Month: August 2020

With the NBA restart in Orlando moving ever closer toward the conclusion of its seeding games, there are still plenty of unanswered questions remaining about playoff positioning and which teams in the West will be fighting for a postseason berth, as the race for the No. 8 seed has grown increasingly complicated.

We’ve had a lot of pleasant surprises from teams and players who have had unexpected success so far in Orlando and have certainly made the most of a unique opportunity that has presented all sorts of challenges, logistical and otherwise. But because the bubble is very much its own thing, the league said earlier this month that its annual awards would be decided by the performances prior to the shutdown in April. They announced the finalists for those awards this week.

Thankfully, the bubble will now have its own set of awards that will honor the standout players who have made their mark in Orlando through the eight seeding games. The NBA announced on Tuesday that it will have its own version of the All-NBA teams and will even select a Player of Seeding Games, similar to the regular-season MVP award.

Via NBA.com:

A panel of sportswriters and broadcasters who have been on site covering the season restart will select the Kia NBA All-Seeding Games Team and the Kia NBA Player of the Seeding Games. The media panel will vote for five players for the All-Seeding Games First Team and five players for the All-Seeding Games Second Team, choosing a total of 10 players at any position from either conference.

The main difference here is that there will be two teams instead of the usual three like in the All-NBA awards, but the logic follows that there are fewer teams to choose from, 22 rather than the usual 30 during the regular season.

Still, there have been a host of players who have been exceptional in Orlando so far — Devin Booker, Luka Doncic, T.J. Warren, Michael Porter Jr., Damian Lillard, just to name a few — that deserve the recognition, so credit to the NBA for creating a scenario that will acknowledge their performances during one of the most unique scenarios the league or the players have ever seen.

Making posthumous videos for an artist is a challenge. Given that they’re not around to participate, options are limited for how to visually represent them. Sometimes they actually started making the visual before their passing and there’s enough existing footage to use, or you can use other archival clips. There’s also animation, which has become more popular during the pandemic and the social distancing it has necessitated. The later is the route Juice WRLD’s estate went for the visual for his new The Weeknd collaboration, “Smile.”

The 3D-animated clip shows the rapper’s girlfriend Ally laying in bed looking at photos of the two of them, cutting back and forth between that and shots of him performing the track in scenic environments. The Weeknd also makes an animated appearance, emerging from a crashed car to sing his part of the song.

This collaboration would have been a dream come true for Juice. In September, before his passing, he put a wish out into the world, tweeting, “Me and The Weeknd would make a diamond record…”

He would surely have also been happy to see how well his debut album has performed. During its opening week, Juice had five songs charting in the top ten of the Hot 100, which was only the third time that has ever happened in the history of the chart.

Watch the “Smile” video above.

After becoming a breakout star for his romantic turn in Netflix’s To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, Noah Centineo is ripped and ready for his upcoming action roles.

In a recent set of photos posted to Instagram, the actor showed off his newly sculpted muscles and joked about whether he should start training again. Centineo is currently set to star as He-Man in Masters of the Universe, a live-action film based on the classic 80s character. But if you think bulking up to play the most muscle-bound hero of them all is a daunting task, Centino will also be going toe-to-toe with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in Black Adam. It might not be a bad idea to keep the training going.

You can see Noah Centineo’s full body transformation below:

As for which role Centineo is bulking up like this to shoot first, well, that is sort of mystery right now. Masters of the Universe was originally supposed to begin filming in July 2020, but production was scuttled by the pandemic. Since then, there has been little movement on the project, which could be stuck in development hell again where it’s languished for years.

Black Adam, on the other hand, is looking slightly more concrete, but it sure feels like The Rock has been talking about the movie for five years now. That film was also supposed to start shooting in July, but it, too, fell victim to the ongoing production woes in Hollywood. However, while Black Adam missed its July start date, that month saw Centineo officially added to the cast as Atom Smasher. On top of that, The Rock is scheduled to make an appearance at DC FanDome where he’ll presumably have an update on Black Adam and how soon DC Comics fans can expect to see the former wrestler trade blows with the newly ripped Centineo.

(Via Noah Centineo on Instagram)

The American whiskey world is dominated by names like Jim Beam, Jack Daniel’s, Wild Turkey, and Maker’s Mark. If you spend any time watching sports, you’re inundated with the likes of Matthew McConaughey and Mila Kunis hawking mega brands. This ubiquity and star power is enough to make a person settle for the well-known names constantly yelled at them any time they walk the liquor aisle.

We don’t subscribe to that kind of thinking. While we’ll gladly pour ourselves a glass of any of the aforementioned whiskey brands, we also like to try new things from time to time. Experiment! Travel the old tastebuds! Mix it up a little!

Bartenders often share our adventurous philosophy. They’re not content with following the crowd. It’s also in their best interest to constantly sample new and unique whiskey brands and expressions. Knowing this, we asked a handful of our favorite bartenders to tell us their favorite under-hyped, smaller whiskey brands in the United States.

