When Partying Becomes Self-Medicating

“Wait, why aren’t you drinking tonight again,” my date to a fraternity formal quipped.  

This Week In Music News

Another week, another music news roundup. 

Fur in Fashion: What's Fact, What's Fiction

Recently, Versace designer Donatella Versace announced that her brand would no longer use fur, joining a growing list of high–fashion brands that are officially against the use of fur. But real fur is still used to make fashion statements, and it only takes one look down Locust Walk to see the large number of students donning parkas with fur–lined hoods. It’s an exceptionally controversial choice of material, made highly public with PETA’s ad campaigns, including the famous “I’d rather go naked than wear fur” slogan. 

Your Guide to Queer Pop Star Hayley Kiyoko

Hayley Kiyoko has been called “Lesbian Jesus.” The former Disney actress and current rising pop star’s success has gained much attention from the press, in part because of her identity. She’s a queer woman of color in an industry that lacks diversity. And, her new album, “Expectations,” is coming out on March 30th—you can’t miss it.   

Street's Guide for This Summer's Hip–Hop Concert Tours

From Jay–Z to TDE, summer 2018 is shaping up to be a great season for hip–hop fans. Although tickets for many of the big name artists going on tour aren’t exactly cheap, many fans think it’s worth it to get to see their favorite artists perform live at least once. Here's what you have to look forward to:

Baby Huey: The Soul Legend You've Never Heard of

If I were to ask you to name an album that has been sampled multiple times by A Tribe Called Quest, The Notorious B.I.G., and Ghostface Killah, covered by John Legend and The Roots, and produced by the legendary Curtis Mayfield, your instinct might be to name musical titans such as the likes of James Brown or The Isley Brothers. The record in question, however, is The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend and is the only record that James “Baby Huey” Ramey ever released, albeit posthumously—one of the first records of its kind. 

Quit While You’re Ahead: A Look at Movie Sequels

When Zoolander 2 was released in 2016, I did everything in my power to pretend it didn’t exist. I immediately dismissed every trailer and subway station ad that inevitably found a way to sneak into my life, as though they were figments of my imagination. There was no way, I assumed, that the buffoonery that made the 2001 film Zoolander so outlandishly funny could be replicated without feeling completely worn out. I was also concerned that revisiting some of the original gags would force me to accept how juvenile they always were. Thankfully, I was able to avoid Zoolander 2 until it completely fell off the cultural radar.

Movies to Get You Through the Last Month of School

Hang in there, Quakers. While it might not feel like it judging by the weather outside, summer vacation is only a couple of weeks away. As you begin to struggle through projects and finals, you might already feel like you need a respite from school. Consider putting off your work to watch one of these movies that could provide you with some much–needed escape.

3 Female Artists That Should Be Household Names

Far too often, overviews of art history focus on male artists. This is not to say that those artists aren’t deserving; they are. But despite having the same level of influence, why are the female artists of these same time periods so often left overlooked?

Budget Versions of Your Favorite High–End Make–Up

Sometimes it seems that beauty comes with a high price tag. It is easy to blow an entire months pay check at Sephora or Blue Mercury. But, high quality make–up can actually be very affordable. It’s important to remember that the beauty business is a for–profit industry, and the products that are often so heavily touted by beauty bloggers are exactly the same as the drugstore versions. Most of the time, the higher price is due to the brand and fancy packaging, not because of a difference in quality. Achieve flawless beauty with the following dupes of high–end products—trust me, you won’t look cheap.

Art at Penn vs. Art at an Art School

In higher education, potential visual arts and graphic design majors have three choices: 1) Attend an art school, 2) Attend a large university with a visual arts department, or 3) Attend a university with an art school. It’s a Goldilocks situation: soft, medium, or hard art. The decision comes down to choosing between one of pure art or one that mixes the fine and liberal arts. But what distinguishes studying art in a college setting from pursuing an art degree at an art institute? Why do we even fathom taking art classes somewhere where art is eclipsed?

Under the Covers 2: James Taylor and The Kinks

What Exactly is Kanye Doing in Wyoming?

When news first surfaced last May that Kanye West was working on new music on a mountain in Wyoming, one thing came to mind—the artist’s self–imposed Hawaiian exile in 2009 that led to the creation of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. During that time, West spent a bulk of his daily existence in the studio, churning out content that eventually became the critically acclaimed masterpiece widely considered to be his magnum opus. Are we about to see a repeat?

Street's Springtime Playlist

Winter Storm Toby certainly doesn’t feel like the official start of spring, that’s for sure. But as Fling approaches and as the number of T–shirt worthy days increases, it’s clear that however snowy this week has been, spring is on the way. What better way to embrace the (soon–to–be) warm weather than with an upbeat, carefree playlist? So while you may be layering yourself with just about every coat you own in preparation for the hike to DRL, put on this playlist and mentally prepare yourself to bask in the sun for the next few months. 

Counting Down to Day Zero: Studying Abroad During Cape Town's Water Crisis

When I arrived in Cape Town for my semester study abroad in late January, I was delirious. I had just spent 36 hours in airplanes and airports, and I was limping through the delightful cocktail of sleep deprivation and my anti–anxiety flight medication. All I could do in this state was observe, wide–eyed. And there was plenty to look at in the customs line alone. Signs everywhere told travelers: 

Why SNL is Actually Terrible

Saturday Night Live, the bastion of American satire and late–night humor, has largely been lauded for its jabs at contemporary politics and culture. Since its creation in 1975 by Lorne Michaels, the program has churned out successful comics, television and film writers, and actors. While the television show does consistently create a handful of interesting characters and skits, SNL often quickly turns into a trite amalgam of reused jokes and tropes that beg the question: is SNL actually terrible? To which I answer, yes, it is.

What makes Netflix's Terrace House the Only Real Reality TV Show?

Some people live to watch camera confessionals, wine throwing, and rich people crying; and some can’t stand it at all. However, if you’ve ever wanted a happy medium between “reality” television and real life, look no further. Terrace House, a Japanese gem of reality TV hidden away on Netflix, is the kind of show that both sides of the divide might be able to get behind.

This Week in Music News

Greetings, loved ones. Much has happened in the last week in the music world, and no, we're not talking about a breakthrough in the monotony of party playlists over Paddy's weekend. In the hoopla that is the pre–summer, pre–festival season, artists are on their A games as they release teasers and full–on albums alike in order to generate as much buzz as they can. And generate buzz they did! Street has you covered on the news you may have missed in the post–darty shuffle. 

The 7,000–Mile Divide

After flying fifteen hours from Beijing to Philadelphia, Wendy Han (W' 19) was greeted in her freshman dorm in King’s Court with a uniquely American form of culture shock: football players. They made up at least half of her floor.

What to Ask Yourself Before Getting a Pet in College

At Penn, it seems that puppy love is always in the air. It’s easy to want a furry companion of your own when watching the dogs on the High Rise field frolic in the grass on a sunny day or see how strangers flock to puppies strolling down Locust. Or maybe you’re daydreaming about having a cat to cuddle while studying. It’s obvious that caring for a pet in college is a massive commitment, but the little voice in your head keeps saying that it can’t be that hard, right? The cuteness would be worth it, right? Before you get a pet, consider the following so that it doesn’t end in cat–astrophe.