https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/tYJZCyd87p1hHRmP8

Personal essay

JOHNNY RECORD CLUB 2

This class reminded me of how much I love music. How the essence of it makes me feel human and alive in certain ways I can’t explain. This class taught me how to look at music from a different perspective than before. When I would just look for certain lines that resonate with me or certain moments in an artist’s active time, it’s now with a better lens. It’s with knowing that, now I have the utmost respect for writers and critiques that truly love the culture of music more than before. It makes me realize everyone has a connection. Whether we’re different, or the same, sometimes we all feel something, and that’s what music is all about. Feeling something, My portfolio, “It’s Sunny Where The Cold Wind Blows” Spreads across many artist and subjects that I adore, I hope that you enjoy.

With someone like Kanye West, you can never be surprised at what you learn. As the times come, we find out more and more about the genius that Kanye West truly is. But what is not spoken about is the fact that he is one of the most sampled artists in music today. Knowing his work, it would make any fan raise an eye thinking that someone who has a very sample influenced sound that can be the canvas of other’s masterpieces? Especially with the way Kanye’s sound has developed through change in tempo, tone (through autotune), subject matter, and even the intricate use of old classic music.  Also, we look through some monumental moments in Kanye’s career with some of his best collaborators. Also, the fact that all of these songs went number one and were highly favored by the people for their use of samples and collaborators, shows the significance and importance of Kanye’s musical genius to the people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue1v0o9_hJM

I figured I give us an oldie but goodie that fills my soul with good vibes. The song might be familiar to some who are versed within the 90’s R & B, or to someone who watched the early seasons of FX’s “Snowfall”, but this funky slow melody by Roy Ayers has been a staple in music for a long time since its 1976 release.  This song has been referenced in Movies as well. Used as inspiration, “Everybody loves the sunshine” is from a generation dealing with oppression and hate but these synths and easy lyrics make for an easy listen of positivity in a time of strife. The song has a slow tempo the background vocals and Roy Ayers a better gain for the vibrato of the song. Lyrics like “Just bees and things and flowers” as its bridge gives you a sight into how simple but vivid this song is. Other parts of this song have been included in recent music history and which has made it easy for Ayers to not lose the impact of their song throughout the years.

The intro has been used as a sample in other works too. for example “My Life” By Mary J Blige:

Also pop references within tv and film:

And Finally, A Recent Performance By Roy Ayers Circa 2019

Intro: A passage or section which opens a movement or a separate piece, preceding the theme or lyrics. The introduction establishes melodic harmonic or rhythmic material related to the main body of the piece.

Vibrato: a slightly tremulous effect imparted to vocal or instrumental tone for added warmth and expressiveness by slight and rapid variations in pitch.

Tempo: The Speed at which a piece of music should be played.

“You don’t know what’s in store
But you know what you here for”

-The Weeknd, High For This

It’s important to understand that I was in my second semester of college, experiencing the beginning of my life as an adult. Finding new ways to love, making old habits die hard and just being a student. I remember the morning of the royal wedding of Prince Philip, I was writing this speech for my public speaking class but taking a break from the long presentation process to listen to some music. Not knowing what I pressed play to, in the sunrise hours of the morning, I was going for the ride of my life.

In some ways, I experienced The Weeknd in the wrong way according to himself, but nonetheless, I was intrigued. On my third refill of coffee, I clicked on this Twitter link that led me to a Mixtape link that had me ultimately asking “Who is The Weeknd?”.I found myself wanting to know more about the man with his face blurred, starter locs, and a mysterious candor to himself,.The album cover was a naked woman with balloons all around her in a bathtub. The mixtape would be known as The House of Balloons. This 9 track Mixtape had so much sultry, drug-filled, sexually driven energy, that my mind couldn’t understand what was going on. This was not my parent’s R & B. To hell, it wasn’t even my older siblings R&B from the ’90s. This was something extreme in comparison, this was an ultimate game-changer.

This influenced me to have a party in the Trump hotel (Pre-Election), buy out the penthouse suite on the 23rd floor overlooking central park, and recreate the toxicity that we now know as the beginning of a trilogy. Who knew at the time that he was changing the music industry as we saw it. This mysterious man, who didn’t even bother to show his full face until his third tape was released, had a hold on me and a generation of people who wanted the soundtrack to their illicitly filled nights.

Years before The Weeknd, R & B was going into an electronic and rock music upheaval. From the production to the way the songs were written, it was either about partying or loving. You would still get your traditional ballads from some of the staples of the genre but nothing changed as we came out of the 00’s decade. With acts like Rihanna, Beyonce, And Ne-Yo exploring the new sounds of music that went against the status quo, there was a storm brewing in the northern hemisphere of America. Drake, who is accredited with the social awakening of the Weeknd, has been a supporter of him since 2010.

"Bring your love baby I could bring my shame." – The Weeknd http://bit.ly/dLGnts

— Drizzy (@Drake) March 7, 2011

With this distinct Canadian sound of drowning bass with muffled samples, The Weeknd takes you on a ride as if you’re going to a haunted strip club with whatever vices you want in the back. With songs like “Wicked Games”, “What You Need”, “The Party And The After Party”, “The Knowing”, Weeknd talks on the subject of sex, drugs, intimacy, and infidelity in ways that were way more sultry than the norm. Lyrics like:

“I Left My Girl back home
I don’t love her no more
And She’ll Never F*cking know that
These f*cking eyes that I’m staring at”

“Wicked Games”
are what make the Weeknd such an enigma inside of R & B and hip hop.

