating my behind today

The Raptor: Full body design

Yay, I finnaly drew my ml oc after two fan fics of vauge descriptions that contradict each other because I couldn't think of an outfit. And yes, drawing hands killed me. Yes, he is barefoot in the first picture and I didn't draw feet because I didn't want to die again.

Timothy Césaire's backstory (again):

Alya's cousin from New York City, Timothy Césaire used to be a normal, not so mild-manner middle school student who's only concern was getting good grades and dealing with bullies. But his life would change permanently after getting an intership at Hill incorporated; the cover for Majestia's laboratory. As fate would have it, Timothy's job for his first day to observe a resurrected, radioactive Velociraptor. However, one of the scientists left it's cage open on accident, which lead to the creature escaping it's enclosure and biting Timothy. Eventually, Timothy realized that the event had given him a superpower, the ability to move so fast that the world around him slowed down. This motivated him to create the persona of The Raptor, a new super hero who would help the helpless. At first, the United Heroez tolerated his presence and even encouraged him to join him. But everything changed when the Raptor stole from Audrey Bourgeois; He left a calling card in her house that claimed she had stolen designs from unpaid interns and that he would make her pay. Even with all the money and power in NYC, Audrey was powerless to stop the Raptor from stealing thousands of dollars worth in money... and secretly giving it to the poor. From that point onward, The Raptor was officially known as as a super villain. But it wasn't the end for Timothy. Its just the begginng of the end for the powerful in New York.

Wanna know some fun facts about Tim?

Design backstory

I'll start with Tim's civilian outfit, it's just a color swapped version of Alya's outfit.

Now that that's out of the way:

My original idea (that I never drew) of the Raptor's design was going to be something like tuxedo mask with a hoodie and long feathers on his arms instead of a cape.

Then Argos stole his look

So when I wrote Funk Up The Night, I thought up a different outfit that would look waaay different from Felix; something like what a Victorian era working class person would wear to contrast Timothy from the 2(+ Felix) super villains dressed like aristocrats. The design would have baggy clothing with a newsboys hat instead of a hood and a tattered blue neck tie that would be like the main attention grabber of the design.

I ended up keeping the the neck tie part for this one, but I swapped the cap out for a visor (that can go through Timothy's hair without destroying it lol)

Anyway, I wanted to do base this design off of something from Martinican culture as I headcanon Alya (& Tim) as being born from there and moving to France (/U.S.).

It was there that I encountered the Neg Gwo Siwo, a Martinican carnival character covered in black that's a symbol of rebellion against oppression.

What a coincidence that I already imagined Timothy as having a mostly dark design!

So I used dark blue skin to blend in with Tim's black clothes (actually a really dark shade of green).

I added some gold bands with hints of red and green

And done!

I made a good design with bad anatomy because I don't understand arms lol

[djinnewyorkcity]

New York City has long been a cultural melting pot, brimming with diversity and creativity. Among its vibrant communities, Black-owned businesses have played a significant role in shaping the city’s identity, contributing to its rich history of entrepreneurship. One such standout is DJ Zeke, a well-known DJ whose talent, business acumen, and connection to his audience have made him a force in the New York entertainment scene.

Who is DJ Zeke?

DJ Zeke is a powerhouse of energy and charisma. A native New Yorker, Zeke’s musical prowess spans genres, bringing life to events ranging from corporate functions and weddings to nightclubs and private parties. His ability to engage audiences with his seamless mixes and intuitive song choices has earned him a reputation as one of New York’s most sought-after DJs.

DJ Zeke’s skills go beyond his ability to play great DJ music. He has a unique gift for reading the crowd, ensuring that each event he plays is tailor-made for the audience in attendance. Whether he’s spinning the latest hip-hop hits, grooving or setting the mood with house music, DJ Zeke knows how to keep people on the dance floor.

Building a Black-Owned Business in NYC

DJ Zeke isn’t just a DJ, he’s a businessman. Over the years, he has built a brand that not only focuses on delivering high-quality entertainment but also emphasizes professionalism and reliability. In a city like New York, where competition is fierce, DJ Zeke’s commitment to excellence has helped him stand out from the crowd.

