Heywood’s Cancer?
Mark S. King Gay Life Living with HIV/AIDS Meth and Recovery My Fabulous Disease News Prevention and Policy
Todd Heywood, known by his friends as simply “Heywood,” has been an outspoken HIV survivor, renowned investigative journalist, and queer advocate for most of his life. So it should come as no surprise that when Heywood got a cancer diagnosis last year, he has used it as a call to action for all people living with HIV.
Heywood’s lung cancer diagnosis is all too common among people living with HIV. Some of the reasons are what you might expect: as a group, we are more likely to have a history of smoking or drug use, and our bodies are in a nearly constant state
of inflammation from years of toxic medications or the virus itself. Several medical journals and studies confirm that people living with HIV have higher risks for several types of cancer and should be monitored regularly.
There are lessons here for all of us, about risk reduction and early testing. Heywood had that kind of early detection and it may have saved his life.
and Mark S. King at the 2014 “HIV Is Not a Crime” conference. Probably smoking
I spoke to Heywood about his condition today, how his experience might benefit others, and what you should consider talking to your doctor about right away. Here is our conversation, lightly edited for length and clarity.
Mark S. King: Hello there, my friend. So I know these cancers can happen regardless, but did you smoke?
Heywood:I quit smoking for four months and have started again. Addiction is a bitch. I’m trying to find new ways to deconstruct the smoking habit. Smoking is not just a physical nicotine addiction. There are rituals. Identifying those and disrupting them is the key. That’s what I have discovered.
I vape.
Heywood
My pulmonologist says it could be more dangerous than smoking. We have no real science to say what it does to us. Sorry to crush you on that.
Gee, thanks Todd.
That was one of the things I wanted to do, was switch to vaping. All three pulmonologists have said it’s worse.
So now I have to stop vaping. Great.
Sorry.
Okay, tell me the story. When was the first sign of trouble?
I have a fantastic physician. Certified HIV care specialist. About 4 years ago he said it was time to start low dose CT chest scans. Because he knew I smoked and I am positive. And studies show that HIV folks have higher rates of cancers. Even if you take smoking out of the equation, being HIV positive alone means you’re 2.5 more likely to get lung cancer.
That’s because of inflammation right?
Inflammation, yes, and we’re more prone to get upper respiratory infections, bronchitis, etc. and that increases the risk as well. You’re constantly drawing the inflammation into your lungs.
So those are all good reasons to get a CT scan. So you got it and they found something. Does that mean they found it early?
It was less than 3mm in length when they found it. Tiny. By the time they removed it it was large enough to be considered a tumor.
But even though it was small, they wanted to operate?
Yes, because it was small the first step is curative surgery, where they remove a section of lung and make sure it hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes. They took out the whole lobe.
What’s a lobe? The whole side or what?
You have two lobes on the left, and three on the right. They took one of those out of the right side. (Heywood wrote about his ambulance ride to the hospital during a complication after surgery, as an online story for WLNS, his employer in Michigan.)
And so is it all gone?
At this point, we believe it is all gone. My tumor marker came back as a zero. No detectable growth of that cancer. It means right now, no cells are growing. I’m going to do a four-month round of chemo (Heywood had his first chemo infusion on July 8 – Mark). Once that is done, they recommend a year course of Keytruda, you’ve seen the ads on TV, it uses your own immune system to fight cancer.
But there’s a hitch.
Yes. It encourages HIV to come out of hiding from your reservoirs.
We know that HIV hides out in reservoirs and that all your HIV doesn’t necessarily show up in viral load testing.
Yeah, it’s often dormant.
So the problem is that the Keytruda treatment could make your HIV viral load worse.
I’m undetectable right now. Taking Keytruda could allow the reservoirs and make the virus active. The good news is that my HIV treatment is working, so the meds can manage the HIV creeping out. But the increased viral load means I could become infectious.
Okay, so you have to protect sexual partners.
In Michigan, you have to disclose your HIV status if you’re infectious.
That’s fair, is it not?
Personally and morally, yes, I would disclose. I have to think globally, for people who don’t have our resources. People without our resources are more likely to be criminalized, such as trans women of color, for instance. I have a lot more privilege to make my HIV disclosure than others do.
