Lawrence Burney
Lawrence Burney was The Baltimore Banner’s arts & culture reporter. He is a writer, journalist and the founder of True Laurels, a media platform dedicated to highlighting Baltimore and The DMV area’s most captivating music and culture. Burney’s storytelling is concerned with finding — and sharing — the intersections of history, culture, and contemporary art in Black communities in his home region, as well as various pockets within the African diaspora in an attempt to make more sense of the world he was born into. Those instincts helped lead him to opportunities like serving as a music columnist for The Washington Post, a senior editor at The FADER magazine, and a staff writer at VICE. Burney is also a current artist-in-residence for the Baltimore Living Archives — a collaborative program between The SNF Parkway Theatre and the Enoch Pratt Library — where he is developing various film and media projects.
The latest from Lawrence
Farewell to The Crown, a sanctuary for Baltimore’s underground music scene
The Crown provided a space for people to feel they were part of something important — something that belonged to them — when they were within those walls.
The Culture Report: Baltimore‘s Chris Robinson talks about his LeBron James movie
Baltimore native and director Chris Robinson’s “Shooting Stars” is about LeBron James’ high school basketball career, but properly framed through the lens of him being one of the greatest athletes we’ve ever seen.
The best local rap and R&B of 2023 so far
From Yg Teck to Brent Faiyaz, here is a look at some of the region’s best music of the year.
The Culture Report: 12 tips for proper Baltimore etiquette
The culture of Baltimore is changing, so here is an etiquette guide for those new to the area — or for those who need reminders.
Derrick Faulcon, owner of Home Maid and Cloudy Donut Co., is a Baltimore success story
The burgeoning restaurant entrepreneur left his prison sentence in the past and is now seeing his businesses expand beyond Charm City.
The Culture Report: The Preakness Live lineup is a tale of two Baltimores
Last year, having headliners Megan Thee Stallion and Lauryn Hill made it seem like organizers were trying to build a connection with Black Baltimoreans. Pop juggernaut Bruno Mars and electronic dance music duo Sofi Tukker as next weekend’s stars feels like an intentional shift.
The Culture Report: A Baltimore Center Stage director’s career-altering call
Stevie Walker-Webb, the director of Center Stage’s newest production, “Life is a Dream,” talks about his recent Tony Award nomination for “Ain’t No Mo’.’
The Culture Report: Remembering the impact of Baltimore’s blog era on music and TV
A new Pharrell-supported podcast called “The Blog Era” dives into the history of rap coverage in the mid-to-late-2000s. Baltimore writer Al Shipley talks about his own blog, Government Names, which was crucial to the local scene during that period.
The Culture Report: ‘Dear Mama’ dives into Tupac’s bond with his mother
The new FX series frames the iconic rapper’s life within the context of how he was raised by his Black Panther mother, Afeni Shakur.
The Culture Report: Billie Holiday at the BMA
In collaboration with the BMA, Johns Hopkins University shared a preview of a newly acquired collection of Billie Holiday archives.
Mo’Nique’s special with Netflix, the company she sued, is a full-circle moment
In her new standup special, the Baltimore-raised comedian goes deep into her upbringing to offer understanding into why she operates the way she does.
The Culture Report: The beauty on display at the BMA’s ‘Hip Hop and Contemporary Art’ exhibit
At the BMA's new "The Culture" exhibition, Brooklyn-raised artist Texas Isaiah shows how hip-hop culture can be incorporated into spiritual practice.
The Culture Report: Three Baltimore comedians to watch out for
If you’re in need of some laughs (and especially local ones), take a look at Stavros Halkias, Vontee and Smirf — all comics on the rise.
The Culture Report: Why one site’s shutdown scare panicked hip-hop fans everywhere
Rumors of the famed mixtape hosting site DatPiff folding emphasized the ever-changing digital music landscape for local and national artists and consumers.
The Culture Report: How the ‘I Got A Monster’ documentary chooses community over cops
There have been several retellings of the Gun Trace Task Force’s crimes, but “I Got A Monster” gives the necessary nuance and depth to the people who were actually targeted.
The Culture Report: ‘Cocaine Bear’ hidden gem is a TikTok comic from Dundalk
Scott Seiss, more widely known as “Angry Retail Guy,” says his part in the hilariously ridiculous film “set the bar high” for movie roles going forward.
February’s best local rap and R&B
Here’s a look at some of the strongest local tracks in the genres this month.
BSO’s Jonathon Heyward will focus on ‘programming that is relevant to the community’ in coming season
The pioneering conductor laid out his plans for the orchestra's next year as he remarked that classical music "can transcend any boundary."
The Culture Report: Yg Teck’s new mixtape with Detroit rapper Peezy further proves his prowess
The 15-track project, "Champain," finds Teck and Peezy in constant conversation with each other’s musical approach and using the style of their respective hometowns.
The Culture Report: New milestones for two Baltimore musicians
Gaithersburg singer Kelela makes a long-awaited comeback and Baltimore's Yg Teck releases a collaborative project with standout Detroit rapper Peezy.
