Allegedly, last night was Music’s Biggest Night. The 61st Annual Grammy Awards were held in Los Angeles; decked out with explosive performances, surprisingly solid results, and tributes galore, the Grammys delivered a formidable telecast despite the lack of major superstars. THE AWARDS Kacey Musgraves’ gorgeous Golden Hour was awarded the top prize (Album of the Year), while…
Tag: sweetener
Ariana Delivers a Dark Companion to ‘Sweetener’ with ‘thank u, next’
When you think of a list of artists who could drop two albums in six months, the list mainly includes rappers. Future, Drake, NBA Youngboy, and… Ariana Grande? On her fifth full-length studio album, Grande reinvents the pop wheel by releasing the antithesis to her Grammy-nominated #1 summer album, Sweetener (review here). Following the culture-shifting…
Here’s Why Ariana Grande’s “7 rings” Is Not Cultural Appropriation
Now, before we get into some things, I do not speak for the entire Black community and this is simply my opinion. The way I understand cultural appropriation is as such: “A person (likely from a culture with higher socio-political capital) lifts elements of a culture that is not theirs and uses it for (usually…
2019 Grammys Nominations Predictions: The Pop Field
Best Pop Vocal Abum Best Pop Vocal Album is one of the most highly contested categories each year at the Grammys. This year is no different, there are two or three albums that seem to be definite nominees, but there are a plethora of records that all make strong cases for a nomination. Let’s get…
Why Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” Is One of the Most Important Songs of 2018
Just months after dropping one of the most intelligent and acclaimed pop albums in recent years with her fourth studio album, Sweetener, Ariana Grande surprise-released “thank u, next” following her breakup with SNL comedian, Pete Davidson. On a number of levels “thank u, next” challenges the current parameters for pop music in the current landscape and…
The Top 10 Albums of Summer 2018
Requirements: Albums had to have been released between June 1, 2018, and August 31, 2018. #10. YG, Stay Dangerous The Compton (sorry, Bompton) rapper has been putting out killer material for the better part of half a decade. On Stay Dangerous we find a ganster who’s more mature, more seasoned, and less frivolous. YG can flex on…
Album Review: Ariana Grande, ‘Sweetener’
Hip-hop rules the world right now. It rules every playlist, every radio station, every new slang term, every viral video, and every dance craze. So, for pop superstar, Ariana Grande, launching a comeback was going to be more difficult this time around. From her debut album, Yours Truly, in 2013, Grande has quickly risen to upper echelon…
10 New Songs To Start Off Your Week (7/16)
1. Mac Miller, “Self Care” (from Swimming) This snapshot into Mac’s personal rehabilitation is auditory excellence. After sobriety battles, public breakups, and a DUI arrest, Mac is trying to get out of his own head. His flow floats more on the sing-song side of rap due to the way his cadence raps around the muddled synths…
Review: Ariana Grande, Popular Culture, and Religion
As the buildup to her highly anticipated fourth studio album, Sweetener, intensifies, Ariana Grande has released her second official single (and third overall song) from her upcoming opus. The new single is entitled “God is a woman,” and it comes in the wake of Grande’s “no tears left to cry” reaching #1 on pop radio and…
Single Review: Ariana Grande, “The Light Is Coming”
Last night, Ariana Grande released the first promotional single from her upcoming album, Sweetener, due August 17. The track is titled “The Light Is Coming” and it marks the fifth collaboration between Grande and Nicki Minaj. Produced by Pharrell, “The Light Is Coming” is a stark departure from the pure pop sound of the album’s lead…
