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The Russell Simmons Episode Of ‘Drink Champs’ Has Been Pulled From Tidal Following Backlash

Revolt TV recently made the decision to publish an episode of its Drink Champs podcast that featured Russell Simmons in a discussion about Black Lives Matter. The episode, which was hosted on Tidal, came after the recently released HBO Max documentary On The Record, which details allegations of sexual assault made against the record executive. Ultimately, people didn’t care for the decision to include Simmons in the Drink Champs episode, and they let Revolt and Tidal hear it online. Now, following the backlash, Tidal has removed the episode from their platform.

One of the most vocal detractors of the episode was journalist Sil Lai Abrams, one of the women who made allegations against Simmons in On The Record. She wrote on Twitter, “What in the entire hell are Jay Z and @TIDAL doing by giving Russell Simmons a platform to discuss #BlackLivesMatter? Why do people continue to give him a pass? @marclamonthill did you ask him about the multiple rape allegations against him??? […] There is *absolutely* an underground movement by powerful Black men in music to help Russell avoid accountability and whitewash his legacy.”

Marc Lamont Hill explained his involvement in the episode, tweeting, “A few weeks ago, I appeared on Drink Champs. I was asked to join a discussion with Bun B, Talib Kweli, and Mysonne. About 2.5 hours into the show, Russell Simmons appeared. I had NO IDEA he was scheduled. I would NEVER have appeared if I had known. During Russell’s 20ish minutes on the show, I was texting the producers telling them that I was not comfortable with his press and asking to wrap. After the show, I expressed my frustration with what happened. I also asked them not to air Russell’s portions.”

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Samia’s Breezy ‘Fit N Full’ Heralds Her Debut Album ‘The Baby’

Breakout singer Samia workshopped demos from her debut album, The Baby, with seasoned indie artists like Hippo Campus and Active Bird Community. Now, the singer is getting ready to finally share her music with the world. Following her serene lead single released in April, Samia takes an aim at the all-consuming diet culture today’s young women are born into with the breezy track “Fit N Full.”

In a statement alongside “Fit N Full,” Samia said the single is a reflection on the crushing pervasiveness of body image issues: “For some reason the words ‘fit’ and ‘full’ have always felt mutually exclusive to me. I wrote this while I was living in the east village, so overwhelmed by the magic and culture around me and literally only capable of thinking about my f*cking body. I tried to write this from the perspective of the person I wanted to be instead of the person who stares at her reflection in the window of Veselka.”

Watch the “Fit N Full” video above and find Samia’s The Baby album artwork and tracklist below.

Grand Jury Music

1. “Pool”
2, “Fit N Full”
3. “Big Wheel”
4. “Limbo B*tch”
5. “Stellate”
6. “Triptych”
7. “Does Not Heal”
8. “Waverly”
9. “Winnebago”
10. “Minnesota”
11. “Is There Something In The Movies?”

The Baby is out 8/28 via Grand Jury Music. Pre-order it here.

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‘Breaking Bad’ Is About To Get A New Digital Series Hosted By One Of The Show’s Stars

It’s anyone’s guess whether the Emmy Awards will still happen on September 20, as scheduled, but either way, at least we’ll know who’s nominated on July 20. I have thought about this long and hard, and if Rhea Seehorn doesn’t receive a nomination for her performance on Better Call Saul, I am going to shove someone(s) down a well in the middle of the desert. And they (you?) won’t have Mike to save them (you???).

Anyway, as a reminder of how good Seehorn and Bob Odenkirk were last season (and every season), AMC is re-airing BCS season five beginning Thursday, July 9, with “special ‘hosted’ breaks during the final two episodes.” According to the network, Odenkirk and Seehorn will “discuss these pivotal episodes, the evolution of their characters’ relationship, and the season at large, as well as answer fan questions.” The network is also releasing a digital short-form series, The Broken and the Bad, hosted by Gus Fring himself, Giancarlo Esposito.

The series is inspired by the most memorable characters, situations, and themes of the Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad universe and focuses on the real-world stories that mirror the fictional worlds of both shows. With the help of Esposito, the docuseries explores the psychology of con artists and hit men, the economics of drug operations, and even finds the one town in America where you can live in peace with electromagnetic sensitivity, among other topics and stories.

The Broken and the Bad, which had better spend at least three hours on all the real-life Walter Whites, premieres on AMC.com on July 9.

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It Actually Was Pretty Rad To Talk To Talia Shire About ‘Rad’

A couple weeks before New York City shut down, I was at what would be my last bar trivia night for the foreseeable future. Anyway, the question was, “What woman has starred in the most sequels to movies that won Best Picture?” When you combine both The Godfather movies and the Rocky movies, it’s not really even close. (Shire seemed delighted by this, and also enjoys that her name is often used in crossword puzzles.

