Guest Blogger: Yeng 3

I am responding to Zach’s 2nd blog about Aloe Blacc, and his song “The Man” released in 2014. After listening to the song, I agree that the song is encouraging for everyone to listen to. The sound is jazzy and the voice seems like a deep voice that people would like to listen to everyday. I also hear the trumpets in the background and this adds depth to the song. I agree with Zach that the lyrics are really strong and powerful. After listening to the song, I felt that I could overcome anything. The music reminds me of Louis Armstrong who was a famous jazz musician. Even though Aloe Blacc doesn’t play the trumpet like Armstrong, the background sound is similar. The music makes me feel inspired for the future. The lyrics, “Somewhere I heard that life is a test/I been through the worst but still I give my best." This quote really means that life is difficult, but you should always give your best. I agree with Pluggedin.com that the lyrics are easy to remember and are motivational to larger audiences. I would definitely purchase it the album and share with friends. I agree with Zach and highly recommend the album “Lift Your Spirit” by Aloe Blacc to everyone.

Guest Blogger: Zach 3

The words used by Keatton to describe the legendary rapper Eminem resonate true. Listeners of Eminem can hear through his lyrics the troubled childhood he went through. Sometimes it can be hard to fathom how difficult Eminem’s childhood actually was because it seems through his lyrics that it was the hardest time of his life. Like Keatton mentioned, Eminem’s music is a way that allows him to vent his anger. Rather than actually doing the violent acts described in his songs, he raps about them. His release is through his music. This action can be influential for teenagers today. From looking at Eminem as a role model they can realize that there are other forms of stress release besides violence. Eminem’s music is also different than that of the up-and-coming rappers. Eminem’s music does not feature the usual money and drug theme but rather the stories of hardship and success. For this reason his music resounds deeper with listeners. Eminem can also be looked at as a role model even outside of his musical talents. Listeners of his music can learn from the path he took of deciding to pursue his goal of being a great father and not focusing on the fortune and fame of being a rapper. Sometimes a person needs to take a step back and focus on what is truly important in life.

Guest Blogger: Brendan 3

I am looking over Mohamed’s blog post on wiz khilfa. I like how Mohamed started talking about when khilfas career started to take off in the music world of rap. He did good job at explaining how wiz khifa came up with his music, through his own experiences and struggles that he has gone through in his life. I think he chose a good artist to right about, a artist that has had very good last couple years. Mohamed gives good detail on where wiz grew up, what he’s done and what he will continue to do. The lyrics and song choice really has the people who read his blog really understand what he is trying to talk about and what story he trying to tell in his songs. Mohamed did a great job at explain the different between wiz and other rappers of the same era and from the past decades. Wiz most popular song “black and yellow” is a song about his favorite football team the Steelers it shows his creativeness and Mohamed talks about it in his blog. I his article gave a lot of detail and gave people a good understanding of who wiz khilfa his and what kind of music he has created.

Guest Blogger: Kayden 3

I am responding about Keaton’s blog about MGK. I think that MGK is also a very good rapper I think that a lot of people do not know him he is not as well-known as he should be but he is climbing his way to the top where he belongs. Some of my favorite songs done by him are invincible and victory music I particularly like victory music because he had made it and he is just celebrating and letting people he came out to be a somebody and beat the odds. I think that he is like the next Eminem. Eminem will always be one of the greats but with him becoming older MGK could be the person to fill the void for when Eminem leaves the game. MGK had also helped me on my rough days he makes you feel better about himself if he can overcome poverty and having a child at a young age then I can overcome the things in my life. Keaton you have a very good taste in music and I think that we both like similar music if I had to recommend someone for you to listen to it would be meek mill he also had to overcome hard times and many people thought that he wouldn’t make it but look at him now.

Guest Blogger: Trystin 3

This is a response to Jeff 1 blog on tech n9ne. I also believe that tech n9ne is a great rapper he has a unique style of rapping that really sets him apart from other rappers such as wiz khalfia or lil Wayne and that is the speed of his rapping he raps really fast a lot of the time which is one thing that I really like about him. Yes other rappers do rap fast but a lot of the times you cannot understand them but most of the time you can understand him which is good. His new album “something else” I believe is a great album one of my favorite songs from that album is “so dope (They Wanna)”. I just find that song very catchy I don’t know why but I do it must be the beat of it. I think that it is great that he produces many songs with other artist involved such as wiz or yelawolf and many more. I think that the purchase of this album would be a great purchase and worth your time and money because he is such a great rapper with a unique style and word choice.

Guest Blogger: Azzam 3

Good job Zach! I honestly didn’t know half of this information about Aloe Blacc. I actually have seen a wide variety of commercials that have used his famous song, “The Man”, as background music. Not many artists at the top of the billboard charts incorporate the “jazz theme” with the trumpets and saxophones. It is a great twist and combination. I have yet to meet someone who does not find this song brilliant and motivational. As you have stated “If you are feeling down this song will drive you up and if you are already feeling great this song will push you to the top,” I myself can relate to this. Whenever school is stressing me out and I am overwhelmed with all the homework, I pop in my ear buds and turn on “The Man”. With top sources such as ‘Plugged In’ and ‘About’ giving such great feedback not only on the song, but on Aloe Blacc himself, you know that he has truly become “The Man”. Similar to Katy Perry, Blacc has become an iconic figure that people of all ages look up to. It would definitely not be a waste of money purchasing Aloe Blacc’s music. It is simply amazing.

