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To Lube or Not to Lube? We Have Answers
Illustration: Janet Sung

To Lube or Not to Lube? We Have Answers

Aliya S. King May 22, 2020

Time for a little slick talk, y’all

I Hope My Songs Bring You Comfort in This Hard Time
Photo illustration. Source: Paras Griffin/Getty Images

I Hope My Songs Bring You Comfort in This Hard Time

Anthony Hamilton May 22, 2020

Grammy vet Anthony Hamilton reflects on soul…

The 6 Worst Cities to Spend Memorial Day Weekend, Ranked
Photo: Mitchell Funk/Getty Images

The 6 Worst Cities to Spend Memorial Day Weekend, Ranked

LEVEL Editors May 22, 2020

Even if you could go anywhere you wanted, why would you choose any of these spots?

How Eminem Conquered Black Music (and White Privilege) With ‘The Marshall Mathers LP’
Photos: Kevin Mazur/Kevin Winter/Aftermath Entertainment/Getty Images

How Eminem Conquered Black Music (and White Privilege) With ‘The Marshall Mathers LP’

Bonsu Thompson May 22, 2020

Looking back on the racial politics of a certified hip-hop classic, 20 years later

The 8 Most Trustworthy Geminis, Ranked
Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

The 8 Most Trustworthy Geminis, Ranked

LEVEL Editors May 21, 2020

With Taurus’ days behind us, we turn our attention to the most-maligned sign

How You Can Make a Difference in the Fight to Stop Police Brutality
Photo: Jacob’s Stock Photography Ltd/Getty Images

How You Can Make a Difference in the Fight to Stop Police Brutality

Mike Muse May 21, 2020

Real criminal justice reform is…

An Uncomplicated Guide to Braiding Your Own Hair
Photo Illustration. Source: Will Humphrey

An Uncomplicated Guide to Braiding Your Own Hair

Tirhakah Love May 20, 2020

Pull it together in eight simple steps

Tristan Walker Wants Black Businessmen to Taste Financial Freedom
Virtual photo: Peyton Fulford

Tristan Walker Wants Black Businessmen to Taste Financial Freedom

Julian Mitchell May 20, 2020

Bevel’s founder is one step closer to building a grooming empire of his own

Future’s 6 Saddest Sadboy Songs, Ranked
Photo: Prince Williams/Getty Images

Future’s 6 Saddest Sadboy Songs, Ranked

LEVEL Editors May 20, 2020

We can’t see it comin’ down his eye

Boosie’s Not Building His Sons Into Men, He’s Creating Victims
Photo: Johnny Nunez/Getty Images

Boosie’s Not Building His Sons Into Men, He’s Creating Victims

Michael Arceneaux May 20, 2020

The rapper is breaking the law — and…

André Leon Talley Made Fashion History — But That’s Not Enough
André Leon Talley. Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images

André Leon Talley Made Fashion History — But That’s Not Enough

Tre'vell Anderson May 19, 2020

The icon paved the way for generations, even if he wasn’t as hands-on as some of us wished

The 4 Worst Ways to Get 360 Waves, Ranked
Jar of Sportin’ Waves from Sally Beauty.

The 4 Worst Ways to Get 360 Waves, Ranked

LEVEL Editors May 19, 2020

Stop! You’re spinnin’ outta control

The Brief New Normal of a Reopened Houston Strip Club
Photo: 5m3photos/Getty Images

The Brief New Normal of a Reopened Houston Strip Club

Keith Nelson Jr May 19, 2020

Club Onyx fought the law to open its doors again…

The 5 Real-Life Sports Quotes Best Suited to Everyday Life, Ranked
Marshawn Lynch of the Seattle Seahawks. Photo source: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The 5 Real-Life Sports Quotes Best Suited to Everyday Life, Ranked

LEVEL Editors May 18, 2020

Ball is life, but these gems manage to be relevant to everything

The YouTuber Turning Black Men’s Hair Care into Video Gold
Photo Illustration. Source: @willnotwilly

The YouTuber Turning Black Men’s Hair Care into Video Gold

Tirhakah Love May 18, 2020

William Humphrey isn’t just entertaining his hundreds of thousands of subscribers — he’s showing that hair care can be self-care

The 9 Things I Definitely Don’t Miss About Office Life
Illustration: Richard A. Chance

