Blake Holmes

H.E.R: Back of My Mind

This summer will be full of good vibes, and the new music is going to play an intricate role in setting the stage. The hip-hop scene has come through with some heat from mainstays like Migos, a collaboration album from Lil Baby and Lil Durk, and newer artists like Polo G’s “Hall Of Fame,” and the late Pop Smoke’s “Shoot For The Stars'' each reached the Billboard 200 as of last week. The pop scene was also given a treat with Maroon 5’s release of “JORDI,” and Olivia Rodrigo is still holding onto the No.2 spot on the charts with her debut album “Sour.” As for the R&B scene, Giveon has held it down for the newcomers so far with his sophomore album “When It’s All Said and Done… Take Time,” but I expect that to change soon with the release of H.E.R’s “Back of My Mind” album. 

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The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It

What’s your favorite horror movie series? I have two, The Amityville Horrors and most recently Insidious. I’ve always loved horror movies. When I was a kid, I loved the thrill of getting scared. 

The nightmares, though? 

That part was trash, but it never prevented me from checking out the next haunting or creepy movie. I’m more interested in the paranormal and possession movies, they seem more believable to me. It’s also a bonus if the film is based on a true story. The Conjuring series checks all of those boxes, and has done a good job at depicting what’s reported to be real-life events. So with the most recent film, The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It, I was fully on board to check it out. 

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Breaking Barriers: 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

This year the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will induct rappers Jay Z and LL Cool J along with several other groups and solo acts. They will respectively become the 8th and 9th hip-hop artists or groups to be honored by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This is an honor, and while it may not be a focal point for some artists to achieve, it’s one that’s only given to hip-hop royalty. 

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Tee Grizzley: Built For Whatever

“The title of this album is my whole life in one sentence. The songs on the album and the things I refer to lyrically on each track reflect pieces of my real life. The name of this album is exactly what I am—Built For Whatever,” said Tee Grizzley according to hip-hop news outlet, Complex Magazine. His album is one among the list of music projects from a few heavy hitters, and some rising stars set to be released this month.

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Without Remorse

When I first saw the trailer for “Without Remorse” a little over a month ago, I instantly got excited. I eventually started reading up on it and learned that it’s based on a 1993 Tom Clancy book of the same title. As an avid gamer, and fan of Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, as well as his 1994 film Clear and Present Danger, it was nothing more I needed to hear. I jotted down the release date in my notes and made plans to watch it on its April 30th release date. 

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Lily Brik: Painting the Streets of Spain

“Usually people paint during the childhood, but they forget about it once they grow up. Luckily, it stayed in my mind,” said artist Lily Brik. Lily’s journey as an artist began at a young age. Her connection with painting has led to a number of projects on canvas, as well as murals around Spain. The 30-year-old muralist is just getting started, but already has some really cool work under her belt. 

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