Category Archive: Music

Pusha T – My Name is My Name Album Review

By Matthew Bu

Was I the only one who tried scanning the bar code?
Was I the only one who tried scanning the bar code?

Has there ever been any hesitation that Pusha T is a standout rapper? As one half of the acclaimed rap duo Clipse, Pusha T has always been putting out solid albums for over a decade. Recently, though, he has been exploring past the boundaries of Clipse and in 2010, he signed to Kanye West’s label, GOOD Music. Ever since, he has made countless features and has been the highlight of many tracks such as Runaway, Mercy, and New God Flow. So, how does Pusha T’s major label debut fare?

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Concert Review – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

 

Frat Life.
Frat Life.

By Andrew Burton

Nick Cave’s 40-year career trajectory is a textbook example of a rock star aging gracefully. Instead of resting on his laurels or continuing to make some rehashed version of Prayers on Fire ad infinitum, Cave and his group The Bad Seeds have undergone consistent evolution over the course of their fifteen studio albums. Beginning as a menacing gothic post-punk outfit, they eventually morphed into an equally menacing blues (not blooze) rock band, then into a piano/choral/gospel inspired art rock band, then back to a skuzzy (albeit self-aware) punk band. Now they sound like Prince. Deal with it. Cave’s far too smart to dig himself into the hole of an ex-punk forty-something that still screams “RELEASE THE BATS” like it’s 1982 (not unlike the strategy many of his peers have adopted).

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Kill Yr Idols: Is Hip Hop in its Second Golden Age?

I mean, the guy should change his name to “Golden Age”.

By Andrew Burton

Even a broken clock is right twice a day, and when popular YouTube music video channel VEVO decided to interview Drake, his number was called. Whether he meant it or not (he didn’t), Drake managed to say something true about hip hop that I have been feeling for some time. When asked what he thinks the difference between Old School and New School MC’s is, he replied that “wordy, fast rap is not that appealing right now”, and that “the rapper now a days has to come with something more than just “I can rap””. Drake’s first point isn’t anything new; “wordy, fast rap” hasn’t been in the vogue in hip hop since Biggie died (if not earlier), but his second point actually got me thinking.

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Young Writer’s Conference Recap

Filmmaker Charles Officer

By Jake Taber

A couple weekends ago, three TBAW editors, including myself, attended Young Voices’ annual ‘young writers’ conference up at the York Mills Public Library, a day of writing workshops led by professionals from various corners of the business. While I was ditched after the morning session, and though my writing skill suffered some not-insignificant shame at the hands of a few uncannily eloquent 11-year-olds, I got quite a bit out of my time there.  Successful authors, filmmakers, and artists were open to questions about technique or getting noticed and published, and it was interesting to see just how many tracks one can take to a full-time career in the arts. There was also an open mic; not as enjoyable, in my personal opinion, and a little extraneous. We writers are already quite aware of the uniqueness of our inner snowflakes, and showing everyone’s off wasn’t really necessary.

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