The 9 Things I Definitely Don’t Miss About Office Life

The Only Black Guy in the Office May 18, 2020

I may be stir-crazy, but these annoyances have me rethinking the end of WFH status

The Undisputed Ranking of Every Black ‘Saturday Night Live’ Cast Member
Photo illustration. Source: NBC/Getty Images

The Undisputed Ranking of Every Black ‘Saturday Night Live’ Cast Member

Keith Murphy May 18, 2020

There may be only 20 of them in the show’s 45-year history, but all deserve their flowers

Not Every Black Public Figure Can Be an Activist
Michael Jordan at Sports Illustrated’s 20th Century Sports Awards in 1999. Photo: Brenda Chase/Getty Images

Not Every Black Public Figure Can Be an Activist

Julian Kimble May 18, 2020

From Jordan to Jay-Z, we expect Black celebrities to be endlessly knowledgeable and tirelessly dedicated—but that's simply not realistic

The 7 Songs Latinx Folks Do NOT Want to Hear at Your Party, Ranked
Photo illustration. Sources: Lester Cohen/Getty Images, NBC/Getty Images

The 7 Songs Latinx Folks Do NOT Want to Hear at Your Party, Ranked

LEVEL Editors May 15, 2020

If we hear one note of ‘Suavemente,’ we’re outta here

Don’t Miss Out on the Joy of Sex Toys
Illustration: Janet Sung

Don’t Miss Out on the Joy of Sex Toys

Aliya S. King May 15, 2020

She might be hiding them in the closet. But she likely does own a few.

The 5 Tastiest Biscuits From Chain Restaurants, Ranked
Photo: The Washington Post/Getty Images

The 5 Tastiest Biscuits From Chain Restaurants, Ranked

LEVEL Editors May 14, 2020

A thorough bread list

I’m a Black Progressive, and I’m Not Voting Until There’s a Real Greater Good
Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

I’m a Black Progressive, and I’m Not Voting Until There’s a Real Greater Good

Tirhakah Love May 14, 2020

Converting voting…

The Most Important People in Black Hair History
Illustrations: Ryan Melgar

The Most Important People in Black Hair History

LEVEL Editors May 13, 2020

From inventors to innovators, we celebrate the cutting-edge men who pushed the tonsorial game forward

The 7 Worst Sex Punchlines From Otherwise Great Rappers, Ranked
J. Cole. Photo: Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images

The 7 Worst Sex Punchlines From Otherwise Great Rappers, Ranked

LEVEL Editors May 13, 2020

Just because you’ve got bars doesn’t mean they’re all keepers

A Plan to Stop Police Killings of Black Men
Anti-Police Brutality Protest In New York City, May 2020. Photo: B.A. Van Sise/NurPhoto/Getty Images

A Plan to Stop Police Killings of Black Men

Mike Muse May 13, 2020

Black voters’ power at the ballot box is vast, but it’s…

Dear Class of 2020, Here’s What Oprah and Barack Won’t Tell You
Photo: LumiNola/Getty Images

Dear Class of 2020, Here’s What Oprah and Barack Won’t Tell You

Michael Arceneaux May 13, 2020

Barack Obama and Oprah are great, but…

The 6 Most Annoying Dudes You’ll Encounter at the Barbershop, Ranked
Photo source: MGM Studios/Getty Images

The 6 Most Annoying Dudes You’ll Encounter at the Barbershop, Ranked

LEVEL Editors May 12, 2020

We’re all longing for a fresh cut — but we don’t miss these characters

The Untold History of Oakland’s Soul Beat, a Pioneer Among Black-Owned TV Networks
Photos: Soul Beat TV

The Untold History of Oakland’s Soul Beat, a Pioneer Among Black-Owned TV Networks

Eric Ducker May 12, 2020

Channel 37 wasn’t just one of the first Black-owned stations in the country — it was a launchpad for Bay Area stars

The Night Little Richard Reminded America He Was the True King of Rock

The Night Little Richard Reminded America He Was the True King of Rock

Hanif Abdurraqib May 12, 2020

In 1988, the legend took the stage at the Grammys not to accept an award, but to give one — and to demand what he deserved

Nothing Unites a Team Like a Terrible Boss
Illustration: Richard A. Chance

Nothing Unites a Team Like a Terrible Boss

The Only Black Guy in the Office May 11, 2020

I never thought I’d say it, but (some of) my colleagues have become a support system

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