Pusha T Swaps Bricks for Beans with Grindin Coffee at Camp Flog Gnaw

Photo Courtesy UMG

Pusha T is back at Camp Flog Gnaw, but not with bricks, beats or bars—this time, it’s beans. The rapper-turned-brewer arrived at Tyler, the Creator's festival with a batch of his new coffee brand, Grindin, named after the Clipse track that turned kitchen countertops and lunch tables into makeshift drum machines from Virginia to Venice Beach. The brand reflects his trademark hustle and aims to offer caffeine to match the grind.

Pusha T is out here doing side quests instead of dropping a new album 😭 😭 pic.twitter.com/vSjvt5WsEV

— VZN (@vznfeed) November 13, 2024

Camp Flog Gnaw, an annual event equal parts carnival, concert and chaos, has become a cultural melting pot where hip-hop's cult favorites blend with skate culture and wide-eyed fans who believe anything is possible. Last year’s festival saw the reunion of Clipse after years apart, which delighted fans. This year, Pusha returns—not to perform, but to serve—a shift in his trademark style.

Grindin is a black coffee blend that is described as bold and strong, inspired by the iconic Pharrell-produced track. For its debut, Pusha partnered with Los Angeles’ Café Tropical, known for its guava-cheese pastries and storied past. In the 1970s, the café’s original owners were reportedly involved in a cocaine smuggling operation, adding historical irony to Pusha’s choice of venue. Today, the café operates fully legitimately and makes for an ideal place to transform past narratives into a legal caffeine business.

At Camp Flog Gnaw, Grindin will be served alongside an exclusive collaboration with Carhartt WIP, a workwear brand that resonates with a working-class, "get-your-hands-dirty" ethos. The limited-edition merchandise reflects the grit and determination the Grindin coffee embodies.

The festival kicks off on Saturday, Nov. 16, with fans expected to line up early at Café Tropical from 7 to 11:30 a.m. PST for their first taste of Grindin. For those unable to attend, the coffee will later be available online, priced at $25 for a 12-ounce bag. On festival grounds, attendees can refuel with the brew throughout the event.

Pusha T plans a nationwide launch of Grindin coffee in early 2025, with the goal of providing a premium yet accessible coffee experience designed for individuals driven by ambition and hard work.

'Black Panther 3' Rumors Heat Up as Denzel Washington Discusses Marvel Role

Courtesy Photo Paramount Pictures 

During a media tour for the upcoming "Gladiator" sequel, Denzel Washington surprised fans by revealing potential plans to join Marvel's "Black Panther 3," hinting at a major new role in the MCU.

Denzel Washington is on the cusp of joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the highly-anticipated
"Black Panther 3." In an interview with Australia’s "Today" show, Washington said that director Ryan Coogler is crafting a role tailored specifically for him in what would mark the actor's first foray into the MCU.

Denzel Washington has revealed he’ll be starring in Black Panther 3! Ryan Coogler is currently crafting a role specifically for him. Anyone remember when Chadwick Boseman gave that heartfelt speech thanking Denzel for paying his tuition? God bless his soul.

Mrs. Trump Thomas… pic.twitter.com/v8vhswHsM2

— Video Hub (@videosdatgohard) November 12, 2024

"I don't know how many more films I'm gonna make, probably not that many. I want to do things I haven't done," Washington shared, hinting at the possibility of winding down his illustrious career while still seeking new creative challenges.

Though Marvel Studios has yet to confirm "Black Panther 3," Washington’s remarks have fueled speculation that development is in motion. His potential involvement promises to elevate a franchise already steeped in cultural significance. "Black Panther" (2018) shattered box office records and barriers, grossing over $2 billion worldwide alongside its sequel, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (2022), while earning acclaim for representing African culture and celebrating Black excellence.

The franchise's accolades speak volumes. The original film became the first superhero movie to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, taking home three Oscars for Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Original Score. It also earned the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and a Grammy Award for its standout soundtrack.

