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INTRO
Issue 80.1
3
Alejandro Ramos, Editor-in-Chief editorinchief@lbunion.com Bailey Mount, Managing Editor manager@lbunion.com Nathan Zankich, Web Manager web@lbunion.com Alexis Cruz, Social Media Manager Allison Meyer, Multimedia Manager Alfredo Banuelos, Advertising Executive Christopher Orozco, Distribution Manager ART & DESIGN Sam Orihuela, Art Director artdirector@lbunion.com John Mueller, Graphics Illustrator illustration@lbunion.com EDITORIAL Matthew Gozzip, Athletics Editor athletics@lbunion.com Sylvana Uribe, Community Editor community@lbunion.com Sheila J. Sadr, Copy Editor sheila@lbunion.com Elizabeth Nguyen, Copy Editor elizabeth@lbunion.com Amanda Dominguez-Chio, Culture Editor amanda@lbunion.com Madison Gallegos, Culture Editor madison@lbunion.com Peter R. Clark, Entertainment Editor entertainment@lbunion.com Kaila-Marie Hardaway, Music Editor music@lbunion.com Elliott Gatica, Music Editor music@lbunion.com Jordan Daniels, Opinions Editor opinions@lbunion.com Mario Lopez, Travel Editor travel@lbunion.com
STAFF WRITERS Karrie Comfort
CONTRIBUTORS Natalee Coloman, Samantha Neou, Soun Oeng, R. Ray Robinson, Erick Zepeda,
COVER DESIGN BY: Sam Orihuela FEATURE DESIGN BY: Sam Orihuela CONTACT US Snail Mail: 1212 Bellflower Blvd. Suite 116 Long Beach, CA 90815 Phone: 562.985.4867 E-mail: lbunion.info@gmail.com Classifieds: classifieds.lbunion@gmail.com
@UnionWeekly
Hablamos con Ramos Alex Ramos Editor-In-Chief What up, young people, and welcome back to the Beach! A lot has happened since I last talked to you. As such, I think it’s only fair that I update you on the latest and greatest developments from around the office. First, I wanna take a moment to recognize a couple of staff members for a pretty big achievement. Those would be Multimedia Manager Andrew Linde and Food Editor Zach Phelps both graduated at the end of last semester and have moved on to bigger and better things! We’re wishing them the best and hope they’ll come back to visit sometime. Unfortunately, we also lost Martha Quijano, who had to step down as a staff writer. It’s
pretty upsetting to lose writers but we would rather she handle her business, even if it means leaving us. The loss of staff members put us in a pretty tough spot. We felt their absence this week during production as we were short a couple of hands. On top of not having as many people on staff, we also had people not show up. This sounds pretty bad but it’s understandable. After all, it is the end of the break and a lot of people already had plans. I’m not going to hold anything against them because I would want to be out there if I was in their position. Instead, I’m stuck in the office until the job gets done. It doesn’t have to be this way though. If you care about me, a
random stranger talking to you through the introduction of a newspaper, then I suggestyou consider joining our staff. We have positions available for writers, illustrators, photographers, audio/video specialists, graphic designers, and more. They may be volunteer positions, but they’re well worth it. I helped out as a volunteer before I was editorin-chief and I loved it just for the experience and the chance to meet new people. This might be a shameless plug, but I definitely recommend you join if you’re looking for something new to try. If you are interest, just hit us up at lbunion.info@gmail.com or through any of our social media accounts.
Disclaimer and Publication Information: The Union Weekly is published using ad money and partial funding provided by the Associated Students, Inc. All Editorials are the opinions of their individual authors, not the Union Weekly, ASI nor CSULB. All students are welcome and encouraged to be a part of the Union Weekly staff. All letters to the editor will be considered for publication. However, CSULB students will have precedence. Please include name and major for all submissions. They are subject to editing and will not be returned. Letters may or may not be edited for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and length. The Union Weekly will publish anonymous letters, articles, editorials, and illustration, but must have your name and information attached for our records. Letters to the editor should be no longer than 500 words. The Union Weekly assumes no responsibility, nor is it liable, for claims of its advertisers. Grievance procedures are available in the Associated Students business office.
4 OPINIONS
Dear 2017 An open letter to the year ahead of us By Natalee Coloman Contributor Photos by Jordan Daniels Opinions Editor
Many of us — actually more than half of us — in the United States are dreading you. This is the start of what could be the worst four years in history. However, I want to think differently. I want to believe there is good and I want to believe you can be the key toward more success and a better future. It almost sounds impossible, doesn’t it? How can good come out of a year following the immense amount of crap that happened this past year? Especially after the United States endured all the chaos, heartbreak and tragedy. Well, listen up 2017 and all living in this year: the trick to a successful year is to kill hatred with kindness.
We all have much to look forward to this year. The end of 2016 was the end of all the fear, hate and terror. Yes, I know that it won’t be the actual end, but we can start working toward a better future together. It’s important to remember how similar each and every one of us are, we are looking toward creating the same goals and ideally all of us are shooting for success. We have the power to build a better community amongst our fellow students, faculty, staff and city. It starts with showing respect, love and understanding toward each other. This year let’s strive toward achieving our goals and lifting each other up.
Personally, I’m looking forward to 2017. I’m going to graduate this spring, I plan on getting my foot in the door in the music industry — where my future career awaits. I plan on moving, developing better relationships between my friends and family, and I plan on ultimately bettering myself. This year, I’m not afraid, and you shouldn’t be either. That being said, do what you’ve been wanting to do. Ask the person out, move out, get out of the job you hate, but at the same time, open your eyes, ears and heart to others. Make a new friend. Sit with someone who seems lonely. Do things to better this world that you are living in. Oh, and 2017? For the love of God don’t take anymore of our prized celebrities. Sincerely, Someone ready to change the future.
