DJ Muggs vs. GZA/The Genius “Grandmasters” Angeles Records The Wu-Tang Clan has never really been considered an inclusive group. From its ruthless hip-hop oligarchy to its unmitigated disdain for other MCs, the Clan has long isolated itself. Read more...

There’s nothing like a trip back home over the holidays to help you gain a new appreciation for the Westwood bar scene. As a senior, this past Thanksgiving break was the first time that virtually everyone from my high school graduating class was over 21 and eager to drink their way out of boredom in the suburbs. Read more...

The opposite of war isn’t peace. It’s creation. In the case of “Rent,” war is the battle for love ““ and against the AIDS epidemic within a 1980s New York City Bohemia. Read more...

In 1951, Truman Capote sent the manuscript of his first novel, “Summer Crossing,” to Robert Linscott, his Random House editor at the time. He had written the book seven years earlier, in 1944, and had since achieved international fame with his first published novel, “Other Voices, Other Rooms.” Looking for a follow-up, Capote hoped he could edit the manuscript, originally written when he was 20 years old, but Linscott’s response to the book convinced him otherwise. Read more...

The scariest thing about senior year at UCLA is the realization that graduation is actually going to happen. And, judging from the recent attempts of my friends and fellow fourth-year students to act sophisticated, I realize that I’m not alone in my desire to be a little more adult. Read more...

Boards of Canada “The Campfire Headphase” Warp Music It’s been three and a half years since the eclectic Boards of Canada released “Geogaddi,” an album wildly praised for its morose, psychedelic electronica. Read more...

Bill Clinton probably knows about good performances, having been on stage as a jazz musician and president. “He’s the closest thing we’ve had to Elvis Presley. Read more...