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Here’s What Wrong With ‘Vogue’ Calling Nori A Hair ‘Icon’

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celebs-who-ate-their-placenta-kim-kardashianPhoto: WENN 

Immediately when I read Vogue.com‘s headline “How North West’s Curly Styles Are Inspiring a Generation of Natural Hair Girls” I cringed.

As a child, my tightly coiled hair was a challenge for my mother. Black and curly, every other day she walked the line between my tender-headedness and her desire to make me look put together. Those years in kindergarten where I insisted in playing the sandbox with abase knowing she’d have to wash my hair that night, were the worst. She told me herself.

Eventually, like many other black children, she put in a perm to ease the process of styling my hair and because—frankly—to fit in. You see, being a black child with nappy hair was not the status quo pre-2000s. Having a presence in the Americas for centuries still did not disenchant white folks from being alarmed/intrigued/curious/dismayed by our hair.

It certainly wasn’t fashionable.

So clearly, I began my dissent into this story with baggage. You know, from the 27 or so years of uneasiness. Should I go natural? What does my real texture look like? Braids? No, too ethnic for this job. How can I feel good about my hair and not be exoticized like a zoo animal in a work environment full of white folks?

And so I read. The author, Marjon Carlos, essentially is bigging up North West—mixed race daughter of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian—for wearing her hair the way it comes out of her head thus inspiring other babies, like her said niece, to do the same.

An excerpt from “How North West’s Curly Styles Are Inspiring a Generation of Natural Hair Girls” on Vogue.com:

Whether a top bun or a comb-over, North’s pint-sized hair styles complement her fashion-forward play clothes, while remaining refreshingly easy and age-appropriate. They’ve established little Nori as a kind of hair icon for a nascent and diverse generation of tots rocking their natural curls with unprecedented flair—among them, my two-year-old niece, Isabel.

Like Nori, Isabel (affectionately known as “Izzy B”) sprouts an enviable festoon of curls that are a reflection of her biracial background: Her mother is of Russian-Jewish descent and her father is African-American. Ever the hands-on “fashion auntie,” I’ve happily assisted Izzy’s mom with styling her little corkscrews, passing along a long familial tradition of black hair care that emphasizes detangling and moisture. When my sister-in-law doubted her ability to skillfully do her daughter’s hair on a daily basis, I offered encouragement: as I wrote here before, she is not alone in wanting to bring out the natural beauty of her mixed-race child.

My best friend recently lamented to me about something she’s encountered while dating. She said, “Men will ask me all the time if I’m mixed with something.” Adding, “And when I say ‘No. I’m fully African American… just black.’ They seemed disappointed. As if me being mixed with something would make me more attractive, more exotic.”

My question to the author, who has newfound interest in black hair, is what about Blue Ivy? What about Willow Smith as a baby? Hell, what about Rudy Huxtable (Keshia Knight Pulliam) who wore her hair natural for years—even to this day?

It’s funny how fashion is. One day something is in, one day it’s out. And with the ever expanding and diverse world we live in, where Caucasians have interest in the black experience and those in fashion have to acknowledge us in every facet of life, these anomalies become more present. And beauty—in their eyes—comes in the form of things or people they identify themselves in. It has to relate or it isn’t relevant.

So now that Timberlands, cornrows, baby hair and — the new addition — natural hair are “in”, they’re the new fads. Something for us black folk to get excited about. Finally, validation. What we’ve always wanted from our culturally inept and ignorant fellow Americans.

Curls. “New” curls. What a lovely concept. Who knew?!

The post Here’s What Wrong With ‘Vogue’ Calling Nori A Hair ‘Icon’ appeared first on StyleBlazer.

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Dee-1 Calls Raheem DeVaughn To “Purify My Eyes”

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Fresh off his Breakfast Club appearance after having “Lines Drawn” with help from Billboard and successfully migrating From The Hood To Harvard, NOLA native Dee-1 taps Soul singer/songwriter Raheem DeVaughn for “Purify My Eyes.” Continuing his theme of counter-culture centered messaging the timely track, which was produced by Anonymous, urges listeners to replace images of corruption and cynicism with lifegiving content to reprogram our thinking for the better.

“This is easily one the most important songs I have ever done because it provides Hip-Hop with a solution-based perspective meant to combat some of the problems we face as a culture. It’s honest, raw, and transparent. I’ve been friends with Raheem Devaughn for a long time, so to finally collaborate on a song feels great. When I played the record for him, he fell in love with it and instantly added his parts; which took the song to another level,” say’s the David Found His Slingshot author in a exclusive statement to Medium Creative Agency.

