EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Madison Dobrzenski TABLE OF CONTENTS [email protected] PAGE 3 Re-entry testing EDITORIAL Olivia Lawless MANAGING EDITOR PAGE 4 Remembering influential Black UNC Char- Tyler Trudeau COMMUNITY EDITOR NEWS lotte alumni: T.J. Reddy Megan Bird NEWS EDITOR Hiral Patel OPINION EDITOR Emily Kottak LIFESTYLE EDITOR Anders Hare A&E EDITOR PAGE 5 Digital Blackface: Yes, it’s real Bradley Cole SPORTS EDITOR Max Young COPY EDITOR Niyathi Sulkunte PHOTO EDITOR OPINION María Solano VIDEO EDITOR Nic Jensen LAYOUT EDITOR PAGE 6 The boys are back ASSISTANT EDITORS Jessica Ceballos NEWS Milo Cain OPINION PAGE 7 Valuable leader Miles Ruder SPORTS SPORTS April Carte COPY Elizabeth McGuire VIDEO Brandon Mitchell LAYOUT PAGE 8 Judas and the Black Messiah Emma Lineberger LAYOUT PAGE 9 Frank Ocean’s ‘Nostalgia, ULTRA’ CONTRIBUTING STAFF Kathryn Caudill, Abena Atiemo, A&E PAGE 10 What is NT listening to? Sam Perry, Cameron Williams, Gabe NINER MEDIA Lapalombella, Arik Miguel, Lesly Santos @UNCCMEDIA PAGE 11 Collared dollar

NEWSROOM 705.687.7150 NINERTIMES.COM/STAFF PAGE 12 Niner Times Tries: Viral TikTok Pasta TWITTER @NINER_TIMES LIFESTYLE NINER TIMES CREATIVE DIRECTOR @niner_times James Bourke READ + WATCH MORE ONLINE AT [email protected] MARKETING STAFF Ridge Grant NinerTimes.com UPTOWN AUDIO @uptownaudio POLICE BLOTTER

LOCATED ON THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE STUDENT UNION 2/14: Larceny from Auto Niner Times • Uptown Audio SANSKRIT Sanskrit Literary-Arts Magazine LIT ARTS Media Marketing • Technical Officers responded to to a parking lot in reference to a larceny from an auto. THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE MAGAZINE Kelly Merges NINER MEDIA ADVISER VIEW FULL BLOTTER AT @sanskrituncc Laurie Cuddy BUSINESS MANAGER Joshua Wood GRAPHICS & PRODUCTION 2 FEB. 16, 2021 NINERTIMES POLICE.UNCC.EDU/POLICE-LOG Photo by Niyathi Sulkunte RE-ENTRY TESTING UNC Charlotte gears up for Phase 2 of Covid-19 re-entry testing NEWS by Kathryn Caudill Staff Writer Institute, employees whose jobs campus locations. Mitigation testing provide housing to any on-campus As students and faculty return require close interaction with student will consist of randomly selected student who does test positive. to some in-person instruction on living or dining, and students that groups with email with instructions. Off-campus students and faculty Feb. 22, UNC Charlotte will require required in-person participation such As the selections are random, you will need to self-isolate at private COVID-19 re-entry testing to mitigate as nursing majors. might be selected multiple times and residences. The University’s tracing the virus’s spread on campus. Those Testing conducted during Phase 2 participation is required every time. team will contact those who do test required to take the re-entry tests will be from Feb. 17-22. Registration If you are exempt from testing, positive for COVID-19 to notify close include anyone attending classes in for on-campus testing is now available you do not need to file a separate contacts. person, living on campus, working through StarMed, the University’s exemption form for mitigation Due to the county’s extended on campus, those with meal plans, partner for this testing, which you testing. Exemptions to testing health directive through Feb. 28, staff all faculty teaching in-person classes, can access by texting “covid” to include medical conditions, bona have been encouraged to continue and all faculty and staff that require (833) 269-6396. Appointments are fide religious belief and a positive to work from home until Feb. 22. regular attendance on campus. available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on COVID-19 test within the last three The University can randomly select The University offers free testing the specified dates. The testing will months. employees (including students) who on-campus. However, students and take place on the third floor of the While awaiting your test results, visit campus regularly for mitigation staff can also elect to complete an Popp Martin Student Union, and free you may continue to go on campus testing throughout the semester. off-campus test. Those who get off- parking will be available in the Union following all mask and distancing campus testing must provide proof parking decks. A 49er ID Card will protocols, as long as you have not from a molecular PCR test. All tests be required to get tested on-campus, been in close contact with anyone need to be administered within 72 and StarMed will provide results via who has tested positive for COVID-19 hours of the start of classes or return email or text. The University will and show no symptoms. When to residence halls. also see the results. Participation completing Niner Health Checks, you PHASE 2 There are two different testing in re-entry and mitigation testing, should select that you are awaiting phases. Phase 1 was completed in which is the testing of randomly results, and under “reason why,” you TESTING WILL BE January and included students who selected students, faculty and staff should select “Mitigation or Re-entry received permission to move in early, throughout the semester, is required Testing.” CONDUCTED: students with meal plans using the for being on campus for any purpose. If you test positive, the University plan before Feb. 22, students and If you do not meet these requirements, will instruct you to self-isolate for a FEB. 17-22 employees of the English Training you will not be permitted to attend minimum of 10 days will be emailed in-person classes or utilize any other to you. The University will also