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ANNOUNCEMENT
Impending Publication of the History of Venice of America Series 1850-1939 BACKGROUND
HOMAGE TO THE CHILDREN OF THE ARCHIVES
My name is Arnold Springer. I was Professor of History at CSULB from 1968 to 2007--- when I retired. I am now emeritus and living in Venice California. I arrived here at CSULB in 1968 after finishing my coursework at the Department of History UCLA from which I received my Ph.D in Russian and European History in 1972. I was advisor to the Union (then a daily) and we had a great newspaper that was cutting edge, intellectually sharp, and culturally daring. A true rival to the 49er. I had a wonderful time as advisor and really liked all the volunteer students that I counseled and also supported --for -- the most part --what they did. Placing this announcement with the current Union newspaper is my way of acknowledging my history with the Union and a way of paying homage to it. In 1972 I began my research in the History of Venice of America. Beginning in the 1970's I began using courses in the history department, - Methodology 301 and Special Topics in History 495, to offer my students training in the methodology of research in the subject of history. Basically the students, as one element of their coursework, had to review one entire month of the Venice newspaper, the Venice Vanguard, between the years 1911 and 1930. I thought of these students as my own "children of the archives" after a group of students in early 19th Century Tsarist Russia who worked with would be Russian historians, poets and other members of the emerging Russian 'intelligentsia' of that day to present ordinary Russians as subjects of history and to create the first professional all class and all caste portraits and histories of Russia, its people and its political system, beyond chronicles or memoirs. The Russians of those days were 'romantic' and had a love for history and a burning desire to create a realistic or true history for all of their countrymen. It was extraordinarily difficult for them because Russia was autoc and public discourse was not enlightened or energized by freedom of speech or press. then an autocracy Each class chose one year to work on and if there were more students than twelve, we would run over into the issues for the following year. The students needed to find materials that were useful for the writing of a history, and to save them as 'vignettes', that is little stories squeezed out of the newspaper text they found Interesting and meaningful. To give them a guide to how to know that I suggested about 20 topics that they should be sensitive to in their reading. These were monographic topics, the topics that professional historians normally use to research subjects in national history. The topics ranged from Agriculture, Art and Aviation - to Women, Workers, and World War One. At the time I told each of the classes that I was working on the History of Venice of America Series, and that their research, the best of it, would be included in the published history series - with their names attached to the 'vignettes' they had secured - so that they would be given meaningful public credit for the work they did. So often student research is not credited and I wanted to do my part to rectify that.
ATTENTION MASTER'S CANDIDATES AND STUDENTS LOOKING FOR A SUBJECT AND OR MATERIALS FOR A SENIOR LEVEL PAPER
Over the years the following CSULB students created 'vignettes' which appear in published form and are entered into one or more volumes of the six books that will be published in the History of Venice of America series in 2017. In this way all of them have contributed to making it possible to create a real and substantial history of Venice California going forward. Superior Archival Research L. Algie; A.C. Armendariz; Steve Arthur; Mark Avery; Carlos Avila; Janice Bagley; Ralph Baiz; Cindy Baroglio; Bec H. Bennet; R. Blake; Judy Blankinship; (?) Bonjorno-Frias; Arlene Barrios; Megan Bethon; Danielle Becker; Tom Boschma; A. Boyer; Rick Burns; Rene Caballero; Mark Campbell; P. Carter; Thomas Carter; Roman Castaneda; Charles Castro; Paul Cendejas; Daniel Chong; Thomas Chong; D. Clark; Mathew Clyker; John Cortez; Ron Cote; Paul Cramer; M. DeMers; Debbie Deutsch; Marcus Dickerson; Daniel Dougherty; Kathleen Dougherty; Russell Earnest; Eric Ehrenreich; Rochelle Elwell; Tanya Erickson; Mark Esposito; Rosemary Estrada; Yulia Feldman; Brian Forster; Mark Foster; John Fraser; Sandra Freedman; Dixie Joane Frieder; Michael Galan; Elizabeth Gant; Nick Gentile; Nicole Giaconi; Gregory Gibson; Alvar Gonzalez; M. Gonzales; Jaime Gonzalo; Lisa Grace; Malcolm Gray; M. Green-Ponce; Michelle Hall; Robin Hattersley; Jordan Heichman; Joan Hemphill; Regina Henderson; Judy Heyboer; Danielle Hill; Susanne Hill; Thomas Hill; Darren Hodges; Richard Holland; Lynn Horesk; (?) Horvath; Jule Hughes; David Jay; P. Jensen; Ann Johnson; Brian Johnson; K. Johnson; Ken Jones; Jim Keegan; Morrie Kosareff; Kristyn Kazmark; Jesse Kirkbridge; David Knapp; Robert Kohel; Ronna Kondrath; Chris Kwan; Glenn Lajoie; Meredith Lake; Matt Lamas; Virginia Lee; Heather Lempka; Gustavo Lopez; Jess Lopez; Wendy Lund; Phil Luper; Kathleen MacAndrew; Shelley Maetani; Matt Maines; Karen Malmgren; Helen Mann; Dorothy Marquand; Norma Martinez; Clyde Marugame; Irma Matson; Hank McCandliss; Mark McIntire; Shauna McMann; Matt McClelland; Jamie Meehan; Ralph Migliozzi; Laura Mitchell; Leslie Mollin; Gonzalo Moraga; Russ Moreno; Bramley Munz; Cheryl Murray; Barbara Nagy; (?)Nation; Wes Neal; Merilee Norton; Ed Obfenda; Patrick O'Donnell; Sandy K.Okida; Peter Olson; J. Onkka; Diana Paredes; Mike Parker; Chad Parkin; Darla Parson; Valerie Partridge; William Paterson; L. Peluso; Robert Perez; Bill Perry; Kenneth Pigg; Darenn Platt; Debbie Power; Rigo Ramirez; Caryn Ray; D.Raymond; (?) Reed; Jodi Rhee; Megan Richards; Marsha Richardson; B.W. Ritchie; Rob Robinson; Mike Rogow; Barbara Rolf; Kelly Ryan; Jackie Sanborn; Manuel Sanchez; Mark D. Sanchez; Mike San Miguel; Michael Saunders; Mike Settipane; Casey Scott; Joseph Sichi; Veronica Siebler; Paulo Simoes; M. Simpson; Barry Singiser; Joseph Smith; Armin Skalmowski; Melanie Slagle; William Sokoloff; Jennifer Spidell; Mike Squyres; R. Suskin; Charles Tinkler; Marie Tong; Elizabeth Trach; Karen Trimble; Chris Tucker; R. Tunning; Stephanie Uricariet; Kim Walling; Lynnette Wattles; Rebecca Whisner; Eva Wildfeuer; Deborah Williams; Sterling Wilson; Randy Wolfe; Liz Villarreal; Sterling Wilson; Vic Zahn; R. Zuniga. First Draft Papers Produced by Students in History 301 between 1984 & 1988. Showed Promise but Needed More Work to be Published. Ronald Cote: Entertainment in Venice. Yulia Feldman: The KKK in Venice. Dixie Frieder: Selling Venice 1911. Jim Keegan: Venice Politics 1924-25. Judy Hayboer: Social Dancing - Venice 1911. Pamela Kill: Politics 1925. David Knapp: Socialist Women. Robert Kohel: Prohibition 1927-1930. Heather Lempka: Venice Women 1927-30. Phil Luper: Prohibition 1927-29. Kathleen MacAndrew: Venice Beach July-August 1916. Karen Malmgren: Prohibition in Venice. Mark McIntire: Women in Venice 1914.Hank McCandliss: Gambling in Venice 1927-29. Helen Mann: Aviation in Venice 1919. Ralph Migliozzi: Women of Venice in 1914. Wes Neal: Women of Venice 1927-1930. Kenneth Pigg: Aviation in Venice 1919. Kyle Raphael: Police & Prohibition in Venice 1928-29. Michael Saunders: Entertainment in Venice 1924-25. Joseph Sichi: Venice & the LAPD 1911-1920. Veronica Siebler: Prohibition in Venice 1927-29. Elizabeth Trach: Aviation in Venice in the 1920's. Karen Trimble: Venice Women 1927-1930. Deborah Williams: Prohibition in Venice 1911.
