Skyler Saunders
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I will be publishing a story every Tuesday. Make sure you read the exclusive content each week to further understand the stories.
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Reason First: Best Hip Hop Artists Who’ve Discovered Dreadlocks and Maintained Success and Credibility Listed from the Starter Lock Stage to the Adult Stage
Christian mythology holds that the judge Samson drew strength from his flowing locks. Has this idea of growing one’s hair to increase virility played itself out in Hip Hop? Terrence “Pusha T” Thornton, famous for maintaining his cornrows and braids, declares in the 2012 smash remix to “Don’t Like” that the “power’s in [his] hair…” While the mysticism does not hold water, there is some truth to the idea of artists growing out their hair to boost visibility, sales and streams, and make concert show appearances more memorable. The women will adore the dreadlocks as sexy. The men will want to grow their own set of dreads so that the former may be just as attracted to them as they are to the recording artists. The maintenance regimens associated with hairstyles like dreadlocks make them at once challenging and a breeze. Just a single wash a week and plenty of moisturizer will keep those dreads in excellent condition. For rappers like Lupe Fiasco who sported a close-shaved head when he entered the Rap world, to dreadlocks, to now a close cropped small Afro with the sides cut close, the trend seems to fluctuate among individuals. In an era where ballplayers and Hip Hop artists had shaved their cornrows and opted for conventional haircuts such as Allen Iverson (who reverted back to cornrows), Carmelo Anthony, Ludacris, Fam-Lay, and a host of others in anticipation for the President Barack Obama Administration, the artists of this list have taken the dreadhead look to another level. So, get your palm rolling tutorials and tightening gel for, Why Are You Ranking: Best Hip Hop Artists Who’ve Discovered Dreadlocks And Maintained Success and Credibility from the Starter Lock Stage to the Adult Stage.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Beat
Why Are You Ranking: Best Metaphors in the Film ‘Mother!’ Listed from Shallow to Heavy ***(Spoilers Ahead)***
Most critics found the film to be rather well imagined. Audiences, for the most part, stayed away as if the picture could transfer a virus upon viewing it. The Darren Aronofsky think piece Mother! (2017)brings together a disparate amount of allusions, similes, and representations. With the eerie pacing and jump scenes, the movie at first glance would warrant one to call it a basic scare fest. In actuality, it is a psychological thriller that expounds on some weighty issues that ought to be explored and evaluated based on their merits. From actress Jennifer Lawrence’s earnest and understated performance to actor Javier Bardem’s ferocious yet controlled acting chops, the picture presents a shocking and unsettling portrait of creation, love, destruction, and rebirth. The cinematography alone draws in the viewer with its tinted palette and color scheme. The editing is at times slow and cerebral and at other times chaotic and terrifying. As a whole, the project may be Aronofsky’s finest work. Each of the scenes carry on to the next not just to develop character and move along the plot, but to establish the idiosyncrasies that fill the screen. All of the pieces of the puzzle of the film fall into place in a nuanced and comprehensible fashion. Christianity and environmentalism, mysticism and altruism, really, have been argued as prime motivators for the Requiem for a Dream (2000) director to imbue into this project. So, grab your cigarettes for that cough and remind everyone that you don’t want in your house to get out for, Why Are You Ranking: Best Metaphors in the Film Mother! Listed from Shallow to Heavy ***(SPOILERS AHEAD)***
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Horror
Why Are You Ranking: Best Musical Acts to Have Enriched Delaware from the Admired Duly to the Adored Greatly
