June 26, 2024 • 52 mins
Some of you may have seen the viral Apple Music list of 100 best albums of all time and raised a few eyebrows at some of the choices made. So of course we had to give our own Black girl spin on the list, and today I’m joined by some of the TBG team members to share the albums that have been quintessential to our development as Black women. Joining me is our Community Assistant, Nyesha, our Project Manager, Lex, our Production Assistant, Zariah, and our Senior Producer, Ellice.
As you hear us respond to various album-related prompts, like most underrated album or an album that reminds us of childhood, feel free to respond with your own answers by sending us a tweet @therapy4bgirls or tagging us on IG or TikTok @therapyforblackgirls.
About the Podcast
The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves.
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Nyesha
Ellice
Lex
Zariah
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Welcome to the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast, a weekly
conversation about mental health, personal development, and all the small
decisions we can make to become the best possible versions
of ourselves. I'm your host, doctor Joy hard and Bradford,
a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information or
(00:32):
to find a therapist in your area, visit our website
at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. While I hope you
love listening to and learning from the podcast, it is
not meant to be a substitute for a relationship with
a licensed mental health professional. Hey, y'all, thanks so much
(00:57):
for joining me for session three sixty five the Therapy
for Black Girls Podcast. We'll get right into our conversation
after a word from our sponsors. Why do friendship breakups
sometimes hurt more than romantic ones? How do I make
friends in a new city? Is it true that women
can't actually be good friends to one another? I'm exploring
(01:21):
all of these questions and so much more in my book,
Sisterhood Heels, now available in paperback at your local independent
bookstore or at sisterhood Heels dot com. Grab a copy
for you and your girls, and let's talk about it.
Some of You may have seen the viral Apple Music
(01:43):
list of one hundred best albums of all time and
raised a few eyebrows and some of the choices that
were made. Well, of course, we had to give our
own Black Girls spin on the list. So today I'm
joined by some of the TVG team members to share
about the albums that were quintessential to our development as
black women. Joining me today is our community assistant Naisha,
(02:05):
our project manager Lex, our production assistant Zaria, and our
senior producer Elise. As you hear us respond to various
album related prompts like most underrated album or an album
that reminds you of childhood, feel free to respond with
your own answers by sending us a tweet at Therapy
for be Girls on Twitter, or tag us in a
(02:27):
post on Instagram or TikTok. We're at Therapy for Black Girls.
If something resonates with you while enjoying our conversation, please
share with us on social media using the hashtag TVG
in session or join us in the Sister Circle to
talk more about the episode. You can join us at
community dot Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. Here's our conversation.
(02:52):
So we are back always exciting to have the team
joining me for what I think will be a very
very fun conversation today. So we know that Apple recently
came up with their top one hundred albums of all time,
and of course we had to do like a TVG
Black Girl version until I have some members of the
team with me today to discuss our favorite albums. So
(03:14):
let's start by people going around telling who you are
and what you do here on the team.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Hi.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
I'm Lex and I'm virtual assistant slash project manager on
the team.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Hey everyone, I am na share our community assistant.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Hi everyone, my name is Zaria Taylor.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
I'm a Rizon junior, I spell my college, and I
serve as production assistant here at TVG.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
Hey everyone, I am the senior producer of the Therapy
for Black Girls podcast Beautiful.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
So we have a wonderful assortment of team members, not
our full team, but quite a few members of the
team here. So I'm curious, are you familiar with the
list that has been going around.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
I've been seeing posts. If you asked me that the
last ten, I wouldn't be able to give it to you.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
So I feel like, I mean, there's of course been
lots of conversation, but I think most of the conversation
has been around miseducation of Lauren Hill being number one.
So what were your reactions specifically to that being named
the number one album of all time?
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Well, it was the album when it came out. However,
we didn't get much more from her and no shade
at or our promise, but that was the album when
it came out, and it still is. I mean, she
was just at Essence last year and she performed that album.
Come on, it's almost thirty years later, right, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:27):
Yeah, to add to that point, if we're judging by impact,
then just the fact that she's been able to ride
her whole career off of this one album is really
impressive and it's influential as well. So I guess it
just depends on what metrics you're using to find the album,
because if I have to say my own personal opinion,
it's not my favorite album. I don't even know if
I was alive when it came out, but I like
(04:47):
they don't get me wrong, I like some songs off
of there, but it's not like my favorite album.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
I support it being the number one album on the
list with what both Nation and Zaria said the fact
that her soul career has been sustained off this one
album and then she had a live album, but this
one studio album is just impactful and it's referenced in
pop culture time and time and time again.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
I was just like really excited to see it at
the top of the list. I won't say I was
necessarily surprised, So I was like, this album is deserving.
When I think of other albums that we talk about
as the greatest of all time, one, I think a
lot of them are male artists, and then two, I
think a lot of it has to do with maybe
a white lens of what good music is. And so
(05:34):
to see a black woman be at the top of
the list that excited me. Regardless of race gender, I
think the album is deserving.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
I was happy to see it at the top of
the list, and I just took like a cursory glance
at the rest of the list, and I was surprised
to see some of my faves so low on the list,
like Confessions is number ninety five, Like I just looked
like five minutes ago, and I was I would have
put that higher. So I'm really interested in how they
decided what number one, And I wonder how much the
(06:02):
number one is them actually thinking that's number one versus
trying to make a balanced list.
Speaker 6 (06:07):
But I think it's a solid number one choice.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Yeah, like many of you, I mean, I definitely was
excited to see a black woman at the top of
the list, Like I think that speaks volumes. And I
was in my prime. Y'all are younger than I am,
but I was in college when this came out. It
might have been like my freshman or sophomore year. So
it definitely feels like a defining album for me. And
you've all said, you know, for her to be able
(06:29):
to sustain her career based on just this one album,
I think was really really cool. But I was surprised
because it does feel like we've gotten so much good music.
But I'm like, Okay, I could see it, like I
could see the argument for why this would be number one.
But many of you have hinted at this next question.
But when you think about what makes something the best
(06:50):
of music, what kinds of characteristics or metrics are you
using to say something is your best?
Speaker 5 (06:57):
Well, I want to say first it comes to comparing
art period and like ranking art period because I feel
like there are albums that suit me for a different
time in my life, Like I'm happy I have that album,
when I'm sad I have that album. And I'm not
interested in saying which one is better. It's just each
one has a different purpose for me in my life.
But if I had to answer the question, I would
(07:18):
say impact for sure. So as we're mentioning with the
Lauren Hill album, did this album have that influence where
all these other artists were born as a result of this,
or did it create its own genre, its own style.
Sometimes album can even influence people's style at the time,
So if there was like a series of music videos,
it can impact the other art that's coming out around
that time, And so that is important to me. And
then also when thinking about albums that came out before
(07:40):
the streaming era, to be able to get so many
accolades and sales without having that extra push is also
incredibly impressive to me.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
I'll actually diverge from what Zaria said. I love pop music,
and I think when you talk about popular music, you
really can't do that without comparing like that's what the
bill charts are, that's what the Grammys are, and so
it really excites me to compare music. I think about
one just storytelling. I think it's things from the album
(08:12):
cover and the features and who was producing at the time.
How does it tell a story about the time in
which the album was produced. So that's something that's really
important to me. And I do think having quote unquote
popular songs, whether that's the songs are popular to a
subgroup or a region, or they're popular nationwide or worldwide,
(08:34):
being able to generate that popularity in a community, to
me is really important when I'm talking about an album
that is the best. Of course, like my personal taste
bleeds into that, but sometimes when I've written or talked
about popular music, I do have to like step aside
and say, even though I may not love this album
(08:54):
as a whole, the production is really good and the
impact it had on culture is there, and I can't
deny that when I'm talking about the album. So I
think that's really important to me. But then, like what
Zaria said, a really good album has a lot of
sons and a lot of impact, and the mis education
of Lauryn Hill, I don't think we would have even
(09:15):
the modern day like neo soul or alternative R and
B without this album, and so seeing kind of all
the artists that are produced for that, how many times
it's been sampled. Even Drake has sampled songs off of
the Miss Education and so all this other great music,
all these other great artists do not exist without X
y Z albums. So that also comes to mind when
(09:38):
I'm thinking about what is the best album or the
best music video or the best song.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
You guys were also objective, and I'm very much like, oh,
it's completely about how I feel.
Speaker 6 (09:49):
Real like if I like it or not.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Because this made me think, I don't know that I
would be able to pick like a top five albums
because it's just so difficult, and like you said, Zaria,
it kind of depends on where you are in your life.
But I am certainly like an R and B person,
and I vocal performance is part of the reason that
Beyonce is like my favorite artist, and so I would
say that's probably my number one metric is vocal performance
(10:12):
and then like the production.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Yeah, so I really want to emphasize, with Zaria mentioned,
if you are able to touch in the country though
even the world without streaming, and that's what Miss Education
did probably within the first couple of months. That's golden
right there. But for me personally, if I can listen
to this album every season, at every moment, then that's real.
Like we're not going to put on Mariah Carrey's How
(10:35):
They Music right now, I'm not listening to that. So
if I could put on mis Education, I'm vibing today
as well as New as Eve, as well as on
Christmas Day. So that's just my personal thoughts. So it's
kind of like what Lex was saying, it's based on
how I feel. However, there are artists including Beyonce and
mis Clio, and I can listen to the Old Times
as well well.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
It was such an important point that you made, Zaria
around the impact and like, how many other genres and
other artists are birth from this person. And I'm glad
I knew you would have the answer at least because
you're a music historian, Because I was thinking, oh, is
Lauren Heal the birth of the neo soul movement? And
I think she was, like, I think that was what
opened the doors for Jill Scott and India Iri and
(11:16):
like all of these other people that I really really love,
so really glad you said that, because that does make
me think about the impact is even much larger than
I think I initially thought, because she was in some
ways the first neo soul artist. So I know you
all have had a chance to peruse the list. I'm
curious to hear. What do you think should have been
included and these albums were not. Does anything come to
(11:39):
mind for you?
Speaker 4 (11:40):
I have thought so the fact that to me, the
Emancipation of Memi by Mariah Carey is not on the list,
it makes me really disappointed that album has no skiffs.
But I also think it is a great pop and
R and B album, and I think Mariah Carey is
always been pop in R and B. But like this
(12:02):
was a record breaking album, like We Belong Together on
the charts for over two months, that this was in
the top ten, So that was very interesting to me
that that didn't make the list. Also, like Lex said,
I thought her vocal performance on that album is amazing,
like there's Fly like a Bird. But even when she's
singing just these pop records, something people say about Beyonce
(12:24):
is like you think she's singing great, but you don't
realize how hard it is to sing radio record at
the pace and quality that she does. I feel the
same about Mariah Carey. And then another one that came
to mind was That's the Way of the World by
earth Wind and Fire. There are no earth Wind in
Fire albums on the list, so that was interesting to
me too, especially given that Nile Rogers is one of
(12:46):
the people who ranked the albums, or like is in
the promotion discussing it. That's interesting, But those are the
two that stood out immediately for me.
Speaker 5 (12:55):
For me, I don't have specific albums that I feel
like we're snubbed. More so, there are some albums that
I feel like we're ranked higher than they should have
been and some that were ranked lower than they should
have been. So something that comes to mind to me
is at number nineteen, I think is Taylor nineteen eighty nine,
and I just feel like that's a very undeserved spot
for that album. And there are a lot of Like
Beatles albums and like, going back to Lexu's earlier point
(13:16):
about like enjoyment, I can objectively say that, oh Beatles
have had such an impact on modern music, but if
you ast me listen to their music, it's gonna make
me fall asleep. Like I'm just not really interested. And
then I would also say there wasn't enough trap and
rap albums on there, and rap in general, people feel
like it's more legitimized if it's mixed with other genres,
so like if you have a rock rap fusion or
(13:37):
rap R and B fusion, those tend to make it
on the list. Like I saw Take Care by Drake
on there, but when it's just pure rap, I feel
like because of racism, it's not viewed in a way
that is like critically acclaimed. So I feel like it
was definitely missing some rap albums in there.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Yeah, I think when I thought about like rap on
the list, it was interesting that so Kanye's My Beautiful,
Dark Twisted Fantasy is chosen. I think that deserves to
be on the list. But to me, when I think
about impactful rap albums, I think he has several others
that should have been on the list. Jay Z only
has one album, The Blueprint on the list. Ready to
(14:12):
Die is there, Tupac All Eyes on Me is there.
