June 26, 2009 – An interview series premised on a simple idea: it's much better to talk to people after the hype cycle has buzzed on. I first interviewed Christian Lander when few knew his name: More »
Eddie, Woody, & Michael: Do We Even Care About Geniuses Anymore?
June 26, 2009 – Eddie Murphy, Woody Allen, Michael Jackson: All indisputable geniuses in the 80s. Hit-or-miss in the 90s. And, at least before the outpouring of adulation for Jackson today, you probably wouldn't want to trade reputations with any of them. [Ed. More »
Page 91: The Solution to the Case of the World White Web
June 20, 2009 – The President himself looked at Vanity Fair's Blogopticon and wondered if one of his two selves was getting the short end of the internet stick. And Negropedia Brown has cracked the case! The answer, of course, is simple: IT'S RACIST!!! For Vanity Fair, a publication that reps a cosmopolitan... More »
Negropedia Brown: The Case of the World White Web
June 20, 2009 – Negropedia Brown was pedaling furiously on his bike. He needed to return to his bodega office in fast order. His last case resulted in picketing, "Hell no, the negro must go!" the surly crowd chanted. It was only hours after Negropedia had declared Slate's Jody Rosen to be in need of hip hop... More »
A 50 Cent Father’s Day Remix: 21 More Questions
June 20, 2009 – On this rainy (still???) Father's Day weekend I wanted to debut yet another new feature for the toolchest: TAN Remakes the Hits! Herewith: a remix to "21 Questions" by nutrient-enhanced rapper 50 Cent. This was one of my father's favorite songs when it came out a few years ago. More »
Page 91: The Answer to the Case of the Undead Auto-Tune
June 14, 2009 – Previously: Jay-Z was frustrated by Slate's Jody Rosen's analysis of his new single D.O.A. Is Jay just getting old? Or is Jody being thoughtless? Negropedia Brown investigated, and here's the solution to yesterday's Media Mystery! Negropedia took a deep breath before explaining himself to Jody... More »
Negropedia Brown: The Case of the Undead Auto-Tune
June 13, 2009 – Mr. and Mrs. Brown had one child. They called him TAN, but everyone else called him Negropedia. One day he opened a Blog Detective Agency to solve Media-Mysteries resulting from Ethnocultural-dissonance. More »
Does Weed Have ‘5′ On the Economy?
June 13, 2009 – What could cure cancer, the economy, and put lovable handles on Michael Phelps? Hold that thought. On the bong I've got: Jason Mulgrew, Jeff Weiss, and Anonymous Hedgefund Dude. More »
WTAN: Will the Blogosphere Let Negroes Make Love?
June 13, 2009 – Look at the image. It's the cover of "TAN Magazine"! It existed in 1955. Guess who's excited about this? Me, cause I'm TAN. Also: ethnic love in Hollywood, and midget sex? More »
WTAN Signing Off: Old School Like a Typewriter in the South Bronx Jungle
May 30, 2009 – It's about that time. Time for me to get the f out of here! Where da recession party at? Where da political empathy poppin'? But for real, heading to LIC Beer Garden, you coming? Thanks to my guests for blessing the space on this sparsely-populated Saturday afternoon: More »
The Political Empathy Matrix
May 30, 2009 – How to determine your Political-Empathy quotient: On one axis find your political ideology somewhere between the two poles of Conservative and Liberal. More »
A Bronx Tale: In Search of Sonia Sotomayor
May 30, 2009 – There's been a lot of hootin'-and-hollerin' about Sonia Sotomayor and her rags-to-riches life story. But who's going to the Bronx to find out what her peeps think? More »
WTAN Says: If the Media Pops that Junk Up in the Bronx, They Might Not Live
May 30, 2009 – This weekend: We venture north, to the Boogie Down Bronx, and talk Sonia Sotomayor with the natives. Also, the recession is over! Reps from Vibe, Discover and VH1's "True Love"(!) are here to discuss. So yeah, should be a solid lineup for your schmoozy Saturday afternoon. More »
Signing Off: Since the Establishment Loves Biggie, Do You Think His Birthday Will Become a National Holiday?
May 23, 2009 – The Notorious B.I.G.'s birthday was this past Thursday. I wonder, him being so beloved and all, if it will ever get the Martin Luther King treatment? That'd be kind of funny. More »
The Sasha Grey Interview Experience
May 23, 2009 – So, you know what opened this week? Pornactress-cum-actress Sasha Grey's movie, The Girlfriend Experience (it's her movie now, Steven!). Perhaps you've heard about it? More »
Even Men Are Asking Why, Double X, Why?
May 23, 2009 – In part two of our feminist bonfire, we cross the pond to find out if feminism means anything different for the Brits (fish and chips?). And ruin the gene pool with a dude. So. More »
Can Double X Get Feminist Media On the Same Cycle of Hate?
May 23, 2009 – Well, "hate" is a strong word; more like "pissed!" Or maybe, "PMS'd?" Hmm, probably best to let the ladies handle this, first up: Amanda Marcotte and Jill Filipovic with a more nuanced take than I. Did you know that women are less happy these days? More »
