Devil's Advocate (Volume 40, Number 3, March 2024)

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE

hT eMusicIss eu

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE

Adviser: Larry Knight

Editor-in-Chief: Zoey Larson

Managing Editor: AnaSofa Girardot

Business Manager: Anusha Anna

Photography Editor: Spurthi Nrusimhadevara

Digital Media Editor: Sarah Bernardo

Assoc. Digital Media Editor: Katya Sniriova

Art Director: Hawi Said

Marketing Assistant: Jade Bateman

Videographers: Rishi Mudiganti, Arvind Mukund

Podcast Producer: Rowan Kershner

Section Editor (Features): Grace Larson

Section Editor (Arts & Ent.): Amani Okero

Section Editor (Opinions): Shravya Nalla

Section Editor (Sports): Cliona Joy Piligan

Staff Writers: Mena Alchi, Lindsay Johnson, Ariyani Thompkins, Erica Truong, Katie Wong, Emily Zickuhr

Staff Photographer: Garrett Lawrence

Staff Artist: Amina Umar

Contributing Advocates

The Devil’s Advocate is searching for contributing writers, photographers, artists, and flmmakers. Visit our Instagram @scpnewspaper or contact Editor-in-Chief Zoey Larson at zoeylarson16@gmail.com to complete an application for the chance to be featured on our website or in a print issue.

Ads and Sponsorships

The Devil’s Advocate is dependent on our advertisers and our sponsors. When you purchase an ad with us, it reaches a diverse student population that can help your business. We can also design your ads. Our prices are: $45 (1/4 page), $70 (1/2 page), $125 (full page), $150 (back page). For an additional small fee, we can advertise your business digitally. Contact Business Manager Anusha Anna at anushaanna06@gmail.com or Adviser Mr. Larry Knight at knightl1@duvalschools.org.

12

Music can provide students with a unique emotional connection.

Student Life

4

904 CONCERT SCENE

Experience the electrifying energy of Jacksonville’s live music scene through a vibrant show at Kona Skatepark.

Arts and Entertainment

6

SURVIVING 204

Art by Amina Umar

Rookie’s journey continues as she fnds out what it really means to be a staff writer.

8

Twitter: @scpnewspaper

Instagram: @scpnewspaper

YouTube: Devil’s Advocate Newspaper

Facebook: Stanton Devil’s Advocate

Spotify: @scpnewspaper

IS LANGUAGE A BARRIER?

By Emily Zickuhr

Different languages being used in music pose no barrier to listening, with Korean, Latin, and French music gaining popularity.

HARMONIZING CONNECTIONS

By Katie Wong

10 Stanton students like Annabel Kaye share their music on social media to engage with the audience and broaden their horizons.

Features

12

THE POWER OF MUSIC

Music’s ever-present nature allows people to feel attached to songs and form connections with others.

Sports

17

SCP FIGHT SONG

Erica Truong

The Stanton Fight Song continues to empower student athletes and foster school spirit.

Opinions

21

MUSICAL GATEKEEPING

The Editorial Board explores the subtle but pervasive trend of music elitism at Stanton, delving into the challenges it poses to the inclusive and universal nature of music as an art form.

22

SAMPLING WITH A CONSCIENCE

Vocal musicians are starting to raise concerns about whether their music is being sampled by other artists without their consent.

ALBUM REVIEW: “BUSINESS IS BUSINESS” BY YOUNG THUG

By Ramkumar Sridhar

Young Thug’s album, “Business in Business,” is a very experimental album but is quite inconsistent.

photo by Garrett Lawrence

Sidebar by Ariyani Thompkins

904 Concert Scene

By SPURTHI NRUSIMHADEVARA, Photography Editor

Experience the electrifying energy of Jacksonville’s live music scene through a vibrant show at Kona Skatepark.

bassist of better place do

big city, bigger sound

By Ariyani Thompkins, Staffwriter

From lively bars packed with crowd-arousing instrumentals to streets flled with the luring sounds of jazz, Jacksonville venues, such as Underbelly, Jack Rabbits. Kona Skate Park, and the 1904 Music Hall provide a platform for lesser-known musicians to showcase their talent. The Jacksonville music scene inspires curiosity and satiates it through the wonderful palate of musical genres at its disposal.

