INTELLECTUAL INK ISSUE 20

Intellectual Ink Editor in Chief

Julia Press Simmons

Creative Director

Charlotte Young-Foye

Advice Columnist

Coach Coco

Arts & Entertainment Opinion Columnist

Haikeem Stokes Erick S. Gray

Book Reviews

Diane P. Rembert

Graphic Design

Lamont Press

Flash Fiction ~ Contemporary

Braheim Gibbs

Health & Wellness

Phoenix C. Brown, Shonda Mayes

Events

Author Untamed

Activist

Author Obsession

Cultural

Karen E. Quinones Miller

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ISSN ~ PRINT 2833-7255 ISBN: 9798361431304 Julia Press Simmons ~ Julia@IntellectualInk.com Charlotte's Closet ~ Charlotte@IntellectualInk.com Haikeem Stokes ~ Haikeem@IntellectualInk.com Diamond Literary Reviews ~ DLR@IntellectualInk.com Erick S. Gray ~ Erick@IntellectualInk.com Karen E. Quinones Miller ~ Karen@IntellectualInk.com Submissions ~ Submit@IntellectualInk.com PHILADELPHIA, PA. INTELLECTUALINK.COM

Editors' note Issue 20 Welcome back to the nineties! This decade was full of amazing fashion, music, and books that gave voice to our culture. We’ve decided to take a trip down memory lane and bring you some of our favorite moments from this unforgettable decade. Issue 20 features Takerra Allen, author, director, executive producer, and one-half of ASP films. We discuss her writing journey from "Heaven's Hell to "Last Stop from Innocence".

As always, we've got our regular features: Charlotte's Young-Foye and Shonda Mays take us back down memory lane with "Old School Forever" and Growing Up in the 90s." Erick S. Gray talks about the backlash from the new Little Mermaid. Haikeem Stokes takes us to Kendrick Lamar's "Big Stepper's Tour," and Author Untamed invites you to "Wine Down with Words." In Write News, we have Tanisha Stewart, and Who's Next features Violette Meier, Kim Morris, and Yasmin S. Brown.

Grab a pumpkin spice late and take a ride with us as we go back... way back...

Back to the 90s!

Julia Press Simmons EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Charlotte Young Foye CREATIVE DIRECTOR

INTELLECTUAL INK MAGAZINE

GROWING UP IN THE 90'S by shonda mayes

I’m an 80s baby who grew up in the 90s, so much of my life was shaped by that era. We had the best tv shows like the iconic A Different World, The Cosby Show, Martin, and Living Single.

And, in my opinion, some of the best music came out in the 90s, too. It was an all-around vibe!

The summers seemed longer and being outside with your friends until the streetlights came on was the thing to do. Life just hit differently back then and I often long for that feeling that the 90s brought with it.

The music I grew up listening to provides the soundtrack for some of my fondest memories.

My best friends and I watched music videos on BET and MTV checking for our favorite singers and emulating their styles. You couldn’t tell us anything with our weave ponytails we rolled and heated in the microwave before slicking them up in pin-curl perfection inspired by favorites like Mary J. Blige. We’d chill outside for hours listening to everything from Biggie and Tupac to Adina Howard and TLC. The memories!!!

One of my favorite ways to unwind and enjoy some me time is with my favorite 90s playlist.

From taking a drive to clear my mind with the windows rolled down and the radio blasting to taking a candle-lit bubble bath with smooth R & B playing, music has always been a way of escape for me. I listen to a variety of music from all decades, but nothing hits harder for me than music from the 90s. I love going on a stroll down memory lane listening to my favorite songs and reminiscing over life.

So in the spirit of the oh-so-cool 90s vibe and self-care, I’m sharing some of my favorite 90s songs I listen to when I need a pick me up or just when I want to vibe out and chill!

Ten of my favorite 90s Songs: Why I Love You So Much by Monica- This song takes me back to my first crush. It’s a classic love song and no 90s R&B playlist is complete without this one.

Freak’n You by Jodeci-Now if I am telling the truth, I was probably a little too young to be thinking about freak’n anybody, but that didn’t stop me from having this song on repeat when I was growing up. Even now, If I want to set the mood, this song is definitely on the list.

Weak by SWV-Now this song right here takes me back to the days when I just knew I was destined to be a part of an R&B girl group. My friends and I would sing this song all the time and we thought we were the next big thing. The gag is I can’t carry a tune in a bucket, but that didn’t stop me from trying to hit them notes Coko hit!