Job opportunities; reviewing a crazy week in music content; Earl Sweatshirt and JPEGMAFIA are beefing; and more
Welcome Digest [5.2.26]
Welcome To May 2nd
Today’s Important Headlines
Saturday music roundup
Rather than doing the weekly releases, here’s a selection of some of the most interesting music-related content this week: Kodak Black performs live with a band for the first time; Alex G shares two new loosies from his last album on his unofficial Youtube channel; Brutalismus 3000 announces new album Harmony featuring Anya Taylor-Joy, Boys Noize & Underworld; Fred Again drops the longest Youtube video ever featuring every set from every show from usb002; Adam Friedland hosts Joanne Robertson for an unplugged performance.
Edward Skeletrix and North West’s music video brings together the entire underground
The video for the new track “Let’s Have Some Fun” features brief appearances from North West, Feng, Diddybop, Chris Heyn Jr., Lucy Bedroque, Sophia Stel, Sotce, Haskell, Martin, Emwell, 42ceo, JackZevra, Yuke, Joeyy, Quannic, and Baby Osama. Alongside the release, Skeletrix also dropped Body of Work, a project composed of 23 standalone singles rather than a traditional unified album. The project includes features from MOWALOLA, North West, and XXXTENTACION (the latter has since been removed). In a characteristically cryptic move, the video directs viewers to an address in London at 5pm on May 2nd.
The entire Venice Biennale jury has resigned
Just days before the Venice Biennale’s May 5 opening, the jury responsible for awarding the exhibition’s top prizes stepped down. In a lengthy public statement, the jurors said their decision stemmed from a refusal to evaluate countries currently charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, a stance that directly impacts Israel and Russia, whose participation had already drawn widespread criticism.
New Banksy sculpture in London
A new Banksy sculpture, complete with his signature etched into the base, has appeared in London. Installed in Waterloo Place, St. James, an area historically tied to celebrations of British imperialism and military power in the 19th century, the work satirizes blind imperialism, depicting a suited figure poised on the edge of a ledge, his face obscured by a flag.
Earl Sweatshirt and JPEGMAFIA are beefing
Last year JPEGMAFIA dissed Earl Sweatshirt and The Alchemist, criticizing them for making “the same fucking song for 20 years.” Yesterday, he doubled down on his position, claiming he sits at the top of experimental rap and saying he’ll “let other people try and figure out who they are at 40 or whatever.” The comments section of an Instagram post quickly turned into a back-and-forth between JPEGMAFIA and Earl Sweatshirt, with the two exchanging insults. Several of Earl’s longtime collaborators, including Jasper, Na-Kel Smith, and The Alchemist, also stepped in to respond.
An early look at first exhibitions at George Lucas’s museum (curated by Lucas himself) just dropped
Opening in September, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, founded by George Lucas, has offered a first look at its inaugural exhibitions, curated by Lucas himself. A longtime collector, Lucas has assembled more than 40,000 works over the past 50 years, forming the basis of the museum’s collection. The $1.5 billion institution is set to be expansive, spanning over 300,000 square feet with more than 30 galleries, and will feature works by artists such as Frida Kahlo and Norman Rockwell, alongside a significant focus on comic art and original materials from Star Wars and Indiana Jones, including matte paintings, original costumes, and character sketches.
Headline curation and words by Mikail Haroon (@mvkail)
Moodboard 064
Today’s inspiration supplement. Click through to view.
From The Archive
An extra piece of content from the Welcome Archive for Magazine subscribers only.
A young fox struck by a car while hunting a mourning dove
Classifieds
Exciting opportunities, employment and otherwise
LVMH — Inside LVMH Certificate Program (Global / Online)
LVMH has opened registration for the next round of its INSIDE LVMH Certificate, an online learning program offering insights into the luxury industry and the inner workings of LVMH. In just ~30 hours of coursework, participants gain foundational knowledge of luxury brand strategy, craftsmanship, and business operations, alongside a certificate for professional development.
Sofia Coppola x Decentralized Pictures — Short Film Award for Emerging Directors (Global)
$20,000 funding initiative supporting an emerging filmmaker’s short film, alongside mentorship, marketing support, and distribution guidance. Designed to help new directors move from concept to finished work with industry backing in an increasingly competitive indie landscape. Ideal for early-career filmmakers with a strong short film idea or project ready for production.
Genius — Manager, Artist & Label Relations (New York, NY / Los Angeles, CA)
Full-time role acting as the primary liaison between Genius and artists, labels, and management teams. Responsibilities include artist bookings, product rollout support, campaign development, and cross-functional collaboration across video, marketing, and product teams. Strong experience in music industry artist relations required.