Guest Blogger: Mohamed 3

Because I have personally listened to Eminem many times, I can easily understand many of the thoughts Eminem raps about. Eminem did have a very tough life as a child. However, what made him different from everyone else is the sense he had. Eminem didn’t just give up and became a failure, he took the things that he saw on a daily basis and turned them into rap. In fact, CNN’s Anderson Cooper states that, “Whether you are a fan of rap or not, Eminem's life story is an extraordinary tale of success, against all odds - a story he hasn't talked much about until now,” in his article “Eminem’s Incredible Rise to Stardom.” As Keatton says, Eminem lets out all of the feelings and emotions in him to show the things he would do if he hasn’t changed since childhood. However, do not imagine that Eminem’s raps are appropriate. Much of what he raps corresponds directly to his childhood, meaning the raps contain a lot of profanity. But Eminem is not alone in the game. Another white rapper of the century is Mac Miller. Due to Mac’s ease of early childhood life, his raps are not as intense as Eminem’s. However, he is still a “white rapper,” which is why he attracts millions of fans. He also doesn’t include as nearly as much profanity in his music. Moving back to Eminem, we can see that drugs took a great effect on his life as well. In his song “Drug Ballard,” Eminem raps, “We used to mix Hen' with Bacardi Dark.” He is talking about Hennessey and how they mix it. Through the struggles of Eminems life, he has learned to become someone better. Someone who he has wanted to be.

Guest Blogger: Admira 3

I agree with what aye jay wrote, Miley Cyrus may come off as very wild, but that is because people were not used to her being herself, but instead a character that she played on a T.V. show. I enjoy Miley’s music, it makes everyone want to dance but she also incorporates some touching songs, such as “wrecking ball” by her. Wrecking ball is a song that she wrote about her ex-boyfriend Liam and how much he ripped her apart and she can’t take it anymore. Critics may judge Miley and make her seem like she is very crazy, but they don’t understand that she is her own person and she will live life the way she wants to live it. I enjoy Mileys music a lot and from what I read so does aye-jay I can relate to some of Miley’s songs and some I cannot because I don’t do half of the stuff that she does. She is more of a pop singer and she has songs where she raps and makes her songs very upbeat and very catchy. Miley’s “don’t care” attitude is what makes her so unique she lives her life the way she wants, She can’t stop and won’t stop living her life the way she wants to .

Guest Blogger: AyeJay 3

I am in response to Brittany 2, I do agree with Taylor Swift being worth the money because she is a country / pop singer which is one of my all-time favorite genres. Brittany and I share the same common interest in her album Red which is both of our favorites and in which I agree shows more of her love side. It is especially shown in these lyrics that she chose “Losing him was blue like I'd never known, Missing him was dark grey all alone, Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met, But loving him was red” from the song Red. I don’t exactly agree that Taylor Swift is different from the other artists by all of the genres she sings because a lot of the singers now sing more than one genre which is in no surprise. A lot of other singers can sing, dance and play musical instruments just as well as Taylor Swift can. I do not agree with her being alike to Justin because for one their personalities are not the same and is usually shown in their type of music. I can understand where she is coming from where they both sing about the opposite gender but Justin doesn’t really sing about the break ups as much as Taylor swift does; he is more of a partier singer and is more hyped. I do agree that they are very different in their genres because Justin doesn’t sing country he sings hip hop / pop. Her songs can be very relatable to a teenager’s daily life which involves love, boys and breaks up. Taylor Swift’s songs can be very motivational to move on with your life and can show that you’re not the only one going through a heartbreak. I agree that she is very memorable because of the songs she sings which are mostly about her ex’s. She is much known for that type of work to her fans and as well as the music industry. I can see where the critics would criticize the songs which are only about the guys because it can get a bit annoying but those songs have got her where she is now which is in the top charts.

Guest Blogger: Jeff 3

I completely agree with Trystin, Eminem is one of if not the best rapper I have ever been able to listen to. Eminem is different than other rappers most of the songs in his albums are about his personal life struggles about his mom, abusive step dad, girlfriend, job, and his addiction to pills. I also like the song cold wind blows I think it is one of his best. I am more of a fan of his older albums but his new album is also very good. One of my favorite songs from his new album is “The Monsters ft rihanna”. Some of my favorite songs by him are; 3 a.m., underground, we made you, rain man, the real slim shady, it must be the ganja, and insane. One of my favorite albums is relapse and encore. If you like his fast pace rapping style and the dark side of his music, you should look at some of Tech N9ne’s songs he is similar to Eminem in the fact that some of his songs are about his life struggles growing up without a dad, or even knowing who is dad was, he too has the fast past lyrics that match the beat and has a whole album of just his dark side called K.O.D.which stands for king of darkness). One of his fastest songs is “worldwide choppers” which has multiple other artist in it that you might enjoy. Overall I agree with everything you said about Eminem, he is one of my favorite artists behind Tech N9ne.

Guest Blogger: Chris 3

For my blog review I’m going to be doing Mohamed’s on wiz khalifa, and like Mohamed I am a big fan of wiz but to me yes his songs involve drugs but I think he’s starting to venture away from this and that’s causing some fans to leave because its not the same wiz he’s change in some people’s eyes but I mean who doesn’t change believes and morals alter anyone. But yes his music is fading and idk if it’s just he’s not making music fast enough or just like I was saying disinterest in his music but its happing but I hope he can make it back with a new music not just all drugs because it will defiantly boost his ratings. And talking about “O.N.F.C.” that’s my favorite album I love the song “medicated” such a great pump up song and cruzzing song. But yes for sure the top songs are in his past like “Black and yellow” or “Paper plans” this will always be to genuine songs for wiz. So I hope he makes it back to the top where he belongs with all the other great rappers and I believe he will soon here!

Guest Blogger: Giorgio 3

I listened to Wiz Khalifa's songs maybe twice in my life so I can't really judge is music but I like him. I remember listening to "Black and Yellow" couple of years ago and like says " a variety of emotions come out from listening to his music" . "Hear them haters talk but there's nothing you can tell 'em ,Just made a million ,Got another million on my schedule" is an extract from that song and perfectly describe how now his life is completely changed. He shows how he doesn’t have to worry about money and judgment anymore, stuff that in his childhood signed a big scar in his heart. Probably a lot of person would think that the themes he use in his music are inappropriate for a teenagers (drugs , money , sex etc.) but in my opinion they are just another way to describe how difficult his to grow up in a ghetto or in a world full of discrimination. However , I can see that his career is slowly going down like a rollercoaster , probably like Mohamed said in his blog , all this is cause the influence of 2Chainz . Now his music is getting sad and I would say that I prefer how he was before but he still a great singer .