As a way of giving thanks to the entire CSULB family and its present senior level or masters level students, I offer to CSULB students first crack at using this original research, never before published, to compose their own narratives which can be used, when combined with other like materials and embedded in a historical context, as master's thesis subjects or as publishable articles. Beginning in March 2017 the first group of still unpublished manuscripts of the following subjects or topics will be located for 6 months at Special Collections. Venice California. The period covered is 1850-1939. AVIATION, AGRICULTURE, OIL, POLICE, RELIGION, SEWERS; WATER, WORLD WAR I. Beginning in September 2017 the second group g of the still yet unpublished manuscripts of the following subjects or topics will be deposited at Special Collections. ASIANS, BLACKS, AMER INDIANS, JEWS, MEXICANS, RADICALS, WORKERS Feel free to use these unpublished and still only archived materials as you wish to achieve your objectives. After six months, BY THE END OF 2017, these materials will be published in the two concluding books in the Venice history series as above, and everyone will have an opportunity to use them for university credit or publication or just for personal edification. Arrangements to view and work with this manuscript material please contact:
THANKS TO ALL THE CSULB FAMILY AND TO MY STUDENTS PAST. Arnold Springer Ph.D. Emeritus. Venice California January 2017
Chloe Pascual. Archivist & Special Collections Librarian California State University Library. Long Beach California 90840 T: 562-985-1895; or EMAIL Chloe.Pascual@csulb.edu
6 COMMUNITY
Dreams Revived
CSULB hosts 14th annual Afrikan Black Coalition Conference Words and Photos by R. Ray Robinson Contributor and have no name connected to the mother continent?” Farrakhan asked the audience. Farrakhan said blacks should psychologically free themselves by gaining knowledge of their past, which received a mixed response, but many understood his intentions to move his people forward. One of the workshops conducted at the conference was led by UC Berkeley board member Yoel Yosief on Pan Africanism. His workshop titled, “Your Eyez Only,” covered how capitalism has stifled the continent of Africa through colonization within its countries and enslavement of blacks in the Americas. Yosief emphasized the importance of gaining land, wealth and black unity to live soulfully sublime. The conference began wrapping up with award-winning short documentary, “Bars4Justice,” directed by Queen Muhammad Ali and Hakeem Khaliq. The short film presented hip hop activists opposing police brutality after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson. The film resonated with audience members upset by those who walked away unpunished for
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ifty years after Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and his assassination, racism seems eternally alive. Due to police brutality, mass incarceration and even the newly elected president Donald Trump, many are losing faith in society. But for many hopeful black students, they act differently by attending the 14th annual Afrikan Black Coalition (ABC) Conference. The ABC Conference is usually hosted by Black Student Union (BSU) members from University of California schools to help black students and their communities. This year, however, Long Beach State became the first California State University school to host the event on its campus. The conference’s theme was “Reviving a Nation,” and aimed to connect with the more than 800 students in attendance. The event had a festive unity carnival, guest speakers, workshops, and a fashion show with an appearance by actress and model Celisse Graves. Performances at the conference featured singers, rappers, as well as dance group Le Ballet Dembaya. Justin Bradley, former CSULB BSU president and vice chair of the event, introduced Minister Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam to speak. Farrakhan spanned on many topics regarding freedom. He discussed issues regarding colorism, gender, religion, defending black women, his relationship with Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad, as well as fighting under an African name. “How can you fight for Black Liberation
“Many wanted to honor those that were no longer alive by gaining knowledge and finding solutions.” Top left corner: Actress and model Celisse Graves during a fashion show at the conference. Top photo: Justin Bradley shakes hands onstage with speaker and Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan. Above photo: Participants in the 14th annual Afrikan Black Coalition Conference pose for a group photo.
their acts. Many wanted to honor those that were no longer alive by gaining knowledge and finding solutions. Information about the conferences or other events and opportunities organized by BSU available by visiting csulbbsu.weebly. com/bsu.
7 FEATURE
Trump’s Plans Intro by Alejandro Ramos Editor in Chief
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fter a long and divisive campaign, Donald J. Trump is officially the 45th President of the United States, which means it’s time for him to get to work. Will he be able to accomplish the goals he talked up in his rallies? Will the American people benefit from his plans? We take a crack breaking down his plans for a couple of issues so you can be informed of what is to come.
On Inner Cities
By Matthew Gozzip Athletics Editor
rump‘s campaign was widely effective due to his ability to continually highlight regional issues with scathing critique and consequently offer aggressive solutions. One of Trump’s more notable campaign promises involved remedying gang violence, crime and poverty in the “inner cities”. He wants to infuse nearly $1 trillion dollars into the country’s infrastructure, civic works and education in metropolitan areas expected to get a fair share of this sum. From a non-partisan view, the plans appeared to be made with good intention to improve underserved communities and foster stability in all lower income areas across the nation. However, many pundits were quick to acknowledge that Trump’s comments are propositions are a little near-sighted. Numerous times during his campaign when he attempted to address his thoughts on inner city issues, Trump indirectly likened the problems that plagued these regions to the ethnic
demographics of the area (“I’m going to help the African-Americans. I’m going to help the Latinos, Hispanics. I am going to help the inner cities”). According to a study conducted by the Brookings Institution, more than half of the AfricanAmerican population resided outside of inner cities as of 2010. Assuming that minorities primarily populate inner cities not only is inaccurate but also sets a precedent of doubt on whether the new POTUS is truly knowledgeable enough of socioeconomic structures of metropolitan locations to solve a complex issue. To assist with understanding urban communities, Trump appointed Doctor Ben Carson, a renowned surgeon and politician who grew up in Detroit, as the head of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD). After graduating from Yale, Carson was appointed the position of chief of pediatric neurosurgery at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, providing healthcare for urban
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communities for nearly three decades. Logically speaking, nominating an advisor who has personally experienced the struggles of living in poverty in the inner city seems like a reasonable decision for Trump. Unfortunately, Dr. Carson lacks experience in the political side of things. During his presidential campaign, Carson struggled to build a viable platform for proposed policies. In fact, Carson has very limited experience overall in policymaking, let alone in the nuance of housing and urban development. The HUD is responsible for distributing billions of dollars for not only the urban housing and the communities but also to reduce veteran homelessness, protect housing for Native Americans, allow lower income citizens to purchase and own their properties and even clear up residential segregation, a growing problem fueled by increasing gentrification. This staggering list of responsibilities seems overwhelming
for someone who has never served on any sort of advisory board. Trump believes that his influx of money can make Caron’s job a little easier but the means of how this money will be accrued is a bit alarming. In a direct quote from his website, Trump said that he will attempt to “cancel all wasteful climate change from ObamaClinton, including all global warming payments to the United Nations.” By draining funds from a crucial department to fund a separate department, Trump is creating a standoff between choosing to live with the current conditions in the urban communities or to deny climate change. Unfortunately, climate change quite possibly will affect those in the low-income communities and minorities the most since they wont be able to afford proper clothing, supplies and access to necessary resources.
