Remember when I predicted more Afrobeats artists would collaborate with African American ones this year? Well, it's already happening. And quite swiftly at that. This is bittersweet for me. A bit hot and cold, if you will. Hot: Black unity! Y'all know I am here for people of the African Diaspora collaborating and creating entirely new sounds. Something special always happens when elements of our music blend. It's the main way we begin to rebuild the bridges that have disconnected us (*cough*...

For some of us December isn't *really* the end of the year, and for others it's the perfect time to start thinking about and planning for what's to come. Regardless, I do think this season has a way of forcing us all to reflect. The tried + true Taurus in me hates change—which is why it makes sense that I'm scratching my head at the idea of what Afrobeats could sound like in 2024. As a deep lover of the genre, I'm often screaming "bring back 2016 Afrobeats!' It's why I love Davido's "E PAIN...

click to watch In 2018 I joined Party Noire, an events collective centering Black women, femmes, and queer folks in Chicago, after returning home from university. I'll sum up my college sob story by saying college was very lonely and boring for me. I was so excited to return to the city as an adult me; a me more confident and sure of myself than I was when I was growing up here. Since working with the collective, I've learned some important lessons, gained opportunities, and most importantly,...