Laughter and Lexapro

Photo courtesy of Squint. “This is crazy.” Despite former Tony! Toni! Toné! frontman Raphael Saadiq’s claims that “It Never Rains in Southern California,” on an uncharacteristically dreary morning, the clouds bearing down on Los Angeles are doing exactly that. Undeterred, he offers a mea culpa: “It doesn’t rain, it like—storms here. Lucky I wore some boots though.” If his calm demeanor in the midst of chaos comes as a surprise, it shouldn’t.

Photo courtesy of Instagram Roses and cards are cool and all, but with Valentine’s Day *counts on fingers* five days away, now’s the opportune time to switch things up. So, in the spirit of comedian Luenell and R&B icon Al B. Sure—who broke the internet recently when they hard-launched their blossoming romance—I’m here to help you do exactly that. You’re welcome in advance. No, no, no. Read that again. Not roses—rosés. As in the delicious pink wine, not the flowers that make women swoon and coo.

Photo courtesy of Respective Collective As a critically acclaimed culture critic and consultant who’s been ensnared in all things entertainment for approximately 12 years and counting, it’s safe to assume I’ve survived a Grammy Week or seven. So, since people always have questions about what it entails, I figured I’d give those of you who haven’t had the privilege of being deprived of sleep for seven days straight a glimpse behind the curtain. You’re welcome in advance.

In a past life, when I still had aspirations to conquer Hollywood as a screenwriter, I vividly recall stumbling into our writers’ room at Culver Studios for what would eventually become Strange Angel for AMC Networks. However, on that particular morning, I had no desire to be there.

Photo courtesy of Drazen Zigic. If you think the “A” in my middle name stands for Atticus or Anthony, then boyyyyyyy, do I have a surprise for you. That “A” is for anxiety—as in, not being worth a damn until my Lexapro decides to cooperate. As in, “Yeah, I’d love to come inside, but I’m in the driveway waiting for Cleo Sol to talk me out of this panic attack.” As in, “What do you mean Christmas is only a week away?!” Oops.

Photo courtesy of Frazer Harrison/Getty Images/Amazon Music. Country music isn’t my ministry, nor would it ever purport itself to be. But since I’ve already been singing the praises of Amazon Music Live for approximately 1,079 days (and counting), I might as well keep that same energy after the latest installment of the popular live-streamed concert series.

Many things in life are definitive: Stuffing is definitively vile, I’m the definitive handsome Black man, and Trump is unquestionably the definitive asshole. But a definitive musical tribute, honoring one of the greatest artists in the history of Western Civilization, is something else entirely.

“I have a question: What’s it like being the GOAT?” When college football star Cameron Cade, played by “Tell Me Lies”’s Tyriq Withers, proposes this inquiry to his mentor, 8-time USFF champion Isiah White—played by Marlon Wayans—one word immediately came to mind: Beyoncé. Gifts of her magnitude don’t grow on trees, and the unrivaled excellence she’s honed and wielded for decades is not for the weak.

As an avid comic book head, X-Men alumna Laura Kinney (AKA X-23, AKA the other Wolverine) introduced me to the concept of a trigger scent. In short, she was a clone created in a lab by an evil corporation—like a room full of Stephen Millers—for the sole purpose of murdering innocent people who would much rather do things like continue breathing oxygen or frolic with pumpkin spice lattes.

(This interview originally appeared in part in The Emancipator.