The 100 People Shaping the Future of Black New York
By the Editors of Mood Magazine NYC
There are cities that make history, and then there are people who make cities.
Every day across New York, Black and Brown visionaries wake before dawn to report the news, design collections, open restaurants, curate exhibitions, mentor young people, produce podcasts, build businesses, create art, write books, perform on stages, and quietly transform neighborhoods. Some are household names. Others are changing lives without ever making headlines.
At Mood Magazine NYC, we believe influence is measured not only by fame, but by impact.
That belief inspired The Mood 100.
The Mood 100 is our annual editorial celebration honoring one hundred Black and Brown New Yorkers whose work is shaping culture, commerce, creativity, and community across the five boroughs and beyond. Together, they tell the story of a city constantly being reimagined through imagination, resilience, and excellence.
This is not a ranking.
There is no number one.
There is no hierarchy.
There are simply one hundred remarkable people whose work deserves to be recognized, celebrated, and shared.
For the first time, readers of Mood Magazine NYC are invited to help select the People’s Choice 10—ten members of the Mood 100 who will receive expanded editorial features and be showcased on the cover of our special November Mood 100 Issue.
Every member of the Mood 100 is an honoree. The People’s Choice 10 simply allows our readers to recognize the people whose work has inspired them most.
But the Mood 100 doesn’t end on the page.
Throughout the coming months, Mood Magazine NYC will bring the Mood 100 to life through a series of Mood Life Events—exclusive conversations, networking receptions, book signings, live broadcasts, cultural experiences, and community gatherings where you’ll have the opportunity to meet many of this year’s Mood 100 honorees in person.
Whether you’re sharing a meal with a celebrated chef, hearing a journalist discuss today’s headlines, meeting an entrepreneur, or attending a live conversation with artists and performers, these experiences are designed to bring our readers closer to the people shaping our culture.
Because the best stories aren’t simply read.
They’re experienced.
Welcome to the inaugural Mood 100.
The future is already here.
These are the people building it.
THE MOOD 100 DIRECTORY
Media, Journalists & Hosts
(Follow each honoree on Instagram.)
- Fredricka Whitfield — @fredrickawhitfield
- DeMarco Morgan — @demarcomorgan
- Terrance McKnight — @terrmcknight
- Gia Peppers — @giapeppers
- Kéla Walker — @kelawalker
- Scottie Beam — @scottiebeam
- Tracy G. — @itstracyg
- LowKey — @lowkeyuhtin
- Cipha Sounds — @ciphasounds
Podcasters & Digital Creators
- Hey Fran Hey — @heyfranhey
- Crissle West — @crissle
- Mouse Jones — @mouse_jones
- Mandii B — @fullcourtpumps
- Kid Fury — @kidfury
- Desus Nice — @desusnice
- Kazeem Famuyide — @kazeem
- N.O.R.E. — @therealnoreaga
- Taxstone — @taxstone
Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel
- Chrissy Rutherford — @chrissyford
- Monroe Steele — @monroesteele
- Denny Balmaceda — @denny601
- Sai De Silva — @scoutthecity
- Oneika Raymond — @oneikatraveller
- Justin Livingston — @justinliv
- Blake Gifford — @signedblake
- Nicolette Mason — @nicolettemason
- Asiyami Gold — @asiyamigold
- Ty Alexander — @tyalexander
- Karen Blanchard — @karenbritchick
- Dapper Lou — @dapperlou
- Aaliyah Jay — @aaliyahjay
- Steven Onoja — @stevenonoja
- VicStyles — @vicstyles
- Taye Hansberry — @tayehansberry
- Cipriana Quann — @ciprianaquann
- Misa Hylton — @misahylton
- Venezia Cruz — @veneziacruz
