Recent favorites in media, trends, and food, brought to you by The Prospect editors.
“The Boy who cried Terrified .” — Fakemink
Gavin McLoughlin, Head Editor
While the UK’s blossoming rap underground may have fully burst into the mainstream with Liverpool rapper EsDeeKid’s collaboration with Timothy Chalamet on the viral “Marty Supreme” press tour, EsDeeKid is far from the only thrilling artist to emerge from this vibrant scene. While EsDeeKid’s gothic blend of trap and cloud rap has amassed millions of streams in the past months, I would argue that Fakemink, his longtime collaborator, is the far more sonically adventurous and fascinating of the two artists. Released Jan. 29 of this year, “The Boy who cried Terrified .” is the second album by the British rapper/producer and represents a more mainstream approach to the “faded luxury” sound he has come to define. With its soundscape that is equal parts industrial and spellbinding, “The Boy who cried Terrified .” is an arresting blend of hyperpop, early 2000s Timbaland-esque production, and early 2020s emo rap that is fragmented, messy, and elegant. The album’s opener, “Blow the Speaker . ,” is a plea of pain and newfound fame that pairs cliched lyrics with brilliant production buoyed by cinematic strings and bobbing 808s. While later songs like “Dumb .” & “Mr. Chow .” are a bit too discordant to deliver on Fakemink’s signature intoxicating blend of buzzy synths, warbling pitched vocals, and jumping bass, the album’s sole single, “fml .” is a true standout. Anchored by an ethereal sample from electronic artist Burial, the song is a captivating mix of ghostly synths, clattering hi-hats, and warped bass that draws you in, absolutely transfixed. This thrilling unity of experimental vocals, hazy production, and classic hip hop cadence is what makes Fakemink such a promising artist, and I can’t wait to see what he does next.
Single’s Inferno Season 5
Kaichen Chou, Assistant Editor
One way I’ve been escaping my winter slump — and now two blizzards — is through immersing myself in the beachy islands of the new fifth season of “Single’s Inferno,” which began airing on Jan. 20. This South Korean dating show follows a small group of singles stranded on a remote island, where they compete in various challenges for a chance to escape to “Paradise” — a luxurious getaway featuring lavish suites, fine dining, and grand saunas and pools — with a romantic partner of their choice. The catch is, no one knows the contestants’ careers, ages, or lifestyles, until they are in Paradise, so viewers must watch to learn more about their favorites.
Now fully released, this season has 12 hour-long episodes packed with heart-fluttering moments, intense cliffhangers, and the perfect amount of conflict that sparks debate. Additionally, Season Five’s contestants deliver no shortage of juicy drama, perfect for those who are conflict-avoidant yet love to live vicariously through others (like me). The panelists watching alongside viewers also provide moments of much-needed comedic relief, especially after fierce challenges and confrontations. “Love Island” enthusiasts looking for something a little less raunchy but equally entertaining should definitely check out “Single’s Inferno.”
Loose-leaf tea
Amaya Taylor, Associate Editor
As I crack open its metal tin, the aroma of crisp herbs, hints of vanilla, and toasted coconut hits my nose like an enticing wave of fresh ocean water — this is what it’s like to be in olfactory heaven. The pleasantries don’t stop here. I grab a spoonful of leaves, dried fruit, herbs, and flowers — no more, no less — and place them carefully in my drawstring tea filter bag. My electric kettle holds the final and essential ingredient, boiling water, to top it off. Then, all that’s left to do is wait.
Loose-leaf tea has been my latest obsession; so far, I’m at a modest five cups a day. Life at Princeton is undoubtedly busy and fast-paced. For me, making tea is a ritual — an experience — that forces me to slow down and take in the moment. For conscious tea drinkers, going loose-leaf elevates the gustatory experience with a more complex taste and higher nutrient content. Even if you usually opt for an iced oat vanilla latte, making tea can be a nice way to experiment and customize different flavor profiles.
If you’re a fan of quality hot caffeinated beverages, throw away those crummy Lipton tea bags full of microplastics. Reject convenience and embrace the ritual.
The return of Tiffany Blue in fashion
Amy Jeon, Associate Editor
As hues of pastel yellow — better known as last year’s “butter yellow” craze — begin to quietly disappear from the racks, a new color is making its comeback from the 2010’s: turquoise. And I’m all for it.
