Selective Hearing: Conrad Clarke

[et_pb_section bb_built="1" admin_label="section" background_image="http://between-borders.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/SELECTIVE-HdEARING-.png" inner_shadow="on" parallax="on" custom_padding="0px|0px|0px|0px" disabled_on="off|off|off"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" use_custom_width="on" custom_width_px="1312px" custom_padding="0px||0px|" column_padding_mobile="on" parallax_method_1="off"][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_divider admin_label="Divider" height="250" /][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" text_orientation="center" max_width="1750px" header_font_size="50px" header_font_size_phone="35px" header_font_size_last_edited="on|phone" text_font="PT Sans||||" text_font_size="72" text_font_size_tablet="52" text_font_size_last_edited="on|desktop" text_text_color="#1d1d1d" text_line_height="1.1em" custom_margin="10px||-20px|" inline_fonts="Bitter"]

SELECTIVE HEARING:

CONRAD CLARKE

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MusicWords By: Conrad ClarkeIllustrated By: Tom Shotton

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" text_orientation="center" text_font="neuzeit|on|||" text_font_size="11" text_text_color="#bababa" text_line_height="1em" custom_margin="||0px|" custom_padding="||0px|" inline_fonts="Bree Serif" /][et_pb_divider admin_label="Divider" height="50" /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built="1" admin_label="Section" transparent_background="on" custom_padding="0px||0px|0px" custom_padding_last_edited="on|phone"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" make_fullwidth="on" custom_padding="30px|0px|0px|0px"][et_pb_column type="1_2"][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" max_width="3000px" text_font_size="15px" text_line_height="1.8"]Over the coming weeks and months, Between Borders are going to release a series of articles detailing peoples top 25 songs and what the appeal is to them. The aim is to find out whether there is a defining genre or artist that resonates with us due to influences upon us when we were younger. The majority of people have used Itunes at some point and although there has been an emergence of online streaming through mediums such as Spotify and Apple music, I thought it would be interesting to investigate peoples top 25 most played, since downloaded music for our age group would have likely been during the period of our lives where our music taste began to settle. So, this is not supposed to be a list of favourite songs but a deeper look into what causes our musical interests as 2nd generation migrants. Kicking things off, below is my top 25 list with the 10 songs that I have deemed most significant in representing me and my influences (Most of these tracks are love songs, but I assure you, I am not a sweetboi). [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built="1" admin_label="section" background_color="#f4f4f4" custom_padding="0px|0px|0px|0px"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" make_fullwidth="on"][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="Amatic SC||||" header_font_size="64px" text_font_size="35px" text_line_height="1em" custom_margin="-40px|||"]

01.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="||||" header_font_size="61px" header_font_size_phone="19px" header_font_size_last_edited="on|phone" header_line_height="2em" text_font_size="12px" text_line_height="2.4em"]KENDRICK LAMAR, MONEY TREES (2013)[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" max_width="3000px" text_font_size="15px" text_line_height="1.8"]Each King Kenny fan has their own favourite from his large collection of albums and mixtapes, whether it be Overly Dedicated, To Pimp a Butterfly, or his most recent album DAMN. However, Good Kid Mad City is the album where his fame skyrocketed and he became widely recognised as the best rapper in the world. From that album, you could pick a number of bangers that would cater to various moods and tastes but Money Trees is the one that will make you feel all kinds of ways throughout the duration of the song. Although the storyline is not one I can relate to from experience, the song still hits home and his lyrical genius combined with Jay Rock and Anna Wise͛s cameos give me life whenever I decide to listen to it.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label="row" make_fullwidth="on" custom_padding="0px|0px|38.3594px|0px"][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_image admin_label="Image" src="http://between-borders.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/kendrick-.png" custom_margin="||0px|" /][et_pb_image admin_label="Image" /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built="1" admin_label="section" custom_padding="0px|0px|0px|0px"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" make_fullwidth="on" disabled_on="off|off|off"][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="Amatic SC||||" custom_margin="-40px|||" custom_padding="|||"]

