#first couple of seasons were quite intriguing and if fit the theme of high school

[possessed-nia]

i have a confession to make i actually really like riverdale tv show it’s not so bad as some might paint it

[onestowatch]

10 Ones to Catch at Made in America 2018

Mark your calendars: a Labor Day staple is right around the corner. Made in America, the Jay-Z curated two-day musical festival, returns to Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sept. 1-2 to showcase some of the best acts in the world of hip-hop and beyond. Since its inception in 2012, the festival has grown into a cultural landmark that reflects the forward-thinking ideas of the historic city itself. With artists like Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, Zedd, Post Malone, and Diplo topping the bill, Made in America is by no means short on talent this year. However, this does not mean that musical discoveries are not to be had. We combed through this year’s incredible Made in America lineup to hand-select some of our favorite acts that are not to be missed. These are our ten acts you have to catch at this year’s Made in America, and a playlist that Jay-Z himself would approve of.

Hobo Johnson & The Lovemakers

It’s no mystery that we are fans of Hobo Johnson & The Lovemakers here, as we are in the midst of prepping ourselves for his forthcoming “Bring Your Mom” tour. Still no word on whether our moms are available to make in out, but we can say for certain that a Hobo Johnson show is a show not to miss. First going viral with the release of his NPR Tiny Desk Contest video for “Peach Scone,” Hobo Johnson has continued to amaze his rapidly growing fan base with his unique blend of spoken word hip-hop and alternative.

Lil Skies

Lil Skies is by no means your typical Soundcloud rapper. Beyond his hard, tattoo-saturated exterior, lies an impressive lyrical wit whose melodic delivery is reminiscent of artists 50 Cent and Lil Wayne. His impressive style of delivery and mesmerizing production has led him to develop a notable following in the matter of a couple short years. Releasing his debut album Life of a Dark Rose in 2017, Lil Skies cemented his claim as something more than another Soundcloud rapper. A straight-A student throughout high school and a promising rapper this early in his career, Lil Skies is undoubtedly an act to catch.

Injury Reserve

Injury Reserve is as rare a rap act as they come. The Arizona-based trio makes music evocative of the golden days of hip-hop, bringing forth much-deserved comparisons to the likes of A Tribe Called Quest. Yet, that is only the first layer of this intriguing alternative rap trio. As much as their music is comprised of the sounds and daily struggles of everyday life experiences, it also aptly explores themes of societal and political issues. Critical of the music industry and addressing deeply-rooted issues, Injury Reserve makes music that is equal parts reflective, captivating, and rife with moments to thoroughly dissected.  

Kweku Collins

Music flows through the veins of Illinois-based rapper Kweku Collins. Playing African drums on-stage alongside his dad since the tender age of four, it almost seems destined that Kweku would pick up the proverbial torch. Transitioning into making his own music in his bedroom when he was a teenager, he spent years polishing craft before gracing the world with his debut EP, 2015’s Say It Here While It’s Safe. Since the EP’s release, Kweku has delivered two more stunning projects, 2016’s Nat Love and 2017’s Grey, that build even further on his relaxed brand of hip-hop that pulls from a myriad of inspirations.    

Sheck Wes

Considering who Sheck Wes has in his court, chances are you will be seeing a lot more of him in the years to come. The Kanye West and Travis Scott championed rapper and producer makes hard-hitting and hostile rap that is perfect for a mosh pit at any venue, or festival for that matter. The Harlem native has only four singles to date, but each one is as volatile as the last. From the breakout chant-worthy debut “Mo Bamba” to the latest release “Chippi Chippi,” Sheck Wes is not an artist who asks for your attention. He demands it. Also, did we mention that a young Sheck Wes skipped out a high school basketball playoff game to participate in the unveiling of the Yeezy Season 3 collection in Madison Square Garden?

