For many, 2016 was a rough year. Terrorist attacks plagued the U.S. and Europe, the Presidential election cycle was one of the most turbulent in recent memory, and another musical artist seemed to die every week. Looking back at everything that made last year terrible, it’s hard to believe that anything good happened at all.

Although 2016 will likely be remembered for the numerous deaths throughout the music world, last year’s hip-hop contributions provided an escape. While there were breakout performances across all genres, hip-hop in particular thrived.

Here’s a look back at many of the important albums released, the countless “beefs” between rappers and everything else that made 2016 the year of the ear.

While artists such as Frank Ocean and Kanye West hyped their albums for months — even years —  others took to roads less traveled, releasing their albums with little to no promotion.

Peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 200, YG’s Still Brazy delighted fans with possibly the best record of his career. Although many anticipated a fourth studio album from J. Cole, 4 Your Eyez Only was only announced a week prior to its release. Kendrick Lamar released seven leftover tracks that didn’t make his 2015 award winning album To Pimp a Butterfly on the LP, Untitled Unmastered.

Possibly the most surprising release of the year came from A Tribe Called Quest. The band’s double LP We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service took the hip-hop scene by storm. While the lyrics dealt with the political, social and racial issues the country is facing, the Tribe stuck true to its roots with the record’s beats and production.

Beyonce performing with her husband Jay-Z (Creative Commons)

Beyonce shocked fans when her album Lemonade called out her husband, OG East coast rapper Jay-Z, for cheating while on his 2014 tour. Despite such a hefty accusation, the couple is seen kissing in bed at the end of her visual album. Some claim this was mostly a publicity stunt, but others say their marriage has been headed downhill for years.

Aside from the highly-anticipated albums that were released by industry giants, lesser-known acts such as Anderson Paak., 21 Savage, Metro Boomin, Rae Sremmurd and Chance The Rapper had breakthrough years. They reached unforeseen levels of stardom after cracking Billboard’s top 200 charts and receiving multiple Grammy nominations.

While artists were busy crafting their new releases in 2016, a lot of behind-the-scenes drama helped entertain and distract fans from the day-to-day world.

Meek Mill’s feud with Drake might’ve been the most talked about beef of 2016, but he was just one of many who were in line to attack the Canadian-born rapper. The Weeknd, Pusha T, Joe Budden and Kanye all took on Drake last year.

As new beefs were formed this year, old ones were also renewed. Kanye’s hit single “Famous” took shots at his long-time nemesis, Taylor Swift. The song’s lyrics claim that Kanye was responsible for Swift’s rise to fame after interrupting her on stage during the 2009 MTV Music Video Awards. The drama got even more captivating once Swift denied having given consent to put the song on his album. Later, Kim Kardashian posted a Snapchat story that showed West and Swift talking about the song over a phone conversation. The post revealed that Swift had actually given Kanye permission to publish the lyrics.

Bigger names got the most attention, but beefs between lesser known rappers proved to be just as entertaining.

Lil Yachty took on Soulja Boy, Blac Youngsta dissed Young Dolph and SpaceGhostPurrp went after Denzel Curry. One of the most interesting diss tracks came from a surprising artist. On his single “False Prophets,” J. Cole took direct shots at Kanye. Accusing him of not writing his own material and taking his platform for granted.

With the many ways in which the music industry entertained its followers, there were also some stories that sparked concern within the community.

Prince performing at Coachella (Creative Commons)

Along with many other beloved artists, George Michael, David Bowie and Prince all passed away in 2016. Thousands mourned the deaths of these men for their noteworthy musical contributions as well as their inspiring use of self-expression. Although we lost these amazing musicians, we were also given an opportunity to celebrate the legacies they left behind.

In early January, BBC aired a documentary titled The Last Five Years that followed the final years of David Bowie. The documentary coincided with a charity event that celebrated what would’ve been Bowie’s 70th birthday. After Prince died in late April, cities across the country hosted vigils while thousands took to social media to pay homage to the late musical icon.

While many musicians passed away last year, others faced concerning health issues.

