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New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

Destine Manson

Destine Manson, Deputy Copy Chief

Destine is a CAS junior studying Journalism and Politics. Originally from Atlanta, she’s always up for a conversation about anything music or food-related and will dance to anything that vaguely sounds like music with anyone at anytime of the day. Follow her on Instagram @des.destine.

All content by Destine Manson
Hiphop duo EARTHGANG (Olu and WowGr8) perform on stage. Behind them, an EARTHGANG logo is projected on-screen. The logo is an gradient of the Rastafari flag fading from green to yellow to red.

Review: ‘GHETTO GODS’ is a Westside Atlanta origin story

Rap duo EARTHGANG's latest album is a tribute to their hometown.
Destine Manson, Contributing Writer March 7, 2022

Rap duo EARTHGANG's latest album “GHETTO GODS” is a deep car conversation with friends — one that navigates the experience of being Black and in your 20s today. “GHETTO...

An illustration of a Black woman in a green shirt and a white woman in a yellow shirt listening to music through wired headphones. The cord of the headphones spells out “Listen to This.”

Listen to This: Another posthumous release from XXXTENTACION

Read about this week’s most notable singles by Lauv, Wallows and more.

Pop, rap, rock. What isn’t covered this week? Dive into these eclectic reviews to find the freshest new music to add to your library. “vice city” by XXXTENTACION Jordan...

Olubowale Victor Akintimehin, better known by his stage name Wale, performing on his 'Under A Blue Moon' tour. (Photo by Emmanuel Agbeble)

Wale brings D.C. hip-hop to Webster Hall on his ‘Under A Blue Moon’ tour

For one night, the rapper turned the East Village concert venue into a D.C. hip-hop block party.
Destine Manson, Contributing Writer February 1, 2022

A bed of roses covered by a large black sheet lay at the center of the stage. A leather chair peeked out from beneath the sheet as Wale’s first opener, Houston rapper Cam Wallace,...

Harmonyc Movement poses in Times Square  for the thumbnail of their cover of HyunA’s I’m Not Cool. K-pop dance groups have managed to find ways to continue to develop their community and create content during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)

How K-pop groups create community during COVID-19

K-pop dancers have found creative ways to continue to foster community and produce amazing content throughout the pandemic.
Destine Manson, Contributing Writer April 12, 2021

Whether it’s in an impromptu dance class in the space between your bed frame and your dresser or a filmed video with some friends in Washington Square Park, the K-pop movement...

The arts desk is back with some recommendations of singles you may have missed this week.(Illustration by Rachel Buigas-Lopez)

Weekly Radio Roundup: March 18 – March 26

The most exciting singles that came out over the course of the week.

First and foremost, we hope everyone’s doing well. Whether you’re stuck at home or stuck in bed, we’re still devoted to covering the singles that came out over the course...

Princess Nokia’s newest albums feature contrasting themes, as seen in the colors of her album covers. In her songs from both albums, Nokia draws from childhood experiences and personal reflections to deliver a unique representation of her character. (Staff Illustration by Chelsea Li)

Princess Nokia’s Twin Album Releases Are Sweet and Fierce

With “Everything is Beautiful” and “Everything Sucks,” Princess Nokia explores the tethered ambivalence of her brain-space.
Destine Manson, Staff Writer March 6, 2020

New York-based artist Princess Nokia takes it back to grade-school desks and PB&Js with her two latest albums: “Everything is Beautiful” and “Everything Sucks.” From...

Mekleit Dix, a first-year Master’s student in Gallatin, was one of many artists who performed during the school’s “Say It Loud!” showcase. Concluding Black History Month, artists shared messages of unity and pride. (Photo by Destine Manson)

Gallatin Celebrates Black Artistry with ‘Say It Loud!’

Gallatin’s Say It Loud! showed immense support for black artistry in New York through powerful words from young poets in the NYU community.
Destine Manson, Staff Writer March 2, 2020

At the tail end of Black History Month, artists in Gallatin’s “Say It Loud!” showcase shared their art about the complexities of Black skin in a white world. Sponsored by...

