Malcolm Reid Leans Into His Maturity as an HIV Leader
Mark S. King Jan 20 2026 Gay Life Living with HIV/AIDS My Fabulous Disease News Prevention and Policy
Malcolm Reid has the X Factor, a compelling way about him that attracts your attention but which you can’t quite put your finger on. Saying so about him would probably make him grin and even blush, which only makes the case for his charms even stronger.
Malcolm is 68 years old and lives in Decatur, Georgia. Diagnosed with HIV in 1996 (but knowing his status for years; more on that soon), Malcolm entered the HIV arena as an advocate in 2015. His maturity and the easy way he parcels out wisdom might lead you to believe he has been in the trenches much longer.
Malcolm has kept himself busy in his decade of service. In 2015 he got involved with THRIVE SS, lifting up gay Black men. He launched the Silver Lining Project for older gay Black men living with HIV. He founded his own company, Unity Arc Advocacy Group. He is part of the development of an online tool to help link people into care
And now, Malcolm is the newly installed co-chair, with Michael Elizabeth, of the U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus (aka The Caucus). My lively conversation with Malcolm covered his HIV journey, racism, aging, and dealing with shame and toxic masculinity.
Here is our conversation, gently edited for length and clarity
Mark S. King: Tell me about your HIV diagnosis.
Malcolm Reid: In 1991, my lymph nodes were swollen. I remember that night vividly. I was living in midtown Atlanta and read this article in Ebony magazine about a Black man who had swollen lymph nodes. My mom was a nurse, so I ran to a phone booth and called. This was 11 o’clock at night. I was crying. I told her about the article, and that I thought I had AIDS. Mom said, “Calm down, and here’s what you need to do. Go get it checked but don’t let them give you any medication.” She worked at Planned Parenthood, so as a community health clinic, they were seeing people with HIV. They were treated with AZT
Which was problematic then.
I tell people my mother saved me from AZT
Why didn’t you take the actual test then?
I kinda knew. The doc I saw about the lymph nodes said my symptoms were “consistent with HTLV3.” Then in ‘96, when the protease inhibitors started and meds were getting better, I went to my doctor and said I needed to get tested for HIV. He said, “Why?”
That’s an interesting question for the doctor to ask.
Yeah. He came back and said the test came back positive. I wasn’t surprised. Anyway, they put me on combination therapy
And did that work right away?
Yes. Got my viral load under control, but I had side effects. Shortly after that, I met Stewart, who became my boyfriend and later my husband. Talk about side effects. We would go on vacation and we were both on Viracept, and we would go to breakfast in the morning and go back to our hotel room and wait to see who had to go to the bathroom first. Whoever was second might have to go to the lobby in the hotel.
How romantic.
Yeah! Then my doctor moved and I got a new one. I read that I should stop the Viracept because of the side effects, and the doctor was alarmed about that. I told him about what I read and he left the room and came back after doing some research and said I was right.
That’s a great example of an empowered patient.
That’s why I tell the story.
I’m always interested in how racism permeates every aspect of our lives, and HIV is no different. What do white folks keep getting wrong when it comes to race and HIV?
White folks assume Black folks did it to themselves, as opposed to gay white men getting sympathy, like, “I’m so sorry that happened to you.” In one case, they did it to themselves. In the other case, people are sorry that happened to you. So it’s a blame game that’s fixed in favor of white men. Do a lot of Black men internalize that?
Oh yeah. There are a lot of Black men who contract HIV and blame themselves. Because society has taught them to blame themselves, which is why suicide rates are higher in the Black community.
Do you see that changing?
I do see it changing. I think young Black gay men know about HIV status and being undetectable. It’s definitely more accepted. People put their status on apps.
I’m so impressed with this new generation of gay Black men on the scene. These younger guys who are kicking ass and moving up in the ranks into positions of leadership. I call them the Black Nouveau.
I agree. I’m absolutely thrilled. Men like Darwin Thompson, Deondre Moore, Daniel Driffin, doing the work and using their education
And a lot of them have no idea who survivors like me are, not that it matters. They have too much work to do!
When dealing with younger people, I always try to go back to when I was young. I was proud and thankful for what my elders had accomplished, but I was able to think more progressively. I am excited about some of the things I see.