Hesitancy is expected when seeking new music; deviating from the comfort of a personally curated musical taste to approach the unfamiliar can be challenging. Taking that step can introduce listeners to an untapped world of experiences only available in Jacksonville, with unmatched energy and an atmosphere that compels attention.

Not all bands are Jacksonville based, but they echo the same indie rock feel that entices the crowd. Jacksonville venues give a space for niche bands to thrive off the attention of an intimate audience.

“Despite a smaller crowd, everyone acted cool with one another,” said senior Jack Mullin after attending a show at Daily’s Place featuring alternative band Mom Jeans. “The smaller crowd and good vibes in Jacksonville allowed everyone to just enjoy the music and bond over liking the band.”

From Yellow Card to Limp Bizkit, many bands have risen from the Jacksonville music scene. In 2007, the local group Black Kids received notable recognition after a breakout performance at the Athens Popfest with the song, “I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You.” Featuring a funky beat and an electric guitar sound, the song characterizes much of Jacksonville’s indie music culture. Faze Wave, another local band that started in 2014, encompasses the Jacksonville sound with music based on a love for surfng, skating, and warm, heart-wrenching summer romances.

Jacksonville’s live music scene is one of a kind, it has been curated towards listeners who admire the familiarity and diversity of the sound

fan of zalongo headbanging

Lead singer of Zalong

Drummer from Better place

Is Languagea Barrier?

Different languages being in music pose no barrier while listening, with Korean, French, and Latin music gaining popularity.

By EMILY ZICKHUR, StaffWriter

Designs by SPURTHI NRUSIHADEVARA,

PhotographyEditor

언 어 가 장 벽인?

훌쩍 커버렸어

함께한 기억처럼

널 보는 내 마음은

어느새 여름 지나 가을

My feelings for you

Like the memories we share Have grown so big Summer’s already gone and it’s autumn

Ditto- NewJeans

Listening to or creating music not only captures the ears of one audience, but it engages a vast variety of audiences globally. A simple drumming sound could be played by an anxious student bored in class, a famous professional drummer from Africa, or anyone worldwide. No matter the language someone speaks, lyrics and sounds can connect to all cultures. Even in one’s non-speaking languages, music can still attract viewers through a beat, a melody, or a feeling.

Students at Stanton College Preparatory School especially experience this, with activities like the Multicultural Club highlighting diferent cultural groups by showcasing songs of the culture’s native language. Beyond Stanton’s walls, students, and people all over the world gain exposure to diverse languages through songs.

Es el idioma

한국음악 / Korean Music

A growing song culture can be seen in the rise of Korean pop music, known as K-pop, in the United States. The catchy hooks, rhythms, beats, and choreographed dance routines draw audiences from various places. The continued global popularity of this genre can be attributed to the intimacy and community within the K-pop fan base. Upbeat sounds and lyrics that hold strong messages like feminism and social awareness also attract fans to Korean music styles and artists. The most popular K-pop artists are, however, not as well-known as Korean girl and boy groups that audiences can get to know through panels, conventions, interviews, and social media content.

Popular South Korean girl group NewJeans follows this trend by not only capturing global audiences but also breaking barriers on the music charts. Being featured alongside popular American artists like Taylor Swift and The Weeknd on top of the streaming charts, people across the United States are expanding into the K-pop culture.

“K-pop is defnitely inspiring, given that people like to copy their choreographies and replicate it in some ways,” said freshman Euan Pascual.

While also expanding their audiences, NewJeans uses their English and Korean lyrics to explore a new way to bring upbeat sounds and beats to an often-uncertain feeling of love like in their song, “Super Shy” about a girl longing for a relationship. Despite the lyrics being a mix of English and Korean, global audiences can relate to the song’s message, capturing and engaging popular crowds.