But I felt like a lot of the albums that
they chose were good and were fair, but they were
maybe the easy choice. Of course, the Tribe Call Quest
is on their Outcast is on the list too. But
I do think when it comes to modern day rap albums,
Tyler cratiors Flower Boy is on there. I think I
(14:33):
am like raking my brain to see what other albums
when I think about like modern day rap should have
been on there. The only one that I will say
is I do think Nicki Minaja's Pink Friday should have
been on the list. I'm not saying that just because
like she started the rebirth of female rap for a
certain generation. I honestly think it's a really good album.
(14:57):
So that was definitely a snub. I think because a
lot of the albums on the list that our rap
albums were chosen because I think they were really foundational
to a region or to a specific period in rap.
That's the reason that they were chosen. For me, it's
hard to justify why some things post twenty ten should
(15:18):
be on the list because I can't root for its
impact just yet. So that's what I was thinking about rap, Like,
I don't necessarily think it's bad. I just don't think
for some of these albums there's been enough time to
see its impact.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
I'd love to add that I was just looking at
the top ten and there are seven black artists there.
I am proud and happy to see that. However, when
at least was mentioned in the Blueprint and Ready to
Die in Tupac's album, those are like classic albums. We
didn't have much from Biggie and Tupac after those albums.
I feel like they just had to throw it in there.
So I do feel like some albums were added in
there just because. But I'm happy to see that Number
(15:52):
five is Blonde by Frank Ocean.
Speaker 6 (15:54):
No, I'm not.
Speaker 7 (15:57):
Be Channel Orange, Channel Orange, both of them. But when
I think of I understand why people like the respective
albums like more than the other.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
I get it. But when I think of the best
foundational to music, I'm like, it's the first one we
have Frank Ocean collaborating with jay Z Kanye Beyonce like
relatively early in his career without that album. But I
also do think top to bottom listen and when I
think about grouping popular albums together, Channel Orange is the
(16:32):
better one. So I wasn't startled because I know people
love Blonde. I love Blonde, but I was like, Channel
Orange is the one that deserves me on this list.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
I can agree there too. But I enjoy Frank Ocean
in total Channelonge got me through college whatever year it
came out, I was just enjoying it on the train
in New York City. I can listen to the album
from literally top to bottom, as you said, But I'm
happy Blonde is on there.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Y'all?
Speaker 5 (16:53):
Is this a safe space because I have to my truth?
Speaker 7 (16:57):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (17:00):
I have to speak my truth, y'all. I have to
speak my truth. I do not like Frank Ocean. I'm
so sorry I said it. I don't like Frank.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Assert being older than you.
Speaker 7 (17:11):
Saria.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
Don't get it.
Speaker 6 (17:13):
I don't get it.
Speaker 5 (17:14):
I really don't.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
I'm sorry. Okay, you don't tell us more about this.
Speaker 5 (17:18):
Let me just say generally this is a theme for me,
and people always make fun of me for this. I
do not like slow music, or like monotone music or
emotional music. I'm always want to listen to stuff as
a beet. Like I know how some people have sad
playlists that they listen to when they're sad. I don't
want to listen to music and feel sad. I want
to listen to music and feel happy. So for me,
Frank Ocean's music. It just makes me want to fall asleep.
It's just so slow and just so drawn out and boring.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
I can't.
Speaker 5 (17:41):
I love thinking about You though that's my song, but
the rest I just can't.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
I'm so sorry, Zorry.
Speaker 6 (17:47):
That's so funny because thinking about You is so slow.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Yeah, but it just is different. I don't know how
to describe it as different.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
And I'm one dred percent with the least where I'm like,
I have very vivid memories tied to like where I
was or what I was doing, that I will hyper
fixate on an album. My friends got so tired of
coming over and then hearing Channel Orange again, and so
I'm with Elise on that.
Speaker 6 (18:09):
I think that Top to Bottom is like a perfect album.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
I love it.
Speaker 6 (18:12):
And so I was shocked to see that Blonde was
there and not Channel Orange.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Preat Ocean, to me feels like a part of this
new school of artists that like I have not tapped
all the way into. So I am familiar with Channel Orange.
I don't even know if I know a song from Blonde.
I wouldn't argue that either way. Well, actually I guess
I would argue for Channel Orange because it's the one
I'm as familiar with.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
I just want to speak to Elise's point because I
didn't even notice that Emancipation of Mimia is not on
the list, and that is one of my favorite albums
of all time. It really is no skips. I remember
driving like my senior year of high school listening to
that all the way through.
Speaker 6 (18:45):
It would get to the end.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
And I would just loop it back around, like she
sings so well and the production the features, like that
is a really good one and we belong together as
one of those songs that like generations like my.
Speaker 6 (18:56):
Grandmother, my mom. I love that song. That definitely belong
on the list somewhere.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
I'd love to go back when Lek's Shared Confessions was
number ninety five and I was like what, like this
is not rocking and that's kind of when, like I said,
my best friend sharing it on social and I was like, Okay,
what is this And I didn't realize that Earth Wind
and Fire was not one to come on. We know
their song are still a part of history, so that
was very very interesting.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
So My Life, I think is number eighty five on
the list.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Mary J.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Blige and to me is like probably one of my
top three albums. I mean, I'm glad they made the list,
but to see it's so low was very surprising to
me and feels like a snub. I also didn't realize
that The Emancipation of Me Me was not on the list,
and that is also one of my favorite albums, so
I would argue for that to have been included as well.
So that definitely feels like a snub. So at least,
(19:46):
can you say more about who the judges were besides
now Rogers?
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Nile Rogers if you don't know, he is the guitarist
in Chic So like I want your love to Maggie Rogers,
I think so two. So she's a singer, I say,
pop folk adjacent. She went to NYU. She was discovered
by Pharrell. There's like a viral clip of it. Then
(20:10):
zaying Lowe and Ebro, who are Apple Music hosts and
music journalists. I don't think they are the main ones
who selected the list. I think it was a mass
group of people. But there's a short series of them
like talking through the albums, and they're the ones behind
that got it.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
So I'm curious to hear.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Do you think that there is any danger in like
large platforms like an Apple or Rolling Stone, like coming
out with these kinds of lists where we know the
panel of judges is not super diverse, like any concerns
there for any of you.
Speaker 4 (20:43):
So from who they selected, I think I was thrown
off to not see a black woman, just because I
know there are probably one hundred Apple employees and like
journalists who crafted this list that we just don't know
their names. That's what I'm assuming. But I do think
it was odd that of how how foundational black women
have been to music, there was not a black woman
(21:03):
who was a part of the marketed kind of conversation
the face of this list. That was harmful to me. Now,
although we see a black woman at the number one spot,
I do think when I look at the list overall,
there are a lack of black women artists. To me,
it's interesting that the Beatles is so heavy on this
list and they're not American, even though they had a
(21:25):
big impact in the States. Outside of the Beatles, there's
a lack of artists who had a big impact in
the States who are not Americans. So that's a part
of the lack of diversity that we see. But number
two is I wrote for Rolling Stone about Beyonce's greatest songs,
and I thought who they picked was very, very diverse.
I thought it was really intentional, but I see the differences,
(21:47):
like we were given space to write about it, and
so everyone's own personality got to shine through. Although Apple
did a little bit of that. I think when the
list is so big in general, that's when diversity starts
to be a problem, because it's, Okay, what does best mean?
Are we limiting this to American artists? What is the
(22:09):
time frame? And so I think it's maybe less about
like the personnel and less about who is this list for.
How are we defining best? And I do think this
Apple list, I wish I had a little bit more
insight into that. But then I also wish there was
any woman of color at the forefront of those who
(22:30):
are talking about the canon of popular music.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
Seeing missy Elia a super Dupa Fly, I'm a diehard
Miss Celia fan. I'm like, y'all chose super Dupa Fly,
y'all could have chose under construction. It was just weird.
And then now I'm literally seeing bad Bunny is above this.
I feel like there was some shade there, like Bad
Bunny came out.
Speaker 6 (22:47):
Three four years ago.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Maybe fine, But I also like Pharall did have some
insight on it as well, and I would think Phararel
will pump up these albums a little bit more. I'm
not sure how much of an insight he had. The
first thing I think of my mind was not everybody
has Apple music about the enjoyd uses. Obviously I have
an iPhone, but who's listening to Apple only? So it
was just like many thoughts throughout my head. But again,
when these charts are just booming, I'm like, who really
(23:11):
chooses it? I don't know, And it's been like that
since I was a child. I'm like, who decided this?
Because I didn't listen to that song, I didn't listen
to that album, but just to consume, I guess.
Speaker 5 (23:20):
I think I found myself wary of the list for
several reasons. I think this is a marketing scheme, so
the sincerity of the ranking, to me, I don't buy it.
I feel like there are certain albums that were played
certain ways so that they can get a reaction from
the public. So that's one, and then two, I think
when we talk about music, there's a misconception that it
(23:42):
is like innocent. But our views about music don't just
happen out of a vacuum, like our biases play into
how we listen to music. So for example, a reluctance
to listen to international music, that can be some microaggressive racism,
not wanting to listen to stuffiside another language. Or for example,
a lot of the abrasiveness towards hip hop, especially from
white people, is a lot of racism about you know,
(24:04):
all they do is talk about money and girls and da.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
Da da da da.
Speaker 5 (24:08):
So because of that, I think that those views most
definitely played a part in how the list was crafted,
and so because of that, it makes me less likely
to view it with any credibility. But I also wasn't
going to view or credibility anyways, because, like I said,
I think it's a marketing scheme.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
Exactly that Saria I was going to say something very similar.
It's the same thing like when we had the Oscar
So White campaign, right, and it's like we give all
of this validation or we allow these institutions to hold
all these weight deciding who to give awards to. And
this feels the same thing of like I think they
tried to have a little bit of something for everybody
on this list, right, and like you don't want to
piss off certain demographics and populations, and so I think
(24:46):
it's convenient that we don't see like a notable black woman,
even like a black journalist like a Dreamhampton or a
Danielle Smith on that list.
Speaker 6 (24:53):
We don't see that.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
But then putting a black woman's album as the number one,
it almost feels like a gimme. So while the album
is great, right, a lot of these albums are favorites
and they're great in their own right, I know that
this is essentially like marketing content like a thirty under
thirty list is the same thing.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Yeah, And I think even thinking about Lauren Hill's feelings
about Miseducation right, like, I think she has a conflictual
kind of relationship even with that album herself. We've already
talked about the impact, but thinking about how that even
feels for her for this album to be like named
the one number one album of all time when it's
not even something she can perform and it's like original format. Anyway,
(25:32):
great thoughts there. I appreciate y'all sharing that. More from
our conversation after the break this July, Therapy for Black
Girls is bringing our yearly Minority Mental Health Month celebration
in person to Atlanta, Georgia. Join us Thursday, July eighteenth
and Friday, July nineteenth as we shine a light on
(25:53):
mental health professionals and all those who dedicated their careers
to holding space for others. Our inaugural Whole Space for
Healers Therapists Summit will gather some of our favorite voices
in the field for workshops, seminars, and opportunities to connect.
You don't want to miss this, so secure your ticket
to wellness by visiting Therapy for Blackgirls dot com slash Healers. So, Alici,
(26:21):
you already talked about feeling like can anything post twenty
ten really be classified as a classic? Can anything like
that even make it onto a list like that?
Speaker 3 (26:31):
So?
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Are there any newer albums, like maybe within the last
two to three years that y'all think could classify already
as a classic or kind of raised to the level
of being on a list like this?
Speaker 4 (26:43):
So a seat at the table is on here, But
when I get home, that's gonna come back around. Bubb
Ba by Kate Trenada I think really does define like
modern day dance and house music is controlled by SUSA.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
On the list, it is Alwas, and that's one that
I would argue does not belong on the list. I
love her down but that's when I got to shake
the table like Zaria. I think it was z Was
the project that she released before that that to me is.
Speaker 6 (27:11):
Like a classic says a project.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
But Control, I was like, so, so I should not be
on this list at all. And that's why because I
wasn't the biggest fan, but Control, it's amazing the cultural
impact is there. So that's one where you know it
came out recently, but I think it should be on
the list. This may be controversial, but I really love
Olivia Rodrigo and I think that's the name of the album.