Photo of CHHS Plaza, by Niyathi Sulkunte

NINERTIMES.COM FEB. 16, 2021 3

T.J. Reddy T.J. Remembering influential Black UNC Charlotte alumni

by Jessica Ceballos Photo courtesy of Tina Wright via uncc.edu Asst. News Editor

This article is part of a large series on March 31, 2019, in Charlotte, Lois Stickell, Reddy recalled when established by the Niner Times news North Carolina. According to the the BSU issued ten demands for the section in order to celebrate UNC Biographical/Historical section in university administration to change Charlotte’s influential Black alumni. the Reddy papers, he was a poet and raised their black flag on the Thomas James Reddy, known consultant and an associate editor campus flagpole. as T.J. Reddy, is a UNC Charlotte of the arts magazine, Three. He also According to the Biographical/ alumnus who helped in founding the won the LeGette Blythe Creative Historical section in the Reddy University’s Black Student Union and Writing Award in 1969. Reddy papers, while at Charlotte, Reddy Africana Studies Department. The published two poetry books, Less participated in the Civil Rights Department of Africana Studies staff Than a Score, But a Point in 1974 Movement, protesting the Vietnam page remembers him as “an African and Poems in One Part Harmony in War and specifically the U.S. American Social Realist painter who 1979. He received the Kwanja Award government’s recruiting methods by constructs mixed media paintings for Creativity in 1978 and the North distributing anti-draft leaflets. He with acrylics and natural materials” Carolina Conference of Black Studies also protested segregation and racial and a “creator and coordinator of Service Award. inequality. murals and public art projects.” Reddy transferred to UNC Reddy was featured on the Storied He was also known for his poetry, Charlotte in 1967 from Johnson C. Charlotte webpage on June 6, 2020, political activism and membership Smith University and graduated by Mark West. On July 20, 2017, UNC in the Charlotte Three alongside in 1974 with a B.A. in history and Charlotte held an opening reception Charles Parker and Jim Grant, who sociology and a Master’s Degree in for T. J. Reddy as a way to honor were all charged with arson of the Education in 1977. Reddy assisted him and display his art exhibition Lazy B stables. Reddy was sentenced in founding the Black Student Union “Everything is Everything.” After to 20 years in prison and later had (BSU) and what was then called the Reddy’s death, UNC Charlotte held a his sentence commuted. African and Afro-American Studies virtual event to celebrate the life of Reddy was born in Savannah, Department at UNC Charlotte. In an T.J. Reddy. A recording of the evening Ga., on June 8, 1945, and died oral interview conducted in 2004 by is posted on this webpage.

