ConTExt Clues 002
We're back with our semi-frequent dispatch on culture
Welcome back to our second edition of ConTExt Clues. No surprise, A LOT has happened since our last edition dropped. Lucky for you we’ve been filtering everything that’s happened this past month in culture and what to look forward to in the month ahead.
This week, we dig into the mahjong craze, the current state of the album as an artform, and Complex’s new Hip Hop Media Power Rankings. We want to know what’s been on your radar as well, so drop a comment down below to show us what you’ve been reading, listening, or frequenting lately. Happy scrolling!
Here’s What’s Been Playing In Our Office This Week
Kehlani is back with her fifth studio album – this one being self-titled. Her vocals and production remain unmatched, but we’re especially excited about the features on this one. Brandy? Clipse? MISSY ELLIOT?? Say less.
Some Editorial Bits and Pieces That We’ve Clicked On
The Gift of Getting Weirder With Age
We’ve all heard getting wiser is what comes with age, but there’s one other virtue that develops each year we go around the sun: getting weirder. Could it be a return to our inner child? Or a final development of our true inner character? Writer Jancee Dunn says, “Often, when we’re younger, “we’re still trying to find ourselves,” said Dr. Ebony Dix, a geriatric psychiatrist at the Yale School of Medicine. That journey can mean exploring different identities and spending energy trying to “convince everybody of the person we wish we were.” But older people have had many decades to get clear about who they are and who they aren’t,
Tl;dr: it’s not. While streaming remains king, and even it’s predecessor of itunes and MP3 files have taken jabs at the long-play, Chris Dalla Riva argues that if you truly want to carve out a successful, longstanding music career – you need to make good albums. Great albums sell out tours. Sold out tours sell merch and vinyl.
What I Learned About Billionaires at Jeff Bezos’s Private Retreat
A sobering portrait on how nihilistic the most powerful people in the world have become. Noah Hawley writes a chronicle on how him and his family were invited to Jeff Bezos’s Campfire retreat and the lack of humane and empathetic events that followed as the ultra-wealthy have completely detached themselves from reality.
Complex’s Hip-Hop Media Power Ranking: The 2026 Edition
This list is going to ruffle some feathers…If you’re wondering how they ranked these media moguls, Complex said “To make this list, a platform or person has to regularly address issues and topics related to hip-hop; they have to be a place where news gets broken or where rappers want to appear. Another way to describe power is cultural influence: the ability to start conversations, move those conversations in other directions, and dominate headlines. These are the figures whose moments of hip-hop coverage consistently go viral and shape the broader discourse.”
Some IRL Happenings in the Month of May
Mahjong is another ancient boardgame having a cultural renaissance inside NYC. Beloved Williamsburg cafe, Land to Sea, is hosting open play nights throughout the month of May, with a beginner night happening on May 21st.
Your Year of Creativity: Building a Creative Practice
Here at Team Epiphany, we believe everyone has some creative streak in your body. If you’re reading this, you probably do too. But if you’re looking to discover or reclaim that creative streak, Recess Grove is hosting a creative practice workshop later this month – guiding you through prompts and intention setting while you play with paint, pencil, and polymer clay.
It feels like Christmas for all the design nerds in New York City this week as the NYCxDesign Festival returns to the city. You’ll find hundreds of events throughout the city - from exhibits and trade shows to talks and tours. . As the city’s most influential design event, the festival provides a dynamic platform for diverse voices in design.
5-Up: 5 Images That Our TEam Has Been Inspired By This Week
We are one month away from the start of the World Cup. We compiled five of our favorite kits from tournaments past. Which ones did we miss? Shout ‘em out in the comments below…
Jamaica 1998
Nigeria 2018
France 2014
Croatia 1998
USA 2026
Catch us next month for another edition of ConTExt Clues. Until then, hit subscribe to read the TEam’s other cultural musings throughout the week.