His entrepreneurial journey represents the broader experience of Black-owned businesses in New York, which often face unique challenges, including access to funding and opportunities. Zeke’s success serves as an inspiration, highlighting the importance of perseverance, community support, and maintaining a commitment to quality in business.

A Commitment to Community

One of the aspects that set DJ Zeke apart from many others in the entertainment industry is his deep connection to his community. He is known for supporting local causes, attending community events, and using his platform to elevate other Black-owned businesses. His work is a testament to the idea that entrepreneurship is not just about personal success but about giving back and uplifting others.

By fostering a sense of unity and celebration, DJ Zeke’s influence goes beyond music. He represents a thriving Black business community that continues to expand and redefine what it means to be successful in New York.

Supporting Black-Owned Businesses

In a city like New York, where culture and diversity are at the heart of its identity, the success of Black-owned businesses like DJ Zeke’s enhances the city’s vibrancy, proving that diversity fuels creativity and progress.

Event Production Companies

DJ Zeke has also made a name for himself by collaborating with top-tier event production companies in New York. By working closely with event planners and production teams, he ensures a seamless experience that aligns with the vision of every event.

Taking Events Virtual

In recent years, especially during the pandemic, DJ Zeke has adapted to the changing landscape of the entertainment industry by incorporating virtual events into his services. Virtual events have become a new norm, allowing people to connect and celebrate while adhering to safety protocols. DJ Zeke has skillfully transitioned his electrifying performances to virtual platforms, bringing the party to people’s homes through live streaming and curated online experiences.

[randomvarious]

Today's mix:

N.Y.C. Underground Party, Volume 4 by Louie DeVito 2001 Hard House / Progressive House / Hard Trance / Trance / Tribal House / Progressive Trance

Such interesting times that people were living in when New York's hottest party DJ at the time, Louie DeVito, could get away with putting out mixes that had album art that looked this shitty 😂. I mean, the guy had his very own mixshow on commercial FM radio, played at numerous exclusive swanky events for the socialites, and his own NYC Underground Party series ended up clearing a million sold too. But I guess there was like a New York workingman diy Kinko's hustle kinda charm to it all, which he indeed did end up earning himself, having started out as a construction worker with a DJ side gig, before unexpectedly and suddenly ascending into high-flying status as a full-time DJ 📈 .

And I'm not going to say outright that Louie is bad at his craft, but I fucking HATED nearly every second of this fourth volume in this highly popular series of his. This is just so entirely emblematic of the utterly mindless big club room stuff that was striving to make commercial headway at the turn of the millennium, but could only mostly find its niche success on the Billboard dance charts instead; essentially, it was dance music that was underground in name only, because it had tons and tons of dumb and glitzy commercial appeal with its big and blaring and honking lead melodies, but Americans, thankfully, were just not that smitten by it...yet.

See, this was more or less a harbinger of what was to come: all this mixing of big room genres like hard house, progressive house, tribal house, trance, and progressive trance, etc., is what ended up giving way to EDM, which really started to make pop music its bitch between the late 2000s and early 2010s, when David Guetta revolutionized everything for the worse with his monumental team-up with the Black Eyed Peas 😒.

Like, before Guido culture really became a big, cultural American phenomenon, the type of stuff that Louie DeVito was spinning here is what was passing for dance music for a lot of people. It all fits on the same specific timeline to me. And Louie may've loved it, and he may've been good at mixing it too, but all of it feels so artless, formulaic, ingenuine, cheesy, classless, soulless, and transactionally cheap.

And I really don't mean to sound all snooty about all of this (I swear!), but I do genuinely believe that there is an art and intelligence to creating quality dance music, which I think a lot of people who aren't in the know struggle to understand. So let me try to analogize it with something else: this now-enormously profitable EDM flightpath that popular dance music has been on for far too long, which dates all the way back to the void that was left by the death of Eurodance in the early 2000s, is similar to the bygone dynamic between metal and hair metal. A lot of metalheads really despised hair metal, and in retrospect, some of us may look back on a chunk of it with rose-colored nostalgia, but we also realize how plainly stupid and awful so much of it was too, even though it was extremely popular. And it's pretty much the same thing here with dance music today; far too much of this shit's dumb and it sucks, and it's been this way for way too long—we are in desperate need of some kind of "grunge" moment here.

