My first All-Star Weekend was an experience I won’t forget. I’ve always been drawn to the energy of sports events and the crowds they bring. But as I’ve grown in my understanding of journalism, marketing, and audience behavior, the way I experience these environments has changed. I now notice not only what teams execute well, but also what may be missing. As someone who values music and live environments, I’ve come to believe there’s still a gap in how sports organizations ap

Welcome back to my music journalistic series, which has just undergone a crucial rebrand, yet the music focus remains. As production is literally the backbone to the music industry that we know and love, let's get back to the Production Series. If you haven’t heard this name, I can confirm you are missing out. Monte Booker is a record producer from Chicago and has worked with many artists you know. From Smino to Ravyn Lenae, a dynamic duo we love, to JID and Ari Lennox. If yo

Production Series

You all have probably been hearing this name around for the past couple of years. MARCO PLUS is what I consider one of the best underground rappers, and not "underground" when it comes to his fans and community, but that “underground, deeply lyrical hip-hop sound”. While I’ve been listening to him for a few years, many new fans are discovering him from Kai Cenat’s Mafiathon, that highlighted many musical artists. While MARCO PLUS had one of the top performances, his new fans

I'm sure everyone has heard of the Wedding-Of-The-Year between Monaleo and Stunna4Vegas, but who is Monaleo? This wedding not only inspired our youth black community, it brought a whole new light to the 2 as individual rappers. Stunna has been on the scene, and was a staple in my highschool playlists, but Monaleo has been gaining traction since 2021. Monaleo's big princess-pink wedding went viral, along with her new single "Sexy Soulaan". It truly highlights black culture wit

Growing up in Miami, “beachy” music has always been an ingrained interest in all of us, as a good playlist can truly set the tone for a hot beach day. There are a few artists, in no particular ranked order, that fulfill this sound. Kota the Friend Sunday in Brooklyn 200 Dollars Colorado Jay Prince In the Morning Wonder 1993 Amindi Pine & Ginger Cyclops Trip ft MAVI GoldLink U Say Dark Skin Women Some Girl ft Steve Lacy BEACHY Playlist- in progress on Spotify Kaytranada is a

Week of 8/14/25 This week's top 3 will be honoring the iconic Earl Sweatshirt , a rapper with a unique, notable sound. Huey Huey is a classic from the 2015 album "I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside". It's very short and sweet, but aren't the best songs? This is a chill song I play on Sundays, with a beat that has that harmonic gospel undertone. All I Need According to Spotify, this song isn't even in his Top 10, which I have to disagree with. This is also considerably a cl

“Underground Heat” Spotify Playlist

Week of 8/5/25 Ensalada Can we talk about how Freddie Gibbs raps over the best beats? This beat truly has had a hold on me for the past week. I recognized it sounded very similar to a German movie score I heard a few months ago. I lined them up and, surprisingly enough, they sounded quite similar. I personally really like beats that sound like a mash of lofi, guitar, and hip-hop. This song is a perfect example of meshing specific songs. Did I mention Anderson .Paak was featu

Have you ever heard of Peso Pluma? He is a Mexican singer/songwriter known for his work in regional Mexican music. Growing up as a mixed Caribbean girl in Miami raised by grandparents, I was exposed to many types of music. Despite not being directly from a hispanic background, I grew up in the heart of foreigners. Hispanic music became a staple in my playlists, while the language was spoken all around me. (Continued below) Pictured: Peso Pluma Moving back to Miami this year h