SLA Media

SLAMedia is a publication of the news for the Science Leadership Academy community. Writers come from the student body in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. We work in unison to create a functioning paper with biweekly postings on a variety of events.

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Song Review: I’m The One

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Meymey Seng

Staff Writer

dj-khaled-lil-wayne-justin-bieber-chance-the-rapper-quavo-shoot-music-video-for-im-the-one-malibu

Seven days ago, the song “I’m the One” was released by DJ Khaled. Some people referred to this video as DJ Khaled assembling the team of avengers, since he brought together a notable group of singers and rappers. He was the one who created the song itself and had different visions of which voice would match a certain part best.

When I first heard this song, I only heard a solid ten seconds and was not sure whether or not I liked it. It just reminded me of other songs that I have heard before, nothing unique or special. Later, I searched it up to give the whole song and video a chance.

The video opens with  DJ Khaled calling Chance the Rapper, telling him to bring some friends who were Justin Bieber, Quavo, and Lil Wayne to have a house party where they would celebrate the good things in life. The rest of the video was okay to me, I didn’t really care for it. It was simply them singing in a party environment surrounded by women.

Starting the video was a hook sung by Justin Bieber and I thought the beat was good, although the hook itself was kind of repetitive in a tiring sense. Quavo’s performance clearly relied on autotune, which kind of turned me off from the song. Even if it was meant to sound like that, I feel like it was not executed nicely. The next rapper after that was Chance and I liked that part more, even though it was very short. Lastly, it was Lil Wayne’s part and I enjoyed his lines but there was a very strong autotune sound. Seconds after the start of his part, it starts to sound better.

So overall, I would give this song a rating of five out of ten. A majority of this could be because I was expecting a lot because of the talk that has been built around this song. With this said, I have to admit, it is a actually catchy song and I’ve already heard it on the radio and played on loudspeakers. Occasionally I might be in the mood to hear it and have actually played it myself.

 

Column: NFL Draft Causing Detours

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Lauren  Nicolella

Staff Writerphilly-draft

Philadelphia had an awesome opportunity to hold the NFL Draft, but since I’m not a fan of football, it just was an annoyance. SEPTA had a bunch of detours, streets were closed off, people were flooding every corner, and there was a constant whirl of helicopters passing up above. It made it hard to come and leave school, but I guess that didn’t really matter since it was such a huge event the city was benefitting from.

On Thursday April 27th, Center City was somewhere I could not stand to be in anymore. Thursdays are usually really long days because of advisory and running practice, so I just wanted to get home since I was super smelly and sweaty. I grabbed my bag from the office and began to speed walk to my stop so there wouldn’t be that dreadful moment of the bus driving away without me.

Luckily, I had company with me so I wasn’t completely miserable the whole time. Meymey Seng and I usually wait at the corner of 22nd and Market to get the 7, but of course there was a constant line of 44’s. We heard friendly chatter of those who take the same bus as us. Someone had announced that there was a detour, so we ran over to 23rd street so there wasn’t a risk of missing it.

I constantly checked my phone, hoping that the transit app would actually be correct for once. It had been about 25 minutes and I was getting fed up, but tried to remain calm. I was glad that I didn’t have a lot of homework to worry about that night, because at that point I wanted to dive face-first onto my bed and run into the shower. It was so frustrating and I couldn’t do anything at all besides wait.

I knew of other buses I could take to get home, so instead of waiting another hour or so for the 7 that obviously was not going to show up we went to wait for another bus. We walked over to 19th street to catch a 17 since they run pretty frequently and is a double bus.

I didn’t realize it until we were about to turn onto Oregon Avenue from Broad Street that it wouldn’t bring her as close to her house like it does for me. I felt bad because I know we both just wanted to get home. I was happy to hear that she caught a bus that brought her down Oregon Ave the way she needed.

