Aaron Chan

Aaron Chan is one of the two principal owners of SMACK Media. He handles all business operations and oversees the management of content. Aaron’s editorial and news coverage is informed by his experience as a musician, a chef, an entrepreneur. His management of SMACK Media’s operation is informed by his Business Management Diploma achieved in the pandemic, a wide intake of sacred journalism texts, and above all a key interest in and respect for popular art and culture.

tyler the creator dances in a leopard print shirt with a blue hat and a$ap rocky laughs

The Best and Worst of 2021: A Year in Superlatives

From “Album of the Year” to “Flavour of the Month,” SMACK picks their favourite stories in a non-stop year.
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December 13, 2021

An Intimate Night With Sloan (11/13)

The band's tight chemistry and selections from their 30 year catalogue make their live return everything fans should expect it to be.
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November 15, 2021

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Latest Stories

STAGE DIVES: Avril Lavigne: Bite Me @ Coca Cola Coliseum
Kendrick Lamar Tackles Adultery, COVID, and Transgender Acceptance on Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers
Alligator Orange: Making Music and Enjoying the Ride
THE SMACK PACK (12/3): The Best of the Internet
tupac and frank alexander missing photos unreleased music lets get it on
Hard Drive Containing Unreleased Tupac Music, Photos, and Legal Docs Expected to Auction for Up to $1.2 Million
the roys party, shiv wears a green dress
Here Are All of the “Bangers” that Kendall Played at His 40th Birthday
"Pointless and Sometimes Confusing..." Tom Ford Slams House of Gucci
virgil abloh selects colours for shoes
Icon of Fashion and Design, Virgil Abloh Has Died at 41
cat looks at water glass tatoo
THE SMACK PACK (11/27): The Best of the Internet
dave chappelle in the closer stands on stage
A Huge Power Imbalance: Surprise Chappelle Performance at Alma Mater Polarizes Attendees
adele on itv one night laughs in a dress
The Adele Brief: Queen Gets What Queen Wants
A Brief Timeline That Explains How Four Tet is Getting Screwed By Domino
snail mail sings in a black and white photo screams vocal cords
Snail Mail Postpones World Tour, ENT Finds “Massive Polyps” on her Vocal Cords
martin scorsese and jerry garcia with jonah hill
Scorsese To Direct Movie About Grateful Dead, His First Rock Biopic; Jonah Hill to Star
lily jamse and sebastian stan look in shock in pam and tommy
Lily James is Unmistakable As Pamela Anderson in Trailer for Seth Rogen’s Pam & Tommy
kanye west in a toronto jersey with drake, young
DJ Trauma and J Prince Jr. Post Stories that Show Kanye and Drake Reconciled in Toronto After Chappelle Concert
dave chappelle in all black happy puts his arms out in front of a band while he accepts his kennedy centre
EDGELORD FOCKER: Here’s what happened at Dave Chappelle’s Sold-Out Toronto Screening
low bit photo of drake shows him very concerned
Houston Strip Club Removes Thank You Post to Drake After People Realize He “Threw Like a Milly” One Day After Astroworld
fans stand outside astroworld to mourn deaths
Astroworld Aftermath Continues: Lawsuits Pour In, Nine-Year-Old in Coma
Van Morrison holds up a medal with blonde lady. he looks confused
Van Morrison Sued By Northern Ireland Health Minister for Defamatory COVID Comments
Mark Zuckerberg announuces his company's rebranding to meta through keynote but his pitch board says indicted instead.
ESCAPE FROM THE META-VERSE: Or a Lesson in Overblown Damage Control From Darth Hindenburg
Drake spends money like he earns, big and without regard.
Where Drake Puts His Money
More Stories

Elia Kazan Was Too Old to Punch Chris Rock in 1999

How the Oscars and Hollywood changed in 20 years and “The Slap Heard Around the World”
March 28, 2022

Songs Dre and Co. Definitely Will Not Be Playing at the HalfTime

Why Dre and Snoop's Half Time feels so monumental.
February 10, 2022
Jules and Rue in the dark in euphoria love

PREVIOUSLY WRONG: Euphoria S02E01

Fez, filters, and funk; why you should be watching Euphoria …It’s just heroin.
January 10, 2022
jared leto and lady gaga in house of gucci

For a Few Dollars More…What Worked & Didn’t Work in House of Gucci

The Good, the Bad, and Jared Leto.
November 26, 2021
dalton higgins drake and a bandaged weeknd in front of clb cover art

Dalton Higgins is in the SMACK House

The local vet stopped by the offices of SMACK to talk about his upcoming course on Drake & The Weeknd at X University, Director X's New Monuments installation, and what he thinks of “Way 2 Sexy.”
October 22, 2021
a popeye's chicken sandwich and nuggets with hottie sauce