8 FEATURE
On Education By Karrie Comfort Staff Writer
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On Civil Liberties
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fter shouting down CNN senior correspondent who tried to ask a question, some are fearing that civil liberties will not be protected in “Trump’s America”. While Trump seems to be weak on several issues, there are reasons to be confident in some areas, like free speech. The president elect has quite clearly stated on various occasions that he is open to mass surveillance, in it’s current form, and even approves of its enlargement over time. “A database is okay and watch list is okay and surveillance is okay.” Trump said. He has even gone so far as to say that he would specifically watch mosques; not exactly the words the muslim community wanted to hear. Amplifying this unsteady opinion of Trump on surveillance is his pick for the CIA chief, Mike Pompeo. Pompeo also has a verbal disrespect for previous reforms to the surveillance programs,
By Karrie Comfort Staff Writer like collecting large swaths of phone records “The intelligence community feels beleaguered and bereft of political support,” Pompeo said. “What’s needed is a fundamental upgrade to America’s surveillance capabilities.” Needless to say, there would be no pardoning of whistleblowers like Edward Snowden. However, in regards to free speech, Trump’s transition team has gone so far as to meet with the libertarianconservative group Young Americans for Liberty, and discuss upholding free speech on college campuses. Although Trump has not spoken widely on issues of the first amendment, there seems to be positive indicators that that he is interested in upholding such civil liberties.
“Whether or not this is something that Trump can accomplish is really yet to be seen. ”
lthough the president-elect has been largely silent on many aspects of education, he has repeatedly declared Common Core a “disaster”, and seeks to remove or replace the federally mandated standards, and instead leave education up to local governing bodies. Whether or not this is something that Trump can accomplish is really yet to be seen. However, his pick for Secretary of Education has already drawn sharp criticism from people on both sides of the aisle. Betty DeVos, a Michigan billionaire, is most well-known for her strong support for school choice, and has lobbied for years to expand charter schools, especially for low-income families. However, she has never attended a public school, or sent her children to one, and seems to lack experience in higher education circles. Some view her
On Fiscal & Monetary Policy
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ne of the most striking parts of Trump’s overall policy upheaval is his tax plan, which collapses the current seven-level individual income tax into a three-level income tax. It divides individuals into brackets by those making less than $75,000, less than $225,000, and those making more than $225,000. Along with the death tax and most business taxes, Trump is planning to slash government income in various places. The Financial Times has indicated that this would raise the national debt by $7.2 trillion within a decade. Whether or not one agrees with cutting taxes, the logical thing to do if one does do so, would be to cut government programs as well, but instead, according to the Financial Times, Trump’s transition team has “pledged to invest $550bn in infrastructure and has spoken of ramping up defence spending.” It doesn’t appear as though financial restraint is really applicable to the Republican party, or at least Donald Trump. Although it may not be cut and
nature as more of an “outsider” of the education establishment as a good thing, while others see it as a lack of experience. As far as whether or not guns belong in schools, DeVos has not taken a stance, and neither has she on continuing the aggressive sexual assault campaign that Obama started. Donald Trump’s personal campaign website has declared that they plan to shift $20 billion of existing federal dollars toward school choice, most likely charter schools. He also has said that he plans to pressure higher education into using money they already hold to keep tuition rates low. Again, it is difficult to say what President Trump will be able to get accomplished with a divided Republican party, but only time will tell.
By Karrie Comfort Staff Writer dry like the fiscal policy, the monetary policy has many investors treading lightly as they wait for Trump’s reaction, considering his comments during campaign. After repeatedly blasting Janet Yellen, the current Federal Reserve Chairman, it appears as though he will not reappoint her when her term ends in 2018. Additionally, there are two board seats that Trump will most likely fill as soon as possible. While the Republican party would tend to lean toward a “hawkish” monetary policy, including raising interest rates to curb spending, Donald Trump previously stated that he did not. “And I must be honest, I am a lowinterest-rate person.” said Trump. “If we raise interest rates, and if the dollar starts getting too strong, we’re going to have some very major problems.” Although he acknowledges the national debt, which he describes as “tremendous”, it does not appear as though his policies will rein them in.
9 FEATURE
On Immigration
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rump’s overall immigration policy is to control the flow of immigration into this country in order to alleviate the stress of job competition and homeland insecurities as well as redirect federal funds to lawful immigrants and American citizens rather than illegal aliens. In order to do this, he has developed 10 Point Plan. The first thing on that list, he wants to build an “impenetrable physical” wall along the US-Mexico border, which he has been talking up throughout his campaign. He includes a PDF file called Pay for the Wall, in which he details how he’s going to make Mexico pay for the wall whether President Enrique Pena Nieto disagrees or agrees. The Pay for the Wall outlines a plan Trump’s administration will use to warn Mexico with a series of trade tariffs and economic sanctions if they refuse to comply. Trump’s economic sanctions will place restrictions on wire transfers and fee increases for visas on Mexico if they fail to meet his demand to make a onetime payment of $10 billion. The logic behind this scheme is that
On LGBTGIA+
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ver the past decade, members of the LGBTQIA+ community have been granted an unprecedented amount of social and political support from the Obama Administration. Equality in marriage, employment and education were many of the liberties granted as well as many other protections. Under Donald Trump, the future appears to be more grim than optimistic. Though Trump did not directly campaign on LGBTQIA+ discrimination (he is socially liberal), many of his appointments and proposed policies appear to target the community. As of now, 52 Republicans occupy seats in the Senate. They most likely will not be able to pass legislation restricting LGBTQIA+ rights without full consensus and the help of eight other Democratic senators. However, legislation that did have a sizable amount of resistance before they were passed could be repealed. The Violence Against Women Act, a law that bans discrimination against in LGBTQIA+ people in services provided
By Christopher Orozco Distribution Manager the United States can coerce Mexico into paying due to the threat of economic sanctions, which would affect the flow of money from the former to the latter. According to a report by the Pew Research Center, Mexico received $24 billion from the United State in 2015 in the form of remittances, ahead of every other country in listed. Trump’s plan makes the claim that Mexico needs this money because it acts as welfare for poor families given the lack of a social safety net from the state. If the plan were to be fully executed, there must surely be some repercussion for the United States. How does this speak to the rest of the international community? What is not to say that other countries will start increasing the fee for Americans to travel abroad? It is strange to say but we probably have illegal American overstaying their visas in Mexico. I am no doubt that we do. In the end, I hope that Trump’s administrations sees the consequences of their actions on a global level. We are not the superpower that we were once were.