02.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" /][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" /][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="||||" header_font_size="61px" header_font_size_phone="19px" header_font_size_last_edited="on|phone" header_line_height="2em" text_font_size="12px" text_line_height="2.4em"]JAMES BLAKE, RETROGRADE (2013)[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" max_width="3000px" text_font_size="15px" text_line_height="1.8em"]Following on conveniently from Kendrick, is his opening act for his upcoming DAMN. tour and the producer of ELEMENT, James Blake. In the first single from his album ͚Overgrown͛, his influences of gospel, soul and ambient music shone through. As an artist, it seems that he has no specific target audience that he is trying to appeal to, making his music very inclusive and enjoyable whilst being ͚acceptable͛ to listen to for everyone. His music is also so versatile and, like money trees can be enjoyed at any time, whatever the mood. Blake, like so many other artists on this list, is underappreciated and that is something that appeals to me on a deeper level when trying to relate to him.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built="1" admin_label="section" background_color="#f4f4f4" custom_padding="0px|0px|0px|0px"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" make_fullwidth="on" disabled_on="off|off|off"][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="Amatic SC||||" custom_margin="-40px|||" custom_padding="|||"]

03.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" /][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" /][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="||||" header_font_size="61px" header_font_size_phone="19px" header_font_size_last_edited="on|phone" header_line_height="2em" text_font_size="12px" text_line_height="2.4em"]JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, TAKE A RIDE WITH ME (2002)[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" max_width="3000px" text_font_size="15px" text_line_height="1.8em"]Justified was the first non-gospel album I remember my mum listening to, when that happens, I know the album is sick. There are the more standard bangers like Cry Me a River and Senorita but this song with the classical guitar and vocal range all combined with the Neptune's (Pharrell͛s production duo) production made this a go to track. Some black people take issue with the fact he produces RnB music but does not seem to contribute or care about the rest of black culture however, whatever you may believe it is hard to deny his talent and his body of work. That this album came out in 2002 and has landed in my top 25 with 138 plays, at the time of writing, demonstrates to some extent how parent͛s tastes can have such an effect on you.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built="1" admin_label="section" custom_padding="0px|0px|0px|0px"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" make_fullwidth="on" disabled_on="off|off|off"][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="Amatic SC||||" custom_margin="-40px|||" custom_padding="|||"]

04.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" /][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" /][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="||||" header_font_size="61px" header_font_size_phone="19px" header_font_size_last_edited="on|phone" header_line_height="2em" text_font_size="12px" text_line_height="2.4em"]LAUREN HILL & D'ANGELO, NOTHING EVEN MATTERS (1998)[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" max_width="3000px" text_font_size="15px" text_line_height="1.8em"]The main things that stand out to me about this tune were the high-level vocals from both Lauryn Hill and D'angelo combined with the prominent bassline laid down by Tom Barney. If someone said this is one of the greatest duets of all time, I would not disagree.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built="1" admin_label="section" background_color="#f4f4f4" custom_padding="0px|0px|0px|0px"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" make_fullwidth="on" disabled_on="off|off|off"][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="Amatic SC||||" custom_margin="-40px|||" custom_padding="|||"]