I saw you at a conference last year and remember watching you hold court. You were settled in a lounge chair and you didn’t move for ages because of this line of handsome young Black men talking to you and paying their respects. It made me smile.
I just want them to know that I respect them, too. I love them. I want them to succeed. I never scold them. And a smile and a hug goes a long way. I do know that when I say something people listen. So I don’t say stupid shit.
It took so long for me to shed the need to project the kind of hyper-masculinity that gay culture craves. Do gay Black men feel that more acutely?
I lived with that pressure for years. When my dad left I was 8. He said, “You’re the man of the house now.” That was the most traumatic part of coming out in the housing projects of New York. I realized that you couldn‘t be gay, and you couldn’t be feminine. There are still people who equate being a top with being a man. This crosses racial barriers. I call it the Ward and June Cleaver gay relationships. Because if you’re the bottom, you’re June.
I love you referencing classic white TV. Speaking of 60-year old television, we’re both men of a certain age. I’m 65 and you’re 68. Aging is strange. How is it going for you?
Well. I think the work that I do helps me deal with it better. I know the issues, whether it be medically, mentally or physically. You also have a sense of purpose. I think that helps. Yes, and it’s information. Having the information has helped me deal with all those things. And I have been blessed to have Stewart in my life for the last 28 years and to go through this together.
The two of you have the cutest, most romantic postings on social media of any couple I know. I’m just saying.
I appreciate that.
Malcolm Reid and his husband, Stewart Nelson-Reid, being adorable
You’ve picked one hell of a time to become co-chair of a national advocacy group. Tell me more about the U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus, aka The Caucus. It is a collection of organizations that each represent people living with HIV. Do I have that right?
Yes. It is a network of networks. Positive Women’s Network USA, The Sero Project, Reunion Project, etc. The mission of the caucus is to abolish systems of oppression that affect PLWHA. We envision a world in which people with HIV have everything they need to thrive. We also have individual members, not just networks. So anyone living with HIV could join as an individual member.
Right. Our main goal is to make sure government policy, and organizations representing people living with HIV, are MIPA (Meaningful Involvement of People with HIV/AIDS) centered. We’re a force multiplier. And we do have a few programs, educating our members and advocacy on their behalf. Some of us are working on the #SAVEHIVFUNDING project, others on addressing this administration trying to kill all funding related to HIV. We’re an all volunteer organization. That’s a lot. There’s a political advocacy project being organized right now that is focusing on June 2026, around the 45th anniversary of the first report of what
would become HIV/AIDS, to organize the HIV community to become active in their 2026 primary elections. We all need to reignite the kind of activism about which we are known, back in the day.
Definitely, Something I mentioned in the Caucus strategy meeting is that we are under attack. It’s nice to write a sign-on letter, policy positions, etc., but we need to be a little more activism oriented. Educate, advocate, and agitate. Advocacy is wonderful, but every now and then we need to agitate. This is one of those times.
Definitely. Those people in the streets of Minneapolis, ACT UP, Black Lives Matter, all that has got to be a part of what we do as the Caucus. If we don’t get what we want, we’re not going to be so polite. At some point, we have to say, fuck this, we’re going to get in the streets and do whatever we need to do to be heard Amen.
EDITOR’S NOTE: It was brought to my attention that a good way to fight stigma and show sex positivity is to share and remember some of the adult actors/sex workers as well as celebrities we lost to AIDS.
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theaidsmemorial
Gene Anthony Ray (May 24, 1962 – November 14, 2003) was an American actor, dancer, and choreographer. A native of New York City, Ray was best known for his portrayal of dancer Leroy Johnson in both the 1980 film Fame and the Fame television series based upon the film which originally aired from 1982 until 1987.
Ray won the part of Leroy Johnson in the film Fame, which was released in 1980.[1] Much like his Fame character, Ray had little professional training, but he possessed a raw talent that won him his role for the film.[3] Reports USA Today: "Alan (Parker, the director) had to approach him very carefully. His mom was dealing drugs during the filming. It was not pretty."[2] In 1981, Ray starred as Friday, alongside Michael York as Robinson Crusoe, in the 1981 TV adventure-comedy Vendredi ou la Vie sauvage [fr] (alternative title: Robinson Crusoe and Man Friday).