Fortunately, though, not everything with dance music in 2001 was so black-and-white. While these horrendous Louie DeVito selections were packing rooms and pervading the US dance charts, there was still fine dance music being made elsewhere that had an overall much sleeker and cosmopolitan vibe to it. It was that filtery and French-sounding house stuff from acts like Daft Punk and songs like Modjo's "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" and Phats & Smalls' "Turn Around," specifically. Ironically, and deservedly so, this much more disco-rooted style of dance music would end up succeeding better commercially at the time than the fist-pumping "underground" Louie DeVito stuff, but the commerciality of EDM would eventually break through to the masses too. And Daft Punk may've ended up becoming the most iconic dance act of their own generation, but a lot of the people in the EDM world that sat immediately behind them were pushing out steady streams of garbage, much in the same way that Metallica were the kings of metal, but the collective of hair bands that sat behind their prowess in the 80s to early 90s were largely dog shit too.

Anyway, if you're not really following any of this or you think I'm insane or whatever, just put this mix on for a few minutes and I think you might understand what I'm getting at—that this stuff is simply the hair metal of dance music.

Listen to the full mix here.

No highlights.

[pulsdmedia]

The Week Ahead 11/11-11/17

Food, drink, celebrities, fashion, and a whole lot more! That's what is in store this week. Rest up because the weekend is all about The 2024 BK Tequila Festival. Remember Pamela Anderson? Well, this is your chance to meet her. And who doesn't love shopping for a great cause...

$29 Tickets To The Brooklyn Tequila & Spirits Festival

Sip, sip, agav-yay! Just $29 gets you a ticket to either the afternoon or the evening session of The 2024 Brooklyn Tequila & Spirits Festival where you will get to spend 3 hours exploring over 100 Tequilas, Mezcals, and a small selection of other spirits. As you drink, dance away, and if you get hungry, there will be lots of yummy food available for purchase too!

The Last Showgirl: Pamela Anderson in Convo

Get an exclusive look inside The Last Showgirl with a special screening and conversation with Gotham nominated Pamela Anderson and director Gia Coppola, moderated by MTV’s Josh Horowitz for a live recording of his Happy Sad Confused podcast.

$19 Tickets To Fashion For Action Open Bar Fundraiser

Strut your stuff in style and give your wardrobe a runway-worthy refresh at The 2024 Fashion For Action Celebrity Shopping Party & Benefit! Just $19 gets you into this fashionista celebration that includes a Hour Open Bar of Wine & Beer. Plus, you'll be able to shop amazing brands such as Alexis Bittar, Apiece Apart, Loewe, and many others at huge discounts! All Proceeds To Benefit Housing Works' Dual Mission of ending Homelessness & AIDS in NYC.

Black Designers: Leading New Fashion Models

The Museum at FIT will host a conversation about influential Black American designers who are reshaping the fashion industry through new production networks, cultural narratives, and sustainability. Learn how these designers are building bridges between New York and global locales. The conversation will be moderated by MFIT associate curator Elizabeth Way. A book signing will follow the event.

$29 Tickets To An Open Bar Holiday Y2K Celebration Atop Of NYC

Back by popular demand to finish the year off, Elsie Rooftop's Hour Open Bar Y2K Party makes for a fabulous weekend. Just $29 gets you a 2 Hour Open Bar, where you will get to party like it is the year 2000! Dance the afternoon away to your favorite Y2K pop hits spun by DJ Kevin Riddagh. Think *NSYNC, Britney Spears, Destiny’s Child, Sisqó, Coldplay - you name the jam, he'll spin it so you can shake it! Who needs a time machine when you have this rooftop retreat?

Jane Street Garden Annual Gala & Garden Party

Welcome to the Jane Street Garden Annual Gala and Garden Party! Join them for a delightful evening at the beautiful Jane Street Garden. Get ready for a night filled with music, dancing, delicious food, and good company.

[man-squared]

First, an image description and then, a little rant under the cut with links to information about the images. Feel free to reach out if I get any of the details of the images wrong, so I can fix it.

