Rest In Peace, John Lewis

On Friday night, lifelong activist and civil rights advocate John Lewis passed away at 80 years old after his fight against pancreatic cancer. After being one of the youngest leaders in the March on Washington in 1963, Lewis went on to represent Georgia’s fifth congressional district for seventeen terms while continuing to strive for equal rights and treatment for all. Lewis was one of the most influential and inspiring voices of my lifetime, and I hope his ideas live on for generations after him.

It saddens me that his passing came at such a turbulent and unstable time in this country. Recent events, protests, and movements have highlighted how far we still have to go as a nation. The same systemic injustices which Lewis identified throughout his life still exist just as much now as they ever have. Disproportionate incarceration rates, police violence, generational poverty, wage inequity, voter suppression, and gerrymandering are just some of the realities which many black Americans unfairly face on a daily basis in this country. The Black Lives Matter movement isn’t simply a trend, but instead a continuation and reminder that we need to actively seek legislative justice to address and resolve these systemic failures, continue to educate and familiarize ourselves with black history and experiences, and advocate for a just society which treats all fairly and equally.

It hurts to lose an icon who was such a powerful force toward progressivism and change in this country. While my outreach and influence is limited on this blog, I also believe in being the change I want to see in the world, which means speaking up about issues which need to be addressed. To quote John Lewis, “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.” In a time of struggle and strife, it’s important to stay engaged and active instead of accepting the inequities around us. That’s what I’m always going to continue to do. Rest in peace, and power, Mr. Lewis.

Thanks for reading.

Album Review: Legends Never Die - Juice WRLD

In December 2019, the hip-hop community was shocked and appalled to hear that Chicago artist Juice WRLD had passed away from an accidental drug overdose. Prior to his untimely and premature passing, Juice WRLD had become an established figure in music, delivering messages which resonated with a new generation of listeners. While I’ve never particularly connected with Juice WRLD’s aesthetic or lyrical content, I’ve always respected the path he took by earnestly and openly discussing his issues with anxiety and drug use. This review is specifically going to discuss the music featured on this first posthumous record of his, and I want to preface it by saying that I find this project more enjoyable than not. While not every song is perfect, it hurts to think that a voice so young is no longer with us, and that his loyal fanbase is left without the idol they once looked up to being around any longer. Juice WRLD was born after I was. After his and Pop Smoke’s recent passing, it’s disheartening to see so many young artists die so young.

Juice WRLD’s voice is instantly recognizable and extremely unique, and that remains a constant throughout Legends Never Die. The opening track “Anxiety - Intro” features a beautiful soundbite which becomes bittersweet to listen to when considering the circumstances this album has been released in. The sentiment that Juice WRLD has touched a new generation in the way few else could is very accurate. The following song “Conversations” features a hard-hitting bass and chilling lyrics about drug abuse which are heartbreaking in retrospect. The following songs “Titanic”, “Bad Energy”, and “Righteous”, are above-par but don’t stop me in my tracks. These are standard Juice WRLD songs, and the constant reminders of the artist’s tragedy becomes downright depressing to be reminded of at a point. I feel similarly about “Blood On My Jeans”, which doesn’t offer anything particularly interesting to me. “Tell Me U Luv Me (with Trippie Redd)” utilizes the feature here well, as Trippie Redd’s vocals pair naturally with Juice WRLD’s. “Hate The Other Side (with Marshmello feat. Polo G., The Kid LAROI)” doesn’t do a lot for me, and its short runtime doesn’t allow the track to develop into anything special. “Get Through It - Interlude” transitions nicely, though, into the following tracks on this project.

“Life’s A Mess (feat. Halsey)” feels like what could be a radio hit, and Halsey’s appearance seems logical and appropriate. “Come & Go (with Marshmello)” is an interesting track, but its blend of rock and dubstep elements don’t quite achieve what I think they were going for with this song, which reminds me of some of the duds Post Malone has dropped in the past couple of years, which prioritize experimentation over quality song-writing. “I Want It” is ambient and uses strong reverberation, but winds up forgettable to me. “Wishing Well” is a highlight on the project for me, featuring a smooth and memorable hook. “Up Up And Away” is in the same territory as some of the less impressive songs preceding it, as this track doesn’t do anything inventive or spectacular. “The Man, The Myth, The Legend - Interlude” is a respectful homage to Juice WRLD’s talent in the booth, which is a nice addition to the project’s themes. “Stay High” and “Can’t Die” take on new meanings in the album’s context, more reminders of Juice WRLD’s tragic passing. Some of the bars here remind me of Mac Miller’s posthumous release in which it seemed like he knew he would pass soon. “Man Of The Year” is almost quintessentially Juice WRLD, but especially braggadocious and upbeat. This is a great closer to an overall enjoyable album, right before “Juice WRLD Speaks From Heaven - Outro” formally closes things out in an appropriate fashion.