Dad’s Hat

Maureen Shannon, head bartender at In the Valley in Philadelphia

Dad’s Hat from Pennsylvania. I have to represent my home state. They make a super solid vermouth-finished whiskey that is great alone or as a cocktail base. The wine influence comes through — with hints of dried fruits, herbs, and spice — before all that good pepper and barrel char slides in.

Rabbit Hole

Franck Savoy, corporate director of food and beverage at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, California

I was in Boston a few years ago, I entered a hole in the wall bar full of Red Sox fans, and there was such a great ambiance. I wanted a whiskey that I was not used to — something different. I poured me a glass of Rabbit Hole Rye Whiskey. It was just such an experience: cinnamon, licorice, dried fruits, sweet caramel…

Cathead

Todd Johnston, beverage director at Marsh House in Nashville

I really like Cathead, which is a distillery out of Mississippi. Their flagship is vodka but they have recently released a whiskey called Old Soul which is bright, fruit-forward, and easy-drinking which is great for cocktails or however you prefer your whiskey.

Garrison Brothers

Hayden Miller, head bartender at Bodega Taqueria y Tequila in Miami

Garrison Brothers. They’re making corn whiskey out of Texas and really exploring the impact of different corns, based on harvest season and varietal. Really good whiskey and something different to try.

Laws Whiskey House

Drew Reid, restaurant manager at W Aspen in Aspen, Colorado

AD Laws out of Denver does a pretty incredible job. In my opinion, this is the best distiller in the state. They make whiskey that compares to many others in the country. They also do a great job with marketing and packaging.

Ko’olau Distillery

Jim Lunchick, master mixologist at Merriman’s in Hawaii

We have a young operation here in Hawaii called Ko’olau Distillery that makes a whiskey called “Old Pali Road.” It tastes like the pure young corn whiskey from where I grew up, in Maryland. I eagerly await the day, years from now, when they will be releasing stuff with more age on it, but part of the charm of this stuff is its freshness and purity. Check them out.

Boulder Spirits

Ryan Negley, whiskey fellow at Boulder Spirits in Boulder, Colorado

Absolutely that has to be Boulder Spirits out of Colorado. We focus on American Single Malts, which is a category on fire right now, but the bourbon coming out is so amazing.

Bardstown Bourbon

Sabari Kanth, lead bartender at Conrad Fort Lauderdale in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Bardstown Bourbon. I got an opportunity to visit their distillery and tried some of their products. They do produce some amazing bourbons and they are blending the traditional whiskey-making with innovative new ideas.

Writer’s Picks:

Westland

Opened in 2010, Seattle’s Westland has worked tirelessly to prove that whiskey doesn’t just need to be made in Kentucky, Texas, or Tennessee. They do this by continuously cranking out high-level, award-winning bottles like Westland Sherry Wood and Westland Peated.

Cedar Ridge

Iowa is known one thing above all else: corn. That’s why it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Iowa-based Cedar Ridge would come out with a product literally called Iowa Bourbon that is full of sweet corn from the state (74 percent corn to be exact). The result is an award-winning whiskey with hints of caramel, toffee, cinnamon, and corn sweetness.

It didn’t take long for 17-year-old Memphis rapper NLE Choppa to capture the hearts of a massive — and growing — fan base. Exploding into viral fame in January 2019 with “Shotta Flow,” Bryson Lashun Potts went from being a former high school basketball star and juvenile delinquent to one of the hottest new artists in the game seemingly overnight. Following up the success of “Shotta Flow” with a series of sequel tracks and the equally magnetic “Camelot,” NLE Choppa instantly became an artist to watch.

Keeping his business operations in-house, Choppa tasked his mother with management duties, leading to a partnership with Steve Stoute’s UnitedMasters distribution imprint. Releasing his Cottonwood EP at the top of 2020, Choppa was not only able to keep his ever-important publishing rights through the deal, but also able to develop another deal through Warner Records in 2019. It’s through this second deal that he recently released his debut album, Top Shotta, which collected his viral hits “Camelot,” “Shotta Flow 3,” “Shotta Flow 5,” and “Walk ‘Em Down” with Roddy Ricch, into a twenty-track showcase of his youthful charisma and surprisingly polished flows.

NLE Choppa granted Uproxx the opportunity to pull back the curtain on his sudden rise to fame, giving us a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his origin, the family-focused business that has helped make him a star, and to ask the question, “Who is NLE Choppa?”

Watch the Who Is NLE Choppa? documentary above.

NLE Choppa is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The biggest domino yet has fallen in college athletics’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to multiple media reports, the Big Ten’s presidents have decided to postpone the 2020 college football season. This does not mean an all-out cancelation, however, as the plan is to try and see if it is safe to play in spring.

The news comes via Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports, along with Bruce Feldman and Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic. All three mentioned that the decision was made by university presidents with an eye on taking to the field sometime in early 2021.

So far, the postponements have come from smaller conferences — whether they be in the Group of 5 or lower divisions of college athletics — with the occasional university deciding it is not safe to go forward this year. The Big Ten is the first Power 5 conference to pull the plug altogether, although there have been rumblings that the Pac-12 could also decide to take a similar measure.