Central to this success was the late Chadwick Boseman, whose portrayal of King T'Challa became a beacon of pride and inspiration. Revered for his authenticity and depth, Boseman's legacy continues to resonate, both on and off the screen. His untimely death in 2020 marked a profound loss, with tributes pouring in from across the globe. Boseman was posthumously honored with a Golden Globe for his role in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." His impact extended beyond performance; he credited Washington for funding his Oxford acting education, famously saying, "There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington."

The significance of the "Black Panther" films extends beyond Hollywood. They reshaped narratives by spotlighting African heritage, challenging industry norms, and becoming a cultural milestone. For many, the films were a celebration of representation and a redefinition of what is possible in mainstream cinema.

As for Washington’s potential role, speculation runs high. Some suggest he could play Bashenga, the legendary first Black Panther and Wakanda's founder, bringing his gravitas to pivotal flashbacks. Others envision him as T'Chaka, offering a nuanced portrayal of a younger version of T'Challa’s father. Alternatively, Washington could inject depth as a formidable new antagonist, posing a fresh challenge to Wakanda’s stability and resilience.

Marvel has yet to provide an official word on "Black Panther 3" or confirm Washington’s involvement. However, fans are already eagerly anticipating what this legendary actor could bring to the world of Wakanda.

Beyoncé's Legacy Takes Center Stage in New Yale Course on Black Radical Tradition and Politics

Beyoncé’s influence reaches far beyond sold-out stadiums and Grammy stages. It is now entering Ivy League classrooms. This spring, Yale University will offer a course titled "Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition History, Culture, Theory & Politics through Music," focusing on the star’s seismic impact on music, culture, and Black feminism.

Led by Professor Daphne Brooks, an expert in African American Studies and music, the course will use Beyoncé’s art as a lens to explore Black history, intellectual thought, and political resistance. Starting with her groundbreaking 2013 self-titled album and moving through to her latest work, "Cowboy Carter," the course aims to dissect the cultural forces that have made Beyoncé a symbol of empowerment and artistic innovation.

Yale University to offer new course on Beyoncé’s cultural impact in spring 2025!

“Next semester, Daphne Brooks, professor of African American Studies and music, will teach a new class titled “Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition History, Culture, Theory & Politics… pic.twitter.com/9Nq4fFkUC0

— Beyoncé Press. (@beyoncepress) November 8, 2024

The syllabus includes the study of Beyoncé’s visual albums, screenings of her concert films, and a deep dive into the literary and intellectual influences behind her music. Students will read works by Black scholars like Hortense Spillers and the Combahee River Collective, drawing connections between Beyoncé’s sonic storytelling and Black feminist thought.

Brooks previously taught a similar class at Princeton University, titled "Black Women in Popular Music Culture," which also covered Beyoncé. “Those classes were always overenrolled,” Brooks said, noting the energy around the focus on Beyoncé, even as the course spanned music from the late 19th century through the present.

“[This class] seemed good to teach because [Beyoncé] is just so ripe for teaching at this moment in time,” Brooks said in an interview with the Yale Daily News. “The number of breakthroughs and innovations she’s executed, and the way she’s interwoven history and politics into her art—there’s just no one like her.”

Brooks explained why the class will focus specifically on Beyoncé’s work from 2013 onward, citing her 2013 self-titled album as a pivotal moment in popular music history. “2013 was really such a watershed moment in which she articulated her beliefs in Black feminism,” Brooks said, pointing to "Flawless" as an example of a pop artist using sound bites from a Black feminist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, to make a broader cultural statement.

Students will also participate in projects connecting Beyoncé’s music to broader Black cultural traditions, including archival research and public humanities projects to explore her impact on the community. The course is cross-listed between several departments, including African American Studies, Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and American Studies, highlighting its interdisciplinary approach to examining cultural phenomena.

Brooks hopes that students, regardless of their academic discipline, will find the course transformative. “By looking at culture through Beyoncé, we can think about how art articulates the world we live in and helps nourish our spirits, giving us the space to imagine better worlds and the ethics of freedom,” Brooks said.

As Beyoncé continues to redefine artistic boundaries, it seems fitting that the academic world is following suit. This spring, students at Yale will not just study history—they will study it through the lens of an artist who, in real time, is making it.