It’s a year later, and I’m a guest feature on someone else’s “blog,” again. This time around I blessed the screens of TJDaDJ’s Quick Bites Food Review.
I first featured TJDaDJ last year during what Black Restaurant Challenge month when I shared the top 3 Baltimore black owned restaurants he reviewed on his YouTube Channel. This year we together reviewed a black owned restaurant in Baltimore named Creole Soul Restaurant while he also interviewed me about Doc’s Castle Media.
Creole Soul Restaurant is located in an industrial food hall and community space in Baltimore called R. House. Owner and chef Shunquita “Chef Que” Neal brings her Atlanta roots and ventures in the Bayous of New Orleans straight to the city of Baltimore to create the perfect fusion between the deep south and rich creole authentic dishes.
I really enjoyed the meal with TJ. I ordered the Oyster Po Boy while he ordered the Shrimp and Grits special. The food was phenomenally tasty and reminded me of the New Orleans vibes I experienced not too long ago on my 30th birthday.
TJDaDJ not only took me on a trip on reviewing this black owned southern goldmine of a restaurant, but he also introduced me to his subscribers with an interview with Doc’s Castle Media. We talked #Thirsty30Body, my latest art collection Tipsy Decor, and a little history of the Doc’s Castle Media brand. I had a good time with TJDaDJ and hope that we can collaborate more in future because I also enjoy trying new cuisine.
Watch TJDaDJ Interview with Doc:
What are your favorite Black owned restaurants in Baltimore that you like to eat? Share them in the comments below.
The Doc’s Castle Media Halloween 2021 costume is a spinoff from a previous costume from 2019 when I wanted to be “triggered” for Halloween. So it’s considered part two. It’s what happens after a group of people take heed to a “triggered” person’s opinion and make it into a fact; the reaction. After someone is triggered, things get canceled.
I am Cancel Culture for Halloween 2021. It does feel a little redundant to do this again, but this year I decided to make my costume an interactive experience. Take the fake gun out of the picture, decorate my black shirt with a few quotes from a few canceled celebrities, and BOOM! I’m now an interactive game for people to play at my best friend’s Halloween game night.
I didn’t know what to do this year. Unlike previous years where there is a common theme that occurs in pop culture that’s easy to point out as a potential idea, this year was tough coming up with a costume. I don’t know whether it’s because Donald Trump isn’t president anymore, so the news seems quieter than the last 4 years he was in office, or if it’s just slow because the world is still coping with living in a Covid-19 era. News and current events in pop culture are a little dull. So it took some time to get the ideas flowing.
Cancel Culture is Alive and Thriving
There’s nothing that stood out more than the continued and non-stop outrage that people have on Twitter. It’s recurring and well alive online. People get angry over everything and anything. Everyone has a platform to share their anger. Those people who have an influence on these sites have more power than we think. Online angry mobs form having the say-so in killing multiple people’s careers. What once felt like it started with just the #MeToo movement is now a show stopper for everything wrong in society. Cancel Culture sweeps in sabotaging many people’s lives. We’re just living here like it’s okay.
It concerns me to think we’re living in a society that is sensitive to hearing opinions. How can we learn to live in a world where people think it’s better to cut ties with someone because their opinions differ, rather than to learn to accept to disagree and live peacefully and respectfully amongst each other? It’s now where someone could even cancel themselves if they aren’t too careful with the things they say or have said in the past.
There are many cases where celebrities can make comebacks from being canceled. Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, and the list grows with every celebrity who powers through. Therefore it is possible to make it out of the storm of online shaming.
My Cancel Culture costume took part in highlighting 7 celebrities who are still canceled in 2021. I wrote the actions and quotes of these celebrities that caused them to be canceled on note cards and stuck them to my shirt to turn my costume into an interactive game for a Halloween Game Night.
Gamers capable of guessing who the quotes of these canceled celebrities belonged won candy because, of course, it’s Halloween night.
7 Celebrities and the Quotes that Got Them Cancelled in 2021
Kotic Couture celebrates their one-year anniversary of the official music video for Pink Durag ft. 310N this August 2021. And I can’t help to wonder if they meant to release the video for Pink Durag weeks prior to Durag History Week. Today I share in its glory by making the Pink Durag featuring 310N official music video the latest Doc’s Thumbs Up feature on Doc’s Castle Media.
