The year in Black culture, according to AJC reporter DeAsia Paige
2024 was something else.
As the year closes out, UATL’s staff members are looking back at Black culture and remembering what mattered. In this story, reporter DeAsia Paige shares memories of the year that was.
What was one of the biggest Atlanta moments of 2024?
Usher performing at the Super Bowl.
Name someone who mattered in Black culture, and tell us why:
Maybe Kendrick Lamar. By becoming hip-hop’s boogeyman, he delivered one of the most memorable years in rap music.
What album was the one you’ll remember most from 2024, and why?
Doechii- “Alligator Bites Never Heal.” She delivered a deeply personal and featureless mixtape that harkens back to the foundations of hip-hop. In doing so, she became this year’s breakout rap star.
Which 2024 movie will you remember most, and why?
“Stax: Soulsville USA” (documentary). I enjoyed learning more about the rise and fall of the Stax sound and its legacy.
Who is someone we should be watching in 2025 in Black Atlanta culture?
The group of female comedians behind the Round Table Game Show. It’s a popular social media series that has gone viral this year.
In it, the comedians sit at a table and tell jokes while the others at the table try hard not to laugh. If you laugh, you’re eliminated. It’s a very interesting concept that further showcases Atlanta’s extensive comedy scene.
What is something you hope to leave in 2024 and not revisit in 2025?
Conspiracy theories and media illiteracy.
What was something that people should have paid more attention to last year, in your opinion?
The rise of Southern female rappers and how they’ve made the genre more exciting this year.
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About the Author
DeAsia is a music and culture reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She focuses on the intersection of arts, culture and diverse communities, as well as how emerging social trends are being expressed through the lens of the Atlanta aesthetic. DeAsia's work can be seen in Pitchfork, Essence, Teen Vogue, Elle and more.
