Whew! It seems that many of us have been on edge for years. With pandemics, genocides, global politics, and economic uncertainties we cannot look at social media without being bombarded with triggering content. We have access to so much information about world events that we are able to see a conflict from varying perspectives, which is a good thing. However, doom scrolling through IG or TikTok cannot be good for our mental health. So how can we stay sane while staying informed?
On December 3rd, Venezuela will hold a referendum to decide whether to formally claim Essequibo, a region long disputed with Guyana, as a Venezuelan state. Should they decide to move forward with the claim, Guyana would lose over 70% of its territory, much of which has been the source of the nation’s newfound wealth.
Hello and Happy 2023!
I can’t believe how much happened in 2022. We came out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mia Mottley secured a second 5-year term as Prime Minister of Barbados, Russia started a war with Ukraine, and Herschel Walker lost the Georgia election - but so did Stacey Abrams. You know, yin… yan. The same was true for DysChick. Despite personal tragedies, I was able to be outside like garb – nope. I refuse to make that a phrase.
So what’s my plan for 2023? Rest.
If you’ve been following DysChick, you know that I have a fear of flying; however, I have a greater fear of missing out on an epic event. Tipsy in Miami announced that it would feature the King of Soca and the King of Afrobeats and the FOMO was just too real.
Machel Montano has been making the rounds this year promoting his brand, encouraging nations to “Save the Soil,” and making sure that you know he is still the King of Soca after 40 years in the business. Burna Boy is the most popular Afrobeats artiste right now with his hit single “Last Last” reaching over 6 million streams on Spotify.
With these two heavyweights on the bill, you know DysChick had to fly to fete! Yet despite having the top artistes, the event was not E-P-I-C.
So let's recap America’s first six months of 2022:
Over 250 mass shootings including the Buffalo massacre, the elementary school shooting in Texas, a gunman opening fire on a crowded NYC subway, and the attack on a church in California
The number of deaths from COVID-19 surpassed 1 million
Eric Adams becomes Mayor of New York City (smh)
Are we great yet? No? Okay, how about this, we just decided to revoke a woman’s right to chose when and if she wants to become a mother.
Black American actor and entrepreneur Michael B. Jordan recently faced backlash on Caribbean Twitter for his attempt to trademark the word “J’Ourvert” for the name of his new rum. People were appalled that he would dare to limit the use of the word… for commerce.
This week, the actor posted a mea culpa to appease the masses and vowed to rename the rum. So…is this a win for the Caribbean?
It’s officially summer party season in New York. With venues (or venue, since it seems like Coney Island Art Walls is the only spot being used) open, we are ready to get back to fetes!
Now… about that….
I’m glad to see soca artistes return to the stage, but I’m waiting for that breakout party experience that will give me severe FOMO. Here’s my wish list:
Gold Diggers and Sugar Daddies are reeling at the news that Bill and Melinda Gates are getting divorced. Bill Gates is ranked #4 on Forbes’ list of the wealthiest people. His estimated net worth is $130 Billion and that has people speculating about how the money will be divided.
You know I’m all about the comments section and I’m seeing an interesting trend. While news outlets say things like “The couple did not reveal how they will divide their mega fortune,” many in the public refer to the wealth as his money. In marriages that are true partnerships, this is a flawed phrase.
First, thank you to everyone who attended the Clubhouse Chat “Caribbean Music Marketing: Real Solutions” on January 13th where we provided Caribbean artistes actionable advice from professional Marketers on how to use social media, podcasts, Influencers, and marketing copy to take their music career to the next level.
The panel included DJ Jel, Mikelah, Melly Rose, and Deanna.
What I thought would be a one-hour chat turned into a two hour discussion with gems being dropped left and right. Since Clubhouse does not yet allow seamless recording, I’m giving you the 3 key takeaways from each panelist.
By now, we would all be amped for holiday sales and spending time with family, but 2020 changed all of that. The United States is now in the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic and there are new travel and socializing restrictions. Right now, many are struggling to get into the holiday spirit this year. Although this has been a craptastic storm of WTF, it hasn’t been all bad. Instead of complaining, I’m counting my blessings.
Since Oct 7th, protestors in Nigeria have been using the #ENDSARS hashtag to bring attention to the atrocities perpetrated by the country's Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). On October 23rd, I went live on Instagram with Nigerian-American influencer Glitteratie to break down the history behind the tensions, the demands of the protestors, and why the #ENDSARS movement should be a wake up call for all Black people.
In February, I went back to my parents’ homeland to celebrate Guyana’s 50th Republic Anniversary. The celebration was vibrant and energetic - a true representation of the spirit of Guyanese people. However, Guyana has since had its share of turmoil. From the multiple recounts and confusion over the election in March to a Black Lives Matter movement following the death of two young men, Isaiah and Joel Henry, Guyanese say they are apprehensive about the country’s future.
Let me catch you up on what has been the talk of the soca world for the past few days. During a recent panel discussion, Caucasian dancer White Chocolate (neé Josh Butler) stated that he is paving the way for Black dancers/influencers. And that’s where everything went left.