The arts desk is back with some recommendations of singles you may have missed this week.(Illustration by Rachel Buigas-Lopez)

Weekly Radio Roundup: Feb. 22 – Feb. 28

The most exciting singles that came out over the course of the week.

A wave of lovely strangeness prevails in this week’s edition of Weekly Radio Roundup. From The Weeknd’s latest late-night atmospheric melody to the airy sounds of The 1975’s...

Skirball has put on many performances that send a bold message. The provocative production of "Apollon" by Choreographer Florentina Holzinger ran Feb. 22-23. (Photo by Julia Saliba)

New ‘Apollon’ Adaptation Is Too Much to Stomach

A dance performance that intends to challenge the patriarchy provides an overly-graphic, uncomfortable experience.
Destine Manson, Staff Writer February 27, 2020

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of graphic violence. At the center of the stage, one woman rode a large brown and white mechanical bull decorated with the...

"Miss Anthropocene," Grime's latest album, is a dark and mysterious masterpiece. It also acted as a perfect vessel for Grimes to continue to sport her classic gothic swagger under the veil of electrobeats. (Staff photo by Alex Tran)

Grimes’ ‘Miss Anthropocene’ Declares Oblivion

Grimes’ latest album, “Miss Anthropocene,” is the soundtrack to the end of the world.
Destine Manson, Contributing Writer February 26, 2020

“Miss Anthropocene” mirrors the pace of one’s thoughts at 4 a.m. The first track on the album, “So Heavy I Fell Through the Earth,” feels like a whirlwind of energy and...

Pulling from the prejudices and experiences of living as a black woman in Toronto, rapper Haviah Mighty rose to popularity with "13th Floor," her first solo album. The 2019 release received the prestigious Polaris Award last fall. (Photo by Adeyemi "Soteeoh" Adegbesan)

Canadian Artist Haviah Mighty Represents Strong Women in the Rap Game

Polaris Prize winner Haviah Mighty is making waves across North America with her unique style and powerful lyricism.
Destine Manson, Contributing Writer February 21, 2020

Canadian rap artist Haviah Mighty is shaking up the music industry in Canada with her latest album “13th Floor.” Drawing from her experience as a black woman growing up in...

Now in their 30th year, Mercer St. Books & Records carries new and used books, as well as LPs. Local bookstores like this one are small businesses that are often overlooked in the city. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)

Support Your OG Bookstores

Buying from your local bookstores in the East Village is an experience that even Amazon’s money can’t buy.
Destine Manson, Staff Writer February 18, 2020

From James Baldwin to E. E. Cummings and many more, there was a time when literary icons roamed Bleecker and Broadway. Many of them sat in the East Village and pondered on the...

The arts desk is back with some recommendations of singles you may have missed this week.(Illustration by Rachel Buigas-Lopez)

Weekly Radio Roundup: Feb. 7 – Feb. 12

The most exciting singles that came out over the course of the week.

From Sufjan Stevens to Carly Rae Jepsen, this week’s slew of singles mostly consisted of soft-spoken reflections on living in modernity. Whether it’s King Krule shrieking about...

Miller's posthumous album was released on January 17 (via Pixabay)

‘Circles’ Is a Bittersweet Farewell to Mac Miller and His Music

Mac Miller’s 12-track posthumous album, “Circles,” serves as a bittersweet farewell that pulls at the heartstrings one last time.
Destine Manson, Contributing Writer January 30, 2020

When “Circles” was released a little over a week ago, it marked the final time Mac Miller would share his poetry with the world. Thankfully, unlike most posthumous projects,...

Tinashe recently released a new album, "Songs for You." (Via Facebook)

Tinashe’s ‘Songs for You’ Is the Artist’s True Debut Album

Tinashe goes all-in on her first album as an independent artist.
Destine Manson, Staff Writer November 26, 2019

Tinashe’s “Songs for You” is by far the closest the pop singer has come to establishing a concrete sound. Since she released “2 On” in 2014, it seems as if her musical...

