What happens when a young Black editor walks away from the glossy magazine world to save a struggling hip hop publication? Everything.

In this episode, I'm talking about into If I Ruled the World by Amy DuBois Barnett—a novel that took me straight back to 1999 and the era that shaped so much of who we are. This isn't romance, but it's absolutely about Black women finding their voice, claiming their power, and building the culture that the world tries to erase us from.

We're talking late-90s NYC media, hip hop journalism, navigating toxic workplaces, and what it costs to be young, Black, brilliant, and ambitious in rooms that weren't built for you.

If you were a Vibe or Honey Magazine subscriber, if Nas and Lauryn Hill were your soundtrack, if you've ever had to choose between fitting in and being free—this one's for you.

Hit play, and let's talk about what it really takes to rule your own world.

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Culture Lit is a community celebrating black women and black love, and a reminder that black women deserve joy, love success, second chances, and all the beautiful magic the world has to offer.

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