Month: November 2020

When Carl Weathers got ready to direct an episode of The Mandalorian for the first time, he had one simple request: More Baby Yoda. And it appears that Weathers got what he wanted because his directorial debut, “The Siege,” was loaded with fan-favorite Baby Yoda moments like the little guy Force-stealing cookies and then puking up said cookies after enjoying a roller coaster-esque spaceship battle. In a new interview, Weathers explains how he’s all about that baby just like everyone who’s fallen for the tiny Jedi in the year since The Mandalorian debuted. Via Empire:

“I know what the show is about – it’s called The Mandalorian, so that sort of takes care of that,” Weathers laughs. “But his sidekick, his ward, his little being that accompanies him on his journey, has this sweetness, this obviously childlike quality that we all love in little ones, before they can say ‘no!’ and throw things and have tantrums. When I read the script, one of my comments was to ask John [Favreau] to put more of the Baby in there.”

While the episode was definitely one of the high points for season two thanks to the aforementioned Baby Yoda moments and the show pulling back the curtain on Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito)’s plans for The Child, Chapter 12 did contain one of The Mandalorian‘s most notable bloopers: Jeans Guy. In one of the action sequences on the Imperial base, a random crew member in jeans and a T-shirt is clearly visible where he’s standing (unsuccessfully) off-camera. However, fans are already having a blast with the innocent blunder, and one Twitter user has already given Jeans Guy one of the highest Star Wars honor. Being turned into an action figure.

(Via Empire)

“I’m bad at picking things. I’m constantly surrounded by everything at once. I am kind of… chameleon-esque.”

Mikey Ambrosino — also known as the singer-songwriter and solo artist MyKey — keeps it as casual as they come. From his genre-defying mix of pop, rock, and traditional folk storytelling to the way he dresses to how he spends his now limitless pandemic era free time, there isn’t a thing the 23-year-old songwriter does that isn’t driven by genuine interest and approached with breezy confidence. MyKey is also a bit of a cultural sponge, pulling influences from the simple things that inspire him and filtering them through his unique lens.

Like a conversation between friends that blooms into a song. Or pairing skittering trap-beats with guitars. Or diving into a scene he’s brand new to and was previously unaware of: gaming.

“I didn’t even know there were genres!” MyKey tells me over the phone of his new passion for gaming.

At the start of the quarantine, he and his roommates picked up various gaming systems. Playing offered respite from the dire daily news.

“Growing up, I missed the boat but during quarantine, my roommates and I have been heavy in a phase,” MyKey says. “Before COVID, video games were always at a friend’s or a roommate’s or my brother’s. I never really thought about them in first person. Nowadays, they’re a good break from the insanity.”

MyKey tends to gravitate towards multiplayer party games that he can enjoy with his buddies, but things never get fierce or competitive. For the multi-hyphenate creative, it’s just another one of the chill activities that inspire his expression.

“It’s sensory overload all the time,” he says. “It’s great to come up with little doodle ideas. It’s a great way to wake up the artistic side of my brain… the music in games is insane. I totally missed out on that whole world and I’m just realizing that games have the most incredible soundtracks.”

MyKey’s new appreciation of gaming isn’t just a fling borne out of too much spare time. He plans to stick with his new hobby once he hits the road again.

“I’ll probably keep crushing. Mario Kart is mad addicting and probably a vibe on tour.”

Life in quarantine has also given MyKey ample time to explore his own personal style, a piece of his personality that he gave little thought to prior to the pandemic,

“I feel like quarantine gave everyone a lot of time to think about absolutely everything,” he says. “Now I have time to lean on it, like ‘hey… wait, I can pick what I wear and choose a certain style!’ That’s something I’m definitely going to abuse. When things open up again I’m just going to swag out.”

How does MyKey define “swagging out” and what sort of fashion statement is he planning once he emerges from his quarantine hibernation? The answer is unsurprising.

“The statement is: this boy looks comfy.”

