Black Panther is Here

  Black Panther is HERE!! The culture can celebrate as it hits on all cylinders. This isn’t a review of the movie, but why I think it’s so important for the culture.           
   First this movie is special because it was crafted with love and appreciation. A majority black cast, and major players behind the scenes being black. Having the deeppppp pockets of Disney and Marvel offered the filmmakers a opportunity to create a world unlike any other and they don't disappoint.
   Honoring traditional African customs and culture. Celebrations of African culture, and spirituality of the culture. All the while implementing the possibilities of a future way of life improved by technology, but not “enslaved" by the technology. It’s a perfect blend of the past and present in this fictional country. Even though Wakanda is a fictional Country , hopefully it inspires people to take a trip to culture rich Africa.
   Representation is another important factor in this film. Besides a black superhero who is first and foremost a royal and second who kicks ass, there’s the Dora Milajae fierce female warriors who display you can be a female and take care of yourself. T’Challa sister Shuri who encompasses the STEM (Science Technology engineering mathematics) trait and mentality, she is a role model to show young girls they can become inventors and much more in those fields. We have Killmonger one of the MCU’s better villians, his ideals whether right or wrong will resonate with a lot of people.
   The underlying message of Black Panther is very important. The importance of family, humanity being humane to one another. Past transgressions affecting future progress. Issues that are very much contemporary and will be for the foreseeable future.
    We’ve had Black superhero movies before. Blade, Spawn, Meteor Man, Steel. While for the most part they are good movies, those movies are what they are. Much like the new CW show Black Lighting,  Black Panther is released at a time when there is a cultural awakening so to speak, a new found appreciation of us as black people, where we came from, where we been, and where we’re going. Black Panther taps into all that energy to make something that will be talked about for years to come. Wear your dashikis, your Kentes, embody black excellence and shout Wakanda with pride.

    

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Say goodbye to compact disc

  Compact disc simply known as CD’s have been dying a slow death since the introduction of iPods and mp3 players. Once technology improved and streaming music became more common, everyone knew the clock was ticking for CD’s.
  CD’s are now on life support as Best Buy recently announced they would no longer sell CD’s beginning July 1st. At the same time Target announced a change in how they will work with distributors and labels, and carry CD’s in their stores.
  While streaming music has definitely taking over with services like Pandora, spotify, and Apple music among others. As well as home devices such as Alexa, Google home, and the forthcoming homepod, the majority of the population just isn't using cds any longer.
  However there is a still a good portion of the population who still prefer physical CD’s. Whether their collectors, don't want to use streaming media for certain reasons, not receptive or not familiar with new technologies, or just plain old school. They still want their CD’s.
That had me wondering once CD’s finally get the nail in the coffin. Will labels and distributors think outside the box and start selling music on USB drives or find another physical medium?
  Usb devices would cater to those who still prefer physical media, at the same time embracing the future and staying in business. Packaging cost would be significantly lower and special offerings and features could be included on the USB device, to entice buyers.
   USB slots are built into every device now Tv’s to cars and everything in between. If done right USB's would become the go to physical media for music. Let's see how record labels respond.
   It will definitely be a interesting time seeing how much longer CD’s are around. Just don't toss any CD’s you currently have, 20 years from now CD’s will experience the nostalgia comeback that vinyl and cassettes are currently experiencing.

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WWE Hall OF Fame

   It’s that time again where the WWE selects their hall of fame class. While not a physical hall of fame, and some question the authenticity of it, year in and year out there is still consistent debate about who hasn’t been inducted that should. While the WWE has began to announce their inductees for this year, I’m listing my top 5 who need to be inducted sooner rather than later.
   First up Arn Anderson “The Enforcer”, it can be difficult to really shine when your standing next to Ric Flair. Which I believe is a major reason Arn Anderson was so underrated, he wasn’t as charismatic as Naitch but he had enough charisma. He got the job done in the ring, and was responsible for naming the Four Horseman. His spinebuster finisher always looked devastating, and he was a master of the tag team game with Ole Anderson and Tully Blanchard. His work behind the scenes with younger talent shouldn’t go unnoticed either. While a Hall Of Fame member via the Four Horseman, it’s time he’s inducted as a individual.
   The “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith should be inducted as well. In all honesty he should have been WWEs first UK born world champion. Big, strong, and quite agile, he wasn’t the most technical, but had brute strength and enough charisma to keep folks engaged in his presence . His Summerslam match against Bret Hart for the Intercontinental championship is a classic. Sadly drug abuse held him back, but he was consistent if not spectacular and left a mark on the world of wrestling.
   Paul Heyman...the manager of the Dangerous Alliance, the advisor to the Beast Incarnate, the founder of ECW! One of the greatest talkers in the game, one of the best minds for the business, and a eye for talent Paul Heyman is one of a kind. ECW pretty much was the inspiration for WWEs attitude era, he brought several “smaller” guys like Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, and Rey mystero to ECW before WCW swiped them. Along with Brock Lesnar he advocated for and helped groom Stone Cold Steve Austin,Tazz, RVD, and CM Punk among others. When he was the head writer of Smackdown during the first brand spilt, it was consistently better than Raw. His financial management skills of ECW was his biggest downfall, but it’s a crime he hasn’t been honored yet.
    Vince McMahon’s biggest competitor is next on the list, Mr. Eric Bischoff. The guy who challenged McMahon head on and started Monday Night Nitro to go head to head with Monday Night Raw. He turned WCW from a afterthought to the premiere wrestling company in the world at one time. The guy who bought luchador style wrestling to the mainstream. The man who created the NWO and nearly put Vince McMahon out of business. Eric Bischoff deserves a spot in the Hall Of Fame, if for nothing else simply off the intense competition between him and McMahon during the Monday Night Wars. Sadly his letting the inmates run the asylum mentality was his downfall, and lighting could not strike twice when he tried to turn TNA around. However he contributed a great deal to some of the most iconic moments in wrestling history and should be rewarded for that.
    With the divas revolution, the first woman’s hell in the cell, and the first woman’s Royal Rumble, one woman initially broke that ceiling CHYNA. The fact she has not been inducted yet is beyond a crime, and I think it was more of a personal issue than anything else. Chyna evolved from a brooding mute bodyguard of Triple H and DX to a superstar in her own right, making the cover of playboy and a few acting gigs outside of wrestling. Winning the Intercontinental title, being the first female in the Royal Rumble and King of the Ring tournament , she also was a number one contender for the WWF championship where people legit believed she could be the first World Champion. While most of the woman superstars of today credit Lita and Trish Stratus as their inspiration, Chyna really set the standard for Woman being talented wrestlers paving the way for them to be taken seriously. One of a kind, it’s time WWE grows up and gives Chyna her rightful place in the hall.

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