ordinary thoughts: 4/20 but in september
Welcome to September, fam! As we step into a new month, we're feeling the fresh energy that comes with changing seasons – and we hope you are, too. If you're working on something exciting this season, we want to hear about it and help you spread the word. Respond to this email with the deets so we can amplify!
We’re excited to announce that Season 2 of Ordinary Thoughts is launching this Thursday, 9/5! Our guest line up this season is nothing short of stellar. Get ready for more inspiring conversations with creatives of color, all sharing their stories, their struggles, and their journeys toward "making it" on their own terms.
In the meantime, tune in to Season 1 if you haven't already. You'll find wholesome conversations filled with creativity, honesty, and insights that will inspire you to keep pushing forward in your own journey.
Cybele & Isaiah
season 2 coming thursday, 9/5
ordinary thoughts: a narrative podcast
join us as we explore the triumphs, challenges, unique perspectives, and ordinary thoughts that creatives encounter every day.
artist of the week
Alyssa Rivera
Poet, Creative Assistant, Founder of CannaHija
At CannaHija, we value community above all else, and it’s our goal to foster an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone feels empowered to explore and embrace the benefits of cannabis. We believe in breaking down barriers, challenging stigmas, and advocating for the rights and well-being of our communities, particularly those that have been historically marginalized. Through education, advocacy, and cultural connection, we aim to create a space where every voice is heard and every individual can access the knowledge and resources they need to thrive.
ICYMI: We talked to Alyssa on our podcast, Ordinary Thoughts about healing from chronic illness by tapping into her creative self.
stories that have our attention
Judge faults Breonna Taylor's boyfriend for her death, drops key charges against two cops
A Kentucky judge ruled that Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend's decision to open fire is the legal cause of her fatal shooting by police officers, throwing out federal charges against two officers who allegedly falsified a drug warrant that led to police breaking down her door and killing her in 2020.
In a decision on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson III dismissed felony deprivation of rights charges against former Louisville Police Detective Joshua Jaynes, who was accused of knowingly drafting a false search warrant affidavit on Taylor’s home, and former Sgt. Kyle Meany, who approved the warrant...
Dearica Hamby & The Price of Pregnancy In the WNBA
By now, you’ve probably read that Dearica Hamby, a three-time WNBA All-Star, has filed a lawsuit against the Las Vegas Aces (formerly the San Antonio Stars) for discrimination and retaliation following the circumstances surrounding her trade to the Los Angeles Sparks. Hamby maintains that she was exiled after having experienced mistreatment at the hands of team leadership. On the surface, this may seem like a petty dispute between a player and her former employers, but this case goes beyond a simple disagreement. Dearica Hamby vs. the WNBA is unveiling the alleged underbelly of a league that seems to have little interest in protecting its pregnant players...
Girls, Imprisoned Fathers and the Moving Reality of ‘Daughters’
It’s not unusual for a documentary to be a tear-jerker. Stories of unusual connection or unusual bravery tend to make for good cinema, so when the film features real people, it’s even more affecting. But even by those standards, “Daughters” (on Netflix), directed by Natalie Rae and Angela Patton, is extraordinarily moving.
The film focuses on the Date With Dad program, which Patton has led for more than 12 years as part of her community work with Black girls. The children are brought to the prisons where their fathers are incarcerated for a party with dancing, refreshments and opportunities to take photos and talk. Socials like these might be run of the mill for many Americans, but for these families they’re extraordinary: Prisons have increasingly stopped in-person visits (known as “touch visits”) between family members, resorting instead to video and phone calls. Furthermore, incarcerated people can be moved from institution to institution, sometimes far from their families. For some fathers, these events may be the only time during their sentences that they can interact with their daughters in person...
pa' la cultura
cultural trivia
Question: What was the most streamed music genre on Spotify last year?
Pop
Rock
Hip Hop
Jazz
Scroll further down to see if you’ve got it.
song of the week
We’re paying close attention to the latest exceptional music output from artists who deserve more flowers. This week, you should listen to:
words of wisdom
Cultural Trivia Answer
The answer, ladies and gentlemen, is… *Drum roll please*
3. Hip Hop
In 2023, nearly a quarter of all streams on Spotify globally are hip-hop music, led by artists like Drake, Nicki Minaj, 21 Savage, Ice Spice, and Metro Boomin.
But it goes further than that . . .
RapCaviar ranks as the second most-followed playlist on Spotify.
Around the globe, there are over 53 million user-generated and Spotify-curated playlists on Spotify that mention hip-hop or rap in the title of the playlist, and over 2 billion playlists that contain at least one hip-hop song.
For the past three years, almost half of Spotify’s Top 50 most-streamed artists globally have been hip-hop or rap artists.
Source: Spotify