#and Kendrick deserved his not like us awards

[mariamariquinha]

I saw a post on Instagram, well before the Superbowl, that involved Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar's positions in the music industry. Furthermore, it was said that their activism was biased, since they profited a lot from these statements (or manifestos).

I'm a big fan of Beyoncé; even though I'm not 100% into the world of rap, Kendrick is one of my favourites. Maybe what I reflect here comes a little from an opinion built based on my personal taste, but I understand that beyond whether we like their music or not, they have an impact, and that's what I wanted to say.

Two things happened in these two weeks: Beyoncé won the first AOTY of her career with Cowboy Carter and Kendrick Lamar performed at the Superbowl. Let's start with Beyoncé.

Beyoncé has had COUNTLESS valid AOTY albums (ESPECIALLY Lemonade, sorry Adele), and she is the BIGGEST Grammy WINNER IN HISTORY. Like it or hate it, she is THE INDUSTRY. She made it. And she deserves it.

I saw people saying that she didn't deserve it because Billie Eilish deserved more. This always happens, but when people justify this discontent, you hear things like 'lyricism' or 'impact on the charts', which are valid arguments, but when we're talking about Album of the Year, shouldn't we also think about the social impact that this work has? Guys, I loved Billie's album, but it wasn't AOTY material with Cowboy Carter on the way.

CMAs

In 2016, in the midst of promoting Lemonade, she performed with the Dixies at the CMAs. Do you know what happened? In addition to her being boycotted (with her performance excluded from the awards platforms), SEVERAL country artists were visibly uncomfortable with her presence there, singing an AUTHORAL country song, with the, so to speak, 'personas non gratas' of the country industry.

This influenced the acts she is currently doing. Beyoncé, with all the influence she has, could come with the speech of white people who deny the existence of racism or opine on how black people should react to racism with indifference, but she decided to show how people of color have been carrying entertainment and art on their shoulders, and how the boycott at the CMAs only reinforced that 'veiled' r*cist artists were bothered by people of color who claim authorship of their own culture; then, they are a threat.

She made a country album. In references, Linda Martell, Chuck Berry, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and, among other people, black country artists who are new to the scene. Do you know the social impact of this? Do you understand that, no matter how many years pass, Beyoncé will also be remembered for using her influence to raise an issue that she might otherwise have been indifferent about (because she has money, success and people love her), and winning a Grammy for a mostly white and biased genre?

I think my point is clear. I love Billie and I think she's a great artist, but in the current context, in the middle of 2025, there was someone putting uncomfortable things in the light, and that person was Beyoncé.

Now, let's go over Kendrick.

2024 was a year in which he was on the top, among other things, for his beef with Drake. Look, I'm not even going to get into the merits of the diss, I never liked Drake (Brazilians in particular have some problems with him) and I've always really admired Kendrick as an artist, so I don't especially want to talk about how he just massacred Drake's reputation and career: everyone knows that.

Again, he could focus the entire intention of that Superbowl on the fight, and gain more prominence beyond the Grammys he won in relation to it. He did that too. Heavens, it was divine. But he (and his team) looked at the guest list in the VIP area, and focused on the type of person on one of the teams competing in that championship (I don't know a thing about that sport, but imagine my lack of surprise when I discovered the character of certain… names from that institution), and said "we should address that".

Some of the biggest, most talented and successful black artists in the US was there. With what justification, full of discrimination, can people on the other side turn around and say that Kendrick is irrelevant? Or that Samuel L. Jackson isn't important? Or that, fuck, Serena Williams isn't just badass? Of course her presence at the performance had more to do with Drake, but she was there, and she embraced the message.

Kendrick looked at the face of the country, at the largest audience in America, and said: why don't you all go fuck yourselves while I rub it in your face that we made this happen? I don't use middle ground when it comes to this, and we know that fire is met with fire.

What do I mean by all this?

Distractions from our culture are welcome and help us keep going, but this is a time of revolution, and this time the right people have the right platforms. At a time of uncertainty, explicit discrimination and the rebirth of a very specific movement, having powerful voices that enhance the people's speeches is more than a nod to the struggles of the lower classes, but a poke at the higher classes.

It's about shouting out what's wrong. It's about saying 'you're an idiot who thinks you're going to win'. It's about saying that you don't hit someone thinking that they won't hit you back. It's about reinforcing how dumb, insignificant and politically limited they are, who rely on conspiracy theories versus a community that has facts and history on its side.

But more than that, we are clearly reinforced that, regardless of anything, they cannot win.

And if you still have any doubts:

[missgeekaleek]

Crying over the fact that BEYONCE was surprised by her country album win (her face 😭)

She 100% deserved it and if you don’t agree, fine, I don’t argue with people on the internet because I have better things to do with my time, but only one artist was able to uplift smaller black country artist, highlighting her own black southern heritage, and bring a whole group of listeners into a new genre that they previously avoided.

Just because you didn’t feel like the album represented your type of country, doesn’t mean it’s not country.

The country you love so much would not be where it is today if it wasn’t for black people, so she earned her award in my opinion.

[renard-dartigue]

You know, Kendrick receiving the grammys is well deserved. However, a part of me worries about him. On GNX, specifically in 'Wacced out Murals' and 'Reincarnated', Kendrick took his beef with Drake seriously. He was genuinely worried that he and/or his loved ones might be killed. Obviously for us as spectators, it's easy to see this stuff as just music. But the often misunderstood culture this music comes from, while beautiful and inspiring, can become dangerous real quick. It's happened before with Tupac and Biggie.

So naturally Kendrick wasn't going to play around. In a way, he's almost lucky Drake is a poser. Drake may have some dangerous connections or knows someone with dangerous connections given how long he's been in the industry. Thankfully, aside from Drake's bodyguard getting injured, there were no casualties in this beef aside from Drake's reputation and some of Kendrick's friendships.

I'll be honest, the night Meet the Grahams dropped, I was terrified. I saw people joking around about how the track itself scared them. Me, I was scared something bad was going to happen to Kendrick. Either Drake or a benefactor puts out a hit on him. I was so stressed I could barely sleep, scared I'd wake up to tragic knews. Some people joked about how Drake would have to kill Kendrick after this, not realizing that there was a non zero percent chance that could have happened.

And it's clear in GNX that Kendrick was slightly worried as well. 'Reincarnated' highlights that the beef really did mess with him psychology. Not because of anything Drake did but because of the stuff he himself did. Given what we know about Kendrick's character, a dedicated religious father who seeks to uplift his community through song, this beef made him realize some things about himself he never knew.

I personally think Kendrick regrets writing Meet the Grahams. While he may still agree with everything he said, he probably feels ashamed that he let the his emotions get the better of him. Drake slandering his family and childhood friend ignighted a hatered in him he truely didn't realize he was capable of. There is no denying that the song will forever impact not just Drake but his family too, especially Adonis. He might think he took things a step too far.

After cooling off, he likely wrote Not Like Us as a pallet cleanser. Just to deescalate the beef a little. And because it was released soon after the ominous track that is Meet the Grahams, the lighter track hit harder.

Man I feel like I'm just rambling now, point is that I hope Kendrick is doing okay mentally. He portrays himself as tough and unbothered on the outside, likely a coping mechanism he developed while growing up in Compton. But his music proves that he has a big heart and is extremely passionate about hip-hop. I hope he doesn't feel like he just put on some big spectacle for outsider to laugh and clap at before returning to the status quo. He's bringing hip-hop back to it's more authentic roots. It won't happen in a day, but it's a step in the right direction for the genre. And it was going to happen with or without him receiving awards.