I think that should be on the list. Maybe Billie
(27:35):
Eilish or some more underground artists have had like a
punk pop sensibility, but I don't think we've seen an
artist like Olivia rod Rigo since Avril Levine in two
thousand and three. So that's someone who I definitely put
on the list. I really love Blood Orange dev Hines
his project, so I could see in a few years,
(27:56):
just like where alternative R and B pop goes, especially
for like black artists. They're pretty influential to that space,
so maybe their albums could be on the list, but
those are the ones that came to mind origionally.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
I am upset about Jazz and Sullivan not being on here. Yes,
Jazz and obviously the most recent Hotels. And as I
go through it now when we're talking about Sissa Control,
oh my goodness, control what happened? So mainly Jazz and
Sullivan for me because she won a Grammy for this one, right, yeah,
I don't know what happened. And like I'm looking at Nwa,
(28:30):
I'm also looking at Ellmatic, not saying these were not his,
but it was just like, let's make sure we throw
that in there. That's how I feel.
Speaker 4 (28:37):
I have a couple.
Speaker 5 (28:38):
I know Alicia mentioned Bubba by Kay Trinada, but Timeless.
His most recent album is Timeless. I love it, so
I feel like that will be a classic. And then
Bryson Tiller's Trap Soul. I feel like that album is very,
very influential. It didn't necessarily birth, but it definitely brought
out a lot more of these half rapper half singer types,
whether that is a good thing or a bad thing,
(28:59):
because I feel like he definitely was responsible for like
a Brent Bayaz type vibe where like it's just chill
type music. And then I agree about control sos should
not be on this list. I should have mentioned that
in the snubs. I do not like the album. I
hate it actually, so that should not be on here.
And then I agree about hotels. And then lastly I
want to mention Paramore's self titled album that has Still
(29:23):
Into You, and then ain't It Fun?
Speaker 4 (29:25):
Those are like Negro.
Speaker 5 (29:26):
Spirituals, Like those are like such great songs, so I
would include those.
Speaker 6 (29:30):
I'm gonna give the caveat that. I don't know.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
This is more like my personal top one hundred, and
I feel like I'm gonna be cleaning my house on
Sundays at like fifty and sixty still listening to Mother
by Cleo Soul. I feel like that was an instant
classic album.
Speaker 6 (29:45):
It is me.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
It's a certain vibe. But that's another one that I
feel like can spand generations and it's just so good,
Like the replay value is so good, but it is
kind of slow, so that might not be for Sarry.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
I was just checking there's no Destiny Shot album one here,
not at all, and there's two Beyonce albums. Cheers, but
what happened? Letn't disrespect Beyonce. You put Nwa on here.
We're just sticking in the black category where and I'm
just I'm like, wow, this list is very interesting to me.
There's two Prince albums, It's great, but what happened to
Dustin's Shop?
Speaker 1 (30:16):
And I will just have to add Renaissance because I
feel like that still is a no Skiffs album. I mean,
she does have two on the list, so self titled
and Lemonade, which I would not argue with, but I
definitely feel like Renaissance again is a not skip album
for me, and it feels very emblematic of the post pandemic,
though not quite because we are not, but it does
(30:38):
feel like the reintroduction to gathering and joy and celebration
and it felt perfectly timed. So I definitely feel like
it may have been too early for inclusion on this list,
but I definitely feel like that is going to be
something that is a classic album down the line.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Taylor Swifts nineteen ninety nine was included that came out
in twenty twenty three.
Speaker 6 (30:57):
It wasn't it was too late.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Lemonade is an album that I understand why it's on
the list, but I'm not presently on Eliminade staying through
the whole thing. No, this is a sidebar. My thoughts
on Lemonade are a lot of the demo and live
versions of that album are leaps and bounds better than
the songs that we actually hear on the album Don't
(31:21):
Hurt Yourself live at Homecoming Live, I might y'all should
have done the live recording and for the album Sorry demo,
we didn't even need Sorry once I heard Sorry, don't
need it. But I think a lot of the songs
I'll listen to individually, but I'm not listening to the
album like top to bottom. It is too much for me.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
I'm with Elise too. I typically turn Lemonade off when we.
Speaker 6 (31:41):
Get to the like forgiveness part. That's true.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
I'm good, y'all.
Speaker 5 (31:48):
This conversation is going to be what tears our team
apart for real Lemonade.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
Hete it's just so repulsive.
Speaker 4 (31:54):
Oh my god, I love Lemonade.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
We're gonna need a group therapy session as a team
to rehals to bring it back together after this conversation. Okay,
so now I have a bit of a round robin,
though it doesn't have to necessarily be rapid fire. I
have some prompts and I want each of you to
share what comes to mind for the following prompts. So
an album you feel is underrated.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
Keep that Same Energy by Tianna Taylor.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Janney I go. The album is sail Out.
Speaker 4 (32:25):
Mine would be I have to.
Speaker 5 (32:27):
I have Funk Wave Bounces by Calvin Harris and then
over It by Summer Walker, which I also feel like
is going to be classic ten years from now.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
I do love Summer The lyrics sometimes are hard for
me to relate to, but I just love her voice.
I think for me it's going to be Seeing Sounds
by NRD.
Speaker 1 (32:43):
I will have to go with t MIA's first album,
but really, her whole catalog I think is criminally underrated. Okay,
what about an album that brings up memories from childhood
or teenagehood for you?
Speaker 2 (32:56):
TLC, Oh My Goodness, TLC Waterfalls. Wait, the list Oh
My Goodness toocs are on the same. I'm a little upset.
I don't agree. I'm about to become an android user,
I'm just joking, So definitely yeh toc artists as a whole,
but Waterfalls and SWV Oh my god. See yeah, I'm
getting a little upset and be quiet now.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
Childhood definitely, Goodies by Sierra, The Emancipation of Me, Me,
and then Teenage Years, The Weekend, like the Trilogy, Channel
Orange Watch the Throne, which I thought should have been
on this list, Good Kidmas City too. Those are the
(33:37):
teenage albums.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
So for me, I'm thinking by Duism and any State Property,
all the albums the CDs that I used to steal
out of my mom's car, But by Duism was the
first one I used to take from my mom, and
I played it so much that it like scratched and
it would skip. I think about Childhood a lot for
that one, and Secrets by Tony Braxton, which I was
way too young to be singing along to those songs,
(34:00):
but that's a classic album for sure.
Speaker 5 (34:02):
I have a hard time answering this question because when
I was younger, I didn't have the attention span to
listen to albums in full, so I really only have songs.
I was listening to a lot of white pop music,
and like what was popular on Billboard when I was younger,
so unfortunately a lot of Taylor Swift was what I
was listening to, Harry Styles, things of that nature.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
I want to.
Speaker 4 (34:19):
Circle back because I cannot leave this and not say,
like childhood and teenage years, Lady Gaga, I am a
little monster like I was listening to Lady Gaga. I
think the first CD that I was like knocking on
my parents' door, like we need to go buy this
was Lady Gaga's first album. Oh and I don't know
if you guys know Toro Eymoa his first album. That album,
(34:42):
when I was in late middle school early high school,
was really really big.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
I'd love to share small, like a thirty second story.
So my grandmother said, do you want to see Lion
King or Broadway or buy a CD player? And I
chose CD player and the album I got was Pink's
Misunderstood and I was it and I didn't get to
see Lion King on Broadway, but my grandmother gave me
a choice.
Speaker 3 (35:06):
I support past Nacia's choice. That is a good one
when I think about childhood too. Stop Falling is another
song where it's like Alexis you are ten, You've never
had your heartbroken? Why do you keep listening to this
song on repeat? Because it was a great song? Yeah,
great choice. Nation.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
The generational differences are really coming through here because my
childhood pick is Luther Vandraw. So this was one of
my auntie's favite favorite artists and I just remember listening
to his catalog all the time. So I will have
to say Luther Vandraw. Okay, what about an album that
your parents are older family put you onto.
Speaker 5 (35:43):
I have two answers, So first would be the Waiting
to Exhale soundtrack, and that has several really classic songs
on there. And then secondly, People's Instinctive Travels by a
Triplald Quest. That album it brings a lot of nostalgia
to me because it was played around me a lot.
Speaker 2 (35:58):
So Papa was a rolling Stone. I don't remember what
year this came out, but my mother in law put
my daughter onto it, and it's an eleven minute song
and she requests it in the car. I didn't listen
to a grown up that much, but we listened to
the entire thing very often, and I didn't realize just
I think Lex has said it, I was listening to
songs I should not have been listening to, Like when
it comes to even Tony Braxtt SMBB Escape, I remember
(36:21):
having hairbrushes and my grandmother's like just sing and I
wouldn't let my daughter listen to that music now, but
I laugh. I laugh.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
For me, it's just Whitney Houston period where my dad's
side of the family are musically inclined. They sing, play instruments.
My mom's side of the family should not. So when
my mom is like pretending to sing, right, Whitney is
her artist, and so growing up listening to Whitney Houston,
she is like my number one artist of all time.
And it's because of my mom's influence.
Speaker 4 (36:49):
This is on the list and it's so funny. I
saw someone on Twitter screenshots I would be like, wtf
is this? It's Aja by Steely Dan. I love Steely Dan.
I love Blue Eyed Soul and Yacht Rocks, So that
is one of my favorite albums. My dad's favorite song
was Deacon Blues by Steely Dan, So that's an album
that my dad put me onto. My mom, I'd say
(37:13):
she loves Print like any Prince album. I know every
Prince song. I have a Prince tattoo when I think
of my mom, I think of Prince and then my
cousins who are a lot older than me, but I
guess when I was growing up there in their early
twenties mid twenties, they Love Love, Love, Dayglass Soul, a
Tribe call Quest, and so Three Feet High and Rising
is one of the albums I feel like I remember
(37:35):
through family.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
And I will say Anita Baker Rapture because that was
one of the Saturday morning cleaning songs that my mom
would play, So I definitely associated with that, but also
just love Anita Baker now, so that definitely would be
my answer. More from our conversation after the break, Okay,
(38:02):
what about an album you associate with a specific season
or time of the year.
Speaker 2 (38:07):
I'll jump in really quick. We're just gonna go with
Mariah Carey's holiday music as well as Destin Shoo. I literally,
I mean, I'm sure half the world plays it during
that time.
Speaker 4 (38:16):
Amory's All I Have is not necessarily a spring or
summer album. It's when it gets hot in the spring
that's the album. Like when the weather breaks Amory's All
I Have.
Speaker 5 (38:26):
I was gonna say Beyonce's Lion King soundtrack that whole
album reminds me of the summer. I don't know if
it came out in the summer, but there are a
couple of songs on there, Don't Jealous Me and also
a Brown Skin Girl that just give me like joyful
summer vibes.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
So I'm thinking reasonable doubt. Specifically, there's certain songs on
that album I have a specific memory tied to listen to,
feeling it while driving to the beach with my friends
and the sun roofs open and it's beautiful and it
just feels like an ideal, picturesque summer day. And so yeah,
reasonable doubt it's gonna be.
Speaker 1 (38:58):
Mine, and I'm gonna go with a lease so a Marie,
but Touch was mine because one thing feels like the
beginning of summer song to me, So definitely Amory would Touch. Okay,
what about an album that helped you through a tough time?
Speaker 6 (39:13):
That one's easy for me. Doctor Joy's Renaissance.
Speaker 3 (39:16):
It's renaissance because I feel like the world was coming
back together, but personally things in my life were with family,
stuff was unexpectedly going crazy, and so that album just
feels like joy to me, Like I feel like I
can hop in the joy Portal and listen to Renaissance
at any time.
Speaker 6 (39:31):
So that's my answer forever.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
So for me, it is Scissor's Control. Though I couldn't
relate to all of the lyrics, but just the vibe
and Melie. I just became a mom. That's when I
first got my therapist. That's when I was trying to
be going to couples therapy. It wasn't working. It was
just like I just need this music to bring it
in for me. And then Jazz and Sullivan's Hotels, which
I'm still upset it's not on this list, but we
know we love it, and just it was a vibe
(39:54):
and she just she came back. I knew her when
she first came out and Missy and then she just
came back with so much more. But definitely physics control.
