theroot--2020-12-29--Booger Says a Beautiful Thing

Booger Says a Beautiful Thing

Every week , just outside of Charleston , S.C. , hundreds of ( mostly white ) people pay for tours of the beautiful antebellum home that housed generations of white enslavers at the Magnolia Gardens Plantation .
The home is located on the Ashley River , surrounded by a romantic-style botanical garden that was built and cared for by the enslaved .
The owner is even buried in the garden that he lovingly built for his wife .
Away from the touristy areas of the 370-acre forced labor camp that we call a “ plantation , ” are rows of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this family into multigenerational millionaires .
During my visit , Joseph McGill , the founder of the Slave Dwelling Project , told me he wanted to show me something .
He took me to a spot where dozens of enslaved people had been buried .
There were a few rudimentary grave markers but most were unmarked .
Some of the stolen Africans were surely buried on top of others .
It seemed grotesque until I realized that , to the white people , the slaves were not human beings ; they were “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You put them in the ground and cover them with dirt .
But , in the middle of this dumping ground for Black bodies , were three beautifully ornate headstones .
I learned that the Drayton Family used Black “ supervisors ” to keep the enslaved people in line and tend to their gardens .
Even after emancipation , one “ supervisor ” stayed with the Drayton family , as did his son and his son ’ s son , serving their benevolent owners to their death .
“ 30 years Supt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the gravestone .
“ In life , the family he served loved and trusted him .
In death , they honor him.
” But that gravestone is not among the Drayton family ’ s .
You can find it among the “ things.
” ESPN reports that quarterback Dwayne Haskins , a 23-year-old , first-round pick , was released on Monday after two years with the Washington Football Team .
Not only had Haskins performed underwhelmingly on the field , but he had been criticized for his actions off the field , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a face mask , his second violation of NFL ’ s COVID-19 protocols .
On Monday , ESPN analyst Anthony “ Booger ” McFarland commented on the situation : Oftentimes young players—and I ’ m gon na go here—especially young African American players , because they make up 70 percent of this league .
They come into this league and ask themselves the wrong thing .
They come into the league saying not : “ How can I be a better player ?
” They don ’ t say : “ How can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They don ’ t say “ How can I be a better person ?
” Here ’ s what they come in saying .
They come in saying “ How can I make my brand better ?
How can I build my social media following better ?
How can I work out on Instagram and show everybody that I ’ m ready to go ?
” But when I get to the game , I don ’ t perform .
Dwayne Haskins , unfortunately , is not the first case I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t be the last .
It bothers me because a lot of it is the young African American player .
They come in and they don ’ t take it as a business .
It is a game to them .
McFarland went on to talk about how he watched JaMarcus Russell throw his career away and the dangers of players not taking football seriously .
McFarland has taken more heat for this than his snotty nickname , specifically for centering the conversation on condemning Black players while white players do the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this part out of the way first : When NBC listed the biggest draft busts of all time in a league that is 70 percent Black , five of the top 10 were white .
Twenty-eight of Bleacher Report ’ s top 50 biggest busts were white .
Whether an athlete fails because of their ability , lack of discipline or because of their own self-destruction , every available metric shows that white boys with great expectations are more likely to fail in the NFL .
But I am not here to analyze @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of Black-on-Black criticism all the time—like the Black person who quietly understands why McDonald ’ s milkshake machine is on the fritz for the 1,203rd day in a row but shakes their head in disgust when the Black-owned soul food restaurant runs out of oxtails .
It might be true that “ Black people are always late ” because people are always late .
( For the longest , I assumed “ CP time ” meant “ cable provider , ” or “ calling the police , ” because those motherfuckers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital CEO who referred to a COVID-stricken Black doctor who was simply trying not to die as “ intimidating ” would have probably said a white woman doing the same thing was “ leaning in , ” being assertive or simply “ trying not to die.
” But I am not interested in what white people think of us .
I am interested in knowing why we sometimes make these assumptions of other Black people .
I don ’ t believe it can simply be dismissed as animus or self-hate .
I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard someone explain why “ Black people must be twice as good to get half as far as a white man , ” which has been borne out in every sector of American society .
Perhaps we are harder on each other because we have to be .
Maybe Booger knows that Dwayne Haskins won ’ t get endless opportunities like Tim Tebow , Matt Leinart , Mark Sanchez or any of the other steaming white piles of quarterbacking excrement who get recycled through America ’ s most popular sports league time and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressing an uncomfortable reality .
Perhaps McFarland knows that the billionaires who own this league do not care about talent or potential .
Ask Michael Vick ( whose backup , Matt Shaub , is still playing football in the NFL ) .
Ask Colin Kaepernick , who played for a team that is still searching for someone as good as he was . )
But here ’ s the thing that Booger McFarland undoubtedly knows : White people don ’ t give a fuck about Dwayne Haskins or “ the young African American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about his body .
They care what he can do for them .
If Dwayne Haskins went out and slit someone ’ s throat on the 50-yard-line during the pregame warmups , and then passed for 300 yards and four touchdowns , he ’ d be in next week ’ s starting lineup .
If he prayed for peace on Earth and goodwill toward men and threw four interceptions , they ’ d cut him .
McFarland uttered these dimwitted ruminations sitting next to a Randy Moss who , in my opinion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receivers to ever step foot on a gridiron .
When Moss repeatedly fucked up , why wasn ’ t he tossed on the garbage pile of disobedient negro athletes ?
Why is Ben Roethlisberger , who was accused of rape twice , still playing ?
If Booger McFarland , who is paid to analyze football , was giving a thoughtful , circumspect analysis instead of shitting out of his mouth hole for Caucasian applause , he would have at least mentioned that part of the reason why Black players are more expendable than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white people , Haskins , McFarland—all of us—are things .
Maybe Booger McFarland really believes that Black players are concerned with thuggin ’ on the ‘ gram while angelic white players do their work and go home .
Hopefully , he will one day realize how wrong he is .
I hope it ’ s before he ’ s buried among the “ things.
” It is always astonishing to me how easily we dismiss how much white wealth is built on the talent , labor and excellence of Black bodies , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to write about .
The historical interpreter had barely mentioned the enslaved Africans ( except to point out how well the Draytons treated their slaves ) when a white woman raised her hand and asked a question about rice farming .
“ Whose idea was it to do rice when rice is from the Far East ?
” She asked .
“ The Drayton family , when they first arrived here in the 1670s , they tried everything , ” the tour guide replied .
“ They tried silkworms , citrus , fruit—you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And nothing would really take here because our soil is dirt or small .
And it ’ s the perfect environment to grow Carolina Gold Rose .
So there ’ s a lot of trial and error , but rice became the big moneymaker in this area , right before the Civil War .
This was one of the wealthiest parts of the country .
“ So did they bring Asians to show them ?
” asked the tourist .
“ No ma ’ am , ” replied the guide .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been growing rice for centuries .
So they had the knowledge and they ’ re actually the ones who taught the planters how to do it.
” Imagine being called a “ planter ” when you have planted nothing .
Another tourist would later ask if the plantation had suffered damage during the disastrous flood that wrecked the area in 2016 .
The guide explained that the enslaved West Africans built a system of levees and dams used in West Africa that allowed them to flood the rice fields and drain them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while they were building that feat of African engineering , the “ supervisor ” had to discipline some of those young captives for their behavior .
They didn ’ t ask how they could build a better dam .
They probably didn ’ t ask how they could contribute to the Drayton family .
If not for the trusted and loved supervisor , that system probably couldn ’ t have saved the Magnolia plantation 350 years later .
And all they got was a lousy headstone .

