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About Brandon Caldwell

Brandon Caldwell is a staff writer and journalist at theGrio.com, where he contributes his expertise in music and pop culture. With a career spanning over a decade, Brandon has established himself as a prominent voice in music journalism, previously serving on the Audience Engagement team at ESPN and as the Online Editor for Radio One Houston.

His extensive editorial background includes serving as the editor-in-chief of Day & A Dream.com. Under his leadership, the site grew from a grassroots project started in 2009 to a significant cultural platform, amassing over 3 million unique views while providing a launchpad for up-and-coming freelance and music journalists in the Houston area.

Brandon's reporting and commentary have appeared in a wide array of prestigious publications, including Pitchfork, Billboard, Texas Monthly, and Complex. A member of The Recording Academy, he has provided on-the-ground coverage for major industry events such as the ESSENCE Festival, South By Southwest (SXSW), and Atlanta’s A3C Hip-Hop Festival.
Areas of Expertise

Music Journalism
Hip-Hop Culture
Pop Culture Analysis
Live Festival Coverage
Audience Engagement

Professional Experience

Staff Writer and Journalist — theGrio.com (Present)
Audience Engagement Team — ESPN
Online Editor — Radio One Houston
Editor-in-Chief — Day & A Dream.com (2009–2018)

Education or Background
A native of Missouri City, Texas, Brandon currently resides in Arcola, Texas. His work is deeply rooted in an understanding of 21st-century media and a commitment to creative storytelling within the music scene.

All Articles

JAŸ-Z, Jay-Z Reasonable Doubt, Jay-Z Blueprint, Jay-Z Concerts, Jay-Z Yankee Stadium
March 18, 2026
JAŸ-Z has announced two shows for two of his albums celebrating milestone anniversaries this year, 'Reasonable Doubt' and 'The Blueprint.'
Tuskegee Lawsuit, Tuskeegee Coach Sues Morehouse, College Basketball Lawsuits
March 18, 2026
Tuskegee men's basketball coach Benjy Taylor is preparing a lawsuit against Morehouse and two officers following a viral incident in…
Guildia Lopez, Built For Greatness: Men Who Move The Culture, Guildia Lopez Brothers and Briefcases, Guildia Lopez New York, Brothers and Briefcases
March 18, 2026
Brothers and Briefcases founder Guildia Lopez is crafting a love note to Black men with her new coffee book: 'Men…
Barack Obama, Barack Obama Anthony Edwards, Barack Obama Presidential Center, Anthony Edwards NBA
March 17, 2026
Anthony Edwards' friendly relationship with Barack Obama took center stage in the latest promo for the Obama Presidential Center.
Paradise Season 3, Paradise Season 3 Hulu, Paradise Hulu, Sterling K. Brown Paradise Season 3
March 17, 2026
'Paradise' was renewed for a third and likely final season on Tuesday as the hit Hulu show continues to keep…
Fawn Weaver, Fawn Weaver Uncle Nearest, Uncle Nearest Chapter 11, Uncle Nearest Chapter 11 Bankruptcy,
March 17, 2026
Fawn Weaver and Uncle Nearest have filed for Chapter 11 in order to restructure the company while also suing its…
Ava Duvernay, Ava Duvernay Oscars, Ava Duvernay Partner, Ava Duvernay Boyfriend
March 17, 2026
Ava Duvernay's Oscar Sunday was a moment of reflection, looking back on a decade without her dad and showing love…
Samira Wiley, Kara Young, Samira Wiley Proof, Proof Boradway
March 17, 2026
"Handsmaid Tale" actress Samira Wiley is making an exit from the upcoming Broadway revival of "Proof" due to a medical…
Kiki Shepard, Kiki Shepard Death, Kiki Shepard News, Kiki Shepard Dead
March 17, 2026
Kiki Shepard, the "Queen of Apollo Fashion" who served as a longtime co-host of the hit TV series "Showtime at…
Aden Holloway, Aden Holloway Alabama, Aden Holloway Arrested, Aden Holloway Marijuana
March 16, 2026
Aden Holloway, a star guard for the University of Alabama, was arrested on two felony charges and removed from campus…
Kennedy Center, Kennedy Center Shut Down, Kennedy Center News
March 16, 2026
Amid several cancellations from performers and resignations of staff, the Kennedy Center board voted to shut down operations after July…
March 16, 2026
Three HBCUs are in the men's NCAA tournament, the most since 1994 while two women's programs are in this year's…
Cedric The Entertainer, Cedric The Entertainer The Neighborhood, CBS The Neighborhood Finale, The Neighborhood TV Show
March 16, 2026
CBS will air a special farewell to their hit comedy "The Neighborhood" starring Cedric The Entertainer on April 6.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Malcolm Jamal Warner Oscars, Oscars In Memoriam,
March 16, 2026
Several notable Black actors and actresses were omitted from the In Memoriam segment during the Oscars telecast on Sunday.
Doja Cat, Doja Cat Borderline Personality Disorder, Doja Cat Mental Health,
March 14, 2026
Doja Cat is getting vulnerable about her mental health, admitting she's been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder or BPD.
Quincy Jones, Quincy Jones Catalog, Quincy Jones HarbourView
March 14, 2026
Quincy Jones' massive catalog, which includes stakes to albums like 'Off The Wall' and 'Thriller,' has been sold to an…
Pastor Jamal Bryant Target, Jamal Bryant Target Fast, Target Boycott,
March 14, 2026
Pastor Jamal Bryant is apologizing over confusion he led ending the Target Fast and its relation to the Target boycott.
Jordan Chiles, Jordan Chiles UCLA, Jordan Chiles Gymnastics
March 14, 2026
She has notes from Beyoncé and Olympic gold. But as she prepares for her UCLA finale, Jordan Chiles is looking…
Raven-Symoné, Raven-Symoné Surgery, Raven-Symoné Breast Reduction
March 14, 2026
In a new interview, Raven-Symoné is speaking out about the cosmestic surgeries she had before she was 18 ... and…
EPA Trump, EPA Air Pollution, EPA Trump Administration, EPA ethylene oxide,
March 13, 2026
The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing weakening a rule on a cancer causing chemical that also sterilizes medical equipment.