You know, I'm gonna listen to that. I have to
get off.
Speaker 5 (40:04):
Yeah, I also want to echo Renaissance. And then there's
an album by one of my favorite artists. It is
the band called Hiatus Coyote and they have album called
Mood Valiant. When I was going through a hard time,
like that album was literally just on repeat on my
headphones the entire time and the story behind that album.
The main singer of the band, she had a breast
(40:24):
cancer diagnosis. But the album, the lyrics and everything are
just so optimistic and so it made me think I
have stuff to be grateful for. And I plan on
getting some of the lyrics from that album tattooed actually
because it's so meaningful for me.
Speaker 4 (40:36):
So yeah, me and my best friend we were going
through breakups at the same time in college and we
used to just listen to Blonde by Frank Ocean, like
back to back, So that is one. I think Frank
by Amy Winehouse is another, like breakup album or even
Back to Black, both of them that I'll listen to
(40:57):
a lot. And I know when I'm in a mood
where I need to boost my confidence, so not necessarily
a bad time in life or where I feel like
I need to level up, I'm listening to my beautiful, dark,
twisted Fantasy. The lyrics are so good and just like
some very cocky rapping going honest like you, sometimes you
just need to hear that to feel better.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
So yeah, I'd love to add AlSi shared. If I
need to boost my confidence, it is Pink Friday, Nicki
Minaj I'm like, what all of it I'm.
Speaker 1 (41:26):
Going I will have to say going through the breakup?
So breakup album also with my high school boyfriend in
ninety six ninety seven, and my album was Share My
World by Mary J. Blige. I feel like it was
a very good one to help go through a breakup.
But I feel like Nation and Alia y'all have given
us another category that I hadn't planned on asking about
(41:47):
what is your confidence booster song or album?
Speaker 5 (41:51):
I'm gonna go with self Titled by Beyonce. There are
just several songs come to mind. I mean Flawless by itself. Honestly,
that is like the song you sing in the Mirror
like I have so many afforcs that, so I would
say self titled.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
And I honestly think I'm just gonna have to say
Renaissance again. I want to have another answer, but that
is my answer because that girl, it's just literally is like, okay,
I can do anything. Let me just remember who I
am really quick.
Speaker 1 (42:13):
I love the idea of renaissance. That feels like a
close second to me. But Golden by Jill Scott is
my classic kind of confidence booster. Okay, what about an
album by an audience from your hometown or region.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
Obviously, Nicki's from the Jamaica Queens. I was born in
Jamaica Queens, so it hits on the market. Yeah, it's
Nicki for me.
Speaker 5 (42:35):
So I have to I'm from Atlanta. So my first
one is by Young Thug. It's called so Much Fun.
That is like my quintessential, like high school album. I
love the album so much, and the name fits it
so well because it really is like a joyful album.
And then also, I know when people think of Kanye
was thick of Chicago, but he's actually born in Atlanta.
So Kanye is, unfortunately my problematic fave. He's my favorite rapper,
(42:56):
so I have several albums from him that I love.
But I'll mention It'll Heartbreaks because I think that album
is so influential to the modern rap scene in terms
of the usage of autotune and things of that nature.
I feel like he really birthed the wave with that album.
So I'll mention that one.
Speaker 6 (43:12):
Okay, So I'm gonna mix it up a little bit.
I'm not from Philadelphia. I'm from a suburb outside of Philly,
So I'm just gonna take some creative liberty there.
Speaker 3 (43:20):
My album is gonna be The Becoming by Beanie Siegel,
which is like, I don't listen to a bunch of
like gangster A violent stuff, but my high school boyfriend
was constantly playing that album and so uncharacteristically, I know,
like every song front to back, and I love it.
Speaker 4 (43:36):
Okay, Wala, he's from Maryland. I'm from DC, but the
mixtape About Nothing by Walle, I really do love that album.
Marvin Gaye is from DC. I just love all of
Marvin Gaye's music in general, and I think it's very
representative of someone who was from DC at that time.
I'm always proud to claim that, you know, a lot
(43:56):
of R and B singers are from DC. So Maya
and Best to me the case of the X, those
are two of my favorite R and B songs. And
then generally I love Go Go music. But other than
like Chuck Brown, albums aren't really albums. There are just songs.
So yeah, those are the ones I'm thinking about. I'm
not that big of a Brent Faiaz fan. He's from Maryland.
(44:17):
I mean, I like his music, but that is nothing
that I would like say, Okay, this is the album
I'm listening to.
Speaker 1 (44:23):
Not really, y'all will not be at all surprised by
My choice is juvenile four hundred degrees, So y'all know
that back that thing up is my walkout music for
any speaking engagement. So that definitely is my college experience.
Louisiana experience is defined by classic bounce music.
Speaker 4 (44:44):
Actually, now I feel really bad. Khalila is from DC
and she went to my sister's high school. Take Me
Apart is one of my favorite albums, and I do think,
circling back to the question in a few years, what
albums would be on this list? That and even her
most recent album, Raven definitely would be on the list.
Speaker 1 (45:03):
All right, So I'm curious about this one. This is
probably one of my favorite prompts. So an album that
is quintessential to your development as a black woman.
Speaker 2 (45:11):
Gosh, can I say Beyonce when she became solo all
the way up until Renaissance. There's an age difference, of course,
but just you know, stepping into your own beauty, own
independence going through relationships. When I was dating short time,
it was just like, this is what I want and
this is not happening. So I'm ringing the alarm. That
was so funny and a lot of people know this
(45:33):
about me and the Sister Circle. But I graduated college
writing erotica. So mister Elliott has a huge influence on
me writing erotica because her songs are so sexual and
I was listening to them at a very young age,
so that helped me creatively.
Speaker 4 (45:49):
Tasty and Kaleidoscope our two albums, I just think are
very expressive. And she was really angry, and I think
as a younger black girl, I struggled with like feelings
of anger, like I'm not supposed to be angry, and
so I felt like I held a lot of things
in So those albums, hearing them for the first time
were helped me feel affirmed, like yes, you can be angry.
(46:10):
So I really enjoy those two albums. And then I
do think, although sometimes I can't relate to all of
the lyrics, I think I had heard a lot of
white artists that sounded like Sizza but not looked like Sisa,
and so hearing that more alternative music and it be
so vulnerable come from a black woman, I also really
(46:32):
appreciate it. So I'll say Control too.
Speaker 5 (46:35):
So I already mentioned this album, but Beyonce's self titled
I Think was for me an introduction to feminism, and
obviously since listening to that album, the idea of feminism
is so much more expansive than what was presented. But
still I feel like that album was very empowering. And
then I'm really mad. Actually I didn't mention this already,
but Megan the Stallion's Tina Snow is just such a
confidence booster for me, and like I fell in love
(46:56):
with her since I listened to the album. Her confidence
in the mic blew my mind at the time of
hearing it. And then I Think Control by Sisa. We've
obviously mentioned it several times, but I think that album
really encompasses the feeling of growing up. And then lastly,
Timilte Lisa's point Willow Smith's Lately I Feel Everything. I
feel like that album is very affirming if you're a
black girl who feels like you know, you're kind of weird,
(47:16):
you don't fit into the box of everyone else. I
feel like Willow has been very affirmative in that way.
And I've like grew up with Willow because I was
a fan when she was doing I with my Hair
back and forth, and so seeing her evolution has been
like personal, So those are mine.
Speaker 6 (47:29):
Doctor Joy.
Speaker 3 (47:30):
This is such a tough question where I was like,
I really my development as a black woman, and so
I guess the Noel sisters are just taking it from
me because the answer is a seat at the table.
Speaker 6 (47:42):
And then when I get home, because a seat at.
Speaker 3 (47:45):
The table, like I'm looking at the track list Rise
Weary Cranes in the Sky, especially where I was in
my life, that was huge for me. And then also
when I get home, I remember not liking it at
first things I imagined.
Speaker 6 (47:59):
I was like this chopped and screwed. What she's trying
to do.
Speaker 4 (48:02):
I don't get it.
Speaker 6 (48:03):
And then after it said it, I was like, oh,
this is a.
Speaker 3 (48:05):
Song about manifestation. I saw things I imagined, hold on
she gagged me. And so over time like those two
together absolutely my answer.
Speaker 4 (48:15):
Can I answer that really quickly?
Speaker 5 (48:17):
Crants in the Sky, I will sit and just like
weep to that song, like it just hits different when
you're going through it.
Speaker 1 (48:21):
I swear I am never going to argue with Crean's
in the Sky. I feel like that is like one
of my all time favorite songs of like ever ever ever.
So I will also say a seat at the table.
I will also put Dangerously in Love my Beyonce on
the list for me, because I feel like that was
her introduction, like it was her first solo album, and
(48:43):
it feels like it hit at a time where I
was also like growing into who I would become as
a woman. So I would put that. And I would
also say India Ari Acoustic Soul because I feel like
we've already talked about like Lauren Hill kind of setting
the groundwork, but I feel like she was the first
person I remember making music that talked about brown skin
and like you know, I'm not the girl in the video,
(49:05):
and all of these things that made it okay to
look and be whoever you were as a black woman.
So that definitely felt transformative to me. I will also
say one song in particular, So there's this artist named Tasha.
She has a song called Lallaby that has broken my
heart ever since I heard it because it's very much
about black women taking off your capes and like it's
(49:27):
okay to leave that fight for another day and be solved.
And so even before this Sauce's life movement was in play,
I feel like Tasha made that song that feels very
much specifically for black girls, so Tasha's Lallaby I would
also put on that list for me.
Speaker 2 (49:42):
Doct Jerry want to thank you you introduced us to
that song and definitely love it. Love love favorites.
Speaker 1 (49:47):
So we are gonna wrap up this conversation by everybody
sharing if you were coming up with your own top
ten favorites, what would be number one on your own
personal favorite album of all time list?
Speaker 3 (50:01):
Okay, I'm gonna just say it because for me, it's
between two. It's between Renaissance and Ready to Die. And
the answer for me is Renaissance.
Speaker 2 (50:10):
It was between two under Construction Missy Elliot and Renaissance
as well. I'm so sorry to see, but it's gonna
be Beyonce's Renaissance.
Speaker 5 (50:17):
It's really hard for me to pick. My answer is
gonna change tomorrow, but for today, I'm very much feeling
Hiatus Coyote Mood Valiant or My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
by Kanye West.
Speaker 4 (50:27):
I'm going My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West
or Frank by Amy Winehouse.
Speaker 1 (50:32):
I will also say Renaissance by Beyonce or My Life
by Mary J.
Speaker 2 (50:38):
Blide.
Speaker 1 (50:38):
Take the top two for me well. I appreciate y'all
sharing your thoughts. I feel like this was mostly a
civil conversation. We came through it. Nobody's upset not talking
to one another.
Speaker 2 (50:48):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (50:50):
So let people know where they can find you, where
they can fluss at you if they don't love your choices.
Where can people connect with you on social.
Speaker 3 (50:58):
I am at lex Michelle on Instagram and threads. I
am no longer on that other app, and I think
I'm Lex Michelle on TikTok too.
Speaker 2 (51:07):
You can find me on Instagram too. Mommy's in a baby.
That's two mommy's and a baby.
Speaker 5 (51:12):
Please don't come in my DMS about anything I said
on this episode. If you heard it, it wasn't me,
it was me. But you can find me professionally on
LinkedIn at Zaria Taylor v r Iah or on Instagram
at Yours Truly Zaria.
Speaker 4 (51:22):
You can find me on Instagram at Elise Ellis, on
Twitter at the Elise Ellis, and I'm on LinkedIn, which
is just my first and my last name.
Speaker 1 (51:34):
Perfect will be sure to include all of that in
the show notes so that it's very easy for people
to find you and let them share their thoughts about
their top one hundred with you all. So thank y'all
so much for joining me today. I really enjoyed chatting
with you all about this.
Speaker 4 (51:47):
Thank you, it was fun.
Speaker 6 (51:48):
Thank you, Thanks touch to joining.