By Matthew Gozzip Athletics Editor by the Department of Justice, could be rescinded since it had a large amount of opposition form Republicans when it was a bill. Trump’s appointments and use executive powers could be even more influential in affecting the LGBTQIA+. Nearly all of the new cabinet opposed LGBTQIA+ rights. Vice President Mike Pence has attempted to undermine LGBTQIA+ rights several times of the years, the repealing of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and the rejecting of Obama’s directive on transgender bathrooms just to name a few. Ben Carson can potentially rescind protection for LGBTQIA+ people in federally funded housing programs. With an empty Supreme Court seat, Trump can continue the conservative trend. Trump also plans to overturn Obama’s executive orders, though it’s unknown which orders specifically. Obama was generous with submitting orders that supported LGBTQIA+ peoples.
“ However, many pundits were quick to acknowledge that Trump’s comments are propositions are a little near-sighted. ”
10 MUSIC
2016 Album Roundup
Five underrated albums of last year
By Erick Zepeda Contributor
“Puberty 2” - Mitaki The following list is not one that correlates with the most streams. If that is the list you sought, I am glad you are reading this and
willing to expand your horizons. I cannot relate to you and I doubt that you are a human being and not an android.
“Malibu” - Anderson.Paak Anderson .Paak collaborated with a handful of musicians this year ranging from
Kaytranada to Schoolboy Q and appeared on the XXL Freshman list. He completed a duo project with producer Knxwledge as NxWorries, and supplied our undeserving ears with an unforgettable album of his own. Appropriately titled “Malibu,” it recalls old school funk aesthetics with a progressive hiphop twist as .Paak splays out his distinctive voice and funk-heavy hip-hop style onto fifteen tracks that will have you clamoring to hear whatever artist’s new single has sought out his Midas touch. Recommended songs: Waters,” “Liteweight”
“The
Japanese-born performer Mitski accelerated her rise through the indie rock stream with the release of her previous album, “Bury Me at Makeout Creek.” With the arrival of her latest album, she is in the midst of an explosion, and for good reason. I dare to say that “Puberty 2” is her most profound project thus far, displaying her acclimated skill in composition as well as the power of her voice in both the literal and figurative sense. The album peers into a deeply intimate space, and yet in this admission of vulnerability, emanates a strength that can only arise from the experience of true pain. If you scour the musical sphere in search of badass women: Congratulations, Mitski is your new obsession. Side note: She has the best Twitter account of any
“Romantic” - Slow Hollows At the tender age of seventeen, I was introduced to Slow Hollows and found in them the epitome of what LA garage was
“The Sun’s Tirade” - Isaiah Rashad The youngest rapper on the Top Dawg lineup, Rashad came through with a potent combination of lyricism, flow and production that not only reinforces his ability to stand alongside a powerhouse like Kendrick, but diversifies his personal style. There’s something for everybody on this album from bangin’ beats to introspective bars. Please put the stigma against Southern rap to rest. Recommended songs: “4r Da Squaw,” “Wat’s Wrong”
musician I have ever encountered. Recommended songs: “Your Best American Girl,” “Crack Baby”
capable of. Their third album, “Romantic” continues to expand upon their evolving sound undeniably with the addition of a trumpet to the trend of seamlessly orchestrated instrumentals, and in the final track with a short and sweet duet. I might add that despite vocalist/lead guitarist Austin Feinstein’s incredibly deep voice, he’s just finished high school and has already worked with Frank Ocean, Tyler the Creator, and Kali Uchis, as well as appeared on the runway of a Saint Laurent fashion show. Slow Hollows is a group with real, viable potential. You don’t have to be a hipster, whatever meaning that word even has anymore, to get into this band. Recommended songs: “Hospital Flowers,” “Romantic”
“Telefone” - Noname After a period of licensing issues, Chicagobased rapper Noname, formerly Noname Gypsy, dropped her debut mixtape. Introducing vocals that range between rhymes with a twinge of spoken word, poetic delivery, and a soulful singing voice, to reduce her to a female version of Chance would be harmful not only to female rappers, but potential listeners. Rife with complimentary features and personal narratives, “Telefone” is its very own beautiful, emotional journey. Recommended songs: “Reality Check,” “Shadow Man”
11 MUSIC
By Soun Oeng Contributor Rap can’t simply be categorized as a genre that solely glamorizes drug, sex, male dominance and gang culture; at least not anymore. It’s evolving, and was never really “dead” as some critics point out. Even Nas can’t argue that hip hop is dead, because there’s evidence that supports a consistency in modern day rappers whom are just as influential and positive in their lyrics as their predecessors. For instance, Kendrick Lamar is a prime example of a rapper who has kept faithful to the storytelling of the original rappers in the game. He speaks out about the alarming concerns within politics and provides perspective about a world that isn’t as great as America tries to suggest. Many people who are not knowledgeable of the origins of hip hop tend to fall victim to the misconception of rappers and their notorious lifestyles. And yes, there are a few bad eggs in any genre, but it shouldn’t be overlooked. Musically speaking, the new generation of rappers are reinventing the industry. Rappers like Kodak
Illustration by John Mueller Graphics Illustrator
Black, Lil Yatchy, Lil Uzi Vert, and Desiigner are composing music that caters to a diverse audience. Their unique, groggy, distorted autotuned vocals are popular among the masses. One can argue that talent is now measured by how fast you can spit a bar, rather than the significance of a lyric; but it’s still an effective technique. By meshing complex auto-tuned vocals and beats, it’s introducing a new genre of rap — and I can’t be against that. Anything in favor of rap should be embraced instead of shunned. Although, everyone is entitled to their own opinions. My argument is that hip-hop is experiencing a transformative process. This is good because it’s important to change. No one wants to listen
to a copycat version of Tupac’s “Hail Mary” or Biggie’s “Mo Money Mo Problems,” because it becomes underappreciated. There’s nothing wrong in the way hip hop was in the past, nor should it be tampered with. I strongly believe that rappers back then achieved something great that was for their audience and time period. However, this generation of rappers are intelligent in their lyrics just as much as the godfathers of rap. Given that they care about who their audience is and contribute to voicing their opinions. Rappers such as Chance the Rapper, Childish Gambino, Raury, to name a few, are also redefining rapper behavior. In fact, YG, a Tree Top Piru Blood gangsta rapper, released a song last year called, “FDT (Fuck Donald Trump).” A gangsta rapper targeting a presidential candidate is unprecedented. YG’s discussion of politics
“My argument is that hip-hop is experiencing a transformative process.”