The tempo of the popular R & B music was very fast-paced with the melodies to match at the time. Sounds coming from the likes of the contemporary crowd of this genre of music, but this music more of the new generation of R & B. Weeknd was not the first in this new way of R & B. Acts like Frank Ocean and Jhene Aiko were also starting their respective careers. When in hindsight you can see the influence that they currently have on the genre as a whole, but it’s not the clearest vision without a guide. It’s believed that this mixtape is the mixtape that shaped the sound that currently comes out of the Canadian side of America that has given acts like Drake, Justin Bieber, and PartyNextDoor the ability to breathe a new sense of quality music into the industry.

The production plays a major role in the way that the music is perceived. Doc Mckinney, A long-time producer for the Weeknd was a major staple into this sound. He created this sound that The Weeknd used as a backdrop to the climatic stories of his Toronto lifestyle. While I can see the influence in today’s artists like 6LACK, 24KGLD, Gallant, and Brent Faiyaz, Weeknd has gone far beyond his debut mixtape and has solidified himself as one of the most successful artists in the 21st century. Even in today’s age, Weeknd has elevated the genre once again. Making his hit single “Blinding Lights” a certified mainstay on billboard’s top ten for a whole year. But those Balloons on the bathroom floor will forever mean a new change in the guard for our generation.

Infographic: This infographic shows how Kevin Gates uses rhyme in his song Cartel Swag. Gates uses internal rhymes and repetition to make this song so catchy. However If you are not careful you could miss some of the things that he does in the song that makes your subconscious say, “let’s just listen one more time.”

KING NITO RADIO SHOW PART 1&2!!!

Memoir Mixtape:

The Phantom Tongue 

I cut out my tongue, now I keep it in my pocket. For safekeeping. I ripped out my voice and I put it in a book, as storage. All that is left is a phantom tongue and voice that I use to lie with. I have become a dummy for the people, suppressing who I am, and lying to the people around me to preserve their smiles. “Are you still talking to him? Your father?” “No mom.” “Are you coming to see me soon?” “Yes dad.” “Are you having sex or burning inside?” “No church.” “Do you love us?” Of Course I love you all.” I have learned how to become a liar, a liar with the purest intentions. To preserve the spirit of those around me. Assume that everything I tell you is a lie, a fictitious story to keep you all smiling. If you want the real truth then you have to listen to my music. 

War Zone

Question: “Are you still talking to him? Your father”

Answer: “No mom”

Truth: Yo whatsup? It is Jerome

Sorry I can’t come to the phone 

Don’t call my house cuz i’m not home 

I stepped out to the War Zone 

This song War Zone i wrote back in like 2016-17 after my father was released from prison. He always wanted to reestablish his relationship with my sister and I. However my mother wouldn’t allow it. I understand why she did give him nineteen years of her life and in those years this was his third time in prison in spite of her trying to help him change his behavior. It wasn’t until after we left that he got the message and began to improve himself. When my mother found out that him and I were talking, she was livid and saw this as an act of betrayal on my part. I spent my nights in isolation and my days hearing the sobs of my mother crying to God because I didn’t want to choose between my parents. The chorus of War zone is supposed to represent a voicemail message left to my father by me. I used my middle in the song because my dad is the only person who calls me Jerome, allowing him to know that I am speaking directly to him. In this message I’m telling him that I can’t come to the phone anymore because I officially entered the “war zone”. Which is an internal space where I battle the two parts of me. In the verse is where I actually tell the truth stating, 

Tbh this is breaking my heart 

I never want to choose between my dad and my mom 

It get hard

It’s like every time i sit in my car 

I wanna drive back but i never make it that far.

Question: Are you coming to see me soon 

Answer: Yes dad 

Truth: In my heart, in my song, with my pen, I told him the truth. I’ve already said goodbye. 

One Sparrow

Question: “Are you having sex or burning on the inside?” 

Answer: “What does that even mean. No, church”

Truth: Dealing in deceit 

I’m tryna take you to the back room 

Throw on them sheets 

And get your body out that bathrobe 

Bendin on my knees

To feel you Tug all on my afro 

Hoes cant talk to me 

I got my eye all on one sparrow 

Yeeeaaa church, I don’t know how you would interpret this, but this is the type of music that I write. I would imagine the imagery of ripping my girls clothes off is a nono and would qualify as “burning”. The good news is that I’m only thinking about her, the bad news is I think about this and we are not married yet, I know. Maybe i’ll show you this song after i’m married, but for now I’m going to stay, “Dealing in deceit” because I know first hand where honesty gets you in this church. 

Intentions 

Question: “Do you love us?”

Answer: “Ofcourse”

Truth: My question is who is “us”?!?! My Mother? My Father? My Church? My Girlfriend? 

Do you like me? Or do you love me?

Wanna kiss me Or just hug me

Will you ride Until I die

I can’t say that I’m surprised

I question your intentions…

Sometimes I wonder if anyone would love me if I stated my opinion on things. I wonder if my “go with the flow” type of attitude is my biggest liability even though I paint it as my biggest asset. If I told my mother that I want a relationship with my father, would she hate me like she hates him? If I told my pops that I may never come back to visit him, will he continue to reach out to me? If I tell my church how much I burn inside, would my image be tarnished? If I asked my girlfriend to marry me now, would she say yes? If I told everyone that asked me if I loved them, that my love comes with questions, would they request that I stop loving them? 

Some of these questions I may never have the answer to because that requires me to express my truth. Unfortunately, the truth cannot be told with this phantom tongue. I even lied to you guys. The truth is, I had a tongue. I hid it in my pen after it was violently torn out of my mouth. I had a voice as well. I printed it on paper after it was beaten out of me. And they burned it. On my back yard in my grill. They burned my tongue and voice until it was reduced to ashes and to this day I have never recovered. So now I speak with what is left, a phantom limb smiling and conforming. So that my new music like “One Sparrow” and “Intentions” won’t end up like “War Zone”. Burned to a crisp and reduced to ashes by those who say they love me.