Right. Let’s talk about the takeaways for people living with HIV. First, go get your annual CT chest scan and don’t put it off.
And get your anal pap smear, because anal cancers are far more prevalent. You also need to have a primary care physician who is well versed in aging and HIV and cancers. We’re aging faster than other people. Primary care doctors need to take that into account when looking at cancer screening. And our Hep B and C status should be taken into consideration
Isn’t it this weird thing that we’re now dealing with cancer at an age we never expected to reach, and it’s kind of this strange blessing to even consider dying of cancer and not AIDS?
When the love of my life died of AIDS when I was 26, I thought I would die of AIDS before I was 30. I didn’t care. After I passed 30, I realized I should get my act together. So now, yes, it is a blessing not to have died of AIDS. But it is strange to me that we’re looking at this epidemic of cancers amongst people with HIV that are being caught way too late.
Way too late.
When it is difficult to treat and has spread. It’s on the medical field for not talking to us about it, and on us for not asking for the care we need.
Because we don’t even know.
We need to have conversations about this. We’re dealing with heart disease, coronary disease, higher cholesterol, all of that is not being identified.
Sometimes I think my doctor is just relieved that I’m healthy after 40 years of HIV, and maybe we’re not as focused as much as we should be on the risks of being older.
Have you had a scope for colon cancer? CT scans for lung cancer?
Hell yes. I get the swab, I get the colonoscopy, and CT chest scans. Blue Cross was running a sale on chest scans for people who had a smoking history, and that’s why I took the first scan years ago, and now they do it every year to make sure these two nodules they found haven’t grown. They haven’t.
Thank God I had my annual screening. It saved my life.
I’m glad you’re walking and talking. As with all things as health advocates, our stories can save a life. Maybe you just did.
You know me, I’m not going to shut up now that I know something that can save people’s lives.
Thank you, Heywood. I love you madly.
I love you more.
(There is now a GoFundMe page to help with Heywood’s living expenses during his prolonged and expensive recovery. You can contribute here.)
Help
Over the years, POZPLANET has featured a few stories of people needing help in countries where it is illegal to be LGBTQ2+. I often get messages from people who have read those articles and want me to publish their story and to ask our readers for their financial help to get them out of their situations. It is heartbreaking every time. What they don’t know or realize is that the articles and requests ran in the past never garnered any help at all. I always tell whoever is asking that the world is a mess right now. With all that is going on with Gaza, the Russia and Ukraine war and that idiot wannabe dictator called Trump, many are just trying to keep their heads above water. So, in an uncertain economy it seems ridiculous to be asking our readers for help. This is a simple non-for-profit online magazine (basically a bulletin board of what we can gather for articles and what is donated by those who want to contribute). The most important thing that this publication does is tell the stories of those who are living with HIV. Each month it’s our goal to share the stories of those that are making a difference in the world.
My advice is to reach out to a much bigger publication with advertisers and real connections to people who have money. I and my husband are a married couple living on welfare in Canada. We have no money. Don’t let social media fool you into thinking that we live some charmed lifestyle or make tons of money. We don’t.
The other advice I tell them is to contact Rainbow Railroad: www.rainbowrailroad.org . They not only help the LGBTQ2+ who need to relocate from dangerous situations and homelessness, but they also help our community living with HIV as well. The problem is that there are many who need this help and it takes time to get to all of the requests. So, often the help does not come as soon as the requests are put in. And then begins the cycle of those who write me back asking me to rush things a long or request for them. I have no power or clout to make anything happen faster. That sucks…I know. But the truth and reality are the help will come when it comes.
So, I really want to put this out there so people who read and share the magazine understand what we are able to do. I do encourage those who have HIV related fundraising events that are organized and need promotions to send the press releases or promotional material to us by the 25th of each month. We will gladly publish them no matter where they are in the world. POZPLANET is that bulletin board to share and show what is happening in our global HIV Community.
