A history of Wu-Tang Clan’s kung fu samples

Do you like the Wu-Tang Clan? Of course you do; It is impossible not to. Assuming that whoever might read this is indeed an avid fan of the RZA, the GZA, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Raekwon the Chef, the Masta Killa and all their assorted affiliates, I bring good tidings.

HBO makes another hit with Big Little Lies

It isn’t often that adaptations of “chick-lit” are viewed as meriting the kind of immense resources, star-power and attention that has been given to HBO’s latest mini-series, Big Little Lies (adapted from the Liane Moriarty novel of the same name).

Gotham plays with Batman origin story

A prequel to the traditional Batman saga, Gotham is one the most unique and compelling superhero shows on television. Currently in its third season on Fox, the show opens with the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne, witnessed by their 12-year-old son Bruce (David Mazouz), who will grow to become Batman, and 14-year-old street kid Selina Kyle (Camren Bicondova), who will grow to become Catwoman.

Future releases two new albums in two weeks

Future has officially changed the rap game. He managed consistently to release multiple albums and mixtapes a year, and he’s upped that benchmark by releasing two solid albums in the span of two weeks.

Arts Writers Playlist

1. “Make Love” by Nicki Minaj feat. Gucci Mane (Jacob Took)

Dirty Projectors experiments with new album

Dirty Projectors are an indie rock band headed by singer-songwriter David Longstreth. In the group’s latest, self-titled project, Longstreth explores his recent heartbreak with former bandmate Amber Coffman. Longstreth takes the listener on a textured, winding, emotional journey across the reaction to heartbreak and the acceptance of love lost.

Get Out uses race to make great horror film

The opening scene of Get Out is maybe its most poignant. LaKeith Stanfield (known for his breakout roles in Atlanta and Short Term 12) walks down the street and faces a typical horror movie scenario. For years the thought of “black horror movie” is synonymous with the Wayans brothers Scary Movie series and Stanfield emulates that series’ “black guy in a horror situation” commentary that made that series so famous.

WJHU hosts two artists at LaB live show

The Women’s March’s problematic vagina rhetoric

There is no doubt that the Women’s March was an incredible moment that has already been immortalized as the largest single-day protest in United States history. It was incredibly empowering to see such a diverse range of people come together to make their voices heard.

One Day at a Time is a strong Netflix original

With everything that is coming to Netflix this season, it is easy to get lost among all the new films and TV series that seem to appear each day. For a regular viewer, it can be hard to decide what to watch (or binge watch) among the many highly-publicized and critically-acclaimed TV series that Netflix has to offer.

Charting the legacy of Janet Jackson’s nipple

Nicki Minaj clashes with artist Remy Ma

As a vegetarian, beef is something I try to consume as little of as possible. And yet, when the Queen of Rap, Nicki Minaj, finds her title contested, beef can be difficult to avoid.

2017 Oscars has its fill of gaffes and errors

How to possibly recap what will likely go down in history as one of the weirdest Oscar ceremonies of all time? From the Best Picture mix-up when La La Land was accidentally read instead of the actual winner, Moonlight, to Jimmy Kimmel pranking a bunch of everyday people on a Hollywood tour (or were they actors?), to candy falling from the sky, to a producer who’s still alive being featured in the In Memoriam segment, it was a wildly entertaining if dysfunctional evening. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s take a few steps back and start with the red carpet.

Poet Tyler Gregson discusses Typewriter Series

Poet and photographer Tyler Knott Gregson is best known for his Typewriter Series, which began in 2012 when he stumbled upon an old typewriter at an antique shop and was inspired to type out a poem with it. Since then, Gregson has posted one typewritten poem each day, with the recent addition of one haiku on love per day, gradually gaining a significant social media following in the process.

Oscar shorts spotlight varied animation styles

Comedian McQueen discusses personal trials

If you’ve seen Black Mirror, imagine the improvisational skill of the comedian who powers the animated blue bear Waldo in real time. Now add that to the most strangely absurd and yet hilarious comedy imaginable.

Temps d’Afrique wows in local competition

On Saturday, Feb. 18, Temps d’Afrique (TDA), the only African dance team at Hopkins, placed third in the annual Unity African Dance competition sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Established in 2005, Temps d’Afrique is dedicated to showcasing the diverse artistic styles within the continent of Africa as well as the African diaspora.

Lindsay Lohan vs. Hilary Duff: A Retrospective

One (anti-)romantic guide to the arts

Valentine’s Day is a holiday that can cause wildly varying emotions. To some, it is a celebration of love. It is a sacred day filled with warm, sweet emotions that swell and bubble inside. To others, it is a terrible reminder of their inability to find the right partner. In going through the day, I was inspired to write out some choices of entertainment that can help on both ends of the spectrum.