The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

After performing at the Rolling Loud concert, rapper Lil Uzi Vert was confronted with criticism for the demonic references in his music. Photo Illustration | Ellie Wang

The Satanic surge

Ananya Chaudhary, Aaryan Sharma, and Ellie Wang December 6, 2023

“I make a city girl believe in Satan” (For Me, Lil Uzi Vert) After headlining the 2023 international hip hop music festival “Rolling Loud” in California, rapper Symere Bysil Woods, more commonly...

Tupac Shakurs songs Changes and Until the End of Time are analyzed in ninth grade literature during the poetry unit. Photo | ©Ron Galella/Gettyimages.

Tuning in on Tupac

Ananya Chaudhary December 5, 2023

A crowd gathered at the corner of MacArthur Boulevard on Friday, Nov 3. to watch as a section of the road was renamed “Tupac Shakur Way.” Hip-hop rapper Tupac Shakur, or 2Pac, rose to fame in the early...

“Paint It Black” makes its exit

“Paint It Black” makes its exit

Ethan Kellogg and Lillian Wang November 23, 2023

MV Marching Band performed its 2023 fall show, "Paint It Black," at MVHS on Nov. 14, following a senior night celebration. The show — which included football pep tunes as well as a senior run-through...

The “Heaven knows” album cover portrays PinkPantheress posing in a white silk dress with a white dove flying above her.

‘Heaven knows’ only knows how to stray away from prior success

Ananya Chaudhary and Dylan Nguyen November 13, 2023

Contrasting themes of love and death with nonchalant delivery, drum and bass artist Vicky Beverly Walker, more commonly referred to as PinkPantheress released her sophomore album “Heaven knows,” on...

Hip Hop W(rap) Up

Hip Hop W(rap) Up

Samika Bhatkar and Dylan Nguyen September 16, 2023

Fifty years ago, a small house party in the Bronx, hosted by DJ Kool Herc, birthed the genre known as hip-hop. Early hip-hop was an outlet for rappers to reflect on issues in New York, such as the economic...

Laying on the floor dressed in silver, the “Bewitched” album cover portrays Laufey alluringly staring at the audience.

‘Bewitched’ flawlessly paints a portrait of unrequited love

Ananya Chaudhary September 11, 2023

From the buoyant “Lovesick,” to the melancholy of “Second Best,” jazz musician Laufey produces another unskippable album. Released Friday, Sept. 8, “Bewitched,” foregrounds the stages of a...

Students share their experience with three traditional instruments — the tabla, pipa and mridangam.

Playing traditional music

Nameek Chowdhury, Krish Dev, and Minjae Kang May 31, 2023

Madelyn Wu (pipa) When junior Madelyn Wu first joined an orchestra, she wanted to play the guzheng, a Chinese instrument with strings strung between two bridges. However, Wu’s orchestra didn’t have...

Senior Aris Yang (left) practices his part before the Fall band concert on Oct. 28, 2022.

Performing with perfect pitch

Megha Mummaneni April 24, 2023
Exploring life through the ears of a high school musician with perfect pitch
Striking a chord in the heart

Striking a chord in the heart

Jason Chu, Staff Writer April 12, 2023
How playing guitar changed my life
The 1968 art horror film Hour of the Wolf explores the nature of dark thoughts intruding on ordinary life.

Drawing a line between art and suffering

Jami Lim March 20, 2023
Understanding the role of dark themes in entertainment and mental health
Im Going Viral!

I’m Going Viral!

Jiya Singh March 1, 2023
Understanding TikTok’s effect on music and media’s popularity
Many concerts include pits, areas where attendees can stand close to the stage and experience their favorite artists up close.

In the pit

Jiya Singh December 22, 2022
Amplifying the stories of the MVHS community at concerts
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