“I don’t do it for the ‘gram, I do it for Compton,” boasted rapper Kendrick Lamar as he performed in front of a crowd hundreds deep at Centennial Park Monday night.

But that night, the rapper did it for more than just Compton; he did it for Atlanta, for the people, and most importantly, for the culture.

The show itself was free, so the much anticipated concert turned the park into an unrecognizable sea of college kids and teenagers. It was a bitter winter night, but even the threat of sleet and snow wasn’t enough to deter the die-hard fans.

The audience went word for word and song for song with the iconic musician, vibrating with energy as he took them through a catalog of his latest hits. Lamar wasted no time, going straight into “DNA” which was smoothly followed by “Element”, two crowd favorites from his 2017 album, DAMN.

Then came the moment everyone was waiting for: the performance of his summertime banger, “Humble”. Lamar went acapella for the first verse, but the song needed no introduction. When he paused the music to let the crowd sing, the entire city seemed to reverberate with the thumping order to “be humble.”

As a night of firsts, it was only fitting that Kendrick also performed his new single, “All of the Stars”, off of the Black Panther soundtrack. As the crowd swayed side to side with their hands in the air, it was clear the SZA featured song is bound to be his next hit. Lamar then followed his performance with the premiere of a new Black Panther preview, for which he served as the producer.

It was surely a night to remember, full of exciting firsts and crushing losses. Kendrick delivered on his promise to deliver the inaugural college national championship, and made history doing so.

So while the city mourns UGA’s loss, we should remember the wise words of a good kid in a mad city: we gon’ be alright.

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By 3:00 p.m., all Atlanta, Fulton County, and state government establishments will close. By 4:00 p.m., most schools and college campuses will be a ghost town; students and teachers alike will be skipping class.

By some time midafternoon, the President of the United States of ‘Murica himself will touch down in Atlanta for the biggest college game of the year.

By 8:00 p.m., millions of eyes will be glued to TV screens nationwide to see the Georgia-Alabama kickoff in this fateful throw down.

But part of the sport will not even be what’s happening on the field; it’s all the implications of what’s happening in the stands, the city, and how it reflects the state of our country.

45 is not just attending to “roll tide”; he is there to shake hands, kiss babies, and remind his core voter base who “made America great again.” Come Monday, the Mercedes Benz stadium will be a field ripe with current supporters and future votes, and Trump is coming to harvest.

According to Forbes, Trump won all 11 SEC states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. To no one’s surprise, the heartland of college football was almost unanimously red.

So underneath the festivities, the occasion will also be fraught with political tension.

The National Anthem is sure to be a patriotic show like no other, with the NFL’s ongoing battle with peaceful protest sparked by Colin Kaepernick. Monday also marks the first day of Georgia’s Legislative session for the year, which will touch on tighter bills for hate crimes and sexual harassment.

As diverse as they are, each of these issues have been hot topic buttons in the country’s conversation. With 2017 came a reckoning for sexual harassment in the workplace, as well as a re-awakening for women rights. Civil rights bled into sports arenas, as athletes like Kaepernick took a knee for injustice, or took a stand against the current administration like NBA star Stephen Curry.

Trump has been a clear adversary in these political fights, publicly endorsing Alabama candidate Roy Moore despite several sexual harassment allegations. Or his even more public Twitter temper tantrums against Curry and protesting NFL players in general, calling for those “sons of bitches” to get in line and just play the game.

Meanwhile, this will be taking place in a city which recently elected its second black female mayor, while buckling under the pressure of gentrification and a rapidly changing demographic.

All of this social strain will be simmering just below the turf Monday night.

It will be sport, politics, and bitter rivalries till the clock strikes zero in the last quarter. There will be blood, and there will be one hell of a game.

But while we’re clinking beers and placing bets, stay woke to the real game at play here.

God Bless these “United” States of America, and may the best team win.

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The Braves were crowned World Series champions, and were still making homeruns out of Turner Field. The city doubled as a construction site, as Atlanta geared up for its debut on the world stage for the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Meanwhile, the Fox Theatre was preparing for a nerve-wracking debut of its own: a brand new version of the classic Christmas ballet, The Nutcracker. The show had been a personal gift to the city in 1959, given to the Atlanta Ballet by the New York Ballet co-founder himself, George Balanchine.

This prestigious history loomed over John McFall, the Atlanta Ballet artistic director who dared to adapt the iconic play in 1995. Tensions and expectations ran high, but McFall’s version quickly became a holiday season fixture at the Fox Theatre.

So, as the Fox drew the curtain on McFall’s Nutcracker for the final time this past Thursday, there was not an empty seat in the house. For one more afternoon, men, women, and children alike were whisked away to an enchanted land where toys come alive and nutcracker princes save the day.

