Corey J. Carrington

🍋 Once again - it’s on!! ☀️ Softlife returns Sunday, April 12th for 412 Day at @tracebrewing in Bloomfield. DJ Dogger, a Hill District native and one of the hottest DJs in the city will take care of the music and — as always — Softlife is produced and curated by @deeperthangrits . We’ll be going 5pm to 9pm with a room full of good energy, familiar faces, and new connections waiting to happen. Our homies @MarsJackson and Grits have curated a fire #412Day playlist for your listening pleasure during the first hour from 5-6 pm. Then @dj_dogger will close us out from 6-9 pm. Like it always is — @softlifeparty is free to attend. The vibe is lowkey, intentional, and designed to help you reset before the week starts. Food truck in the building (@quick_e2023 ), drinks flowing, and we’ll be screening Houseguest on the projector. Pittsburgh-inspired clothing is recommended — rep your teams, your schools, your colors, your side of the city. Come as you are. Take a step back. Meet somebody new. Hear something that reminds you of a moment you forgot about. Let the good vibrations wash over you. This is Softlife. You deserve this. See you Sunday April 12. 🖤 #Softlife #DeeperThanGrits #TraceBrewing

Job well done Mom. Get your rest. Love, Corey.

My Mom used to say, “Be good to yourself”. For a while I didn’t really know what that meant. I guess over time I took that as, “Doing things for yourself that are going to help you grow”. In November I decided to do just that as I embarked on a journey to Egypt. It was the furthest I have traveled to date and it was life affirming / life changing. I want to thank my Bro @maxonemill for inviting me in this twice in a lifetime trip. I wrote about my experience on my Substack, Grits Really Out Here, which in linked in my bio. I want to thank the people of Cairo, Giza, and the Nile River Valley for their kindness and generosity. Egypt owes me nothing. Until next time @gritsreallyouthere #GritsReallyOutHere #travel #motherland #Africa #kemet

Winter Heat felt like a film still. Belly aesthetics. Black photojournalism as altar. War’s Over energy in the middle of mourning. I came outside because my Mom loved when I dressed well and enjoyed myself— so last night was joy with intention. Grief with drip. Memory with movement. Forever dressing with you in mind, Momma 🕊️ #WinterHeat #BellyAesthetic #BlackPhotojournalism #WarIsOver #GriefWithGrace #DressedWithPurpose #StyleAsRitual #JoyAsResistance #BlackElegance #BlackArtMatters #CulturalMemory #FashionAsLanguage #LivingInHerHonor #ForGinger #SoftLifeWithDepth

🦃 Friendsgiving Softlife 🦃 Let’s run it back one more time. The @softlifeparty 2025 season finale drops on Sunday Nov 30 at Trace Brewing in Bloomfield. DJ set by @___icy.pisces and - as always - produced and curated by @deeperthangrits . We’ll go 5pm to 9pm with @marsjackson and Grits kicking things off with an hour Playlist before handing it off to Icy as they select smooth/sultry/cool/sexy jams. Like it always is - Softlife is free to attend. Vibes are lowkey with a rejuvenating aura and the mood is meant to set you up right for the week ahead. Food by @streetsonthefly , bar by Trace and we’ll screen The Best Man (first released in Oct 1999) on the projector. Come as you are. Take a step back. Hear things you haven’t heard in a while or never heard. Let the good vibrations wash over you. See you at Trace on Sunday, November 30. 💙 Flyer: @yeahyelhsa Photography: @bamcrown #Softlife #DeeperThanGritsStudios #DeeperThanGrits #Playlist #TraceBrewing #IcyPisces #Friendsgiving

A year ago today I lost my best friend. The pain doesn’t get any easier but I’m at peace knowing that God just decided to take you home. This year since you been gone has been one of the most painful & exhausting years I’ve ever experienced. I really miss you mane. Str8up. I hope I’m repping you right and doing everything I can to keep your name alive. I never thought that this would be our story. I thought we had more time. But I know God doesn’t make any mistakes and I know it wasn’t a mistake when he allowed us to meet in 9th grade. I appreciate you so much Bro and I know you’re having General Tso’s with Shrimp Fried Rice in heaven. Keep watching over me, your friends, and fam. Until we meet again bro. I love you @kingphillz . #POD4L #GoingJoe #LongLiveKingPhillz

