Unless you’re a stalker, reading someone else’s emails is not something you get to do often. And reading Björk’s emails is definitely not something you get to do often. So when these emails between the Icelandic visionary and philosopher Timothy Morton were published in Dazed last week, I was beyond excited. Over the course of 24 letters of correspondence you find yourself getting completely drawn in, feeling less and less like an outside observer and more like you’re inhabiting their minds with each poetic word.
Last week saw the pinacle of weird music beefs when Nicki Minaj voiced her discontent at the racial injustice at the VMAs and being snubbed for “Anaconda”, which led Taylor Swift to somehow think she was being personally attacked. Whilst both artists quickly made up afterwards, and Swift apologised for the misunderstanding, I couldn’t help but notice that Nicki’s original point had been overlooked. Why weren’t there more black artists being acknowledged at the VMAs? There are plenty of insanely good videos being made by black artists, so where are all their awards? This piece in The Fader looks at the VMAs history of overlooking black artists point-by-point and reinforces Nicki Minaj’s very valid argument.
Nicki Minaj on the set of "Anaconda"via http://hiphollywood.com
Okay, so Miley Cyrus’ Instagram isn’t exactly “content” in the classical sense of the word, but it really needs a moment to shine. In the last month alone, she’s released the best promo video of all time (below), photoshopped herself crawling out of an eyelid, posed naked on the beach wearing nothing but emojis, let us in on this insanely psychedelic photo shoot and has somehow blown up her and Justin Bieber’s butt to resemble balloons. Is there some kind of Instagram award? I see no reason why it can’t be treated like any other artform. I love Miley Cyrus.
DonMonique’s track “Pilates” was the jam of last year, and now the Brooklyn rapper is back with this hard and heavy debut EP Thirst Trap. It’s a perfect collection of dark, down-low beats with bass that rattles and shakes (if you’ve got the right speakers). Obviously, we included her in our list of six female rappers you should be listening to right now, because, well, you really should. Listen out for killer guest features from punk-as-fuck rapper Danny Brown, Atlanta's Wara from the NBHD and Remy Banks. *pray hands emoji*
This article is a beautifully written and candid account from Lower Dens singer Jana Hunter and her own white privilege within the Baltimore music scene. “I love this city,” she writes. “I’d also still say that living in Baltimore affords one a sense of freedom, except to add that the sense of freedom exists almost solely for non-black artists and musicians.” And whilst the discussion of racism from a white perspective arguably propagates the ideas that she writes about, she acknowledges that she’s unqualified to speak for any community other than her own, saying: “I can’t experience an entire dimension of their lives, and can’t know what racial discrimination does to a person’s psychology.” Definitely worth a read!
Jana Hunter from the band Lower Densvia pitchfork.com/thepitch