The Atlanta Ballet was as graceful as ever, leaping and pirouetting across the stage with the ease of veteran dancers in a seasoned company. Airi Igarashi was enchanting in the lead role of Marya; a dainty ballerina plucked right out of a toy music box, with the likeness of a Disney princess.

Per usual, McFall’s rendition delivered on its diverse choreography styles, and hit every step perfectly. Mikaela Santos and Alexandre Barros captivated the crowd with awing stunts and impossible lifts for the Spanish dance, while Monika Haczkiewicz and Keith Reeves were equally as stunning for the Arabian portion. 

The lush harmonies of the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra and Georgia Youth Choir were star cast members themselves, and added to the overall magical atmosphere. The elaborate costumes and intricate set design, complete with a 38-foot tree and 20 pounds of snow, completed the fairytale feel in the air.

Two decades and hundreds of shows later, the cast took its final bow to thunderous applause and a standing ovation. In 2018, Atlantans can enjoy a fresh faced version choreographed by Yuri Possokhov, but I have no doubt that The Nutcracker will cast the same enchanting spell it always has.

For as the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

The post McFall’s Nutcracker charms Fox Theatre for final time appeared first on WE SPEAK MEDIA.

You blame the city’s politics and gerrymandering, I blame Fixer Upper. (It’s still all love though Chip and Joana.)

But honestly, we should have seen the beginning of the end when Forever21 started selling bamboo earrings. Now hipsters, who have no idea who Felicia is, are buying Friday t-shirts from Urban Outfitters, and Kylie Jenner is somewhere fooling with a toothbrush to “lay” her nonexistent edges.

Nothing is sacred anymore, but not all hope, or culture, is lost– if you know where to find it.

Atlanta has long been the mecca for all things black culture. We have given the world everything from Dr. King to Andre 3000 to Migos. No matter how many trendy apartment complexes crop up around town, there are a few landmarks that will always be there.

Here’s a few:

Kenley’s Restaurant

Located in the cut of the Citizen’s Trust Bank, this undercover gem feels like a literal hole in the wall when you step from the office building into this homely wing spot. But what the place lacks in size, it makes up for in heart- and a bussin’ $7 ten-piece wing plate. Every inch of the walls are littered with pictures of owner Kenley Waller with entertainment royalty, from the likes of a young Mariah Carey to TLC. And if Mimi’s bougie self is up there, then you know that ten piece is somethin’ serious.

Moods Music

Tucked in the quirky artist’s neighborhood Little Five Points, this old school record store smells like cocoa butter, incense, and vinyl soul. Founded by Darryl “D-Nice” Harris, the place serves as a hip-hop and R&B time capsule boasting Sade records, Lauryn Hill CDs, and original VIBE issues with Pac on the cover. Moods Music is an apt name for its warm aesthetic that feels like it came straight off the set of Love Jones. And if you look close enough, you can almost see Darius playing that Isley Brothers record for Nina.

Sweet Auburn District

This renowned district in Atlanta is no hole in the wall, but I’d be wrong not to mention it. Deemed the “richest Negro street in the world” by Fortune magazine in 1956, Sweet Auburn was a hub for African American business; the Southern Harlem Renaissance. Not only did the neighborhood act as a form of headquarters for activists during the Civil Rights Movement, it was also the home of Martin Luther King Jr. himself. This area is ripe with legendary landmarks, from King’s childhood home to Ebenezer Baptist Church. Celebrate this vibrant culture at the annual Sweet Auburn Fest, grab a bite at the Curb Market, or walk through history in Dr. King’s neighborhood.

So yes, gentrification is happening. We can’t stop it, but nor do we need to fear it. So let Seth ride his bike through Bankhead- the true ATLiens aren’t going anywhere.

The post Preserving the Corners of Culture: For the true ATLiens appeared first on WE SPEAK MEDIA.

But hot off the presses, Taraji has actually been playing the role of a lifetime for the last two years: being single.

Dating rumors have been flying since The Shade Room posted a picture of her and Kelvin Hayden holding hands on a Miami beach in 2015. But the private actress has kept her lips tightly sealed on her relationship status, posting him in caption-less IG pictures and referring to him by codenames.

Today, however, Taraji finally spilled the tea herself and confirmed that she is in fact happily cuffed. On Essence’s Yes, Girl! Podcast, Taraji let down her bob and let out the truth, gushing about how genuinely happy she is in her relationship and overall personal life.

But “#ZaddyBear”, her cryptic nickname for the mystery man in question, is no stranger to the limelight himself.