Every week, just outside of Charleston, S.C., hundreds of (mostly white) people pay for tours of the beautiful antebellum home that housed generations of white enslavers at the Magnolia Gardens Plantation. The home is located on the Ashley River, surrounded by a romantic-style botanical garden that was built and cared for by the enslaved. The owner is even buried in the garden that he lovingly built for his wife.
Away from the touristy areas of the 370-acre forced labor camp that we call a “plantation,” are rows of cabins that housed the Africans who turned this family into multigenerational millionaires. During my visit, Joseph McGill, the founder of the Slave Dwelling Project, told me he wanted to show me something.
Advertisement
He took me to a spot where dozens of enslaved people had been buried. There were a few rudimentary grave markers but most were unmarked. Some of the stolen Africans were surely buried on top of others. It seemed grotesque until I realized that, to the white people, the slaves were not human beings; they were “things.” You do not bury things. You put them in the ground and cover them with dirt.
But, in the middle of this dumping ground for Black bodies, were three beautifully ornate headstones. I learned that the Drayton Family used Black “supervisors” to keep the enslaved people in line and tend to their gardens. Even after emancipation, one “supervisor” stayed with the Drayton family, as did his son and his son’s son, serving their benevolent owners to their death.
Advertisement Advertisement
“30 years Supt. of Magnolia Gardens,” reads the gravestone. “In life, the family he served loved and trusted him. In death, they honor him.”
But that gravestone is not among the Drayton family’s.
You can find it among the “things.”
ESPN reports that quarterback Dwayne Haskins, a 23-year-old, first-round pick, was released on Monday after two years with the Washington Football Team. Not only had Haskins performed underwhelmingly on the field, but he had been criticized for his actions off the field, including being photographed at a strip club without a face mask, his second violation of NFL’s COVID-19 protocols.
Advertisement
On Monday, ESPN analyst Anthony “Booger” McFarland commented on the situation:
Oftentimes young players—and I’m gonna go here—especially young African American players, because they make up 70 percent of this league. They come into this league and ask themselves the wrong thing. They come into the league saying not: “How can I be a better player?” They don’t say: “How can I be a better teammate?” They don’t say “How can I be a better person?” Here’s what they come in saying. They come in saying “How can I make my brand better? How can I build my social media following better? How can I work out on Instagram and show everybody that I’m ready to go?” But when I get to the game, I don’t perform. Dwayne Haskins, unfortunately, is not the first case I’ve seen like this and it won’t be the last. It bothers me because a lot of it is the young African American player. They come in and they don’t take it as a business. It is a game to them.
Advertisement
McFarland went on to talk about how he watched JaMarcus Russell throw his career away and the dangers of players not taking football seriously.
Advertisement
McFarland has taken more heat for this than his snotty nickname, specifically for centering the conversation on condemning Black players while white players do the same thing. So let’s get this part out of the way first:
Booger was factually incorrect.
When NBC listed the biggest draft busts of all time in a league that is 70 percent Black, five of the top 10 were white. Twenty-eight of Bleacher Report’s top 50 biggest busts were white. Whether an athlete fails because of their ability, lack of discipline or because of their own self-destruction, every available metric shows that white boys with great expectations are more likely to fail in the NFL.
Advertisement
But I am not here to analyze “the sportsball.” I hear this kind of Black-on-Black criticism all the time—like the Black person who quietly understands why McDonald’s milkshake machine is on the fritz for the 1,203rd day in a row but shakes their head in disgust when the Black-owned soul food restaurant runs out of oxtails. It might be true that “Black people are always late” because people are always late. (For the longest, I assumed “CP time” meant “cable provider,” or “calling the police,” because those motherfuckers are also never on time.)
The hospital CEO who referred to a COVID-stricken Black doctor who was simply trying not to die as “intimidating” would have probably said a white woman doing the same thing was “leaning in,” being assertive or simply “trying not to die.”
Advertisement
But I am not interested in what white people think of us. I am interested in knowing why we sometimes make these assumptions of other Black people. I don’t believe it can simply be dismissed as animus or self-hate. I think it is something else.
Everyone has heard someone explain why “Black people must be twice as good to get half as far as a white man,” which has been borne out in every sector of American society. Perhaps we are harder on each other because we have to be. Maybe Booger knows that Dwayne Haskins won’t get endless opportunities like Tim Tebow, Matt Leinart, Mark Sanchez or any of the other steaming white piles of quarterbacking excrement who get recycled through America’s most popular sports league time and time again.
Advertisement
Maybe Booger McFarland was expressing an uncomfortable reality. Perhaps McFarland knows that the billionaires who own this league do not care about talent or potential. Ask Michael Vick (whose backup, Matt Shaub, is still playing football in the NFL). Ask Colin Kaepernick, who played for a team that is still searching for someone as good as he was.) But here’s the thing that Booger McFarland undoubtedly knows:
White people don’t give a fuck about Dwayne Haskins or “the young African American player” in general.
Advertisement
They care about his body. They care what he can do for them. If Dwayne Haskins went out and slit someone’s throat on the 50-yard-line during the pregame warmups, and then passed for 300 yards and four touchdowns, he’d be in next week’s starting lineup. If he prayed for peace on Earth and goodwill toward men and threw four interceptions, they’d cut him.
McFarland uttered these dimwitted ruminations sitting next to a Randy Moss who, in my opinion, is one of the most talented wide receivers to ever step foot on a gridiron. When Moss repeatedly fucked up, why wasn’t he tossed on the garbage pile of disobedient negro athletes? Why is Ben Roethlisberger, who was accused of rape twice, still playing?
Advertisement
If Booger McFarland, who is paid to analyze football, was giving a thoughtful, circumspect analysis instead of shitting out of his mouth hole for Caucasian applause, he would have at least mentioned that part of the reason why Black players are more expendable than mediocre white ones is because, to white people, Haskins, McFarland—all of us—are things.
Maybe Booger McFarland really believes that Black players are concerned with thuggin’ on the ‘gram while angelic white players do their work and go home. Hopefully, he will one day realize how wrong he is.
Advertisement
I hope it’s before he’s buried among the “things.”
It is always astonishing to me how easily we dismiss how much white wealth is built on the talent, labor and excellence of Black bodies, which is what I was at Magnolia Gardens to write about. The historical interpreter had barely mentioned the enslaved Africans (except to point out how well the Draytons treated their slaves) when a white woman raised her hand and asked a question about rice farming.
Advertisement
“Whose idea was it to do rice when rice is from the Far East?” She asked.
“The Drayton family, when they first arrived here in the 1670s, they tried everything,” the tour guide replied. “They tried silkworms, citrus, fruit—you name it. They tried it. And nothing would really take here because our soil is dirt or small. And it’s the perfect environment to grow Carolina Gold Rose. So there’s a lot of trial and error, but rice became the big moneymaker in this area, right before the Civil War. This was one of the wealthiest parts of the country.
“So did they bring Asians to show them?” asked the tourist.
Advertisement
“No ma’am,” replied the guide. “The people on the west coast of Africa had been growing rice for centuries. So they had the knowledge and they’re actually the ones who taught the planters how to do it.”
Advertisement
Imagine being called a “planter” when you have planted nothing.
Imagine being a “thing” whose labor provided generational wealth.
Another tourist would later ask if the plantation had suffered damage during the disastrous flood that wrecked the area in 2016. The guide explained that the enslaved West Africans built a system of levees and dams used in West Africa that allowed them to flood the rice fields and drain them during the harvest.
Advertisement
I bet, while they were building that feat of African engineering, the “supervisor” had to discipline some of those young captives for their behavior. They didn’t ask how they could build a better dam. They probably didn’t ask how they could contribute to the Drayton family. If not for the trusted and loved supervisor, that system probably couldn’t have saved the Magnolia plantation 350 years later.
And all they got was a lousy headstone.


theroot--2020-12-29--The 10 Best Hip-Hop Tracks of 2020

The 10 Best Hip-Hop Tracks of 2020

The need to stay the hell apart from humans this year resulted in a sweeping halt on the production of movies , television shows and the like .
It also means no festivals , concerts or trips to the silver screen .
Fortunately , making music doesn ’ t require a mess of people congregating—especially if you have skills with instruments and your own accouterments-laden studio—so we still got a steady stream of tunes while trapped in the crib .
Unfortunately , 2020 wasn ’ t the strongest year for hip-hop , which could be a reflection of the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with creating music under such severe financial and psychological duress .
( In contrast , navel-gazing indie rock had a pretty damn good year . )
I blame it entirely on the zeitgeist , but I struggle to think of one truly amazing rap album in 2020 , which certainly wasn ’ t the case for its preceding year .
I briefly skimmed projects from the “ Baby ” rappers since they dominated the mainstream in 2020 , only to be met with the expected mind-numbing triplicate flows that my about-to-turn-40 ears simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re reading this , there ’ s a decent chance you feel similarly and won ’ t come at my neck for the absence of that piffle from this list .
Rap had inarguably the biggest and maybe most cathartic song of 2020 with Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion ’ s “ WAP.
” But even that classic “ Whores in This House ” sample and an extremely , um , compelling video couldn ’ t elevate the song to “ good.
” Catchy perhaps , but not good .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2020 than I was the last couple years , but no year passes without some gems that will stand the test of time .
Here are 10 dope tracks from a year that we ’ re all ready to have Agent K zap from our memories .
Em ’ s 11th album Music to Be Murdered By ( which just received a full-ass album as a “ B-Side ” in-between drafts of this piece ) is his top-to-bottom best in years .
This track belongs to Royce–the better half of Bad Meets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for my money , might be the verse of the year .
Royce also produced the entirety of his own 2020 album The Allegory , which is also worth a listen .
Jay Elec-Yarmulke ’ s surprise drop at the very beginning of our national quarantine excited quite a few heads who weren ’ t already over his constant debut album delay shenanigans .
A Written Testimony is a too-short-for-the-wait joint album with Jay-Z , who apparently adores Elec enough to play Ghostface Killah to his Raekwon on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slow , haunting S. Maharba sample that Hov would likely never have picked for his own album , yet on which he sounds surprisingly at home .
Roth has occupied an interesting space in hip-hop since debuting in 2009 as sort of an Eminem-goes-to-college .
He ’ s a capable , respectable white-boy spitter in the way the late Mac Miller was , the way Jack Harlow is becoming , and the way Russ will likely never be .
Thing is , you sort of have to go looking for a new Roth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a club or someone else ’ s ride .
However , every album of mixtape of his has something worth listening to , and 2020 ’ s Flowers on the Weekend is no exception : As I still bump it almost daily more than seven months after its release , “ Hunnid ” might be the most enduring song on this playlist .
Dave East is a relentless spitter with the sex appeal to boot , much like his spiritual predecessor Method Man , whom Dave portrays on Hulu ’ s “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he keeps the ladies entertained while impressing the men with a dexterous flow and compelling monotone .
Never is he better than on his own EastMix series , for which he raps over other folks ’ beats or gets official on his own loosies .
This EastMix cut is more than five minutes long with no hook , and is superior to anything on his mediocre Karma 3 studio album from this year .
Nas received more accolades for his 13th album King ’ s Disease than he has for any music in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ folks would rather forget about King ’ s Kanye West-produced predecessor NASIR . )
The Hit Boy-produced album didn ’ t do much for me , but it was delightful to hear the reunion of the original Firm ( Nature ’ s T-Mobile was apparently cut off and he didn ’ t get a text about the meet-up ) , especially the first new Foxy verse I ’ ve listened to since we had a Bush in the White House .
I never thought I ’ d desire another Firm album in 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
It ’ s in my constitution to root for Sean , a fellow Detroit boy who graduated from my high school alma mater and seems to be an overall likable dude .
However , the sad truth is , he ’ s never crafted a truly memorable body of work , keeping him out of the air of his contemporaries Drake , Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole .
His fifth album , Detroit 2 , while not a classic , is Sean at his most focused I ’ ve heard him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lucky Me , ” on which Sean does what rappers do and boasts about how great shit has been going for him , has the best beat/flow switch I ’ ve heard from any artist in a while .
Grant is hanging out with the likes of Saigon and CyHi Da Prynce ( and , well , Jay Electronica ) in that tragic stable of rappers with the potential for greatness who , for reasons unknown to the listening public , failed to capitalize on their own buzz and didn ’ t put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve .
Just the same , I ’ ve checked for everything Grant has done since his amazing 2016 mixtape , ’ 88 .
His first two studio albums didn ’ t quite live up to the promise of ’ 88 , but his 2020 EP God Bless the Child with Los Angeles producer Tae Beast is nigh perfect and stands as a reminder that one can be a true spitter while not putting out music that sounds anachronistic or droning on about how “ we ’ re bringing the 90s back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
AML , a Michigan-based boom-bap group active in the era when Rawkus Records was still a thing , reunited this year after more than a decade and a half apart .
The most famous members of the nine-piece group are Grammy-nominated crooner Mayer Hawthorne and rapper-producer 14KT , who has cut tracks for Bun B and Jay Electronica , and who crafted this beautiful dusty-soul-sampled cut .
My guilty-pleasure pick ( there ’ s always one ) .
The video got attention for coming across like a huge NFL ad full of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NFL needed as much grace from niggas as it could find .
But there ’ s something infectious about this damn beat , and “ Sometimes we laugh sometimes we cry and you know now….baby ” is way more catchy than it has any right to be .
I guess that ’ s why Drizzy is arguably the world ’ s most popular living rapper .
Hell , even Bill Murray is in on it .
The wavy young brother from the DMV called himself “ retiring ” from rapping this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seriously as twitter.com/realdonaldtrump .
He left us with No Pressure , which seems to be a spiritual sequel to his 2014 debut Under Pressure .
The original “ Soul Food ” was one of the best from that album , and the sequel employs the same beat with some flourishes and a different beat change .
Say what you will about this kid – and many have a lot of shit to talk – but he can out-t rap damn near anyone , and no one can take that away from him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Kingdom Come-esque “ comeback ” album .

