Virginia rapper Skillz hit the internet again this year with the 2015 rap up, and of course it was accurate as usual! Skillz touched on everything from Steve Harvey to Black Lives Matter over to 50 Shade of Grey then off to Hillary’s emails over to Charlemagne tha God then to Empire and Power….whew! Just check it out!!
Syllabus Magazine, the Carolina’s source for Music, Culture and Fashion
The Holiday season is almost over and with all of the money spent, and all of the time wondering what your loved one is getting for you this Christmas, it becomes so easy to forget the real reason for this season. As Americans, lets face it – we can be pretty self-centered. We complain constantly, we are never satisfied, and now at the height of social media usage – we are so focused on ourselves, our looks and our perception that others may have of about us, its easy to forget there is an actual world out here outside of ourselves and our own problems.
Trust, I can rant about this subject all day – but I’ll save it 🙂
In a moment of self-reflection, I felt the need to do something for someone other than myself;
Syllabus Magazine, the Carolina’s source for Music, Culture and Fashion
Yo!
Did anybody peep the awesome week in music? This past week …man who else’s playlist is on FLEEK this week lol? I mean if you are really a music head then you had a great week of eargasms ! (Yes that’s a made up word lol). But listen let’s get started because we had some people make a much needed appearance this week.
First up!! AHAAAAAAAAAAAA*Jadakiss voice* is BACK!!!!! The most underrated rapper is back with “Top 5 Dead or Alive”! I mean come on now whose list when it comes to rappers is Jadakiss missing from?? NOBODY unless you just need a better grip on who’s really a rapper. Jada is back with that sound we all miss, those raw bars and hardly any features. He is going HAM making it known that he is truly “top 5, dead or alive” in this rap game. Man I am still listening to this album because it has been so long since we’ve heard anything from the New York rapper not to mention he’s like almost absent from social media. We need him to get on that because we got to know every time he puts up the mic! You feel me?
Okay next we are going to detour from hip hop for a second and go here to Adele, with the album 25! !!!! IS BACK!!!!!! Man if you have yet to hear the album you need too! Because she came back full force with great vocals and awesome sounds of happy and sadness. The album “25” who was named that because it was during the time the singer was 25 and all of the things you experience at the age of 25. Although, she is 28, the need to want to express what was going through her mind while she was away was deeply rooted. Adele gives awesome tracks from “Hello”, Sweetest Devotion”, “Remedy” I mean the entire album is powerful as only she can deliver. And for those of you are NOT Adele fans …you need to become one today! Seriously because I believe the internet broke that night.
And before we go back to hip hop we got to give it up for Justin Bieber coming back with the “Purpose album” and guess who is on the album?…just guess ..I’ll wait…
The ETHER rapper himself NASIR JONES! The legend is on Bieber’s album! I mean I thought it was dope when Taylor had Kendrick Lamar, Janet Jackson had J.Cole but NAS on Justin’s album is crazy! And yes he delivers the bars we expect from him on the track “We Are”. And even with that this album is a good comeback for Justin; you can hear the growth in his lyrics and melodies. I am very proud of him for this album because it’s truly telling his story.
So since we’re back on hip hop…JEEZY!with “Churchin in the Streets” were he is addressing all of the issues that relative to Black people from being poverty stricken, police brutality , drugs, etc. Being himself is what Jeezy does best honestly. The highlight of the album is that Janelle Monae is on the album which is different for her and him musically. The Atlanta rapper is going in on everything but you can definitely tell he is about change in the world and “preaching” the message of change which is why he called the album “Churchin in the Streets”. I wonder if the church people are going to be upset with him again; remember what happened with the song “Holy Ghost” smh.
These next ones you just need to have in your library!
-Joe Budden
-Cassie Veggies
-Big K.R.I.T.
-Ty Dolla Sign (which is surprisingly good)
-Kyle
-Alessia Cara
-Logic
-Cee-Lo
-Jay Rock
I got some others but I’m a keep those secret for now……lol
But this next one…
TALIB KWELI AND 9th WONDER!!!!! LOOK just got get the album! Because the Jamla Squad if you are familiar with them is going IN! And if you have no idea who they are…go find out NOW! Because anything 9th puts his hands on his dope it’s just that plain and simple. This album is a must cop that there is no need to write a bunch of words to tell you guys , I just want you all go to get the album.
Okay, one more thing before I leave…
MY MAAAMMMMMMAAAAAAAAA *J.Cole voice* (in my head). Erykah Badu is dropping a mixtape this week! Called “But you can’t use my phone” and if you heard “Hotline Bling Remix” and “Phone Down” you know it’s going to be dope.
Alright see you guys next time.
-A.C.T.
Aqueilla C. Terry, commonly known to many of her followers as “A.C.T” ; is a talented artists of this generation. Born and raised in Richmond, VA is truly a gem of her time. She has been writing for over 10 years as a young child to know a young woman in a world were “words” are her weapon of choice to achieve success. Often considered to be Erykah Badu’s daughter for her way with words, style, presence, music selections and overall persona. A.C.T. is definitely going to take over the world with wide range of creativity. Her ambition is driven by her will to succeed in reaching her goals, but by doing so by remaining herself along the journey. A.C.T. redefines the young black woman by sticking to her beliefs and who she is inside.
