TOP 5: CURRENTLY
HEY, I’m BRIE KOLE creator/owner of HOMIE, I ADORE YOU. YA’LL don’t know me yet, but you about to! I’ll be dropping my TOP 5 lists weekly (THURS) (nod to High Fidelity Movie & Show). Holler if you’re feeling it, we could all use some more meaningful connections these days (read: in the throws of systemic racism & COVID19).OKONOMIYAKI
With lockdown feeling imminent and safety being put first, TREAT YO’SELF with this delectable culinary experience. If we can’t travel at least our mouths & hearts can DAMMIT! I’ve watched this Elena Yamamoto vid like 15xtimes it’s really satisfying for getting insider’s intel. We have a song for this dish ‘round here now. Which is mostly just chanting OKO - NOMI - YAKI on a loop… Ya know that weird ‘RONA lyfe stuffff.
2. PVALLEY
First season is on STARZ. Rad characters, it passes the KENT Test. You need more than that?! Uncle Clifford is the everything I’ve been wanting, the ensemble cast weaves so well together, the costumes, the POLE TALENT! In my past I’ve had a hard time feelin’ it for strippers, turns out I just wanted PValley. It’s also rooted in reality, as much as that is a thing film can accomplish. Watch the last epi with some (safe virtual) support. Uncle Clifford is now part of my daily internal dialogue. Right chere!
3. A SONG BELOW WATER
SISTASCIFI.COM really had my number. I checked them out to purchase Tenea D. Johnson’s duology R/evolution & Evolution (any work by this author is outstanding, complex & compelling). Quickly had a full ass cart filled with black female authors and books about #blackmermaids. Was this my personal heaven?!!!! Yes, yes it was. A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow was exactly what I’ve been craving. YA, but don’t let that stop you, PLEASE! A lovely written work that explores, what I perceived, as a deeper commentary on Black Trans lives. Wrapped up in a unique and rad skin of mermaids and other mythical water creatures. Many excellent lines, few teasers:
“Nobody ever figured out hiding things from kids isn’t protecting them if they know something’s wrong! It just makes me think I can’t trust myself. I can’t trust these feelings I have, these warnings I keep sensing.” - Effie
“Black Lives Matter, everyone knows that.” - Wallace
Having read Harry Potter and seen Star Wars late in life, the with holding all the adults do is really infuriating to me! I get this stuff needs conflict to be what it is, but I’m hella sick of the with holding behavior, it feels like such a cop out from following a more empowered approach, like maybe the kiddos have some stregths you sure don’t, so stop dismissing their comprehension. I mean I’m an “adult” and I feel out of my depth most of the time, so, yeah. This was a nice change to read about two black girls taking control of lives and knowledge they’ve been shut out of “for their own good.” Should anyone want to chat more, you don’t hesitate to holler at me!
COVER
ART BY ALEX CABAL
JACKET DESIGN BY LESLEY WORRELL
4. LAS CULTURISTAS
I’ll be honest ya’ll, I’ve been seeking levity content HARD. The Mariah Carey epi of the podcast hosted by Bowen Yang & Matt Rogers got me THERE. I think it was a good intro epi to the pod too, I really enjoy their banter and the pacing of this production. In the sea of pods, this one is heading into my regs rotation. I’ll do a top 5 pods, don’t cha worry.
5. SUE ME, I’M ROOTING FOR EVERYBODY THAT’S BLACK
I caught this song by WALE ft. Kelly Price on an epi of Lena Waithe’s THE CHI [but really you should watch TWENTIES]. I’ve since made a door hanger, a crop sweatshirt, hoodies and tees with the anthem like lyrics. I just want to shout it from the rooftops! In our ongoing efforts to combat systemic racism, I feel like this is a line we can employ, emblazon on our fashion and keep in people’s mind. It’s like subtly disruptive and not a sentiment even the staunchest GOP supporter can rebuke. TRY ME BETCHES!
