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Logic Calls Out Def Jam For Failing To Pay Multiple Contributors From His ‘No Pressure’ Album

Logic‘s hip-hop retirement began on July 24 following the release of his final album, No Pressure. That concluded a ten-year streak of consecutive projects that took Logic from an underground Maryland rapper to one of hip-hop’s most recognizable names in the industry. Unfortunately, Logic hasn’t had the most undisrupted retirement so far as it initially began with a rift with Joe Budden and now the rapper seems to have a new problem on his hands, one that pertains to his label, Def Jam.

Taking to Instagram to voice his complaints against Def Jam, Logic voiced his complaints after multiple contributors from his No Pressure album contacted him about receiving no payment for their work on the label. In one post, Logic shared text messages between himself and collaborator Kevin Randolph who says he hasn’t “seen a penny” from the work they collaborated on. In the caption of the post, Logic says, “@defjam can you please pay my friends and musicians that have made my albums great this is ridiculous at this point! I shouldn’t be getting calls from close friends of mine in the middle of dinner with my Wife about how YOU haven’t paid them from the budget you’ve given me for this album.”

In the same post, Logic revealed that other contributors to No Pressure have not been paid as well, including his longtime producer 6ix, Lil Keke, and DJ Rhetorik. “My boy 6ix ain’t been paid all his money!” he said. “Like who produced the intro hasn’t been paid all his money! Kevin Randolph who the RattPack know as the voice of Kai who I’ve worked with for years hasn’t been paid his money!!!!!! Lil keke hasn’t been paid his money! AND MY DJ RHETORIK, AFTER I HIT YOU UP 2 MONTHS AGO TO PAY THIS MAN HE STILL HASN’T GOTTEN HIS MONEY.”

Further down the lengthy caption, Logic reveals Def Jam has not paid him in the eight years he’s been signed to them. “I mean to this day besides an advance I have never seen a single cent in the 8 years I’ve been signed to this label,” he said. “But I don’t care about that money. I just Want my homies paid. What’s going on here?!?!” Frustrated by the matter at hand, Logic concluded his post by considering the option of ending his retirement to release another album to fulfill his contract with Def Jam.

“Y’all make me want to un retire and drop the last album I have under my contract just so I don’t have to deal with y’all no more man god damn!,” Logic said at the end of his post.

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Police Kicked SMU’s Student Section Out Of The Memphis Game For Not Following Distancing Protocols

SMU and Memphis played one of the best, most exciting football games of Saturday across all of college football, with the Mustangs escaping with a three-point win on a game-winning field goal with nine seconds to play.

It was the type of excitement we’ve come to expect from two of the AAC’s most prolific offenses in recent years, but the entirety of SMU’s student section missed taking in the action live because they had been previously kicked out of the stadium by Dallas police for refusing to follow social distancing and mask protocols in the first half. SMU, like all other college football teams that are allowing limited numbers of fans, have called for fans to stay six feet apart and wear masks whenever in close contact.

The SMU student section, well, was very much ignoring those rules as was evidenced by the Dallas Morning News‘ photo of the student section jumping together, screaming, and trying to shower beer on a Memphis player.

The school also released a statement on the matter, noting they had reached out to public health officials after their last home game and ramped up staffing and enforcement in the student section to try and get better compliance, which clearly didn’t have the intended effect.

The last part of the statement offering hope that students will be allowed into the stadium for their next home game seems, well, a bit foolhardy given they tried numerous times Saturday to get them to follow protocols to no avail. This is not unique to SMU games, as every crowd shot on Saturdays delivers cringeworthy images of maskless people yelling and talking in close proximity during a pandemic that continues to to infect tens of thousands each day across the country. There aren’t really good answers to fix that so long as the goal is to get fans in the stands, because there’s simply not enough staff on hand at games to enforce wearing masks and distancing, particularly in student sections where pushback is most aggressive, particularly to the call not to congregate en masse.

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Megan Thee Stallion Shares ‘Protect Black Women’ Message And Condems Kentucky’s Attorney General On ‘SNL’

Saturday Night Live kicked off season 46 of their long-running late-night TV show on Saturday. To help kick off the new season, the show recruited Chris Rock as host and Megan Thee Stallion as the musical guest. Taking advantage of the nationwide spotlight that shined on her thanks to the appearance on the show, Megan used the opportunity to advocate for Black men and women during her performances.

