The Gumbo

Jan 31, 2024 | thegumbo.net | Nadirah Simmons

by Meaux HarrisonDeDe McGuire is often called “the hardest working woman in radio,” and for good reason. With over 15 years in the business, the award-winning nationally syndicated radio host, media personality, and philanthropist’s unabashed approach and candid conversations have defined her time on the airwaves.

Jan 31, 2024 | thegumbo.net | Nadirah Simmons

by Maya HoodWhile Chicago natives all over the world share a love for the music genres we’ve produced like house and drill, there’s nothing like being in high school at the rise of the latter. We went to school with the new and trending rappers, knew the neighborhoods they played basketball in, and knew that on Saturdays everyone would be downtown by the WaterTower Place.

Jan 23, 2024 | thegumbo.net | Nadirah Simmons

by Jessica WilkinsMillennial Black girls from Atlanta are special. We came up during the analog version of “the A,” AKA “Old Atlanta,” where Blackness was always our default. Our teachers, doctors, lawyers, business owners, and neighbors all looked like us, so we were afforded a unique confidence in our identities. Once a place that offered small-town southern charm, rich in local Black culture, history, and community, Atlanta has now become a hub for creative industries, particularly music.

Jan 17, 2024 | thegumbo.net | Nadirah Simmons

by Ayanna CostleyBehind every trend is a creator who set the foundation, an innovating trailblazer, and people who participate just because it’s popular. The current state of Jersey Club music is no different. In just over 2 decades, the genre grew from a hometown sound heard at local New Jersey parties to an undeniable force felt throughout the world.

Dec 31, 2023 | thegumbo.net | Nadirah Simmons

by Nadirah SimmonsAs I’m sure you already know from my and The Gumbo’s social media, my debut book First Things First: Hip-Hop Ladies Who Changed The Game is coming out on January 30, 2024. I learned about a lot of different women during the book writing process, and it struck me just how many hip-hop ladies there are that the average person doesn’t know about. Shoot, how many hip-hop ladies there are that I don’t even know about.