Guest Blogger: Mohamed 2

Wiz Khalifa, a twenty-first century rap legend, has greatly increased his fame during the last couple of years. Being the great rapper that he is, Wiz Khalifa has produced many Top Pick songs and albums. And just like most other rappers, a variety of different emotions come from listening to his music. He raps about the basic Ghetto Life and the struggle of it. Drugs, money, and of course ladies, all revolve around his life. His best seller “Black and Yellow” from his album Rolling Paper is a great example of the different types of emotions shown in his music. For instance, in his song, Wiz Khalifa raps, “Stay high like how I'm supposed to do.” This verse can be interpreted in many different ways. However, the most logical interpretation in this setting is the topic of drugs. Wiz Khalifa is talking about literally “getting high” from weed or any other type of drug. In another song, “Hopes and Dreams,” from the same album previously mentioned, Wiz Khalifa raps “I'm spending it all cause that's what we came for.” Being raised as a kid, Wiz Khalifa’s family did not have much money. But now he is up higher. And because he is where he is, he is going to make it a lifetime memory. Khalifa’s music can easily be compared to most rappers of our generation. For example, the rapper 2Chainz has positively and negatively influenced the rap genre during the last couple of years. In one of his best songs “Crack,” he raps “No matter where I'm at I got crack.” This lyric is a great comparison to the verse referencing how “high” Wiz Khalifa is. Both rappers (like most other rappers) are rapping about drugs. Drugs are a common ground for both of them because of where they originated from. Many people would say that they enjoy listening to Wiz Khalifa. However over the last year he has started to fade away due to lack of interesting songs. Hot New Hip Hop’s most recent blog written on March 11, 2014 by Perry Simpson remarks that, “O.N.I.F.C. is a solid project on the whole, but fans of pre 'Black and Yellow' Wiz Khalifa may notice a seeming lack of inspiration and conviction.” With this being said, Wiz Khalifa’s career is slowly starting to melt down. People are just not convinced to keep listening to his music. But like any other song, people choose what they like to listen to depending on their life story and interests. So overall, certain Hit songs from Wiz Khalifa are worth listening to. However, his newer releases may not completely be worth our money.

Guest Blogger: Brendan 2

John mellencamp (or know as John Cougar) is one of the best solo artist of his era. Known for his catchy songs. When he first started making and producing music teenagers use to look up to john. Like in the music video to it hurts so well he wore a black leather jacket and back in the 80s people thought that was the cool thing to ware. John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008. When he first started making music he looked up to Bob Dylan and Rolling Stones to help point him in the right path in the music industry. When he first started making music he went under a different name John Cougar, Cougar is his middle name, he changed it to mellencamp in 1982. His genres of music consist of rock all the way to folk music. His first hit song was “I need a lover” The song starts off with three minutes of just a beat no words then the song enters with a fast pace of music. He dint take off till 1982 and that is when he started to make most of his hit songs. He is the only artist to hit number- one on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. Mellencamp has been nominated for 13 Grammy awards but only winning one. In a lot of his songs he talks about what makes him happy like his home town in the song “This Is My Town”, he also likes to sing about the girls that he likes like in the song “Cherry Bomb”. For four decades people have loved to listen to john’s music. John is still make music today at the age of 62 years old. He also likes to give back to the community; He donates part of his money to an organization that he created himself. The organization he created is called Farm aid helping to keep family farms. John has made great music and he will continue to make music.

Guest Blogger: Zach 2

The past couple of years for the music industry have been huge. Rising stars have conquered the top of the charts from out of nowhere. One man who has made his way to the top as a star is Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins III, also known as Aloe Blacc. Blacc, who is only 35 years of age, released his charting song "The Man" in 2014 as the second single from his third album, Lift Your Spirit. This song has seen a rise in popularity due to it being featured as the backdrop for a series of Beats by Dre commercials. "The Man" is of the pop/soul genre which can easily be figured from hearing the sounds of the jazzy trumpets and the rhythmic drum sounds in the background. The lyrics coupled with the music choice of this great song give listeners the feeling that they can accomplish anything and it fills them with energy. The resounding sounds of the trumpets give the impression that something great can happen which when paired with the lyrics truly makes this message shine forth. Listeners can hear the similarities between other well-known singers whose songs also feature soul. This artist is Cee Lo Green. Green and Blacc both have many songs that feature jazz instruments, especially the great sounds of trumpets. This is where the similarities stop though. Blacc, unlike Green whose voice seems to edge into the cartoony realm, has a deep voice filled with soul that people want to listen to. The lyrics along with the music makes this song very motivational. The main lyrics in this song that stick out are, "I'm the man, I'm the man." These are very memorable because they are inspirational. For people going through tough times they can listen to this song and hear the words and have the strength to do anything. Critics are raving over how this song has affected people in a very positive way. Pluggedin.com praises “The Man” because of its lyrics like "Somewhere I heard that life is a test/I been through the worst but still I give my best." This site compliments how these words are motivational and this is very true. On About.com’s Top 40/Pop Bill Lamb talks about how powerful the song is and how it celebrates successes in life. This song inspires people to do great things and one cannot help but try to do something great so they can say, "I'm the man." For those still undecided if they should take the jump to buy this song, stop thinking! This song is an amazing listen no matter what kind of mood you are in. If you are feeling down this song will drive you up and if you are already feeling great this song will push you to the top.

Guest Blogger: Yeng 2

I am reviewing the album “Native” by One Republic, an alternative rock group. In this song, “Counting Star,” the feeling of this song just makes you think about the future, and just makes you wonder what is going to happen. The emotions are evoked include pain, and hope. The lyrics refer to situations that can kill you, but also make you stronger. The band and sound is similar to the alternative rock group U2 since the song has deeper meaning than the actual words. The song, “Counting star” is different from the Owl City song, “Vanilla Twilight” since is it more like a love story between only two people. The song lyrics to “Counting Star” include, “Lately I been, I been losing sleep/Dreaming about the things that we could be/But baby, I been, I been prayin' hard/Said no more counting dollars/We'll be counting stars/Yeah, we'll be counting stars” This is one of my favorite chorus parts, because it also causes me to dream about the future. The verse, “Everything that kills me makes me feel alive,” makes me feel and think about taking risks in life, and gives me hope for the future. The reviews include, “Despite these slight changes in style, One Republic’s core sound is very much apparent. From the introspective lyrics to the elaborate instrumental layers and arrangements, Native proves to be an album worth giving a spin” (Idolator). I agree with Rolling Stone and Idolator that music has thoughtful lyrics and appeals to people around the world. My overall opinion is that it is worth our time and money, since the music is really good and includes a variety of musicals instruments. I would highly recommend the album “Native” by One Republic to everyone. The lyrics are clean, and will make you inspired.