~ Publisher & Founder, Alphonso King Jr
For August 2025 we are focusing on British Films and you can vote on which one we will be watching on August 19th by joining our Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/195374003920591 Our movie night is growing and we even have discussions about the films afterwards as well as pick what theme will be for the next month. It’s a cheap date night and we even throw in the popcorn and pop! Everyone is welcome (although this is not an event for children since we often watch films with mature subject matters). So, come join this intergenerational evening.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A few months ago, I met Nour at an event I was hosting as Jade Elektra. I was surprised at how little she knew about HIV and where it stands today. So, I asked her to write for the magazine to give a perspective of what it looks like from the outside. She’s written a few articles. This is her latest. It reads a little diEerent than her past entries. Let us know what you think on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/POZPLANET or on our BlueSky profile: https://bsky.app/profile/pozplanetmagazine.bsky.social
The Lens of HIV: How Film and TV Have Shaped—and Misshaped—Our Understanding of HIV
Growing up, I didn’t know much about HIV beyond the whisper of fear that sometimes crept into health class or made headlines on the news. I wasn’t living with it. I wasn’t close to anyone who was. And so, like many, I learned what I knew from where we often go when we don’t know: movies and television. But looking back, I realize how incomplete and often problematic those portrayals were.
HIV has been present on our screens since the early days of the epidemic, and the stories we've seen have often mirrored our society’s confusion, prejudice, and evolving understanding of the virus. From groundbreaking dramas to niche series like HIV Plotlines, film and television have not only shaped public perception but also offered a reflection of the deep social tensions around health, sexuality, race, and mortality.
The Early Years: Fear and Stereotyping
In the 1980s and early 1990s, the dominant portrayal of HIV in films was closely tied to death, tragedy, and stigma. Movies like An Early Frost (1985) and Longtime Companion (1989) were among the first to center on characters living with AIDS. These films were brave in their time, offering visibility during an era when HIV was heavily
associated with shame. Yet, they also often reinforced a tragic, one-dimensional narrative: HIV meant suffering. HIV meant death.
Perhaps the most well-known film of this era is Philadelphia (1993), starring Tom Hanks as a gay lawyer who is fired after his law firm discovers he has AIDS. The film was hailed for bringing HIV into the mainstream. And yet, watching it now, I feel torn. On one hand, it was a bold move by Hollywood to humanize someone with HIV, especially during a time of widespread misinformation and fear. On the other hand, it reinforced the idea that HIV is something you only see in its final, most devastating stages through tears, courtrooms, and funerals. The takeaway for many viewers? Compassion, yes but also continued fear.
Beyond the Gay, White, Male Lens
One of the longstanding criticisms of early HIV media is its narrow focus. Films overwhelmingly centered white, gay men neglecting the reality that HIV affects people across all races, genders, sexualities, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Films like Precious (2009) helped to widen the lens. In Precious, the protagonist is a young Black woman living in poverty in Harlem, who learns she is HIV-positive after being raped by her father. It’s a raw, powerful film, one that finally brings attention to the intersections of HIV with poverty, abuse, and race. And yet, the diagnosis again arrives as a devastating twist. HIV is still the thing that happens to a character, not something they live with and manage over time.
Even fewer films have dealt with the experience of women living with HIV with nuance or depth. That’s why shows like Pose though not a film were so refreshing. Set in the 1980s and '90s ballroom scene in New York, Pose featured transgender women of color navigating love, survival, and HIV. It was revolutionary in giving voice to characters who had long been invisible in media. Their HIV wasn’t just a death sentence it was part of their lives, their friendships, their activism.
HIV Plotlines: A Meta Conversation
In recent years, HIV Plotlines a documentary-style series and media literacy project has taken a step back to ask: What stories have we been telling about HIV all these years? And what stories have we ignored?
The show dives into decades of HIV representation across film and television, unpacking how tropes have formed and how certain narratives keep getting recycled. It’s a wake-up call to viewers like me, who assumed progress had been made simply because HIV was no longer as taboo onscreen. HIV Plotlines reminds us that while representation has evolved, it still often comes in formulaic patterns: the martyr, the villain, the tragic hero, the miraculous survivor. Real life, of course, is far more complex.
One particularly poignant episode of HIV Plotlines explores the role of disclosure in film. So often, a character’s HIV status is revealed in a moment of high drama—whispered during sex, shouted in an argument, or dropped like a bombshell at a dinner table. The disclosure is treated as a plot device, not as a personal, emotional act. Watching that breakdown made me reflect on how my understanding of disclosure has been shaped more by fictional scripts than by the lived experiences of people with HIV.
