Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.

Over the past twenty years of writing on various platforms — my very first ever blog post was on June 3, 2004 — I’ve shared my thoughts and opinions thousands of times on any number of topics. I’ve written about race, politics, culture, music, film, family, etc. In fact, if I had the ability to access all of my writings, I’m sure I’d find tons of pieces I would cringe at and others where I’d be delighted to know that younger me said a thing that older me still believes in. What I also know, for sure, is that I cannot remember the vast majority of opinions I’ve had about any number of things that I’ve written about. 

There are a few exceptions to this, however. I can remember a few pieces I’ve written that I wish I never had. I think the response to those pieces turned them into core memories of my writing journey. And there are a few musical opinions I’ve had at various points that I simply cannot believe I ever had. One such opinion is one that I shared with folks in 2004 about Teedra Moses’ debut album, “Complex Simplicity,” released on Aug. 10, 2004, making it 20 years old. 

I vividly remember telling people that I thought the album wasn’t good. I know this because I remember the super-heated arguments I got into with two specific people who absolutely loved it and couldn’t believe how ridiculous my take was. (They also remember the arguments and agree my take was ridiculous.) Because this album came out after I’d started blogging and because I often farmed my personal conversations for inspiration, I’m about 90% sure that, at some point, somewhere, I wrote a blog post or something that expressed my dislike for that album. 

Younger me was an idiot. 

Here’s how I know that younger me was an idiot. At this point in my life, “Complex Simplicity,” is one of my favorite albums, maybe ever. I’m not sure it’s in my top 10 but it is surely in my top 20. Any album that has a song (like “You’ll Never Find”) that opens up with the words, “Ooooh cat daddy,” has to be one that I take seriously. The album’s opener, “Be Your Girl,” is probably one of my favorite opening records, too, partly because I love the sample of Ahmad Jamal’s “The Awakening,” but also because I love how Teedra cuts straight to the chase; she’s like, “Boo, what’s up with you and me … your girl will be alright!” Who hasn’t thought about somebody they didn’t know like this? Shoot, Christina Milian should be glad that social media wasn’t really a thing when I had a crush on her or I’d be sending her lyrics like those to this song daily. I’m a romantic like that. Or a stalker — there’s a fine line. 

And don’t get me started on “Caution,” easily my favorite record on the album and literally a song I will be listening to until the good Lord calls me to glory. And even then, when I hit those pearly gates, I’m asking if “Caution” is available on whatever platform they use to stream music in Heaven. 

Look, I can do this for every single song on this album. I love them all. I absolutely love “Complex Simplicity.” It along with Res’ “How I Do” are the two most defining R&B albums of my 2000s. Each of those records lived in my car’s CD changer. When I think of Panama Jackson in the mid-’00s walking through New York City or Washington, D.C., or trips to Los Angeles or wherever, I have songs from both of those albums in my head. “Complex Simplicity” is quite simply a wonderful and enjoyable listen from a woman whose voice is beautiful. 

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It’s for that reason I’m so excited to know that I cannot find written proof of me making blasphemous and nonsensical negative comments about that album. Now, I did get into a slight row with Teedra Moses some years back about an opinion I wrote about how she set the blueprint for the R&B of the 2010s that was less subtle and more in your face. While I think my sentiment was accurate, I do think my approach was reckless in a way that came off as offensive, which used to be my calling card — the point was more important than how I got there. I also cannot find that piece, mostly because while I remember writing it, I cannot figure out when I wrote it and some of those older pieces are truly impossible to find without a date to peg them to. That works great for me as I hate reading things I wrote that I now view as stupid. Shouts out to growth. And don’t be stupid, Panama.

As a music lover and one who would find albums that touched my soul, I am so sad to know and remember that I ever thought Teedra’s album was anything less than a stellar work of art that makes the world a better place. That’s how I feel right now, and I think that’s the right way to feel about it. To know “Complex Simplicity” is to love “Complex Simplicity,” and there is simply no other way to view that. Even 20 years later, the music sounds as fresh and as sonically jamtastic as it did in the 2000s, save for that one day I didn’t like it. 

Today is not that day, for today is a day that I acknowledge that I’m in love with “Complex Simplicity,” and I’m so happy that it’s still part of my life two decades later. 

Panama Jackson is a columnist at theGrio and host of the award-winning podcast, “Dear Culture” on theGrio Black Podcast Network. He writes very Black things, drinks very brown liquors, and is pretty fly for a light guy. His biggest accomplishment to date coincides with his Blackest accomplishment to date in that he received a phone call from Oprah Winfrey after she read one of his pieces (biggest) but he didn’t answer the phone because the caller ID said “Unknown” (Blackest).

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rich Homie Quan, the Atlanta rapper who gained mainstream fame through the trap singles “Type of Way” and “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh),” has died. He was 33.

