The Ithacan

‘Pop Off!’ – Albums of the 2010s

April 30, 2024

Host first year student Ethan Kaufman brings on repeat guest first year student Sam Zaslow-Braverman to rank their top album of each year of the 2010s.

Review: Latest Baby Keem album is consistently mediocre

By Andres Hernandez, Contributing Writer • September 23, 2021

Although personal and interesting, the new Baby Keem album "The Melodic Blue" is consistently mediocre.

Review: ‘Black Panther’ soundtrack’s synergy stands strong

By Aidan Lentz, Staff Writer • February 14, 2018

Featuring sounds ranging from hip-hop to R&B to traditional African music, “Black Panther: The Album” comes off a bold celebration of black culture.

Review: Singles for the week of 2/2

By Kara Bowen, Assistant Life and Culture Editor • February 3, 2018

“Pray for Me” The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar Released Feb. 2 XO “Pray for Me” begins passably with The Weeknd’s smooth voice over a dance beat, and only takes off when Kendrick Lamar...

Deja View: A look back at pop culture in 2017

By Kendyl Bennett, Podcast Editor • December 15, 2017

Senior writer Jake Leary sat down with a collection of Ithacan writers, editors and producers to round out 2017. In the first segment, staff writer Matt Maloney and podcast editor Kendyl Bennett argue...

Review: Rapsody spreads wisdom on latest rap release

By Matt Maloney, Multimedia Editor • October 2, 2017

It would be a cultural injustice to ignore the phenomenal lyrical stylings of Rapsody’s work on “Laila’s Wisdom.”

Review: Kendrick Lamar conquers the hip-hop competition

By Matt Maloney, Assistant Multimedia Editor • April 26, 2017

It may not be a straightforward classic like “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” or sonically experimental like “To Pimp a Butterfly,” but it has mass appeal.

Deja View: Piracy

By Kendyl Bennett, Podcast Editor • April 11, 2017

In a micro edition of Deja View, Reviews Editor Jake Leary sat down with Assistant Multimedia Editor Matt Maloney to talk about the moral grey area of piracy. You can read Matt's review of ALL-AMERICAN...

Review: ‘Starboy’ shines in the Weeknd’s latest release

By Colin Barrett, Staff Writer • December 3, 2016

The Weeknd has created one of the most fun and hypnotizing albums of 2016. His themes of materialism and betrayal immerse listeners into “Starboy”.

Review: Kendrick Lamar’s surprise album stuns

By Cecilia Morales, Staff Awiter • March 8, 2016

Lamar is one of the few artists in the music industry who truly captures the raw emotions and difficulties of living in a system of oppression.

Review: ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ soars with powerful wordplay

By Matthew Radulski, Staff Writer • March 30, 2015

The most captivating part of the album is not the rhymes, nor the blend of beats and verses. It’s a simple conversation between two great artists.

Progress and Regress 2

By Jared Wolf • February 15, 2014

This is your second weekly round-up of pop culture stories that represented small steps forward... or two steps back. Progress: Atlantic editor Scott Stossel "came out" as a person living with anxiety...