Community guidelines are crucial for maintaining the quality and image of that community. Without guidelines, anarchy can occur, and at that point the creator has lost all control. Community guidelines for my blog are not super strict and are also not explicitly mentioned. I have implemented my guidelines by showing rather than telling. Through my writing style, I hope to have influenced others who want to engage with my blog what kind of thoughts and ideas are relevant. As well, I have steered clear of using profane and vulgar language in hopes of showing everyone else that respect and humility are most important. Besides this, any thoughts and opinions on music are welcomed. People are open to give their feedback or engage in dialogue through the comments and I believe this has led to a good environment for my blog to welcome such things.

Oddisee is a refreshing, unique artists in the hip hop game. The Iceberg is Oddisee’s 11t studio album. The album features exciting instrumentals and acoustics that add to the overall quality of the project. With his previous live album Beneath the Surface in 2017, Oddisee’s experience with acoustics and live music show through vividly. Some tracks such as “Digging Deep” are heavily acoustic based whereas tracks like “Things” are more modernly produced. It’s a nice change to hear a rapper, especially a lesser known rapper, exhibit their skills in live and acoustic skills on top of their modern production skills. The overall sound of the album is well supplemented by the production. Oddisee has calming but exciting flows and displays his ability to rap over more jazzy beats like in “Built by Pictures” as well as more rock beats like in “This Girl I Know”. Oddisee’s influence from A Tribe Called Quest in this regard is quite apparent and the Sudanese-influenced rapper adds his own personal twist as well. All these qualities of this project and Oddisee’s overall career are incredible and deserve more recognition, but the most impressive quality of his music is his lyrics. Oddisee offers incredibly insightful and conscious bars that are provoke deep thought from the listener. Tracks like “Like Really” and “You Grew Up” exhibit this in an exceptional manner. “Like Really” is a personal tale that talks about the problems with discrimination against African Americans and the disconnect between their society and the Caucasian society within America. He touches on issues with the legal system and how the relationship is between white and black communities. “You Grew Up” is a beautiful song that talks about how different upbringings can lead to certain ways of life. He talks about how he was friends with a white boy as a child, but as they grew up in the “cult” that America is, their natural roles in society spread them apart. His friend became a police officer and years later shot a black man in a park. This is the crux of the separation that started from the father of the white friend prohibiting their friendship by racist merits. The song also talks about a kid who was bullied for being Muslim. The kid was approached in a mosque after graduation by a man who showed him that “life is a weapon” and turned him radical. This track brings new perspective to the listener and shows that just because you raise a child in a house full of love, doesn’t mean they’ll do well in this world full of hate. Overall, I would rate this album a strong 4.4/5.

Notable Tracks: “Like Really”, “You Grew Up”, “Rights & Wrongs”, and “Want to Be”     

A public image is a versatile matter. One can choose to build their own public image, or have it be determined by the public. Whether one chooses to paint their own self through their media and online activity or lay dormant and allow the public to build this image, one thing is for sure: A public image is not optional. Once a user has posted, commented, or participated in online activity in any way, their image is public. What one decides to do with their image is by their discretion.

My public image before this class was not very exciting. I do have Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and LinkedIn, but I’ve never been super outgoing on these. I’ve never seen value in sharing online. My public image was solemn. I’ve always considered myself a “lurker”: someone who views content online, but who doesn’t engage with it. This is part due to my background and how I have been raised. The less information you share, the better off you will be is one of the principles that has been ingrained in me since childhood that has led to me to be more reserved online and keep to myself. Making re-inscribes familiar values. (Chachra, 2015) In my case, the absence of making and creating exhibited my own values. This heavily contrasts the present norm where many teens use social media abundantly to network and be recognized. They are like online flaneurs: “individuals who came to the streets not to go anywhere in particular but in order to see and be seen.” (Boyd, 2014) Starting a blog this semester has given me new perspective as, prior to this, I had never shared much online. The blog forced me to step out of my comfort zone and write about what I am passionate about. I had a new public image that was separate from what I had previously established. A fresh start online with a new purpose allowed me to build a whole new public image. Instead of being reserved, I was open. I was open about my thoughts on music, what appealed to me, and even the emotions that music provoked from me. In some sense, it felt like this was part due to dissociative imagination. Nobody knew who I was, what my past was, or even my other public image. John Suler uses the analogy that “It’s Just a Game” (Suler, 2015), and, to me, that’s what it felt like. It felt like a game in the sense that the stakes were low, and I could do anything I wanted with little repercussions. It allowed me to find comfort in sharing my online self.

