#millennial mixtape challenge

[saiyanprincessswanie]

Need You Now

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader

Summary: Dean thinks about the hurt he caused you as he is left with memories of happier times. Does he get a second chance at life with you?

Warning: Angst, sadness, drinking, hope?

Word Count: 1125

A/N: Thank you to my beta readers @pigwidgeonxo​ & @lfnr-blog-blog-blog​ & @music-culture-mythology (any mistakes on spelling & grammar are my own. Did this on my phone) Divider by @firefly-graphics

A/N 2: Song fic, Need You Now by Lady Antebellum. Lyrics in Bold.

Reblogs & Comments on Tumblr are welcomed and encouraged. 😊💜

I do NOT give my consent to have my work translated or reposted on any social media platform, apps, or third-party sites. If you see my work anywhere else besides my personal Tumblr & AO3 accounts then it has been stolen. I will NEVER give written or verbal permission to repost or translate any of my fanfics as they’re MY intellectual property. 🚫🚫

Dean is such a fool. He let the one person he loves the most leave after an argument. He said a lot of hateful things to push you away and it seems that this time it might be for good. Why couldn’t he see that he deserves a life away from the chaos of hunting? You’re willing to settle down with him and give him the normal life that he always dreamed of. Now he is haunted by pictures of you both together in happier times scattered everywhere. His phone is in his hand ready to dial your number but would you pick it up? Has he crossed your mind as you have with him? Screw it, he dials your number and lets it ring. But you don’t pick up. God, he was such a fool to let you go. 

Picture perfect memories scattered all around the floor

Reaching for the phone 'cause I can't fight it anymore

And I wonder if I ever cross your mind?

For me, it happens all the time

Dean looks at the clock and sees that it’s a quarter after one in the morning. The feeling of loneliness swarms over him as he drinks his whiskey slowly. He thinks back to the sadness in your eyes when you ask him, “are you sure you want this?” God, no he didn’t want this to end but he was too proud of a man to admit it. Looking at the locked screen on his phone he sees your smiling face. He wants to call again, though a part of him tells himself to let you go so you can be happy. Dean doesn’t know what he’ll do without you but if this is what a broken heart feels like he never wants to feel it again. The other part of him is screaming that he needs you. He needs to see your smiling face, hear your laughter and taste your lips. What he would give to have you come through that door again and tell him you can’t live without him. Though if he was honest he doesn’t know how he is going to live without you. Dialing your number again he silently prays that you will pick the phone up but it goes to voicemail. 

It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now

Said I wouldn't call but I've lost all control and I need you now

And I don't know how I can do without

I just need you now

Another shot of whiskey, can't stop looking at the door

Wishing you'd come sweeping in the way you did before

And I wonder if I ever cross your mind?

For me, it happens all the time

Dean pours another glass of whiskey as he thinks about the life you could have had together. You both had talked about having a family one day and getting that little house with a yard big enough for a dog. Yes, that was the life that could have been. But it’s all a distant memory now. He should have never allowed hunting to be the deal breaker between you both. He has put in many years of his life hunting supernatural beings. He deserves a chance at a normal life. Grabbing the glass of whiskey he downs it in one gulp. Dean promised he wouldn’t call but fuck it. While he has the courage he quickly dials your number and listens while it rings. After the fifth time ringing, it goes to voicemail.  Dammit, he screwed up. He just hopes that you’re sleeping and not ignoring his call. Maybe he should try to sleep as he is feeling a little drunk. Though how could he sleep knowing you won’t be there in the morning? As Dean leans back on the couch he tells himself he would rather have these hurt feelings than feel empty inside. Unbeknownst to him, his finger dials your number again. 

It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk and I need you now

Said I wouldn't call but I've lost all control and I need you now

And I don't know how I can do without

I just need you now

Guess I'd rather hurt than feel nothing at all

It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now

And I said I wouldn't call but I'm a little drunk and I need you now

And I don't know how I can do without

I just need you now

Dean shut his eyes for a few minutes and wakes up to someone shaking him. He groans his disapproval and slowly opens his eyes. There you are staring at him with a sad smile on your face.

“Dean, I saw you called me several times. Is everything okay?” You sound concerned as you ask him. He looks awful and smells heavily of whiskey. You notice the pictures of you both are scattered everywhere.

He looked over to the clock on the wall and it was just after three in the morning. You came over this late? “I’m fine, sweetheart. I was just drinking some whiskey. No need to worry about me.”

“Does this have anything to do with the argument we had?” You question him as you look at how much whiskey is missing from the bottle. 

He sighs. “No, yes, maybe. I just wanted you to know I didn’t mean anything that I said earlier. I don’t know what I would do without you in my life. I want the future we talked about. I want out of hunting if you still want to as well. Just say the word and it’s done.”

Tears spill down your cheeks as you nod your head. “I do want that but Dean you hurt me. Saying you don’t want kids…”

“I was an idiot. I do want them with you. I want the house, the yard, everything. Just give me a chance to prove myself to you.”

A small smile flashes across your face. “Well, I hope you’re serious because Dean I’m pregnant.”

Dean sits up quickly and pulls you into his lap. He kisses you passionately, tongues slowly dancing together as you grip him harder against you. When he pulls away so you could both breathe he let out a chuckle. “I’m so freaking happy.” Finally, everything is going to be alright. You need each other and so both of you vow to never make drastic decisions again. Today is the beginning of your forever, just the three of you. 

Everything Tagging:

@americasass81

@awsome262338

@caffiend-queen

@caplanbuckybarnes

@charmed-asylum

@denisemarieangelina

@donutloverxo

@get0verit

@gotnofucks

@joannie95

@labella420

@lfnr-blog-blog-blog

@madscape

@miraclesoflove

@mogaruke

@mrsjobarnes

@mrsmischief209

@nekoannie-chan

@notyourtypicalrose

@patzammit

@princessofdarkwinter

@rayofdawnworld

@sweater-daddiesdumbdork

@wolfsmom1

@what-is-your-plan-today

@writercole

@drabblewithfrannybarnes

[writercole]

Millennial Mixtape Challenge

This year has been a lot of things for me - the realization that I’m getting old (I have a teenager), the publication of my first book, losing count of the amount of times I’ve watched Sons of Anarchy (I swear I’m in the double digits now), admitting to liking Tom Cruise in a movie. AND I’ve hit a thousand followers. Quadruple digits. 

In honor of this achievement, I’m putting together the Millennial Mixtape challenge. I had these songs on either a burned cd that I [redacted] songs for or a cassette tape that I [redacted] the songs off the radio for. I remember sitting in front of my stereo with a blank cassette in and ready…listening to American Top 40 with Kasey Kasem to get these songs. And he always talked over either the beginning or the end of the song.

Yes, I had trouble remembering the name and artist of these songs. Yes, I did google some of them. I did tell you I was getting old. 

