Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Beat.
Vinyl Subscriptions 101
Whether or not you collect vinyl records, you've definitely seen the ads. Vinyl subscription services have really kicked off in the last year or two, with unboxing videos becoming a phenomenon all their own — if you're one of the many people who sent me death threats for starting the VNYL unboxing trend, I'm sorry.
By Paige Williams8 years ago in Beat
My Body Is A Cage by Arcade Fire
Arcade Fire had been one of the most admired indie-rock bands of the early 2000’s who toured alongside the band U2. They were rewarded a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album and performed their hit song “Wake Up” with a now-deceased David Bowie. Their second album Neon Bible, of early 2007, was first released in the UK and then in the US a day later on March 6th. It later became number two on the Billboard 200 chart and sold 92,000 copies its first week since the album’s debut. Their song “My Body is a Cage” inspired wonder and a sense of melancholy hysteria behind the many meanings and interpretations of the lyrics.
By Nathaniel Reidhead8 years ago in Beat
Gucci Mane — 'Mr. Davis' Album Review
Trap music pioneer, Gucci Mane, is back once again. This time, he has more to say about his post-prison life, the pain he feels over the deaths of fellow Atlanta rapers, and more casual stuntin'. He has aligned himself with big stars for Mr. Davis.
By Rap Disciple8 years ago in Beat
Change: Artist? Industry? Technology?
A post that could be divisive, but really, I’m just asking questions… Music is something that will always be developing and evolving, and thank goodness. That is something that I feel anyone can be grateful for. Don’t get me wrong, we can all appreciate the iconic sounds and songs of a specific decade or genre, but if we were all stuck in the same place, we would all get bored.
By Maddie Christy8 years ago in Beat
Kelela — 'Take Me Apart' Album Review
If Kelela was just a blip on your radar before, prepare yourself. She’s ready to become a full-fledged star. Her debut studio album projects a sound that’s so uncanny to the pop landscape that she’s sure to stand out. This is a track-by-track review of her latest album, Take Me Apart.
By Rap Disciple8 years ago in Beat
Need a Website?
I recently made the decision to invest in a professional website for my music business. As a singer songwriter and now performer, I needed a powerful means of distribution, enticing marketing, and a crisp display across desktop and mobile devices. Wix.com provided all of these things and more. Its drag and drop design was so intuitive that I was able to focus primarily on aesthetics as opposed to the technical logistics. There are other website design platforms that don't require coding such as Weebly, but Wix's music management is like no other. I get an eCommerce store built into my site, which is run through PayPal, so you get super smooth purchases and invoices for a reasonable fee of 3% plus $0.30 per transaction. By the way, I'm only paying $15/month for everything I’m about to talk about, and I still have all the rights to my songs.
By Jonathon Lombardi8 years ago in Beat
London's Giggs — 'Wamp 2 Dem' Album Review
For American audiences, the first time you heard U.K. rapper, Giggs, was on Drake’s “KMT.” This won't be the last time you hear from him, though, because on his latest album, he recruits Americans like Young Thug, 2Chainz, and Zaytoven. He’s part of a new wave of British artists like AJ Tracey and Skepta who have been able to transcend their market and find favor with Americans.
By Rap Disciple8 years ago in Beat
London's AJ Tracey - 'Secure the Bag!' EP Review
Get familiar with London Grime star, AJ Tracey. He’s only a few years in the making and already he’s devouring his competition. Whether it’s overseas or on his home turf in the U.K., his music will continue to transcend boundaries. Many of these U.K. artists such as Skepta and Dave already have the Drake co-sign; it’s just a matter of time before American audiences start gravitating towards their sound.
By Rap Disciple8 years ago in Beat
Top Music Festivals on the East Coast
Music festivals are, and always will be, a part of my life. They are more than just multi-day concerts; they're celebrations of life, community, and music scenes. Truthfully, music festivals might be pricey, but they often are worth every penny you spend on there.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart8 years ago in Beat
