Tekashi 69’s legal troubles were lessened significantly when the rapper was granted an early release from prison this April. But others involved in his case are just now being put to justice. Anthony “Harv” Ellison, a member of the Nine Trey Bloods gang and the man who Tekashi accused of kidnapping and robbing him, has been reportedly served a 24-year prison sentence.
Ellison’s sentence was served Wednesday by Judge Engelmayer, the same judge who heard Tekashi’s original case, according to HotNewHipHop. Matthew Russell Lee, an independent journalist who has covered Tekashi-related legal matters closely, was present for the hearing. He live-tweeted the proceedings and claimed Ellison stood behind his actions and told the judge. “I’m not an angel,” Ellison said. “But I’m not a monster either.”
Ellison: I’m not an angel. But I’m not a monster either. The moment comes when you understand your purpose, sort of like a blessing.
Upon announcing Ellison’s sentence, the judge reportedly commented on his gang affiliation. “This was not a book club that you chose to affiliate with,” Judge Engelmayer said. “The gang inspired fear with shooting, including in Manhattan.” Judge Engelmayer also added that the 24-year sentence could have been longer if he hadn’t taken into account the “harsh conditions of imprisonment during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Judge Engelmayer: Mr. Ellison, let me say it may not feel that way, but you are still a young man. With 15% good time, you’ll be out in your early 50s. I was impressed by the letter, including from prison staff. I wish you well. We are adjourned. Story soon
Tekashi 69 originally took the stand to testify against Ellison and name the associate as one of his kidnappers in September of 2019. Ellison’s lawyer said he was potentially facing life in prison in a statement following Tekashi’s testimony, so a 24-year sentence is much lighter than originally anticipated.
Despite the fact that the presidential election is anything but decided at this point, Saturday Night Live still has a post-election episode to put on this weekend, and now they’re shoring up plans on that front. Dave Chappelle has been confirmed as host for a while, but now SNL has revealed that this weekend’s musical guest will be Foo Fighters.
This won’t be an alien experience for Foo Fighters, as they’re one of the most frequent musical guests in SNL history: Between 1995 and 2017, they’ve been on the show seven times. Dave Grohl is also a funny guy who knows his way around a comedy sketch, so the SNL cast will hopefully use his comedic talents while they’re at their disposal.
Foo Fighters have been one of rock’s most active touring bands of the past few decades, but that hasn’t been the case this year. They haven’t done much performing during this pandemic-stricken year, even in a livestream capacity. A few weeks ago, the band was a driving force behind the virtual Save Our Stages Fest, and for the event, they gave their first performance together since the start of the pandemic.
Tucker Carlson’s on-air takes have taken an unusual turn (for him) lately. Last week, the Fox News host appeared to have gained some humanity, or maybe he simply felt worn down by “package” jokes while deciding that everyone should leave Hunter Biden alone. Perhaps the experience of seeing the crumbling of that unverified conspiracy (and the failure of an alleged “October surprise”) took the wind out of his theorizing sails. Whatever the reason, Tucker now thinks that if Trump loses this tight race, he should accept results (rather than make absurd claims about “ballot dumping” and “election stealing,” like Trump’s now doing as states flip) like Tucker teaches his kids to do.
Tucker’s a pretty die-hard Trump fan, and he did take time on Election Night to express disagreement with Fox News’ decision to call Arizona as a Joe Biden win. Yet at around the 9:00 minute mark above, Tucker took this unexpected stance while speaking to Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum:
“If he loses, I mean, I always tell my children this: When you lose, blame yourself first. Don’t blame other people. Blame yourself first. I think that’s morally important for all of us, not just for politicians.”
Tucker continued while stating that there were “many” reasons that Trump might not be reelected, including the “general feelings that things are out of control” in the U.S. (which Tucker doesn’t agree is “primarily Trump’s fault”), along with the administration’s pandemic response. Tucker does feel that an incumbent will “suffer” the brunt of people’s anxiety, and people may want a “channel change,” but it’s still notable that Tucker’s projecting this message to Trump (who was very obviously paying attention to Fox’s election coverage): if he loses, he ought to accept self-blame before pointing the finger elsewhere. Will that happen, though? Trump’s Twitter page points towards “no.”