Special shoutouts to: @moosekateer13​ for helping me remember some of these songs; @caplanbuckybarnes​ for promoting me so much on your own blog; @fictional-affairs​ for allowing me to corrupt our favorite characters so much; @jensengirl83​, @creatively-analytical​, @saiyanprincessswanie​, and @deangirl93​ for being their normal supportive, wonderful selves.

Anyway - Rules:

No underage smut, no toilet play. Those are hard lines and I won’t reblog them.

Write for whoever you want otherwise. I don’t care. Maybe you’ll introduce me to a new fandom, who knows.

Moodboards are allowed. If a moodboard inspires you to write a fic, tag the creator of the board as you inspo.

No deadline. For sign ups, for submissions. Hell, this is pretty much a perpetual challenge, I guess. 

More songs will be added as we go. 

No limit to participants per song.

No min or max words.

Write me something inspired by the song.

Lyrics do not have to be included but are a nice touch.

I just ask that you tag me in whatever you write.

Playlist here

My taste in music is diverse, to say the least, so there should be something on here for everyone!

Heartbreak Hotel - Whitney Houston ft Faith Evans & Kelly Price

Fantasy - Mariah Carey

Gangsta’s Paradise - Coolio

Baby, Baby - Amy Grant

Creep - TLC

Incomplete - Sisqo

Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes

I Can Tell - 504 Boys

The Real Slim Shady - Eminem

How You Remind Me - Nickelback

Where My Girls At - 702

Hey Ma - Cam’ron

Get Low - Lil Jon and the East Side Boys

Float On - Modest Mouse

Differences - Ginuwine

Complicated - Avril Lavigne

Unfoolish - Ashanti

Mesmerize - Ja Rule

I Go Back - Kenny Chesney

Pony - Ginuwine

In Da Club - 50 Cent

Family Affair - Mary J. Blige

Bottom of a Bottle - Smile Empty Soul

Halo - Soil

Truly, Madly, Deeply - Savage Garden

If Your Girl Only Knew - Aaliyah

Say My Name - Destiny’s Child

That Butt Thing - Horace Trahan and the Ossun Express

Platinum in the Ghetto - Lil Keke

Clocks - Cold Play

Straight Lines - Silverchair

Get Your Freak On - Missy Elliot

Sexy Back - Justin Timberlake

Slow Jamz - Twista

Milkshake - Kelis

Ms Jackson - Outkast

Brass Monkey - Beastie Boys

Toxic -  Britney Spears

As Long As You Love Me - Backstreet Boys

Come As You Are - Nirvana

Wait & Bleed - Slipknot

Last Nite - The Strokes

In The End - Linkin Park

Dilemma - Nelly ft. Kelly Rowland

Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Greenday

Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson

Fallin - Alicia Keys

Low - Flo Rida

I Kissed A Girl - Katy Perry - @downanddirtydean​

I Want You Back - *Nsync

Need You Now - Lady A

Nice & Slow - Usher

Picture - Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow

I’ll Be - Edwin McCain

Break Down Here - Julie Roberts

Let Her Cry - Hootie & The Blowfish

Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet

Beautiful Mess - Diamond Rio

Mr. Brightside - The Killers

Welcome To The Black Parade - My Chemical Romance

I Believe in a Thing Called Love - The Darkness

U Got It Bad - Usher

Raise Up - Petey Pablo

Falling Away From Me - Korn

Bring Me To Life - Evanescence

Country Grammar - Nelly

Waterfalls - TLC

No Scrubs - TLC

Thong Song - Sisqo

Bye Bye Bye - *Nsync

What a Girl Wants - Christina Aguilera

Get the Party Started - Pink

Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-a-lot

This is How We Do It - Montell Jordan

Tearin’ Up My Heart - *Nsync

You make Me Wanna - Usher

Summer Girls - LFO

Absolutely - Nine Days

Jumpin’ Jumpin’ - Destiny’s Child

Right Thurr - Chingy

Dirrty - Christina Aguilera

What Would You Do? - City High

No Diggity - Blackstreet

I’m Real (ft. Ja Rule) - Jennifer Lopez

Ghetto Supastar - Pras, ODB

Let’s Get Married - Jagged Edge

Come On Over Baby - Christina Aguilera

Tipsy - J-Kwon

Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice

There You Go - Pink

Holidae In - Chingy

Work It - Missy Elliot

Too Close - Next

The Way You Move - Outkast

Girl On TV - LFO

Crazy - Britney Spears

Dip It Low - Christina Milian

Jump - Kris Kross

Always On Time - Ja Rule

I Do!! - Toya

I wanna sex you up - Color Me Badd

Faded - SoulDescision

I wanna be bad - Willa Ford

He Loves You Not - Dream

Who Let The Dogs Out - Baha Men

I Hate Everything About You - Three Days Grace

Pain - Three Days Grace

Riot - Three Days Grace

Teardrops on My Guitar - Taylor Swift

Picture To Burn - Taylor Swift

Should’ve Said No - Taylor Swift

Monster - Skillet

Rebirthing - Skillet

I Will Not Bow - Breaking Benjamin

Polyamorous - Breaking Benjamin

Hot in Herre - Nelly

What’s Your Fantasy - Ludacris

Genie in a Bottle - Christina Aguilera

Miss Independent - Kelly Clarkson

My Baby - Lil’ Romeo

Where the Party At - Jagged Edge

Crazy - K-Ci and JoJo

Back Here - BB Mak

Candy - Mandy Moore

Larger than Life - Backstreet Boys

Shoot me an ask or DM or reblog to let me know if you’re participating! Obviously I’m all about the writers!

[bryanpayton]

Getting (Back) to the Paper

The year 2020 was a terrible one. There’s really no other way to put it. However, towards the end I put my focus towards this year - 2021 and what to make of it. I thought about my goals, and how I could achieve them. There were so many I made for myself and my family a year ago that I never got to in 2020. Some were due to uncontrollable circumstances, but most were my own fault.

One of those goals was to write more. And not just any type of writing, I wanted to blog and be a critic. It is, after all, a long term goal of mine to be a film, music, and fashion writer for Complex, Hypebeast, Highsnobiety, or even GQ. I want to make money from freelance writing. These long term goals are similar to the goals I had coming out of college eleven years ago. I was 24 years old, which was older than most of my peers physically, but mentally I may as well have been 21 or 22. I started interning unpaid at Indianapolis Monthly in January of 2010. I worked every week day, thinking it would help me get ahead when I should’ve interned two or three times a week, while working at J.Crew and Brooks Brothers to make ends meet (which is something I ended up doing the next year, minus the internship). I did that for six months before I landed a paid internship at Men’s Health magazine in Emmaus, PA. That internship was one I had wanted for years, and while I have fond memories of my time there, I also have deep regrets. 

