Marcus Shorter

Communications Professional and Writer at Freelance

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Articles

How ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ and 1990s Black television made the Air Jordan 5 ‘Grape’ legendary

1 week ago | andscape.com | Marcus Shorter

One day after the calendar officially flips to summer, sneakerheads of a certain age will pray that their god of choice blesses them with a pair of the Air Jordan 5 “Grape.” June 21 marks the first time Jordan Brand has released the colorway since 2013. The 2025 model improves on the Obama-era pair by utilizing quality leather, a translucent outsole, etching the Nike branding on the heel, and incorporating a polyurethane insole to make Nike “Air” more than just a clever tagline.
How ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ and 1990s Black television made the Air Jordan 5 ‘Grape’ legendary

1 week ago | flipboard.com | Marcus Shorter

How ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ and 1990s Black television made the Air Jordan 5 ‘Grape’ legendaryOne day after the calendar officially flips to summer, sneakerheads of a certain age will pray that their god of choice blesses them with a pair of …
Reebok continues basketball comeback with DiJonai Carrington signing

2 months ago | andscape.com | Marcus Shorter

DiJonai Carrington is the latest WNBA player to join the Reebok Basketball roster. The Dallas Wings guard signed a multiyear deal with the Boston-based company that will establish her as a brand ambassador for performance and lifestyle apparel, starting with the Engine A basketball sneaker. Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington is always authenticRead nowCarrington’s signing is part of a long-term effort for Reebok to re-establish itself as a basketball brand.
USC forward Kiki Iriafen signs sneaker deal with Skechers

2 months ago | andscape.com | Marcus Shorter

With only a few weeks before the WNBA Draft, Skechers and Kiki Iriafen announced a new partnership today. The former University of Southern California forward will be Skechers’ first-ever collegiate athlete signing. Iriafen will be a brand ambassador for the Los Angeles-based company and will appear in the performance brand’s global marketing campaigns as she starts her professional career.
Why Scream 2’s Joel is the Smartest Black Character in Horror History

Feb 19, 2025 | dreadcentral.com | Marcus Shorter

There’s a long list of African Americans in horror movies. Unfortunately, there’s an even longer list of African Americans who don’t survive. But then there’s Joel. If one ranked the admittedly short number of melanated people who lived to tell the tale at the end of a scary flick, Joel (Duane Martin) of Scream 2 stands alone at the tippy top. No, Joel didn’t defeat the bad guys. Nor did he solve any of the movie’s mysteries.
The Empathy Machine: Why Horror Is the Genre We Need Right Now

Dec 9, 2024 | bloody-disgusting.com | Marcus Shorter

Even through the blood and guts, horror generates empathy better than any other genre. “Movies are like a machine that generates empathy.” Of all his opinions, those eight words comprise Roger Ebert’s most profound proclamation. Movies put us in someone else’s shoes and not only ask what we would do if they were our laces to tie but also answer the most fundamental question regarding understanding and relating to our fellow flesh bags: why? Why turn left instead of right?
Ja Morant and Nike release the Ja 2s and pay homage to his college team

Sep 26, 2024 | andscape.com | Marcus Shorter

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant’s next signature sneaker is ready for its official debut. And the first colorway honors Murray State University, the school that helped make him into one of the NBA’s marquee players. The Nike Ja 2, Morant’s second model with the brand, drops Thursday in the “Induction” colorway. Nike surprised Morant with the sneaker during his Hall of Fame induction ceremony at his alma mater in July.
Jayson Tatum to release latest signature shoe with Jordan Brand

Sep 24, 2024 | andscape.com | Marcus Shorter

How do you celebrate winning an NBA championship and a back-to-back gold medal? If you’re Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, you drop the next iteration of your signature shoe. The Jordan Tatum 3 is the latest collaboration between Jordan Brand and the NBA champion. The shoe has the name of Tatum’s son name on the inside of the tongue and the number zero on the heel.
Frankie Beverly gave the culture happy feelings right until the very end

Sep 12, 2024 | andscape.com | Marcus Shorter

The drums roll. The beat starts. Frankie Beverly’s voice belts a familiar elongated “whoa.” Then everything stops for a split second until the electric guitar comes in and blares out of the speakers. In the right crowd, those opening seconds of “Before I Let Go” create a proverbial tsunami where waves of friends, family, and even strangers vibe together. Like many of Beverly’s creations with his band Maze, that song became the soundtrack for family functions for multiple generations.
Shedeur Sanders becomes Nike’s first college football NIL signing

Aug 28, 2024 | andscape.com | Marcus Shorter

Colorado Buffaloes star quarterback Shedeur Sanders became the first NCAA football player to sign an NIL (name, image, and likeness) deal with Nike on Wednesday.