“Ever since they [NewJeans] have been becoming popular, more and more people are listening to K-pop even though they don’t understand [Korean],” said senior Samah Popal.

Musica Latina / Latin Music

Along with inspiring K-pop groups capturing new fans, Latin music is also on the rise, which encultures a complex history of thousands of genres and languages in Latin America. The upsurge in its streaming numbers and social media popularity is due to mainstream artists dominating North American listeners with micro genres of Latin music like Reggaeton.

Modern Latin Urban artists like Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, known professionally as Bad Bunny, have found success among American and international audiences without needing to translate Spanish lyrics. This has gained traction in the past with artists like Shakira and Ricky Martin producing English-language albums, as opposed to previous Spanish albums. In stark contrast to this past trend, many Latin music artists now are unwilling to sing in English.

For example, Bad Bunny fosters his public image and popularity by singing and addressing political messages of his home Puerto Rico, while still attracting fans with humor and a comical persona. This allows audiences to build inspiration from lyrics they may not fully understand and create new emotional ties to beats and rhythms.

“[Bad Bunny] has good beat[s], and you can dance really nicely to it, and you can get groovy with it,” said sophomore Emmy Brannock. “The words you can just make up in your mouth and just say gibberish and it will sound good.”

una barrera?

musique française / French Music

Beyond knowing the meaning behind each lyric, the associations with French music and lyrics have also fostered streaming growth among global audiences. Among the leading music styles of Spanish and Korean music increasing in listeners, French music is seen among the two in high ranks. While its growth has not been as extreme as Latin music, French music has been on the rise in recent years due to streaming platforms, cross-cultural collaborations, music festivals, and award shows highlighting local French artists. In the U.S. market, French songs highlight the charts occasionally, usually in electronic and pop genres.

Along with French styles, rap is also highly popular with many French and American rappers attracting listeners. Belgian-Rwandan rap artist Paul Van Haver, known as Stromae, has captured a wide audience across Western European countries and even in the United States. Stromae was one of the most popular Francophone artists in Europe during the 2000s, where his song “Alors on danse” became the number one listened to song in Europe. Although he would take a break in 2015, he recently broke his hiatus with new album “Multitude” in 2022.

“France encompasses a lot of types of music and it’s not just The Hexagon (the name to describe French territory), France in Europe, it is also the island in the Réunion and the Caribbean, so you have diferent sounds of French music,” said Mrs. Griner, Stanton’s French and Spanish teacher. “So, it is very wide when we listen to French music, we have tones of diferent types of cultural backgrounds.”

While one’s non-speaking language poses certain barriers to understanding certain music styles and songs, music ultimately spreads into global audiences’ ears. Through the modern sounds today, newfound appreciation of other forms of music from diferent cultures is spreading all over the world. Music is evolving more and more into a diverse feld with less restrictive boundaries.

Bad Bunny, Shakira, and Ricky Martin have changed the scene for Latin music as a whole with their energetic beats while discussing topics from love to poltical issues.

French rapper Stromae is an example of how music resonates with his listeners through his francophone background.

HARMONIZING CONNECTIONS HARMONIZING CONNECTIONS

By KATIE WONG, Staf Writer

In today’s digital society, musicians leverage the immediacy of social media to share their art and seamlessly connect with their fans. Students at Stanton College Preparatory School utilize social media platforms as a tool to expand their horizons and pursue their musical ambitions.

One Stanton musician who exemplifes this trend is sophomore Annabel Kaye. Using her voice, ukulele, and guitar, she shares snippets of song covers on Instagram.

“I think I started posting maybe one or two years ago,” said Kaye. “I started doing it in middle school and I just got more into it over the years. I primarily share pop covers just because my favorite artists are in it.”

Kaye covers a variety of artists ranging from Taylor Swift and Lana Del Ray to Noah Kahan and to Christian artists.

“I used to share a bit on YouTube, but my main platform is Instagram,” said Kaye, who has over a thousand followers on Instagram.

“I see benefts in sharing on social media because you can also connect with other musicians on the platforms, and maybe you can discover new songs or styles.”

