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dystopianharry · 5 years

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hi guys bella here i’ve been seeing a lot of fic recs going around and i may or may not have a problem w some of the content i’ve been seeing so i decided to make a lil rec of some of my favorite fics written by my very best friends!!! these fics are amazingly written and deserve way more hits so pls go support them and send the authors some love bc they deserve it!!!

a few of my favorite @suspendrs (suspendrs) fics:

ferricadooza! (65k) // Or, the year is 1963, homosexuality is illegal in the UK, Louis owns a gay bar, and Harry’s an underground boxing champion with an unfortunate enemy.

the act of making noise (32k) // Or, Louis's famous, Harry has no idea who he is, and they get snowed in together at a ski lodge in Vermont.

satellite (100k) // Or, Harry finds out that someone's been living in his house without him knowing, but instead of kicking him out, he falls in love with him.

the pink album (31k) // Or, a love seven years in the making, inspired by Harry's debut album.

we’ve got to get away from here (23k) // Or, Louis is an FBI agent who likes to think himself a paranormal expert, and Harry is the alien that somehow ended up in his office.

a few of my favorite @thehltour (softhar) fics:

paris holds the key to your heart (38k) // it’s 1925. st. petersburg is now called leningrad and harry doesn’t remember who he is.

time’s never been on our side (31k) // or it’s 1974 and louis falls in love with harry’s photograph.

and it’s called black magic (6k) // or, the witch fic inspired by stevie and harry at the rock & roll hall of fame that nobody asked for

a few of my favorite @sawayakakuns (wreckingtomlinson) fics:

half remembered, halfway across the world (50k) // or, the Breath of the Wild AU where Louis has been asleep for 100 years and wakes up just in time to save the world, Liam is an honest Rito warrior, Zora prince Harry may or may not be in love with the Hylian hero, Zayn is the one person Louis can't quite figure out, and Niall eats rocks.

the disaster harry series which also includes some fun collabs // a series of unconnected stories in which harry styles is a disaster gay. also he finds louis in each universe, but that’s secondary

melodies and memories (19k) // Or, Zayn is the greatest warrior of his kind, Louis won’t shut up, and wartime is never a good time to fall in love.

a fic by @lesbiankeysmash (keysmashlesbian) that i would die for (emma writes outside of the fandom but we still love and support her):

so don’t explain, kiss me (2k) // In which Harry and Louis are roommates, and it takes three seconds for Harry to make a terrible first impression.

and of course, the iconic:

ain’t that a kick in the head! (22k) // In which Harry’s a disaster gay who doesn’t know shit about soccer, Liam drinks too many blue raspberry Coolattas, Niall knows everyone, Zayn looks dead, and Louis is Not Happy about sharing his breakout moment with “Drunk Hawaiian Guy.”

also here are a couple of my own fics:

adrenaline (38k) // louis tomlinson, college dropout, up and coming dj, and gay activist, is the notorious owner of exclusive underground gay club, adrenaline. harry styles, med student by day, partier by night, child prodigy and seemingly heterosexual son of harvard professors, is the youngest and arguably the smartest student at harvard medical school. or: a one night stand wasn't supposed to become the greatest love story of the 21st century.

red hands (132k) // a dystopian au in which harry, an ex-soldier who’s escaped from his government run camp, accidentally stumbles across the biggest rebel movement in the country, and louis, one of the rebellion’s mysterious leaders who appears to hate him, seems to simultaneously have an obsession with keeping him alive. or: harry is wanted for treason, niall hasn’t changed in four years, liam is always smiling, and louis is angry. like, really angry.

SUPPORT THE LOGGIES 2020

#shut up bella #fic #fic rec #suspendrs #softhar #keysmashlesbian #wreckingtomlinson #reveries_passions #i woll not be taking questions

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youngboy-oldmind · 4 years

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ALBUM REVIEW: Late Registration

 “So they asked me…Why you call it Late Registration Ye?/Cause we taking these motherf***ers back to school!”

Hip-hop trail blazer and Chicago legend Mr. Kanye West follows up his status-establishing album The College Dropout with a sophomore project that proves he’s far from a one hit wonder, relishing in his own league of musical production, lyricism, and soul touching artistry.

Overall Thoughts

I mentioned in an earlier post that Late Registration is my favorite album by Kanye, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that I can endlessly rave about it. In 70 minutes, Late Registration(LR) utilizes the perfect number of skits, Grade-A featured verses from Jay-Z, Nas, Lupe, Common, Paul Wall, Cam’Ron, and Consequence, and a stellar instrumentation that combines old-school soul samples and flawless string orchestration. It also doesn’t hurt that film score composer and record producer Jon Brion helped produce some of the best tracks (Gold Digger, Roses, We Major).

Kanye elevated his pen game on this 2005 classic record. Before he made albums, he was already a solid writer and could definitely put together a verse. On LR, he exceeded to a new level, talking about himself, success, survival, while matching the prophetic vibe of “Jesus Walks” on tracks like “Diamonds From Sierra Leone”, “Roses”, and “Crack Music”. On top of these commentary tracks, he produced the tear-jerking track “Hey Mama”, my favorite dedication-to-mother songs in hip hop period.

I should also acknowledge the skits in LR. Through 4 clips, a story unfolds in a fraternity: Broke Phi Broke. In the four skits, they chant their various financial difficulties and struggles with a sense of pride. And in the final skit, we see Kanye get kicked out of the fraternity for being caught having new shoes in his closet. This is not only hilarious, but a clever commentary on his progress/success, and separation from the common plight and status of black men. Also, the topic of the skits excellently transition to the next song. Skit #1 talks about not having gas money, and the next song is “Drive Slow”; Skit #2 just repeats “broke, broke, broke, broke”, and the next two songs are “Diamonds from Sierra Leone” and “We Major”, both thematically about money and success. Skit #3 ends with a joke about not affording Christmas trees and the mother pretending to be one, and the next song is “Hey Mama”. And Skit #4 ends with Kanye being removed from the frat, and the next track is “Gone”. Expert skit placing on his part.

LR is a near perfect album; The “Empire Strikes Back” of hip hop sequels. This project has a song for any mood and definitely makes my top 10 favorite albums.

Album Breakdown

LR can be broken down into five section, each with their own distinct topics and tones, and separated by the four skits. These sections are:

Section 1: The Hits (Wake Up Mr. West) - Heard ‘Em Say, Touch The Sky, Gold Digger Section 2: Introspection (Skit #1) - Drive Slow, My Way Home, Crack Music, Roses, Bring Me Down, Addiction Section 3: Claim to Success (Skit #2) - Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix), We Major Section 4: Family Business (Skit #3) - Hey Mama, Celebration Section 5: Late Departure (Skit #4) - Gone, Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Bonus), Late

Section 1- The Hits

This section kicks off the album with bang after bang after bang. West and Adam Levine team up on the opening track “Heard Em Say” to lay down two themes of the album: Everything happens for a reason and nothing in life is guaranteed. He says several times “Nothing’s ever promised tomorrow today” accompanied by Levine’s harmonies that echo simultaneous sadness and hope. West also talks about some of the plagues African Americans, including low wages, AIDS, police harassment, admiration of drug dealers, and the pursuit of money and success. While talking about these inherently depressing topics, there’s a twang of hope and faith; there’s an energy of overcoming those obstacles and maintaining the belief that things will turn out alright.

In a 180 degree flip, the next track “Touch The Sky” completely contrasts the mellow mood of “Heard ‘Em Say”. With exhilarating trumpets sampled from Curtis Mayfield, West and Lupe bring an energy of celebrating success; reminiscing on the where they were before they got to the height they are now. A year before his debut classic Food and Liquor, Lupe spits one of the best verses on the album; matching Kanye’s energy while outshining him with his lyricism.

“Gold Digger”, possibly his most famous song, needs no introduction. This iconic track sampling Ray Charles’ I Got a Woman” is known by deep cut hip hop fans and mainstream fans alike. Jamie Foxx’s vocals on the chorus yelling “I Gotta Leave!” and Kanye’s verses about this girl who only wants him for his money makes an entertaining story but also indicates his new found status. He went from songs about not having money, to songs about dealing with a woman who only want him for his money. Talk about a bragging.

Section 2- Introspection

After two bop tracks we get “Drive Slow”, a track more mellow and laid back than the intro. Through a multitude of car metaphors, Kanye and Paul Wall talk about taking things slow, not to rush things, whether its spending money or sleeping with girls. Generally a middle of the road song for me. Nothing mind blowing but definitely easy to listen to.

In “My Way Home” we get a short, 16-line verse from Chicago all-time great Common, who talks about the struggles of the hood being home. This contrasts the hopeful tone on “Heard Em Say”, introducing a tone of relief he’s out that situation and he’s not going back. Fun fact: this is actually Common’s song that he decided not to add to his album Go!, which is why it just sounds like Common’s song instead of a Kanye song featuring Common. The slowed down samples vocals create a groove that almost makes you forget this is a sad song.