Going into this class, I wasn’t sure what to expect. As a business major, my experience in publications was quite minimal. Being thrown into the fire was a bit intimidating at first. Trying to figure out what I should post about, how to run a blog, and how I wanted to present myself was all very challenging. I conquered the steep learning curve simply by writing. Once I decided on a topic, I would start writing. I wrote music reviews and had no idea what I was doing, so I just wrote. I wrote about the background of the albums, how they sounded, and how they made me feel. I felt like I could offer value to a broader audience if I provided different aspects of a review. I imagined my audience to be quite like me in the sense that we both share a passion for music. The music itself is not enough and we crave an experience beyond it. Reading and writing reviews helps satisfy our craving for more. My focus was on underground music with a few exceptions, and I wanted to bring light to lesser-known artists who I believe make incredible music. I think they are underappreciated and underrecognized, and I wanted to contribute to spreading their work to a broader audience however I can.

Overall, I have found a new appreciation for publications. Without this class, I would have never gained perspective into what it takes to create a public image. I have been exposed to the value of publishing and sharing one’s views, and over the course of this semester, I have found that I have become more engaged in my other online communities. Through an increased participation, I have felt more satisfied and discovered a more rewarding experience online. This has changed my online presence, and I have begun developing a new self. Becoming more comfortable and confident in publishing myself online has transferred over to my other media platforms outside this class. I believe if others like me are exposed to an experience such as this one, they may also find the value and satisfaction that comes with engaging in and contributing to their own online communities.      

References

(n.d.).

Boyd, D. (2014). Searching for a publc of their own. In D. Boyd, It’s Comlicated (pp. 213-227). New Haven: Yale University Press.

Chachra, D. (2015). Wny I Am Not a Maker. The Atlantic , 1-2.

Suler, J. (2015). The Online Disinhibition Effect. In J. Suler, Psychology of the Digital Age (pp. 321-326). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Milky Way is Bas’ third solo studio album. The album follows Bas’ previous Too High to Riot and takes a totally different tone. Milky Way is a relaxed, but upbeat album that showcases many sides of Bas. This album serves as a great follow up to his previous “break-out” Too High to Riot. Soothing vocals and rhythmic flows compliment complex yet simple instrumentals. The entire album is euphonious, and the beats engage listeners from the beginning. Tracks like “Icarus” exhibit incredible use of beat and rhythm switching and show how rhythmically gifted Bas really is. “Purge” is another great example of how diverse Bas’ lyrical style is. The album is a perfect blend of modernism, boom-bap, and R&B with different styles that blend harmoniously together. Listening to this gives me a new appreciation for music that makes me feel. Mellow words mixed with fast, slow, and unique beats add nice flavour to the album as a whole. Bas’ distinct voice rings strongly throughout each track, and I enjoy how he plays with his volume and the legato of his vocals. The album is filled with content as well and gives the listener much to sink their teeth into. The features on this album are also well selected and executed. Ari Lennox on “Icarus” brings a beautiful contrast to Bas’ low rapping with her beautifully melodic singing. A$AP Ferg on “Boca Raton” is another notable feature that brings pace and different energy that helps bring more diversity to the project., and J. Cole on “Tribe” contributed to it being one of the best tracks on 2018. The production on this album is some of the best among other albums I’ve reviewed. Each track fits and augments Bas’ vocals and atmosphere. The songs almost don’t need lyrics for the listener to get a sense of what kind of emotion is put into each track. Overall, I would give this album a 4.4/5.

