One of the defining scenes from the second season of HBO’s Succession was when Kendall Roy (played by Jeremy Strong) decided to honor his father Logan Roy at a 50th work anniversary celebration with a song. The song, of course, was a cringeworthy rap titled “L To The OG.” The scene was an instant hit with fans, and now, months after the episode first aired, a full studio version of the song has been released.

Strong said in a recent interview that he really went to bat against the song at first, but eventually came around to the idea:

“We were doing a table read in Glasgow, Scotland, and got to the point in the script where we were at the tribute for my dad. Some painfully awkward lines read: ‘Kendall does a rap. ‘Yo MC, kick it.” And there was a lyric that sounded like it was from a bad Bar Mitzvah. I lobbied hard to cut it. I thought it was going to be stupid and let’s think of something else. […] It was amazing and serious. I said to Nick, ‘I love hip-hop and it seems in the idiom of Kendall and the show.’ I had to pull it off.”

He also noted that his performance actually got some love from Frank Ocean: “It became apparent when people were dressed for this thing as Halloween, and I did get a text from Frank Ocean that said, ‘L to the OG’ with a crying face emoji. I took it as the highest possible compliment because he’s one of my heroes. It was small props but it meant the world.”

Listen to “L To The OG” above, and revisit the original scene below.

The 2020 Major League Soccer season had just barely begun when the global coronavirus pandemic forced it to a halt in March. LAFC winger Carlos Vela, who was named the league’s 2019 MVP and won the Golden Boot, started off this season strongly, helping the team advance to the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals and scoring the game winner in the season opener against Inter Miami FC.

With the league on hiatus, though, Vela has been working out at home in Los Angeles, spending quality time with his family, and sharpening his NBA 2K skills — the Mexican international is one of MLS’ premier talents, but he is a well-documented NBA fan as well. Vela spoke with Uproxx on behalf of BODYARMOR about how he’s been staying healthy at home, how MLS teams are slowly working their way toward a season restart, and what he learned from ESPN’s The Last Dance.

How are you and how have you been spending this extra time at home?

Really great. I think like everyone else I have been trying to handle quarantine the best way possible. I would say I have been active and spending quality time with my family. I have a son that’s 3 years old and a pregnant wife, so there’s positive things right now and that is what I’ve been focused on. I’ve just been enjoying the time I have with them and finding ways to stay in shape to be prepared for when it is time to train again.

Since the MLS season has been suspended, how have you been staying positive and fit at home?

Obviously I would like to be training with my teammates and playing this season, but that’s life. You must take it as a new challenge there is no excuse to not keep training. I will usually go out for a run or I will train with the club even though we are training individually, but we’re going back to our routine. But like I said, always looking for a way to stay active, stay in shape, and always be prepared. Even though the coronavirus is going on right now, there is always a solution. You can always train and prepare your mind and body for when it is time to get back out there.

Earlier this month, LAFC began running individual training sessions. I am sure they don’t feel quite normal, but how have the training sessions have been so far?

Obviously, it is not something we thought would happen within our teammates but to be able to go to the facilities and being able to go back to our routine is something positive. Training alone, not running with my teammates, working on drills like passes against the wall is not something every player enjoys but it is a step forward. It is also a step closer to being able to play the game. It gives me pure joy to train and being able to prepare myself for the game. Like I said, take things positively and just enjoy it.

I know you are also a big basketball fan. Did you watch any of The Last Dance on ESPN and if so, what did you think about it?

Of course, I never missed an episode. They were sacred moments. Obviously, I always admired Michael Jordan and after watching this the way he played to be the best and to win championships, it’s something that motivates me to try to win the league and be a part of history. I think it is a way for many athletes to look at themselves in a mirror and just see all the dedication and hard work he put into every game and practice is something to admire. I hope every athlete can — not like him, because it is impossible — leave a mark and make history.

Now that you had some more free time, have you been playing a lot more NBA 2K and working on your skills?

I think I can beat any player and if you like I can demonstrate it to you.

Who is your favorite team to play with?

I love the Lakers because I am a big fan of LeBron, but in NBA 2K I prefer playing with the Brooklyn Nets.

As a professional athlete you have to be very conscious about what you eat and drink — can you tell us why you like BODYARMOR and how it helps you as an athlete?

I think a lot of people think that as an athlete all we need to do is work out and we are all set but that’s not reality. After we train, we must take care of our nutrition most importantly, our health because it is something that is important to maintain a healthy body. That is why BODYARMOR is the best because it is tasteful, but it also does not use artificial ingredients. I think that is the best way to keep a healthy body by using natural ingredients. That is what helps with my post workout. The way it tastes makes it easier to stay hydrated and enjoy a good drink.