I’ve particularly been loving Tiffany blue — a lighter hue of robin’s egg blue, delicate and refined. Versatile and uniquely gorgeous, the bluish-green provides a splash of clarity amongst the muted and neutral colors that have been dominating the fashion scene for the past few years. In between infinitesimal variations of beige and quiet whispers of colors, the return of teal feels starkly refreshing. The color turquoise was named Pantone’s Color of the Year in 2010, marking the turn of the decade with a bold color statement. Now, the color seems to be seeping back into the realm of fashion, with the return of 2010’s trends and turquoise gemstones in jewelry.
The beauty I find in the color comes from traces of my childhood: seven-year-old me settling on a shade of “mint blue” to paint my bedroom walls — a choice I regretted in my teenage years — the black and teal classroom decorations that my fourth grade teacher adored, and undoing the ribbon on a turquoise blue Tiffany box to unwrap the necklace my mother bought me for my sixteenth birthday.
When paired tastefully with complementary shades that bring out the color’s sophisticated essence, turquoise blue makes a statement without being garish. As the color begins to make its way into the fashion world once more, I’m excited to see how people will give it a 2026 spin.
“The Decameron” by Giovanni Boccaccio
Zane Mills VanWicklen, Assistant Editor
Are you looking for a “classic” you can read on the subway that makes you look brooding and mysterious? Do you want biting social satire, absurd and raunchy misadventures, sharp psychological insight, and the occasional moment of genuine tenderness all in one book? Enter “The Decameron” by Giovanni Boccaccio.
Written in the aftermath of the Black Death of 1348, which devastated Florence and killed a staggering portion of its population, “The Decameron” begins with one of the most vivid plague descriptions in medieval literature. But then… it pivots. Instead of remaining in despair, Boccaccio imagines ten young Florentines — seven women and three men — fleeing the city to a countryside villa. Over 10 days, each character tells one story per day, creating 100 tales total. The result? A literary buffet.
Some stories are romantic, some tragic, many wildly funny, and yes, several gloriously indecent. One features a friar posing as the Angel Gabriel to seduce a naïve woman; others skewer corrupt clergy, greedy merchants, and smug moralists. Boccaccio’s satire of hypocrisy was bold in the 14th century and still is; no one can escape his scathing critique.
But it’s more than scandal. Writing in Tuscan vernacular instead of Latin, alongside figures like Dante Alighieri, Boccaccio elevates Italian literature and centers female storytellers, often portraying them as clever, strategic, and socially aware. Beneath the bawdiness lies a serious exploration of fortune, intelligence, desire, sexuality, class, and survival.
So yes: you can read it to look cool. You can read it for the satire. You can read it for the scandal. But you’ll stay for the sharp wit and the sense that even in the worst historical moments, people still crave stories, laughter, and each other.
Copic Sketch Marker Set, Bold Primaries
Ysabella Olsen, Head Editor
At the end of last year, I picked up journaling more regularly. Every time I sit down to study, I write an entry in my journal. Sometimes my words fill a whole page and sometimes I scribble down a couple sentences. This habit has stuck for a couple of reasons. First, like every student, I sit down to study all the time. Therefore, my journaling is more consistent because it reflects the beginning of many library study sessions. Second, it helps my brain kick into study mode. Instead of scrolling on my phone or jumping straight into a dense reading, journaling gives me an outlet to transition from real-world to textbook-world.
A set of six, juicy Copic markers contributes to my journaling by bringing color to the white pages. Amid long winter days, I love to sketch as a supplement or replacement to writing. The colors of the markers can express feelings or the broad strokes can illustrate my current campus view. These markers in particular have been my favorite for their striking range of hues and their two-tips on each side of the marker: Super Brush nib and the Medium Broad nib.
Gavin McLoughlin, a member of the Class of 2028, is a head editor for The Prospect. He can be reached at gm9041[at]princeton.edu.
Kaichen Chou, a member of the Class of 2029, is an assistant Prospect editor and a staff Copy editor. She can be reached at kc2050[at]princeton.edu.
Amaya Taylor, a member of the Class of 2028, is an associate editor for The Prospect and News staff writer. She can be reached at amayataylor[at]princeton.edu.
Amy Jeon is an associate editor for the Prospect and a member of the Class of 2029. She can be reached at aj9410[at]princeton.edu.
Zane Mills VanWicklen is a member of the Class of 2029 and an assistant editor for The Prospect. He can be reached at zm6261[at]princeton.edu.
Ysabella Olsen is a member of the Class of 2028. She is a head editor for The Prospect. She can be reached at ysabellaolsen[at]princeton.edu.
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