Jpegmafia

They say punk is not a sound; it is an ethos. Los Angeles-based by way of New York rapper and producer Jpegmafia is the crystallization of this ethos. Crafting a sound that is chaotic, dark, and rife with humor, Jpegmafia is an act you cannot pull your eyes or ears away from. The critically-acclaimed artist makes no attempt to skirt around issues that are difficult to address. Instead, he actively speaks to those issues with an intense, rapid-fire sense of urgency that only heightens the raw intensity of his sound and the matters at hand. Is it always an easy listening experience? Not always. Is it an act you need to listen to and catch live at least once in your life? Most definitely.

SAINt JHN

The all-encompassing, shadowy world of SAINt JHN is one you will want to lose yourself in. The Brooklyn native makes cinematic music with deep, rumbling bass that falls in the perfect middle between hip-hop and R&B. Like a darker version of The Weeknd that retains all the underlying beauty, SAINt JHN makes music that is a perfect fit for the radio or a nighttime drive with the bass fully blasted. Forgoing any major label or marketing push, the Brooklyn artist released his debut album Collection One in 2018 to much acclaim. An expansive 13 tracks of moody R&B and hip-hop, SAINt JHN is proving he can do it all on his own terms.

Saba

Saba may describe himself as an “ultra nerd,” but the Chicago-based rapper and producer's music is imbued with a vibe quite like no other. First gaining attention for lending his voice to “Angels” off Chance the Rapper’s Acid Rap and performing the single live with Chance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, it was not long before fans were clamoring for a full-fledged Saba project. Saba would deliver his highly-awaited debut album Bucket List Project in 2017 much to the delight of fans and critics alike. The project would showcase the varied artistry of Saba as a rapper, which he would further expand upon in his sophomore effort, 2018’s CARE FOR ME.  

ODIE

ODIE’s debut album Analogue may have only been released just this year, but it was such a brilliant debut that we cannot help but recommend catching ODIE live. Born to Nigerian parents, the Toronto artist has spent the better part of the last four years cultivating and refining his sound. The result was a striking debut of a soulful new voice in hip-hop and R&B. Yet his sound is so much more than that. At times delving into the world of alternative rock and Afro-Gospel with a clear grasp of past musical traditions and a vision for the future, ODIE’s sound is all his own.  

Saweetie

Saweetie is having one hell of a 2018. From collaborating with Kehlani and G-Eazy to releasing a viral hit with “ICY GRL,” the California native is quickly becoming a pivotal fixture in the female rap game. With a style that pays due reverence to the hip-hop scene of the ‘90s and a charismatic flair that extends past her music, Saweetie is an artist bound to make a lasting impact. Her debut album High Maintenance served as a solid nine-track introduction to the rapper’s world that blended the best of the past with forward-thinking production. If there is one thing we can say with complete certainty about Saweetie’s upcoming set, is that it will go off.

[recentanimenews]

Go from Zero to Lunch at the Love Live-themed SUN! SUN! Sunshine Cafe

Nestled deep between the mountains and the sea, about an hour and a half by train from where a school idol group called μ’s made history, lies the small town of Numazu, Japan. It was here where another group called Aqours attempted to make some history of their own by defying the declining national birth rate and saving Uranohoshi Girls’ High School from locking its gates once and for all. Of course, the events of Love Live! and Love Live! Sunshine!! are merely fiction, and a trip down to Uranohoshi will lead you to Nagaisaki Junior High instead.

That doesn’t deter the hundreds upon hundreds of passionate Love Live! fans who make the pilgrimage to Numazu every single year, however, and the local community has embraced them and their own newfound fame with open arms. The city is littered with Love Live! Sunshine!! themed shops and attractions wherever you go, and greeting you as soon as you enter through the station is the SUN! SUN! SUNSHINE Cafe, a collaboration between Yudai Festa and Love Live! in the heart of Numazu.