As COVID drags on, MyKey’s wardrobe grows with streetwear and comfort-focused basics from American Eagle that reflect his always-chill personality, like his Active 24/7 Hoodie (that happens to go great with his rollerblades). This new attention to fashion is finding its way into his songs, too. Specifically on the summer single, “Hand Me Down,” which uses clothing not only as a metaphor for lost love but as a status symbol separating two incompatible personalities. The track started as a light-hearted and humorous writing exercise.

“In my notes page on my phone I made one clothes pun and I thought ‘what if I just make a bunch of clothes puns?’ and I ended up writing that song and pulling a bunch of those puns, because I thought ‘I can’t have a song that’s just clothes puns!’”

The result is something with wordplay and genuine emotional resonance. MyKey’s ability to turn his disparate influences and inspirations into a concise pop song that is universally relatable proves that he’s the troubadour this generation needs — soulful, searching, and always chill.

Although finalized plans for the 2020-21 NBA schedule are not out yet, the league made it official on Wednesday that it will not hold a full All-Star weekend during the season.

“Plans for a revised NBA All-Star 2021 will be announced at a later date,” the league said in a statement.

In a later report, Marc Stein of the New York Times indicated the league had plans for some sort of revised festivities, although it remains to be seen how that could be pulled off while also minimizing travel and gatherings, which is the reason to cancel All-Star weekend in the first place.

In the WNBA Bubble last season, the league did not even name All-Stars, which is a tough break for players who earned that distinction. Should the league come up with a makeshift plan, it would be a way to at least honor players who have performed at a high level through the midway point in the season.

Fortunately for Indianapolis, they will get All-Star weekend in 2024 to make up for the cancelation this year, so the Pacers are still on track to host the festivities in the near future. As for this year, it’s likely an update will come soon along with the final schedule from the NBA.

Ty has taken on a number of roles in videos accompanying tracks from his recent Featuring Ty Dolla Sign album. He’s played the part of a dating show contestant in his “Nothing Like Your Exes” visual and a materialistic partner in “Expensive.” But now, Ty is taking on a different character completely for his “Spicy” video with Post Malone.

For their newest visual, Ty and Posty join together as intergalactic cowboys with a mission. Snoop Dogg lends his voice as narrator at the beginning of the story, offering a background to Ty’s situation:

“Way out west in a galaxy far away, there’s a story of two fellas I want to tell you about. They call them Ty Dolla Sign and Post Malone. This here story I’m about to unfold takes place when Ty was on his way west to meet up with his day one amigos, the Taylor Gang, he was hoping to begin a new life away from all the sin that was near him. But unfortunately for Mr. Dolla Sign, his past wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye.”

While recording their track, Ty and Posty apparently hit it off. So much so that the rappers are thinking about the possibility of recording a joint album. Ty recently revealed in an interview that a collaborative album is already in the works and is “coming soon.”

Watch Ty Dolla Sign and Post Malone’s “Spicy” video above.

Featuring Ty Dolla Sign is out now via Atlantic. Get it here.

Ty Dolla Sign is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The NFL’s Thanksgiving Day card just got a little bit lighter. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and Adam Schefter of ESPN, the league has decided to postpone the highly-anticipated AFC North game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a COVID-19 outbreak among a number of members of the Ravens’ organization.

The news of the decision drew the ire of Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who blasted Baltimore for not following the league’s COVID protocols, while tight end Eric Ebron had a NSFW response. Their sentiment was apparently shared by a number of their teammates.

As Rapoport laid out, a handful of members of the Ravens’ organization, including seven players, have received positive COVID-19 tests in recent days.

The league will still have a pair of games on Thanksgiving — the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys will, per tradition, host games, with the former playing Houston and the latter playing Washington — but the evening tilt was expected to be the best of the bunch, as the 10-0 Steelers would play hosts to the 6-4 Ravens. There is no word on whether the league would further postpone this game in the event that Baltimore keeps having positive tests pop up, but for now, the two teams will need to wait a few days before they can play the latest edition of their bitter rivalry.