Can you talk a little bit about the new BODYARMOR campaign, #OnlyYouCan?

I think this campaign is very important because it has been made for everyone. It does not matter where you come from, what is most important is the motivation, the attitude, and the dedication you put. That is something that grabs people’s attention which is something the campaign is about. The campaign is something we all want everyone to be a part of. So, if you are hardworking and dedicated you can achieve anything you put your mind to. I recommend for the fans to be a part of this and for everyone to enjoy what was created.

Experimental producer Arca is anything but conventional. Back in February, Arca teased a new era by releasing the hour-long stand-alone single titled “@@@@@.” Now, Arca returns to divulge details about her fourth album and share a video accompanying a new single, “Time.”

Arca’s lush “Time” video follows her lead single “Nonbinary,” which offered a glimpse of her forthcoming record Kick I. Directed by MANSON, Arca’s “Time” visual shows the producer artfully seducing the devil. Following her avant-garde style, the visual depicts Arca as a half-cyborg, half-human character parading the streets with her newfound nefarious lover.

Alongside her captivating visual, Arca shares details about Kick I. Unveiling the cover art, tracklist, and official release date, Arca teases a handful of big-name features. Included on her tracklist are artists like Rosalía, Björk, and fellow producer Sophie. In a statement about the album’s sound, Arca explained that she aims to remain free genre confines: “I don’t want to be tied to one genre,” said Arca. “I don’t want to be labeled as one thing.”

Listen to “Time” above and find Arca’s Kick I cover and tracklist below.

1. “Nonbinary”
2. “Time”
3. “Mequetrefe”
4. “Riquiqui”
5. “Calor”
6. “Afterwards” Feat. Björk
7. “Watch” Feat. Shygirl
8. “KLK” Feat. Rosalía
9. “Rip The Slit”
10. “La Chíqui” Feat. Sophie
11. “Machote”
12. “No Queda Nada”

Kick I is out 6/26 via XL. Pre-order it here.

With The Walking Dead currently on hiatus, its long-time special effects guru, executive producer, and frequent director Greg Nicotero has had an opportunity to expand the audience for his reboot of Stephen King’s horror anthology series, Creepshow, a series that he obviously loves enough to include an Easter Egg for it in The Walking Dead. The series originally aired on AMC’s niche horror streaming service, Shudder, but to help fill the void left behind after 40 uninterrupted episodes from The Walking Dead universe were interrupted by the pandemic, AMC has begun to air the series on Monday nights (it’s also AMC On Demand now). It’s very good — worth the Shudder subscription, in fact — and for the time being, it helps scratch that The Walking Dead itch.

Of course, since Nicotero is the boss over on Creepshow, he gets final say. Meanwhile, over on The Walking Dead, Nicotero gets plenty of input, but the final word is that of the showrunner, and Nicotero hasn’t always agreed with their decisions. For example, Nicotero “vehemently disagreed” with Robert Kirkman’s decision back in season 2 to let Rick kill Shane instead of allowing Carl to kill Shane, as he did in the comics.

More recently, in the season finale of season 8 — which is when the All-Out War between Rick’s group and Negan’s group ended — Nicotero wanted to end the episode in a completely different way that would have had long-lasting effects on the series, as he told the Collider podcast, The Witching Hour.

“When Rick cuts Negan’s throat,” Nicotero said. “I think Maggie should shoot him. I think Maggie should either kill Negan or shoot him, or do something, because she’s right there.”

“It was a really hard moment to shoot,” Nicotero — who directed that episode — continued. “Knowing that Maggie collapses to her knees when Rick spares Negan’s life. I had pitched this idea to [Scott Gimple]: ‘Why doesn’t Maggie shoot him? Why doesn’t Maggie kill him?’ But obviously, Negan had more of a journey, and there was a lot more going on.”

If viewers had known that Nicotero had lobbied for Negan’s death at the end of season 8, I think nearly everyone would have backed him. Two seasons later, however, and a redeemed Negan is one of the best things about The Walking Dead, which Nicotero acknowledges. “I think that [showrunner Angela Kang] has done a wonderful job. And I think with Samantha [Morton] and Ryan [Hurst], and all the actors, Jeffrey [Dean Morgan] and Melissa [McBride] and Norman [Reedus] and everybody, the last two seasons have been really, really fun … the story really, really moves.”