[sentientunconsciousness]

Quick Grammys 2025 Thoughts:

Chappell Roan winning best new artist - DESERVED

Doechii winning best rap album - DESERVED

Billie Eilish was SNUBBED

Beyoncé, love you queen, but I’m tired

Cowboy Carter was good, but not above the others, and DEFINITELY not above HMHAS 🤷‍♀️

Christ Stapleton got SNUBBED by a NON COUNTRY ALBUM?!????

Chappell’s performance - everything I wanted

Doechii’s performance - everything I didn’t know I needed

Lady Gaga’s new song is dance bop excellence 💃 🪩

WTF was Jaden Smith wearing?! Monster House?!

Why are Kanye and Bianca still allowed out in public?

Love how the Grammys said “fuck you Drake” not once, but TWICE

Props to Kendrick, sweep those awards king 👑

Cynthia Erivo performing “Fly Me To The Moon” was ethereal and peak black excellence

Chappell’s SPEECH!!!!!

Artists using their platform to talk about important things that matter to all is just 🤌

Teddy Swims has a voice like velvet and his drip is always ✨immaculate✨

SABRINAAAAA MY SHAYLAAAAA

[cruesuffix]

ok not to be sentimental but has this actually been the best grammys in years?? how beautiful it is to see so many talented artists actually win this year. to see beyonce actually get best album after years of fighting and putting out good albums (i won’t say my opinions on cowboy carter, but she did deserve it still), to see chappell roan get best new artist and use her platform to speak up for other artists, to see lady gaga speak up for trans people in her speech, shakira uplift immigrants, alicia keys talk about dei and how it’s important for americans, doechii talking directly to young black women and tell them they can achieve anything… FUCK when kendrick went to get his award for best record and everyone started singing along to not like us and screaming “a minooorrrr!!!” SO BEAUTIFUL WTF!!!! idgaf i love it when the grammys get woke!! what that country needs right now is unity and seeing all these artists reject the current ideology of that country and it’s government is so beautiful to me. it’s actually making me tear up how beautiful music can be and how art has the power to bring us together in times like these. i hope the industry gets even more woke as the years go by, i hope music gets more weird and interesting, and i hope these artists continue to piss off conservatives cause we’ll need the music more than ever for the next four years.

[futurephdowner]

(no shade to any artist or movie mentioned, I truly love them all)

What's particularly interesting this year at the Grammy's, besides women taking over the nominations and the quality of the songs and albums nominated, is the general reaction online to AOTY. It seems like people are forgetting that the Grammy's are not supposed to give awards based on current popularity. Saying "THIS or THAT artist was listened to by 1.5 billion people on Spotify and had their song used the most on Tik Tok, NOT HER so BEYONCE DOES NOT DESERVE AOTY" is as ridiculous as saying "BARBIE had a bigger opening weekend than any other movies nominated for Best Movie of the Year SO IT SHOULD HAVE WON". Was Barbie a good movie ? Yes. Was it culturally important ? Also yes. Did it spark interesting debates surrounding capitalism and feminism colliding ? Hell yeah. But was it a better movie than the other movies nominated ? Not necessarily.

Also, people who stan artists who have won NINE or FOURTEEN Grammy's over their 15 years career span, spitting on Beyoncé and pretending that they have never heard a single song she has made over the nearly THIRTY years of her career ? Be for fucking real. (I'm a Swiftie and I love Billie Eilish's album don't come at me)

But if you wanna talk about Popularity and Musical Impact, let's do that :

I am...Sasha Fierce had ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS SONGS WORLDWIDE (everyone knows the Single Ladies chorus and hand movement)

Her Self-Titled album, a visual album you had to buy as a whole, changed the game when she dropped it out of the blue on a Friday instead of promoting the hell out of it single by single

LEMONADE was THE most artistic, cohesive (VISUAL once again) album of the year (Adele was the only other person who could have won so I'll let it slide), featuring duets with accomplished artists (Kendrick Lamar, Jack White, The Weeknd and James Blake), songs exploring different genres and a political message sent through several songs among which had a music video with the mothers of some of the victims of police brutality (cause of course her being systematically snubbed for AOTY has NOTHING to do with racism.......... They could have given it to Sabrina Carpenter this year given their love for any white artist)

Renaissance was extremely crafted and, despite the legit debate it sparked when she went to Dubai during its promotion, an homage to the Ballroom culture. Plus, CUFF IT was ALL OVER TIK TOK (since that's all that matters)

Cowboy Carter was a response to the racism she faced when she performed with the Dixie Chicks (you know just the band blacklisted after they criticized Bush and his invasion of Iraq, no big deal) and a way to reclaim the country genre as a Black woman, and featured a few legends of country including THE Dolly Parton, AND featured one of the best songs of her career (Daughter) in which she sings OPERA but it wasn’t a single so I guess those who haven’t taken the time to listen to her album have no idea it exists

So yeah, she's not culturally insignificant, she's just not your type of music (which is totally okay but we're all adults here so let's stop acting as if "I don't like it" = "It's not good"). Just like you can dislike Leonardo Dicaprio's movies but can't deny he's a fucking good actor.

Even HARRY STYLES won AOTY like BE FUCKING SERIOUS FOR A SECOND NOW. (Love him but did this album deserve AOTY even though it was good ?)

Now, am I mad that she won for one of her least infallible albums just a year after her husband had to whine on stage about her never winning, even more given that said husband is involved in an absolutely terrifying case (and yeah, she might be as well but as long as she's not explicitely mentioned in legal documents, we can only assume) ? HELL YES. (After all, they might have given it to her now so she can be cancelled later, who knows)

[lovewithoutresin]

res's grammy list NOT clickbait! also i know some of these have already updated while i was working on it but OH WELL

for AOTY I would LOVE to see either Midwest Princess or Cowboy Carter take it home. full disclosure I am behind the times and have not heard Cowboy Carter yet (along with several other albums like The Great Impersonator from last year, which is ALSO. conspicuously absent from grammy noms YET AGAIN! but I digress) but I think its cultural impact was huge enough and it was a big enough risk that I couldn't possibly bemoan it. Obviously I will be happy if TTPD wins but I'm actually not super pulling for it. I'm strongly neutral on that

I'd love it if Pop Vocal album (technically not gen category but eh it ties in for me) went to Short n' Sweet or TTPD for obvious reasons. like I need these albums acknowledged even if they arent my AOTY picks because holy shit

I won't even hope for SOTY for Taylor because she'll probably not win it until she's 76 <3 that said if Not Like Us or Good Luck, Babe! don't get it I will be flying to california and you can use your imagination on what comes next. Lyrically they are just the best songs (sorry to Sabrina i think please please please SLAPS as a song but is not better WRITTEN than those)

honestly there's no way for me to lose on record of the year. I don't super know the Billie song but I liked it enough to save it so. really anyone in this category I could say deserves it.

Sabrina and Chappell are really the only reasonable contenders for Best New Artist to me because I have not heard the other names NEARLY as frequently if at all, but this may also just be a matter of my exposure. I've also heard RAYE a LOT though so I would not be mad about that

FOR NOT GEN CATEGORIES!

Daniel Nigro is really the only possible choice for Producer of the Year for me. I mean he's produced an ASSLOAD of stuff I like for this year. Wouldn't be mad abt Mustard though.

Amy Allen did Taste AND scared of my guitar?? two of my FAVORITE songs this year (esp somg?)?? how could i NOT pull for her

I'm going Saviors by Green Day because I like them but have not heard these noms myself yet cheers

For any rap specific category you can assume safely that I'm wanting Kendrick and will kill someone if it isn't Kendrick. And yes that's basic of me but even disregarding that he's really the main rapper I've been exposed to: this was also one of the biggest cultural stories and upsets this year. The amount of cleverness that went into every element of how he's handled this should give him every award alone. Nobody's brain is as big as his. That is all

(I am also pulling for him for Best Music Video due to this. DON'T get me wrong I'll be happy if Fortnight wins too but Not Like Us is greatly preferred)

AND FINALLY Can't Catch Me Now needs to win best song for visual media because holy SHIT that song kills.

