Month: September 2020

Former NBA player Delonte West has fallen on hard times in the recent past. The 37-year-old has spoken about a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and, amid various reports about West’s issues including photos of West seemingly panhandling in Texas, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is reportedly attempting to intervene to provide support.

TMZ reported on Monday that Cuban met with West in the Dallas area. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reports that Cuban confirmed the meeting, indicating that the owner is “attempting to help the homeless former NBA player get his life back on track.”

West, who last played in the NBA during the 2011-12 season, concluded his tenure in the league with the Mavericks. The former St. Joseph’s guard appeared in NBA games across eight seasons.

As part of the TMZ report, Cuban has offered to help financially with West’s treatment at a drug rehabilitation facility, and a source told TMZ that West “now seems open to the idea.” That would be good news, at the very least, with many rooting for West to bounce back and get the assistance that he needs. It remains to be seen as to where this story will lead, but good on Cuban for lending a helping hand.

One week after fans started a petition earning over 15,000 signatures urging 21 Savage to drop his highly-anticipated album Savage Mode 2, the rapper is giving into pressure. With only five days notice, the rapper has announced the album will arrive this Friday.

21 Savage made the announcement via an ominous, Harry Potter-like trailer. The video depicts him in the studio with a voice-over by Morgan Freeman describing what exactly “savage mode” is: “Savage is defined as fierce, beastly, and untamed. Mode is defined as a way of operating or using the system. So, to be in ‘savage mode’ is to go hard, not allowing anything to stop or deter you from your mission. Basically, this means when someone is in savage mode, they are not to be f*cked with.”

21 Savage originally teased the upcoming record during his performance at The Shrine in LA last year in July. After paying respects to the late Nipsey Hussle, he excited fans by saying, “‘Savage Mode 2’ on the motherf*ckin way.” But after a year of silence, people were beginning to grow restless for the project — hence the petition for its release.

Watch 21 Savage’s Savage Mode 2 teaser above.

Savage Mode 2 is out 10/2 via Epic. Pre-order it here.

Nipsey Hussle is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Steven Soderbergh is no stranger to star-studded heist movies. After scoring two separate Best Director Oscar nominations in the same year — he won for Traffic, beating himself for Erin Brockovich — the acclaimed filmmaker immediately segued to lighter fare, bring a good chunk of Hollywood to 2001’s blockbuster remake Ocean’s Eleven. Even after dropping out of Hollywood’s studio system, he did another stacked cast heist picture, with 2017’s semi-self-funded Logan Lucky. And now he’s planning a kind of heist of his own: He’s going to see if he can film another one of these big name crime movies in the midst of a pandemic (while, of course, conforming to COVID-19 shooting regulations).

As per The Hollywood Reporter, Soderbergh just started production on No Sudden Move, a period movie about small-time crooks whose latest job goes awry, as these things tend to do. It’s a movie Soderbergh has had in the works for a while now, and he was set to start shooting last spring. That, of course, did not happen, and in the months of re-jiggering production that followed, he lost some big names, namely George Clooney, John Cena, and Sebastian Stan. He has retained some other famous faces: Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, Amy Seimetz, and Jon Hamm.

And he’s gained some other stars. THR reports that the call sheet includes such luminaries as Kieran Culkin, David Harbour, Brendan Fraser, Bill Duke, and SMILF’s Frankie Shaw. Also on staff are Uncut Gems breakout Julia Fox and young A Quiet Place and Honey Boy actor Noah Jupe.

Here’s the plot, as per THR:

With a script by Ed Solomon, Sudden Move is set in 1955 Detroit and centers on a group of small-time criminals who are hired to steal what they think is a simple document. When their plan goes horribly wrong, their search for who hired them — and for what ultimate purpose — weaves them through all echelons of the race-torn, rapidly changing city.

The always busy Soderbergh was last seen with last year’s The Laundromat, another one with a who’s-who cast, including Meryl Streep doing double duty and Gary Oldman and Antonio Banderas as a pair of Greek Chorus hosts. Last week it was reported that The Knick, the turn-of-the-last-century hospital series he made mid-last decade, would be returning, but now in the hands of star André Holland and his Moonlight director Barry Jenkins.

(Via THR)

For his fourth single of the year, Omar Apollo takes his alt-pop sound in a different direction. Following the debut of his chilled-out track “Kamikaze” and the sultry single “Stayback,” thecorrido-style ballad “Dos Uno Nueve” finds Apollo paying homage to both his Mexican and Indianan roots.

Affectionately titled after Apollo’s Indiana zip code, “Dos Uno Nueve” features lightning-fast acoustic guitar picking and soulful delivery. Apollo sings of his past hardships and how they’ve informed his current success while also wondering about the personal growth that is still to come. “Quiero ganar mucho más zeros / Y disfrutar de lo que tengo,” he sings.

In a statement alongside the single, Apollo explains why he chose to pen the song about his home state: “’219′ is where I’m from and it will always have a place in my heart. Growing up, I dealt with a lot of obstacles that shaped my personality. My life is constantly changing; and as I’m adjusting to this new lifestyle of traveling, meeting people, and making music for a living, I’ll always love coming home to Indiana.”

