Issue05

2010-03-09

The Hurt Locker cleaned up at the Oscars this year taking home the awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Original Screenplay. When set against the likes of Quinten Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, James Cameron's Avatar, Jason Reitman's Up in the Air and a host of other extremely well done films this accomplishment for The Hurt Locker is a great one.

From left, screen writer Mark Boal, director Kathryn Bigelow and producer Greg Shapiro pose backstage with their Oscars for screen writing, directing and best movie for The Hurt Locker

I couldn't help but notice that many people had not heard of this movie before it started packing up a bookbag full of golden statues, so here's a little about the film.

Issue05 Lifestyle: Religiosity

2010-03-09

A Clutch Magazine Featurette

Anyone that really knows me is hip to the fact that I am a Jesus freak. A king's kid. A churchgoer. A constant faster and prayer. A heaven bound, Bible believing, Wednesday Bible Study, two service Sundays, tithing, praise and worshiping machine. Conclusion: I LOVE JESUS. And not because anyone told me to. Yes, when I was younger my mother yanked me out of bed every Sunday and dragged to every weekday service and meeting (just like the many of you reading this article) but no one is dragging or yanking me know. I go gladly with a little pep in my step. I willingly bring my tithes to the storehouse (the church) to support God's mission. I fast and pray to honor God for all that he has done. I am grateful. Trust me, I have been blessed in such a profound way that I recently came to a very heavy but simple conclusion. If He doesn't do one more thing for me, in these last 21 years of life He's done enough. He does not have to bless me anymore and I'd still believe. He's blessed me so much that I can thank Him just for what he's already done for me for the rest of my life. Sha-ta! Hescominginahyundaibutheshouldhaveboughtacadillac!! (Kidding...but not really.)

Issue05 Music: Old New Comers

2010-03-09

These artists have been around for at least a few years and now are trying new things and doing new releases.

Travis McCoy aka Travie

The next Gym Class Heroe's album will take a little while longer to come out (which makes me sad), however Travie will be dropping a new solo album Lazarus (date of release TBA) which features the single Billionaire. The single is officially downloadable (and listen-to-able) off of Travie's blog as of today (March 9th). Pretty much anything Travis McCoy does makes me happy but I always get nervous when artists from awesome bands go solo, the single does not disappoint though. On The Quilt Gym Class experimented with some new sounds and Travis continues that in his new single. It has an island feel too it, it's relaxing drive music and motivational music. Bruno Mars wails about wanting to be a billionaire "so freakin bad," and the things he'd do then Travie raps his fantasies about how he would live his life with that kind of money (in interviews he's openly admitted to just recently becoming a "thousandaire"). The past year has been a year of dreaming for younger people, for trying to get through this recession and do all the things we were told we could do when we were little (which is anything we want). Music has followed this trend and Travie is definitely on that band wagon with this track.

Issue05 Politics: Protecting Religion by Keeping It Out of Government

2010-03-09

In my first article, I wrote about some of my thoughts regarding religion. I suggested that religion and science were similar because they both sought to answer unanswerable questions about human existence. At the end of that article, I asked the following questions:

What does differentiate the major religions from these other religions/systems of thought mentioned? Is there a real difference between religion and science? And what are the political implications of this difference?

For the sake of this article, I am going to divide the systems of thought into two categories: science and religion. Science attempts to answer questions using a very specific method of inquiry. This method uses measurable evidence and a process of reasonable conclusions in order to arrive at defendable answers. These answers may not be completely satisfying, but they are the best that humans can provide. And they can be changed when humans find new evidence, but they are always based on a deliberate method.

And science is based on the pursuit of truth by this method.

Religion, on the other hand, provides answers passed down from generation to generation. These answers are either passed by a traditional authority text (such as the Bible, Koran or the Torah) or through oral tradition. Either way, the answers provided by these religions are generally not amended by new findings. In fact, the authority of these traditions are often used against the findings of science (see, for example, the creationism versus evolution debate).

Lifestyle Extra: Survivng the Lynch, The Mob Strikes Back

2010-03-03

  With laughter and happiness officially suppressed by Windy-City University, the students gathered for a forum to discuss the incident in the library that started it all. The showdown took place in Ronaldo McDonald Lounge. The tensions were high, although laughing was legal in McDonald Lounge, neither the students nor the four faculty members were in any mood to crack a smile.

  First the Vice President, Ida O. Vaseeuh of WCU introduced the three faculty members: Police Chief Don John Lynch, Library manager Lawrence David and James Rawls. The VP declared “the incident that occurred in the library last Wednesday was a very uncomfortable and unfortunate situation. This is not the environment we envision for our students or faculty at Windy-City University. We are here to have an open forum to enlighten one another on these issues so that this never happens again. Not only for the betterment of the University, but also that I never have to actually interact with any of you ever again. Once this is all over, I will go back to ignoring your e-mails and complaints.”

Introducing JMB, Welcome to Freehop

Issue04 3-2-2010

Issue04

Music

I'm New Here

Television

Spotlight on Parks and Recreation

Sports

Tiger's Wood Problem

Movies

Up Next

Politics

Decoding Robertson

Keeping Politicians in Line

Lifestyle

Allen in South Africa: And Now for the Moment You've All Been Waiting For

Fiction/Poetry

Numb by Alex DeTogne

Issue04 Music: Introducing JMB, Welcome to Freehop

Issue 04

2010-03-03

A Growing Space without Boundaries

This is a time when hip hop as a music and art form is separated from the industry. The things the industry dictates for supposed fame are in opposition with the culture of music creation in general, but especially as it relates to hip hop. And yet every now and then there's a break through--an artist, a group that breaks this opposition with undeniable talent. That group is Just My Brother (JMB).

