Month: September 2020

TikTok was in trouble. Last month it was revealed the popular video and meme app, which has taken social media by storm, had enraged President Donald Trump, who had imposed a deadline of September 15 to find an American company to control their services in the U.S. Now they’ve found a new home, a mere two days shy of the fateful date.

The lucky company is Oracle Corporation, which, according to The Wall Street Journal, will soon be formally announced as TikTok’s “trusted tech partner.” Oracle beat out such competition as Microsoft and WalMart, the former of whom had been expected to win out. Part of the reason for Oracle’s success may be because its founder, Larry Ellison, is a strong supporter of the sitting president.

As the deadline loomed, there was much speculation whether or not Trump would extended it. He refused to do that, holding steadfast at a mid-September date. As per Deadline, negotiations wound up complicated by “technical aspects of disentangling TikTok’s infrastructure from ByteDance.”

Since 2018, TikTok has ballooned to 100 million users, proving one of the most popular and fastest growing social media apps in a highly competitive age. So, Gen Z, breathe a huge sigh of relief that the president didn’t kill your favorite spreader of memes.

(Via Deadline and The Wall Street Journal)

The Joe Burrow era in Cincinnati has begun, but unfortunately for the Bengals his first start ended in the way so many games have recently in Cincy, with a gutting, rather horrific loss.

With the Bengals trailing 16-13 in the fourth quarter, Burrow twice marched Cincinnati deep into L.A. territory, only to come away with zero points. The first time was a hideous interception from Burrow, as the rookie tried to do too much with a shovel pass that ended up in the arms of Melvin Ingram and snuffed out a chance at a game-tying field goal.

The Bengals defense would force a three-and-out and get their offense the ball back, and this time Burrow was sensational. He made some great throws, including this dart on third down to keep the drive alive.

They would get the ball down to the three and Burrow threw what could’ve been the game-winning touchdown with seven seconds to play, but it was called back on offensive pass interference on A.J. Green. With the penalty backing them up, the Bengals staff decided to try a game-tying field goal to force overtime, and what took place was something that can only be described as Extreme Bengals.

That is Randy Bullock shanking a 31-yard field goal wide right because he appears to pull his right calf muscle mid-kick, accompanied by an all-time call from the legendary Kevin Harlan. On the sidelines, Burrow had the appropriate reaction to his first real taste of Bengals football.

The good news is that Burrow looks the part of a stud, even factoring in that terrible interception that we’ll chalk up to youthful exuberance. The bad news is the Bengals now must go find another kicker, and enter Week 2 at 0-1.

There’s a chance American president and Fox News addict Donald J. Trump may win a Nobel Peace Prize, but if he doesn’t he can always comfort himself with all the fake awards he claims to have won. For years he’s claimed to have won “Michigan Man of the Year,” which is not a real thing. Nor is his latest “win”: On Sunday, he took to Twitter, alleging to have scored the thoroughly non-existent “Bay of Pigs Award.”

“Sleepy Joe Biden has spent 47 years in politics being terrible to Hispanics. Now he is relying on Castro lover Bernie Sanders to help him out. That won’t work!” Trump wrote. “Remember, Miami Cubans gave me the highly honored Bay of Pigs Award for all I have done for our great Cuban Population!”

But again, such an award, even one that’s allegedly “highly honored,” does not exist.

What Trump appears to be referring to is not an award but an endorsement, during his 2016 presidential campaign, by veterans of the Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961.

(By the way, not only is the “Bay of Pigs Award” not real, but it would be, well, strange for any politician to want his name associated with a notorious failed operation, which found the U.S. government funding Cuban exiles who wanted to overthrow then-Prime Minister Fidel Castro. They were defeated by Castro’s forces after only three days and the humiliation was later name-checked for posterity in Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”)

As he often is, Trump’s easily debunked claim was mocked online.

Others, though, reminded everyone of Trump’s well-documented racism as he tried to earn Latinx support.

(Via International Business Times)

Fresh off the one-year mark of her debut album, Immunity, Clairo has started sharing new music off what may be her sophomore effort. She recently appeared on Appleville, a virtual festival that also included the likes of Charli XCX, 100 Gecs, Kero Kero Bonito, and more, where she debuted two new songs. “No idea when these will see the light of day but i thought i’d share a couple things i’m working on now,” Clairo wrote in the caption of an Instagram video that featured her Appleville performance.

Clairo’s livestream appearance comes after she joined names like Charlie XCX and Phoebe Bridgers for The 1975’s tribute livestream, where she performed the band’s song “Robbers.” She also covered Johnny Flynn’s “Brown Trout Blues,” turning the track into a soulful acoustic number. Back in March, Clairo shared her most recent release, “Everything I Know.” The demo found her returning to her lo-fi sounds, backed by toned-down vocals and fuzzy guitars. She said she wrote the song back in early 2019.

