JULY ‘25
curated by Jada BowenTHIS IS LUNDUN” is not just a campaign video for Corteiz (a London-based clothing brand), it’s a celebration of Black London culture. Featuring big names like JME, Gabriel Moses, Central Cee, Oluawu Slawn, and more, it’s an ode to the city’s creative scene.
I’ve always been drawn to Black culture in the UK, especially in London. Coming from Jamaican descent myself, seeing how the diaspora stays connected to their roots, even while being so far away from home, inspires me. It makes me think about my relationship with my culture and how I might connect to it more deeply. This campaign video perfectly captures that feeling. It showcases everything from kids on the block playing football and making money to successful artists shaping culture. Everyone is just living their truth, all while wearing Corteiz. This isn’t just a promo; it’s a statement about the richness of Black London culture. It makes you feel part of something real, something exclusive, something that you want to be involved in.
What really resonates with me is the community spirit. London’s Black scene feels tight-knit, with an “everyone eats” mentality. They lift each other, collaborate, and celebrate together. Seeing that is inspiring, and it reminds me of my own experiences in Toronto. The video shows all parts that make up the “hustle” in their creative community, and it honestly makes me want to hop on a plane to experience it firsthand.
Mustafa the Poet’s album, DUNYA, has had such a deep impact on me that it would feel wrong not to mention it. Twelve tracks, forty minutes, and somehow, it holds entire lifetimes of grief, reflection, and beauty. It feels like a collection of prayers, of memories, of truths too heavy to carry alone. Somehow, he’s found a way to turn grief into something gentle. Something you can sit with.
His music combines traditional Sudanese instruments with the sounds of Regent Park, the neighbourhood that shaped him. It’s a powerful blend of past and present, of legacy and lived experience. Perfectly capturing the beauty and pain of growing up surrounded by loss but still finding ways to bloom.
Through his music, I’ve found a deeper appreciation for Islam. The way he weaves faith into his lyrics feels so natural, not just through his poems, but through the sense of community he builds around it. There’s no judgment in his words, just openness. He creates space for everyone, Muslim or not, and that’s what makes me want to learn more. To him, Islam feels like home, and he is simply inviting us in.
“I'm Leaving Toronto” is one of the heaviest songs on the album. Mustafa speaks about having to leave his city, not out of choice, but because the streets he grew up on now carry too much pain. The same streets that took his brother. It’s heartbreaking to think that a place that raised you can also break you. That survival sometimes means walking away from everything you’ve ever known. It’s the weight of a system that was never built to protect you, and the fact that it could’ve been different is what makes it all so devastating.
One story Mustafa shared at a show has stuck with me since: the last time he performed in Toronto, his older brother was in the crowd, sitting next to the person who would later take his life. While that image is incredibly haunting, it speaks to the weight of his artistry. Even as he carries so much pain, Mustafa continues to pour love back into the same community that scarred him.
Directed by Barry Jenkins
Moonlight is one of those films that just stays with you. It’s quiet, but it speaks volumes. Directed by Barry Jenkins and produced by A24, the film is soft and subtle in its delivery, but the message it carries is incredibly intense. It resonates deeply without ever feeling overwhelming. There’s a certain kind of power in that softness. The movie explores queerness, toxic masculinity, and the Black experience in America, but it does so without any fast cuts or dramatization. Everything is so intentional. The stillness. The silences. The colour grading. The scoring. It’s slow, but never dull. Just beautiful storytelling that lets you ache with the characters.
Visually, it’s stunning. The colour grading perfectly complements the cast’s skin tones. You can tell every frame was carefully thought out, something A24 always gets right. Their work resonates with me on an emotional level that other production studios don’t. They always manage to perfectly portray the feelings we don't say out loud and connect with a Gen-Z audience.
Moonlight tells the sad truth about how so many young black boys are taught to hide their softness, their love, and their true selves. It’s an unfortunate reality that comes with a great message: life is too short to live for other people, always be true to yourself.