Demetria Obilor is a television personality and host who is seen often on screen showcasing her award-winning smile and vibrant personality. Known for working on-air the past several years in major markets such as Dallas, Las Vegas, and Kansas City, Obilor is becoming an even bigger success with her own talk show on Revolt TV called “Black Girl Stuff.”

“Black Girl Stuff” is a Gen Z-oriented talk show that welcomes cultural influencers and celebrity guests to weigh in on important Gen Z issues in a female-driven, and un­apologetically Black way.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Sentinel, Demetria Obilor got to discuss her approximate ten-year career on-air, as well as the new talk show that she co-hosts with friends Brii Renee, Akilah Ffriend, and Tori Brixx.

“Black Girls Stuff is really awesome,” Obilor said. “This is just a great opportunity to connect with audiences that have really never been targeted before in a linear fashion, in this kind of way.

 

We’re working with Revolt, where we can truly be ourselves, and I think it’s really exciting because our rawest opinion is what’s encouraged.

 

 

She continued, “I’m a millennial, and I feel like my demographic wants that uncut truth. They want to know who they’re seeing on television. I mean, really know everything about them.

So, we’re giving our opinions on issues about things from Black children’s mental health, the importance of Black fathers in a household, the Black woman’s pay gap, colorism, to getting flewed up out. The show gives a 360-view on Black womanhood and Black life.”

 

Each host looks completely different than the other and have a completely different backgrounds and upbringings.

“I just think it’s awesome that Revolt is taking this opportunity to highlight Black women in this way.

All of my cohosts are Black, coming from different grounds. I am Nigerian American—my father’s Nigerian and my mother’s White—so I bring a biracial perspective into things as well. My cohost, Akela, is a first-generation immigrant, coming from Jamaica.”

Demetria continued, “Everybody’s got a very unique story, and I feel like, you know, if you can’t relate to one of us, I’m sure you’ll find some common ground with another one of the co-hosts. I think that’s what’s made the show really successful.”

Demetria spent years working on the sports side of television, so when asked what made her want to make a switch, she responded that “you go where the wind takes you in this business.”

“I love sports, and it’s never too far,” she shared. “[Black Girls Stuff] is an amazing opportunity where I get to talk about all sorts of things. We haven’t spoken about sports, specifically, but the show lends itself to sports in a more socialized context.

 

So, it wouldn’t be farfetched for us to tackle an issue like what’s going with Brittney Griner, for example. A Black woman being imprisoned in Russia, and the unfair treatment that she’s received, and then, of course, that echoing back home in America and what that symbolizes. And so, I mean, we’ll get to it. You know, whatever is topical we get to it.”

 

However, while she’s not working in sports news right now, Obilor did share that her experience there allowed her to earn her voice. During her tenure in Dallas, Texas, Obilor spent time working as an anchor in many different fields.

There she was able to grow a fanbase, and move her audience to social media where she became even more popular.

 

“I feel like I've cultivated a safe place on social media where people can come and share their opinions. I do have a large following on Instagram.

 

And I feel like some of the topics that I post, I mean, whether you're a baby boomer, if you're a Gen Z, you if you're still in high school, whatever, we can all come here and share ideas. And I think people relish the opportunity to do that.”

Demetria’s greatest hopes are that everyone finds a way to be themselves, especially young girls. She actively tries to be an example of this, especially through “Black Girl Stuff.”

 

“…It’s something that you don't often see on television, just something as simple as feeling like you're going to have to perm your hair or chemically alter some part of you that is so natural, or, you know, maybe you have a more curvier figure and you're not used to seeing those kinds of women on television and all your life, you've been told that maybe you're not slim enough, or you don't fit the prototype.”

 

She continues, “And I just feel like this show completely counteracts that. I mean, because there's truth in that it is a very difficult business, working on television, if you don't fit this traditional standard of beauty.

But I feel like, in this show, you see women who look totally different. I mean, you see us changing our hairstyles all the time, rocking our natural hair, all of these kinds of things.

And I think that it can be really inspiring, because there were times for me when I was growing up, where it really would have done me some good to see people who look like me working on television..”