I did not work hard at Men’s Health. It wasn’t because I was lazy, a bad writer, nor did I hate the job. It was because my passion for the magazine had subsided. I applied a year prior and didn’t get the job. In the approximate six months between me getting rejected and landing the job, my passion for Complex and GQ. 

I read Complex magazine all through college, but I never considered working there until I had those six months to continue exploring my passion for The Arts. I was also a budding hypebeast, getting heavily into streetwear with the help of the Dope Couture store in Bloomington, IN and Kanye West as my muse. Complex was, and still may be, the leading magazine publishing what college kids (millennials at the time) were wearing, listening to, watching, and everything we thought was cool. GQ displayed the professional style I embodied. Men’s Health was full of, well, health. It served me well throughout my high school and college days as a star athlete, but I was changing and my college football career was coming to an end. Journalism, fashion, and music were on my mind more than football. 

Still, I took the Men’s Health internship. I wasn’t awful, but simple articles seemed daunting because my mind was elsewhere. I spent hours each day perusing Complex instead of the scientific studies I was supposed to read for my current gig. This was the Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy era. I dove into Mixtape Fridays (which I wish Complex would bring back) and wrote personal reviews on all the music. This was the beginning of the Thom Browne craze of very short-cropped pants and innovative tailoring. This was the stuff that consumed me. Needless to say, when Men’s Health decided they wanted to hire one of the interns that year, I was not picked. This led me down a long path towards a different career, which I also love, but writing has never left my heart.

This brings me to today. I’m done procrastinating. I give myself permission to write crap and improve over time. I’m going to write for Complex, Hypebeast, Highsnobiety, GQ, and some other publications like Pitchfork. It’s going to take practice and I’m up for the challenge. So, here’s this blog. One of my top goals for 2021 is to write consistently. I named this blog The Modern Critique because it will largely consist of artistry I appreciate and criticize along with some profile features. I also named it that because, while I may be a bit of a jock, I’m also boujee. This blog is one big writing exercise for me to improve and enjoy my own writing so I can prepare myself to be the writer I’ve always wanted to be. So, here’s to 2021, big goals, big dreams, and making this year much better than the last.

[faycobjones]

Drake Needs a Sabbatical (Op-Ed) 11/26/18

In 2009, Rap was at a turning point.  The infamous Lil Wayne mixtape run was sadly coming to an end as Weezy was preparing himself for a stint in prison after pleading guilty for a felony weapon charge.  Urban radio was dominated by T.I & Rihanna, the Blueprint 3, and a whole lot of Justin Timberlake.  Raekwon was delivering street classics without infiltrating the mainstream and hip hop’s ultimate innovator was content creating break up records, conveying his emotions through auto tune seemingly unconcerned with the outside world.

The same instrument Kanye was falling in love with Jay was calling out on his current record, specifically on “D.O.A.”(Death of Auto Tune). The sound of hip hop was all over the place.  Purists were dissatisfied with Kanye’s newfound fondness for break up records. Ice Cream Paint Job went platinum and was Crunk’s last push.  Eminem dropped Relapse.  It seemed as though the Throne was for the taking.

“Watch Me Take It.” It takes a minute to really think back to all the tracks he’s been on. The radio singles. The hooks. The verses. Drake featuring Drake.  The emergence was at the perfect time.  Hip Hop was no longer a place where one couldn’t be vulnerable; in fact quite the contrary.  He found his niche and soon mastered his patent rap-sing-rap flow he’s able to effortlessly switch back and forth from, often multiple times in a single verse without using auto tune.  What set him apart from his peers was his ubiquitous hit making ability, his knack for balancing his early records with introspective singing and braggadocious rap bangers.  The juxtaposition of the emotional lyrics of the ballads and the paranoid arrogance of the rap tracks was and still is central to his appeal.  Drake turned into your favorite rapper, and he was undeniably your girlfriends.  Becoming internationally famous was definitely high on Drake’s list of vital accomplishments, but he also cared about being taken seriously as an artist.   

Albums like 2011’s Take Care, 2013’s Nothing was the Same cemented that idea... and then some.  The trap-inspired mixtape and the collaboration with Future right after DS2 went everywhere, went everywhere. “Jumpman. Jumpman. Jumpman.” Artistically and commercially Drake was making the right choices with the world watching.

In 2016, Drakes international fame hit totally new heights with the release of VIEWS, his long-awaited fourth studio album.  The record broke every conceivable streaming record possible and ended up doing 1.04 first week.  That’s 1.04 million album equivalents based on 245 million first-week streams.  And streams can add up in the era of making albums for that precise reason.  A formula Drake has figured out and implemented.  Views is an indulgent 81 minutes.  His decision to play it so safe musically and show no signs of even trying to evolve past his time-tested signature sound ended up becoming the albums legacy, regardless of the streaming numbers and occasional banger.

Over the course of the next two Drake commercial releases the streams increased while the quality of music diminished.  Between More Life and Scorpion there were 47 songs.  It became increasingly evident that the concept of creating an album for artistic reasons was not as important as writing radio-friendly crossover hits.  Stressing long overwrought records that end up tallying streams as background music at dinner parties were more important than well-thought out bodies of work.  Drake has always been a good enough rapper to hold his own lyrically while being the most charismatic crossover hook maker in modern day music.  His ability to make so much good music is why I believe in him.  He has to know that can’t last.  It’s why I want him to go away.

He just wrapped up 54 international arena dates with Migos.  I hope he takes some time off.  Take Quavo with you.  If it’s another talented hook maker spreading his work ethic too thin, it’s him.  Drake’s legacy and influence on rap music will never be questioned, but whether or not he was the author of a classic album is still up for debate.   

Millennial’s will argue Take Care.  I thought ‘If Youre Reading This…’ was pretty close.  Maybe I’m feeling this way because most of my favorite releases this year have been iconic for their brevity.  Good complete records that don’t compromise their records by putting filler tracks in between “the hits.”  My point is I would love to see Drake up to the challenge of taking his time and trying to make a classic.  I’m sure it’s hard to stop mass producing music, especially when you have the Midas touch.  

Take 2 years off.  Take 3. 6.  It took D’Angelo 14 years to write ‘Black Messiah.’ It took Frank 4 to write ‘blond’.  Two modern day legacy records.  It might be hard for Drake at first.  It definitely won’t be his comfort zone.  On the track ‘You & the 6,’ Drake defends his time spent with his father in an argument with his mother. “He made me listen to his music, old music, soul music, shit that can be only created when you go through it.”  If Drake is willing to go through it the same way the peers he claims inspired him did, he just might be able to drop a classic after all.