Guest Blogger: Kayden 2

Robert Williams better known as meek mill is an American rapper from Philadelphia. He was born on May 6, 1987. One of his songs dream and nightmares it starts off with his dreams and how he wants to become a great rapper but all these bad things happen to him but he still fights through it to get to the top. He didn’t have the greatest life he had to work for where he is. Some of his songs kind of compare to Eminem they both right about them getting to where they are and what they had to go through. What sets him apart from Eminem is that Eminem songs are lighter and meek mills are darker with a bigger bass and that appeal to a lot of people out there. One of his lyrics is “hold on wait a minute yall thought it was rented” this says that a lot of people doubted him and that he couldn’t afford those things that he was getting. One of meek mills critics was a pastor the pastor became offended when meek mill called his album “Amen” the pastor felt that it was sacrilegious and offensive to the church. Meek mill did apologize but said that the pastor should of never approved of it since rap has a lot of bad words and offensive things in it. I feel that the pastor is wrong and right yes it is wrong to bad mouth a religion but at the same time the pastor said ya go ahead with the project but then turned around and said that its very offensive. I feel like meek mills music is worth the time and money his songs are good and they have meaning to them and that what makes them easy to connect with. I feel that a lot of teens and other people can connect because not everyone is rich and lives in the suburbs a lot of people have to work for what they want.

Guest Blogger: Conrad 2

Guns n Roses is a classic rock band from the mid-80s is a band that started in los angles California did not get famous tell the early 90s when they received national recognition as band that could rock and roll was one of the last great rock band from the rock age that was from 60sto the early 90s when rock was at its best . Guns n Roses best songs sweet child of mine and welcome to the jungle. Witch is the most recognized songs throughout the nation they have been played played over and over again and still today. The songs makes people relaxed and think of happy times and when times are not so good. Some say last of the great rock and roll band out there with lead singer Axle Rose and guitarist Slash they had nothing to stop them. Cause the competion of rock bands in the early 90s was not much. Just them leading the pack cause of bands out there showing that rock had one last rock band out there that could still rock and roll like the bands in the 60s and 70s. there songs were intense and made you feel like you were on the top of the world at times when you were depressed just with their lyrics they were making the last change rock and roll had on people in my opinion cause the rock age died of in the late 90s with the upcoming of rap aka crap in my opinion That’s why the band guns n roses is one of my favorite bands ever that came out of LA California and was the rock and rolls last band that the it facter that changed people moods.

Guest Blogger: Keatton 2

One of my favorite and one of the most favored rappers today has to be Mgk. Machine Gun Kelly was born April 22, 1990. Although MGK is just a stage name, his real name is Richard Colson Baker. He came up from nothing, he was broke and didn’t have much for money and just wrote music to get through the hard days and nights. He had a daughter at a young age and was doing the best he could for her. But one of his biggest inspirations was the rapper DMX. He based his rap style off of DMX. Also had a very unique way of rapping. He came out with many albums that went up in flames and everyone was listening to. His music related to a lot of his average everyday fans, he never felt he was better than any of his fans and made sure they felt that they were an equal person to him even if he was famous. Some people may say that his music is a bad influence on children and people, but through his music he has helped young people through a struggling life. He also helped a young boy that couldn’t walk anymore walk again by bringing him on stage with him with the encouragement of the crowd the boy started to walk and the crowd and MGK cheered him on. He brought a bigger girl on stage that was very self-conscious about herself instead of bringing a girl that was very pretty up, to show the girl that she is no less of a person. His music inspires me and also helps me get through some of the rough days I have. He is a very successful writer and rapper in this day and age. These are just some of the reasons he is one of my favorite rappers.

Guest Blogger: Azzam 2

After already being turned down by three record labels, Katy Perry’s music career in the “big league” finally began in 2007 when she signed to Capitol. Perry’s career sparked after she released her hit single “I Kissed a Girl” along with her album Teenage Dream, which was debuted number one on the Billboard charts. Born as Katheryn Hudson on October 25, 1984, Katy Perry was raised in a house of two pastors and was forbidden from listening to certain bands. In 2001, she released a Christian album under her birth name; years later she gave up singing Christian songs and began her pop music career. Her hit song “Last Friday Night”, featuring Rebecca Black, is an upbeat song trending all across the world! It is about a crazy night she had that she can barely remember. She had lots of fun and did new things and she wishes to do it all the following Friday night again! There aren’t many people that can compare to Katy Perry, but Miley Cyrus comes close. Both singers sing hype songs that are very catchy and club bangers. Although Miley Cyrus is far crazier outside of singing, both have a bizarre style of singing and performing. In one of her most recent songs, ”Fireworks”, Perry sings about how we need to focus more on equality and how we need to appreciate those who aren’t given the credit. Katy Perry is an outstanding singer that many people look up to. She provides for many different charities and gives up her precious time to help those in need. I am a proud listener of her music and would definitely spend my hard earned money on purchasing her albums and music. She has influenced me to become a better person by caring of others, while still having a little fun on Friday nights.

