The Sunday Sundown Rundown (formerly in the format of "3 Up and 3 Down") is where I share thoughts on three topics that piqued my interest, along with my favorite photo from the week.
Iceman
Drake dropped not one, but three - yes, three! - albums this week, and the entire music world is a buzz! I haven't listened to all three (who has time for that? Also, that's wayyyy too much Drake for me), but I have listened to Iceman. Here goes my take - it's a good album. I enjoyed it. It's the usual Drake stuff, which is controversial in itself. I'm no Drake stan, but I appreciate how he just came out swinging at everyone and the entire music industry following his feud with Kendrick Lamar, likely his biggest career setback.
Most notably, Iceman (and the other two albums) has brought about more thoughts, debates, and discussions regarding the career of Drake, his music, hip hop roots, and his vying to become an independent artist.
He's likely to break streaming records this week. Again, the usual Drake stuff.
College Commencement Speeches
So many college commencements occurred this week, with more to come in the coming weeks. The messaging from speakers and multiple speeches has drawn ire from the student body at multiple colleges where A.I. has been discussed, depicted weaknesses of the current generation, and so much more.
Add the discourse of this generation's preparedness to that of the labor market, and the week has offered lots of thoughts on the future of many college graduates and higher education.
Voting Redistricting
There has been avid movement among many states, on both sides of the aisle, in redistricting or redrawing county lines to affect voting outcomes for states. We've seen this from Tennessee to Texas - with other states exploring opportunities.
The discussion brings me to the space of trying to understand how we get back to unifying the nation. It feels like we continue to disenfranchise or misrepresent the will and want of the people for the sake of the party.
Maybe it's just me...
Cover Photo
A young girl climbs up to look through a gap in the doors to the prayer hall in the Temple of Heaven, during the first trip to China in a decade by a U.S. President.
Photograph: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images