Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Beat.
Best American Hip Hop Artists
Hip hop is more than music. It’s a passion, an urban movement meant to inspire individuals to broadcast their unique talents. Since conception, society has birthed many hip hop artists who have taken the genre to new heights. Here are some of the greatest.
By Will Vasquez9 years ago in Beat
The Most Fantasy-Friendly Music Genres Out There
If you're like me, you love listening to music that adds dimension to the book you're reading. Fantasy novels, for some reason, seem to get way more mood and dimension if you're listening to the right music. That being said, getting the right soundtrack often boils down to genre.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart9 years ago in Beat
Remembering Donna Summer
I find it hard to believe the five-year anniversary of Donna Summer's passing is already upon us. Ever since she shockingly succumbed to cancer in 2012, I've honored her memory often by revisiting her incredible body of work. I’ve tried to celebrate her spirit by listening to her music and keeping her memory alive, especially on the anniversary of her death.
By Eric Allen9 years ago in Beat
Where Have All the CDs Gone?
Enter any record store (yes, they are still called that) these days and you’ll have the impression that the CD stalls are dwindling, hit by reserving vinyl on one, and DVDs on the other. Or, try taking a stack of CDs that are collecting dust on your home shelves to a secondhand store. Chances are that when the owner sees that you are bringing CDs, he won’t even let you through the door, let alone give you anything that will even resemble a decent price for them. Who would have thought that as we were entering the 21st century CDs were practically everywhere, still hailed as the best ever advancement in sound reproduction? These days, mirroring the dooming fate of vinyl LPs in mid-80s, it seems people are just leaving entire CD collections by the dumpster, hoping that somebody will be merciful and at least save the music recorded in those laser tracks. The official data is no less damning. According to LA Weekly, in the period from 2001 to 2014, only in the US the sales of CDs dropped by 80% and LP sales are up a staggering 800% since 2004. What did the hell happen?
By Ljubinko Zivkovic9 years ago in Beat
Things You Didn't Know About Being a Rock Star
If you listen to any major interview with a band, they'll be very upfront to say that there are things you didn't know about being a rock star. They may allude to groupies, or to the fact that there's a lot of stress in the job - and yes, those are things most people are aware of when they think about the lifestyle that comes with being a band member.
By Skunk Uzeki9 years ago in Beat
Barbara Creed to Bikini Kill: The Poetry of Blood, Sweat, and the Abject in Punk Rock
Originally posted in School of Doodle. “All human societies have a conception of the monstrous-feminine, or what it is about woman that is shocking, terrifying, horrific, abject.” — Barbara Creed in The Monstrous Feminine
By Kendra Brea Cooper9 years ago in Beat
Most Overrated Electronica Concert Venues, According to an Expert
Electronica concert venues tend to be a bit different than most other venues out there. Unlike rock venues, electronica venues don't usually have seating and often basically require wide, open spaces. They also tend to have a lot more mess associated with them, more lenient security staff, and way younger crowds.
By Skunk Uzeki9 years ago in Beat
Harry Styles: Harry Styles
What do you do in your spare time while on hiatus from one of the world’s biggest-selling and most successful boy bands? When you’re Harry Styles you use that time wisely by dropping a debut album so commanding that it makes you an instant rock star. If you disregard preconceived notions concerning boy bands, as well as stop trying to decipher if lyrical subtexts may or may not allude to Taylor Swift, you will hear the emerging talent of an undeniably credible solo artist.
By Eric Allen9 years ago in Beat
Why We Need Watch The Throne 2?
Fans of Kanye West and Jay Z have been waiting patiently for the release of Watch the Throne 2. The album was released in 2011, and critically acclaimed by many magazine publications and music lovers. Many producers who have worked on the project have hinted that it had been in production some years back.
By Allante Akins9 years ago in Beat
A Requiem for Coldplay
Over the past few months, I’ve been exploring old music that I used to listen to, poring over old artists and albums that I found in years past. I firmly believe that the music one listens to in high school is deeply impactful, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget some of the bands that adorned my first iPod so many years ago.
By Thomas Jenkins9 years ago in Beat
Coolest Metal Album Covers
For many of us growing up in the 80s and 90s with parents concerned about all the rap and metal music in the world, the most we learned of the metal scene as a kid was through the coolest metal album covers sitting in the record store. We would see these incredible images of demons and violence and darkness – or, alternatively, of bare-chested heroes holding swords and guitars aloft – or even just the band looking twisted and weird – and just create narratives in our heads as to what the music could be like, what forbidden wonders lied within those CD cases or vinyl sleeves.
By Anthony Gramuglia9 years ago in Beat