Award-winning rapper. educator, host, activist, business owner, and keynote speaker are synonymous with Louisiana’s Dee-1. The Nasir “Nas” Jones Hip Hop Fellow at Harvard University is a Billboard Top 10 charting, game-changing MC with a persona to match his penmanship. He’s transitioned from being a middle school math teacher in The Boot to a Hip-Hop heavyweight with much more to accomplish. He has released 10 albums and 21 projects thus far in his career.

Dee-1’s music is part of a bigger lifestyle movement called Mission Vision, which centers around three core principles: Be Real. Be Righteous. Be Relevant. In 2020, Dee received the prestigious NAACP “Power of Influence Award,” highlighting his community activism and commitment to inspiring the youth. In 2021, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work on “The Manhattan Project,” but he lost to Michelle Obama. Later that year, Dee was appointed to the “Louisiana Council for the Success of Black Men and Boys” by Governor John Bel Edwards, making him the first rapper in Louisiana history to become a governor’s appointee.

After addressing critics and fans alike in the official music video for the Danny Beats-produced single for “Lines Drawn” and following his viral interview on Sway In The Morning centered around industry hypocrisy, Emmy-nominated educator turned entertainer Dee-1 released his latest project to date From The Hood To Harvard. The 8-track body of work includes guest features from Skyy Brooks as well as P3RK and is anchored by supporting records “Impostor Syndrome” & “Dr. Freshh.”

Stream “Purify My Eyes” on your DSP of choice below and watch Dee-1‘s interview with The Breakfast Club | HERE.

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Chelsea Pastel Releases Motivative New Single “Price Going Up”

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To celebrate “Greener” pastures, following the announcement of her joining Kid Cudi’s ‘Insano World Tour,’ Cleveland native Chelsea Pastel releases the Cassius G-produced single “Price Going Up.” Marking CP’s explosive entrance into 2024, the empowering anthem resonates with anybody pushing forward with resilience and determination. With infectious beats and powerful vocals, she asserts her presence as a rising star to watch. Setting the stage for an exciting year ahead, the brand-new track is a bold declaration of Chelsea’s unwavering commitment to excellence.

“I jumped off that porch, I’m not going back to that house and I mean just that. I’m never looking back. I took a leap of faith and where I land is where I’m staying,” says the talented triple threat in a press statement to Medium Creative Agency about her latest release.

Born and bred in Forest City, Chelsea found her passion for music early on, which led her to enroll in the Cleveland School of Arts. After graduating, Chelsea begin to make a name for herself throughout the Midwest and beyond. Her unique sonic style, catchy hooks, and lyrical prowess have earned her the title of Cleveland’s Next Up talent.

Apart from accolades, which include spotlight spots regionally on WKYC and Dirty Glove Bastard as well as national recognition on top-tier entertainment networks like BET, Chelsea is a self-taught instrumentalist who often handles her production, writing, and engineering. Her unique brand of ballads can be best classified as a fusion of Rap and Pop with a touch of Rock accented by old-school flavor.

Press play on “Price Going Up” on your DSP of choice below and watch the visual for “Greener” | HERE via Pastel Productions LLC / Vydia.

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Chill Vibes and Sultry Melodies: Exploring iazY’s Latest Release “Pink Leaf”

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Hailing from the vibrant city of Irvine, the rising artist iazY is making waves with her latest single, “Pink Leaf,” released under her own label, iazY Music Ent. This track, produced by The Real Mapa and engineered by Troy “R8dio” Johnson, introduces listeners to iazY’s signature sound—a fusion of Urban pop rock melodies.

iazY shared her motivation behind crafting “Pink Leaf,” revealing, “I just had this vision of just a chill vibe, something for my ladies.” This intention shines through in the song’s laid-back groove and sultry lyrics, creating an irresistible atmosphere that invites listeners to unwind and groove along.

What sets “Pink Leaf” apart for iazY is not only its sound but also the emotions it evokes. She explains, “I think just how the song sounds and how it makes me feel. It just puts me in that ‘have fun chill’ vibe.” With its catchy hooks and lush production, “Pink Leaf” effortlessly captures iazY’s essence as an artist, marking a milestone in her musical journey.

As iazY continues to captivate audiences with her unique blend of genres and infectious energy, fans eagerly anticipate upcoming shows and releases. To stay updated on iazY’s latest endeavors, follow her on Instagram @iazyofficial and keep an ear out for future announcements from iazY Music Ent.

Visit iazyMusic.com

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