Final Notes:

Any country category Beyonce is in I’m pulling for her. If she’s not in it I’m pretty much just pulling for Morgan Wallen to lose. 

Also I saw an arrangement of a Persona 5 song is on there?? that’s fucking crazy. The P5R energy is already scary with today being 2/2 so I don’t really know what to feel about that. We’ll see I guess

[influencermagazineuk]

Finally, after several years of close misses, Beyoncé has taken the highly prized award for Album of the Year at the 67th Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles. She was given the much-deserved accolade after the latest album Cowboy Carter, that showcases and celebrates the Black history of country music. It's the first time she will win the award as she had received nominations several times previously for the same prize. As the news was made public, an emotional Beyoncé embraced her daughter Blue Ivy and husband Jay-Z before walking onto the stage wearing a dazzling gold paisley dress. She took the microphone and spoke these words of appreciation, "I feel very full and highly honored. It's been many, many years." Nat Ch Villa, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons She dedicated the win to Linda Martell, a pioneering Black country artist who was the first Black woman to perform solo at the Grand Ole Opry. Martell's voice is also featured on several tracks in Cowboy Carter. Beyoncé continued, "I hope we just keep pushing forward opening doors. God bless y'all. Thank you so much." The win marks her 25 years since her first Grammy as Destiny's Child. Over the course of her career, she has added quite a collection of awards; to date, she is the most-awarded artist in Grammy history with 35 wins. The elusive Album of the Year award had been instrumental in evading her grasp—at least until now.A Genre Shift Brings Victory It was a departure from her usual R&B and pop sound that ultimately secured her win. Cowboy Carter delves into country and Americana, marking the second installment of a trilogy exploring American musical heritage and shedding light on the contributions of Black artists. In so doing, it marks history. She is now the first black woman to bag Album of the Year since 1999 Lauryn Hill when she won The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. A Shock Country Music Victory But it was the best country album, and Beyoncé was visibly shaken as she received the award. When her name was announced, a stunned expression spread across her face. Taylor Swift, the artist who also successfully transitioned between genres, made the announcement. She was the one who won Album of the Year over Beyoncé in 2010. Wow, I really wasn't expecting this," she said in her acceptance speech, thanking * "all of the incredible country artists" * that supported her. The Grammy award comes after becoming the first Black woman to claim the top of the Hot Country Songs chart with Texas Hold 'Em. She was overlooked, however at the Country Music Awards last year. Night of the Powerful Moments and Tributes Kendrick Lamar also had a night of monumental proportions, winning all five of his recordings, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video for Not Like Us. His speech took an emotional turn when he dedicated the win to Los Angeles, a city recently ravaged by wildfires. He declared, "We're gonna dedicate this one to the city," mentioning Compton, Long Beach, Inglewood, Hollywood, and the Valley. Wildfires continued to be the central theme during the ceremony that was also a fundraiser, with over $7 million raised for affected communities. Host Trevor Noah acknowledged the heroic efforts of firefighters who had contained the fires and invited them to walk the red carpet and be honored by the biggest names in music. A poignant musical tribute to Los Angeles dominated the night's performances, as Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, and Bruno Mars took the stage. Eilish sang her Grammy-nominated song Birds Of A Feather, saying, "I love you LA." Later, Gaga and Mars did a beautiful rendition of California Dreamin' for first responders. Celebrating Music Legends and Emerging Stars The awards ceremony celebrated a diverse array of artists. British pop sensation Charli XCX triumphed with three wins for her dance-infused album Brat, while The Beatles took home Best Rock Performance for Now And Then, a song reconstructed from a John Lennon demo using AI technology. The history-making rapper was Doechii, who was only the third woman to ever win Best Rap Album since its inception in 1989. In her acceptance speech, she spoke directly to young Black women watching: "You are exactly who you need to be to be right where you are and I am a testimony. Praise God." Sabrina Carpenter, another breakout star of the evening, won Best Pop Solo Performance for her viral hit Espresso and Best Pop Album for Short n' Sweet. The night also honored industry icons. Alicia Keys was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, and a heartfelt tribute was paid to Quincy Jones, who died last year at 91. Will Smith, making his first major public appearance since the 2022 Oscars, introduced the segment, crediting Jones for launching his career with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The tribute culminated in a star-studded performance featuring Stevie Wonder and Janelle Monáe, who delivered a dazzling rendition of Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough in tribute to Michael Jackson. A Stand for Equality and Inclusion Beyond the music, there were numerous artists rallying for change from their platform. The newly crowned Best New Artist, Chappell Roan, called out for fair wages and healthcare for musicians as she pleaded, "Labels, we got you, but do you got us?" Lady Gaga stood up after winning Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Bruno Mars to talk briefly about LGBTQ+ rights in light of the current changes in political history. "I just want to say tonight that trans people are not invisible. Trans people deserve love, the queer community deserves to be lifted up. Music is love. Thank you." A Historic and Emotional Night The 2025 Grammy Awards will be remembered not only for Beyoncé's long-awaited victory but for its celebration of resilience, history, and inclusivity. From country music milestones to powerful advocacy, the night was a testament to the ever-evolving impact of music and its ability to inspire change. Read the full article

[popmusicu]

My appreciation of Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers

Last class we talked about hip-hop culture and among the songs that were presented there was one in particular, which was “United in Grief” that made me want to address an album that should be talked about much more when talking about Kendrick Lamar’s discography.

The first time I heard Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers was the day it came out, I remember listening to it in a row while I was on the subway, it was a confusing experience where I went from aggressive rhythms to calmer rhythms, from songs that made me want to dance for its rhythm to songs that made you anxious to listen to because of how bloody they are. Despite the confusion at the time, I enjoyed this mix of rhythms between hip-hop, jazz, R&B, souls, funk, etc.

I believe that this album, being so personal, introspective and honest, can initially be a difficult listen to digest due to factors such as its length, since it has a total of 18 songs that are divided into two discs with 9 songs each. , the themes that are reflected in songs like “Auntie Daries”, “We Cry Together” and “Mother I Sober” that have a story behind them that, together with their rhythm, can leave anyone cold. And the factor that can be most noticed in Kendrick Lamar’s career is the social criticism that his lyrics contain, which in this case can be found in songs like “N95” that calls to stop pretending on the internet and pay more attention to real life. and in “Worldwide Steppers” talking about cancel culture as a vicious circle of morality.

After listening to it several times, I developed a special affection for this album and, in particular, for these three songs:

Die Hard: What Kendrick transmits when talking about the search for authentic love, trust when loving and how he would give everything for his partner, added to the melodic participations of Blxst and Amanda Reifer, make it a very beautiful and emotional to listen to. Plus, it makes you want to slow dance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx3MGrafykU

Father Time: I love how the father-son theme is touched on in this song and how you have to work to change generational problems when becoming a father. I highly recommend his appearance on SNL. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IuAIp46xC4

Count Me Out: My favorite song on the album, and perhaps more than one who has heard it has made them think, “Kendrick, you exposed me.” The beat along with its video made this song connect with me from the first moment I heard it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GhhVHpPR_M

To summarize, I think “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers” is a complex project both lyrically and musically. Kendrick uses this album to explore and break down deep themes, such as therapy, self-improvement, and personal and collective traumas, showing his own case and inviting us to reflect on each person’s experiences. I must say that it deserved the award for best album of the year in 2022, but we already know what happened.