“Crack Music”, one of my favorites, paints an analogy to crack addiction and hip hop, hence the title. The Game brings a unique aggressiveness to the hook, which pairs well with the choir on chorus. However, the final leg of the song introduces an unsettledness: shakiness in the vocals, music freezes, and Malik Yusef delivers a poem that still gives me goosebumps to this day. The voice of legendary Charlie Wilson harmonizes perfectly with the chorus as well.

Next up we hear “Roses”, another instrumental masterpiece with Patti Labelle’s vocals and a Bill Wither’s sample on the chorus. West talks about the hospitalization of his Grandmother and the tightness/unity of his family. I love the quietness that plays during the verses and then the kick of the drums in the chorus. That excellently helps emphasize the intimacy of the situation.

Unfortunately, this leads into “Bring Me Down”, which is my least favorite track. Brandy’s vocals and Jon Brion’s instrumental are perfect, but it seems wasted on West’s verse. It’s disappointing to hear the epic strings and orchestration accompanied by Kanye saying weak lines like “There’ll always be haters, that’s the way it is/Hater n*****s marry hater b**ches and have hater kids” and “Yo girl don’t like me, how long has she been gay/Spanish girls say ‘Yo, no hablo ingles’”. The track honestly would’ve been better as an interlude with just Bandy’s singing, similar to “My Way Home” with just Common. But, the addition of West’s lyrics actually makes the song weaker.

Luckily, the project picks up with “Addiction”. However, I’ll admit I’m not a fan of lyrically. This isn’t a track where West is trying to demonstrate any lyrical expertise, so I’m not expecting a load of double entendres and layered meanings and mind-blowing messages. However, even for a surface level track, hearing him fake-stutter became a little annoying. But I like the topic of the song; him being addicted to all three “money, girls, and weed”. Although the topic and lyricism isn’t unique, it was at least entertaining.

Section 3- Claim to Success

Following the second skit, we get “Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)” with hall of fame rapper Jay-Z. This track is interesting because Kanye and Jay don’t discuss the same topic. Kanye talks about his conflict with buying diamonds, knowing they’re Blood Diamonds and his purchase of them could result in the killing of Africans, of whom he’s a descendant. On the flip side, Jay talks about his label and his success. Although Kanye’s verse has more substance, I think Jay’s verse was better. There’s one particular set of lines I’ve always loved

“This ain’t no tall order, this is nothing to me/ Difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week/I could do this in my sleep/ I sold kilos of coke, I’m guessing I can sell CDs/ I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man /Let me handle my business, damn”

Then we get the top tier track “We Major”, which is the album’s best collaboration up to this point. Jon Brion shines again with the instrumental, creating this epic atmosphere of accomplishments. Really Doe and Tony Williams illuminate the chorus with the vocals, while Kanye comes through with poeticism he hadn’t reached since “Heard ‘Em Say”. I want to add a quote of my favorite part of his verse, but it would be half the verse. And to top that, Nas comes through with an even STRONGER verse, a contender for the best verse on the album, competing with Lupe on “Touch the Sky” and Common on “My Way Home”. And to top THAT off, the last few minutes are basically Jon Brion, Warryn Campbell, and Tony Williams showing off their expertise while Kanye shouts them out, along with The Roc and his label, G.O.O.D. Music. His vocals during this part are echoed so it feels like the listener is at a concert. You could have headphones on in a quiet room and feel like you’re soaring. Easily a top 10 song in West’s career.

Section 4- Family Business

After the height of Diamonds From Sierra Leone and We Major, the record dies down and returns to mellowness, continuing with the heart-string-pulling “Hey Mama”. Here, we get West’s lyricism reminiscent of the College Dropout style. This definitely was a poem or song he’d written prior to this project. As I said earlier, one of my favorite mother-dedicating songs in all of hip hop.

The next song, “Celebration”, is one of my favorites on the album. The lyrics aren’t impressive; West goofily slant rhymes “wild” and “endowed” at one point. He just discusses drinking, girls, and the accidental birth of his kid through a busted condom. However, I believe it’s the placement of the song on the record that makes me love it so much. After hearing the epic-ness of songs like “Touch The Sky”, “Diamonds From Sierra Leone”, and “We Major”, this song feels like an after party. An intimate gathering that allows West and the listener to reflect a little, over another brilliant composition by Jon Brion. And while the verses are nothing to look twice at, the chorus is serene. West’s harmonization with himself improves his voice. And at barely past 3 minutes, the song is short enough where the sub-par lyrics aren’t too distracting.

Section 5- Late Departure

When I first began writing back in middle school, I used to rap to the instrumental for “Gone”. This song is foundational to my hip hop appreciation and extremely underrated. To start, the Otis Redding sample is perfect. Jon Brion again combines his expertise with West to create a beat that evolves as it progresses, increasing in complexity and instrumentation. The verses improve with song as well, Kanye delivering the first and last, while Cam’ron and Consequence deliver excellent verses in the middle. Between Consequence’s verse and Kanye’s final verse, we hear the beat breakdown and evolve even more, building up to a final verse that leaves the listener speechless. West reflects about a multitude topics: being so innovative that his labels won’t approve his ideas, wanting to leave public light, his come up from being broke just wanting to upgrade from his “cheap ass sofa”, leaving his hometown that had nothing to offer him, inspiring new artists, never selling out, and ultimately showing he’s no longer on-call for anybody to use him. He’s established enough to choose his company and produce as he pleases. This is a perfect culmination of the themes throughout the album, and is the perfect closer.

Now, I say that with hesitation because technically there are two more songs on the record: The original “Diamonds From Sierra Leone” without Jay-Z, and “Late”. “Diamonds From Sierra Leone” is an excellent track. Instead of talking about Blood Diamonds or guilt, West talks about his writing process, feeling snubbed from awards, and ultimately himself. Definitely some of his strongest pen game on the album.

“Late” contrasts the previous song with a very calm feeling, possessing a lullaby quality. Here, he drives home the point that he’s going to be late with things he does, tying together the album title and the context of the album’s release, which was released months late. However, the lateness definitely worth the wait. It’s a toss-up between Gone and Late for which I prefer as the better closer. Gone is an epic reflection on the album’s theme and messages, and displays some of the best lyricism on the album. However, Late is a surreal, warm ending that feels like more of a winding-down end. If I HAD to choose, I’d say “Gone”. Because while both are great, I can’t imagine the project without “Gone”, whereas I could see it without “Late”.

Top 3 Songs:

1) Gone 2) We Major 3) Hey Mama

Overall Grade: A

#music review #album review #kanye west #hip hop review #hip-hop

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naijastudio · 3 years

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Kanye West Biography, Age And Net Worth