From Death to Life: The Need for Joyful, Ordinary Portrayals
Today, thanks to medical advancements, HIV is no longer the death sentence it once was. People with HIV can live long, healthy lives with access to treatment. And yet, you wouldn’t always know that from watching most movies.
This is perhaps the biggest gap in HIV storytelling: the everyday life of people living with HIV. Where are the stories of people dating, working, parenting, thriving all while managing a chronic condition like so many others do with diabetes or asthma? Where is the joy? The humor? The mundane?
There are signs of change. Short films and web series especially those created by people living with HIV themselves—are starting to tell richer, more human stories. Projects like The Positive Women’s Network and The Well Project are collaborating with artists and filmmakers to bring more diverse voices forward. But we need more support from major studios, more inclusive writing rooms, and more willingness to show HIV outside of its most dramatic peaks.
Why It Matters—Especially to Those of Us Who Aren’t Affected
You might wonder why this matters so much to someone like me, who doesn’t have HIV. The answer is simple: the way media talks about HIV shapes how we talk about it. It influences policy, stigma, education, and even relationships. If all I ever see is fear and tragedy, then I might approach someone living with HIV with pity, or worse, avoidance. But if I see the full picture the strength, the complexity, the ordinariness I can approach with understanding, respect, and solidarity.
Film and television have immense power. They can terrify or enlighten. They can perpetuate silence, or they can spark conversation. And when it comes to HIV, we’ve had too much of the former and not enough of the latter.
We are long overdue for stories that are written with people living with HIV, not just about them. We need to move beyond the plot twist, beyond the hospital bed, beyond the noble death. We need stories of resistance, resilience, and yes romance and laughter, too.
Because the story of HIV is not over. And it’s certainly not one story.
When I look for people to interview for this column I often look for those who are living their most authentic lives. I love to see HIV+ people visible and out about their status. This is the only way we can really fight stigma...by living out loud! And our person of the month is definitely making themselves known and visible in New York City with their stage presence and dance training.
I am very pleased to introduce you to JMV.
AK: It has taken a while to get this interview. So, I am very grateful for your time. Thank you for doing this. How are you today?
JMV: I’m okay today. It has been a long few months, but there’s work to do.
AK: I have been following you for a while on social media but still don't know a lot about you. Would you mind sharing with me and our readers a little background on yourself? Where are you from?
JMV: I’m from a place called “Hell.” Have you ever heard of it? I’m kidding. Sort of.
I’m from a little town in upstate New York called Norwich. It’s considered a city & county seat because it has the highest population no more than 7-8,000 people. I grew up in a restaurant my grandparents owned. My great grandparents owned one, too.
It’s sort of a hick town where some have never been to a shopping mall or corporate retail store other than Walmart. There’s still a charm to it.
AK: I wasn't sure, so I need to ask...what are your pronouns?
JMV: THEY/THEM & Proud
AK: And how would you describe your work?
JMV: That all depends on the work we are talking about. I’m pretty passionate so that definitely goes into everything I do. I want community & I’m always learning from others. I want to be growing regularly & where that is sometimes met with hardship, I believe that’s what makes every win more incredible.
I’d say my work is progressive, unique, outside-the-box, energetic, & fun while always keeping it real.
AK: If you don't mind...how long have you been HIV+?
JMV: WAIT!? I have HIV? I wish someone would’ve told me… oh damn, that’s right since August 2011. That’s when I tested positive, but it wasn’t until recently that I recognized my seroconversion was a few months before. Sometimes it takes hearing others’ stories to recognize your own. So yeah, 14 years.
AK: I often ask this question because I know there is someone out there who feels like they are the only one going through this, but how was it for you when you were diagnosed? Did you go on meds immediately or did you wait for a while?
JMV: I was numb at first. This is post AIDS Crisis & pre-PrEP, so the shame & stigma was brutal. I waited until May of the following year to start meds. I actually remember that day very well.
AK: It was a different time and atmosphere in the world when I was diagnosed in 1990. I waited until I felt I absolutely needed to go on anything. AZT was the only medicine. It killed the virus, but it also killed your organs while doing it. What advice would you give someone who is newly diagnosed?