Ray also starred in the television series based on the film, Fame. The series was produced by MGM Television from 1982 to 1987, and syndicated from 1983 to 1987. Additionally, he began touring the U.K. with the other members of the Fame cast as The Kids from "Fame"; they performed at 10 venues, including a sell out performance at Royal Albert Hall.[5] In 1984, USA Today reports: "Ray was axed from the show after his mother was jailed for running a drug ring, and he failed to turn up for work 100 times."[1] He struggled with addictions to alcohol and drugs, and worked only intermittently once the TV series ended.[2] In 1985, Ray danced in The Weather Girls' music video for "Well-AWiggy".[6]
In 1987, he won the role of Billy Nolan in the ill-fated musical adaptation of Carrie by Stephen King. Ray played the role in the original opening in Stratford-Upon-Avon, which closed after less than a month. He then transferred to Broadway and continued to play the role until the musical closed after only 21 public performances.[7] Ray also appeared in the 1995 film Out-of-Sync, which was directed by his Fame co-star Debbie Allen, in the 1996 Whoopi Goldberg comedy Eddie (for which he was also credited as associate choreographer[8]), as well as in commercials for Dr Pepper and Diet Coke. His last video appearance was a one-hour BBC Fame reunion documentary, Fame Remember My Name, taped in Los Angeles in April 2003.
As described in his Telegraph obituary,[1] Ray "remained a 'frantic partygoer' with a self-confessed weakness for drinking and drugs. As his life fell apart, he slept on park benches and during a failed attempt to launch a Fame-style dance school in Milan, shared a flat there with a porn actress. In 1996, he was diagnosed HIV positive. Flamboyantly camp, he brushed aside questions about his sexuality. He never married.
Ray died on November 14, 2003, aged 41, from complications of a stroke he had suffered in June that year and complications from AIDS.[4]
In the 1980s, when the AIDS epidemic was at its peak, Elton John was one of the first celebs to jump on board and make a difference. He was particularly close to Ryan White, a young hemophiliac who contracted HIV and became a face of the crisis. After Ryan's passing in 1990, Elton was devastated and threw himself into activism.
Fast forward to 1992, and Elton co-founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), which has since raised over $500 million for HIV/AIDS research, prevention, and support services. The foundation's work spans across the globe, supporting marginalized communities and pushing for policy changes to combat the disease.
Some notable moments from Elton's activism include:
• His iconic performance at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997, which helped raise awareness and funds for AIDS charities
• The EJAF's annual Academy Award Viewing Party, which has become a Hollywood staple and raises millions for the cause
• His advocacy work with world leaders, including meeting with President Obama and other global leaders to push for HIV/AIDS funding and research
Elton's efforts have made a massive impact, and he's widely recognized for his contributions to the fight against AIDS. He's a true legend, and his commitment to this cause is seriously inspiring
Elton John has been a total rockstar for AIDS activism for years. Here's the lowdown:
On December 9th, 2025 I had the pleasure of handing the PERSON OF THE YEAR award to Chelsea Davis for all of her hard work and activism for our HIV+ Community here in Toronto. The funny thing was that I don't think she knew that anyone was paying attention She was just doing what she thought needed to be done. And that was the very reason why she was honored with this title. I am so glad to sit down with her and talk about the 2025 POZ-TO Awards and her journey as a trans-woman making a diRerence. I followed her around on one of her busy days.
JE: Chelsea...how are you today?
CD: I’m doing really good, thank you. Honestly, I’m still a little humbled by all of this. I’m grateful, and I’m excited to have the chance to sit down and actually reflect, because I don’t always stop to do that.
JE: Hopefully you have read some of the previous interviews. This is where we introduce you to our readers. Would you mind telling us a little about your background? Where are you from?
CD: Sure. I’ve taken some time to read a few of the past interviews, and it’s made me feel even more humbled to be featured and to be joining the ranks of such beautiful, impactful people who have given so much of themselves to this work and to supporting our community.
I’m originally from the Bahamas and moved to Canada in 2022. Professionally, I’ve worn many hats over the years. I’ve worked as a photographer since 2008, as a graphic artist since middle school (Grade 7), in public relations since 2018, and as an adjunct instructor since 2020.
Something many people don’t know or wouldn’t guess just by looking at me as a woman is that I also have a strong background in skilled trades. I hold diplomas in carpentry, welding, barbering, and auto mechanics, the last of which I truly love. That combination of creativity, technical skill, and lived experience really shapes how I move through the world and the work I do today.
