Jay's latest for The Root in tribute to podcast pioneer Combat Jack
The world lost a legend this week. Lawyer turned podcast icon Regge Ossé, host of The Combat Jack Show passed away this week due to colon cancer. As one of the primary inspirations for our show The Extraordinary Negroes and a hero to Jay, Reggie was responsible for countless hip-hop careers and influencing a generation of podcasters and content creators. Jay put his thoughts into words for Very Smart Brothas. And you should check it out.
"One of my heroes died yesterday.
Yes, losing Prince hurt. As did the death of luminaries such as Dick Gregory and Maurice White. But for all their contributions in moving black culture forward, their statuses as legends were solidified prior to their passing. My fear is that Regginald Ossé, better known as Combat Jack, who at 48 years young succumbed to colon cancer months after announcing his diagnosis, was denied a similar fate."
More from The Combat Jack Show.
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Alex's latest for Very Smart Brothas: "Please Stop Inviting Everybody to the Damn Cookout"
That time Alex wrote a thing for Very Smart Brothas about wanting our easily impressed brethern to be more discerning with the damn cookout invites:
"Look, I know blackness is the gift that keeps on giving. I know how awesome we are, and can understand why sweet potato pie tops pumpkin pie, that we effortlessly create and inform pop culture, and why folks set aside their good sense and pride to get next to us or be like us. And I also know that in these anus-mouthed-gargoyle-electing times, the smallest acts of humanity—even the most fleeting abandonment of ain’t-shitness—can feel like a sign of kinship, a victory, a mark of someone deserving of trust.
I get the fatigue from contending with normalized terribleness and buffoonery and reading about and coexisting with people who vote for professional life ruiners. Truly, I do.
But stop inviting everybody to the motherfucking cookout. Love yourself and respect your blackness a little bit more. For the kids, the community and the perseverance of the already limited supply of ribs. As I told Tonja Stidhum (one of the writingest wimmenz I know), I’ll be damned if I miss out on the macaroni and cheese because you niggas are out here inviting everybody who smiles at you and hugging Nazis at the cookout. Go-go gadget: higher standards."
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Catch up on all of our super phat Extraordinary Recaps for HBO's "Insecure"
Remember that time we rounded up a bunch of winners and did a dope recap for each episode of the second season of HBO's Insecure? That was fun. In case you missed it, as watch for the first time or rewatch to relive all of Kelli's best moments, here are eight hella awesome walks down Memory Lane past Issa's awkwardness, through Molly's messiness, around Lawrence's aimlessness, alongside everybody's poor choices. It's a party.
Be sure to listen and subscribe via iTunes, SoundCloud, MixCloud, Stitcher, or wherever you receive your podcast blessings. And if you want to help us continue being Excellently Black via brand new biweekly flavor in your ear, mosey on over to our Patreon page to keep the party going. You da bess.
Vamos.
An Extraordinary Recap: Insecure - "Hella Great (Season Two Premiere)" (Feat. Tonja Renee Stidhum)
In our inaugural episode of An Extraordinary Recap, we're joined by writer/director, "Wing Chick" series creator, and Cinema Bun Podcast co-host Tonja Renee Stidhum to dissect the season premiere of HBO's "Insecure". Best Buy shirts sold separately.
More Tonja: Cinema Bun Podcast | Wing Chick Series | Instagram | Twitter
An Extraordinary Recap: Insecure - "Hella Questions" (Feat. Monique Judge of The Root)
An Extraordinary Recap: Insecure - "Hella Open" (Feat. Evette Dionne Brown of Bitch Media)
In latest installment of An Extraordinary Recap, we're joined by White Feminism's archenemy Evette Dionne Brown of Bitch Media to discuss the ongoings of the third episode of the second season of HBO's Insecure, "Hella Open."
More Evette: Bitch Media | Twitter | Instagram
An Extraordinary Recap: Insecure - "Hella LA" (Feat. Panama Jackson of Very Smart Brothas & Law Ware)
In the latest installment of An Extraordinary Recap, we're joined by our beige brother from another Panama Jackson of Very Smart Brothas and writing ass writer Law Ware to discuss the latest and greatest in of the fourth episode of season two of HBO's Insecure, "Hella LA."
More Panama: Twitter | Very Smart Brothas
More Law: Twitter | Writings at Very Smart Brothas | Writings at HuffPo
An Extraordinary Recap: Insecure - "Hella Shook" (Feat. George M. Johnson)
In the latest installment of An Extraordinary Recap, we're joined by Broadway Black Managing Editor and chicken fried scribe George M. Johnson to discuss the latest and greatest in of the fifth episode of the second season of HBO's Insecure, "Hella Shook."
More George: Black Gifted and Whole | Twitter | Black Gifted and Whole Facebook | HIV Equal | The Body
An Extraordinary Recap: Insecure - "Hella Blows" (Feat. Dr. Joy Harden Bradford of Therapy For Black Girls)
With so much to unpack in this episode, we felt it was only right to bring in a therapist. So thankfully, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford of Therapy For Black Girls was up for the job. We dissect Molly's comfortability with the uncharted territory of an open relationship, Issa's "hocation" possibly meeting its abrupt end, and did Lawrence just realize he's an Affirmative Action hire? Like we said, it's a lot. So enjoy our recap.
More Dr. Joy: Therapy For Black Girls | Twitter
An Extraordinary Recap: Insecure - "Hella Disrespectful" (Feat. The Brown Liquor Report)
With all the chaos and turmoil in this episode, you might need a drink or a seven. But since we're fresh out of bartenders, we brought along our extended fam DJ BlackShah, The Count, Jas Hands, and B. Fierce, better known as The Brown Liquor Report, to help us drink away the pain. So pour yourself something to drink and partake in our latest "Insecure" recap.
More The Brown Liquor Report: Web | SoundCloud | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
An Extraordinary Recap: Insecure - "Hella Perspective" (Feat. Dr. Joy Harden Bradford of Therapy For Black Girls & Law Ware)
The season finale hath finally arrived. And to celebrate this momentous occasion, we brought back fan favorites Dr. Joy Harden Bradford of Therapy for Black Girls and philosopher/writing ass writer Law Ware for the ride. So enjoy as Law breaks down the anatomy of a sidekick, Jay fails miserably at recognizing closure, Dr. Joy considers exes imaginary friends, and Alex is a proponent of gratuitous sex.
More Dr. Joy: Therapy For Black Girls | Twitter
More Law: Twitter | Writings at Very Smart Brothas | Writings at HuffPo
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Join us in DC for A Very Extraordinary Watch Party for "The New Edition Story"
Oh happy day. After six months and 15 episodes, we're finally planning our first event, A Very Extraordinary Watch Party, in partnership with Very Smart Brothas. On the third and final night of BET's A New Edition Story, we're taking over Johnny Pistolas in Washington, D.C. for drinks, food, giveaways, networking opportunities, a great movie, a Q&A, and a live recording of our show, The Extraordinary Negroes.
For tickets, head to VeryExtraordinary.Eventbrite.com. For vendor information, sponsorship opportunities, or general info, contact us at theextraordinarynegroes@gmail.com or go here. You're so pretty.