I have just completed my senior year at the University of Michigan majoring in international studies with an emphasis in political economics and development, with a minor in Chinese language and culture, and I have recently been accepted into the Berklee School of Music’s masters of music business program. Although economics, politics and history are all academic interests of mine, I consider music to be my true passion.
Music has always been my passion, and it is a driving force for the way I think, act, and conduct myself on a daily basis. I have been playing the clarinet and saxophone since the age of ten, and the ability to play music at a high level has allowed me to embrace music on a multitude of levels. I am both an avid player and listener of music, and I find myself constantly in search of new artists who bring something new and different to the art form, and writing about new music has become a new outlet for me to explore what is going on in the musical world.
The Blue Öyster Cult is primarily known as the band that gave us the SNL skit that demanded more cowbell, but in reality the Stony Brook based band is so much more. Their progressive and unique style of rock and mystical symbolism were on striking display on the band’s debut album, as their sound combines…
Read more Album Review: ‘Blue Öyster Cult’ Shows the Limitless Possibilities of Rock
2020 was quite the unprecedented year for many reasons. A global pandemic, domestic social unrest and a wild election later, and it seems that we are finally ready to close the page on this year. The music world, though greatly affected by the COVID pandemic, still managed to provide some groundbreaking and forward thinking albums…
For the final time of 2020, a slew of new musical projects were released by various artists overnight. Among hip hop heads, no releases were as overhyped or anticipated quite like Playboi Carti’s new album Whole Lotta Red, his first album release since 2018. Carti’s style is highly polarizing, as some are infatuated with his…
The year of 2020 is finally coming to a close, and while the year has been filled with turmoil, uncertainty and isolation, the music that the year gave us was actually some of the best we’ve seen in years. The great wave of new music this year has not yet come to an end, and…
Read more New Music Friday: Who Dropped What? (Rap/Hip Hop/R&B)
Before getting into what is new on this New Music Friday, I would like to take a moment and acknowledge that today would have been the 78th birthday of the great Jimi Hendrix. For those that have never listened to Jimi, if you want to break all of your preconceived notions as to what the…
Read more New Music Friday: Who Dropped What? (Rap/Hip Hop/R&B)
Two days ago, the GRAMMY’s announced the official nominations for the myriad of awards that they present. While the GRAMMY’s conventionally represents the gold standard of creativity and innovation for the artists that are nominated, recent years has seen the awards favor big names and smash hits over the true instances of pure art, in…
Imagine someone living in a vacuum in which the only world they knew was 2020. Imagine telling that person that ten years ago, presidential candidate Kanye West released perhaps the greatest album of the decade, one of the greatest albums of the 21st century so far and one of the greatest rap albums of all…
Read more Album Review: ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ Is a Triumph of Both Rap and Music
New Music Friday got off to an early start last night when Atlanta trap legends Gucci Mane and Young Jeezy faced off in the first Verzuz battle of the series’ second season. The battle hit an all time record for viewership, as 1.8 million viewers tuned in live to watch the two rappers square off.…
Read more New Music Friday: Who Dropped What? (Rap/Hip Hop/R&B)
It is unlikely that music fans would expect a collaboration between singer/songwriter and bassist extraordinaire Thundercat, and pop star Ariana Grande. However, the two of them appeared on stage together this past Friday night as part of Adult Swim’s Adult Swim Festival, a two day celebration of music and comedy, and put on a short…
Read more Watch Thundercat Perform ‘Them Changes’ With Ariana Grande for Adult Swim Festival
What does the Australian rock powerhouse AC/DC have in common with rap stars Future, Lil Uzi Vert and 2 Chainz? They’ve all released new albums today, of course! AC/DC’s new album marks the band’s eighteenth studio album, and their first since 2014. This also marks the sixth decade of commercial music releases for the band,…
Read more New Music Friday: Who Dropped What? (Rap/Hip Hop/R&B/Rock)
Cream is perhaps the greatest trio of musicians to ever be assembled in a single band. The talent from Eric Clapton on guitar, Jack Bruce on bass and Ginger Baker on drums is undeniable, and while their chemistry as a group together was far from perfect, the trio has certainly shown flashes of brilliance together.…
Read more Album Review: Cream’s ‘Disraeli Gears’ is the Quintessential Soundtrack of the 1960’s
2020 has been a renaissance for hip hop legends of the 1990’s coming back into the spotlight and reminding the music community of their greatness. Whether it is Nas coming back with King’s Disease or Black Thought and his new project Streams of Thought, Vol. 3: Cane & Able, older MC’s have returned to the…
Read more New Music Friday: Who Dropped What? (Rap/Hip Hop/R&B
Led Zeppelin’s place on the Mount Rushmore of rock bands is undeniable; not only do they boast one of the most talented rosters of all time, but their versatility as a band allows them to be one of the most varied and distinct sounding bands of all time as well. Their second album, simply titled…
Read more Album Review: ‘Led Zeppelin II’ Melts Faces 5 Decades Later
Four words: featuring Ty Dolla $ign These words have become a staple in the hip hop community over the past decade or so, as singer/rapper Ty Dolla $ign has made a name for himself largely due to the high quality features he has provided for countless artists during his stretch. Now, on his latest album,…
Read more New Music Friday: Who Dropped What? (Rap/Hip Hop/R&B/Rock)
Hip hop fans wondering where Kendrick Lamar has been throughout 2020 finally got their answer yesterday. i-D, a bimonthly British magazine published by Vice Media, presented an interview between the two artists on their platform. While Lamar was formally the one interviewing Keem, their conversation was in reality much more two sided than a typical…
Read more New Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem Interview: Main Takeaways
When hip hop heads debate the greatest rappers that are in the game right now, Reason’s name is rarely brought up in the conversation. Perhaps that needs to change. Reason’s entry into the rap game was turbulent to say the least; after releasing his mixtape There You Have It and signing with TDE in 2018,…
If hip hop fans are still debating what album will take home the unofficial album of the year honors this year, there is no question as to what label should be awarded as the label of the year. Benny The Butcher is back with his second project of the year, and a very strong one…
Read more New Music Friday: Who Dropped What (Rap/Hip Hop/R&B)
This week saw a lot of rumors and internet buzz surrounding Los Angeles label TDE; between Reason’s highly anticipated debut album release and the rumors surrounding Kendrick Lamar possibly leaving TDE to start his own label, people were talking about what was going on with the label once regarded as one of the most prestigious…
Read more New Music Friday: Who Dropped What? (Rap/Hip Hop/R&B)
Singer/songwriter, guitarist and Van Halen co founder Eddie Van Halen died yesterday at the age of 65 after a long battle with throat cancer. His son, Wolfgang, posted the news yesterday on his social media pages. Eddie Van Halen did as much to influence the way the guitar is played than arguably anyone else who…
Earlier this week, rapper 21 Savage and producer Metro Boomin captured the attention of the hip hop world when they announced the release of SAVAGE MODE II, a follow up to the duo’s 2016 collaboration album Savage Mode, and the fourth collaboration album between 21 and Metro in addition to Without Warning and NOT ALL…
Read more New Music Friday: Who Dropped What? (Rap/Hip Hop/R&B)
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