Around the same time, Clairo also shared a video diary of her tour with Tame Impala before it was put on hold as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

You can watch her Appleville performance in the video above.

The Detroit Lions were in firm control entering the fourth quarter with a 23-6 lead against the Chicago Bears, who looked hapless on offense behind Mitchell Trubisky.

However, in the fourth quarter Trubisky came alive, firing some absolute darts, as he tossed three touchdown passes in the final frame to lead the Bears to a 27-23 win. The last of those was an absolute dime to Anthony Miller at the pylon for the go-ahead touchdown with just under two minutes to play.

That did leave plenty of time for Matthew Stafford to orchestrate a game-winning drive of his own, and he nearly pulled it off as the Lions marched down the field to get inside the red zone, with a chance at a win. After spiking the ball with 11 seconds on the clock, the Lions dialed up a spectacular playcall to get rookie running back D’Andre Swift open on an option route to the goal line. The problem was the young back turned too soon and dropped the ball as he turned into the end zone.

The final play saw Stafford heave it into the end zone but get knocked harmlessly to the turf with the Bears in full prevent mode, as Detroit fell to 0-1 in horrific fashion. It’s brutal for the team having blown a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter, but especially for Swift who had three carries for eight yards and a touchdown and three catches for 15 yards prior to the drop. Swift wasn’t heavily featured, as Adrian Peterson had most of the carries, but he had a chance to play the hero and instead will spend the next week-plus reliving that drop in his head.

After keeping fans waiting over three years for a new album, Big Sean finally came through via Detroit 2 at the beginning of the month. His longest and most collaborative album to date, it offered 21 songs and appearances from Jhene Aiko, Eminem, Young Thug, Travis Scott, Nipsey Hussle, and more. It got off to a great start, giving Big Sean his fourth consecutive No. 1 on the Billboard album charts.

Reeling in a total of 103,000 equivalent album units, the album let Big Sean take the throne atop the Billboard album charts for the first time since 2017’s I Decided. His first-week total was boosted by 71,000 streaming equivalent album units and 30,000 album sales. Detroit 2 is also the second No. 1 album of the year for Def Jam following Justin Bieber’s Changes.

Further down the chart, Pop Smoke and Juice WRLD maintain their respective No. 2 and No. 3 positions with Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon and Legends Never Die. Tekashi 69 takes the No. 4 spot with his new album Tattle Tales, while Taylor Swift’s Folklore, which previously held the No. 1 position on the album charts for five weeks, comes in at No. 5.

You can read our review of Detroit 2 here. It’s out now via Def Jam. Get it here.

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

(via Billboard)

The Denver Nuggets trailed by 19 points with 10:10 to play in the third quarter in Game 6 against the Clippers and at that point, it looked like all but a certainty that we would be seeing the Battle for Los Angeles in the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday. However, from that point the Nuggets ripped off a 62-30 run as Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray willed their team to a Game 7, as Denver somehow ran away with a 111-98 win.

With Game 7 now looming large on Tuesday night, here are our takeaways from a stunning Game 6 win for Denver.

1. The Nuggets will not quit

Denver has now faced five elimination games this postseason already and have won them all. They’ve been down 3-1 in both of their series and pushed each to a Game 7. For all the very legitimate questions about this team’s roster and some of their weaknesses, they simply refuse to go down without a fight. They bounce back with an incredible resolve, whether from a bad game or a bad half, and refuse to give up.

It’s a testament to coach Mike Malone and the buy-in he gets from his guys, a testament to Murray and Jokic for the effort they put forth even when trailing by big margins, and to the entire roster for just always keeping their head down and moving forward. They go through lulls and spells of horrid defense, but they seemingly always have an answer and it’s something hard to describe. There’s a spirit to this team that’s simply unbreakable, and whether they win or lose in Game 7, what they’ve done in this postseason has been nothing short of incredible.

2. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are stars

The question for Denver, as it is with a lot of smaller market teams, is whether their young, budding stars can continue to develop into their second contracts. When you commit max money to two guys still growing, it’s the only hope as a team for reaching that real contender level. This postseason, we’ve seen that leap from both players and the result is a Game 7 date with one of the league’s title favorites in the second round.

Jokic was unbelievable in Game 6, as he scored 34 points to go along with 14 rebounds and seven assists. He did it all for the Nuggets, and was deep in his bag, raining down towering shots on the Clippers from deep (4-of-6 from three) and attacking the rim when the Clippers closed out too hard.

As for Murray, he took some hard shots and was clearly banged up, but hit crucial shots when the Nuggets needed them, on his way to 21 points, five rebounds, and five assists in the game.

