We've got basketball on the brain as the NBA playoffs approach, so we're sharing a Dear Culture rewind with BIG3 co-founder Ice Cube. The legendary rapper is pleased with BIG3's progress but is frustrated with the lack of respect he says the 3-on-3 league has yet to feel from the NBA. Ice Cube doesn't hold back as he shares his thoughts with Panama Jackson about the roadblocks he believes are being put in place to stunt BIG3's success. Originally recorded June 2023. Connect with theGrio Black Podcast Network See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information ..read more

Baltimore filmmaker Alvin Gray has mastered turning viral moments into independent films at lightning speed. His latest project, "The Actor that Got Chased Around the City," has garnered big buzz, and he dropped the news he was working on it right here on Dear Culture. We revisit our conversation with Gray, who talks about the power of Tubi and discusses the drama that ensued when one of his projects was banned from the streaming platform before it was even released.  Connect with theGrio Black Podcast Network See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information ..read more

As Bravo's Summer House: Martha's Vineyard kicks off season two, we revisit our conversation with lawyer, queer civil rights advocate, and reality TV star Preston Mitchum. The fan favorite dishes about his reality TV experience, including the responsibility he feels to represent the Black community positively. The Ohio native also discusses the allure and exclusivity he and his friends found on Martha's Vineyard. While their adventures on the island make great TV, is Massachusetts' vacation oasis a place where outsiders can feel comfortable? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information ..read more

Harlem and Moscow is an audio drama based on the true story of the Harlem Renaissance in the Soviet Union. Red Flags, is the official companion podcast to Harlem and Moscow.  In this episode of Harlem and Moscow: Red Flags, host Panama Jackson is talking to experts about the people of the Harlem Renaissance who went on this trip to Moscow back in 1932. We learn more about Dorothy West, Langston Hughes, Henry Lee Moon, Louise Thompson, and others who journeyed to the Soviet Union. We also talk about other Black artists in the “Harlem and Moscow” circle like Zora Neale Hurston, Countee Cull ..read more

The title alone caught Panama Jackson's attention; we're talking about 'The American Society of Magical Negroes.' Some call it one of the worst films ever made, so Jackson and Wypipologist Michael Harriot spent their hard-earned money on movie tickets to answer the question, just how bad is this movie? Connect with theGrio Black Podcast Network See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information ..read more

Who created Freaknik? Where did it go wrong? Will it ever make a comeback? Dear Culture is answering all your questions about the legendary picnic-turned-street party that took over Atlanta during spring break in the late '80s and early '90s. The announcement of the Hulu documentary Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told made people panic as flashbacks of their wild behavior were feared to be exposed. However, now that the documentary has dropped, should people be worried? The doc's co-creator and producer, Jay Allen, joins Panama Jackson and cultural critic Monique Judge to discuss what the d ..read more

With 11 albums under his belt, rapper and educator Dee-1 is here to stay. The New Orleans native uses his platform to spread positivity in hip-hop and has no problem calling out successful artists he feels are hurting the culture. He isn't shy about his mission to rid the most popular music genre in the country of drugs, violence, and misogyny, which often finds him on the receiving end of anger and insults. Instead of buckling under the pushback, Dee-1 is doubling down with his Platinum Pledge, which asks music fans to commit to a new kind of hip-hop. Dee-1 joins Dear Culture to share an hone ..read more

Kelly Rowland enters Tyler Perry's world in the Netflix legal drama, "Mea Culpa'' and as a Black movie fanatic, Panama Jackson is excited to see if it delivers the crazy and unexpected ride Perry has promised. In true Perry fashion, the film's title is a play on words, incorporating the first name of Rowland's character. This got Panama's creative juices flowing, and he's offering up several film ideas with the same play on words for Perry's consideration. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information ..read more

Beyoncé's instant success on the country music charts has sparked a conversation about Black artists in the genre. Panama Jackson addressed this with country music artist Rissi Palmer last year. The pair had an enlightening conversation about what's needed to bridge the racial gap in country music, and discussed the repeated racist incidents Palmer has endured throughout her 20-plus years in the business.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information ..read more

Women of hip-hop are examined through the eyes of Gen Z author Nadirah Simmon's in her debut book, "First Things First: Hip Hop Ladies Who Changed the Game." Simmons, who grew up immersed in rap culture in New Jersey and Philadelphia, set out to create a unique look at the historical impact of female MCs like Lil' Kim, Queen Latifah, Nicki Minaj, and more. She analyzes their influence on fashion, TV, film, and comedy. Simmons says her book is for those who want to know more than just the surface-level history or controversy the media tends to focus on.  See omnystudio.com/listener for pri ..read more