Pd: In my opinion, this “meme” video is very accurate about how one feels when listening to each song on the album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbVmzWtt7Fk

Juan José Calaf

[richardleerutgersblog]

The Controversial "Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers"

Kendrick Lamar has always been widely regarded as one of the most gifted rappers of his time, a lyrical genius who knows how to move his audience. And so, with the release of his most recent album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, expectations of Kendrick were evidently high. After taking a 3 year break, the mystery of what the rapping legend had in store for the rap community was suspenseful. Well, it seemed that after that break, Kendrick had lost some of his touch in the rap game, as this album was rather average. Widely described as being "as inefficient as it is awe-inspiring: a dynamic, if occasionally awkward, thesis on lineage and legacy", Kendrick's new album was found to be not consistent with his award-winning music of the past.

While the public consensus tends to be harsh on big names in the music industry in general, I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with this take on the album. While the music is not terrible, I don't believe that it follows the normally upbeat music that Kendrick has released in the past, and rather focuses on the negatives of his past, and the detriments in his life. For instance, Kendrick's "Father Time" paints his father (Kenny) as a villain and his harshness as an obstacle in his life. Another example is in "Mother I Sober", Kendrick talks about how he used to beat himself up for not being able to protect his mother, another major obstacle in his upbringing. The main theme of his album seems to revolve around family, as the cover of the album of his new family, an attempt to display the evolution from a harsh upbringing full of conflict, to a happy and stable family portrayed in the cover. And so overall, while I do believe that the album was a bit messy and different in comparison to his past music, I do not believe that this album deserves to be regarded as a poor performance from Kendrick. Unfortunately, the controversy doesn't end there.

The album faced some controversy over Kendrick's portrayal of himself as a Savior Complex. For example, many reviews found that, "On “Rich Spirit” he compares himself to Christ and the Buddha", however contradicts himself in this album because, "he is markedly human on this album: paranoid, insecure, and flawed". I am religious myself, and believe that comparing any human to God or any religious figure can be offensive and an extremely bold statement, especially coming from an artist who's main theme of their album is literally their harsh upbringing and flawed past. However, if the albums only concern was surrounding that one song, the public backlash wouldn't have been nearly severe as it was.

The second and more major controversy that the album faced was the concept of "cancel culture". For those who don't know, celebrities who are "cancelled" by the Internet are publicly shamed and attacked for a mistake or offense, something that has been found to be very controversial in it of itself. While cancel culture is meant to call out celebrities or simply anyone who may think they are above societal standards or are untouchable; this act has spiraled out of control to the point where "it focuses simply on ending a person’s career rather than fixing the mistake they were called out for". And so Kendrick decides to speak on this aspect and essentially speaks down on this concept. While I agree that, yes cancel culture often goes too far with malicious intent rather than trying to remedy a mistake that someone has made, I do believe that sometimes it is necessary. Kendrick features someone who has been "cancelled" by society on his album, Kodak Black. Now, Kodak Black didn't simply write an offensive tweet, get caught saying a racial slur, or anything of that sort. What Kodak Black did that was so controversial, was pleading guilty to "raping a teenage girl inside his hotel room in South Carolina". Yeah. Some pretty major charges. So when Kendrick says "What the f*ck is cancel culture, dog?" on his album that features the likes of Kodak, I wouldn't be totally opposed to the controversy surrounding this album. Kodak, however, wasn't the only controversial figure that was involved with Kendrick. It was also found that "Top Dawg Entertainment, his record label (this is his last album for them), supported Kelly, a convicted serial sexual abuser, when Spotify threatened to pull his work". So, Kendrick being associated with these people, both groups mind you having sexual charges against them, does not exactly put his album in good light. And so, while musically his album was decent work, the people he associated himself with was what the public tore apart. This shows that part of the music industry is understanding strategy and public association, and not simply just the music that a person produces.

[astranva]

Like Beyoncé still has 32 Grammys, she isn’t gonna die with one less. Literally everyone and their grandparents were listening to as it was and posting it online, so idk what that tells you. But Adele not clapping, making a face and even leaving when he gave his speech was very telling. It was unprofessional idc what anyone says.

I feel like you guys still keep missing the point. It doesn’t matter that Beyoncé has 32 Grammys and if she’s the most awarded person of all time. She earned that shit. From Destiny’s Child to now she has put in the work for it. The issue is the racism and prejudice at the Grammys have towards women of colour but also Beyoncé and people of color. Beyoncé has lost 4 times to albums that weren’t as good as hers and they were all white people. They rarely award her in the bigger categories and stick her in the urban and R&B categories. They continue to use people of colour to bring in the readings and to make the show as amazing as it is but rarely reward them for what they do. Beyoncé has been nominated for times in the Category and has yet to win. They continue to snap her. A black woman has it one in that category in over 20 years. But not just Beyoncé. Kendrick Lamar, and bad bunny. People of colour are not respected by the Grammys. It’s the Grammys continuing to celebrate white mediocrity instead of awarding women of colour and people of colour their dues but also giving them their flowers. I’ll take and still have 32 Grammy is going to be upset at the fact that the Grammys continues to do this to her. Continues to diminish the work of people of color, black women and the queer community. Also Adele is able to have her own opinion on the matter and if you watched it fully she was standing and was clapping for Harry with a smile on her face so don’t do that. And she moved back to her original seat as he was giving his speech.

so what? bullying the winner is the answer? i’d understand if beyoncé made a comment about it but it’s always her fans that come for throats while she’s been nothing but a good sport.

beyoncé not winning this specific award doesn’t diminish the fact that she made history by being the most awarded person at the grammy’s, why is that not worth the time of celebration instead of dwelling on her losing a category that even harry didn’t think he’d win?

i’m not saying bee doesn’t deserve the awards nor that she didn’t deserve AOTY, but Harry’s House is deserving of the award and like a few people said, 2022 was harry’s year fr; the marketing of the album, the entire tour, 90% of the album, it all charted, was viral and trendy and genuinely good.

now when it comes to race, it’s not my place to talk but i don’t think bullying someone online and booing him on stage is a subjective matter, especially when that has happened multiple times. beyoncé’s fan’s embarrass her with stuff like that because again, she’s nothing but a good sport.

[dipulb3]

Analysis: White guilt, apologies and why Hollywood is a cauldron of race issues at the moment

New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/analysis-white-guilt-apologies-and-why-hollywood-is-a-cauldron-of-race-issues-at-the-moment/

Analysis: White guilt, apologies and why Hollywood is a cauldron of race issues at the moment

Despite complaints about “cancel culture” and racist insistence that people who talk about these important issues are “playing the race card,” Hollywood can’t seem to get away from conversations about race and diversity.

And while hopefully those discussions can lead to progress, lately they have led to controversy for some.

Osbourne said she didn’t necessarily agree with Morgan’s comments, but defended his right to make them. She herself was accused of being less than respectful when she berated Underwood for appearing to get emotional and insisted that if anyone should be crying over the conversation, it should be Osbourne herself.

Her perceived “victimhood” not only didn’t go over well, but the incident led to both an apology from Osbourne and an investigation by CBS into happenings on the set of “The Talk.”

Chris Harrison: “The Bachelor” franchise and its issues with race have long been discussed.

From its lack of diversity to last year’s outrage over “Bachelorette” star Hannah Brown using a racial epithet while jamming to a song, it’s safe to say the reality show has generated some headlines on matters of race.

But things came to a head this season after the casting of the first Black “Bachelor,” Matt James.

Longtime franchise host Chris Harrison has had to step aside from his duties after controversial comments he made during an interview with Rachel Lindsay, the first Black “Bachelorette,” who has been working for the TV show “Extra.”

During the chat, Harrison appeared to defend contestant Rachael Kirkconnell for being photographed at an antebellum plantation-themed fraternity formal event in 2018.

