page 13 entertainment Underground sound Nickelodeon considers bringing back 90’s cartoons
03.25.11
Only listen if you have enough shovels to dig it Jordan Weinberg Staff Writer
If you’re as tired as I am of popinfused, mainstream, Top 40 rap, then it’s time you join me on a journey to the underground. Underground rap is made by artists that are not signed to major record labels, the hip-hop equivalent of indie rock. Underground artists have more leeway with their creativity and artistic expression. Their music reflects this and is often in direct contrast to the radiofriendly, intelligent-lyrics-free songs seen on MTV, VH1, or heard on the radio. Now that you know what the underground is, it’s time you hear of the artists that dwell in its domain. Blu, aka, Johnson Barnes, is an MC from Los Angeles known for his
fusion of jazz and classic hip-hop as well as his introspective and deeply personal lyrics. His magnum opus, Below the Heavens, set new standards for conscious rap in the underground scene. Blu is not the only artist known for his thoughtful lyrics, clever wordplay, and head-bobbing beats. Common Market, composed of MC RA Scion and DJ Sabzi, are two anomalies in the rap game: two deeply religious members of the Baha’i faith, who put the quality of their music over their potential income. These two artists are many of thousands across the country, and while it is easier to turn on the radio and settle for what comes out, go out and search for new artists. Whether it be through YouTube or Google, go help the real artists take back rap from the corporations that have saturated it.
Recommendations
Common Market:
Album- Tobacco Road Lyrics- 8/10 Music/Beats- 8.5/10 Best Songs- Trouble Is, 40 Thieves, Crucible
Blu:
Album- Below the Heavens Lyrics- 9.5/10 Music/Beats- 9/10 Best Songs- Simply Amazing, Dancing in the Rain, The Narrow Path
Relive your childhood Saturday mornings Andy Simionas Staff Writer
There is no denying the next example of a reference for an older audience in Space Jam. There is a brief scene in space jam that directly references Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, where Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam shoot out the teeth of one of the monsters wearing matching suits and with the exact same music as in the
the theatre, and it also has an effect on those that watch it a second time around. But sometimes all it takes is the intro to an old favorite to get that good old nostalgic feeling. Senior Derek Bendixen states, “Hearing the startup
for the intro song to Pokémon would get me all giddy. Recently I’ve been watching some of the same episodes I loved as a kid, and it’s hilarious seeing how horribly cheesy they are. Photos courtesy of Nickelodeon That damn song, though, hearing it now seems to bring opening credits. Scenes like this are put into mov- back the memories of my youth comies and shows for the enjoyment of the pletely. Also, new TV shows like Advenparents that are dragged along into
ture Time give that same nostalgic feeling even though it’s a brand new show. The reason is that what captivates kids the most is the sublimeness of it all, the bigness and openness of the world, and the fact that there was an adventure in the most mundane things, and shows like Adventure Time capture that same essence with simplicity, awesome vocabulary, and the occasional fart joke or double entendre. With the new video games and TV shows capturing aspects of the old we fell in love with growing up, it gets that same warm nostalgic feeling along with something new.
Food Challenge: Ice scream for brain freeze Eleight crew attempts a monstrous six scoop tornado sundae at Baskin Robbins Andy Simionas Staff Writer
then between gulps replied, “It’s really just my diet; at my mom’s house I eat about three pints in an afternoon, so I guess I have been training.” Just as Thresh kicked it into high gear, Simionas hit the frozen wall; no matter how hard he tried, he could not force the creamy frozen treat down. Every kid dreams of eating dessert forever, but the cold truth is that most
Spencer Thresh Staff Writer The contenders in this month’s food challenge were served just desserts. The tornado club sundae at Baskin Robbins is a humongous double banana split sporting two full bananas and cradling six enormous scoops of ice cream. The colossal sundae has only had a total of 120 challengers, half of whom have tasted the sting of defeat. The worst part of failing this challenge is the irony of the fact that ice cream is historically one of our nations many comfort foods. Just ask one of the thousands of girls who have been broken up with recently. “At least Ben
Andy Simionas takes his first bite of the monstrous sundae.
This month’s challenge includes two bananas and six scoops of ice cream covered in whip cream and chocolate syrup.
and Jerry won’t leave me,” she might say, but this tornado sundae might just make her regret that statement as it lays waste to the trailer park known as her stomach.
people cannot handle it. On the thirteenth minute of this food challenge, the frozen battle of the tornado concluded. Thresh finished his sundae in “a casual time”, and the ice cream left poor Simionas with the cold taste of defeat. One forever frozen in food challenge history on the wall of Tornado survivors, and the other forced to walk a frozen waste land of sorrow.
Our two challengers stood wide eyed in front of the hall of fame, a list of names of those who had completed this legend-dairy challenge. Seniors Andy Simionas and Spencer Thresh could not hope to beat the record time of finishing the sundae
in one minute and fifteen seconds. That is one minute and fifteen seconds without so much as a brain freeze to slow him down. “The record,” explained the store owner, “was set by a fourteen year old middle school-er.” We here at the Eleight are pretty sure that the fact that he had no clue what type two diabetes was helped give him an edge. Armed with just spoons and an appetite for glory, our contenders faced off. Heading to the counter our contestants asked for the works, and then sat down to do some major work. Heads held high, our contestants exchanged some bold words in regards to the challenge. “I always have room for Ice Cream,” stated Thresh, as he gobbled down his first bite. Simionas, jaw hanging in awe, said, “Spencer is an ice cream fiend, He is unstoppable.” In response to this, Thresh began to drink the mush of dairy treat, and
Simionas and Thresh both finish off their ice cream.
Photos by Annie Jung