MUSIC, PODCASTS, NEWS, VIDEOS, ARTICLES, AND OTHER POP CULTURE ITEMS OF NOTE TO FRESHEN YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

The Light in Lyrics. Hip-hop has long been a respected medium in which artists share honest dialogue about their experiences. Kendrick Lamar’s album, Damn, chronicles the rapper’s upbringing in Compton, a city notorious for police brutality, poverty, and gang violence. The album just won the Pulitzer Prize, ushering Kendrick Lamar into history books as the first rapper to be awarded the honor. Cardi B’s first full-length album, Invasion of Privacy, is a rags-to-riches story shining light on the struggles of being a woman in a dog-eat-dog world. The first song,”Up At Ten,” is a powerful hit-em-where-it-hurts record while radio favorite “Bodak Yellow” speaks to every woman who has experienced struggle and can laugh about it. Underneath bold, quick witted lyrics is a message of resiliency and strength. Last but definitely not least: Beyonce effectively turned Coachella on its head with a powerful performance that touched on social issues with a few familiar faces.

Tidying Up Finances. When it comes to spring cleaning, the closet is taking a back seat to the budget. Does your finances deserve a cold hard look? Thanks to friends who shared the gospel of Dave Ramsey, our financial future is on a major overhaul with a bright and *gasp* promising trajectory. An expert who’s dug his family and himself out of bankruptcy, Dave’s researched and proven strategies have helped millions get out of debt and build wealth to retire with dignity in order to “live and give like no one else.” His daily podcast, The Dave Ramsey Show, is chock full of information as Dave fields questions from people from all walks of life, income, and situations while also celebrating those who became debt-free because of his program. This course should be required in high school.

Chicken Soup for the Soul. Instagram’s co-hort of poets: Cleo Wade, Atticus, and Nayyirah Waheed delivers daily servings of Chicken Soup for the Soul. With themes of vulnerability and love at their core, these wordsmiths help us connect to ourselves and to one another as humans. They give Instagram a level of substance that balances our hefty visual consumption.