Changing the mold instead of fitting into one is something that can only be done through influence and action. Through her platform, influence, and creating a safe space for all, Obilor does just that.

You can watch “Black Girl Stuff” on Revolt TV’s app or online: https://www.revolt.tv. For more information about Demetria Obilor, check out her Instagram @demetriaobilor.

Category: Cover Stories

There is power in entertainment, artists are finding different platforms to circulate a strong message of positivity in this current period of life. Nathan Hughes, more commonly known by his performing identity MonstaMovez, recently released his debut song, "Born 2 Flex."

The lyrics exude confidence and a message to be the best version of oneself.

MonstaMovez started as a dancer at the age of six. His passion continued to grow and became a part of his identity at age 12.

MonstaMovez credits his family members for pushing him to keep growing his dancing skills.

He was known in his family as the kid who was always moving, MonstaMovez would also practice his talent at church.

 

As his skills grew, MonstaMovez began to travel the world at age 17, and performed in the hit television show, “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Recalling the turn of events due to COVID-19, MonstaMovez shared that he began to make videos on TikTok.

While everyone was required to stay at home, he would create different “dance challenges” and his influence began to grow. 

After reaching over one million followers, MonstaMoves began to expand his platform by becoming a model and working on his music career.

“Born to Flex” scaled to the top of the Triller Billboard US Charts, sitting at number eight on the list among many other major hits. MonstaMovez has received much support from Triller, who appointed him an active content creator.

Recounting the energy that surrounded the song, MonstaMovez stated, “It was a simple song that we decided to make and see how my fans and supporters would react to it—ended up dropping it in May, and charting on Triller Billboard, number eight, and I got my first ever placket, my first ever song.

Honestly, it changed my life and perspective on my entire career.”


Before releasing his single, MonstaMovez excelled in different areas of art. He exercised his skills as a model, actor, and entrepreneur.

At 23-years-old, MostaMovez has used his influence to create a positive space for everyone to enjoy; most of his videos on TikTok and Instagram reach over a million people and continue to climb.

He also uses his creative eye to design a clothing brand, MonstaMovez has an exclusive line of t-shirts, tanks, jackets, and hoodies. Popular apparel brand, Fashion Nova, designated MonstaMovez as an ambassador—due to his talent to pick up on trending looks and his level of influence.

“I’m excited to put out more music and take this journey more serious than just a dancer, now I’m an artist and more of an entertainer,” MonstaMovez said.

There is a vital energy in music, and artists are using many platforms to spread a potent message of optimism during this time in history. “Born 2 Flex,” by MonstaMovez is now available and the lyrics are self-assured and convey a universal message.

Category: Cover Stories

NXT LVL, a program powered by TecLeimert, offered their amazing expertise in showing off the 2022 Taste of Soul Family Festival.

NXT LVL is a free program that provides opportunities for under resourced youth to leverage existing affinities for social media and culture, as well as develop professional skills in the creative economy.

 

In a twelve-week program, applicants learn the basics of digital marking and other tech-related subjects, and then are paired with an industry expert to mentor them.

 

Six interns worked with our Taste of Soul team for two weeks to ensure that the TOS (@tos_streetfestla) and LAS (@lasentinel) social media pages were ready to go for the beloved festival.

Each intern specialized on a specific social media outlet, investigating analytics, making graphics, and even fun and engaging content to get people excited.

 

Some had attended TOS before, while others were experiencing this representation of the community’s love for the first time.

 

“My first experience with Taste of Soul was in elementary school,” shared NXT LVL intern and business owner Roman Combs (@tarzanofla). “I really love it. I loved seeing the people, and the environment, and loved the energy of the people that worked there [at TOS/LAS]. It was very welcoming, and it was like family.”

 

NXT LVL Intern and young business owner Dellisha Davis (@yesndeedees) also shared that she’s been going to Taste of Soul “probably since the very first one.”

“I really like working here,” she shared when asked about her experience on the team.

 

“The behind the scenes work that goes into the festival is crazy. You guys don’t’ even have a big team, but you make it happen.”

