Queer hip-hop, male friendships, and more. Introducing the new FFA magazine

The brand new difficulty of Optimistic Information journal is out now. Performing editor Daisy Greenwell picks out a few of her highlights, together with a revolution in hip-hop and tasks to deal with male loneliness

After I was a youngster within the ‘90s, all of us listened to rap. The window right into a world of gangstas and bling appeared like a glamorous respite from double maths with Mr Jones. Nevertheless it was additionally a world rife with homophobia and misogyny, the place being homosexual was a criminal offense and ladies have been solely good for one factor.

Quick ahead 20 years, and the style has undergone a revolution. Queer hip hop stars have ultimately smashed their approach into the mainstream, and being homosexual is now not one thing to cover. To observe our cowl star Desserts da Killa’s new video Svengali, the place he vogues lustily together with his dancers in an unapologetic celebration of queer black love, nearly offers me vertigo.

Progress could be like that; generally it occurs in a single day, however extra typically it takes place in such gradual increments that you just don’t even discover it’s taking place. Such change could not make the day by day headlines, however its tortoise-paced development is equally value celebrating. Past the noise of the breaking information cycle, gradual information is commonly excellent news.

Elsewhere within the January–March difficulty, we’ve interviewed the anti-poverty campaigner Jack Monroe, who informed us that her “sole objective in life” now’s to make sure that no Briton goes to mattress hungry at night time. As the price of residing disaster sees file numbers of individuals within the UK experiencing meals insecurity every month, she shares her hard-earned insights, gleaned from years as a single mum on advantages, into methods to eat nicely for much less.

In the meantime, comic Max Dickins investigates the ‘male friendship recession’ – one thing he grew to become fixated on after getting engaged and realising he had nobody to name his finest man. He speaks to ‘the godfather of friendship analysis’ about why males are struggling, appears to be like at a number of the tasks tackling male loneliness, and shares what he’s realized about methods to be a greater bro-friend in 2023.

No matter progress you hope to attain within the 12 months forward, be it quick or gradual, breaking obstacles or constructing friendships, I hope this new difficulty helps kickstart your 2023.