While this homecoming doesn’t have as much drama surrounding it as LeBron James return to Cleveland, it is going to take a close second. Howard basically grew up in the city of Orlando calling it home since he was drafted into the NBA at age 18. In his eight seasons with the Magic fans grew to love him as much or more than any other player who had ever contributed to the team. For a small market team like the Magic he was not only the face of their organization but also a beacon of hope. As hard as it … Continued
Music Staff Picks: The Best Releases of April
billy woods – Aethiopes On Aethiopes, billy woods reestablishes his strengths as a storyteller, with help from producer Preservation’s experimentally jazzy beats. By now, woods has cemented himself as one of hip hop’s greatest writers, and his brooding yet clever introspection sounds especially powerful over Preservation’s musical backdropping. Samples of pianos will twinkle across some tracks, and pound discordantly on others, while electric guitars ring and horns blow. By the time the harmonica enters the equation, the beats here are unparalleled. It is an enveloping atmosphere completed by excellent percussion, which moves between hand drums, full kits, and shuffling jangles … Continued