FEATURES
Mental Metal: Tool’s Ænima Turns 25
Dusting ‘Em Off is a rotating, free-form feature that revisits a classic album, film, or moment in pop-culture history. This piece celebrates Tool’s acclaimed sophomore album Ænima. Editor’s Note: This article originally ran in 2016, but has been updated in 2021 to reflect the 25th anniversary of Ænima. Many musicians have been influenced by books, but there seems to be something especially literary about the genres of hard rock and metal. This goes double for horror and fantasy fiction: Led Zeppelin meditated on The Lord of the Rings, Black Sabbath wailed about “The Wizard,” and Metallica thrashed to the monster Cthulu. Others have drawn imagery out of the Bible, Norse mythology, or the bloodier epochs of European history. For their second album, Tool drew on the writings of Carl Jun...
Rap Song of the Week: Lil Nas X and Megan Thee Stallion Brush Off the Haters on “Dolla Sign Slime”
Rap Song of the Week breaks down the rap and hip-hop tracks you need to hear every week. Check out the full playlist here. This week, Lil Nas X teams up with Megan Thee Stallion on his Montero track “Dolla Sign Slime.” After a rollout that left conservative pundits clutching their pearls, Lil Nas X finally dropped his debut album, Montero, today and revealed a complete artist comfortable in his true identity. “Dolla Sign Slime” is not one of the many soul-baring songs on the project, but a Megan Thee Stallion-assisted banger squarely aimed at everyone who predicted the 22-year-old rapper’s downfall. Here to dispel all the rumors and naysayers, Lil Nas X uses the anthemic, horn-driven production of “Dolla Sign Slime” to talk his shit. While bragging about buying all the luxury items that co...
How Radio Disney Shaped Modern Pop-Rock
Of the many guest spots on Willow Smith’s punk album, Lately I Feel Everything, one stands out: Avril Lavigne on “Grow,” which evokes the bold 2000s pop-punk the latter became known for. “I wanted ‘Grow’ to sound like it was on Radio Disney in 2007,” Smith told W Magazine. “So I hit up Avril Lavigne; I wanted that 2007 Avril angst. When I heard what she did with what I sent her, I felt like I was transported back to my tween days, in the car, just screaming, ‘I don’t have to try to make you realize!’” Smith is far from the only artist to embrace rock music on a recent release, or to reference Radio Disney’s brand of pop-rock, which blends clean hooks with heavier elements like distortion. And this crossover between Disney and rock continues to flourish. [embedded content] When this t...
DijahSB Breaks Down New EP Tasty Raps Vol. 1 Track by Track: Exclusive
In our Track by Track feature, artists are tasked with sharing the stories behind each song on their latest album. Today, DijahSB takes us track by track through their new EP Tasty Raps Vol. 1. DijahSB is back today (September 17th) with their latest EP, Tasty Raps Vol. 1. Released independently, the six-track project features assists from Ray HMND and Mick Jenkins. Arriving just five months after their sophomore album Head Above the Waters, the new release marks the nonbinary rapper’s second release of 2021. It includes the lead single “New Balance” and the previously-dropped “Here to Dance.” Advertisement Related Video Kicking things off on the opening track “Earthtone,” DijahSB maintains their musical independence by declaring, “I’ve never asked for no handout/ I’ve always do...
“The Need for Printing Will Always Remain,” says Epson SA Country Manager
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit “Cookie Settings” to provide a controlled consent. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the process. Earn rewards by chatting, sharing photos, blogging and help give users back their fair share of Internet revenue.
Oasis Knebworth 1996 Is a Warm, Luxurious Bath of ’90s British Nostalgia: Review
The Pitch: In 1996, Oasis was riding high off the success of their second album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, and an entire generation of British fans were entranced by Noel and Liam Gallagher’s earnest, po-faced lyricism and catchy acoustic tunes. They were big, to be sure, but their decision to host a two-day gig at Knebworth House in Hertfordshire on August 10th and 11th, 1996, was a surprise both to fans and organizers. Knebworth, after all, was the kind of venue that hosted legends like Led Zeppelin and Queen. Even so, the event became one of the biggest concerts in English history, drawing nearly a quarter-million people to Knebworth’s stages between the two days. And, for those die-hard Oasis fans, it would prove to be one of the most pivotal weekends of their lives....