Uproxx’s panel of up-and-coming rappers is back to watch another classic video in the latest episode of React Like You Know. This time, Guapdad 4000, Lil Keed, NLE Choppa, and the gang take in the eye-popping spectacle of a hip-hop video master’s breakout solo single. Busta Rhymes has often been called an inspiration for multiple generations for his inventive visual work with Hype Williams, so it’s only right our Freshman Class favorites and their peers react to Busta’s 1997 classic, “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See.”
Right off the bat, a few of their minds are blown. Louisville neophyte 2kBaby compares Busta’s bright red early video look to a “hot Cheeto cheetah,” while Baltimore’s Shordie Shordie is struck speechless after affirming “he was spitting that sh*t though.” NLE Choppa offers a thoughtful edit (“Me, I’d just put a bunch of guns in that motherf*cker”), Lil Keed praises Busta’s creativity, and Guapdad lends some continuity with a reference to our first episode (“Now, this some hand movement right here! Lil Cease should have watched Busta!”).
Of course, he’s referring to the debut episode of React Like You Know when the group took a look at Lil Kim’s “Crush On You.” Meanwhile, Busta just released his 12th album Extinction Level Event 2 and turned up in Harlem, New York to encourage fans waiting to vote.
Watch the latest episode of React Like You Know above.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Giveon made his presence known earlier this year when he hopped on “Chicago Freestyle” from Drake’s Dark Lane Demo Tapes. The song arrived shortly after he dropped his debut EP, Take Time, and shortly before releasing his second one, When It’s All Said And Done, which came out last month. He has released one single in support of the latter effort so far, “Stuck On You,” for which he shared a video.
Now he has brought the track to TV, as he was a musical guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! earlier this week. He used his remote performance as a showcase for his multiple talents, like singing, playing piano, and being a dynamic stage presence, with the stage in this case being an outdoor, park-like space at night.
Giveon previously said of the song, “I kind of wanted it to start off a little less healthy. It’s short, but it doesn’t sound very healthy. Within like the 30 seconds that I’m singing in the intro, I say, ‘I called you five times. I quit. I’m going to stop trying.’ And I say, ‘I’m going to be the best that you had.’ So I wanted to open the project with a tone of frustration and kind of more toxic and in denial, because most breakups that I see aren’t a smooth transition like that. So I wanted to keep it realistic and just start the project with frustration and bitterness.”
People who play a whole lot of NBA 2K oftentimes find themselves balling out in The Neighborhood, the virtual basketball community in which gamers can play streetball, 5-on-5 games, and customize their character with various clothes, tattoos, and hair styles. This game mode is going to make its way into NBA 2K21 on next generation consoles, and as we learned on Wednesday, it won’t be known as The Neighborhood.
2K Sports announced that this mode will be known as The City, an incredibly expansive version of its already-existing virtual basketball community. The news was announced via a trailer that showed off a number of elements that will exist in The City and a new twist called Affiliations, which will ask gamers to join with one of four rival groups: the North Side Knights, the South City Vipers, the Beasts of the East, or the Western Wildcats.
Here is what Erick Boenisch, the Executive Producer at Visual Concepts for NBA 2K, wrote in a blog post:
Here is The City at a quick glance: Imagine a map that is many, many times larger than previous Neighborhoods. A design that resembles a modern metropolis, complete with towering skyscrapers, sprawling plazas, and a city center. Oh, and it houses four distinct boroughs that are controlled by four rival Affiliations. And with that, I’m incredibly proud to announce that Affiliations are BACK! I’ll go into more details on Affiliations a little further below. For now, let’s keep painting the picture of what The City truly is.
The City is our most ambitious execution of a virtual basketball community…ever. The sheer amount and variety of buildings and basketball courts that we were able to create and fit into the map still amazes me to this day!