HBO and HBO Max wrap up this dumpster fire of a year with a handful of offerings that actually have us excited for the holidays. The biggest, obviously, is news that the long-awaited Wonder Woman 1984 will skip a wide release in theaters and head straight to HBO Max’s streaming platform in time for Christmas, but there’s also a Euphoria special and a Meryl Streep comedy to look forward to.

Here’s everything coming to (and leaving) HBO and HBO Max this month.

Wonder Woman 1984

After a handful of theater delays, Warner Brothers decided to say “F*** it” and give us all a much-needed bit of good news which is why they’re releasing this buzzed-about sequel on HBO Max’s streaming platform this month. Gal Gadot is back as Diana Prince who finds herself facing off against two formidable foes during the Cold War era and reuniting with her long-lost love, Steve Trevor.

Euphoria Special, Special Episode Premiere (HBO)

This quarantine special serves as a bridge for fans between the events of the show’s season one finale and the long-awaited premiere of season two. After being left at the train station by Jules and relapsing, Rue (Emmy-winner Zendaya) tries her best to celebrate Christmas with her family.

Let Them All Talk, HBO Max Original Film Premiere

Meryl Streep plays a famous author struggling with a terrible case of writer’s block in this comedy. As Streep’s character reunites with old friends (played by Dianne Wiest and Candice Bergen) on a cruise vacation, her nephew (Lucas Hedges) has the tough job of keeping the women in line and making sure his aunt hits her deadline.

Coming To HBO And HBO Max In December:

Avail. 12/1
3 Godfathers, 1949
40 Days And 40 Nights, 2002 (HBO)
Absolute Power, 1997
Adam Ruins Everything, Seasons 2-3
The Adventures of Pinocchio, 1996
Amanpour: Sex & Love Around the World, 2018
Amistad, 1997 (HBO)
Annabelle: Creation, 2017 (HBO)
The Bay, 2012 (HBO)
The Beguiled, 2017 (HBO)
Beyond Reasonable Doubt, 2017
The Bishop’s Wife, 1947
The Blind Side, (HBO)
Blow-Up, 1966
The Book Of Henry, 2017 (HBO)
Bright Young Things, 2004 (HBO)
Bundle of Joy, 1956
The Carbonaro Effect, Seasons 2-5
Chasing Life with Sanjay Gupta, 2019
Cinderella Story: If The Shoe Fits, A, 2016
Code 46, 2004 (HBO)
Comedy Knockout, 2016
Contraband, 2012 (HBO)
Crimes of the Century, 2013
The Crow, 1994 (HBO)
The Crow: City Of Angels, 1996 (HBO)
The Crow: Wicked Prayer, 2005 (HBO)
Dead Wives Club, Season 1
Death Row Stories, Seasons 1-4
De Blanco La Patuda (aka White Is For Virgins), 2020 (HBO)
Deep Blue Sea, 1999
Demolition Man, 1993
Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, 2012 (HBO)
Fallen, 1998
Falling Skies, 2011
The Family Man, 2000 (HBO)
Father of the Bride, 1950
Fifty Shades Of Black, 2016 (HBO)
Final Destination, 2000
Final Destination 2, 2003
Final Destination 3, 2006
The Final Destination, 2009
Finding Jesus: Faith, Fact, Forgery, 2015
Freelancers, 2012 (HBO)
Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home, 1995
Free Willy 3: The Rescue, 1997
Free Willy: Escape from Pirate’s Cove, 2010
The Girl With All The Gifts, 2016 (HBO)
Gladiator, 2000
Gun Crazy, 1950
Harry And The Hendersons, 1987 (HBO)
Hell in the Heartland, 2019
Hero, 2004 (HBO)
The History of Comedy, 2017
Holiday Affair, 1949
Hot Fuzz, 2007 (HBO)
How It Really Happened, Seasons 1-4
The Human Stain, 2003 (HBO)
The Hunt with John Walsh, 2014
Inside Evil with Chris Cuomo, 2018
It Happened on Fifth Avenue, 1947
Joe Versus the Volcano, 1990
Juice, 1992
Just My Luck, 2006 (HBO)
Kung Fu Panda 2, 2011
Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks, 2018
The Last Samurai, 2003
La Unidad, 2020
Logan’s Run, 1976
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, 2001
The Man Who Came to Dinner, 1942
Mars Attacks!, 1996
Meet Me in St. Louis, 1944
Michael Clayton, 2007
Misery, 1990 (HBO)
The Misery Index, 2013
My Dream is Yours, 1949
Nancy Drew, 2007
No Blade of Grass, 1970
Omega Man, The, 1971
On Moonlight Bay, 1951
Outbreak, 1995
Paid Off with Michael Torpey, 2018
Phantom Thread, 2017 (HBO)
Period of Adjustment, 1962
Pope: The Most Powerful Man In History, 2018
Project X, 2012 (Extended Version) (HBO)
Rachel Dratch’s Late Night Snack, 2016
The Redemption Project, 2019
Risky Business, 1983
Robots, 2005 (HBO)
Rock Of Ages, 2012 (Extended Version) (HBO)
Romance on the High Seas, 1948
Room for One More, 1952
Sanctum, 2011 (HBO)
The Sentinel, 2006 (HBO)
Sex and the City, 2008
Sex and the City 2, 2010
Shaun Of The Dead, 2004 (HBO)
The Shawshank Redemption, 1994
Shop Around the Corner, The, 1940
Snakes on a Plane, 2006
Snow White And The Huntsman, 2012 (Unrated Version) (HBO)
Something’s Killing Me, 2017
Southland, Seasons 1-5
Soylent Green, 1973
SPAWN, 1997
Stargirl, Season 1
Striptease, 1996
Susan Slept Here, 1954
Talk Show the Game Show, 2017
Tea for Two, 1950
Those Who Can’t, 2016
Three Godfathers, 1936
THX 1138, 1971
Timeline, 2003 (HBO)
Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale, 2007
Tom And Jerry: Santa’s Little Helpers, 2014
True Grit, 2010 (HBO)
Unfaithful, 2002 (HBO)
Unmasking a Killer, 2018
Very Scary People, Season 1
The Wedding Date, 2005 (HBO)
Westworld, 1973
What Bitch? (HBO)
Wrath of the Titans, 2012 (HBO)
Wrecked, 2019
Yogi Bear, 2010
Young Man with a Horn, 1949

Avail. 12/2
Baby God, Documentary Premiere (HBO)

Avail. 12/3
Full Bloom, Season Finale
Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults, HBO Max Documentary Premiere
Looney Tunes Cartoons, Bugs Bunny’s 24 Carrot, Holiday Special Premiere
My Gift: A Christmas Special From Carrie Underwood, HBO Max Special Premiere
Stylish with Jenna Lyons, HBO Max Original Series Premiere

Avail. 12/4
Beyond the Spotlight, Season 1
Bright Now: Alien Worlds, 2020
Engineering the Future, 2020
La Leyenda Negra (HBO)
Jujutsu Kaisen (Crunchyroll Collection)

Avail. 12/5
The Photograph, 2020 (HBO)

Avail. 12/6
Euphoria Special, Special Episode Premiere (HBO)
Murder On Middle Beach, Docuseries Finale (HBO)

Avail. 12/7
Axios, Season Finale (HBO)

Avail. 12/8
40 Years A Prisoner, Documentary Premiere (HBO)
La Jauria (The Pack), Season 1
One Night in Bangkok, 2020

Avail. 12/9
Alabama Snake, Documentary Premiere (HBO)
The Trial of Christine Keeler