    Like many other passionate Love Live! fans, I found myself making the pilgrimage down to Numazu following Aqours’s recent live concert in Saitama. While not my first time in Japan, it was my first time making the trek down to the increasingly popular countryside fishing town to pay my respects to the series that has meant so much to me. After spending the night and seeing the sights, I capped off my journey with lunch at the SUN! SUN! Sunshine Cafe, and I’m here to share the experience I had with all of you!

    The first thing you’ll be greeted with after walking in is a line, or at least I was. The weeks surrounding any live event see the area crawling with Love Live! fans (like myself), so a bit of a wait only two days after the most recent concert was to be expected. To pass the time, patrons can browse the walls and walls of merchandise for sale and try their luck at the many gachapon machines available.

There was even a replica bus stop sign for Uranohoshi Girls’ High School designed to look like the many bus stop signs scattered around Numazu. The bus there and back doesn’t appear to run all too frequently, and as someone who actually attempted the hike up to its real life counterpart on foot, you probably don’t wanna miss its last stop!

    A couple menus had also been set up for us to look at while we waited. The current selection all appeared to be themed around the Over the Rainbow movie that premiered back in January, with the special monthly selection themed around the birthday girl Mari Ohara. Happy shiny birthday, Mari!

    Because I was there PURELY for business and had come alone SOLELY to focus on my review, when it came time for me to be seated they let me choose one of many single-seating desks in keeping with a classroom theme they had going inside. Luckily for me, the Dia-themed desk was open, so I selected it without hesitation (this will be a running theme.)

      While I felt some form of obligation to order off the special monthly menu given its timeliness, the Over the Rainbow pizza looked way too intriguing to pass up. And while Mari’s birthday berry drink did look delicious, I HAD to go with the Dia-themed drink off the regular menu.

    The pizza arrived first on an Aqours-themed plate with one of the three possible random coasters being handed out with entrees. As you can see, it didn’t quite come out looking as advertised, but then again, what does? Neon-colored cheeses aside, it tasted like a pretty standard personal pizza with a nice amount of what I believe was ham baked in. I was pretty hungry and scarfed the pizza down fairly quickly. It’s nowhere near the best pizza I’ve ever had, but hey, it tasted alright. I’ve had far, far worse pizza in my lifetime, though maybe not quite at the steep price of 800 yen.

  Curiously, I still hadn’t received my drink yet and instead had to make do with the cup of water they had given to me when I ordered. I had heard from someone who had been to the cafe before that there were more staff working when they had been there a few months prior. Increased traffic from the live and fewer staff members working definitely explains the long wait times, and as someone who also works in a restaurant, I can surely sympathize.

When the drink did come, though, it didn’t disappoint. A simple mix of Calpis and wild berries gave the drink a sweet, refreshing taste with Dia’s signature red and white character colors. I wasn’t lucky enough to get Dia’s coaster with it, but Riko’s was a nice consolation prize.

    With my entree finished and drink in front of me, it was time to take my menu back out and order dessert. Considering the live I had just attended was called Next SPARKLING, I decided to order the parfait of the same name. Unfortunately, it seems as though everyone else had the same idea as me. I was sadly informed that they had completely sold out, so I instead ordered the Brightest Melody parfait.

  It didn’t take long for the waiter to return with my parfait, which easily became the best part of my meal. Themed around the blue and white Brightest Melody costumes from the movie, this delicious parfait blended mint jelly, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, sprinkles, corn flakes, and a slice of peach together into a delicious combination. It felt as though my tastebuds were tingling with every bite, and while ¥1000 might seem like a steep price, I thought it was worth every single yen with or without the special Saint Snow coaster included.

  After finishing my parfait, I decided to take a closer look around at all the decorations before leaving. The space wasn’t very big to begin with, but that didn’t stop them from cramming as much merchandise as they could in there. In addition to the classroom decorations, the walls were lined with glass cases full of everything from figures to nesoberis to plates signed by all the voice actresses.