[ ID: There are seven images on this post.

The first image is a screenshot of a tumblr reply. Waves have been transposed on the image to make it seem like it is underwater. The reply is from catlovergirl676 that says, "Religion is not a part of the LGBTQA+ community."

The next images are from various queer-related events of religious people.

First, there are Indian people holding up a large rainbow pride flag (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple) above their heads in front of stone steps. In front of them, there are two men holding hands and dancing in a circle. One of the men wears a rainbow flag as clothing. This was a celebration of a legal case in Bangalore that can be read about here.

The next image is of British Muslims participating in Pride. There are multiple signs being held that say "Love is not haram," "Allah loves equality # Love is Love," "Imaan LGBTQI Muslim Support," "Trans Muslims are Everywhere," and many other sayings. In the front of the crowd there is someone wearing the rainbow flag over her face as a niqab / veil.

The fourth image is of a Sikh man staring at the camera and holding a sign that reads "Some Sikhs are gay. Get over it!" He wears a turban that is layered with rainbow pride colors but mainly red.

The fifth image is a person walking in the 2023 New York City Pride march. The person wears a "Jewish Queer Pride" shirt, wears a colorful, rainbow-like headscarf, and holds a sign that says, "Trans Jews Belong Here" over a blue and pink Star of David.

The sixth image comes from the Instagram rebootjewish. The photo is black-and-white of a Jewish boy walking in the New York City Gay Pride March of 1992. He holds a sign that says, "Homo Jew Boy." The caption reads "[red heart emoji, orange heart emoji, yellow heart emoji, green heart emoji, blue heart emoji, purple heart emoji] 1992 Gay Pride March # NYC @/lgbtcenternyc."

The last image is of Harvey Milk. This image is in black-and-white. Milk sits on the top of the car out of a sunroof. He is raising one fist in the air and his other hand holds a sign that says, "I'm from Woodmere, N.Y." His mouth is open in a wide, full smile, possibly yelling something, and he wears flowers around his neck. End ID. ]

Disclaimer: I do not know the commenter’s stance on religion or their views about antitheism. This is mostly about the general conversation around people who lump all religions as one in the name of Christianity, which is a very (hateful) Christian-like thing to do anyway. I am an atheist/agnostic if that bears any weight in this in any way. This is under the cut because I think the image descriptions are much more important than what I have to say on the matter. I'm tired of people painting individuals and other religions and cultures as bad because they can only view the world from a lens of Christianity.

I'm going to be real honest, here in the south, regardless of sexuality or gender, there are a LOT of Christian queers, and there are a fee queer-inclusive Christains/churches. I don't think I have ever once seen anyone say that Christains or their churches don't belong at pride by anyone online or in my community . . . So the fact that "religion is not a part of the community" was commented on a post that explicitly mentions religious wear of non-Christian religions/cultures seems very telling.

Not even to fucking mention all the photos of Christains who march at pride with signs that say "Jesus loves you" and the like, who (from what I have seen a lot - I'm a queer from the South USA) do not get told that religion doesn't belong at pride, and the only ones telling them that Christianity does not include queers is (more often than not) other Christains. Often, they get celebrated for not being like the Christians that hurt us.

Let religious queers be queer and religious. They will always be at pride, and you can't shame them away. And stop telling people what to do and wear at pride. It's exhausting and pointless.

A lot of people take their hatred of Christianity out on other religions (or just the people of those religions). They say things like this or become antitheists usually solely because of their negative interactions with Christianity and the influence of Christianity/colonialism on other religions and cultures. I don't have to tell that to spacelazarwolf (he KNOWS). But if you do this, you are just furthering the reach and influence of the type of Christianity you hate (even if it is Christianity in general). You are passing hate in the name of religion, even though you aren't a part of that religion, which seems like the last thing you (specifically) would want to do, but here we are.

Links:

reminder that visibly religious people belong at pride. that person wearing a hijab is not a threat to you. that person wearing tzitzit and a kippah is not a threat to you. someone simply wearing an item that is culturally or religiously important to them is not a threat to you. however, your aggression upon seeing a religious person at pride is a threat to them.