An Exploration of J. Cole’s “Ville Mentality”

J. Cole’s lyrics intertwine masterfully with the beat on “Ville Mentality” to tell a story about one’s legacy and mentality in life. It’s a heartfelt piece talking about his history, his past mentality that he needed to leave Fayetteville, his…

That’s Not Ladylike

“Close your legs! That’s not ladylike,” “Don’t burp like that,” “close your mouth,” “be respectful!” These are all phrases that are engrained in my brain to this day. Growing up as a girl these are but a few phrases that are said to you all throughout your life. Society tells young girls that…

Finding the words

Before

WP#3 : Opportunities When Combining Art and Science

“The greatest scientists are artists as well” — Albert Einstein

“The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious- the fundamental emotion which stands at the…

4 Your Eyez Only: Ville Mentality

J. Cole’s song “Ville Mentality” from his 2016 album 4 Your Eyez Only introduces the term ville…

My Older Brother as a Role Model

I can safely say that the most influential and important role model in my life has been my older brother Adam. I have learned so much from him; not only have I learned to be a more responsible person from his personal maturity but also how to overcome critical trials that…

Hawaii: Physically & Culturally Distanced from the Mainland

Despite living in the same place for most of my life, my understanding of the word home is always changing. Growing up in Hawaii, I have been faced with experiences, unlike that of my peers. I find that as I grow older, I have…

Patience & Empathy

Ever since I was young, I always felt bad for people. I would cry when I saw an old man eating his lunch alone, a homeless man in New York…

WP2: Like A Butterfly

There’s this analogy of the butterfly vs. the bee. The butterfly goes from one flower to the next. They work towards a…

Dealing With Tragedy Through Comedy

As a fan of stand-up comedy, I was excited to listen to an album by Tig Notaro, who I hadn’t listened to before. Throughout her album LIVE, Notaro explores the relationship between tragedy and comedy, as she talks about the terrible things that had happened to her…