A few dozen cardboard stands were also there, some of which had also been autographed. I particularly liked the giant paper mache sculptures of the third years that had been erected. The most impressive decorations in there, however, were easily the replica of Mari’s gold statue from season two and the model of her famous stewshine from season one beside it.

  By now it was getting late and I had a train to catch out of Numazu. Before I finally said goodbye, though, I had to buy just a little more merchandise for the road. I ended up with a blindbox rubber keychain from the special cafe collaboration design line. I opened the package as I left, hoping for one more Dia charm to go with all the rest on my keychain. No such luck at that, but the result was satisfyingly fitting. A cheerful Mari greeted me with a plate full of her special birthday pasta in hand, and I certainly couldn’t complain about that. I guess you could say my entire experience at the SUN! SUN! Sunshine Cafe was not quite getting what I wanted but being happy about it regardless.

  Sure, the food hadn’t quite lived up to expectations and the wait was somewhat inconvenient, but I still managed to have a great time there. I’d spent my lunch inside a dining room lovingly filled with memorabilia from my favorite show, after all, reliving emotional memories from my favorite performances as they played on-screen in front of me. It was a love letter to a show I’ve invested so much of my own time and energy into and a perfect capstone to my Love Live! Sunshine!! pilgrimage. With nothing left for me to do, I picked up my bags and wished the quaint city of Numazu farewell, hoping that we’d someday meet again.

What kind of Love Live-themed dish would YOU make if you had to design one for a cafe? Let us know in the comments below!

  -----

Danni Wilmoth is a Features writer for Crunchyroll and co-host of the video game podcast Indiecent. You can find more words from her on Twitter @NanamisEgg.

Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com

[yon-nyan]

The Royal Tutor - Anime Review

When I was scoping out the Spring 2017 Anime line-up, The Royal Tutor didn’t really hit my radar. From the synopsis and the preview graphics that had been released, I honestly thought it was going to be a very cheesy show with some strong boy-love vibes. As a person who doesn’t usually go for the boy-love genre, I wasn’t interested in it at all. But something about it, and I have no fricking clue what, told me to at least watch the first episode so I could confirm my feelings. I’m really glad that I listened to that tiny, not-so-weird-at-all-little-voice-in-my-head because this series ended up being surprisingly decent.

The story revolves around a short, highly intelligent man named Heine, who has been given the post of Royal Tutor to four princes. The princes have been adamantly anti-tutor & studies, so the Royal Tutor position has been a very difficult one to fill and keep filled. We get to spend 12-episodes watching all of the theatrics that ensue as Heine tries to shanghai some education into these four delinquent teens.

As I mentioned in my First Impressions post for the series, when I began it I got a very strong Ouran High School Host Club aura from it. You’ve got four boys who very quickly get unique names via our Heine-sensei, and they each have a relatively tropey persona. Initially, this made me very hesitant in watching the second episode. No offence towards Ouran, but this trope is so fucking overdone that I didn’t want to deal with another show that revolved around it. Luckily, my fascination with the mysterious tutor outweighed my frustration and I continued onwards.

My expectations for the show started to grow, but didn’t really turn into anything fantastic as I watched. Mid-way through the season when we still hadn’t learned anything about the Royal Tutor’s past, I began to feel highly sceptical about the writing. I knew that we were running out of episodes and time for a good, fluid explanation of how a teacher could also be so skilled in combat as to equal a highly-seasoned warrior. There were some very vague hints, but not much else to go on. I also found there to be a slight imbalance on the attention given to each of the four boys, where a couple of them received a lot more screen time than the others. These two aspects actually filled me with a bit of anxiously negative anticipation. I’ve seen it many times before. A show starts off wonderfully, but then it overreaches and falls terribly short in its execution. Luckily, that didn’t really happen with The Royal Tutor.