Notable Tracks: “Icarus”, “Barack Obama Special”, “Tribe”, and “Sanufa”  

Music is something so versatile and profound that it appeals to all types of people with unique tastes and preferences. Trends and waves of emerging genres can lead to over-saturation of similar artists, tracks, and styles all within one genre. Finding new and unique music that has been overshadowed by this can be difficult but is very rewarding once you have. Most of the music I have reviewed is from underground or other lesser known, alternative hip hop artists. Some people may wonder how people like me are able to find these artists. In truth, it is not very difficult. The amount of resources available online makes finding any type of artist simple to find if you know what you are looking for. Personally, I’ll find one artist on a feature or elsewhere that I like and then go down a rabbit hole. This rabbit hole usually leads to other small artists with the same type of style that I like, and this cycles until I’ve reached the end. This is why many of the artists I’ve reviewed are from Chicago. Most of them have all collaborated and essentially introduced each other to me. The hardest part about finding music you like, is know what kind of music you like. Once you’ve established this, doing a bit of research should bring you to exactly what you’re looking for. This is the beautiful thing about music: you can be a casual listener or a particular and purposeful listener. You can listen to whatever is most convenient to you and be content, or you can try to discover music that you are passionate about. Sources referencing new music are endless, and a little bit of effort can lead to a very rewarding experience with music. Even following music review media or blogs such as this one is a great step to starting your journey into music bliss.    

The Autobiography is Vic Mensa’s first studio album and came out in 2017.

The Autobiography is Vic Mensa’s first studio album and came out in 2017. The album is quite unique and niche in terms of consumer taste. Vic’s approach is heavily based around more spoken words rather than trying to find certain flows. He can pull this off without it sounding boring or monotonous in part due to the quality and tastefulness of the production. The styles of instrumental vary heavily between songs which keeps it interesting and enjoyable. Vic also incorporates a lot of his singing on this project. His voice is more coarse and tough which adds to some of the emphasis and effect of his lyrics. The album features different chapters of his life, and Vic displays his ability to story tell through vivid imagery and effective wordplay. My favourite track that exhibits this is “Heaven on Earth”. This is a track about the exchange of messages between Vic and his murdered friend in Heaven. The beat is perfectly balanced so that you can really pay attention to the lyrics while enjoying the euphony of the song. The track takes your mind to the different scenes so seamlessly all while maintaining the integrity and quality of a good song. The rest of the album touches on different topics like love, drugs, depression, and his childhood among other things. The album feels a bit retro and old school with hints of trap and modernism. Listening to this album was a nice break from a lot of modern genres of hip hop. The samples for the beats are from different eras that range from the late 30s all the way to 2016. This helps offer new flavours with each track and gives the album the versatility to keep listeners engaged. I would rate this album a 4/5. I think some of his vocals were a little too coarse and didn’t mix well with some of the auto tune that was utilized. I would’ve appreciated a little more lyrical diversity in terms of his flows and rapping.

Notable Tracks: “Heaven on Earth”, “Didn’t I”, “Memories on 47^th St.”, and “Wings”

KOD is J. Cole’s fifth studio album and introduces a new and unique side of the artist that hadn’t been seen before. This is another album that I really enjoy and is quite different from what I usually post, but I think it would be nice change. KOD is features more trap-heavy drums and Cole’s attempt at experimenting with this style. I believe he nailed it. At the time of its release, trap rap was blowing up with artists like Lil Pump and Tekashi 6ix-9ine blowing up onto the scene. Cole as an open and progressive artist decided to play around in that realm of music and he was able to implement this very nicely. On top of this, Cole’s voice was consistent with his brand and the meanings in his tracks are truly insightful and as lyrically impressive as some of his other works. The album touches on problems with modern social media, drugs, violence, and his stepfather. Songs like “Window Pain” and “Kevin’s Heart” paint very descriptive pictures in the listeners head. J. Cole tells stories that are seamless to follow along to while including subtle details that require multiple listens to discover. kill edward is the only other person featured on this album. No surprise that kill edward is also J. Cole just pitched way down. This adds an interesting dynamic to the album that lets bring variety and new dynamics through his different voices. On tracks like “FRIENDS”, kill edward is used for the chorus, and this allows Cole to transition into his rapping with ease. This album got a lot of flack as it wasn’t a “traditional” J. Cole album, but I think this was very well executed. The versatility of the entire project with a trap theme really exhibits how talented of an artist Cole really is. He shows that trap hip hop can be very profound through the messages and stories he tells in each track. Everything makes sense, and KOD is one of the easiest albums for me to listen to. I would rate it a 4.8/5 because of this.