As a former NFL player, Hayden had quite the run before he retired in 2014. The cornerback began his career with the Indianapolis Cults in 2005, and had a five-year West Coast tenure before heading back East to spend a year with yours truly, the Atlanta Falcons. He ended his career with a flourish of poetic justice, hanging up his cleats after two years with his home team, the Chicago Bears.

Since then, the retired athlete has spent his time running a gym in Chicago and cuddling with Taraji and K-Ball, their adorable bulldog puppy. Unfortunately, “#ZaddyBear” is also reputed to be cuddling up to other females, as reported by a shady Instagram account solely dedicated to trolling the couple with “evidence” of his alleged affairs.

But as we all know, with happiness comes haters, and Taraji seems too busy in love to pay any mind to the gossip.

So congrats to the happy couple, and condolences to all the suitors. If you want the real tea, catch her Wednesday nights on Empire.

The post Taraji P. Henson Finally Reveals her Mystery Man appeared first on WE SPEAK MEDIA.

The troubled artist’s 2009 assault case has caught up to her with a vengeance: Da Brat now owes ex-cheerleader Shayla Stevens an additional $1 million dollars for assaulting her ten years ago, on top of the original $6.4 million dollar amount.

The incident itself took place in an Atlanta nightclub in 2007, where Stevens took a rum bottle to the face– courtesy of Da Brat. As a result, the ex-cheerleader was hospitalized for “permanent scarring, neurological damage, and other anguish.” Once she was released, Stevens filed a lawsuit for felony aggravated assault, to which the troubled artist pleaded guilty.

When the gavel came down, Da Brat, whose real name is Shawntae Harris, was sentenced to three years in prison, and a multimillion dollar fine.

However, Harris is no stranger to the courtroom, and has quite the colorful past with the law.

According to MTV, she faced similar charges in 2000 for beating another woman with a gun in a Buckhead nightclub. The aforementioned victim also suffered head injuries, with six stitches to show for it. Harris got a slap on the wrist for her first offense, and was able to avoid trial for that case. Instead, she completed 80 hours of community service, served probation for a year, and paid a $1,000 fine.

While Harris was no stranger to altercations, nor was she a stranger to altercations with Stevens herself. Per police reports, it was alleged that the 2007 club brawl was not their first.

Whatever the beef was between the two, it’s safe to say that it wasn’t worth the hefty price tag it’s cost Da Brat.

The retired rapper’s last bonafied chart topping single was a decade ago, so it’s no wonder she’s struggling to make the million dollar payments.  The case was filed in 2009, but eight years later Da Brat has yet to make good on her fine. To expedite the process, Stevens has also filed in California, in order to gain access to Harris’ assets.

Even after a three-year stint in prison, Harris now finds herself with a frozen account, a tenuous career, and a $7 million dollar fine hanging over her head.

Hopefully she’ll stay out of the club for a while- for the sake of her bank account and her criminal record.

The post Da Brat’s Million Dollar Club Brawl appeared first on WE SPEAK MEDIA.

She has inspired millions with her quick-witted quips and provided comedic gold for generations, all while keeping the family afloat and the kids in check.

For not one, but all of us have been asked, “Do you have McDonald’s money?” and quickly reminded that “we have food at home.”

Above all, she never let us forget that she was NOT one of our little friends.

We’ve all gotten a quick pop at the grocery store and been told to fix our face before we really get somethin’ to cry about. And more or less, we all came out okay.

So why, when she asserted her right as a fellow black mama, did Draya Michelle get dragged across the interwebs?

Last week, the former Basketball Wives star posed a question to her 6.3 million Instagram followers concerning a situation with her son. In response, she received the Breakfast Club’s infamous Donkey of the Day and a resounding clapback from, well, everybody and they mama.

In case you’re not one of the 6.3 million, here’s the rundown:

Kniko, Draya’s 14-year-old son, was assigned a speech to memorize for class, which he was to recite every day and get signed as proof. According to Draya’s post, she has signed the paper 18 times, heard the speech at least twice daily for a month, and is about to memorize it herself.

Apparently, the 19^th time was the last straw for Draya, who flat-out refused to sign the paper anymore. The former reality star instructed him to tell his teacher that she was“done with this,” because in her eyes, “this is not her damn homework.”

But it didn’t matter whose assignment it was; Twitter would hear none of it.

Per usual, the gifs and memes were as merciless as they were hilarious, trying everything from her “draining” career as an IG socialite to her parenting skills.

The post has since been deleted; all that remains is the dust that the Twitter vultures left her for.

Granted, it’s not the best look to complain about your mom duties to millions of strangers online, but those not so pretty moments are also the reality of motherhood. It’s not always Blu Ivy courtside cameos and Riley Curry hijacked press conferences- it’s messy, tiring, and sometimes a thankless job.

