Music Review: Earl Sweatshirt pulls many influences on "Some Rap Songs"

And on the last day of November, the 2018 rap scene was put to shame by Earl Sweatshirt. “Some Rap Songs” is a dangerously over simplified title for Earl’s latest album as it turns out be a carefully calculated album disguised in a mask to look like a loose, free flowing piece of work.

Upon first listen, this might sound like a dismissible album that seems messy and jumbled but, this is the fundamental element that Earl uses to capture listeners and hold them down for the full ride and not just a single track. Each song serves as a puzzle piece to a larger image but, as the album continues it’s evident that the pieces to this circular narrative aren’t for the same puzzle. What you end up with is an abstract collage of tellings from Earl’s life.

Column: Why can't artists stop spoiling their music

There’s no other experience like waking up on Friday morning and seeing a new album from an artist that I like to listen to. Sometimes I know they’re coming, there’s been promotions, ads, and usually a single leading up to it, sometimes it’s a complete surprise and for the most part I’m dying to consume all the new music that has been released into the world.

However, a disturbing trend amongst artists has begun. They have developed a habit of releasing an overflow of singles that spoils the first listen to their new albums. This sacred moment of experiencing a collection of new music for the first time is under fire as artists feel the need to release half of their new albums in the form of singles, thus robbing fans of the magical experience that is an album first listen.

5 songs to add to your holiday playlist

Thanksgiving weekend is over and everyone is back to their usual bustle and hustle. However, the holiday season is upon us with Hanukkah and Christmas fast approaching. This is a collection of holiday tunes from a variety of genres and artists to suit your holiday mood.

“You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

A swing take on the song “You’re a Mean One,” iconic to the book and movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss. The song describes the Grinch who is the least holiday spirited Who of Whoville. In this rendition of the sound saxophone, trumpet decorate the swing beat.

The rising popularity of international music

Within the past year, there has been a significant rise in music coming into America from a across the globe.. Similar to the well-known, “British Invasion” phenomenon in the 60s, music from different parts of Asia, Africa and Spanish speaking countries have showed themselves as a force to be reckoned with in terms of popularity among American listeners.

In an age of globalization, media coming from all over the world is at our fingertips. As for music, streaming services like Spotify offer curated playlists such as, “Viva Latino,” “Afropop” and “Essential K-Pop,” to satisfy audiences with the popularity of global music.

Spotify is available in over 60 countries, leaving listeners with a vast selection of music from around the world in the palm of our hand.

Album Review: Joji discusses vulnerability on latest record

What R&B singer Joji revealed in his first track, “Attention,” is incredibly telling of who he is as an artist — he pours out vulnerability through these lyrics acknowledging his more subtle emotions.

“I thought I'd vocalize my troubles, but nobody will listen — I know I'm cryptic and I'm weird, that s*** comes off as indifferent.”

"Dirty Computer" a beautiful expression of sexuality

Janelle Monáe’s album “Dirty Computer,” released in April of this year, is a bold expression of her unique experiences with sexuality and self-expression, and how these experiences have been shaped by American society. Monáe, who also came out as pansexual this year, uses “Dirty Computer” as a way to give a voice to women and their sexuality, something which is often ignored.

“Dirty Computer” is beautifully crafted, with the sounds of several of the songs clearly influenced by artists of the 1970s and 80s. These vintage elements are mixed in with more modern, electronic sounds evocative of the computer in the album’s title. This is particularly noticeable in the album’s second track, “Take a Byte,” in which Monáe creates an image of a herself as a sexual being who is both confident and playful.