Which is kind of interesting that the topic of the day was the 1986 BMX racing movie, the cult favorite, Rad (which is getting a brand new 4k release). As Shire says, this movie was a family affair, spearheaded by her and her husband, Jack Schwartzman as a way to make movies for young people. (Shire also costars as our BMX hero’s understandably worried and protective mother.) And she explains it broke their hearts when the movie didn’t find an audience in theaters, but still can’t believe it became a cult favorite. And now, after all these years, it’s her son Robert who is leading the charge to remaster the film for this new release and Shire seems legitimately thrilled to be talking about it again.

I hadn’t seen Rad since I was maybe 10. It was fun to have an excuse to watch it again.

I know. [Laughs] You know, for me too, because I was only 10 when it came out as well.

Yes, I remember that being the case.

Sure, I played the mother, but I’m a character actor so it’s easy.

You were great.

But when I saw it again I felt it had this, it really has life. It is a life force.

Had it been a while since you saw it?

No, because my son, Robert Schwartzman, is the one that put the whole thing together and has given it really an extraordinary restoration. And a really better live sound for its score. I loved the score back then. I even love it more now.

Is it a brand new score?

No, it’s not a brand new score, but it’s been given the best digital remastering. And it was exciting back then but boy do I love it now.

When Cru wins his first race, against your wishes, the, “you’re in trouble now,” look you give him is perfect.

Oh, yes. Don’t think my children didn’t hear that from me. I have to say, it brings back a lot of memories of Calgary. We were doing two movies in Calgary back then. What was it? 85. And Jack [Schwartzman] and I love Calgary. So it brings back the nostalgia of all these really gifted young bike riders. You know, these were BMX riders who have gone on and they basically made the Olympics competition happen. BMX is now an Olympic sport. So it brings back those memories and the impact of that movie on BMX riding today and I have to say it brings a certain, oh God, sadness because Jack and I had such hopes. And then the movie tanked at the theaters. It broke our hearts.

Are you surprised how much people like it today? When the new 4k disc was announced people seemed pretty excited.

Have you ever heard of the town that refused to die? This is a movie. It just refused. I mean, I find that fascinating. Why? The concept of a cult movie, what is it that makes the movie say, “Okay. Nobody came to see it, but we’re not going to die.” And now it’s all these years later and yet there is an incredible enthusiasm and I think that’s because there’s something pure at the core of this movie.

You’re in a lot of movies that don’t die.

Yeah! To me that’s fascinating, but this movie didn’t have a chance to live as Jack and I had hoped it would. You know, because that was our dream, to make movies for young people. That spoke to their value system. That spoke to empowerment. And we thought Rad was one of those movies that spoke to empowerment and discipline that you could go up against corruption in a town and you could win. And then we were really heartbroken when it didn’t work, but here it is again. And here it is very much alive.

There really is an innocence to this movie. There are a lot of scenes of just kids hanging out and laughing.

It does! And, yes, I’ll use that word pure and innocence and the power of that. This is a kid who’s lost his father. He delivers newspapers in the morning. Right? It is that kind of joy that youth should have. Because that’s a power.

What was working with Hal Needham like, because that guy seemed kind of crazy?

What do you mean? What do you mean?

Well, he’s the director of Smokey and the Bandit, director of The Cannonball Run, there are all the stories of him living in Burt Reynolds backyard house and stuff like that?

No, no, you’re right. He was a really interesting guy. I tell you, the first day of shooting, he gathered us, all of us in a circle, the actors, people in the crew. And his mother was there and she led a prayer. So he was a good guy at core. A really good man. And I was very intimidated. I mean, he was Hal Needham! He had a sense of legend around him, but he was a really a nice man.

Obviously you’ve worked with a lot of great directors, and obviously some are closer to you than others, but that’s interesting that you found Hal Needham intimidating.

Well, you know, I think as an actor, when I’m acting I always come from respect. I hate to tell you this, but a movie set is not a democracy. I mean, time is money. So you really want to respect your director. And he was such a lovely, good man. And remember when we had Hell Track. Do you know that Hell Track section?

At the end, yes. With a three-story drop.

Oh my God. And I thought, oh, I was terrified. First of all, I don’t like heights and I had such respect for Hal. That he would be protective and make sure everybody would be okay. Because, I’ll tell you, when you really look at that drop. I mean, really. It was scary! It was like being on top of a building. Gee whiz.

At what point over the years did you get the sense that people were starting to watch this movie again?

Certainly in the ’90s, late ’90s. And my children who were always saying, “Hey ma, you know Rad?” And so there were many complexities regarding trying to get Rad to have a new life. Those are legal issues. So, I knew that everyone loved that movie … look I have a BMX bike.