Avail. 12/10
4 Blocks, Seasons 1-3
Esme & Roy, HBO Max Holiday Special Episode
Haute Dog, HBO Max Holiday Special Episode
House of Ho, HBO Max Original Series Premiere
Let Them All Talk, HBO Max Original Film Premiere
Summer Camp Island, Season 3 Premiere
Veneno, Season Finale
Valley of Tears, Season Finale

Avail. 12/11
Adult Material
Midnight Family, 2020 (HBO)
One Way Or Another, Season Finale (HBO)

Avail. 12/12
The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, Documentary Premiere (HBO)

Avail. 12/15
Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel (HBO)

Avail. 12/16
The Art Of Political Murder, Documentary Premiere (HBO)

Avail. 12/17
CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute
The Flight Attendant, HBO Max Limited Series Finale
Homeschool Musical Class of 2020, HBO Max Special Premiere
Love Monster, Season 1-2
Sesame Street: Holiday at Hooper’s

Avail. 12/18
Diego Torres Sinfonico, Season 1 (HBO)
Hasta Que La Boda Nos Separe (aka The Wedding Unplanner), 2020 (HBO)

Avail. 12/19
Wendy, 2020 (HBO)

Avail. 12/20
I Used To Go Here, 2020 (HBO)

Avail. 12/21
Industry, Season Finale (HBO)

Avail. 12/23
Squish, Season 1

Avail. 12/25
The West Wing, Season 1-7
Wonder Woman 1984

Avail. 12/26
Independence Day (Extended Version), 1996 (HBO)
Road Trip, Season 1

Avail. 12/28
His Dark Materials, Season 2 Finale (HBO)

Avail. 12/29
Los Dias De La Ballena (AKA The Days of the Whale) (HBO)

Avail. 12/30
The Champ, 1979
Conan Without Borders

Leaving HBO And HBO Max In December:

Leaving 12/10
Lights Out, 2016 (HBO)

Leaving 12/15
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, 2019 (HBO)

Leaving 12/26
American Animals, 2018 (HBO)

Leaving 12/27
Arizona, 2018 (HBO)

Leaving 12/31
An American in Paris, 1951
Analyze This, 1999
Austin Powers In Goldmember, 2002
Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery, 1997
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, 1999
Batman & Robin, 1997
Batman Forever, 1995
Batman v Superman: Ultimate Edition, 2016
Bonnie and Clyde, 1967
Boogie Nights, 1997
Bringing Up Baby, 1938
Clash Of The Titans, 2010
Constantine, 2005
Demolition Man, 1993
Dirty Harry, 1971
Doctor Zhivago, 1965
Empire of the Sun, 1987
Friday the 13th, 2009
Free Willy, 1993
Giant, 1956
Gladiator, 2000
The Hey Arnold! The Movie, 2002
The Hobbit, 1977
Jonah Hex, 2010
La La Land, 2016 (HBO)
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle Of Life, 2003
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, 2001
The Lego Ninjago Movie, 2014
Lucy In The Sky, 2019 (HBO)
Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, 2012 (HBO)
Monsters vs. Aliens, 2009
Rugrats Go Wild, 2003

If there are two things that people take very, very seriously, it’s dogs and beloved children’s classics, so Paramount Pictures was already stepping into a minefield when it decided to revamp Clifford the Big Red Dog for a live-action movie. On Wednesday, the studio released its first teaser, which offers a brief glimpse at the CGI Clifford, and people are having some very strong reactions to his new look. We’re talking a backlash that’s already bringing up memories of Cats and Sonic the Hedgehog, whose questionable CGI launched a thousand memes.

Also, you can’t really argue with this logic right here:

In the new Clifford movie’s defense, the teaser did generate lots of replies with dog pics, so not everyone was completely mystified by what is clearly a spray-painted dog. It’s totally spray paint.