within his music helped spread awareness of an issue some of his listeners never paid attention to. As you can see, rap is definitely alive. This current phase of mumbling rappers is crucial in the industry’s growth. This kind of experimentation within hip-hop culture is artistic and should be given a chance. To be honest, it took some time for me to be on board. I realized that it’s a genre that needs to be considered at all angles before judged. Granted, I don’t think Lil Yachty or Kodak Black will win a grammy anytime soon, but that’s not to say it isn’t possible. Every day rappers are growing in their craft, while being inspired by other artists. This is a vibrant time in hip-hop culture. I encourage you to at least listen to a couple of albums from a rapper before you give it a toss. Hip-hop is not dead, it just underwent plastic surgery and is open for feedback.
AFI at Amoeba Records
They kick off The Blood Tour with an album release show in Hollywood By Natalee Coloman Contributor Starting around noon, the side of Amoeba Records transformed into a sea of black shirts, pants and brightly colored hair as fans lined up to see A Fire Inside (AFI) live at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19. From the inside, the popular Hollywood record store’s eight rows of CDs and vinyl packed in about 700 fans eager to see their favorite band play the small stage. Some fans arrived at any cost necessary, whether it includes calling in sick from work like fan Matthew Bogarin or driving all night from Phoenix, Arizona like a dedicated fan Lauren Joe had done. Bogarin said in his 12 years of being a fan, he’s seen AFI live five times and even has a tattoo of them on his chest. In fact, he’s seeing them all four California dates on The Blood Tour. “It’s always an awesome experience seeing AFI live,” said Bogarin. “I’ve never had a bad time.”
Standing behind Bogarin, Joe eagerly waited for her first-ever live experience with AFI. She’s been a fan for 16 years, with her brother first listening AFI when she was in second grade. “I know their music is a lot different in each album, but they always sound amazing and I’m so excited to finally see them live,” Joe said. The show kicks off AFI’s tour for their newest self-titled release, “AFI(The Blood Album).” Tickets to the Amoeba show included a limited edition poster and the album in CD or vinyl pre-purchased in store. The show consisted of five songs, some from the new album as well as a few older songs: “Heart Stops,” “Bleed Black” and “The Days of the Phoenix.” Prior to the album’s drop, AFI released four songs from The Blood Album: “Snow Cats,” “White Offerings,” “Aurelia” and “Get Hurt.” “White Offerings” holds traces of “Sing The
Sorrow’s” era from the band, which is a cross between emo and post-hardcore sounds. Or in other words very gothic-punk. One quality that AFI carries in their 25 years of experience is overall collectiveness. That being said, no album carries one specific sound. In fact, the band changes each setlist for each tour date, so no two nights play the same set. “The Blood Album” is the tenth full-length record after the release of “Burials” in 2013. This album has a bit of a Depeche Mode sound while sticking to the original feel of AFI — sexualized tones with singer Davey Havok’s hopelessly romantic lyrics. While songs “Dark Snow,” “Aurelia” and “Snow Cats” are a bit slower paced, they are evenly distributed by fast-paced songs like “Hidden Knives” and “Still a Stranger” to keep the album balanced and continue the “collectiveness” the band holds. Thanks to AFI’s eclectic sound, fans are always left wondering what is next to come. Luckily, the band has one commonality throughout the two decades: they still pack the same punch as when they first started.
Singer Davey Havok rises up in the back of the store as he sings “Day of the Phoenix.”
Films That Were Swept Away With The New Year
12 ENTERTAINMENT
5
Counting down the Top 5 best underrated films of 2016 By Samantha Neou Contributor
Swiss Army Man
Hank (Paul Dano) is stranded on an island and is about to give up on life until he sees a farting corpse (Daniel Radcliffe) wash up on the shore. They begin to develop a friendship once Hank realizes he can utilize the dead body like a Swiss Army knife to survive and discovers he can in fact slowly bring the cadaver back to life. The film is as multipurpose as a Swiss army knife as well. It can be a zany comedy about existentialism, the power
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The Nice Guys
Shane Black’s recent crime, action comedy set in 1970s L.A. was a godsend last year yet it flopped due to poor marketing and because it was up against so many overhyped movies that didn’t even come close to being grade-A good. It’s about private detective Holland March
(Ryan Gosling) and thug for hire Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) who both decide to team up, despite their differences, to solve the case of a missing porn star. The combination of violence and slapstick comedy and the chemistry of the two leads, results in an original, wickedly entertaining, buddy-cop adventure that outshines Marvel’s blockbusters any day.
Krisha
Trey Edward Shults’ first feature film is a slow burn, well-crafted character study of Krisha, a struggling addict trying to find redemption during the Thanksgiving holiday with her family she hasn’t seen in years. The plot sounds generic, but its execution is refreshing. Sinister violin notes interweave its way into the background as siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles, everyone except Krisha, socialize and have a swell time. It’s a scene
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of friendship, loneliness and much more. It revels in the absurd by highlighting society’s definition of what’s dirty or unnatural and points out how silly it is through candid honesty and hilarity. Swiss Army Man successfully attempts to define what it means to be human without ever getting preachy or boring, and it only made about $4.9 million in the U.S. With fantastic cinematography and stellar lead performances, this indie flick is entirely insane, but an extraordinary achievement worthy of attention.
that belongs in a horror flick even though no jump scares are in sight. We don’t know what happened between Krisha and her family, but we can’t help but understand her isolation and anxiety, knowing full well this narrative has been told over and over again. Get this though. The film was shot in nine days with a $30,000 budget, and the cast was his family. Plus the film is based off an event within said family, which explains why the performances are so raw and the tension gets too real. If you’re looking for some family drama, look no further.