Kanye West is a Grammy Award-winning rapper, record producer, and fashion designer who is known for his outspokenness. Kanye West: Who Is He? Kanye West first rose to prominence in the music industry as a producer for well-known acts. With his 2004 debut, College Dropout, he demonstrated his rap ability, and albums like Late Registration (2005), My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), Yeezus (2013), and Yeezus (2014) confirmed his spot atop the hip hop world (2018). West is a Grammy Award winner who is also noted for his awards show antics, excursions into fashion, and his marriage to Kim Kardashian. Kanye West Life Style And Birth Kanye Omari West was born on June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia. Ray, his father, was a photojournalist for the Atlanta Journal and a member of the Black Panther Party; he eventually became a Christian counselor. Donda West, West's mother, was a teacher who went on to become a professor of English at Chicago State University and then her son's manager before dying in 2007 at the age of 58 from heart illness following cosmetic surgery. Her death would have a huge impact on West's musical career as well as his personal life. When West was three, Ray and Donda split amicably. Following that, he was reared by his mother in Chicago's middle-class South Shore neighborhood and spent summers with his father. West traveled to China with Donda when he was ten years old, where she taught as part of a university exchange program; he was the only foreigner in his class. West was lured to the South Side's hip-hop scene after returning to Chicago, and he befriended DJ and producer No I.D., who became his mentor. West received a scholarship to study at Chicago's American Academy of Art after graduating from Polaris High School, but he dropped out to pursue music full-time, a move that would later inspire the title of his first solo album. Kanye West Net Worth Net Worth: $6.6 Billion Date of Birth: Jun 8, 1977 (44 years old) Gender: Male Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Profession: Record producer, Songwriter, Singer, Actor, Film Producer, Rapper, Businessperson, Screenwriter, Fashion designer, Music Video Director Nationality: United States of America Kanye West Music Career West created a trademark sound known as "chipmunk soul," which features sped-up soul samples, after spending time producing for local musicians. Following that, in 2001, he relocated to New York. He got his big break here, working on the production for Jay-song Z's "This Can't Be Life," which debuted on the album Dynasty: Roc La Familia in 2000. He reinforced his rising fame the following year by producing four songs on Jay Z's The Blueprint, widely regarded as one of the best rap albums of all time. West went on to create for other notable artists including as Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Ludacris, as well as singers Alicia Keys and Beyoncé. West, on the other hand, was not content to be a sidekick. He aspired to be the main attraction, but found it difficult to be taken seriously as a rapper at first. He begged Roc-A-Fella Records to let him rap, but as co-founder Jay-Z told Time magazine later, "We were all raised as street kids who had to do whatever it took to get by. Then there's Kanye West, who, as far as I'm aware, has never worked a day in his life. I couldn't see how it could possibly work." Other labels reacted in a similar way to West. He said, "I'd leave meetings crying all the time." Damon Dash reluctantly signed West to Roc-A-Fella in 2002, but he did so only to keep him as a producer. West was injured in a head-on vehicle incident while driving home from a recording session in a California studio in October of that year, leaving him with a cracked jaw. With his jaw still wired shut after reconstructive surgery, he wrote and recorded "Through the Wire," a song about the experience.While recuperating in L.A., he wrote the most of the rest of his debut album. However, once the album was finished, it was leaked on the internet. West chose to improve it by revising and rewriting songs and fine-tuning the production, which included the addition of heavier drums, gospel choirs, and strings (he paid for orchestras out of his own pocket). Dropout from College The album was finally published in February 2004 and quickly became a hit, selling 2.6 million copies and propelling West to stardom. The College Dropout defied the gangsta-rap mold, including topics like as consumerism (of which he was critical at the time), racism, higher education, and his religious convictions. "They say you can rap about anything but Jesus," he rapped on the tune "Jesus Walks," "That means weapons, sex, lies, videotapes/But if I talk about God, my album won't get played." The College Dropout reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart, and West garnered ten Grammy nominations, winning three of them, including Best Rap Song and Best Rap Album for "Jesus Walks." West formed his record label, GOOD music — an acronym for Getting Out Our Dreams — with Sony BMG shortly after the album's release. He'd release songs by John Legend, Big Sean, Common, Pusha-T, and others. Registration after the deadline West spent a year and $2 million on his sophomore album, enlisting the help of an orchestra and composer Jon Brion, who had never worked with a rapper before. According to the New York Times, West, the restless bourgeois-creative, wanted to "see how far he might expand" hip hop. The results were outstanding, with Best Rap Album winning again, as well as Best Rap Song for "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" and Best Rap Solo Performance for "Gold Digger," and Best Rap Song for "Diamonds from Sierra Leone." Late Registration premiered at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 200, a feat West would replicate with each solo album release after that. In Rolling Stone's five-star review of the album, Rob Sheffield stated, "On Late Registration, the Louis Vuitton Don doesn't just want to create pop music — he wants to be pop music." "As a result, he improves his lyrical game, displays his epic production skills, reaches higher, pushes harder, and declares the entire world of music to be hip hop turf." West appeared on an NBC program in September 2005, a month after the release of Late Registration, to collect donations for Hurricane Katrina victims. When he declared live on air that "George Bush doesn't care about Black people," echoing widespread criticism of the president for not visiting the damaged city of New Orleans straight away, he ignited a national media storm - his first, but by no means his last. West's remark enraged Bush, who subsequently described it as a "disgusting moment." Graduation West was motivated to create hip hop more anthemic, to be performed in stadiums and arenas, after traveling with U2 in 2005-2006. He began to incorporate elements of both rock & roll (the Stones, Led Zeppelin, and the Killers) into his music (which originated in his hometown of Chicago). Graduation, his third album, was released on September 11, 2007. It was released on the same day as 50 Cent's album Curtis, in a struggle for hip-soul hop's between the educated showman and the bullet-scarred street thug. But there could only be one winner with Graduation's breakthrough (for hip-hop) palette of layered electronic synthesizers and sloganeering wordplay — "I'm like the fly Malcolm X/Buy any jeans necessary," he sneered on "Good Morning" — West's album went straight to No. 1 after selling 957,000 copies in its first six days. With the music industry wringing its hands over the internet's impact on profit margins, West simply embraced the change with his video for the single "Can't Tell Me Nothing," in which he hired comedian Zach Galifianakis to lip-sync along to the lyrics on an alternate version, resulting in a YouTube viral sensation. The Death of Kanye West Mother West was on top of the world, acclaimed as the musician who had put gangster rap on the verge of extinction. Then catastrophe happened in November 2007. Donda, his adored mother, died of a heart attack after cosmetic surgery. He dedicated a performance of "Hey Mama" to her on his first show after the funeral. West split up with his fiancée, Alexis Phifer, a few months later. 808s & Heartbreak, his next album, was released 12 months after his mother died and was laced with grief, agony, and isolation. West even gave up rapping in favor of singing through an Auto-Tune vocal processor, which gave his voice a robotic tone – a technique that is now commonplace in hip hop. "Hip hop is done for me," he declared after describing the new album as "pop art" (not to be confused with the visual art movement). (It wasn't; he won Grammys for guest raps on Estelle's "American Boy" and TI's "Swagga Like Us" that year.) Kanye West Earnings By Year Follow Money Year Earnings 2007 $17,000,000 2008 $30,000,000 2009 $25,000,000 2010 $12,000,000 2011 $16,000,000 2012 $35,000,000 2013 $20,000,000 2014 $30,000,000 2015 $22,000,000 2016 $18,000,000 2017 $22,000,000 2018 $90,000,000 2019 $100,000,000 2020 $200,000,000 Total: $437,000,000 Taylor Swift's VMA Feud and Diss The fragility of West's mental health was brought into question the following year at the MTV Video Music Awards. He stormed the stage during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for the Best Female Video award (for "You Belong to Me") at Radio City Music Hall in New York to argue that Beyoncé should have won instead. The reverberations from that moment are still being felt. West apologized, then retracted his apology in a New York Times interview in 2013. By 2015 they had become friends and were even spotted at dinner together. Then in 2016 Kanye rapped on his song "Famous": "I feel like me and Taylor might still have s*x/Why? I made that b**** famous." Swift responded from the stage at the 2016 Grammy Awards, this time unapologetically, with the words: "To all the young women out there, I want to say something: There will be people who try to undermine your success or take credit for your successes along the way... Don't let those folks get in the way." Fashion West took a break from music after the Swift fiasco to focus on fashion. Since 2006, he'd been collaborating with limited-edition sneakers with brands including A Bathing Ape and Nike. To obtain experience, he reportedly interned at Gap in 2009 and later Fendi. In 2011, he debuted his first collection in Paris, however it was critically lambasted. Long Nguyen, style director of Flaunt magazine, sniffed, "You can't just dump some fox fur on a runway and call it luxury." At the show's after-party, West delivered a wounded-sounding address. "Please take it easy," he said. "Please give me the opportunity to mature." After a lackluster response to his second collection a year later, West stated that he would no longer be presenting in Paris. In 2013, he collaborated on a capsule collection with the French label APC, and in October 2015, he struck a $10 million agreement with Adidas, launching his first sportswear collection, Yeezy Season 1, with the brand. The label has received mixed reviews, while Anna Wintour praised his Season 5 collection in February 2017. She told the New York Post, "I really liked it." "A little more attention than we've seen from him before." My Dark Twisted Fantasy West returned to music in November 2010 with his fifth album, a bombastic and towering monument to self-aggrandizement that sounded "like an instant greatest hits," according to Pitchfork. It was a bombastic and towering monument to self-aggrandizement with paranoid celebrity and rampant consumption as the dominant themes: it was a bombastic and towering monument to self-aggrandizement that sounded "like an instant greatest hits" according to Pitchfork It was Kanye West's best and worst all bundled into one: a magnum work that bordered on the insane. It spawned four songs, including "Monster," on which West, Jay Z, and Rick Ross were famously beaten into second place by Nicki Minaj's furious guest verse. In 2011, West and his old sparring partner Jay Z released Watch the Throne, a joint album that delivered seven songs, including "Otis" and "Niggas in Paris," as well as three additional Grammy awards for West and Jay Z. Relationship In 2012, West released Cruel Summer, a compilation album including artists from his GOOD Music label. However, his romance with reality-TV star Kim Kardashian, which began in April, dominated the headlines that year. They married on May 24, 2014, in the medieval Fort di Belvedere in Italy, after West proposed at the AT&T baseball stadium in San Francisco on October 21, 2013. As Kardashian came down the aisle, Andrea Bocelli performed, The designer Rachel Roy, tennis champion Serena Williams, film director Steve McQueen, and music performers Legend, Q-Tip, Rick Rubin, Tyga, and Lana Del Rey were among the visitors. North (born June 15, 2013), Saint (born December 5, 2015), and another daughter are the couple's three children (born via surrogate January 15, 2018). Psalm, the couple's fourth child, was born via surrogate in May 2019. Yeezus West's sixth studio album, Yeezus, was released in June 2013 and had little evidence that the rapper was living a happy life. West had engaged producer Rick Rubin to make sweeping alterations just days before the album's release, thus the sound was aggressive, raw, and almost entirely melody-free. On "I Am a God," which featured the iconic phrase "Hurry up with my stupid croissants," West sounded neurotic and egocentric to the point of bathos. With the exception of the excellent glam-rock-inspired hit "Black Skinhead," West stated the album was a "attack against the commercial," and it certainly included nothing that was radio-friendly (the first of only two singles from the album). Yeezus is the only album by Kanye West to have sold less than one million copies in the United States. Nonetheless, it was highly welcomed by critics, including rock veteran Lou Reed, who told Rolling Stone that "It's as if you're crafting a movie with each tune... The guy is incredibly gifted." Beef on Jimmy Kimmel In September, West and Jimmy Kimmel had a Twitter dispute after the talk-show host ridiculed an interview West had given to the BBC in the United Kingdom. On his show, Jimmy Kimmel hired young actors to recite some of West's more bombastic remarks. West, on the other hand, was not amused. One of a series of outraged tweets said, "Jimmy Kimmel is out of line to try to mimic in any manner the first piece of honest media in years." During his next episode, Kimmel happily read out West's tweets, eliciting more ire from the rapper, who shared a link to a Slate piece headed "Kanye was right." West returned on Jimmy Kimmel Live the following month, and the conversation lasted the most of the broadcast, with multiple free-flowing Kanye monologues covering everything from his career to his thoughts on the paparazzi, Steve Jobs, and Jesus. "I don't know whether you're aware of this, but a lot of people believe you're a jerk," Kimmel said, before complimenting West's portrayal. West had been hurt by Kimmel's characterization of him, as it turned out, because the two had known each other before to the disagreement. "When I'm cooking up a comedic routine," Kimmel said, "regarding a celebrity's feelings is not something that comes to mind." They had cleared the air by the end of the show. More Public Outbursts, Collaboration with Paul McCartney, and Rihanna West made history as the first rapper to collaborate with Paul McCartney, releasing the tune "Four Five Seconds" alongside the Beatles icon and Rihanna at the start of 2015. But a month later, there was yet another award-show snarl, this time at the Grammys, when West protested to Beck winning Best Album. After the ceremony, West remarked, "Beck needs to respect artistry, and he should have presented his trophy to Beyoncé." In an interview with The Sunday Times newspaper in England a few months later, he withdrew his comments. "My image of a gentleman who plays 14 instruments not respecting craftsmanship was incorrect," he admitted. West, along with other artists such as Beyoncé, Jay Z, Rihanna, Madonna, Chris Martin, and Nicki Minaj, was introduced as a co-owner of the music-streaming service Tidal in March. Despite a petition with 135,000 signatures requesting for him to be removed from the lineup, he headlined the Glastonbury festival in the United Kingdom in June. The Life of Pablo Picasso In the lead-up to his seventh album, The Life of Pablo, there was even more controversy. West made headlines before the film's release on February 14, 2016, for a series of inflammatory tweets, including one declaring Bill Cosby, who is on trial for drugging and raping women, to be innocent. He began a feud with Wiz Khalifa, a musician he mistookly believed had ridiculed his wife, Kim Kardashian ("I am your OG and I will be respected as such," West tweeted.). He also expressed regret for appearing to disparage Michael Jordan in his lyrics. West then oddly advised his fans to lobby Facebook founder Mark Zuckerber the day after his album was released. He also expressed regret for appearing to disparage Michael Jordan in his lyrics. West then oddly pushed his fans to lobby Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to spend $1 billion in West's "ideas" the day after his album was released. He also claimed to be in debt for $53 million. Thealbum was yet another departure from the norm, as well as a triumph. It has a considerably broader sound than Yeezus, integrating a wide range of sounds, styles, and inspirations, ranging from trap to gospel to Auto-Tune crooning, avant-pop, vintage soul, and dancehall. Frank Ocean, Chance the Rapper, Rihanna, Desiigner, and Kid Cudi were among the guest vocalists. It was West's sixth solo album to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 list in a row. Cancellation of the Tour and Return to the Spotlight West paused a show in Sacramento on November 20, 2016, while on his Saint Pablo Tour, to go on a rambling diatribe about radio playlists, MTV, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Beyoncé, and Jay Z ( "Call me, Jay Z... I know you've got killers. Please don't shoot them at me "(Imaginative+ paraphrase). He had ranted onstage and proclaimed support for Trump for the second time in a week, and this time it seemed like a public breakdown – he did not finish the act. He canceled the remaining 21 concerts of his tour the next day, citing tiredness, and spent the next eight days in the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Pusha T, the president of GOOD music, revealed in an interview in February 2017 that West was working on a new album. Rumors about the album's progress persisted, with some stories claiming that the Grammy winner had sought creative inspiration in the Rockies of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. With the announcement that he was authoring a philosophy-themed book, Break the Simulation, in April 2018, West re-entered the news cycle. Days later, he verified the rumors of new material in a rapid-fire sequence of tweets, announcing that he will release two albums in June, the second of which would feature longtime collaborator Kid Cudi. The artist then caused a sensation when his tweets turned to his admiration for President Donald Trump, referring to him as "my brother" and claiming that they shared "dragon energy," even sharing a selfie wearing Trump's "Make America Great Again" cap. West later clarified the situation by adding that he adored Hillary Clinton as well and that he didn't agree with everything the president stated. "I don't agree with anyone except myself 100 percent," he wrote. Read the full article

