Month: August 2020

Inside the NBA rarely lets us down. On Thursday night, Charles Barkley and company treated us to a demonstration of his memory capacity (or lackthereof), and the results were just about what you’d expect. They were back at it again for Friday night’s busy dlate of action, but this time with a special guest host on the panel.

Draymond Green joined the crew, and didn’t take long before the fireworks started. The Warriors forward has something of a checkered history with Barkley, as the two have traded barbs in the media after Green expressed his displeasure with Barkley’s criticism.

During one of the opening segments, Barkley took a moment to discuss the late-game matchup between the Celtics and the Raptors, and in the process waxed philosophical about the general problem of having a big man on your team who can’t shoot and how that allows opposing defenses to cheat off of them.

That clearly hit a little too close to home for Draymond, who apparently read it as a direct criticism of his own play within the Warriors and didn’t waste any time before calling Barkley on it, leading to a wonderfully-awkward TV moment that was enough to make anyone squirm.

“You taking shots, Chuck?”

Draymond Green vs. Charles Barkley on @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/R6eLr2rd6v

— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) August 7, 2020

And he wasn’t finished there. Not by a long shot. When the subject of the red-hot Suns came up, Draymond came right out and called for Devin Booker to get out of Phoenix.

“Get my man out of Phoenix.”

Draymond wants D-Book to flourish somewhere else.

(via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/GV4ojWeV8o

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 7, 2020

Of course, he didn’t miss that opportunity to use it as another roundabout shot at Chuck, who spent the better part of his career with the organization. But the absolute best part came toward the end, when Ernie asked him if he was tampering, to which he replied simply and honestly, “maybe.”

Whether the league will have something to say about it remains to be seen, but Draymond’s TNT appearance has been eventful, to say the least.

Yakko, Wakko and Dot are all coming back and they’re already gotten the green light from Hulu for a second revived season. The beloved animated show is coming back with new episodes, the most notable of shows reportedly getting release dates from the streaming service on Thursday.

According to TV Line, Hulu has slated the revival of the WB cartoon for November 20, with a new season of the show coming for the first time since 1998.

The 13-episode first season also welcomes back iconic Animaniacs characters, including Pinky and the Brain. (Also worth noting: The show has already been renewed for a 13-episode second season, set to premiere in 2021.) Steven Spielberg is executive-producing, alongside Sam Register, Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey and Wellesley Wild.

Animaniacs was stuck on 99 episodes for decades, first premiering in 1993 and airing on both Fox Kids and Kids WB. News of a second season already on the way is certainly exciting for fans, as it means seeing more of the Spielberg-produced show won’t rely on it getting a huge number of eyeballs this fall. Some of the show’s bits are still beloved to this day, and the news that Pinky and The Brain are back as well gives considerable hope that the show’s vibe remains the same on the streaming giant. Hulu celebrated the news by dropping an audio message from Tress MacNeille, who voices Dot, on Twitter.

The news comes with two other land-baed shows hitting Hulu later in 2020 as well, with Monsterland (Oct. 2) and No Man’s Land (Nov. 18) also on the schedule for the streaming service.

The best new hip-hop albums coming out this week include projects from Aminé, Gashi, Lil Keed, and NLE Choppa.

Batten down the hatches, folks. This week may seem a little light on big-name releases from established faves, but next Friday, a torrent of content is coming over the horizon, including projects from the likes of Young Dolph, Coi Leray, Boldy James, and many, many more. So for now, let’s all enjoy the space we have to fully process this week’s spate of releases, which also offers the deluxe version of Rod Wave’s excellent Pray 4 Love.

Here are all the best new hip-hop albums coming out this week.

Aminé — Limbo

The highlight of the week is Portland’s own quirky, funny, surprisingly insightful Aminé. Building on the success of “Caroline” and “Reel It In,” tracks like “Complicated” and “Woodlawn” may be the highlights for longtime fans, but Aminé also has plenty to say on “Becky,” “Fetus,” and “Mama.” With a guestlist that includes Charlie Wilson(!), JID, Summer Walker, Vince Staples, and Young Thug, the 40-minute set has enough star power to turn heads, but it’s the principal artist who holds court, offering up his unique Northwestern outlook on growing up without getting old.