Kubo and The Two Strings
CGI animation is cool, but damn is stop motion ten times more impressive. Imagine spending hours on end making small clay figurines walk to finish a five minute scene. Now imagine making them kick ass and do magic. From the creators that brought you “Coraline” and “Corpse Bride,” Laika Studios delivers a jaw-dropping gorgeous, utterly imaginative, and mature film that is their best to date. It’s about a boy named Kubo (Art Parkinson) who accidentally releases an evil spirit and now must work together with Monkey (Charlize Theron)
and Beetle (Matthew McConaughey) to defeat it and save his family. While the story at times falters, it makes up for it in spectacle, levity, and heart. It doesn’t follow the typical format of a children’s film either and contains heavy themes that don’t get lost in Kubo’s fantasy world of creatures and magic, but cements it. For all these reasons, it deserves way more buzz and money, as does every other studio that specializes in stop motion or hand drawn animation like Studio Ghibli. These creators passionately spend an eternity to produce something for us, and barely any moviegoers see these types of films every year. Please support the arts. Please support the People.
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The Lobster
This dark, deadpan comedy centers on a society in which single people are legally sent to the Hotel where they’re forced to find a romantic partner in 45 days or else they’re turned into an animal of their choice and released into the woods to start a new life. The protagonist David (Colin Farrell) is a recent divorcee and is sent there, but is convinced he won’t find love or will he? Throughout this strange film is brutal commentary on society’s irrational
obsession with coupledom and what it means to love someone, often hilarious but disturbingly accurate. Who’s to say people should be married at a certain age and what kind of person they should be with? While there are some moments of genuine affection between David and his possible partner (Rachel Weisz), the story is dreary to the very end. Definitely not for date night, but it’s worthy to look into if you want an unconventional rom-com. It’s important to understand that life isn’t like the “The Notebook.”
New Year, New Netflix
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Club de Cuervos
By Amanda Dominguez-Chio Culture Editor One of the best ways to celebrate winter break is binge watching a favorite show. If you are interested in watching an original television series about soccer, then I have the show for you. “Club de Cuervos” is a comedy series currently streaming on Netflix, and is is its first Spanishlanguage series. The series focuses on the football team Cuervos and two siblings who fight over ownership of the soccer team. Following the death of their father Salvador Iglesias Sr., Isabel Iglesias-Reina (Mariana Treviño) and Salvador “Chava” Iglesias Jr. (Luis Gerardo Méndez) inherit their father’s soccer club and subsequently argue which direction they should take the team. While Isabel wants to preserve her father’s legacy, Chava desires to turn the team into the “Real Madrid of Latin America.” Chaos ensues as Chava continuously makes poor decisions regarding the state of the team while Isabel attempts to
ameliorate the situation. Moreover, Salvador Iglesias’ young girlfriend, Mary Luz claims she is pregnant with his unborn child, granting her a share of his fortune. Apart from following the plight of the Iglesias family, the series also focuses on the players of the team. Tony is my favorite player, whose naiveté often lands him in all sorts of problems. On December 9th, “Club de Cuervos” returned for its second season. I eagerly looked forward to watching the series. The characters are well-written and do not fall under stereotypes. Also, the series balances humor and drama while occasionally providing social commentary on issues such as gender politics and class. My cousins spoke highly “Club de Cuervos” and convinced me to watch the show. I love watching the series and how they capture the cultural significance of soccer, bringing people together. And watching this show has brought me and my cousins something to talk about.
The Cuba Libre Story
What Happened Miss Simone
By Kaila-Marie Hardaway Music Editor Documentaries allow those who are creating them to capture reality, and being able to learn about real people, events, or even catastrophes is fascinating to me; I have always been very interested in documentaries and am always on the hunt for new ones. This winter break, I discovered one of the most interesting documentaries I have seen in awhile—a Netflix Original called “What Happened, Miss Simone?” “What Happened, Miss Simone?” is an Emmywinning biography based on the life of soul/jazz singer, Nina Simone. This film begins by detailing the singer’s rise to fame in the 1950s, starting with her lowly beginnings as a child who is inspired to be a professional classical pianist. As she gets older and begins her musical journey, her career does not go as anticipated as she ends up on a completely different path than anticipated. This film captures these moments by displaying significant moments in her life, such as her participation in the Civil Rights Movement, and her struggle with mental health and fame, which generates a wellrounded storyline to truthfully depict her life and legacy. There are many elements that make this biography unlike any other. This film
struggles in Cuba. As you progress through the episodes, you start to realize a pattern. The Cuban people fight for their freedom and nominate a leader. Suddenly, their leader becomes a dictator or is bought out by a higher power. Then, one of the Cuban commoners decides to rally up the Cuban people to fight for their freedom. That persons overthrows the previous leader. Suddenly, he becomes a dictator or gets bought up like the last one in charge. The Cuban people have seem to be ongoing fight for its independence since its indigenous roots,
is almost completely comprised of rarelyseen stock footage of Simone’s life. This footage ultimately allows the audience to delve deep into the specific moments that are covered. It also helps us look at Simone as not only a music icon, but also the huge impact she made as a civil rights activist as we see real photographs of her participation in the movement. Additionally, rather than being narrated by a formal narrator, this film is largely narrated by past interviews of Nina Simone herself. It allows the film to feel as if she is narrating her own story and owning it, while also creating a more personal look into her life. In addition to past interviews with Simone, the film also uses archived interviews from her ex-husband/ manager, as well as original interviews of others who were close to Simone, such as her niece, daughter, longtime guitarist, and more. Overall, “What Happened, Miss Simone?” is a fantastic documentary that allows viewers to further understand the life of Nina Simone, her discography, as well as her role in the Civil Rights Movement. This documentary serves as an impactful tribute to the singer that allows us to truly get to know her underneath the surface.
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By Christopher Orozco Distribution Manager Prior to watching the Netflix documentary, “The Cuba Libre Story,” I had little knowledge about the island. I heard that the world’s greatest cigar came from there. I read that real Cuban rum is not Barcardi instead it is the Havana Club in which we still do not have access to. Last, I recalled about the Cuban Missile Crisis, and in recent news, Fidel Castro’s passing. After watching the documentary, I think I now know a lot more. “The Cuba Libre Story” offers an international perspective as well as local anecdotes on the island’s rich history. Because of the multi-perspective narration, you got everyone’s cards face up on the tables. If you are not fan of listening to people’s stories, the show does a good job of show and tell. There are historical images, footages, and audio recordings accompanied to the stories. Luckily, this historical documentary of Cuba is divided into 8 parts. It allows the viewer to sip in the constant power
ENTERTAINMENT
A collection of reviews for new gems
Because of the documentary multiperspectival narration, it allows Cuba’s history to be understood at different levels. Cuban people allow their voices and experiences to be shown in different lights. Historians and be analyzing how the Cuban farmers will eventually suffer from its single sugarcane crop . Then, its compared how Cuban cities and its people flourished through its king crop. Other times, Cuban’s first accounts are compared and contrasted in important events.
