Happy Labor Day Weekend! Whether you’re a new subscriber or an existing subscriber, welcome back. Here are a few articles you should check out from this week!
The American Institute for Boys and Men did a study and found that Black men only account for 26% of enrollment at HBCUs. This is down from 38% in 1976. The number of non-black students is almost equal to that of Black males enrolled at HBCUs. This is due to several factors, one of which is improper preparation during elementary and high school. Considering the unique position that HBCUs are in to educate Black students, this current state of affairs is alarming. One of the factors explicitly highlighted in the article was that the lack of Black male teachers often causes Black boys in school to have a negative view of education, leading to unideal outcomes, and then a lack of interest in pursuing education.
Read the Full Article Here.
This week, three projects stood out. RZA, Big Sean, and Doechii all released projects this week. Their sounds are all different and in many ways illustrate the growth of Hip Hop over the years as well as the eclectic nature of the now 51-year-old genre. RZA is known for his production and experimentation with sound. His new project "A Ballet Through Mud" was done in collaboration with the Colorado Symphony. It sounds like a score for a film or music for a ballet. The project tells a good musical story and is a refreshing listen. Big Sean is back with a new album, Better Me Than You, and his age is showing in a good way. A family man and someone who has been on a mental health journey, his music reflects someone who's grown up. If there was any question about his ability, he could still rap. Doechii seems to be the next person up for TDE. Her mixtape, "Alligator Bites Never Heal" features a lot more of her rapping than we've heard in the past. It's clear TDE is passing her the torch, and she's taking it and running. Check out the projects below.
"The Terminal": Where we navigate the vast sea of information to bring you the essential stops for our global Black audience. Just like a bustling terminal serves as a gateway to new destinations, our curated content will be your passport to knowledge, empowerment, and connection. Embark on this journey with us as we explore the world from a unique perspective—yours.
The House of Urban Culture is a community in Senegal that is looking to cultivate the growing Hip Hop Scene.
Namibia is battling its worst drought in 100 years and to feed its people, they will be killing more than 700 animals.
Aurora James is an entrepreneur and designer. Her impact can be seen on runways around the world. She is the founder of luxury brand Brother Vellies, as well as Fifteen Percent Pledge which is a nonprofit that encourages retailers to give 15% of their space to Black owned brands.
Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders signed an NIL deal with Nike.
Song of the Week: “Boom Bap” by Doechii (USA)