Arts - The Spectrum

With the season finale airing last Friday, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” Marvel’s second Disney+ original series, represents a significant improvement over the previous series, “Wandavision,” which was bogged down by long, monotonous scenes that felt more like novelty than substance.

ARTS

‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ provides an exciting glimpse into the future of the MCU

By Alex Falter | Apr. 29

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has taken a backseat since the start of the pandemic, with upcoming films like “Black Widow” and “Eternals” being pushed back more than a year so spectators might watch them in theaters. As fans await those releases, Marvel Studios has begun rolling out original series on Disney+ to hold people over between films.

Only two months after his last project, “If It Bleeds It Can Be Killed,” Conway brings another tale of arrogance-induced cinematic hip-hop with “La Maquina,” which lets his wacky yet assertive persona shine across 11 tracks.

ARTS

Griselda continues its hot streak with the release of Conway the Machine’s ‘La Maquina’

By Alex Falter | Apr. 23

Only two months after his last project, “If It Bleeds It Can Be Killed,” Conway brings another tale of arrogance-induced cinematic hip-hop with “La Maquina,” which lets his wacky yet assertive persona shine across 11 tracks.

Since the pandemic has forced people all across the world to interact primarily online, “Telenauts” explores the idea of whether an electronic image can have a physical presence.

ARTS

‘We made the best of it’: UB Theatre and Dance Department stream first-ever ‘MFA Dance Thesis Concert’

By ANASTASIA WILDS | Apr. 22

The MFA Dance Thesis Concert — the first of its kind at UB — was streamed from April 16-18 on the UB Center for the Arts YouTube channel.

Armed to the teeth with a grandiose assortment of rappers and producers, Young Thug and Gunna have brought Thugger’s label to the masses with “Slime Language 2,” Young Stoner Life Records’ second compilation album.

ARTS

Young Thug brings his YSL imprint to the forefront with ‘Slime Language 2’

By Alex Falter | Apr. 21

Armed to the teeth with a grandiose assortment of rappers and producers, Young Thug and Gunna have brought Thugger’s label to the masses with “Slime Language 2,” Young Stoner Life Records’ second compilation album.

ARTS

The best music projects for 4/20

By Alex Falter | Apr. 20

Today is 4/20, a.k.a “weed day.” Once a year on this day, people look to unwind, enjoy some snacks and have a good time.

Emilia Clarke played Daenerys Targaryen on 'Game of Thrones,' which celebrates its 10th anniversary today.

ARTS

‘Game of Thrones’ is 10 years old and still worth watching despite its flaws

By Alex Falter | Apr. 17

Exactly one decade ago, the world was blessed with the release of the first episode of “Game of Thrones.”

ARTS

In the wake of his death, DMX’s ‘It’s Dark and Hell is Hot’ tells the story of a tortured artist searching for answers

By ANTHONY DECICCO | Apr. 16

In 1998, a 27-year-old Simmons released his debut album, “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot.” Supported by singles “Get at Me Dog,” “Stop Being Greedy,” “Ruff Ryders Anthem” and “How’s It Goin’ Down,” the album saw immediate success and shot to No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

Ianna Hawkins Owen, assistant professor of English and African American Studies at Boston University, spoke at a free Zoom lecture through UB’s Department of Global Gender and Sexuality Studies.

ARTS

UB hosts a presentation about the combination of asexual studies and critical race theory

By Lily Smith | Apr. 15

On March 30, UB’s Department of Global Gender and Sexuality Studies hosted Ianna Hawkins Owen, assistant professor of English and African American Studies at Boston University, for a free Zoom lecture.

Five years ago today, rapper Lil Uzi Vert set the world on fire with his third mixtape, “Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World.”

ARTS

Five years later, ‘Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World’ is still one of the best mixtapes ever

By Alex Falter | Apr. 15

Five years ago today, rapper Lil Uzi Vert set the world on fire with his third mixtape, “Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World.” The colorfully moody project proved to be Uzi’s breakout moment, as the artist made his first appearance on the Billboard 200 and went platinum in the U.S.

Two separate casts of five actors performed in the show, with the first cast acting as if they were in 1916, the year the play is set in, and the second cast acting as if they are in 2021.

ARTS

UB’s ‘Trifles’ brings together the past and present

By Kara Anderson | Apr. 12

At first glance, a murder in 20th century rural Nebraska and the COVID-19 pandemic may seem unrelated, but UB’s Department of Theatre and Dance made a connection in its spring production of “Trifles.”