NBA 2K21 is slated to drop on Xbox Series X on Nov. 10, with the PlayStation 5 drop scheduled for two days later.
It’s been five years since CBS’s Under the Dome went off the air, but author Stephen King still hasn’t stopped thinking about what went wrong with the televised adaptation of his 2009 best-seller. While talking to the Washington Post about how pleased he was the great work Amazon Studios did bringing his detective novel Mr. Mercedes to life, King opened up about his biggest problem with Under the Dome. Via io9:
“Under the Dome was one I felt like went entirely off the rails, because the people are doing things that don’t seem realistic. One thing that killed me was you never hear the sound of a generator anywhere. The electric power is fine. Everything looks clean. Everything is great, except that they’re cut off from the world. And that isn’t what would happen,” King said. “If you ask people to accept those ideas, there has to be a sense of realism that goes with it, that pulls you along.”
This isn’t the first time King has levied criticism at the CBS show, which initially started as a limited series before being expanded into three seasons. Back in June 2019, King fired off a tweet that suggested Netflix should take a fresh stab at a remake of Under the Dome, only this time “actually doing the book.” Damn, best-selling author of Cujo.
How about Netflix bringing back UNDER THE DOME, only starting from scratch and actually doing the book?
King’s dissatisfaction with Under the Dome also arrives at an awkward time. In just a few weeks, CBS All Access will launch another adaptation of perhaps his biggest novel of all time: The Stand. If the limited series starring Whoopi Goldberg, Alexander Skarsgard, and James Marsden fails to live up to expectations, the network should probably be ready for King to tell his legion of fans how he really feels.
Blended scotch whisky is often pigeoned-holed as “mixing” whisky. Yes, some of it is literally blended to be a mixer, especially for highballs (a combination of whisky, fizzy water, and ice). But that’s only a small section of the blended scotch category. The vast majority of expressions are created, at least in part, as sippers — either neat or on the rocks.
Those blends are the bottles we’re focused on today. The only two parameters we’re following are 1) is this scotch enjoyable on its own? and 2) is it under $50? Life feels very complicated right now, we’re keeping this list simple.
The expressions highlighted below are blended scotches we love at a price point most folks can manage. They’re also all easily accessible in most U.S. markets — on liquor store shelves or via delivery (just click on the price). Read the tasting notes to find a bottle that hits the flavor notes you love, deep freeze a few ice cubes, and enjoy!
This edition of Famous Grouse is a nice step up from their entry-level blend (which is a great highball base, by the way). The whiskies are aged primarily in American oak and refill bourbon casks before blending. The end result is meant to entice bourbon fans into the wonders of well-made blended scotches.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a clear sense of that bourbon vanilla, caramel, and oak on the nose. The palate definitely delivers on that with a sweet sense of honey, a touch of citrus, and creamy vanilla pudding body and taste. The end is sweet, creamy, and short.
Bottom Line:
This hits enough of those creamy, bourbony notes to drink with a few rocks. It’s also a steal at under $30 a bottle (pending your state’s taxes, of course).
While Chivas is a real powerhouse in South, East, and Southeast Asia, it’s regaining much-deserved popularity back in the U.S. The main reason is that this is a very well-crafted blend that harkens back to the old-school “scotch on the rocks” days.
Tasting Notes:
You’re greeted with a nose of salted caramel, cedar, citrus, anise, vanilla cream, and a note of distant banana. The sip carries on with those notes as a foundation and adds a fatty roasted nut edge, with plenty of malts and a nice dose of peppery sharpness. The finish embraces that pepper as it slowly fades back towards the sweeter notes.
Bottom Line:
This is the sort of dram I know I can order (always on the rocks) when I’m not really sure what I want and know I’ll get something supremely satisfying.
This, along with Chivas, is one of the best selling whiskeys in the world. The juice is a blend of around 40 whiskies that are each aged for a minimum of 12 years. The end result is a blend that’s specifically dialed in to be sipped not mixed (Red Label is Johnnie Walker’s mixing blended scotch).