The Walking Dead will return later this year with its finale, which will feature the return of Lauren Cohan’s Maggie.

(Via Collider)

Today’s news is perhaps expected, but no less tragic, as the body of former WWE Superstar Shad Gaspard has been recovered on Venice Beach, near where he disappeared on Sunday. We did our best to hold out hope when the story broke on Monday that he had disappeared, but that hope was in short supply yesterday when the search for Gaspard was called off.

According to TMZ, a citizen called the police at 1:30 AM today to report that they’d found a body near Venice Pier. Officers recovered the body and a few hours later confirmed it to be Shad Gaspard.

It seems that Gaspard’s last act was to save his 10-year-old son, who was swimming with him when they were both caught in a rip tide. When a lifeguard reached the two of them, reports ESPN, Gaspard told the lifeguard, “Take my son.” His son later added, “Dad told me to push off to the guy,” meaning the lifeguard. By the time the boy was safely ashore, Shad Gaspard had disappeared under the waves.

Shad Gaspard competed on Tough Enough in 2002 and then signed with WWE, where he worked until 2010. He’s best remembered as half of the tag team Cryme Time with JTG. Since leaving WWE, he’s wrestled on the independent scene and also found a career as an actor and stunt performer, working on films including Black Panther and Birds of Prey.

Our thoughts today are with Gaspard’s family and loved ones.

During his recent Verzuz hits battle with Nelly on Instagram, Ludacris previewed a new track which met with a backlash from some fans on social media over a line name checking R. Kelly and Bill Cosby. Fans were apparently upset at a couplet in which he mentions both disgraced stars, rapping, “The world screwed if n****s pouring drinks like Bill Huxtable / I love R. Kelly but around my daughters, I’m not comfortable.” Today, Luda addressed the controversy over the line during an interview with Atlanta radio station V103, explaining the meaning behind the lyric and why he thinks people “misconstrued” it.

“Sometimes when you speak on records, you speakin’ like it’s just me and you having a conversation as friends,” he explains in the video below. “But you just speaking, and just being honest. I saw that a lot of people kind of misconstrued or didn’t understand what it was that I was saying.” Turning the question on host Big Tigger (shout-out Rap City Tha Basement!), Luda asks, “What do you think I meant when I said that?” Tigger’s response: “You meant, ‘I loved his music… but I’m a father of daughters, and you’re not gonna be around my daughters.’”

“You’re a smart man,” the rapper replies. “It’s that simple.”

The kerfuffle surrounding the line just illustrates how easy it is to misinterpret hip-hop and maybe also how quick some parties are to jump to conclusions or strip meaningful context — whether accidentally or on purpose — for the sake of creating conversation on social media. If there’s a takeaway, it might be to give art the benefit of the doubt before going into outrage mode.

Watch Ludacris’ response above.

Charli XCX earnestly addressed the camera in her hand with glazed eyes that offer a glimpse into weeks of sleepless nights. “Yesterday I cried,” she admitted. “I’m frustrated that I’m so obsessed with working.” The art-pop singer was vlogging from her quarantine in LA to update fans on the album she had been creating in isolation, all within the abbreviated span of a month and a half.

Charli was doing something unprecedented. The coronavirus aimed a ubiquitous blow at the music industry and, like the rest of humanity, musicians have been forced to adapt to their new reality. With venues closed for the unforeseeable future, artists have elected to cope with the pandemic through a variety of means. Some opted to delay releases while others have adhered to their pre-pandemic promotion schedule. A few even chose to release projects early as an offering of escapism through music. But Charli XCX has taken a different path entirely, emerging as a trailblazer for artists everywhere. Charli instead chose to create an entire record from scratch using social media to crowdsource collaboration. The result is more than just a synth-fused, 11-track pop record. Charli XCX’s How I’m Feeling Now has innovated the album recording process and forged a new path for musicians succeeding her.

Charli’s exhausted confession of workaholism wouldn’t be the last time she admitted an emotional episode to the internet. Later, on a Zoom call with fans and collaborators, Charli spoke frankly about her headspace. “I’m feeling a bit nervous about the deadline that’s approaching. I definitely had a bit of a breakdown yesterday,” she candidly expressed, adding: “I’m definitely beginning to crack a little bit.”

This admission arrived in the introduction of a bi-weekly Zoom call, one of the many ways Charli used the internet to collaborate with fans on How I’m Feeling Now. Along with fielding questions and suggestions from fans over regular video calls, Charli relied on her social media followers for their honest input. Her constant dialog with fans touts her as an example of an artist who has successfully honed a niche on social media.