 

 

NXT LVL intern and Filmmaker Aumahn Washington had spent years assisting her aunts in their vendor booths at Taste of Soul.

 

This was her first time working behind the scenes, however.

 

“Taste of Soul is definitely for the culture,” she shared.

 

“Being from South LA, it’s so cool to have an event that’s on Crenshaw, see all these Black businesses and booth, and recycle the Black dollar.”

 

NXT LVL intern, Justyce Reliford even made sure to help out with the TOS festival from Atlanta, Georgia.

“I had a great experience overall,” she said when asked about her time on the team.

NXT LVL intern, Tyler Williams (@thesuperiorcleaners), experienced Taste of Soul for the very first time.

He joined TecLeimert’s program to help promote his own brand as well as his family’s business Superior Cleaners

(5661 Angeles Blvd.).

 

“Taste of Soul was really fun. I loved the food and seeing everyone…after being inside for so long, it made things feel back to normal,” said Williams with a smile.

 

 

“I really hoping to work here, again, next year, and already have ideas on what we could do to enhance our digital platforms.”

 

Without the help of these interns, capturing the excellence of Taste of Soul would be almost impossible.

Capturing the diversity and beauty of this special event is not easy, and a job that takes a team.

These gifted and brilliant young minds worked endlessly to ensure the story of Taste of Soul was told before, during, and even after the festival.

“I cannot Thank enough these Bold, Brilliant, Black interns provided to us thru TecLeimert’s NXT LVL program.  These young people handled all of our social media needs for Taste of Soul.    Like so many of my generation, we know nothing about today’s various media platforms, but with the help of my grandchildren and young people like the team from TecLeimert I know that Taste of Soul is in good hands and can carry on the legacy of our community speaking for itself.”  Said Founder & Creator of Taste of Soul Danny J. Bakewell Sr.

For more information on NXT LVL or TecLeimert and their work, visit https://tecleimert.org/nxtlvl/.

For more information on Taste of Soul, visit https://www.tasteofsoulla.com.

Category: Cover Stories

South L.A.’s premiere outdoor event returns - live and in-person -with the 17th Annual Taste of Soul Family Festival on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., along Crenshaw Blvd., from Obama Blvd. to Stocker Ave. 

According to Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., TOS creator/founder who describes the event as “the biggest and baddest block party in all of Los Angeles,” the festival will feature four concert stages, free health services, technical/digital booths and more than 300 vendors. 

Also, several high school and college bands, accompanied by dance teams, will perform. 

 

“Taste of Soul is an event that your whole family can enjoy because it provides such a wide range of products and services - from food to clothing to housing assistance, educational information and leading music acts,” explained Bakewell.

 

 

 

 

“Thanks to the overwhelming support from our corporate sponsors, community members, small business owners and elected officials, we can present a free, first class event for the people of South Los Angeles that includes great fun along with much-needed information to improve our health and finances,” he noted, referring to the number of booths manned by various healthcare agencies providing on-site screenings and other stands hosting representatives of local banks.

 

Attendees can also witness enjoy live entertainment and leading recording artists at the Bakewell Media “Music for the Soul” Stage sponsored by Chevrolet, 102.3 Radio-Free KJLH Stage, the Brenda Marsha-Mitchell Gospel Stage and Children’s World with presentations by talented youth and young adults.

 

The musical line-up includes Troop, Lakeside featuring Mark Wood, Midnight Star, Elijah Blake, Erica Campbell, Kenny Lattimore, Noel Gourdin and Ruff Endz.   Local choirs and choral ensembles representing Faithful Central Bible Church and Greater Zion Church Family are among gospel performers. 

Other highlights include Digital World sponsored by Microsoft and Powered by TecLeimert and the Beer Garden hosted by Mothers In Action and KBLA. In addition, CBS2/KCAL9 will air live news throughout the day and KBLA 1580 AM will broadcast live interviews and commentary from the Beer Garden. 

“The evolution of Taste of Soul has simply been about the care for Black people and wanting the best for our community,” insisted Bakewell, who also expressed appreciation to the corporate and community partners uniting with Bakewell Media to present the event.  