4 FEB. 16, 2021 NINERTIMES OPINION

by Abena Atiemo Intern

African American Vernacular have digital blackface. It is taking it up. AAVE is something non-Black that we need to police every non- English (AAVE) is a culturally the black form and warping it into people use to be relevant or funny. Black person’s movement online significant form of English with its something entertaining. It seems For Black folks, it is simply a way to (or off); instead, we should have a own unique grammar, vocabulary like a harsh verdict for something communicate, a way of life. conversation on what we deem as and specific traits found in the seemingly so harmless, right? When When looking at GIF and image funny or trendy. How come Black accent. It derives from the non- we look at why people tend to use the usage, it’s easy to say that it’s all people in almost any state of being, standard English that settlers had images they do, disturbing problems coincidence. You might be thinking: whether sad (crying Jordan meme) or in the southern United States. There begin to unravel themselves. “These pictures are funny because in a generally serious moment (Sheryl are also similarities between African Our blackness isn’t something that of the inside jokes behind them!” Underwood taking off her wig), are creole languages and West African we can put on and take off whenever and to an extent, you’d be right, still seen as funny? Why is it “hip” to languages. Today, AAVE has begun to we feel like it. It is something that but many of these images also have use AAVE in regular conversion when take a main stage spot in our current embodies us, something that we tragic backstories behind the pixels. it is not your linguistic trait? It is not digital discourse. carry with pride. It is also the same The most egregious example being an exaggeration to say that almost If you frequently use Twitter, thing that society wields against us. the story of D’Arreion Nuriyah Toles. every part of the Black experience Instagram or any popular social In the summer of 2020, we saw the After returning to his apartment has become commodified. Pictures media site, you may have noticed that consequences of this. The deaths of complex one night, someone of Black people just existing have slang can invoke a comedic reaction. Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, physically prevented him from been turned into jokes for non-Black This slang has been misattributed Oluwatoyin Salau and George entering his home. Toles was called people to consume. It may seem like a to different subgroups online. It has Floyd are a few examples of Black “suspicious” by a white neighbor, frivolous conversation on the surface, been called “Stan Twitter speak” or people whose lives were cut short at and after he faced harassment, he but for Black people who live just “meme speak,” but it is hard to ignore the hands of anti-blackness. Black filmed the interaction and posted it as they are, to have your way of life the direct parallels that these so- people live in this reality. It has to Facebook. It quickly caught media turn into the next hot item or funny called “new” slang words and phrases existed long before the media began attention. After going viral, racist image can be a degrading experience. have with AAVE. For example, the to talk about it in the mainstream trolls turned a selfie he had posted Hypervisibility is not justice. words “lit,” “turnt,” and “tea” all have and needs emphasis. People who three years prior into the “I may Digital blackface. Add it to your origins with AAVE. Many people use take parts of the Black experience, not show it…” meme. The meme’s lexicon. Analyze the deeper threads Gifs to express themselves on Twitter, the “cool” and “in-fashion”’ parts of format usually has the top caption behind your actions and the larger but the only gifs used in a humorous blackness, remove it from its cultural as, “I may not show it,” and an ironic consequences they may perpetuate. context are those featuring Black context and consume it however they caption at the bottom. The emergence We all have a role in dismantling people. please. When it is time to be Black, of this meme turned Toles into the racism and anti-Blackness, even with Combine the watering-down of live under systematic oppression and butt of the joke and trivialized his the smallest of PNGs. AAVE with the overuse of Black fight for the right to live, these same experience. people’s faces in GIFS, and you now people discard it as fast as they pick The point of this isn’t to say