Gashi — 1984

Known primarily for his party-ready pop rap anthems, Gashi tries a new trick on his latest, offering up ’80s-esque dance pop and surprising guest stars like Sting(!!), Njomza, and Pink Sweats. Trading in fist-pumping for two-stepping, Gashi’s retrowave approach may not qualify as hip-hop in the strictest sense, but the sensibilities he developed over his previous projects like 2016’s Stairs and 2019’s Gashi are in evidence, lending a streetwise attitude to the synthy production.

Lil Keed — Trapped On Cleveland 3

Ahead of the release of his latest, Atlanta’s Lil Keed boldly predicted it’d be going platinum. That may be the case, as he continues to display the clear charisma that made him one of the standout members of Young Thug’s YSL Records crew and earned the blessing of Drake. His sing-rapping is slathered over some of most hypnotic trap beats to utilize the 808 kit, while appearances from some of the subgenre’s biggest names — Future, Gunna, Lil Baby, Travis Scott, Young Thug — will ensure that curious fans will at least be willing to check it out. Keed’s slick flows, a smart update of the style pioneered by his mentor Thug, will keep them listening.

NLE Choppa — Top Shotta

One of the most anticipated projects of the week, Top Shotta finds NLE Choppa delivering the promise of his “Top Shotta Flow” freestyles and a year of build up that included the Cottonwood EP and a flurry of singles with big-name co-signers such as Lil Baby and Roddy Ricch. Choppa’s signature energy remains the highlight of the project, as the 17-year-old star taps into some of the most bass-heavy beats his squad of trap producers (Budda Beats, Quay Global, and more) can cook up and jab-steps all over them with all the nimbleness of his youthful dance steps.

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

Former President George W. Bush and current president Donald Trump may both be Republicans but they have contrasting views when it comes to immigration.

Trump has been one of the most anti-immigrant presidents of recent memory. His Administration separated undocumented families at the border, placed bans on travelers from majority-Muslim countries, and he’s proudly proclaimed, “Our country is full.”

George W. Bush’s legacy on immigration is a bit more nuanced. He ended catch-and-release and called for heightened security at the U.S.-Mexico border, but he also championed an immigration bill that created a guest worker program and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented people.

Unfortunately, that bill did not pass.

Bush has alluded to his disagreement with Trump over immigration policies in an interview with People in 2017.

“I don’t like the racism and the name-calling, and I don’t like the people feeling alienated,” Bush said. “I didn’t feel like speaking out before because I didn’t want to complicate the job. However, at the Bush Center, we are speaking up … through actions defending the values important to Laura and me.”

via Crown

Bush is celebrating American immigrants with a new book of paintings “Out Of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants” which will be published on March 2. It includes 43 portraits by the 43rd president. Many of the subjects are people he knows personally.

It’s hard not to notice the political statement the book makes coming out at time when the current Republican president, and party at-large have, made anti-immigrant sentiment a big part of their collective identity.

“While I recognize that immigration can be an emotional issue, I reject the premise that it is a partisan issue. It is perhaps the most American of issues, and it should be one that unites us,” Bush writes in the new book’s introduction.

“My hope is that this book will help focus our collective attention on the positive impacts that immigrants are making on our country,” he adds.

The book will serve as a companion piece for Bus’s upcoming art exhibition at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas.

“Both ‘Out of Many, One” and the exhibition of the same name will include bold, principle-based solutions that comprehensively address the current debate on immigration,” Crown, the book’s publisher, says.

“At the heart of the recommendations is the belief that every year that passes without reforming the nation’s broken system means missed opportunities to ensure the future prosperity, vitality, and security of our country,” the statement continues.

A portion of the proceeds from “Out of Many, One” will go to help immigrants resettle.

Bush’s persona as president was a tough-talking Texan, so his love for painting has been a rather surprising development in his post-presidential life.

He was inspired to paint after learning of Winston Churchill’s love of the art. His passion for painting became public knowledge after his sister’s email was hacked in 2013, revealing some of his artwork.

Since, he’s been very public about his hobby, publishing a book of paintings of military veterans, “Portraits of Courage,” in 2017.

“It keeps me active, so I’m not on the couch chewing potato chips all the time,” Bush said according to CNN. “It’s one of the great learning experiences.”

Roland Pollard and his 4-year-old daughter Jayden have been doing cheer and tumbling stunts together since Jayden could walk. When you see videos of their skills, the level of commitment is apparent—as is the supportive relationship this daddy has with his daughter.

Pollard, a former competitive cheerleader and cheer coach, told In The Know that he didn’t expect Jayden to catch on to her flying skills at age 3, but she did. He said he never pressures her to perform stunts and that she enjoys it. And as a viral video of Jayden almost falling during a stunt shows, excelling at a skill requires good teaching—something Pollard appears to have mastered.