Rooted in hip hop and soul, and influenced by Nina Simone, Pharoahe Monch, Red Man, and Bob Marley (to name a few), there isn't a specific genre for the music that Yaw (singer, poet, and MC) and Phenom (MC and poet) of JMB make. Beyond the lack of some industry constructed genre, one of the the things that stands out in their music is the balance in the sound structure between rap and singing. The singing is not just for the chorus and the rap is not the only main focus to tracks.

"A great actor once told me," Yaw explained in a recent interview, "that the script will save your ass. And it's like that with JMB, the music is the script." Phenom added, "We don't sit down and say 'okay we'll put some rap here and then you sing there,' we feel the music and let it come out," . In following that script the balance also operates in that JMB can work as complex or as simply as they choose--from a full band, down to just drums and further down to just the two of them. "Phenom kind of coined the term free hop," meaning that even with these strong roots the music can go anywhere. It can be intertwined with jazz elements on one track, or rock and roll on another allowing the group to be versatile in the audience that they serve and unbridled in the projects they create.

Issue04 Music: I'm New Here

2010-03-02

Reborn in Blues and Poetry

Okay, I'll admit it. I didn't know Gil Scott-Heron was still alive. With all of the talk about the drugs he was using and being checked into rehabilitation centers I got complacent with his absence. But there are no words to describe the excitement to find that not only is he still alive but he's still recording.

I'm New Here is ironically titled given that Scott-Heron has been around for awhile and was so integral to the movement and development of poetry and spoken word. However after a lifetime journey like his it makes sense to call this a new world than the one he was familiar with. It is a sentiment we often hear from people around his age--that things are different and that one must relearn the ropes. The album is about many different kinds of transformations and acclamations to this new day. There is the musical transition to become modern, a transition in his lifestyle from going in one direction to another, and the transition into the new culture of this time in this world.

"no matter how far wrong you've gone, you can always turn around...turn around turn around turn around. you may come full circle and be new here again ." -I'm New Here

Issue04 Television: Spotlight on Parks and Recreation

2010-03-02

The show you should start watching again...

Truth time: I do not have a television or cable. Its a sad existence.

Thank baby Jesus for greatstufftv.com. As you can imagine, I watch a lot of basic cable. Of course I love popular shows like Law & Order SVU, Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice but, there are a few other less popular shows that I never want to miss. For the next few weeks, I would like to highlight some of these shows--the best television shows basic cable has to offer. First up: Parks and Recreation!

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Issue04 Movies: Up Next

2010-03-02

Why Did I Get Married, Too?

Many of you may have read the piece that I wrote about Tyler Perry a few months ago. I was brutal and unforgiving in my commentary. Not much has changed. I still think we should hold Tyler Perry more accountable for his work and the way in which he portrays black people. However, with that being said, I will be one of the first people in line to see Why Did I Get Married, Too? when it hits theaters April 2nd.

Issue04 Lifestyle: Allen in South Africa, The Moment You've Been Waiting For

2010-03-02

An amazing series of events in the city of gold! We visited YFM, a very awesome radio station geared towards a younger population and playing all of the nice hip-hop/rap. The cool thing about YFM is that 50% of their music is local, South African music - the highest percentage among all radio stations. It is clear, however, that American music clearly dominates the radio waves. The interesting thing here is house music is amazingly popular here and also dominates the South African music scene. DJs explained that house music carried over from the United States but became South Africanized by slowing it down to really feel the beats and sounds. During lunch, rush hour, and clubbing, house music can be heard as loud as Jay-Z, who is also very popular here. After an exciting visit to the radio station, we “enjoyed” a play called “Foreplay,” an extensive commentary about sex, politics, and gender. We were warned that the play would be somewhat controversial and may contain some nudity - let it be noted that you must be 16 years or older to watch the play and most of the audience was young, black boys.

Issue04 Politics: Decoding Robertson

2010-03-02

The Media:

After the earthquake in Haiti, Pat Robertson received a lot of backlash and negative press surrounding his comments on his view of why the earthquake happened in Haiti. "Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it," Robertson said. "They were under the heel of the French ... and they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, 'We will serve you if you'll get us free from the French.'" Robertson continued to say that this is the reason that Haiti has suffered for over the past 200 years.

The media responded to this with by questions how could he say and believe such a thing? The media called him out on his words, but did they really?

Events: Gospel Explosion

You dont have to be religious, christian or Black to like gospel music. Gospel is a Black American vernacular based mostly on the call and response aspects of music that is traditionally done in many different African cultures. If you appreciate history or music then gospel could be for you. In honor of these things and Black History Month, the University of Chicago's Organization of Black Students is having an gospel celebration event. Check it out and don't knock it until you try it. Even if the content isn't for you, if you like strong voices and pretty arrangements it could still work out.

The concert will feature local church choirs, high schools, and university choirs. This is an opportunity to not only appreciate a music that through its base in churches has had a major effect on communities and movements in this country (i.e. the social gospel of Martin Luther King) but to also connect with other universities and the surrounding community. It should be a cool event. I-House is a nice spot, so you pair that with good music and it sounds like a good evening.

Check it out, and throw your hands in the air, like you just don't care.