Danyel Smith
@danyelsmith.bsky.social
i tell stories 🔆 NYTM. 3X author. creator/host, Black Girl Songbook pod. vintage VIBE + Billboard. film consultant. ESPN. Rock Hall. MacDowell + Yaddo
https://www.danyelsmithwriter.com/
https://shinebrighthq.substack.com/
https://www.danyelsmithwriter.com/
https://shinebrighthq.substack.com/
ah! today is her birthday! I became an opera listener while researching Shine Bright. and i'm so glad you enjoyed my book.
February 10, 2026 at 8:46 PM
ah! today is her birthday! I became an opera listener while researching Shine Bright. and i'm so glad you enjoyed my book.
ANTI turns 10 today. Rihanna has been a constant across my thinking, writing, editing, magazine-making, podcasting, and newslettering for years. I was leading VIBE Vixen when we created this issue ('07?) and was fortunate to be in the room for the shoot. We say “what a time” a lot—but truly, it was
January 28, 2026 at 9:17 PM
ANTI turns 10 today. Rihanna has been a constant across my thinking, writing, editing, magazine-making, podcasting, and newslettering for years. I was leading VIBE Vixen when we created this issue ('07?) and was fortunate to be in the room for the shoot. We say “what a time” a lot—but truly, it was
happy celestial birthday to Ms. Jean Knight — shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/the-fall-g...
January 26, 2026 at 6:02 PM
happy celestial birthday to Ms. Jean Knight — shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/the-fall-g...
Alicia has been giving us grace, talent, and zero apologies since day one. Happy birthday to her. Resurfacing her Black Girl Songbook episode to celebrate open.spotify.com/episode/5FIE...
January 25, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Alicia has been giving us grace, talent, and zero apologies since day one. Happy birthday to her. Resurfacing her Black Girl Songbook episode to celebrate open.spotify.com/episode/5FIE...
From Hell's Kitchen to everywhere — the piano, the braids, the voice that made you feel seen. Happy birthday to Alicia Keys. And in her honor, we're resurfacing her episode of My Black Girl Songbook pod open.spotify.com/episode/5FIE...
January 25, 2026 at 8:49 AM
From Hell's Kitchen to everywhere — the piano, the braids, the voice that made you feel seen. Happy birthday to Alicia Keys. And in her honor, we're resurfacing her episode of My Black Girl Songbook pod open.spotify.com/episode/5FIE...
today’s work. it has me thinking — greatness is rarely polite
January 25, 2026 at 7:18 AM
today’s work. it has me thinking — greatness is rarely polite
I’m almost never not thinking about Black women who make music. This edition moves between Sister Sledge, EPMD, and the quiet confidence of cultural survival. New Shine Bright HQ is live substack.com/home/post/p-...
January 23, 2026 at 8:00 AM
I’m almost never not thinking about Black women who make music. This edition moves between Sister Sledge, EPMD, and the quiet confidence of cultural survival. New Shine Bright HQ is live substack.com/home/post/p-...
this walk is an evolution of the "Crazy in Love" strut, no? anyhoo, happy anniversary to a song I love so much I used it to open the Whitney Houston/Dionne Warwick/Leontyne Price chapter in my Shine Bright: A Very Personal HIstoy of Black Women in Pop
January 20, 2026 at 9:29 PM
this walk is an evolution of the "Crazy in Love" strut, no? anyhoo, happy anniversary to a song I love so much I used it to open the Whitney Houston/Dionne Warwick/Leontyne Price chapter in my Shine Bright: A Very Personal HIstoy of Black Women in Pop
hello from coastal Central #California shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/strange-fr...
January 19, 2026 at 6:00 PM
hello from coastal Central #California shinebrighthq.substack.com/p/strange-fr...
that fresh air today tho. a blessing
January 19, 2026 at 6:17 AM
that fresh air today tho. a blessing
Heat back in LA. Strawberries ripening. Farmworkers in bandanas and ball caps, listening to #PesoPluma and #Pac, keeping everyone fed. Strange fruit doesn’t need a calendar open.substack.com/pub/shinebri...