Jake James

[iamcdavis]

5 Years Since Channel Orange : A Retrospective

Island / Def Jam

Last August, the ever elusive Frank Ocean stepped back into the spotlight, a spotlight that he had been evading for four years to release two new albums to the world. Prior to the release of both the visual album Endless and the LP Blonde,  there were no more than two full length projects that the R&B crooner had released and yet, the music world was captivated by the talent of Mr. Ocean, and for good reason.  Five years ago this week, Frank Ocean released his most enjoyable project yet, Channel Orange, an album that not only catapulted him to the status of global superstardom, but also influenced an entire generation of millennial singers and songwriters.

At the start of 2012, Frank Ocean accumulated a considerable amount of buzz for a multitude of high-profile reasons.  Ocean operated as a member of the LA hip -hop collective Odd Future, a group that was still riding the wave of an extremely successful 2011, and also released his debut mixtape, Nostalgia Ultra.  Later in 2011, Ocean was tapped by Jay Z and Kanye West to sing on a few tracks for their collaborative album Watch The Throne, along with also being mentioned in a cover story by The Fader.  Nostalgia Ultra, while a strong project in its own right, still fit the mold of other mainstream contemporary R&B acts.  The mixtape was braggadocious, shallow at certain points, and only contained a few glimpses of Ocean’s vulnerability. In this early part of the decade, to create an entire album full of solemn and personal tracks almost seemed taboo, that was until a night before Channel Orange.

On the eve of the release of his first album, Ocean made an announcement on his Tumblr page revealing that his first intimate encounter was with another man.  The announcement revealed not just a triumphant and celebratory coming out revelation, but it also established a narrative for the album, a narrative that boasted in honesty and vulnerability that not many albums in that decade could be compared too. Songs such as “Thinkin Bout You,” “Bad Religion” and “Forrest Gump” serve as odes to his sexuality during a pre-marriage-equality America.  Ocean’s stature within hip -hop, a genre in which homophobia still occurs at times, is what makes his revelations so unique and needed.

Aside from the vulnerable lyrics and themes that the album contains, Channel Orange is a masterpiece that effortlessly fuses together R&B and art pop sensibilities.   The summertime aura the album produced along with the fusion of both R&B and Rap can be derived from the hip -hop and neo -soul predecessors of Pharrell, D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, The Fugees, and Andre 3000. Just like those individuals, Ocean uses introspective lyricism and storytelling to convey extremely passionate emotions through subtle yet passionate vocal ability. Like Ocean’s contemporaries, the production of the album takes it’s cues from some of the most acclaimed indie artists of its time.  Hints of Tame Impala mixed with Vampire Weekend are spread all across the album, continuing to bridge the divide between the genres of indie and R&B that artists such as The Weeknd, James Blake, and Janelle Monae, did a year or two prior.  The instrumentation of Channel Orange is not just a continuation of Ocean’s previous mixtape, Nostalgia Ultra, but more so an expansion of it.  The production is more ambitious with live instrumentation and songs that contain multiple movements.  “Pyramids” for example is a 10 - minute track with three movements that move from a synth anthem, to a chill wave groove to a John Mayer outro that while on paper seem to contradict each other, but when combined, blend together to create an R&B epic that is as climactic as it is sultry.  

The album also stands to challenge the perception of blackness by pushing a counterculture of black artistry within the mainstream. As a direct causation of Channel Orange’s success, the sounds of avant garde R&B have now crossed over to mainstream pop to influence a wide array of artists such as SZA, Blood Orange, Anderson Paak, Khalid, FKA Twigs, Childish Gambino, and more have been able to build their own worlds and content that branched out from the tree that is Channel Orange.   

There are a million things that Channel Orange is not.  The album is not as salacious and intoxicating as the debut Weeknd mixtape House of Balloons, the lyrical content is not as deep as it is with Ocean’s second LP Blonde, nor is it as experimental, but what Channel Orange continues to stand as is a pillar of excellence for a debut album.  It is a debut album that is built on sincerity, raw emotion and beautiful production.  The album established Frank Ocean as a pop powerhouse.  The mainstream attention propelled Ocean to where he is today, a Grammy-winning superstar capable of headlining festivals and able to influence an entire generation of artists from multiple genres to expand upon musical genres and acceptance of sexuality. Channel Orange will forever remain a significant project not just for Ocean’s legacy but for an entire generation of artists. By creating an album that serves as a vessel of honesty with captivating music, Frank Ocean established a new standard for debut albums of this decade, a gold standard.

[newstechreviews]

So far, the music of 2020 has been defined by its absences. Tours have been postponed; festivals have been canceled. Many high-profile artists, including The Dixie Chicks, Sam Smith and Alanis Morissette, have scrapped their albums for the time being, leaving immense holes in the year’s release calendar.

But plenty of excellent music has been released anyway; some of it seems to address the fragile state of the world directly, while other albums act as welcome reprieves. From Fiona Apple’s return to Lil Uzi Vert’s ascendance, here are the best albums of the year up to this point.

Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia

It’s bold for a young pop star to title her album Future Nostalgia; it suggests a claim to timelessness, the kind of music that will represent an era and bring fans rushing back to that moment in their lives whenever it plays. Lucky for Britain’s Dua Lipa, that boldness paid off on her sleek, disco-leaning sophomore project. Lipa has a knack for earworms; her breakthrough came on 2017’s inescapable “New Rules.” Future Nostalgia, on which she has songwriting contributions on every track, has several: the kiss-off anthem “Don’t Start Now,” the passionate dance track “Break My Heart,” the winking, lusty “Physical.” It takes a masterful artist to sing lyrics like “My sugar boo, I’m levitating” and sell them. But Lipa is on top of her game, flavoring her rich soprano voice with a warm sense of humor in songs that rely on juicy, sticky beats. By the end of the album, a term of endearment like “honey boo” sounds timeless, too.—Raisa Bruner

Fiona Apple, Fetch the Bolt Cutters

Fetch the Bolt Cutters is what happened when Fiona Apple, now decades into a career during which she’s been both a critical darling and subject of controversy, let go of any last shred of her need for approval. Apple recorded this album entirely in her home in Venice Beach with trusted friends and collaborators; you can hear her and her friends’ dogs barking in “Fetch the Bolt Cutters,” and the percussion is often crafted from found items around the house. But in its 13 wry, witheringly honest tracks, Apple’s newfound musical freedom has also drawn up some of her most powerful indictments of both other people and the shackles that accompany celebrity and womanhood. The album feels potent, like something Apple had to get off her chest. There’s the unmodulated yodeling at the end of “I Want You to Love Me,” the rush of “Shameika,” the comic delivery of “Ladies, ladies, ladies.” “Kick me under the table all that you want, I won’t shut up,” she intones on “Under the Table,” and it’s both both a statement of resilience and a reminder that music can offer us much more than love stories. Fetch the Bolt Cutters is about friends, acquaintances, bosses, lovers, exes, societal forces: every kind of relationship, put under Apple’s microscope and unleashed as an anthem of individuality.—Raisa Bruner