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teensinthepark · 7 years

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TIP Fest 2017!!!!!

We know you’ve been waiting for this, so here it is.... TIP Fest 2017 is going down Saturday, September 23, 2017 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Petrillo Music Shell in Grant Park!

This year’s TIP Fest will be LIT! We’re bringing you the best young talent from across Chicago including dancers, singers, rappers, bands, and more! Joining our talented young artists will be a big name headliner (stay tuned ;) ) and some special guest speakers.

Headliners!!!!

This year’s headliners are:

Taylor Bennett American hip hop recording artist. He released a free album titled Broad Shoulders featuring artists such as Donnie Trumpet, King Louie, and his older brother Chance the Rapper. He is from the West Chatham neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.

Femdot Based out of Chicago, 20 year-old Femdot has established himself as a front runner for the next wave of Hip-Hop royalty coming out of the city. Between labs and classes, Femdot still manages to release ground breaking music including his critically acclaimed "The King Dilla EP", which truly displays his versatility as an artist through blending elements of rap, R&B and rock.

Ric Wilson Ric Wilson is a 21-year-old Black Self-proclaimed Artist, Performer and Prison Abolitionist from the South-Side of Chicago. On August 30th, 2016 Ric dropped his EP "Soul Bounce" and following that weekend he performed at Northcoast Music Festival opening for BASSNECTAR on the Main Stage. Ric now continues to travel the city of Chicago and the Country performing and speaking on social issues.

Milo Ferreira was born in Chicago, Illinois to parents under 21 who were high school dropouts. Shortly after his birth, he moved to Saco, Maine, where he would spend most of his early life.Here, at age 12, he was introduced to hip hop through his uncle, who showed him Nas. For high school, Ferreira moved with his father to Kenosha, Wisconsin. He participated in theatre in school and was always working on hip hop out of school. By the time he got to college, Milo had been to 13 different schools.He first began rapping as part of the Kenosha and a Wisconsin hip-hop trio Nom de Rap, which additionally consisted of rappers Nicholas J and AD the Architect. Following high school, he attended St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin for Philosophy, before he dropped out to pursue a music career.

Chynna Rogers Claim to Fame Ms. Rogers is a model and rapper who blends the two worlds with ease. Once signed to Ford Models, she starred in DKNY’s spring 2015 advertising campaign and walked in the brand’s runway show. She has also released several wittily incisive hip-hop singles online, including the viral hits “Selfie” and “Glen Coco,” and performs regularly with ASAP Rocky’s hip-hop collective ASAP Mob.

Tickets

Tickets are NOW AVAILABLE for pick-up at the following park locations, until supplies last:

1. Jackson Park 2. Maggie Daley Park 3. Margate Park 4. Humboldt Park 5. Piotrowski Park 6. Austin Town Hall Park 7. Union Park 8. Kosciusko Park 9. Horner Park 10. Hamilton Park 11. Calumet Park 12. Ping Tom Park

If you’re planning on joining us at this year’s TIPFest, tweet us or use our hashtag #TIPFest and remember to check back for more details on tickets, performers and headliners. See you September 23!

#chicago #teens #teensinthepark #festival #art #music #rap #hiphop #rocknroll

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rebeccaakennedy · 6 years

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Baylor Welcome Weekend January 2019

Below are remarks that I made to incoming students and their families during Baylor’s January Welcome Weekend. Keep in mind that these remarks were written to be spoken to a live audience, not published. In other words, please forgive grammatical errors.