Kotic and I go way back to 2016 working for Baltimore pop hits radio station Today’s 101.9 as promotion assistants. Thank God we’ve evolved from those humble beginnings. I always loved Kotic’s straightforward tell-it-how-it-is attitude. So when they told me who they really are outside of working at the station, I kept following them closely on all their social media so I can watch their musical journey.
Kotic makes waves in Baltimore like no other. From appearing in the Netflix documentary Dark City Beneath the Beat, DJing, and opening up for other musical artists in Baltimore, to hosting parties at arts and entertainment venue Crown in Baltimore, Couture alerts are from every direction in the DMV and tri-state area. Obviously, the couture is juicy because the Kotic buzz has been busy for a while now. They also appeared in Spotify’s DMV Ripple Effect Playlist as a feature on Miss Kam’s FTCU along with Ddm. Finally, as of recently, they’re traveling more booking gigs across the east coast from New York City to even DJing in the PBNJ Block Party club music tour on August 28th in New Jersey. Like, is this Kotic giving us all that they got? …because gah!
Kotic Couture Pink Durag ft. 310N Official Music Video
Pink Durag is the Doc’s Thumbs Up feature because it’s long overdue. The video premiered last August while I was still learning how to build this website. Now, I remember while Kotic celebrates its one-year release via Instagram. I’ll say this post is better late than never because they deserve all the recognition they can get with this one.
In honor of #DuragHistoryWeek, Kotic Couture is here with it. Though there isn’t a durag insight in this video, the message is as strong as its staple in the black community. Kotic shares with us via email the idea came during the pandemic after watching, what felt like consecutive, fatal killings as a result of police brutality. “The deaths of George Floyd, but specifically Breonna Taylor and Oluwatoyin Salau, left such an impression on me. I was tired of screaming on the Internet. I literally had to tell myself to calm down so I started working on music.” Out of frustration, the song was born.
The production and visuals of the video are fire, but the overall message is what should take you away. Breaking barriers from what society pictures as the norm is what makes Kotic one of my favorites in Baltimore’s art scene. They can really put on a show defying the odds and truly showing who they’ll be. But listen closely to the spoken word closing out the video.
Kotic narrows our attention on Oluwatoyin Salu, a 19-year-old BLM activist who was murdered days after protesting for George Floyd in Tallahassee, FL. Her murder highlighted the notion that despite being the backbones of communities and large movements, Black women still face a high risk of facing a violent end. I love that Kotic took a moment to bring this message to the forefront. It is what truly should be on our minds in her case. The music video defies stereotypes, sure. This breeds a fire 🔥 reaction in itself. But Kotic is also spitting a message American’s need to hear.
The sound and video are a bit different from the usual fast tempo or club banger from Kotic. “The last time people saw a visual from me it was loud and colorful,” Kotic shares. Pink Durag is quite different which shows, early, them to be versatile through maneuvering genres. With this skill, we can expect them to work with numerous different artists in the future. Wow, oh wow, at what we get coming from little ole Baltimore, hmm?
Durag History
Over the course of a decade, summertime is designated as an hour for black people to ride the Durag wave. In September 2014, Durag History Week was declared by Van R. Newick II in a thread of memes via a tweet and Black Twitter went wild. Black people started to come together yearly in honor of celebrating durag history by sharing their favorite durag memes on social media. A few years later, visual artist and activist Dammit Wesley initiated the 1st annual Durag Festival in Charlotte, NC to showcase its history and dismiss the stereotypes associated with black hair and black culture. Just this year on Juneteenth, black folks in NC celebrated its 3rd annual durag celebration, and on July 25th the residents of Milwaukee saw their 1st durag festival. What’s to say that these durag traditions won’t evolve and carry on to more cities and states.
I wondered if there was any relation to releasing Pink Durag the time black people love cherishing durags so much. Actually, Kotic told me the durag didn’t have any influence on the song at all. “I definitely didn’t wear a Durag on purpose. I never want to be too predictable or cheesy and the song had nothing to do with Durags, that’s just the metaphor for things sitting on your mind, so I didn’t think that being in the video needed to be represented.” I guess I’ll scratch the idea of Kotic touring in Charlotte and Milwaukee offering to perform Pink Durag for next year’s festival is officially off the table.
