Month: November 2020

Earlier this week, Nicki Minaj teased a celebration for the tenth anniversary of her classic debut album, Pink Friday. She ended up marking the occasion by releasing a deluxe edition of the album, and on top of that, she also took some time to share some trivia about the record during an impromptu Twitter Q&A with fans.

It began when Minaj shared the branded Twitter hashtags reserved for the album’s anniversary — #PinkFriday, #NickiMinaj, #PinkFriday10, #Barbz, and #PinkFridayAnniversary — and wrote, “I love this emoji Twitter gave us in honor of the big day. Use one or more of these tags with every tweet. What was your favorite song on #PinkFriday ?????”

After that, a fan suggested that Minaj host a Q&A about the album, and she obliged. For example, she revealed her three favorite songs from the album to perform: “Roman’s Revenge,” “Did It On’em,” and “Save Me.” She also noted there was only one artist she wanted to guest on the album who didn’t, and that was Lil Wayne, who couldn’t make an appearance because he was in jail at the time. She was diplomatic when it came to answering what her favorite collaboration is on the album, though, saying, “Omfg. Def can’t answer that. Still love all those artists for believing in me.”

Check out all of the tweets below or here.

“Chapter 12: The Siege” has a little something for everyone: Baby Yoda eating a blue space macaroon; Mando outmaneuvering TIE-Fighters; a lava explosion; a hungry red-eyed ferret; the return of Gina Carano’s Cara Dune (far-right Parler fanatics are thrilled), Carl Weathers’ Greef Karga (he also directed the episode), and Horatio Sanz’s Mythrol; Baby Yoda puking up the blue space macaroon; and the third appearance of Moff Gideon, the menacing possessor of the Darksaber played by Giancarlo Esposito. The Better Call Saul star has described his character as “a warden of the universe… You don’t know if he’s good or bad.” I’m going to go out on a limb here and say Moff Gideon is more “extremely evil” than “good,” based on what we see at the end of the episode.

Following Mando, Cara, Greef, and Mythrol’s trip to an Imperial base, where they discover floating bodies that resemble Snoke in The Rise of Skywalker (there’s a whole fan theory about this, because of course there is) and a hologram from Dr. Pershing about the Child’s blood having a large “M-count” (Midichlorians), our hero and Baby Yoda leave for Corvus to find Ahsoka Tano in the repaired Razor Crest. But Greef’s mechanic is working for Moff Gideon. “The device has been planted, as you requested,” the alien tells an officer (a female officer, a rarity in Star Wars), who replies, “You’ll be well rewarded in the new era.” Could the “new era” be a reference to the First Order?

And another question: to paraphrase Tom Waits, what’s he building in there?

Those aren’t Cylons.

Because to me, those look like Dark Troopers or Shadow Troopers. It’s tough to know for sure (I’m willing to bet all my Beskar that they’re Dark Troopers, though), but it’s bad news for the galaxy either way. Dark Troopers, “advanced battle droids and infantry exoskeletons that featured heavy plating that resembled the armor of a Stormtrooper, powerful weapons, and jump packs for increased flexibility and tactical advantage,” were introduced in the 1995 video game, Star Wars: Dark Forces. One Dark Trooper could go head-to-head against Mando, let alone an entire fleet of them. Shadow Troopers are equally difficult to blast, as they wear “distinguishing black suits of experimental armor coupled with portable cloaking devices, rendering them almost completely invisible and highly suited for stealth missions.” Neither trooper is hitting their head on any doors.

Thinking ahead, there could be a possible connection between the floating bodies and the Troopers. Is Moff Gideon creating an army of Force-controlled, nearly-indestructible soldiers? It’s not as wild as it sounds (this is an episode where a little frog used an “energy field created by all living things” to steal a cookie from a child; nothing is too wild in Star Wars). But only Kyle Katarn (and hopefully Jon Favreau) knows for sure.

We haven’t even made it to Thanksgiving yet, but Netflix is already dropping some of its more star-studded Christmas recommendations. Vanessa Hudgens is back as a look-alike-baker masquerading as a princess and Dolly Parton plays a benevolent angel trying to save a small town from an evil Christine Baranski. Eat your damn heart out Hallmark!

Here’s everything coming to (and leaving) Netflix this week of November 20.

The Princess Switch: Switched Again (Netflix film streaming 11/19)

Vanessa Hudgens played a baker and princess in the first film. Her baker is doing well, being married to a prince and all, but her princess is having boy trouble so, of course, they’re going to It Takes Two-s it again. But they’re also adding another lookalike to the party. When will the madness end?

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Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square (Netflix film streaming 11/22)

A rich and nasty woman, Regina Fuller, returns to her small hometown after her father’s death to evict everyone and sell the land to a mall developer — right before Christmas. However, after listening to stories of the local townsfolk, reconnecting with an old love, and accepting the guidance of an actual angel, Regina starts to have a change of heart. That’s the official premise, but the only thing you should really care about is Dolly Parton.

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Here’s a full list of what’s been added in the last week:

Avail. 11/15
A Very Country Christmas
America’s Next Top Model: Seasons 19 & 20
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
The Crown: Season 4
Hometown Holiday
Survivor: Seasons 20 & 28
V for Vendetta

Avail. 11/16
Loving
Whose Streets?