Bonus Tape:

Jarybel Correa 

Engl 303W 

Professor Jason Tougaw 

As an Education and English major, this class was definitely one I was looking forward to. Music has always been a part of my life, especially growing up in a Hispanic household. Being able to learn how to write about music has been an overall helpful and enjoyable experience. I was able to write about music that interests me as well as get introduced to new music. What I enjoyed most about this class was the fact that I was able to choose what artists or music I would write about. This allowed me to have a personal connection with my writing, and I was able to express myself genuinely. I believe that I did a great job at understanding a variety of musical genres and with that learning the elements that make up such great music. 

For the album review assignment, I knew what I wanted to write about right away. Mac Miller has been such an inspiration to my life, so I was very excited to be able to cover his last album “Circles”. Here I reflected on the meaning behind his lyrics, and the story he told. This assignment was more enjoyable to write than anything else. I felt as though I was my true genuine self and really did express my thoughts on this album. My voice was really projected through this assignment. 

The Infographic assignment was a little bit of a challenge for me. I chose to write about Amy Winehouse and her amazing work. I felt as though I had a difficult time putting together the infographic itself, but I learned something new and I actually had a great time completing it. Definitely one of the many things I learned in this class this semester.

Lastly, as I look back on my radio show assignment, I am very proud of myself. This was really out of my comfort zone because I am very shy! However I think I did a great job, this was probably my most favorite assignment overall. I was able to put together a radio show special on Rihanna, one of my most favorite artists of all time. Although I had a few things that i could’ve improved on a little more, I was extremely happy with how the final product. 

                                           Album Review: Circles by Mac Miller

           At the age of 15, the world came to know the memorable Malcolm James McCormick, also known as Mac Miller. He began his rap career in 2007, he was known as Easy Mac, and later on, he received much attention for his KIDS mixtape in 2010. Soon after, he signed with Rostrum Records and, in 2011, released his Blue Side Park project. In 2018, Mac Miller gave the world his album Swimming with his very accomplished producer Jon Brion. This album meant a lot to Miller, so much so that he always envisioned a second part to it. Unfortunately, on September 7th, 2018, police responded to a 911 call made by Mac Miller’s assistant, who discovered his body in a bedroom at his home. The 26-year-old independent artist was pronounced dead at the scene. After an autopsy, the reasoning for his death is pronounced. An accidental overdose, cocaine, alcohol, and fentanyl were all found in his system. He struggled with addiction for a long time, but Miller was in his best mental state when the accidental overdose occurred; millions of fans were saddened by this tragic loss. However, two years later, the world received the works of Mac Miller one last time.

“Well, this is what it looks like, right before you fall,” Mac Miller sang in his opening track on the album Circles. The world lost a phenomenal, dedicated artist who was gone too soon like many other artists. The first pieces of this album were shared with Jon Brion for the first time while Miller and Brion worked together on Swimming. Unfortunately, before he even got the chance to create this second part of Swimming that he always envisioned, he sadly passed away. However, Brion felt like he owed it to Miller to finish this breathtaking project; he knew the world needed to hear his voice one last time. So, with permission from the late artist’s family, Brion made this project come to be, all while using the inspiration Miller had left behind. On January 17th, 2020, Circles was released. Finally, Mac Miller’s dream of creating this second part became a reality. 

While listening to Circles, it felt very personal. Almost as if Miller was trying to show his true raw self to the world. Using more vocals than ever compared to his other albums, which consisted of more rap than anything else. He took his mental issues and struggles and made this album into a beautiful yet saddening piece. It takes a lot of courage and confidence to open up about deep and honest thoughts and give them to the world for them to listen to, not everyone can, but that is precisely what Mac Miller did with this album. He wanted the listeners to know this emotional part of him that has always been there. This album created an understanding of these deep inner feelings that audiences had never seen in any other album. He wanted us to fully understand every bit of pain he was feeling or overcame, which makes this album so unique. With just the right amount of instruments and his soft-spoken voice, this album touched my heart and many others. 

The tone of this album is calm, peaceful, and very comforting. With connections to Miller’s death, listening to this album can make you feel a heaviness of emotion. Circles feels as though Miller is speaking to us after his death. He has come to be at peace with the situation. He describes his faults, how they have contributed to everything that has happened in his life, but at the same time, it feels as though he is also saying that it is okay, and you feel a sense of comfort and peace. Circles is a very lyric-focused album that is revealing of his soul. Moving away from what he usually creates, rap albums, he stepped out of his comfort zone to create an album that was very similar to Swimming, but they are very different. 

The album begins with the track Circles; from the moment you begin to hear his voice and the soft relaxing sounds of a guitar is when you start to realize that he is gone. Circles is a perfect first track on the album as if this is the beginning to the end of his life, and he is expressing that to the world in his first lyric, “Well, this is what it looks like, right before you fall.” He explains how he feels lost and with no direction, which has caused him to fall into a pattern or cycle with his bad habits or actions. In the track, it seems as though he is aware of the problems that he had to deal with and shows some comfort in knowing that. 

This track sets the tone for the rest of the album, where he continues to describe his self-reflection journey.” Circles” is my favorite song on the album; his mellow and smooth voice to the mellow guitar playing overall creates a very emotional feeling. In this song, I felt every lyric he sang, the music behind it was a plus for me. Good News is probably one of my favorites on the album. Here Miller expresses his feelings on forced happiness and forced positive thoughts in his life. The track includes bass, electric guitar, a more soothing beat, and quiet acoustics. We begin to understand how he has had to fake a smile and lie to the world about how he truly feels. People did not want to hear or even begin to understand his negative thoughts that haunted his mind. Other tracks on the album, such as Everybody, Woods, Hand Me Downs, That’s On Me, and Surf, have similar melancholic tones using simple instruments and mainly lyric focused. 