What do you think? Do you like the video? Share your comments below.
Spotify’s Frequency Playlist highlights the music of artists from the DC, Maryland, and Virginia regions. Some of the DMV’s well-known hip-hop artists Rico Nasty, Pusha T, and Ari Lennox come together on Spotify’s Frequency Sunday Dinner podcast to discuss the Ripple Effect: DMV Playlist. I had the time to listen in and wanted to further give a Doc’s Thumbs Up to the artists in the DMV who made this dope hip-hop playlist. So I list five artists to listen to on Ripple Effect: DMV Playlist who do not live in Baltimore city.
The DMV is finally getting its well-deserved flowers from major folks in the music industry. I always knew our region had a spark about it. Too many of my talented friends were going unnoticed in the last decade. But I believe major industry folks are seeing how DMV artists are able to hold their own without traditional media backing. In the new area of social media, everyone has a platform and most of these artists have a loyal following that they work hard for.
Spotify’s Frequency consists of 4 playlists that were ”created in response to a climate in which Black voices in music, fashion, business, and more continue to be left out of the narrative, their contributions left underappreciated and underrepresented.” The Ripple Effect playlists’ mission is to uplift artists who are unknown, unsigned, and from underserved genres. So this playlist was specifically tailored to serve our people!
As savvy underground listeners, we have uplifted these artists through online streaming services. We added their songs to our playlists on services like Spotify and YouTube Music. Supporters followed their Soundclouds. Fans attended their local shows. I’m so proud to see Spotify highlighting dope artists from the DMV, and it’s because of the buzz that’s created by supporters of these talented individuals. It’s a great thing to see, especially coming from where we come from. When we work hard, we elevate to new levels. Some of the Baltimore artists to make the lists, I watched constantly at work for years. Now they’re getting recognition past the borders of the city.
I woke up to expressive Instagram posts from Baltimore artist and last month’s Doc’s Thumb’s Up feature Miss Kam and Baltimore MC Deetranada excited about being featured on Spotify’s Frequency Ripple Effect: DMV Playlist. Rico Nasty also gave shoutouts on The Frequency Sunday Dinner podcast released on July 29th to Miss Kam and Baby Kahlo. Such awesome talent emerging from the DMV area. Other Baltimore artists to grace the ears of listeners of the playlist are DDm, Kotic Couture, CalvoMusic, YG Teck, Ernest Third, and Mighty Mark.
Artists of Baltimore definitely get the top pick of the litter here on Doc’s Castle Media when it comes to highlighting talent. It’s because of my Bmore pride, I want to give my hometown its well-deserved recognition. There’s over 40% of our views coming from Baltimore readers. So I give people what they’re used to seeing and what they like to see represented in the city. But today, I decided to check out a few more artists from The Ripple Effect: DMV Playlist because everyone on it deserves a good listen.
I’m pointing out five artists whose songs feature on the Ripple Effect playlist that I heard for the first time thanks to Spotify. Take note of these artists’ names and tracks as we may hear more from them in the years to come.
Five artists to listen to in the Ripple Effect: DMV Playlist who don’t live in Baltimore:
Soul Belongs 2 U is a cool love song by Dreamcastmoe that puts you in a new atmosphere. It might sound a little creepy, but I can Digg it. Just think of speaking to the love of your life than telling them that their soul is now yours. That’s the type of effect I want on my man. “You’re mine,” said like Shang Tsung from Mortal Kombat. Yeeeeeeeah, that’s the vibe I got when I heard it. Haha! Dreamcastmoe got a dope song there.
Broken reminds me of songs by Juice World and what’s funny is in Leeto’s YouTube bio, it’s said that’s who he grasps musical inspiration from. He’s only 16 years old and I can already pick up on musical influences in his tracks. That’s a skill that many artists at that age aren’t able to hown. Good job! You’ve got my attention, young grasshopper.
Let’s add some girl power to this list. Charizard made the Ripple Effect Playlist and it came on with a punch. Let me tell you I did not put this list on any particular shuffle so I wasn’t expecting Charizard to come on after hearing IDK and Young Thug’s PradadaBang. This is something fast-paced that I’ll consider adding to my workout playlist while I’m getting this Thirsty 30 Body right. Kelow is also one of the two female rap artists to make the playlist that does not live in Baltimore. Rico Nasty is the other.
