Weight of the World, Concrete Cowboy, and Black Leopard Red Wolf
Featuring an interview with black
Welcome to the seventy-first installation of The Q : your one-stop weekly newsletter of culture recommendations.
A few months ago, The Q collaborated with Apply. Their latest creative collaboration is with artist & poet, Jeffrey Gibson, who was featured on Episode #61 of Two Virgins.
Jeffrey is one the most important artists working today. His work revolves around identity & community, combining his own Choctaw-Cherokee heritage with references to art history, rave aesthetics and pop culture. There are 3 sheets in the release (LOVE, FAITH, and POWER), representing more than 30 individual stickers. They're available individually & as a complete Set from a limited edition run of 400. Proceeds from the release will be donated to Soul of Nations, a remarkable nonprofit supporting creativity within Indigenous communities. Read more about the collaboration here.
Album
Weight of the World by Maxo Kream
There are many ways in which an album can break your heart. Some albums rip it out of your chest, while others take a hammer and chip away. Maxo Kream’s newest album delicately tears your heart away, artery by artery, until it slowly stops beating. WEIGHT OF THE WORLD is an unbelievably heavy album.
Film
Concrete Cowboy directed by Ricky Staub
Based on Gregory Neris’ novel Ghetto Cowboy, Staub’s directorial debut uses the fictional narrative of a rebellious teen and his father to tell the real-life story of Black cowboy communities in America — acting as a counter to the exact problem that Nessie points out.
Book
Black Leopard Red Wolf by Marlon James
In a genre as entrenched in tropes as high fantasy, new contenders must walk a careful balance between familiarity and reinvention. In order to retain genre readers, they must engage with the staples: legendary heroes, epic journeys, and ancient prophecies, among others. In order to forge a unique literary identity, however, new fantasy books must also flirt with subversion.
Playlist
Teresa’s “are you at a club or are you writing a paper” features Coeo, Jesse Bru, and Mail Grab
Teresa’s favorite track: “Harpe” by Kenton Slash Demon
Description: “You are only as strong as your mind”
Podcast
Episode #66: Jack-O-Lantern Float and an Interview with black
On this week's episode, Sam and Teresa interview black over a jack-o-lantern float. black is a rapper from New York City who began recording over the pandemic lockdown period. His music bridges a braggadocio tone with hilarious lyrics. His newest album JAZZ FOR JESUS has been a breakout for him — showcasing his unique style over a variety of beats. Sam and Teresa talk to black about his journey to creating music and his goals for his newest project.
