25 - Frank Ocean's Anticipation Through Absence, Olympic Anchor's Adoption Insensitivity, and What Demographics and Global Indicators Miss

Brand Eff Up

“NBC’s Al Trautwig ‘Regrets’ Refusing to Acknowledge Simone Biles’s Adoptive Parents as Her Parents,” Vulture. 

What's Up?

Frank Ocean's delays “Boys Don't Cry”

“Frank Ocean's Construction Project, Deconstructed,” The Atlantic

“Is Frank Ocean’s New Album Now Coming in November?” High Snobiety

"No, Frank Ocean’s album still hasn’t come out,” Washington Post

Phil’s notes: There is a desire (need) for artist to connect more directly to their audience. The promotion is planned and coming from Apple Music but it FEELS like it is directed by Ocean (of course with his vision I am sure). So if audiences are becoming smarter and traditional marketing promotion and schedules don't work then artist like Ocean can be visionary. Have to create that connection because of a more savvy connected audience.

What's Good

“Urban world: The global consumers to watch,” McKinsey

Diggin’ in the Crates:

Phil: Film - “Hav Plenty” (1997)

Hyun: Novel - Americanah (Novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)

Michael: Film - “Spotlight” (2015)

On Point - 23 - Social Sculpting with Rasu Jilani

Rasu Jilani is an Independent curator, social sculptor and entrepreneur whose work investigates the intersection between art, culture and civic engagement as a means of raising critical consciousness.

Rasu’s move from education tech to art and activism. The New Museum, a space for contemporary art. Trying to build a new and diverse creative economy. Uber, a case study: as immediately benefiting black men, and as presenting safety issues for women. The importance of cognitive diversity. Diversity as quantitative and inclusion as qualitative. Rasu’s “social sculpting” project, applied to social issues like gentrification. “Inquiry-based methodology.”


More at www.RasuJilani.com, @Rasupreme on instagram, and www.newinc.org

24 - Charles Barkley's 'Race Card,' Kevin Roberts Declares Gender Diversity 'Over,' and Ninja Warrior and The Future of Sports

Larry Ossei-Mensah is an independent curator & cultural critic whose documented contemporary art happenings for various publications including Uptown and Whitewall Magazine. His writings have profiled some of the most dynamic creatives working today -- Mickalene Thomas, Kehinde Wiley, Swizz Beatz and street artist JR. As a curator, Ossei-Mensah has organized exhibitions at commercial and nonprofit galleries throughout New York City featuring a roster of critically acclaimed artists including Firelei Baez, ruby amanze, Hugo McCloud, and Derek Fordjour to name a few. Ossei-Mensah is also the Co-Founder of ARTNOIR, a global collective of culturalists who design multimodal experiences aimed to engage this generation’s dynamic and diverse creative class. (Instagram)

Brand Eff Up:

“Charles Barkley to host new TNT show called ‘The Race Card.’” Washington Post

What’s Up?

The new beef between Kevin Roberts from Saatchi and Cindy Gallop.

Saatchi & Saatchi chairman Kevin Roberts thinks the gender diversity in advertising debate is 'over.' Business Insider

“WHY PEOPLE LIKE KEVIN ROBERTS NO LONGER BELONG IN AD AGENCIES.” Pulse on LinkedIn

What’s Good?

Below are a couple more things:

1. The Future of Sports.

Phil: “I am fascinated by things like American Ninja Warrior...the whole nature of the competition aligns with our cultural economy/future perspective.

1. men and women compete on the same courses

2. even though there is one winner, the competitors often train together and support each other

3. it doesn't have the traditional branding/maleness of other sports”

 

“How to build a $100 million company out of mud,” CNN.

“Why The Tough Mudder, The Color Run And Spartan Race Will Continue To Drive Running's Popularity,” Forbes

Diggin’ in the Crates:

Larry: “Homegoing,” Yaa Gyasi

“Shibumi,” Trevanian

Phil: “Can’t Stop the Prophet” Jeru the Damaja

“Radical Man: The Process of Psycho-Social,” by Charles Hampden Turner

Michael” “Multitude: War and Democracy in the Age of Empire,” Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri

 

23 - The Center Cannot Hold, Apps and Prostitution, and Surprise Golliwog Imagery

“Moncler Steps into Controversy With Collection Inspired by Racist Dolls,” High Snobiety.

What’s Up?

The center can no longer hold.
WB Yeats, “The Second Coming.”

What’s Good?

“Eat, Pay, Love,” The Verge

“Daddies, “Dates,” and the Girlfriend Experience: Welcome to the New Prostitution Economy,” Vanity Fair.

