Growing up, the ‘preppy’ look always inspired me. It was smart, timeless, and safe. I grew up in a Creole family on the south side of Chicago, so I’ve always known style. And never knowing if wearing a particular color would get me into something I have no part in, so I leaned into neutrals colors, sweaters, and boat shoes. –I figured it’s better being called “Mr. Rogers” than in the middle neighborhood politics. Ivy became my armor–it helped me navigate my surrounding and allowed me to find freedom in clothing. I wasn’t well-versed in terms of trends or even brand recognition–I just wanted to look and feel cool. 

Staying inside has given me much time to reflect, ask questions, and seek their answers. While I have yet to find the true meaning of life, I’ve learned how to buy more summer-appropriate fabrics and, most importantly, ask for help when needed. I often feel this pressure to move at the speed of light to ensure I won't be forgotten, and by doing so, I fail to live and not just document.

I forgot about Christmas this year, and I was okay with that; It wasn’t until I started seeing all of the Christmas sales and the Trees at Jewel's that I realized it was that time of the year again. Somehow, I’ve managed to avoid all of the Christmas Cheer!

First, I hope it brings you comfort—there's a lot of media, which can sometimes get confusing. Second, I hope this letter invites you to let your curiosity take the lead. Third, I hope this letter is a gentle reminder to drink some water, put your phone on dnd and try being present with yourself. And lastly, if this letter does not find you well, I hope something in this letter is helpful.

This year we’ve decided to celebrate Pride by celebrating and collaborating with the community. To close out Pride Month, we’re hosting six events with Chicago Athletic Association[CAA]. For this collaboration, we wanted to focus on the intersection of Pride Month and Juneteenth.

My 2020 spiral lead to me removing booze from my diet. I felt as though it consumed my life. Everything I did was centered around drinking. There were moments when I would drink an entire bottle of wine and put on a sad/dramatic show to cry. It was as if I needed to permit myself to feel.

Last night, AJOVAN reminded us what it’s like to believe in fairytales. In the Newly renovated Underground Cocktail Club, we were greeted with a soft interior color palette, plush seating, and the appropriate amount of dramatics. AJOVAN’s collection, LONGING, encapsulated us and helped us feel something meaningful.

My Sun is in Taurus, my Moon is in Libra, and my Ascendant is in Leo. I never know if I want to be the life of the party or stay home from the party–most nights, it’s both. I often think about throwing massive galas and not attending. Now that I think about it, I’ve always been this way. I’ve never wanted to be ‘in the limelight but adjacent to it.

I wish I were the type to drown in hope and ‘the best-case scenarios.’ If you know me, you know that I’m stubborn, calculated, and pessimistic. I wish the world were different–I wish people were different. But, we’re not different; we’re flawed.

When you were your most honest self, how did you feel? Do you ever think about that moment? Did you feel free? When I think about that moment, I am free. I feel safe. I feel like...me.

There’s an embedded confidence within Los Angeles-based photographer Kort Havens’ work that only comes when one has a firm understanding of their craft. Personally, I was struck by how inviting and tangible his representation of space is. Whether it’s images of food or a courtyard, it was not much of a stretch to imagine myself stepping into and existing in that space. Photography has that quality to it where depiction of real space can either be too familiar or too foreign.

I met Kofi Hughes at an event back in August of 2021. The event celebrated the launch of lululemon’s shipping container at Chicago’s Boxville output (Boxville is an experiential shopping experience using shipping containers). I was assigned to photograph the celebration, and, not knowing Kofi prior to the event, he stood out. He was tall, ripped, and always smiling. There was a stillness that surrounded him — it was comforting.

Hello! I guess I should’ve done this earlier, and I’m pretty sure it’s on one of my many to-do lists that I actually never cross off. (I hope that gives you some insight as to how my brain works) Here’s the deal: I’m the ‘Director of Content [Chaos], and what that means is I oversee and manage all content. Outside of OK, I’m the Art Director & Co-Founder of Monday Coffee Co and a freelance photographer. I do a lot of things. I’m often told that I do too much, but yolo.

If you're familiar with New York City's world of high fashion, you might have come across the work of designer and brand owner Isaac Saqib. He founded Mercy X Mankind in 2014 on the principle of creating “exhilarating, diverse, expressive, humbling, evolving, challenging, and unforgettable” clothing that embodies emotion.

Two years ago, Cale Darrell opened the [virtual] doors of his new concept, Good Form. Good Form was new two years ago, but Darrell has navigated the menswear space well before then. While scrolling through his Etsy shop or even his Instagram feed, there’s a keen sense of intentionality, care, and curation. The first thing I noticed about his work was a consistent visual aesthetic. His clean lines and minimalist approach to documenting the garments excited me — I wanted to purchase everything I saw.

On any given day, you’ll find me in my Lululemon shorts, sweatpants, white pocket tee, and Boston Soft Footbed clogs – Thank Allah for comfort.

This morning, I had this grand plan of waking up at 4:00 AM CST, making scrambled eggs, potatoes, and a 16oz bottle of coffee. As it turns out, my body had other plans for me. I woke up in a state of desperation at 4:15 and drank some water, made myself a bowl of cereal, prayed Fajr, and went back to sleep. For a moment, I felt bad by not making the spread I daydreamed of, but I decided to give myself some grace and listen to my body.

When I woke, I still felt that same sense of connection to my body, but something was missing. I knew fasting wasn’t going to be easy, but I still hoped. Here’s some truth: I have a complicated relationship with food. I have a gluten allergy, which is unfortunate since gluten is basically in everything. I had an eating disorder in high school, where I became a vegetarian to lose weight and ended up eating maybe once a day—french fries were my go-to of all things.

Right around now, you're probably afraid to be yourself. You're probably afraid to be thoughtful and show love, to stand on your morals, to be real and vulnerable, and unaware how that's going to show how strong you really are in the end. I know you think time is running out and that if you don't do "this" by "then," then all "that's" fucked. But that ain't it, chief.

First and foremost, I want to let you know that you’re on the right path. I know you’re still confused about what you’re really gonna do with your life. Just start doing everything you said you were going to do or wanted to do. I promise you, Do Right Radio is only the beginning. You won’t believe how involved in music you’ll be in just a few years (we’ll get to that a little later).