“Going live on insta now, need ur help on some verse lyrics,” Charli tweeted one evening. These real-time brainstorming sessions are a part of what makes her songwriting process unique. She’s not just offering fans a preview of the upcoming record. She’s trusting them with their opinions — and really listening to them. Sure, other musicians have been recording music in quarantine. But no one has cultivated fan collaboration like Charli. From workshopping lyrics to designing album artwork, using fan-record clips in videos, and even accepting homemade beat submissions, Charli has truly joined forces with her listeners. And these exchanges between artist and fan have strengthened Charli’s cult following among art-pop connoisseurs and boundary-pushing Gen-Zers.

Charli previously admitted that she’s been surprised about “just how receptive” her listeners were to the album’s singles. But her collaboration methods warrant positive reactions. Charli has already primed fans on her album’s sound through detailed updates. This allows room for experimentation on a record. Fans aren’t surprised by the jarring, glitchy synths that arrive in the hook of her album closer “Visions” because they had already heard a preview through a number of Instagram live sessions. Moreover, they feel deeply connected to the music because they effectively played a role in its creation. Those who have followed along with, and even contributed to, How I’m Feeling Now can’t help but feel the album is also theirs.

Along with receiving positive feedback, Charli’s record sets a new standard for artists. It exemplifies how connecting with followers and creating music synchronously can empower both artists and fans by challenging convention. Charli’s detailed updates demonstrate what it’s like to record an album. It’s not glamorous. It’s turbulent, and Charli has worn her heart on her brightly-colored mesh sleeve. By following her guidelines, musicians can similarly create a static interpretation of their sentimentality through music.

Through her How I’m Feeling Now recording process, Charli has successfully broken down the barrier between artist and fan, or in her case, pop star and stan. She doesn’t put on a facade that details an apathetic narrative about making music as a global pop icon. She has wielded her way past naysayers and proven the efficacy and innovation in her songwriting methods. Charli has given fans a voice, and their voice speaks loudly.

How I’m Feeling Now is out now via Atlantic. Get it here.

Charli XCX is a Warner Music Artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

On the first day of 2018, Jeff Rosenstock dropped a new album, Post-, without any forewarning. For his follow-up, he decided to do the same thing: Today, Rosenstock has surprise-released a new album, No Dream. Not no surprisingly, it’s a raucous, guitar-driven affair, so Rosenstock fans ought to be pleased with today’s new drop.

Rosenstock says of the album:

“It was feeling like a very personal record for me. A lot of it was stemming from the anxiety I was feeling from the last two years, this existential crisis of wondering who I am. I didn’t expect to be doing well, in my life, ever. […]

I got so used to putting out records that only a few people in the punk underground liked, and a lot of people in the punk underground also didn’t like them, either. […] I was trying to not be afraid of using phrases that weren’t immediately clear to me, aside from how they sounded and felt, then allowing them to reveal themselves over time. […]

I thought I had just made a record for no one. What’s the point of feeling this way? Does it help to vocalize it?”

The album is available on streaming services now, but it is also available to download for free. There are paid downloads available, and ten percent of proceeds from purchases will go to Food Not Bombs.

Stream No Dream above.

No Dream is out now via Polyvinyl. Get it here.

The new trailer for Antebellum, a mysterious horror film starring Janelle Monáe, has an unassuming beginning, with majestic animals grazing in a sun-drenched field and a happy family rolling around in a bed. “There are precious things that can never be lost. Family, happiness, hope,” the teaser above reads before the record-scratch moment: “Unless you are chosen.” Chosen for what? That’s left unsaid, but considering the plot of the Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz-film appears to involve Monáe’s modern-day character being transported to the pre-Civil War south, it can’t be anything good.

Here’s the official plot synopsis:

Successful author Veronica Henley (played by Janelle Monáe) finds herself trapped in a horrifying reality and must uncover the mind-bending mystery before it’s too late. Antebellum is a terrifying new thriller from the producer of the acclaimed films Get Out and Us, and groundbreaking directors Gerard Bush and Christoper Renz (Bush+Renz), an exciting new voice in filmmaking.

Antebellum, which also stars Marque Richardson II, Eric Lange, Jack “Richard from Boardwalk Empire” Huston, Kiersey Clemons, Tongayi Chirisa, Gabourey Sidibe, Rob Aramayo, Lily Cowles, and Jena Malone, was originally schedule to come out in April, but now it opens on August 21. Until then, you can catch Monáe in Homecoming.

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