The first state to ratify the United States Constitution has played home to a number of notable musical acts that have gone under the radar. Though it may be hard to believe, some of the most talented musicians either saw birth here or traveled here during a time in their lives. The largest city in Delaware, Wilmington, continues to be a hub for upcoming acts. The Queen in Wilmington hosts some of the best musical acts from around the country. But in the past, Delaware also allowed for artists to hone their crafts, seek refuge, and build up a rapport with their audience. The advent of festivals like Firefly and the newest day party scene, Trapstock, seem to be boosting the profile of the state. Though often looked down upon as small, flat, and boring, Delawareans and outsiders alike can enjoy the sounds that flow from the Diamond State. For musicians, Delaware has provided opportunities for listeners to reap new and different musical stylings. From Bossa Nova innovators like Diego Paulo to Hip Hop pioneers like Shizz Nitty, the state has transformed from a tiny dot to a significant part of the euphonic landscape. Even some of the Hip Hop acts like Swish Maddi and producers like SAP (Sounds of a Pioneer) can call Delaware home. Perhaps the most prominent Wilmingtonian in the rap game is Gimel Androus Keaton, best known as Young Guru, the engineer for Rap titan Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter amongst others. So gather your blue hen colored guitars and drum machines for, Why Are You Ranking: Best Musical Acts to Have Enriched Delaware from the Admired Duly to the Adored Greatly.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Beat
Why Are You Ranking: Nas’s Best Beat Picks from Toe-Tapping to Fist-Pumping
Known for picking, allegedly, some of the most asinine production pieces, Nasir “Nas” Jones has collected this criticism since his inception into the rap game in 1991. But are his choices in beats really that odious?
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Beat
Why Are You Ranking: Best of the Denys Arcand Film Series From Slightly Stimulated to Aroused
(Disclaimer: For this list, there is at first glance, omissions. The films, DaysofDarkness (2007) and The Fall of the American Empire (2018) seem to be swept from the annals of the places like Amazon and as of this writing, the latter may not be available for purchase or rental yet. So only two of filmmaker Denys Arcand’s works in the series will be evaluated here.)
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Geeks
Why Are You Ranking: Best Defunct Websites That Paid for Content Listed from Cash Poor to Internet Wealthy
For over a decade now, the web has revolutionized lives for the good of individuals. Now, you can order pizza, a ride, transfer money, conduct video conferences with friends, and much more, all with a few swipes of a finger on a smartphone or other device. But what has not been spoken of or written about as much are the sites that paid for content. User or contributor or partner generated content has been the little secret that no one discusses about the internet. It is a conundrum wrapped in a riddled sprinkled with mystery to most folks. While gaming apps reap in billions of dollars for their makers, the sites that pay (or paid) for material have been relegated to the corner of the digital space. Names that when you speak of them to the layperson, usually draw faces of confusion or even wonder. Few news outlets have spoken of these now deceased sites and the people who possessed the opportunity to spread the message of the goodness of these sites didn’t have too much time as they changed business models, saw absorption into other companies, or found themselves rendered obsolete altogether. But the men and women who saw something curious in the universe said: this internet thing is a huge bank for the yacht-sized companies that have docked here. Why can’t people with a passion for writing or video be compensated for their efforts in these speedboats? Behemoths like YouTube have taken the model to greater heights but few other sites can boast their numbers. Salutes to these people who saw something of value remain in order. So, if you’ve heard of or never heard of the following sites on this list you can still grab your RevTags and SpyMac “Leapfrog” redesign for Why Are You Ranking: Best Defunct Websites That Paid for Content Listed from Cash Poor to Internet Wealthy.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Journal
Why Are You Ranking: Worst Ringless Sportsmen Listed from Ugly Golf Swing to Horrible Commentator. Top Story - July 2018.
