Lupe Fiasco’s Striking Social Commentary
I know that before I’ve lamented on the downfall of music with any substance, but Lupe Fiasco recently released a video this year that is one of the best social commentaries on race, hip hop, and the damage to poorly-raised or unsupervised youth. Fiasco’s song, “Bitch Bad,” is all this and more. While the video...
Maria’s Halloween Playlist
Halloween is arguably the most exciting time of the year. (No offense, Christmas). At no other time do we get to drop our inhibitions and embrace morbidity like we do on Halloween. If you’re like most Americans, you’ll be going to at least one Halloween party this year. Maybe you’ll even be hosting your own. ...
“Looper” is a Thrilling Dystopian Masterpiece
Rian Johnson’s work, “Looper,” is one of the best films of the year. As a fan of the dystopian genre, I was excited to go see it in the theater, but wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Honestly, except for time travel, I wasn’t entirely sure what the movie was about. Walking in cold, without...
An Interview with Hello Jupiter
Hello Jupiter is a New York band of three friends, Evgeni, Maxwell, and Jon, who grouped up to create music for their free EP titled “Do I Dare..”. All the songs focus on chance and uncertainty in life, and how your choices in life relate to events down the road. Intrigued, I reached out to...
Tuesday Tunesday: Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe “Tightrope” Hailing from Kansas, Monáe is one of the best modern blues-pop-rap-R&B (is that even a genre?) artists out there. Her music is entirely her own, and you can tell she is one of those people who enjoys a huge array of music and brings it all together into her own style. Monáe is...
The October Playlist
Fall is starting to take hold, and the sweaters are coming out of storage. Let’s watch the leaves change colors and fall from the trees with some October tunes. 1. Guards: Silver Lining This optimistic song is a perfect way to bring in the new season and start this playlist off. This track by Guards...
Tuesday Tunesday: Paul Pena
Paul Pena “Good Horses” Paul Pena was born with congenital glaucoma, and was totally blind by the age of 20. However, this didn’t stop him from becoming extremely adept at the guitar and music in general. While he had a very good career as a blues guitar player, his most interesting story comes in his...
Tuesday Tunesday: Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup
Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup “If I Get Lucky” On this day in 1941, Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup recorded this track, “If I Get Lucky,” and it became one of his most famous songs of his career. Crudup was born and raised in the Mississippi Delta, which he exemplifies in his music that chugs along like...
Move, Eat, Learn
“Move, Eat, Learn” is a three-part film project by Rick Mereki where three guys spent 44 days in 11 countries doing just what the project suggests: moving, eating, and learning. Each film can stand alone, but as a trio, the films amass into a project that demonstrates the best way to live. The guys look...
Flying Lotus: Until the Quiet Comes
Flying Lotus, for whatever my opinion is worth, is one of the most talented musicians around. Classifying his music in a genre is near impossible, not only because his work is so diverse, but because he really should have his own genre. Flying Lotus simply is Flying Lotus. Set to release a new album in...
The September Playlist
We’re almost through the hottest part of the year, folks. August is done, and Fall is on the way. Let’s wind down a bit from the heat and ease our way into the cool days ahead of us. The following songs are great companions for doing just that, but still work well with the not-so-hot...
Tuesday Tunesday: Lead Belly
Lead Belly “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” Huddie William Ledbetter, AKA Lead Belly, is a legend in blues history. Lead Belly has his hands in virtually every rock, blues, or country band since the Great Depression–whether they know it or not. However, the most interesting part of the Lead Belly legacy is perhaps not...
