“Here for It All”  by Mariah Carey (2025)

Kristopher Porter / Feature Editor

Mariah Carey defrosted early in her new album “Here for It All,” a follow-up to her 2018 album “Caution” — continuing to show that age doesn’t matter. The album is a combination of 90s and 2000s Mariah and I loved every second of it. The blend of R&B, gospel, pop and a little bit of Afrobeats made this album diverse, but it was still cohesive: from a production standpoint, I really enjoyed it. You have Ballad Mariah with the title track “Here for It All,” which gives us some of her best vocal moments with an infusion of gospel in the second half of the song. There is also “Nothing is Impossible,”an inspiring track with angelic whistle notes. “Type Dangerous” is Mariah in her R&B bag and she delivers some clever lyrics on the track which I love. The opening track “Mi,” has a similar vibe with amazing production. Other songs that stood out to me were “I Won’t Allow It” and “In Your Feelings.” These songs not only have amazing production but Mariah’s vocals and lyricism really shine through. “Play This Song,” featuring Anderson Paak, has slick lyrics and great production, their chemistry on this song is spectacular. For Mariah to release this album this late into the game shows that her pen game is strong and that she is here for it all.

Am I the Drama? by Cardi B (2025)

Kristopher Porter / Feature Editor

If the album rollout proved anything, it proves that Cardi B is the drama. From the court case that inspired memes across the internet to her selling albums on the street: Cardi B was going to be successful. Cardi B is back after seven years with her sophomore album “Am I the Drama?” This album goes into Cardi B’s life and shows that she is here to stay, and not a one-album wonder. The album itself is a blend of hip-hop, R&B, pop and some Latinx influences making the production stand out. That blend is one of my favorite things about the album. You feel Cardi B’s personality shine through and she shows us more vulnerability and passion throughout the record with songs like “Man of Your Word,” “Better Than You” and “ Magnet,” among others. She also stands on business, like she did with her court case by checking people like Bia in her song “Pretty and Petty,” — I still can’t name five Bia songs — and her songs “Magnet” and ”Imaginary Playerz.” With features like Summer Walker on “Dead” and Kehlani on “Safe,” their smooth vocals beautifully stand out. Also I see the improvement of Cardi B’s lyricism. However, I do wish that the album was slightly shorter because it does feel a little bloated. There are a couple of songs that I didn’t resonate with because of the feature or the lyrics. There are other songs that I wish were longer. But overall, the project lives up to the hype from beginning to end.

“The Roses”: A Look into Modern Age of Marriage (2025)

Maya Coburn / Correspondent

“The Roses,” starring Academy Award-winning actress Oliva Coleman and Emmy-winning Benedict Cumberbatch is a modern retelling of the classic “The War of the Roses.” This film tells the story of a British couple, formed by a chance encounter and the slow unraveling of their marriage over the course of two decades. The two met when Theo (Cumberbatch) had stormed out of his architectural meetings and stumbled upon Ivy (Coleman), a chef. Their love ignites and soon after we see their career passions have taken them to California, where they’ve formed a lovely family. Ivy works part-time at her restaurant and Theo is an architect who quickly becomes infamous after his building collapses. This flips their very traditional relationship dynamic since Theo loses his job and struggles to find a new one. Shortly after Ivy’s restaurant receives a favorable review from a famous food critic, she is launched into overwhelming culinary success. As Theo’s insecurity inflates, Ivy relishes in a life beyond the home. Miscommunication, avoidant attachment, passive aggression and ambivalent comments between the two grow between the two as they both seek bigger and bigger pursuits. This eventually builds to a file for divorce and a fiery competition on who will win their multi-million dollar house in the settlement. “The Roses” combines these two ideologies of marriage, the romantic obsession paired with the effort of mutual understanding to make an introspective, yet hilarious film. The film takes every historical social norm about marriage and contradicts it, creating characters who try to go against the historical sexist establishment. The dynamic between the two and their perceptions of their relationship, as seen through the lenses of those around them, establishes a complex look into the character’s emotional intelligence. Though their understanding of it is far beyond their abilities to practice it. Additionally, their British-ness is contrasted by life in the West Coast. Though “The Roses” is no longer in theaters, it is predicted to be streaming on Hulu and Disney+ within the next month. As a person not often drawn to the genre, I highly recommend this soon-to-be Dark Comedy classic.

HIM (2025)

Olivia Henson / Multimedia Editor

Okay, so “HIM” was lowkey overhyped! First of all, Jordan Peele produced it; he didn’t direct it or have any creative role beyond. “HIM” follows a rising Black college football star whose pursuit of greatness spirals into a haunting exploration of fame, identity, and the supernatural forces behind success. I say this because I went in expecting a deeper dive into the psyche of Black men and the pressure of becoming a football star. If you’ve seen the full trailer… honestly, you’ve basically seen the movie. The marketing? Super fun and creative. The main protagonist, Cameron “Cam” Cade (Tyriq Withers)? Fine and talented — no complaints there. But when the credits rolled, I was sitting there like, “WTF did I just watch?” It had some seriously demonic vibes. I even had to play Gospel music on the way home just to renew my spirit! Now, visually and musically? Stunning (ergo the gospel music on the drive home). The set design, lighting, and costumes were all on point. You can tell every element was handled with care… except the screenplay.
It’s a case of style over substance. The movie hints at deep ideas like selling your soul to corporations or the dark side of fame, but never goes there. Instead, those themes just get stretched across an hour and a half of weird, funny, and unsettling moments. It gave me “Midsommar” (2019) energy; creepy yet oddly comedic, but with a more culturally relevant twist. Marlon Wayans absolutely killed it in his serious role as Isaiah White, and it was super refreshing to see him play a character with a deeper backstory in comparison to his other comedic films. And Tyriq Withers, and he definitely has star potential. And Elsie White, played by Julia Fox as the football WAG (wives and girlfriends of athletes/celebrities) of Isaiah White, added just the right amount of chaotic humor through her humorous depiction and female mogul energy. If you’re into the whole A24-style vibe, moody visuals, eerie soundtracks, and lots of symbolism, you’ll probably enjoy it. But if you’re looking for a strong, cohesive story? You might leave the theater feeling deflated. Overall: 5/10 (or 2.5/5) beautiful, stylish, and close to being a cult classic, but missing the substance to make it stick.