Quan, whose legal name is Dequantes Devontay Lamar, died at an Atlanta hospital, the Fulton County Medical Examiner confirmed to The Associated Press. The medical examiner was informed of his death Thursday, said Jimmy Sadler, senior medical examiner investigator. The cause of death was not immediately available, with an autopsy scheduled for Friday.

Quan was one of the biggest names in hip-hop in the mid-2010s. He released a slew of mixtapes before he broke through in 2013 with the infectious “Type of Way.” The song became such a success that several other rappers jumped on the remix, including Jeezy and Meek Mill. He maintained his momentum, appearing on a YG track with Jeezy and releasing the London on da Track-produced song “Lifestyle” through his Rich Gang rap collective that included Young Thug and Birdman.

Quan followed up with “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh),” a song produced by DJ Spinz and Nitti Beatz. It became his highest charting solo single at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He was also featured on Lil Dicky’s viral “$ave Dat Money.”

In 2018, Quan debuted his first and only studio album “Rich as in Spirit,” which mostly went without any features — except for “Think About It,” a single with Rick Ross.

Quavo, Lil Boosie and Playboi Carti are some of the music artists who paid tribute to Quan on social media.

“Rest in Peace my brother Rich Homie Quan,” said singer Jacquees, who also called him a “legend” on X. “I love you for Life.”

Quan spoke with The Associated Press in 2022 about returning to music after an abrupt hiatus. At the time, the rapper said he was going through litigation with independent label T.I.G. (Think It’s a Game Record) but was prepared to make a comeback.

During that time, Quan ended up in a feud with his old collaborator Young Thug — who along with rapper Gunna — were among a group indicted on charges of conspiracy to violate Georgia’s RICO Act and also accused of participation in a criminal street gang.

Quan said there was no beef between him and Young Thug and was open to having a conversation with him if the opportunity presented itself. He said he hated to see Young Thug locked up, adding that rappers were being targeted by law enforcement.

“I wouldn’t say unfairly targeted because at the same time, some of these rappers are putting guns in videos and, you know, it’s like social media — it goes back to the social media thing,” he said.

“I think we showing too much, I think they’re showing too much, you know what I mean. Like that’s the difference in my music, I’ma tell a story but I ain’t going to tell you how I did it,” he added. “It’s still Black art, but we’re definitely being targeted. So that’s why I’m mindful of what I say in my music.”

It’s been six years since the world has been treated to new music from Sade Adu, but the musical legend is reportedly ending her latest hiatus to appear on a very special project. As reported by Dazed magazine, the British-Nigerian singer-songwriter will contribute the track “Young Lion” to the compilation “Transa,” an upcoming album to promote transgender and nonbinary awareness.

As Dazed notes, the project is personal for Sade, 65, as her only child, Izaak, underwent his own gender transition. Acknowledging the difficulty of his journey and so many others, Sade’s new song is dedicated to Izaak, who now lives as a transgender man, and reportedly includes the lyric, “You must have felt so alone, I should have known.” 

“It’s amazing to hear a legendary musician like Sade sing about her heartfelt experience as the parent of a trans child,” said model, transgender activist, and album co-producer Massima Bell, per Dazed. “It’s incredibly powerful.”

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Produced by Red Hot, the nearly 35-year-old nonprofit that launched the platinum-selling, star-studded “Red Hot + Blue” compilation amid the AIDS epidemic, “Transa” will feature over 100 artists, including André 3000, Moses Sumney, Sam Smith, “Euphoria” star Hunter Schaefer and more. A cover of the Prince classic “I Would Die 4 U,” created by former Prince and the Revolution members Wendy & Lisa with singer-songwriter Lauren Auder, is reportedly the first single. Set to be released in time for the holiday season on Nov. 22, the 46 tracks and eight “chapters” that comprise the three-and-a-half hour album are “an ode” to the original eight stripes of the Pride flag. 

“We hoped to create a narrative that positions trans and non-binary people as leaders in our society, insofar as the deep inner work they do to affirm who they are in our current climate. We felt this is something everybody should do,” said Dust Reid, executive director of Red Hot, per Variety. “Whether you identify as trans or non-binary or otherwise, if you took the time to explore your gender, get in touch with the feeling side of yourself, maybe we would have a future oriented around values of community, collaboration, care, and healing.”

Bruce Pearl, the head basketball coach at Auburn University, recently disparaged Vice President Kamala Harris by reposting a dishonest social media post claiming she is in favor of eliminating private health insurance. And it wasn’t the first time Pearl was on this type of time.

His X/Twitter feed is replete with support for former President Donald Trump and opposition to all things “woke…” whatever he thinks that overused moniker means. The coach absolutely has a right to express himself however he chooses.

However, why do so many Black athletes continue to allow white coaches to use Black talent to build generational wealth while disparaging Black leaders and opposing policies Black Americans support?

Pearl is not alone. The list of white coaches who made millions off Black athletic talent while simultaneously opposing policies Black Americans back is long. There was Lou Holtz, former football coach at Notre Dame University, and Tommy Tuberville, former football coach at Auburn and now a U.S. senator from Alabama. Both are enthusiastic Trumpers.