January 17, 2026 at 6:04 AM
Heat back in LA. Strawberries ripening. Farmworkers in bandanas and ball caps, listening to #PesoPluma and #Pac, keeping everyone fed. Strange fruit doesn’t need a calendar open.substack.com/pub/shinebri...
half dozen or so years ago
January 17, 2026 at 4:37 AM
half dozen or so years ago
Resurfacing this on Aaliyah’s birthday: Black Girl Songbook Season 2 opener — her childhood, my VIBE years covering her, and a rare sit-down with legendary choreographer Fatima Robinson. Timeless artist. Timeless podcast episode open.spotify.com/episode/08pu...
January 17, 2026 at 1:06 AM
Resurfacing this on Aaliyah’s birthday: Black Girl Songbook Season 2 opener — her childhood, my VIBE years covering her, and a rare sit-down with legendary choreographer Fatima Robinson. Timeless artist. Timeless podcast episode open.spotify.com/episode/08pu...
out here newslettering open.substack.com/pub/shinebri...
January 16, 2026 at 11:22 PM
out here newslettering open.substack.com/pub/shinebri...
On this day in 1990, Gang Starr released Step in the Arena.
Still sounds like purpose. Still sounds like standards. One of the greatest albums ever made. Made me a fan for life.
Still sounds like purpose. Still sounds like standards. One of the greatest albums ever made. Made me a fan for life.
January 15, 2026 at 5:19 PM
On this day in 1990, Gang Starr released Step in the Arena.
Still sounds like purpose. Still sounds like standards. One of the greatest albums ever made. Made me a fan for life.
Still sounds like purpose. Still sounds like standards. One of the greatest albums ever made. Made me a fan for life.
The Shine Bright audiobook is narrated by me—because this history is personal. You’ll hear the pauses, the passion, the weight of memory, and the joy of Black women in pop told the way it was lived www.audible.com/pd/Shine-Bri...
January 14, 2026 at 7:27 AM
The Shine Bright audiobook is narrated by me—because this history is personal. You’ll hear the pauses, the passion, the weight of memory, and the joy of Black women in pop told the way it was lived www.audible.com/pd/Shine-Bri...
it's where music memory, reporting, and lived experience overlap. i write it when I have something to say shinebrighthq.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 8:43 AM
it's where music memory, reporting, and lived experience overlap. i write it when I have something to say shinebrighthq.substack.com
Whatever level of genius you think Sheila E is, she’s that × infinity.
Oakland born and raised—both of us.
What a night at Blue Note Los Angeles.
Oakland born and raised—both of us.
What a night at Blue Note Los Angeles.
January 9, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Whatever level of genius you think Sheila E is, she’s that × infinity.
Oakland born and raised—both of us.
What a night at Blue Note Los Angeles.
Oakland born and raised—both of us.
What a night at Blue Note Los Angeles.
just a tiny bit of Key the Cairn for you
January 8, 2026 at 2:54 AM
just a tiny bit of Key the Cairn for you
over here, as well substack.com/@danyelsmith
January 7, 2026 at 11:03 AM
over here, as well substack.com/@danyelsmith
Still feeling grateful for Long Live Lagos—a project I consulted on last year, centering Wizkid and the creative force of Lagos. Now streaming on HBO Max
January 6, 2026 at 9:11 PM
Still feeling grateful for Long Live Lagos—a project I consulted on last year, centering Wizkid and the creative force of Lagos. Now streaming on HBO Max
your new edition of SHINE BRIGHT HQ newsletter is here open.substack.com/pub/shinebri...
January 5, 2026 at 9:40 AM
your new edition of SHINE BRIGHT HQ newsletter is here open.substack.com/pub/shinebri...
cherry blueberry peach kefir honey vanilla black pepper turmeric happy new year
January 1, 2026 at 8:38 PM
cherry blueberry peach kefir honey vanilla black pepper turmeric happy new year