WHO IS ONAJE?

    Onaje McDowelle is a Writer, Digital Content Strategist + Designer from Houston, TX. He studied Journalism at The University of Texas at Austin and is currently an editorial + curation specialist at Pinterest. Previously he worked under the editorial team at The Recording Academy/GRAMMY.com (Los Angeles, CA) as a Freelance contributor and previous Digital Media intern. His words have also appeared in the Daily Dot, NPR (NextGen Radio Fellow 2018), Outdoor Voices’ The Recreationalist, Austin Monthly Magazine + more.



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︎: connect@byOnaje.com/   onaje@utexas.edu



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︎ WORDS

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︎ INSPO







︎ LIVE: “STAY IN, COME OUT, LET’S TALK” LIVE PANEL HIGHLIGHTS LGBTQ+ EXPERIENCES IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

The Recording Academy Los Angeles Chapter's Facebook Live event featured LeAnn Rimes, Troye Sivan, DJ Tracy Young and others in conversations on coming out, acceptance, allyship and more

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GLOBAL MEDIA EXEC AVA L. HALL’S JOURNEY TO AMPLIFY + UNITE THE RHYTHMS OF NATIONS

"Music is celebratory and cautionary. People can use music to speak love and celebrate things they adore, but it can also be cautionary in that it can speak truth on power"

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︎ BREAKING: MAYORS OF LOS ANGELES, NEW YORK EXPECT CONCERTS + FESTIVALS NOT TO RETURN UNTIL 2021

In separate statements, both officials for the country’s two largest cities emphasized the unlikelihood that live events will take place in any fashion before next year

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TOGETHER RIHANNA + JAY-Z DONATE $2M TO COVID-19 RELIEF EFFORTS

GRAMMY winners Rihanna and Jay-Z have pledged matching grants of $1M to aid in COVID-19 relief for undocumented workers, healthcare professionals and first-responders.

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PREMIERE: DREAMVILE’S LUTE DROPS NEW SINGLE + VIDEO ‘GED (GETTIN’ EVERY DOLLAR)’

Charlotte-born rapper and J. Cole's Dreamville signee Lute just released his newest single, "GED (Getting Every Dolla)," accompanied with a Neal-Farmer directed music video.

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THE UNTOLD HISTORY AND CULTURAL IMPACT OF BILLY BLANKS

As strange as it may seem, the well-known early 90s fitness phenomenon, Tae Bo, all began in Billy Blanks’ basement, and he wants you to “get in the groove”.

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REVIEW: KANYE WEST & KID CUDI’s ‘KIDS SEE GHOSTS’ IS A BEAUTIFUL MESS

Sanded down to 7 songs, the turbulent album reels in the noise.

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UNDER THE INFLUENCE: PNTHN REFLECTS ON FIVE ALBUMS THAT INFORMED THEIR SOUND

Texas rap collective PNTHN reflects on five albums that informed their sound.

Photo by Rahim Fortune

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PABLO VIGIL

A sit down with the Northern New Mexico native who has been called one of the greatest mountain runners in the world.

“Most races I’ve particpated in, I did not win. But, some of my greatest achievements have been in losses.”

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OUTDOOR AFRO

Meet the non-profit responsible for sending the first all Black team (ever) to climb Kilimanjaro.

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TRACING ROOTS: AUSTIN HISTORY BUFF IS TRACKING DOWN HER TEJANO ANCESTORS + HELPING OTHERS DO THE SAME

From cemeteries to census records, 61-year-old Maria Solis is tracking down her Tejano ancestors with DNA testing, public archives and history books, while helping others do the same.

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WHY ‘THE BREAKS’ IS THE BEST HIP-HOP SHOW IN AUSTIN

On KUTX, Fresh and Confucius want to give the city’s underground rap scene its own identity.

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DOWNTOWN GIRLS BASKETBALL

“It’s not really about looking cool, it’s not really about being the best, it’s really just about having fun.” 