NINERTIMES.COM FEB. 16, 2021 5 The Boys Are Back SPORTS After a long wait, Charlotte baseball returns to the diamond by Sam Perry Intern The Charlotte 49ers baseball team this season is Dominic Pilolli is a left-handed outfielder story, has come back from a challenging shoulder led by Head Coach Robert Woodard, who is looking who bats .403 while driving in 14 RBIs last injury.” He had a 3-0 record with 21 strikeouts in 20.1 to complete his first full season as head coach. season. He was a C-USA hitter of the week innings pitched. Brooks was a former Conference When looking ahead to a new season, Woodard for the week of Feb. 24 last season. USA All-Freshman Team member in 2017. said, “ I really can’t wait, to be honest with you.” David McCabe is a switch-hitting infielder. Spencer Giesting is a freshman pitcher Charlotte opens up their season with a Woodard said he is “one of our best defenders from Hamilton, Ohio. Woodard said Giesting three-game series with Morehead State no matter where you play him at.” McCabe is a “really talented left-handed pitcher.” on Feb. 19 at Hayes Stadium. batted .238 last season, knocking in 9 RBIs. Andrew Roach is a returning junior right-handed The impact of abruptly losing the season last Todd Elwood is a left-handed outfielder in pitcher. Last season in four starts, Roach had a 2-2 year was a tough pill for Woodard and the team his senior season. Woodard said, “has been a record with 22 strikeouts on 22.2 innings pitched. to swallow. Losing last season “was a total shock catalyst in this program for several years.” Elwood He is “probably our most consistent pitcher who effect,” however, Woodard said they are “gonna bolsters a career .306 batting average and drives has a knack for getting outs and missing the barrel really enjoy the game more this spring.” in 42 RBIs in his time with the program. while being a big-time competitor,” said Woodard. Having to tell the players the season was over Rafi Vasquez is a left-handed infielder Season Expectations last year was “not something you (Woodard) who possesses “serious power,” according Being Woodard’s first full season as head prepared to do.” He also went on to say, “from that to Woodard. He has batted .281 with 57 coach, the 49ers will be facing some tough day forward, our staff and players have taken on RBIs in his career here at Charlotte. opponents this season. They are going up the mantra of, control what we can control.” Pitchers to Watch against 19th ranked Tennessee, 25th ranked Due to not having as much of a season The pitching staff’s expectation is for the East Carolina, 17th ranked Wake Forest and during the fall, Woodard was unsure what he starters to be the focal point of strength. Woodard the always dangerous North Carolina. had with 19 veterans and 27 new players. said, “I hope and like to think we will have this Woodard said the goals for the season “Every day is that much more important... starting rotation every year,” but admitted it is a are to “try to develop our guys to the best of and has been a day for us to come together talented rotation and will be tough to match. our ability, and work as hard as we possibly and become one team,” said Woodard. Bryce McGowan and Christian Lothes, along with can to prepare them as best we can.” New Pitching Methods incoming Junior College (JUCO) players Andrew Another goal the Woodard told his players With the collegiate summer league’s uncertainty Lindsey and Austin Marozas, are expected to start. not to “plan on being the same team on June 19 last year, the team sent 18 of its pitchers to However, veteran Matt Brooks and freshman that we are on Feb. 19, the plan is to continue Premier Pitching Performance (P3) training in St Spencer Giesting may make a starting appearance. to develop over the course of the spring.” Louis. Woodard said they wanted to make “sure Bryce McGowan is going into his third season our pitchers are as prepared as they possibly with the 49ers. His pitching repertoire includes can be.” Woodard had discovered P3 when a 97 mph fastball, a changeup and slider that recruiting as the pitching coach for the Carolina he has developed this past summer working at Tarheels Baseball team.”(I) noticed strong levels P3. McGowan is ranked as C-USA’s number one of improvement with our pitching staff not just draft prospect this season and is ranked #58 physically but mentally as well,” Woodard said. of draft prospects out of college, according to This season will be different for the pitching d1baseball.com. According to Woodard, he will be staff due to all Conference USA (C-USA) series the primary starter this season for the team. being four games instead of the usual three. Christian Lothes is coming off an injured freshman “It’s gonna challenge our depth,” said Woodard. season after pitching only 2.2 innings of work (We’re) gonna need guys to be flexible in their before the season’s cancelation. Woodard expected roles.” Woodard plans to combat this obstacle him to be a major contributor last year and be a through whatever means necessary. significant contributor this season in the starting Players to Watch rotation. He has a fastball topping out at 96 mph Woodard said they “got a good core with a slider in the low to mid-80s. Woodard said group of position-players.” he “probably added 30 lbs of pure strength.” Along with Dominic Pilolli, David McCabe and Matt Brooks is a redshirt-junior who was formerly veterans Todd Elwood and Rafi Vasquez, Charlotte’s Charlotte’s Friday night starter before being hurt batting order looks dangerous this year. last season. Woodard said, “who’s just an incredible Photo courtesy of Charlotte Athletics

NINERTIMES.COM FEB. 16, 2021 6 Valuable Leader Charlotte basketball’s Jordan Shepherd has provided leadership and talent in 2021

by Cameron Williams After a long wait, Charlotte baseball returns to the diamond Staff Writer