Everybody is a track that includes a more uplifting drum beat pace and a piano-playing softly and just in the background. In this track, you begin to understand what Miller is saying about life. He expresses why people wish to live their lives more positively and continuously, and that is because life is too short. Ironically, he describes that he has realized how short life is and that while we live this crazy life, it can be over at any moment. The last track on the album Once a Day seems to be the perfect ending. This track was an old piece of his that was unreleased. It almost feels like his final words or final send-off for him. The song includes soft sounds of bells and an electronic and peaceful sort of tone. He uses his voice to further talk about self-reflection, which led him to think about all his faults and things he has struggled with, such as depression, substance abuse, and not being honest with everyone and himself truly felt in life. 

Circles is by far one of my top 5 favorite albums. Listening to this entire album multiple times, track by track, from beginning to end, felt like such an honor. To be able to experience the unraveling of Mac Miller’s true self and genuine emotion filled my heart with sadness but also peace. This album was the perfect ending to his life, and throughout this work of art, we can reflect on ourselves. 2020 has been the worst year for me and many others as well. Just not being able to live life to the fullest and that feeling of being locked up in your own home not being able to express yourself or express your thoughts and feelings can affect your mental health drastically. Mac Miller kept all his feelings bottled up inside and faked a smile for so long until the world finally understood his soul and mind with this album. It is important to express any feeling of sadness or frustration or maybe even guilt throughout this pandemic. It is hard with life not being so standard anymore, but life is too short to keep your emotions bottled up; life is too short to fake a smile. This final piece by Mac Miller touched my soul and many others. His soft-spoken voice, simple instruments, and peaceful tone created the perfect farewell.

                                                    Infographic: Amy Winehouse

https://create.piktochart.com/output/53615857-the-life-of-amy-winehouse

Above is the link I’ve made public for my Infographic!

On September 14th, 1983, Amy Winehouse was born in London, England, to Jewish parents Mitchell, a taxi driver, and Janis, a pharmacist. Amy had a phenomenal voice from the time she was ten years old. Years later, she was enrolled in “Sylvia Young Theater School” but got kicked out of the school due to her lack of work in her studies and nose piercing. During her time at this school, she worked on solos that required a sexy jazz-style voice. Winehouse soon after began to study at the Brit Performing Arts School in South London.

Amy was singing professionally when she was only sixteen years old; this happened because her good friend James Tyler had sent her demo to a record company scout. However, it was not until 2003 when her debut album “Frank” became noticed, as it brought a rebellious rock and roll feel to the music. Besides two songs on the album, all lyrics written by Amy and her brutal truth. The album won her two Brit Awards when released. However, Winehouse was not making headlines because of her voice; her image was unique to the public, making her that much more iconic. Her beehive hairstyle, Cleopatra-style eyeliner, and her tattoos made her stand out.

After the release of “Frank,” Winehouse did not produce or write anything for eighteen months. However, this changed after she met music producer Mark Ronson. She began to write “Back to Black,” which was the best-selling album of 2007. Released in 2006, “Back to Black” was her breakout album. It struck the world to see that every track on the album is unique in its way. The influence of jazz is evident in the songs throughout her album. The opening song “Rehab” is very up-tempo and filled with sass and flair. She expresses her rebellious characteristics in this track, especially when she says, “They tried to make me go to rehab. I said no, no, no.” Despite the alcohol and drug abuse, Amy believed she was fine and refused to admit herself into rehab on her record company’s behalf. The use of horns is significant in her music, especially in the song “You Know I’m No Good,” which helps carry the rhythm. In this song, she tells the story of cheating on her boyfriend with her ex. However, the music is not about forgiveness; in fact, she implies that he should have known how she is, and it is his fault for sticking around.

The album titled song “Back to Black” is one of her most recognizable and popular songs. This track featured the use of violins and piano, creating a very Ballad style. However, she still kept her true style; this made the song so famous and pleasing. There is a balance between the piano riff and instrumentals, emphasizing only the right moments and creating a beautiful piece. “We only said goodbye with words / I died a hundred times / You go back to her /, And I go back to black” is the chorus line that seems to stand out to every listener. Her voice’s emotions behind every lyric and the relativeness make the listener feel more connected with this track. Every single song on this album is worthy of being released as a single. We often notice that there are not as outstanding as the others in other albums. However, this is not the case with Amy’s album. “Back to Black” is a unique piece where every track is worth mentioning. The album debut as No. 7 on the US Billboard 200 and sold 51,000 copies within the first week of its release. “Back to Black” was nominated as the Best Pop/Vocal album, Song of the year, and record of the year in the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. She also won Best New Artist and Best Female Pop/Vocal Artist of the year in 2008.

Amy Winehouse’s music is not defined by one specific genre. Some people would say that her music is Rythym, Jazz, R&B, Hip Hop, or Soul. She was well known for her deep contralto vocals and her mix of musical genres. When listening to any Amy Winehouse song, you notice how effortlessly her unique voice wraps around the jazz-like sound of the instruments. However, in some of her work, the genres mix; there are songs where you hear jazzy tones and get that Soul or R&B aspect. I have noticed how her voice works perfectly with any genre or style of music. She stays true to her unique whiney tone of voice in all of her albums; the music accommodates that and creates beautiful and smooth tracks. This is what I often admire about her music, the way her voice flows with the rhythm. 

Along with success, Amy faced a public battle with her demons. From 2006 to 2007, Amy struggled with alcohol and drug abuse. She realized she was on the path to self-destruction and finally admitted herself into rehab. Winehouse had dreams of becoming a wife, mother, and have a family. However, her dream of normalcy and family never came to be; Amy was found dead in her home on July 23rd, 2011. Several things should be memorable about Amy Winehouse, such as her unique style, powerful voice, and lyrical poetry. Amy brought a retro kind of pop back to life. Even though her musical career was short, she did leave an impact on the world. This impact is still shown today with other female artists. She used the truth of her life to creating excellent work. Amy Winehouse had many tragedies throughout her life, but the biggest tragedy of all is that it took her death for everyone to realize how iconic she is.