 

 

 

 

 

Taste of Soul partners consist of The Bakewell Company, Los Angeles Sentinel, L.A. Watts Times, Mothers in Action, Brotherhood Crusade, 94.7 The Wave, County of Los Angeles, City of Los Angeles, LAUSD, 102.3 Radio-Free KJLH, CBS/KCAL Los Angeles, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall and the Law Offices of Ivie McNeill Wyatt Purcell and Diggs. 

 

 

 

 

Sponsors include Transportation Partner & Premiere Sponsor: Metro, Presenting Sponsor of the Bakewell Media Sounds for the Soul Stage: Chevrolet, Sponsor of the Bakewell Builds Better Communities Pavilion: HPP Cares, LA County, Southcoast AQMD, Sponsor of Bakewell Media’s Digital World: Microsoft, Destination Crenshaw, SoCalGas Company, Chase Bank, Law Firm: Ivie, McNeill, Wyatt, Purcell & Diggs, SEIU 2015, LADWP, Metropolitan Water District, Bank of America, USC, Yes On A, Kaiser Permanente, Wells Fargo, Watts Health, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, US Bank, One Legacy, Charles R. Drew University, UTLA, CTA, California Black Power Network, Southwest Carpenters Union, Cedars-Sinai, Spectrum News 1, Waymo, California Highway Patrol, Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital, Aventiv Technologies, Comerica Bank, Southern California Edison, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Save Our Water,  Private School Network, LAWA, Providence, Boeing, Blue Shield California, MidFirst Bank, NHS,  Learn4Life, California Highway Patrol, TecLeimert, Commerce Hotel & Casino, Self Help Federal Credit Union, ConcertoPACE, Lee Andrews Group, MRKT Co, West Basin, LA City Workforce Development Corporation, Oscar, AT&T, Elite Auto Network & Verizon.

 

 

Chevrolet to Sponsor Bakewell Media ‘Music for the Soul’ Music Stage at Taste of Soul

By Kimberly Shelby

Contributing Writer

 

Bakewell Media and Taste of Soul are pleased to announce that Chevrolet—a company that specializes in “finding new roads” with cars that make that mission easy, stylish, and fun—will be the Premiere Sponsor of the Bakewell Media “Music for the Soul” Music Stage at the imminent Taste of Soul festival occurring on Saturday, October 15.

“We are extremely excited to have Chevrolet as a part of this year Taste of Soul.  Over the years, our community has been one of the largest supporters of the Chevrolet brand and to now have the opportunity to introduce a whole new line of Chevy products to our community is what makes Taste of Soul of the featured events throughout the city.  We applaud Chevrolet for being a major corporate partner in this year’s Taste of Soul,” stated Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., founder/creator of Taste of Soul and chairman of Bakewell Media.

 

Taste of Soul’s full gamut of exciting festivities will commence at 10 a.m. and run all day until 7 p.m.

Among the many spectacular offerings to be sampled at Taste of Soul, Chevrolet’s brand-new Silverado 1500 ZR2 and Trailblazer RS models will be on display throughout the day. Festival attendees are encouraged to check out all of the dazzling specs and state-of-the-art features.

The Chevrolet-sponsored Bakewell Media “Music for the Soul” Music Stage will feature an outstanding line-up of music artists that includes legendary R&B stars like Midnight Star, a group known far and wide for their R&B/Dance hit, “No Parking (on the Dance Floor)”; Lakeside featuring Mark Wood, whose hit “Fantastic Voyage” reached number one on the R&B charts in 1980, and Troop, a celebrated group that dazzled the masses in the late eighties and early nineties with successful R&B and Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping singles like “Spread My Wings,” “Sweet November,” and “All I Do is Think of You.”

The Bakewell Media “Music for the Soul” Music Stage will also highlight thrilling new acts such as Soul Play, Chanel Maryland & The Wylde Bunch, Shakespeare, and DW3.

 

Learn more at Chevrolet.com, tasteofsoulla.com, facebook.com/tasteofsoulla, twitter.com/@tasteofsoulla, instagram.com/tos_streetfestla.

Category: Cover Stories

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