Charlotte men’s basketball player college freshman and sophomore,” said Jordan Shepherd is fulfilling a big Sanchez of Shepherd. “I think that’s role this year and has already become where his leadership comes into play.” a household name for the 49ers. As he has grown into the player Shepherd how shown leadership and leader he is today, Shepherd on and off the court this year. hasn’t always seen great leadership 2020 was hard for all athletes in programs he has played for in the across the country, and a young past, and he feels that coach Sanchez Charlotte team needs a leader. brings that component each day. They needed someone who could “He challenges me to lead and keep them all disciplined and to be better. I can learn as I go, focused on the team’s goals. how to become a better leader and Early Days share my experiences with the Growing up, Shepherd always younger guys,” said Shepherd. knew he loved the game of Leading during a pandemic basketball. He played games with COVID-19 has plagued the sports his dad and also watched his world and has changed sports. dad intently while he played. It has canceled entire seasons for “I come from a family of athletes, spring athletes and canceled most and my dad would take me to the Photo of Jordan Shepherd shooting the ball in a game against FIU, by Chris Crews. conference basketball tournaments, courts with him, and I would watch including the C-USA tournament in Kruger. Shepherd saw action in all One of these players is now him play, so I think that is where which Charlotte had the four seed. 59 games he played with the Sooners, the leading scorer for the team, my love started for the game...my Each move that an athlete getting starts in four of those games. Jahmir Young. Under Shepherd’s dad is my hero,” said Shepard. makes could make or break them In the 2017-18 season, the team got leadership, the sophomore guard Shepherd played high school being able to play each week. up to number four in the nation and has become one of the best talents basketball at Asheville Christian It has been challenging, but made the NCAA tournament. As a in Conference USA (C-USA). Academy, wherein his senior year, he Shepherd has focused on being part of the 2017 recruiting class for the “I tried to bring my experiences averaged 19.2 points per game along an example to his team. Sooners, they brought in point guard with me and share my stories. Jahmir with 5.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds per “It is my senior year, so it would Trae Young, who is now a member (Young) is playing at an extremely game. He went on to win the Carolina’s be easy to be selfish, but for the of the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA. high level, and I try to keep pushing Athletic Association player of the betterment of the team, I set my “Playing with Trae was a great and keep challenging him to compete, year honors and All-State honors. own goals aside so the team can experience that I don’t take for granted and that is something I learned 247sports had Shepherd ranked have success,” said Shepherd. at all,” said Shepherd. “Being older at Oklahoma,” said Shepherd. as the 313 best players in the The sports world doesn’t see this than him, I was teaching him the ways Being from Asheville, NC, which is country, 61st point guard and 14th kind of selflessness all the time. Saying of school and the ways of life a little only two hours away from Charlotte, in North Carolina. Shepherd put with authority that he sets his own bit. We learned a lot from each other.” Shepherd felt that being closer to home these rankings in perspective and goals aside for the team’s betterment Shepherd took the lessons he was a better fit for him than being over used them to drive him to be better. says a lot about his character. It is a learned from this experience and 1,000 miles away in Norman, Okla. “Early on, I looked at them (the leadership trait that is irreplaceable. applied them to how he plays “Being closer to home was player rankings) a lot, but as I got “There is a cost to winning,” now as the leader of the 49ers. one of my top priorities,” said older, towards my junior and senior added Shepherd. Natural Leader Shepherd. “I knew Coach Sanchez year, I tried not to pay attention to Shepherd’s discipline and being an After Shepherd served a redshirt was coming in and we wanted to them as much because sometimes they ongoing “student of the game” has season due to the NCAA’s transfer build it from scratch together.” can be a little wrong,” said Shepherd. helped him succeed on the court as protocols, he started in all 27 games Head Coach Ron Sanchez challenges Oklahoma Stint the guard has averaged 34.1 minutes for the 49ers in the 2019-20 season. As each of his players every day, which is Shepherd committed to The a game along with 11.4 points. a redshirt junior, he took the younger something to which Shepherd agrees. University of Oklahoma in 2016, guys under his wing and assisted them “What he brings is his unique where he played for Coach Lon in their early days as college players. experience of the struggles of being a

NINERTIMES.COM FEB. 16, 2021 7 JUDAS A&E AND THE BLACK MESSIAH

A mirror to the past that looks a little too familiar by Gabe Lapalombella Photo courtesy of Staff Writer Warner Bros. Pictures