Kanye West reportedly had a mental breakdown moments before he was scheduled to perform on Saturday Night Live. This wasn’t the last episode for Kanye. In December, he was hospitalized for mental health reasons that gossip pundits such as TMZ suspect have to do with the anniversary of his mother’s death.

Earlier in the year, Lil Wayne was hospitalized for seizures, and Kid Cudi publicly entered rehab for the first time. Being a superstar has never been easy, and in the age of the internet, it seems like the pressure has started to get the best of some musicians.

Although fans were mostly intrigued with their favorite musicians, the business side of music had an eventful year too. One of the most shocking stories of the year came from a 2016 study done by the Recording Industry of America Association. The study showed that during the first week of December, vinyl records outsold digital downloads for the first time since 1991. Many argue that this phenomenon can just be attributed to a peak in gift buying right before the holidays and that records are just a novelty that will prove to be another fad. However, some experts believe that the widespread availability of physical music is a sign of change to come.

Frank Ocean performing at Coachella in 2012 (Creative Commons)

Between a long list of albums that were critically acclaimed, a series of “beefs” that were almost too convoluted to follow and the loss of countless beloved musicians, 2016 made for one of the most eventful years in recent music history.

Along with music, pastimes such as sports, TV, film and other forms of art not only serve as entertainment, they also provide an escape from the sometimes bleak realities of our world. They’re not just distractions, they also give us the opportunity to be reminded of the beauty in the world.

It seems as if musicians realized that the world needed a strong year in sound to help distract us from the harsh realities of it.

The post The year of the ear: How hip-hop got us through 2016 appeared first on Emerald Media.

On Saturday night, Louis The Child members Robby Hauldren and Freddy Kennetta filled a crowded and sweaty WOW Hall with good vibes and an excellent set of their unique blend of EDM.

The show kicked off with a performance by the mysterious DJ Elohim. Using a set of keyboards and synthesizers, she took the crowd through a series of original songs and remixes that all featured her eerie vocals. Although only a few hundred people or so showed up early enough to catch her set, her songs “Sensations,” “Guts” and “She Talks Too Much” gave the audience a feeling that there is more to come from the talented young artist.

Norwegian DJ Bearson, the show’s second and final opener, took the stage at 10:15 p.m. Despite running into technical difficulties, his brief showcase of EDM featured a European style of house music with consistent trap drum breakdowns.

Elohim and Bearson both provided quality sets that readied the crowd for a nearly two-hour performance by Louis The Child show that featured over 20 remixes and originals from their discography.

Taking the stage at 11:15, the DJs began their set with a series of remixes that included Alt-J’s “Breezeblocks,” Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode” and a mash up of fellow Chicago artists Kanye West’s hits “Monster” and “Touch the Sky.” Their rendition of Chance The Rapper’s “All Night” perfectly described what many audiences members had been doing prior to the show.

While many EDM shows are best enjoyed at an outdoor venue that leaves room for individual dancing and relaxation, the intimacy of WOW Hall gave the audience a necessary spark of Bohemianism.

Louis The Child transformed the corner of 8th and Lincoln from a standard concert hall into a sweaty pit of students that rambunctiously slammed into each other in rhythm with the heavy synth. In place of their usual over the top lights show — which was unavailable due to their equipment truck getting stuck in a snow storm — a 4-foot by 12-foot LED screen sufficiently entertained the crowd with an endless stream of trippy graphics.

Half way through their set, the group asked the audience if they were, “Ready to get down like you never have before.” After an ecstatic response from the crowd, the group played their latest single, “Fire,” which came out in late September, as well as their remix of Miike Snow’s “Genghis Khan.” It ignited the crowd in a full-on sing along. All of this was followed by an incitement from Kennetta to get crazy after the clock struck midnight.

As the band finished their set by playing a brand new track that featured opener Elohim’s vocals, many female audience members were not-so-politely asked to get down from the shoulders of their male counterparts by WOW Hall staff members.

Hauldren took offense to the crowd’s chant of “One more song” responding, “One more song? Just one more? How about a few more?” Leading the audience to erupt as they could see the band’s hit singles “Weekend” and “It’s Strange” were in their immediate future.