With the roar of the crowd echoing through the air, the smell of popcorn and beer and peanuts also give the typical sports supporter a sense of witnessing the sublime. Over time, the athletes that take to the field inspire hope, hero-worship, and admiration. But after all of the lights of the ballpark or stadium have faded, all that is left is the shell of the player and if he has not achieved the ultimate goal in his field (a championship), it’s hard to take him seriously. Though such players may have racked up considerable statistics, awards, and other accolades, if they have failed to attain at least one championship during their career, the lingering question remains: how could they run a franchise or commentate on another player who has achieved a ring (or rings) as part of his efforts? As interest in sports like baseball and football dwindle and basketball seems like a predictable affair, the sportsmen who comprise this list did not skate on ice and didn’t participate in professional individual sports. Instead, their teams looked to them to get the job done and bring their respective city home a championship. Alas, all of them have fallen short of the glory of the coveted Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, the Commissioner’s Trophy, or the Vince Lombardi Trophy, respectively. Though they put in years of practice and indeed displayed incredible skill and dedication, those trophies stood just out of reach. So, get your Shut Up and Jam video games and remember to always have laces out for, “Why Are You Ranking: Worst Ringless Sportsmen Listed from Ugly Golf Swing to Horrible Commentator."
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Unbalanced
Why Are You Ranking: Best Stand-Up Comedians of the past Eleven Years Listed from Chuckle to Guffaw
Throughout history, man has needed to see an evil man slip on a banana peel. Thusly, the stand-up comic was created by the Greeks. It was given another name, but that’s not the point. What humor does is take aim at the issues, negativity, irony, or joyousness, and playfulness of life and condense it into bits that produce laughter in the individual. The legends that have come and gone from Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, and George Carlin all have made indelible marks on their journeys to the funny. But over time, a new crop of laugh factories have been produced. All of the stand-up comics that have gathered up the courage to stand in front of tens of people to tens of thousands of people and before home audiences of millions deserve their reverence, even when they’re irreverent. As the late great comic star Rodney Dangerfield would have told you, it’s tough to get any respect. With multi-million-dollar roles and an ever-increasing base generated from the internet, comedians have carved out new lanes to express their snigger-worthy material. From props, one-liners, intense, personal stories, to bits about observing human nature, comics provide an outlet for us to see ourselves and lighten up a little. So grab your ticket to the Purple Onion and call in your phone jacks for Why Are You Ranking: Best Stand-Up Comedians of the past Eleven Years Listed from Chuckle to Guffaw.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Geeks
Why Are You Ranking: Best Ways That Lindsay Lohan Is the Metaphor for America From Her Reckless to Her Most Beautiful Points
Once a darling of the cinema, actress Lindsay Lohan has experienced both the crests and the doldrums of her profession. Through bizarre run-ins with paparazzi to drug and alcohol abuse, to her romantic life being displayed on supermarket magazine covers, Miss Lohan still continues to work, although without as much fanfare or adulation. From her time as an adorable kid actor on the updated version of the The Parent Trap (1998) to the silly but profitable picture Freaky Friday (2003), Lohan was a Disney princess come to life. And of course, arguably her crowning achievement in her career, Mean Girls (2004) sent her into the film world stratosphere. But then, something happened. Or rather, nothing related to her film career happened. Sure, she came back home to Disney with Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005) but her other projects thereafter fizzled or didn’t live up to the critical or commercial expectations that her previous work had garnered. And this is the metaphor for the Decline of the American Empire. The most ethical (not to say that Miss Lohan has the highest moral standards), beautiful, young, and promising nation to ever grace the face of the planet earth has been on the downslope even before current President Trump swore the oath of office. As the descent of a starlet turned bad girl and now treated like a red-headed step child that you keep locked away in the basement, Lohan is America. For over a century, while the nation has experienced great technological strides, it has tumbled back by the axis powers of mysticism, collectivism, and altruism. It is not too late for either Miss Lohan or America. The one-time ingénue and the most moral country in human history have room enough for a comeback. Lindsay Lohan doesn’t seem headed for major collapse with her recent string of independent films and America doesn’t look like Rome during its period of downtrend. There’s hope. So, go look up the word fetch in the Urban Dictionary for Why Are You Ranking: Best Ways That Lindsay Lohan Is the Metaphor for America From Her Reckless to Her Beautiful Points.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Geeks