There was a huge sigh a relief after I finally stepped off of the bus, a short ride that took longer than usual. My legs felt so heavy, and suddenly there was the welcoming barking from my dogs. Honestly, there’s no place like home when SEPTA takes forever to get you where you want to be the most.

Students who go to school in Center City had major struggles to get where they needed to be, and unfortunately nothing was able to be done about it since the city had been expecting the event to come. Thanks, NFL Draft!

Access To Sexual Education at SLA

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Image from Forward.com
Image from Forward.com

*Editorial

Aaron Watson-Sharer

Editor

 

Every spring, Science Leadership Academy students receive a lecture on Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s). I’ve been going to these sessions since freshman year. I’m a senior now and the presentation hasn’t changed much. The public health advocates have always provided students with a straightforward presentation that covers two common STD’s in Philadelphia youth: Gonorrhea and Chlamydia. The objective has always been to educate us on the issue and how to prevent ourselves from contracting the diseases. We are encouraged to get tested yearly.

We walk out of class and march to the cafeteria. We know it’s time for the STD screening. We arrive and sit with our friends. Most kids, from what we’ve seen at least try to stay engaged and respect that we’re on their time. We hear the same story year after year from the screening. For example, they use the “you never know who you’ve had sex with” idea. This states that having sex with just one individual doesn’t strictly mean one individual, as they or you has been sexually active with others, which if someone were to have an STD, would cause an outbreak. Each year everything is displayed identically. They’re consistent and informative but lack new creative thinking. At the end of each session, all students head towards the bathrooms so anyone can anonymously get tested.

Students also don’t seem to take the event seriously. We lack attentiveness and few students take advantage of the screening. On top of this, we hear jokes about very serious sexually transmitted diseases or about what else you can put in the test cup. We feel that SLA students haven’t really been doing their part.

SLA Media chimed in on this year’s event. We talked about what goes on at each STD screening session and why they are or aren’t necessary. The majority believed it was important to have a yearly screening. But eventually our conversation turned to, despite our STD screenings, the overall lack of information and access to sexual education and health care we have as students. It was near consensus in the room that our health class in 10th grade alone is insufficient.

We don’t believe SLA students are aware of all their options. We’ve heard of organizations like Planned Parenthood, but have not been provided with the information or direction to take that step if needed. Though, some SLA students have used their own initiative. Staff writer Deja Harrison said despite Planned Parenthood’s controversy in the news, occasionally goes to get access to birth control.

“At first it’s uncomfortable going there on your own. But you see other girls your age and it provides comfort to know they’re here for the same reason.” Harrison commented.

It’s great to see we have students who are aware of their options and take advantage of them. In fact, our journalism class had two students who knew they could get condoms from the nurse’s office. That was something I certainly wasn’t aware of. Our tenth grade health class covers a lot of important information and gives us a chance to learn the basics but teenage students need more than just the front page. We need in-depth knowledge whether we like it or not and we would like this school to provide us with ample opportunities to get this outside of an annual STD screening.

It’s understood why it’s a requirement for everyone to attend the screening and then continue to all enter the bathroom. Anonymity. But for students who wish to use their time differently or choose abstinence, we need another way of making this worth their time. A repetitive and aging video on Gonorrhea and Chlamydia has shown to be ineffective.

Knowing all you can about sexual education is vital to youth. There’s no price you can put on knowledge. Knowing your options and appropriate way to live how you wish, if it’s to be sexually active or abstinent is critical to not become apart of a negative statistic. We all need to make the extra effort to make the right choices.

 

*Editorials from slamedia.org reflect the overall views and opinion of the SLA writing staff as a whole.

Sick Fights, Lame Plot

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Fatu Castillo

Staff Writer

Let me kick this off by saying that I knew exactly what I was going to get when I went to see Kong: Skull Island. I didn’t go into the movie theater expecting to be blown away by an intricate plot like Inception or delve into modern societal issues like in Her.

This is not a movie that will have you in tears while people filter out of the aisles nor will this movie compel you to contemplate society and technology the next time your phone dies and you’re bored.