JMV: I have heard horror stories of long-time survivors of the AIDS Crisis & I couldn’t imagine. Wasn’t the next drug available in 1997? My dates may be confused, but it was too long for development. We got there eventually…
For people that are newly diagnosed? This is a tough one because every person is different in their response. I went down a dark path & wouldn’t recommend that for sure, but now I couldn’t imagine my life without that depth
So, for people newly diagnosed: allow yourself to grieve. Find people that you can confide in. Get a therapist if you don’t have one. Find a doctor that works for you; & I must repeat this, one that works for you. & please don’t beat yourself up. You’re going to find your way, just be patient & kind to yourself.
AK: Oh…you are correct about the cocktail coming along in ’97. I remember when it did and I still waited. I had watch too many of my friends die on AZT. So, I wasn’t going to put anything in my body that wasn’t fully tested. I didn’t drink or do drugs even though I worked in New York City’s nightlife. So, I waited until I absolutely had to go on meds…which was in 2005 when I had an accident and my T-cells dropped too low. Unfortunately, my diabetes was kickin’ my ass. So, I had to go on meds.
But enough about that ancient history…I really appreciate you taking the time to share your story with our readers. If someone is visiting The Big Apple where could they come see you perform?
JMV: Any glory hole. No, no. Just kidding. Sort of
I have a monthly show at Club Cumming called Queerlesque It’s every second Wednesday at 10PM. Follow @queerlesquebyjmv for more info.
I have monthly in Connecticut at Troupe429 Every last Saturday at It’s Burlesque
For all other shows, you can follow me @theonlyjmv on Instagram & I’m constantly posting for new gigs: Go-Go & Burlesque along with info on Miss Hell’s Kitchen Charity Drag Pageant that I’m grateful to be the executive producer of.
AK: It has been a pleasure sitting down and talking with you today. I haven’t been to New York City since before the COVID pandemic, but I next time I’m there I hope to catch one of your shows.
Listen to the mix here: https://www.mixcloud.com/djrelentlessny/ear-candy-august-2025
Download your free video of this mix here: https://mega.nz/file/Qq9xURgA#Ltz0OTKvsYzj-r69fZ-XXIIuXBLCaOiQrYRAcR5m-Jw
Subscribe to DJ Relentless’ Mixcloud page: https://www.mixcloud.com/djrelentlessny Follow DJ Relentless’ HearThis page: https://hearthis.at/djrelentlesstoronto
It’s the dead of summer and it’s hotter than two sissies in a prison on a Friday night! I’ve got twenty- one tracks to help you get through this heat. The world is a hot mess right now. From genocide to straight up corruption, I don’t know ‘bout you but I could use a diversion…even if it’s for an hour and some change. So, let’s take a look at what’s going on with new music and new remixes.
Now, usually every August I try to coddle those celebration Caribana here in Toronto with a few selections. I decided this year “I ain’t doin’ it!”. I’m not a fan of Reggae or Soca. Neither are in my background as an African-American. I mean I like a few songs here and there, but I have never connected with these genre(s) like I do with R&B, Soul, Disco, Club & House. I’m part Puerto Rican but wasn’t raised with Latin music. I like some stuR but I don’t love everything.
But what I do love is Bad Bunny. I don’t understand a word of what he’s saying but I somehow connect to his music. So, I started this month’s mix with “NUEVAYoL”. The
music video is what sold me. You don’t have to speak Spanish to know that he is addressing this current administration’s agenda on Latinos in the United States. These ICE raids are insane and people are afraid. So, when I heard that Bad Bunny announced his concert dates in Puerto Rico and not in the states, I realized that he is a genius. His shows will bring much needed revue to the island. This is the support that the U.S. should be giving to Puerto Rico. Other artists should do the same for places that need help. This is so much better than an asshole throwing paper towels after a hurricane.
From my understanding, Bad Bunny’s song title is translated into “New York”. So, when I heard the Serder Bingol Mashup of “Empire State Of Mind” by Jay Z featuring Alicia Keys I thought this would be the perfect follow up for this mix.
