Trauma

• Their appeal is immediately understandable – many people would be upset by seeing photos of a loved one everywhere after such a traumatic event.
• There has been valuable commentary about the issues surrounding the common journalistic practice of mining social media after a “newsworthy” death.
• My PhD research offers further insight into a perspective that is rarely shared: the view of families bereaved through homicide.

Private photos in the public domain

• When these photos enter the public domain following homicide, they become photos of a victim.
• In this new domain, private photos serve altogether different purposes.
• My research indicates this is an issue that persists long into the aftermath of homicide, well after media and public interest has dissipated.

Judging victims

• My research uncovers how details in a photo can be highlighted and twisted at the expense of others.
• One mother recalled how her son would do a silly pose and ruin their family photos.
• Instead, the mother read comments made by the public underneath the article that said her son deserved to be murdered.

The right to control

• The bereaved deserve to be in control of that decision.
• Allowing them to make that choice themselves gives the bereaved agency at a time when they feel most powerless.

Laura Wajnryb McDonald does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

• At the time, these lines were seen as just another gem in a long line of highly sophisticated, literary Nas lyrics.
• In many ways a verbal successor to Nas, Lamar controversially won an actual Pulitzer prize for music.
• Like Lamar, Nas is as highly esteemed in the street as he is in academic circles.

One Love breaks new ground

• The Illmatic track One Love (1994) introduced the “epistolary narrative”, or written letter technique, to the rap genre.
• As journalist, educator and author Dax-Devlon Ross explains, One Love contains “a series of prison letters set to song”, which “effectively began the epistolary sub-genre” of rap.
• Notable advocates of the technique include one-time rival of Nas, Tupac Shakur, releasing Dear Mama a year after One Love.

Illmatic’s legacy

• Released two years after One Love, Xzibit utilised rap’s newly established epistolary sub-genre to pen an emotive open letter to his young son.
• The Foundation addresses themes prevalent in the male African American experience, such as lineage, loyalty, masculinity and the paternal bond.

Nas today

• In recent years, Nas has reached a purple patch of creativity, and released a flourish of well received albums, including both the King’s Disease (2020) and the Magic series.
• When brought into the running of “top five dead or alive” rap debates, Nas is often quick to deflect from comparison, stating that there “ain’t no best”.
• As Nas said himself in 2022: “I probably don’t need a therapist because I have music.” It’s hard to think of another rapper of his generation who has opened up so many doors for the artform.

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Paul Stephen Adey does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

• ROSELAND, N.J., April 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Milestone Scientific Inc. (NYSE:MLSS), a leading developer of computerized drug delivery instruments that provide painless and precise injections, today announced that it has commenced sales of CompuFlo ® Epidural disposables into PRC Alliance Pain Relief Center at Ormond Beach, Florida.
• PRC Alliance Pain Relief Centers operates 7offices and an ambulatory surgical center (ASC) located across Central Florida, with 15 providers.
• PRC Alliance Pain Relief Centers is a family of pain management specialists who are dedicated to relieving pain through exceptional and compassionate care.
• Adoption of the technology follows a successful evaluation by Dr. Sanjay Bakshi, MD, a pain management physician and CEO of PRC Alliance Pain Relief Centers in Ormond Beach, Florida.

• Charleston, SC, March 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Specifically crafted for readers who have experienced or are living through adversity, The Underdog Curve is a practical guide that redefines what it means to be an “underdog.” Author George D. Place uses his own lived experiences as fuel to demonstrate how any person can move past their traumas and begin a journey of self-recovery.
• The Underdog Curve examines the science and art behind the word “underdog,” introduces nine elements of underdog proficiency, and teaches readers how to apply practical frameworks that help in navigating the Underdog Economy.
• “The two distinguishing characteristics of this book can be summed up by the book being practical in nature,” said Place, “and being presented from an underdog perspective; written by an underdog, for underdogs.”
  Rife with advice and actionable lessons to change your mindset, grow your inner strength, and expand your potential, The Underdog Curve is a must-read for anyone committed to making personal and professional improvements in their lives.