Listen to “Dos Uno Nueve” above.

Omar Apollo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The Toy Story movie franchise has millions of fans around the world, and the films have popularized iconic characters, bringing joy to the masses for more than two decades. With that in mind, Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard shed light on a new release coming Oct. 1 from Adidas, with his “Dame 7” shoes taking on a special Toy Story colorway inspired by the work of Buzz Lightyear.

As Lillard notes, this particular version will only be available in kids-only sizes and, while that is crucial to note, the target audience for Toy Story is a bit younger than the typical sneaker consumer. In addition to the new-look “Dame 7” issue, Adidas is also offering youth sizes on Donovan Mitchell’s “D.O.N. Issue #2” sneakers, inspired by another Toy Story character in Woody. There are more Toy Story-inspired releases as well, from sneakers to t-shirts and jerseys.

To top it all off, Lillard made sure to let the world know that his new shoes will glow in the dark.

Youth sizes will be priced at $100, with children’s sizes priced at $80 for the “Dame 7.” The “D.O.N. Issue #2” sneakers are priced at $90 for youth sizes and $75 for children’s sizes, to also be released in October.

There’s a trend of musicians partnering with shoe brands, like Travis Scott working with Nike, Kanye with Adidas, and J. Cole with Puma. Add Bad Bunny to the list. The Puerto Rican singer unveiled his own collection of footwear, soon to release a line of his very-own Crocs.

Bad Bunny’s eye-catching Crocs, which are apparently making a comeback, have a special feature. While at first glance the shoe boasts a stark white exterior in Crocs’ original design, his version are able to completely glow in dark when the lights are turned off. Of course, no pair of Crocs would be complete without their plastic accessories, Jibbitz, which Bad Bunny made sure to insert into his collection. The charms include stars, planets, as well as Bad Bunny’s signature logo.

In a statement about the collaboration, Bad Bunny said he’s been a “longtime fan” of the shoe brand: “I believe in being true and not placing limitations on myself, which is also something Crocs represents, and this is the message I always want to make sure I send out to my fans. As a longtime fan creating my own design for Crocs was a lot of fun. I hope they inspire others to have their own fun with their personal style and wearing what makes them happy.”

Check out photos of the Bad Bunny Crocs collaboration above.

The Bad Bunny x Crocs Classic Glow Clog hits online stores 9/29 at 12 p.m. EDT. Get them here.

Longbranch — the much-hyped bourbon collaboration between Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey and Wild Turkey — was first released in May of 2018. At the time, it got some great buzz and solid reviews. But the whiskey​ has seen a recent spike in popularity thanks to a new advertising campaign (directed by and starring McConaughey) and the fact that quarantined, stir-crazy, election-stressed drinkers are looking for something unique to try outside of their standard bottles.

McConaughey’s expression definitely fits that bill. The Texas-born actor didn’t just slap his name on this whiskey, sip it in a commercial, grab his paycheck, and call it a day. His commitment to the craft of distilling and time spent with the Wild Turkey team has been heavily publicized. As has the Texas connection — the flavors of True Detective star’s home state are all over this expression.

While it was born as a Kentucky bourbon, Longbranch — “refined with Texas Mesquite and oak charcoals” — tastes like Texas in whiskey form. It’s also the first time in Master Distiller Eddie Russell’s career that he’s launched a bottle bearing someone else’s signature, thus signaling how involving McConaughey was in its creation. For those eager to test it, the expression is available nationwide and isn’t too difficult to find.

Check out our tasting notes, below.

ABV: 43%

Distillery: Wild Turkey

Price: $39.99

The Story:

Named for the close family friends that “form the longest branches of our family trees,” Longbranch is a bourbon to be shared with friends and family alike. As we pointed out above, McConaughey was very hands-on during the creation of this expression. He and Russell spent hours comparing notes, sampling, and testing various combinations before they found the right recipe.

To create the unique Texas/Kentucky combination, this whiskey was first filtered through American white oak charcoal before being filtered through Texas Mesquite wood-based charcoal. The bourbon is then aged for 8 years in charred oak barrels. The result is a mellow, easy-drinking bourbon that bridges the gap between smoky and sweet.

Tasting Notes:

This unique bourbon deserves to be nosed before you dive in and sip it. You’ll be met with aromas of subtle cinnamon spice, rich vanilla, and creamy caramel. The first sip yields hints of charred oak, butterscotch, brown sugar, and candied orange peel. The finish is long, warming, slightly dry, and filled with sticky toffee, sweet cream, and a perfect whiff of mesquite smoke at the very end.

Bottom Line:

While not a bad whiskey by any means, you should be aware that Longbranch is only $40 for a reason. It’s not an exquisite product — but it is a unique and enjoyable one. Mellow, smooth, easy to drink, and won’t break the bank.

Bright Eyes brought their music into a new decade this August when the band regrouped, sharing their latest record Down In The Weeds, Where The World Once Was. The album arrived with a handful of firsts: their first new music in nearly a decade, their first time playing a (virtual) show since their 2011 album, and their first time performing together for NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series.