It’s very rare that I find an r&b/hip-hop artist that I like. So it feels good to come across Heavy Heart on the playlist. It gives off an R&B/alternative kind of vibe. Very calming to my ear after hearing so much rap at the start of the playlist. Don’t get me wrong, that’s not the entire list. Shaolinn is one of those soothing voices to subscribe to because we aren’t all hard here in the DMV area. There are some dope vocalists here, too.
Shy Lennox is another smooth-sounding alternative R&B artist coming with his song Poolside. He’s an actual vocalist who studied vocal performance at Virginia Commonwealth University. But his song Poolside projects for me “audiovisuals,” similar to if I closed my eyes and started seeing what is being sung vibrantly. It’s relaxing.
There are 58 tracks on the Ripple Effect: DMV Playlist. Nearly three hours of original content from unsign and unheard-of talent from the Washington metropolitan area. These five artists shared today are only a snippet of the full list.
Baltimore Artist Miss Kam is a force to be reckoned with creating buzz for herself straight out of BMore. She releases our most recent Doc’s Thumbs Up feature this month. The official video for FTCU featuring Ddm and Kotic Couture dropped in early June, and what can I say? What better song to pick from the Tew Faced album to be this LP’s first visual piece of art, than FTCU?
Miss Kam has been on the Doc’s Castle Media radar for quite some time now. The first time I saw her in action was in a cipher for Beet Trip Episode 60 summer of 2020. A year later, she creates buzz traveling for her musical performances and collaborating with other talented underground artists. Her efforts aren’t going unnoticed. Miss Kam is bursting out from the shadows so much so she mentioned in an interview with The Working Title Podcast that she’s even gained attention from the legendary hip-hop artist Missy Elliott following the debut of her We Are The World featuring Zadia official music video. So this lady is certainly a big deal.
Miss Kam released her LP Tew Faced last December 2020 via Bandcamp. It’s definitely worth blasting in your car, or even maybe in some headphones during your work shift since that’s how I listened. The LP is composed of 14 original tracks and features five other local Baltimore music artists. Awesome is she that the previously featured Doc’s Thumb Up artist for Faded, T.Ali is one of the honor guests. Mentioned in her Bandcamp biography, Miss Kam “sets the tone with her rich, yet gritty contralto voice; all while being paralleled with angelic harmonies and unique production.” While she creates this audio art, she makes it “clear on delivering the audible conceptualization of what it truly means to be a Gemini.”
Miss Kam is definitely a “make it happen” queen. She understands the power of social media and uses it to promote original content. Simply check her numbers. She always keeps her social media booming running up retweets and likes while posting weekly freestyles and supporting other artists in Baltimore. My favorite campaign to watch is Freestyle Fridays when she posts new weekly freestyles for social media followers. She’s also a huge supporter of Bandcamp Fridays, a day when listeners can purchase music and an average of 93% of their money reaches the artist/label (after payment processor fees).
Miss Kam often creates campaigns to promote her music and encourage the support of her peers. She collaborates with local business entrepreneurs promoting natural skincare and haircare products. Last summer she launched a campaign selling self-made beanies to raise money for her Tew Faced campaign. Doc’s Castle Media supported by purchasing and we received such a thoughtful note from the queen.
All this greatness said about this goddess, we want to give her her props where it’s due and grant FTCU with a Doc’s Thumbs Up for the hard work she’s putting in.
FTCU features two other Baltimore’s hip-hop artists Ddm and Kotic Couture, both artists and representatives of the LBGTQ community, and also advocates in Baltimore’s Club music culture. They both made appearances in the club culture documentary Dark City Beneath the Beat directed by TT the Artist. Miss Kam couldn’t have chosen a better duo to shut it down for the video. Stylish, poised, and polished, yet still giving us a jab of fierce savagery through their lyrics, they definitely band together to show us how they come to “fuck the check up.” The track truly is giving us Gemini vibes. I’m a Gemini, myself. So I approve this message.
Watch full Video to FTCU featuring Ddm and Kotic Couture
I briefly covered some of this in What’s Up Doc: Where Have I Been and Hair Diary Vlog. I gave you the basics of the past, present, and what to expect in the future for Doc’s Castle Media. One of those things is the introduction to the Doc’s Castle Tipsy Decor & Art Store. Doc’s Castle, LLC now sells alcohol lamps as part of my Tipsy Decor Collection and Tequila Tasting Art Experience.