If that subheading concerned you stealing cars and impersonating flawless balance. There’s a particular “Judas and The Black Messiah” is a about this review being political, a federal agent, we feel for his sequence where he gives a speech flawless piece of filmmaking. Though don’t worry. I only say that to show situation. His interactions with to the unified parties; he will give an acted film, some moments feel like that this is a film that is effective an FBI agent (Jesse Plemons) you chills. That feeling stuck with a documentary. Add in a rich, specific, in what it wants audiences to think immediately makes us tense up me throughout both viewings, and I and timely soundtrack you feel like about. We follow Fred Hampton’s as an audience because we don’t think it will do the same for everyone. you’re seeing a glimpse of Chicago story (Daniel Kaluuya), the Illinois know what could happen. Being set There’s only one other performance in the 80s. Throw in two of the most chairman of The Black Panther Party, in a time of severe racial division, that wowed me in from 2020 (review revelatory performances of the year, and the infiltration of FBI informant we fear for him getting out of this on that film soon), but it’s stiff and you won’t be disappointed. Even William O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield). harrowing situation alive. It’s the sort competition with this one. in Fishback, Plemons, and Martin Even if you know Hampton’s story, of performance that requires him to The third star of the film is Sheen’s supporting performances I want to give a bit of a warning. In play multiple versions of the same director Shaka King, who looks at in two scenes as J Edgar Hoover, Hampton’s quest for equality for all, character, and Stanfield does so with the history of this day and age. What nothing feels performed. It’s a rare we see and hear about many brutal ease. the filmmaker gets so entirely is feat to accomplish, but King delivers incidents in the past. I won’t spoil Once he infiltrates the Panthers, the attention to details in the past. on a film that will make us think but, what those are if you don’t know the we meet Kaluuya in his truly Having the privilege to sit in on a most importantly, feel. history, but please know that the film revelatory performance as Hampton. Q&A with the cast, director and Fred can be tough to watch. Thankfully our Having seen the film twice now and Hampton Jr., I was amazed at how performances are so strong here that watching Hampton’s actual footage, accurate the film was. In most of they immediately hook the audience. Kaluuya emulates who this man was. these types of true-life stories, there As William O’Neal, Stanfield has From the voice to the effect he had are individual creative liberties. to draw a tough line in the sand for on those around him, he displays While there may be some here, it Rating: this character. As someone working why Hampton was as influential certainly didn’t feel that way. There’s to take down a revolutionary, some of a figure as he was. Going from great attention to period detail of the might ask how you could sympathize being a hopeful family man with his time, which may even reflect what we with him. Because of an actor like wife Deborah Johnson (Dominique see in the world today. 5/5 him, while we are meeting him Fishback) to a revolutionary, it’s a 8 FEB. 16, 2021 NINERTIMES Frank Ocean’s nostalgia,ULTRA. Ten Years Later

A prelude to one of the most talented and compelling musicians of the 2010s by Arik Miguel Staff Writer

