On Point - 34 - Jack Hamilton: Rock and Roll and the Racial Imagination

Assistant professor of American Studies and Media Studies at University of Virginia joins us to discuss his new book, Just Around Midnight: Rock and Roll and the Racial Imagination (2016). The difficulty in choosing representative bands from the 60s. The “move” from “rock and roll” to “rock.” The racial politics of perceptions of rock as “high art.” The concept of “soul” and how it suggests the stereotype that black musicians are inherently musical, or even “magical.” Jimi Hendrix’s supernatural obsession and cultivated weirdness. How to reconcile the tensions between mash-up culture and cultural appropriation.

On Point - 33 - James Andrews: Street Teams, Big Data, and Making Time For Culture

James Andrews, CEO of Smashd Group, joins us in studio this week. An introduction to Smashd Labs, his growth accelerator. “Street-team culture” as the early analog to social media culture. Integrating big data with “hood spidey sense.” James’ concept of “the cultural nostril” and where trends emerge. Do brands have the time for culture? Cities as a cultural muse. Helping the “undocumented entrepreneur.”

Follow James on twitter:
@keyinfluencer
Smashdlabs.co

Profile of James in AdAge (in which he mentions 2DB)

On Point - 32 - Evan Narcisse: Comic Book and Fan Cultures, ComicCon, and the Rise of the 'Blerd'

Are we approaching peak “Blerd” and what does the “rise” of the black nerd signify? The “just a game” response to racial erasure in video game representation. The diversification of fan cultures as they grow. Comic money shifting from comic books to blockbusters. The joy of seeing people nerding-out. The journalistic value of exposing artistic craft. “Nerd-checking” during the rise of nerd culture. Image Comics and the current comic industry: independent is in. Twitter:@EvNarc More from Evan on Kinja.

On Point - 31 - Donald Glover's 'Atlanta' with Michael Arceneaux

Michael joins us once again to discuss Donald Glover’s “Atlanta” on FX. The cultural success of “Atlanta.” Michael’s perspective from doing show recaps for Vulture.com. Donald Glover’s reception by black audiences not completely used to seeing him in black environments. The representation of the rapper character “Paperboy.” The representation of inequality and Donald Glover’s character’s withdrawal from Princeton.

“Atlanta Recap: Don’t Forget Your Drug Test,” Vulture

On Point - 30 - Loyiso Gola: South Africa’s Post-Apartheid Comedy Boom

Comedian Loyiso Gola joining us in studio this week in anticipation of his Vimeo special, Loyiso Gola: Live in New York.

Loyiso discusses growing up and moving out of a ghetto in Cape Town, South Africa at the end of apartheid. Doing stand-up in early 2000s South Africa. His formative stand-up opening set at in which he roasted the teachers. The resoluteness of the “spirit of the 17 year old.” How the South African comedy scene developed, and how the legacy of apartheid impacted audience makeup. Black America’s role in setting the narrative for black history worldwide, specifically with regard to slavery.

@LoyisoGola

loyisogola.com

On Point - 29 - Kerrie Finch: Reputation Management, Being Alien in Amsterdam, and a Digital Detox Story

Kerrie Finch of Finch Factor joined us in studio this week. Finch Factor’s “reputation management” service as contrasted with public relations. Kerrie’s views as an outsider living in Amsterdam, and the importance of innovation from the fringes. The notion every company is now a media company. The importance of having a developed perspective and point of view. Kerrie on equality in the workplace being “bollocks.” How Kerrie’s “digital detox” went immediately catastrophic.
@KerrieFinch

On Point - 28 - Joey Camire: Deconstructing Influence

Joey introduces us to Sylvain Labs’ new book on influence: “The Dots: Deconstructing Influence.” Making an approachable business book on influence. Using creative metaphors, like physics and gravity, to illustrate how influence works. The “God Algorithm” and teenage super-influencers on social media. “Influencers” role as mental models for their followers. Influence over time and the internet’s “influencer middle-class.” The distinction between celebrities and influencers, with celebrities primarily having their messages consumed as opposed to influencers, who change behavior with messages. Is Donald Trump an influencer? The need for “sense-makers” in influence.

Sylvainlabs.com

@JoeyCashmere

On Point - 27 - Anthony Lappé: Underground Economies in Viceland's "Black Market"

Joining us this week is Anthony Lappé, showrunner for Viceland’s “Black Market with Michael K. Williams.” Navigating the line between empathetically portraying subjects and glamorizing them. Anthony’s gravitation toward stories on the margins. Including broader global, social, and political contexts in a short documentary format. Focus on issues versus characterization. Vice’s coverage of “Lean,” the southern drink built on cough syrup. Black market economies from an innovation standpoint. @AnthonyLappe on twitter

On Point - 26 - Douglas Rushkoff: Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus

Douglas Rushkoff, author of Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus

How to we include more people in the tech economy. Why taking startup capital curses companies like Twitter. The assumptions that age of extractive growth was built on are dying. The notion of the commons in the internet age. Why early internet anti-government sentiment may have led to corporate control of the internet. Douglas’ early correct call on the AOL/Time Warner merger. The “Singularity” as an update of industrial focus on human utility.  @Rushkoff on twitter

On Point - 25 - Michael Arceneaux On Frank Ocean's "Blonde," Over-reading Politics Into Art, and More

Michael’s review of Frank Ocean’s new album, “Blonde.” What it means that it’s the “album he should have made.” “Nostalgia/Ultra.” The perils of our “instant-reaction environment,” especially regarding cultural criticism. Unfair reaction to Larry Wilmore and Trevor Noah’s shows. What Frank Ocean’s sexuality means for his music and culture, and what’s behind “no labels” identification. The word ”queer.” What Frank Ocean means and doesn’t mean to gay black men. People in media not knowing what they’re talking about. How he became a full-time writer. The market for “performative anger” in media.

Follow Michael Arceneaux on Twitter

On Point - 24 - Gina Manis-Anderson: Profits With Purpose

Gina Manis-Anderson, founder of Savii Group, proponent of the “Purposepreneur,” the idea that maximizing efficiency with a purpose for the profits in mind. What is a “Purposepreneur”? Why investing in human capital is actually good for business. Freeing up wasted capital for uses that make companies better and more purpose-oriented. The intersection of purpose and profits. How welcome are these ideas by business leaders? How to help businesses get over their fear. Follow Gina on twitter: @SaviiGroup

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

On Point - 22 - Marvell Mixes Gang Starr with Luke Cage

Michael and Phil discuss the trailer and cultural significance of Marvel’s upcoming “Luke Cage” on Netflix. “'Luke Cage's' Use of Gang Starr Proves Marvel Isn't Afraid of the Show's Blackness,” Complex

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.Why “Walk This Way” was groundbreaking. Music as transracial. 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.

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.

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 overfinancialization exacerbates income inequality. How financial jargon has spread throughout business and culture.

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.

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. (http://www.democracynow.org/2016/6/28/jesse_williams_powerful_bet_awards_speech)

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.

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

Joining us is Tahir Jetter, 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.

On Point - 15 - Lisha Brooks: The Los Angeles Web Series Life

Joining us in studio is familial crew member Lisha Brooks, actor/filmaker and sister to Michael. We discuss her webseries Beards (www.beardswebseries.com), Los Angeles for digital filmmakers, the difference in feedback between theater and digital video, the dual skills of writing and acting, and whether Michael knows who Kirstie Alley is.