Murray hasn’t been able to replicate his insane production and efficiency from the first round, which shouldn’t have been expected, but he’s continued to find ways to produce when Denver needs him and his shot-making abilities remain incredible. On top of the offense, which we’ve come to expect from those two, it’s the effort defensively that’s shifted this series for Denver. The Nuggets have played incredible defense on the Clippers, with tremendous efforts from their stars who, even if they aren’t exactly stoppers, are at minimum making life difficult on L.A. and forcing them to work for their points.

As we head to Game 7, the spotlight will be firmly on Jokic and Murray, but to this point they’ve shown they won’t shy away from it.

3. Can the Clippers make themselves care for 48 minutes?

There are plenty of questions facing L.A., like whether Doc Rivers has to cut back on Sixth Man of the Year award winner Montrezl Harrell’s minutes after another disastrous game from him, but mainly this team has to figure out if they can play 48-hard minutes of basketball. When they’ve been great in this series, they have completely dominated the Clippers. They have imposed their will on both ends, smothering Denver’s offensive actions and poking holes in their, at times, porous defense.

The problem has been maintaining that level of play for four quarters. They can get a big lead, but have been just as likely to let that melt away. For a team with title aspirations who would have to face the Lakers in the next round, they have to be able to do that. The defense in the second half, while some of it was Jokic and Murray hitting tough shots, was a step slow a lot of the time. They were late closing out on Jokic’s three-pointers, gave up a number of wide open corner threes to Denver’s role players, and were slow to cut off driving lanes, allowing the Nuggets to get deep in the paint to create contact and get to the free throw line. Doc Rivers was pleading with his guys as Denver erased their lead to play better and play harder, and they simply couldn’t turn it on.

The Clippers are incredibly talented, but they’ve simply been out-willed by the Nuggets too many times in this series. It ultimately may not matter in Game 7, but even good games from Paul George and Kawhi Leonard (58 combined in Game 6) isn’t enough if the rest of the team is going to give them almost nothing. Someone else has to step up and the defensive effort has to be there for all four quarters. If that doesn’t happen, then they could find themselves as the latest victims of a 3-1 collapse, and the jokes will be out.

While most novice drinkers are well acquainted with tequila, mezcal still remains a mystery to many. But even if you haven’t imbibed a liquor with the words “mezcal” on it, you’ve probably already drunk a fair share of mezcal. That’s because all tequila is mezcal, but not all mezcal is tequila. It’s one of those “all squares are rectangles” situations — the all-encompassing name for agave-based spirits is mezcal.

If a bottle is specifically labeled as a mezcal, that means it’s made in Mexico using any type of agave (tequila can only be produced with Blue Weber agave). While tequila is made in and around Jalisco, most mezcal is made in Oaxaca — with its smoky flavor making it a perfect fall sipper.

When it comes to drinking mezcal neat on a cool, fall evening, Marla White, lead bartender at Lona Cocina & Tequilera in Fort Lauderdale, Florida prefers Del Maguey.

“With a variety to choose from, you cannot go wrong with this mezcal,” she says. “Each comes with a unique recipe that adds a special touch.”

We wanted to find the best, smoky mezcals to drink this fall, so we connected with experts — asking bartenders to tell us their picks.

Ilegal Mezcal Joven

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

Ilegal Mezcal Joven is a staple. It’s so smooth on its own but crushes in a cocktail. Plus, when it comes to smoky mezcals, it fits the bill as a sipper.

Fidencio Pechuga

Evgeny Anisimov, bartender at Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa in San Diego

When I first tried Fidencio Pechuga mezcal, I was mind blown by the complexity and how smooth it is. It is usually made with fruit and grains harvested in fall with a raw chicken breast hanging over the still during distillation. It produces one of the most delicate and delicious mezcals on the market.

Mezcal El Silencio

Molly Safuto, bartender at Mila Rooftop Bar in Glendale, California

Mezcal El Silencio, from the artfully curated matte black body, to the smooth and smokey flavor- it’s my favorite thing to drink this fall.

Del Maguey Pechuga

Emmanuelle Massicot, assistant general manager of Kata Robata in Houston

Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal Pechuga. During the third distillation of this mezcal, the vapor passes through a chicken breast resulting in a savory quality that balances the sweetness from the seasonal wild mountain apples and plums that are added to the liquid. The end result is sweet, salty, savory and smoky – it’s complex yet delicate enough to sip on.