The need to stay the hell apart from humans this year resulted in a sweeping halt on the production of movies, television shows and the like. It also means no festivals, concerts or trips to the silver screen. Fortunately, making music doesn’t require a mess of people congregating—especially if you have skills with instruments and your own accoutre ments-laden studio—so we still got a steady stream of tunes while trapped in the crib.
Unfortunately, 2020 wasn’t the strongest year for hip-hop, which could be a reflection of the fact that rappers don’t do well with creating music under such severe financial and psychological duress. (In contrast, navel-gazing indie rock had a pretty damn good year.) I blame it entirely on the zeitgeist, but I struggle to think of one truly amazing rap album in 2020, which certainly wasn’t the case for its preceding year. I briefly skimmed projects from the “Baby” rappers since they dominated the mainstream in 2020, only to be met with the expected mind-numbing triplicate flows that my about-to-turn-40 ears simply cannot abide. If you’re reading this, there’s a decent chance you feel similarly and won’t come at my neck for the absence of that piffle from this list.
Advertisement
Rap had inarguably the biggest and maybe most cathartic song of 2020 with Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP.” But even that classic “Whores in This House” sample and an extremely, um, compelling video couldn’t elevate the song to “good.” Catchy perhaps, but not good. I’m certainly less enthusiastic overall about hip-hop in 2020 than I was the last couple years, but no year passes without some gems that will stand the test of time. Here are 10 dope tracks from a year that we’re all ready to have Agent K zap from our memories.
“You Gon’ Learn,” Eminem (feat. Royce Da 5’9” & White Gold)
Em’s 11th album Music to Be Murdered By (which just received a full-ass album as a “B-Side” in-between drafts of this piece) is his top-to-bottom best in years. This track belongs to Royce–the better half of Bad Meets Evil–because of his production and what, for my money, might be the verse of the year. Royce also produced the entirety of his own 2020 album The Allegory, which is also worth a listen.
Advertisement Advertisement
“Universal Soldier,” Jay Electronica (feat. Jay-Z)
Jay Elec-Yarmulke’s surprise drop at the very beginning of our national quarantine excited quite a few heads who weren’t already over his constant debut album delay shenanigans. A Written Testimony is a too-short-for-the-wait joint album with Jay-Z, who apparently adores Elec enough to play Ghostface Killah to his Raekwon on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. “Universal Soldier” employs a slow, haunting S. Maharba sample that Hov would likely never have picked for his own album, yet on which he sounds surprisingly at home.
Advertisement
“Hunnid,” Asher Roth (feat. Joyce Wrice)
Roth has occupied an interesting space in hip-hop since debuting in 2009 as sort of an Eminem-goes-to-college. He’s a capable, respectable white-boy spitter in the way the late Mac Miller was, the way Jack Harlow is becoming, and the way Russ will likely never be. Thing is, you sort of have to go looking for a new Roth project—it’s unlikely to be blasting in a club or someone else’s ride. However, every album of mixtape of his has something worth listening to, and 2020’s Flowers on the Weekend is no exception: As I still bump it almost daily more than seven months after its release, “Hunnid” might be the most enduring song on this playlist.
Advertisement
“Amazing Pt. 3,” Dave East
Dave East is a relentless spitter with the sex appeal to boot, much like his spiritual predecessor Method Man, whom Dave portrays on Hulu’s “Wu-Tang: An American Saga”; he keeps the ladies entertained while impressing the men with a dexterous flow and compelling monotone. Never is he better than on his own EastMix series, for which he raps over other folks’ beats or gets official on his own loosies. This EastMix cut is more than five minutes long with no hook, and is superior to anything on his mediocre Karma 3 studio album from this year.
Advertisement
“Full Circle,” Nas (feat. AZ, Cormega, Foxy Brown and Dr. Dre)
Nas received more accolades for his 13th album King’s Disease than he has for any music in a good while. (Lots of folks would rather forget about King’s Kanye West-produced predecessor NASIR.) The Hit Boy-produced album didn’t do much for me, but it was delightful to hear the reunion of the original Firm (Nature’s T-Mobile was apparently cut off and he didn’t get a text about the meet-up), especially the first new Foxy verse I’ve listened to since we had a Bush in the White House. I never thought I’d desire another Firm album in 2020, but stranger things have happened this year.
Advertisement
“Lucky Me,” Big Sean
It’s in my constitution to root for Sean, a fellow Detroit boy who graduated from my high school alma mater and seems to be an overall likable dude. However, the sad truth is, he’s never crafted a truly memorable body of work, keeping him out of the air of his contemporaries Drake, Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole. His fifth album, Detroit 2, while not a classic, is Sean at his most focused I’ve heard him in his career. The Hit-Boy-produced “Lucky Me,” on which Sean does what rappers do and boasts about how great shit has been going for him, has the best beat/flow switch I’ve heard from any artist in a while.
Advertisement
“Black Windows,” Nick Grant
Grant is hanging out with the likes of Saigon and CyHi Da Prynce (and, well, Jay Electronica) in that tragic stable of rappers with the potential for greatness who, for reasons unknown to the listening public, failed to capitalize on their own buzz and didn’t put out music at the clip they should’ve. Just the same, I’ve checked for everything Grant has done since his amazing 2016 mixtape, ’88. His first two studio albums didn’t quite live up to the promise of ’88, but his 2020 EP God Bless the Child with Los Angeles producer Tae Beast is nigh perfect and stands as a reminder that one can be a true spitter while not putting out music that sounds anachronistic or droning on about how “we’re bringing the 90s back” or some such other goofy shit.
Advertisement
“Hold My Hand,” Athletic Mic League
AML, a Michigan-based boom-bap group active in the era when Rawkus Records was still a thing, reunited this year after more than a decade and a half apart. The most famous members of the nine-piece group are Grammy-nominated crooner Mayer Hawthorne and rapper-producer 14KT, who has cut tracks for Bun B and Jay Electronica, and who crafted this beautiful dusty-soul-sampled cut.
Advertisement
“Laugh Now Cry Later,” Drake (feat. Lil’ Durk)
My guilty-pleasure pick (there’s always one). The video got attention for coming across like a huge NFL ad full of beloved Black athletes at a time when the NFL needed as much grace from niggas as it could find. But there’s something infectious about this damn beat, and “Sometimes we laugh sometimes we cry and you know now….baby” is way more catchy than it has any right to be. I guess that’s why Drizzy is arguably the world’s most popular living rapper. Hell, even Bill Murray is in on it.
Advertisement
“Soul Food II,” Logic
The wavy young brother from the DMV called himself “retiring” from rapping this year, which everyone knows to take as seriously as twitter.com/realdonaldtrump. He left us with No Pressure, which seems to be a spiritual sequel to his 2014 debut Under Pressure. The original “Soul Food” was one of the best from that album, and the sequel employs the same beat with some flourishes and a different beat change. Say what you will about this kid – and many have a lot of shit to talk – but he can out-trap damn near anyone, and no one can take that away from him. Now, we wait for Logic’s Kingdom Come-esque “comeback” album.


theroot--2020-12-29--Representing Black Businesses on Ujamaa, the Fourth Night of Kwanzaa

Elysia Randolph founded Kaiem in 2018 to showcase the creative brands coming out of West Africa and those living in @ @ @ @ @ high quality products across categories and brands , made by artists in Africa .
Kaiem @ @ @ @ @ brands and bringing them to the United States , offering representation and a new narrative @ @ @ @ @ featured products are home and interior design related , but they also feature a large @ @ @ @ @

Elysia Randolph founded Kaiem in 2018 to showcase the creative brands coming out of West Africa and those living in the diaspora. Kaiem showcases high quality products across categories and brands, made by artists in Africa. Kaiem is committed to finding new brands and bringing them to the United States, offering representation and a new narrative about Africa. Their most featured products are home and interior design related, but they also feature a large selection of skincare lines.
Advertisement