JE: I'm originally from the states and boy am I glad to be in Canada at the moment. Could I get you to tell us how long have you been HIV+ and what was it like to get that diagnosis?
CD: Oh, this is a story I’ve told many times. It became the catalyst for my career and the inspiration behind the work I do today. I remember the exact date: April 14, 2022. That was the day I was diagnosed with HIV.
At the time, I was working at a college as an adjunct instructor and a public relations assistant. We were hosting a testing day on campus, and part of my job was to take photos
of the event. One of my colleagues convinced me to come over to the testing site with her— mostly to kill time, chat, and use it as an excuse to linger a little longer. So there I was, laughing, joking, and throwing away precious work time… and I decided to get tested.
When my number was called, the gentleman told me the test was inconclusive and explained that this could happen for many reasons. He asked me to come to the hospital the next day before work for further testing. I agreed without much concern.
Driving there the next morning, I even joked with myself: What if they tell me I was positive all along and just didn’t want to tell me at work? I walked into the hospital, met with the same gentleman, and casually repeated the joke still light, still giddy never expecting his response.
He looked at me and said, “Well, Davis… that’s what it is.”
In that moment, everything hit me at once. The next thing I remember is a nurse holding my hands while the gentleman was patting my back and yelling at me to breathe. I was in shock. I had always protected myself. I got tested regularly. I didn’t have hookups. How was this even possible?
As the emotions settled, reality started to surface. I had been so deeply immersed in teaching, PR work, COVID, and my own studies that I hadn’t been tested since October 2019 more than three years. On top of that, I had been deeply in love and in a committed relationship for over a year without using protection
I fell into a deep depression for the next two months. I locked myself inside my apartment and, during the day, inside my oRice at work. I couldn’t bear to be seen. I couldn’t tell anyone especially myself.
Two weeks later, I returned to the doctor’s oRice to receive my viral load results. While there, I asked a nurse, “Is there ever a time when you stop feeling embarrassed?” Her response shattered me. She said, “You don’t have to be embarrassed. You did something against God’s law, and this is your punishment.”
That was the moment that almost broke me completely.
I became convinced that anyone who found out would treat me the same way—look at me with disgust, judgment, and shame. I went into full flight mode. I couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone, not even my family. I ran away.
I quit my jobs. I gave up my mechanic business. I gave up my apartment. I sold my car. And I left for Canada. What followed were waves of depression because I never properly said goodbye to my family. Everything happened so fast, and I know they never fully understood why I made such a sudden decision. That unresolved pain took a heavy toll on me. But it also became the beginning of everything I am today.
JE: Things are definitely diRerent from when I got the news back in 1990. Has being HIV+ aRected your transition as a trans-woman?
CD: Things are definitely diRerent today however, in many ways, some things remain the same. Ignorance and stigma still surround people living with HIV. It’s improved somewhat, but it’s still very present.
As a trans woman, the way my HIV status has aRected me most has been mentally and emotionally. I carried a deep fear that I would never find real love—that being trans, combined with being HIV-positive, would make me unlovable. That fear turned out to be completely untrue. I’m currently in a loving relationship with my beautiful partner of a year and a half, who is HIV-negative, deeply supportive, and stands beside me in both my life and my work.
However, as a newcomer to Canada still deeply aRected by internalized stigma and having fled my home and my diagnosis I found navigating the healthcare system overwhelming at first. I remember not yet being at peace with my status and accessing refugee medical care while feeling more like a number than a person. Just another body to run tests on.
To be clear, there were nurses who were kind and compassionate, and overall the care was far better than what I would have received back home by far. But when the doctor came in, there was no warmth. No smile. No small acknowledgment of my humanity. Everything was strictly matter- of-fact, and at that moment in my life, that wasn’t what I needed.
Ironically, he went on to become my HIV doctor, just as he did for many other community members I’ve met along the way. His demeanor never changed. When I began my transition, I was misgendered by him on numerous occasions. He never took the time to truly see me or to consider that I might be especially vulnerable living with HIV while navigating a new country and a new identity.
Needless to say, I was relieved when he retired. Without naming names, I’m fairly certain your readers will understand exactly who I mean.