05.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" /][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" /][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="||||" header_font_size="61px" header_font_size_phone="19px" header_font_size_last_edited="on|phone" header_line_height="2em" text_font_size="12px" text_line_height="2.4em"]CHANCE THE RAPPER, FINISH LINE _ DROWN  (2016)[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" max_width="3000px" text_font_size="15px" text_line_height="1.8"]Like many other second generation immigrants with origins from Africa or the Caribbean, there were a few years of my early life spent going to a gospel church. This is one of the main reasons that this song has made it on my top 25 most listened even though the album was only released in 2016. Gospel music is up there as one of the best genres in terms of execution and musicianship and I spend plenty of time in awe of the artists involved. When the song breaks down into Drown and Kirk Franklin and Noname Gypsy take over, I get taken back to moments at church in my young years or times to this day when in my mum͛s car and she will play tracks from Fred Hammond or Kirk Franklin. (Also, a gospel choir cannot be topped by anyone in my eyes.)[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label="row" make_fullwidth="on" custom_padding="0px|0px|38.3594px|0px"][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_image admin_label="Image" src="http://between-borders.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/chance-.png" force_fullwidth="on" /][et_pb_image admin_label="Image" /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built="1" admin_label="section" custom_padding="0px|0px|0px|0px"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" make_fullwidth="on" disabled_on="off|off|off"][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="Amatic SC||||" custom_margin="-40px|||" custom_padding="|||"]

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="Amatic SC||||" custom_margin="-40px|||"]

06.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" /][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" /][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="||||" header_font_size="61px" header_font_size_phone="19px" header_font_size_last_edited="on|phone" header_line_height="2em" text_font_size="12px" text_line_height="2.4em"]BRYSON TILLER,OPEN INTERLUDE  (2015)[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" max_width="3000px" text_font_size="15px" text_line_height="1.8em"]Any Bryson Tiller fans know that this is directly after Don't, so many assume that I just wasn͛t bothered to change the track. While this could be part of the reason, there is no denying that this a certified banger where you can pretend to be Bryson for a good few seconds. Interludes and skits divide opinion but when done well, can make an album great. This was the case for 'Naked' off Travis Scott͛s Owl Pharaoh which just left you asking why he decided to tease us like that. Open interlude has that similar effect. Considering that this album was released in 2015, for it to be in my top 25 confirms that.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built="1" admin_label="section" background_color="#f4f4f4" custom_padding="0px|0px|0px|0px"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" make_fullwidth="on" disabled_on="off|off|off"][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" /][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="Amatic SC||||" custom_margin="-40px|||"]

07.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="||||" header_font_size="61px" header_font_size_phone="19px" header_font_size_last_edited="on|phone" header_line_height="2em" text_font_size="12px" text_line_height="2.4em"]SKEPTA,CASTLES  (2012)[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" max_width="3000px" text_font_size="15px" text_line_height="1.8em"]Going hard in the gym and need a gas tune? Listen to Castles. Feeling angry after you͛ve just been wronged in some way? Listen to Castles. Teacher called you a sideman? Listen to Castles. My favourite opening bar of all time, this is the perfect ͚Haters are my motivators͛ tune. He encapsulated what the majority of ethnic minority students have thought at some point in their life making it potentially one of the most relatable bars of all time as well.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label="row" make_fullwidth="on"][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_image admin_label="Image" src="http://between-borders.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/SELECTIVE-HEARING-hh.png" /][et_pb_image admin_label="Image" /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built="1" admin_label="section" custom_padding="0px|0px|0px|0px"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" make_fullwidth="on" disabled_on="off|off|off"][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="Amatic SC||||"]

08.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="Amatic SC||||" custom_margin="0px|||" custom_padding="|||"]

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" /][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="||||" header_font_size="61px" header_font_size_phone="19px" header_font_size_last_edited="on|phone" header_line_height="2em" text_font_size="12px" text_line_height="2.4em"]CHILDISH GAMBINO,L.E.S  (2011)[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" max_width="3000px" text_font_size="15px" text_line_height="1.8em"]Any Bryson Tiller fans know that this is directly after Don't, so many assume that I just wasn͛t bothered to change the track. While this could be part of the reason, there is no denying that this a certified banger where you can pretend to be Bryson for a good few seconds. Interludes and skits divide opinion but when done well, can make an album great. This was the case for 'Naked' off Travis Scott͛s Owl Pharaoh which just left you asking why he decided to tease us like that. Open interlude has that similar effect. Considering that this album was released in 2015, for it to be in my top 25 confirms that.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built="1" admin_label="section" background_color="#f4f4f4" custom_padding="0px|0px|0px|0px"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" make_fullwidth="on" disabled_on="off|off|off"][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="Amatic SC||||"]

