The best pop culture of 2018 so far

Hey guys! So I just blinked and somehow we're already halfway through the dumpster fire that is 2018 (weird, I know). I have no clue where the months go, but here we are. With more than six months down, I decided to round up some of the best pieces of pop culture from the year that I've seen/heard.

What have you been watching/reading/listening to so far this year? Let me know in the comments below.

Movies

Black Panther

Wakanda forever, y'all. I saw Black Panther twice and it was an emotional and extremely powerful experience both times. A threat to T'Challa's Wakanda throne, fight scenes, a love interest, spot-on dialogue and an ALL-BLACK CAST really transformed a superhero film into a piece of cinematic black history. I wrote this piece for USA TODAY about the ways in which black women are celebrated and elevated in the film, which basically sums up my major emotions about everything the movies does well.

Ocean's 8

I love a good heist drama, I love clothes and I love this entire cast. Rihanna and Cate Blanchett are my sexuality, and the scene where Sandra Bullock goes "shopping" (or scamming) at Bergdorf Goodman is excellent. My only critique is that I wanted more of everything.

TV

The Chi

Applause only for Lena Waithe and her Showtime drama. Dynamic characters? Check. Ruthless realism? Check. Solid storylines? Check. With a cast helmed by Jason Mitchell and Moonlight's standout child star Alex R. Hibbert, this was definitely appointment TV on Sundays during Season 1.

Good Girls

When three suburban moms rob a grocery store, the aftermath is a lot more intense than you might expect. This show surprised me with its depth and punchy dialogue. If you liked Weeds, this is a similar take on the genre, but the heartstrings of the show resemble something more similar to Jane the Virgin. It's about as gritty as a network dramedy can go, which says a lot.

Queen of the South

Evan and I stumbled across this show randomly on Netflix, and we committed to watching an episode since the new season previews I had seen on USA seemed enticing. We were HOOKED after Season 1, Episode 1, and we completely binged the first two seasons (we're watching Season 3 live now). This isn't your typical Walter White drug drama: Strong women take the lead alongside an outstanding cast of cartel characters with tons of gripping plot twists.

Music

Camila by Camila Cabello

After kinda dramatically splitting from Fifth Harmony, I wasn't sure what to expect from Camila's solo debut. Thank goodness for this Harmonizer, she did not disappoint with this succinct and honest 10-song album. Standouts: Real Friends, In the Dark, Into It

Invasion of Privacy by Cardi B

Another nerve-racking debut that ended up completely exceeding my expectations. Cardi B is raw but she knows how to deliver hit after hit with punchlines and knockout punches. Standouts: Get Up 10, Bickenhead, I Like It, She Bad (feat. YG)

Shawn Mendes by Shawn Mendes

I feel like Shawn Mendes is the clean cut and nice child of Justin Bieber and John Mayer. He gets a little more soulful and a little less guitar-heavy on his self-titled LP, and his voice just continues to get smoother. Standouts: Lost In Japan, Where Were You in the Morning?, Particular Taste

Everything Is Love by The Carters

Leave it to Bey and Jay to casually drop a joint album on a Saturday afternoon. Still picking up the pieces of my life. Standouts: Summer, Apeshit, 713, LOVEHAPPY