In January of 1988, 31 years ago, I found myself in a similar seat as yours. I was sitting on the campus of Samford University, a private Baptist university half the size of Baylor, having transferred from a larger state school.

Here’s a few facts I want you to know leading up to that moment.

1. I grew up in a small farming community about 90 miles north of Birmingham with a population of 1200. There were 54 in my graduating class.

2. I went to a community college for two years

3. I went to a state school for a year

4. Both schools I attended with my childhood best friend

5. After one year at Jacksonville State I stayed out of school for 1.5 years to figure out what I wanted to do.

6. I was a first generation college student. Neither my parents nor three older brothers attended college.

So, in January 1988, I found myself sitting in winter orientation alone. Back then, it was uncommon for parents or family to be present during these types of events. Typically, parents would drop off their kids and say a tearful goodbye. For me, my parents had no experience with kids going off to college, so they didn’t know the routine. I drove myself to college.

So, after orientation, I went to my room that was located in Beeson Woods. Beeson Woods is a condo-style complex dedicated to upperclassmen. These individual buildings, tucked away in the woods across the main road that circled campus consisted of 10 2BR/2BA suites. Our RA had left a note on my door, so I found her apartment and got keys and instructions on how to use the phone, policies of the building, map of campus, etc.

I went back to my room and it dawned on me that I was alone. My roommates, whom I had never met, would probably not be arriving for a couple of days. So, I decided to call my mom, but when I tried to call I discovered that I was not given a code for long-distance calls. I began to feel some anxiety. You see cell phones were not a thing then, so I had no other way to call. Panic started to rise up. I remembered seeing a payphone in Reid Chapel, so I got in my midnight blue 1986 Monte Carlo Super Sport with crushed velvet seats and drove to Reid Chapel. I called Mama and began to tell her about what I had been doing, but it didn’t take long for her to realize something was wrong. My voice started shaking and before long I was crying about being lonely and scared in this big city and not knowing anyone. I told her I had a phone in my room and gave her the number and asked her to call me. I told her to give me a few minutes to get back. So, I got in my midnight blue 1986 Monte Carlo Super Sport with crushed velvet seats and drove back to Ralph Hall. Within a few minutes the phone in my suitemates’ room began to ring and it dawned on me that I had been given the wrong number. I couldn’t get in their room because the door was locked. This made me cry even harder.

So, I got back in my midnight blue 1986 Monte Carlo Super Sport with crushed velvet seats and drove back to Reid Chapel and called Mama from the payphone. At this point I was sobbing uncontrollably. I told her that I felt alone and homesick and I didn’t know if I could do it. It was a pivotal moment I still remember vividly to this day.

Now, at this point you may be wondering why I am sharing my sad story with you? Supposedly, I am to give you words of encouragement.

Here are three things that I want you to take away from my story.

1. If you ever begin to feel alone or homesick or doubtful, and you will at some point, I want you to remember you’re not the only one. It’s normal. If I were to ask every presenter to raise their hands if that experienced those feelings in college, we would probably see every hand raised. And this is true for most faculty and staff who work here. So, when you have these feelings, you are not the only one. Find someone and share. The last thing you need to do is withdraw and keep to yourself. It will only make it worse….which leads to my second point.

2. Universities have learned a lot in 31 years about what it takes for students to be successful. As a matter of fact, I’ve sat in presentation with Dr. Vanderpool as she discussed research that shows key factors to student success. And she and her team and others have implemented a strategy to hit those key factors. She also knows what things to look for that makes a student high risk for dropout and has implemented strategies to minimize those risks. We, the faculty and staff of this university, are here for your success. That is our purpose. From the time you step on this campus until the time you step across the Ferrell Center stage, we will walk beside you. BUT…you must walk, too. And that leads to my final point…

3. You must walk this journey. You’ve come here, for whatever reason, to get a degree. It is yours to walk. During my second phone call with Mama she asked me several times if I wanted her to come get me. The first couple of times, I said, “I don’t know…maybe.” Then finally, I said, “No. If you come get me I will regret for the rest of my life.” There will be times that you’ll need to dig deep and challenge yourself to get involved, make new friends, work hard, try new experiences, go beyond your comfort zone. Only you can make that happen. It will take determination and grit on your part to complete this journey, but you have plenty of resources and support to help you. Dr. Burt Burleson, our university chaplain, could not be here today, but he has left you his cell phone number. Mine is also there. Call if you need help.

Now…here’s the rest of my story. I was finally able to get my emotions under control and promised Mama I would call the next day. We hung up. I got back in my midnight blue 1986 Monte Carlo Super Sport and drove off campus and found Johnny Ray’s BBQ, which has good BBQ, but their claim to fame is having some of the best pie in Birmingham. I sat there eating BBQ and pie and realizing that it wasn’t so bad. I began to enjoy a little bit of freedom. I spent the next two days and nights alone, exploring the city in my midnight blue 1986 Monte Carlo Super Sport with crushed velvet seats, getting a little braver each time.

On the third day I heard the door to our suite open and two strangers walked by my room to the second bedroom. I assumed these were my suitemates. I could hear them talking and in a few minutes that walked in and introduced themselves. They asked, “We’re about to go to dinner. Would you like to join us?” That was the first of many meals and laughs and triumphs and conversations and campus walks and sporting events and late-night burger runs with Lori Gilbert and Kelly Killen who were my roommates until we graduated in May 1990. Had I given into my fear and loneliness and said, “Yes, Mama, come get me”, I would have missed out on one of the best times of my life.

Welcome to Baylor and welcome to your Baylor Family. As you join our family, I would be honored to say a blessing over you.

As you begin your journey here, may you find that the God of Grace is your refuge and strength.

May you be sensitive to the whispering of the Holy Spirit who will guide you.

May you find a place that welcomes you in and provides you a second home.

May you find supporters who will celebrate your victories.

May you find encouragers who will be a voice of motivation in your time of doubt.

May you find advocates to champion your causes.

May you develop relationships with fellow students and professors who will be mentors and guides and life-long friends.

And some day in the distant future, may you look back and say, “This was one of the best times of my life.”

May the peace of God go with you now.

AMEN

#Baylor University #welcomeweekend2019

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crowleysbestbitch · 7 years

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Some days I feel like I am gonna drop out.

Some days I feel like I’m gonna end up in the hall of fame. Those are good days.

#university #uni #shit #shitti #lajf #life #drop #out #dropout #college #hall #of #fame

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makeademia · 6 years

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CONWAY VERSUS KANYE

A COMPARE AND CONTRAST SCRIPT

BY LACIE ANASTASIO

Intro to Conway versus Kanye

Hello anybody who is actually watching this. For this video I will be comparing and contrasting Conway Twitty versus Kanye West. And what I intend to do with these two artists is to not only briefly compare them as people but most importantly to compare their musical genres which just happen to be two of my favorites. Country music and rap music. And believe me I know that they cannot be farther apart on the musical spectrum.

Conway Twitty Intro: Career and Fun Facts

So, Conway Twitty was a country music star whose career in country music started in the year 1965 and lasted up until the 1990s. He started off with a few singles that didn’t really make the cut as big hits until 1970 when his hit “Hello Darlin’” was released. His career snowballed after that and by the year 1990 he had a grand total of 55 number one hits.

Some fun facts about Twitty: Conway Twitty was just a stage name. His real name was Harold Lloyd Jenkins. He played baseball and got an offer from the Phillies before he was drafted into the United States Army. He also lived north of Nashville where he built a country music entertainment complex called Twitty City. He was married 4 times to only 3 different women. He died on June 4, 1993 from an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Oddly, unlike other country music artists he never was a member of the Grand Ole Opry but was inducted into the country music hall of fame.

Kanye West Intro: Career and Fun Facts

So, Kanye West is one of the most popular rappers in the world. He first was a producer in the mid-1990s. He first started out as a producer at Roc-A-Fella Records in the early 2000s and produced hit singles for Jay-Z, Ludacris and even Alicia Keys. His debut album was released in 2004 with the title The College Dropout which eventually would go triple platinum and give him 10 Grammy nominations. He founded Good Music records which houses artists like John Legend. He is known for his controversy and one of the highlights would be in 2009 during the MTV Video Music Awards he snatched the microphone away from Taylor Swift and insisted the Beyonce deserved the award.

Some fun facts about Kanye: His nickname is Yeezy and he has a fashion line named after it. and I’m sure everyone already knows this but he is married to reality star Kim Kardashian and they have 3 kids. Interestingly enough, he was actually engaged before kim to designer Alexis Phier. He actually lived in China for a year when he was 10 years old while his mother taught at a university for a exchange program. In October 2002, he had a near fatal accident that gave him a shattered jaw and inspired him to write “Through the Wire”. He received an honorary doctorate from the art institute of Chicago in 2015.