As for other conferences, there is no word on the exact path forward for the ACC, Big 12, and SEC in light of the Big Ten’s decision. There have been reports that the ACC intends to give it a go this fall, while SEC commissioner Greg Sankey mentioned that he will be paying attention to the moves made by other conferences.

Being a part of the XXL Freshman Class is a yearly honor bestowed on a handful of talented, up-and-coming hip-hop artists. The co-sign spotlights oftentimes overlooked rappers and propels their names into the mainstream. Last year’s Freshman Class boasted artists like DaBaby and Megan Thee Stallion, who have since become household names. This year’s Freshman Class was just unveiled by XXL, and artists on the roster have taken to social media to express their excitement.

Those inducted into the Freshman Class this year include Mulatto, Chika, Jack Harlow, Fivio Foreign, Rod Wave, NLE Choppa. Upon hearing the news, Mulatto gushed over the opportunity, saying it has been a “huge goal” for her to get the XXL recognition.

Chika, who recently chatted with Snoop Dogg about collaborating on a “Black country song,” had a similar sentiment. The rapper said it was a “win for her whole team.”

Louisville-based rapper Jack Harlow’s career has been steadily rising since he got a co-sign from Justin Bieber earlier this year but being named XXL Freshman was a special moment for him. Harlow recalled buying XXL magazines as a young boy and fantasizing about one day being on the cover. Not only did Harlow get his wish, but he is also the first rapper from Kentucky to be a part of the Freshman Class.

Rappers Fivio Foreign and 24kGoldn also celebrated the achievement, expressing their excitement on Twitter.

See artists’ reactions to securing a spot in the XXL 2020 Freshman Class above.

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

The 2020 MTV VMAs are approaching, as the ceremony is set to take place at the end of the month. Organizers have slowly been revealing details leading up to the event, and today, they have expanded the roster of artists who will perform during the show. Joining Doja Cat, BTS, and J Balvin are today’s newly announced additions: The Weeknd, Roddy Ricch, Maluma, and CNCO.

The Weeknd is one of this year’s most-nominated artists, as he’s tied for second place (with Billie Eilish) with six total nominations. “Blinding Lights” is up for Video Of The Year, Best R&B, Best Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing, while The Weeknd himself is up for Artist Of The Year. Roddy Ricch’s “The Box” is up for Song Of The Year and Best Hip-Hop, while Ricch is nominated for Push Best New Artist. Meanwhile, CNCO earned a pair of nominations, while Maluma also has one.

Until recently, MTV was planning on hosting the show at Barclays Center, but it was reported a few days ago that while the show will go on, it won’t happen there.

Find the full list of this year’s nominations here.

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

Joe Rogan isn’t exactly known for having well-reasoned opinions, which gives guests like Bill Burr plenty of opportunity to blast him after the podcast host called people who wear masks “bitches.” When it comes to the weird world of Instagram filters, however, Rogan made a fair point, which is that they promote unrealistic expectations of beauty. Given that he’s Joe Rogan, though, he decided to go over the top and also call filters “satanic,” and he (of course) went viral as a result.

In a caption for a filtered photo of himself, Rogan wrote, “If you wanna know how f*cked we are and how bizarre filters are and how distorted young women’s expectations of beauty are, I present you this picture.” He then accused the internet of “trying to rob you of your happiness” due to these filters seeking to crush “women’s self esteem through pure deception and fuckery.” And here’s the filter that prompted this reaction.

Over 500,000 views and counting, and hey, it’s easy to see why Rogan felt unsettled by seeing this image that looks nothing like him. At least he’s not trashing feminism and describing male supporters of feminism as “weasels.” Yes, this filter was meant to be exaggerated and unrealistic, but people really do filter themselves into oblivion while passing the images off as authentic, and it does mess with self-esteem. Joe Rogan isn’t solving the world’s problems here, of course, but he’s distracted enough to not be trashing masks, so no complaints on that end.

After months of doing episodes of The Late Late Show in his garage, James Corden is back in his usual studio to tape the show. It’s not exactly business as usual, though: Guests still aren’t showing up for in-person interviews. Instead, Corden is still doing video chats with them, but now his guest joins him on stage on a giant TV turned sideways in portrait orientation. Anderson .Paak got this treatment on last night’s episode, and he looked like Zordon from the world’s coolest Power Rangers reboot as he talked about his coronavirus testing.

They discussed a video he posted of himself getting a testing swab in his nose, which he did not handle well. They also chatted about .Paak’s appearance on Price Is Right earlier this year (which was actually filmed in December 2019). The most interesting takeaway from that story came when .Paak noted of that day:

“The only thing is I had a session with Dr. Dre and Kanye West right before, and I had to leave that session early to get to The Price Is Right. I didn’t want to tell them I had to go to The Price Is Right. I was like, ‘Yo, I got this thing I got to do, you know…’ We got the work done, but man, it was the craziest day of my life: That session, going from there to The Price Is Right… it was amazing.”

Elsewhere on the program, .Paak performed “Lockdown” (for which he recently dropped a new remix), so watch that below.

Watch clips from .Paak’s appearance on The Late Late Show above.