Speaker 1 (51:53):
I'm so glad that TVG team was able to join
me for this episode. To learn more about them and
the work they're doing. Be sure to visit the show
show notes at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com slash Session
three sixty five, and don't forget to textas episodes to
two of your girls right now and encourage them to
check it out. If you're looking for a therapist in
your area, check out our therapist directory at Therapy for
(52:15):
Blackgirls dot com slash directory. And if you want to
continue digging into this topic or just be in community
with other sisters, come on over and join us in
the Sister Circle. It's our cozy corner of the Internet
designed just for black women. You can join us at
community dot Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. This episode was
produced by Elise Ellis and Zaria Taylor. Editing was done
(52:37):
by Dennison Bradford. Thank y'all so much for joining me
again this week. I look forward to continuing this conversation
with you all real soon. Take good care, what's
Welcome to the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast, a weekly
conversation about mental health, personal development, and all the small
decisions we can make to become the best possible versions
of ourselves. I'm your host, doctor Joy hard and Bradford,
a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information or
(00:32):
to find a therapist in your area, visit our website
at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. While I hope you
love listening to and learning from the podcast, it is
not meant to be a substitute for a relationship with
a licensed mental health professional. Hey, y'all, thanks so much
(00:57):
for joining me for session three sixty five the Therapy
for Black Girls Podcast. We'll get right into our conversation
after a word from our sponsors. Why do friendship breakups
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Some of You may have seen the viral Apple Music
(01:43):
list of one hundred best albums of all time and
raised a few eyebrows and some of the choices that
were made. Well, of course, we had to give our
own Black Girls spin on the list. So today I'm
joined by some of the TVG team members to share
about the albums that were quintessential to our development as
black women. Joining me today is our community assistant Naisha,
(02:05):
our project manager Lex, our production assistant Zaria, and our
senior producer Elise. As you hear us respond to various
album related prompts like most underrated album or an album
that reminds you of childhood, feel free to respond with
your own answers by sending us a tweet at Therapy
for be Girls on Twitter, or tag us in a
(02:27):
post on Instagram or TikTok. We're at Therapy for Black Girls.
If something resonates with you while enjoying our conversation, please
share with us on social media using the hashtag TVG
in session or join us in the Sister Circle to
talk more about the episode. You can join us at
community dot Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. Here's our conversation.
(02:52):
So we are back always exciting to have the team
joining me for what I think will be a very
very fun conversation today. So we know that Apple recently
came up with their top one hundred albums of all time,
and of course we had to do like a TVG
Black Girl version until I have some members of the
team with me today to discuss our favorite albums. So
(03:14):
let's start by people going around telling who you are
and what you do here on the team.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Hi.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
I'm Lex and I'm virtual assistant slash project manager on
the team.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Hey everyone, I am na share our community assistant.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Hi everyone, my name is Zaria Taylor.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
I'm a Rizon junior, I spell my college, and I
serve as production assistant here at TVG.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
Hey everyone, I am the senior producer of the Therapy
for Black Girls podcast Beautiful.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
So we have a wonderful assortment of team members, not
our full team, but quite a few members of the
team here. So I'm curious, are you familiar with the
list that has been going around.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
I've been seeing posts. If you asked me that the
last ten, I wouldn't be able to give it to you.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
So I feel like, I mean, there's of course been
lots of conversation, but I think most of the conversation
has been around miseducation of Lauren Hill being number one.
So what were your reactions specifically to that being named
the number one album of all time?
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Well, it was the album when it came out. However,
we didn't get much more from her and no shade
at or our promise, but that was the album when
it came out, and it still is. I mean, she
was just at Essence last year and she performed that album.
Come on, it's almost thirty years later, right, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:27):
Yeah, to add to that point, if we're judging by impact,
then just the fact that she's been able to ride
her whole career off of this one album is really
impressive and it's influential as well. So I guess it
just depends on what metrics you're using to find the album,
because if I have to say my own personal opinion,
it's not my favorite album. I don't even know if
I was alive when it came out, but I like
(04:47):
they don't get me wrong, I like some songs off
of there, but it's not like my favorite album.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
I support it being the number one album on the
list with what both Nation and Zaria said the fact
that her soul career has been sustained off this one
album and then she had a live album, but this
one studio album is just impactful and it's referenced in
pop culture time and time and time again.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
I was just like really excited to see it at
the top of the list. I won't say I was
necessarily surprised, So I was like, this album is deserving.
When I think of other albums that we talk about
as the greatest of all time, one, I think a
lot of them are male artists, and then two, I
think a lot of it has to do with maybe
a white lens of what good music is. And so
(05:34):
to see a black woman be at the top of
the list that excited me. Regardless of race gender, I
think the album is deserving.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
I was happy to see it at the top of
the list, and I just took like a cursory glance
at the rest of the list, and I was surprised
to see some of my faves so low on the list,
like Confessions is number ninety five, Like I just looked
like five minutes ago, and I was I would have
put that higher. So I'm really interested in how they
decided what number one, And I wonder how much the
(06:02):
number one is them actually thinking that's number one versus
trying to make a balanced list.
Speaker 6 (06:07):
But I think it's a solid number one choice.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Yeah, like many of you, I mean, I definitely was
excited to see a black woman at the top of
the list, Like I think that speaks volumes. And I
was in my prime. Y'all are younger than I am,
but I was in college when this came out. It
might have been like my freshman or sophomore year. So
it definitely feels like a defining album for me. And
you've all said, you know, for her to be able
(06:29):
to sustain her career based on just this one album,
I think was really really cool. But I was surprised
because it does feel like we've gotten so much good music.
But I'm like, Okay, I could see it, like I
could see the argument for why this would be number one.
But many of you have hinted at this next question.
But when you think about what makes something the best
(06:50):
of music, what kinds of characteristics or metrics are you
using to say something is your best?
Speaker 5 (06:57):
Well, I want to say first it comes to comparing
art period and like ranking art period because I feel
like there are albums that suit me for a different
time in my life, Like I'm happy I have that album,
when I'm sad I have that album. And I'm not
interested in saying which one is better. It's just each
one has a different purpose for me in my life.
But if I had to answer the question, I would
(07:18):
say impact for sure. So as we're mentioning with the
Lauren Hill album, did this album have that influence where
all these other artists were born as a result of this,
or did it create its own genre, its own style.
Sometimes album can even influence people's style at the time,
So if there was like a series of music videos,
it can impact the other art that's coming out around
that time, And so that is important to me. And
then also when thinking about albums that came out before
(07:40):
the streaming era, to be able to get so many
accolades and sales without having that extra push is also
incredibly impressive to me.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
I'll actually diverge from what Zaria said. I love pop music,
and I think when you talk about popular music, you
really can't do that without comparing like that's what the
bill charts are, that's what the Grammys are, and so
it really excites me to compare music. I think about
one just storytelling. I think it's things from the album
(08:12):
cover and the features and who was producing at the time.
How does it tell a story about the time in
which the album was produced. So that's something that's really
important to me. And I do think having quote unquote
popular songs, whether that's the songs are popular to a
subgroup or a region, or they're popular nationwide or worldwide,
(08:34):
being able to generate that popularity in a community, to
me is really important when I'm talking about an album
that is the best. Of course, like my personal taste
bleeds into that, but sometimes when I've written or talked
about popular music, I do have to like step aside
and say, even though I may not love this album
(08:54):
as a whole, the production is really good and the
impact it had on culture is there, and I can't
deny that when I'm talking about the album. So I
think that's really important to me. But then, like what
Zaria said, a really good album has a lot of
sons and a lot of impact, and the mis education
of Lauryn Hill, I don't think we would have even
(09:15):
the modern day like neo soul or alternative R and
B without this album, and so seeing kind of all
the artists that are produced for that, how many times
it's been sampled. Even Drake has sampled songs off of
the Miss Education and so all this other great music,
all these other great artists do not exist without X
y Z albums. So that also comes to mind when
(09:38):
I'm thinking about what is the best album or the
best music video or the best song.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
You guys were also objective, and I'm very much like, oh,
it's completely about how I feel.
Speaker 6 (09:49):
Real like if I like it or not.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Because this made me think, I don't know that I
would be able to pick like a top five albums
because it's just so difficult, and like you said, Zaria,
it kind of depends on where you are in your life.
But I am certainly like an R and B person,
and I vocal performance is part of the reason that
Beyonce is like my favorite artist, and so I would
say that's probably my number one metric is vocal performance
(10:12):
and then like the production.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Yeah, so I really want to emphasize, with Zaria mentioned,
if you are able to touch in the country though
even the world without streaming, and that's what Miss Education
did probably within the first couple of months. That's golden
right there. But for me personally, if I can listen
to this album every season, at every moment, then that's real.
Like we're not going to put on Mariah Carrey's How
(10:35):
They Music right now, I'm not listening to that. So
if I could put on mis Education, I'm vibing today
as well as New as Eve, as well as on
Christmas Day. So that's just my personal thoughts. So it's
kind of like what Lex was saying, it's based on
how I feel. However, there are artists including Beyonce and
mis Clio, and I can listen to the Old Times
as well well.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
It was such an important point that you made, Zaria
around the impact and like, how many other genres and
other artists are birth from this person. And I'm glad
I knew you would have the answer at least because
you're a music historian, Because I was thinking, oh, is
Lauren Heal the birth of the neo soul movement? And
I think she was, like, I think that was what
opened the doors for Jill Scott and India Iri and
(11:16):
like all of these other people that I really really love,
so really glad you said that, because that does make
me think about the impact is even much larger than
I think I initially thought, because she was in some
ways the first neo soul artist. So I know you
all have had a chance to peruse the list. I'm
curious to hear. What do you think should have been
included and these albums were not. Does anything come to
(11:39):
mind for you?
Speaker 4 (11:40):
I have thought so the fact that to me, the
Emancipation of Memi by Mariah Carey is not on the list,
it makes me really disappointed that album has no skiffs.
But I also think it is a great pop and
R and B album, and I think Mariah Carey is
always been pop in R and B. But like this
(12:02):
was a record breaking album, like We Belong Together on
the charts for over two months, that this was in
the top ten, So that was very interesting to me
that that didn't make the list. Also, like Lex said,
I thought her vocal performance on that album is amazing,
like there's Fly like a Bird. But even when she's
singing just these pop records, something people say about Beyonce
(12:24):
is like you think she's singing great, but you don't
realize how hard it is to sing radio record at
the pace and quality that she does. I feel the
same about Mariah Carey. And then another one that came
to mind was That's the Way of the World by
earth Wind and Fire. There are no earth Wind in
Fire albums on the list, so that was interesting to
me too, especially given that Nile Rogers is one of
(12:46):
the people who ranked the albums, or like is in
the promotion discussing it. That's interesting, But those are the
two that stood out immediately for me.
Speaker 5 (12:55):
For me, I don't have specific albums that I feel
like we're snubbed. More so, there are some albums that
I feel like we're ranked higher than they should have
been and some that were ranked lower than they should
have been. So something that comes to mind to me
is at number nineteen, I think is Taylor nineteen eighty nine,
and I just feel like that's a very undeserved spot
for that album. And there are a lot of Like
Beatles albums and like, going back to Lexu's earlier point
(13:16):
about like enjoyment, I can objectively say that, oh Beatles
have had such an impact on modern music, but if
you ast me listen to their music, it's gonna make
me fall asleep. Like I'm just not really interested. And
then I would also say there wasn't enough trap and
rap albums on there, and rap in general, people feel
like it's more legitimized if it's mixed with other genres,
so like if you have a rock rap fusion or
(13:37):
rap R and B fusion, those tend to make it
on the list. Like I saw Take Care by Drake
on there, but when it's just pure rap, I feel
like because of racism, it's not viewed in a way
that is like critically acclaimed. So I feel like it
was definitely missing some rap albums in there.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Yeah, I think when I thought about like rap on
the list, it was interesting that so Kanye's My Beautiful,
Dark Twisted Fantasy is chosen. I think that deserves to
be on the list. But to me, when I think
about impactful rap albums, I think he has several others
that should have been on the list. Jay Z only
has one album, The Blueprint on the list. Ready to
(14:12):
Die is there, Tupac All Eyes on Me is there.
But I felt like a lot of the albums that
they chose were good and were fair, but they were
maybe the easy choice. Of course, the Tribe Call Quest
is on their Outcast is on the list too. But
I do think when it comes to modern day rap albums,
Tyler cratiors Flower Boy is on there. I think I
(14:33):
am like raking my brain to see what other albums
when I think about like modern day rap should have
been on there. The only one that I will say
is I do think Nicki Minaja's Pink Friday should have
been on the list. I'm not saying that just because
like she started the rebirth of female rap for a
certain generation. I honestly think it's a really good album.
