Dear Culture

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 honest and passionate message, "We can do better."

Connect with theGrio Black Podcast Network

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Connect with theGrio Black Podcast Network

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. 

Connect with theGrio Black Podcast Network

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. 

Connect with theGrio's Black Podcast Network

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black voters are always crucial, not just in an election year, and that's a message the Hip-Hop Caucus is spreading across the country. On this episode of Dear Culture, meet some of the non-profit's key players using hip-hop's power to ignite change and promote political activism. Singer, songwriter, and former member of Danity Kane, Dawn Richard, is a part of the initiative and shares with Panama Jackson the importance of using her platform to reach Black America and combat voter suppression and misinformation. With pivotal voting dates fast approaching, including the South Carolina Primary and Super Tuesday, now is the time to get active and let your voice be heard. 

Connect with theGrio Black Podcast Network

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following several viral moments, Baltimore filmmaker Alvin Gray joins Dear Culture to talk about the ups and downs of creating independent films. His projects "The Rapper Who Got Shot in the Heel" and "The Nurse That Saw the Baby on the Highway" have garnered much attention, but not always the good kind. Gray and Panama Jackson also debate the power of Tubi and discuss the drama that ensued when one of Gray's projects got banned from the streaming platform before it was even released. 

Connect with theGrio Black Podcast Network

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lawyer, queer civil rights advocate, and reality TV star Preston Mitchum is unapologetically Black, and we're here for it! Mitchum is a fan favorite on Bravo's Summer House: Martha's Vineyard, and he dishes about his reality TV experience, which includes 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?

Connect with theGrio Black Podcast Network

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know what they say, "Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it." So, to start 2024 off on the right foot, Panama Jackson and theGrio Daily host Michael Harriot are dissecting the Blackest moments of 2023. Let's learn from the past and make this year our best and Blackest yet!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 50th anniversary of hip-hop may be ending, but 'Univeristy of Dope' is a fun way to keep celebrating the genre for years to come. Panama Jackson introduces his listeners to the one-of-a-kind card game and welcomes co-founder A.V. Perkins, who dishes on the origin story of the only card game dedicated to hip-hop music. Plus, A.V. and Panama play a few rounds! Which team would you be on?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since becoming a fan favorite on Living Single more than 30 years ago, Erika Alexander has remained a constant fixture in Hollywood. In recent years, she's shifted her focus to the fight for equality, specifically, the push for reparations. She joins Dear Culture to discuss her current TV and film projects and her dedication to positively impacting culture.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Panama Jackson is joined by theGrio Daily host and New York Times best-selling author Micahel Harriot to analyze some of Hollywood's top money-making movies. They explore the relationship between white and Black characters who are meant to save each other. While it may make for a good story, is the concept of the white savior and magical nego hurting the culture?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Panama Jackson never knows what's going to come next when he asks each guest, "Do you have a confession about your Blackness?" Blackfessions have become synonymous with Dear Culture, and we've rounded up some of our favorites from the year, including W. Kamau Bell, Shameik Moore, and Eboni K. Williams. Enjoy!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Panama Jackson has an enlightening conversation with country music artist Rissi Palmer about what's needed to bridge the racial gap in country music. The pair also discuss the repeated racist incidents Palmer has been forced to endure and the concerted effort underway to erase Black musician's contributions to the genre.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Originally recorded in January 2023 as part of theGrio's month-long series, Africa Amplified, Dear Culture host Panama Jackson invites his Ghanaian wife to chat about her journey to America as a child. Simona Noce Wright also shares some of her experiences, both good and bad, after living in the United States for more than 20 years.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Originally recorded during Grambling State Homecoming in October 2022. Michael Harriot joins Panama Jackson on location at Grambling State University for a special edition of Dear Culture. Grambling alums join the pair as they address a live audience of students to talk about life after college, the realities of white corporate America, and the significance of attending an HBCU.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social media food critic Keith Lee says he arrived in Atlanta, GA, to do what his millions of followers expect from him, which is to eat good food. What he didn't anticipate was for his experiences to go viral and reignite a conversation that food patrons have been having for years following an uptick in Black-owned restaurants enforcing rules and practices that don't always feel customer-friendly. Senior editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Michael B. Jordan, joins Panama Jackson to discuss the fallout of Lee's visit and debate whether it's time for the restaurant culture to change.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a reality TV takeover this week on Dear Culture as stars Eboni K. Williams, Claudia Jordan, and Tambra Cherie join Panama Jackson just days after Vanity Fair drops a tell-all exposé on the problematic culture of reality TV on Bravo. The ladies share racist, catty, and regretful experiences they've had in front of the cameras but also dive into the positive moments that are often overshadowed. Read more about the reality reckoning fallout on theGrio.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For months, BIG3 co-founder and legendary rapper Ice Cube has accused the NBA of working against his basketball league to stunt their growth, stop advertising opportunities, and eliminate them entirely. TMZ Sports is reporting that the United States Department of Justice has launched an official investigation to determine if the National Basketball Association committed antitrust violations. Ice Cube spoke to Panama Jackson about his concerns during the summer months as BIG3's sixth season was underway. We've gone into the vault and are giving you a Dear Culture Rewind as news of the DOJ's inquiry makes headlines.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rapper Mickey Factz joins Panama Jackson to give a rundown of the online school for aspiring lyricists he founded in 2021. Pendulum Ink Academy provides a one-of-a-kind education in hip-hop that allows its students to learn from the best. Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Rah Digga, and Cory Gunz are just some of the guest lectures passing on their knowledge of the rap game. Productive mental health practices, finance, and criminology are also courses being provided that prove being a hip-hop success is about more than just rhymes and beats. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Poetic Justice, starring Janet Jackson, Tupac Shakur, and Regina King, was John Singleton's second film following Boyz n the Hood. At the time, it was a hit, but was it all that great? Thirty years after its release, Panama Jackson isn't sure the film holds up to its original hype. Author and poet Bassey Ikpi joins the conversation to discuss the film's successes and failures. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.