Sara Bendrihem

Ayanis is an R&B and Soul singer. Her new single Lil Boi (Big Talk) featuring Queen Naija who is an R&B singer, got released January 21st, 2020. In the song, Queen Naija and Ayanis talk to this boy who is a cheater and a player. They both say that they moved on and that they don’t want to deal with him anymore, Queen and Ayanis sing in the chorus “ I’m off that lil boi Sh*t”

Ayanis sings the first verse and the chorus and the bridge and Queen sings the second verse. The beat starts as soon as Ayanis starts singing the first chorus where she addresses the boy and expresses how unhappy and disappointed in him she is. Ayanis sings “ I take it you never had it someone to teach you what a man is… I’m just another bed you tryna lie your way to”. My favorite part is the pre chorus when the beat stops and she sings “I’m talking that big talk, big boi big talk”. Then Queen starts singing the second chorus where she tells the boy that she already knows that he’s a cheater and that she is not as innocent as the other girls he played, she sings “... know them other girls let you play, I’m letting you know ain’t no playing with me…” then Ayanis sings the pre chorus and the chorus again and goes on to the bridge where she sings at a slower tempo, then she goes on to sing the pre chorus and the chorus for the last time.

Overall, I like the song because of the R&B beat and the mix of Queen and Ayanis alto voices. I recommend this song for Hip Hop and R&B fans.

Zoe Sohenick

As many people know, Malcolm James McCormick, also known as Mac Miller, passed away in September of 2018. His newest album, Circles, was released to the public by his family on January 17th, 2020, just a couple of days before his birthday. Miller’s family was well aware of what his music did for all of his fans and how much of a tragedy his death was for not only his fans but many people in the world. Before Circles, came his album Swimming, which was an album about his own self-discovery. Then sadly, he passed away about a month later unable to see the success that that album would then bring him. Circles is a sort of epilogue and a sense of closure to his life’s work after his tragic death. These two albums are supposed to represent the concept of “swimming in circles”.

Not only are his songs on both albums impactful and helpful to those who relate to his problems, but the entirety of the album Circles is a response to the struggles he was dealing with when he released Swimming. For example, “So It Goes” a song on his album Swimming is a song about struggling and dealing with anxiety, “I can’t get no satisfaction, goddamn/They sayin’ I’ve been gone too long.../My god it go on and on/Just like a circle, I go back where I’m from”. In contrast, his song “Good News” on Circles is a song about realizing his issues, “I’m running out of gas, hardly anything left/Hope I make it home from work/Well, so tired of being so tired”. Mac Miller openly addresses his issues of burning himself out with the pressure of people only wanting to hear the “Good news/That’s all they wanna hear/No, they don’t like it when I’m down”. He then suggests within this song that he has so much to live and work for in his lines, “That there’s a whole lot more for me waiting/I know I’m maybe too late, I could make it there some other time/Then I’ll finally discover/That it ain’t that bad”. He realizes in this album that he needed to acknowledge his issues before he can finally do something to make them better.

Mac Miller was truly an extremely talented individual who had a vision for his music since he was just fifteen years old. Circles is a more optimistic ending to his visions and concepts he was trying to portray to society. We can see Miller grow through each of his albums starting from his idealistic album Blue Slide Park, to his groundbreaking, witty rap album Watching Movies With The Sound Off that established Miller as a serious rapper, to his concept albums GO:OD AM and The Devine Feminine which are about love and connection, to his self-discovery album Swimming, and finally to his realization and optimistic self-care album Circles. Mac Miller was truly a revolutionary artist that put so much time, effort, and emotion into his work. Such a genius angel will forever be missed in the music community and our hearts.

Matt Horan

“Dmitri” is the first song off of Action Bronson’s 2019 EP “Lamb Over Rice.” The album was produced by The Alchemist and consists of seven songs. Prior to the release of the album, The Alchemist took to twitter and said, “The first verse u will hear on Lamb Over Rice is a spiritual experience.” I fully agree. Bronson has found extreme success as of late. Collaborating with several big-name artists such as Chance the Rapper and even having his own tv titled “F**k, That’s Delicious” where he travels the world tasting all sorts of delicacies from around the world. However, in the song, he calls back to his beginnings and upbringing in Queens New York, with an old school beat to match. Throughout the song, he makes call backs to his experiences on the streets with such lyrics as “Make ten lefts, I lost fifty on the Mets, I’m a mess.” Making ten lefts actually is about the distance of two and a half laps around a standard city block. It’s safe to say he’s stating he has been around the block a few times. Overall, the song is a good listen, not only for it’s fantastic and almost nostalgic production, but the lyrics as well.

Matt Horan

“Doncamatic” is a single released by Gorillaz alongside their album “Plastic Beach.” The song features another U.K artist Daley. The song is fun, and is truly a dance song if I’ve ever heard one. The tune, while heavily synthesized, manages not to be bogged down by the use of the synthesizer. Gorillaz never ceases to amaze me with the never-ending stream of music for everyone to listen to and enjoy. While the song itself truly does fit the overall vibe and theme of the Plastic Beach album, the song is unique in itself. Doncamatic does have a music video with stunning visuals of the sea and the life that dwells within but also a small but functional set of the inside of a submarine racing to its destination before taking on too much water and meeting its untimely end. As I said earlier, this is truly a song to dance to. Don’t sit back, and don’t relax because this song is definitely not all played out.