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McHenry High School's student-written and -edited newspaper

The McHenry Messenger

McHenry High School's student-written and -edited newspaper

The McHenry Messenger

McHenry High School's student-written and -edited newspaper

The McHenry Messenger

Drake performs in concert at the Staples Center on Friday, October 12, 2018.

Review | Nothing is the same

Gabe Santos, Arts and Entertainment Editor October 17, 2023

Every Drake album cycle comes with the same promise that “this will be the return of the old Drake” and every album cycle comes with the same disappointment. His recent release, “For All The Dogs”...

From left, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg perform during halftime of Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 13 2022, in Inglewood, California.

Review: 50 years, 50 rappers

Gabe Santos, Arts and Entertainment Editor August 31, 2023

2023 marks the 50 year anniversary of the most listened to genre in America. Born in clubs and DJ booths in The Bronx in New York City, rap has changed and evolved in many ways over those 50 years.  With...

All musicians create demos, but most of those demos aren't meant for fans to enjoy. Streaming, though, has made it easier for for fans to find demos — and sites like Soundcloud have made it easier for leakers to share demos widely.

Demos, leaks and lost tracks

Gabe Santos, Arts and Entertainment Editor May 22, 2023

In the digital age it’s easy for music that artists never intended to release to be heard by general audiences. Every so often someone will get a hold of demos or unfinished tracks in mass quantities...

Music has always been an important aspect in the culture of the world, but how has music influenced changes in that culture?

Cultural resets: Moments that changed the focus of popular music

Gabe Santos, Arts and Entertainment Editor May 2, 2023

Music is an ever evolving, and ever important piece of our culture. We at The Messenger have attempted to mark shifts in the ocean over the course of American musical history. For the purposes of this...

Tyler, The Creator performs on the Frank Stage on the final day of the three-day Day N Vegas hip-hop music festival at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds in Las Vegas on Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021.

Review: Everything must remain

Gabe Santos, Arts and Entertainment Editor April 18, 2023

Tyler, The Creator’s “Call Me If You Get Lost,” released in the summer of 2021, would go on to win the Grammy for “Best Rap Album” and would be critically acclaimed upon release.  Many unreleased...

Throwback Review: "The Slim Shady LP" by Eminem

Throwback Review: “The Slim Shady LP” by Eminem

Gabe Santos, Arts and Entertainment Editor March 3, 2023

Eminem is undoubtedly the biggest most recognizable artist in rap history, however, he wasn’t always such a powerhouse. Before 1999, he was an unknown battle rapper from Detroit. One album would rocket...

Celebrating Mac Miller

Celebrating Mac Miller

Gabe Santos, Arts and Entertainment Editor February 15, 2023

On Jan. 19, 1992, Malcolm McCormick — who would come to be known as Mac Miller — was born. From a young age Malcolm took interest in music, particularly hip hop. McCormick learned piano, guitar, bass,...

Beltran is a junior at the Upper Campus who learned how to speak a new language by listening to a variety of music, from pop and rap to rock and metal.

Humans of McHenry: Daniel Beltran Jr.

Savannah Drost, Staff Writer January 24, 2023

"[When I was] five probably, I just kind of listened [to] music. I had to learn English. My first language was Spanish. I still know how to speak it, just in order to learn English it was a lot of Pitbull...

While "King's Disease III" is a good album, it brings up the question, is Nas's legacy better left untouched?

Review: Is a legendary career better left untouched?

Gabe Santos, Arts and Entertainment Editor December 19, 2022

Legendary New York rapper Nas, known for songs like “N.Y. State Of Mind” and albums like “Illmatic” has recently made his mark on the rap scene with his “Kings Disease” series. Its most recent...

Last week, rappers Drake and 21 Savage collaboratively released "Her Loss" through OVO Sound, Republic Records, Slaughter Gang Entertainment and Epic Records.

Review: “Her Loss” might be his loss

Gabe Santos, Arts and Entertainment Editor November 14, 2022

Suprise album by rap powerhouses Drake and 21 Savage, “Her Loss” was released on November 4th to roaring applause from the community. Drake having a questionable (at best) last few years with the...

Kanye West performs last year

Kanye West has redefined rap music

Cody Dyer, Staff Reporter April 1, 2019

From production, lyrics, even the content of his songs, Kanye West has influenced contemporary rap music more than any other artist. With the release of his fourth studio album “808’s and Heartbreak”...

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