Twitter user Toya Rochelle shared a TikTok video of Pollard’s in which Jayden makes a mistake on a move and falls. Pollard first checked to make sure she was okay. Then he matter-of-factly pointed out the mistake and explained the importance of listening to instructions, while also letting her know that he wasn’t going to let her fall. “Daddy will always save you,” he said.

Once she was calm and they’d talked through what happened, they tried again. This time, with success.

Another Twitter user pointed out that there was more video that followed this interaction, showing how sweet this dad-daughter duo’s relationship really is. After a high-five and an “I’m so proud of you,” Pollard asked if Jayden was ready to go get some ice cream, but she just wanted to go home and have some real food. Really, it’s the little things in their exchange that are the sweetest. For instance, she accidentally kicks him when he puts her on his shoulders and says, “Sorry,” and he instantly responds, “That’s okay.” So calm, so considerate. It’s clear that there’s no shortage of love, trust and security here.

Some watching the videos may feel that these kinds of cheer moves are too dangerous for a child. In an interview with E! News, Pollard explained that despite how the stunts may look to the public, he wouldn’t let anything happen to Jayden.

“I believe that fear is a taught or learned trait and I’ve never given her a reason to be afraid,” he said. “Any flyer I have trained knows that I will catch them if anything tragic goes wrong. She doesn’t necessarily push me directly, but when I see she gets a skill down, I always try and make it harder. I love my daughter with all of my heart and would never put her at risk.”

He also said he always tells her “Good job, mama!” after every stunt. “Before every stunt, I tell her I love her and give her a kiss for reassurance,” he added. “We call it ‘hardwood floor talk.'”

The march toward the legalization of psilocybin continues! For the first time in the country’s history, the Canadian government is allowing terminal cancer patients to legally consume psilocybin as part of their end-of-life care, Vice reports. On Tuesday, Canada’s Health Minister Patty Hadju officially approved the consumption of magic mushrooms for four people who have been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Currently both psilocybin and psilocin, the psychedelic compounds that give magic mushrooms their “magic,” are prohibited under Canada’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and (unlike the cities of Oakland and Denver here in the states) don’t enjoy any sort of legalized or decriminalized status outside of clinical trials. According to TheraPsil, a nonprofit organization that advocates for the medical benefits of psychedelics, this is the first time an exemption has been specifically granted for the consumption of psilocybin mushrooms and is a huge win for advocates of psychedelic therapy as part of end-of-life care.

A small FDA-approved clinical trial published in 2016 in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that psilocybin was shown to be an effective treatment for those with terminal cancer who were experiencing distress and depression as a result of their prognosis. The study found that after the consumption of psilocybin, anxiety, and depression were greatly reduced, with 80% of people showing sustained benefits as far as seven months later. Feelings of demoralization and hopelessness were improved immediately, and 90% of participants reported that it improved their overall life satisfaction. While the clinical trial was limited to just 29 people, the results are promising enough to warrant more research into psilocybin’s anti-depression benefits.

Vice notes that permission to use psilocybin in Canada for the four patients was granted under a section 56 exemption to the country’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which is notable as being the same type of exemption that was used to kick off the legalization of cannabis for medicinal purposes in Canada, and as we’ve covered before in relation to cannabis, medical legalization and decriminalization are the first steps towards recreational legalization.

In short… get ready for some shrooming.

By now, most of us know better than to get our hopes up about our favorite celebrities. We’ve watched too many beloved household names fall from grace, and even those who seem delightful in their personas have been outed as kinda terrible people in private. (We’ll always have Mister Rogers. And I’m still holding out hope for Tom Hanks, all kooky conspiracy theories aside.)

But a Twitter thread that largely flew under the radar this week has highlighted the apparently universal kindness of comedian and late night talk show host Seth Meyers.

Sara Benincasa wrote:

“When certain pals battered & bruised by an otherwise abusive industry mention Seth Meyers, they go into an enchanted fugue state and talk like they got to work with the love child of Glinda the Good Witch and some benevolent supergenius golden retriever, IDK, he sounds nice!”

Lauren Flans corroborated the claim, saying, “He is the LOVELIEST man! Treats absolutely everyone with the same kindness and interest, and when I saw him at the Boom reunion in Amsterdam last summer, he literally talked to me about a tweet of mine he remembered from SEVERAL YEARS BACK WUT.”