Overall, I think that Juice WRLD’s fans are going to be very grateful for this project. The tragic loss of such a young and talented artist is heartbreaking and disheartening, but I believe he would want his fans and listeners to seek joy in the music he was able to deliver in his short time here. This project’s best tracks are certainly worth giving a listen to as an honor of an artist gone too soon.

Thanks for reading.

Favorite tracks: “Conversations”, “Tell Me U Luv Me (with Trippie Redd)”, “Life’s A Mess (feat. Halsey)”, “Wishing Well”, “Can’t Die”, “Man Of The Year”

SCORE: 6/10

Why Hamilton Lives Up To The Hype

Shortly after its 2015 Broadway debut, it became apparent that Lin Manuel Miranda’s musical Hamilton was quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon. As word spread like wildfire about the masterful crafting of its story, its talented and diverse cast, and its inventive subject matter, tickets began to be in short supply and started to become extremely expensive. As someone who is at times skeptical of pop culture outbursts of popularity but also a casual fan of live theater, I resigned myself to the fact that I would likely never see the star-studded original cast perform this show, and decided to be happy for those who did. Luckily enough, the creative geniuses behind this production had the foresight to record the show as it was upon its initial run of success, and now Hamilton is available for viewing on Disney+ after originally being slated for a 2021 release in movie theaters nationwide.

Theoretically, as some cast members have admitted, the concept shouldn’t work. While American Revolutionary history is fascinating, a nearly 3-hour-long musical about it sounds tedious. That description couldn’t be further from the truth. By telling the story of American-then by America-now, as the playwright so brilliantly puts it, Hamilton is able to simultaneously educate us about our country’s foundational history and ideals while also commenting on how far we have to go to reach them. A largely minority cast features the likes of Leslie Odom Jr. and Christopher Jackson playing Aaron Burr and George Washington, respectively, demonstrating how far we’ve come in many regards. But that’s just the half of it.

The music throughout this production is the most inventive, catchy, and captivating of any musical I’ve ever heard, without exaggeration. Miranda pairs traditional theatrical musical tropes with elements of hip-hop, jazz, and soul, which breathe life into an already surprisingly relatable storyline full of heart. Every cast member offers something unique and necessary to the stage, and performances from Renée Elise Goldsberry, Leslie Odom Jr., and Daveed Diggs were entirely worthy of the Tony awards they received. It’s funny, too, especially as Jonathan Groff spits his way through the hilarious refrains written for King George III. Songs such as “Satisfied”, “The Room Where It Happens”, and “My Shot” are accomplishments in their own right, not to mention how easily they get stuck in your head.

After watching the Disney+ release of Hamilton, I fully understand how it garnered as much attention and praise as it did upon its debut. With all of the necessary conversations happening in this country at the moment, Hamilton feels extremely timely and relevant. It demonstrates the power and importance of diversity and representation, reflects on the direction our country is heading and has headed since its founding, and brings some much-needed quality entertainment along the way. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly suggest checking out Hamilton to answer the question, just as Thomas Jefferson asks, “What’d I Miss?” Thanks for reading.

2020 Presidential Election Map Prediction As Of July

Tomorrow is Independence Day here in the United States of America, and I’m sure many will still be partying and celebrating their country with the traditional fireworks and cookouts. I’m fortunate enough to spend this holiday weekend with family, but instead of pretending to have an overinflated sense of patriotism at my country’s weakest point in my lifetime, I will be reflecting and looking ahead. I find that the importance of the injustices and tragedies happening right now outweigh the traditional celebration of this nation. The systemic inequities placed upon the minority population in this country, our failed response to COVID-19 which perpetually worsens as both our leaders and citizens fail to act responsibly, and the lack of basic respect both legally and rhetorically have led me to hope for a better future as I continue to educate myself presently. This Fourth Of July holiday also falls in the middle of an election year, in which we will be granted the opportunity to practice our right to vote for the next president of the United States and to choose our country’s path forward. With only four months until the election, and as campaign season begins to accelerate rather quickly, I believe it’s time to assess how I think the 2020 presidential election would unfold if it were held today. I will be making monthly predictions right up until just days before the actual election. Let’s get into it.