Guest Blogger: Trystin 2

Jordan Michael Houston born April,5, 1975 in North Memphis, Tennessee but he is better known by his stage name Juicy J. To start out his hip hop career he is a founding member of southern hip hop group known as Three 6 Mafia established in 1991 and he released his solo album in 2002 chronicles of the juice man in August 23, 2013 his stay trippy album drop selling 64,000 copies in the United States in the first week of sales. He has had many people featured in many of his songs including Wiz Khalifa, The Weeknd, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Project Pat, Young Jeezy, Yelawolf and Big Sean. His newest album stay trippy is a great album it has a total of 16 songs plus three more if you buy the deluxe edition of the stay trippy album. I believe that he is a very talent hip hop artist and that his album is a wise purchase if you are into hip hop music and or rap music. On January 7 2014 he announced his fourth studio album in 2014. He has his own website www.thejuicyj.com which has new information about albums and a lot more stuff like tour date and stuff like that. Juicy j announced that he was a part-owner and A&R rep for Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang Records and the following year he signed a solo deal with Columbia Records and Dr. Luke's Kemosabe Records. His occupation consist of Rapper, record producer, songwriter. Juicy j is one of my favorite hip hop artists and I can listen to his music for hours I can’t wait for his new album to drop I 2014 hopefully it will be awesome and can’t wait to purchase it.

Guest Blogger: Tom 2

Tupac Shakur’s music was Rap/ gangsta rap which makes him a legend at rapping. The feeling for the music he makes to me is hardcore life experience throughout his whole life. He also just wants people to think he goes hard which he does, and what I mean by that is like he wants to be a king of something and your fighting for what you want and that was what he was doing, I compare Tupac to (lil crazed) which is and underground rapper because they both rap and lil crazed is the second person to inspire me to rap sing or write songs because I think they are both great singers and rappers and song writers. The song (all eyes on me) by Tupac is most memorable because it tells me that he wants everybody to pay attention to him and people have been that’s how he’s famous and a legend now. There is a critic who said about Tupac that “it’s no insult to Tupac to say that he was gangsta rap’s greatest matinee idol or that he lived the part only too well”. Me myself personally I don’t think he has lived it too well I think he can live it however he wants and how long he wants. And you can’t judge them just by the cover of a book; Tupac Shakur is a legend in my thoughts and maybe others but he does not deserve to have people talk about him like that. I defiantly think it’s worth your time and money to buy his albums because he’s a boss at rapping and he’s talented and he can tell you a life experience throughout his songs and you can only learn that if you listen to the lyrics or look them up on YouTube, or learn them as you listen to them.

Guest Blogger: Nick 2

The other artist that I chose to research was Datsik. Datisk is another dubstep musician with a little bit of a different style of music than Excision. While they are still both dubstep artists, each person has their own kind of creativity. Datsik has his own style which tends to be a little more moderate than people like Excision who is a very brutal kind of artist. Even though he is more of a moderate artist, he still brings all he can with such amazing songs like “Southpaw”. Since dubstep is mostly focused around the bass that the song has, Datsik does a very good job of bring the perfect amount of bass to just knock you on the floor. The song “Southpaw” really brings back a lot of memories for me because it was one of the first ever songs that I really got hooked on. Back when dubstep was still in the underground, Datisk still managed to exceed the expectations with his songs. I would have to agree with the articles and what they said. How one person said it was probably the best with saying that Datsik’s album is “a dark, euphonious mental roller coaster ride”. My overall opinion on Datsik and the wonderful music that he makes is quite simple. In my opinion, Datsik was hands down one of the best artist in his prime time. Unfortunately, times have changed and the new demand for music is going over the top.. While all this new kind of music is coming out, I will still be listening to the good old classic of dubstep. So in conclusion, Datsik was, and still is, a beast at the keys. How he makes the sounds of the songs that he makes really hypes me up and makes me want to try to do that someday.

Guest Blogger: Nadira 2

One musician I enjoy listening to is Justin Bieber. A Candian recording artist. His latest album Believe sky rocketed the charts. He relased this album June 15, 2012. Justin is signed by Island Records. The level of success for the album was underestimated. The music style for this album was way different from his two previous albums My World, and My World 2.0. His first two albums were more snuggle, fresh and light. Fit his age and upcoming rise. But this new album was on the opposite of the spectrum. Justin being 18 and legal really made his music according to that. Looking to transition from the teen pop styles of his two piece debut albums. The beats are more driving and libidinous. The album contains more intense and wide-ranging sounds. “Boyfriend” a single on his new album is more house music and party type. It contains less romance and young teenage stuff. He makes this album for more 18 plus viewers. Justin sings about stuff all people his age can relate to. Girls, having a good time. Justin Bieber is a typical R&B and pop artist. Fits the catrogey like most R&B and pop musicians like Chris Brown, Rihanna, Beyoncé. Justin released five singles before dropping the actual album. “Boyfriend”, “As Long as You Love Me”, “Beauty and a beat”, “Right Here”, “All around the World”. All these songs are stuff people of his age can relate to and its nice. One song I really enjoyed in Justin’s album Believe is “heart breaker” in my opinion one of the most catchy songs on the track and easy to listen to. In the opening line “Girl you don't know how I feel (how I really feel) Since you've been away, oh baby”. This line just pretty much explains how he is having problems with a girl. Stuff many people experience. Overall I think people should take the time to listen to Justin Bieber. Iim sure they’ll enjoy their music.

Guest Blogger: Jeff 2

Marshall Bruce Mathers III, better known as Eminem or his darker side slim shady is a “Detroit based rapper who is willing to put anyone in his verbal crosshairs.” (Simon and Schuster, 2001) He was born outside of Kansas City; Missouri never knew his father and was raised by his mother along with his half-brother. After failing 9th grade 3 years in a row he dropped out of school and began competing in freestyle throw downs with his crew the Dirty Dozen. Even though his first album Infinite didn’t get that much attention but his The Slim Shady EP gained the attention of producer Dr. Dre and he signed Eminem to his Interscope imprint, Aftermath. Later the EP expanded into the Dre-coproduced The Slim Shady LP, which debuted on the pop top charts at number three in February 1999, and went on to sell 3 million copies and won Eminem a Grammy for best rap album. One song stood out the most from the LP than most of the others that was the catchy “My Name Is” which was a huge success climbing to number 36 on the hot 100 and later on he wins a Grammy for best rap solo performance. Eminem has produced songs with many other well-known artists throughout his career. Most of his songs are about his life struggles which include not knowing who is father was, his drug addict wife, abusive stepfather and so on. In 2005 Eminem dropped a greatest hits album curtain calls: The Hits, leading some people to believe that Eminem was going to be retiring from the rap game. Eminem later told a radio show "This is the reason that we called it 'Curtain Call', because this could be the final thing. We don't know." In august that year he went to rehab to try and quit his addiction to pain pills. After 4 years of being out of the rap game Eminem dropped his new album in 2009 called Relapse and relapse 2 although it didn’t sell as many copies as its predecessors they both went platinum and re-established him as a force with the pop universe.