Harrison apologized, and James ended up giving Kirkconnell the final rose but then broke up with her over the controversy.

Billie Eilish: This instance was not so much an apology aired but rather yet another time a White artist has felt compelled to acknowledge a Black artist when an institution — in this case, the Grammys — did not.

Last Sunday, Eilish took home the final award of the evening, the prestigious record of the year, and used her acceptance speech to explain why rapper Megan Thee Stallion, one of her fellow nominees, really deserved it.

“You are so beautiful, you are so talented,” Eilish said. “I root for you always. You deserve it, honestly.”

If the moment felt familiar, it was because we had seen it happen before.

Adele tearfully gushed about Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” album deserving to win album of the year in 2017, instead of her album “25.”

Three years before, White rapper Macklemore apologized to rapper Kendrick Lamar for winning rap album of the year instead of the Black artist.

Race and identity politics can be complicated, but what’s not hard to understand is that these incidents happen because disparities and a far-from-level playing field absolutely exist in this world and in Hollywood.

Until that changes, someone is going to end up feeling sorry for it, or at the very least need to acknowledge it publicly.

For your weekend

Three things to watch:

‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’

Calling all superhero geeks.

The time is now to finally see how the Justice League film fared in the hands of Zack Snyder, thanks to the release of this extended director’s cut. Joss Whedon had stepped in to complete the 2017 film after Snyder left the project due to personal tragedy.

“The result of this fresh take, strictly from a creative and filmmaking standpoint, is fascinating: How did two different directors — Whedon, who birthed the ‘Avengers’ franchise on screen; and Snyder, who tackled adapting the famously unadaptable ‘Watchmen’ — approach the same material?” is how my Appradab colleague Brian Lowry described the project.

The movie premieres Thursday on HBO Max (which is owned by Appradab’s parent company).

‘Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal’

Ripped from the headlines, as they say, this film uses re-enactments to tell the story of the college admissions scandal that landed several wealthy parents — including celebs Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman — in legal trouble.

The story dominated the news for months, and now you can relive it all by heading over to Netflix, where it’s currently streaming.

‘Minari’

Now that the Oscar nominations are out, you may want to check out some of the nominees.

“Minari” is up for six categories, including best picture. The drama draws on director Lee Issac Chung’s childhood to tell the tale of a Korean American family trying to survive in rural Arkansas in the 1980s.

The film is currently available to stream on several services including Apple TV and Amazon Prime.

Two things to listen to:

Justin Bieber recently told Billboard there is a message behind his new music.

“I just want to be somebody who can say, ‘Look, I did some things that I’m not too proud of, but I took a look in the mirror and decided to make some changes, and you can too,” he told the publication. “There was a time where I really did have my identity wrapped up in my career, but I really do have an overflow of feeling like my purpose is to use my music to inspire.”

His sixth studio album, “Justice,” drops Friday and is Bieber’s second album release in 13 months. (“Changes” came out on Valentine’s Day 2020.)

With marriage to model Hailey Bieber and more private time — thanks to quarantining and no cellphone to limit who can get a hold of him — the now 27-year-old former teen idol appears to be at a new stage in his life and career.

Last year, Lana Del Rey announced she would be delaying her new album, “Chemtrails Over the Country Club,” for a few months.

Now, we get to see if it was worth the wait.

The studio album from the singer is the much-anticipated follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2019 collection, “Norman F**king Rockwell,” and expectations are high that she will continue to deliver her special brand of artistry when it drops Friday.

One thing to talk about:

It’s not breaking news that award shows and their voters appear to be out of step with the general public.

But this year’s best supporting actor category for the Oscars is even more confounding.

That’s because the two stars of “Judas and the Black Messiah,” Lakeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya, are both nominated in the category.

Which begs the question: “Which one is the actual star of the film if neither scored a best actor nod?”

I reached out to the Academy about this and a rep declined to comment. So we’ll just have to be content with the fact that the two won’t have to compete with the late Chadwick Boseman, a best actor nominee who is favored by many for what is believed to be his final on-screen performance in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”

Something to sip on

Looking for something to watch? We asked some of our friends around Appradab what they binge-watch to decompress.

Fredricka Whitfield, Appradab Newsroom anchor

Not at all uplifting, nor did they help me decompress, yet I indulged in “Killing Eve,” “The Undoing” and some “Lovecraft Country.”

Michael Smerconish, Smerconish anchor

“Call My Agent!” Who’d have thought I’d get hooked on a French TV show with subtitles — but I love it.

Kate Bolduan, At This Hour anchor

How can I limit it to just one?! Now, a year into Covid, here are some of the favorites that have gotten me through — “The Queen’s Gambit,” “Succession,” “Billions,” “The Spy,” “Kids Baking Championship (seasons 1-9),” “The Men Who Built America” and “The Mandalorian.”

[joementa]

The Grammys Sucks.  The Weeknd Does Not.

I’m not really a huge fan of The Grammys and I only watch them when I have to (i.e. if Bruce is playing on them).  Otherwise, I find them to be incredibly boring and incredibly stupid.  I usually don’t pay attention to them all that much but as someone who follows music news on a daily basis, I’m usually aware of the headlines around the nominations, the winners and the losers.  Just like “Blinding Lights” last year, this year’s headlines around the nominations was pretty hard to miss.  And if you ask me, the headlines had it right….The Weeknd without a SINGLE nominee?  You. Must.  Be.  Kidding.

I’m not saying The Weeknd made the best music last year.  In fact, I don’t think any award could possibly be given to the “best music”.  Not only is that very subjective, but I find music to be so very emotional.  So how can I argue that music is better than others when, by definition, your emotional needs will define what you listen to, which means that you will inherently find music better if it is filling your emotional needs.  

Because of this, I tend to think of these awards as popularity contests.  And that’s totally okay – how else can you recognize something that’s subjective?  And so it is absolutely impossible to deny that The Weeknd made some of the most popular music of 2020.  You can dislike his music all you want.  But it is a fact that his music is popular, especially his latest album.  And the single “Blinding Lights” was INESCAPABLE.  You seriously could not escape that song in 2020.  How can anyone seriously say that this song was not one of the “songs of the year”.  And I’m sorry, but how can you seriously say that Black Pumas’ album, an album that most people in America have never even heard OF let alone actually heard, was possibly the “album of the year” and The Weeknd’s album doesn’t even deserve to be nominated for it?  What a joke.  (Again, I’m not criticizing Black Pumas’ album.  I like it a lot.)

So, to prove that The Weeknd is actually awesome, I’ve put together a playlist of some my favorite songs by The Weeknd’s.  This playlist doesn’t actually prove that The Grammys sucks.  Actually, I don’t need a playlist to prove that.  The Grammys proves it themselves with their absurd and laughable snubs over the years of Kendrick Lamar (losing album of the year THREE times!!!!), Kanye West…and The Weeknd.

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/the-grammys-sucks-the-weeknd-does-not/pl.u-8aAVz4lUNmrv5R

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6OnnGcO2bQZ8vtJWz04PVS?si=O6JnMgmRSo65F09jBiADOg

1.     “Blinding Lights” (After Hours) 2.     “Starboy” featuring Daft Punk (Starboy) 3.     “House Of Balloons/Glass Table Girls” (House Of Balloons) 4.     “Life Of The Party” (Thursday) 5.     “Wanderlust” (Kiss Land) 6.     “The Hills” (Beauty Behind The Madness) 7.     “The Fall” (Echoes Of Silence) 8.     “The Town” (Kiss Land) 9.     “The Birds Pt. 1” (Thursday) 10.  “Call Out My Name” (My Dear Melancholy,) 11.  “Losers” featuring Labrinth (Beauty Behind The Madness) 12.  “Gone” (Thursday) 13.  Kavinsky featuring The Weeknd – “Odd Look” (Kiss Land) 14.  “Secrets” (Starboy) 15.  “Save Your Tears” (After Hours) 16.  Lana Del Rey featuring The Weeknd – “Lust For Life” (Lust For Life) 17.  Ariana Grande & The Weeknd – “Love Me Harder” (My Everything) 18.  “Can’t Feel My Face” (Beauty Behind The Madness) 19.  “In Your Eyes” (After Hours) 20.  “I Feel It Coming” featuring Daft Punk (Starboy)

[praphit]

Another Year, Another Recap - “Have a Coke and a smile... :)”

So, we're getting to the end, people. We're about to finish off another year. Personally, this year has been immensely better than the last.