I know everyone is probably over Beyoncé’s Country album. I just read that her Act III and final chapter will be “Betty Black” (a rock album and homage to 70’s Rock artist Betty Davis). I’m loving that she’s continuing to educate audiences as to how African-Americans influenced all popular music in America. Let’s see how many white artists are going to lose their minds because of this project. Will we have Alice Cooper complaining that her new material is being played on Rock stations? I wouldn’t be surprised. Apparently, she is on the Cowboy Carter Tour in Europe and Miley Cyrus joined her on stage for their duet “II Most Wanted” in Paris. I believe I reviewed the Liam Pfeifer Remix before but there was not a music video. Well, they have taken the concert footage and made one for this remix.
Our third selection is the Sefu Remix of “Mr. Electric Blue” by Benson Boone. I honestly have to say that I really didn’t pay any attention to him until he wore that jump suit and did that flip on the MTV Music Awards But his latest video really leans into gay-bating an audience. His 70s curly hair and Tom Selleck mustache is just the right amount of throwback to make him hot! Do I care about his lyrics…not really. But some eye- candy is always welcomed in times like these.
And speaking of throwbacks…the Ardent Remix of “Jump” by the Pointer Sisters is a welcomed addition to my library. I remember when the original was a hit in the bars. 80s dance music was often above 135 BPMs. So, as someone who would love to revisit his old days but have a version that can be mixed under 130 BPMs this is perfect!
Our sixth track is “D.A.N.C.E.” by Peggy Gou. Maybe it’s because I long for the days of real House music that was around 125 BPMs from the 90s but I just feel like a lot of tracks today are just too fast. We ain’t taking an aerobic class! Faster and harder is not always pleasurable. A nice groove and bassline makes me reminisce about sweating on the floor at The Limelight or Sound Factory. I like this track but it’s too fast at 130 BPMs. I slowed it down to 126 and it hits the spot.
As a product of my teen years, by the time I got to the 90s and Hip House was a thing I really
got into it. So, I really appreciate the throwback to it now with artists like Doechii and artists like Justine Skye. Her latest is a track called “Bitch In Ibiza”. It has a very smart flow and timing that if I were to hit a dance floor again this one would get me movin’.
If you go to MikeClarkJr.com the home page says “The Future Of Southern Soul And R&B”. To be honest with you, I had never heard of him until his latest single and video came up in my video pool for “Pop That”. I’m originally from Tampa, Florida. I know many don’t even think of Florida as the south because of Miami. But trust me…there are some parts that are just as backwoods as Alabama and Mississippi. And to me, this is the same shit that was being pumped out back in the late 80s. Unless there some hidden remixes for Mike Clark Jr somewhere this ain’t going nowhere.
Our ninth selection is the DJ Dark Remix of “Sapphire” by Ed Sheeran. It’s probably going to sound strange, but I have noticed that a lot of UK artists are influenced by a many recording artists and musicians of color. And once they get to a certain level of fame, they tend to record albums or material that reflect that influence. So, I wasn’t surprised when Ed released songs that sounded a little Reggae and now leaning towards a Middle Eastern sound. This particular remix strips it of its original production (which works for me if I just gotta play this one). Do I like the song? Not particularly.
On July 16th, 2025 we lost Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero. You probably know her better as Connie Francis. Weirdly enough, her song “Pretty Little Baby” out of nowhere suddenly became a TikTok sensation a couple months ago. Connie was even considering
maybe doing a comeback. I mean…after watching Brenda Lee chart with “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” last year it wouldn’t be too far-fetched. But unfortunately, she died after being admitted to hospital for pneumonia. Ironically the same day of her death I found the DJ Dark Remix in my video pool.
The elevnth track in our mix is kind of a strange choice to follow Connie Francis, but I had to keep it movin’. This is the Antparts Remix of “Boy Crazy” by Kesha. I’m not sure what’s goin’ on with her these days but all of the recent tracks I have heard have been pure trash! They’re all super-fast and had sophomoric lyrics. This remix was the only one that I could stomach.
But our twelfth track seems appropriate to follow “Boy Crazy”…it’s the Heads Or Tails Remix of “No Broke Boys” by Disco Lines & Tinashe. The song is cute. Will it be a big hit? Probably not. The theme and lyrics are too much like her other material.
