Lifestyle Archives

In a Major Step Towards Political Revolution, Some Felons Are Getting Voting Rights Reinstated

It has been a watershed several months for criminal justice reform. With much, much more to be done to offset the detrimental repercussions of political initiatives like the war on drugs, a few but altogether mighty moments have contributed to a deep-seated sense of impending change. In 2015, President Obama... Read more

April 22, 2016 Lifestyle

Raising the Roof: San Francisco Enacts Powerful New Law for Buildings (Video)

Arguably one of the world's most coveted cities, San Francisco has experienced an identity crisis of sorts in recent years. Long regarded as the headquarters for much of the cultural and social revolutions in the realms of civil rights, LGBTQ equality, and more, it is now mostly thought of as... Read more

April 21, 2016 Lifestyle

“Hamilton” Is Right On the Money, Which Means Women Have to Wait (Video)

Last year, popular interest in American currency reached new heights thanks to an initiative to finally place a woman on the face of the $20 bill. "Women on 20s" launched an online voting campaign to nominate an important woman from history as the new face of the $20 bill -... Read more

April 19, 2016 Lifestyle

This 1982 Profile of Keith Haring is a Must-See For Any Graffiti Art Buff (Video)

When it comes to pop art there are a handful of names which come to mind, at least when asking those in the Hip-Hop generation. Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, and Keith Haring are three giants of that world, and with their deaths now belonging in the confines of previous generations,... Read more

April 18, 2016 Lifestyle

As A Former Teacher, Erykah Badu Describes Her Dream School (Video)

Erykah Badu recently spent considerable time with high-school students in New Jersey as part of the Future Project, a multi-tiered and all-encompassing education-focused program deeply rooted in the notion that young minds need to be cultivated and encouraged both inside and outside of the classroom. Through the use of Dream... Read more

April 14, 2016 Lifestyle

Having Artificial Intelligence at Your Fingertips Just Got a Whole Lot Closer (Video)

Heads of a certain age may remember SmarterChild. He (or she) was a computer-controlled “buddy” that would appear on one’s AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) contact list, and who could interact with users, albeit on a very rudimentary level (think Siri, only in text form). A “chatterbot” by technical definition, SmarterChild... Read more

April 13, 2016 Lifestyle

Rare Photos of Jay Z, KRS-One, Nas, Run-D.M.C. & More Are Heading to the Smithsonian

As an institution, the Smithsonian is the preeminent organization of its kind in the United States. Actually a cluster of museums and research centers, it's under the direct supervision and administration of the government, giving it an air of authenticity and credence that lend serious cache to its collections. Far from... Read more

April 12, 2016 Lifestyle

A Popular Adult Website Is Standing Up for LGBTQ Rights In North Carolina

In recent weeks, news of conservative laws being enacted in southern states have made news within the LGBTQ movement. In North Carolina, Governor Pat McCrory has been the target of criticism after he signed into law a bill which would force transgendered men and women to use restrooms which match... Read more

April 12, 2016 Lifestyle

Jackie Robinson Made History Nearly 70 Years Ago, But His Story Is Far From Over (Video)

Next week will mark the 69th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's history-making entry into the Major League Baseball organization as the first Black player to ever do so, and a new documentary will serve as a reminder as to why that achievement was so important back in 1947, and why his... Read more

April 8, 2016 Lifestyle

Freeway’s Battle Against Kidney Disease Is the Subject of an Inspiring New Film (Video)

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), more than 4.5 million adults in the United States suffer from some form of kidney disease. Artists like Nick Cannon, Natalie Cole, and Tracy Morgan suffered and continue to suffer with kidney-related illness (also known as renal disease), and it's... Read more

April 7, 2016 Lifestyle

Killer Mike Says “Jim Crow Is Still Very Much Alive” (Video)

By now, even casual fans of Killer Mike's music have likely become familiar with his robust proclamations in his daily life, whether on social media, political speeches, or media appearances. Along with his extensive work on the campaign trail for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, Killer Mike has been fighting... Read more

April 5, 2016 Lifestyle

The Clothing Line That Sparked A Cultural Revolution Is Coming Back But It Needs Your Help

UPDATE: The Kickstarter campaign to re-launch the AACA brand ends at 9AM EST tomorrow (April 18). The campaign is seeking to raise $100K, and is currently at $84,253. To donate, click here. Before Phat Farm, FUBU, Rocawear or any of the other iconic urban fashion wear brands, there was an... Read more

April 5, 2016 Lifestyle

Bernie Sanders is Changing the Political Landscape in the U.S. & He’s Proud Of It (Video)

Fresh off his primary victories in Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington, Vermont's Senator Bernie Sanders continues to force a conversation in American politics about the big guys versus the little guys. Having galvanized young voters in far greater numbers than his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, Sanders has proven that a polished... Read more

