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In honor of Women’s History Month, several of Byte’s feature writers have compiled a group of groundbreaking female artists that have impacted the music scene in profound and exciting ways. These artists push the envelope and dare to create within a traditionally male dominated-industry.
An extensive line of people stretched around the left side of the building and trailed deep into the parking lot—some lounging in sleeping bags, some stationed in tents, some sat in lawn chairs, and some curled up in blankets—all in anticipation of seeing the alternative/indie group, The Band CAMINO. Due to the pandemic, the Memphis boys were forced to halt production. Now they are back and better than ever, bringing Hastings and flor along for the journey, they are ready to give their diehard fans the show they’ve dreamed about for the past two and a half years.
Warm-toned yellow lights glisten onto the sidewalk from a vertical sign that reads “ARAGON.” I walk inside the venue and see elegant decor that transports me back to what I imagine it looked like on opening day in the mid-1920s. The green and yellow mosaic-style, carpet-covered, double staircase awaits, guiding me to the stage. I am met with the maple-colored wooden dance floor where all of the general admission ticket-holders stand, waiting anxiously for their beloved artist to appear onstage: Aminé. Looking up from the dance floor, I see painted artworks of space, filled with star constellations and the planets. This is definitely one of the most well-designed venues I’ve ever stepped foot in. Bodies, mostly teenagers and young adults, start to flood this once-empty area in preparation for the Portland native rapper/singer to commence the "Best Tour Ever Tour."
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar — need I say more? With some of the biggest hip-hop heavyweights combining forces to put on a performance, it’s like the Avengers assembled on stage. Displaying the signature Pepsi Halftime Show logo in space and then zeroing in on Compton, Los Angeles, the camera fades out to disclose a map of the city on Dr. Dre’s palm. He then moves his fingers up the soundboard to initiate mixing beats. He elevates from inside the stage, to front and center. He grabs the audience’s attention as “The Next Episode” feat. Snoop Dogg blares throughout SoFi Stadium’s packed 70,000+ seats. We are then met with the man, the myth, the Dogg himself. He’s dripped out in royal blue, highlighter yellow, and a gold-designed crewneck and sweatpants, along with matching solid gold sunglasses and microphone because c’mon, why wouldn’t he? The camera zooms out to reveal the evening’s performance setup, which includes five white stages — representative of houses with each of them having their front wall missing — connected side by side with three Chevrolet Impala Lowriders, owned by Members of the Public Enemy Car Club of Los Angeles, in the field in front of three of the stages.
The phrase, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” has never rung truer than it does now. In the day and age where every good classic film has to be revived with multitudes of sequels and prequels, and no one can just let a franchise die, I find myself pleading — why Scream? Scream has previously had not one, not two, but four (yes, you read that right) installments in this franchise AND a TV series. Scream (2022) is coming in swinging as number five. Striking while the iron is hot and creating one sequel to rake in more money makes complete sense, but after that it just seems ridiculous. How much can Ghostface really do to shake up little ol’ Woodsboro? Apparently, a lot.
Known for his fiery red hair, smooth English accent, and always clutching an acoustic guitar, Ed Sheeran has become one of the most beloved artists of our generation. = marks the fifth studio album from Sheeran succeeding the nationwide success of +, x, ÷, and most recently, No. 6 Collaborations Project—which featured the likes of Justin Bieber, Travis Scott, and YEBBA to name a few. There isn’t a musical stone Sheeran leaves unturned. In addition to releasing smash-hits, he’s also known for his exceptional songwriting skills. He’s written songs for countless fellow artists such as, “Little Things” by One Direction, “Love Yourself” by Bieber, and “Eastside” by Benny Blanco, Halsey, and Khalid, among many others. Sheeran took a 4-year hiatus from his mathematical symbol album series, but the Ginger Jesus is back in =, and showcasing a much more grown version of himself.
Joseph Robert Bellah—Prod. JRB—answers the Zoom call with a beaming smile spread across his face and a friendly attitude. He's repping his new found home, BobbyBoy Records, with him wearing their dad hat. On Nov. 3, I had the opportunity to interview the up-and-coming producer. We discussed the 14-year-old’s journey throughout the music industry, how he began producing, how he got signed to BobbyBoy Records, his debut beat tape—Legacy—and much more.
Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter are some of the most popular fantasy/science fiction franchises to ever grace God’s green Earth and dominate not only pop culture, but also the public eye. Each one recognized for their complex, well-crafted, original worlds and one-of-a-kind characters. Despite the massive success of these franchises, dare I say, Dune is significantly better than any of these—and only one film has been released. You might be asking yourself, how could someone make such a blanket statement that banks off the quality of only the first installment? Well, that chapter was the closest thing to perfection I have ever seen from a big-budget franchise, and that is why it is destined to be the next iconic franchise.
