Feature
Tiger - Friday, November 18, 2011
Musical duo raps its way to happiness exact same personality and that we would be perfect for each other.” The boys finally met in August; things clicked almost immediately and they’ve been rapping with each other ever since. They have both been rapping individually since a very young age. Trotter began in seventh grade after a friend introduced him to the world of rhythm and beats. Cervantes officially started rapping in fifth grade, but he’s been making music ever since he was a baby. “I’ve been writing all sorts of little songs ever since I was a toddler. I would always just bang around on random objects making a lot of noise,” said Cervantes. Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Drake, Eminem, Big Sean, Matt Winkel and Kendrick Lamar are some of the duo’s favorCervantes and Trotter rap behind the SPHS pool. ite rappers; Trotter and Cervantes strive for a feeling By Matthew DeFulgentiis similar to the lyrics and rhythms of these artists. Staff Writer The boys’ typical production process takes place within the confines of Trotter’s closet. They Sophomore Tyhler Trotter (a.k.a. T.A.T.) and junior Alec first find or create a beat that they feel comfortCervantes (a.k.a. Alectrik) together form a rap crew known as able with and then incorporate their strong, unique Some of their songs include Westward. Ever since posting their first two songs, “I’m on lyrics. One” and “Gotta Have It,” on YouTube and a plethora of other “Trouble on My Mind” and “Hustle (Freaks & social media websites like Facebook and SoundCloud, their Geeks Remix).” Trotter’s and Cervantes’s inspiration comes popularity has been growing at SPHS. “It’s cool listening to [Westward’s] music because from sources in their everyday lives. “It’s all about how you vibe and feel the beat,” it lets me view them in a different way,” said sophomore Sam Mohammadion. “I can relate to their music because I said Cervantes. “I get [the inspiration for] my lyrics understand and share the same feelings about a lot of the topics from life experiences and how I feel about certain things.” they rap about.” Looking towards the future, the boys have Trotter and Cervantes found each other by what seemed to be just word of mouth. Until a few months ago, the now- larger-than-life expectations. They hope to perform live and go on tour. They would love to be awardinseparable duo had never met. “A bunch of my friends told me about Alec,” said Trotter. winning artists who appear at high profile ceremo“I didn’t actually know who he was, but they said we had the nies such as the VMAs or the Grammys.
Typical By Daniel Willardson
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Personality Profile By Marcy Kuo Staff Writer Senior Sara Patterson is a genuinely charismatic character on and off the stage. In her two years at SPHS, she has brought a bubbly personality and unique individuality to the campus. During her freshman and sophomore years, Sara was a member of the Fine Arts Institute, a non-profit community organization in Edmond, Oklahoma. She performed in classic plays such as The Miracle Worker, The Phantom Tolbooth and The Story of Robin Hood. She also worked backstage as a makeup artist in a community theater, painting bruised lips and scars on stage actors, including herself. In her early teens, Patterson participated in competitive speech tournaments in Oklahoma. Her involvement in these competitions has made Patterson not only a motivational speaker but also an expressive actress onstage.
“Sara has an uncanny knowledge of human nature,” said drama teacher Mr. Daniel Enright. “She can believably play a seventy-year-old southern woman or a sleazy nightclub singer in her twenties. This has to come from observation and a terrific ability to mimic the reality she sees in people from all walks of life.” Patterson’s ability to show the audience dynamic emotions in each character originates from her experience with an inspirational director she worked with in Oklahoma. “One thing I learned about the acting industry, besides staying in character, is that you can’t sit quietly and do as you’re told,” she said. “You need to show humanity’s different emotions and expose the new artistic world of drama.” Patterson’s dramatic interpretation was influenced by the classical plays of William Shakespeare. While many students dread reading Othello and Macbeth in AP Language and AP Literature, Sara finds Shakespeare’s
13
Mylo tops international iTunes charts 5/5
By Clair Fuller and Alex Tranquada Tiger Staff In the summer of 2008, everyone knew the phrase “Viva la Vida,” as Coldplay’s hit album climbed to the top of the charts and remained there for weeks at a time. Three years later, the band’s new album is experiencing the same success; the only difference is that no one knows how to pronounce this one’s title. Mylo Xyloto, Coldplay’s fifth full-length LP, represents the band’s first attempt at a concept album, and although the concept isn’t always readily apparent, the music is just fine without it. Fans of both old and new Coldplay will be pleased, as the album incorporates just as many intimate acoustic moments as it does electro-rock synths. The record’s title track serves as a short, instrumental introduction to “Hurts Like Heaven,” the first fulllength song on Mylo. Previewed many times at summer festivals, it’s an upbeat, drum-driven number that showcases the talents of guitarist Jonny Buckland. Following the subsequent “Paradise” comes the album’s high point, in the form of “Charlie Brown.” With an irresistible hook and beautiful outro, “Charlie Brown” is undoubtedly one of Coldplay’s finest songs to date. Also not to be missed are “Us Against the World” and “Up in Flames.” The former features a rarely-heard duet with lead singer Chris Martin and drummer Will Champion, while the latter’s structural simplicity and falsetto vocals are heavily reminiscent of “Fix You” from X & Y. This satisfying blend of old and new sounds makes for an album that is surprisingly cohesive considering the standout singles it contains. “Princess of China,” which precedes “Up in Flames,” has proved to be the most polarizing song in all of Coldplay’s works. The song features world-famous pop artist Rihanna, and fans are split—some see the track as confirmation that the band has sold out and others defend the decision to include the Barbadian singer. Regardless of the band’s motivation, the song (originally written with Rihanna in mind, says Martin) takes them in a completely new direction. Backed by hazy synths and a clubby beat, it seems like a track you’d expect to find on Beatport rather than a Coldplay album. For a band older than some students at this high school, Coldplay has demonstrated a remarkable ability to keep its music current and fresh—Mylo Xyloto is no exception.
Sara Patterson
writing style—especially in the world-renowned A Midsummer Night’s Dream—intriguing and romantic. “Reading Shakespeare and his romantic comedies involving historical plots is a hobby and a guilty pleasure,” said Patterson. Patterson’s exceptional drive to achieve her best performance in each play earned her an acceptance letter to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, also known as AMDA. Patterson describes the Hollywood academy as her dream school, and was overjoyed to receive a $6500 scholarship. During her four years in college, Patterson hopes to make wise decisions in the acting industry and to establish contacts with potential agencies that are welcoming aspiring actresses. “It’s not all about fame and wealth,” Patterson said. “I don’t dream of holding an Oscar in my hand. If I’m a small town actor performing in a local theatre, I’m happy.”
Katie Whitworth
Sara Patterson puts on makeup for a show.