EXCLUSIVE: The Guys from Issa Rae’s ‘Sweet Life: Los Angeles’ Use Their Platform to Promote Healing
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Courtesy of HBO Max / P’Jae Compton On the surface, it’s another reality show. A handful of beautiful women and handsome men getting into clashes, dating and partaking in drama. But, there are some twists to HBO Max’s Sweet Life Los Angeles. The seven main characters: Tylynn Burns, Jerrold Smith II, Briana Jones, Cheryl Des Vignes, P’Jae Compton, Amanda Scott, Jordan Bentley are all ambitious and focused on success and a quality of life. The young stars heard about the show through a mutual friend and who suggested their friend group be featured. The crew is about 20 young men and women who make appearances on the show, but the storylines are about the seven main cast members. The three main male stars: P’Jae Compton, Jerrold Smith II, and Jordan Bentley ...
Poppy on Seeking ‘Inner Peace,’ the Beauty of Cry-Driving, Focused New LP ‘Flux’
On 2020’s I Disagree, perpetual shapeshifter Poppy found catharsis within her “post-genre” chaos, utilizing whiplash transitions from djent-y metal to candy-coated electro-pop to many places in-between. Part of the thrill was submitting to the unknown of it all — like with “Concrete,” a song that somehow feels like a mash-up of Nine Inch Nails, the Beach Boys, Michelle Branch, Queen and System of a Down. But for an artist with a reputation built on surprise, perhaps the most startling U-turn is to stop swerving so wildly. Ironically, the singer’s fourth album, Flux, feels like the opposite of a flux. Working with producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen (Beck, St. Vincent, M83) and tracking live with her touring band, Poppy wound up with nine tight, hook-focused songs that favor front-to-back c...
Jordan Henderson Is Making a Stand
Golden Generation is a new series showcasing how footballers are making change off the pitch. Now more than ever, players are blurring the boundaries between football, music, fashion and politics. This new generation of footballers are more than just athletes: they have become role models with a passion and a purpose. The era of “stick to football” is over. In April this year, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson posted a video to his Instagram account. In the video, and the statement that accompanied it, Henderson was passionate and defiant — characteristics Liverpool fans will recognize from his on-pitch performances. “I’ve seen friends, team-mates, other players within football and in wider society be on the receiving end of horrendous online abuse which is now out of control,” he said. “...
This NGO-Run App Closes the Digital Divide for SA’s Most-Vulnerable Learners
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit “Cookie Settings” to provide a controlled consent. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the process. Earn rewards by chatting, sharing photos, blogging and help give users back their fair share of Internet revenue.
Drake’s 10 Best Songs
Love him or hate him, Drake is like Thanos: Inevitable. Every album the Toronto rapper drops debuts at No. 1, takes over the Hot 100 chart and radio for months on end, and breaks streaming records. While some part of Drake’s success is due to a knack for marketing, there’s no denying his universal appeal. The OVO boss himself once taunted former rival Meek Mill for “gettin’ bodied by a singin’ n****,” but categorizing him as a singing rapper is too simplistic. As our list shows, the former Degrassi star offers everything from borderline cheesy earworms (“Hotline Bling”) to chest-thumping anthems (“Energy”) to celebratory tracks (“God’s Plan”) — not to mention toxic rambles like “Marvins Room.” While Drake will never be the best rapper alive, his versatility makes him one of a kind. — Eddie...
Dirty Work Is a Weird Glimpse Into the Movie Career Norm Macdonald Almost Had
Norm Macdonald, who left us too soon at the age of 61 after living with cancer for a decade, was a comedian’s comedian. You can tell because so much of his greatest work is just him. There’s the opening passage of his special Me Doing Stand-Up, where he immediately pontificates about being haunted by the grim specter of death (“It’s good to be alive, isn’t it? That’s what I say. I find that to be the goodest thing there is, to be alive. And uh, the reason it’s so good, it’s cause it’s so bad to be dead. It’s not like life’s so fucking great, but compared to being smothered in earth…”). There’s his legendary ultra-clean roasting of Bob Saget, and his interjections on Conan O’Brien’s first Late Night show, where he couldn’t stop running down Carrot Top. Even the Saturday Night Live gig that ...