Taking the stage to perform “Savage” and returning later to perform her newly-released single, “Don’t Stop” with Young Thug, Megan Thee Stallion used the former song to advocate for Black women and call out Kentucky’s attorney general Daniel Cameron. During her performance of “Savage,” Megan paused on stage and allowed speeches from Malcolm X and Breonna Taylor activist Tamika Mallory play in the background. The Houston rapper used Mallory’s speech to call out Cameron as she said, “Daniel Cameron is no different than the sellout negroes that sold our people into slavery.” Megan then went on to conclude her performance of “Savage” but not without a message of her own saying:

We need to protect our Black women and love our Black women ‘cus at the end of the day, we need our Black women. We need to protect our Black men and stand up for our Black men because at the end of the day, we’re tired of seeing hashtags of our Black men.

Megan concluded her night on SNL with a second performance, this time for her new single “Don’t Stop.” Making sure the song was performed to its fullest form, she invited Young Thug onstage to perform his verse on the song. She also participated in a skit entitled “Hello” with Kenan Thompson, Chris Redd, Pete Davidson, and Ego Nwodim that centered around wearing masks.

You can watch both performances on “Savage” and “Don’t Stop” in the videos above.

Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

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UPROXX 20: Nico Tortorella Loves His Mom’s Pasta, Sinatra, and ‘Matilda’

The World Beyond, the much anticipated second spin-off to The Walking Dead, launches this Sunday night, following the 16th episode of the tenth season of the parent series. The World Beyond takes viewers to a different part of the country — the plain states — as it deals with a separate host of problems specific to an alliance of three communities.

On the series, Nico Tortorella (Younger) plays Felix, a survivor trainer and a security officer for the Campus Colony, home to the main characters in The World Beyond. Ahead of the series premiere, Nico took a few minutes to participate in our twenty questions questionnaire.

1. You walk into a bar. What do you order from the bartender?

Sparking water, alcohol free life over here is real

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

@munroebergdorf

3. What’s currently waiting for you on your DVR or in your streaming queue?

Lovecraft Country

4. It’s your last meal — what are you going out with?

Mom’s pasta.

5. What websites do you visit on a regular basis?

Etsy.

6. What’s the most frequently played song on your mobile device?

“My Way,” Frank Sinatra

7. If you could go back and give your 18-year-old self one piece of advice what would it be?

Drink less.

8. What’s the last thing you Googled?

How to get an honorary Canadian citizenship.

9. Dogs or cats?

Dogs

10. Best concert of your life was…?

Ben Harper

11. What book are you most likely to give as a gift?

All Of It Is You

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

Gave birth to me.

13. South Park or Family Guy?

South Park

14. You have an entire day to do whatever you want. What would you do?

Stay home at the house upstate, sauna, read, work out, watch tv, go on a hike, hang out with my family, shop online

15. What movie can you not resist watching if it’s on?

Matilda.

16. The sports team or teams you’re most passionate about?

Chicago Blackhawks.

17. Where did you eat the best meal of your life?

Greece.

18. The last movie you saw in a theater?

1917

19. Who was your first celebrity crush?

Lindsay Lohan.

20. What would you cook if Nic Cage were coming to your house for dinner?

I would ask him to cook for me.

‘The Walking Dead: World Beyond’ premieres on AMC this Sunday, October 4 at 10 p.m.

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Travel Influencer And Bravo Star Jessica More Shares Her Post-Pandemic Travel Guide To Phi Phi, Thailand

While the world is still very much in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s nothing wrong with spending a little time thinking about your post-pandemic travel wish list. Okay, a lot of time. Make no mistake, there will be a day when you can dust off your passport, pack a bag, and board a plane to safely travel the globe. It might not be tomorrow, next week, or next month (hell, it might not even be next year), but it’s coming.

Once travel is finally safe again, Jessica More — travel influencer and 3rd Stewardess on Bravo’s Below Deck Mediterraneanalready knows her first stop. She’s heading to the Phi Phi Islands, in Thailand.

It’s no surprise that Phi Phi — with its glittering waters and clean, organic, seafood-heavy dining scene — appeals to More. She grew up in Florida and Southern California, two states with their own notable ocean habitats and plenty of beachside restaurants. But her beloved Phi Phi has had a whirlwind few years. In 2019, Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh was closed due to overtourism. After briefly reopening, it was re-closed and will remain so until 2021. Meanwhile, Phi Phi Don responded to the pandemic by shutting down to tourism and using the period of quiet to thoroughly clean and reset. The project has been so successful thus far that Thailand’s Environmental Minister plans on closing many of th nation’s most heavily trafficed parks yearly, some for months at a time.

Whenever More does get back to Phi Phi, it’s sure to look a little different than she left it. In all likelihood, it will have some visitor caps and be a little quieter year-round. That’s a good thing — a more managable tourist load will help the islands shine for guests and locals alike. Trust us, we love these islands as much as the next vagabond, but its important to consider sustainability.

If Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh are on your travel list, check out the Below Deck Mediterranean star’s must-visit spots and save them for the moment the “all clear” is finally given.