Guest Blogger: Jamela 2

Nicki Minaj is one of the wittiest, most creative rappers working today, either male or female. The Trinidadian American rapper from New York City offers repeated evidence of her talents, and she continues to amaze fans on a daily basis. She has been compared to Lady Gaga because of their bizarre outfits and approaches on music. Whenever Nicki Minaj raps, she has a different personas that add to the words she is saying. Her most known persona is Roman Zolanski, the loose-cannon gay male alter ego who gives her most recent album “Roman Reloaded” its name. Her music shows off her hardcore skills and rawness while still having a pop feel to her music. The song, “Starships”, is one of her more pop songs. This song has a very strong dance energy and a catchy chorus. Soon after hearing this song you will find yourself singing "Hands up, and touch the sky." The BBC music review says that her album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded the Re-UP showcases her rap flow instead of her usual singing style. Songs like “I’m Legit” and “The Boys” give an exciting mix of clever wordplay and machine gun beats. I disagree with the reviews opinion that she will never be able to make a tight, traditional rap album. Many rappers are becoming more diverse with rap and mixing it new styles. For example, rapper Lil Wayne has made songs ranging from rap, pop, and rock music and has been very successful. In my opinion, Nicki Minaj is worth time and money. She is one of the few female rappers who continue to make music. She has a wide variety of songs, ranging from the hardcore raps to the pop/club songs. On many of Nicki Minaj’s songs, she rises to the occasion; making it hard to forget how talented she really is.

Guest Blogger: Habso 2

Two years ago no one knew who Imagine Dragons were. Now, when people hear the name Imagine Dragons, most of them think of the song “Radioactive.” According to Billboard, “Imagine Dragons' "Radioactive" has turned into one of the most prophetic titles in Billboard chart history.” Imagine Dragons are a rock music band. They started to really get known last year with their song “Radioactive”, which was the third bestselling song of 2013. Imagine Dragons songs evoke a hard but not too hard feel. They make you want to let out steam and start rocking. Their music is unique, but also is similar to other bands too. “The group, who sound like a mixture of Mumford & Sons and Coldplay have spent the last year and a half on a grueling world tour,” mentions Rolling Stone. My two favorite songs by this band would be “Radioactive” of course and “Demons.” They both are powerful sounding songs and have to do with being different. At first, when I saw the beginning of the music videos, I thought it was weird. But then I saw the meaning of it and loved the songs. I totally agree with the reviews that Billboard and Rolling stone wrote about Imagine Dragons. They are amazing. They’ve really worked hard to get where they’re at. Two years ago nobody really gave them a chance, and now their songs are stuck in everybody’s head. Now, if you ask me is it worth time and money to listen to them? I’d say HECK YEAH. I don’t typically listen to rock music. But Imagine Dragons music doesn’t just draw rock fans, but all types of fans. It’s just something about their music that catches your attention and makes you want to put it on repeat. I love their music and can’t wait for the next big hit that I know they’ll make.

Guest Blogger: Giorgio 2

Born on January 17, 1984, in the southern Scotland city of Dumfries, Calvin Harris was first attracted to electronic music in his teens and was recording bedroom demos in 1999. Two of these songs, "Da Bongos" and "Brighter Days," were released in early 2002 under the artist name Stouffer. With that single to his credit, the still teenaged Harris moved from Scotland to London; only one of his songs was released during his time in London, "Let Me Know" with vocalist Ayah on the Unabombers' 2004 live-mix CD Electric Soul, Vol. 2."I'm Not Alone," the first single from his second album, also hit number one upon release in April 2009, as did the album when it appeared that August. That album, Ready for the Weekend, topped the U.K. album chart and peaked at number 12 on Billboard's U.S. dance/electronic chart. Through 2011, Harris took on production work for Example, Tinchy Stryder, and Rihanna ("We Found Love," a quadruple-platinum hit in the U.S.), while he also issued two more of his own singles :"Bounce" and "Feel So Close". This last cited is emotional, almost an emo vocal. I can’t remember the last time guitars were in dance music like that. Also, it’s all real instruments. Nothing is fake there: it’s real music, real melody and actual emotion. Harris' third solo album, 18 Months, was a collaboration-filled affair that featured "We Found Love" and "Bounce" plus vocal spots from Ellie Goulding, Florence Welch, and Ne-Yo, among others, was released in October of 2012. Calvin Harris has unveiled the video to his latest single “Under Control”, a collaboration with Swedish artist Alesso and Theo from Hurts. The video depicts the trio hosting an end-of-world party as a meteor hurtles towards Earth. The single that is set for release via Columbia Records on November 25 is Calvin’s first since releasing his hit album, 18 Months, last year which amassed nine back-to-back top ten UK singles. I really like him , his style and also if is a DJ with his music he is able to transmit deep emotions. It’s a good way to spend your money and you won’t regrets to have one of his CD cause his music is really awesome !!!