DMX was one of the most prolific rappers of the late ‘90s to early ‘00s, taking the music industry by storm with his multi-platinum album, “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot.”

ARTS

Legendary rapper DMX dies at 50

By Alex Falter | Apr. 9

Yonkers rapper Earl Simmons, who went by the stage name DMX, died Friday morning due to complications from a heart attack, his team shared with XXL.

After years of anticipation, this flick finally pits the titular titans against each other for the first time since the 1962 Japanese film, “King Kong vs. Godzilla.”

ARTS

Godzilla vs. Kong knows exactly what kind of movie it is

By Thomas Kowalski | Apr. 6

Movie buffs hoping to catch a giant gorilla punch a radioactive, skyscraper-sized lizard in the face, all while desecrating entire cities, will find themselves right at home watching “Godzilla vs. Kong.

ARTS

The 10 best quarantine hip-hop albums so far

By ANTHONY DECICCO and Alex Falter | Apr. 4

The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down nearly everything in the world, with one exception: the music industry. During a time when people cannot physically go to work, artists can still record music from their homes, and in the case of rap, the results have been excellent.

The album art is a blatant reference to the hit animated series “Beavis and Butthead,” featuring Glock and Dolph on a couch amid piles of cash and an assortment of random items — including a parrot.

ARTS

Young Dolph and Key Glock return with “Dum and Dummer 2”

By Alex Falter | Apr. 2

Young Dolph and Key Glock are two artists who are often undeservingly left out of the top rapper conversation. They prove that again in “Dum and Dummer 2.”

Audience members bought tickets online and then received a link via email for the live stream. Tickets cost $4 for students and seniors, $6 for the general public and $10 for group viewings.

ARTS

UB’s latest spring musical reflects the current ‘topsy turvy’ world

By ANASTASIA WILDS | Apr. 1

UB’s Theatre and Dance Department streamed this year’s spring semester musical, “Living in a Topsy Turvy World: The Theatre of Gilbert and Sullivan,” from March 26-28.

UBCon spectators gathered in 2017 for the Cosplay Dating Game event. The 2021 event will be fully remote, over Discord.

ARTS

UBCon prepares for its virtual return

By Thomas Kowalski | Mar. 31

For over 30 years, UBCon has been an annual staple of the Buffalo community, bringing dozens of Western New York vendors and thousands of attendees to UB’s North Campus.

Don’t be fooled by the similar animation style or familiar voice actors; this show is not “just another” “Rick and Morty” clone.

ARTS

‘Solar Opposites’ returns as the best ‘Rick and Morty’ alternative

By Alex Falter | Mar. 30

Since its premiere in May 2020, the Hulu-exclusive animated series “Solar Opposites” has made its mark as one of the funniest adult cartoons on television.

Despite his Wu-Tang Clan influenced music representing a stark contrast to the mainstream sounds of rappers like Travis Scott and Lil Baby, Buffalo native Benny the Butcher has enjoyed a steep rise to stardom over the past few years.

ARTS

Benny the Butcher continues to bring classic rap back with “The Plugs I Met 2”

By Alex Falter | Mar. 26

Despite his Wu-Tang Clan influenced music representing a stark contrast to the mainstream sounds of rappers like Travis Scott and Lil Baby, Buffalo native Benny the Butcher has enjoyed a steep rise to stardom over the past few years.

“Chemtrails Over The Country Club” is many things — a love letter to American music tradition, a reflection on Del Rey’s fame and a profoundly intimate album largely inspired by Del Rey’s “stunning girlfriends” and “beautiful siblings.”

ARTS

‘Chemtrails Over The Country Club’ brings intimacy to Americana

By Kara Anderson | Mar. 24

In 2019, Lana Del Rey solidified herself as one of the great American singer-songwriters with her critically acclaimed album, “Norman F---ing Rockwell.” Now, after a year of controversies, Del Rey has reasserted her music prowess and public presence with “Chemtrails Over The Country Club.”

This R-rated cut contains the same general plot — saving the world from a dangerous evil — but with much more violence, blood and even a surprising “f---” uttered by Batman.

ARTS

HBO Max gives comic fans the film they’ve longed for with ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’

By Alex Falter | Mar. 22

From the opening scene, it becomes clear that “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” is far from the “Justice League” viewers saw in 2017.