theroot--2020-12-29--The 10 Best Deals of December 29, 2020

The 10 Best Deals of December 29, 2020

It ’ s December 29 , and we at Kinja Deals are here to bring you the top 10 deals of the day .
Prepare for the post-holiday surge with KN95 5-Layer Face Masks .
Escape the sounds of the apocalypse wit h a pair of Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones .
And light up your life with the Aukey Bedside Smart Lamp .
If you ’ re still craving more deals , take a peek at Tuesday ’ s best deals overall .
I ’ m so proud of you for still wearing a mask , it ’ s super cool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an upgrade or maybe something a little more heavy-duty ?
Or maybe you just want to put your mind at ease with something a smidge more protective ?
Grab 60 of the KN95 masks from MorningSave right now for just $ 29 .
These are industry-standard which means they are supposed to filter 95 percent of particles .
That is just about as good as you can get .
So the mask obviously doesn ’ t completely eliminate the risk of catching or spreading something but if you wear it correctly it still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also great if you ’ ve got severe allergies or asthma and protect against pollen , dander , and whatnot .
The KN-95 isn ’ t made for clinical environments not that you ’ re performing surgery with these but they will definitely protect you and others against what is currently out there .
Not all heroes wear capes , but they do wear masks .
So thank you .
If you ’ ve read a few of our pieces on Meh before and you like what you ’ ve seen they offer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free shipping on all of your orders no matter how many .
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari .
Soft light can not only create ambiance but can also be much kinder to your eyes .
Light is not only important to see things ( obviously ) but can greatly help with mood too .
Aukey ’ s Bedside Lamp is currently 30 % off and does all of that .
Clip the coupon and see the savings in your cart .
This adorably shaped lamp can be used in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It charges via USB and is not only brilliant on your nightstand but can be a nightlight for kids or even a lantern while camping .
The ability to move it wherever you need is a huge plus .
RGB light allows you to bring a touch of color to any space .
It ’ s easy to control with a simple tap and seamlessly scale how bright you want it to be .
If you have it on the brightest white light setting except for about five full hours of power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waterproof and drop-resistant so these aren ’ t bad options for outdoor adventures as well .
You ’ ll get a twenty-four-month product replacement guarantee if anything goes wrong too .
I ’ ve had many Aukey products so I don ’ t foresee you needing that .
This will ship for free for Prime members .
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari .
Amazon is running a huge sale on first-party Sony games and everyone is invited .
Ghost of Tsushima is here for $ 40 and it brought chips @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is sulking in the corner pretending to have a bad time , but it ’ s $ 30 .
Nioh 2 and Horizon Zero Dawn , both available for $ 10 , have been flirting all night and we all know where that ’ s going .
There ’ s plenty of other classics here too , just living their best life at a reduced price .
Look , it ’ s been a rough year and everyone just needs to blow off some steam right now , so this end of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PlayStation 4 owners who just want to party with some big exclusives they missed over the years .
This deal was originally published by Giovanni Colantonio .
For many , working from home this year has been a tricky adjustment .
Among the many frustrations and inconveniences are the many noises your housemates will make as you try to focus on your work .
Asking to keep the noise down might work , but it can also cause some tension , and it ’ s never any fun .
Spare yourself the trouble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Typically they ’ d cost you $ 350 , but they ’ re down to $ 278 today on Amazon .
I ’ ve been testing them for the past couple weeks , and the noise-cancellation is a joy when your neighbors have a symphony of dogs on standby .
In his review , Gizmodo ’ s Andrew Liszewski says they provide the best noise-canceling experience , and you can easily switch between two paired devices , so you can toggle from a laptop to a phone before getting started on a home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This deal was originally published by Jordan McMahon .
As I joked in my Colgate Hum review over the summer , I haven ’ t always been as disciplined as I should be when it comes to my teeth .
In fact , if I ’ m being honest , I neglected to floss regularly until a few weeks ago when I found out I ’ ll need grafting surgery due to gum recession .
Don ’ t make the same mistake I did .
While analog dental floss or floss picks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , my dentist recommended investing in an electric water flosser , especially since I have a metal permanent retainer affixed to my bottom teeth , which makes it difficult to eliminate the food-derived bacteria that often gets stuck in there .
The Waterpik WF-02W011 , a cordless battery-operated water flosser is one of the most affordable options when it ’ s on sale , as it is now for just $ 26 .
By combining water pressure with pulsations , Waterpik ’ s flosser is able to reach those spots you can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my case , even regular old dental floss .
It ’ s also easier to use than traditional string floss , removing up to 99.9 % of plaque at the press of a button .
Just make sure to pick up some rechargeable batteries while you ’ re at it .
Although the Waterpik does include a trio of AAs , replacing the non-rechargeable cells is sure to add up over time .
Otherwise , a water flosser is a good , practical use of your Christmas cash .
This deal was originally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these days sacrifice extensive ports in the favor of being as thin and light as possible , which has its obvious benefits and drawbacks .
That ’ s great for easy portability , but can sometimes be a drag when you need to plug in a device or if you want to make your laptop the center of a more robust home office setup .
There are all sorts of USB-C hubs available , but Vava ’ s 12-in-1 Docking Station is one of the most port-packed options we ’ ve seen at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a USB-C port and you ’ ll add two USB 3.0 ports , two USB 2.0 ports , a USB-C PD port , SD and microSD card readers , an Ethernet port , a 3.5mm headphone jack , DC in port , and two HDMI ports .
Those HDMI ports enable dual-monitor 4K/60fps action with compatible laptops , letting you turn your slim notebook into a beast of a home PC .
The Vava 12-in-1 Docking Station usually runs $ 100 , but right now when you clip the Amazon coupon and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ ll drop it down to just $ 66 .
If you need a more robust hub like this , it ’ s a bargain .
This deal was originally published by Andrew Hayward .
The holidays are almost fully over , which means that you might have some extra cash to spend right now .
This year ’ s most popular present was a card with money in it , making life easier for clueless parents dealing with distanced holidays .
If you ’ re looking for a way to treat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop , which is on sale for $ 670 at Amazon today .
This red and black laptop comes with an Intel i5 processor and a GeForce GTX 1650 Ti .
It sports a 16.5 '' full HD screen that ’ s a 144Hz display .
The sale price is pretty good price compared to other gaming laptops with similar specs , so it ’ s a good way to treat yourself this winter .
This deal was originally published by Giovanni Colantonio .
Whether you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pains or anticipating soreness on the horizon as you tackle incoming fitness resolutions , it might be the ideal time to pick up a percussion muscle massager to pummel away the pain .
Right now , Naipo is offering its massage gun for $ 89 on Amazon when you clip the coupon and input code VW4EGBLL at checkout , a total savings of $ 41 .
It has five levels of intensity for working out your muscle pain and lasts up to seven hours per charge , plus it has five different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of your body .
Amazon customers give it a glowing 4.8-star rating with 1,700+ reviews .
This deal was originally published by Andrew Hayward .
Let me tell you , the Dyson V7 is a game-changer , and I ’ m not just saying that because it ’ s on sale for $ 200 and we get a commission from each purchase .
I bought one myself back in June and haven ’ t regretted it .
Mounted to our wall , it ’ s much easier to store than a larger upright @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a closet and rarely touch .
I use mine almost every day to pick up kitty litter as my cat explodes from his spaceship .
For smaller spaces , the canister yields a sufficient enough capacity that you can go about a month without emptying it out .
Not to mention the actual process of dumping out the dirt and dust only requires the simple pull of a lever .
A $ 150 discount is not nothing , especially considering I paid notably more for mine back in June .
While it may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world , clocking in at just 30 minutes , those living in quaint apartments or rancher-style homes shouldn ’ t take more than that to give their place a nice sweep .
Plus , it comes in a super vibrant blue shade right now with red and purple accents .
Grab it while you can !
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey .
Whether you ’ re a lifelong Queen lover or had your fandom jump-started by Bohemian Rhapsody , there ’ s one thing we can all hopefully agree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is tremendous .
Capturing the legendary frontman in his iconic Live Aid duds , this Japanese S.H .
Figuarts figure is supremely posable .
It also comes with additional heads with different facial expressions as well as varying hand poses , letting you create fun scenes like this one from viral toy hero @ suekichiii on Twitter .
Design your own dream icon interactions at a discount now , thanks to this $ 17 savings at Amazon .
Yes , $ 43 is still expensive compared to your average American action figure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the higher price tag of this impressive recreation .
This deal was originally published by Andrew Hayward .