Guest Blogger: Austin 2

Downlink is also a dubstep/electronica artist. Their songs compared to Knife party are more strictly dubstep, containing slower beats giving a lower BPM. BPM is the overall beat and/or rhythm “per minute”, which is slower than Knife Party’s. The emotions that I feel listening to his music are feelings such as cool, chill, dance, raw, dirty, filthy and BA (you know). If you’re a fellow dubstep fanatic you know exactly what I mean. I agree with the critics for what they have to say about Downlink; though words may not be appropriate to say. Basically Downlink is pure “get naked and dance or beware of bass” kind of situation. The situations I’ve read that can be caused by listening to such bass/beat bumping music are hilarious but make sense especially when you’re listening to Downlink. “There is not much room for quickly running to the fridge and grabbing ice cold lemonade, for the phat beats will certainly explode anything in your fridge before you get there. In fact, the phat beats will also explode your fridge.” (Jeremy Soule) After reading that, there’s not much more that can be said about Downlink. My overall opinion on Downlink is that he’s an incredible dubstep artist that needs to continue doing his magic on making wild and crazy bass kicking songs. Although Downlink is not my all-time favorite dubstep artist, but he has continued to surprise me with all of the new sounds and beats I haven’t ever heard in other dubstep/electronica music. Lastly, a note when you’re sitting at home without any new music to discover, remember that Downlink is there to blow your speakers without innocence. When it comes to dubstep, remember to wear loose clothing and have more bass than your walls in your house can handle.

Guest Blogger: Eric 2

For my Second Blog I picked an artist named G-Eazy. G-Eazy is an American rapper, songwriter and producer. His music is classified as hip hop but it has a different feel to it in my opinion because comparing him to other artists out there, his songs seem to have a lot more “soul” to them. For example, many of his songs feature a singer to sing the song’s chorus. For me this makes his songs more enjoyable and breaks the stereotype that all hip hop is just meaningless words being rapped to a beat. In my opinion I like most of his songs, but one that’s always been one of my favorites is Mad. I like this song because it talks about his breakup and how he let the one he loved walk all over him saying “I need you bad, I’ll let you drive me mad”. Plus I just liked the fact that it mixed great singing, a good beat and good rap lyrics all in one song. Another song by him that I particularly enjoy is called Must Be Nice. This song is all about him fantasizing fame, riches and all of the other things being a famous rapper entitles. It talked a lot about his perseverance in the music game, coming from making music without anyone noticing it. It noted his hard work and how humble he is, knowing he’s better off now than where he came from, saying “making more than my parents did, that aint saying much but it’s still a mind ****”. From the critics that I read, I agree with most of what they said. They talked about his ability to mix pop and hip hop and handling his fame well, and how much of a label he is now that he’s hit the big show.

Guest Blogger: Elvir 2

The type of music I reviewed is Hip Hop by Nelly. One of the albums I got to hear from him was the album M.O. The emotions of the album are romantic and aggressive. I listened to the song “Just a Dream.” It is memorable because he talks about his feeling and his dreams. He says, “Life sometimes can only be a dream” (Nelly).Nelly teaches the listener that sometimes your dreams might come true. Hearing him sing the song “Grills,” he talks about showing off his mouth jewelry to others. He says, “Smile for your grill your mouth will look like gold” (Nelly). Nelly’s grill represents his money and his fame. Critics from the Rolling Stone magazine say, “Nelly’s seventh album opens strong with a brilliantly chill Nicki Minaj cameo on a gloriously narcotic Pharrell track ("Get Like Me")” (Rolling Stone).I agree with what the critics say about Nelly because he works well with others just like him working with Nicki Minaj and Future in the song “Give you Dat”.Why I like his music is Because it has a lot of rhythm and beats to it and every time I hear one of his songs, I always get his music stuck inside my head and always end up singing it in my head almost every hour of the day.Nelly’s music is the kind of music that you would want to play loud in your car with your friends and other people. If you go on a very big long road trip with other friends, it makes the time go by really fast and it is enjoyable to others when you are dancing or at a night club with people or if you go to a school dance and play one of his songs. I would recommend this album to anyone who likes Nelly.

Guest Blogger: Chris 2

Schoolboy Q aka “the man of the year” is personally in my top two favorite rappers. As I just said schoolboy q is a rapper and his new album Oxymoron was debut about a month ago on February 25, and knowing me I was waiting eagerly for this album and I downloaded it the day it was available to download. Oxymoron as a whole album I thought was very interesting a lot of variety and I like how schoolboy q really branched out with album because before he was more involved with rap group called black hippy witch I really enjoy black hippy but it really felt like black hippy revolved more around Kendrick and everyone else was more like background singer get what I’m saying? But with Oxymoron I think it showed the light towards schoolboy and showed his talent. The songs in this album are unreal there’s maybe only two or three songs were I’m like ehh it could be better. My favorite song in the album is “hell of a night” and the reason is its pace through the song its fast pace then slow and then speeds up and it’s a song I believe can be played anytime. And I love the way it builds up in the beginning and the lyrics that speak to me in the song is right here “Uh, got the whole world tryna figure out Q You can never find a n!@#@ do what I do TDE, I'm the n@!# from the crew” to me this speaks more than just the words written when he’s saying “whole world tryna figure out Q” he saying he’s to different to figure out the songs he’s making and saying are to much to handle and from the rest of the lyrics I think it’s cool he gives a shout out to he’s rap group black hippy. And here’s a thing that a critic said “Oxymoron isn’t quite an elite offering, but it meets the difficult task of attracting casual fans without straying too far from the formula that attracted Schoolboy Q’s core audience” to me I believe the critic but at the same time I think schoolboy is branching out more and more each day everyone starting to follow the “man of the year”

Guest Blogger: Brittany 2

One musician I enjoy is Taylor swift. Taylor swift is a county/pop singer. She has been famous for many years now. One of my favorite albums she has would be Red, it has showed a more love side of her. “Losing him was blue like I'd never known, Missing him was dark grey all alone, Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met, But loving him was red” is lyrics to the song Red. Red It has been on the charts for 74 weeks now. Taylor Swift is different from all the other singers because she sings different genres. She doesn’t just sing county, she plays guitar and she dances. Taylor is a lot like Justin. They both sing songs about the opposite gender about the people they want or people they break up with, and they both play guitar as they sing. The only differences are Justin doesn’t sing county he sings hip-hop/ pop. I agree with all her fans. They love and some of her songs can be very relatable. The only problem is most of her songs are about her ex’s. .But that is what makes her songs memorable or relatable because almost everyone at one point in time has felt those feelings of heartbreak, or where you don’t know what to do except move on. Most critics only criticize on her songs about all the guys. After she breaks up or fights with a guy there will be a song very soon after about the problems with the guy. I feel in general that her songs and CD’s are very worth the price they are, even seeing her in concert would be worth the price the tickets are. She will always be one of my favorite female artists.