Here’s the official synopsis:

When middle-schooler Emily Elizabeth (Darby Camp) meets a magical animal rescuer (John Cleese) who gifts her a little, red puppy, she never anticipated waking up to find a giant ten-foot hound in her small New York City apartment. While her single mom (Sienna Guillory) is away for business, Emily and her fun but impulsive uncle Casey (Jack Whitehall) set out on an adventure that will keep you on the edge-of-your-seat as our heroes take a bite out of the Big Apple. Based on the beloved Scholastic book character, Clifford will teach the world how to love big!

Clifford the Big Red Dog hits theaters on November 5, 2021.

(Via Paramount Pictures)

The 2020-21 college basketball season begins on Wednesday. Though it seems like a whirlwind, particularly with the NBA pivoting almost directly from one season to the next, it has been a long time since college basketball was at the center of the sporting discourse. After all, COVID-19 prompted the cancelation of the 2020 NCAA Tournament and, with uncertainty reigning for months, there is something of a cloud over the sport as it attempts to begin playing again.

There will be cancellations by the dozens and all kinds of logistical challenges, but all signs point to basketball being played this week. As such, it is time to dive into a ten-pack of college players that will be drawing attention from NBA teams over the next several months. Unlike 2020, this group is high-regarded and filled with star power, so there is a lot to monitor.

Here is a quick glance at some projected lottery picks from the college ranks, arriving in alphabetical order.

Scottie Barnes, Florida State

It is incredibly on-brand that Barnes is at FSU. He is a 6’8, do-it-all forward that can defend at the highest levels, rebound, pass and finish near the rim. There are questions about his jump shot and, well, those hamper any perimeter prospect until they don’t. However, Barnes has enough to become a very, very good player even if his jumper doesn’t pop.

BJ Boston, Kentucky

As usual, Kentucky has myriad impressive prospects again in 2020, but Boston seems to sit atop the list. He is more of a pure scorer than some of the other top guys in this class, but there is always a market for that. He is long, aggressive and a developing shooter, with a well-rounded skill package that should allow him to excel in the SEC this season.

Greg Brown, Texas

Brown is a ridiculous athlete and that is his calling card right now. His game is reminiscent of a modern-day center in a lot of ways but, at the same time, he’s only 6’8 and really plays the 4 at the moment. It helps to be incredibly explosive, and he’ll be able to put pressure on the rim immediately, but the next step will be carving out an offensive role beyond that. Even without huge development, his tools are enough to generate excitement.

Terrence Clarke, Kentucky

Clarke will be playing alongside Boston, and he isn’t quite as hyped at this stage. There is a lot to like, though, with Clarke’s ability to get into the paint and finish using his 6’9 frame and creativity. He may not draw the headlines of Boston from an upside perspective, but Clarke is also a lottery-level talent as he arrives in Lexington.

Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State

There is a decent chance that Oklahoma State isn’t awesome this year, but it won’t be Cunningham’s fault. He is a brilliant 6’7 point guard with unbelievable feel and passing vision, with the profile of a future NBA superstar. There are other star-level talents in this class but, in general, the consensus is that Cunningham is the best of the bunch and it will be at least a mild surprise if he isn’t the No. 1 overall pick. Oh, and if he can make Oklahoma State into a good team, he also might be in contention for NPOY at the college level.

Keon Johnson, Tennessee

Draft-based observers seem to be higher on Johnson than scouting services were, at least according to his RSCI ranking. There is no questioning Johnson’s explosive athleticism, though, and he has a good frame at 6’5 that really shows when he is getting to the rim. As a shooter, there is enough to buy into his long-term appeal, and he has a good motor that shows up on the defensive end. He isn’t as famous as most of these guys, but the package is there.

Evan Mobley, USC

For a long time, Mobley has been in the discussion for No. 1 in this class, though Cunningham has pulled away in recent months. Regardless, the 7-foot big man is really talented, with the ability to match his length with the potential chance to defend adequately in space. He’s also a fluid athlete that can score effectively, and he should be a terror in the Pac-12. With any big man, there will be translation questions to the NBA, but Mobley is also quite a modern prospect.