One of the most hated men in America just bought the ONLY copy of the last WuTang album for $2 million dollars. In 2014, RZA told us that the rap group would gather together one last time to create only ONE copy of their next album. The Album, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, would be sold to the highest bidder. RZA stated in an interview with Forbes, “We’re about to put out a piece of art like nobody else has done in the history of music… We’re making a single-sale collector’s item. This is like someone having the sceptor of an Egyptian King.”
Once Upon A Time in Shaolin consists of 31 tracks and comes in a hand-carved box with a leather bound book consisting of 174 pages filled with lyrics and backgrounds on songs. Every living member of the Wu contributed to this album, along with some special guests. After true fans of WuTang objected to this marketing tactic, even going as far as starting a kickstarter campaign to buy it to keep it out of the hands of some scoundral. The Kickstarter fans stated, “someone who has disposable millions, its just another shiny new toy for them, It’s most likely not going to be someone who appreciates music.” They were only able to raise about $15,000 through Kickstarter. Now, their words of warning have never rang so deeply in the hearts of real Wu fans.
After hiring online auction startup Paddle8 to sell the album, on November 24th, they announced that the album had sold for a record figure “in the millions”. WuTang wouldn’t release the name of the buyer and RZA stated the buyer wanted privacy – HOWEVER the buyer didn’t care anything about privacy – he wanted to publicity!
Back in May, several buyers gathered in New York’s Museum of Modern Art, joined by 36 fans who won tickets on Hot 97 where they all were able to listen to 13 minute excerpts of the album. Rumor has it that it sounded like the best WuTang Clan album recorded in years. An actual fan of rap, a controversial figure made the highest bid for this new album; Rumors are flying that he paid about 2 million for the album. The mogul that won this priceless album goes by the name of Martin Shkreli, 32 year old pharmaceutical executive. His name may not sound familiar but his story released earlier this year, made him one of the most hated men on the internet. The same month he won the guestimated $2 million bid, he also made another major purchase. Shkreli purchased an anti-parasitic drug called Daraprim, the drug is used to fight many diseases, but people know it best because it fights the HIV/AIDs virus. Once Shkreli purchased the drug, he became one of the most hated men in America by taking the price of the drug from $13.50 per pill to $750 per pill. Even Hillary Clinton reprimanded him calling him a price gouger and stating that he is outrageous. Donald Trump called him a spoiled brat and the BBC labeled him “the most hated man in America”.
Shkreli thought that politicians scolding him was amusing, and in turn he donated to the Bernie Sanders campaign; Bernie and his team in turn took the $2700 donation and forwarded it on to a Washington health-care facility.
The Pharmaceutical mogul says his biggest worry was how WuTang would react; he worried they would back out the deal, however it was too late – the deal was complete. In an attempt to cover their own asses after learning Bloomberg would release the purchasers details, Rza sent in a statement:
“The sale of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin was agreed upon in May, well before Martin Skhreli’s business practices came to light. We decided to give a significant portion of the proceeds to charity.
During an interview for Bloomberg, Shkreli was getting prepared for a holiday party and stated he had arranged for Fetty Wap to give a personal concert. Shkreli said these words:
“As an average fan, I can’t get Fetty Wap to give me a personal concert. The reality is sure you could. you know, at the right price these guys basically will do anything.” —-WOW
The Pharmaceutical mogul hasn’t listened to Once Upon a time in Shaolin just yet, he says he is saving it for a time when he is feeling low and needs something to lift his spirts. However, he has stated he would be willing to listen to it if, “Taylor Swift wants to hear it or something like that.”
So, did WuTang sell their souls to the devil, or is this just business? Amazing.
Syllabus Magazine, the Carolina’s source for Music, Culture and Fashion
“If you wanna fly jets, you should go to college. Reach high and cash checks? Fill your head with knowledge.” These are just some of the lyrics to this clever video featuring the First Lady of The United States, Mrs. Michelle Obama and crazy comedian, who we all know from Saturday Night Live, Jay Pharoah.
FLOTUS jumps on the track in an effort to encourage students, especially math and science majors to pursue majors and engineering and math. This is also a part of Michelle Obama’s “Better Make Room” campaign, targeting students ages 14 to 19. The campaign involves celebrities like Jay Pharoah and Lebron James and addresses an issue here in the United States regarding the falling college graduation rates.
In a statement, FLOTUS explains “I want to honor and empower young people who are working hard in school and pursuing their dreams – and I want to do it in a fresh and fun way.” We are pretty sure she succeeded, the music video is a fun and fresh way to encourage teens to pursue college AND graduate.
Our FLOTUS is DOPE!
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Syllabus Magazine, the Carolina’s source for Music, Culture and Fashion
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