Really?

Downstairs.
Was Jason hanging out on set?

Josh was. The oldest son, he was a young 19-year-old USC film student and he was the cameraman of all those beautiful shots in the opening of Rad. All those beautiful, beautiful shots of the bicycle? That’s John Schwartzman. Who is a major DP today.

Right, he shot Jurassic World.

Yes, and he’s back in England doing that. So if you’re saying, was it a family thing? Sure. Yes, Jason was there. He was five. Robert who has put this together and allowed it to have this magnificent other life. He was three years old. But he was there.

See, that seems like a cool set to hang out on. If I’m a little kid I don’t know if I want to hang out on the set of Godfather III, but on the set of Rad, that sounds amazing.

But yeah my kids were part of it, and by the way Robert was on the set of Godfather III. So they’ve been on the set.

I’m in New York City. So I’ve been inside a lot. I’ve been rewatching a lot of movies.

Hey, I’m in California. I’m inside for three months!

I rewatched Godfather III. I really liked it a lot more than I thought I would. I know people don’t like it as much as the other two, but more people should see it. It was kind of surprising.

Well, I appreciate hearing that. Actually, Francis has done a reworking of Godfather III and he’s refined it.

Oh really?

And he’s very proud of it. And hopefully you will see that, too. You know, that movie was about money laundering which is very pertinent these days.

Oh, before we go…

Mike, are you doing okay in New York?

Well, it’s much better than it was. April was pretty scary.

Yeah. I know, but we must still operate with caution and hand sanitizer and masks.

I remember the last time I got to play trivia, you were an answer.

Really?

The question was what woman has starred in the most sequels to movies that won Best picture? I don’t even think there’s anyone close.

Ha! Oh, not just Rocky, but also The Godfather.

Right.

Oh, well that’s … hey, that’s me? Listen, it’s interesting to be a trivia question. I’m also a crossword puzzle. A lot of times because of the way the letters are in my name. My two names Talia and Shire are very useful for vertical and horizontal.

You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter.

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Aminé Laments Getting Friend-Zoned In His Social Distance-Friendly ‘Riri’ Video

Portland rapper Aminé broke out in 2016 with “Caroline,” his bouncy ode to the “handful of women [he’s] met in [his] life that [he] would put genuine effort in,” which became a massive hit and helped launch his debut album Good For You to No. 31 on the Billboard 200. Now, he looks to repeat the feat with another rollicking salute to the potential loves of his life, “Riri,” releasing the social distance-friendly video after a week of hype.

Unlike “Caroline,” though, “Riri” sees Aminé lamenting the women who gave him headaches while he gave them “too many chances.” He even names names, shouting out “Imani” and “Lola” — women with whom his dealings were seemingly in stasis before he became a star and who broke his heart multiple times. Aminé, however, was too “blinded by your beauty” to notice the signs and found himself in lost in the sauce. The video features scenes of Aminé and his usual crew speeding along the highway in a convertible intercut with self-shot footage of beautiful women preening in front of their webcams and singing along, including a cameo from sports journalist Taylor Rooks.

Aminé’s new video accompanies “Shimmy” in helping him to promote his upcoming follow-up to Good For You and the 2018 “EpLpMixtapeAlbum” OnePointFive, which featured his second big hit, “Reel It In.” While the title and release date for the new album remain a mystery, “Riri” is a promising sign of more enjoyable bangers to come.

Watch Aminé’s “Riri” video above.

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Boston Just Banned Its Government From Using Facial Recognition Technology


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Lin-Manuel Miranda Is Proud To See ‘Hamilton’ Lyrics On Signs Supporting Black Lives Matter

Lin-Manuel Miranda is proud, but not entirely surprised, to see Hamilton lyrics showing up on signs for the Black Lives Matter movement.

While stopping by The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday night, Miranda explained why there will always be a historical connection between the musical and moments like the ongoing protests to end police brutality and racial violence. Because of the way America was built, lyrics like “History has its eyes on you” and “This is not a moment, it’s a movement” will continue to pop up down the road as the never-ending fight for equality rages on. Via The Hollywood Reporter:

The Hamilton creator said the hit Broadway show will always have something to say about the moment, “because we’re constantly dealing with the past.” The protests occurring in cities nationwide have called for defunding the police and a reflection of how political and the criminal justice systems perpetuate racism, especially towards Black people.

“We’re never done with the past,” he said. “We’re never done with the sins of the founders.”

Naturally, Miranda was visiting the late-night show to promote the upcoming Disney+ release of Hamilton, which he recently confirmed will be only lightly censored when it hits the streaming service next month. According to a two-part Twitter thread, every single scene in the musical will remain intact, however, to land a PG-13 rating from the MPAA, the show had to bleep two of its three F-bombs, which Miranda was happy to oblige considering most fans already know the full lyrics by now.

