Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys are true art enthusiasts

Kasseem Dean, aka Swizz Beatz, became a member of the Brooklyn Museum’s board of trustees this past October, and in a show of his dedication he brought along wife, Alicia Keys, to the museum’s recent Fund for African American Art

Visual artists are ‘pushing buttons’ in multiple ways

Since one of the earliest known buttons was found at Mohenjo Daro in the Indus Valley (now Pakistan) nearly 5,000 years ago, buttons have gone from being ornaments to indicators of economic and social status to commonplace mass-produced objects. Now they

#SidneysSoWoke campaign challenges whitewashed Oscars

The backlash against the Academy Awards for once again nominating only White actors has intensified. Oscar boycott parties are being hosted across the nation this Sunday, and  directors Ava DuVernay and Ryan Coogler recently announced a fundraiser for Flint, Michigan, in

Hip-hop’s past on display in new photo exhibit

When photographer Joe Conzo reflects on hip-hop’s early days one word comes to mind: innocence. During the late 1970s he began to document the birth of hip-hop in New York City prior to the culture becoming a global commercial force

Interactive paintings you can touch and hear

Most visual artists prefer that viewers do not touch their completed works whether on display at a museum, gallery, or studio. Thomas “Detour” Evans, is not of that mindset. The 30-year-old emerging artist creates interactive paintings that are meant to

Black Girls Rock! and bold soul sisters sound off!

Women’s History Month drew to a close, or should we say a crescendo this past week with two special March end-of-the-month events, where women were celebrated and given a platform to share their thoughts on a host of topics, including

‘Black Ink’ and the politics of tattoos, race and gender

It took Dutchess Lattimore nearly 20 years before discovering that she possessed the skills to become a tattoo artist. The star of VH1’s hit reality series, “Black Ink Crew,” thought she would get an “easy A” in college by registering for a drawing class.

Harlem’s Fashion Row celebrates Byron Lars and Beverly Johnson

If you want to make veteran fashion designer, Byron Lars cry with joy, just arrange a surprise appearance by his brother, Vincent Lars. That was one of the highlights that took place at this year’s Harlem’s Fashion Row seventh Annual Fashion Show

Groundbreaking choreopoem, ‘For Colored Girls’ … turns 40

As Ntozake Shange prepares to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her seminal work, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf with the launch of a multi-gallery exhibition, she can’t help but sadly acknowledge that the issues

The politics of preserving African American historic sites

On the ‘A’ w/Souleo… A discount furniture store now occupies the space where boxing legend, Joe Frazier, trained in Philadelphia. The home of America’s first female self-made millionaire, Madame C.J. Walker is left vulnerable to potential destruction without proper legal

2014 Vision Awards reflects on LGBT rights movement

On the ‘A’ w/Souleo… Storme DeLarverie’s name was not familiar to many of the celebrity guests in attendance at the 2014 Vision Awards presented by the Stonewall Community Foundation last week at the Museum of the City of New York.

Wendell Headley: Fashion world outsider comes to the fore

On the “A” w/Souleo… In an unfurnished New York City apartment with bare white walls, Wendell Headley paces the room with an intense energy bordering on unease. He’s indoors—at what will soon be the home of an art installation featuring

Happy 80th Birthday Apollo Theater

On the “A” w/Souleo… The Apollo Theater has transformed the lives of many singers that performed on its stage such as Stevie Wonder, James Brown and Lauryn Hill. But sometimes in a transcendent moment, the lives of audience members are

Kindred the Family Soul finds the time to do it all

On the “A” w/Souleo… What a difference a few hours of peace and quiet can make in the lives of married duo, Kindred the Family Soul (Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon). During the recording process of their new album, A

Power players navigate a reality TV-driven market

On the “A” w/Souleo … If you let the music lead, the television viewing audience will follow; without the need for sex tapes, physical fights or publicity stunts. At least that’s the hope of the executive team behind Revolt TV.

Salt-N-Pepa back together again as a trio?

On the “A” w/Souleo … Is Deidra “DJ Spinderella” Roper the “N” in Salt-N-Pepa? It was a question the DJ Spinderella posed to her fellow legendary hip-hop group members Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton on their VH1 reality

Hennessy debuts new art bottle design by Shepard Fairey

One look at the new Hennessy V.S. limited edition label design (available in July) and you could accuse its creator, Shepard Fairey of becoming a softy. But he’ll gladly drink to that since his use of floral motifs represent a