Thursday Notes

Patrick Braxton became Newbern, Alabama's first Black mayor in 2020, but the white incumbents locked him out of Town Hall and refused to vacate — a standoff still ongoing three years later.

Culture

Wednesday Notes

Ryan Wilson is suing Greenwood and its co-founders after the neobank allegedly withheld a $5 million earn-out payment from TGS shareholders following last year's acquisition.

Culture

Tuesday Notes

A newly released live 1961 recording captures John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy at the Village Gate, on the cusp of jazz's avant-garde — and it's essential listening for any fan.

Culture

Monday Notes: Philadelphia Public Art, J Hus & Naira Marley,

Tyrod Taylor's DIALLO luxury streetwear brand debuts the same week J Hus and Naira Marley team up on "Militerian." Conrad Benner's Streets Dept project makes Philadelphia's mural-rich public art scene searchable online.

Friday Notes

Bruce Brown's $22 million Pacers deal proves soft skills now pay like star power in the NBA. Jay-Z's surprise Book of Hov exhibition quietly took over Brooklyn Public Library.

Culture

Wednesday Notes

Kyrie Irving leaves Nike's orbit entirely, inking a five-year deal with Chinese brand ANTA and becoming its Chief Creative Officer. Sam Pollard and Questlove's new documentary examines how the Negro Leagues shaped modern baseball.

Tuesday Notes

Actor Hill Harper announces his candidacy for Michigan's open US Senate seat. Spike Lee's Creative Sources exhibition opens at the Brooklyn Museum, offering a rare look inside his personal archive.

Monday Notes

Michael Malekzadeh's Zadeh Kicks sneaker presale operation unraveled when the Air Jordan 11 Cool Grey release overwhelmed his alleged $85 million scheme. The New York Times also reveals how Clarence Thomas used the Horatio Alger Association to access wealthy donors.

Wednesday Notes

Dazed Digital profiles six African photographers reshaping how the continent is seen globally. Spill — founded by former Twitter employees — surges as Elon Musk limits tweet reading, attracting users like Questlove.

Culture

Monday Notes: America's Family Secret, Affirmative Action, Juvenile's Tiny Desk

A Reuters investigation finds more than 100 US lawmakers, governors, and Supreme Court justices are direct descendants of slaveholders. Damian Lillard officially requests a trade out of Portland after a decade of loyalty to the Trail Blazers.

Tuesday Notes

Lil Uzi Vert's long-awaited Pink Tape album finally arrives. Popcaan and Burna Boy share Aboboyaa, a vibrant Afropop collaboration filmed in Ghana.

Culture

Friday Notes

The 2023 NBA Draft brought tailoring and Louis Vuitton to the red carpet. Chris Paul's trade from the Suns to the Warriors creates one of the league's most unexpected pairings since Jordan Poole heads to Washington.