(14:57):
So that was definitely a snub. I think because a
lot of the albums on the list that our rap
albums were chosen because I think they were really foundational
to a region or to a specific period in rap.
That's the reason that they were chosen. For me, it's
hard to justify why some things post twenty ten should
(15:18):
be on the list because I can't root for its
impact just yet. So that's what I was thinking about rap, Like,
I don't necessarily think it's bad. I just don't think
for some of these albums there's been enough time to
see its impact.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
I'd love to add that I was just looking at
the top ten and there are seven black artists there.
I am proud and happy to see that. However, when
at least was mentioned in the Blueprint and Ready to
Die in Tupac's album, those are like classic albums. We
didn't have much from Biggie and Tupac after those albums.
I feel like they just had to throw it in there.
So I do feel like some albums were added in
there just because. But I'm happy to see that Number
(15:52):
five is Blonde by Frank Ocean.
Speaker 6 (15:54):
No, I'm not.
Speaker 7 (15:57):
Be Channel Orange, Channel Orange, both of them. But when
I think of I understand why people like the respective
albums like more than the other.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
I get it. But when I think of the best
foundational to music, I'm like, it's the first one we
have Frank Ocean collaborating with jay Z Kanye Beyonce like
relatively early in his career without that album. But I
also do think top to bottom listen and when I
think about grouping popular albums together, Channel Orange is the
(16:32):
better one. So I wasn't startled because I know people
love Blonde. I love Blonde, but I was like, Channel
Orange is the one that deserves me on this list.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
I can agree there too. But I enjoy Frank Ocean
in total Channelonge got me through college whatever year it
came out, I was just enjoying it on the train
in New York City. I can listen to the album
from literally top to bottom, as you said, But I'm
happy Blonde is on there.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Y'all?
Speaker 5 (16:53):
Is this a safe space because I have to my truth?
Speaker 7 (16:57):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (17:00):
I have to speak my truth, y'all. I have to
speak my truth. I do not like Frank Ocean. I'm
so sorry I said it. I don't like Frank.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Assert being older than you.
Speaker 7 (17:11):
Saria.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
Don't get it.
Speaker 6 (17:13):
I don't get it.
Speaker 5 (17:14):
I really don't.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
I'm sorry. Okay, you don't tell us more about this.
Speaker 5 (17:18):
Let me just say generally this is a theme for me,
and people always make fun of me for this. I
do not like slow music, or like monotone music or
emotional music. I'm always want to listen to stuff as
a beet. Like I know how some people have sad
playlists that they listen to when they're sad. I don't
want to listen to music and feel sad. I want
to listen to music and feel happy. So for me,
Frank Ocean's music. It just makes me want to fall asleep.
It's just so slow and just so drawn out and boring.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
I can't.
Speaker 5 (17:41):
I love thinking about You though that's my song, but
the rest I just can't.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
I'm so sorry, Zorry.
Speaker 6 (17:47):
That's so funny because thinking about You is so slow.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Yeah, but it just is different. I don't know how
to describe it as different.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
And I'm one dred percent with the least where I'm like,
I have very vivid memories tied to like where I
was or what I was doing, that I will hyper
fixate on an album. My friends got so tired of
coming over and then hearing Channel Orange again, and so
I'm with Elise on that.
Speaker 6 (18:09):
I think that Top to Bottom is like a perfect album.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
I love it.
Speaker 6 (18:12):
And so I was shocked to see that Blonde was
there and not Channel Orange.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Preat Ocean, to me feels like a part of this
new school of artists that like I have not tapped
all the way into. So I am familiar with Channel Orange.
I don't even know if I know a song from Blonde.
I wouldn't argue that either way. Well, actually I guess
I would argue for Channel Orange because it's the one
I'm as familiar with.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
I just want to speak to Elise's point because I
didn't even notice that Emancipation of Mimia is not on
the list, and that is one of my favorite albums
of all time. It really is no skips. I remember
driving like my senior year of high school listening to
that all the way through.
Speaker 6 (18:45):
It would get to the end.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
And I would just loop it back around, like she
sings so well and the production the features, like that
is a really good one and we belong together as
one of those songs that like generations like my.
Speaker 6 (18:56):
Grandmother, my mom. I love that song. That definitely belong
on the list somewhere.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
I'd love to go back when Lek's Shared Confessions was
number ninety five and I was like what, like this
is not rocking and that's kind of when, like I said,
my best friend sharing it on social and I was like, Okay,
what is this And I didn't realize that Earth Wind
and Fire was not one to come on. We know
their song are still a part of history, so that
was very very interesting.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
So My Life, I think is number eighty five on
the list.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Mary J.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Blige and to me is like probably one of my
top three albums. I mean, I'm glad they made the list,
but to see it's so low was very surprising to
me and feels like a snub. I also didn't realize
that The Emancipation of Me Me was not on the list,
and that is also one of my favorite albums, so
I would argue for that to have been included as well.
So that definitely feels like a snub. So at least,
(19:46):
can you say more about who the judges were besides
now Rogers?
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Nile Rogers if you don't know, he is the guitarist
in Chic So like I want your love to Maggie Rogers,
I think so two. So she's a singer, I say,
pop folk adjacent. She went to NYU. She was discovered
by Pharrell. There's like a viral clip of it. Then
(20:10):
zaying Lowe and Ebro, who are Apple Music hosts and
music journalists. I don't think they are the main ones
who selected the list. I think it was a mass
group of people. But there's a short series of them
like talking through the albums, and they're the ones behind
that got it.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
So I'm curious to hear.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Do you think that there is any danger in like
large platforms like an Apple or Rolling Stone, like coming
out with these kinds of lists where we know the
panel of judges is not super diverse, like any concerns
there for any of you.
Speaker 4 (20:43):
So from who they selected, I think I was thrown
off to not see a black woman, just because I
know there are probably one hundred Apple employees and like
journalists who crafted this list that we just don't know
their names. That's what I'm assuming. But I do think
it was odd that of how how foundational black women
have been to music, there was not a black woman
(21:03):
who was a part of the marketed kind of conversation
the face of this list. That was harmful to me. Now,
although we see a black woman at the number one spot,
I do think when I look at the list overall,
there are a lack of black women artists. To me,
it's interesting that the Beatles is so heavy on this
list and they're not American, even though they had a
(21:25):
big impact in the States. Outside of the Beatles, there's
a lack of artists who had a big impact in
the States who are not Americans. So that's a part
of the lack of diversity that we see. But number
two is I wrote for Rolling Stone about Beyonce's greatest songs,
and I thought who they picked was very, very diverse.
I thought it was really intentional, but I see the differences,
(21:47):
like we were given space to write about it, and
so everyone's own personality got to shine through. Although Apple
did a little bit of that. I think when the
list is so big in general, that's when diversity starts
to be a problem, because it's, Okay, what does best mean?
Are we limiting this to American artists? What is the
(22:09):
time frame? And so I think it's maybe less about
like the personnel and less about who is this list for.
How are we defining best? And I do think this
Apple list, I wish I had a little bit more
insight into that. But then I also wish there was
any woman of color at the forefront of those who
(22:30):
are talking about the canon of popular music.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
Seeing missy Elia a super Dupa Fly, I'm a diehard
Miss Celia fan. I'm like, y'all chose super Dupa Fly,
y'all could have chose under construction. It was just weird.
And then now I'm literally seeing bad Bunny is above this.
I feel like there was some shade there, like Bad
Bunny came out.
Speaker 6 (22:47):
Three four years ago.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Maybe fine, But I also like Pharall did have some
insight on it as well, and I would think Phararel
will pump up these albums a little bit more. I'm
not sure how much of an insight he had. The
first thing I think of my mind was not everybody
has Apple music about the enjoyd uses. Obviously I have
an iPhone, but who's listening to Apple only? So it
was just like many thoughts throughout my head. But again,
when these charts are just booming, I'm like, who really
(23:11):
chooses it? I don't know, And it's been like that
since I was a child. I'm like, who decided this?
Because I didn't listen to that song, I didn't listen
to that album, but just to consume, I guess.
Speaker 5 (23:20):
I think I found myself wary of the list for
several reasons. I think this is a marketing scheme, so
the sincerity of the ranking, to me, I don't buy it.
I feel like there are certain albums that were played
certain ways so that they can get a reaction from
the public. So that's one, and then two, I think
when we talk about music, there's a misconception that it
(23:42):
is like innocent. But our views about music don't just
happen out of a vacuum, like our biases play into
how we listen to music. So for example, a reluctance
to listen to international music, that can be some microaggressive racism,
not wanting to listen to stuffiside another language. Or for example,
a lot of the abrasiveness towards hip hop, especially from
white people, is a lot of racism about you know,
(24:04):
all they do is talk about money and girls and da.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
Da da da da.
Speaker 5 (24:08):
So because of that, I think that those views most
definitely played a part in how the list was crafted,
and so because of that, it makes me less likely
to view it with any credibility. But I also wasn't
going to view or credibility anyways, because, like I said,
I think it's a marketing scheme.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
Exactly that Saria I was going to say something very similar.
It's the same thing like when we had the Oscar
So White campaign, right, and it's like we give all
of this validation or we allow these institutions to hold
all these weight deciding who to give awards to. And
this feels the same thing of like I think they
tried to have a little bit of something for everybody
on this list, right, and like you don't want to
piss off certain demographics and populations, and so I think
(24:46):
it's convenient that we don't see like a notable black woman,
even like a black journalist like a Dreamhampton or a
Danielle Smith on that list.
Speaker 6 (24:53):
We don't see that.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
But then putting a black woman's album as the number one,
it almost feels like a gimme. So while the album
is great, right, a lot of these albums are favorites
and they're great in their own right, I know that
this is essentially like marketing content like a thirty under
thirty list is the same thing.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Yeah, And I think even thinking about Lauren Hill's feelings
about Miseducation right, like, I think she has a conflictual
kind of relationship even with that album herself. We've already
talked about the impact, but thinking about how that even
feels for her for this album to be like named
the one number one album of all time when it's
not even something she can perform and it's like original format. Anyway,
(25:32):
great thoughts there. I appreciate y'all sharing that. More from
our conversation after the break this July, Therapy for Black
Girls is bringing our yearly Minority Mental Health Month celebration
in person to Atlanta, Georgia. Join us Thursday, July eighteenth
and Friday, July nineteenth as we shine a light on
(25:53):
mental health professionals and all those who dedicated their careers
to holding space for others. Our inaugural Whole Space for
Healers Therapists Summit will gather some of our favorite voices
in the field for workshops, seminars, and opportunities to connect.
You don't want to miss this, so secure your ticket
to wellness by visiting Therapy for Blackgirls dot com slash Healers. So, Alici,
(26:21):
you already talked about feeling like can anything post twenty
ten really be classified as a classic? Can anything like
that even make it onto a list like that?
Speaker 3 (26:31):
So?
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Are there any newer albums, like maybe within the last
two to three years that y'all think could classify already
as a classic or kind of raised to the level
of being on a list like this?
Speaker 4 (26:43):
So a seat at the table is on here, But
when I get home, that's gonna come back around. Bubb
Ba by Kate Trenada I think really does define like
modern day dance and house music is controlled by SUSA.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
On the list, it is Alwas, and that's one that
I would argue does not belong on the list. I
love her down but that's when I got to shake
the table like Zaria. I think it was z Was
the project that she released before that that to me is.
Speaker 6 (27:11):
Like a classic says a project.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
But Control, I was like, so, so I should not be
on this list at all. And that's why because I
wasn't the biggest fan, but Control, it's amazing the cultural
impact is there. So that's one where you know it
came out recently, but I think it should be on
the list. This may be controversial, but I really love
Olivia Rodrigo and I think that's the name of the album.