The show was filled with dancing, singing and a release of inhibition that — after an exhausting dead week — was much needed for many UO students. Once the show ended, Kennetta addressed the duo’s appreciation for the audience’s engagement, saying, “How amazing is it that we all came together tonight and had a good time? I’m glad we could share this night with you.”

Seeing Louis The Child perform at a sold out WOW Hall might’ve been a once in a lifetime opportunity. The next time they come to the Northwest expect them to either be headlining a major festival or playing at a much larger venue. Look for the electronic DJ duo to completely blow up the EDM scene in the next few years.

The post Review: Louis The Child gives Eugene a glimpse into the future of EDM appeared first on Emerald Media.

On Saturday night, Louis The Child members Robby Hauldren and Freddy Kennetta filled a crowded and sweaty WOW Hall with good vibes and an excellent set of their unique blend of EDM.

The show kicked off with a performance by the mysterious DJ Elohim. Using a set of keyboards and synthesizers, she took the crowd through a series of original songs and remixes that all featured her eerie vocals. Although only a few hundred people or so people showed up early enough to catch her set, her songs “Sensations,” “Guts” and “She Talks Too Much” gave the audience a feeling that there is more to come from the talented young artist.

Norwegian DJ Bearson, the show’s second and final opener, took the stage at 10:15 p.m. Despite running into technical difficulties, his brief showcase of EDM featured a European style of house music with consistent trap drum breakdowns.

Elohim and Bearson both provided quality sets that readied the crowd for a nearly two-hour performance by Louis The Child show that featured over 20 remixes and originals from their discography.

Taking the stage at 11:15, the DJs began their set with a series of remixes that included Alt-J’s “Breezeblocks,” Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode” and a mash up of fellow Chicago artists Kanye West’s hits “Monster” and “Touch the Sky.” Their rendition of Chance The Rapper’s “All Night” perfectly described what many audiences members had been doing prior to the show.

While many EDM shows are best enjoyed at an outdoor venue that leaves room for individual dancing and relaxation, the intimacy of WOW Hall gave the audience a necessary spark of Bohemianism.

Louis The Child transformed the corner of 8th and Lincoln from a standard concert hall into a sweaty pit of students that rambunctiously slammed into each other in rhythm with the heavy synth. In place of their usual over the top lights show — which was unavailable due to their equipment truck getting stuck in a snow storm — a 4-foot by 12-foot LED screen sufficiently entertained the crowd with an endless stream of trippy graphics.

Half way through their set, the group asked the audience if they were, “Ready to get down like you never have before.” After an ecstatic response from the crowd, the group played their latest single, “Fire,” which came out in late September, as well as their remix of Miike Snow’s “Genghis Khan.” It ignited the crowd in a full-on sing along. All of this was followed by an incitement from Kennetta to get crazy after the clock struck midnight.

As the band finished their set by playing a brand new track that featured opener Elohim’s vocals, many female audience members were not-so-politely asked to get down from the shoulders of their male counterparts by WOW Hall staff members.

Hauldren took offense to the crowd’s chant of “One more song” responding, “One more song? Just one more? How about a few more?” Leading the audience to erupt as they could see the band’s hit singles “Weekend” and “It’s Strange” were in their immediate future.

The show was filled with dancing, singing and a release of inhibition that — after an exhausting dead week — was much needed for many UO students. Once the show ended, Kennetta addressed the duo’s appreciation for the audience’s engagement, saying, “How amazing is it that we all came together tonight and had a good time? I’m glad we could share this night with you.”

Seeing Louis The Child perform at a sold out WOW Hall might’ve been a once in a lifetime opportunity. The next time they come to the Northwest expect them to either be headlining a major festival or playing at a much larger venue. Look for the electronic DJ duo to completely blow up the EDM scene in the next few years.

The post Review: Louis The Child gives Eugene a glimpse into the future of EDM appeared first on Emerald Media.

As students returned from Thanksgiving break, many came to the sudden realization that it’s week 10 of the term, which can only mean one thing: It’s dead week. All of those readings you didn’t do, papers you didn’t write and key concepts that you don’t understand have to be understood and completed in just enough time for finals.

