Grand Rapids Hip-Hop Took the Court — And Changed the Game
By Doug D. Sims On December 27, 2025, something special happened in Grand Rapids. What began as a regular basketball game turned into a historic cultural moment for the city.…
“I’ve Been Waiting” – A Masterclass in Grown Soul from Omar
When you talk about pillars of UK soul, the name Omar sits at the top of the conversation. And “I’ve Been Waiting” is a reminder of exactly why. This record…
Grand Rapids Public Schools Reaches Historic Graduation Milestone
Jane Jones Doug Sims Story by Jane Jones | Written by Doug D. Sims There’s a different kind of energy in the city right now — the kind that feels…
J. Cole Takes It Back to the Trunk: A Grassroots Rollout for The Fall-Off
With The Fall-Off rumored to be his final album, the North Carolina rapper takes it back to the pavement — selling CDs hand-to-hand like it’s 2007. By the time most…
Jon Covington Didn’t Set Out to Define Black Manhood — He Just Started Listening
By Doug D. Sims Jon Covington has always been a storyteller. Whether behind a radio mic, a television camera, or a film lens, his work has carried the same quiet…
We Are The Curators Of Visual History
As Black History Month 2026 is here, I’m choosing to spotlight local to international Black photographers. Truth be told, we are the curators of visual history. We freeze time. We…