Photo Courtesy of Tribeca Film The life story of the king of hip-hop is now available for purchase/rent online. “Nas: Time is Illmatic” documents the journey of Nasir “Nas” Jones from kid in the projects to legendary emcee. It focuses on the creation and cultural weight of Nas’s 1994 album “Illmatic.” Fittingly, the film begins with a mash-up of visual and audio clips … [Read more...] about Hip-Hop Legend Opens Up in ‘Nas: Time is Illmatic’
music
Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat
It’s like a drug. When completely immersed, nothing else matters; you are in an alternate universe, a state of nirvana, a utopic wonderland. I like to call it “the music high.” You feel the beat building up. It feels like being at the bottom of the most magnificent rollercoaster and feeling the little cart climbing up, inch by inch, each one bringing you closer to a perfect … [Read more...] about Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat
Chvrches Rocks the Palladium
Photo by Shannon Hansen As the last bit of sunlight faded from the sky Friday evening, fans lined up outside the Hollywood Palladium on Sunset Boulevard, anxiously awaiting the opening of the doors. I’d been to the Palladium before so I was more than ready to go stake my spot as close to the stage as I could. When the doors finally opened at 8 p.m., fans piled inside. I saw … [Read more...] about Chvrches Rocks the Palladium
Dissonance Matters
It is perhaps the most famous chord in history. Composed of the dissonant brew of F, B, D♯ and G# and dubbed the “Tristan” chord after Richard Wagner's opera “Tristan und Isolde,” this single chord helped begin the modernist breakdown of tonality. It edged 19th century music into the 20th century — a time of tension, insecurity and anxiety. It’s the chord that refuses to … [Read more...] about Dissonance Matters
Nicki Minaj Empowers Women
Nicki Minaj’s latest song “Anaconda,” which premiered on Aug. 19 is many things. It’s sexual, wild and butt-filled. But one of the important themes found in the song is one of independence — something that many people may have missed. One of the highlights of the lyrics is that it shows the other side of the story. The males she brings up in the song are only with her for … [Read more...] about Nicki Minaj Empowers Women