                                                   LADY J RADIO- Rihanna special 

                                             Artist Profile : Music inspiration & interest 

  As a child born into a Hispanic and catholic household, my music interest varied throughout my entire life. I was born in Manhattan, New York, on December 20th, 2000. Being the middle child of four, music was put into my perspective from my older sisters. They introduced me at a young age to different genres of music. Our parents were very religious, and growing up in a catholic household, it was difficult for us to listen to music that was not related to the church. My family and I would go to church every Sunday; in addition to that, I attended catholic school every week and also participated in a youth group at our church. I learned many gospel songs in English and Spanish because my godmother was part of the chorus/band at the church. In 2007, my parents split, and so did my family. Eventually, this affected the religious aspect of my life; soon enough, religion seemed to slip away from my daily life. However, only a few years ago, this part of my life was reintroduced to me. I would have to say that this part of my life, is one that I look back at and appreciate the most; it has made me the person I am today and heavily embeds in my persona. However, I do not really listen to gospel music anymore, even though it is still a part of my life.

As I got older, I listened to various artists such as The Notorious B.I.G, Eminem, Lauryn Hill, Michael Jackson, T.L.C., etc. The only way I was introduced to these artists was because of my older sisters; I always wanted to be around them and listen to the same things they listened to. If it weren’t for them, I would have never been introduced to this type of music. However, my Father also brought a significant influence on music. He grew up in Queens, New York, during the ’80s, and this was such an influential time in history when it comes to music. He introduced me to old school music, as he likes to call it. As I reached my teen years, music became a massive part of my everyday life. Music gave me the motivation to get out of bed and start my day.

My music taste varies; I enjoy listening to all genres of music. Mostly, Bachata, Merengue tipico, Hip Hop, Rap, Pop, and salsa. Music has always been a massive part of my life; to me, it is a form of expression; on days when I want to feel happy, I listen to more uplifting music such as Merengue Tipico, which is a genre of music that originated in the Dominican Republic. It is very similar to merengue; however it has a faster pace when dancing, I usually listen to Tipico whenever I want to feel uplifted and happy. On days when I want to feel relaxed and chill ill listen to rap or hip hop. Some of my favorite artists include The Notorious B.I.G. and Post Malone. As you can already probably tell, my music taste is very diverse; I enjoy all types of music and enjoy being introduced to new genres and artists. I will introduce you to my top 3 favorite artists and why they have impacted my life.

The Notorious B.I.G

Christopher Wallace, also known as The Notorious B.I.G., was one of the most influential rappers. Born on May 21st, 1972, in Brooklyn, New York, to immigrant parents, his father left him and his mother Voletta when he was just two years old. Growing up in Bedford Stuyvesant, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, Smalls was exposed to many street life at such a young age during the crack-cocaine epidemic in the ’80s and ’90s. He was lyrically gifted from such a young age. Smalls music spoke about the qualities of a life of crime and spoke about the downside of it all in his songs “Suicidal Thoughts” and “Everyday Struggle.” His music was also very influential; the lyrics in one of his most famous songs, “Juicy,” gave hope to struggling people. It helped people to have a positive outlook, and even people who do not come from money can make it in life. Immediately at the beginning of the song, he calls out everyone who doubted him. He continues to express his story of coming from nothing and dreaming big to his success. Biggie Smalls is one of my favorite artists because of his smooth lyrical flow. When he raps, he tells a story, one that is very pleasing to hear. I would say that his music motivates me to be productive and continue dreaming big. Unfortunately, he was another artist that was taken way too soon, but his impact on the music world is forever imprinted.

Selena

Selena Quintanilla is one of the most influential Latin artists ever. Before her tragic death at the age of 23, she released very well-known hits and set fashion and makeup trends. Everything about Selena and her music was revolutionary. Selena took apart barriers of language, genre, and identity throughout her entire career. She overcame male-dominated musical genres. Selena was a Mexican American singer who came from a very conservative family and had difficulty being accepted by audiences both in the U.S. and Mexico. However, her unique style of music took contemporary sounds of the 90’s and Mexican genres and combined them to create award-winning albums. Selena was an inspiration to many new Latina artists such as Karol G and Selena Gomez. Selena was the first female artist who was proud of her heritage and being Latina for many people. Her music celebrated life, love, and family. I first learned Selena’s famous song “Como la Flor” when I was just five years old. This track included a dynamic and vocal performance over a cumbia beat. “Como la flor” is one of my favorite songs, which talks about heartbreak and romance. Selenas music is very influential because it describes me as a person and the different parts of my life. She was not afraid to be proud of her heritage and created a path for future Latina female artists.

Post Malone

Post Malone is one of my favorite artists of all time. Although I was introduced to him not too long ago, his music has impacted me in the short time that I have gotten to know his music. His music caught my attention because of his unique vocal style and pop, hip hop, rock, and folk combination. I remember first listening to Post Malone on a long drive back from Montauk with my boyfriend. We drove on the road listening to his single “Stay” with the windows rolled down. This was a moment that I will never forget, a time where I was fully content in life. His music has ever since had this effect on me, and I am sure it did too for many other people. I will be seeing him live this year, and I am so very excited.

Conclusion

These are only a few of my favorite artists who each bring different genres to the table. Each of these artists has been influential to my life when I feel like I cannot achieve my goals; their music is my escape from reality. My taste in music varies; I have so many other genres that I listen to almost every day, such as meringue tipico, as I mentioned before, country, and rock. The music itself is a universal language that has brought me to connect with others on a different level. My appreciation for these artists and all types of music is indescribable.