Diggin’ in the Crates:

S: Maggie Rogers, “Alaska”

P: 1988 Olympic Finals 4x1

M: P2Pfoundation.net

On Point - 21 - TJ Mizell: A$AP Ferg's DJ and Son of Jam Master Jay

TJ’s perspective on early hip-hop and maintaining connectivity with the artform. Dealing with outside ignorance and the joy of keeping the music alive, in the family and culturally. TJ’s Warped Tour influence. Jam Master Jay's legacy. Why “Walk This Way” was groundbreaking. Energy, emotion, and creativity. How TJ linked up with ASAP Ferg. Virginia as a musical hotbed. The geography of creativity. TJ’s perspective on DJ culture and turntablism in the age of social media. Scratch DJ Academy.

www.doperoots.com

@TJMizell

22 - The Politics of NBA Contracts, Peak Music Festival?, and a Suggestive Trump Logo

@BigWos of ESPN's TruehoopTV Podcast joins us this week.

Brand Eff Up:

The sexually suggestive “Trump/Pence 2016” logo. (Vanity Fair)

What’s Up?

The inflation of NBA contracts and what fan reaction says about attitudes toward labor and management in this country. The politics of sports celebrations.

What’s Good?

Have we reached peak festival? Bonnaroo’s ticket sales are down; does that signal less enthusiasm for festival-going, or is it something else?

Diggin’ in the Crates:

Phil:

1988 in music

“It Takes A Nation of Millions” by Public Enemy

“Vivid” by Living Color

“Tracy Chapman” by Tracy Chapman

Wos:

“Blank Face,” by ScHoolboy q

Michael

“The End of Work,” by Jeremy Rifkin

On Point - 20 - Clover Hope: The BeyHive, Political Celebrity, and Print Mags vs New Media

Phil's Jezebel habit. Clover’s writing on Beyonce and her experience writing about music and pop culture. Freedom as a freelance writer, and the importance of a receptive audience. Politics in music. The emergence of political Beyoncé. The exit of stratified media like print magazines. Dealing with anonymous assholes online.

Who's Really Behind the Beyhive Attacks on Instagram? An Investigation,” Jezebel.

“Lemonade Is Beyoncé's Body and Blood,” Jezebel.

“The Problem With Calling Women 'Females,'” Kara Brown, Jezebel . ()

Follow Clover on twitter @Clovito

On Point -19 - Rana Faroohar: The Rise of Finance and the Fall of American Business

Rana Faroohar, a business columnist at Time magazine and CNN’s global economic analyst, joins us to discuss her book, “Makers and Takers: The Rise of Finance and the Fall of American Business.”

Relabelling finance as the real “takers.” Getting away from narrow technocratic discussion and dealing with the reality of our structural financial issues. These issues and the tv show, “Billions.” The hedge fund manager as “hero.” “Finance,” as distinct from American business. How financialization exacerbates income inequality. How financial jargon has spread throughout business and culture.

Follow Rana on twitter @RanaFaroohar 

“Makers and Takers: The Rise of Finance and the Fall of American Business”

 

20 - Criminalizing the Hustle, Reflections on Police Violence, & the Bahamas Hits Brand USA

Brand Eff Up

America’s “brand” takes hits internationally due to continued scrutiny of police brutality and use of force. The Bahamas issues a travel advisory for men travelling to the United States.

“Bahamas Issues U.S. Travel Advisory, Warning Citizens To Be Wary Of Cops,” Huffington Post.

What’s Up?

The need for a revolution of police practice, especially in marginalized communities.

Nakia Jones

What’s Good?

“Criminalizing the hustle: Policing poor people’s survival strategies from Eric Garner to Alton Sterling,” Salon.

“How a $2 Roadside Drug Test Sends Innocent People to Jail,” NY Times.

Diggin’ in the Crates:

P: James Baldwin debates William F Buckley

G: Diana Ramsey, “Butterfly Transition.” Queen Latifa, “U.N.I.T.Y.”

M: Robert F Kennedy POLITICO: The Most Trusted White Man in America.”

Crew member this week: Radio/TV personality and writer, Georgette Pierre, who’s hosted and produced a nationally syndicated morning show on iHeartRadio in addition to her current YouTube web series, #DearGeorgette.

 

On Point - 18 - Marjuan Canady: A Revolution in Children's Literature

“Callaloo” in Caribbean culture and the creation of Callaloo the media brand, which promotes cultural literacy for kids through books, animation, live performance, digital content, games and arts education tools.. Marjuan’s problem with “diversity” as a buzzword. The importance of folktale in culture and tradition. The “activist lens” of artistry.

More on Marjuan and Callaloo here.

19 - The UK Plunges Out Of Europe, Buzzfeed Should Unionize, and Racist Pool Safety

Brand Eff Up: Red Cross’ pool safety bias.

“'Racist' Pool Safety Poster Brings Red Cross Apology,” NBC News

What’s Up? Brexit.

The distrust in top-down leadership that led to the leave vote, coupled with xenophobia. Possible brain drain in the UK.

What’s Good?

“Ze Frank’s Memo May Have Just Opened the Biggest Can of IP Worms Ever,” TheVideoInk.com

“BuzzFeed Motion Pictures Needs to Unionize ASAP,” Gawker.