Aria McManus’ recreational basketball club is keeping fun before competition.

Photos by Amani Williams

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BOOKS: WHERE WE COME FROM

Oscar Cásares’ new novel explores the border crisis and the sometimes-blurry lines between childhood and adulthood.

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TAKE TEN: CAM HICKS

A Q&A with the Louis Vuitton + Off-White photographer who describes his go-to style as comfortable first. The multi-hyphenate creative talks photography, inspirations and risk-taking.

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GO BEHIND THE SCENES OF AUSTIN CITY LIMITS

Close your eyes and dream of anywhere you want to go.

Austin tech startup SubVRsive is expanding the horizons of virtual reality.

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︎ LIVE: “CARE FOR THE CULTURE” LIVESTREAM PANEL OFFERS NEW SOLUTIONS FOR WELLNESS + COMMUNITY IN RAP + R&B”


The Facebook Live Event featuring John Legend, Ledisi and others highlighted discussions on the affects that COVID-19 and the fight against racial injustice have on music communities today

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BEYONCE’S BEYGOOD FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $6M COVID-19 RELIEF EFFORTS

The artist’s BeyGOOD foundation is working to provide resources and mental health services with UCLA and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

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HONORING THE LIFE OF PHILADELPHIA RAPPER CHYNNA

The model and rapper whose style became recognized for its potent lyricism, dark delivery and heavily gothic-influenced instrumentation, has died of an accidental overdose at 25.

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IN CELEBRATION OF BOB MARLEY: LATE REGGAE HERO 75TH B-DAY COMMEMORATION

In celebration of the late musical and cultural icon's 75th birthday, the Marley family will host a year-long run of events and releases in collaboration with UMe and Island Records.

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VIDEO: PHYSICAL ENJOYMENT W/ ELLE CLAY

The Recreationalist presents brand new video series, P.E.: PHYSICAL ENJOYMENT WITH ELLE CLAY.

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INTERVIEW: IDK IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE RAPPER

His knack for vivid storytelling sets him apart from the pack as a viable force in contemporary hip-hop.

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REVIEW: DRAKE’S ‘SCORPION’ SUCCESSFULLY ADDRESSES THE CHAOS

The project is a testament to his dynamism, but is it enough to silence the mob?

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PLANET TEXAS 2050: FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

By 2050, the population of Texas is expected to double from about 28 million today to 55 million. This would create an incredible strain on resources.

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LOOKING IN THE MIRROR: THE PENN SLAVERY PROJECT

The Penn History of Slavery Project has colleges across the country reassessing their ties to slavery.

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IN DEPTH W/ JOJI MILLER’S DEBUT EP ‘IN 

With his debut EP “In Tongues,” Joji Miller, formerly Pink Guy and Filthy Frank, gets personal.

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JORDAN PETERSON: THE HOLLOW LESSONS OF HIS SUMMER TOUR

There is an “idea war” going on, and he’s undoubtedly on the frontlines. Peterson offers simple solutions for people who resent their changing world. They aren’t just internet trolls; they’re ready to mobilize.

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REVIEW: THE INTERNET’S ‘HIVE MIND’

Returning from a three-year hiatus following the release of their Grammy-nominated effort, Ego Death, Los Angeles future-soul band The Internet floats over spaced out opuses for their highly anticipated fourth studio album, Hive Mind.

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TAKE TEN: KIA DAMON

Donned the “new face of New York’s food world” and “one of 16 Black Chefs framing the future of food,” the 25-year-old has already accomplished far more than most culinary professionals will over a career’s time.

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TAKE TEN: COREY WASH

“Drawing stuff and going on adventures.”

It’s a simple mantra, yet one that Baltimore-born and New York based multidisciplinary artist Corey Wash is living to the fullest. Her art is loaded with colors camouflaged in comic-like sketches that are elevated by social themes within each piece.

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