Social media acts as a virtual stage where artists like Kaye can showcase their own talents and engage with a global village of musicians. As a promotional tool, social media can be a space for musicians to build communities around their craft. Facebook Groups, Discord servers, and other niche social media platforms provide dedicated spaces for fans to connect, discuss favorite tracks, and even organize fan events.

By actively participating in these communities, musicians break down barriers between performers and fans, fostering a sense of belonging that goes beyond the music itself. This relationship enhances the overall fan experience and ensures a more loyal and invested audience. With afecting the audience and musician, social media has greatly transformed the music industry as a whole.

“I think social media has impacted the music industry because more artists who might have not been known before [can] share their music and go viral,” said Kaye.“It basically helps people with their music careers.”

Musicians can share live updates and snippets of upcoming music to both showcase their many talents they possess, as well as

crafting a narrative to present the story behind their music. Additionally, the consumption of millions of TikTok videos, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts have created overnight sensations out of aspiring musicians. In 2019, Montero Lamar Hill, known professionally as Lil Nas X, took of after his breakthrough song “Old Town Road’’ went viral on TikTok through the #YeeHaw Challenge. Similarly, pop artist Tate McRae ascended to fame after “You Broke Me First” landed on the Billboard Hot 100.

As such, many new songs are catered towards a TikTok audience, contributing to the rise of young musicians. Kaye, however, does not see herself going down the route

of social media stardom. For her, music is more of a hobby.

“I’d rather do something in biology, but I really like music,” said Kaye. Her perspective refects the diverse motivations driving musicians in the digital age.

Essentially, the integration of social media into the music industry has transformed the way musicians and fans interact. Beyond promotion, it has become a means of creating a shared narrative, building communities, and fostering a sense of intimacy that transcends physical boundaries. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, musicians will undoubtedly fnd innovative ways to harmonize connections with their audience.

photo by Matthew Climaco

Stanton students like Annabel Kaye share their music on social media to engage with the audience and broaden their horizons.

Annabel Kay puts her own spin on “Last Christmas” by WHAM! in her 2023 Winterfest Performance.

Todd Norton LP, CP President Bremer

P Music wer

When Alec Kenney was 12 years old, he was set to perform an AC/DC song with his younger brother Andrew in a recital at the Jacksonville School of Music. This was their frst time performing together and they rehearsed continuously to perfect it. Onstage, Alec and Andrew were racked with nerves, but once they started playing, they became more comfortable. According to Alec, they put on a terrifc show and felt accomplished as they heard the roar of the crowd.

Currently a junior at Stanton College Preparatory School, Kenney grew up surrounded by music, so learning an instrument felt natural to him. Eventually, he continued down the path of playing music and now creates his own songs, mostly in the folk and metal genres. For Kenney, music is therapeutic and allows him to express his emotions without words.

“My parents are both into music, they play music all the time. They played music for me even before I was born,” said Kenney. “I think it is just something that has always stuck with me, so I decided to learn how to play instruments.”

Kenney’s love for music is not uncommon as music is a factor in everyone’s life, whether it be a specifcally curated playlist or the song coming from the speakers at the shopping mall. Far more than just a catchy tune, music can convey messages that refect different cultures and unite people. This storytelling effect is seen on a small and large scale, affecting individuals and large groups of people. To many students at Stanton, the signifcance of music can be felt whenever they listen to songs in their daily lives.

Whether it is used for studying, relaxing, or exercising, music is integral in the daily routines of Stanton’s students. The type of music listened to differs from person to person, but various songs can provide motivation during myriad activities. Music is a form of entertainment for many, so listening to playlists while doing everyday tasks

THE EVOLUTiON OF MUSiC FORMATS

can lift their spirits and fuel their productivity. Senior Nandini Yalavarthi chooses her study music based on what she currently enjoys.

“I do not have special music for studying or coming to school, just whatever song or album I am in love with at the moment,” said Yalavarthi. “Usually, I listen to the same song on repeat because it helps me focus more.”