And actress Kristen Schaal, a fellow comedian, agreed. “Sooooo true! He has always been kind to me, even in social situations where I felt out of place.”

Awww. Nice.

Benincasa said she had heard that praise of him—that he really notices people and brings them in. “Such a kind thing and a real skill too!”

Someone who interned for Meyers added her two cents, which just reinforced what others were saying:

“Interned for him in college and it was my favorite internship I’ve had. He was the only one who sat down with us at the end of the semester and answered questions/talked with us for while. He said hi if you passed him in the hall. And we were paid, which is great.”

Others pointed out that he regularly brings his writers on his show, reallys showcasing their talents. He also uses his platforms to uplift the voices of the smart, funny women on his team.

Alex Miller wrote, “I had the opportunity to sit in for a monologue rehearsal (he does this every day). His writing staff was having absolute blast watching from the seats, and after 45 minutes of rehearsing, Seth comes into the seats and does a Q&A with the audience. Again, he does this every day.”

Judd Winick confirmed Meyers’ awesomeness “from personal experience as well as professional.”

Meyers’ brother Josh even chimed in…with some stereotypical brotherly humor.

Not that an absence of criticism proves anything, but the fact that his conversation took place on Twitter and only stories of positive interactions with him came up is pretty telling. Someone once said, “Live your life in such a way that if someone spoke badly about you no one would believe it.” Seth Meyers may actually be living that advice.

People might take issue with this brand of humor, his political stances, or his making fun of the world’s most easy-to-make-fun-of president. But it appears that those who have interacted with him and worked with him have glowing things to say.

How refreshing in this day and age.

Another thing people pointed out was his delightfully genuine family, which might explain why he is how he is. Each year, he has his parents and brother come on the show, and it’s nothing but pure family fun. Enjoy:

The Meyers Family Tells a Traumatic Story Involving Seth’s Orthodontic Headgear

www.youtube.com

If nothing below suits your sensibilities, check out our guide to What You Should Watch On Streaming Right Now.

Pan y Circo (Amazon Prime series) — Diego Luna (in what feels like an answer to Jon Favreau’s Dinner For Five) hosts dinner conversations (with what looks to be a lot of wine) that tackle divisive, beyond-entertainment issues while enjoying super-fancy meals prepared by Mexico’s most renowned chefs.

An American Pickle (HBO Max) — Seth Rogen‘s dual roles have arrived, and the end product is both touching and hilarious to witness. Rogen plays a 1920s Jewish immigrant who falls into a vat of pickle juice and is perfectly “brined” for 100 years, so suspend your disbelief and enjoy the surprising amount of nuance here. It’s both an interesting match-up and a truly inspired Jewish version of Encino Man.

The Rain: Season 3 (Netflix series) — This sleeper apocalyptic series comes to an end with a deluge of hope, years after deadly rain decimated Scandinavia’s population. Simone and Rasmus are at odds on how to put the virus to bed, and now, there are amped-up special affects and superpowers on the table. This show might feel too timely (in 2020) if you’re starting from the beginning, but if you’re been watching all along, you’ll find a wonderful end to a series that transcends most apocalyptic fiction today.

Hitmen (Peacock series) — It’s a workplace comedy about assassins, starring English comedy duo Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins as longtime pals who kill for dollars.

Star Trek: Lower Decks (CBS All Access series) — This offshoot series drives the franchise into animated territory. Creator Mike McMahan (Rick & Morty, Solar Opposites) takes viewers on a voyage with the very non-prestigious USS Cerritos.

Slay The Dragon (Hulu documentary) — Our current voting system (and all the Republican gerrymandering inherent within) gets put on blast with this eye-opening documentary that reveals some sinister truths.

Immigration Nation (Netflix series) — This six-part docuseries (which comes after the similarly-themed Stateless) aims to give viewers an inside look at some of the most vulnerable communities in the U.S. while detained immigrants fight for citizenship.

Here’s the rest of this weekend’s notable programming:

Room 104 (Friday, HBO 10:00 p.m.) — The fourth season of the Duplass’ Brothers bizarre playground continues with Dave Bautista as retired pro wrestler Raw Dog Avalanche, who seeks an assist from therapeutic dolls. Cue some epic repressed memories.

Sharkfest (Sunday, National Geographic) — Sharkfest episodes continue to air with a 7:00 p.m. episode called “Sharks vs. Dolphins: Blood Battle” and an after-dark installment at 10:00 p.m. called “50 Shades of Sharks.” Oh boy.