Juliana Clark on Kinja Deals, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Tuesday’s Best Deals | Kinja Deals
It’s December 29, and we at Kinja Deals are here to bring you the top 10 deals of the day. Prepare for the post-holiday surge with KN95 5-Layer Face Masks. Escape the sounds of the apocalypse wit h a pair of Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones. And light up your life with the Aukey Bedside Smart Lamp.
If you’re still craving more deals, take a peek at Tuesday’s best deals overall.
#1: kn95 masks
I’m so proud of you for still wearing a mask, it’s super cool of you. But do you need an upgrade or maybe something a little more heavy-duty? Or maybe you just want to put your mind at ease with something a smidge more protective? Grab 60 of the KN95 masks from MorningSave right now for just $29.
These are industry-standard which means they are supposed to filter 95 percent of particles. That is just about as good as you can get. So the mask obviously doesn’t completely eliminate the risk of catching or spreading something but if you wear it correctly it still drastically reduces the likelihood. These are also great if you’ve got severe allergies or asthma and protect against pollen, dander, and whatnot. The KN-95 isn’t made for clinical environments not that you’re performing surgery with these but they will definitely protect you and others against what is currently out there. Not all heroes wear capes, but they do wear masks. So thank you.
If you’ve read a few of our pieces on Meh before and you like what you’ve seen they offer a $5 monthly fee to get free shipping on all of your orders no matter how many.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.
#2: aukey bedside lamp
Soft light can not only create ambiance but can also be much kinder to your eyes. Light is not only important to see things (obviously) but can greatly help with mood too. Aukey’s Bedside Lamp is currently 30% off and does all of that. Clip the coupon and see the savings in your cart.
This adorably shaped lamp can be used in a variety of ways because it is wireless. It charges via USB and is not only brilliant on your nightstand but can be a nightlight for kids or even a lantern while camping. The ability to move it wherever you need is a huge plus. RGB light allows you to bring a touch of color to any space. It’s easy to control with a simple tap and seamlessly scale how bright you want it to be. If you have it on the brightest white light setting except for about five full hours of power off of one charge. It is waterproof and drop-resistant so these aren’t bad options for outdoor adventures as well. You’ll get a twenty-four-month product replacement guarantee if anything goes wrong too. I’ve had many Aukey products so I don’t foresee you needing that.
This will ship for free for Prime members.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.
#3: PlayStation games
Amazon is running a huge sale on first-party Sony games and everyone is invited. Ghost of Tsushima is here for $40 and it brought chips. The Last of Us Part II is sulking in the corner pretending to have a bad time, but it’s $30. Nioh 2 and Horizon Zero Dawn, both available for $10, have been flirting all night and we all know where that’s going. There’s plenty of other classics here too, just living their best life at a reduced price. Look, it’s been a rough year and everyone just needs to blow off some steam right now, so this end of the year bash is a perfect send-off for PlayStation 4 owners who just want to party with some big exclusives they missed over the years.
This deal was originally published by Giovanni Colantonio.
#4: sOny wh-1000xm4 headphones
For many, working from home this year has been a tricky adjustment. Among the many frustrations and inconveniences are the many noises your housemates will make as you try to focus on your work. Asking to keep the noise down might work, but it can also cause some tension, and it’s never any fun. Spare yourself the trouble with the Sony WH-1000XM4 noise-canceling headphones. Typically they’d cost you $350, but they’re down to $278 today on Amazon. I’ve been testing them for the past couple weeks, and the noise-cancellation is a joy when your neighbors have a symphony of dogs on standby.
In his review, Gizmodo’s Andrew Liszewski says they provide the best noise-canceling experience, and you can easily switch between two paired devices, so you can toggle from a laptop to a phone before getting started on a home workout or heading out for a walk.
This deal was originally published by Jordan McMahon.
#5: Waterpik cordless flosser
As I joked in my Colgate Hum review over the summer, I haven’t always been as disciplined as I should be when it comes to my teeth. In fact, if I’m being honest, I neglected to floss regularly until a few weeks ago when I found out I’ll need grafting surgery due to gum recession. Don’t make the same mistake I did. While analog dental floss or floss picks will do the trick for most people, my dentist recommended investing in an electric water flosser, especially since I have a metal permanent retainer affixed to my bottom teeth, which makes it difficult to eliminate the food-derived bacteria that often gets stuck in there.
The Waterpik WF-02W011, a cordless battery-operated water flosser is one of the most affordable options when it’s on sale, as it is now for just $26. By combining water pressure with pulsations, Waterpik’s flosser is able to reach those spots you can’t access with a toothbrush—or, in my case, even regular old dental floss. It’s also easier to use than traditional string floss, removing up to 99.9% of plaque at the press of a button. Just make sure to pick up some rechargeable batteries while you’re at it. Although the Waterpik does include a trio of AAs, replacing the non-rechargeable cells is sure to add up over time. Otherwise, a water flosser is a good, practical use of your Christmas cash.
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey.
#6: Vava 12-port docking station
Many laptops these days sacrifice extensive ports in the favor of being as thin and light as possible, which has its obvious benefits and drawbacks. That’s great for easy portability, but can sometimes be a drag when you need to plug in a device or if you want to make your laptop the center of a more robust home office setup.
There are all sorts of USB-C hubs available, but Vava’s 12-in-1 Docking Station is one of the most port-packed options we’ve seen at an affordable price. Simply plug it into a USB-C port and you’ll add two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, a USB-C PD port, SD and microSD card readers, an Ethernet port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, DC in port, and two HDMI ports. Those HDMI ports enable dual-monitor 4K/60fps action with compatible laptops, letting you turn your slim notebook into a beast of a home PC.
The Vava 12-in-1 Docking Station usually runs $100, but right now when you clip the Amazon coupon and input the exclusive promo code KINJA1228, you’ll drop it down to just $66. If you need a more robust hub like this, it’s a bargain.
This deal was originally published by Andrew Hayward.
#7: Acer nitro 5 gaming laptop
The holidays are almost fully over, which means that you might have some extra cash to spend right now. This year’s most popular present was a card with money in it, making life easier for clueless parents dealing with distanced holidays. If you’re looking for a way to treat yourself with a big purchase, consider an Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop, which is on sale for $670 at Amazon today. This red and black laptop comes with an Intel i5 processor and a GeForce GTX 1650 Ti. It sports a 16.5" full HD screen that’s a 144Hz display. The sale price is pretty good price compared to other gaming laptops with similar specs, so it’s a good way to treat yourself this winter.
This deal was originally published by Giovanni Colantonio.
#8: Naipo massage gun
Whether you’re dealing with winter’s added aches and pains or anticipating soreness on the horizon as you tackle incoming fitness resolutions, it might be the ideal time to pick up a percussion muscle massager to pummel away the pain.
Right now, Naipo is offering its massage gun for $89 on Amazon when you clip the coupon and input code VW4EGBLL at checkout, a total savings of $41. It has five levels of intensity for working out your muscle pain and lasts up to seven hours per charge, plus it has five different massage head attachments for targeting different areas of your body. Amazon customers give it a glowing 4.8-star rating with 1,700+ reviews.
This deal was originally published by Andrew Hayward.
#9: dyson v7 fluffy
Let me tell you, the Dyson V7 is a game-changer, and I’m not just saying that because it’s on sale for $200 and we get a commission from each purchase. I bought one myself back in June and haven’t regretted it. Mounted to our wall, it’s much easier to store than a larger upright floor vac you might tuck away in a closet and rarely touch. I use mine almost every day to pick up kitty litter as my cat explodes from his spaceship. For smaller spaces, the canister yields a sufficient enough capacity that you can go about a month without emptying it out. Not to mention the actual process of dumping out the dirt and dust only requires the simple pull of a lever.
A $150 discount is not nothing, especially considering I paid notably more for mine back in June. While it may not have the longest battery life in the world, clocking in at just 30 minutes, those living in quaint apartments or rancher-style homes shouldn’t take more than that to give their place a nice sweep. Plus, it comes in a super vibrant blue shade right now with red and purple accents. Grab it while you can!
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey.
#10: Freddie mercury action figure
Whether you’re a lifelong Queen lover or had your fandom jump-started by Bohemian Rhapsody, there’s one thing we can all hopefully agree on: this Freddie Mercury action figure is tremendous.
Capturing the legendary frontman in his iconic Live Aid duds, this Japanese S.H. Figuarts figure is supremely posable. It also comes with additional heads with different facial expressions as well as varying hand poses, letting you create fun scenes like this one from viral toy hero @suekichiii on Twitter.
Design your own dream icon interactions at a discount now, thanks to this $17 savings at Amazon. Yes, $43 is still expensive compared to your average American action figure, but the immense versatility and customizability warrants the higher price tag of this impressive recreation.
This deal was originally published by Andrew Hayward.


theroot--2020-12-29--Royal Radio: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Debut Their Holiday Podcast Special—and There's Archie A

Royal Radio: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Debut Their Holiday Podcast Special—and There's Archie Audio!

The year 2020 was quite an eventful one for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry .
They legit started the year with one of the biggest announcements in British royal history , that they would be “ stepping back ” from royal duties ( and the official “ Royal Highness ” titles that came with it ) , a move that eventually became known as “ Megxit.
” Now , as we ’ ve reached the end of the year , the not-royal-anymore-but-forever-royal couple are closing it out with a bang , too .
On Tuesday , Meghan and Harry launched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ podcast via their Archewell Audio production company , following their multi-year partnership announcement with Spotify .
The episode , titled 2020 Archewell Audio Holiday Special , features an array of guests such as Stacey Abrams , Tyler Perry , Naomi Osaka , climate and food activist Christina Adane , Loveland Foundation founder Rachel Cargle and George the Poet .
“ We ’ re glad you ’ re here .
As we all know , it ’ s been a year , ” Harry begins .
“ And we really want to honor the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many people get through it.
” “ And , at the same time , to honor those who have experienced uncertainty and unthinkable loss , ” Meghan says .
“ Our thoughts have been with you , especially during this holiday season.
” To make it an official family event , Archie made an appearance , too !
The bubbly baby drops in near the end of the episode .
Here ’ s a transcript , via HuffPost : “ You can speak into it , ” the duke says , directing Archie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is it fun ?
” the duchess says , as Archie repeats after her and says , “ Fun.
” “ New ... ” the duke and duchess say .
“ New ... Year , ” Archie finishes , all by himself .
“ YAY !
” Meghan and Harry exclaim , before the duke signs off with a trademark “ BOOM ” and laughs , while Archie lets out a little giggle .
Archie is clearly the star here !
Hey , even their production company is a play on words and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , much like their non-profit organization .
If you want to hear it for yourself , here ’ s a clip , equipped with extra adorable giggles from Archie : The 2020 Archewell Audio Holiday Special is now available for your listening pleasure on Spotify .

Tonja Renée Stidhum on The Glow Up, shared by Tonja Renée Stidhum to The Root

The year 2020 was quite an eventful one for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
They legit started the year with one of the biggest announcements in British royal history, that they would be “stepping back” from royal duties (and the official “Royal Highness” titles that came with it), a move that eventually became known as “Megxit.” Now, as we’ve reached the end of the year, the not-royal-anymore-but-forever-royal couple are closing it out with a bang, too.
On Tuesday, Meghan and Harry launched a special holiday episode of a new podcast via their Archewell Audio production company, following their multi-year partnership announcement with Spotify.
Advertisement
The episode, titled 2020 Archewell Audio Holiday Special, features an array of guests such as Stacey Abrams, Tyler Perry, Naomi Osaka, climate and food activist Christina Adane, Loveland Foundation founder Rachel Cargle and George the Poet.
Advertisement Advertisement
“We’re glad you’re here. As we all know, it’s been a year,” Harry begins. “And we really want to honor the compassion and kindness that has helped so many people get through it.”
“And, at the same time, to honor those who have experienced uncertainty and unthinkable loss,” Meghan says. “Our thoughts have been with you, especially during this holiday season.”
Advertisement
To make it an official family event, Archie made an appearance, too! The bubbly baby drops in near the end of the episode. Here’s a transcript, via HuffPost:
“You can speak into it,” the duke says, directing Archie to the microphone. “Archie, is it fun?” the duchess says, as Archie repeats after her and says, “Fun.” “After me,” the duke says, “Ready? Happy ...” “Happy ...” Archie repeats. “New ... ” the duke and duchess say. “New ... Year,” Archie finishes, all by himself. “YAY!” Meghan and Harry exclaim, before the duke signs off with a trademark “BOOM” and laughs, while Archie lets out a little giggle.
Advertisement
Archie is clearly the star here! Hey, even their production company is a play on words and inspired by the couple’s son, much like their non-profit organization.
Advertisement
If you want to hear it for yourself, here’s a clip, equipped with extra adorable giggles from Archie:
Advertisement
The 2020 Archewell Audio Holiday Special is now available for your listening pleasure on Spotify.


theroot--2020-12-29--KN95 Face Masks Aren't Sexy, but Safety Is and This 60-Pack Is Just $29

I ’ m so proud of you for still wearing a mask , it ’ s super cool of you .
But do you need an upgrade or maybe something a little more heavy-duty ?
Or maybe you just want to put your mind at ease with something a smidge more protective ?
Grab 6 0 of the KN95 masks from MorningSave right now for just $ 29 .
These are industry-standard which means they are supposed to filter 95 percent of particles .
That is just about as good as you can get .
So the mask obviously doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catching or spreading something but if you wear it correctly it still drastically reduces the likelihood .
These are also great if you ’ ve got severe allergies or asthma and protect against pollen , dander , and whatnot .
The KN-95 isn ’ t made for clinical environments not that you ’ re performing surgery with these but they will definitely protect you and others against what is currently out there .
Not all heroes wear capes , but they do wear masks .
So thank you .
If you ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meh before and you like what you ’ ve seen they offer a $ 5 monthly fee to get free shipping on all of your orders no matter how many .
This deal was originally posted by Sheilah Villari in August 2020 and updated new information on 12/29/2020 .