However, it wouldn’t be dead week without a little bit of procrastination. Along with the certain stress and anxiety that comes with the end of the term also comes a new month, which means that there will be hours of new Netflix shows and movies to binge watch. So put down that applied science textbook that you haven’t touched since syllabus week and check out what’s new on the popular streaming site.

Amongst the numerous other movies that will be added to Netflix this month, the 1978 classic and UO treasure, Animal House will be making it’s way to your queue this Thursday. The film follows the story of two college freshman who, after joining the wildest fraternity on campus, have to fight off the dean and a rival fraternity to keep their charter. Many scenes from this movie were filmed at the current Phi Kappa Psi house here in Eugene, making this a must watch for any UO student.

If you’re looking for something a little more mature, the much anticipated biopic, Barry — which details the life of a young Barack Obama as an undergraduate student at University of Columbia — will be available starting Dec. 16. The Netflix production features Devon Terrell as the President-to-be trying to figure out his place in the world. While missing his family back in Hawaii, Obama struggles to adapt to life in the Big Apple as one of the few African-American students at the Ivy League school.

HBO’s series Hip-Hop Evolution, which will be added on Dec. 2, is a must watch mini-doc series for anyone who considers themselves a fan of the genre. The series depicts the origins of hip-hop by going all the way back to the 1980s and roots of rap music. Featuring exclusive interviews with artists Run DMC, Ice-T and N.W.A., the series provides a brief history of the most influential DJs, MCs and rappers that forever changed the game.

Netflix is also adding several TV specials, including Reggie Watts’ comedy special Spatial, and illusionist David Blaine’s Street Magic.

The addition of many new titles also means that Netflix will be removing older ones. The list of movies being taken down from the site includes 1986’s classic action hit Top Gun and the Oscar-winning American Beauty.

Top Gun tells the story of arrogant Naval pilot Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) and his co-pilot, nicknamed “Goose.” When the two are sent to a training academy, they must compete with the best pilots in the nation in order to graduate. Val Kilmer portrays the infamous antagonist “Iceman” who challenges Maverick for the top of the class.

In American Beauty, Kevin Spacey plays a dissatisfied middle-class worker who decides to reinvent himself by quitting his job in order to lead a more fulfilling life of scandal and deception. The film — which won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2000, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography — touches on the repression and conformity of American society. Make sure to give both of these classics a watch before they’re gone.

Check out the complete list of shows coming and leaving Netflix in the month of December here.

The post What’s new on Netflix this month? appeared first on Emerald Media.

As we prepare to head home for this Thanksgiving holiday, many of us are excited to spend time with our loved ones, take time off of school, stuff our faces with turkey and (fingers crossed) watch the Ducks beat the Beavers in the 120th Civil War game. For others, the holiday season isn’t always something to look forward to. If you’re one of those people who needs a little extra kick to get into the festive season, take a look at the list of the Emerald staff’s favorite Thanksgiving themed TV episodes. After watching a few of these, you’ll be headed to the kitchen to help your grandma bake pie.

5.) “My Day Off”

Scrubs (Season 1, Ep. 9)

Like most Scrubs episodes, the characters deal with their own personal issues that all connect to an overlying theme or concept that JD ties to an important life lesson at the end. While stuck at the hospital on Thanksgiving, JD and Turk’s friendship is called into question when JD decides that he doesn’t want Turk to operate on his appendicitis.

Dr. Cox deals with trying to impress his former mentor while fighting off his current boss. After giving JD a rough physical, Elliot attempts to learn better bedside manner by sympathizing with her patients. Along with featuring a hilarious string of Fat Albert cutaways, this episode explores the differences and similarities of the dynamics within families at home and families at the workplace.

4.) “Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap”

How I Met Your Mother (Season 5, Ep. 9)

Two years after the first “Slapsgiving,” Marshal gifts one of his remaining slaps — which he won in a previous bet with Barney — to Robin and Ted. Lily’s father shows up to Thanksgiving dinner after Marshal invites him in secret, despite the fact that Lily gave him the “you’re dead to me” look several years earlier.

Later realizing that life is far too short to hold grudges, Lily decides to forgive her father and invite him to dinner. After a comically drawn out scene in which the gang tries to decide who should to slap Barney, Marshal gets him when he’s least expecting it.

