Black in a Box

We're back! The team had a much needed break over the summer, focusing on getting married, having babies, jet-setting and just LIVING, but now we're back on our BS.

This time around, Alahna, Angelo and Dom discuss some of their highlights of the hiatus (7:44). There's a discussion on women in rap music and exactly why they are DOMINATING in 2024 (19:05), before we look into the latest trend of right-wing comedy and their attempts at reframing racism (34:00) and Dom closes with a few words on a personal milestone from earlier in the year (55:20).

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We're back with another episode, diving into some of the biggest talking points from the past few weeks.

We had to kick things off with the disgusting, racist comments made by Tory donor, Frank Hester, about Diane Abbott and the horrific handling by the press and UK parliament as a whole (4:52), before a brief discussion on our voting intentions for the upcoming elections (28:26). After Jamaican dancehall star, Vybz Kartel, saw his murder conviction overturned due to juror misconduct, the team discuss the situation and what it means for the genre as a whole (34:55), before finishing with another trial, which saw a young Black man acquitted of hate crime charges after sending a raccoon emoji to a prospective Conservative MP on social media (50:22).

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On this episode, we are joined by the inspiring and formidable Iron Empress herself, Donna McConnell… Ironwoman, Triathlete, Hip-Hop OG, Journalist and much more!

Donna and Alahna met during Ironman training and Donna shares her journey to becoming an Iron(woman) in her 50s! A journey that includes growing up in West London in the 70’s, the emergence of hip-hop in the 80’s, having a daughter in the 90’s and then discovering a love for cycling after age 40 (7:25). We discuss the importance of finding shared culture and community in sport, especially for women of colour in white, male-dominated spaces (20:52). We discuss, the equally important aspect of self-determination (30:10). Donna then shares some legendary stories about the emerging hip-hop scene in the 80’s, her own rapping career (42:22) and using her journalistic platform to be a gate-opener for other emerging artists (50:56).

Enjoy the episode! Please rate & review!

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It's a new year and we're starting with a big one. This time, we welcome two amazing guests to the studio - the collab of all collabs - we're joined by Dope Black Dads founder and BELOVD co-founder, Marvyn Harrison, and we welcome back an old friend of the pod, Tunde Odufisan, from the fantastic Tales from the Plantation Podcast.

Dope Black Dads is an incredible community which focuses oncelebrating, healing, inspiring and educating Black fathers for better outcomes for Black families. In a powerful and enlightening conversation, we meander through a wide range of topics, from the changing face of comedy and entertainment (02:40), the inception and purpose of Dope Black Dads and Black fatherhood (30:24), Marvyn's television work (27:48), avoiding red-pill culture (43:52), raising children in London (1:03:22) and much more.

As always, tell a friend to tell a friend - all ratings and reviews really help the pod!

It’s almost a wrap on 2023, but we still have plenty to discuss! Starting with a review of this year in music - what were the vibes, how are people consuming music and where to discover new artists (3:00)? We also address the long-overdue #MeToo movement needed in Hip-hop and whether recent headlines are a sign that the movement is on the horizon (21:31). And finally we talk the politicisation of popstars, particularly of Beyonce and her Renaissance film (43:38).

This will be the final Black in a Box episode of 2023! So get caught up on anything you missed. Like. Subscribe. Rate. Share. And we will see you with big things in 2024!!

It’s November… UK Black History Month is gone, maybe, for good? Let’s discuss.(1:40) But looking to the future, your hosts grapple with the trials of family-building (Dan & Dom) vs a child-free future (Alahna & Angelo) (26:45). Finally, enough of love! Let’s talk about hate - “hate marches”, specifically. (52:30).

Sometimes world events draw us into difficult conversations. We start by talking about the Israel-Hamas war, discerning the trustworthiness of information being reported as news and the power of language (02:15). Then, in wake of Drake’s latest incel-pandering album, we question how and why have we got here? (27:30).

We close with a chat on some of the physical and mental trials and triumphs of the gang in recent weeks and what these have taught us (56:40).

PLUS A VERY SPECIAL SURPRISE (01:09:14).

First, we’re giving flowers to… drum roll… our own Dan Chirwa for an incredible athletic feat, as well as pre-emptive flowers to Alahna, as she raises money to support two Black Mental Health charities in the UK and USA (donation link below and on our socials).

Then we get into the meat of the episode, starting with an argument on Stormzy, Top Boy and other sacred cows (4:00). Then, we discuss the recent Peckham shop assault (27:45) and end with the controversial story of “Purple” Aki. (41:06).

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Donate to support Black Mental Health Services at:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/ironmanformentalhealth

Former rugby and NFL star Christian Scotland-Williamson joins us to talk about his accidental but completely intentional journey to the Bar Council via two elite collision sports.

We start with his unrewarded origins in rugby (5:06) until the day he answered a chance call at University before a shift at a part time job.

"You beat book". Education has always been Christian's thing in sport and his life. We heard early stories about how he was treated as a big Black boy in school and how he overcame that treatment thanks to his upbringing (16:52).

We touch on his experience with racism in rugby (22:29) and how it is framed as an integration issue before we talk about THE viral tackle (29:15) that changed his life. It led to moving to America into an NFL environment and trying to make it in something entirely new (38.26).

Christian's time in the US coincided with the murder of George Floyd (50:14). He went into what it felt like being in a team coached by Black NFL leader Mike Tomlin at that time.

Then came career three and the law (56:30). Christian went into how he has been able to make his family’s sacrifices worthwhile (1:00:06) before we finish on the Dele Alli interview(1:02:35) his experience and talk about the importance of family units for young Black men.

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Currency, Clout & the Cost of Living

In this episode we are joined, once again, by the prolific writer, journalist and friend of the pod Symeon Brown. This time, we are discussing Beyonce, Mizzy, and the cost of living crisis in the UK. How are these things connected? Have a listen and find out. We start with celebrations and critiques of the entity that is Beyonce (4:40), then we segue into discussing the controversial social media prankster Mizzy (28.57) before addressing what it’s like to exist in the current cost of living crisis (51:32).

*In this episode, we refer to Beyonce’s private performance in Saudia Arabia after the release of her Renaissance album. We would like to be clear that the performance took place in Dubai, U.A.E. and did not feature any music from her most recent Renaissance album.

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