April 4, 2016 Lifestyle

This Journalist Who Was Encouraged By Eazy-E Releases A Book Comparing Hip-Hop & Chess

From the Wu-Tang Clan to Wale, Fresh to Dilated Peoples, Hip-Hop's music, film, and lifestyle maintain strong ties to chess. The 64 squares relate to many aspects of life. Northern California veteran author, speaker, scholar, and music journalist Adisa "The Bishop" Banjoko has made a career out tying Hip-Hop, chess,... Read more

March 25, 2016 Food for Thought, Lifestyle

Obama Reminds the Nation of His Presidential Power Over the Supreme Court (Video)

As if the current political goings-on in the United States needed any more hullabaloo, the recent death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has resulted in a showdown between President Obama and Congress. As the presidential campaign heats up with presumptive nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump entering what promises... Read more

March 18, 2016 Lifestyle

Big Sean Puts His Money Where His Mouth Is. One Man Really Can Change the World. (Video)

Always repping his hometown of Detroit in his music, Big Sean (born Sean Anderson) is making major moves behind-the-scenes as it pertains to giving back to his community. The Sean Anderson Foundation is a non-profit founded with a Motor City focus in mind, with programs and initiatives aimed at the... Read more

March 16, 2016 Lifestyle

Forget Presidential Candidates. Are Our Computers Also Racist and Sexist? (Audio)

Austin, Texas is currently the place to be for music industry insiders, with a whole host of artists performing across a spectrum of genres. However, the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival is not just a place to get put up on the next hottest artist; it's also a well-established platform... Read more

March 16, 2016 Lifestyle

The Government Is Fighting the U.S. Heroin Epidemic in 94 Million Ways (Video)

The recent death of former first lady Nancy Reagan has brought conversations about the so-called "War on Drugs" back into the fray. Considered by most to have been a complete and utter failure, the war was first initiated by the Nixon administration, but was fortified by not only President Reagan,... Read more

March 15, 2016 Lifestyle

Hillary Clinton & Bernie Sanders Are Asked About Climate Change & It Gets Heated (Video)

Last night (March 9), the two front-running candidates in the Democratic quest for the presidency squared off in Miami, Florida for the Univision-sponsored debate. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders were both fired up, with the Sanders campaign capitalizing on its recent winning upset in the... Read more

March 10, 2016 Lifestyle

When Big Brother Isn’t Watching, It’s Someone Much Shadier

The unique aspects of living in our technologically soaked 21st century world are covered every day in the news, but these days there is one tech-based story that is impossible to ignore. The ongoing game of moral tug-of-war between the FBI and Apple over an iPhone used by one of... Read more

March 7, 2016 Lifestyle

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Words In This Rare 1967 Interview Are Still Relevant Today (Video)

A recently found master tape of a 1967 interview featuring Martin Luther King, Jr. on the iconic Merv Griffin talk show surfaced earlier this year, and it is an awe inspiring look at a man who was rarely seen in casual conversation. The Civil Rights Era thought leader has always... Read more

March 2, 2016 Lifestyle

The War On Drugs Failed. Now It’s a War For Recovery (Audio)

When President Richard Nixon made the war on drugs one of his signature domestic campaigns, his administration set into motion one of the most unpopular cycles of American social change. Effectively criminalizing all drug-related activities - from the high level trafficking to the pedestrian smoking of a joint - the... Read more

March 1, 2016 Lifestyle

Facebook Stands Up for Black Lives Matter with Powerful Statement From Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg - the former wunderkind who founded Facebook more than ten years ago - has released a stern criticism of his employees, but it's not about something they did online. Rather, he is admonishing behavior taking place in a very rudimentary form of social media: A community chalkboard. Specifically,... Read more

February 26, 2016 Lifestyle

Viola Davis Gets Real With Sway About Hollywood’s Race Problem (Video)

Viola Davis is no stranger to the inner workings of Hollywood and has experienced the benefits and the difficulties of a successful career. Last year, she made television history as the first Black woman of any nationality to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. How... Read more

February 25, 2016 Lifestyle

Hear How Muhammad Ali & Malcolm X Met And Why They Parted Ways (Audio)

Today marks the anniversary of former heavyweight champion boxer Sonny Liston's 1964 defeat at the hands of Cassius Clay, a young boxer who boasted that he would "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." Later changing his name to Muhammad Ali, the new heavyweight champion would go on to... Read more

February 25, 2016 Lifestyle

John Oliver Shows Just How Deep Hollywood Whitewashing Goes (Video)

Next week, Hollywood's biggest night will take place when the 88th Academy Awards take place in Beverly Hills, California. It will transpire amid a cloud of controversy related to the lack of racial diversity of the nominees in the more major categories including Best Actor & Actress and Best Supporting... Read more