Grimes, Miss Anthropocene

The recent headlines about Grimes have covered everything but the music—her baby’s name, her Twitter feuds, the labor politics of her boyfriend Elon Musk. It’s a shame, because her latest album Miss Anthropocene rivals anything she’s released over her decade-long career. At first glance, its muddled electro-pop aesthetic and lyrics might seem to obscure Grimes’ lofty stated goal of creating a “death god” representing climate change. But each melody is an earworm, and terrifying themes gradually unfold in mantras: “Cross my heart and hope to fly”; “I wanna play a beautiful game even though we’re gonna lose”; “I hear they’re calling my name/ I’m not gonna sleep anymore.” Grimes might be a controversy magnet, but she’s also still one of the most compelling and ambitious pop artists of the ‘00s.—Andrew R. Chow

Jeremy Cunningham, The Weather Up There

The Weather Up There grapples with one of the most painful topics imaginable: the murder of a loved one. Twelve years ago, the Cincinnati jazz drummer Jeremy Cunningham’s younger brother Andrew was shot to death at home by two men who mistook him for someone else. On this album, Andrew’s death is confronted in direct ways—voice message tributes from family members and friends, spoken word poems—as well as in musical form. And while the subject matter is anguished, the album is far from a difficult listen: Cunningham recruits some of the world’s best jazz musicians—like the guitarist Ben Parker and the cellist Tomeka Reid—to create gorgeous textures and probing melodies.—Andrew R. Chow

Lil Uzi Vert, Eternal Atake

In March, while much the world’s population was cocooning in their homes, an impish 25-year-old iconoclast from Philadelphia erupted back into the cultural stratosphere riding a UFO and three alter egos. Eternal Atake, Lil Uzi Vert’s second studio album, is not just a streaming juggernaut—it racked up 400 million streams in its first week—but a classic of the streaming era, filled with incandescent melodies and an elastic sonic palette. Over 18 songs, Uzi shows off his array of approaches: he flips an overexposed Backstreet Boys song (“I Want It That Way”) into something genuinely new (“That Way”); stretches his voice to its highest and lowest registers (“You Better Move”); turns the word fragment “Balenci” into some kind of inexorable incantation (“Pop”); and proves he can rap with the best with them (on the turbo-charged “Homecoming”). A few years ago, Uzi was a distracted challenger to hip-hop’s royalty; now, he’s the center of the world, or possibly the universe.—Andrew R. Chow

Makaya McCraven, We’re New Again: A Reimagining

Since Gil Scott-Heron’s death in 2011, the poet and musician’s legacy has only grown in stature, as more and more people become aware of his impact on modern protest rhetoric and the origins of hip-hop. In February, the jazz drummer Makaya McCraven released We’re New Again: A Reimagining, which is not just a tribute to Scott-Heron but a reinvigoration. The album is the third major conceptualization of vocal fragments delivered by Heron in the years before his death: The first, Richard Russell’s I’m New Here, was sparse and industrial, while the second, Jamie xx’s We’re New Here, recast Scott-Heron as a dance-floor prophet.

This version by McCraven—one of the leaders of jazz’s new global vanguard—perhaps comes closest to Scott-Heron’s own aesthetic and avant-garde approach. McCraven brings together an all-star band to create a diasporic collage of experimental black music: J Dilla breakbeats, free jazz brambles, Afro Latin grooves, neo soul. And while Scott-Heron’s lyrics address addiction, insomnia and alienation, McCraven finds a communal warmth in them—and perhaps a blueprint to overcoming isolation and oppression.—Andrew R. Chow

The 1975, Notes on a Conditional Form

At 22 tracks, Notes on a Conditional Form can feel more like a long, meandering stroll through the eclectic mind of lead singer Matty Healy than a concentrated artistic statement. That, perhaps, is the point. What does the duet ballad “Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America,” utterly tender and minimal, have in common with a Greta Thunberg spoken-word track on climate change, or the angsty punk rock of “People,” or the slow country swing of “Roadkill,” or the purely atmospheric glow of “Having No Head”? Just the source. The 1975 have never boxed themselves in; this mix of jazz production, experimental instrumentation and unusual song structures is par for the course over the British band’s nearly-two-decade career together. But Notes on a Conditional Form feels even more like a grab-bag of ideas than usual. They say Millennials are easily distracted, but here’s an argument in favor of being comfortable with constant tonal switching, because there’s beauty in the unexpected. It sounds like the group is trying new things in real-time, unfettered by the need to over-edit. Is it all performance, or is it authentic playfulness? Does it matter, when it sounds good?—Raisa Bruner

Perfume Genius, Set My Heart on Fire Immediately

Set My Heart on Fire Immediately starts with a ragged intake of breath. It’s a good idea to inhale along with Mike Hadreas, who performs as the alt-pop creator Perfume Genius, because the uncompromising album about to begin holds a lengthy, emotionally vibrant journey in store. Now on his fourth album, Perfume Genius proves he’s equally comfortable with off-kilter indie rock, shimmering synth-pop and any shade of genre in between. His songs work a bit like paintings, in which he transforms sweetly-textured melodies into sheets of echoing, punk-inflected sound (“Whole Life”), or spackles flecks of glitter over a grimy base (“Leave”). Or, as on “Without You,” he can make a rock tune that twinkles, full of color. Perfume Genius has regularly plumbed his experiences of identity, relationships and pain for lyrical content. Here, he’s more opaque than ever. But pay close attention, and he’s also found new points of relating. “Take this wildness away,” he pleads over the bright swing of “On the Floor.” Listeners might beg to disagree.—Raisa Bruner

Yaeji, What We Drew

Over last few years, the bilingual Korean-American artist Yaeji has been throwing low-burning dance parties across the globe, linking up with local artists to create music that transgresses genres and cultures. Her mixtape What We Drew is an extension of this expansive vision: it includes producers from London and Tokyo and rappers from Oakland and North Carolina and pulls from trap, footwork, industrial music and even ASMR. The result is a simmering 40-minute recreation of a sweaty Brooklyn warehouse dance party. Throughout the project, Yaeji’s exploration of contrasting opposites—local and global, mythical and mundane, euphoric and depressive—keeps the project fresh listen after listen.—Andrew R. Chow

[soyoureviewhiphoptoo]

Soundtrack of the Week 24/08/2017

It is time for the Soundtrack of the Week, the SYRHHT blog segment where I discuss latest music releases and other projects that I listen to over the space of 7 days. So, here is the Soundtrack!

ALBUM (EP)

Dave East- Paranoia: A True Story Released: August 18, 2017 Label: Def Jam Recordings and Mass Appeal Records

As I have made very clear on this blog, Dave East has become one of my favourite rappers in the new age of hip hop (he has just overtaken Vince Staples as the artist who has been given the most mentions on a Soundtrack with 3 individual entries). Following the release of his acclaimed mixtape Kairi Chanel last year, Dave East gives us Paranoia: A True Story, an EP that acts as a prelude to his debut studio album for Def Jam. As prelude EPs go, I was worried that this would be a similar situation to Vic Mensa’s Manuscript which only had four songs to act as a prelude to his debut album The Autobiography (two projects I do want to hear but have yet to). Interestingly, even with three skits and one interlude, Paranoia is still quite stacked with nine songs to warm us up for the pending album.