REVIEW: Megan Thee Stallion's "Hottie Sauce" by Popeye's

Megan Thee Stallion’s branded hot sauce for Popeyes signals their franchising partnership and lands amidst a Fast Food – Pop Music Marketing Revolution.
October 19, 2021
Tony Soprano rides a horse in a dream to Carmella in the living room

All Four Animals Tony Goes Crazy Over on The Sopranos and What They Mean

We bring you potentially more thought and insight into Tony Soprano’s mental psyche than 45 viewings of The Many Saints of Newark trailer and 600g of hot gabagool.
September 29, 2021
Drake poses for a snap selfie with Hailey Baldwin and the dog face filter

Baby Mamas, Strippers, and "P.Y.T."s

Drake’s private life & romantic scandals certify Lover Boy.
September 17, 2021

REVIEW: DMX - It's Dark and Hell Is Hot

DMX's classic debut is given a new examination in the wake of his death and a new look at his early life.
September 14, 2021

REVIEW: Kanye West - DONDA

DONDA > CLB
September 5, 2021
Lorde sticks her tongue out and puts up devil hand signals on the Today Show stage.

Lorde’s Solar Power Doesn’t Generate

…and blaming new direction is seriously missing the point.
August 24, 2021
Kanye West gets on his knees in a read suit and a mask for Donda's release at Mercedes Arena

The First Official Unreleased Album: Why You Shouldn’t Be Annoyed By Kanye’s Album Delays

We trace the mess that is the DONDA album rollout and figure out if Kanye is subverting the format again or just wasting everyone’s time.
August 18, 2021
System of a Down perform chop suey in a crowded parking lot for the music video behind the scenes

System of a Down’s "CHOP SUEY!" at 20

How did System of a Down’s signature song about suicide and resolve became one of the most popular songs of this century?
August 11, 2021
Paul McCartney shows Rick Rubin his demos at the mixing board

McCartney 3,2,1 Is a Gift For Every Music Fan

Rick Rubin’s gorgeous new documentary on the life and work of Paul McCartney should shut up even the largest Beatles detractors.
July 19, 2021
Vince Staples leans out of a convenience store cashier bullet window green product everywhere

Why People Give a Shit about Vince Staples

On the eve of his newest, we break down the Long Beach rapper’s impressive career.
July 7, 2021
Prince and the Revolution pose in front of pop art in 80s outfits and suits

Who Is In The Revolution?

Our guide to what made The Revolution Prince's most iconic band and who exactly make up these perm haired, blouse laden scoundrels.
April 22, 2021
Prince plays custom guitar at the superbowl

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH: PRINCE LIVE

A look at Prince's greatest live moments.
April 22, 2021
Prince plays piano in his childhood home with an afro

Five Things You Should Know About Prince's Childhood

We take a look at Prince's legendary extracurriculars, "Queen Bernie," and the concert his step-father took him to that changed his life.
April 19, 2021
Dua Lipa dances To Levitate at the Grammys in 2021

We Gave Grammys to The Grammys

Who gives a shit what the Recording Academy says about what they think the best album of the year wasn’t? We’re just here for Harry Styles’ boas.
March 15, 2021
two grey men superimposed among black background old english angry

REVIEW: shame - Drunk Tank Pink

The UK’s favourite new band are back with their best yet.
February 27, 2021
damon alburn sings song 2 at the camera screen hand on mic as a rug drapes the wall

Big Shiny Tunes

If you were young and Canadian in the mid to late 90s, Big Shiny Tunes wasn’t just the best compilation on the market, it was the only compilation on the market.
January 28, 2021
Phil Spector sits in the studio with The Ronettes

Wall of Rebound: Writing an Obituary for a Problematic Genius

The death of Phil Spector has pushed the media to condemn the artist, but when did we stop respecting the art?
January 19, 2021

How Radiohead Redefined Their Sound Again

On the 20th anniversary of Kid A, we deep dive into its creation, its limitless influence, and how public opinion on the album has shifted.
October 2, 2020
Lester Bangs and William Miller socialize at a diner happy

What Almost Famous Got Right About Music Fandom

20 years after its release, Almost Famous belongs in the canon of great rock movies but little of that has to do with its depiction of rock itself.
September 14, 2020
golden hands do the run the jewels gang signs on a pink backdrop

REVIEW: Run the Jewels - RTJ4

not the album we deserve, but the one we need right now.
June 9, 2020
Eminem puts his middle fingers up with tape on his mouth

Breaking Down The Marshall Mathers LP 20 Years Later

We look at Eminem’s brutal and brilliant third album on its 20th anniversary and why it still holds up despite being as offensive as it ever was.
May 22, 2020
thundercat perspective in shadows and red cloak hair over face

REVIEW: Thundercat - It Is What It Is

See title.
April 20, 2020
dua lipa in driving a car in a pink top and white gloves, hair in a bun