I think that should be on the list. Maybe Billie
(27:35):
Eilish or some more underground artists have had like a
punk pop sensibility, but I don't think we've seen an
artist like Olivia rod Rigo since Avril Levine in two
thousand and three. So that's someone who I definitely put
on the list. I really love Blood Orange dev Hines
his project, so I could see in a few years,
(27:56):
just like where alternative R and B pop goes, especially
for like black artists. They're pretty influential to that space,
so maybe their albums could be on the list, but
those are the ones that came to mind origionally.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
I am upset about Jazz and Sullivan not being on here. Yes,
Jazz and obviously the most recent Hotels. And as I
go through it now when we're talking about Sissa Control,
oh my goodness, control what happened? So mainly Jazz and
Sullivan for me because she won a Grammy for this one, right, yeah,
I don't know what happened. And like I'm looking at Nwa,
(28:30):
I'm also looking at Ellmatic, not saying these were not his,
but it was just like, let's make sure we throw
that in there. That's how I feel.
Speaker 4 (28:37):
I have a couple.
Speaker 5 (28:38):
I know Alicia mentioned Bubba by Kay Trinada, but Timeless.
His most recent album is Timeless. I love it, so
I feel like that will be a classic. And then
Bryson Tiller's Trap Soul. I feel like that album is very,
very influential. It didn't necessarily birth, but it definitely brought
out a lot more of these half rapper half singer types,
whether that is a good thing or a bad thing,
(28:59):
because I feel like he definitely was responsible for like
a Brent Bayaz type vibe where like it's just chill
type music. And then I agree about control sos should
not be on this list. I should have mentioned that
in the snubs. I do not like the album. I
hate it actually, so that should not be on here.
And then I agree about hotels. And then lastly I
want to mention Paramore's self titled album that has Still
(29:23):
Into You, and then ain't It Fun?
Speaker 4 (29:25):
Those are like Negro.
Speaker 5 (29:26):
Spirituals, Like those are like such great songs, so I
would include those.
Speaker 6 (29:30):
I'm gonna give the caveat that. I don't know.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
This is more like my personal top one hundred, and
I feel like I'm gonna be cleaning my house on
Sundays at like fifty and sixty still listening to Mother
by Cleo Soul. I feel like that was an instant
classic album.
Speaker 6 (29:45):
It is me.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
It's a certain vibe. But that's another one that I
feel like can spand generations and it's just so good,
Like the replay value is so good, but it is
kind of slow, so that might not be for Sarry.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
I was just checking there's no Destiny Shot album one here,
not at all, and there's two Beyonce albums. Cheers, but
what happened? Letn't disrespect Beyonce. You put Nwa on here.
We're just sticking in the black category where and I'm
just I'm like, wow, this list is very interesting to me.
There's two Prince albums, It's great, but what happened to
Dustin's Shop?
Speaker 1 (30:16):
And I will just have to add Renaissance because I
feel like that still is a no Skiffs album. I mean,
she does have two on the list, so self titled
and Lemonade, which I would not argue with, but I
definitely feel like Renaissance again is a not skip album
for me, and it feels very emblematic of the post pandemic,
though not quite because we are not, but it does
(30:38):
feel like the reintroduction to gathering and joy and celebration
and it felt perfectly timed. So I definitely feel like
it may have been too early for inclusion on this list,
but I definitely feel like that is going to be
something that is a classic album down the line.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Taylor Swifts nineteen ninety nine was included that came out
in twenty twenty three.
Speaker 6 (30:57):
It wasn't it was too late.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Lemonade is an album that I understand why it's on
the list, but I'm not presently on Eliminade staying through
the whole thing. No, this is a sidebar. My thoughts
on Lemonade are a lot of the demo and live
versions of that album are leaps and bounds better than
the songs that we actually hear on the album Don't
(31:21):
Hurt Yourself live at Homecoming Live, I might y'all should
have done the live recording and for the album Sorry demo,
we didn't even need Sorry once I heard Sorry, don't
need it. But I think a lot of the songs
I'll listen to individually, but I'm not listening to the
album like top to bottom. It is too much for me.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
I'm with Elise too. I typically turn Lemonade off when we.
Speaker 6 (31:41):
Get to the like forgiveness part. That's true.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
I'm good, y'all.
Speaker 5 (31:48):
This conversation is going to be what tears our team
apart for real Lemonade.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
Hete it's just so repulsive.
Speaker 4 (31:54):
Oh my god, I love Lemonade.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
We're gonna need a group therapy session as a team
to rehals to bring it back together after this conversation. Okay,
so now I have a bit of a round robin,
though it doesn't have to necessarily be rapid fire. I
have some prompts and I want each of you to
share what comes to mind for the following prompts. So
an album you feel is underrated.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
Keep that Same Energy by Tianna Taylor.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
Janney I go. The album is sail Out.
Speaker 4 (32:25):
Mine would be I have to.
Speaker 5 (32:27):
I have Funk Wave Bounces by Calvin Harris and then
over It by Summer Walker, which I also feel like
is going to be classic ten years from now.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
I do love Summer The lyrics sometimes are hard for
me to relate to, but I just love her voice.
I think for me it's going to be Seeing Sounds
by NRD.
Speaker 1 (32:43):
I will have to go with t MIA's first album,
but really, her whole catalog I think is criminally underrated. Okay,
what about an album that brings up memories from childhood
or teenagehood for you?
Speaker 2 (32:56):
TLC, Oh My Goodness, TLC Waterfalls. Wait, the list Oh
My Goodness toocs are on the same. I'm a little upset.
I don't agree. I'm about to become an android user,
I'm just joking, So definitely yeh toc artists as a whole,
but Waterfalls and SWV Oh my god. See yeah, I'm
getting a little upset and be quiet now.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
Childhood definitely, Goodies by Sierra, The Emancipation of Me, Me,
and then Teenage Years, The Weekend, like the Trilogy, Channel
Orange Watch the Throne, which I thought should have been
on this list, Good Kidmas City too. Those are the
(33:37):
teenage albums.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
So for me, I'm thinking by Duism and any State Property,
all the albums the CDs that I used to steal
out of my mom's car, But by Duism was the
first one I used to take from my mom, and
I played it so much that it like scratched and
it would skip. I think about Childhood a lot for
that one, and Secrets by Tony Braxton, which I was
way too young to be singing along to those songs,
(34:00):
but that's a classic album for sure.
Speaker 5 (34:02):
I have a hard time answering this question because when
I was younger, I didn't have the attention span to
listen to albums in full, so I really only have songs.
I was listening to a lot of white pop music,
and like what was popular on Billboard when I was younger,
so unfortunately a lot of Taylor Swift was what I
was listening to, Harry Styles, things of that nature.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
I want to.
Speaker 4 (34:19):
Circle back because I cannot leave this and not say,
like childhood and teenage years, Lady Gaga, I am a
little monster like I was listening to Lady Gaga. I
think the first CD that I was like knocking on
my parents' door, like we need to go buy this
was Lady Gaga's first album. Oh and I don't know
if you guys know Toro Eymoa his first album. That album,
(34:42):
when I was in late middle school early high school,
was really really big.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
I'd love to share small, like a thirty second story.
So my grandmother said, do you want to see Lion
King or Broadway or buy a CD player? And I
chose CD player and the album I got was Pink's
Misunderstood and I was it and I didn't get to
see Lion King on Broadway, but my grandmother gave me
a choice.
Speaker 3 (35:06):
I support past Nacia's choice. That is a good one
when I think about childhood too. Stop Falling is another
song where it's like Alexis you are ten, You've never
had your heartbroken? Why do you keep listening to this
song on repeat? Because it was a great song? Yeah,
great choice. Nation.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
The generational differences are really coming through here because my
childhood pick is Luther Vandraw. So this was one of
my auntie's favite favorite artists and I just remember listening
to his catalog all the time. So I will have
to say Luther Vandraw. Okay, what about an album that
your parents are older family put you onto.
Speaker 5 (35:43):
I have two answers, So first would be the Waiting
to Exhale soundtrack, and that has several really classic songs
on there. And then secondly, People's Instinctive Travels by a
Triplald Quest. That album it brings a lot of nostalgia
to me because it was played around me a lot.
Speaker 2 (35:58):
So Papa was a rolling Stone. I don't remember what
year this came out, but my mother in law put
my daughter onto it, and it's an eleven minute song
and she requests it in the car. I didn't listen
to a grown up that much, but we listened to
the entire thing very often, and I didn't realize just
I think Lex has said it, I was listening to
songs I should not have been listening to, Like when
it comes to even Tony Braxtt SMBB Escape, I remember
(36:21):
having hairbrushes and my grandmother's like just sing and I
wouldn't let my daughter listen to that music now, but
I laugh. I laugh.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
For me, it's just Whitney Houston period where my dad's
side of the family are musically inclined. They sing, play instruments.
My mom's side of the family should not. So when
my mom is like pretending to sing, right, Whitney is
her artist, and so growing up listening to Whitney Houston,
she is like my number one artist of all time.
And it's because of my mom's influence.
Speaker 4 (36:49):
This is on the list and it's so funny. I
saw someone on Twitter screenshots I would be like, wtf
is this? It's Aja by Steely Dan. I love Steely Dan.
I love Blue Eyed Soul and Yacht Rocks, So that
is one of my favorite albums. My dad's favorite song
was Deacon Blues by Steely Dan, So that's an album
that my dad put me onto. My mom, I'd say
(37:13):
she loves Print like any Prince album. I know every
Prince song. I have a Prince tattoo when I think
of my mom, I think of Prince and then my
cousins who are a lot older than me, but I
guess when I was growing up there in their early
twenties mid twenties, they Love Love, Love, Dayglass Soul, a
Tribe call Quest, and so Three Feet High and Rising
is one of the albums I feel like I remember
(37:35):
through family.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
And I will say Anita Baker Rapture because that was
one of the Saturday morning cleaning songs that my mom
would play, So I definitely associated with that, but also
just love Anita Baker now, so that definitely would be
my answer. More from our conversation after the break, Okay,
(38:02):
what about an album you associate with a specific season
or time of the year.
Speaker 2 (38:07):
I'll jump in really quick. We're just gonna go with
Mariah Carey's holiday music as well as Destin Shoo. I literally,
I mean, I'm sure half the world plays it during
that time.
Speaker 4 (38:16):
Amory's All I Have is not necessarily a spring or
summer album. It's when it gets hot in the spring
that's the album. Like when the weather breaks Amory's All
I Have.
Speaker 5 (38:26):
I was gonna say Beyonce's Lion King soundtrack that whole
album reminds me of the summer. I don't know if
it came out in the summer, but there are a
couple of songs on there, Don't Jealous Me and also
a Brown Skin Girl that just give me like joyful
summer vibes.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
So I'm thinking reasonable doubt. Specifically, there's certain songs on
that album I have a specific memory tied to listen to,
feeling it while driving to the beach with my friends
and the sun roofs open and it's beautiful and it
just feels like an ideal, picturesque summer day. And so yeah,
reasonable doubt it's gonna be.
Speaker 1 (38:58):
Mine, and I'm gonna go with a lease so a Marie,
but Touch was mine because one thing feels like the
beginning of summer song to me, So definitely Amory would Touch. Okay,
what about an album that helped you through a tough time?
Speaker 6 (39:13):
That one's easy for me. Doctor Joy's Renaissance.
Speaker 3 (39:16):
It's renaissance because I feel like the world was coming
back together, but personally things in my life were with family,
stuff was unexpectedly going crazy, and so that album just
feels like joy to me, Like I feel like I
can hop in the joy Portal and listen to Renaissance
at any time.
Speaker 6 (39:31):
So that's my answer forever.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
So for me, it is Scissor's Control. Though I couldn't
relate to all of the lyrics, but just the vibe
and Melie. I just became a mom. That's when I
first got my therapist. That's when I was trying to
be going to couples therapy. It wasn't working. It was
just like I just need this music to bring it
in for me. And then Jazz and Sullivan's Hotels, which
I'm still upset it's not on this list, but we
know we love it, and just it was a vibe
(39:54):
and she just she came back. I knew her when
she first came out and Missy and then she just
came back with so much more. But definitely physics control.
You know, I'm gonna listen to that. I have to
get off.
Speaker 5 (40:04):
Yeah, I also want to echo Renaissance. And then there's
an album by one of my favorite artists. It is
the band called Hiatus Coyote and they have album called
Mood Valiant. When I was going through a hard time,
like that album was literally just on repeat on my
headphones the entire time and the story behind that album.
The main singer of the band, she had a breast
(40:24):
cancer diagnosis. But the album, the lyrics and everything are
just so optimistic and so it made me think I
have stuff to be grateful for. And I plan on
getting some of the lyrics from that album tattooed actually
because it's so meaningful for me.