Why Are You Ranking: Best Lil’ B Disses and Curses Listed from Unhappy to Based
Belief in superstitions still persists even though the Age of Enlightenment dispelled those mystical notions centuries ago. Within the realm of booty shaking, loud bass, and wanton drug usage, Hip Hop, hardly anywhere else is the idea of curses so regarded as veracious. Point to the Bay Area rapper Brandon “Lil’ B” McCartney’s infamous alleged “spells” that he cast on rappers and professional basketball players alike. The key to the whole thing is that Lil’ B doesn’t actually believe in curses, allegedly. He just likes to stir the pot (as a part of his cooking dance) and see the facts of reality play themselves out before all of our eyes. Though under 30 years old as of this writing, without a major label, management, or the other accoutrements that go along with being a rap star, Lil’ B has amassed millions of views on his YouTube channel; he has a following of over a million people on Twitter; and he has a deep catalogue of independent music. With the curses and the disses, he proclaims himself to be The BasedGod. This moniker gives him the power to decide whether an individual will be called out and eviscerated culturally based on The BasedGod’s sharp barbs and verbal attacks. For anyone who dares to cross this man, prepare for the scrutiny (at least) of a youngster with enough power to sway an entire genre. So, get your wonton soup and big belts for Why Are You Ranking: Best Lil’ B disses and curses listed from unhappy to Based.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Beat
Why Are You Ranking: Worst Domestic Dispute Scenes in Martin Scorsese Films Listed from a Shouting Match to a Punch to the Gut
The films of Martin Scorsese excite, provoke, and conjure up deep intellectuality, and meditations on the aestheticization of the initiation of acts of brute force. What separates this cinematic master’s art from his peers is that he gives reason for all of the bloodshed, the punches, the kicks, the shootings. Honor, respect, and justice lie at the crux of all of his filmic offerings. But what is most curious about his pictures are the scenes of domestic disputes that populate the screen. Much has been discussed about the mob hits, the deals gone sour, and the ever mounting body counts that cap off a Scorsese Picture. From his inception, Scorsese has always had a thing for ultraviolence. From his student film, The Big Shave (1967), gore and violence have been staples in Mr. Scorsese’s palette. The editing by Thelma Schoonmaker make the scenes of viciousness digestible and artful. Without the cinematography of shooters like Michael Chapman and Michael Ballhaus and Rodrigo Prieto (among others), the domestic violence scenes would not crackle with as much intensity, fire, and excellent delivery. Scorsese ensures the viewer that these scenes of mostly men verbally abusing or even striking women anticipated what the #MeToo Movement is challenging as of this writing. His movies (though not all of them) feature some of the most brutal acts ever to be committed to celluloid or digital picture. So grab your bags of cocaine and pink suits from the cleaners and enjoy, Why Are You Ranking: Worst domestic dispute scenes in Martin Scorsese films from a shouting match to a punch to the gut.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in Geeks
Why Are You Ranking: Worst Fake History to be Taught in Government Schools Listed from False Truth to Pants-on-Fire Lie
In this age of schools that ought to be privatized, staff and faculty mean well, but fall short of delivering facts when it comes to history. Throughout the decades, American government schools have offered an adequate amount of education. This satisfactory performance has lead some students to believe in “facts” that never happened, “heroes” that were butchers, and actual heroes who are maligned for their immense fortunes (and how they earned them). Though the school system is fouled up, it is not beyond repair. With the introduction of private schooling, the children and adults of America and the world may still have a chance to salvage what little learning they have and put it to good use in a career that they love. The teachers who have taught “fake history” are to blame but only because their teachers and instructors put in their heads to deliver drivel to the students. What hope is there? If schools are not looked at like the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) or United States Postal Service (USPS) and instead viewed as corporations or companies, then the young minds of tomorrow may still have a chance. But until then, let’s grab our tablets and founding documents for, “Why Are You Ranking: Worst fake history to be taught in government schools listed from false truth to pants-on-fire lie.”
By Skyler Saunders8 years ago in The Swamp
