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A Gushing Review of Anderson .Paak's 'Oxnard'
Anderson .Paak is the rebirth of Death Row era g-funk on his newest album Oxnard. And it isn’t the pre-packaged, edited for commercial pop standards funk that we’ve gotten in recent years from other artists. Rather it is a soul-infused modern fusion of R&B, funk, and rap. The album acts as a tribute to Oxnard, California and, seemingly, California in general and acts as the third installation in .Paak’s set of albums that are dedicated to iconic cities. Though Oxnard is not necessarily an iconic city for most of the world, it is obviously one that played a large part in .Paak’s life.
Azaria BrownPublished 5 years ago in BeatAvril Lavigne
Hello readers! My name is Kristen and I wanted to share some thoughts about some current music that's out and about these days. The first song I would like to share my thoughts on is Avril Lavigne's latest single, "Head Above Water."
Kristen ColePublished 5 years ago in Beat10 Songs That Celebrate Winter
Once upon a time, some people believed that winter was caused by the vegetation goddess Persephone, also known as Kore and Proserpina, returns to the Underworld, taking the ability to grow crops with her. Boreas, the Greek god of the north wind, was the source of all the cold winds. People later spoke of Old Man Winter and Jack Frost, the personifications of ice, snow, and the freezing cold of winter. (Remember the 1979 stop-motion animated TV Christmas special?)
Crysta CoburnPublished 5 years ago in BeatDiggy's Second Unexpected Arrival
Diggy’s debut album Unexpected Arrival came out about six years ago and had three singles that did fairly well on the charts and on 106 & Park (RIP). After the album was released, Diggy turned 18, which meant that his music took a drastic turn and included more cursing and more mature topics, shocking much of his young tween audience. The transition was expected, but it was a bit abrupt. Especially since Diggy all but disappeared soon after. He released a handful of songs and “freestyles” over the six years that clearly demonstrated that his artistry was improving, but there was nothing mainstream nor a full body of work.
Azaria BrownPublished 5 years ago in BeatMy Sixteen Year Journey as a Vocalist
I’ve been involved with the performing arts since I started speaking. My parents made sure I was given every artistic opportunity available, which in turn sparked the beginning of dance lessons and acting classes. My mother was a school teacher who directed plays on the side (I made a way to be a part of them in any way I could). My father and I always played “name that tune,” and he supported me throughout everything I did. I began to act in musicals by the age of five, and even though I may not have realized it at the time, it was what I loved to do. Between my sisters, brother and I, our childhood was very musical. We didn’t know life without it.
Suzanne GaylePublished 5 years ago in Beat'New Yuck City' and 'IIWII' Review
'New Yuck City' Dirty Sanchez stole the show on “Audiopium,” the final track on the Nyck @ Knight mixtape by Kirk Knight and Nyck Caution. The track was named after the term “audiopium,” coined by Capital $teez on Joey Bada$$’s “Killuminati” and features all of Pro Era within two tracks and a hook. While each member delivers a powerful verse, in an incredibly quick and concise manner, Dirty Sanchez stands out. Not only is his verse longer than the others, but his voice has a raspy quality that works incredibly well with the beat and his high level of energy. His “Audiopium” verse in addition to his verses on tracks like “Pro Era Cakes 2” made me really anticipate his New Yuck City project.
Azaria BrownPublished 5 years ago in BeatDepression Kink Playlist
If your kink is being depressed, we have the top 20 songs to fuel your sad little soul. These are the ones you crank up, and end up with tear soaked faces in the corner considering a prescription and major life change. From the end of true love to the loss of a loved one, every sad moment is covered to kick your empathy into overdrive, and possibly remind you it could be worse.
Virtuosity's NewVMusicPublished 5 years ago in BeatThe Wolff & Clark Expedition on Tour and Hanging out with Fans
The Wolff & Clark Expedition set out two years ago off a long working relationship between pianist Mike Wolff and drummer Mike Clark. With a debut album that goes with the tour, the adventure has so far laid waste to the country and shook critics to their core. Hopefully, the first of many collaborations, the main components of this exploratory committee took an afternoon respite in Union Square to discuss the success.
Rich MonettiPublished 5 years ago in Beat'Burn the Stage: The Movie'
The YouTube Original series has come out with a movie version and I had the chance to finally witness the experience of watching it last night. To be honest, I actually had watched the series on YouTube but the movie takes the story they told to a whole new level. It was a little more like a natural documentary rather than one where it's an interview plus documentary, which is something I liked.
Heerin ParkPublished 5 years ago in BeatBands, Brands, and Family
It’s quite clear that music has always amazed me… and really, I can’t put my finger on why. It sounds strange because music is always around us. We are constantly consuming other people’s creativity which is a huge part of our society and culture. I understand that there are a lot of psychological reasons as to why people react differently to music and of course it differs from person to person. Why is it that some people like funk over punk or jazz over metal? There surely is an obvious answer—there could be a deeper meaning. But I am going to take the time to talk about the genre and culture I am directly involved in and why I feel at home there.
Maddie ChristyPublished 5 years ago in BeatReview: 'Some Rap Songs' by Earl Sweatshirt
The new album from Odd Future alumnus Earl Sweatshirt is called, simply, Some Rap Songs. On the surface, the name fits an album that sounds almost like a mixtape; a chaotic, near-schizophrenic barrage of minimalistic rap sketches, cramming 15 tracks into a tight 24 minutes. A relentless barrage of conceptual thumbnails, each track focuses on a different singular point or thought, with no respite between them. Not much in the way of real hooks but plenty of refrain, just to drive his points home. Earl Sweatshirt’s lyrics often deserve to be repeated.
Toby HickmanPublished 5 years ago in BeatThank You, Ariana
We can all see that young Ariana Grande that once played the innocent and bubbly red-haired girl on Victorious has definitely grown up. We loved her then and we certainly love her now! With the debut of her newest "Thank You, Next" music video, the world is going wild. Bringing all of our personal favorite teen comedies together into one music video. Here are some of the reasons why you need to go watch this music video right now (well, after you're done reading my blog of course) if you haven't already...
Madison RheamPublished 5 years ago in Beat