This one trick pony broke barriers for what listeners thought was just a “one hit wonder.” Country artist turned global pop/rap star—publicly known as Lil Nas X—has finally opened the floodgates and released his long-awaited and highly anticipated debut album, MONTERO. Nas achieved this status of success back in 2019 when “Old Town Road” became the anthem of the summer. This hit featuring Billy Ray Cyrus immediately threw Nas on the music map after it went viral on TikTok, then went 14x platinum, and became the highest certified song in Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) History.
Donda and Certified Lover Boy amassed a great deal of attention when they dropped—for these are two of the most prominent artists of our generation. Both albums came out within four days of each other, with Kanye West releasing Donda first. West and Drake have famously been in a feud for years, so it’s only fair to ask the question: Which album is better?
Standing shoulder to shoulder with strangers, carelessly dancing with them, clinking drinks, screaming lyrics at the top of your lungs, and smiling from ear to ear are all on the itinerary for a Trippie Redd concert.
By Arianna Sergio Billie Eilish has been in the public eye for all of her adolescent life. She received praise from listeners in November 2015 after releasing her song, “Ocean Eyes” on SoundCloud at a mere age of 13. Ever since then she has been releasing hit after hit with guidance from Finneas O’Connell—her older brother, producer, and co-writer. Her debut EP, Don’t Smile at Me, was released in August 2017 and she began to grow a larger, more loyal fanbase. She then released her first full-length studio album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? in March 2019. This album was very well-received by critics and fans alike. It even went on to receive several awards, including the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Of course, fame goes hand-in-hand with unwanted and often negative attention. She has been dissected and picked apart from social media for almost half of her life, given the fact that she is arguably the most distinguished teenage girl in the world. Eilish is notorious for her oversized, statement outfits and putting forth a cultural reset for what the “norm” is for women’s fashion. In March 2020, Eilish started including a short film at the beginning of her concerts titled, “Not my Responsibility,” in which she focuses on the public’s view and personal opinions of her clothing choices and body. In this, she unzips a black cotton jacket and reveals more of her body than she typically does. This was the beginning of a new era of Eilish. She ditched the bright green roots and dark black hair for bleach blonde swapping her trademark baggy clothes for a softer, more sophisticated look. She debuted this look on her Instagram, and further on a British Vogue photoshoot for their June cover story, and on her Happier Than Ever album cover.
By Arianna Sergio Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, a.k.a Logic, is back. It hasn’t even been a year later before the rapper traded his mundane retirement in Montana for his classic bars and studio sessions. Back in July 2020, Logic released what was seemingly his final studio album, No Pressure. He took to Twitter and Instagram to announce his departure from the music industry, leaving fans from across the globe rattled by his decision but, at the end of the day, respected his choice. It was a wistful and heartbreaking moment for Logic and his fans alike, but as he said in an interview with Complex News, he just wanted to, “focus on his son [Little Bobby] and his family, because that’s what makes me [Logic] the most happy.” Bobby Tarantino III is the third installment of the Bobby Tarantino mixtape series. The mixtape that started this journey was Bobby Tarantino, and it was released in July 2016. He announced on Twitter that, “This mixtape is for my fans. I wanted to give u something for the Summer. Thank you for always supporting me. Enjoy.” And enjoy fans did. This mixtape had singles such as “Flexicution” and “Wrist,” with “Flexicution” generating a whopping 176 million streams and instantly becoming the most well-known track from the mixtape. Then, in March 2018, he released Bobby Tarantino II. This mixtape had singles such as, “44 More,” “Overnight,” and “Everyday,” which features American DJ Marshmello. This mixtape is arguably one of Logic’s most popular pieces of work to date charting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Chart, following the success of his third studio album, Everybody. With this track record, Bobby Tarantino III was destined to be a smash hit.
By Arianna Sergio You can’t call yourself a music connoisseur if you’ve never listened to Sir Paul McCartney. McCartney changed the music world forever when he emerged on the scene with his fellow Beatles bandmates—John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr—and soon enough, Beatlemania swept the nation. With hits like “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Hey Jude,” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” among many others, The Beatles were the biggest thing at the time and were unstoppable. That is, until McCartney famously announced that they were breaking up due to, “Personal differences, business differences, musical differences, but most of all because I [McCartney] have a better time with my family.” Since then, he has had an outstanding solo career, releasing 26 studio albums. His newest album, McCartney III Imagined, is unlike anything he, or anyone else in the music industry, has ever done. Of course, there are plenty of artists who do covers of other artists’ music, but other than McCartney, I have never seen another artist openly invite other artists to create new interpretations of their own compositions.
