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 Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” took home Song of the … Continue reading 2019 GRAMMYs Recap
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 “thank u, next” (read here); a gorgeous promotional single in … Continue reading Ariana Delivers a Dark Companion to ‘Sweetener’ with ‘thank u, next’
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 monetary) gain. While they do this, they actively denounce the … Continue reading Here’s Why Ariana Grande’s “7 rings” Is Not Cultural Appropriation
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 to it. Taylor Swift’s reputation (read my review here) and Ariana Grande’s Sweetener (read … Continue reading 2019 Grammys Nominations Predictions: The Pop Field
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 songwriting from the female perspective. The song has also proved … Continue reading Why Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” Is One of the Most Important Songs of 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 cuts like “Big Bank” and “Too Cocky” and ruminate on … Continue reading The Top 10 Albums of Summer 2018
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 of pop titans. Amassing four Grammy nominations, 2 #1 albums, … Continue reading Album Review: Ariana Grande, ‘Sweetener’