While it’s far from being a glorious masterpiece, it has a decent number of facets that make it quite an enjoyable anime series. The first are the characters themselves. We get to learn about each one of the boys and why they are so vehemently against tutors and education. The reasons aren’t superficial. They are laced with insecurities and bad experiences. Occasionally a reason for one son will seem minor in comparison to another, but it just adds an empathetic dimension to their personas that makes you want to root for their success. I like that these boys aren’t perfect. Their flaws make them that much more engaging.

The tutor himself is someone who reminded me of Onizuka from the anime series GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka. He is a man who took the time to understand the underlying issues that kids have in order to better tackle them with a fitting solution. Heine and Onizuka knew that kids aren’t going to respond to a one-size-fits-all solution. Each kid is different with unique issues and problems. To help said kids, you really have to be willing to get to know them and distinguish them as individuals in a way most people don’t want to deal with.

Remember how I mentioned earlier I was worried about the imbalance of screen-time for the boys? It turns out that some of the boys needed the extra attention because their problems needed that extra support. It also played very well towards plot progression because the imbalance was created to fit the unique issues and insecurities that each of the sons were going through. For example, one of the kids is a very shy and timid person with a fearsome outwardly appearance. He wasn’t shown nearly as much as I had hoped (he became my favourite character because I could relate to him like you wouldn’t believe) because of this demeanour. It wouldn’t have made sense for him to be sprouting up all over the place, unlike the youngest brother who’s a social whore.

The themes in the show were also a bit comforting. Most of it had to deal with accepting yourself for who you are, even if other’s can’t accept you. It was dealt with in a positive way that doesn’t negatively portray awkward social skills, or fetishise issues involving a lower intelligence, etc. etc. I like that the changes that the boys make are gradual instead of just being an instant fix as soon as they comprehend the lessons they’re learning. There’s also a bit of focus on not judging anyone by their appearance or initial mannerisms because there’s a huge chance that you will be wrong about them, friendships come in all shapes and sizes, and soft things will always be cute.

All of these elements made for a pleasant watching experience, however, it does have its faults. The humour, while being kooky and a light-hearted means at softening tough topics, is really predictable at times and felt cheesy and out-dated. The story in its entirety is of average quality and can make you feel pretty indifferent about whether you’re having a good time or not. Although I do like the characters, nothing within the The Royal Tutor truly made me anticipate the next episode with impatient, passionate glee. I felt so apathetic about having to wait a week for new content, or when the content finally did arrive I’d watch everything else before really getting to this. The only thing that I was super fricking curious about was Heine’s past, which was a small bit of a let-down because the morsels of clues left in the wake of one episode to the next made it sound like Heine would have a really badass history. Instead the truth was disappointing and anticlimactic.

The animation itself is pretty much typical; nothing extraordinary or breath-taking. It’s clean and seemingly well-developed. I found the outdoors scenery to be more pleasant than the interiors. There are a lot more details that go into creating the environment and atmospheres amidst nature than within buildings. We see this with the mansion, or palace, as it just felt like an atypical reproduction of a European mansion that seems quite standard in anime with such structures. Within a local café in town, we get a similar situation. The café does look to be quite large and it is nicely presented, but it doesn’t encapsulate the same sort of attention to details that the natural atmospheres do.

Mid-way through the series, we do get a whisper of a small plot that’s being hatched to affect who will inherit the throne if and when the king passes on. This is something that felt extremely out of place to me for multiple reasons. Firstly, it randomly just pops up at the finale of an episode or two and then isn’t brought up again until a few episodes later. Secondly, when it is brought up, it’s only for a couple of minutes; not nearly enough to make any sort of impact. It makes one last appearance during the final episodes, and it honestly felt like the only reason it was tossed into the series to begin with was to add some tension and intrigue to the plot.

Overall, The Royal Tutor is a good, fun average anime to check out. The cast is engaging and you can’t help but feel for them in certain situations. The story is very chill and simple, as is the animation and music. But if you’re in the mood for something that’s going to blow your mind, or totally make your jaw drop, then this anime is not for you.

6 tortes outta 10!