Notable Tracks: “Window Pain”, “FRIENDS”, “Kevin’s Heart”, “BRACKETS”    

Mac Miller’s Swimming is one of the best albums I’ve ever listened to in terms of content, production, and overall quality. I’ll be doing something a bit different, and rather than reviewing underground music, I’ll be doing some reviews on my favourite albums. Swimming is Mac’s final album before his tragic death in September of 2018. Prior to this album, his discography included four studio albums, Swimming being his fifth, one EP, seven Mixtapes, and many features and singles. The evolution of Mac’s music throughout his career was incredibly dynamic and beautiful. The contrast from his frat rap style when he was starting out as an eighteen-year-old high school student, to the matured and thoughtful artist he grew into is something so intimate and profound. Swimming is very R&B influenced, with Mac introducing unique flows, rhythms, and styles. His singing is much more prevalent on this project than any of his past projects and he blends this well with his rapping. As a farewell album, I, as a fan, could not have asked for a more perfect piece. Mac shares his most intimate thoughts and feelings and listening to this makes me feel like I am immersed into his mind and feeling what he is feeling. One of the most impressive things about this project and Mac as an artist is that he does most of if not all his production. This helps him create music that truly represents his vision and augments his music as a whole. The album has a sad undertone, and it almost feels like he knew he was creating his farewell album. Listening to this album before and after his passing was eye opening. It brought all new meanings to it and made me see things I hadn’t seen in it before. The versatility of it is part of what makes this one of my favourite albums. The album above all else makes you feel. The words are emotional themselves, but the way Mac uses his voice to convey his own feelings paired with his deep and complex production make every track an emotional journey. This album was the perfect close to a beautiful career. The contrast between this work and his first is truly surreal, and his personal growth from his struggles is exhibited wonderfully. I can’t vouch for this album enough and would rate it a 5/5. Notable tracks are difficult to do because every track is noteworthy. You may never think that one album could change how you see things, but if you give this a chance, you will be beautifully surprised.   

Noir is Smino’s second studio album after blkswan. The eighteen-track album is a great listen for people who enjoy R&B with different flavours. His diverse vocals along with the varying instrumental styles and tempo bring a level of diversity that listeners can really appreciate. While listening through, it doesn’t feel like I’m listening to the same album. The level of variation is well implemented all while keeping the album harmonious and in unison. Smino hits heavy jazz notes in “SPINZ” that make you want to stop and slow down; Heavy contrasts to this come from tracks like “KRUSHED ICE” where you may find this in a party or club-like setting. The album is fun and funny. Smino’s clever word play and rhyming schemes can bring a smile to a listener at any time. I find myself struggling to put into words what listening to this album is like. Part of the reason this review is so late is because I haven’t been able to switch off it in the last four weeks. The album is very poetic. If you are looking to fully appreciate Smino’s lyricism and genius listening to the tracks with the lyrics pulled up is essential. This can help you visualise his double entendres and appreciate the cleverness of his penmanship. His use of metaphors and other poetic devices help paint very real and vivid scenes that can immerse the listener into a rich and satisfying experience. I can say that from listening to only this album for the last four weeks, there is always something new that I am finding with his work, and I find that I can’t get tired of this. The incredibly diverse track list makes this album listenable in all moods and situations. I would give this track a 4.6/5 because of these reasons. I hadn’t listened to Smino much before this, but now I can’t stop listening. Please do yourself a favour and indulge in the experience that is Noir.

Notable Tracks: “KOVERT”, “HOOPTI”, “WE GOT THE BISCUITS”, “SUMMER SALTS”

Incorporating transmedia into my blog has been something I’ve wanted to do but haven’t gotten around to. I think posting on social media is quite convenient for most people online, and it makes it easy to communicate as social media is accessible and more easily a two-way stream of discussion. I’ve made a twitter account, but I haven’t really thought about what I would post on it. As I’ve mentioned in my previous process post, time has been something I’ve struggled to manage with this blog. Implementing a twitter account may add more fuel to the fire that I am trying to control currently. The usefulness of transmedia would also help me grasp a better sense of who my audience is and what they like or dislike. I think twitter suits my blog very well as an outlet because it would be utilized for discussions. Being an opinion blog, it is always important to listen to different perspectives so that you may become more enlightened to different ideas. This can help me shape more versatile views or even change my outlook completely on some things. It is always much more enjoyable discussing thoughts with other people who reciprocate rather than shooting my thoughts into a one way blackhole of communication.