Speaker 4 (40:36):
So yeah, me and my best friend we were going
through breakups at the same time in college and we
used to just listen to Blonde by Frank Ocean, like
back to back, So that is one. I think Frank
by Amy Winehouse is another, like breakup album or even
Back to Black, both of them that I'll listen to
(40:57):
a lot. And I know when I'm in a mood
where I need to boost my confidence, so not necessarily
a bad time in life or where I feel like
I need to level up, I'm listening to my beautiful, dark,
twisted Fantasy. The lyrics are so good and just like
some very cocky rapping going honest like you, sometimes you
just need to hear that to feel better.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
So yeah, I'd love to add AlSi shared. If I
need to boost my confidence, it is Pink Friday, Nicki
Minaj I'm like, what all of it I'm.
Speaker 1 (41:26):
Going I will have to say going through the breakup?
So breakup album also with my high school boyfriend in
ninety six ninety seven, and my album was Share My
World by Mary J. Blige. I feel like it was
a very good one to help go through a breakup.
But I feel like Nation and Alia y'all have given
us another category that I hadn't planned on asking about
(41:47):
what is your confidence booster song or album?
Speaker 5 (41:51):
I'm gonna go with self Titled by Beyonce. There are
just several songs come to mind. I mean Flawless by itself. Honestly,
that is like the song you sing in the Mirror
like I have so many afforcs that, so I would
say self titled.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
And I honestly think I'm just gonna have to say
Renaissance again. I want to have another answer, but that
is my answer because that girl, it's just literally is like, okay,
I can do anything. Let me just remember who I
am really quick.
Speaker 1 (42:13):
I love the idea of renaissance. That feels like a
close second to me. But Golden by Jill Scott is
my classic kind of confidence booster. Okay, what about an
album by an audience from your hometown or region.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
Obviously, Nicki's from the Jamaica Queens. I was born in
Jamaica Queens, so it hits on the market. Yeah, it's
Nicki for me.
Speaker 5 (42:35):
So I have to I'm from Atlanta. So my first
one is by Young Thug. It's called so Much Fun.
That is like my quintessential, like high school album. I
love the album so much, and the name fits it
so well because it really is like a joyful album.
And then also, I know when people think of Kanye
was thick of Chicago, but he's actually born in Atlanta.
So Kanye is, unfortunately my problematic fave. He's my favorite rapper,
(42:56):
so I have several albums from him that I love.
But I'll mention It'll Heartbreaks because I think that album
is so influential to the modern rap scene in terms
of the usage of autotune and things of that nature.
I feel like he really birthed the wave with that album.
So I'll mention that one.
Speaker 6 (43:12):
Okay, So I'm gonna mix it up a little bit.
I'm not from Philadelphia. I'm from a suburb outside of Philly,
So I'm just gonna take some creative liberty there.
Speaker 3 (43:20):
My album is gonna be The Becoming by Beanie Siegel,
which is like, I don't listen to a bunch of
like gangster A violent stuff, but my high school boyfriend
was constantly playing that album and so uncharacteristically, I know,
like every song front to back, and I love it.
Speaker 4 (43:36):
Okay, Wala, he's from Maryland. I'm from DC, but the
mixtape About Nothing by Walle, I really do love that album.
Marvin Gaye is from DC. I just love all of
Marvin Gaye's music in general, and I think it's very
representative of someone who was from DC at that time.
I'm always proud to claim that, you know, a lot
(43:56):
of R and B singers are from DC. So Maya
and Best to me the case of the X, those
are two of my favorite R and B songs. And
then generally I love Go Go music. But other than
like Chuck Brown, albums aren't really albums. There are just songs.
So yeah, those are the ones I'm thinking about. I'm
not that big of a Brent Faiaz fan. He's from Maryland.
(44:17):
I mean, I like his music, but that is nothing
that I would like say, Okay, this is the album
I'm listening to.
Speaker 1 (44:23):
Not really, y'all will not be at all surprised by
My choice is juvenile four hundred degrees, So y'all know
that back that thing up is my walkout music for
any speaking engagement. So that definitely is my college experience.
Louisiana experience is defined by classic bounce music.
Speaker 4 (44:44):
Actually, now I feel really bad. Khalila is from DC
and she went to my sister's high school. Take Me
Apart is one of my favorite albums, and I do think,
circling back to the question in a few years, what
albums would be on this list? That and even her
most recent album, Raven definitely would be on the list.
Speaker 1 (45:03):
All right, So I'm curious about this one. This is
probably one of my favorite prompts. So an album that
is quintessential to your development as a black woman.
Speaker 2 (45:11):
Gosh, can I say Beyonce when she became solo all
the way up until Renaissance. There's an age difference, of course,
but just you know, stepping into your own beauty, own
independence going through relationships. When I was dating short time,
it was just like, this is what I want and
this is not happening. So I'm ringing the alarm. That
was so funny and a lot of people know this
(45:33):
about me and the Sister Circle. But I graduated college
writing erotica. So mister Elliott has a huge influence on
me writing erotica because her songs are so sexual and
I was listening to them at a very young age,
so that helped me creatively.
Speaker 4 (45:49):
Tasty and Kaleidoscope our two albums, I just think are
very expressive. And she was really angry, and I think
as a younger black girl, I struggled with like feelings
of anger, like I'm not supposed to be angry, and
so I felt like I held a lot of things
in So those albums, hearing them for the first time
were helped me feel affirmed, like yes, you can be angry.
(46:10):
So I really enjoy those two albums. And then I
do think, although sometimes I can't relate to all of
the lyrics, I think I had heard a lot of
white artists that sounded like Sizza but not looked like Sisa,
and so hearing that more alternative music and it be
so vulnerable come from a black woman, I also really
(46:32):
appreciate it. So I'll say Control too.
Speaker 5 (46:35):
So I already mentioned this album, but Beyonce's self titled
I Think was for me an introduction to feminism, and
obviously since listening to that album, the idea of feminism
is so much more expansive than what was presented. But
still I feel like that album was very empowering. And
then I'm really mad. Actually I didn't mention this already,
but Megan the Stallion's Tina Snow is just such a
confidence booster for me, and like I fell in love
(46:56):
with her since I listened to the album. Her confidence
in the mic blew my mind at the time of
hearing it. And then I Think Control by Sisa. We've
obviously mentioned it several times, but I think that album
really encompasses the feeling of growing up. And then lastly,
Timilte Lisa's point Willow Smith's Lately I Feel Everything. I
feel like that album is very affirming if you're a
black girl who feels like you know, you're kind of weird,
(47:16):
you don't fit into the box of everyone else. I
feel like Willow has been very affirmative in that way.
And I've like grew up with Willow because I was
a fan when she was doing I with my Hair
back and forth, and so seeing her evolution has been
like personal, So those are mine.
Speaker 6 (47:29):
Doctor Joy.
Speaker 3 (47:30):
This is such a tough question where I was like,
I really my development as a black woman, and so
I guess the Noel sisters are just taking it from
me because the answer is a seat at the table.
Speaker 6 (47:42):
And then when I get home, because a seat at.
Speaker 3 (47:45):
The table, like I'm looking at the track list Rise
Weary Cranes in the Sky, especially where I was in
my life, that was huge for me. And then also
when I get home, I remember not liking it at
first things I imagined.
Speaker 6 (47:59):
I was like this chopped and screwed. What she's trying
to do.
Speaker 4 (48:02):
I don't get it.
Speaker 6 (48:03):
And then after it said it, I was like, oh,
this is a.
Speaker 3 (48:05):
Song about manifestation. I saw things I imagined, hold on
she gagged me. And so over time like those two
together absolutely my answer.
Speaker 4 (48:15):
Can I answer that really quickly?
Speaker 5 (48:17):
Crants in the Sky, I will sit and just like
weep to that song, like it just hits different when
you're going through it.
Speaker 1 (48:21):
I swear I am never going to argue with Crean's
in the Sky. I feel like that is like one
of my all time favorite songs of like ever ever ever.
So I will also say a seat at the table.
I will also put Dangerously in Love my Beyonce on
the list for me, because I feel like that was
her introduction, like it was her first solo album, and
(48:43):
it feels like it hit at a time where I
was also like growing into who I would become as
a woman. So I would put that. And I would
also say India Ari Acoustic Soul because I feel like
we've already talked about like Lauren Hill kind of setting
the groundwork, but I feel like she was the first
person I remember making music that talked about brown skin
and like you know, I'm not the girl in the video,
(49:05):
and all of these things that made it okay to
look and be whoever you were as a black woman.
So that definitely felt transformative to me. I will also
say one song in particular, So there's this artist named Tasha.
She has a song called Lallaby that has broken my
heart ever since I heard it because it's very much
about black women taking off your capes and like it's
(49:27):
okay to leave that fight for another day and be solved.
And so even before this Sauce's life movement was in play,
I feel like Tasha made that song that feels very
much specifically for black girls, so Tasha's Lallaby I would
also put on that list for me.
Speaker 2 (49:42):
Doct Jerry want to thank you you introduced us to
that song and definitely love it. Love love favorites.
Speaker 1 (49:47):
So we are gonna wrap up this conversation by everybody
sharing if you were coming up with your own top
ten favorites, what would be number one on your own
personal favorite album of all time list?
Speaker 3 (50:01):
Okay, I'm gonna just say it because for me, it's
between two. It's between Renaissance and Ready to Die. And
the answer for me is Renaissance.
Speaker 2 (50:10):
It was between two under Construction Missy Elliot and Renaissance
as well. I'm so sorry to see, but it's gonna
be Beyonce's Renaissance.
Speaker 5 (50:17):
It's really hard for me to pick. My answer is
gonna change tomorrow, but for today, I'm very much feeling
Hiatus Coyote Mood Valiant or My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
by Kanye West.
Speaker 4 (50:27):
I'm going My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West
or Frank by Amy Winehouse.
Speaker 1 (50:32):
I will also say Renaissance by Beyonce or My Life
by Mary J.
Speaker 2 (50:38):
Blide.
Speaker 1 (50:38):
Take the top two for me well. I appreciate y'all
sharing your thoughts. I feel like this was mostly a
civil conversation. We came through it. Nobody's upset not talking
to one another.
Speaker 2 (50:48):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (50:50):
So let people know where they can find you, where
they can fluss at you if they don't love your choices.
Where can people connect with you on social.
Speaker 3 (50:58):
I am at lex Michelle on Instagram and threads. I
am no longer on that other app, and I think
I'm Lex Michelle on TikTok too.
Speaker 2 (51:07):
You can find me on Instagram too. Mommy's in a baby.
That's two mommy's and a baby.
Speaker 5 (51:12):
Please don't come in my DMS about anything I said
on this episode. If you heard it, it wasn't me,
it was me. But you can find me professionally on
LinkedIn at Zaria Taylor v r Iah or on Instagram
at Yours Truly Zaria.
Speaker 4 (51:22):
You can find me on Instagram at Elise Ellis, on
Twitter at the Elise Ellis, and I'm on LinkedIn, which
is just my first and my last name.
Speaker 1 (51:34):
Perfect will be sure to include all of that in
the show notes so that it's very easy for people
to find you and let them share their thoughts about
their top one hundred with you all. So thank y'all
so much for joining me today. I really enjoyed chatting
with you all about this.
Speaker 4 (51:47):
Thank you, it was fun.
Speaker 6 (51:48):
Thank you, Thanks touch to joining.
Speaker 1 (51:53):
I'm so glad that TVG team was able to join
me for this episode. To learn more about them and
the work they're doing. Be sure to visit the show
show notes at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com slash Session
three sixty five, and don't forget to textas episodes to
two of your girls right now and encourage them to
check it out. If you're looking for a therapist in
your area, check out our therapist directory at Therapy for
(52:15):
Blackgirls dot com slash directory. And if you want to
continue digging into this topic or just be in community
with other sisters, come on over and join us in
the Sister Circle. It's our cozy corner of the Internet
designed just for black women. You can join us at
community dot Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. This episode was
produced by Elise Ellis and Zaria Taylor. Editing was done
(52:37):
by Dennison Bradford. Thank y'all so much for joining me
again this week. I look forward to continuing this conversation
with you all real soon. Take good care, what's
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