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It’s More Than Music To Me

Writing about music is something new to me when taking this class. As a secondary English education major, I was used to more of a formal writing style. The idea I liked most about this class was having a choice about the songs and artists I can write about as well as  writing informally. This allowed me to express my feelings towards songs I enjoy and relate to the most. For all writing assignments, I feel I do a good job with mentioning how I can feel what the artist is singing about because I have been through a similar experience. The one thing I think I lacked was being more specific with explaining in more depth about what those experiences were for me. 

For the record club assignment, I had no idea what song I should share with the class until the night before. I wanted to choose a song that was new and I can speak about on a personal level. “Unstable” by Justin Bieber and The Kid Laroi was a song that had been on repeat the week I had to present so I decided to go with it. The class actually enjoyed the song and my blog post for it. I was honestly surprised but happy at the same time because this song has a deeper meaning to me. 

With the record club blog post I had to respond to honestly it was a bit of a challenge for me. When I had to find a song that was similar to “Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Rey I admittedly thought of Billie Ellish. I think my post for it could use a little more work and structure identifying why these artists and music are similar in vocals. 

My album review was probably one of my favorite pieces of writing throughout the whole semester. Since it was the first assignment of the class I had a hard time making sure I did not write like it was a formal essay. Juice Wrld is one of my favorite artists and I genuinely admire his passion for music. The way he is able to let his fans know his struggles sets a good example to let people know it is okay to have bad days. In this revision I want to make sure my voice is there and that the readers notice I love his music. 

Lastly, my personal essay assignment was the best idea I had all semester. I picked one of my most listened to playlist and I described how the songs are in correlation with each other. I wrote about three of my most listened to songs on the playlist which are, “Good Days” by Sza, “At My Worst” by Pink Sweats and “Without You” by The Kid Laroi. After submitting the rough draft I was confident in my work and the idea but I lacked expressing why these songs ressemble a time in my life. I went back and revised so the readers can really understand that music has a little power for the different moods and events that occur in my life.

“Unstable” by Justin Bieber featured The Kid LAROI

This song is in Justin Bieber’s new album called “Justice” that was just released about a week ago. Growing up, I was never a fan of Justin Beiber. I never understood what people were so great about his music. As his music continues to evolve I started to like it more. The songs he was featured in were the singles he would drop randomly. This album was hyped up before it was released and I am a HUGE The Kid LAROI fan. During the pandemic is when I found out who The Kid LARIO and I now listen to his album probably one time everyday because it is that good. 

The reason why I picked this song is because I am a fan of both these artists and I relate to the lyrics. I usually listen to and lean towards songs that have meaning to me, it is just more enjoyable to vibe to and it does not matter what my mood is. During the pandemic I had a hard time with myself mentally because I had to adjust to living life at home rather than being out all the time, distracting myself from reality and my problems. This song makes me feel and understand that it is okay to have moments where you are unaware of who you are. “Unstable” allows me to know that other people like celebrities face similar struggles like me. 

Justin Bieber’s addresses in this song about his mental health and how his wife Haley got him through those struggles. The tone in his vocals sounds passionate when he sings; “Sometimes I think I overthink / And I start to feel anxiety / There were times I couldn’t even breathe / But you never once abandoned me.” That line is the first line in the beginning verse of the song. The tempo of the song is one of the slower ones on this album which I think as to do with the meaning behind it. The dynamics in this song sound louder leading up to The Kid LARIO solo in the song. The vocals between both artists are very different. The pitch in  Kid LARIO’s voice is deeper and raspier which makes the song sound steely.  When Justin is singing the harmony is mainly the piano playing with the combination of the echo of what he sings. I envision a movie or music video which portrays a cinematic effect in my head while listening to the song. Eventually, the chorus then repeats at the end of the song which is when a guitar beat starts to play which is the only beat in the whole song. The guitar allows the melody to become louder. This can symbolize and emphasize the idea that Justin is thankful for what he has been through and it is okay to get him from others. 

Lana Del Rey and Billie Ellish: Similarities and Differences

Muniba shared the song “Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Rey for her record club. First, I love this song and the way you addressed it in your post was well thought out. I like how the song has a very mellow vibe but the instrument’s loudness makes me want to move my head while listening. This song and Lana Del Rey herself give me Billie Eilish feels because I think they have similar music style and voice. 

 The song “Ocean Eyes” by Billie Eilish is what I think of when I listen to Young and Beautiful. Both these artists sing with a passion in their voice and their vocals are incredible. All I know is that if these two artists made a song together it would be insanely good. “Ocean Eyes” is a very humble and warm kind of song. When I say this I mean the song is meant to be sad but the melody and instruments make up for the sadness the song is supposed to give off just like Lana Del Rey does. Listen to the beat in the first verse of the song; it sounds like a drum which gives off an upbeat feel to the song. The chorus of the song is when the beat changes, they add more drums which make up more than a single beat from the beginning. Just like in “Young and Beautiful” the beat starts with the piano then as the song continues to add other instruments which allows the song to pick up pace.

The meaning behind both these songs have to do with love. In “Ocean Eyes” Billie Ellish sings directly to the person she loves at the time. In “Young and Beautiful” Lana Del Rey vocalizes her questions about if the person she loves will love her for who she is. Both these songs hit close to home to me because I was also at a point where I questioned if a significant other cared about me like the way I did for them. Both these artists are unique in their own ways and are incredible musicians but they do have so many similarities in style, tone and meaning of their music. 

If all of you have a chance to listen to Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish, let me know if you think these artists sound almost identical in style and vocals. I think they really do and I love it because these artists are remarkable singers and songwriters. I feel when an artist can turn the meaning of a sad song in a way for the fans to still move their head or dance while listening shows what they can do with their talent.