I’m highlighting myself today, duh!
I was not lying when I said you will see more of ME on Doc’s Castle Media. I’ve spent the last year revamping and rebranding the website to share more of what I’ve been up to offline – not just sharing current events or talking about what’s happening around me.
In my absence from blogging in 2018, I submerged myself in rediscovering an old passion of mine. Painting, drawing, and many other forms of art became my calling during the depression. DCM Readers from 2018 could probably see a shift in topics covered at that time from being the majority about underground hip-hop in Baltimore swiftly changing to highlighting art exhibitions and museums. This was slightly before the craziness of my website crashing.
A list of mentionable posts while Doc’s Castle, LLC was transitioning:
Not only did I start writing about the visual arts, but I also started an art blog via Instagram named @DocsCastlePix where I shared personal pieces to get away from the stresses of writer’s block and depression. I began sharing some of my old graphics and flyers. I didn’t tell people I created an art blog because I only used it as a virtual gallery of what I like to see of my own work. But we all know what Instagram and Facebook do. The power rests in algorithms and friend suggestions. My family and friends started following my page when they discovered I was posting art. Now I have over 220 followers watching me post creations from my art lab.
Tipsy Decor by Doc’s Castle, LLC
Busy Doing Nothing Podcast is my biggest motivator for the Tipsy Decor Collection. I spent many Saturday nights drinking while recording for the BDN podcast numerous brands of wines and spirits. Many of those times I was caught admiring the appeal of the bottles featured on the show. Eventually, I thought to take a bottle home with me to make into a vase for my new home.
Once this was just a personal interior design project for my new home, later it turned into a plethora of bottles to showcase and share with friends I like to drink with. Decorative vases, stress bottles, lamps, and keychains are just to name a few things I’ve stumbled across creating all this alcoholic art during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is so much it’s to the point I don’t know how to share them all. I often try to find ways to get rid of them. Hosting my first tequila tasting was a start to a brand new awakening for Doc’s Castle, LLC. My next goal was to create an Art store to keep everything.
In early 2021 I invested in obtaining a bartender’s servers certificate. Though it’s not required in the state of Maryland, I am now certified under the TiPS Alcohol Certification program to serve at any bar in Maryland. But I probably won’t serve at just any bar here. I have reservations to serve the majority of different variations of tequila; a tequila bar exactly. I’m taking an interest in the alcohol industry but in my own little way.
Merging Tequila Tastings and Tipsy Decor, Doc’s Castle, LLC hopes to bring people that enjoy art and tequila together in celebration of a good time. I created a new art extravaganza giveaway experience and paired it with a cocktail class. I’m your catador serving you tequila while you win custom-made alcoholic decor, and because you’re having fun, I can guarantee you’ll walk away with a memory that’s one of a kind and possibly a new appreciation for this rich spirit.
Juneteenth Doc’s Castle Tipsy Decor & Art Store Appearance
Doc’s Castle, LLC’s official online art store is now open. We offer a mod podge of things Doc loves. Signature party drinks for small gatherings, magnets, keychains, lamps, and more. We’re now ready to take your orders. It’s not a grand opening as I expected. There were a lot of delays and setbacks. Instead of opening in Spring 2021, I tried my best to open before the summer. But still, it’s not a grand opening. Hopefully, I can do Doc’s Castle, LLC that justice later. We’ll do what we can at the moment.
For now, Doc’s Castle, LLC will pop up at the 5th Annual Juneteenth Dovecote Cafe Art Bazaar. This is the second vending event for Doc’s Castle, our first was over 8 years ago at the 2011 Body and Soul Salon & Spa Annual Back to School Drive. This time around, along with 80+ other art vendors, we’ll have a table that showcases custom decor and visual art created by us. I’ll promote Doc’s Castle Media and give everyone who stops by the booth a piece of what’s new that I have to offer. This will be the first of many to come participating in art festivals and pop-up shops.
There’s a lot to look forward to coming from Doc’s Castle Media. We’re evolving into more than just talking about the dope people around town. Doc also has a talent to share. I hope to merge everything that I’m learning about the alcohol industry with everything that I’ve grown to love about Baltimore’s art culture. I hope to use these to create even more opportunities for this art culture in the city.