REVIEW: Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia

For the most part, Lipa has delivered a satisfying, bombastic, slick dance pop record in Future Nostalgia.
April 10, 2020
white background with donald glover title

REVIEW: Childish Gambino - 3.15.20

Donald Glover's surprise release is a quantum leap forward in sound, concept, and performance.
March 27, 2020
madonna glamour puts finger on tongue

30 Years of Madonna's "Vogue"

On its 30th anniversary we explore "Vogue", its connection to ballroom culture, the rise of house music, and how an artist who dominated the 80s reinvented herself for the new decade.
March 27, 2020
the reflection of trees into a lake with arabic scripture on a white frame

REVIEW: Jay Electronica - A Written Testimony

After a decade long wait, few thought the full length debut of Jay Electronica would ever see the light of day and with a willing shared spotlight with JAY Z, it's here in a big way.
March 19, 2020
lil uzi vert and two cult members colonizes on mars while earth is destroyed by aliens

REVIEW: Lil Uzi Vert - Eternal Atake

Coming off a two year waiting period, Uzi's latest is far from redeemable.
March 12, 2020

The Bizarre Story Behind Gary Glitter's "Rock 'N' Roll (Part 2)"

37 years ago today Gary Glitter dropped “Rock 'N' Roll (Part 2)”, a stadium anthem shelved away in infamy until Joker brought it back into the conversation.
March 3, 2020
king krule's album cover is a painted man on an arm red

REVIEW: King Krule - Man Alive!

Archie Marshall takes a swing and doubles down on a dissonant, colourless fourth full length. It's a rare miss.
February 27, 2020
Chuck Klosterman and Chris Ryan's Music Exists podcast graphic

“Music Exists” is a Must For Music Nerds

The Ringer’s latest podcast brings together Chuck Klosterman and Chris Ryan in discussion about tastes, opinions, and critiques.
February 24, 2020
sarah mclachlan sits on the back of a chair with her arm up

REVIEW: Sarah McLachlan - Surfacing

We take another look at an iconic breakup album from the Queen of the SPCA.
February 14, 2020

REVIEW: Feist - Let it Die

Happy Valentine's Day. We revisit Feist's incredible love album and its gorgeous marriage of subject matter and arrangement.
February 14, 2020
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards smoke onlooking fans while British authorities stand behind

The Rolling Stones & The Redlands Drug Bust

53 years ago today, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards became the first pop stars to get caught with narcotics and sent to prison.
February 12, 2020
Prince plays a guitar solo behind a silhouette backdrop to Miami super bowl halftime

Miami Rain

The insane story of Prince's halftime performance at Super Bowl XLI has yet to be topped.
February 3, 2020
roddy ricch in a shadow with a black sweater looks onward

REVIEW: Roddy Ricch - Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial

With the number one song and album in the country, he's the biggest new rap star out there, but do his skills match the stats?
January 29, 2020
D'angelo sips from a coconut with a cigarette and jewelry

The Story Behind D'Angelo Modern R&B Masterpiece Voodoo

20 years ago today, D'Angelo put out Voodoo blowing everyone away before leaving for over a decade.
January 25, 2020

REVIEW: Holy Fuck - Deleter

The iconic Toronto indie band are back with their most cohesive release to date, but is it still fun?
January 25, 2020
David Bowie in a leather trench coat in front of a vintage Mercedes nazi fixation

David Bowie - Low

44 years ago today, Bowie dropped one of his best albums to divisive response. It's gone on to become one of the most revered albums of his career.
January 14, 2020
kaytranada with multiple pupils

REVIEW: Kaytranada - Bubba

On a more focused effort than 99.9% and perhaps less range, Kaytranada once again proves his ability in the album format.
January 9, 2020
David Byrne dances and waves his arms in a tan suit in front of drummer Jerry Harrison for Stop Making Sense

TALKING HEADS STOP MAKING SENSE

36 years ago, Talking Heads began the concerts that would become the seminal concert movie Stop Making Sense.
December 3, 2019
Dr. Dre Snoop Dogg Ice Cube and Eminem put middle fingers up

How Dr. Dre Cemented His Legacy by Dropping Chronic 2001

20 years ago today one of the most important albums in hip hop came out and changed the genre forever.
November 16, 2019
A Tribe Called Quest Midnight Maurauders Enter the Wu Tang are paired on the same day

The Day Wu Tang and Tribe Dropped Their Best Albums

26 years ago A Tribe Called Quest and Wu-Tang Clan dropped timeless albums, today in celebration we talk about how these records came to be.
November 9, 2019
fiona apple smiles in red with her when the pawn poem

REVIEW: Fiona Apple - When the Pawn...

On the eve of its 20th birthday, Smack reviews a staple of modern pop music.
November 8, 2019