How are the Artists Similar?

SO how are these two artists similar? Well both are artists were extremely successful for their careers. Conway’s was more subtle than Kanye with having 55 number one singles and only 2 Grammy Awards and being inducted into the hall of fame. Kanye certainly was awarded much more with all of his album’s having hone platinum. He even won 21 grammy’s in 2017 alone. One way I will say they are very much alike is their expressive ways of talking about women, It is no secret that rappers are very lewd when it comes to their lyrics but to surprise everybody Conway Twitty seemed to be the same way towards women. He just didn’t use such vulgar language. For example, just listen to his song “I’d Love to Lay you Down.”

Country Music Versus Rap Music

Now aside from the two artists we are just going to focus on the music itself. We’ll be talking country music as a genre and rap music as a genre and what that all entails. I believe that more so now with pop country music it is easier to compare rap to country music. Back in the days I don’t think there were many similarities. For both genres, there is a very strong sense of pride within the lyrics. You have the country folk having a pride in where they came from as well as the city folk having a pride in where they came from. The music is literally about their own lives and how they live. Now I got these definitions off of google and Wikipedia. The definition of country music originates in the southern part of the united states and includes a mixture of ballads and dance tunes played on the fiddle, guitar, steel guitar, drums and keyboard. Rap music is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates “rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular” which is performed or chanted in a variety of ways usually over a backbeat or musical accompaniment.”

One thing that I think is a bit different is the musical instruments. For country music you have subgenres that can also be classified as country music such as bluegrass where they mainly use banjos, fiddles, and even hermonicas. I don’t believe those are mainly used in rap music, but rap music does use bass guitars, pianos or keyboards, drums, and strings, just like artists use in country music you hear on the radio today.

Thanks for Watching! End of Video.

SO that is my video for you today. I hope you enjoyed the video and I really encourage you to give country music a try because I know most of you are already rap music fans.

-LA

#conwayversuskanye #comparemusic

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westernmanews · 7 years

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SPRINGFIELD — The MassMutual Foundation Inc. — a dedicated corporate foundation established by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) — today announced it is providing Springfield Public Schools $1 million to expand the City Connects program into eight additional elementary schools throughout the city.

This grant further demonstrates the MassMutual Foundation’s ongoing commitment to Springfield and aligns with its focus on supporting programs that broaden economic opportunity for students and their families by transforming the system of learning. It is also consistent with the company’s recent decision to expand and reinvest in Massachusetts, including continuing to be a leading community partner in the Springfield area.

“Education is a key lever in achieving financial security later in life and the MassMutual Foundation is committed to ensuring that students have access to the support system and resources needed to learn and thrive in school,” said Dennis Duquette, head of MassMutual community responsibility and president of the MassMutual Foundation. “The City Connects program has already garnered great results in our schools; this investment will expand the program’s reach, bringing positive change for even more students and their families.”

City Connects, a national program executed by the Lynch School of Education at Boston College, launched in five Springfield Public Schools in September 2011 and has tripled its reach and impact, serving 15 schools in 2017. The MassMutual Foundation grant will enable City Connects to reach a total of 23 schools. The program provides support for students based on their individual needs by addressing out-of-school challenges that affect student success, and leverages existing community resources and support services to optimize students’ readiness to learn.

During the 2016-17 school year, City Connects served more than 5,000 Springfield students, and nearly 100 community partners provided support and services to meet these students’ unique strengths, needs and interests. Research has shown that the City Connects program significantly improves students’ academic performance; some positive long-term effects include lower dropout rates, higher test scores, and less chronic absenteeism.

In addition to strengthening education in Springfield, the MassMutual Foundation invests in projects, programs and organizations focused on strengthening the city of Springfield through revitalization, development, and social capital. In recent years, signature investments in the region include $15 million of support over 10 years to UMass Amherst to drive education and economic opportunity in Western Massachusetts, $1 million to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Capital Campaign to revitalize the museum, $1 million of support over three years to Valley Venture Mentors, and seasonally supporting the Springfield Museums.

The post MassMutual Foundation Grants $1M to Springfield Schools appeared first on BusinessWest.

#Western MA news #westernmanews

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rossnelsonn · 7 years

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Icon Website Content Curation

Introduction

The music movement of Hip Hop can be tracked back to the Southern Bronx, in New York City during the 1970s. It was started by DJ Kool Herc and he was the man that laid the ground work for everything associated with Hip Hop today: the rhythmic beat, the scratching, the drum beats and the mixing. Out of these beginnings, there has risen a host of iconic legends. The new Hall of Fame Museum opens its doors in February 2018 and it will house a wealth of information on this genre.

Do you need a Hip Hop icon, especially one of your favourite Hip Hop artist? If so, enter the Hall of Fame, choose one, or them all, and download for your use.

50 Cent

Curtis Jackson was born in 1975 and is better known as 50 Cent. He had a rough childhood which involved crime, drugs and violence. He saw rap as a way out and in 1996 got his big break. He shot to fame with his album "Get Rich or Die Tryin" that sold over 9 million copies. His lyrics are based on real life experiences. He has been shot nine times due to feuds with other rappers.

Tupac

Tupac Amaru Shakur was born in 1971 and died in a drive by shooting in 1996. He is considered to be the greatest Hip Hop artist ever. The power of his music is undeniable and he became an icon of the West Coast rap at the height of the East Coast/West Coast feud. He has sold over 75 million records and his albums include "Me against the World" and "All Eyes on Me".

Chance the Rapper

Chancelor Jonathan Bennett was born in 1993 in Chicago. He labels himself as a Christian rapper. He has won three Grammy Awards including Best Rap Album. He has released mixtapes, such as "Acid Rap" and "Coloring Book". Coloring book was streamed over 57 million times. In 2017, he won the best new artist and best rap performer in the Grammy Awards.

Drake

Drake, real name Aubrey Graham, was born in 1986 in Canada. He came to prominence as former Degrassi actor in 2001. After acting, he became one of the biggest rappers on the planet, becoming a multi Grammy Award winner. His albums include “Thank Me Later” and “Take Care”, which won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. This album, “Take Care”, also popularised the phrase “YOLO”.

Biggie Smalls

Christopher George Latore Wallace, the Notorious, was born in New York in 1972. He was murdered in 1997 and 20 years after his death, he is still the king of New York. He was a straight A student before getting mixed up in the East vs West side drama and spent much of his life in prison. His album "Life after Death" sold over 17 million albums. He is ranked in the top 10 greatest rappers of all time.

J Cole

Jermaine Lamarr Cole, better known as J Cole, was born in 1985 in Germany. He started producing his own music at the age of 15 and went on to graduate from university. His album “Cole World: The Sideline Story” was certified platinum, as were his next two albums “Born Sinner” and “2014 Forest Hills Drive”, followed by “4 Your Eyes Only” in 2017. He is also a skilled violinist and guitarist.

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg was born in California in 1971 and is known as a West Coast rapper. He started making music as a way out of trouble and is one of rap’s greatest survivors, continuing to be successful after 20 years. He received fame for albums, such as “Doggystyle”, “Doggfather” and “Reincarnated”. Many of his raps were X-rated. He has had 17 Grammy nominations but, as yet, he hasn’t won one.

ASAP Rocky

ASAP Rocky, other wise known as Rakim Mayers, was born in 1988 and is an American rapper, song writer and record producer from Harlem. He is a member of ASAP Mob and his albums include "At. Long. Last. ASAP" and "Long. live. ASAP". He is a pretty low key individual and a long time fashionista.

Easy-E

Easy-E was born Eric Lynn Wright in Compton, California in 1963. He had a life time of drug dealing and a thug like persona. Easy-E was one of the most controversial figures in rap and was known as the “Godfather of Gangsta Rap”. He made up one third of the group N.W.A. His most successful album was “Eazy Duz It” which sold over 2.4 million copies in 1994. He died from AIDS in 1995.

Kanye West

Kanye Omari West is an American rapper and entrepreneur, born in 1977. He has become one of the most influential hip hop singers ever. He has won 21 Grammys and 112 music awards in general, mostly won by the albums, “The College Dropout” and “Late Registration". He is the eighth most successful artist in Grammy Award history. His last album “The Life of Pablo” was released in 2016.

Eminem

Eminem, real name Marshall Mathers, was born in 1972 in Missouri. He is a skilled lyricist and his ryhmes are clever, funny but also dark. His album "The Slim Shady LP" went multi platinum and got two Grammy Awards. His album "The Marshall Mathers LP" was the fastest selling album in rap history. Other successes include "Recovery" and "MMLP2".

ODB

ODB, real name Russell Tyrone Jones, was born in 1968 in New York and was a founding member of the rap group, Wu-Tang Clan. He began his solo career in 1995 and only released two albums: “Return to the 36 Chamber” and “N**** Please”. He was known for his crazed style of rapping that incorporated warbling and singing. He had a life of troubles, was never rich and died of a drugs overdose in 2004.