These songs are picked based on a variety of factors, because different people look for different qualities in the music they listen to. One of these factors is their culture, including the religious and social norms of different countries. This cultural infuence can affect an individual’s opinions on specifc songs and genres, shaping what they listen to. Born in Pakistan, senior Umaiza Toor attributes her taste in music to her Pakistani culture.

“[In] Pakistan, they really put emphasis on wedding songs, love songs and sometimes religious songs,” said Toor. “They do not like rapping, hip-hop or R&B, so they sort of force me to only listen to those type[s] of songs.”

As religion represents one facet of a person’s culture, it can also have a major infuence on the type of music they listen to. In many religions, songs that celebrate its ideals and promote core beliefs play a central role. As a Christian, freshman Samuel Joseph listens to Christian-themed music to further connect with his faith.

“Most of the stuff I listen to is worship music, because the most important thing to me is interacting with God and experiencing His presence,” said Joseph. “If I am doing my homework for example, and feeling super discouraged, just turning it on and knowing He is there for me even in the roughest moment of my life is super encouraging.”

Culture, including religion, is one of many elements infuencing people’s music choices, thereby establishing connections. As songwriters often write about common experiences and feelings, the result is that their songs become more

infographic by Grace Larson

relatable. Eventually, listeners feel represented by these songs and form a close connection with them. When making a playlist, they use relatable songs to help build a personal narrative and choose songs that highlight their feelings. Sophomore Xavier Brunner’s main playlist includes a variety of songs refecting his choice of friends.

“My playlist is 20 hours of different genres,” said Brunner. “I hang out with a bunch of different cliques and different people, so [the playlist] represents who I hang out with.”

The diversity of Brunner’s playlist is similar to the diversity of music genres and the variety of themes and feelings which may also resonate with listeners. However, the association of specifc emotions with genres can create stereotypes. When people think of a specifc genre, there are usually preconceived notions they associate with its listeners. There may be an image that comes to mind when one thinks of a fan of pop, rock, R&B or rap music. This is because over time, people have seen a pattern of similar individuals listening to certain genres.

While these stereotypes may ft for some, not all people are defned by their music taste. People can listen to a variety of music, and do not necessarily ft society’s stereotypes, according to junior David Nyampong.

“You can listen to [something] but be the complete opposite of that [stereotype],” said Nyampong. “[For example,] you can be shy and timid [but] like heavy metal, or you can like soft music [and] be really burly and strong.”

Every music genre has the potential to be used as a form of self-expression, and some Stanton students create music to do this. Kenney uses various instruments, a music software called Reaper and a sound pad to create songs. He uses this equipment to build the track, starting with a guitar melody and adding on from there. This technology is a vehicle for him to express his feelings through music.

“I usually start [a song] by just playing around on the guitar, [until I] fnd something that I think is

cool,” said Kenney. “Then I can expand on it from there, think about how [it] might logically progress in the song, and I will record that. [Then] I will see how I can ft any other instruments [in.]”

Technology is not only involved in making music, but also in listening to it. Over the years, the platforms used for listening to songs have changed. Currently, music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and YouTube Music are the most popular way to listen. However, there has recently been a resurgence in older forms of listening to music, such as vinyl records and CDs. Sophomore Lanie Galer listens to vinyl records to support her favorite musical artists.

“I get to give money to these people that I love,” said Galer. “They are getting [more] money from me listening to their music [on vinyl] than they are from me listening to Spotify.”

No matter what platform is used to listen to music, songs can have the same effects on listeners and bring back certain memories for people, connecting the person with the music. If one listens to a song at a diffcult time or during an amazing moment, the song may become attached to the memory. Also, music can induce sentimental feelings, because memories are closely tied to nostalgia. If someone hears a song they listened to when they were younger, it may remind them of that time. When junior Emily Vo hears specifc songs, she recalls memories of her spending time with her family.

