Beauty
These Intimate Portraits Celebrate the Beauty and Versatility of Black Men’s Hair
A look at Kadar Small’s new series, To the Root. “From Afros to coils, cornrows to twists and locs to everything in between; these are just a few of the many different styles Black men practice that represent freedom and value.”…
Gladimy Fleurejuste
Photo: Courtesy of Kadar Small“My Trinidadian roots have always made me explore and be interested in hair,” says New York-based photographer Kadar Small. “I have always seen articles on Black hair, but particularly for women. Not a lot embracing Black hair on Black men.” To help address this gap, Small—who has shot for Essence, i-D, and Calvin Klein, among others—got to work on a photo series, To the Root, which aims to reconstruct what society thinks when they see a Black man’s hair.
“Identity for Black men is something we have always struggled with, not because we don’t understand who we are but because of what society tries to make us out to be,” he says. “From the way we walk, to the way we dress, we are highly stereotyped and profiled by White supremacy.” In a declaration of beauty and celebration of versatility, Small shot a number of portraits of men he street-casted around his New York City neighborhood of Bed-Stuy, aiming to show them in various settings that evoke joy—at the basketball court, on a swing set.
“From Afros to coils, cornrows to twists and locs to everything in between, these are just a few of the many different styles Black men practice that represent freedom and value,” Small explains. “For years, we were and still are left to feel less than human. By wearing our hair in these different styles, it speaks volume to our identity and roots.”
Small’s own hair journey has had an influence on his work and this series in particular. He loved his hair from a young age, and would experiment often with different cuts and colors, but he experienced prejudice at school. “When I was younger, my mother added beads to my cornrows. She got complaints from the teacher that it was ‘distracting’ to the other kids. It was very confusing to me how it was distracting to them when it was just different,” Small remembers. His Trinidadian family members are always changing up their looks, and embracing their culture. “It was very surprising and upsetting to me when I heard someone call locs ‘dirty’ for the first time in 4th grade while attending school in America,” he says. He realized the same hairstyles that Black men and women were condemned for, i.e. cornrows, were idealized when worn by white celebrities.
“It has been long overdue for us to start embracing everything about our culture as Black men,” Small says. Hair is just one place to start. “Don’t allow anyone to write your story. You are in control of the beginning, middle and how your story ends.”
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Carmen Bryan’s Cryptic Post Stirs the Pot in Jay-Z Controversy
The hip-hop industry currently faces substantial controversy as Jay-Z finds himself in the eye of a storm. Allegations of sexual assault stemming from a 2000 afterparty involving the illustrious rap mogul and disgraced music executive Diddy have ignited fierce public debate. While Jay-Z categorically denies the accusations and expresses his intent to contest the lawsuit, the court of public sentiment appears to have already rendered its verdict. Further complicating this turmoil is the involvement of Carmen Bryan, a name from Jay’s contentious history, which has added a chilling layer to the evolving situation.
Carmen Bryan, recognized for her decade-long affair with the Brooklyn rapper, recently took to Instagram with a cryptic yet pointed post. Although she refrained from naming anyone directly, Bryan suggested that loyalty often supersedes ethical morality in cases involving influential individuals. “These days, people don’t defend what is right; they defend who they like,” she wrote. Her parting shot, “And that’s why we call you a groupie,” felt like a verbal mic drop, leaving little doubt about who her words targeted.
The intrigue didn’t stop there. Bryan shared a snapshot of Jay-Z’s lyrics from his 2010 track “Monster,” honing in on a particularly unsettling line: “Kill a block, I murder the avenues, I rape and pillage your village, women and children.” Though these lyrics were part of a more extensive metaphorical verse showcasing a “monster” persona, their resurfacing in this context feels calculated and ominous.
Bryan is no stranger to controversy, having previously aired her grievances toward Jay-Z. In her 2006 memoir, It’s No Secret: From Nas to Jay-Z, Seduction to Scandal, she detailed their affair and its tumultuous fallout. Additionally, she revealed in a 2017 interview that she had been pregnant with Jay-Z’s child, only to suffer a miscarriage. The relationship, fraught with personal and public conflict, remains a blemish on Jay-Z’s meticulously crafted, otherwise carefully curated narrative. Carmen Bryan’s multifaceted approach raises pertinent questions: Is she simply sharing her perspective on morality in the industry, or does she possess additional undisclosed knowledge?
While the allegations against Jay-Z are still under legal evaluation, Bryan’s Instagram post has reignited another dimension to the complex and polarizing discussions about power dynamics, accountability, and the ethical responsibilities of those influential individuals in the spotlight. Her courageous decision to use Jay-Z’s lyrics against him paints a stark picture that forces fans and critics alike to reckon with the blurred lines between art and reality.
As the legal proceedings involving Jay-Z progress, the public remains split amid this developing saga. While Jay-Z’s peers have predominantly expressed skepticism toward the allegations, the enduring legacy of this iconic figure hangs in precarious balance, with shadows from the past casting long and potentially damning silhouettes.
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Jay-Z Engrossed in Fresh Allegations as Tony Buzbee Claims More Victims
In a stunning twist to an already high-stakes legal dispute unfolding with the intensity of a Hollywood thriller, Jay-Z, one of music’s most preeminent figures, finds himself at the center of an explosive allegation involving minors. This drama stems from accusations brought forth by attorney Tony Buzbee and has escalated a conflict that began with a lawsuit over alleged extortion. Buzbee, who represents a woman accusing the music mogul of sexually assaulting her at the 2000 MTV VMAs afterparty, claims there are additional alleged victims, involving both male and female minors.
Jay-Z and his attorney, Alex Spiro, aren’t backing down. They have initiated a countersuit against Buzbee, vehemently denying the allegations and characterizing them as “entirely fabricated and malicious.” Spiro’s filing asserts that Buzbee’s accusations are part of a calculated scheme to tarnish the rapper’s reputation and coerce a settlement. “These baseless accusations are nothing more than a weapon in a calculated plot,” Spiro stated, doubling down on their stance that the allegations are devoid of any factual basis.
The case took another dramatic turn when the woman Buzbee represents amended her lawsuit against Diddy to include Jay-Z. The timing of the amendment and the salacious nature of the claims have fueled a media frenzy, leaving the hip-hop icon fighting a battle both in the courtroom and in the court of public opinion.
Late Sunday, Jay-Z fired back with a defiant statement on X (formerly Twitter). “What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle,” he wrote. “No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!”
This case is now racing against the clock, with Jay-Z’s legal representatives seeking an emergency hearing to address the allegations. Their urgency stems from the relentless media coverage, which poses a substantial risk to the Roc Nation founder’s reputation. This matter extends beyond a mere legal confrontation; it encompasses significant implications beyond the courtroom, a fight for his legacy.
The stakes are exceptionally high. Legal counsel Buzbee hints at the potential existence of additional alleged victims, thereby intensifying the spotlight scrutiny placed on both parties involved. With careers, reputations, and justice on the line, this legal showdown is poised to become a critical juncture within the music and entertainment industry. For fans and observers alike, the unfolding circumstances prompt inquiries regarding the veracity of the claims and the tactical weaponization of reputation in the court of public discourse.