#ixd302 #ixdbelfast #icons #hiphop

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naijastudio · 3 years

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Kanye West Biography, Age And Net Worth

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nfornaomi · 7 years

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The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has a lot more than just rock and roll. We learned about how this genre came to be (surprisingly via blues, jazz, gospel, etc.) and read about the rise and fall of various bands/artists throughout the decades.

My favourite part was the Rolling Stone special exhibit - particularly one random section about the magazine hiring an ad agency to help bring in more advertisers as early-on they’d struggled to change the perception that readership was purely college dropout-psychedelic loving-hippies. Brought back some good Marketing class memories, haha!

#travel #cleveland #rock and roll #museum

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howardmackenzie75 · 7 years

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10 Must-See Items Inside Rolling Stone's 50th Anniversary Exhibition

Fifty years ago, a 21-year-old Berkeley College dropout and journalist named Jann Wenner was cobbling together a new kind of magazine that, in his words, would take rock music seriously. The first issue of Rolling Stone appeared in print on November 9th, 2967. Over the next 50 years, more than a thousand issues (and counting) would follow.

"Rolling Stone is not just

This article originally appeared on www.rollingstone.com: 10 Must-See Items Inside Rolling Stone's 50th Anniversary Exhibition

from Rolling Stone Latest Sports and Music and Movies and Politics and Culture News http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/rolling-stone-50th-10-best-exhibition-items-rock-hall-fame-cleveland-w481914

#Rolling Stone Latest Sports and Music and Movies and Politics and Culture News

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satyendriya-blog1 · 7 years

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The Flag Bearers of Odisha Across the World

Not just being yet another city crowded with temples and known for droughts and cyclones, Bhubaneswar also has some extraordinarily talented people who have redefined the perception of all towards the state and realise the true beauty of temple architecture, the graceful Odissi and an indigenous variety of folk dances, its poignant music, its rich paintings and surprising sand art and sculpting! Not to forget some very out-of-the-box thoughts portrayed in films, acting and even in business and commerce that has become as essential to us as a gulp of water.

It may even take tremendous amount of parchments to enlist all of these game-changers down in a list, but here are some of the faces who could see the world in a way that was never seen before. Films: Nandita Das: From being an incomparable actress to an indomitable filmmaker, this daughter of Jatin Das (the world-renowned painter) has left her mark in the industry in a way that only few could ever think of achieving. Recognised as one of the best in her craft and awarded with many prestigious awards like Best Actress in 2002 Cairo International Film Festival for ‘Amaar Bhuvan’, Best Film & Screenplay Awards in 2008 Asian Festivals of First Films for ‘Firaaq’, she also happened to be an honorary jury of Cannes International Film Festival in 2005. Nandita Das She has been bestowed with the title ‘Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters’ - a very prestigious Civil Award, she also is inducted into the Hall of Fame of the International Women's Forum, Washington DC, along with having an independent stamp as part of the project “Women of the World” in France, vouching her impact across the globe. Mira Nair: A name that has itself become the definition of subtlety, fearlessness and reality all merged into one, this woman has truly crossed oceans to reach the zeniths in the night sky, as true as the pole star. Mira Nair Born on 15 October 1957 in Rourkela to Amrit Nair (an Indian Administrative Officer) and Pravin Nair (an active social worker for illiterate children) she grew up with her two elder brothers right here in Bhubaneswar. She is a Padma Vibhushan and is an exceptional filmmaker, known for her films like Salaam Bombay!(nominated for Academy Awards in Best Foreign Film in 1989), The Namesake (Golden Aphrodite Award, Bulgaria for Best Film in 2007), Monsoon Wedding (Golden Lion Award, Venice Film Festival 2001), Mississippi Masala (Best Director & Critics Special Award in Venice & Sao Paulo International Film Festivals in 1991), which is just a miniscule mention to the very large verse of accomplishments she has achieved in recent times. Dance: Kelucharan Mohapatra: The very proponent of Odissi danceform across the nation, is world renowned as the ‘Indian Classical Guru’, also happened to be Padma Shri, Padma Vibhushan & Padma Vibhushan at the same time. He was born on 8th January, 1926 in Puri and breathed his last on 7th April 2004, in Bhubaneswar when he was 78 years old. Guruji-Kelucharan Notably known for his dances that took the viewers to the greatest realms of spiritual trance, he often quoted “The real dance must convey the feeling of undivided existence, that a spectator can feel that he is not different from the thing observed". He has been awarded as the ‘Kalidasa Samman’ award by the state of Madhya Pradesh. Literature: Fakir Mohan Senapati: Known as ‘Utkala Byasa Kabi’ translated as ‘Odisha’s Supreme Poet’ is also regarded as the father of Odia Modern Literature and Odia Nationalism. Fakir Mohan_Senapati He was born in a middle class ‘khandayat’ family on 13th January 1843 in Balasore, and at a very early age had all the qualities of an accomplished novelist, having penned about the existing aberrations in the Odia society then. He also was a social reformist, philosopher and an educator, who also wrote about the various highs and lows in the social thinking of the people in his novels like ‘Chha Maana Aatha Guntha’ , ‘Prayaschita’ & ‘Mamu’ and how it could be reformed. His poem ‘Utkala Bhramanam’, that first appeared in 1892, literally meaning Tour of Odisha, in reality not a travelogue but a commentary on the state of affairs in the Odisha of that time, written in a satirical manner. He passed away at the age of 75, on 14 June 1918. He also has many colleges, schools, universities named after him as a value of respect like Fakir Mohan Senapati Autonomous College, Fakir Mohan University in Balasore. Art & Painting: Sudarsan Pattnaik: A diamond in the rough, right from his childhood even after having a troubled childhood, Sudarsan has not only made every person in Odisha proud with his legendary work in sand-art but also has cultivated this rare and once-obsolete art form amongst the masses by establishing "The Golden Sand Art Institute" which is first of its nature in India. Sudarshan Pattnaik He was born on 15th April 1977, in Puri, Odisha. In 2011 he won 1st prize and public prize at Denmark and also won double medal at Solo International sand art contest in Mervala 2012. In 2010, he won the gold medal for people choice award at 3rd Moscow World sand sculpture championship. He also won three medal in North American solo sand sculpture championship, People choice prize in Canada and Moscow. He was Awarded Padma Shri in 2014. Jatin Das: Born on December 1941, at Baripada, Mayurbhanj, Odisha is a world-renowned painter of recent times, was conferred the Padma Bhushan in January 2012, is also the father of Nandita Das, the notable actor-director. Jatin Das He has won several accolades namely Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity Italian Government in 2007,Bharat Nirman Award in 2007, Distinguished Artist honor by Rocheston Accreditation Institute in New York and is also the settler and founder chairman of the JD Centre of Art, Bhubaneswar. He is the only artist who has taken up a project of this kind. Several of Jatin Das's works have been donated to charity in India and abroad. He led the relief efforts at a village in Orissa, affected by the super-cyclone of 1999. National Television: Ananya Nanda: Ananya Nanda Born on 29th April, 2001 this Odia girl took the entire nation on toll with her amazing singing voice and the Indian Idol Season 2 winning witness to the fact, at the mere age of 16. She also happens to be a nerd and aspires to become a scientist one day. She also loves dancing and is often looked upon for her charmingly sweet aura, who has the modesty of a rabbit and the fierceness of a lion while performing. You go, girl! Business: Riteish Aggarwal: Ritesh Okay, his story may seem to you as if you’re watching yet another inspirational blockbuster movie, but this college dropout at 21 did wonders when he became the founder of OYO Rooms, an app as essential as a breath of air. Born at Bisamkatak, Ritesh grew up in the small town of Rayagada, he used to be drawn to writing and even more passionate about computer programming. Now, OYO Rooms has been named India's largest budget hotel chain, currently launched in Malaysia. Sports: Dilip Tirkey: Dilip Tirkey Born on 25th November 1977 in Sundergarh district to Vincent Tirkey an Oraon, Adivasi and former Oriya hockey player and Regina Tirkey, was the ex-captain of Indian Hockey team, making his debut in 1995 against England, represented India in 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympics and had a total of 412 international caps. He has been the recipient of Padma Shree in 2004, Arjun Award in 2002 and Ekalavya Award in 1996. On 22 March 2012, he was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha as one of the three Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidates to the Upper House of Indian Parliament. Padmini Rout: Padmini Rout Winner of the titles ‘International Master’ in 2015, ‘Woman Grandmaster’ in 2007, at the mere age of 23 is truly an inspiration for generations to follow. Born on 5th January 1994 from Barambagarh, started playing chess at the age of 9, because of her father's passion for the game. In 2010 she won the Indian junior (U19) girls championship and took the bronze medal at both Asian and World Junior Girls Championships. She also won the Indian Women's Championship in 2014 and 2015, became the Commonwealth women's champion. Further she also won an individual gold medal playing on the reserve board for the Indian national team at the 2014 Women's Chess Olympiad in Tromsø, Norway. Science: Lalita Prasida Sripada Srisai:

Lalita Prasida Sripada Srisai A class IX student from Damanjodi in Koraput district in Odisha won the ‘Community Impact Award’ at the prestigious Google Science Fair in California on September 21, 2015. This student of DPS Damanjodi developed a low-cost bio-absorbent based water purifier which uses waste corn cobs as key ingredient. She has won the award in 13-15 years age group. The winners of the fifth annual Google Science Fair were announced live from Google Headquarters in Mountain View, California. As part of this award, Lalita received 10,000 US dollars as prize money. Lalita will be further supported for one year by the organisation to build on her project.