There are certain elements which remain constant and cyclical despite the many variables which decide presidential elections in this country. Some states are consistently partisan in their vote, and because of that, it can be assumed safely that these states will vote for their preferred party on election day. As pictured here, the states that I assume as givens are as follows: HI (D), WA (D), OR, (D), CA (D), IL (D), NY (D), ME (D), VT (D), MA (D), RI (D), CT (D), NJ (D), DE (D), MD (D), DC (D), AK (R), ID (R), UT (R), WY (R), ND (R), SD (R), NE (R), KS (R), OK (R), MO (R), AR (R), LA (R), MS (R), AL (R), SC (R), TN (R), KY (R), IN (R), and WV (R). Visualizing the states which, barring an election-night shock, will go to their presumed parties, makes one realize just how vital swing states are in a given election cycle.

Some states generally vote for one party opposed to the other, but can be slightly swayed due to pressing economic or social issues at the time of voting. As of July, I’m categorizing the likely states as follows: CO (D), NM (D), VA (D), and MT (R). None of these states’ would differ from the 2016 election, but since the difference in votes was more slim last go around, I’m marking these states as likely as opposed to safe for this year’s bout.

Now things get fun. These states are likely to lean in the direction of a particular candidate, but the recent polling makes me think that the eventual popular vote results will be closer than usual in the following states: MN (D), NH (D), IA (R), and TX (R). Three of these states vary back and forth from election-to-election, but it is a surprise to see Texas in the lean column. For decades, Texas was one of the deepest red states in the entire country. Recently, however, polling and senate races have proven that the developing population centers of Austin and Houston are slowly turning this state purple. If Donald Trump is forced to spend some of his campaign finances in the Lone Star State, he will be prevented from spending those assets in the most important states in the upcoming election.

These states are the ones I will be watching most closely on election night, as their outcomes will be both unpredictable and vital for whichever candidate ends up winning the presidency. These states will likely be toss-ups, and for that reason, I have only tilted them in either direction. Those are: NV (D), AZ (D), WI (D), MI (D), PA (D), NC (D), FL (D), OH (R), and GA (R). These predictions are somewhat based on recent polling, but also on the current state of affairs in the country. Voters in states such as Arizona and Florida which have been hit so hard recently by the coronavirus pandemic are likely looking for a different leadership approach than the one currently being offered by the Trump administration. Polls in the midwestern states of Wisconsin and Michigan have been highly favorable for Joe Biden, but after what happened in 2016’s election, I’m not comfortable marking either as anything more than tilted. Pennsylvania and Ohio tend to vote in unison with one another (except for most recently when they split in the 2004 election with OH going to Bush and PA going to Kerry), but I think Joe Biden coming from Pennsylvania will push him over the edge in the state. It’s entirely possible that I could be wrong about these states, but these are just my predictions based on if the election were held today, hence the upcoming monthly editions of these posts. As of now, I have Joe Biden winning the presidency with 334 electoral votes over Donald Trump’s 204.

There are many factors which will impact the election once it is upon us in November. The state of the economy, the severity of the coronavirus, the reaction to Joe Biden’s vice presidential selection, and the outcome of the presidential debates are just a few of the many variables which will decide who our next president will be. But as we enter the Fourth of July weekend, I find it important for us to reflect on where we are as a nation, and what kind of country we want to build and be proud of moving forward. Thanks for reading.

Albums Which Have Earned A Perfect Score (10/10) From Me

Music has become one of the central topics I discuss on this blog. Whether I’m reviewing a new album, making a ranking list of projects which have come out in a given year, or discussing how my taste in music has changed over time, I’ve found that I have a lot to say when discussing music. In one of this blog’s first posts, I outlined my rubric and criteria for scoring albums and giving scores out of ten. After writing over twenty album reviews on this blog, none of the new releases in recent months have received a perfect score of 10/10. I give this score out sparingly and infrequently, reserving it for only the most influential, masterful, and flawless records which also have personal significance to me. While Charli, IGOR, RTJ4, and The Highwomen have all come close on this blog with scores of 9/10, none have earned the highly coveted perfect score. In this post, I’m going to be discussing a few albums which I consider prime examples of albums worthy of such critical acclaim.