So turn back and don’t waste your money if you want your emotions hammered like a punching bag or your thoughts challenged by a pretentious director that just had to make a point.

No, if I was looking for a movie that would blow me away with an amazing plot or deeping meanings then I’d be sorely disappointed.

I mean, dropping bombs on a random island? Because a crackpot researcher thinks there might be something there? Where was the government agent to say “Uh, Sir, that sounds a little too expensive.”

I paid money to see one thing and one thing only, sick monster fights on a giant screen. Let me tell you, I got my money’s worth.

Kong

Jordan Vogt-Roberts, the movie director, knew exactly who his target audience was and played right to them. Not even ten minutes in and Kong, all hail the king, was already on the screen.

He wasn’t beating anything up yet, which was a little bit disappointing, but he was still cool to look at. And it gave me the perfect taste of the what was in store for the rest of the movie.

It didn’t take long for hands to start being caught since the first fight scene was about fortyfive minutes. Watching Kong wretch-shop a bunch of military helicopters with added explosion noises and comical deaths was extremely pleasing.  

Sometimes, there wasn’t even a reason for hands to be thrown but they were, namely when a giant octopus attacked out of nowhere in water that was definitely too shallow for it to be in.

Why? Because senseless violence and epic soundtracks were exactly what me and the other there are dwellers paid for.

Good acting? Not so much.

By the time the movie was over, I could care less about the if the people lived or died. I still can’t wrap my head around why some of them were even in the movie.

Why would a government agent allow an obviously anti-government photographer to come along on a secret mission? Why would an otherwise level-headed intent go crazy with vengeance instead of saving his men?

I don’t know and I don’t care, I got to see soldier fight with a giant spider.

Would I recommend this movie? No, if you don’t want to waste money of forgettable characters and a lame plot. Yes, if you just want to watch sick monster fights.

 

Music Review: Kodak Black

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Mekhi Granby

Staff Writer

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Dieuson Octave better known by his stage name Kodak Black is an American hip hop/rap recording artist. Born on June 11, 1997 in Pompano Beach Florida, also where he was raised. Since early childhood Kodak Black has been in and out of conflict with law authorities, being sent back and forth to prison.

After releasing multiple mixtapes and singles, Kodak Black delivers his 18-track debut album “Painting Pictures” on March 31, 2017 along with a documentary titled “Project Baby.”

As an official debut album this project is a huge representation of Kodak Black as an artist. Does it live up to the hype? I will be giving an in-depth review of Painting Pictures, track by track.

  1. Day For Day

As an intro this song is purposefully placed as it sets up the mood for the album. It’s a very mellow song with a monotoned Kodak Black as he talks about incarceration and why he continues to pursue music. I like this message of this song and the instrumental is relaxing.

  1. Coolin and Booted

Track 2, another mellow song featuring a calm/smooth instrumental with melodic vibes from Kodak Black. This isn’t one of my favorite tracks because the chorus isn’t that great and I think it could’ve contained more substance.

  1. Candy Paint (feat. Bun B)

Track 3, I have no choice but to skip this song everytime it comes on, this is by far the worst song on this project. The instrumental is alright but the lyrics are complete garbage, I’ve never heard of Bun B and after listening to this song I realize why. Not a good song to put on the album aka a throwaway track.

  1. Up In Here

Track 4, sadly another throwaway track. I cannot listen this song, a very bad performance by Kodak Black on this song. The lyrics are irrelevant and the instrumental is better than the artist rapping on it.

  1. U Aint Never

Track 5, Kodak redeems himself from the previous two tracks. The vibe, chorus and instrumental is what attracts me to this song. Kodak talks about the some of the crimes and activities he did/does in his life and calls out everyone who hasn’t done these things claiming that they did.