Guest Blogger: Ashley 2

Marshall Bruce Mathers III is Eminem and his alter ego is slim shady. Eminem is at the top of the Rap game and the biggest in the hip hop industry. He has been listed and ranked as one of the greatest artists of all. He was declared The King of Hip Hop. Eminem’s puts his soul into his music; it comes from him and his views. Eminem goes to the studio and lets his feelings out in his music. Eminem 2013 album The Marshall Mathers LP2 is a continuation of one of his most known old albums The Marshall Mathers LP .The album LP2 debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and had the second highest album sales of 2013. As of March 23, 2014, the album has sold 2,017,000 copies. Eminem is often compared to other rappers like Jay-Z because of their lyrics but the difference is Eminem albums sell more and Eminem is hands down the best rapper alive or dead. Eminem has a reputation for dissing artists like singer Mariah Carey; he made a diss rap called “The Warning” to show her not to mess with the rap God. “The Warning” was one of the most memorable songs he made was because he put all Mariah and his own business out and didn’t even care. Another song of Eminem’s that was memorable was “Lose Yourself” on his album Encore. Encore was such an intense song pretty much describing how he has one chance to get it right and how you’re losing yourself in the music. In a 2013 article Jon Dolan wrote “The Marshall Mathers LP 2 is the kind of sequel that gets people shouting at the screen in disbelief before their seats are warmed up”. I would definitely agree with that whole statement, the album was amazing and had me and I am sure others hyped. Honestly, Eminem is worth my time and money, I support him and his music. I have his whole new album LP2 on my phone. His music is worth it and I think everyone should listen to music he speaks the truth no matter if you like him or not!

Guest Blogger: AyeJay 2

Miley Cyrus sings a variety of genres such as pop, rock, country pop, rap, hip hop, and etc. but it ranges more into pop. As she furthers into her career she has been collaborating with hip hop artists which has made her genre switch. She is a very diverse artist. The album “Bangerz” is a mixture of love and crazy pop that involves inappropriate profanity. The first track on “Bangerz” titled “Adore You” is a soft love song in were she expresses her love for her ex-fiancé Liam. The album evokes a painful yet in very much love kind of emotion. The other songs “We Can’t Stop” and “SMS” have meaningful lyrics that don’t really seem to relate to life and only seem to serve the purpose of how crazy Miley is. The Song “Get It Right” explores Miley Cyrus’s sexual desires. The emotions that are evoked toward those songs are the feel of wanting to party and get crazy. The critic on the billboard website describes the song “SMS” as “admittedly sloppy and rife with gimmicks.” I’m not exactly the biggest fan of this song but I agree yet don’t agree with this critic because I love the beat, it has a fast and partying flavor to it but I’m not so sure about the lyrics it’s kind of everywhere and gets me a little confused. On a positive note one of the critics from billboard says that the song “Adore you” “is emotionally mature but not overly provocative -- instead of immediately wagging her tongue at listeners, the singer proves that her passion can reside in short, vulnerable proclamations of romance.” I agree with this critic because Miley has two sides of her like everyone else which is emotionally yet a wee bit crazy. I’m not someone to judge because I have had my fair shares of good and bad but she does have passion for love in which I agree. The critics from the entertainment site just talked about her tour and what she did at the pageantry which involved “slapping the behind of her 6-foot-7-inch dancer Amazon Ashley.” They didn’t really say any negative or positive comments on the incident but the tone of the critic seemed to be interested and fascinated with how her show turned out to be. Miley Cyrus’s sounds/songs kind of remind me of Madonna because of how out there they are with their music and personality. Although they are alike in that category, the technology and media is more up to date for Miley which gives her more ideas of how to rank up in her wardrobe, appearances, and style. One song that is particularly memorable is “Wrecking Ball” mostly because of the music video. The lyrics “We clawed; we chained our hearts in vain. We jumped never asking why we kissed; I fell under your spell. A love no one could deny.” Is very beautiful to me because you can tell it comes from her heart. Overall, I think Miley Cyrus is worth your money depending on the type of person you are because of how she once was and then transformed into someone else which means you’re not judgmental but you are accepting. The music can really relate to your life when it comes to her passion for love.

Guest Blogger: Admira 2

Luke Bryan is one of my favorite artists, because he has songs that make you want to get up and dance. Reviews have stated that Luke Bryan makes sure his fans have a wonderful time at his concerts. Luke Bryan also has a way of dancing and making the crowd get up on their feet! I love his song “That’s my kind of night” the song really makes me happy and makes me excited to go out and enjoy my night . Luke Bryan is well known for his great looks and amazing voice. “I got that real good feel good stuff up under the seat of my big black jacked up truck rollin' on 35s Pretty girl by my side”. The song verse is a great one from Luke’s song “that’s my kind of night” it shows his real personality and how much he loves women, beer and having a good time. I enjoy listening to Luke Bryans songs, I work with 4 disabled people and every day that I work we turn on the country radio station and as we’re working Luke Bryan’s songs would come on and me and my co-workers would just jam out as we worked . Luke Bryan has many songs that just inspire me to have a good night and enjoy his music. Critics have said that Luke Bryan’s attitude and bluster were real, he started off one of his shows with flames in the background and he also started dancing but tried to do a tough guy pose at the same time. Critics also say that Luke Bryan’s song lack emotion, his songs are almost naked. They say that because of his few songs; “drink a beer”, “crash my party”. I do agree with some of the critics; because he does have a few verses that are just there and really have no point. One verse that I found was in his song “Drunk on you” Luke said this in his song; “Girl, you make my speakers go boom boom” to me that verse makes no sense and doesn’t really serve a purpose to me. Overall I enjoy Luke Bryan’s songs and I enjoy how lively he is on stage, he does have his moments where I question why he did something, but overall he is still one of my favorite artists. I think that Luke Bryan is worth my time and my money, if you want someone who is lively and enjoys his music then Luke Bryan is the man for you.