Volume 17, Issue 2
THE BARDVARK
Henrys’ Culture Corner Issue #1
Henry Reyes, ’20, & Henry Fields, ’20 Hello good people of Bard. Welcome to Henrys’ culture corner issue #1, where the only issue at hand is handing out straight vibes. Just so you know what you’re getting into we are two seasoned veterans of the music game. Both of us are graduates of Dr. Despommier’s music theory AND chorus courses. It would be correct for one to say that we KNOW music. We won’t be taking any tips from Billboard Top 100, Spotify fixed playlists or anything like that. This is a music review for the true music fan… Enjoy. Mac Miller- Nothing from Nothing This song, one of the last known recordings before Mac’s tragic death is sung in the style of Billy Preston’s s o n g o f t h e s a m e Image credit: Warner Music name. Mac puts a somber twist on the traditionally upbeat anthem, exemplifying his vocal range as well as his ability to put true emotion into his music, something that most “song-writers” of today just can’t do. The song is almost painful in ways, allowing the listener to go through the motions with Mac as he sings. This track really speaks to the maturity of Miller’s discography over the years. We no longer see “Easy Mac” rapping about the ups and downs of high school life but rather the full-grown Mac Miller, discussing issues in his love life and his own journey. In short, this rendition of “Nothing from Nothing” slaps. Vibo-meter:5/5 Jay Rock - The Other Side (feat. Mozzy & DCMBR) Probably the single most underrated and underappreciated rapper on Anthony Tiffith’s Top Dawg Entertainment is Johnny Reed Mckinzie Jr. (what a name) better known as Jay Rock. As a Watts, California native Jay Rock enlists Mozzy and DCMBR, two other extremely talented yet under-celebrated artists on this track about street-life in L.A. The beat goes stupid… the hook has an IQ of below zero (also goes stupid)... and the smooth lyricism of Jay Rock and Mozzy is incredibly intelligent and well-spoken. The balance between the gritty subject matter and the melodic beat is refreshing in the contemporary scene of rap today. Instead of name dropping as many designers in under 2 minutes as most of his contemporaries do, Jay Rock chooses to talk about his life experience hustling and grinding. A true masterpiece. Vibo-meter:5/5 Cont’d Page 6
Page 3
Street Beat: Meet Officer Bailey Cont’d from Page 1 Officer Bailey grew up in the Bronx and lives there today, right next to Yonkers. Although he does not have kids, he has a rottweiler named Milo who is turning ten in a few months: “Milo is a very good dog. People get scared when I’m walking down the street with him because he is a big dog but there is no need to worry,” Bailey remarked. Officer Bailey also has a close relationship with his mother and brother Brian who live nearby, which works out perfectly for Bailey because there is nothing he loves more than his mother’s food: “I’m a picky eater and I’m learning how to cook. But pretty much anytime my mom gives me a call I run over with an empty plate and she serves me whatever she’s got, because whatever she makes is the best. She likes Spanish food which is her background. She is Dominican and Puerto Rican and my father is from Barbados.” Bailey’s diverse background does not end with his parents and the food he loves, but extends to his wide-ranging music taste. “I am a music connoisseur. I love music. Music is everything. Any type of music I listen to it, I’m all ears. I’m really into jazz right now, but I'm also into everything.” Officer Bailey lives through music. He embraces the emotion and beauty of music as much as possible -when he’s off-duty you may spot him with earbuds enjoying a song! Before he came to Bard, Officer Bailey was working at another high school, one that was much larger. “Before I came to Bard I was also doing school safety at Washington Irving. At first it was a tough change to come to Bard as BHSEC students are much less active.” When I asked Bailey what he specifically thought of Bard kids he shared, “Bard students are good kids. I have nothing bad to say. They are kids being kids and they are not kids trying or exploring to be bad.” When Officer Bailey is not at work he likes to play videogames. “I like to play video games because they allow me to stay fun. My younger cousins always come over and want to play with me.” Bailey not only enjoys playing video games but he is also a chess enthusiast, “I have been playing chess for awhile. I do it as a brain teaser. Being a safety guard is all about staying a few moves ahead at all times.” As we were concluding the interview, I asked Officer Bailey what it is like first thing in the day when students are arriving to school. “I make sure that I say good morning and hello to each student in the morning. Some students are zoned out so they don’t say hello back but they have other worries like class and tests so I get it. But a nice ‘hello’ can go a long way.” So every morning when you sleepily stumble into the building, even if you are one of these students absorbed with an upcoming exam, please try to give our Officer Bailey a greeting. Because every day he earns it.