Once you overlook the four aforementioned filler tracks, Dave East shows off once again what has gotten him this far; raw lyricism and vivid storytelling. Setting the scene with the opening track Paranoia, Dave illustrates the mindset he has become accustomed to; paranoia over the people around him as they might be trying to steal from him or see to it that he ends up in prison. In the life he leads on the streets or even as an up-and-coming artist, it is hard to see who to trust and it is easy to become paranoid. The feeling of paranoia is further explored on standout songs The Hated  (which illustrates the story of 2 drug dealers) and Phone Jumpin’ (which features Wiz Khalifa and samples Busta Rhymes- Gimme Some More which was amazing btw). In general, he sticks to what he does great, strong and lyrical showings about urban life in Harlem hoods. 

This EP also has the softer songs for the ladies that are marketed as the lead singles. The first of them is Perfect featuring Chris Brown, which was talked about earlier this month on a Soundtrack but another song that is looking to gain some traction in the mainstream is My Dirty Little Secret. This song illustrates yet another story about a girl that East is getting with. 

She really my type because she think love is boring I don’t know if it’s the jewelry or the cash That made her respond to me so fast She ain’t never asked me nothin’ ‘bout my past

Taken from My Dirty Little Secret Even within this love story, those feelings of paranoia are still prevalent.

Like this the shorty, you been talking bout and showing us I’m growing up, no more Keisha’s nigga I’m blowing up I don’t trust her enough to pass the weed I be rolling up

Taken from My Dirty Little Secret What is immediately interesting is that he makes direct reference to a previous song his, Keisha where he was just sleeping around but now he is looking to settle down and yet that last line brings everything back to the paranoia.

This song shows the story of East meeting a girl but what is interesting here is the constant cognitive dissonance that is present throughout the song. On one hand, he really likes her, wanting to spend all his time with her, wanting to make love to her and tell the world about her and yet on the other hand, he is viewing her as just a another girl he should not really care for, constantly thinking she just be using him for his riches.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Paranoia: A True Story. It is a strong showing of his storytelling abilities and gives us hope towards his debut album that will be coming next year. I openly recommend everyone to listen to this project.

RATINGS

Concept: 3/5 Production: 4/5 Lyrical Content: 4.5/5 Flow and Delivery: 4/5 Repeatability: 4/5 Did I enjoy this project? Yes, I did Songs to Recommend? Paranoia, The Hated, Phone Jumpin, Dirty Little Secret and Found A Way

Final Rating: 3.9/5

Dave East- My Dirty Little Secret

Dave East- The Hated The third track of the album, Dave East tells the story of two friends, Anthony and Cory as they grew up and found themselves in the dangerous and frivolous lifestyle brought about from drug dealing. A story filled with expensive spending, imprisonment, gang beef, betrayal and so much more.

MIXTAPE

A$AP Ferg- Still Striving Released: August 18, 2017 Label: ASAP Worldwide, Polo Grounds Music and RCA Records

If I wrote on here that Ferg was the best artist to come out of the A$AP Mob, would you believe me? It is something that you can genuinely argue and question. While A$AP Rocky has had the most success of the New York rap group and is the reason a lot of people know of the Mob in the first place, A$AP Ferg has definitely risen right behind his friend. With the release of the well-received Trap Lord in 2013, Ferg has been on a rise in the rap industry. His follow-up album Always Strive and Prosper illustrated the changes he has explored stylistically, utilising a wider range of instrumentation and more polished production. In my mind, Ferg has a strong grasp of modern trends in hip-hop and is easily able to adapt himself to fit the trends without giving up his artistic integrity, staying true to the unique style that brought him fame in the first place.

This mixtape, Still Striving is a strong showing of Ferg utilising the current wave of hip-hop. On this mixtape, Ferg has MANY FEATURES. With Meek Mill, Cam'ron, Dave East, Lil Yachty, Nav, Famous Dex, Playboi Carti, Kid, Migos, A$AP Rocky, MadeinTYO, Busta Rhymes, French Montana, Rick Ross and Snoop Dogg, Ferg uses the variety of sounds to his fullest advantage. 

Now here’s where the issue with this mixtape lies; your enjoyment of this mixtape weighs heavily upon your feelings of some of the younger rappers he has featured. Ferg holds down every song he is on, giving us his strong lyricism over his exuberant, trap-influenced flow but you might switch off immediately once you hear someone else start spitting overly simplistic lyrics, with reliance on auto-tune or ad-libs. While I can say that East Coast Remix is the best song in terms of featured artists (read the Soundtrack from last week for my in-depth “analysis” of the song), Trap and a Dream featuring Meek Mill and Olympian featuring Dave East are strong standout tracks; these two rappers are very similar to Ferg stylistically so their respective chemistries are very clear. Funny enough though, while only three of the fourteen tracks have no features at all, they are also some of Ferg’s stronger verses on the project.

While Still Striving brings up some decent songs to listen to for the moment, it is probably worth waiting for A$AP Ferg’s next studio album to hear him rap to the fullest. 

RATINGS

Concept: 2/5 Production: 3.5/5 Lyrical Content: 3.5/5 Flow and Delivery: 4/5 Repeatability: 3/5 Did I enjoy this project? I did but it was hard at times Songs to Recommend? Trap and A Dream, East Coast Remix, Nandos, Rubberband Man and Olympian

Final Rating: 3.1/5

A$AP Ferg- Nandos One of the songs on the mixtape without any features. It is named after a chain restaurant here in the UK that specialises in chicken (random, I know). The song is an upbeat recollection of Ferg thinking about a time he and his friends were struggling to eat now that those days are far behind him. It is a standout track in my mind and is a good showing of Ferg’s use of the trap style.

SONG

Princess Nokia- G.O.A.T Released: June 28, 2017 Label: Rough Trade Records

The great thing about the internet is that millions of people are sharing around music every day and you can find something you have never heard of and immediately love it. This song is an example of that for me.The New York M.C. known as Princess Nokia has been making music since 2010, previously under the name of Wavy Spice (the lost member of the Spice Girls?). Gaining fans through her Soundcloud and YouTube early on in the decade and being apart of the group Ratking, she recently made waves with her EP 1992 and loose singles such as Brujas and G.O.A.T

From the very little I’ve read up on her so far, I see her as a representation of a millennial raised in the internet era; openly embracing intersectionality as she is a kaleidoscope of personalities and identities within a single being. Makes this song, G.O.A.T  stand out is the lyrics. 