Strip their teams of every player who has a sister who looks like Harris, and they’d have no conference or national championships and none of the millions they believe their coaching brilliance alone “earned” them.

Of the 18 young men listed on Auburn’s 2023-24 basketball roster, 14 are Black. I wonder how they feel about their 63-year old white coach — who makes $5.4 million per year — calling the nation’s first Black vice president a socialist and opposing policies aimed at combating discrimination and inequality. I also wonder how Pearl would fare coaching a team composed of fellow Trump supporters. I’m not sure if J.D. Vance can hoop, but I hear Barron Trump is 6-9.

Black athletes are supposed to “shut up and dribble,” as television talk show host Laura Ingraham once ordered of LeBron James when he dared to discuss politics and racism. There is no matching admonition for white coaches or for white professional team owners.

James knows what Pearl knows – that there is power in the platform they have because of their prominence.

The day may soon be arriving when more Black, athletically gifted 17- and 18-year olds realize they have powerful platforms, too. White coaches badly want — no, desperately need — to recruit them so they can build winning teams and make money. That’s not a bad deal for young Black athletes, who can get a college scholarship along with name, image and likeness money and an opportunity to go pro someday.

But a deal is an agreement between parties. Why should a Black basketball player agree to be coached by the likes of Pearl? There are other coaches out there, ones who haven’t repeatedly violated NCAA rules and who aren’t backing bigots.

Here’s guessing Pearl would suddenly become very enamored with Harris and her policies if he knew trashing her would hurt him where it counts most — on the recruiting trail and, eventually, in his banking account.

10

The critically acclaimed series The Handmaid’s Tale has officially started production on its sixth and final season. Adapted from Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel, the series follows the harrowing life of Offred (Elisabeth Moss), a Handmaid in the totalitarian society of Gilead. In this oppressive regime, fertile women are forced into servitude as reproductive surrogates for the ruling elite.

Season six will see the return of the show’s stellar cast, including Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Bradley Whitford, Max Minghella, Ann Dowd, O.T. Fagbenle, Samira Wiley, Madeline Brewer, Amanda Brugel, Sam Jaeger, Ever Carradine, and Josh Charles. As the story heads toward its conclusion, fans can expect heightened drama, intense power struggles, and poignant commentary on society’s darker aspects.

The series, produced by MGM Television, is spearheaded by executive producers Bruce Miller, Warren Littlefield, Eric Tuchman, Yahlin Chang, and Elisabeth Moss, among others. The Handmaid’s Tale is distributed internationally by Amazon MGM Studios Distribution.

The final season promises to bring a gripping conclusion to the story that has captivated audiences worldwide, reflecting the ongoing relevance of its themes in today’s world.

Stay tuned for updates on release dates and behind-the-scenes content.

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R&B singer Freddie Jackson, who topped the charts in the mid-1980s with his iconic slow jams, recently announced he has been diagnosed with kidney disease.

On Wednesday, Sept. 4, the R&B legend, 67, shared his recent diagnosis and his reason for going public with the news in a video posted to Instagram.

“After a lot of thought and reflection, I’ve come to a point where I feel I’m ready to talk about a recent chapter in my life,” the “You Are My Lady” singer began in the video.

“I have been diagnosed with kidney disease. This journey has had its challenges but I’ve decided to face it with openness and resilience,” he continued. “It’s important to me that I share this with you, not just as a part of my personal story, but as a way to make a positive difference.”

Jackson further announced that he has partnered with the National Kidney Foundation to raise awareness about kidney health and provide support to those impacted by the condition.

He thanked his fans for their support, adding, “As I take this step, I’m turning my personal experience into a platform for greater understanding and advocacy. With your help, we can work towards better awareness and improved outcomes for everyone with kidney disease.”

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According to the Mayo Clinic, kidney disease, also referred to as chronic kidney failure, is a “gradual loss of kidney function.” Treatment for the condition can vary, depending on what is causing the kidneys to fail, but works to slow its progression. There is no known cure for kidney disease, and it can progress to “end-stage kidney failure,” which can be fatal.

The National Kidney Foundation reports that while 33% of U.S. adults are at risk for developing kidney disease (one in three people), Black Americans are more than three times as likely to develop the disease than white Americans.

According to the organization, Black Americans remain at such an increased risk due to several systemic factors, including health discrimination, increased risk for other risk factors such as heart disease and diabetes, and economic disparities, as the disease is costly to manage. The National Kidney Foundation also notes, “the way in which kidney disease was traditionally diagnosed underestimated the presence and/or severity of disease in Black or African American people, delaying important interventions to preserve kidney function.”

In Jackson’s video, he added how he hopes his work with the National Kidney Foundation will “help shine a light on the importance of this issue.”

In the post’s caption, he added, “Your love and support mean the world to me as I take this step forward for my health and well-being. Together, we can make a difference. I love you and blessings to you all.”