JE: I'm curious...how did you begin your activism and where are you working now?
CD: Here’s the thing—I never initially thought of my work as activism. I just wanted to help and to be surrounded by people like me. People who were on the same journey, because that’s where I felt safest. Safe from stigma, and safe from having to constantly explain myself to people who couldn’t yet understand this new chapter of my life.
I began volunteering with the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation (PWA) almost immediately after my first visit. I still remember sitting in the barber chair and hearing the barber and stylist casually talking about medications like Biktarvy and Dovato. I was in complete shock—not because of the meds, but because of how comfortable they were. They spoke openly, confidently, as if I wasn’t even there. That ease with their status was exactly what I needed at that moment. I knew I didn’t want to be anywhere else.
There was, however, one moment that truly ignited everything.
I was asked to speak on behalf of the Therapeutic Care Department, where I was volunteering, during a volunteer training at PWA. I was told I could simply talk about the service and that if I wasn’t comfortable sharing my personal experience as a community member, I didn’t have to. And trust me, I had no intention of doing that.
But as I spoke and looked out into the room, I felt something shift. I could see in their eyes that they needed to understand how these seemingly small services profoundly impact people’s lives. And in that moment, the words just came out. I shared that I knew how necessary the services were because I am a person living with HIV—and that they had made a real diRerence in my life, helping me navigate my emotions and my day-to - day reality.
It was as if I was on autopilot.
When I finished, a woman stood up and poured her heart out, thanking me and sharing that the services had changed her life too. That was the moment I truly understood the power of speaking your truth how it gives others permission to speak theirs. From then on, my goal became clear: to help draw that same strength and confidence out of the people around me.
I stayed at PWA for about two years. Through my work empowering and supporting community members, I was oRered the role of Women’s Engagement Project Coordinator. In that position, I facilitated workshops and events focused on empowering women living with HIV. I also led volunteer trainings to help ensure our community was met with respect, dignity, and love.
As the impact of my work grew, I was later oRered a role as a Case Worker. This is the work that aRected me most. I worked one- on- one with women both cis and trans who were
newly diagnosed or in need of referrals to essential services. I met so many women who had been deeply aRected by stigma, misinformation, inadequate healthcare, and a lack of true community. It broke my heart.
Many times, I became more than a case worker. I was a counselor, a warm shoulder to cry on, and a loving ear for stories that had never been fully heard. Through those experiences, I realized that someone had to stand up for them for those who struggled to stand up for themselves. My heart wouldn’t allow me to hear their pain and walk away. The work stopped feeling like a job and became a responsibility.
Beyond PWA, I have had the honor of serving as Chair of the World AIDS Day Interagency Planning Committee for two years, helping to facilitate rose-laying tribute ceremonies at the AIDS Memorial to honor those whose lives, struggles, and losses paved the way for the treatments we have today. I’ve spoken on numerous panels advocating for transgender rights and the rights of people living with HIV, including with organizations such as Women’s Health in Women’s Hands (WHIH), the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN), the Toronto HIV & AIDS Network (THN), Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto (MCC), Trans Care Fair, and The 519. I also hosted the 2025 AIDS Vigil at Barbara Hall Park.
Through the outpouring of love, support, and recommendations from the community I serve, I was invited to co -lead the Trans and Gender-Diverse People Living with HIV and STBBI Research Initiative through Women’s College Hospital. This work focuses on ensuring that HIV-positive 2SLGBTQ+ people have access to inclusive, aRirming healthcare.
My time at PWA ultimately led to the next chapter in my career. I am now the Community Engagement & Volunteer Programs Manager at Fife House Foundation, a role that continues to support my goal of creating meaningful, community-led engagement for people living with HIV.
Someone once said to me, “An activist isn’t someone who speaks for others—it’s someone who creates spaces for others to speak for themselves.” Creating spaces that don’t yet exist, fighting to empower my community, and simply holding people’s hands as their sister someone who loves them and shares their journey that is my purpose now. That is my duty.
JE: Do you have any advice for a newly diagnosed person? For example...if you could go back and talk to your younger self, what would you say?
CD: What’s amazing is that I now understand my HIV diagnosis as part of my destiny almost a divine plan. I’ve always found a way to hold onto happiness in my life, even after experiencing many painful and traumatic moments. No matter what I’ve been through, there was always a small light something that kept me grounded and helped me never lose the love inside of me.
