News Columnist & Editor-in-Chief

News Columnist

IN HIS OWN WORDS

Aye, look—don’t let this drumstick in my hand fool you. I been in the church all my life, but I grew up outside too. Learned rhythm in the sanctuary, but learned life on the block. R&B? That’s the only place them two worlds ever really made sense together.

I’m talkin’ real R&B. The kind that hit you in ya chest. The kind that make a grown man sit in his car after a long day, just feelin’. The kinda music where you know they meant every damn word they sang. Nowadays? Too many of these folks out here playin’. Ain’t no pain in they voice, no love in they lyrics—just vibes and auto-tune. And I ain’t tryna hear no just vibes R&B.

That’s why I do this. ‘Cause somebody gotta hold these artists accountable. If it’s fire, I’ma say that. If it’s trash? I’ma definitely say that. But if it got soul? Man, I’ma let you feel that. ‘Cause at the end of the day, music ain't just somethin’ you hear. It’s somethin’ you live.

IN HER OWN WORDS:

Yo, what’s up! I’m Taylor "The Truth" West, and I’m a Houston girl through and through. Now, I’m all about the glitz, the glam, and the beauty of life, but trust me, I’m no stranger to the other side. Growing up, I spent mad time at my dad’s slab shop. That’s where I really fell in love with the culture. Ain’t nothin’ like that deep bass rattlin’ your chest, that sound hittin’ you hard, and knowin’ it’s all about those woofers, those slabs, and that heavy Houston vibe.

I got the best of both worlds, really. On one hand, I’m girly as hell—makeup, heels, the whole nine. But on the other, I got a deep respect for the streets and that real, raw hip-hop. It’s in my DNA. I learned early that music ain’t just somethin’ you listen to; it’s somethin’ you feel. It’s energy. It’s passion. And that’s what I’m about.

Now I’m in this journalism game, but let me tell you—don’t get it twisted. I’m not here to just write about music; I’m here to speak the truth. I ain’t gonna lie to y’all. If something’s trash, I’m sayin’ it. If it’s fire, I’m gonna tell you why. I’m just here to keep it real, always. That’s why they call me "The Truth." I keep it 100, and I’m not afraid to say what’s on my mind, whether it’s about an album that missed the mark or one that had me bumpin’ it on repeat.

So, whether you’re from the streets or the bougie side of town, you’re gonna feel me. I’m not just about the music—I’m about the culture, the hustle, the grind, and the passion behind it all. That’s what this is: real talk, real music, and no cap. Period.

IN HER OWN WORDS:

You ever have one of those teachers that actually listens? That was me. I spent 30 years in the classroom, trying to make Shakespeare and algebra make sense to teenagers who just wanted to talk about whatever song dropped that week. Eventually, I gave up fighting it and started listening.

I still remember the first time a student put me on to OutKast. I thought, Now hold on… this is poetry. From then on, I kept my ears open. Over the years, my students introduced me to everyone from Nas to Kendrick, and somewhere along the way, I became the cool teacher—the one who’d let you write your essay on Jay-Z’s storytelling instead of The Great Gatsby.

Now I’m retired, but old habits die hard. I still analyze lyrics like they’re literature, break down production like it’s a science, and if a song moves me, you’ll know it. And if it doesn’t? You’ll know that too.

I don’t sugarcoat, I don’t pretend to like something just because it’s popular, and I definitely don’t have patience for lazy songwriting. But when an artist gets it right—when the pen is sharp, the production is tight, and the emotion is real? That’s when the magic happens.

So, let’s talk music. I promise to keep it honest.