infinite creativity
a few thoughts on the monetization of creativity + reads & vibes for your weekend.
hey friend, it’s the last month of the year. don’t freak out, but we’ll be starting a new year in like 30 days. you still have time to accomplish some goals or create new ones. let’s get it!
thoughts at large.
It’s crazy that even in 2022, people still aren’t getting the appropriate credit for their creative capital.
Wrapped, the user-generated annual data drop that Spotify shares with its customers, was released this week. It’s always interesting to see my listening habits in infographic form - and compare my musical taste with my friends.
Every year though, it’s hard for me to see the activation and not think about the Black woman intern who presented the design and idea to make the data shareable. She wasn’t credited for it, nor was she paid for it. She didn’t make a big deal about it and has moved on in her life & career.
The same is true for all of the Black TikTok creators who came up with dances that were poorly replicated by their palm-colored peers. They were barely given credit, let alone a fraction of the payments, opportunities… hell, the careers that were built off of their creative labor.
The thought of it is frustrating, but also, in a way, extremely liberating. Of course, you want credit for what you do, but to be able to charge the creative theft to the game takes a level of creative confidence that everyone doesn’t have.
Black people are naturally and infinitely creative. It’s an adaptation. For generations, we’ve had to make lemonade out of lemons just to survive. So what’s a single co-opted idea when you’re naturally the purveyor of all things cool? It’s nothing to come up with something else. Right?
Sure, but we need the money and the credit too.
Our ideas, dances, music, and style are valuable, and we deserve the acknowledgment and the compensation that come with them. Pay what you owe, or simply, find somebody else to do your creative labor.
Question of the week:
Have your ideas/creativity ever been copied or applied, without attribution? How did you deal with it? What are things Black creatives can do to protect their creative capital? Answer in the comment section, or if this is in your inbox, just reply to this email.
reads + vibes.
This was a week full of interesting reads and new playlists. Keep reading, hopefully, there’s something to pique your interest.
reads.
It’s been a rough year emotionally for Nia Long. Not only has she dealt with the public demise of her relationship with NBA coach Ime Udoka, but also, she’s had to deal with the fallout of walking off of the set of her most recent project. When asked why she left, she shared that the film wasn’t authentically representing the Black experience. I loved her quote about it:
“I felt like everything that was natural and organic for me wasn’t what they wanted, and I wasn’t willing to compromise what felt true for me. When I got on the plane to go home, I was so proud of myself, because the days of being on the battlefield unnecessarily are over. I just don’t have the capacity to hold that space anymore.”
Read the rest of her profile in The Hollywood Reporter, here.
Shannon Abloh, the wife of the late Virgil Abloh, gave a rare interview to The New York Times, explaining her choice to step into the spotlight as the CEO of VA Securities, a creative corporation Virgil founded before his passing. The company hopes to create pathways for greater equity and inclusion for diverse talents across creative industries while incorporating Abloh’s creative ethos in everything they do. The first legacy extending project, an exhibit in partnership with Nike, is on display this weekend at Art Basel in Miami. Read more here.
Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson will make his first start in 700 days on Sunday when he faces off against his former team, the Houston Texans. In his first post-practice presser since returning from suspension, he dodged all questions about the sexual assault allegations that kept him sidelined for the first 11 games of this season. Several of his accusers plan to attend the game on Sunday to make “a statement.” I hope they shake the table. Read more here.
What’s your favorite 90’s southern rap song? Pitchfork came up with a list of the 30 best. There are so many BOPS on this list… but if I had to pick my faves, I’m choosing “The Rain (SupaDupa Fly)” & “SpottieOttieDopaliscious,” followed closely by “Back That Thang Up,” “Wanna Be A Baller,” and “Make ‘Em Say Uhh!” Read here, and shout out to my guy Brandon Caldwell who was a contributor.
vibes.
I’ve been listening to podcasts a lot more lately and wanted to share a few episodes from shows that I love. Check these out.
Rich Homie Quan talked about the ups and downs of being an independent artist on Trapital with Dan Runcie Listen Here.
Duchess Meghan Markle talked with Trevor Noah, Judd Apatow, and Andy Cohen about how men feel about archetypes, and the collective effort to move beyond them in the “Archetypes” Season Finale. Listen Here. (It’s a Spotify exclusive)
My Spotify Top 100 songs of the Year playlist is a vibe. They are listed in order of how many times I listened to the track, so shout out to Ambre for the song “catch up” Listen Here.
watch this.
December brings more holiday films and many starring beautiful melanated faces! There are a few dropping this weekend that you should check out + some tv & binge-able content available now:
movie: Rolling Into Christmas, starring Rhyon Brown, Gary Dourdan & Brandee Evans. It premieres tonight on BET at 8/7c (also available on BET+ right now) It’s like if Roll Bounce & Love & Basketball had a millennial/Gen-Z baby.
movie: A New Orleans Noel, starring Keshia Knight Pulliam, Brad James, Patti LaBelle & Tim Reid. It premieres Saturday night at 8/7c on Lifetime. Keshia & Brad (husband & wife in real life) are dueling former college classmates hired to work on the same architecture project. If you’ve watched any other Lifetime or Hallmark holiday film you know what happens next.
tv: The series finale of Queen Sugar aired on Tuesday. Even if you haven’t been keeping up with the series, I think you would enjoy this episode. It was the most beautiful series finale that I’ve ever seen.
tv: Keke Palmer is hosting SNL on Saturday with SZA as a musical guest. This airs live Saturday night at 11:35/10:35c on NBC.
binge: Gossip Girl 2.0 is back with season 2. The first two episodes are available now, and it’s already messy. New episodes drop every Thursday on HBOMax.
binge: There’s a new show on Prime called RICHES that’s available now. It’s an inter-diaspora drama about a family beauty business and a struggle for power. You can watch the episodes now.
Finally… I believe that the holiday season does not begin without watching The Preacher’s Wife. It’s available on Prime Video for Rent or Purchase. I’m sorry… but it’s worth every penny.
That’s all for this week, thanks for reading and let me know what you think about this week’s newsletter! I’d love to hear from you.