When I was first diagnosed, I was completely broken. It felt like just another terrible thing happening to me again. But with time, reflection, and healing, I’ve come to realize that both the good and the bad in my life served a purpose. I was meant to go through everything I experienced so I could become the person who lovingly guides others, who holds their hands through similar journeys.
I was meant to be someone who can truly help someone who feels deeply, understands fully, and connects with people where they are. Someone who can oRer real support. And in doing that, I also feel deeply loved, knowing that my presence and my work help others feel loved too.
Today, I can say this without hesitation: HIV was one of the most beautiful things that ever happened to me. I am grateful for it, because it gave me community and ultimately, it gave me purpose. My advice to anyone newly diagnosed is always the same: The person you were the day before your diagnosis is the exact same person you are today. In fact, you are stronger now because you have more family than you ever had before. You have
people who wake up every day and fight for you, who show up for your needs, your comfort, and your joy. You have community. Welcome.
And to my younger self—the one moving through all that pain—I would say this: You are on the right path. Every moment of hurt, joy, and struggle will one day come together into the most beautiful life. Keep moving forward.
JE: Well, it's a new year. Do you have any goals for 2026 that you could share?
CD: 2025 has been a year of ups and downs for me, but it has definitely been a year where I leaned heavily on my community for strength. I lost one of the loves of my life this year my grandmother. Her passing brought me through a very diRicult period that I am still finding my way through, as we laid her to rest on November 29th.
Despite this, the strength and support of the community have been tremendous during this time, and I am deeply grateful.
Looking ahead to 2026, I feel excited. I’m looking forward to developing more programs for the community members I serve at Fife House. On a personal level, I hope to return to school to further my education in gender studies, and to take on more speaking engagements to continue advancing my advocacy work.
This was one of my goals for 2025, and I truly believe I exceeded my own expectations. Most of all, I’m excited for a new year and the opportunities it will bring.
JE: I cannot tell you happy I am that we got the opportunity to thank you for all that you do for the community. That's what the POZ-TO Awards are about. And I know you have a busy schedule. So, thank you again for taking the time to do this interview. Is there anything else you'd like to share? If someone needed to contact you, where would be the best place to find you?
CD: It was really nice! Like I said, it’s nice to have the chance to sit and reflect. I don’t always do that.
I’m at Fife House now, so if anyZone needs to contact me regarding partnerships or community involvement with Fife House, they can reach me at cdavis@fifehouse.org or call me at 647-527-5843. If anyone would like to reach out to me for personal assistance with community engagement or involvement opportunities, they can contact me through my personal email at chelseadashawn@gmail.com.
Thank you for this sit- down as well. I hope, as always, that my story and my voice help at least one person find the strength they need.
Listen to the mix here: https://www.mixcloud.com/djrelentlessny/ear-candy-february-2026
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To be completely honest I actually did a full mix and was so depressed and annoyed by the news coming from the U.S. that I had programmed some older tracks with messages pleading for peace. But then I listened to it and decided that I needed to stick with all new releases and remixes to create a distraction…an escape for just an hour away from the fascism and hatred that is coming from the White House these days. Plump may have not read Mein Kampf but he certainly has taken some pages from it with this administration.
So, I hope this gives you something else to think about and maybe a chance to refuel before going out into the world these days. Let’s get started…
I purposely started with Trans Actress, Artsist and Activist, MJ Rodriguez. Now more than ever we need to be supporting and projecting out Trans sisters and brothers to insure spaces for them in the future. MJ’s new single is called “Sticky” and has a cute little House beat for its production. The music video seems to be set in NYC in warmer
weather while most of North America is experiencing a pretty harsh cold snap right about now.
Our second selection is “BOP IT” by Aliyah’s Interlude. Okay…I’m not certain about the artist’s name. Have we just run out of names or titles? Anyway…it seems to me since artists like Doja Cat and Doechii have come along after studying the popularity of Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, female rappers are trying to use them as a blueprint for success. Colored wigs and provocative clothing are the flavor of the day. Giving nods to Black LGBT lingo is another trope. This track is okay. Will it be a hit? Probably not. The music video is low budget and low production value. Nothing new in the lyrics and just lacking in creativity.