The American Airlines Theatre. Roundabout Theatre Company is one of the places where students can submit their own place. (Photo by Andrew McGibbon. Via Facebook)

Aspiring Playwrights, Submit Your Work Here

Have a potential Pulitzer winner tucked away in a drawer somewhere? These New York City theater companies accept play submissions, sans entry fee, from unpublished writers.
Destine Manson, Staff Writer November 17, 2019

Playwrights Horizons This acclaimed “writer’s theater” is looking for “idiosyncratic, accomplished, original theatrical voices.” They accept unsolicited full-length...

‘Magdalene’ is a new album from FKA Twigs that was inspired by the Biblical character of Mary Magdalene. (Photo Courtesy of FKA Twigs)

FKA Twigs and Mary Magdalene: An Unlikely Alliance

FKA Twigs loves and loathes the complexities of being a woman on her new album “Magdalene.”
Destine Manson, Staff Writer November 12, 2019

Like FKA Twigs’ live performances that are equipped with breathtaking stage sets and choreography from another galaxy, listening to “Magdalene” is a sensual, out-of-body...


‘By the Grace of God’ is a film directed by Francois Ozon released on October 18, 2019. (Via Music Box Films)

‘By the Grace of God’ Redefines Faith and Power

Director Francois Ozon’s “By the Grace of God” tells the true story of the men who drew the world’s attention to the Catholic Church’s silence on the sexual abuse of children.
Destine Manson, Staff Writer October 21, 2019

“By the Grace of God” layers skin onto the skeletons of an all-too-familiar reality. Some are men of God, whereas others have just enough faith to take on a case that has shocked...

Foy Vance performed at NYU Skirball on Oct 15. After a two-year break from the road, Vance is back on tour in North America and UK. (Via Facebook)

Foy Vance Makes Tour Stop at Skirball

The Irish singer offered a fiercely captivating performance.
Destine Manson, Staff Writer October 20, 2019

Veteran musician Foy Vance continued his triumphant return to live touring with a stop at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts stage. After two years off from touring, the...

Ashley Jane Lewis uses P5.js programming to immerse the user in this interactive dystopian game, guiding them with audio and visuals through Brooklyn after the city mysteriously goes dark. (Courtesy of Ashley Jane Lewis)

Electronic Forests and Programming Obama: Interactive Art Captivates the Mind

Interactive artist and Tisch graduate student Ashley Jane Lewis’s latest interactive installations attract a wide range of patrons — from people who love politics to those who can’t resist the allure of colorful spinning panels.
Destine Manson, Contributing Writer October 16, 2019

Sabrina Claudio’s new album, “Truth Is” has a distinct tonal shift from her debut album.  (via Atlantic Records)

Sabrina Claudio’s ‘Truth Is’ Goes To Dark Places

The R&B singer solidifies her style and signals experimentation ahead with an unprecedentedly dark project.
Destine Manson, Staff Writer October 7, 2019

Sabrina Claudio’s new album “Truth Is” paints a picture of true love, but its ambiguity makes it more Mona Lisa's smile than lovers embracing. Romance has been the primary...

Since the start of her career in 2007, Nicki Minaj has garnered millions of fans, producing hit albums throughout the years (via Flickr).

Nicki Minaj Retires From Music (Probably)

Is the "Queen of Rap" stepping off her throne for good?
Destine Manson, Staff Writer September 16, 2019

“My career has been a pinkprint, when I retire, tell them think pink.” Onika Maraj, better known as Nicki Minaj, reminded fans of these lyrics from her 2012 album, “Pink...

Cover of Lana Del Rey's new album, Norman Fucking Rockwell. (via Twitter)

On “Norman F-cking Rockwell,” Lana Del Rey Gives the Finger to Modern America

The forlorn singer paints an abstract picture with instant classics.
Destine Manson, Staff Writer September 4, 2019

“Norman F-cking Rockwell!” sees Lana Del Rey shed the catchy, upbeat pop choruses of her last album and instead opt to tell a classic love story that is reflective of the current...