Frank Ocean’s impact is difficult to express would fully fine-tune this later in his career. Orange’s “Forrest Gump”), but this mixtape is fully. His stunning voice, storytelling abilities, However, many songs on this mixtape still capture when we were first introduced to the musician’s and ability to express emotions in the most a specific bright and youthful understanding of the love for film. The outro of “Lovecrimes” features relatable way have made him universally loved. world that expresses melancholy, joy, longing, and a large portion of Nicole Kidman’s dialogue in His creativity has certainly impacted pop, indie, almost every emotion imaginable. “Novacane,” the Stanley Kubrick’s 1999 film “Eyes Wide Shut.” and rap over the last decade, and sad-boy R&B first single from the mixtape, tells a nightmarish It captures Frank Ocean’s desire to embody and knockoffs are constantly popping up, attempting love story of doing drugs and meeting a girl at expand upon other people’s stories. It is also to replicate his sound and persona. With someone Coachella. Now a classic Frank Ocean song, wonderfully memorable and unlike what was with the endless creativity and seemingly natural the story of meeting a “model broad with the happening in a lot of other music at the time. talent of Frank Ocean, replication is almost Hollywood smile” and sly film references like Two songs capture the two emotional poles of the impossible. Even “nostalgia, ULTRA,” Ocean’s “been tryna film pleasure with my eyes wide shut” mixtape. “There Will Be Tears” is full of emotion breakthrough mixtape from 2011, still sounds still stands up as a uniquely crafted song full of and pushes the normative R&B sound towards remarkably fresh ten years later. All the hallmarks intention and artistry. a more interesting indie style. It also features a of a classic Frank Ocean release are present, and Mixtapes are always interesting because of cathartic release of sadness and a tear-jerking looking back, it truly seems like the sound of a the freedom they express. They often feature expression of having an absent father. The other musical genius on the cusp of something great. overt samples of popular songs that would never side of the album can be seen in the closing track. While Frank Ocean was working with rap get cleared for an official album. Frank Ocean “Nature Feels” heavily samples MGMT’s “Electric collective Odd Future, he recorded “nostalgia, included some incredibly memorable covers and Feel,” but transforms it into something even ULTRA” and self-released the collection of samples that expressed nostalgia and the wide more alien, and psychedelic in its own natural songs on Feb. 11, 2011, on his Tumblr account span of his music taste. A lowkey Radiohead way. A nostalgia-inducing and lust-filled retelling with no promotion. The fact that a self-released sample on the interlude “Bitches Talkin’” is of the story of Adam and Eve, but transported unpromoted mixtape on an online blogging cheekily overlayed with women asking, “What “underneath the cherry leaves.” It ends the platform could catch the attention of superstar is a Radiohead?” “Strawberry Swing” covers the mixtape on a colorful and mind-expanding finale. It artists like Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Kanye West speaks underrated Coldplay song—a bold and risky move fully announces the voice of a gifted songwriter, a volumes about the quality of the music. Frank that few artists besides Frank Ocean could pull ruthless perfectionist, and someone who seems able Ocean’s songwriting brand seems so entrenched off. “American Wedding” is essentially a cover of to push conventions with every breath. Everything in popular culture that it can be difficult to think the classic “Hotel California” with new lyrics. The on this mixtape felt fresh and unique at the time, about how incredibly compelling his music first song led to a threat of a class-action lawsuit, which and now with a larger body of Frank Ocean songs was. never really reached fruition. and a slew of copycats and inspirations, this The songwriting exists in a wonderful limbo Frank Ocean’s love for movies is something that jumping-off point feels truly nostalgic in ways state between the real and fictitious. Frank Ocean we are now all aware of (most notably Channel Frank Ocean probably could not imagine.

NINERTIMES.COM FEB. 16, 2021 9 What is NT listening to?

Hello! My name is Madison Dobrzenski, and I am the Editor-in-Chief of the Niner Times. Similar to most people, my music taste includes several genres and artists. I listen to a lot of rock, alternative, Broadway show tunes, and rap. However, I want to share my most recent discovery about myself: I love pop music. I love music that I was shamed for loving when I was 14. I’m sure you remember a time when it was so frowned upon to like anything that was “popular.” Because of that shame, I denied myself artists like Halsey, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift. A combination of wanting to be cool and fearing being “basic” stole pop music from me. Thankfully, we have mostly moved on from shaming “basic” tastes—so I have been taking pop music back for myself. I compiled a short playlist of pop music, new and old, by artists that you may have been embarrassed to like for the same reasons I was. This playlist is short but I hope it teaches you to question the tastes that you once considered “basic,” and realize that maybe...just maybe...some things are popular because they’re good and fun! Enjoy!