Sheilah Villari on Kinja Deals, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

80-Pack: KN95 Masks | $14 | SideDeal | Use Code KINJAFS
I’m so proud of you for still wearing a mask; it’s super cool of you. But do you need an upgrade or maybe something a little more heavy-duty? Or have you decided to start layering a KN95 under a cloth mask? Or maybe you just want to put your mind at ease with something a smidge more protective? Whatever your reason, you can grab an 80 -Pack of KN95 Masks over at SideDeal for just $14 right now.
These are industry-standard, which means they are supposed to filter 95 percent of particles. That is just about as good as you can get. So the mask obviously doesn’t completely eliminate the risk of catching or spreading something, but if you wear it correctly, it still drastically reduces the likelihood of doing so. These are also great if you’ve got severe allergies or asthma and protect against pollen, dander, and whatnot. The KN95 mask isn’t made for clinical environments (not that you’re planning to perform surgery with these), but they will protect you and others in everyday environments against what is currently out there. Not all heroes wear capes, but they do wear masks. So, thank you for doing your part!
These masks have a metal bridge for keeping your mask snug, and the masks in each box are wrapped up in eight packets containing five masks each, so you can keep a pack in your car, at your door, in your garage, in your purse— wherever you might need to keep some on hand.
If you’ve read a few of our pieces on SideDeal before and you like what you’ve seen, they offer a $5 monthly fee to get free shipping on all of your orders, no matter how many. That membership also gets you free shipping at MorningSave, Mediocritee, and Meh . Otherwise, shipping is $8 per order.
This deal was originally posted by Sheilah Villari in August 2020 and was updated with new information on 8/26/2021.


theroot--2020-12-29--It's Kwanzaa Time! And ABF Creative Has the Perfect Podcast to Enjoy the Holiday With a New Twist

Christmas might be in the rearview , but Kwanzaa is in full swing—as evidenced by our gift guides and ongoing writeups here at The Root .
And as we celebrate our community and culture while abiding by each of the Seven Principles , you might be surprised to learn that there ’ s a new podcast on deck putting a new spin on a holiday that many of us have celebrated our entire lives .
Kwanzaa Time !
, developed and distributed by ABF Creative , is a collection of 15-minute captivating tales that have been passed down through generations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ youth while honoring our proud African heritage .
By putting a modern twist on traditional Kwanzaa stories , courtesy of narration by renowned storyteller Oni Lasana ( a.k.a .
Aunti Oni ) , Kwanzaa Time !
delivers a relatable cultural experience for youth ages eight and up .
“ Wanted to end 2020 with something fun for Black families , ” Anthony Frasier , CEO of ABF Creative , tweeted in announcing the series .
“ We ’ ve built up quite an audience for our African Folktales & wanted to give ppl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Every day during Kwanzaa a new episode will drop with a story by legendary storyteller Oni Lasana.
” “ Kwanzaa Time !
is a good touchpoint where we can refocus , recalibrate , and bring to the forefront traditions that never were lost , ” executive producer Wanda Reynolds said in a statement provided to The Root .
In light of COVID-19 , it also serves as supplemental educational content that both parents and educators can use to teach at home .
“ Kwanzaa Time !
is a companion of what should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Frasier , ABF Creative CEO , said in a statement provided to The Root .
“ And to be taught at a young age : love , compassion , and determination.
” Kwanzaa Time !
is available on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and wherever you get your podcast fix .

Christmas might be in the rearview, but Kwanzaa is in full swing—as evidenced by our gift guides and ongoing writeups here at The Root. And as we celebrate our community and culture while abiding by each of the Seven Principles, you might be surprised to learn that there’s a new podcast on deck putting a new spin on a holiday that many of us have celebrated our entire lives.
Kwanzaa Time!, developed and distributed by ABF Creative, is a collection of 15-minute captivating tales that have been passed down through generations and crafted to enlighten and entertain the youth while honoring our proud African heritage. By putting a modern twist on traditional Kwanzaa stories, courtesy of narration by renowned storyteller Oni Lasana (a.k.a. Aunti Oni), Kwanzaa Time! delivers a relatable cultural experience for youth ages eight and up.
Advertisement
“Wanted to end 2020 with something fun for Black families,” Anthony Frasier, CEO of ABF Creative, tweeted in announcing the series. “We’ve built up quite an audience for our African Folktales & wanted to give ppl an easy way to do #kwanzaa. Every day during Kwanzaa a new episode will drop with a story by legendary storyteller Oni Lasana.”
Advertisement Advertisement
“Kwanzaa Time! is a good touchpoint where we can refocus, recalibrate, and bring to the forefront traditions that never were lost,” executive producer Wanda Reynolds said in a statement provided to The Root.
In light of COVID-19, it also serves as supplemental educational content that both parents and educators can use to teach at home.
Advertisement
“Kwanzaa Time! is a companion of what should all be in our hearts,” Anthony Frasier, ABF Creative CEO, said in a statement provided to The Root. “And to be taught at a young age: love, compassion, and determination.”
Kwanzaa Time! is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcast fix.


theroot--2020-12-29--'Give Yourself Some Self Love Because You Did It': The Root Staff Looks Back at Navigating 2020

This year was tough , and it seems like everybody can tell you a different , personal reason why .
The Root ’ s Editor-in-Chief Danielle Belton struggled with loneliness as social distancing measures increased .
LA-based entertainment staff writer Tonja Renée Stidhum was unable to see her mom who lives in Chicago at all this year .
And senior reporter Terrell Jermaine Starr lost friends and family members due to COVID-19 .
“ If I had to describe 2020 in one word , it would stressful .
Stressful AF , ” said Belton .
Yet even in the midst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managed to prioritize their mental health and keep on pushing .
Danielle did exactly that by sleeping a lot .
“ They ’ re like ‘ stay woke , ’ but I was like , ‘ stay sleep ’ in 2020 , ” said Belton .
“ I do my 10-minute meditations and I start my day , ” said Stidhum , who uses the Insight Timer app to center herself and focus on the current moment .
Starr , on the other hand , finds yoga , running , and exercising to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He even hopes to go to the point where he can run a mile in less than five minutes .
Terrell offers this advice to others in quarantine dealing with overwhelming emotions .
“ Find something that physically or mentally helps your body , ” said Starr .
According to the CDC , people of color—among other groups like young adults , “ essential workers , and unpaid adult caregivers ” —had their mental health disproportionately negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic .
In the video above , members of The Root @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motivated during this particularly difficult year , what they want to leave behind in 2020 , and what message they want to send to those watching as this long and arduous year comes to an end .

We may earn a commission from links on this page.
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude


theroot--2020-12-29--2021 So Black: 21 Black Films and TV Worth Looking Forward To