“When I was younger, my parents would always play [certain] types of music in the car, so [when I hear those songs,] it brings me back to family road trips,” said Vo. This nostalgic feeling often relates to family, because of the amount of time a person spends

WHAT ARE STANTON STUDENTS LiSTENiNG TO?

photo by Garrett Lawrence

with their family when they are young. Therefore, the music they listen to can be heavily infuenced by their relatives. Because of this, they may grow up listening to their family’s music choices and continue to listen to similar songs as they get older. This can create a connection in the family through music they have enjoyed over the years together. Joseph has become newly interested in his father’s favorite songs after initially disliking his dad’s music taste.

“My dad is a jazz [fan], and I [never] thought in a million years I [would] want to get into jazz [music], but recently I have started listening to it,” said Joseph.

People’s choices of songs are not only infuenced by family, but by other people they spend time with, including friends. Friendships can affect people’s music taste, as they may listen to music together or exchange songs. Sophomore Aujenae Batts’ music choices are infuenced by her friends, and their choices are similarly infuenced by hers.

“I might steal a song or two from [my friends], they might steal mine, or we might share music we [all] like,” said Batts.

Because some friends share music, they can have a similar taste overall. Music can even be the driving factor in some friendships, and the main topic of discussion between friends. In general, when looking for companions, people often search for others who are similar to them. Because music is such a signifcant factor in human lives, similarities in taste can be a strong foundation for these relationships.

While music has effects on individuals, in a broader sense, songs can be used to bring awareness to political issues because of their ability to convey messages. Marvin Gaye’s song “What’s Going On” calls for peace during the Vietnam War.

Released in 1971, the moving song became popular and was number two on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for 15 consecutive weeks from February to May of that year. Its popularity allowed its message to be dispersed, bringing awareness

to the suffering of soldiers fghting in Vietnam. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine put the track on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, a sign that its impact extended beyond the conficts of the 70s and resonated with listeners decades later because of its emotional songwriting.

More recently, Donald Glover, also known by the stage name Childish Gambino, released “This is America” in 2018 which addressed current political topics. The song, along with its corresponding music video, highlighted gun violence and the experience of Black people in America.

Glover left the meaning up to the audience’s interpretation, leading to mixed reactions from the public. Some saw the song and video as antiAmerican, while others found them to be powerful because of the relevant topic at the time. Despite the reactions, Glover’s song managed to bring

these issues into the conversations of people all over America.

As more people become aware of an issue, they become more likely to act on their opposition to it. There continue to be protests on the same issues addressed in “What’s Going On” and “This is America,” showcasing how music can serve as motivation to speak out about political matters.

Music is a daily presence in everyone’s lives, so most people have a bond with music and can use it as a form of self-expression. Each person has a unique music taste because one’s culture can affect them. At the same time, music may also have a broader impact, bringing attention to political matters and potentially causing change on a wider scale. The infuence of music on society shows a song’s capacity to have a deeper meaning, highlighting the various parts of us as humans.

photo by Garrett Lawrence

SCP FIGHT SONG

The Stanton Fight Song continues to empower student athletes and foster school spirit.

By ERICA TRUONG, Staf Writer

As players are competing on the feld or on the court, Stanton College Preparatory School students chant the words, “On Blue Devils fght, fght, fght, fght, fght!” as an ofering of extra words of encouragement. This invigorating tune is also played during pep rallies as all students cheer in their section.

Stanton’s fght song has created an engaging sense of unity among students for years, whether they are in the crowd, on the sidelines, or on the feld. It has a special place in the hearts of all football players, cheerleaders, band members, and students. They utilize this song and collectively motivate not only themselves, but also the crowd. Stanton’s fght song has survived the test of time and continues to afect the community of school sports fans, even if their team’s performance is underwhelming.

FooTBALL

“It gets the beat and sets the tempo in your head. [It also] keeps the crowd more energized and not quiet. It makes the game feel alive.”

— Jose Figueroa-Rivera, 11th

“The fght song helped motivate us even when times were hard. It brings nice memories to the games that we’ve played before and it helps keep the good memories that we [made].”

— Tristen Deditch, 12th

“When the fght song plays, it means we did something good. During football season [it plays] very rarely, so whenever it does, it gets the crowd and the team going.”