  1. Twenty 8

Track 6, the most annoying song on the album in my opinion. I assume the number 28 has a lot of significance to Kodak Black for him to make a song about it but I really do not like this song at all. It’s very repetitive and pointless in terms of contributing to the rest of the album. I would recommend skipping this song to those who listen to Painting Pictures.

  1. Patty Cake

Track 7, kind of an ironic song but also one of my favorite songs from the album. I say it’s an ironic song because the instrumental and vibe of the song is uptempo and happy, (the use of the piano definitely contributes to this) but the lyrics aren’t. While bragging about his wealth Kodak Black says “I clap a nigga like patty cake.” Patty cake is a popular children’s hand game which includes a lot of clapping. Kodak uses “clap” meaning shoot.

  1. Save You

Track 8, one of the better tracks but I always skip it, on this song Kodak talks about his love for women and how he can use his wealth to support his significant other. He expresses how much of a great partner he’d be in a relationship. The chorus is catchy and the instrumental fits the song perfectly.

  1. Conscience (feat. Future)

Track 9, out of the five songs with features I find that this one is the best executed. This song has a high replay value in my opinion, I like the collaborative effort from both Kodak Black and Future on this song. Definitely a song to check out from the project.

  1. Tunnel Vision

Track 10, the first single to appear on Painting Pictures, Kodak utilises his melodies and creates a catchy song along with a music video containing an insightful message about the current state of the United States concerning racism.

  1.  Corrlinks and JPay

Track 11, going back to the original theme of the intro Kodak raps about receiving money while being incarcerated. He connects with inmates while reminiscing on the days he was locked up.

  1. Reminiscing (feat. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie)

Track 12, a laid back instrumental with calm lyrics and a melodic chorus from A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. Kodak reflects on the days when he didn’t have much and the days he was stuck in jail. He appreciates everything he has now and says that he doesn’t want to go back to living those ways.

  1. Side Nigga

Track 13, I dislike this song. It contains a bad message to the youth and impressionable minds about disrespecting relationships and chasing females in a committed relationship and harming their significant other. Don’t get me wrong, there are many worst songs out there about much worse topics which contain even worse messages but I’m only stating why I dislike the song.

  1. Off The Land

Track 14, my absolute favorite song from Painting Pictures. This song is extremely catchy with smooth lyrics from Kodak Black over a relaxing instrumental. This track talks about Kodak working hard to earn all the luxuries he has. Definitely one of my top recommendations.

  1. Top Off Benz (feat. Young Thug)

Track 15, this song features a lot of vocals from Young Thug with the first and third verse going to him along with the chorus. This was a good collaboration but it sounds more like Young Thug’s song rather than Kodak’s. The song talks about luxury cars and women.

  1.  Feeling Like (feat. Jeezy)

Not one of my favorites, nevertheless track 16 is an alright song. I never liked Jeezy so this collaboration isn’t appealing. Definitely wouldn’t recommend this to any new listeners.

  1. Why They Call You Kodak

Track 17, as the album comes to an end, Kodak expresses his final thoughts and emotions. On this song he decides to explain the significance of his stage name. This song features a more uptempo beat with a slightly aggressive Kodak. Leading into the outro I feel like this track could’ve been a lot better or replaced with a different track.

  1. There He Go

Track 18, the second single to appear on the album. Definitely a smart decision to add this song on the project as it’s a fan favorite along with Tunnel Vision. This songs currently sits at 87 million views on youtube. I like this song, simple lyrics over a relaxing beat; Kodak’s signature style. Good choice of an outro as most fans already know and like this song.
Readers should give this album a listen because it’s a debut album! The most important project for a new artist is their first one, it introduces them to a bunch of new people as hype and anticipation collide from fans, artists receive more attention. It properly represents who Kodak Black is as an artist and will be a memorable piece of his career as he propels and continues to create music. I would recommend tracks 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 14 to any new listeners as these are the best executed in my opinion. If you have the time to listen to the whole album, you should. Although I don’t like every song as much as I like others, you might.