Link Bucket + Rap
I am not a rap aficionado. At my best, I can tell Ludacris from Snoop Dogg. I *love* Missy Elliott. After that, it gets murky.
Which means I am very much not the target audience for Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow.1
And yet. Here we are.
I got sucked into the first season way back in 2019.2 Cardi B,3 T.I., and Chance the Rapper hosted the reality show/competition to find the next hot M.C. They did, as it turns out. The winner of that season has gone on to by nominated for Grammys.
Again: I know jack and shit about the form.4 I have no idea who is good or bad at rapping. But watching these artists figure out who they are and what they want to say and how to say it in a way that draws listeners in and makes them money despite how stacked society in general is against them is deeply my thing.
I’m here for the struggle to find your voice. And I’m here for mentors who show up to help these young adults be seen and heard because, ultimately, that’s all most humans ever really want. Even though there will only be one winner, I’d wager each contestant grew as artists and now have even more confidence, courage, and connections.
Season two was supposed to follow on the heels of season one. And then the pandemic happened.
I forgot all about the show. I also forgot about a million other things, too. So did Netflix, apparently.5 But the format took off internationally.6 Never one to leave money on the table, Netflix brought it back to life.
Season two is better than season one, mostly because the judges—Ludacris, Latto, and DJ Khaled—are even better at giving truly constructive criticism rather than simply proclaiming something good or bad. Same goes for the guest judges (Eminem is a stand-out). There’s even a moment toward the end of the series where Luda and one of the rappers dig into what makes a piece work for some people and not others that should be part of any art-related curriculum.7
Again: I am 100% not the target audience and have no idea if the winner is who should have won8 because I don’t really know what I’m listening to. What I do know, however, is this is a great series to watch if you are going into any creative field and figuring out what you are trying to say.
And now, the links:
The U.S. could stand to have more shrines like these.
Consider the pocket gopher.9
Religion and snake oil in West Palm Beach.
“‘Marching needs to be the start of something, not the action in and of itself,’ Gray says.”
On the hunt for fruit in Italian paintings.10
Elizabeth Warren will always be my president (and she offers wise counsel).
I run hot and cold on The Believer. There are issues where I don’t find much of it engaging but then there are stories like “American Boys,” which knocked me over.
This episode of Michael Lewis’ Against the Rules is the one to listen to if you can only listen to one. Topics include sports betting apps, Indian reservations, “Scheinbaum v. Custer,” and parlays.
John Legend is one of the producers. WARNING: that link spoils the outcome of season 2.
How much younger we all were then! How tender!
There’s a whole side conversation to have about a subset of female rappers who have little girl mannerisms when they’re speaking that needs to be put along the whole white woman fundy voice thing. Not sure I’m the one to do it, tho.
See also: jazz. I don’t know enough to know what I’m listening to, much less weigh in on its quality.
A bunch of shows were canceled during 2020-21 that I miss.
France, Italy, and Brazil
There is also a lot of swearing and highly charged language. If you are sensitive to such, give this a miss.
There’s controversy, apparently
not code
a.k.a. how your true calling can sneak up on you