Odisha Global & Auromira Entertainment salutes these wonderful minds for being an inspiration to us!

#Odisha Global #Event of the year #Best event of 2017

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Members of the ninth class of the Governor Louie B. Nunn Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame were inducted March 8 in Frankfort. From left: Opal T. Sibert, Ron Skillern and Joe Westerfield. (WKU photo by Bryan Lemon)

Three new members of the Governor Louie B. Nunn Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame were inducted Wednesday (March 8) during a ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort.

Members of the ninth class, chosen by a statewide selection committee, were Opal T. Sibert, Ron Skillern and Joe Westerfield.

Sibert, who spent most of her 30-year career as a homebound teacher, special needs teacher and speech therapist in Laurel County, said she found satisfaction every day in helping children succeed.

“When I went to homebound I got as much satisfaction from helping the children as the parents. They were so thankful, appreciative,” she said.

Sibert, who retired in 1986, was drawn to a career in education from the age of 4 when a cousin who was a teacher lived with her family in Clay County.

“He taught me how to read and stuff, say my ABC’s,” she said. “He became one of my principals one of the first years I taught.”

Skillern, who teaches social studies at Bowling Green High School, has received numerous awards in a teaching career that has spanned more than 30 years, but he is quick to share the credit.

“As a high school teacher, I stand on the shoulder of giants,” he said. “Every preschool teacher, every elementary teacher that has laid the foundation for whenever we get those children.”

Skillern said he still enjoys making an impact on students’ lives and preparing them for the future. “From the time I walked into school, I’ve been hooked,” said Skillern, who was named the 2017 Kentucky Teacher of the Year. “It is such a dynamic day. No day has ever been the same.”

Westerfield, who taught social studies for 33 years in Daviess County schools, said he was thrilled and humbled by the Hall of Fame recognition.

“Just to be considered is an honor,” he said. “To be selected as one of the winners is mind boggling.”

Westerfield, who retired in 2002, said he was lucky to have a job that he enjoyed. “I knew from a long time ago that this is what I wanted to do,” he said. “I had a great career. I loved it.”

Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame inductee Opal T. Sibert (center) was congratulated by Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt (left) and WKU President Gary A. Ransdell (right). (WKU photo by Bryan Lemon)

Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame inductee Ron Skillern (center) was congratulated by Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt (left) and WKU President Gary A. Ransdell (right). (WKU photo by Bryan Lemon)

Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame inductee Joe Westerfield (center) was congratulated by Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt (left) and WKU President Gary A. Ransdell (right). (WKU photo by Bryan Lemon)

The 2017 class was inducted by Dr. Stephen Pruitt, Kentucky Commissioner of Education, and WKU President Gary A. Ransdell.

“On behalf of everyone in Kentucky, thank you for what you have done and continue to do in our classrooms,” Dr. Ransdell said. “What a special moment. I’m proud to be part of this ceremony.”

Sen. David Givens and Rep. John Carney offered congratulations on behalf of the Kentucky Senate and House and thanked the inductees for the impact they’ve had on thousands of students and their families.

“Because of the impact you had on them, they came out a different person,” Givens said.

“Thank you for your service to your communities,” Carney said, “and most of all to the children of the Commonwealth.”

The Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame was created in 2000 through a gift by late Gov. Nunn, who hoped to recognize the vital role that primary and secondary teachers in Kentucky play in the education of young people and the positive impact education has on the state’s economy. WKU was selected as the home of the Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame because of its more than 100-year history in teacher education.

Nominations for the 2018 Class of the Governor Louie B. Nunn Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame are being accepted. The deadline is July 15. For information, visit http://www.wku.edu/kythf/nominations.php

For information on the Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame, contact Tammy Spinks by phone at (270) 745-4664 or by email at [email protected].

More: Video from the 2017 induction ceremony.

Class of 2017 inductees

Here’s more information about the Class of 2017 inductees:

Opal T. Sibert

A native of Manchester, Opal T. Sibert began her life in education as a first grade dropout, but grew to become one of the most dedicated and influential educators in the Laurel County School System.

Sibert began her career in education in 1953 on the Clay County Board of Education, followed by teaching first and second grade students at the Franklin, Ohio, 2nd Street School in 1954-55. Sibert attended Sue Bennett College (1945-47, two-year teaching certificate), Eastern Kentucky State College (now Eastern Kentucky University, (1956-63, four-year teaching certificate), the University of Kentucky (1965-69, Certification, Speech Pathology), and Eastern Kentucky University, 1970-74, Certification, Supervision of Special Education).

In 1956, Sibert began her 30-year career in the Laurel County School System as a substitute teacher. She then became a homebound teacher from 1958-1968. From 1969-1970, she taught special needs children in a renovated school room, going on to work as a speech therapist in the Laurel County School System from 1970-1980. Sibert served as a special programs coordinator from 1980-1986. She retired in 1986, but has continued to be involved in her community and in education.

Some of the many initiatives developed by Sibert include a work-study program that prepared students for future careers, a pre-vocational training program for ninth and 10th graders, the securing of grant money through the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) that provided students with special needs opportunities to become successfully employed before leaving high school, and an after-school daycare program, which is still in operation to this day. Sibert also had a hand in starting the Laurel County Chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children, and in 1984 she was named an Outstanding Member of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children.

Ron Skillern

Ron Skillern, a native of Bowling Green, has taught in Warren County and Bowling Green Independent schools for over 30 years. Currently a social studies teacher at Bowling Green High School, where he has been since 1996, Skillern has led an interesting and influential career. Skillern attended WKU (B.A., History & Political Science, 1978), Vanderbilt University (M.A. in Education, 1984), and also received his Rank 1 in Education from WKU in 1987.

His teaching career began in 1985 at Warren Central High School, where he taught 10th-12th grade social studies. Skillern then moved to Greenwood High School, teaching 10th-12th grade social studies. Also during this time, in 1992, Skillern began teaching a three-week intensive course in the summers for students in seventh-10th grades, titled Nazi Germany & the Holocaust, through The Center for Gifted Studies’ V.A.M.P.Y. program (The Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth). He has continued to teach this summer course to this day. Skillern began teaching 10th-12th grade social studies at Bowling Green High School in 1996.

Skillern has received many awards and recognitions over the years, including the Governors Scholars Program “Outstanding Educator Award” (numerous years), 1988 Teacher of the Year for Warren County Schools, 1997 Teacher of the Year at Bowling Green High School, a Distinguished Alumni Summit Award from WKU and The Center for Gifted Studies in 2015, and was also named 2017 Kentucky Teacher of the Year by Valvoline, Inc. and the Kentucky Department of Education.

Joe Westerfield

Joe Westerfield, a native of Hartford and a resident of Owensboro, spent 33 years as an educator in Daviess County schools before retiring in 2002. Westerfield has been, and continues to be, extremely active in political forums and activism over the years, serving on various related committees and registering over 5,000 students to vote. Westerfield earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky (1969), his master’s degree from WKU (1971), and his Administration Rank 1 from WKU (1973).

Westerfield began his teaching career in 1969 as a seventh and eighth grade social studies teacher at Daviess County Junior High, where he remained until 1973. From 1973-2002, he taught 11th grade U.S. history and 12th grade American government at Apollo High School, with the exception of 1984-1985, when he served as Director of Instructional Support with the Kentucky Department of Education. At Apollo, Westerfield served as the social studies department chairman, was a member of its site-based council and sponsored many different clubs.

Westerfield also served four years as the Congressional District Contact Team Person for the National Education Association in the 2nd District, and was appointed to serve on the Governor’s Advisory Committee for Federal Funding for Education. Among his many awards and honors, Westerfield was chosen in 2004 as the winner of the Liberty Bell Award, which is given each year by local bar associations in conjunction with Law Day to honor outstanding citizens within the local community.

Contact: Kristy Ketterman, (270) 745-4020

Class of 2017 inducted into Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame. @WKUCEBS Read more on WKU News at Three new members of the Governor Louie B. Nunn Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame were inducted Wednesday (March 8) during a ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort.

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