Hate to burst your bubble, bitch I’m that weird girl that’s runnin’ shit I’m a boss bitch runnin’ big shit Got a company, need a couple mil’ Ain’t no rap talk, this my real life And that’s on God, I almost died twice

Opening lines of G.O.A.T

Off the bat, she challenges rap norms by calling herself a weird girl that is still a bad bitch who has been in two different near-death experiences (getting shot at close range when she was 17 and having a lighter explode in her face); we often have two different images of a “bad bitch” and a “weird girl” especially in this hip-hop culture, thinking they are two different entities and cannot be the same but of course, Nokia contradicts that belief. Throughout the song, she will go on to contradict the view of what a female rapper should be. In this song, Princess Nokia tells us that she is a bi-racial, mosh-pitting, intersectional feminist skater chick without curves who likes to watch anime, play with toys, go on MySpace, the film Clueless and OG Southern female rappers like Gangsta Boo, La Chat and Princess Loco….who just so happens to be a rapper. If you compare her to rappers in the mainstream right now (not just female rappers at this point), you probably won’t find a lot of rappers remotely similar.

I change rap forever, man It’s me who had the biggest plan Ain’t no average bitch, I’ve been the man I’ve been the G.O.A.T, eatin’ off the land

Princess Nokia is one of the more unique and intriguing people who happen to be a rapper I have seen in a while and honestly, I am hooked. Her EP 1992 is going to be reissued as an album with G.O.A.T and five other songs added to the tracklist; needless to say, I will be listening. 

Honestly, G.O.A.T will go down as one of my favourite songs of 2017 and it is looking like I am going to become a Princess Nokia fan.

[willofsefg-blog]

Will of SEFG

Introduction

I thought this particular Friday would be any ordinary interview. Nothing too extravagant, your simple interview involving a male rapper who resides in the Philadelphia area. Since I have previously experienced interviewing musicians on my college radio show, I was ready for the basics. Our schedules continued to conflict, so when we got the chance to finally meet up the time was pushing 10pm. He came to my apartment, sat on my roommate’s bed while I saw on my mattress looking directly towards him. The room gave off dim lighting, like a cafe scene somewhere in downtown Philly. Comfortable. That’s the vibe I was pushing for. I’ve had the opportunity to work with Will SEFG in other inquiries not related to music. From clowning around at our campus job, to combining our crews for a good harmful turn up. Yes I knew Will, but I had no clue who Will SEFG was. One passing I’ve received links to music videos, and singles. I wasn’t clueless to his passion of music. This boy has great talent, there’s nothing denying that.

My goal is comprehend how his journey of music truly became his light into spreading positivity. Even though I knew this artist personally, I still had my doubts. Was this going to be a bull crap interview where he tells me the bare minimum essentials to get by. Would have to pull all the scraps together to conduct a well written dope master piece? Frankly, I was proven wrong. During this interview I gained a cutting-edge appreciation of the grind of an upcoming African American superstar.

Will SEFG had a calm approach to him. To give the interview a sense of dramatic effect, I played late 90s-early 2000s hip hop music in the background. I felt like it was only appropriate. Why not set the tone with a little legendary tunes from the late Notorious B.I.G.  One of the many Fathers of Hip Hop. Could I be sitting across from someone who has the potential to follow in the big footsteps?

Not wasting any time, I dove right into the interview. I asked Will to explain his upbringing in one single world? He chuckled and took a few seconds to put his history in a forceful response. “Challenging” I then followed up by saying if this word was meant to be taken in a negative or positive connotation. He replied, “Good thing because me having to face those challenges and dodging stuff that I shouldn’t be doing. Showed me how to stay out of trouble and keep my head on straight.” Born and raised in Chester, PA Will had many opportunities to turn off the right track in life.

Relationship With Family

Digging a little bit deeper into the subject, Will tells me he had a strong role model in his life, that many boys in his generation did not have. His father. Right away when he mentions his dad he could tell the close relationship that is there. “It was always love in my household and I think that helped me to get where I am today and where I’m trying to be.” Will can remember the times when his father would take him to basketball games and by him popcorn and other sweet snacks. His father use to talk him about girls, and even taught him how to tie his first tie as a young boy. “My father loved his sons. All three of us was his best friends. We hung out all the time with our Pops.” After Will said he started smiling and said there’s one event every year his father use to get them extremely excited for. “Every year for the NBA play-offs we knew it was about to go down in my household!” I can feel the energy Will gave off when describing the love he had for his father. Then suddenly when I asked how has his father supported his rapper dream, he quickly drew quiet and stared down at his hands. “Umm my father died from some rare form of cancer. We ain’t know he had it… it was too late when we found out.” When Will was a teenager in high school his father passed away.. Will said he didn’t remember much, and I could immediately tell it was a time in his life he didn’t want to continue to think about.. His mother was left alone to raise three maturing boys.  “My mother showed me that women are strong, like strong strong… stronger than men… at least I think so. She showed me no matter what you can probably always better your situation.”

Start of Music

I then begin to ask Will what kind of music was he introduced to as a child. What were some of the tracks he remembers his parents playing throughout the house, or in the car. He first starts out by saying “Wasn’t really a music heavy family.” but then decided to dig deeper into his memory giving me more of an answer “Good music was being played. Everything had substances. The Whispers, Temptations, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu.” When he told me the list of artist he grew up on, I took in the various talented people he named for me. All of them have a special place in African American soul music. Personally he said an artist who had a major impact on him while growing up is the living legend himself, Jay-Z. It became such an ironic moment because his 2000s music began to play as we continue our conversation. “One of my all-time favorite Jay-Z Records is ‘Feelin It’”. The record “Feelin It’ is one of the tracks from Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt album that was released in 1996. “...When I made my first tape I listened to Reasonable doubt probably like 20 times… I listen to any album my Dad had in the crib… there was like 6 Jay-Z Albums. Blueprint 1,2,3, I had Kingdom Come, and Black Album.” Understanding the influence Jay-Z’s music had on Will’s musical exploration, I started to notice similarities. Will of SEFG is the type of rapper who enjoys a good time, yet knows how to tell a story and show vulnerability if needed.. Jay-Z had the same writing style, especially in his projects created at the beginning of his career.

The Come Up

Famous rappers are known to start rapping at a very young age. Usually dropping bars in school, for family members or even out on the corner in front of their local papi store. Will entered into the rap culture differently. So different that some might not take his hunger for the craft seriously. He started truly developing his craft last year. “When I released the last mixtape. 2016.”  In 2016 Will of SEFG released his first official EP Waves.Vibes.Tings with his friend Coast. 10 songs, arranged in a specific storytelling order. He mentioned this friend of his named, Coast. Was Will in a group like OutKast, or Kid N’ Play? When I questioned this he quickly set the record straight in a humorous matter.