Are you looking to sponsor vending events or collaborations with Doc’s Castle, LLC? Visit our contact page and send your pitch!
You could feel the spirit of K-Swift in the production in this one. Issa Rae, TT the Artist, and Nexflix come together to showcase Baltimore city’s club culture in Dark City Beneath The Beat documentary.
Dark City Beneath The Beat initially premiered at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Music and American Black Film Festivals prior to the 2020 pandemic. The documentary premiered mid-April 2021 with a bang on Netflix while artists in Baltimore share in pride and excitement across their social media timelines opening weekend.
I can speak for many in Baltimore when I say we were a little skeptical of the documentary. It’s been years since I celebrated club music. I reminisce of my peak in embracing Baltimore’s club culture when I joined dance battles amongst my middle school classmates. I miss making up dance routines with my neighborhood friends. Those fun moments in my past that I associate with club music and viewed as a distant memory, aren’t as extinct to many artists like TT the Artist, DJ Mighty Mark, and DJ Blaqstarr.
It was in the early 2000s when the city lost its club music queen K-Swift. There are small glimpses of a rise of Baltimore’s club culture – back when K-Swift traveled and advocated nationally for house music prior to her passing. Without K-Swift, the aura is not the same. It’s like the people of Baltimore secretly get jealous of acclamations that other house music listeners from states like, for example, New Jersey claims “to being the land of the greatest club music, ever.” & Such claims are absolutely absurd, of course.
TT The Artist is a Baltimore city arts advocate and director of Dark City Beneath the Beat. She speaks about the hate she receives considered an outsider of Baltimore. Originally from south Florida, TT moved to Baltimore city and fell in love with Baltimore’s club culture while attending the Maryland Institute College of Art. When she left to pursue dreams in Los Angeles, she exited carrying with her the precious sounds of the Baltimore club mix to push an evolution. TT saw something magical. She felt that club music and dance were too good to keep confined to the streets and people of Baltimore city. She sees a culture that uplifts a community that also needs to be uplifted in return. So she created this documentary.
About the Film
The artists featured in the film have the charisma to share with the world what Baltimore’s club culture is about. What I and many other people lack is the knowledge of how they do this. The film sheds light on groups and organizations working to keep the Baltimore club music culture alive. Viewers learn a brief history of club music, the names of staple icons, such as dancers, singers, and producers, in the current Baltimore’s club music scene, and soak up the essence of feeling Baltimore’s original beat. The documentary isn’t so caught up on historical breakthroughs in club music by highlighting influencers that we so often hear of like the well-known Frank Ski, Rod Lee, and Ms. Tony. Rather we learn about influencers in the culture today. A new list of artists comprised of dancers and community leaders like Uneek and Tsu Terry.
I gave the documentary a shot the morning it premiered on Netflix and wasn’t disappointed. I had faith in it doing well so I support it. It stands as a good representation of what Baltimore club music does for those who live here. It’s not so prevalent in my lifestyle as it once was for me as a child, but the beat still speaks to me whenever I do hear Baltimore club mix. It’s near impossible to watch the film without doing the crazy legs or sexy walk in my chair. It should be the same for anyone who’ll stream the film on Netflix. I encourage others to give it a shot, too.
Overall the film gets a Doc’s Thumbs Up because TT The Artist served her purpose well. She paid homage to Baltimore and forged a visual representation for a famous Baltimore art subculture. She works her ass off helping to pave a lane for this art. The film is beautifully done. I commend her and everyone involved in the production of Dark City Beneath the Beat. It deserves to be celebrated.
Watch Hey Baltimore! Produced by Kariz Marcel and written by Rufus Roundtree and Eze Jackson.
The anticipation. The wait. As a matter of fact, when will it be? Who knows? But I’m with the chicks who appear in the short film produced and directed by Sofia Vidal along with Khamaree D. Owens. This comes as the second production shared by the two; their first being of the March 2021 promotion for Tre Stallion by Currency Studio. Their new collaboration for the 2021 release for Dexter Baby Tees premiered April 6th on @Dexter.us IGTV. Now after review, I can’t wait for these colorful tees to drop.