Mezcal Vago Ensamble de Barro

Crystal Chasse, beverage director at Talk Story Rooftop in Brooklyn, New York

Mezcal Vago Ensamble de Barro Tio Rey is perfect for autumn evenings. It has notes of pine and cinnamon with a touch of nuttiness that pair perfectly with the smoke. Mezcal Vago celebrates smaller mezcaleros (here it’s Tio Rey) and partners with them to bring greater awareness to their beautiful Mezcals. Tio Rey distills in clay pots and, along with his transitional methods, makes this the perfect sipping Mezcal.

Bozal Ensemble

Andy Printy, beverage director at Chao Baan in St. Louis

The Bozal Ensemble is a great contender. With enough smoke to meet your acquaintance, but not take over the subtle citrus and floral notes that open up as oxidation takes place. Neat or over a large ice cube is best, but it definitely makes a great cocktail.

Banhez Pechuga

Brendan Bartley, head bartender and beverage director at Bathtub Gin in New York City

This fall one of the best sipping mezcals I think is Banhez Pechuga. Seeing all the different agave styles coming out, I usually gravitate to a tobala, though the Pechuga by Bahnez is really taking my liking at the moment. Although it is laced with the smoky element associated with mezcal, it also has a coffee, chocolate, chili thing going on. Gives an autumn feel to it. Having it on the rocks is very, very satisfying.

La Venenosa Raicilla Costa De Jalisco

Max Stampa-Brown, beverage director at Borrachito in New York City

Normally I’d defer to my bar buddies at ATLA, but I think they’d approve of my choice here. La Venenosa Raicilla Costa De Jalisco. This is a chef-driven mezcal and it really shows. It’s like someone was making Mezcal with kimchi on the brain. Very herbaceous and tons of minerality.

Mezcal Vago Tobala

Gavin Humes, bartender Scratch Bar & Restaurant in Encino, California

Mezcal Vago is my favorite by far. It’s perfect for almost any style of mezcal, since they have so many different versions. Their Tobala is wonderfully complex and delicious, and each of the labels has more than enough information for me to geek out on.

Ilegal Mezcal Anejo

Frantjesko Laonora, lead bartender at Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort in Curaçao

I’ll go with the Ilegal Mezcal Anejo. It’s adored for its smoky, roasted agave and earthy flavor notes, especially its smooth and noticeable pepper finish. This mezcal is carefully distilled at Distileria Tlacolula distillery in Mexico.

Doña Vega

Ben Potts, owner and bar director of Beaker & Gray in Miami

Doña Vega mezcal is a delicious, balanced spirit that showcases the agave with just the right amount of smokiness, making it the ideal mezcal to sip on this fall.

Lil Nas X has been teasing his upcoming debut album for the last two months and today the “Old Town Road” artist returned with a new update for fans. Taking to Instagram, Nas X posted a mostly-scribbled-out tracklist for his upcoming album where he revealed four song titles to fans: “Call Me By Your Name,” which he previously teased on Twitter, “One Of Me,” “Don’t Want It,” and “Titanic.”

The tracklist preview also comes with a new update from Lil Nas X as he updated his Twitter bio to say his album is “98% DONE,” signaling that the album could arrive in the near future.

His latest album update comes two months after he revealed his album was “92% DONE.” With the July update, he also posted a video of himself listening to the album with a caption that read, “up at 4am listening to this almost finished album…” With a release possibly set for sometime in 2020, the upcoming album would be the successor to his 2019 EP, 7, which spawned multiple successful records including “Panini” and “Rodeo,” in addition to his record-smashing breakout hit, “Old Town Road.”

Outside of music, Lil Nas X was recently recruited along with ASAP Rocky to star in Rihanna’s recent Fenty Skin campaign and also earned a big win at the 2020 GLAAD Awards.

Cam Newton, as odd as it looks, is no longer wearing a Carolina Panthers uniform. The former MVP signed with the Patriots over the offseason and it didn’t take long for him to get back to what he does best. Scoring touchdowns.

Newton entered the 2020 NFL opener with 58 rushing touchdowns and in a first and goal situation, the Patriots knew exactly what to do with him. With an empty backfield the Patriots called a designed run to get Newton in space so he could rush into the end zone for his 59th career touchdown. Newton of course celebrated as he has traditionally done after touchdowns, but instead of his patented Super Cam celebration, he opted for Wakanda Forever.

Newton’s celebration is likely in honor of Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman who tragically passed away at 43 due to a four year battle with colon cancer. When Boseman passed away it was a major shock to the entire world and much of the sports world has responded by honoring him when given the opportunity. Newton and other NFL stars have not yet had the opportunity as there were no pre-season games this year.

Boseman and Black Panther had a massive impact on many athletes across different sports, because of everything that Black Panther represented. It was iconic and we can expect players to make sure he is always remembered. This was Newton’s first of what is expected to be many touchdowns this season and he is likely the first of many NFL players honoring Boseman in some way throughout the season.