Niall Horan basically released a whole album of reject One Direction ballads. Though the former boy bander’s debut solo album “Flicker” barely strays away from One Direction’s sugar-sweet pop songs about love and innocence, it also adds an original homeyness to its ballads by drawing inspiration from country and folk music. Read more...

Photo: (courtesy of Neon Haze and Capitol Records)

Mainstream rap has always been a young man’s game. Rappers rarely talk about middle or old age. Simply put, not many mainstream rappers last long enough in the hip-hop spotlight to rap about it. Read more...

Photo: (Photo courtesy of Joella Marano)

This article was updated Oct. 16 at 11:55 a.m. Attendees of Flying Lotus’ concert Saturday only needed two items – a ticket and a pair of 3-D glasses, which were given out at the venue. Read more...

Photo: Thundercat and Flying Lotus performed Saturday night on the outer Fairbanks Lawn of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery as a part of the Red Bull Music Academy Festival. Thundercat played songs such as “Rabbot Ho” in front of a red and black backdrop, consisting of his cat head logo. (Cameron Vernali/Daily Bruin)