Complex / Pigeons & Planes

Chika’s Industry Games

After calling out Kanye West for supporting Donald Trump in a freestyle over his own "Jesus Walks" beat in 2018, 22-year-old CHIKA showed off a raw talent that caught the attention of many heavy hitters, including Erykah Badu and Sean "Diddy" Combs. As a queer, black, femme rapper, the Alabama native often brings refreshing themes to the forefront in her music. Her major label debut, Industry Games, just adds to that momentum by showcasing her no-bullshit lyricism, singular approach, and sharp flow.

Juxtapoz

Southern Exposure's Annual Juried Exhibition Centers Representation In "Green Book"

Established in 1974, Southern Exposure has long been a prominent force in the Bay Area arts landscape. Its annual juried exhibitions, an open to call to artists throughout the Bay Area, are a deep-rooted tradition. This year, for the first time ever, Southern Exposure limited the call specifically to works by artists of color, centering the exhibition’s focus on the visual expression of communities of color and the structural underpinnings that restrict their movement in increasingly white spaces.

KQED (NPR)

Making Iran and Oakland Feel Like the Same Place

Upon entering the darkness of Aggregate Space Gallery (ASG) in West Oakland, I’m immediately greeted by a bright, LED-lit image of two women’s profiles in a video installation titled “Although the Wind.” No detailed information is given — the two women face one another nearly motionless in a white room — and it feels impossible to discern who or where the artists are. In the video’s still, bare frame, viewers watch as both women blow air in and out of their mouths, cheeks puffed and breath heavy.

i-D

this film celebrates southern female rappers from gangsta boo to rico nasty

From Missy Elliott to Lil Wayne, rappers who hail from the American South have made their influence known in contemporary hip-hop. States like Texas, Florida, and Georgia have produced some of rap’s biggest names of all time (like T.I., DJ Screw, and — of course — the legendary duo OutKast, to name just a few). And the Southern hip-hop style is easy to spot with its upbeat, luxurious production or high-energy crunk.

KQED (NPR)

Over 160 Black Men, One Giant Conversation at Oakland Museum

Walking into Question Bridge: Black Males, a newly acquired multimedia exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California, I’m immediately enveloped in hushed darkness. The space is quiet, plainly decorated, with the walls, floors, and benches practically disappearing in a muted, uniform black. Viewers watch video recordings with an almost reverent silence, their eyes fixed on the room’s only source of light: an array of brightly lit screens, with a black man in the center of each.

Complex / Pigeons & Planes

Yaeji’s What we Drew

Brooklyn-based Korean American artist Yaeji has become something of a household name for her sad club music—dance-y, house beats that pulse beneath Yaeji's quiet yet punchy lyricism. "raingurl," Yaeji's hit track off her second release, EP2 with Godmode in 2017, helped her gain immense traction in the electronic music scene for its fast-paced flow and catchy repetition. But WHAT WE DREW 우리가 그려왔던, her first release for XL Recordings, offers a glimpse at the 26 year-old artist's more introspective side—a timely change given the state of the world.