Henrys’ Culture Corner Issue #1
Henry Reyes, ‘20 & Henry Fields, ‘20
October 2019
Hello good people of Bard. Welcome to Henrys’ culture corner issue #1, where the only issue at hand is handing out straight vibes. Just so you know what you’re getting into we are two seasoned veterans of the music game. Both of us are graduates of Dr. Despommier’s music theory AND chorus courses. It would be correct for one to say that we KNOW music. We won’t be taking any tips from Billboard Top 100, Spotify fixed playlists or anything like that. This is a music review for the true music fan… Enjoy.
Mac Miller- Nothing from Nothing
This song, one of the last known recordings before Mac’s tragic death is sung in the style of Billy Preston’s song of the same name. Mac puts a somber twist on the traditionally upbeat anthem, exemplifying his vocal range as well as his ability to put true emotion into his music, something that most “song-writers” of today just can’t do. The song is almost painful in ways, allowing the listener to go through the motions with Mac as he sings. This track really speaks to the maturity of Miller’s discography over the years. We no longer see “Easy Mac” rapping about the ups and downs of high school life but rather the full-grown Mac Miller, discussing issues in his love life and his own journey. In short, this rendition of “Nothing from Nothing” slaps.
Vibo-meter:5/5
Jay Rock - The Other Side (feat. Mozzy & DCMBR)
Probably the single most underrated and underappreciated rapper on Anthony Tiffith’s Top Dawg Entertainment is Johnny Reed Mckinzie Jr. (what a name) better known as Jay Rock. As a Watts, California native Jay Rock enlists Mozzy and DCMBR, two other extremely talented yet under-celebrated artists on this track about street-life in L.A. The beat goes stupid… the hook has an IQ of below zero (also goes stupid)... and the smooth lyricism of Jay Rock and Mozzy is incredibly intelligent and well-spoken. The balance between the gritty subject matter and the melodic beat is refreshing in the contemporary scene of rap today. Instead of name dropping as many designers in under 2 minutes as most of his contemporaries do, Jay Rock chooses to talk about his life experience hustling and grinding. A true masterpiece.
Vibo-meter:5/5
Tony Johns Based Freestyle by Big Baby Scumbag
Tony Johns Based Freestyle is the greatest ode to a city and man ever written. ”Tony Johns Based Freestyle” is one of the more popular songs by Florida rapper Big Baby Scumbag. In the song, Big Baby Scumbag pays homage to Salt Lake City and, specifically, one man named Tony Johns. Tony Johns is infamous in Snapchat for calling himself a “ladies man” and for saying his catchphrase “we up outta here.” In the song, Big Baby Scumbag talks about how he idolizes Tony Johns and describes how he lives his life similar to Tony Johns. The lyrical quality of this song is in a word: immaculate. He spends most of the song repeating the phrase “Left Wrist Tony. Right Wrist Tony;” an incredibly sophisticated and nuanced line epitomizing the plight of the modern American small town millennial. Despite not even living in Utah, he expresses an idealized lifestyle that he believes can be achieved, even in a town that many perceived as “boring.”
Vibo-meter:6/5
216.mp3 FULL VERSION (Worst Beat Ever Made) prod. @BBasedTJ
216.mp3 proclaimed as the “Worst Beat Ever Made” is pretty bad. It is incredibly incoherent and no instrument used in the song is at all pleasing. However, as I listen to it, I find myself wanting to listen to it more and more. It is currently sitting at 1.4 million views on youtube and I am now on my 4th or 5th listen. The thing about this beat is that it actually might be so bad that it’s good. There’s something amazing about this beat, I just can’t put my finger on it. Yeah, I changed my mind, this is good.
Vibo-meter: 5/5