Legends Never Die 

On December 8th 2019,  the late rapper and songwriter Juice Wrld passed away from an overdose when he was traveling on tour. Juice Wrld was a legend to many and still to this day.  His music style and lyrics resemble his life which inspires many of his fans to speak out about what they are going through. He has produced six albums and his songs are always about heartbreak, love, struggles in life or drugs. After his passing, Juice Wrld’s producers released his most recent album called “Legends Never Die” in 2020. This album consists of twenty two songs and five music videos. Each song in this album expresses what Juice was going through at the time. The melody of each song that he sings gives his fans the truth about who he was. When he sings his audience can hear the passion through his vocals. Depending on what Juice’s songs are about he changes from singing to rapping. This album is not a goodbye for Juice Wrld, it allows his fans to continue to live on his name and music after his death. 

Juice Wrld starts off his album with an intro called “Anxiety” this sets the tone and mood for the rest of the songs. He speaks not even sings about his love for god and music stating; “I don’t know, music is just a beautiful thing, like I love myself so much, as far as the way I make music.” This line shows his fans his passion for music, he raps about his life because he loves himself. He deals with his issues like anxiety by writing music about it, this is inspiring. Any singer, songwriter or artist who is vocalizing their inner feelings and emotions throughout their music engages his fans to want to listen more.  As one of his fans, mental health is extremely important to me. When hearing him speak about how he uses music to help him deal with his struggles, I can understand where he is coming from because I also use things I enjoy to help deal with anxiety. 

After the intro he writes a song called “Righteous” that has a guitar playing underneath Juice’s vocals. In the beginning of the song, he sings very softly while the guitar plays. The sickest beat in the song is when the beat drops and the speed of the song begins to pick up. Juice Wrld is known as doing both rapping and singing but, in this song, it sounds more passionate because he is only singing. The chorus he is feeling grateful when he sings; “all white Gucci suit, I’m feelin righteous / Yeah, I know that the truth is hard to digest.” Even though he is making reference to his style, he still is real with his fans that sometimes life is hard and things do not turn out the way he wanted. This song is a different style compared to the others in the album because the background of the guitar engages the fan to understand he is sad.

The song “Smile” that is featuring The Weekend in this album was originally titled “Sad.” The beat of this song is more electric and has more sounds than instruments. The Weekend has a verse where he vocalizes his feelings about a significant other and the sacrifices he has made for them. What is interesting about Juice Wrld’s verse is that he is foreshadowing his death when he sings; “devil on my shoulder telling me I’ll die soon.” Did Juice Wrld know he was going to die, was he hinting at his fans? In this verse he is singing the lyrics to the song in a way that tells his fans he was hurting. To me I think the back beat sounds like an alto because of the playing of the drums, which makes me nod my head to the beat every time I listen. The pitch in Juice Wrlds voice sounds deeper and louder when he sings the chorus of the song; “I’d do anything in my power to see you just smile.” The album continues to show Juice Wrld’s true feelings, what he was going through and this allows his fans to understand he never wanted to go through his tough times alone. “Wishing Well” is one of the most powerful songs on this album. Juice Wrld sings about his drug addiction and  after he wrote this song he passed away from a drug overdose in 2019. Wishing Well is one of my favorite songs on this album because it is a song I can easily vibe to. This song has a guitar in the background just like in the song “Smile.” The beat drops after a few lines of the song and it sounds like someone is beat boxing. If you listen closely you can hear clapping like how one of his fans would be when listening to this song. The clapping makes me want to clap along and pretend like I am playing the drums as I hear it. It ends the album in a very unique way that I still do not understand how he or the producers did it. 

Juice Wrld ended his album just like he started it with him speaking. “Juice Wrld Speaks from Heaven (Outro)”  The beginning of this song is like classical music with the orchestra playing. I have no idea if this is pre recorded or if the producers found a way to edit it to get him to say this but Juice says he’s facetime from heaven. Did he know he was going to die? Was this a call for help? Maybe this has a connection to do with all the songs in this album having to do with his struggles and it was a cry for help. It left me in shock and it made me think a lot about the album in a deeper way. 

Vibin

 Every day I listen to music and I am constantly adding, discovering, and changing my playlist I have on my phone. Whatever I am doing or wherever I am going, I will always put one of my playlists to match the setting and mood I am in. This means my music taste changes within the genre, which is not a bad thing because I am that friend people come to when they need new music or a playlist to listen to. One of my favorite and most recent playlists I have created is called vibin––with a sunflower and butterfly emoji attached to it. This playlist was created for me when I need calm, chill, and relaxing music to listen to that also relates to me for when I am in my feels. I named it vibin because I listen when I am just going with the flow doing my own thing and need songs to listen to that address how I feel so I know that I am not the only one who goes through things in life. That is the majority of the time with me. 

Anyways, the genres on this playlist are from r&b to pop music. Since these genres are very different, that means that artist featured include pop stars like Billie Ellish to r&b singers like Sza. Despite the differences with the artists and genres, there are similarities with the songs. As a fan and listener, I can hear the passion in their vocals, lyrics, and desire for the fans to feel what they are going through. This is what this whole playlist is about for me, I can make a connection with the songs and relate to them with myself, the life I am living, and what I have been through. This essay is going to break down a few of the songs that are in my vibin playlist. I am going to address how it relates to me, why it is in this playlist and how it connects to other songs featured in “vibin.” 