This week I had the honor of speaking to Dr. Erik Garrett’s Urban Communication class at Duquesne University. We had a powerful conversation about my artistic practice, the intersections of art & equity, and how racial equity must continue to shape the creative spaces we build and share. Each time I engage with young minds and future leaders, I’m reminded that art is not just expression—it’s transformation. Special thanks to Dr. Garrett for the invitation and to the students for their energy, curiosity, and openness. 🙌🏾 I would also like to thank my friend Pat @TheHeroHogan for lending his photography skills for such an important event. This moment isn’t just a milestone—it’s an invitation. If your school, university, organization, or institution is interested in bringing me in to speak about: 🎭 Equity in the Arts ✊🏾 Racial Equity 💡 Creative Entrepreneurship 📧 Feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] #Gratitude #EquityInTheArts #RacialEquity #PublicArt #CreativeEntrepreneurship #DeeperThanGritsStudios #ArtForChange #CommunityThroughArt #BlackArt#CreativeLeadership #MotivationalSpeaker #UrbanCommunication #ArtistSpeaker #DuquesneUniversity #BlackExcellence #PurposeDriven #MySong #KeepGoing

One of them ones yet not one of them. I don’t know how to explain it, you just gotta experience it to know the difference. Salute to @slappersnbangers for celebrating 10 years of bringing trap music to places we never imagined in Pittsburgh. Through your contributions you’ve made our city a much more enjoyable place for some of our most forgotten voices. Thank you & cheers to the next 10 @thearie_cole @nfd.mp3 . Shout out to my bro @theherohogan for the impromptu flicks. #BeingARealOneCostSomething

To say that I am inspired by The World Is A Stage would be an understatement. I witnessed a masterclass in fashion, creative direction, and curation by @cat_burton / @create.art.together . The models, the designs, stage layout, and music by @luxuraethedj & @frominezwithlove brought together a one of kind experience that felt international. I’m so proud of you Cat and all of the people who were apart of this show. You are what makes Pittsburgh special. Shout out to my bro @bigt128 for the flicks. #TheWorldIsAStage #PittsburghFashionShow #Illuminate #Fashionisto #FlyGuy #King #ImAFashionDesigner #DeeperThanGritsStudiosIsMyClothingLine #IDesignedMyBagToo #LinkInMyBio #ItsTheRock #SlipperyRockAlumni

✨ SOFTLIFE Vol. 6 ✨ Pittsburgh, you already know what it is. The wave continues at Trace Brewing Sunday, September 7th. Pull up in your flyest, grab a drink, and let the energy do the rest. From 5–9 PM, @luxuraethedj & @djyamez are locking us into that zone—where the sun sets, the city glows, and the vibes feel just right. 🌇 Softlife isn’t just a party—it’s a frequency, a vibration, a state of mind. No genre, no era, no box can contain it. Just cool people, good energy, and the soundtrack to your best Sunday. @streetsonthefly will be serving up their finest wings, cheesesteaks, and fries that will leave you more than satisfied. 🕺🏾 Come catch the night vibe early. 🍹 Come live the Softlife. Follow @softlifeparty for all Softlife updates. #SoftlifePGH #DeeperThanGrits #TraceBrewing #PittsburghVibes #PGHNightlife #SoftlifeIsBack

Some people look at concerts as just events where they enjoy music but for me they represent time stamps on where I’m at in life and what I’ve accomplished up until that point. I’m very happy with & proud of the life that I’ve built for myself. A lot of people that I love would have loved to see Nas (& AZ) but they’re either resting eternally or incarcerated physically so I’m destined to live my dream for all my peeps who never made it. We talk a lot about what Pittsburgh isn’t and not enough about what Pittsburgh is, what we love about it, what we envision that it can be. Getting to experience shows like this let me know that the possibilities for our city are endless. Thank you to @nas , @quietazmoney , @djgreenlantern , @pghsymphony , @kharimosley , and @m0n1ca_m for helping organize an amazing evening. Thanks to my Bro @mechrismitchell for the flicks and @conalmapgh for providing the perfect backdrop for the night. With that being said always remember that the world is yours. Also remember that I’ma get money regardless. #Illmatic #DeeperThanGrits #socialite #GettingMoney

What does a just future for Pittsburgh look like — and who gets to shape it? Join Jacqueline Patterson, Founder of @ChisholmLegacy and one of @Time Magazine’s 2024 Women of the Year, as she shares a visionary approach to climate justice, community power, and equitable development. With decades of experience leading environmental justice work at the @NAACP and beyond, Patterson offers bold insight into how cities like Pittsburgh can grow without displacing the very communities that built them. June 12th | 5–8 PM
@CCAC_EDU   Northside
Free food provided 🎟️ RSVP w/ the Link in the Bio (Instagram) This forum is part of shaping the Pittsburgh 2050 Comprehensive Plan, and it’s for you — residents, dreamers, and doers who want to ensure our city’s future is rooted in justice, equity, and care. #pgh2050 #PittsburghGrowth #JacquelinePatterson #JustTransition #CommunityNeeds #PittsburghFuture #EquityInPlanning