When it comes to discipline and direction, I’ve spent most of my life unaware that I had control over a majority of my experience each day. This mentality bled into my vision of the future, negatively. I was reactive, instead of proactive. A major turning point in my life was when I realized that at…
Since as far back as the 13th century, the West African griots were highly esteemed as the human vessels carrying oral traditions, historical narratives, and cultural art like poems and songs. They were effectively the bards of tribes and were as vital to the community as was the royalty. This sense of pride and importance…
Let’s be honest, every year that passes seems to bring new norms, new expectations, and new pressures. We really do live in a society. Even when nothing changes, the daily grind can begin to wear you down mentally. Corporations and governments will demand every ounce of attention you have and use it against you. Often…
A Tribe Called Quest was without a doubt a staple of 90’s hip-hop. Few other groups can claim the influence and image that A Tribe brought to the game. Riding the wave of conscious rap and jazz instrumentals, the Queens-based rap group grew bigger with each album, and for good reason. They had articulate bars…
Kendrick Lamar is an inspiration and a beacon for social justice, from his hometown of Compton to his brothers and sisters worldwide. He’s cemented himself at the top of hip-hop with an impeccable pen and unrelenting perfectionism. His albums are everything from poetic to raw, and as such, the people are waiting as impatiently as…
Ever since music has begun being distributed widely, there have been layers added on top to help guide listeners and label the intentions of the artist; things like titles, or spoken word. Album art undeniably has one of the most inseparable relationships between any two art mediums. While not every album cover has “meaning,” (and…
From Anthony Fantano to your local record shop employee, it seems there’s plenty of opinions on any and every piece of music out there. Naturally, as people discuss the art they take in, there are disagreements on what projects are of the highest quality. People even debate whether someone is able to give a valid…
I’ve been an addict to social media from the get-go. I begged my parents when I was 12 to let me lie about my age (you had to be 13 to join) and get a Facebook profile with all my friends. It was exciting and new! Being connected to the other kids my age, sharing…
Sampling is one of the most trademark techniques used in hip-hop production since it’s beginnings, and it’s well-known. While this has garnered some shade from purist music critics, any open-minded fan of rap will tell you that it’s part of what makes hip-hop such a unique and evocative genre. Blending new and old material has…
The last year and a half changed a lot of things for everyone. Between the government and the people, a lot of different things were implemented to deal with the challenges posed by the pandemic. Some of these differences are fading away as we make our way out of the woods, but it’s undeniable that…