Photo Cred: Sofia Vidal
I’m not the one to follow fashion trends. I have a style about myself that most people can pick up if they truly pay attention to my wardrobe…if I’m ever spotted. Either way, I’m not a person someone would look to for influence on what to wear. I’m attracted to pretty patterns and bright colors. So initially the video drew me to the bright colors and pretty make-up done to the actors and models in Dexy.
If the Dexter Baby Tees aren’t for babies, then who would they be for? Welp, if you aren’t familiar with the brand, ‘it was the video for me’ that provided that insight. The production is quite intriguing and I want to know more about Dexter. So I did my research. Dexter is a clothing brand with over 2.6k followers to its Instagram account. A clothing brand with a simple, sexy, chic, and slightly grungy style. Designer and owner Dexter Williams promises to push the boundaries of fashion and innovation with the release of each of her collections. The Baby Tee collection, like the previous Dexter Summer 2019 and 2020 Ying Yang collections, should meet those expectations when it is released sometime in 2021.
Photo cred: Dexter.us Instagram
The accent, bright colors, and playful excitement of the 8 characters the director Sofia Vidal originates in the film evokes a warm fun flirty feel that equates to what I am truly anticipating…SUMMER. Will it be this summer that the Dexter Baby Tees will drop? We can’t be certain that this is what is to be expected. I want to be “dexy,” too. We’ll get to know what Dexter plans whenever she chooses.
Definitely wasn’t expecting this one. I spend so much time writing and researching about other artists in Baltimore City, it’s really been quite some time since someone reached out to have Doc as a featured guest on their platform. That’s why I’m thankful for Brian Waters of Breaking Through Glass Ceilings Podcast because he didn’t have to do this.
It wasn’t since 2017 in my interview with Whiskey Girl in her blog series Embrace The Crazy, I joined another podcaster to talk about the ends and outs of what’s currently going on in the life of Doc. Then, the topic with Whiskey Girl was of Love and Hip-Hop and to share the intimate tales of a former romance with owner Strongway Lifestyle, LLC. In 2021, I interviewed with Breaking Through Glass Ceilings and shared the many outstanding accomplishments I’ve made so far breaking molds with my brand Doc’s Castle, LLC. Love and romance were out of the question, here.
8 Baltimore Media to Watch for Independent Artists is an article on Doc’s Castle Media highlighting the media I think are dope and provides great insight on artist news in Baltimore. Brian’s Breaking Through Glass Ceilings is one of the eight featured platforms I mentioned. When I reached out to share my article with Brian, I didn’t expect to get a personalized special shout-out for sharing his podcast with my readers. Not only did Brian give Doc’s Castle a shout-out, but he also invited me on the show as a guest on his show! Didn’t think I would turn up being that.
We discussed a number of topics and reason why I do the the things I do for Doc’s Castle Media. Some topics such as when I felt I broke through glass ceilings, the importance of sharpening your career skills using your 9-5 job, who has the best crab cakes in Baltimore, and more. I really enjoyed my time as a guest on the show. So I thought I’d share.
Four years ago, I participated in the Baltimore Black Restaurant Challenge, meant to encourage people to patronize more locally Black-Owned restaurants. During that time, I began hearing and seeing articles geared to highlighting black eateries in the city. I participated in the challenge to discover more options of places to eat. But now hearing about black-owned restaurants in Baltimore is easier to come by with advances in social media. I still like to share black-owned spaces to eat. This year we’re doing it with the help of Baltimore Food Blogger TJ Da DJ.
I contacted TJ Da DJ for his expertise in “Quick Bite Food Reviews” for which Black-owned restaurants he’d recommend this year for Doc’s Castle Media readers to explore.
Since 2016, TJ Da DJ has shared numerous food reviews of restaurants on his YouTube Channel TJ Da DJ TV. Now he has over 1.49k subscribers to his channel tuning in weekly for reviews. He’s given insight on popular food rivalries between chicken sandwiches at our favorite fast food spots, and whether the KFC’s Donut Sandwich is even worth our purchase. But what intrigues me the most about his channel is his quick bite food reviews at local restaurants in Baltimore City. TJ lists some goldmines to consider.
I couldn’t decide on one review from TJ Da DJ TV that’s the best. It wouldn’t be fair to rate either of these restaurants if I didn’t try any of them myself. So I’m sharing my top 3 favorite TJ Da DJ food reviews for you to decide on your own to patronize in Baltimore.
