I'm Erika Marie, a journalist and editor with a nearly two decades of experience covering music, culture, and the nuances of Black womanhood. I currently write for HotNewHipHop as the co-head of original content, focusing on in-depth features, artist interviews, and cultural commentary.

I'm also the founder of OurBlackGirls, a digital archive dedicated to telling the stories of missing and murdered Black women in the U.S. It is a project rooted in care, accountability, and community memory. CocoaMusings is my softer, more personal corner of the internet. It’s where I write about literature, lifestyle, pop culture, and the experiences of Black women, both celebrated and ordinary. Here, I explore what’s moving through me at the moment, whether it’s a reflection on Hip Hop, a deep dive into a forgotten writer, or a musing about what it means to live fully in our skin. I’m deeply invested in honest, nuanced, and Black-centered storytelling.

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