I didn't even want to stay up and do any celebrating at the end of 2018. I just wanted to go to bed and be done with that bleepin year. This year has been a hell of a lot better. I hope that all of you can say something similar, but if not, there's always going to bed early, and putting your hope in the next year.

This past Christmas (and all Christmas', really) I spent time doing a lot of hating on Christmas music; it's a valued tradition of mine. I am, however, always surprised to find a few songs each year that don't bother me all that much. This year, one of them was John Legend's "Baby, It's cold outside" ft Kelly Clarkson  

- a rewritten, sans rapey vibe rendition to boot its 1940's something predecessor.

In this version (at least how I interpret it), both people wanted some action that night. John says all of the right stuff ("I'll call you a car", "maybe you SHOULD go"), creating a safe environment, and most importantly, not coming off as sleazy and rapey. He's also protecting himself with this recording:) But, let's be clear... he wants some, and he wants it bad! While Kelly, also wants some, but doesn't want to come off as being a hoe. Nobody wants to be labeled a hoe.  So, she says all of the right things as well ("My dad and brother are waiting for me", "I've gotta visit my sick grandma", "Gotta get home to the KIDS") But, at the end of the night, they both make a decision to sing to one another "Baby, It's cold outside, so let's stay in and BLEEP." That's how you do it! No guilt! No #METOO! No wife and kids around. All is well:) Divorces are still rising, and more older people (as well as old as bleep people) are on dating apps than ever before. Consider this song a Christmas gift from John & Kelly to you.

Sexiest man alive in 2019 btw

Congrats. Classic coming-up-out-of-the-water sexy.

There has been some good music in 2019. Good stuff happening. Also some sad and weird stuff happening in music - all things balance out, I suppose.

GOOD:

Lizzo

I am here for all things Lizzo.

SAD & WEIRD:

Maroon 5's Super Bowl performance. It wasn't even really M5's fault; they simply did what they always do. It was more a poor choice by the NFL. A boring and awkward performance. There was a time when all anybody wanted was a shirtless Adam Levine- both women AND men. Even times when he wasn't performing, he would show up places, some random person would announce to everyone "Don't worry, Adam WILL be taking off his shirt tonight." Talk about ME TOO. It was so bad that the old, white, slaveowners of the NFL hired Jay-Z (one of the blackest icons we have) to come and save them. We'll see how that turns out.

GOOD & WEIRD:

Tyler, The Creator - "IGOR"

One of my fav projects of the year. Tyler, the Creator is an odd dude - I mean this as a compliment. I love how Hip-Hop has evolved. There's a lot more room nowadays to be yourself, no matter how outsiders might deem your behavior as weird (sometimes, others NOT saying this as a compliment). I love his creativity, and hope he continues to inspire other artists (especially in hip-hop) to be creative. Heeeee also says stuff like this "I like girls, but I have sex with their brothers." But, also uses the word "gay" as an insult. Who knows?? There's a lot to unpack there.

SAD:

In other news, Camila Cabello might be a racist. Y'all can look it up if you'd like, but some posts of hers resurfaced. I'm a fan of hers, and checked out the posts for myself, thinking "People are prob just overreacting" - they're not, it's bad. She has apologized, saying the whole "I'm older and wiser now" thing. The prob with that is she's only 22.

GOOD & BAD, I GUESS:

ADELE

It's always good to see Adele out and about. These holiday pics show that's she's still alive (I get concerned, cuz she tends to disappear for a while) and apparently a lot thinner. This of course stirs men to say men type things, women to go on the attack, and all genuine compliments towards her to get lost. The good news is, Adele seems to be getting pretty chummy with Santa, and everyone knows that St. Nick is a heartbreaker. Adele should be spurned and back in the studio writing amazing tunes soon enough.

WEIRD:

Kanye

These pics say it all. 

... that being said, I love his new music (which is how I stamp all of my conversations about Ye).

GOOD:

Billie Eilish! 

Now (like many), one of my fav artists. 

BAD:

She just turned 18, so of course, us men being ourselves again say things like "She's 18 now. You know what that means." Honestly, I'm still trying to figure out what that means. Nothing says crossing-over into womanhood quite like being objectified.

Speaking of 2019 pervs - R.KELLY!

We can throw MJ and... what the hell, I'll just throw Spacey in there as well (his documentary is coming soon enough, I'm sure).

We were all enthralled by these two docuseries. It's interesting how different races respond to MJ. Both see him as... you know, but most black people are still listening to his music. White people on the other hand are ready to riot every time someone plays one of his songs... except around Halloween - gotta have "Thriller".

We love depressing television.

There was "Chernobyl" as well as "When they see us"

Movies too -

"Joker"

I love this movie, but it's about a homicidal clown, struggling with mental illness.

"Us"

I love this movie, but it's about classism and marginalization.

"Endgame"

It's largely about grief.

It's the best movie of the year, as far as I'm concerned!

It should win all awards!

ALL OF THEM!

Best Horror

Best Comedy

Best Romance

Remember when he sent the message to his wife? Cute, right?

Personally, I think he and Nebula were banging in each other.

... I think that story is going to come out some day. C’mon... they were up in space, alone... they both thought they were going to die. She was like “OMG, I’ve always wanted to bang Robert Downey Jr. 

He was like “I don’t blame you.”

But, afterwards, he was like 

 - you know? He felt all bad, because he’d never get to do that again (that was the last of his energy). Annnnd also because he cheated. Which led to that cute recording for his wife. SEE, it’s all connected!

Best actor in Josh Brolin (Thanos) - the range of emotions (satisfaction, terror, humility, revenge, arrogance, beatin ass, defeat) Leo and Brad Pitt ain't have to do all of that!

Best Actress... hmm.. idk about this one. Many say J.Lo deserves an Oscar for her performance in "Hustlers" - a movie made for strippers, by strippers.

Exotic dancers are making a comeback! Maybe one day, stripping will be going in the same direction marijuana is - just something people do. No more shame! You can actually make a decent living at it - ain't that right, Stormy?

And who can forget this J.Lo quote "This city, this whole country, is a strip club. You've got people tossing the money. and people doing the dance."

There have also been plenty of things in 2019 that I have not understood:

1) Hatin on Greta

Greta - trying hard to do what she believes will make this world a better place for us all.

Certain people - "Shut that bitch up! She's crazy!"

2) Hatin on Megan Rapinoe

MP - leading a soccer team to a World Cup victory, being outspoken for women's rights and gay rights, having awesome purple hair, and trying to be the best leader and athlete she can be.

Certain people - "Shut that bitch up! She's Crazy! Equal pay my ass!"

3) Popeyes Chicken Sandwich

 - the gov't test for a new crack epidemic. Sadly, I never got to partake.

4) Allison Mack

- This whole story began being unveiled in 2018, but continued through this year. I still don’t understand how this story has not gotten more attention. Some of y’all don’t even know what I’m talking about.... google it, and be horrified.

5) BTS (and K-pop in general)

-I love them, but... our country's K-Pop fetish has gotten kinda out of hand. All kinds of artists are trying to share the spotlight with them. Next, we're going to see them team up with Kendrick Lamar.