Best place in Phi Phi to grab a coffee or smoothie?

Aroy Kaffeine

Tucked away in the center of Phi Phi Don Island is Aroy Kaffeine, known for the best coffee in town. They also have delightful fresh juice smoothies and a vegetarian-friendly menu. My go-to is fresh lemon ginger shot and a golden milk latte.

Side note: they take donations for cat food to feed the local stray cats, so if you’re feeling generous you can buy a bag from the local market and drop it off to them to distribute to the island’s many furry friends.

Favorite beach in Phi Phi?

Nui Beach

Jessica More

Nui Beach is so beautiful! The calm turquoise waters are great for snorkeling. I personally like to buy a cheap water float from the market to float around on. The best time to get there is in the mornings around 10 am before it gets too crowded. After 12 pm the groups start showing up and that’s usually my cue to head back to town to get some lunch.

Best spot to grab a late-night dinner?

Efe Mediterranean Cuisine

Efe Mediterranean Cuisine: YUM!

I’ve been to Phi Phi multiple times and I always have to eat at Efe. They are centrally located to the bars and nightclubs in the middle of Ton Sai village. It’s a popular spot with people in the know because the food is just that good. I stumbled upon it on my first time to the island when I was looking for an alternative to Thai food. The fresh kebabs and Turkish coffees hit the spot!

Best bar to grab a drink?

Slinky Bar or Sunflower Beach Bar

If you want to have a party vibe then Slinky Bar is the crazy spot to go to (think of a frat party). But if you’re looking for one of the best sunset spots while sipping on something tasty, I’d suggest Sunflower Beach Bar.

Best place in Phi Phi for a hike?

Phi Phi Viewpoint 3

Jessica More

Phi Phi viewpoint 3! It’s a mild-moderate hike up to a gorgeous overlook of the island. You will most definitely see some monkeys hanging around trying to steal chips from the snack stand at the top.

You do have a pay a small fee to walk out onto the platform to get the best view, but it’s worth it.

What is one thing anyone visiting Phi Phi must experience?

Longtail boats

Jessica More

I highly suggest renting a private longtail boat or speedboat to cruise around the island of Phi Phi for the day. Even just a half a day is enough to take in the stunningly crystal-clear blue waters. You get to enjoy hard-to-get-to beach spots, the best snorkeling with tons of fish, and most boats also provide lunch and drinks, too.

Best place to enjoy the outdoor life in Phi Phi?

Paradise Resort

Jessica More

Honestly, my favorite spot to enjoy the outdoors is my go-to hotel — Paradise Resort. I get my favorite villa that sits within a few feet to the beach and is where I spend most of my time. The beach is calm and stunning and, better yet, peaceful– not over-crowded most of the time. They have a great restaurant on location and even have a little beachfront massage spa.

I get a more than reasonably priced outdoor massage almost every other day, grab a beer from the little market on location, and relax on the beach all day long. Couldn’t get any better than that for me.

Catch ‘Below Deck Mediterranean’ on Mondays at 9/8c on Bravo.

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Chris Rock’s ‘SNL’ Monologue Aimed For Humor During Unhumorous Times And Quoted A Literary Great

SNL is back in Studio 8H at 30 Rock amid our current situation. Jim Carrey’s Joe Biden impression dominated the cold-open (for better or worse), and host Chris Rock (who’s promoting Fargo) faced an almost impossible challenge: to land a funny monologue during unfunny times. He did so as well as possible (the Chris Farley coke joke would have amused Chris Farley) but somewhat politically, which was likely unavoidable because everything about this pandemic has turned political. However, the most notable moment of his monologue came in closing with a James Baldwin quote: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

Baldwin, of course, is the author of several seminal works, including If Beale Street Could Talk, which was adapted in 2018 by Barry Jenkins, who landed a Best Screenplay Oscar nomination (with Regina King winning Best Supporting Actress). This profound ending to the monologue might have overrode Rock’s earlier quip that probably should have been axed: “President Trump is in the hospital with COVID and I just want to say, my heart goes out… to COVID.”

From there, Rock pointed out the obvious, which is that “the world is insane right now.” He moved to the current trend of people assessing relationships at home, and he urged U.S. citizens to reassess their relationship with the government. “We’ve agreed in the United States that we cannot have kings,” Rock pointed out. “Yet we have dukes and duchesses running the Senate and the Congress making decisions for poor people.”

He’s not wrong, and it’s certainly an atypical way to take an SNL monologue, but Rock took the stage during an atypical situation. “We need a whole new system,” he urged. Well, the Sunday morning commentary to that stance should really be something.