09.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="Amatic SC||||" custom_margin="0px|||" custom_padding="|||"]

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" /][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="||||" header_font_size="61px" header_font_size_phone="19px" header_font_size_last_edited="on|phone" header_line_height="2em" text_font_size="12px" text_line_height="2.4em"]SUBMOTION ORCHESTRA,BLIND SPOT  (2012)[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" max_width="3000px" text_font_size="15px" text_line_height="1.8em"]Very off-piste choice from me with the Submotion Orchestra being as alternative as you can get but as mentioned before, top vocals and great musicianship is always very highly appreciated. This appreciation goes through the roof when their live performances match their studio versions, as is with a lot of these artists on this list. Lastly, how often would you associate a style that a group like Submotion produces, with an 2nd generation migrant?[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built="1" admin_label="Section" custom_padding="3px|0px|0px|0px"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" make_fullwidth="on" disabled_on="off|off|off" custom_padding="38.3594px|0px|20px|0px"][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="Amatic SC||||"]

10.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="Amatic SC||||" custom_margin="0px|||" custom_padding="|||"]

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" /][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="||||" header_font_size="61px" header_font_size_phone="19px" header_font_size_last_edited="on|phone" header_line_height="2em" text_font_size="12px" text_line_height="2.4em"]KELELA,ALL THE WAY DOWN  (2015)[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" max_width="3000px" text_font_size="15px" text_line_height="1.8em"]One of my favourite artists to come around in the last 5 years. She has a different style with a very distinctive voice. Underappreciated again but she produces music for herself and not for the masses and that is always a massive bonus when supporting an artist.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label="row" make_fullwidth="on" custom_padding="0px|0px|9px|0px"][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_image admin_label="Image" src="http://between-borders.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KELELA-.png" custom_margin="||0px|" /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label="row" make_fullwidth="on" disabled_on="off|off|off" custom_padding="38.3594px|0px|0px|0px"][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="Amatic SC||||" custom_margin="0px|||" custom_padding="|||"]

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" /][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_font="Amatic SC||||" header_line_height="1.5em"]

THE REST,

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" max_width="3000px" text_font_size="15px" text_line_height="1.8em"]The Art of Peer Pressure - Kendrick LamarPoetic Justice (feat. Drake) - Kendrick LamarLet͛s Take a Ride - Ace Hood FlowThe Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill05. Don͛t - Bryson TillerBitch Don͛t Kill My Vibe - Kendrick LamarS*M*N - Tory LanezLife Round Here - James BlakeEx-Factor - Lauryn HillTwenty Eight - The WeekndBliss - John Legend & Teyana TaylorTell Stories Interlude - Amir ObeDlm - James BlakeTo the World - Kanye West & R. KellySame Shit Different Day - SkeptaWhen observing the list of my top 25 most played, its telling that the majority of artists are likely to have some form of migrant roots. What generation they are would be for another time but it is easy to spot the appeal even if that is not what the artists are aiming for whenpromoting their music. We look forward to investigating whether this is a theme that continues throughout the series.Peace.[/et_pb_text][et_pb_sidebar admin_label="Sidebar" /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built="1" admin_label="Section" custom_padding="||0px|" transparent_background="off" allow_player_pause="off" inner_shadow="off" parallax="off" parallax_method="on" make_fullwidth="off" use_custom_width="off" width_unit="on" make_equal="off" use_custom_gutter="off"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" make_fullwidth="on" custom_padding="0px|0px|0px|0px" use_custom_width="off" width_unit="on" use_custom_gutter="off" allow_player_pause="off" parallax="off" parallax_method="on" make_equal="off" parallax_1="off" parallax_method_1="off" background_color="#ffffff"][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" header_text_color="#ffffff" header_letter_spacing="19px" text_letter_spacing="1px"]

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