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(11/15/18 1:00pm)
Spring Fling is a magical time of year: every April, we come together for the parties, the performances, the celebration of making it through another year at Penn—and it all culminates with a few musical guests putting on a show for us courtesy of SPEC. There’s been a diverse range of artists at Penn Park these past few years, from Chance the Rapper to Zedd to The All–American Rejects. So it got me thinking—who would be some performers that I’d like to see at Fling this year? For openers, they’d have to be rising stars with plenty of songs for singing along and a vibe that can get the crowd going early on. Headliners should be new big names with a number of popular radio singles within the last few years that’ll build the requisite excitement for the event.
(11/08/18 1:00pm)
We all love sleep—it’s a pleasant escape from reality into the realm of dreams that allows you to get that much–needed rest, preparing you for the next day. However, us Penn students struggle to siesta sometimes, spending late nights in the dark corners of the Van Pelt basement or a secluded Huntsman GSR. After pulling an all–nighter for that math midterm, you are going to want to take a nap in the middle of the day. However, it might not be that easy to doze off—what can you do? Well, you can listen to soothing, relaxing music that will lull you into a deep slumber. The songs are quiet and harmonic—their genres don’t matter as long as they minimize the discord in your ears. This is the playlist for you:
(10/23/18 12:00pm)
It seems to be a common trend among artists to release surprise albums these days, from Beyoncé to Eminem to The Weeknd. Courtesy of celebrated singer–songwriter Usher and record producer Zaytoven (both hailing from Atlanta), A was released October 12 after being announced the previous day. At eight tracks and just over 27 minutes in length, A follows summer records such as Pusha T’s Daytona and Kanye West’s Ye in attempting to emphasize quality and cohesiveness over quantity—but does it succeed? Let’s dive in.
(10/16/18 12:00pm)
Video games hold a special place in the hearts of millennials and Gen–Z, and for good reason. We’ve grown up in a time when they underwent revolutionary development in graphics, storytelling, and gameplay, turning a small fun pastime into a billion–dollar industry where we can escape into a world of enjoyment. However, there’s more than just the plots and the action that holds a place in our hearts; there are also fantastic soundtracks that have enhanced the quality of games to new heights. As you finally defeated General Shepherd in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the concluding piece of the end credits filled you with endless satisfaction and high anticipation for the concluding installment of the trilogy. What makes these scores even better is that you can enjoy them outside your gaming den, whether it be while working in Huntsman or frolicking outside in your free time on College Green. It’s part of what sets the best ones apart—so without further ado, here are five video game soundtracks to listen to.
(10/20/18 12:00pm)
Ah, Halloween. For kids, it’s a time of year for costumes and revelry in the neighborhood, as they waltz door–to–door “frightening” poor neighbors for candies with their fearsome attire. At Penn, it’s a different story—it’s a time to party despite having a month full of midterms. The ragers rage and scaries scare into the night for the gargantuan celebration that is Halloweekend. It’s fitting that one listens to the terrifying, tantalizing music made in honor of our spooky sides during this time of year while considering outfits for a week of celebrations. There is an assortment of monster–themed classics (“Monster Mash” comes to mind) as well as a wide array of songs that evoke our inner darkness that howls into the night. Here are our top picks to help you get in a spooky mode for fright season:
(10/03/18 11:00am)
After a tumultuous nine–month break, hip hop’s foremost boy band is back for more. Led by founder Kevin Abstract, Brockhampton released its fourth studio album, iridescence, on September 21, its first release since Saturation III last December. Between releases, a number of shifts occurred: the group signed with RCA Records, member and lyricist Ameer Vann was kicked out after sexual misconduct allegations, and the album experienced numerous delays and name changes. Given the success of the Saturation trilogy and the recent drama, there was greater interest in how Brockhampton would follow up its meteoric rise to stardom and exposure to the mainstream media. So, let’s dive into iridescence with a track–by–track review—each song introduces fresh perspectives from different combinations of members on a wide variety of topics, forming a cohesive theme that can only be understood from the sum of its parts.
(09/25/18 12:00pm)
As you walk into the Renaissance Hotel at the edge of center city, Chez Ben immediately sticks out. With a beckoning aroma of syrup and pancakes and a retro–futuristic design, it’s difficult to stop your mouth from watering at the get–go.
(09/28/18 12:00pm)
For all the fun and freedom college promises, it often falls short of expectations. Penn is no different. It’s a social quagmire—countless students come here looking for a set of like–minded individuals to befriend, yet find themselves shattered by the hypercompetitive nature of clubs and internships, the debilitating effects of heavy academic workloads, and the exclusiveness of social spheres in Greek life. Sometimes, you find yourself alone on a Friday night, with no one to call upon. You feel lost. We've all been there. And sometimes you just need a good cry to let it all out. Here are the best albums to listen to when you’re sad:
(09/24/18 12:00pm)
At first listen, I wasn’t quite sure what to make of “I Love It,” the new track from Kanye West and Lil Pump. The track was released Sept. 7 alongside its music video at the inaugural Pornhub Awards, where West served as the creative director after reiterating his long–running enjoyment of adult entertainment. The song has blown up on social media through memes on Twitter and Facebook, receiving over 76 million views in its first week on YouTube. The video features West and Lil Pump wearing giant rectangular body suits as they follow a lady down a hallway lined with statues. With a vapid, misogynistic chorus of “You’re such a f***ing h**, I love it,” similarly superficial verses, and simplistic production, its success might seem confusing at first. Why exactly did “I Love It” end up being the first hip hop hit of Fall 2018, debuting at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100?
