Local rising star blazes her own trail From interviews on a popular radio show to live performances at the hottest shows, Destiny Roberts’ profile has risen considerably in the last year. The MSR recently sat down with Roberts to catch up with her career moves and answer the question: just who is Destiny Roberts? “When […]
Arts + Culture
A space for local and national arts and entertainment stories, with an emphasis on stories pertaining to the African American experience.
Posted inArts + Culture
‘Girls Trip’ Review: BFFs party in New Orleans in raunchy reunion romp
Ryan (Regina Hall), Sasha (Queen Latifah), Dina (Tiffany Haddish) and Lisa (Jada Pinkett Smith) have been friends since their college days in the ’90s. Back then, the tight-knit Flossy Posse partied as hard as they hit the books. After graduating, they curtailed the carousing considerably for the sake of their professional careers. Today, journalism major Sasha’s still struggling to […]
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Twin Cities Mobile Jazz Project Salute
A special event entitled “Diamond and Pearls” celebrated Black Music Month and the late artist Prince. The event honored the hometown legend’s memory by continuing his support of the arts and community giving. Pete and Kim Rhodes, founders of the Minnesota Black Music Awards, collaborated with Continental Diamond store owners Jimmy and Helain Pesis to […]
Posted inArts + Culture
‘In Search of the Sandman’ awakens local author’s creative vision
It was a long time in the making, but the fruition has been sweet for South Minneapolis native Timi Bliss, who published her first book in April of 2017. What began years ago as a bedtime tale created for mother-daughter bonding moments has blossomed into In Search of the Sandman, a children’s story about a […]
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Dollhouse Dance Factory’s ‘Bring It Live’ coming to Minneapolis
For four seasons, former dancer-turned-instructor Dianna Williams, also known as Miss D, and her squad of young dancers from her Dollhouse Dance Factory, have wowed television audiences with their moves. Some of the behind-the-scenes drama between her, the girls, and their parents can be found on the Lifetime television reality series, Bring It. Miss D […]
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‘In Search of…’ is top-shelf summer reading
Kyle S. Taylor is, so to speak, an author’s author. Fellow writers can easily appreciate his skill of making the hard job of creating engaging fiction look easy. He brandishes a firm grasp of fundamentals like eye-friendly word-flow, solid character construction, compelling immediacy, and imagery that paints a perfectly clear picture. For good measure, Taylor […]
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BOOK REVIEW: ‘The Making of Black Lives Matter: A Brief History of an Idea’
Two recent Twin Cities news stories — the trial of former St. Anthony Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez and verdict in the fatal shooting Philando Castile, and the family of Jamar Clark suing Minneapolis Police Officers Mark Ringgenberg and Dustin Schwarze — highlight what has become all too commonplace here and across the country: African American lives selectively […]
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Alfa Anderson of Chic reflects on education career & new music
Second of two-part story After being a member of Chic and working with various artists as a studio singer in the 1970s, Alfa Anderson went back to school during the 1980s. She had previously taught in college before she made it big with Chic, and after she earned her second master’s degree, Anderson taught in […]
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Acting legend Giancarlo Esposito in new Netflix film ‘Okja’
South Korean movie director Bong Joon Ho had a job subtitling bootleg DVDs while he was in film school decades ago. One of the films he worked on was Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing and one of the actors in that film, Giancarlo Esposito, made a huge impression on him. Esposito was so memorable […]
Posted inArts + Culture, Music
Alfa Anderson of the icon group Chic returns with new music
First of two parts Music has always been a part of her life, but meeting a soon-to-become-a-legend forever changed Alfa Anderson. Anderson, then a reputable studio musician, was rehearsing for a Lou Courtney gig with friend Ednah Holt, who suggested the two go over to the next studio and meet Luther Vandross. Vandross, she recalls […]
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Local filmmaker explores emotional toll of youth violence in North Mpls.
To define Brian Few, Jr. as simply creative would be an injustice. Few, 27, is a lifelong resident of North Minneapolis and director of Angels Walk, a short film about the emotional effects of gun violence in North Minneapolis. Following the death of Tabyis Paskins in August of 2016, Minneapolis’ then-18th homicide of the year, Few was […]
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‘Greenleaf’ co-creator returns to roots, talks faith, Oprah and more
If you’ve seen the award-winning Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) original drama series Greenleaf, about the Greenleaf family and their Memphis megachurch, you might be surprised to learn that its co-creator has Minnesota roots. Craig Wright (Lost, Six Feet Under) is the co-creator, head writer and producer of the hit cable television series about faith and […]
Posted inArts + Culture, Music
Local country artist headlines ‘Red, White & Boom’ July Fourth celebration
With a rough airy voice, Tre Aaron is hoping to make a space for himself in country music. Aaron is often shy concerning his good looks and muscular build, but exhibits the personality of an extrovert when his feet hit the stage. Tre Aaron and The Sidewalk Blues Boys decided to make themselves official as […]
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Black Liq reflects on his triumph over adversity
Soundset celebrated its 10th anniversary Sunday, May 28, in grand style — over 35,000 people helped ring in the occasion. With a full line up of established, new, local and national hip hop acts, this year’s festival offered something for everyone. The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) caught up with Black Liquid (BL) a multifaceted artist featured at […]
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Blazing performances lift Soundset 2017 (photos)
No-shows and rain couldn’t dampen 10th anniversary Over 35,000 people and hip hop joined together on Memorial Day weekend for the 10th anniversary of Soundset, billed as the largest independent one-day hip hop festival in the world. All four elements of hip hop were on display at the festival on Sunday, May 28, from […]
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‘Everything, Everything’: a bittersweet coming-of-age tale
It’s Maddy Whittier’s (Amandla Stenburg) 18th birthday, but she won’t be celebrating the occasion at a party or restaurant. In fact, she won’t be leaving the house or even having friends over any time soon. That’s because she has SCID, a rare genetic disorder that basically makes her allergic to everything. Consequently, she’s been stuck […]
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BOOK REVIEW: ‘Avoid Prepare Defend’ armed with common sense strategies
Ulrich Faircloth’s Avoid Prepare Defend: 25 Essential Tips on How to Stay Safe From Crime (Self Defense Bros.) is, you might say, profound in its simplicity. He states the obvious and cites common sense, smart ideas when it comes the subject of personal safety. After all, in the matter of preserving life and limb, what’s […]
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Amirah Vann: ready for her close-up!
The Underground interview with Kam Williams An actress and singer/songwriter from Far Rockaway, Queens, Amirah Vann began performing at a young age. Pursuing her passion for performing, she completed her undergraduate study in acting at Fordham University at Lincoln Center before entering a graduate acting program at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Soon thereafter, Vann began […]
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‘Lowriders’ bound to be a classic
Rarely do urban tales balance authenticity with solid drama elements and strong emotion. Boyz n the Hood and Straight Outta Compton are perfect examples. Lowriders is in their league; it checks all the boxes: acting, direction, writing and production elements. This groundbreaking film about the Latino experience in East Los Angeles will become as classic […]
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Puppet show about racism makes history’s lessons come alive
“When students are involved with real people, and read [historical] documents, that story becomes real and transforms the students. It’s something you will never…get out of a book,” said Greg Poferl explaining the idea behind an upcoming multi-media puppet show tackling the issue of racism and housing discrimination. The show, “Racism in our Hometown: The Story […]