Thursday, May 21

Album review: Drake’s return on ‘ICEMAN,’ ‘MAID OF HONOUR’ and ‘HABIBTI’ is lukewarm

Drake is back with not just one album, but three. The artist had not dropped a solo album since 2023. That changed Friday with the simultaneous release of the previously teased “ICEMAN,” as well as “MAID OF HONOUR” and “HABIBTI.” Collectively, the three LPs include 43 fresh songs across 150 minutes of new music. Read more...

Photo: Pictured is the album cover for one of Drake’s new albums, “ICEMAN.” The Canadian artist dropped three studio albums Friday, after not releasing a solo album since 2023. (Courtesy of OVO, under exclusive license to Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.)


Alumnus Christina Curlee crafts some of the video game industry’s biggest titles

This post was updated May 20 at 12:33 a.m. Christina Curlee designs worlds – and her worlds are just getting bigger. The UCLA alumnus has spent the past seven years working as a video game designer for Insomniac Games. Read more...

Photo: Christina Curlee poses with her dog next to her in front of a wall with two crescent moons. The UCLA alumnus works as a video game designer for Insomniac Game and has worked on major projects such as Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. (Courtesy of Christina Curlee)


Spring Sing 2026 showcases student artistry as ScatterTones, Synthesis win awards

This post was updated May 18 at 9:16 p.m. Spring air carried song into Royce Hall. With 12 acts throughout the night, Spring Sing returned to Royce Hall on Saturday night after taking place at the Los Angeles Tennis Center last year. Read more...

Photo: ScatterTones celebrates their Spring Sing win. The premier a cappella ensemble performed a rendition of RAYE’s “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” (Selin Filiz/Assistant Photo editor)


Spring Sing 2026: ScatterTones embraces individuality, brings “Scatt” sound to Spring Sing stage

The “Scatt” sound is making its way to the Spring Sing stage. For the first time since 2023, the student-led a cappella group ScatterTones will perform at Spring Sing today in Royce Hall. Read more...

Photo: Posing on a flight of stairs next to Ackerman Union are a few members of the premier a cappella group ScatterTones. The group will perform at Spring Sing 2026, their first time back in the annual competition since 2023. (Presley Liu/Daily Bruin)


Leanne Betasamosake Simpson unpacks Nishnaabe stories, decolonization in new novel

This post was updated May 17 at 8:05 p.m. Leanne Betasamosake Simpson paints a clear map toward decolonization with her latest book. As part of a special speaker series, the UCLA American Indian Studies Center welcomed Simpson on Tuesday for a book talk and signing. Read more...

Photo: Leanne Betasamosake Simpson speaks with a microphone at a podium. The Indigenous Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg author recently released her novel, “Theory of Water: Nishnaabe Maps to the Times Ahead.” (Chenrui Zhang/Daily Bruin staff)



Concert review: Raye claims ‘This Tour May Contain New Music.’ It does, and brings much more.

This post was updated May 20 at 12:22 a.m. Raye’s concert was a form of escapism, allowing audience members to lose themselves in stage design, energy and vocal performance. Read more...

Photo: Pictured is Raye singing while crouching on stage with her arm raised above her head. The Grammy-winning artist performed at the Greek Theatre on Tuesday, for the penultimate stop of her North American leg of the “This Tour May Contain New Music” tour. (Bettina Wu/Daily Bruin senior staff)