(09/17/18 11:58pm)
After Penn Football thumped Bucknell 34–17 this past Saturday, students continued the celebrations and merriment nearby at Shoemaker Green at the annual fall music festival, jointly hosted by SPEC, Penn Traditions, Penn Athletics, and the Class Boards. Skimmerfest had all the goods: a free concert, free food, and free giveaways.
(09/15/18 12:00pm)
Picture this: you rushed out the door this morning and a block away from your destination, you pat your pockets and realize you forgot your headphones. What do you do? Well, the answer is quite straightforward: find a spot that has some music playing for everyone. There’s something ideal about having background sounds to keep one company through the exasperating essays, the cluttered coffee chats, and the droll dinner discussions. Still, it has to be a mix of good tracks and various genres; heavy metal probably doesn’t sound like a great idea to most people. A few campus locations are particularly better than others at providing an optimal sonic atmosphere for the student populace. Here are three of them:
(09/12/18 12:00pm)
For much of 2018, it seemed as if hip hop was in a funk—artist after artist dropped albums with huge expectations that ended up falling short. From the sonic travesty that was Migos’ Culture II in January, to another snooze–fest courtesy of J. Cole with K.O.D., to Drake’s mediocre Scorpion, there has been little to celebrate in the rap sphere. Outside of Kendrick Lamar’s Black Panther: The Album and Kids See Ghosts’ self–titled debut, there was minimal critical acclaim for emcees.
(09/07/18 12:00pm)
Icons are everywhere, but they all started somewhere. From Noam Chomsky to Elon Musk, to Elizabeth Banks and Tory Burch, Penn has famous alumni in every field—business, politics, athletics, you name it. That includes famous artists who have made their mark in the music industry, topping Billboard charts for years with lasting hits. While non–exhaustive by any means, here's a ranking of the five most iconic songs by Penn alums:
(09/05/18 12:00pm)
When I saw the initial lineup release for the Budweiser Made in America Festival back in June, I was disappointed. Although I've always been a hip hop fan, I had never followed either of the announced headliners, Post Malone and Nicki Minaj, and nobody else stood out to me. It didn't help that there had been drama back in July on whether or not the festival would even remain in its current location after 2018 with Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney eventually reaching an agreement with the Roc Nation label to keep it in the city. As far as I was concerned, there was no reason for me to go. That changed a few weeks ago, when Kendrick Lamar was added to the lineup. I immediately grabbed a ticket to see the best rapper alive. Fast forward through a Saturday morning of day parties, and my friends and I were on our way to the Ben Franklin Parkway. Even with Kendrick on the list, I had average expectations—little did I know I was going to be blown away.
(09/04/18 12:00pm)
Logic is a hip–hop enigma; he stormed into the rap game with a ferocity back at the beginning of the decade, blowing up with songs such as “All I Do” from the Young Sinatra mixtape trilogy. With a rapid–fire flow, slick wordplay, and an empowering swagger, the rapper seem poised to grab the rap throne. His debut album, Under Pressure, received critical acclaim for its biographical storytelling, and he followed that up with a decent concept record in the form of The Incredible True Story. However, Logic then began to release music of a more uneven quality, ranging between the utterly vapid on songs such as “Super Mario World” to the incredibly impactful nature of “1–800–273–8255.” Now, he’s dropped “The Return” and brought everything full circle.
(08/29/18 1:04am)
Monday night's VMAs served as a resounding triumph for the much–maligned awards show. With outstanding performances by artists such as Juice WRLD, Jessie Reyez, and Hayley Kiyoko and deserving victories for a number of Latinx performers, there was plenty of positivity in the pop culture sphere.
(04/23/18 1:00pm)
Kid Cudi is severely underappreciated—let’s make that clear. Since the release of his critically acclaimed 2008 mixtape A Kid Named Cudi, Scott Mescudi has been an integral part of the industry through his innovative style and his contributions to works by artists such as Kanye West. From the experimental nature of his albums and the manner in which he conveys his insecurities through music, Cudi comes across as truly different—and that’s what draws so many people to him.
(04/16/18 1:00pm)
An entertaining screenplay, excellent acting, and well–done cinematography are all necessary for a great movie, but one more piece is required to elevate one to a masterpiece: a fantastic soundtrack. Since the inception of film, sound has been integral to creating a mood that seeps into the audience like a mesmerizing potion. Without scores, motion pictures would be a dull affair. That being said, a few stand out above the rest—so here are a few recommendations for soundtracks that everyone should listen to:
(04/12/18 1:00pm)
Fling is upon us, and you know what that means—a rowdy weekend full of raucous festivities and topped off by SPEC’s annual concert featuring The All American Rejects, JoJo, Sage the Gemini, and Cupcakke. Street figured that you could use a playlist to jam out to this weekend, so here’s a lineup of jams from some of the performing artists, as well as some other tracks that fit the vibe:
(04/09/18 1:00pm)
You’ve seen him somewhere, whether it be on TV, in a magazine, or on the Internet, but you probably don’t know who he is. With a wild graying mane of hair and an enormous beard, he looks reminiscent of a real–life Hagrid from the Harry Potter novels. Given standard attire that consists of a white T–shirt, khaki pants, and bare feet, it may come as a surprise that faux–Hagrid is an instrumental figure in the history of hip–hop, rock, and other music genres, having worked with countless artists from across the industry since the early 1980s. His actual name? Rick Rubin.