Author: Jon Barlas

Graduate of Illinois State University. Journalist at heart. Former editor in chief and sports editor of Illinois State’s award-winning newspaper, The Vidette. auxsthetic.com Editor. Off The Top Podcast content producer, host.

Dro Kenji’s ‘missing hit’ is the only thing holding him back

Internet Money’s latest hit-maker Dro Kenji has been an antidote for fans yearning for another young talent comparable to the late Juice WRLD. The 18-year-old South Carolina native has two projects under his belt all within five months of his label debut. His third mixtape “EAT YOUR HEART OUT,” is set to drop Feb. 26. 2.26.21 pic.twitter.com/7Qdbsdni77 — EAT YOUR HEART OUT (@drokenji) February 19, … Continue reading Dro Kenji’s ‘missing hit’ is the only thing holding him back

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J Cole may be dropping sooner than we all think

It’s still a mystery to know when Dreamville’s J. Cole will release his highly anticipated album, “The Fall Off,” but his upcoming mixtape “The Off Season” may come sooner than expected. In December, Cole posted on his Instagram detailing the phases of “The Fall Off” era — listing his final stretch of musical endeavors before he supposedly takes a backseat as the head of Dreamville … Continue reading J Cole may be dropping sooner than we all think

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Review: Dominic Fike’s ‘What Could Possibly Go Wrong?’ doesn’t go wrong at all

“I hope they cancel me / So I can go be with my family / So I can quit wearing this mask, dawg / Tell the people kiss my ass, dawg” Cancel Me — Dominic Fike Florida indie alt-rapper Dominic Fike seems to fear cameras more than jumping out of an airplane at 13,000 feet. https://youtu.be/LFf9K23ILWc “I hate cameras,” Fike said in ‘IN-FOCUS,’ interviewed by … Continue reading Review: Dominic Fike’s ‘What Could Possibly Go Wrong?’ doesn’t go wrong at all

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Review: dvsn’s ‘A Muse In Her Feelings’ amuses more than meets the eye

A Muse In Her Feelings is far from minimalistic — wanting you to feel everything all at once in different places. Throughout the album, I never wandered, only following dvsn’s lead…” Living between both hip-hop and R&B is exactly where dvsn likes to be. The Toronto-based collective of producer Nineteen85 and singer Daniel Daley thrive on being more concise than most, sequencing sounds that best fit … Continue reading Review: dvsn’s ‘A Muse In Her Feelings’ amuses more than meets the eye

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Video: #OnAux | Has music impacted your quarantine routine?

  Lazing through being at home all day still makes for an exhausting time — yet, we have much more of it on our hands. Keeping up with new releases and trying to discover new artists in the process have been a pastime of my pandemic experience. Self-isolation has offered artists a rare opportunity to make their work even greater. With COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, more … Continue reading Video: #OnAux | Has music impacted your quarantine routine?

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Long Live Jahseh: XXXTentacion’s legacy resides in debut album ’17’

Streaming has single-handedly been able to spring any young, no-name artist straight into the spotlight. Literally overnight, platforms like SoundCloud and Spotify can bring underground artists to the pinnacle of the music world with something as simple as a share. However, one thing consistently plagues these fleeting artists during the age of streaming: follow-through. Will they remain the one-hit wonders they were destined to be, … Continue reading Long Live Jahseh: XXXTentacion’s legacy resides in debut album ’17’

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Grammys 2020 Review: Was Hip-Hop truly represented?

Over the past few decades, hip-hop’s scorn from The Recording Academy has openly been felt. But, it seems as though the nomination committee finally got it — somewhat — right this time around. Drawn from a relatively weak batch of nominations, or some questionable picks like Meek Mill‘s Championships — which dropped in 2018 — for Rap Album of the Year, those who won Sunday … Continue reading Grammys 2020 Review: Was Hip-Hop truly represented?

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Sticky post

Juice WRLD’s death reasserts music’s, society’s drug culture

What’s the 27 Clu-u-u-ub? We ain’t making it past 21. Juice WRLD, ‘Legends’ Alternating between one earbud to stay comfortable laying on my pillow, I went to bed Dec. 7 like I do every night: listening to music. The last song I heard before falling asleep? Juice WRLD’s unreleased “Electric Chair.” Waking up to the sound of my roommate viciously pounding on my door,  shouting that … Continue reading Juice WRLD’s death reasserts music’s, society’s drug culture

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Lollapalooza 2019: Music catalyst to intimate experiences

Aimlessly walking through the endless hordes of NBA jerseys, face masks and fishnets, past the cornucopia of national flags waving against the Chicago skyline, through the millions (maybe billions) of selfies taken in front of Buckingham Fountain and all passing different stages and sets on a closed off Michigan Avenue, one felt insignificant in a sea of 160,000 people. Hot air mixed with the cloudless … Continue reading Lollapalooza 2019: Music catalyst to intimate experiences

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Student singer-songwriter Grant Milliren focuses on ‘The Little Things’

Dust settles on a row of sun-kissed guitars sitting next to the windowsill. A detached string hangs on the end of his acoustic guitar – his prized possession that has seen both triumph and tribulation throughout the years. Notebook pages filled to the edges cover his desk as a lone drum-set sits idle in the opposite corner of his Bloomington-Normal apartment. Illinois State junior singer-songwriter … Continue reading Student singer-songwriter Grant Milliren focuses on ‘The Little Things’

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