Foreign Exchange, Encanto, and There There
Featuring a conversation with Malachi Jones
Welcome to the seventy-seventh installation of The Q : your one-stop weekly newsletter of culture recommendations.
Album
Foreign Exchange by Rx Papi and Gud
Rx Papi has taken over a certain corner of the hip-hop underground this year. For those of us who are perennially online and worshipped Lil B’s early 2010s run, the music of Rx Papi brings back a simpler time.
Film
Encanto directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush
Colombia bleeds through every aspect of this film — from the obvious inspiration of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s conceptions of magical realism, personified by the yellow butterflies from his landmark novel One Hundred Years of Solitude, to the important roles played by Colombian and Latinx voice actors and musicians.
Book
There There by Tommy Orange
Cheyenne and Apraho writer Tommy Orange’s There There follows a number of characters living in Oakland — all of whom are grappling with aspects of their identity. Many of them have familial ties, but lack an understanding of what that means or what it should mean to them.
Playlist
Sudeep’s “Initial Examination” features Dua Saleh, Nicholas Britell, and Yo La Tengo
Sudeep’s favorite track: “STOOZY” by Dean Blunt and A$AP Rocky
Description: “Music that reminds me of winter and also makes me sad.”
Podcast
Episode #72: Lavender Espresso and our Favorite Songs of the Year with Malachi Jones
On this week's episode, Sam and Teresa talk to Malachi about their favorite songs of the year over a lavender espresso.
