Photo Credit: Biz 3 Publicity It hurts to find out that any musician has died as young as Kirsnick Khari Ball, better known as Takeoff, did. But even in a world that does its damnedest to desensitize us to the violent, untimely deaths of Black hip-hop stars (rappers Young Dolph, Drakeo The Ruler, and JayDaYoungan… Read more
Photo Credit: @tiffanyandco / Instagram In the last few months, alone, both Beyoncé and Lizzo have altered their songs post-release to remove the term “spaz” after ableist concerns were raised regarding the songs “Grrrls” and “Heated,” respectively. Though many Americans seemed shocked that anyone could take offense at the term, the word is considered a… Read more
Photo Credit: Courtesy of DJ Khaled There is something confounding about the success of DJ Khaled. Sixteen years, and thirteen albums, into his career, he has yet to release a truly singular piece of work, let alone a masterpiece. To his critics, Khaled simply does what other DJs do but louder and with a more… Read more
Photo Credit: Emily Carter One of the worst phenomena in recent musical history is the wave of young artists reviving the sound of 2000s pop-punk, without any of the genre’s original charm, authenticity, or impressive musicality. Matthew Musto – professionally known as Blackbear – has been derided as one of the worst culprits of this;… Read more
Photo Credit: Mason Poole for Parkwood Entertainment The story of house music is one of liberation; of marginalized communities carving out a space where they could unapologetically be themselves. As a genre, its roots are radical – its formation can be credited to Black and Queer individuals who refused to conform to a society that… Read more
The concept album hit its stride after the 1960s when large, well-funded bands had the cash and carte blanche to explore, at length, any idea that crossed their addled brains. Whether a bloated 1970s ineffectual gesture or a coherent and brilliant bit of storytelling, the concept album has fans and detractors in equal measure. Here… Read more
Photo Credit: AB+DM Every generation needs an artist who is unafraid to write cheesy, feel-good, uplifting anthems; an artist who would rather risk being saccharine than sour. Natasha Bedingfield (“Unwritten”), Kelly Clarkson (“Stronger”), and Katy Perry (“Firework”) have all alternately held this title and fulfilled their role dutifully. It would be unfair to dismiss Lizzo’s music… Read more
Photo Credit: Getty/Roskilde Press The post-festival discussions about the 50th edition of Scandinavia’s biggest festival have mainly dealt with the Strokes’ reportedly awful performance. I, who ended up at the festival thanks to a fortunate coincidence, had to travel back home before the Strokes, and instead of going on about Julien Casablanca’s awkward dialogues for… Read more
Logic “Tetris” & “Decades” Cover via Def Jam You can’t judge a book by its cover but you often can judge an album by its cover art. The photo for Logic’s latest album Vinyl Days feels familiar. The child, Logic’s toddler son Bobby is seated in an old-fashioned office chair, the afternoon light filtering in…. Read more
Photo Credit: Republic Records The best Drake songs captivate people as soon as they first hear them – it’s why he’s responsible for some of the biggest hits of the 2010s. A trio of acclaimed albums and mixtapes from 2011-2015 – Take Care, Nothing Was the Same & If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late… Read more