So, let’s turn to a new remix of a Hip Hop classic…the Anthem Kingz House Bootleg of “The Humpty Dance” by Digital Underground. This is a great remix and reboot of one of my jamz from back in da day! Listening to it makes me nostalgic for the 90s. Hip Hop was coming into its own and there was plenty of creativity and directions to go with one’s lyrics.
Our fourth track is the Sefu Remix of “I Just Might” by Bruno Mars. In my original draft for this month’s mix, I had used the original version but after hearing this remix I knew that this would be the one I would gravitate towards for my dance floor. I can’t help but think of the rumors that Bruno is in major debt from a gambling addiction. It might
explain all of his collaborations last year. At any rate this is a great song and hopefully will get some traction on the charts. The selling point for Sefu’s mix are all the sampling of “Tom’s Dinner” by Suzanne Vega and Beyonce saying “I Just Might” from “Formation”…really clever.
The fifth selection really took me back. The Dutch production duo called Block & Crown have been resurrecting many hits from my childhood in the late 70s and early 80s. This time they took the opening line from a Stars On 45 medley and made a track called “Move Up Your Body”. I recognized it immediately because I used to have the 45 single of the original track. And while the kids today will think this is an original Disco song, those of us who were there will know it’s not.
And since we are doing a lot of throwbacks, here is the Anthem Kingz House Bootleg of “Poison” by Bell Biv Devoe. I really loved the Disclosure Remix until I heard this one. The Kingz kept more of the original production in their remix.
And while we are in the 90s section of remixes, the Ardent Disco Hose Mix of “If I Ever Fall In Love” by Shai is okay. I don’t love it. I like it but I used to have a white label bootleg back in the 90s that was better.
So, I guess EMI is really trying make sure Olivia Dean is the “It Girl” of Pop this year. They are pumping out remixes for her songs like crazy. Our eighth selection is the Charlie Lane Remix of “So Easy (To Fall In Love). When you listen to the original versions of her songs, she reminds me of the really commercial Pop stuff that you would hear in a department store while shopping. But some of the remixes are really cute and functional for a dance floor. There are others of this song, but Charlie did a great job on this one.
I did this remix last October and kept forgetting to include it in my EAR CANDY series. There are few recording artists that I have big crushes on. Cain Culto is one of them. There’s just something about his confidence that is really sexy. Plus looking beyond his sometimes goth makeup and a few of his fashion choices, he looks like he is a really sensitive guy and that’s attractive too. His version of Madonna’s “Like A Prayer” is not new. But my Relentlessly Touched Vocal is.
Everyone seems to be talking about the popular TV series “Heated Rivalry”. I still haven’t watched any of it but have seen some interviews with the stars. I will get to it eventually. I just am scared to turn on my TV with all of the horrible things that keep happening. Anyway…the cover of t.A.T.u.’s 2002 hit “All The Things She Said” by Harrison is part of the soundtrack for the show. He doesn’t have a video but that didn’t stop video editors from taking scenes from the show and making one.
After gay-bating the Pop scene a couple years ago, Harry Styles seemed to have dropped off the face of the earth. But now he is back with a new album and his latest single, “Aperture”. I’m sure there will be tons of remixes coming but for now this is the original. Not sure if I like it or not. Maybe a remix will change that.
I’ve played a few songs by PinkPantheress…they were okay. I really didn’t know anything about her. So, I decided to investigate. If you’re a fan you probably already know that she’s a British singer-songwriter who used GarageBand to produce her early songs that she posted on Soundcloud and TiKTok back in 2021. She’s been nominated for Brit Awards and two Grammys. Outside of her duet on “Boy’s A Liar Pt 2” with Ice Spice, I couldn’t name any of her tracks. But she’s back with another duet
called “Stateside” with Zara Larsson. It’s cute. I wouldn’t rush to play it unless someone requested it.
My husband introduced me to the music video for “Punk Rocky” by A$AP Rocky. It’s a thrashing Rock production that features Wynona Ryder as his neighbor. I liked the video but had no plans to play it. But I was listening to a remix of “Black Betty” by Ram Jam and got inspired to do a remix and the Relentlessly Touch Vocal was born.
Our fourteenth track is the Mita Gami Maccabi Remix of “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd. I saw the “The Wall” several times back in the 80s and vaguely recall the song in the film. I really loved the Scissor Sisters cover back in the 2000s. I was hoping that this remix would have jogged my memory but did not. This version is missing the lyrics. It’s just a long guitar solo. Not impressed at all.