— Christian Jurj, 12th

STUDENT SECTION

“It makes people louder including me and some of my friends. I feel very motivated to try hard or to raise the spirits because most of the people are half asleep.”

— Aceel Hamed, 10th

“It energizes the crowd and unites everyone. It basically signifes something big and shows school unity.”

— William Murdock, 9th

“It also has a dance related to it that everyone knows. [It has] a good dancing beat, and it inspires everybody to have fun. It also creates hype.”

— Sage Peterson, 10th

CHEERLEADING

“I think [it gives] everybody something to help them and bring them together. It’s really fun to watch everyone do the little motion.”

— Aryia Hughes, 10th

“[The fght song] motivates me to have more spirit and energy. I like playing it during pep rallies so it gets crowd involvement.”

— Laila Cromity, 11th

“It makes me feel very hyped up and excited. It makes everybody ready for games and excited to cheer on their team.”

— Samantha Beutel, 10th

photos courtesy of Devil’s Advocate

— Lucas Hoffman, 12th

Devil’s Advocate

— Madelyne Tith, 10th

photo

iiiiiThe

iiiiiThe

iiiiiThe Devil’s

iiiii

iiiii

iiiii iiiii

Sampling With a Conscience

By MENA ALCHI, Staff Writer

Released in 1964, the song “You Showed Me” by the American rock band the Turtles, reached Number 6 on the Billboard Top 100. It was a successful hit for the band. Fast forward to 1989, when De La Soul, an sampled the song for their song, “Transmitting song’s use was not granted. Despite the Turtles argue De La Soul showcased their ability to blend

Sampling music has a long history dating back to the emergence of artists mixing soundtracks and practice of taking parts of one artist’s music and creating new sounds has exploded.

listeners should refrain from praising the faced fabrication charges as some artists do not

Current music enthusiasts may be unaware of

unethical sampling practices by songwriters like Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson. Their 2014 hit song “Uptown Funk” has encountered allegations classic, “Oops Upside Your Head.” In a 2016 explained how they aimed to recreate the nostalgic sampling, as it diminished their authenticity.

Recently, sampling has gained global prominence. According to a 2022 study conducted by Tracklib, there was a 31% increase in sampling worldwide in 2022 compared to other years. Lil Baby’s rendition, “The World Is Yours to Take,” regarded as the 2022 FIFA World Cup Anthem,

featured song excerpts from Tears for Fears’ 1985 facing speculation, “The World Is Yours to Take” the global audience in the Qatar soccer stadium experience. In fact, not all of Lil Baby’s audience was aware that his song was constructed with the inspiration of the pop band. It was unacceptable for Lil Baby to create a song with similar beats.

Music listeners may wonder why artists continue to sample music despite knowing it is unethical.

Compared to artists who consciously sample, those who take musical risks demonstrate their legitimacy in creating meaningful songs.

Album Review: “Business is Business” by Young Thug

On June 23, 2023, rapper Young Thug dropped an album from jail called “Business is Business.” The album’s release came as a surprise to fans, since Young Thug was and still is in the midst of a trial with his label YSL Records for gang called YSL. The dropping of his album while he was on trial built anticipation for the album due to these circumstances.

Young Thug worked with many mainstream

a highly praised producer in the rap industry. London, Southside, and F1lthy in its creation. The abundance of features, which included Drake,

Although the drop of this album was a pleasant it is just too inconsistent for the features and production to make up for. There isn’t a good

By RAMKUMAR SRIDHAR, Contributing Writer

while listening either.

Despite this inconsistency, some songs such multiple times. This could be due to the uniformity and sounded the same just with different rhymes.

including “Money on the Dresser.” The sound interesting. In addition to the production, there unfortunately doesn’t perform well in any of the main components of a rap song: the production, sound, and lyrics.

starts, but then drops down with the next track. albums he has put out, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is a bad album. I still go back and listen to some of his songs from this album, like “Oh week that it was announced, the album itself was its good moments, but is just too inconsistent to

photo by Sarah Bernardo