6) TikTok - I just don't get it. What’s the difference? 

7) Cancel Culture

To me all cancel culture is silenced by Trump being our president. Where was all of this righteous indignation when we voted him into office? You might say "I didn't vote for him." Yeah, but, WE did - Idk what that says about us, but it's prob not good.

It doesn't even really work - Louis CK is currently selling out venues for an unapologetic tour. I'm not even saying that it SHOULD work (in SOME cases). I'm simply saying that it doesn't work (in most cases). But, perhaps the fear of it working is enough. Or perhaps we should think through how we spend our anger.

BUT, enough of that! It's time to pass out this year's PRAPHIE AWARD!

Here are the noms:

Jordan Peele

Pedro the turtle

(no need for context, just know he’s awesome)

Baby Yoda

 (btw - studies show that if you have access to "The Mandalorian" and you AREN'T watching it, you're an asshole. This is not ME talking, this is science)

Megan Rapinoe (who I’ve already mentioned)

Flying Elbow Guy (Again, this requires no context. It’s Flying Elbow Guy! There is a baseball player who’s name I can’t remember. He took on a whole team, and... you know what - that’s too much exposition. It’s Flying Elbow Guy!

  Keanu Reeves

Annnnnnnd! It’s...

...

KEANU!

This year:

Of course JW, Toy Story 4, Cyberpunk 2077, “Always be my Maybe”, plus we found out that he’s down for The Matrix 4, John Wick 4, and Bill & Ted. CRAZY!

Also my BAMF of the year (see previous post)!

We love Keanu Reeves so much, that he's allowed to murder as many people as he wants (as John Wick).

We'll get mad if an actor who's not handicapped is playing someone who is, we'll get mad about whitewashing (as we should), we'll get mad if things are too sexualized, we GOT MAD at "Joker" for predicted violence. But, Keanu can murder all he wants:)

(See the scene above? - that was a McDonald’s before he showed up)

He found love as well. Women are loving that he chose someone closer to his age. Honestly, Idk why it matters. I'd still love this man, even if he were dating 22 year old, racist ass Camila Cabello.

But, he's viewed by some as the perfect man. I disagree. I don’t think that he’s merely the perfect man, but the perfect human.

His career and popularity paths are unique. No one would call him a... GOOD actor, but look at him! And he seems like a genuinely, awesomely, good person. And whatever "good person" means to you, he's at the top! We should all (men and women) be a lil more like Keanu in 2020.

Let's all be as lovable as we can, so we may all get away with as much as we can:)

With each new year, I challenge myself with a slogan to live by. In 2020, it's going to be this - 

From Eddie Murphy’s “Raw”- Richard Pryor’s advice to Eddie, concerning Bill Cosby 

Telling certain people in my way "To have a Coke and a smile, and shut the bleep up." Sometimes, I might need to be the one to do this, rather than say it - we'll see.

Here was the runner-up slogan (his response)

Magical.

Happy New Year, Everyone! Enjoy yourselves. Be less of an asshole. And be safe... enough to at least make it TO 2020.

Much love!

[onestowatch]

13 Music Podcasts You Should Be Listening to Right Now

In case you haven’t quite got the memo, Spotify is for a lot more than streaming Billie Eilish and a playlist made up of lo-fi chill beats on repeat. The past few years have witnessed a veritable boom of podcasts, from both self-made creators and massive media outlets, covering a whole spectrum of topics and niche interests. As someone who has listened to over 70 hours of “The Adventure Zone,” a Dungeons & Dragons podcast hosted by three brothers and their dad, in spite of never having once thought of actually playing a game of D&D, it is safe to say this is no passing fad.

Podcasts exist as an inside look into a host of worlds you never once considered exploring, and this goes equally true for music podcasts. From in-depth examinations of your favorite artists and their works to dramatized true crime–style narratives of legendary artists, these are the music podcasts you need to be listening to right now. 

Also, if you needed even more music podcasts in your life, did you know Ones To Watch has its own battle-style podcast where four tracks enter the ring and only one leaves victorious? 

Switched on Pop

There is no escaping pop music, so you may as well enjoy, examine, and eventually begin to understand why exactly it is so popular. At least, that’s the ethos behind musicologist Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding’s phenomenal podcast. Each episode sees the duo breaking down pop songs to posit the question of what makes a song like “bad guy” or “Old Town Road” a hit, and what is their cultural significance in the music landscape at large? Balancing lighthearted humor with critical analysis, Switched On Pop is a podcast that will have you loving music you never knew you liked in the first place. 

Where to Start: “Billie Eilish is a Different Kind of Pop Star (ft. FINNEAS)”

Dissect

Dissect is a music nerd’s dream podcast. Hosted by Cole Cuchna, the hit podcast series is rare in that rather than jumping from topic to topic with each episode, each season of “Dissect” holds a magnifying glass to one prolific work of one seminal artist. From the mythos of Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly, Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Ms. Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, to Tyler, The Creator grappling with his sexuality on Flower Boy, there is no shortage of reasons of why you need to be listening to Dissect.  

Where to Start: “S4E14 - Epilogue: IGOR”

Song Exploder

Song Exploder may just be the best interview series in existence, largely due to the podcast functioning as less of a traditional interview series and more as a vivid recollection of artist’s most heartfelt work. The podcast series features musicians from all walks of life, from Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham to Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, taking apart a single one of their songs piece by piece. It is akin to your grandparents recounting one of their fondest memories to you, if your grandparents just so happened to be world-renowned artists.  

Where to Start: “Maggie Rogers - Alaska”

Disgraceland

In the wake of the massive popularity of True Crime podcasts like “Serial,” Disgraceland marries all there is to love about rock star worship and a culture’s obsession with the seedier aspects of the human condition. Blending music history, true crime, and transgressive fiction, Disgraceland is a dramatized retelling of some of music’s most enthralling criminal stories. Imagine the already engrossing stories of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. or Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, albeit told through an exhilarating and entertaining modern-noir lens.

Where to Start: “Amy Winehouse: Rehab, the Muse and a Rare Talent”

And The Writer Is…with Ross Golan

Have you ever wondered who is the person behind some of your favorite songs? Then And The Writer Is… is the podcast for you. Each episode takes you behind the closed doors of the music and into the songwriting room with some of the greatest songwriters and creatives of our generation. If you love anything by any of today’s biggest artists, then chances are they have probably appeared on an episode of And The Writer Is… to provide an inside glimpse into their creative process. 

Where to Start: “EP 54: Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie)”

Questlove Supreme

You shouldn’t be listening to Questlove Supreme just because its host is none other than the infamous Questlove (although that would honestly be more than enough reason for us). For starters, Questlove Supreme arguably features some of the best guests out of any other podcast out there. Ever wanted to hear John Oliver talk about his transition from The Daily Show to shaping people’s political opinions regularly? Or ever wondered about Michelle Obama’s first musical memories? Then, good news, because Questlove Supreme has all you could ever need and so much more.

Where to Start: “Ep. 113 feat. Michelle Obama”

Twenty Thousand Hertz

Twenty Thousand Hertz is likely the most prominent outlier on this list. That is not to say this is not a podcast of note, equally as deserving of your precious listening hours; Twenty Thousand Hertz simply does not address music or artists in the traditional sense. Rather, this is an examination of the sounds, the sonic textures, and the crucial building blocks that have allowed artists to create works that truly move people. Twenty Thousand Hertz is not just for music lovers, but for those who appreciate the perfectly intangible idea of sound as a simultaneously human-constructed and natural concept.