So maybe next time, she should call up a friend and privately vent. And maybe, next time we’d all do well to remember the times our moms showed us a little tough love after a long day.

Because she may have said no to more Happy Meals than you can count, but she’s always the first one to fix you a plate.

And plus, while ya’ll worried about Draya signing homework, some of ya’ll signing OSS slips– but I digress.

The post [OPINION] Reality Star Draya Michele gets Dragged: The reality star comes under fire for questionable parenting appeared first on WE SPEAK MEDIA.

Last week, nor was a $89 million dollar bribe enough to make NFL players stand during the anthem.

According to lovebscott.com, NFL owners reportedly offered to donate the whopping sum to two African-American charities over a seven-year period, in exchange for a cease and desist of the weekly protests. The desperate owners even proposed allocating some of the money to the Players Coalition, to donate to other social justice causes as they see fit.

Sunday came and went, but the demonstrations did not. Left tackle Russel Okung’s fist remained a black beacon in the air and Marshawn Lynch a powerful seated figure, while the Saints knelt as a unified black and gold front.

Across stadiums nationwide, their defiant message rang loud and clear over the Star Spangled Banner: we are not to be bought, and we are not going anywhere.

The Players Coalition expressed the sentiment in unison, but the alleged bribe has already cost them prominent members: Michael Thomas and Eric Reid.

As of last Wednesday, the NFL safeties both defected from the coalition, citing idealistic differences with the Philadelphia Eagles’ Malcolm Jenkins and former wide receiver Anquan Boldin as the reason.

Whereas Jenkins and the remaining coalition are intrigued by the philanthropic proposal, Reid seems concerned that the offer is another PR tactic, a stunt to capitalize on positive media attention. Per a recent Washington Post article, the coalition had reached a “tentative agreement” with the owners over the offer last week.

But alas, the players’ schism is just one more symptom of the NFL’s festering issues.

For months, commissioner Roger Goodell has bandaged the situation, barely keeping the NFL afloat and out of national headlines.

As the season has progressed, so has the controversy surrounding the league. Between fan boycotting, owners’ angry threats to bench players and Trump’s egregious condemnations, the fever has reached a boiling point.

So whether this is truly a humanitarian effort for the NFL or an expensive payout remains to be seen, but the diagnosis is clear. America is bleeding, and the political bloodshed is seeping onto the turf of our hallowed football stadiums.

The dissent on the field is just a reflection of the division within our country, and no million dollar baby is going to mend that.

The post [OPINION] The NFL’s Million Dollar Bribe appeared first on WE SPEAK MEDIA.

According to TMZ reports, the former athlete is filing a lawsuit against Jackson for alleged theft: the use of his credit cards and loose cash she found at his residence without his knowledge. Not only did she go on secret shopping sprees on his dime, Mayweather is also accusing Jackson of hiding the loot at an undisclosed location.

Coming off the heels of a home burglary not even a month ago, Money Mayweather seems to be struggling to keep up with his namesake– but back to the topic at hand.

The infamous athlete claims that Jackson supported him in the face of media backlash, to blind him to her triflin’ ways. Coupled with insinuations that the reality star used him for clout, it seems Mayweather got played to the tune of Kanye West’s “Gold Digger”.

But in sis’ defense, it remains questionable whether it was truly theft; they were in a committed relationship, sharing an address and about to share a last name. It’s hard to say with all of the zeroes attached to his bank account, so let’s do some simple math to make this scenario more relatable.

If we subtract the million-dollar net worth, substitute the black card for $20 lying on the kitchen table, and add in the financial struggles of a regular couple, does the situation still equal a lawsuit?

If they were splitting the rent and he was still using her cousin’s Netflix account, I would hope he wouldn’t trip over Jackson borrowing $10 gas money. Then again, I’m sure Jackson’s alleged shopping sprees equate to premium gas in a Lambourghini, and Floyd could buy the entire Netflix corporation.

These aren’t regular schmegular people we’re talking about, so perhaps Mayweather is entitled to his lawsuit. But so is Shantel, who filed against him in 2014 for multiple counts of invasion of privacy, defamation, and domestic abuse.

Mayweather reportedly filed for this lawsuit only a few days prior to receiving a trial date for Jackson’s lawsuit against him.

Sounds more like he’s moving to the beat of 50 Cent’s “P.I.M.P.”

Personally? I hope she wears a few pearls to the hearings.

The post Lawsuit or a Lover’s Quarrel: Floyd Mayweather Sues Ex for Alleged Theft appeared first on WE SPEAK MEDIA.