One of my favorite songs on this playlist is “Good Days” by Sza. I just became familiar with her music at the beginning of the pandemic, ever since then I have listened to numerous of her songs and albums. Right from the start of “Good Days,” the song sounds calming. There is some sort of string instrument playing, maybe a guitar, violin, or even a harp. Then the other sounds playing in the backbeat of these instruments sound like an ocean or beach noises; if you listen closely it sounds similar to a seagull. Sza finally starts to use her amazing and soft voice to express the meaning of the song. Not in just the lyrics but, when she sings with a passion, it makes her fans know what she has been through. The meaning behind this song is relatable to not just me but many of her fans. She sings about her wasted times on the wrong person and having trouble moving on from them and forward with her life. 

As I sit and do my schoolwork listening to this song I think about how it relates to me. I have had my fair share of good and bad days with a significant other, friend or family member. This song makes me understand that it is okay to not be okay. There have been times in my life where I have left that my time is being wasted by people who do not care about me like I do for them. I know now that life is too short to dwell on those people and to move on even if it is hard just as Sza would say. You would think I would get sidetracked but it doesn’t make me more focused. I think I become so in touch with the lyrics that I try to distract myself with doing my homework and have some breaks in between where I nod my head to the beat, like many other songs displayed while listening to vibin. 

Another one of my favorite songs on this playlist is “At My Worst” by Pink Sweats featuring Kehlani. Both these artists are r&b singers and songwriters who came together to create this amazing, mellow and meaningful song. The song begins with a slow backbeat of a guitar and the sound of snapping of fingers. This beat continues throughout the whole song while adding a piano during the chorus. Pink Sweats and Kehlani have very similar vocals in this song, they both sound soft and quiet which addresses a deeper meaning to fans when listening. Pink Sweats mentioning this being his favorite song he has written, he vocalizing his struggles with love when singing; “I need somebody who can love me at my worst / No, I’m not perfect, but I hope you see my worth / ‘Cause it’s only you, nobody new, I put you first.” This song expresses the idea that everyone has their imperfections that are considered to doubt who they are and how they see themselves. Pink Sweats allows his fans to know that not only does this song relate to relationships but families and friends too. 

This song is in my vibin playlist because the mellow vibe and soft beat it has allows me to feel calm when I listen. The meaning behind the song can relate to me in many ways because people in my life are supposed to be there and love me when I am at my worst or doing my best. In order to be happy in life, it starts with being happy with yourself. Yes, people need to be there for you when you are at your worst but be there for yourself first. 

Pink Sweats does a good job of sounding passionate in his voice which makes me as a fan appreciate the song more because it has or is going through something I went through. Most of the songs featured on this playlist are songs that are heartfelt to me and enjoyable to listen to when I am feeling down or need music to calm me down when I am stressed. 

I am always adding new music to this playlist. Recently The Kid Laroi dropped a remix to his song “Without You” featuring Miley Cyrus. This song before the remix was already amazing with the lyrics, and vocals The Kid Laroi has. Both artists have very unique voices that bounce off each other throughout the song. The song begins with an acoustic guitar playing then instead of The Kid Laroi starting the song like the original Miley takes over. Miley Cyrus has a deep and steely voice like The Kid Laroi which suits her well in this song. After Miley sings, The Kid Laroi sings the next melody of the song; “You cut out a piece of me, and now I bleed internally, Left here without you, without you, And it hurts for me to think about what life could possibly be like Without you.” The song is about The Kid Laroi’s  relationship where his girlfriend has had enough and walked out on him. He communicates his feelings of heartbreak and despair to his former partner. Though the relationship for him was toxic, The Kid Laroi can’t bear the thought of being without his lover. This song hits differently if you as a listener can relate to what he is feeling, singing, and his tone of voice. His voice is very raspy which makes the listener know how passionate he is with the meaning of the song and his music himself. I feel as if the song was upbeat and was not so much acoustic the meaning of the song would have been taken away from the fast pace beat most pop and rap songs have. 

This song I think has a meaning that almost everyone can interpret in their way based on something or an experience they have been through. My first boyfriend I dated for over two years and we broke up over a year ago. When he left, I had to find myself again because I relied on him for my happiness and support. It was a very hard and emotional time for me in my life but, I realized I can get through it and I can be happy by myself and for myself. This song demonstrates how it is okay to be sad over a significant other, everyone has been there once. I added this remix to my playlist because I like that Miley Cryus is in it and she adds the same feel and voice The Kid Laori likes the song has meaning to her as well. 

My music style usually is demonstrated through the kind of moods I am in. I wanted to take the time to break down a few of my favorite songs in vibin because it is my most frequently played playlist because all of them relate to a time in my life. When I can feel the sadness or feelings the artist has in their voice when they sing, it makes me as a listener enjoy the song on a deeper level. I think having a connection to a song beats dancing to it which is what this playlist is about. I love how I can feel what the artist is feeling. It allows me to cope with my problems and emotions. Everyone should find a song that relates to them and find a song that has zero meaning and listen to both. I bet, the song that is symbolic to you will be the one you enjoy more.  

Thank You

I want to thank all the artists who write music with a passion. I believe in order to be a successful singer and songwriter they need to write  music that is relative to their life. This is what graitates fans to want to listen more. I appreciate artists like Justin Bieber, The Kid Laroi and Juice Wrld creating music about their struggles because as a fan I am not alone with my own problems that are similar to theirs. 

I also would like to thank those who have made life a little challenging for me because I was able to experience hardships which enabled me to look at life differently and connect to music on a deeper level. For those people who were there for me, thanks for not giving up on me. 

I want to give a shout out to Professor Tougaw, this class was not what I expected but I enjoyed every moment of it. The semester allowed me to look at music in a different light. Now, when I vibe to music I can recognize the backbeat, harmony and really understand the meaning of songs without thinking about it, which I think is enjoyable. 

Lastly, to all my classmates, good luck with finals and the rest of your journey. You all are granted to see and accomplish big things in life. Keep doing you.