☔️ missing you, always

College radio era me had me giving this plenty of burn on Saturday afternoons, and the phone lines blowing up asking “who is that!?”: youtu.be/MZ-B0G-h9PM

Is it too poetic to have heard “Down in a Hole” by Alice in Chains whilst prepping for a colonoscopy? Asking for a friend. That being said, my first colonoscopy is now in the books: no polyps, all clear, great success.

Thanks to @seandammit.bsky.social & @midazthebeast.bsky.social for having me on The Questions “Making Illmatic” series, where we do a deep dive into Mos Def/yasiin bey’s 2009 album “The Ecstatic.” Check it out wherever you listen to podcasts: www.podpage.com/the-question...

46. Portraiture by the one and only @bumpopera.bsky.social. Eternal love and gratitude to everyone in my life and circle. Thanks for making me part of those moments in your life, no matter how big or small they were. Hope I get to be around for more of them.

Rest easy to Bob Power. Truly a legend.

My pieces were featured in the most recent email blast for @exploreminnesota.bsky.social! You can read those pieces in the Food + Drink page under the “Take a Culinary Tour” section. I penned the best African, Asian, South Asian, and Middle Eastern articles: www.exploreminnesota.com/things-to-do...

Talked with @jaygabler.com about the Minneapolis sound, and how it defined the shape of music to come for his latest piece for @artsmidwest.bsky.social: artsmidwest.org/stories/how-... Still having a real pinch me moment that my quotes are graced alongside quotes from the legendary Dr. Fink!

Urban Lights, one of the longest standing Black owned record stores in the Twin Cities needs your support! They are $3,930 shy of meeting their goal, please consider contributing to keep them standing and operating: gofund.me/bf726902f

Solieil’s piece on South Asian pizza for the SF Chronicle was fundamental for me covering South Asian pizza in the Twin Cities for @racketmn.com - really grateful for their voice and work, especially what Soleil’s doing with @coyotemedia.org! Check out my piece here: racketmn.com/south-asian-...

Now we know why he switched back to umlaut Jaÿ. Real heads know this is the superior video version we all grew up with.

I know everyone in the Twin Cities has been contributing and/or making mutual aid asks, and I’m asking you all out there to contribute and share to keep Urban Lights, one of the longest running Black-owned music retailers in the nation and the Twin Cities, stay open: gofund.me/e0b767fb5

Still diggin’, and finding gems.

Post a banger not in English: youtu.be/22HL5ZOOHGI?...

Post a banger that isn’t in English: youtu.be/NJLVJU8eOBA?...

Hey all…I know we’re exhausted with all the money requests, but Mercado Central is in trouble, too: gofund.me/dac7d7cb5

Lastly, visit the “Take a Culinary Tour” area in the Food + Drink section of @exploreminnesota.bsky.social where me and @jrnorton.bsky.social wrote about the many different international cuisines one can experience in Minnesota that also need your support: www.exploreminnesota.com/things-to-do...

There’s also a wide array of international markets, like Karmel Mall, Mercado Central, and more, that could also use your support, which are mentioned in this piece I did for @meetminneapolis.bsky.social: www.minneapolis.org/cultural-dis...

Because these international grocers need your support now more than ever, especially during these times, here’s a guide to the international grocers of the Twin Cities that I wrote for @racketmn.com: racketmn.com/guide-intern...

Shout to Joseph Patel aka Jazzbo the great for reminding me of the In Search Of advance - we got a whole box of these during my college radio days when our EMI rep sent us this album before Spymob made it THE album that exists. This got so much play in my stereo system, it was ridiculous.

Treated myself to a late morning dig at Agharta Records in St. Paul after going toe to toe with last minute grocery shoppers

There’s also this piece about international markets and grocers within the Minneapolis cultural districts, which I wrote for @meetminneapolis.bsky.social

Mad love and appreciation to my homie @jasoncomix.bsky.social - I’m gonna also take the time to big up my piece from @racketmn.com highlighting the international grocers we have in the Twin Cities, too: racketmn.com/guide-intern...

Swooped down on some grails in my @discogsofficial.bsky.social wantlist today

Happy birthday to the legendary @solace.bsky.social - wishing you countless more to come homie!

Favorite albums & EP’s of 2025, aka “the music I frequently revisited in 2025”

Sometimes, being on the email list for the Bone Thugs-N-Harmony fan shop has its perks

Had a good chat with @twinkiejigggles.bsky.social and the crew of @citycasttwincities.bsky.social about my @exploreminnesota.bsky.social piece on African Food in the Twin Cities! Full episode here: megaphone.link/CC8377952249 The Explore MN story is here: www.exploreminnesota.com/food-drink/b...

Let’s be clear: there is not one news personality on Twin Cities television touching the fit game of @chrisreecewx.bsky.social. It ain’t even close.

Saw this at Costco today, and I want to know what the blueberry did. Feels like the blueberry told me “so there I was, minding my business, when all of a sudden…”

Chillin’ (literally & figuratively)

“Light-Years” by Nas & DJ Premier is finally here, and I'm happy to be alive to hear it. Hearing the different iterations and evolutions of Nas during his tenure existent on Premier's production for the duration of “Light Years” is incredible to audibly witness in real time.

12/10/1996

Closing out my freelancing work this year with an update: During the summer, I worked with Explore Minnesota on FOUR restaurant lists, highlighting the best African, Asian, South Asian, and Middle Eastern spots worthy of checking out. Find the lists below 🧵

BLACK MARBLE NINE is out NOW! Three hours of the best and newest Jazz, Funk, Soul, and Hip-Hop! Go here to get it via your streaming service of choice: blackmarble.uno

“Back of House” seen on TPT’s Almanac last night! (scroll to the 32 minute mark): www.tpt.org/almanac/vide... “Back of House” by Diana Albrecht & @ryanstopera.bsky.social available at @electricfetusmpls.bsky.social, Bench Pressed & here: www.ryanstopera.com/shop/p/back-...

You know the holidays are here when the Eggnog Hot Tub Danish is back in the display case at Brake Bread in Saint Paul.

Pulled off this recipe, and I’m keeping it in the tuck for future sandwich rotation purposes. If you’re like me, and had wild blueberry jam laying around your pantry, it’s really easy to make.

Might notice a familiar face 😎

Shout out to @electricfetusmpls.bsky.social & Agharta Records for the dope RSD (and awesome used) finds today!

IYKYK: youtu.be/S1OC4rRAxq0?...

Sitting with these words by James Mtume from his Red Bull Music Academy lecture in 2014, where he talked about “his history, sampling, and the fluidity of art.”

I play the down low, very very incognito” 📷: captured by my homie Sheela

Had the fortune of meeting Jellybean Johnson at @electricfetusmpls.bsky.social once while digging through CD's. Truly one of the nicest. Sending love and condolences to the family, friends, colleagues, and fans of Jellybean Johnson.

Proud to inform you and yours: support your local gifts shop this season! “Back of House” by @ryanstopera.bsky.social & Diana Albrecht is now available in store at @electricfetusmpls.bsky.social & Bench Pressed in Minneapolis! Stop in and get your copy!

11/19/1996

Happy birthday to @mike-eagle.bsky.social, so grateful for you and all the awesome stuff you put into the world. Wishing you countless more birthdays to come fam!

“Back of House, the new cookbook by Diana Albrecht & Ryan Stopera (foreword by me) was covered for BLCK Press today: www.blckpress.com/post/cooking... “Back of House” is available to order now, and you can do so by ordering it here: www.ryanstopera.com/shop/p/back-...