Moses Moody, Arkansas

For a brief moment, it seemed like Moody could be playing alongside Isaiah Joe at Arkansas. While that dream didn’t happen, Moody should be fun to watch on his own as a 6’6 wing that played alongside Cunningham and Barnes in high school. That is, of course, an embarrassment of riches at the prep level, and Moody has the tools to be a lottery pick. He projects to be a good defender who can shoot threes, but there are some that believe Moody has upside beyond that, especially once he is out of the shadow of his two more publicized high school teammates.

Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga

Suggs is the top-rated high school prospect ever to commit to Gonzaga, and he’s suddenly a key cog on a national title contender. He may not be the best player on his own college team as a freshman, but Suggs has real scoring pedigree and a jumper that is easy to buy into for a 6’5 perimeter creator. He can also pass at a relatively high level, and Suggs should get plenty of attention during the season.

Ziaire Williams, Stanford

Williams has great tools, plays hard, and fits a very easy archetype in the NBA. Doesn’t that sound like a lottery pick? He is 6’7 with a reported 6’11 wingspan, and he’s a good athlete that also has flashed a bit as a creator for others. Defensively, he may not be absolutely dynamic, but he is big enough to defend multiple positions and, again, he seems to genuinely care enough to grind. Stanford got a good one.

2019 was huge for Marina Diamandis. It saw the release of Love + Fear, her fourth album and first since changing her performing name from Marina And The Diamonds to just Marina. Since then, she’s been hard at work on her next album, and she spoke about it and more in a new Bose Studio Visit video, made in partnership with Uproxx.

From her home in Los Angeles, Marina spoke about the progress and tone of her next album, saying, “I have not finished my new album, but I’ve finished writing it, pretty much, and I’m just in the process of finishing the production. It’s a very slow process for me. The last record, it was more about finding solace in nature, and this record almost more is like a backdrop to what’s going on. We are in the time where there’s so much anxiety about how the planet is suffering. So, it doesn’t feature in a kind of rosy way as it has done in previous records.”

She also explained how Bose helps her music reach its full potential: “When I’m listening with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, I can hear every single element in my music, all of the intricacies of the production. My number one goal, really, is to blow people away and to make them feel something powerful when they listen to my music.”

Beyond that, the Bose Studio Visit features Marina discussing the relationship between color and her music, as well as her not-so-fruitful garden, so check it out above.

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

Lil Wayne may have been in the game since his 1999 debut album Tha Block Is Hot, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t influenced by other rappers at the time. Wayne has apparently been a fan of Jay-Z’s for a long time and even credits the rapper for influencing his career. In a recent conversation with Lil Baby, Wayne reveals which Jay-Z album influenced his music the most.

Wayne sat down for a chat with Lil Baby as part of Rolling Stone‘s Musicians On Musicians interview series. Throughout the conversation, Wayne opens up about some of his musical influences and named Hov’s fourth studio album as his biggest inspiration:

“Jay-Z, Life And Times Of Shawn Carter, plain and simple. It was the first album where I actually [bought] the car that the rapper was talking about. That was my album. […] Also, Jay talked so crazy. He went bananas on that album. I got lyrics from the album tattooed on me and sh*t. I have songs that are remakes of spinoffs of songs from that album.”

In other Lil Wayne news, it looks like the rapper may be facing prison time. Federal prosecutors brought charges against the rapper last week would could result in the rapper facing up to ten years in federal prison. Apparently, Wayne’s private plane was searched in Miami back in 2019 and police uncovered a gun. While Wayne’s lawyer says he was cleared to leave at the time, but it now looks like prosecutors are following through with a charging him for possession of a firearm and ammunition. His lawyer added that the rapper never “fired it, brandished it, used it or threatened to use it” while on the plane.

Read a snippet of Lil Wayne’s conversation with Lil Baby above.