14 ATHLETICS
Diamonds From the Rough
Beach basketball keeps afloat due to performance of unsung players By Matthew Gozzip Athletics Editor Last week, the LBSU men’s basketball was drowning in quicksand. The 49ers had just lost their second straight conference contest and their 14th game overall. To make matters worse, star forward Gabe Levin continued to be indefinitely sidelined by a knee injury. In a season already lowlighted by a nine-game losing streak and a string of embarrassing blowouts, Long Beach State fell to its lowest point in the season, in on court play and mental strength. Then the remarkable happened: the tumult suddenly cleared over The Beach. With their backs against the wall, LBSU (8-14, 3-3) fought their way to back-to-back conference victories against UCSB and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to put them in a tie for fourth place in the Big West. Both of the wins were thoroughly impressive for different reasons. In their 81-76 win over UCSB, the 49ers distributed the ball with impressive efficiency and controlled the interior. Forward Temidayo Yussuf, a high energy player known more for crashing the boards and aggressive hustle, tallied a career performance
with 25 points, five rebounds and three assists in only 23 minutes. The high scoring mark was just the latest in a four-game streak of scoring double-digits. Though Yusuf did not score 10 points against Cal Poly, the sophomore is proving that he can provide depth off the bench. Fellow frontcourt mate Roschon Prince has also begun to flash the potential he displayed coming over as a highly touted transfer from USC. Prince, Levin’s replacement, is on his own four-game streak of posting double-double’s while providing veteran leadership to a team with young players and new transfers. On Saturday’s game against Cal Poly, Prince scored 25 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and, more importantly, was able to push LBSU to a 98-92 victory in overtime. The Beach was down as many as 17 points in the second half but Prince steadied the ship along with sophomore guard Evan Payne (21 points on 8-14 shooting) to keep the team in the game. Prince and company were able to run the tired Mustangs off the floor in the extra period in one of the most hard-fought contests of the season.
Temidayo Yussuf (4) postures for a bucket. Yussuf is putting up career numbers this season. Roschon Prince (23) dunks it home. Prince has filled in for the injured Gabe Levin admirably. Though it seems a little ludicrous to cel- win if they play with enough conviction, that ebrate a two-game winning streak, any good losses are an aberration. Players that normally news is welcome for The Beach. Even with wouldn’t get playing time suddenly are thrown Levin’s status uncertain and a subpar record, into the mix and learn how to be valuable conLBSU has shown that there is still a lot of fight tributors earlier than expected. With 10 games left in the team. Overcoming large deficits left and a conference tournament looming, The and capturing victory in a variety of ways not Beach is no longer waiting for fortune to swing only bodes well for their record but for overall their way. The 49ers already possess valuable them chemistry. Pulling out close wins instills skills, they are just waiting to be revealed when confidence and the belief that the team can the game becomes rough.
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CULTURE
Sing for the Moment
Top: Dumbfoundead rocking his hit song “Harambe.” Clockwise: Nocando rapping “Requiem” with L. Scatterbrain, Volume 10 (right) with Zulu Butterfly (left), Medusa and Coco
Hip-hop collective Project Blowed had its anniversary at Los Globos in Los Angeles hosted by Shadow Collective and Abstract Rude on December 29th, 2016. It was a celebration of hip-hop; a composition of rapping, break-dancing, graffiti and DJing that had the crowd at the event enjoying the culture. From fans and artists with colorful curls, braids, and locks that were stylized, to break dancers and poets exciting everyone around, the anniversary was the place to be for dope MCs. Many people may not know the hiphop collective Project Blowed, but after the award winning documentary “This is the Life” (2008) came out many became aware. The film, directed by filmmaker and former Goodlife Café regular Ava Duvernay, told the origins of the LA underground hip-hop scene. Much of it was centered around the Goodlife café, a holistic food store in the heart of Leimert Park in LA, where mostly black artists, poets and musicians came
together to be safe and express black excellence and culture during the 1990s. Some of the legendary Leimert Park artists include Freestyle Fellowship, Jurassic 5, Skee-lo, Zulu Butterfly and others. Many performed in vicious rap battles where they spit lyrical bars, while others dazzled through breakdancing, DJing and graffiti writing. Many fans in the LA underground scene deemed these artists as the kings and queens of the underground hip-hop scene. Eventually, the scene at the Goodlife Café became the collective known as Project Blowed, which met at the KAOS Network and was hosted by UCLA filmmaker and LA Rebellion member Ben Caldwell. Project Blowed meant to “blow up” in the music scene, and at the anniversary, there were more underground MC’s who emerged to continue blowing up on stage. All the artists continue to carry the legacy of Leimert Park on stage and the world. Two artists in particular were Project Blowed
alum Dumbfoundead and Nocando. Both contributed heavily to the scene and were in attendance at the anniversary. Nocando performed a few songs, but the song that demanded the crowd’s attention was “Requiem.” While rapping and roaring “we just lost the real one,” Nocando spewed thick, intricate sounds that blasted flavor into the soundwaves of the mobbing crowd. The crowd loved the story of relationships whether dead or alive. Dumbfoundead then took the stage. He wound up freestyling and performing a couple of tracks, including his hit song “Harambe.” Dumbfoundead’s raps shot mortal combat sounds and lyrical lush that illuminated the audience’s souls with his raw bars. Audience members understood how the song dealt with life as a jungle and how anyone could be attacked or killed at any time. When asked who his favorite Project Blowed rappers were, Dumbfoundead said, “Nocando, and Myka 9 and Aceyalone of
Freestyle Fellowship.” Eventually, Myka 9 and Aceyalone from Freestyle Fellowship performed along with other notable rappers performed. They gave a smashing performance showing the audience that they still can rock the mic after so many years. Afterwards, Myka 9 was presented the Ben Caldwell Award. “This is the most important thing that happened in West Coast hip-hop. You cannot erase us out of History,” Nocando hollered at one point to the mob of screaming fans and artists. It was a powerful statement that insinuated that the media and even hip-hop fans know little about the roots of where much of West Coast hip-hop comes from. Well, at this anniversary, the “Blowdians” made a major statement to all that attended to keep the LA underground hip-hop alive through their performances.