3.) “The One With All The Thanksgivings”

Friends (Season 5, Ep. 8)

After devouring another one of Monica’s famous holiday dinners, the group tells tales of past Thanksgivings that went awry, including the time Joey accidentally got an entire turkey stuck while trying to play a practical joke on the rest of the gang. Later, Monica begrudgingly tells the story of when she first met Chandler. After overhearing Chandler refer to her as Ross’s “Fat Sister” during Thanksgiving break of 1987, she sets out to get back at him.

Several years later, Monica—having lost a significant amount of weight—begins to flirt with Chandler. It’s all fun and games until she accidentally drops a knife and severs his toe. Learning this story for the first time, Chandler becomes increasingly upset, forcing Monica to pull out all the stops to help cheer him up.

2.) “The Gang Squashes Their Beefs”

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia (Season 9, Ep. 10)

The gang decides they have to take action after realizing that the grudges they hold with their associates is preventing them from being able to rent movies and go to their favorite restaurants. In order to bury the hatchet, they decide to host a Thanksgiving dinner and invite everyone who they have bad blood with.

This episode features a variety of fan favorite guest stars who are recurring characters from the show, including the McPoyle twins, Rickety Cricket and Gail the Snail. The gang selfishly uses the holiday spirit of forgiveness in order to clean the slate and get what they want from their friends. If there is any lesson to be learned from this episode, it’s that this holiday season we should all be extra careful not to make the same self-centered mistakes.

1.) A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)

Regardless of age, this holiday special reminds almost everyone of their childhood Thanksgivings. It opens with the famous scene in which Lucy pulls the football out from under Charlie Brown after convincing him that she would never do such a thing. After Peppermint Patty invites herself and the rest of her friends over to Charlie Brown’s house for dinner, he has to scramble to put together a last minute Thanksgiving dinner with only the help of Snoopy and Woodstock.

Later realizing that she had been extremely rude to him, Peppermint Patty apologizes to Charlie Brown and they enjoy dinner together at his grandmother’s house. Holiday specials like this are reminiscent of childhood lessons of forgiveness and selflessness, which we often forget to practice as adults. This holiday season we should all be reminded that we are never too old to be kind to each other.

The post Best TV episodes to get you in the Thanksgiving spirit appeared first on Emerald Media.

As we approach the halfway mark of autumn, the cold, dark reality that winter is just around the corner creeps into many of our minds. But we mustn’t fret. With the shortening of days comes one silver lining: the return of our favorite TV shows.

This fall, networks are continuing to chase the superhero trend. Not only did most of these shows from last season get renewed, but stations have also added several superhero-related programs to their primetime slots.

It’s no surprise that many major TV networks have tried capitalizing on superhero stories after witnessing Marvel and DC’s recent box-office dominance. The number of Superhero shows seems to have become increasingly more popular than ever before, but these shows never seem to be as good as viewers might hope.

One explanation for this is that due to the recent popularity and quantity of major motion pictures produced by comic book companies, the television industry is left with only second-tier superheroes. While the list of popular superhero movies features the likes of Superman, Batman, Iron Man and Captain America, the list of heroes seen on TV includes the mediocre cast of Green Arrow, Agent Carter and Daredevil. It’s difficult for writers to retain their audiences as it is, so when given an already unpopular main character to star in a show, it’s not astonishing that these shows don’t fare too well.

Another reason that these shows never reach their potential is that unlike superhero movies, television series focus far too much on the hero’s origin story. While movies like The Avengers and Man of Steel skim through the protagonist’s backstory as if the audience knows it by heart, TV shows will often dedicate entire seasons to the hero’s life before they put on their mask (Smallville dedicated its entire show to Clark Kent’s adolescence).

This storytelling technique creates constant rising action, which is great at first. Building suspense keeps viewers coming back week-to-week, but the tension becomes mundane when it drags on for seasons. This might explain why so many superhero shows have highly rated first seasons, but tend to experience a steep decline in the following years.

But the number one reason that superhero shows don’t work is their low production value. It’s unfair to compare the production quality of any TV show to a movie, but it’s impossible not to.