Where to Start: “#72 | 808”

Punch Up The Jam

Punch Up The Jam is a comedy and music podcast. How does that work exactly? Well, comedians and best friends Miel Bredouw and Demi Adejuyigbe invite one of their equally hilarious friends to attempt to fix a popular song, despite having absolutely no qualifications so to speak of. Laughs are had, chaos ensues, and more laughs are had as Punch Up The Jam begs the question: do you need to know anything about music to improve a hit song?

Where to Start: 77 - “Kiss From a Rose (w/ Travis McElroy)”

All Songs Considered

It would be impossible to create a definitive list of music podcasts without mentioning NPR's All Songs Considered. The nearly 20-year-old series has grown with the times, evolving from a lauded radio show to an award-receiving podcast. The generation-spanning medium for music discovery is hosted by Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton, and often features a range of guests that makes this already much-celebrated podcast into essential listening material.

Where to Start: “All Songs Rewind: The Worst Songs Of All Time?”

Hit Parade

For Hit Parade, the phrase “it’s a smash” is more than just A&R short-hand for any passing song they hear in mid-production; it is the genesis of music history. Produced by Slate, pop chart analyst Chris Molanphy seeks to uncover what exactly it was that made a song a number one smash. More than just a terribly informative music podcast, Hit Parade changes up its formula through bouts of trivia, music snippets, and enthralling storytelling.

Where to Start: “The Oh. My. God. Becky Edition”

Popcast

The best way to understand the very notion and ever-changing minutia of popular music is Popcast. Hosted by New York Times pop critic Jon Caramanica, Popcast homes in on not just what is trending on the Billboard charts but what is trending, period. From Taylor Swift and Scooter Braun’s ongoing civil war, the perplexing economics of the streaming era, to how memes can create bonafide artists, Popcast is what you need to be listening to in order to sound erudite at your next dinner party, even if you find yourself in spirited discourse over Lil Nas X.

Where to Start: “How Many Streams Is a T-Shirt Worth? Breaking Down Chart Dilemmas.”

Ongoing History of New Music

This next podcast is dedicated to all our lovely Canadian readers, or really anyone who is looking for an enlightening deep dive into music’s most notable artists and movements. Hosted by legendary Canadian radio broadcaster and music journalist Alan Cross, Ongoing History of New Music is Canada’s most well-known music documentary series. Featuring artists profile from the likes of Radiohead to Twenty One Pilots, narrative journeys of everything from Christian Rock to Britpop, and even the etymology behind some of music’s most elusive terminology, Ongoing History of New Music is a musical history wellspring.

Where to Start: “Stories Behind Songs”

The Great Albums

The Great Albums is a podcast series wholly true to its name. In unexpected yet utterly delightful fashion, co-hosts Bill Lambusta and Brian Erickson delve into some of pop, rock, and beyond’s greatest moments and musical accomplishments. More than just a track by track review of a seminal work from the likes of Jay-Z, Joni Mitchell, and Sufjan Stevens, The Great Albums is an examination of the notion of fandom and how that love affair is expressed through the lens of the prolific album.  

Where to Start: “Radiohead - OK Computer”

[hazyheel]

WWE 205 Live 7/30/19 Review

First match of the night was Brian Kendrick and Akira Tozawa vs. The Singh Brothers. The heels in this match were being annoying the second that they walked out. Also, on commentary, Aiden English and Vic Joseph were given a Bollywood award by Brian Kendrick for great commentary. How nice. In the actual match, the Singh’s gained control through some cheating, and beat down Tozawa throughout the match. Kendrick eventually got a hot tag, and destroyed them with stiff strikes. The Singh Brothers caused a distraction by stealing the Bollywood award, getting them the advantage. They then went to hit Kendrick with it, but he ducked and caused some friendly fire. He gave Sumir a sliced bread #2, and Tozawa followed up with a senton.

Grade: C. Largely boring match, I do not like the Singh Brothers in the ring. They are funny and annoying characters, but they aren’t very good wrestlers. But I liked the finish, just because they used the trophy as a weapon.

Then we had an interview for the Lucha House Party. They talked about how everyone in 205 Live is Lucha. Then they randomly talked about how Humberto Carrillo wasn’t a real luchadore. Okay, maybe Lince Durado is gonna turn heel.

We went right from that promo into Lince Durado vs. Ariya Daivari. Daivari tried to mock Durado early on, yelling Lucha slowly in his face. Durado looked for the Golden Rewind quickly, and Daivari retreated. Daivari tried to walk out on the match, but Durado caught him and beat him into the ground. Durado then began to pick up the pace as Daivari tried every trick in the book to get the advantage. Daivari hit a really nice DDT at one point, spinning him out like a rainmaker and then nailing a short DDT for a near fall. Daivari also mocked Jerry Lawler, trying the fist drop or whatever the hell it was, but Durado caught him. Durado tried to return the favor with some high flying, but Daivari nailed a superkick to stop him. Daivari then caught Durado out of the Golden Rewind with a million rial dream, and when Durado tried to get out of it, he transitioned into a wicked urenagi for a near fall. The match had an interesting finish where Lince, still on the ground, rolled forward and hit a high kick. He then spun all the way around Daivari’s body and got a rollup with a bridge for the win. 

Grade: B-. Pretty good match, Lince is very talented. And Daivari continues to impress with a brawler style. I love that they renamed the million dollar dream to million rial dream. It’s clever, but maybe I only think that because I work in currency exchange. Anyway, good match, but I have a feeling that the Lucha House Party will be breaking up soon, with Durado turning heel. This was the match of the night. 

Backstage, Drew Gulak cut a promo about his opponent for Summerslam. He said that no one really deserved it. He said that if Kanellis loses in the main event, then he needs a new challenger. He said that it doesn’t matter who he will fight, because he will tie them up in knots and then pin them. Cool.

And in the main event, we had an unsanctioned match between Drake Maverick and Mike Kanellis. Maverick came to the ring in a simple 205 Live shirt, And to the 205 live theme music, interesting. And as he was walking, Kanellis attacked from behind and threw him into the LED boards to start things off. Kanellis beat the living crap out of Maverick, and said that Maverick couldn’t start the match. Kanellis tried to say that he won by forfeit, but Maverick refused to stay down. And the second that the bell rung, Kanellis beat Maverick down in the corner. Maverick sold his ass off here, screaming and flopping around like a fish all the time. He threw him around ringside all over, and even gave him a huge superkick. Next, he set Maverick up in a commentary chair, and superkicked him right out of it. Then he ripped Maverick’s shirt off, and started to whip him with his belt. Maverick sold it like he was getting shots over and over again. Kanellis then locked in a sleeper hold, and Maverick refused to give up. Maverick fought out of it, and fought back a bit, but when he attempted a baseball slide, he was caught and thrown into the barricade face first. As Maverick was on his knees in the ring Kanellis started to shove the R-Truth wanted posters into his mouth. That actually started to fire Maverick up, and he fought back with some of the classic rockstar spud fire. He even gave Kanellis a suicide dive, and a DDT on the table. He tried to give Kanellis an elbow drop through the announce table, but Kanellis dodged it, and Maverick crashed and burnt. Kanellis had the match won, but he wanted to continue the punishment. He tried for a crucifix bomb off the top, but Maverick nailed a last minute counter hurricanrana. Maverick then hit a sliced bread cutter for the win. 

Grade: C+. This was alright. Interesting if nothing else. Honestly, I think that Kanelllis probably needed this win. Especially the way they booked it, as Maverick not being a wrestler but a GM. If he fired up, and they portrayed him as cool and badass, then this would have been a fine finish. But with Maverick being basically just a dude who has to fight, that made Kanellis look weak. Those belt shots were brutal though. 

Grade: C+

Pros: Maverick got his revenge

Cons: Tozawa and Kendrick vs. The Singh Brothers; Kanellis probably should have won.