I ’ m sure you ’ re sitting at the tail end of 2020 right now thinking , “ What do you mean ‘ look forward to ’ ?
!
I did that before and look what happened in 2020 !
I won ’ t be fooled again !
” Hell , in fact , some of the content from our 2020 list got pushed to 2021 due to a little thing known as the global coronavirus pandemic .
So , without further ado , here ’ s 21 Black-ass films and movies to look forward to ... you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2021 ( and no , I ’ m not doing a list of 2,021 things ) .
Zola is the first project of this list that was a casualty of the “ 2020 pushback.
” As an entertainment writer , it ’ s tough enough to have to sit on content you ’ re very excited to talk to everyone else about due to embargoes , but it ’ s another thing to have that wait extended over and over .
It seems right for us to live-tweet this adaptation ( I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an adaptation just like any other film that comes from another written source story as a norm in the future ? )
just like we did when we first came across the wild-ass story ’ s origins on Twitter .
Zola ’ s initial wide release date was sometime in the summer of 2020 , but has now officially been pushed to June 30 , 2021 .
As I countdown to the release date for this much-anticipated flick , I can ’ t help but be wistful about the lost theater experience .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black folks attending the opening weekend of Black Panther—but with more foolery .
Coming 2 America will land on Amazon Prime Video on March 5 , 2021 .
We actually know little to nothing about this upcoming project other than the enticing movie stills and the following synopsis from Netflix ’ s press release : “ Sam Levinson teams up with Zendaya and John David Washington for an achingly romantic drama in which a filmmaker ( Washington ) and his girlfriend ( Zendaya ) return home following a celebratory movie premiere as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an imminent critical and financial success .
The evening suddenly takes a turn as revelations about their relationships begin to surface , testing the strength of their love.
” After being very excited about seeing two actors I ’ m a fan of collaborating , I was then made aware ( or reminded ) of their notable age gap—Washington is 36 and Zendaya is 24 .
This got ta be addressed in the film , right ?
!
Or is it standard Hollywood older-man/younger-woman fodder ?
This is a movie we know even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official thing we ’ ve gotten is a quick teaser of LeBron James in his Tune Squad uniform and a cool gaming initiative in partnership with Microsoft .
What I do know is I expect the same number of cameos as in the original 1996 film , but with the modern star NBA players such as Steph Curry , Russell Westbrook , Kawhi Leonard or Kevin Durant .
I also expect a lot of good-natured banter and shit-talking amongst them .
Space Jam : A New Legacy dunks onto HBO Max on July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daniel Kaluuya ’ s casting as Black Panther Party chairman Fred Hampton sparked an ongoing debate on whether Black British actors should portray highly cherished figures in Black American history .
Plus , the film is sure to inspire a lot of challenging feelings since it is told from the perspective of the FBI informant ( portrayed by Lakeith Stanfield ) who had a hand in Hampton ’ s assassination .
We ’ ll all see how it pans out in the first quarter of the year .
Judas and the Black Messiah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HBO Max simultaneously ( it ’ ll only remain on the streamer for a month ) on Feb. 12 , 2021 .
This film has been through it , chile !
The most recent big news is that Hulu acquired distribution rights .
Paramount Pictures originally cooped the domestic rights ( and spent dough on advertising and reshoots ) out of Cannes Film Festival , but the sale didn ’ t actually officially close .
Oh , Hollywood !
After getting the chance to visit director Lee Daniels onset ( more on that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m looking forward to seeing how the final product for this turns out .
The United States vs. Billie Holiday was originally slated to release in theaters on Feb. 26 , 2021 , but we ’ re still awaiting final word from Hulu on their release date .
Just as he ’ s the modern-day master of Black romance in film , Barry Jenkins has been giving a masterclass on marketing as the award-winning director has been giving little sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes looks at the upcoming limited series for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which Jenkins directs all nine episodes , is based on Colson Whitehead ’ s 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning fiction novel of the same name .
We don ’ t know the exact release date yet , but we do know filming wrapped in Sept. 2020 and it ’ ll be released on Amazon Prime Video .
Executive produced by Malcolm Spellman , this docuseries will unpack about 40 years of music history , including the dichotomy that is the criminalization of the genre coupled with the mainstream fascination with it ( and profiting from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FX on Feb. 12 at 10 p.m. ET/PT and will air two episodes each week over three weeks .
Sure , this isn ’ t a new show , but it ’ s like a new show because it ’ s a whole-ass new actress as the titular character !
Javicia Leslie , took over for Ruby Rose , making her the first Black woman to portray Kate Kane/Batwoman in live-action TV or film .
Season 2 of Batwoman premieres Jan. 17 at 8 p.m .
ET on The CW .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see Regina King ’ s feature directorial debut , which is a great display of ensemble performances by the four leads , Leslie Odom , Jr. , Kingsley Ben-Adir , Aldis Hodge and Eli Goree .
And while you wait for the release date , check out my phone interview with King and some of the cast/crew to get a better grasp on how the portrayals came to be .
One Night in Miami hits Amazon Prime Video on Jan. 15 , 2021 .
So , I know Black Adam is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1945 , but I can ’ t help but envision “ Black Adam ” as a character in an Issa Rae production and folks call him that because he isn ’ t White Adam .
Oh wait , that kind of happened in Awkward Black Girl .
Anyway !
Dwayne “ The Rock ” Johnson , Aldis Hodge , Djimon Hounsou all star in this film coming out Dec. 22 , 2021 .
Here ’ s another film all of us thought was coming out in 2020 .
I just need to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ just so I can then wish her character ( Nomi ) had her own film .
No Time to Die is now scheduled to be released on April 2 , 2021 .
We were also supposed to see this joint in theaters last year ( hell , it was supposed to be The Root 100 2020 honoree Yahya Abdul-Mateen II ’ s next starring vehicle of the year after his success with Watchmen ) , but it was yet another film casualty of the pandemic .
Candyman , starring Abdul-Mateen II , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Domingo , Tony Todd and Vanessa Estelle Williams , will now be released Aug. 27 , 2021 .
You know why I ’ m here .
To see Billy Porter show up and show out as The Fairy Godmother , which Porter has confirmed is a “ genderless ” portrayal of the beloved fairy tale character .
We don ’ t have a trailer or even official first-look images yet beyond a title card , but we do know the scheduled release date for Sony ’ s iteration of Cinderella is Feb. 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so damn long I legitimately had forgotten there was a trailer for this film ( it came out at the top of the year , for one ) , the ninth of the Fast & Furious franchise .
It looks just as ridiculous as I expect it to be , but everything is fine because ... family .
F9 debuts May 28 , 2021 after being pushed from its original April 2021 slot .
This actually made my list because I randomly saw it on my social media feed this week and asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a whole horror movie starring Chris Rock and Samuel L .
Jackson ?
!
” And it ’ s part of the Saw franchise ?
!
I mean ... again , so much has happened in 2020 that it ’ s easy for things to get lost in the sauce , so I get it .
There ’ s clearly not enough buzz around this for my liking , so here ’ s some more .
Spiral hits theaters May 21 , 2021 .
Fun fact—This movie was the last in-person advanced screening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after leaving the studio theater , I was sooooo geeked to experience this delightful adaptation ( from Quiara Alegría Hudes ’ and Lin-Manuel Miranda ’ s stage play of the same name ) with everyone ( especially loved Anthony Ramos and Corey Hawkins ) .
Then ...
I had to wait .
And wait .
In The Heights is now scheduled to be released in theaters and HBO Max on June 18 , 2021 .
We probably know the least about this project than anything else on this list .
No , seriously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post , the film ’ s IMDb page says , “ the plot is currently unknown.
” Or maybe THAT is the plot .
Mind tricks !
We do know Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has a lead role in the film and that ’ s all the reason to completely lean into supporting it ( beyond the obvious support of Keanu Reeves , who is returning to the franchise ) without knowing anything about it .
Because Yahya .
The Matrix 4 is slated for release Dec. 22 , 2021 , and it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are two different high-profile Aretha biopics coming soon ( the other stars Cynthia Erivo and will be part of National Geographic ’ s Genius series ) .
According to Deadline , Aretha Franklin hand-picked Jennifer Hudson to portray her in a biopic , so that ’ s about as authorized as you can get .
Plus , I ’ m really looking forward to seeing Marlon Wayans ’ s portrayal of Franklin ’ s first husband , Ted White .
Respect hits theaters on Aug. 13 , 2021 .
The latest news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( FX ) back for sure sometime in 2021 .
I know , I know .
We ’ ve been burned before .
How can truly trust that the third ( and apparently fourth ) season of Atlanta will actually come out in 2021 ?
Well , if 2020 has taught us anything , it ’ s that we can ’ t be too sure what will happen .
I know one thing , though .
The theme of the second season ( Robbin ’ Season ) will be extra relevant if U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stimmy .
I ’ m looking forward to this one because the concept alone—which basically turns everything in the Marvel Cinematic Universe on its head by exploring different hypotheticals with its popular superhero characters—is intriguing .
Plus , Disney ’ s first look reveal of the upcoming series during Investor Day was quite emotional , as it featured the late Chadwick Boseman ’ s voice as T ’ Challa ... his very last performance in the MCU .
What If ... ?
will debut on Disney+ in Summer 2021 .
There are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to shout-out that may or may not come out in 2021 , but we don ’ t know enough about the anticipated production schedule to be sure .
Bel-Air : Per Peacock ’ s preview slate sent to The Root , the “ serialized one-hour dramatic analog of the 90 ’ s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ” will be premiering sometime in 2021 and I ’ m intrigued how this will turn out , especially since Will Smith is on board and developing with the concept ’ s creator Morgan Cooper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ From Ava DuVernay and Colin Kaepernick comes a new dramatic limited series focusing on the adolescent years of the all-start athlete and activist .
Jaden Michael ( The Get Down ) landed the pivotal role as Colin during his formative high school years and Mary-Louise Parker ( Weeds ) and Nick Offerman ( Parks and Recreation ) will star as Teresa Kaepernick and Rick Kaepernick , Colin ’ s adoptive parents .
That ’ s all , folks !
Also , if I get the inevitable “ you missed X project , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this clearly finite listicle , I ’ m just going to blame 2020 .
See you next year !

