By Summer Stanley. It’s been eons since RuPaul dominated the A-town underground club scene, plastering the city with his own posters adhered with wallpaper and wheat paste, frustrating any would-be hoodlums’ attempts to tear down his image. As he advertised himself in 1983, RuPaul is still “Red Hot.” At Outwrite Books, Atlanta’s foremost queer bookstore on the corner of 10^th and Piedmont, RuPaul is not in drag. Still, down to the orange silk ... more ...

By Josh Fritz and Rachael Spencer. On a cool and brisk Tuesday night, Rachael Spencer and I sat down with Will Brown from the band Romeo Spike for an interview. A very cordial young man and was quite welcoming to us both. After talking for a bit, we dove directly into the interview. The other band members weren’t able to make it to the interview, but did provide answers. Through the four of them, this is the end result. ... more ...

By Nikki D. Bosompem. Authors of urban literature, also known as street literature, have steadily made a formidable presence on bookshelves since its humble beginnings in the early 1970’s. The pioneers of urban literature boast such authors like Iceberg Slim and Donald Goines who opened the doors to a world of survival on the streets by doing whatever was necessary. For them, that meant unabashedly writing stories about what really went on in their lives as hustlers. ... more ...

By Nikki D. Bosompem. This was my first visit to the High Museum of Art since I was a small girl and it’s been 20 years since I stepped over its threshold. I have always wanted to go back to the High (as we Atlantans call it) because my experiences were enthralling but as adulthood ensued, I never made the time. I was born in the 70’s, raised during the 80’s. I was bathed in culture ... more ...

By Camillia Harris. Stacia, a native of Cleveland Ohio, comes to us with the sounds of Reggae and Soul. Stacia has a passion for soul music so she creates music geared towards life, love, and liberty. Stacia says, “Music has always been a love of mine.” Her musical experiences derive from her childhood. As a child she played in the orchestra, played the violin, and was a member of her high school gospel choir. Stacia started out doing background vocals for various local hip hop artist and live music with local musicians, which helped build her self-confidence to embark on her own dream of becoming an artist. ... more ...

By Camillia Harris. Per Wikipedia, Gospel Music is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music. If you’re longing for some true spiritual and inspirational music, then on January 30^th, you definitely don’t want to miss a night that will be most talked about in Atlanta. ... more ...

By Summer Stanley. Tucked away in the Virginia Highlands off of Monroe Street is a giant, bustling shopping center called Amsterdam Walk. Inside there are plenty of restaurants and bars to discover but there is one in particular where you will find the prettiest girls in all of Amsterdam, predominately cute girls who like ... more ...

By Rosey Sumrall. If you’re in need of a good laugh, one comedy club is soon to be the most talked about comedy venue in Atlanta. In fact, at its previous location in the Warren City Club, it won the award for Best Comedy Show in Atlanta in 2008 by Atlanta Magazine. Comedy Gold is the name, and Sidelounge is the place. Every weekend you can see some of Atlanta’s best up and coming comedians, along with others from all over the country. Some of the regulars include Gilbert Lawland, Patton Smith, and Karen Hilton. ... more ...

By Summer Stanley. Thieves’ final performance and CD release party was at Kavarna Coffee Shop in Oakhurst [editor: area in Atlanta, GA] on Friday, January 15, 2009. The all-girl group, comprised of Jessie Calmes on vocals and guitar, Meta Gary on violin and vocals, Rene Lambert on bass and mandolin, and Khalilah Karim on backup vocals and accordion have come a long way to develop their sound of lilting, poetic folk. Directly after the post-show cigarette break, I gathered the band for some giggle-ridden girl talk, where they recalled their worst show ever, performing with the legendary Desk Ark, as well as a possible comeback. ... more ...

By Summer Stanley. Everybody knows you have to belt the blues. And when the lights grow dimmer, and the mood becomes softer, you have to croon them. Sue G. Wilkinson, along with her eight member band gets you high when you feel low, and when you’re low they get down with you.

A veteran musician, Sue G. Wilkinson tackles the keys at the Five Spot in a rousing performance, with a spunk equal to any barroom brawl. But the Five Spot is no saloon, and this band is far from dive-ey. Rather, they’re lively. When joined with the bass, guitar, drums, trumpet, saxophone, not to mention the diva-licious backup babes, The Sue G. Wilkinson Band is an experience in jumpin’ and jivin’. ... more ...