However…the new Sofi Tukker ft Nono, “Pick Up The Phone” is a hit my book. This is going to be what me and my late brother Anthony would call a “N&R Track” nightly and regardless if they dance or not! If I like it that much it doesn’t matter how the audience reacts. I love the video and it’s got a catchy hook. When my late brother and I used to DJ
back in Florida we often found songs or remixes that hit just right for us. And this was back when DJs made songs a hit. Not an algorithm or TikTok. You had to go to a club to hear the latest and what the DJ spun and where they placed the track would determine how it was received. I miss my brother. Anthony Evans was one of the good DJs from Florida.
And it was only fitting that I followed “Pick Up The Phone” with Danny Morris’ “The Call” Packed with sample of the exchanges between Mink Stole and Kathleen Turner in John Waters’ cult film “Serial Mom”, it is a camp classic. However, it is not an original idea.
Back in the late 90s, DJ George B & Miss Fernando were known as The Saliva Commandos and they released a bootleg called “Serial BuX” that was a big hit in the Black and Latino Gay Clubs. I even think it made it to the Gay Circuit scene. Probably where Danny heard it. But this was a staple in my sets at Escuelita New York City’s longest running Sunday Tea Dance of color.
So, Miley Cyrus featuring Naomi Campbell is in our fifteenth spot with her latest single “Every Girl You’ve Ever Loved”. I don’t know if it’s because I lived through the 80s or if this resurgence of that style of production is just getting old, but this song isn’t doing it for me. And I was expecting a bigger part from Naomi. I mean, after all she did have a 1994 album called “Babywoman” on Epic Records. Her big single was “I Want To Live”. She sang back then. What happened?
And speaking of throwbacks to the 80s, our sixteenth selection is “Collide” by Frankie Zulferino. It heavily samples the rhythm track to Evelyn Champagne King’s “Love Come Down”. It’s a cute song but honestly, I wouldn’t have paid any attention to it if it wasn’t for the sample. Sure, he’s a little easy on the eye…without the right production he would have been lost in the shuRle.
So, I decided to switch gears and slow things down with a transitional mix into “Paradise” by DJ Snake & Bipolar Sunshine. This is just a rebranded cover of Phil Collins’ “Another Day In Paradise”. It’s gonna be funny when some twink hears the original and asks “Why is this old guy singing this new song?”
Our eighteenth selection is “One Thing” by Lola Young, another British artist who popped in the scene with her hit “Messy”. I like her…probably because she’s just raw. There’s no glitz and glam to her. She just speaks her mind in her music. Refreshing is the word that comes to mind.
And speaking of rebranding…when did Machine Gun Kelly rebrand himself as MGK? I find it interesting all these white artist who are leaning into their whiteness by getting away from any Hip Hop. And with all the rebranding of artists like Post Malone and Jelly Roll, we are going to see these white artists who were full- on Hip Hop artists now claim that they are Rock or Country to fit into Plump’s America. Anyway…his latest single is “Vampire Diaries”. Uh…whatever, bro! Not my cup of tea but then again your Hip Hop wasn’t either.
One of the Pop Rock bands that I am glad to see still around is Maroon 5. Their latest, “All Night” is definitely in their wheel house and formula. It sounds like their style and that’s okay. Their last track with K-Pop star, Lisa probably charted higher than this will.
And speaking of Plump’s America, artists like Morgan Wallen get to be a racist out in the open and get catchy mashups like the Scooter Surprise Combo Blend with Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg’s “Next Episode” to make him easily digested and accessible in a Hip Hop market. I thought long and hard about not including this in my mix, but I ultimately decided that it was important to show you an example of how the rebranding of Country music by Plump supporters will use anything to make them sound like they are cool and part of the lexicon of Pop Culture
And to close out our mix and to further talk about sellouts, I decided to use “Last Dance
With Mary Jane” by Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Tom Petty & Jelly Roll. I still haven’t forgiven Snoop for performing for Plump’s inauguration. That was the biggest slap in the Black Community’s face and while his earlier music is part of the fabric of America’s History, I’ll play his early work, but his new stuR will not find a home in my playlists or dance floors.
Like Michael Jackson, R. Kelly and Cee-Lo…their actions are problematic but they were musical geniuses. It’s just a shame they all did some things that have tarnished their legacies. And bending the knee to Plump is just not right or cool. When this time period is over, all who bent for this Wannabe King will be remembered in history for their support of this horrible man who has destroyed the standing of the United States.
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