February 24, 2016 Lifestyle

Los Angeles Street Art is Highlighting the City’s Failure to Address Homelessness

Los Angeles conjures up images of beachfront properties, endless avenues decorated with palm trees, and a year-round climate that is so close to perfect it has become a number-one destination for millions. However, the rich and famous are not the only ones who benefit from the area's weather. Mild temperatures... Read more

February 23, 2016 Lifestyle

Killer Mike Is Taking The Fight To The Supreme Court To Protect Freedom Of Speech In Rap Music

In late 2015, Hip-Hop made its way to the steps of the Supreme Court when Killer Mike and others threw their support behind a teenager whose decision to pen a Rap song about goings-on at his high school got him suspended, permanently staining his academic record. Taylor Bell, a Mississippi student... Read more

February 19, 2016 Lifestyle

The FBI Needs Apple’s Help Fighting Terrorism. Should the Tech Giant Give In?

It's no secret that Apple's iPhone has become the default choice in smartphone technology for the majority of the world's mobile-carrying population. As it becomes more and more commonplace, the phone's role in everyday life will continue to permeate much more than conversations about its effectiveness in helping us complete... Read more

February 18, 2016 Lifestyle

With an Unexpected Vacancy in the Supreme Court, Obama is Preparing for an All-Out Battle (Audio)

After news broke that Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away over the weekend (February 13), social media exploded as debates about who should take the long-sitting conservative judge's place raged. The 79-year-old joined the highest court in the land back in 1986 when he was appointed by then-President Ronald... Read more

February 15, 2016 Lifestyle

D.M.C. Says Comics & Hip-Hop Culture Are Synonymous & Releases New Marvel Issue.

Darryl McDaniels has devoted his life to Hip-Hop as one third of Run-D.M.C. The Hollis, Queens MC has dedicated more than four decades to the pursuit of music, but he has always been open about the other love of his life: comics. Since his early childhood, DMC has explored the... Read more

February 4, 2016 Lifestyle

“Hamilton” Creator Says Founding Father & Biggie Have Plenty in Common (Video)

Lin-Manuel Miranda is a self-described "Puerto Rican from the Bronx" whose passion for both musical theater and Hip-Hop have made him one of the most exciting figures in the culture today. By now, Heads are familiar with his work as the creator of the surprise Broadway smash Hamilton, a historically... Read more

February 3, 2016 Lifestyle

MC Lyte & Rapsody Recount Racist Assaults & Open Up About Being Women in Hip-Hop

February 1 marked the beginning of Black History Month, a yearly occasion during which African-American stories, issues, art, and conversations are shared with more visibility than perhaps the rest of the year. In today's atmosphere - where "Black lives matter" is not just an aside in a casual conversation and... Read more

February 2, 2016 Lifestyle

A Film About a Slave Revolt is Breaking Records. Has Hollywood Really Changed?

As the Academy Awards inch closer and closer, the discussion about diversity in Hollywood continues to rage on. One of the highest-trending topics on Twitter, #OscarsSoWhite is a reaction to the announcement of Oscar nominees and in particular the fact that no people of color are represented in the top... Read more

February 1, 2016 Lifestyle

Now That Barbie Has A New Body, Will Hip-Hop Stop Glorifying Injections?

The relationship between pop culture and body image is decades old, but with Hip-Hop's unmatched global dominance in every realm of life, there is a need for a conversation about how images portrayed by or celebrated in the music affect the way people - mostly women - feel about their... Read more

February 1, 2016 Lifestyle

Killer Mike & Iconic Olympian Tommie Smith Discuss the Past & Current Civil Rights Movements (Video)

In one of the most iconic sports photographs, American Olympian athlete Tommie Smith is seen raising his Black fist into the air in solidarity with his fellow medal winners in a stunning show of solidarity with those back home fighting for civil rights. Nearly 50 years later, and Americans are... Read more

January 28, 2016 Lifestyle

Macklemore & Sway Have an Incredibly Deep & Important Conversation About White Supremacy (Video)

Since releasing "White Privilege II" on January 22, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have re-ignited a generations-old discussion about race that has become a maelstrom surrounding the notion of the White versus Black experience in the United States as it exists today. Against the current backdrop of affairs, the conversation is... Read more

January 26, 2016 Lifestyle

A Grand Jury Investigating Planned Parenthood Instead Charges Anti-Abortion Activists (Audio)

Last year, Planned Parenthood experienced a tumultuous few months that brought the family healthcare facility more criticism than usual. Often the subject of protests and negative attention from Conservatives, the clinic known for providing sexual and reproductive health services to millions of families came under fire after a series of... Read more