When you watch Iron Man and his gang of super-friends save New York City from an alien invasion by exploding a nuclear bomb into a closing inter-dimensional portal in 3D and IMAX, even the smallest of imperfections on a TV set make it unwatchable (Once you see it, you won’t be able to un-see the horrific backdrop on the set of Arrow).

It’s wrong to hold it against the shows for not having the same budget as Hollywood blockbusters, but from all the graphics to stunts, movies with high production value really put the “super” in “superheroes.”

In the end, it’s all about making the hero’s superhuman abilities as interesting and believable as possible. Superhero television series simply don’t have the characters, the writing or the production value to be able to compete with their big-screen counterparts.

The post Price: Superhero TV series cannot compete with their big-screen counterparts appeared first on Emerald Media.

The first time most of us were introduced to Benedict Cumberbatch was back in 2010, when he landed his first lead role as the eccentric private investigator Sherlock Holmes in the BBC hit series Sherlock. Since then, the British-born actor has become the face of several blockbuster movie franchises, appeared as the spokesman of Jaguar Automobiles, was seen onstage with Pink Floyd, launched his own production company, hosted Saturday Night Live and has consistently topped “sexiest men alive” lists.

In terms of cult followings, Cumberbatch’s die hard fans (which have dubbed themselves as “Cumberbitches”) rival the likes of George Takei and Harry Potter. But how has Cumberbatch transformed himself from an unknown English actor to a Hollywood action hero and heartthrob?

First of all, he is a fantastic actor. Cumberbatch was introduced to the world of acting at a young age by his parents, who were both successful actors. He made his acting debut at the age of 12 as Queen Titania in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. His drama teacher claimed that the young Cumberbatch was, “The best schoolboy actor I’ve ever worked with.”

After completing boarding school, he went on to earn an undergraduate degree in Drama from the University of Manchester and later received a Master’s degree in classical acting from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He’s one of the most overqualified actors to grace the screen of an American action film since Ewan McGregor played a young Obi-Wan in Star Wars’ prequel trilogies.

While his academic background in drama and natural acting ability have aided him in his recent rise to fame, that’s not how he earned the moniker of “The internet’s boyfriend.” His dry, British humor and the humility in which he carries himself has made him an internet sensation. His interviews alone have inspired a generation of “Cumberbabes” to create hundreds of Twitter and Tumblr accounts in homage to the star. His extensive professional training has allowed him to have continued career success, but the actor’s personality is what makes him every PR agent’s dream.

Along with his comprehensive training and lovable personality, the manner in which Cumberbatch imparts his own genius unto each of his characters is what elevates him above the rest of the acting field. Letting audiences into the higher level intellect of Sherlock Holmes, Cumberbatch added depth and personality to the character that put Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal to shame.

In his most recent screen appearance in Dr. Strange, Cumberbatch plays a brilliant surgeon who — after a car accident leaves him unable to perform surgery — travels the globe in search of a way to regain the use of his hands. Later discovering the secrets of inter-dimensional travel and dark matter, Strange must use his intelligence and newly found powers to help protect the natural order of the universe. (Read the Emerald’s  full review of the film here.)

However, Dr. Strange is an American superhero, forcing Cumberbatch to abandon his sharp British accent and learn an American accent for the role. It’s fitting that he credits Harrison Ford, America’s former heartthrob, as the inspiration for his American accent.

From his oscar nominated performance in The Imitation Game to his impression of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to his depiction of Star Trek super villain Khan, he plays the role of a mad genius better than anyone has ever before and maybe better than anyone ever will. Cumberbatch’s rise to stardom can be mostly attributed to the type of character he plays.

By adding an intellectual aspect to the archetypical action hero, he has created an entire brand for himself and entertained audiences in a new, innovative way. He compels audiences across the globe by giving even the most studious of characters a complex emotional aspect. His professional training and charisma make him an intriguing celebrity, but the true genius of Cumberbatch is the genius himself.

Watch the trailer for Marvel’s Doctor Strange below: 

The post The evolution of Benedict Cumberbatch appeared first on Emerald Media.