P-Valley (Sunday, Starz 8:00 p.m.) — Foes get trapped together over a weekend while Keyshawn ascends to new heights and Lil’ Murda glows up.

Perry Mason (Sunday, HBO 9:00 p.m.) — The Season 1 finale has led to unvarnished critique as Mason grows increasingly stubborn, and the sensational trial concludes.

The Chi (Sunday, Showtime 9:00 p.m.) — Kiesha’s personal nightmare isolates her from the rest of the fretting group, and Ronnie’s working to fix his past trangressions.

NOS4A2 (Sunday, AMC & BBC America 10:00 p.m.) — The Shorter Way leads to a junkyard visit, and tempers are high while Vic and company attempt to hatch a plan to take down Charlie Manx for good.

We Hunt Together (Sunday, Showtime 10:00 p.m.) — The pilot episode of this fresh series involves a deadly duo — a former child soldier named Baba and Freddie — who are drawn together (to commit murder) by their dark pasts. Two detectives are hot on the trail in an attempt to keep the pair from striking again.

When Jessy Lanza released “Face” back in April, her latest effort All The Time jumped to the upper levels of my list of anticipated records for 2020. Released in late July, it would turn out that the single set the stage well for the full-length, a collection of numbers that will surely get you up out of your chair to dance along. With the world on fire around us, it feels nice to have an album that encourages us to let loose and forget. All The Time urges you to do just that, and also gives you a soundtrack to persevere.

To celebrate the new album, Lanza sat down to talk sleeping in a renovated military canteen, Janet Jackson, and more in the latest Indie Mixtape 20 Q&A.

What are four words you would use to describe your music?

Sad squirty synth songs.

It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?

As a person that made you feel comfortable.

What’s your favorite city in the world to perform?

I love performing in Phoenix, Arizona.

Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?

Jeremy Greenspan is a mentor and my most frequent collaborator. He’s inspired my work the most. Him and Janet Jackson.

Where did you eat the best meal of your life?

Ding Tai Fung in Markham, Ontario, Canada.

What album do you know every word to?

Janet Jackson’s album Janet.

What was the best concert you’ve ever attended?

Haruomi Hosono’s show last year at Gramercy Theater.

What is the best outfit for performing and why?

Pants with a little give and a top with short sleeves.

Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?

Movie Promotional Merch Unlimited @NightPromoting on Twitter and @motem on Instagram because he always brings positivity.

What’s your most frequently played song in the van on tour?

“Say You’ll Say So” by Geoffrey Landers.

What’s the last thing you Googled?

Best Xiaolongbao in the Bay Area?

What album makes for the perfect gift?

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.

Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?

Whenever I play in St Gallen the venue there, called Palace, has us stay at a renovated military canteen. It’s not weird but it’s very nice.

What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?

Would rather not share the story behind my lower back tattoo.

What artists keep you from flipping the channel on the radio?

If I hear Christine McVie’s voice the song stays on.

What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?

My family for putting up with my bs.

What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?

Break up with him.

What’s the last show you went to?

TEKLIFE feat. DJ Spinn, TRAXMAN, DJ Manny and Tripletrain in NYC.

What movie can you not resist watching when it’s on TV?

Goodfellas

What would you cook if Kanye were coming to your house for dinner?

I’d bbq some veggies.

All The Time is out now. Listen here.

What constitutes a “sleeper record”? Here at Indie Mixtape HQ, we determine a record to be a “sleeper” if we think it could be really popular… if more people just knew about it. On the second episode of Indiecast, Steven Hyden and Ian Cohen dig in on the 2020 albums they think are accessible and easy-to-like, but might not have the big promo push that other records from big-name artists might get.

These are albums that thrive on Bandcamp and in the underground. With their podcast, Hyden and Cohen seek to right this wrong by sharing their best finds from this year. Perhaps no album deserves mention more than Wares’ Survival, which was released in April and recently declared by Hyden to be “one of the year’s most emotionally overpowering and melodically satisfying rock records” in his review. Hyden also brings listeners’ attention to releases from 2nd Grade, Peel Dream Magazine, and more.

Cohen, on the other hand, is spreading the gospel of Viewing, the new album from Stay Inside, which he called for Pitchfork “one of the most confidently executed emo debuts of recent vintage, a bracing fusion of brutality and elegance.” He also praises recent releases from Ben Seretan, I’m Glad It’s You, and more.

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 2 above and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts here. Stay up to date and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.