Hamilton premieres July 3 on Disney+.

(Via The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon)

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Jpegmafia Laments Black Support Of Donald Trump On ‘The Bends!’

Throughout his presidency and during the campaign leading up to his election, Donald Trump has faced a significant amount of criticism. The music world has spoken out against the POTUS on the regular, and the latest to do so in song is Jpegmafia on his latest single, “The Bends!.”

In the video, Jpegmafia wears what appears to be a brown beekeeper’s suit as raps on a desolate road and in the surrounding brush. Lyrically, there is no mistaking that he is discussing the president. In fact, similarly to Meek Mill’s “Otherside Of America,” the song begins with a sample of a Trump speech. Trump says, “The support we’re getting from the African-American community has been overwhelming, and I wanna thank each and every one of you.”

From there, Jpegmafia criticizes the president in a number of ways, building on the opening sample to lament the support Trump has received and continues to enjoy from some members of the Black community. Lyrics include, “My leader treat me like a enemy, he a casualty / Wonder if he cry when he sees fans of me / Can’t believe we thought he’d be the man for me / It’s sad, for real, melody,” “People pray for the press to impeach / Deeper down, know that vote is a loss,” and, “MAGA raps, caught a body in a MAGA hat.”

Watch Jpegmafia’s video for “The Bends!” above.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

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Jónsi Shares The Surreal ‘Swill’ Video And Details ‘Shiver,’ His First Album In Ten Years

Icelandic musician Jónsi made a name for himself as the lead vocalist in the award-winning group Sigur Rós. After pivoting towards a solo career, the musician went on a decade-long hiatus following his acclaimed 2010 record Go. But Jónsi is finally ready to make his return. Sharing a surreal visual to the equally-jarring track “Swill,” the singer previews his comeback record Shiver.

“Swill” follows his album’s lead single “Exhale,” which Jónsi released at the end of April as a way to announce his return. On “Swill,” Jónsi emits a sense of urgency with quivering synths, resounding percussion, and atmospheric production. The accompanying visual, animated by Pandagunda, is a bizarre construction of a world created by the song. The video opens with Jónsi trapped in a prison of hands grabbing at his face, edited to allow fast-paced jump cuts align with each downbeat. Eventually, animated figures appear and glitch in step with the track’s crunchy synths.

The “Swill” visual arrives alongside Jónsi’s album announcement. Arriving in October, his upcoming record boasts features from Robyn and Cocteau Twins’ Liz Fraser.

Listen to “Swill” above and find Jónsi’s Shiver cover art and tracklist below.

Krunk

1. “Exhale”
2. “Shiver”
3. “Cannibal” Feat. Liz Fraser
4. “Wildeye”
5. “Sumarið Sem Aldrei Kom”
6. “Kórall”
7. “Salt Licorice” Feat. Robyn
8. “Hold”
9. “Swill”
10. “Grenade”
11. “Beautiful Boy”

Shiver is out 10/2 via Krunk. Pre-order it here.

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HBO Max’s ‘Expecting Amy’ Trailer Takes Amy Schumer On A Personal Journey

Amy Schumer has never been shy about sharing details about her life through stand-up, but now she’s pulling the curtain back even further for HBO Max in her new three-part documentary series Expecting Amy.

As fans of Schumer know, the comedian went through an extremely difficult pregnancy while preparing for her Netflix special Growing, which she amazingly pulled off only to land in the hospital immediately afterwards. In the first official trailer for Expecting Amy, viewers get a glimpse at that physical and emotional toll that Schumer experienced, which she started documenting the moment she found out she was pregnant. The three-part series will also explore how Schumer’s husband, Chris Fischer, learned that he’s on the autism spectrum, which lead to the couple navigating some tricky waters when it comes to Schumer’s very personal style of stand-up. While the trailer is definitely punctuated with laughs and Schumer’s trademark humor, there are definitely some raw moments as she battles her way to becoming a mom.

Here’s the official synopsis:

From hospitalizations to going out in front of a crowd of thousands, to quiet moments at home with her family, Schumer shares it all. Beginning the day she found out she was pregnant, through the birth of her child, she showcases her incredible journey on the road, revealing the challenges of pregnancy, marriage and the execution of creating a stand-up special. Expecting Amy offers a hilarious and raw 360-degree look at this new stage of her life. It’s like Jerry Seinfeld’s movie “Comedian,” if he had been pregnant. With her family and friends along for the ride to support her and keep her sane and balanced, she does it all with perseverance, heart and the priceless sense of humor she’s known for.

All three episodes of Expecting Amy will drop July 9 on HBO Max.

(Via HBO Max)