Will is apart of a movement called “Strive Every Day For Greatness,” He then continues “It’s a group of young black men from the city of Chester.” The acronym was inspired by his father. Since that moment Will and his team has been rocking with it ever since.

Basically, Will and his friend Coast are apart of this movement that’s why they both have the titles of “Will of SEFG” and “Coast of SEFG”. They both decided to do a collaboration project where they both feature songs together, but still release individual singles on the same EP. Boom! Now it makes sense, no Beastie Boys effect, simply Will x Coast.

I can tell Will that nowadays the trend of millennials is to start a rap career. Especially in the Philadelphia area, there is a lot of copycats. Everyone wants to sound like the next big guy that’s popping from their city. What makes Will of SEFG unique? “I value music.” his simple response made me want more. But that’s all he could give me, that was his true answer.

While being a musician and a college student, I was curious to see how Will balanced the two. He tells me his major is Construction Management, and with his brother’s help he gets a lot of help with pushing his music career. By being his manager, Rob is always looking out and finding ways to enhance Will x Coast’s musical talents. Having a strong foundation is essential in getting your brand out there. Especially with social media becoming super essential in today’s society.

SEFG Clothing & Charity

Later, I found out that SEFG is not your average team, like Cash Money or G.O.O.D. Music. Yes, they make music for their generation to kick it too, but the also have a clothing line that expresses their brand as well. From hats to crewnecks the SEFG team does a dope job at creating trendy attire for men and women. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to listen to their music while wearing the “Spruce Green ‘striveGreatness” cap, right?

That’s not all! SEFG has multiple charity programs that gives back to the city where Will and his boys grew up. He says he remembers growing up and nobody doing anything like that for him and his homies. That’s why they now have bookbag drives, water ice giveaways and even Christmas toy drive for students who bring their report card in. His humbleness spoke volumes, it drew me closer to want to know about the cause.. How the children responded to their generous acts from men who look like them.

“The adults are very proud of what we are doing, and the kids just smile. They come from a city that is not too passionate so we don’t expect kids to say thank you.”

Future of SEFG

Will believes he has grown a lot from this time last year until now. He wants to continue to perfect his craft, one area at a time. In 10 years he sees himself, owning his own record label making SEFG way bigger than it is now. He also pictures himself owning his late father’s old carpentry business with his brothers. With having hopes of one day collaborating with Erykah Badu, or even Jill Scott. When Will, a 6’4 rapper, who doesn’t show that much soul tells me who his dream collaboration would be with, I couldn’t help but squint my eyes and tilt my head to the side.

“Why are they your dream collaboration?” I questioned, stunned by his answer.

“I want that old school vibe that people will enjoy.”

[sashaloriene]

The Collection Exhibit

As I've been focusing on my goal this year of being present, taking the leap, and not giving up, I decided to try my hand at curating my first collaborative exhibit with another artist named Jona Mone't. Being both members of The Sanctuaries, I thought it would be a good idea to not only challenge myself by collaborating (something I've never done to this extent), but gain more exposure in curating artistic events. 

So far, this has been a great learning experience. Contacting organizations and galleries, writing exhibit proposals, sharpening artist intentions and statements, figuring out what to do and not to do in the future, etc. I like the feeling of cultivating great experiences and working with talent artists. I also love the fact that I've spent most of my time at home planning and creating/painting. It's been very fulfilling and somewhat therapeutic. I could definitely do this as a lifestyle. 

So I'm super excited for "The Collection" exhibit! More information below:

‘The Collection’ exhibit will highlight the need of curated civic engagement in artistic avenues in effort to promote collective thinking and conversation. This experience will incorporate music and art to portray a visual journey for all. It will be a collaborative visual album series that fuses music and art and represents the artists’ interpretations of songs, similar to that of a mixtape and visual journey. Paintings will range from small to large size and represent specific songs from a selection of soul, R&B, hip hop, and alternative genres.

Jona Mone’t and I will present a visual journey through music. We will be challenging the modern day perception of music by exploring the concept of each song through surrealism and abstract work. Each piece will evoke its own thoughts and emotions in connection with the music and its audience. In doing so, more diverse conversations will be sparked, inspiring an engaged community.

ALSO!!! ...

We will be participating in The Most Known Unknown Podcast, an online series that features a lively trip of DC-Metro area millennials who discuss their opinions on pop culture, social media, and local issues, for their monthly happy hour event on March 3rd, from 6-10pm at Smith’s Public Trust. As the featured painters, Jona Mone't and I will be performing a live collaborative painting. This will be a great opportunity to partner with another organization that promotes dialogue and collaboration with local talent to build strong relationships and positive interactions within the community. During this event, we will be painting a collaborative piece that will be our final piece and sneak peek for “The Collective” exhibit the following Friday, March 10th. RSVP!

Hope you all can make it and experience the good vibes! We've been working super hard and will give you all a great exhibit :)

[writercole]

Millennial Mixtape Challenge Master List

In the End - @all-alone-he-turns-to-stone​

Heartbreak Hotel - @moosekateer13​

Magic Jake - @evansrogerskitten​

Bring Me To Life - @nekoannie-chan​

Need You Now - @saiyanprincessswanie​

[writercole]

Stripper!Jake is happening. I can’t deny us. 🔥 May I please have Pony by Ginuwine for your challenge?

You’ve got it.

I wonder if we could get GiGi to make him do the dance and film it for us? GiGi, babe, if you’re on here, please let us know.

Millennial Mixtape Challenge

[writercole]

Hey Cole! Can I do one song per fic and tag you in all 125? They are soooo good and it's too hard to pick just one

Yes, absolutely! If it strikes your muse, do it. I'm gonna be honest and say that I've got several plot bunnies from this playlist.

Millennial Mixtape Challenge

[writercole]

Can I write a fic for Lady A - Need you now. I’m thinking of writing it for Dean….

Uh, yes! I'm dying to see what you come up with!

Millennial Mixtape Challenge

[writercole]

Congrats on 1000 followers! Your challenge playlist had me jammin' (but I also feel you on getting old because I will have a teen next year 😳). I'm thinking I will do "Faded" with one of the Captain Americas. Got some ideas brewing already...

Oh I'm so glad you liked it! If it makes you feel any better, nothing really changed from 12 to 13.

That song. With those characters. Sounds AMAZING. Can't wait!

Millennial Mixtape Challenge

[writercole]

Hello! Congrats on your following-- that's incredible. I'd like to participate in the mix tape challenge.

Number 43- In the End by Linkin Park.

YAAASSSSSS!!! I can't wait to see what you do with that. It's one of my favorite songs, and literally my favorite album of all time. Hybrid Theory got me through high school.

Millennial Mixtape Challenge

[writercole]

Can I pls have for science I will not bow for your challenge pls thank you

For science. As long as you write for who I think you're writing for.

Millennial Mixtape Challenge