• My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West

This is an album which I grew up listening to on repeat throughout my teenage years. It’s one of the main reasons Kanye West is the artist I’ve listened to most all-time on Spotify. This album defines my favorite Kanye West era: Braggadocious, socially conscious, artistic, and self-reflective. Each beat is luxurious and grandiose, establishing the perfect backdrop for Mr. West and all of the accompanying features to advance the album’s enticing narrative. I think every song belongs exactly where it finds itself on the track-listing, and there is nothing I would change about this project. Tracks like “POWER”, “All Of The Lights”, and “Runaway” were classics the moment they released. The multimodality created by Kanye West’s short film Runaway adds even more to this project’s lore, and because of that, it earns a perfect score.

• The Money Store - Death Grips

This isn’t an album I recommend to everyone I meet. Death Grips’ The Money Store is one of the most influential experimental hip-hop albums of all-time, but it’s not for everyone. Its production was far beyond its years upon its release in 2012, and since then, it has proven to be a guideline for industrial and electronic hip-hop releases for a wide range of artists. Tracks like “Get Got”, “I’ve Seen Footage”, and “Hacker” are just as good now as when I was introduced to them years ago, and the chaotic energy this album presents is unparalleled. There’s nothing I could ever change about this album.

• Rumours - Fleetwood Mac

This may be the least controversial selection on this list. It’s fairly widely established that Rumours is one of the greatest albums of all-time by any metric. The circumstances in which it was written and recorded were both peculiar and necessary for the creative genius that went into crafting an album consisting of classic after classic. From “Dreams” and “Don’t Stop” to “Go Your Own Way” and “The Chain”, Fleetwood Mac was able to compile some of the most famous and critically acclaimed songs of all-time all on the same project. This album will never get old and will always have a special place in my heart and musical library.

• To Pimp A Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 magnum opus To Pimp A Butterfly is one of the most sonically and thematically masterful hip-hop albums of all-time. Its stellar production, thematic messaging, and creativity make it stand out not only as a great project, but as a very unique record as well. The jazz influences found throughout this album create the perfect backdrop and aesthetic for Kendrick’s intricate delivery of insightful political and socioeconomic commentary. I return to “u”, “Alright”, and “How Much A Dollar Cost” regularly. The usage of the continuing poem throughout this album which culminates in one of the best musical twists ever as Kendrick reveals he has been conversing with Tupac the entire time is still chill-inducing. I will forever love this project, and I’m so glad that Kendrick Lamar was the first concert I attended.

• Pure Comedy - Father John Misty

This is my favorite album of all-time. Josh Tillman’s take on an indie folk epic which discusses every element of American society hits on all cylinders for me. Each track is unique and offers relevant and potent critiques on the world around us. Some call this record too heavy or depressing to enjoy listening to, especially repeatedly, but I argue otherwise. The project’s final track, “In Twenty Years Or So”, is able to acknowledge that the world can be difficult, unfair, and make little sense, but that it’s worth living nonetheless with the closing lines “There’s nothing to fear”. I love every song here, but “Pure Comedy”, “Total Entertainment Forever”, “Ballad Of The Dying Man”, “Smoochie”, “So I’m Growing Old On Magic Mountain”, and “In Twenty Years Or So” are some of my favorites. Being able to see Father John Misty perform with my girlfriend after listening to him almost exclusively when meeting and getting to know her was an otherworldly, almost spiritual experience. I even got to touch his bizarrely cold hand from the front row, how cool is that? Pure Comedy epitomizes everything I look for in an album. It has complex lyricism, fantastic and creative production, heartfelt delivery, social commentary, and timeliness. This is the easiest 10/10 I could ever give.

I’m certainly not opposed to giving a perfect score to an album on a new review if any project is able to check all of the boxes and meet the standards set by the projects discussed here. Music is hugely important in my life, and I’m comforted by the fact that returning to these albums will always be an option for me. What are some of your favorite albums of all-time which earn a perfect score from you? Let me know. Thanks for reading.