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
by Arianna SergioThe opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board. It’s no secret that the film industry lacks diversity and inclusion. In 2015, the Oscars were called out with the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite because every category listed lacked an artist of color. And I mean literally every category. This movement was the beginning of the shift that the film industry is slowly making to be more diverse and inclusive. When April Reign, a media strategist and advocate for diversity and inclusion, created the hashtag and spilled it onto every social media platform known to man, the Academy membership was 92% white and 75% male. Since then, the membership has improved. In 2020, the academy membership was 84% white and 68% male. The UCLA 2020 Hollywood Diversity Report is an analysis of the top-grossing films of 2018 and 2019. It includes a workplace analysis of 11 major and mid-major studios, which found that 91% of corporate-level executive positions were held by white people and 82% were held by men. Among all senior executive positions, 93% percent were held by white people and 80% by men.
Welcome back to another episode of Remixed! On this special Valentine's day episode, join us as we talk about love songs, what they mean to people, and why they're important! Tune in as we talk about all this and more on another episode of Remixed!
Once the Christmas season passes and we bid adieu to jolly St. Nick, the ruby and blush colored rose bouquets, countless brands of heart-shaped chocolate boxes, and colorful plush animals of all types as big as the eye can see start barreling in on the shelves. Tis’ the season for the only day of the year where it’s socially acceptable and celebrated to be super corny and mushy with your lover. This day practically oozes affection. This kind of love is a challenge to flee from when it surrounds every move you make throughout February, so the majority of people either completely love it or completely hate it. I have certainly flip-flopped from one side to the other, but something that remains a burning question in my head is how did Valentine’s Day become a holiday?
by Arianna Sergio Once the Christmas season passes and we bid adieu to jolly St. Nick, the ruby and blush colored rose bouquets, countless brands of heart-shaped chocolate boxes, and colorful plush animals of all types as big as the eye can see start barreling in on the shelves. Tis’ the season for the only day of the year where it's socially acceptable and celebrated to be super corny and mushy with your lover. This day practically oozes affection. This kind of love is a challenge to flee from when it surrounds every move you make throughout February, so the majority of people either completely love it or completely hate it. I have certainly flip-flopped from one side to the other, but something that remains a burning question in my head is how did Valentine’s Day become a holiday? Lupercalia and St. Valentine [caption id="" align="alignright" width="414"] Image from Mental Floss[/caption] This story kicks off with the earliest origin of Valentine’s Day: the pagan holiday Lupercalia. This holiday, which celebrates fertility, took place for centuries in mid-February. Lupercalia was one of the few pagan holidays that was celebrated 150 years after Christianity was legalized, showcasing how popular and influential it was within the Roman Empire. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="413"] Image from Catholic Online[/caption] At the end of the fifth century, Pope Gelasius became the new pope and stopped anyone from celebrating Lupercalia. Shortly after he announced this, the Catholic church made Feb. 14 their feast day to celebrate the martyred St. Valentine. I have to preface that in the early martyrologies three various St. Valentine’s are discussed, all sharing Feb. 14 as their feast day, and because the historical records are very few and scattered no one can wholeheartedly confirm who the “real” St. Valentine is. The first St. Valentine was a priest who doubled as a doctor. He not only educated the fellow Christians in his community to follow Jesus, but he also aided people who were sickly. St. Valentine was a publicly recognized leader in his Christian community, and at the time Christians were tormented for their faith and were highly sought after and jailed, so he eventually became jailed and then beheaded. The second St. Valentine was a Bishop of Terni, then known as Interamna, and he also became jailed and then beheaded. The third St. Valentine suffered martyrdom with many others in Africa, but nothing else is known about him. Some believe that all of these versions of St.Valentine are the same person, but that hasn’t been confirmed. Why is it associated with love? There are copious theories as to why the holiday is associated with love. A few of the most popular being: that in the Middle Ages in France and England it was commonly believed that Feb. 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of Valentine’s Day should be a day for romance; St. Valentine signed a letter that ended with “from your Valentine,” to his jailer’s daughter, who he fell in love with and healed from being blind to a certain degree; and lastly St. Valentine opposed Emperor Claudius II commands and, in secret, married couples to pardon the husbands’ from war. All of these beliefs can provide us with some sort of idea to entertain, since none of us will for sure know what the “real” reason is. Next time you are shopping at your local grocery store purchasing some of the discounted limited edition Valentine’s Day treats, you can ponder about the mysterious theories that surround St. Valentine, why the pink and red doused holiday is celebrated for love, and how it came to be what it is today. Sources: BBC, Britannica, Catholic Education, History, National Geographic, Saints Resource, Images: Catholic Online, Mental Floss Featured Image: History
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