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‘SNL’ Paid Tribute To Ruth Bader Ginsburg With A Touching Farewell From Kate McKinnon

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death at age 87 from pancreatic cancer left a massive and arguably unfillable void within the highest court of the land. SNL returned this week to Studio 8H for the Season 46 premiere (hosted by Chris Rock) and gave the liberal firebrand a proper (and suitably understated) sendoff from the cast member who portrayed the Notorious RBG. During the premiere’s “Weekend Update” segment, Kate McKinnon appeared in the audience for a brief moment with a final, robe-clad bow in character. The screen then faded into a “rest in power” graphic.

It must be noted that McKinnon’s previous portrayals of Ginsburg often made mention of her refusal to retire, and that’s exactly how RBG went out. She worked until she couldn’t possibly do so any longer, and she crushed her workouts as long as possible as well. On Twitter, people noted the SNL farewell to be a suitably impactful (and emotional) one.

It was sad, for sure, but it was also lovely and profound and something that RBG undoubtedly would have loved. Here’s how McKinnon did RBG a few short years ago (how “scandalous,” and very funny).

2020, you’re a doozy. Please have mercy upon all of us soon.

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Report: A Saints Player Got A Positive COVID Test The Night Before The Team Plays In Detroit (UPDATE)

UPDATE: According to ProFootballTalk, the player in question is fullback Michael Burton, and now, the team is in the midst of mass testing to potentially identify other cases.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Saints learned late Saturday night that fullback Michael Burton tested positive for COVID-19.

While it’s possible that Burton’s positive is a false positive, the league and the Saints have commenced supplemental testing of players who were in close proximity to Burton. The league’s contact tracing identified three players. Four other players not identified via bracelets worn by the players were sitting near Burton on the plane, including running back Alvin Kamara.

EARLIER: The NFL’s Week 4 schedule has been hammered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The previously-scheduled game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans had to get postponed to later this season after an outbreak occurred in Tennessee’s organization including players and staffers. Then on Saturday morning, we learned that New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton tested positive, which led to news that the game between the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs also got postponed.

Now, news dropped just before the calendar flipped to Sunday on the east coast that could potentially put another game on ice for a period of time. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk tweeted that an unidentified member of the New Orleans Saints tested positive ahead of Sunday’s scheduled game with the Detroit Lions. The player is with the team in the Motor City.

The game is still scheduled to kick off on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. EST, but it stands to reason that the league could follow the blueprint it laid out with the Patriots and respond to one positive test by pushing it back — the Patriots, for the record, had all of their tests come back negative, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. Prior to this week, the NFL had managed to avoid this sort of wave of positive COVID tests.

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Cineworld Is Closing All Of Its Regal Theaters In The U.S. And U.K. After The Delay Of ‘No Time To Die’

The future of movie theaters remains up in the air, but this news is not terribly encouraging: According to Variety, Cineworld, the company that owns Regal cinemas, is shuttering all 543 of its locations in the U.S. and in the U.K. The news comes the day after No Time to Die, the next Bond film, was pushed back from November to next year.

Cineworld, who purchased Regal back in 2017, has struggled over the last six months, having to contend with shutdowns, dwindling audiences, and lack of new product to exhibit. Even after theaters reopened in parts of the country — minus Los Angeles and New York City, two of its biggest markets — theaters have struggled to stay afloat. The closures, which come happen as early as next week, puts an estimated 55,000 jobs at risk, and that’s only in the U.K.

The news also comes a few days after dozens of filmmakers, among them Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan, signed a letter addressed to Congress, asking that they consider bailing out the industry, fearing that things will get worse. And now they have. Regal Cinemas is the second largest movie theater chain in the U.S., after AMC, who are also in jeopardy.

(Via Variety)

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Cody Garbrandt Is Out Of UFC 255 With A Torn Bicep

Cody Garbrandt’s move to the UFC flyweight division is on hold after the former bantamweight champion suffered a torn bicep in training, he announced on Twitter.

Garbrandt added he requested to push the title fight against Deiveson Figueiredo until December, but the UFC opted to replace him, going with No. 4 ranked Alex Perez on November 21 at UFC 255, per Combate.

After returning to the win column with a swift knockout of Raphael Assuncao in June, Garbrandt was slated to move down in weight in the champ’s first flyweight title defense. It was an opportunity for a return to glory for Garbrandt, who had lost three consecutive fights before his big win. But after testing positive for COVID-19, being forced out of training for more than a month and suffering the injury, he’ll have to wait for the winner of Figueiredo-Perez for his next opportunity.

After missing weight in his initial bout with Joseph Benavidez, Figueiredo submitted Benavidez to win the division crown in July. At 19-1, Figueiredo’s lone loss came at the hands of Jussier Formiga in March of last year. Perez earned his shot at the flyweight belt with a first-round knockout of Formiga in June, and is riding a three-win streak ahead of his bout against Figueiredo.