Tasting Notes:
There’s a clear spicy Christmas cake nose that’s cut with a slice of lemon and a dash of black pepper. The palate embraces the spiciness while adding a hint of caramel, malts, orange oils, and dried bouquet garni (herbs) on the tongue. The wood comes in late, as the spice and sweetness fade slowly towards a final billow of faint smoke.
Bottom Line:
This is a perfectly serviceable sipper with a few rocks, or even neat, if you prefer. It also serves as a gateway to the long list of bottles in the higher reaches of Johnnie Walker’s line.
This Speyside blend from William Grant & Sons highlights the shingle’s three Dufftown distilleries: Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie. The end result is the best of Speyside in one, award-winning bottle.
Tasting Notes:
You’re met with a clear sense of crème brûlée next to Christmas spice, cacao, and a touch of orange marmalade. The taste delivers well on those promises with bright berries, stone fruits, and a sense of malts by way of fresh-baked bread dripping with creamy butter and fresh honey.
The end isn’t too long, but touches on those sweet honey notes, the spice, and a final touch of fresh mint sprigs.
Bottom Line:
This is a really fine sipper to have on hand and feels like it should cost twice as much, easily. It’s also worth noting that this is a killer workhorse blend that’ll really amp up a cocktail.
The story of this whisky is amazing. It was recreated from the whisky that Sir Ernest Shackleton took to Antarctica in the early 1900s. This actual expression was recreated from bottles found in Shackleton’s Antarctic camps nearly 100 years later, alongside recipes from the 1800s for the actual whisky. That alone is a good conversation starter for a true throwback blend.
Tasting Notes:
Malt crackers mingle with a sweet-cinnamon nose. The taste is light and accessible with a lean toward apple fruit, honey sweetness, and a nice cut of orange zest. The end holds onto the orange as the sweetness edges towards toffee on the quick fade.
Bottom Line:
This is a fine sipper on the rocks. But it’s really the conversation about Antarctica it opens up that’s the star of the show.
Compass Box Whisky is all about creating very sippable blends of scotch. This blend is Scotland in a bottle. It’s 67 percent Highlands, Speyside, and Islay married to 33 percent Lowland whiskies aged in first-fill and refill bourbon, first-fill and refill sherry, and finished in specialty French oak.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a plummy nature that’s counterpointed by a subtle yet clear peaty smoke on the nose. The taste really basks in the plummy and nutty sherry aspects, while touching on a lighter vinous note and plenty of berry sweetness. The end is medium-length, with hints of that fruit next to a dailed-in smokiness.
Bottom Line:
This is designed to be a sipper and it hits that mark wonderfully — blooming wonderfully with a little water.
This is a classic blend that harkens back to simpler times in whisky without losing any beauty in its juice. It’s meant to highlight the sweeter and softer notes of great scotch and really hits that mark.
Tasting Notes:
Notes of orange, cacao, creamy vanilla, and a hint of peat mingle on the nose and draw you in. The taste embraces the vanilla and creaminess with a counterbalance of berries, apples, and caramel. The end arrives with a billow of creamy pipe tobacco with a slight peaty edge as it quickly fades out.
Bottom Line:
Most bartenders will automatically use this as a mixer. I’d argue it’s perfectly suited for an “on the rocks” order if you want a nice mix of berry sweet with mild peat smoke.
Dewar’s White Label and 12 get a lot of attention, and rightfully so. They’re fine bottles. But for the price, their 15-year-old expression really is a winner. The extra three years this blend gets in the barrel adds a nice depth that speaks to how good blended scotch can be while still being affordable.
Tasting Notes:
Apples covered in caramel and walnuts mix with a bit of sherry jamminess on the nose. That nuttiness really leads the way on the taste as a malty cracker feel mixes with toffee, vanilla, and dried fruits. The end holds onto the sweetness of those fruits then fades quickly towards an earthy final note.