NINERTIMES.COM FEB. 16, 2021 10 LIFESTYLE

COLLAREDCOLLARED DOLLARDOLLAR

A story of good during a pandemic by Lesly Santos Intern

COVID-19 has changed the world indefinitely, me her friend gets a little confused sometimes me the dollar and began telling me she would’ve especially in retail workspaces. I work at a huge and apologized for her not having the mask on helped if she knew money was involved. I was more retailer and we meet so many different people that properly. I told her it was no issue at all, but it was shocked at the fact that the woman thanked me have different ideas about the pandemic. We, as important for her to be safe in these times. She than I was with the dollar itself. It is not often that many businesses do, enforce the mandate to wear then came closer to me and thanked me for helping a person genuinely thanks you for helping them, masks and practice social distancing. them. She witnessed my co-workers bluntly walk especially in a retail job. I told my co-worker that it Two elderly women came to shop while I was away from them and make no attempt to help wasn’t about the money but just the fact that they working alongside my two co-workers folding them. I apologized on their behalf and told her if were really nice and respectful. clothes and restocking merchandise. The two she needed any more help to let me know. My co-workers shouldn’t have walked away and women approached the area around me and began Before I left them to browse through the masks, then say that they would’ve helped if they knew browsing the different styles and conversing she stopped me and thanked me once again. She they would get money. I tend to be more patient about them. One was wearing her mask, but it handed me a dollar that was folded up like a with people, especially the elderly because I had made its way down to her chin. She began collared shirt. She told me that she folds dollar hope that when I get older, there will be someone walking towards me to ask me about the sizing bills into collared shirts and gives them to people kind enough to help me. I want people to feel of the clothes, and my co-workers immediately that have good intentions and are kind to her and comfortable and respected because we never scattered and made their way across the sales floor. her friend. I told her to keep the dollar and that I know what they have going on at home. I only I simply maintained my distance and answered wasn’t looking for any sort of compensation from interact with people briefly when they shop at my her questions. Her friend then told her to pull her them. She took my hand and gave me the dollar workplace, and if I can make them smile, then I mask up and cover her nose. She eventually did and told me that “In God, We Trust”—which was consider it to be a good day. To this day, I still have after a few moments. clearly printed on the right side of the shirt—and that dollar in my wallet. I consider it to be my Her friend then came up to me and asked me if I ever felt any doubt in myself to just look at the lucky dollar. where they could find patterned masks. I walked dollar and remember He has a plan for me. with them to the area where we had all of our I walked away, thanking her for the dollar and cloth masks. Once there, the woman’s friend told her kindness. My co-worker saw the woman give

11 FEB. 16, 2021 NINERTIMES NINER TIMES TRIES VIRAL TIKTOK PASTA by Emily Kottak LIfestyle Editor

This recipe has been blowing up Add block of feta into the middle of swallowed by the sauce to where I recipe though. TikTok users are on TikTok—likely because everyone the dish and drizzle a bit more olive could barely even taste the noodles. constantly posting and raving about loves pasta and everyone loves oil. For those who enjoy cream-based delicious and simple recipes. The easy recipes. This pasta recipe is sauces with their pasta, this dish is only way to know if it is really worth extremely simple, only requiring a Sprinkle salt, pepper and oregano perfect. For those who prefer tomato- the hype and attention is to try it few ingredients but producing an on top of dish. based sauces and try to avoid rich yourself. exorbitant amount of flavor. After and creamy sauces, this is not a good seeing this recipe on my “For You” Place in the oven at 350 degrees for choice. page multiple times, I decided it was 35 minutes. For me personally, I enjoyed the Rating time to try it myself and see if it was simplicity of this recipe and the idea really worth all of the excitement. Once done, stir so that the feta of it sounded great. However, after melts and the sauce becomes creamy. the first few bites, I found it to be too Ingredients: rich and creamy for my liking and Pour sauce over pasta and stir feared a stomach ache if I continued ***** Pasta of your choice (I used tricolor together. to indulge. I’m still glad I tried the bowtie noodles) Enjoy! A block of feta cheese I realize I did not use exact Cherry tomatoes measurements for this recipe but that is because it is not necessary to Olive oil do so. There are many variations of this recipe circulating throughout Salt and pepper TikTok. My best advice is to watch several videos of the recipe to see Oregano which one sounds the most appealing to you. I followed TikTok user’s I absolutely love pasta and feta “traderjoesfoodreviews” recipe. cheese, but don’t typically eat pasta When I got the dish out of the with creamy sauces. Instead, I prefer oven, it smelled heavenly. However, tomato-based sauces. However, this it looked very oily (to be expected recipe offers a bit of both which I when using quite a bit of olive oil). think is good for all pasta lovers. I generally try to avoid rich, creamy and greasy food. So maybe this dish Directions: wasn’t the best choice because it encompasses most of those traits. Start by taking a glass baking dish However, I still decided to try it out. and covering the bottom with a coat The first few bites of this dish were of olive oil. heavenly. Though not much seasoning or ingredients were used, the dish Add cherry tomatoes so that it was bursting with flavors. However, covers the bottom of the dish and after the next few bites, the richness stir with spatula so the tomatoes are and creaminess became a bit too coated in olive oil. much. I felt like the pasta noodles were being completely absorbed and Photo of TikTok pasta by Emily Kottak

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