- Erick Prince — @minoritynomad
- Chloe King — @chloe_king
Culinary Arts & Hospitality
- Chef Joseph Johnson — @chefjj
- Devonn Francis — @devonnfrancis
- Eitan Bernath — @eitan
- Salima Boufelfel — @salimaboufelfel
- Kelis — @kelis
- Alexander Smalls — @alexandersmalls
Arts, Curators & Gallerists
- Sadaf Padder — @sadaf_padder
- Destinee Ross-Sutton — @destineeross_
- Mashonda Tifrere — @mashondatifrere
- Ariel Adkins — @artfullyawear
- Antwaun Sargent — @sirsargent
- Kimberly Drew — @museummammy
- Larry Ossei-Mensah — @therealartscout
- Nicola Vassell — @nicolavassell
- Taylor Renee Aldridge — @taylorreneealdridge
- Legacy Russell — @legacyrussell
- Isolde Brielmaier — @isolde_brielmaier
- Christopher Rudd — @ruddy_dance
Theater, Dance & Performance
- James Alonzo White — @jamesalonzo_w
- Daniel J. Watts — @gwattswords
- Garen Scribner — @garenscribner
- Hope Boykin — @hopeboykindance
- Dyllón Burnside — @dyllonburnside
- Mariah Linney — @mariahlinney
- Jelani Alladin — @jelanialladin
- Shereen Pimentel — @shereenpimentel
Founders, Strategists & Creatives
- Imani Ellis — @imaniimani
- Khadijah Adams — @khadijahadams
- Emil Wilbekin — @emilwilbekin
- Taylor Crumpton — @taylorcrumpton
- Gregorio Palacios — @gregoriopalacios
- Mellany Sanchez — @mellany_sanchez
- Vicente “Vince” Flores — @vincenteflores
- Gisela Sabino — @giselasabino
- Rhea Carter — @rhea_carter
- Gabriel Akinrinmade — @gabrielakinrinmade
- Janell Hickman-Kirchhoff — @j_hickman
- Devin Moore — @devinmoore
- Kelsey Adams — @kelsey.adams
- Porsha Carr — @porshacarr
- Jessica Lynn — @jessicalynn
- Ahmer “Karl” Lewis — @ahmerkarl
- Clarissa Perez — @clarissaperez
- Kris Walker — @kriswalker
- Christian Rivera — @christianrivera
- Sade Mitchell — @sademitchell
- Emilio “Mimi” Ortiz — @mimioriz
- Kiara Martinez — @kiaramartinez
- Lauren Powell — @laurenpowell
- Elena Gross — @elenagross
- Destiny Belton — @destinybelton
- Gabriel Flores — @gabrielflores
- Robert Bannon — @robertbannon
- Candice Marie Benbow — @candicemichellebenbow
- Aurelia Michael — @aureliamichael
- Efrain Martinez — @efrainmartinez
- Asha Kamali — @ashakamali
- Telsha Anderson-Boone — @telshaanderson
- Brandon Blackwood — @brandonblackwoodnyc
- Jérome Lamaar — @jeromelamaar
- Goyo — @goyo
The Mood Life Guide™
Try This Today
Cast your vote for the People’s Choice 10 at www.MoodMagazineNYC.org. Then follow at least three Mood 100 honorees whose work is new to you. Discover a new artist. Support a Black-owned business. Listen to a podcast. Attend a performance. Buy a book. Great communities are built one connection at a time.
Why It Matters
The Mood 100 is more than a list—it’s a celebration of the people shaping our culture every day. By recognizing their work, we amplify their voices, create new opportunities, and inspire the next generation of creators, entrepreneurs, journalists, artists, and leaders.
Beyond Harlem
Every community has remarkable people making an impact. Let the Mood 100 inspire you to discover and celebrate the visionaries where you live. Support local creators, visit cultural institutions, attend community events, and invest in the people helping your neighborhood thrive.
Continue the Conversation
The Mood 100 is just the beginning.
Vote for the People’s Choice 10, then join us throughout the coming months at Mood Life Events, where you’ll have opportunities to meet Mood 100 honorees through live conversations, networking receptions, book signings, performances, community gatherings, and special broadcasts.
Stay connected:
🎙 WHRL Mood Radio Harlem
🧵 Threads: @MoodMagazineNYC
📺 The Morning Show NYC
Let us curate your mood.