Coming together in the studio, Bright Eyes performed a medley of songs off their recent album. Kicking off the set with “Mariana Trench,” the band broke out a special marxophone instrument to perform “Pan And Broom,” a mandolin-like instrument that was patented in 1912 and was most famously used by The Doors. To close out their set, the band offered an alternate version of their The People’s Key track “Shell Games.”

While their Tiny Desk performance was the first time the full band played in the series, Bright Eyes vocalist Connor Oberst has actually appeared on it twice before. His first time was back in 2014, when he tapped Dawes brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith as a backup band. Most recently, Oberst graced the Tiny Desk stage with Phoebe Bridgers in 2019 as part of their duo Better Oblivion Community Center.

Watch Bright Eyes’ NPR Tiny Desk concert above.

Down In The Weeds, Where The World Once Was is out now via Dead Oceans. Get it here.

Coronavirus cases may be rising in part of the United States, and yet one industry that’s been mostly shuttered for the last six months is starting to go back to work: scripted television. Talk shows, even the occasional comedy series, like SNL, has found ways to adapt to our socially distancing times, but others have simply had to wait. But that wait is coming to an end, at least for a small handful of shows.

One of those is lucky to be based on the other side of the world, in a nation that’s pretty much got this all under control: Amazon’s pricey Lord of the Rings series, which is shooting in New Zealand. According to Deadline, production on the show — which imagines the events leading up to J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved trilogy — has already resumed, having been forced to stop mid-March after coming close to finishing two episodes. During the months-long hiatus, the screenwriting team has been planning out Season 2, as it’s safe to say lots of people want to watch any new show, particularly if it’s returns us to Middle-earth.

Meanwhile, the new Cowboy Bebop, also based in New Zealand, is set to start back up on September 30, and a fellow Netflix program, Sweet Tooth, has been back in front of the lens since September 14. (In other New Zealand news, James Cameron announced he just finished principal photography on the first of four Avatar sequels, with the threequel almost entirely in the bag. Now he and his team just have to spend two years adding cutting edge special effects.)

That’s New Zealand, though. Some productions in the United States are taking the risk and going back to work. Among those is Genius: Aretha, the third in NatGeo’s series about pioneering historical figures, which previously highlighted Albert Einstein (played by Geoffrey Rush) and Pablo Picasso (Antonio Banderas). This one stars Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin, and Deadline reports that, after shutting down in March after filming 5 ½ of its eight episodes, it’s going to try and complete the other 2 ½ starting on October 1. Who knows? Maybe we’ll see it before we see Respect, the Aretha Franklin movie, starring Jennifer Hudson, which is currently scheduled for January 15 of next years but who’s to say what if most theaters will be back open by then?

Genius: Aretha is shooting in Atlanta, Georgia, not too far from production on another show that’s already back: The Walking Dead. According to ComicBook.com, one of its stars, Norman Reedus, went on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to talk about the many rules they have to follow while shooting in our COVID-ravaged country.

“We have all these protocols now. We have to take COVID tests three times a week,” Reedus told Kimmel. “The epidemiologist from the Pentagon during the SARS scare is our on-set doctor now. There’s a whole thing going on over here.” The production is looking to complete another half-dozen episodes, which are reportedly smaller in scale than the previous, wild season. So if you were worried you’d have no new content that didn’t involve actors sitting in front of webcams in their living room, then breathe easy.

(Via Deadline and ComicBook.com)

The Los Angeles Clippers made some stunning news on Monday when it was announced that Doc Rivers was no longer going to be the head coach in L.A. after a disappointing second round exit from the playoffs.

The timing of the news seems to indicate that the Clippers are looking to ensure they get into the race for the top coaching candidates before the likes of the Sixers and Rockets fill their head coaching vacancies. One major reason for that is Clippers assistant Tyronn Lue is one of the top candidates for just about every available job at the moment, and his impending interview with the Sixers might have precipitated the Clippers moving quickly to part ways with Rivers.

Shortly after the news broke, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski confirmed that Lue would indeed be a leading candidate, but that ESPN analyst and former Knicks and Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy would also be a seriously considered candidate.

Lue checks all of the boxes for the Clippers as a head coach with championship experience — and winning one with some forceful star personalities who didn’t always see eye-to-eye — and he’s familiar with the dynamic of the Clippers locker room. If anything, Lue not getting the job would seem more to be a matter of whether he, as someone who is extremely loyal to Doc, wants the job, but given there are so few jobs with legitimate title contenders that come open, it would be hard to see him turning it down.

As for Van Gundy, he has been getting some buzz in recent years in the coaching carousel not because of his work in the booth with ESPN, but because he’s done an excellent job as the head coach for USA Basketball in qualifying tournaments. It’ll be interesting to see who else the Clippers consider, as they have another assistant in Sam Cassell who has gotten consideration in Houston and Chauncey Billups, who does Clippers TV broadcasts, has made it clear he’s interested in coaching. It wouldn’t be a total surprise to see Billups join Lue’s staff if he were to take the job as a lead assistant as he looks to make the leap into the head coaching ranks.