Around my way is here.
Why did I come up with this name? To keep it real with you, I was listening to a flip by Iman Omari. It samples “That Girl” by Pharrell and Snoop (which is one of my favourite songs of all time). Anyway, in the chorus Pharrell goes:
“There's something 'bout this girl man, from around my way…” and I was like: “There it is, that’s going to be the name of my Substack. It was written”.
(image via. @goldteethusa)
Some Background:
It’s funny because the phrase “Around the way girl” has followed me since forever. One night in the 1990’s, my mama was watching television and LL COOL’s “Around The Way Girl” came on. Nonetheless, in the beginning of the video he goes:
“See, you know the whole point is. I need a regular girl you know. You know, I don’t need, you know, a homegirl that’s jumping out the limousine with the fur on and all that. It’s not what I’m about, you know. That ain’t what I’m about man. I like regular girls, you know what I’m saying? Standing on the bus stop, sucking on a lollipop. I asked for around the way filet, you bring me stuck up tuna you know what I mean? I don’t Ivanna, I want Tawanna.”
Once my mom heard that introduction, she was sold and ..wanna was born (literally). No other names compared to her in that moment.
In 2015, Allison P. Davis summed up the “Around The Way Girl” perfectly for The Cut:
“For those who are unfamiliar, the Around the Way Girl is a little-seen archetype these days. Rosie and Janet are my two favorite examples, but all ATWGs were immortalized in LL Cool J’s seminal 1990 hit, “Around the Way Girl,” in he which he spits these lines about the “cuties in the neighborhood
She can walk with a switch and talk with street slang / I love it when a woman ain’t scared to do her thing / Standing at the bus stop sucking on a lollipop / Once she gets pumping it’s hard to make the hottie stop / She likes to dance to the rap jam / She sweet as brown sugar with the candied yams / Honey-coated complexion / Using Camay / Let’s hear it for the girl, she’s from around the way”
All facts, no gas. Here’s proof.
Let’s get into it:
Hello to all who are reading this right now. My name is Wanna Thompson and I’m a 20-something year old writer from Toronto, Canada who enjoys all things Music, Pop Culture and Lifestyle. Writing has always been a first love for me and I critically dissect moments in popular culture online and via. publications. One of the best pieces I have ever written is titled, “Black Girls From The Hood Are The Real Trendsetters”.
I have dreams of becoming a best-selling author one day but before all of that comes to life, I need people to read + support my work and share it globally.
In the past, I’ve been mentioned in some thangs via. the NYTimes, Newsweek and more but recently, I’ve written for VIBE Magazine, Noisey, Stylecaster, AFROPUNK, PAPER, OkayPlayer, Broadly, FADER and so much more.
Present:
I recently landed my fifty-leventh (that’s an exaggeration) byline with ZORA Mag and it was truly a gift. It was with the amazing, award-winning, NY Times best-selling Gabrielle Union and I won’t stop talking about it.
Quick back story, last week, I woke up and was like, “I’m going to ask Gabrielle Union if I could interview her.” I know it sounds wild but I’m the Queen of manifestations and I decided to shoot my shot. But then something crazy happened, she agreed. I landed an interview with a high-profile actress but I didn’t have a home to place the story. So then I asked around and Evette Dionne (The EIC of Bitch Media) was like, “go pitch Zora”. I was like, “iight bet”. I did and the rest is history.
We spoke about so many things that didn’t make the article due to length and time but this tidbit had me laughing on the other end of the phone. When asked about hair and if she knows how to braid:
Gabrielle Union: I can braid other people’s hair, I can do French braids. I can watch all types of YouTube tutorials, I’ve gotten better at doing my makeup and that kind of stuff. I can do two French braids or you know basic stuff on my little sister but I can’t do my own because you know, my shoulders are too tight and I’m not flexible enough to do my own.
I will forever cherish that phone call I had with Ms. Union foreva, eva. She’s a gem.
Read: “Gabrielle Union on Her New Children’s Book, Overcoming Loss, and Rising Above It All” here.
Why you should subscribe:
Around my way aims to be your source for all things lush and poppin’. Expect mini interviews, my takes on music/cultural events + playlists. Since today is thee introductory email, let’s start, shall we?
Lush:
My girl Earring Dealer on Twitter has a dope website that specializes in delivering the "nu" version of the classic Bamboo earring. She was just featured in Essence GU and R&B singer Kehlani rocked one of her sets in her latest video off the new album “It Was Good Until It Wasn’t".
Poppin’:
Flo Milli. She doesn’t need much of an introduction other than I want her to win. I stan and you should too.
In the meantime, tell your friends, so they could tell their friends, about around my way, so we could be friends.
I am here for this! I’m looking forward to reading more.
I love this Wanna! I can’t wait to read more of these “Around My Way” posts! 😍