Tonja Renée Stidhum on The Grapevine, shared by Tonja Renée Stidhum to The Root

I’m sure you’re sitting at the tail end of 2020 right now thinking, “What do you mean ‘look forward to’?! I did that before and look what happened in 2020! I won’t be fooled again!” Hell, in fact, some of the content from our 2020 list got pushed to 2021 due to a little thing known as the global coronavirus pandemic. So, without further ado, here’s 21 Black-ass films and movies to look forward to...you know because it’ll be the year 2021 (and no, I’m not doing a list of 2,021 things).
1. Zola
Zola trailer / YouTube
Zola is the first project of this list that was a casualty of the “2020 pushback.” As an entertainment writer, it’s tough enough to have to sit on content you’re very excited to talk to everyone else about due to embargoes, but it’s another thing to have that wait extended over and over. It seems right for us to live-tweet this adaptation (I think?...Will we start calling tweets-to-film an adaptation just like any other film that comes from another written source story as a norm in the future?) just like we did when we first came across the wild-ass story’s origins on Twitter. Zola’s initial wide release date was sometime in the summer of 2020, but has now officially been pushed to June 30, 2021.
Advertisement
2. Coming 2 America
Coming 2 America trailer / YouTube
As I countdown to the release date for this much-anticipated flick, I can’t help but be wistful about the lost theater experience. Imagine the pomp and circumstances of the Black folks attending the opening weekend of Black Panther—but with more foolery. Coming 2 America will land on Amazon Prime Video on March 5, 2021.
Advertisement Advertisement
3. Malcolm & Marie
Advertisement
We actually know little to nothing about this upcoming project other than the enticing movie stills and the following synopsis from Netflix’s press release: “Sam Levinson teams up with Zendaya and John David Washington for an achingly romantic drama in which a filmmaker (Washington) and his girlfriend (Zendaya) return home following a celebratory movie premiere as he awaits what’s sure to be an imminent critical and financial success. The evening suddenly takes a turn as revelations about their relationships begin to surface, testing the strength of their love.” After being very excited about seeing two actors I’m a fan of collaborating, I was then made aware (or reminded) of their notable age gap—Washington is 36 and Zendaya is 24. This gotta be addressed in the film, right?! Or is it standard Hollywood older-man/younger-woman fodder?
4. Space Jam: A New Legacy
Advertisement
This is a movie we know even less about in terms of visuals—the only official thing we’ve gotten is a quick teaser of LeBron James in his Tune Squad uniform and a cool gaming initiative in partnership with Microsoft. What I do know is I expect the same number of cameos as in the original 1996 film, but with the modern star NBA players such as Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard or Kevin Durant. I also expect a lot of good-natured banter and shit-talking amongst them. Space Jam: A New Legacy dunks onto HBO Max on July 16, 2021.
5. Judas and the Black Messiah
Of course, Daniel Kaluuya’s casting as Black Panther Party chairman Fred Hampton sparked an ongoing debate on whether Black British actors should portray highly cherished figures in Black American history. Plus, the film is sure to inspire a lot of challenging feelings since it is told from the perspective of the FBI informant (portrayed by Lakeith Stanfield) who had a hand in Hampton’s assassination. We’ll all see how it pans out in the first quarter of the year. Judas and the Black Messiah will march right onto both theaters and HBO Max simultaneously (it’ll only remain on the streamer for a month) on Feb. 12, 2021.
Advertisement
6. The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Advertisement
This film has been through it, chile! The most recent big news is that Hulu acquired distribution rights. Paramount Pictures originally cooped the domestic rights (and spent dough on advertising and reshoots) out of Cannes Film Festival, but the sale didn’t actually officially close. Oh, Hollywood! After getting the chance to visit director Lee Daniels onset (more on that in the near future!), I’m looking forward to seeing how the final product for this turns out. The United States vs. Billie Holiday was originally slated to release in theaters on Feb. 26, 2021, but we’re still awaiting final word from Hulu on their release date.
7. The Underground Railroad
Just as he’s the modern-day master of Black romance in film, Barry Jenkins has been giving a masterclass on marketing as the award-winning director has been giving little sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes looks at the upcoming limited series for a minute now. The series, for which Jenkins directs all nine episodes, is based on Colson Whitehead’s 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning fiction novel of the same name. We don’t know the exact release date yet, but we do know filming wrapped in Sept. 2020 and it’ll be released on Amazon Prime Video.
Advertisement
8. Hip-Hop Uncovered
Hip-Hop Uncovered trailer / YouTube
Executive produced by Malcolm Spellman, this docuseries will unpack about 40 years of music history, including the dichotomy that is the criminalization of the genre coupled with the mainstream fascination with it (and profiting from it). Hip-Hop Uncovered premieres on FX on Feb. 12 at 10 p.m. ET/PT and will air two episodes each week over three weeks.
Advertisement
9. Batwoman (Season 2)
Batwoman S2 trailer / YouTube
Sure, this isn’t a new show, but it’s like a new show because it’s a whole-ass new actress as the titular character! Javicia Leslie, took over for Ruby Rose, making her the first Black woman to portray Kate Kane/Batwoman in live-action TV or film. Season 2 of Batwoman premieres Jan. 17 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.
Advertisement
10. One Night in Miami
I’m looking forward to everyone else getting to see Regina King’s feature directorial debut, which is a great display of ensemble performances by the four leads, Leslie Odom, Jr., Kingsley Ben-Adir, Aldis Hodge and Eli Goree. And while you wait for the release date, check out my phone interview with King and some of the cast/crew to get a better grasp on how the portrayals came to be. One Night in Miami hits Amazon Prime Video on Jan. 15, 2021.
Advertisement
11. Black Adam
Black Adam teaser / YouTube
So, I know Black Adam is an established character that was first introduced in 1945, but I can’t help but envision “Black Adam” as a character in an Issa Rae production and folks call him that because he isn’t White Adam. Oh wait, that kind of happened in Awkward Black Girl. Anyway! Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Aldis Hodge, Djimon Hounsou all star in this film coming out Dec. 22, 2021.
Advertisement
12. No Time to Die
No Time to Die trailer / YouTube
Here’s another film all of us thought was coming out in 2020. I just need to see Lashana Lynch serve up some 007-flavored ass-whoopin’ just so I can then wish her character (Nomi) had her own film. No Time to Die is now scheduled to be released on April 2, 2021.
Advertisement
13. Candyman
Candyman
We were also supposed to see this joint in theaters last year (hell, it was supposed to be The Root 100 2020 honoree Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s next starring vehicle of the year after his success with Watchmen), but it was yet another film casualty of the pandemic. Candyman, starring Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Colman Domingo, Tony Todd and Vanessa Estelle Williams, will now be released Aug. 27, 2021.
Advertisement
14. Cinderella
Advertisement
You know why I’m here. To see Billy Porter show up and show out as The Fairy Godmother, which Porter has confirmed is a “genderless” portrayal of the beloved fairy tale character. We don’t have a trailer or even official first-look images yet beyond a title card, but we do know the scheduled release date for Sony’s iteration of Cinderella is Feb. 5, 2021.
15. F9
F9 trailer / YouTube
This year has been so damn long I legitimately had forgotten there was a trailer for this film (it came out at the top of the year, for one), the ninth of the Fast & Furious franchise. It looks just as ridiculous as I expect it to be, but everything is fine because... family. F9 debuts May 28, 2021 after being pushed from its original April 2021 slot.
Advertisement
16. Spiral
Spiral teaser / YouTube
This actually made my list because I randomly saw it on my social media feed this week and asked myself, “How did I miss a whole horror movie starring Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson?!” And it’s part of the Saw franchise?! I mean...again, so much has happened in 2020 that it’s easy for things to get lost in the sauce, so I get it. There’s clearly not enough buzz around this for my liking, so here’s some more. Spiral hits theaters May 21, 2021.
Advertisement
17. In The Heights
In the Heights trailer / YouTube
Fun fact—This movie was the last in-person advanced screening I saw prior to the lockdown and after leaving the studio theater, I was sooooo geeked to experience this delightful adaptation (from Quiara Alegría Hudes’ and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s stage play of the same name) with everyone (especially loved Anthony Ramos and Corey Hawkins). Then...I had to wait. And wait. In The Heights is now scheduled to be released in theaters and HBO Max on June 18, 2021.
Advertisement
18. The Matrix 4
Advertisement
We probably know the least about this project than anything else on this list. No, seriously, at the time of this blog post, the film’s IMDb page says, “the plot is currently unknown.” Or maybe THAT is the plot. Mind tricks! We do know Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has a lead role in the film and that’s all the reason to completely lean into supporting it (beyond the obvious support of Keanu Reeves, who is returning to the franchise) without knowing anything about it. Because Yahya. The Matrix 4 is slated for release Dec. 22, 2021, and it’ll be another theater/HBO Max combo.
19. Respect
Respect trailer / YouTube
There are two different high-profile Aretha biopics coming soon (the other stars Cynthia Erivo and will be part of National Geographic’s Genius series). According to Deadline, Aretha Franklin hand-picked Jennifer Hudson to portray her in a biopic, so that’s about as authorized as you can get. Plus, I’m really looking forward to seeing Marlon Wayans’s portrayal of Franklin’s first husband, Ted White. Respect hits theaters on Aug. 13, 2021.
Advertisement
20. Atlanta (Season 3)
Advertisement
The latest news is that we will get our Atlanta (FX) back for sure sometime in 2021. I know, I know. We’ve been burned before. How can truly trust that the third (and apparently fourth) season of Atlanta will actually come out in 2021? Well, if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we can’t be too sure what will happen. I know one thing, though. The theme of the second season (Robbin’ Season) will be extra relevant if U.S. citizens don’t get their damn stimmy.
21. What If...?
Advertisement
I’m looking forward to this one because the concept alone—which basically turns everything in the Marvel Cinematic Universe on its head by exploring different hypotheticals with its popular superhero characters—is intriguing. Plus, Disney’s first look reveal of the upcoming series during Investor Day was quite emotional, as it featured the late Chadwick Boseman’s voice as T’Challa...his very last performance in the MCU. What If...? will debut on Disney+ in Summer 2021.
Honorable Mentions
There are a couple of other upcoming projects I want to shout-out that may or may not come out in 2021, but we don’t know enough about the anticipated production schedule to be sure.
Advertisement
Bel-Air: Per Peacock’s preview slate sent to The Root, the “serialized one-hour dramatic analog of the 90’s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” will be premiering sometime in 2021 and I’m intrigued how this will turn out, especially since Will Smith is on board and developing with the concept’s creator Morgan Cooper.
Colin In Black & White: From Ava DuVernay and Colin Kaepernick comes a new dramatic limited series focusing on the adolescent years of the all-start athlete and activist. Jaden Michael (The Get Down) landed the pivotal role as Colin during his formative high school years and Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds) and Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) will star as Teresa Kaepernick and Rick Kaepernick, Colin’s adoptive parents.
Advertisement
That’s all, folks! Also, if I get the inevitable “you missed X project, though!” round of comments in response to this clearly finite listicle, I’m just going to blame 2020. See you next year!


theroot--2020-12-29--‘That Was Easy! I Barely Felt It’: Kamala Harris Receives 1st Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine

It ’ s been just over two weeks since the first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine were administered in the U.S .
Since then , public officials have been getting their doses and publicizing the events in order to build America ’ s confidence in the safety and efficacy of the vaccine .
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris did her part when she publicly received her first dose of the Moderna vaccine Tuesday .
KARE 11 reports that Harris and her husband , Doug Emhoff , received the Moderna vaccine on Tuesday in Washington D.C. President-elect Joe Biden and his wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine just over a week prior .
Harris ’ receiving of the vaccine was live-streamed for the world to witness just as Biden ’ s was .
The Bidens ’ injections came the same day that a second vaccine , produced by Moderna , started arriving in U.S. states .
It joined Pfizer ’ s in the nation ’ s arsenal against the COVID-19 pandemic , which has now killed more than 335,000 people in the United States and upended life around the globe , according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the first wave of Americans to be inoculated against COVID-19 as part of the largest vaccination campaign in the nation ’ s history .
Vice President Mike Pence , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , and other lawmakers were given doses on Dec. 18 .
They chose to publicize their injections as part of a campaign to convince Americans that the vaccines are safe and effective amid skepticism , especially among Republicans .
Of course , Republicans aren ’ t the only ones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A history of medical malfeasance ( and that ’ s being generous ) committed against Black people in America has left many of us with cynical attitudes towards the vaccine as well .
Still , CNN reports that both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have shown efficacy levels of near 95 percent , according to the FDA .
According to CNN , Biden and Harris scheduled their vaccine shots a week apart so that if either of them experienced any side effects , such as headache or fever , they wouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ That was easy !
I barely felt it , ” Harris said after being injected .
She then thanked the staff of United Medical Center for serving “ a community that is often overlooked , ” and encouraged “ everyone to get the vaccine ” saying that it ’ s “ relatively painless ” and “ safe.
” Biden said much of the same after he was injected on camera .

It’s been just over two weeks since the first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine were administered in the U.S. Since then, public officials have been getting their doses and publicizing the events in order to build America’s confidence in the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris did her part when she publicly received her first dose of the Moderna vaccine Tuesday.
KARE 11 reports that Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, received the Moderna vaccine on Tuesday in Washington D.C. President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, received the Pfizer vaccine just over a week prior. Harris’ receiving of the vaccine was live-streamed for the world to witness just as Biden’s was.
Advertisement
From KARE:
The Bidens’ injections came the same day that a second vaccine, produced by Moderna, started arriving in U.S. states. It joined Pfizer’s in the nation’s arsenal against the COVID-19 pandemic, which has now killed more than 335,000 people in the United States and upended life around the globe, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University. Other top government officials were part of the first wave of Americans to be inoculated against COVID-19 as part of the largest vaccination campaign in the nation’s history. Vice President Mike Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and other lawmakers were given doses on Dec. 18. They chose to publicize their injections as part of a campaign to convince Americans that the vaccines are safe and effective amid skepticism, especially among Republicans.
Advertisement Advertisement
Of course, Republicans aren’t the only ones who are skeptical about the vaccine. A history of medical malfeasance (and that’s being generous) committed against Black people in America has left many of us with cynical attitudes towards the vaccine as well.
Advertisement
Still, CNN reports that both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have shown efficacy levels of near 95 percent, according to the FDA.
According to CNN, Biden and Harris scheduled their vaccine shots a week apart so that if either of them experienced any side effects, such as headache or fever, they wouldn’t both experience them on the same day.
Advertisement
“That was easy! I barely felt it,” Harris said after being injected. She then thanked the staff of United Medical Center for serving “a community that is often overlooked,” and encouraged “everyone to get the vaccine” saying that it’s “relatively painless” and “safe.” Biden said much of the same after he was injected on camera.