Bottom Line:
This is one of those blends that can lead to an “ah-ha” moment when you realize how great and complex these bottles can be on the rocks or with a drop or two of water.
Virginia Distillery Co. Port Cask Finished Virginia-Highland Whisky
Okay, this isn’t technically a Scottish blended whisky.
It’s a hybrid — marrying single malt scotch to single malt whisky from Virginia. Even though the whiskies involved are 100 percent malts, they’re not all from Scotland. So it’s not a single malt. It’s not exactly a blend either, because that usually denotes a blend of malt and grain whiskies. Maybe it’s best to call it a “blended” whisky and just leave it at that.
It’s our list and we’re giving it a spot.
Tasting Notes:
Figgy pudding cut with walnuts mingles with apples and caramel on the nose. The taste embraces that fruit while adding more caramel with plenty of cinnamon-forward spices and a dusting of cacao when water is added. Those spicy caramel apples linger the longest with a distant wisp of oak and smoke tying off the sip’s long end.
Bottom Line:
This is a very easy sipper and bridges the old-school Scotch single malts with newer Virginia whisky-making. Definitely drop in some water to help it reach its full potential or just drink it on the rocks as I do.
North Carolina singer PJ has had an eventful year. Along with dropping her EP Waiting For Paris, her track “Element” got a major co-sign when it was featured on Issa Rae’s curated Insecure season 4 soundtrack. The singer is also gearing up to make her debut on The Tonight Show Wednesday but first, PJ tapped Dreamville Records rapper Lute to join her in a captivating video alongside their track “I’m Forreal.”
Directed by Alison Roberto, PJ’s “I’m Forreal” video captures the singer’s vibrant energy and positions the two NC natives representing their hometown in LA. Dressed to the nines in various locations, PJ flaunts her self-made status through each boastful verse. “F*ck ’em all / Cuz baby I’m good / I found my little red right out the hood / I found a way to navigate round the woods,” she sings.
Ahead of the visual’s release, PJ wrapped up a nine-city Get Out The Vote tour with Common, which made stops in a handful of swing states. Prior to their tour, Common had called on PJ to appear with him at the virtual Planet Afropunk festival.
Watch PJ’s “I’m Forreal” video with Lute above.
Waiting For Paris is out now via Atlantic. Get it here.
PJ is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Drakeo The Ruler is reportedly headed home tonight after the Los Angeles District Attorney offered a plea deal in exchange for time served, according to Jeff Weiss, who’s been closely following the case for the past year and a half. Weiss tweeted this afternoon that “The DA suddenly offered Drakeo a plea deal for time served. He took it. The Ruler will be coming home tonight.” He followed up by crediting the sudden change of heart to last night’s election, in which voters 86ed Jackie Lacey, the incumbent District Attorney, who was defeated by challenger George Gascón.
Incredible news: The DA suddenly offered Drakeo a plea deal for time served. He took it. The Ruler will be coming home tonight. @IamMRMOSELY is free.
It’s unquestionable that LA voting out Jackie Lacey last night played a major role in the DA’s decision. We have every reason to be cynical, but this was a case where collective action and organization actually paid real life dividends. The nightmare is over. #DrakeoIsFree
“It’s unquestionable that LA voting out Jackie Lacey last night played a major role in the DA’s decision,” Weiss noted. “We have every reason to be cynical, but this was a case where collective action and organization actually paid real-life dividends. The nightmare is over.”
Drakeo was arrested in 2018 and charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit murder after a December 2016 shooting in Carson, California. One person was killed, two were injured, and prosecutors tried to establish Drakeo’s Stinc Team rap crew as a gang in order to charge him and other members of the collective. He was acquitted in 2019 but the DA refiled charges of criminal gang conspiracy and shooting from a motor vehicle, resulting in a hung jury during the initial trial.
While locked up, Drakeo released the mixtape Thank You For Using GTL, recorded entirely on phones from LA’s Men’s Central Jail.
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