January 26, 2016 Lifestyle

Flint, Michigan Was Poisoned & An Investigation Points to the Government (Video)

The ongoing crisis in Flint, Michigan is one at the nexus of economics, health, politics, and potentially criminal activity. Over the course of the last several weeks, mainstream media has been focusing more and more on a story that, despite sounding hyperlocalized to one specific community, potentially has similarities to conditions... Read more

January 25, 2016 Lifestyle

Mobb Deep’s Prodigy To Perform At The Interactive Play “The Illuminati Ball”

Hip-Hop and the theater are continuing to merge in unexpected ways. With the astronomical success of Hamilton on Broadway and Kurtis Blow's stint in the Hip-Hop Nutcracker, a legacy that began back in the '90s with productions of So! What Happens Now? and Jam on the Groove is blossoming. Today, it's... Read more

January 21, 2016 Lifestyle

2015 Was Hottest Year on Record & Now Sea Levels May Wipe Our Cities Away (Video)

2015 was the hottest year in recorded climate history. In our world of hyperbole, unsubstantiated political discourse, and general laissez-faire attitudes about problems with no immediate effect on our wellbeing, hearing such news doesn't necessarily incite a knee-jerk reaction. Generally speaking, the issues of global warming and climate change don't elicit... Read more

January 20, 2016 Lifestyle

Virtual Sex May Help Pedophiles Fight Their Urges. Should We Allow It?

Pedophilia is one of society's greatest taboos. It's a topic not easily broached for obvious reasons, but for those suffering from it, that taboo nature makes it increasingly difficult to seek treatment and support. While preying on children is certainly a behavior that is never acceptable, those coping with pedophilia require... Read more

January 15, 2016 Lifestyle

Fresh Out the Oven: 2 Compton Men are Preparing Gourmet Meals for the Hood.

For non-locals, Compton, California is most commonly associated with music or crime. In just the last year alone, it's become a household name, thanks to the blockbuster success of the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton and Dr. Dre's Compton album. With artists like Jay Rock, The Game, and Kendrick Lamar... Read more

January 14, 2016 Lifestyle

The Harlem Globetrotters Literally Changed the Game Nearly 90 Years Ago

On January 7, 1927, the game of basketball was forever altered when the Harlem Globetrotters played their first game. Known as an "exhibition" team, their unique style of play incorporates comedy and theater into a uniquely American creation, one that has allowed the entity to remain beloved for more than... Read more

January 11, 2016 Lifestyle

After Being Re-Captured In Mexico, Is El Chapo On His Way To The U.S.? (Video)

Possibly the world's most notorious wanted man, Mexican drug kingpin El Chapo, has been arrested and will likely face extradition charges by the United States. Born Joaquín Archivaldo Guzman Leora, El Chapo (Spanish for "the short one") took on Pablo Escobar-esque notoriety in 2015 after escaping from prison for the... Read more

January 11, 2016 Lifestyle

Petition Seeks to Exonerate “Making a Murderer” Subject. The White House Responds.

Netflix's continued dominance in the streaming media market is no longer news to anybody, but nevertheless the company's growing list of accomplishments is hard to ignore, even to the most jaded media aficionado. Earlier this week, it was announced that Netflix is expanding its market to 190 countries, setting the... Read more

January 8, 2016 Lifestyle

President Obama Is Taking Gun Control Seriously With New Regulations. Hear Them In His Own Tearful Words (Video)

Earlier today, President Obama outlined his new executive actions on gun control, putting into motion one of the most aggressive plans to curb the frequency with which Americans are killed by gun violence in recent memory. In his speech, he stated his explicit support for the 2nd amendment, which gives... Read more

January 5, 2016 Lifestyle

Why Are Armed Whites Getting Treated Better than Unarmed Black & Brown Americans?

Over the weekend, news broke of an unusual event taking place in Oregon, a state most commonly associated with nature, liberalism, and the television series Portlandia. As such, the revelation that armed ranchers had quite literally taken a federal building hostage on Saturday, January 2, struck an odd chord for most... Read more

January 4, 2016 Lifestyle

Why Many Black Radio Stations Refused to Play Hip-Hop in the ’90s

Dan Charnas is a celebrated author whose book The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop is a masterful road map to the people, places, and events that helped contribute to the culture's emergence into mainstream and financial dominance, both behind-the-scenes and in headlines. Part of his tome... Read more

December 23, 2015 Lifestyle

These New Socks Will Pause Netflix If You Chill Too Much (Video)

One major takeaway from 2015's internet culture is "Netflix & Chill," a phrase that took on a life of its own in the form of memes, Vines, jokes, and more. For those not in the know, it refers to that all-too-frequent occurrence when two (or more, depending on what kind... Read more

December 22, 2015 Lifestyle