Diggin’ in the Crates:

Phil: “Black and White,” (1999 film)

Rob: Umair Haque, “Betterness,” (2011)

Michael: “Carlito’s Way,” (1993)

On Point - 17 - Jesse Williams' Great BET Awards Social Justice Speech

Crew member Rob joins Michael and Phil in discussing Jesse Williams BET Awards speech after winning the humanitarian award.

Rob Fields is an award-winning marketer who is passionate about helping brands thrive at the intersection of marketing, business and contemporary culture. Currently the marketing director for CMO Initiatives at the Association of National Advertisers, Rob is a contributor to Forbes and PSFK. More on him at robfields.com or @robfields on Twitter

18 - Commercializing “Sensitive Males,” Fox Sports Benches Racist Reporter, and VR Hits A Billion Dollars.

Brand Eff Up: Fox Sports Florida reporter fired for racist riff.

What’s Up?

2016: VR’s first billion-dollar year.

“Virtual reality (VR): a billion dollar niche,” Deloitte.

What’s Good? The commercialization of the feminine male.

“Introducing Beta Male,” New York Mag

Hyun on Medium: “This is Almost 40.”

“What we mean when we say ‘I Love You Man,” NY Mag

Diggin’ in the Crates:

P: Leonard Schlain, “The Alphabet Versus the Goddess.”

H: bell hooks, “All About Love.”

M: Shrumpa, “Cutting Through Spiritual Materials.”

On Point - 16 - Tahir Jetter: “How To Tell You’re A Douchebag”

Joining us is Tahir Jatter, Writer/Director/Producer of the upcoming film “How To Tell You're A Douchebag.” Topics Tahir’s challenges in New York in contrast to his Entourage-esque lifestyle in LA. His first feature film, “How To Tell You’re A Douchebag” (2016) and how the name for the film was arrived at. The booms and busts of representations of people of color in entertainment and why Tahir is optimistic. Default whiteness; why do lead roles require for people of color seem to require directors or producers to be the same? Polyamory and veganism. Dating patterns dependent upon work life. Why Tahir feels like Drake. How online dating has taken the stakes out of dating.

Dates and showtimes for “How To Tell You’re A Douchebag” on Facebook.(@tahirjetter)

17 - ADIDAS Can’t Spell, Hip-Hop and American Mythology, and is McDonald’s a Commons?

Brand Eff Up

“This New Adidas Ad Is Every Colombian’s Worst Nightmare,” Huffington Post

What’s Up?

Hamilton Encore On 60 Minutes.

What’s Good?

“McDonald's: you can sneer, but it's the glue that holds communities together,” The Guardian.

Diggin’ in the Crates:

Phil: Portishead, “All Mine”

Sahra: Flavr Blue, “We Can Go Blind”

Michael: Garnett Silk, “It’s Growing”

16 - Muhammad Ali's Legacy & Sports Activism Today

Joining us this week in studio is familial crew member Lisha Brooks, actor/filmaker and sister to Michael. Follow Lisha on twitter @LegallyLeshaB and check out Beards (www.beardswebseries.com)

Brand Eff Up:

KWTX in Texas does gives everyone a behind-the-scenes look at old-school crisis management as Ken Starr, former special prosecutor of Bill Clinton’s sex life, is coached about whether he saw emails detailing rape allegations in his capacities at Baylor University.

What’s Up & Good? Muhammad Ali.

Muhammad Ali’s legacy as a political figure and sports great. The difference between Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan.

Phil: Eyes On The Prize (1987-1990 PBS documentary, available on YouTube.)

Michael: When We Were Kings (1996 documentary)

Lisha: Department of Speculation, 2014 novel by Jenny Offill

On Point - 14 - Malik Yoba and Sergio Morales: Curators of Progress

Actor, community activist, and co-founder of iconic32, Malik Yoba joined us in studio, along with co-founder and CEO Sergio Morales via phone. We talk about driving social good through popular culture, the importance of listening, Malik’s passion for working with fathers separated from their children, committing to authenticity, Phil having the same hairdresser as Trump, and love vs. fear.

Follow Malik and Sergio on twitter.

More at www.iconic32.com

15 - China Has Racist Ads Too, Peter Thiel Uses Hulk Hogan to Sue Gawker, and Art and Gentrification

Brand Eff up

“Chinese company apologizes, sort of, for racist ad,” USA Today.

“Everyone's Angry at This Racist Chinese Ad, but It Says Something About America Too Is Qiaobi too easy a target?” ADWEEK

What’s Up?

“An Open Letter to Peter Thiel,” Gawker

What’s Good?

“Art house: Los Angeles and New York artists tackle the inequity of real estate,” Guardian

Diggin’ in the Crates

Phil: “The Choice is Yours,” by Black Sheep

Rob: “Dont Mind,” by Kent Jones

Michael: The Act of Killing (2012 documentary)


 

Rob Fields is an award-winning marketer who is passionate about helping brands thrive at the intersection of marketing, business and contemporary culture. Currently the marketing director for CMO Initiatives at the Association of National Advertisers, Rob is a contributor to Forbes and PSFK. More on him at robfields.com or @robfields on Twitter