Leon Thomas was a Broadway child actor who appeared in musicals like The Color Purple and The Lion King. He gained wide recognition for starring as Andre Harris in Nickelodeon series “Victorious” (2010-2013). Apparently, he started his recording career in 2013. I never heard of him until the Kue Remix of “Mutt” came through my video pool.
Okay…remember earlier when I said they are runnin’ out of names. Apparently, it’s true. Jaden Hossler must have felt that his own name wasn’t marketable enough so he goes by JXDN instead of Jaden. From the looks of his photos and his music video, JXDN wants to be the next Justin Bieber. He’s okay on the eye…if you like children. But I’m not seeing him with lasting presence as a Popstar. His latest single is “Reputation”. Okay…seems to be that you need to be around a little longer to get a reputation.
I keep saying it and I’m gonna continue to say it…K-Pop is just American music. If their artists aren’t doing simple Pop or Rock songs, they’re doing full on R&B or Hip Hop. But it’s my opinion that the U.S. is so busy being divided that of course Korea is stepping in and taking up the Pop mantle. And it sems like there’s a new K-Pop artist or group every week. I have no idea who Le Sserafim are but their new single “Spaghetti” featuring J Hope of BTS (who’s dropping a new album) is just another Pop song with Korean lyrics
Our eighteenth track is one of my Pick Hits for new music. Y’all know I love a good sample used on a new song and “Ever Since U Left Me” uses Kanye’s bassline for “Fade” and a vocal sample from “That’s The Way I Like It” by KC & The Sunshine Band. Brilliant! Just brilliant!
I was editing a video for a remix of Drake’s “Over”and realized that Rita Ora is the girl in the video. She looked like such a baby back then. It’s always weird to spot future Popstars in earlier videos. Like RuPaul in the “Love Shack” video by The B-52’s.
Well, Rita’s newest single is “All Natural”. I used the Cutfather Jyll Remix for this set.
I like it but I don’t think it’s going to make a dent in the charts.
So, when I looked up our twentieth artist, I discovered that he’s done one of my cardinal sins…Country Hip Hop It was almost as bad as Post Malone code switching and going back to his Country roots Some will have a problem with me saying this but “How are you doing Country Hip Hop as a white artist when most of Country radio won’t even consider supporting Black Country artists?” It’s hypocritical and just wrong! For example…do you know who The Boykinz are? …Exactly!
501 Bryze really has his Black-cent on in his new single “BOP”. I don’t mind a white boy who raps. Loves me some Jack Harlow and Yung Gravy. But to find Bryze on “Going Dumb” with Big Po & Jo Tyler twangin’ a rap with a bango playing is just wrong! It’s as bad as Justin Timberlake keeping his mouth shut during the Trayvon Martin shooting and the Black Lives Matter Movement. You make a living off being an R&B singer and when they were crucifying Janet Jackson when you pulled her bra off at the Superbowl was and still is wrong. But karma has put you in your place. And the rest will see their day as well. So, I cannot in good conscience recommend “BOP”.
And I closed out the set with another K-Pop song called “Little Miss” by Girlset. Just another American Pop song packaged as Korean Pop. Not impressed and not really interested in playing it unless someone requests it.
Well, I hope you found something that you liked or learned something about a track you hadn’t heard of before. Be sure to get you FREE download of the video mix in the links at the beginning of this article. And be sure to check out my new weekly radio show on
SANDCASTLE RADIO
every Monday from 3 - 4 PM (EST) here: https://sandcastleradio.org and if you’re in Toronto or coming for a visit come check me out live at THE WELL Queen Street West on Saturdays from 9 PM to 2 AM for Toronto’s POP-UP VIDEO Lounge– NO COVER, friendly bartender and a food menu. Great spot to hang out with friends to have a few cocktails and food and DJ Relentless’ video library. And let’s not forget Toronto’s only weekly Video Tea Dance at THE BLACK EAGLE called VIDEO JUKEBOX from 4 – 8 PM – NO COVER, friendly bartenders and dancing to Classic Disco to Retro Hits to the Current ones. And guess what??? The first five people to dance on my floor get a FREE drink!