Avail. 11/17
The Boss Baby: Back in Business: Season 4
We Are the Champions

Avail. 11/18
El sabor de las margaritas / Bitter Daisies: Season 2
Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas

Avail. 11/19
The Princess Switch: Switched Again

Avail. 11/20
Alien Xmas
Flavorful Origins: Gansu Cuisine
If Anything Happens I Love You
Voices of Fire

Avail. 11/22
Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square
Machete Kills

And here’s what’s leaving next week, so it’s your last chance:

Leaving 11/22
End of Watch

Leaving 11/23
Bushwick
Shot Caller

Leaving 11/26
The Lincoln Lawyer

Leaving 11/27
Jeopardy!: Champion Run I: Gilbert Collins
Jeopardy!: Champion Run II: Rachel Lindgren
Jeopardy!: Champion Run III: Ryan Fenster
Jeopardy!: Champion Run IV: Josh Hill
Jeopardy!: College Championship III
Jeopardy!: Producer’s Pick
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

In one of the most bizarre and disgusting stories of the year, Tory Lanez reportedly shot rising superstar Megan Thee Stallion in the leg this summer. Initially, Megan protected Tory and claimed she was injured from being cut with glass, but after he started lying about what actually went down she lost her temper and laid the truth out for all to see. Since then, the story has only gotten more twisted, as Tory went on to release an entire album called Daystar talking about the incident and claiming he’s being “framed” for the crime by Megan and her camp. It seems more like Lanez was riding the coattails of a real star’s fame to get a narrative for his music.

Anyway, we have good news in all this — tonight Megan released her own new project, Good News, and the lead off track does address what she went through with Tory. And as fans predicted, the song is indeed a diss. Titled “Shots Fired,” the song never mentions Tory but name but runs through Megan’s feelings on the incident and disses him pretty viciously. It’s not that hard to find things to critique in Lanez in this situation, but Megan goes in with her signature savage flow and there’s no hope for Tory surviving this litany of insults. Listen below.

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

On her explosive return to form, Fetch The Bolt Cutters, Fiona Apple came back from an eight-year hiatus with a force. On her new album, which will likely be a topping year-end lists next month, one of the most-talked about songs was “Shameika,” a track where Fiona remembers some encouraging words from a classmate. Bullied in the cafeteria with the same old story of mean girls who wouldn’t let her sit at their table, young Fiona was heartened by words from a young Shameika who told her: “You have potential.”

Well, the story of that song eventually made its way to Shameika herself, who is also making music. In an amazing new twist, she’s reimagined Fiona’s song about her and delivered her own take on the story for “Shameika Said.” A much groovier and beat-driven take on the song, it skates toward hip-hop as Shameika raps her bars, and trade most of Apple’s piano for horns and bass. Listen to that above and learn more about Shameika Stepney and her story via Pitchfork’s interview with her.

Oh and while she was at it, Apple also released a music video for her original track, “Shameika.” Check that out below.

The end of November will mark two years since Meek Mill graced fans with his last full-length release, Championships. Since then fans have been patiently — and at times impatiently — waiting for the release of his next body of work. However, in the last two years, fans have only received a few singles here and there as the Philly native shifted his attention to be more heavily-focused on other endeavors like the film world with his Charm City Kings movie and activism thanks to his REFORM Alliance with Jay-Z. However, fans of the rapper should have no fear as Meek has returned with a new EP, one he appropriately labeled the Quarantine Pack.

With the new EP comes a video for “Pain Away,” his long-awaited collaboration with Lil Durk. The visual starts off with Meek flexing his money in one hand as he carries a weapon in the other. The song’s premise focuses on the Dreamchasers rapper’s desire for money to wipe away his pains, despite knowing that isn’t a reality in life. As the setting shifts to nightfall, Lil Durk steps in with a verse of his own, one that lines up with Meek’s thoughts as the Chicago rapper details his past pains and losses while struggling to trust the new faces that come into his life.

The Quarantine Pack EP comes with four songs including “Pain Away” and boasts additional features from 42 Dugg and Vory.

You can watch the “Pain Away” video above.

Quarantine Pack is out now via Dreamchasers/Atlantic. Get it here.

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

Nas’ 2020 has been a lot better than his recent years and it’s thanks in large part to his King’s Disease album, one that was executive produced by Hit-Boy. The album was much better than his past releases as it found the rapper doing a good job of navigating between his vintage raps and a more modernized sound. Since he released the album, the Brooklyn native has lent his voice to a couple of artists including Public Enemy and Statik Selektah for their respective “Fight The Power: Remix 2020” and “Keep It Moving” tracks. Adding another track to his 2020 resume, Nas brings his talents to the soundtrack of HBO’s Between The World And Me original with his “Fallen Stars Flying” track.

The song finds Nas in a very introspective state as he reflects on some of the losses he’s experienced in his life while heralding the Black youth as these “fallen stars flying.” The past memories he recalls can be heard in lines like, “I just talked with big homie up in federal court / He was double-crossed, nowadays staying real is a loss.” Dealing with these hardships in life often pushes him to react, but he knows going to dangerous extents isn’t always worth it. “I got the ‘K for them,” he raps. “But I refrain from doing shaitans work.” The song later closes with a quick story about how is “Black Girl Lost” track helped a young girl navigate through life, so much so that she got a tattoo of wings on her back.

Press play on the video above to hear “Fallen Stars Flying.”

This weekend marks a landmark anniversary, not just for Nicki Minaj but for hip-hop as a whole. November 22nd, which is this Sunday, will be the tenth anniversary of Nicki’s classic album Pink Friday. Did the Barbz really think Nicki was going to let this day pass without some sort of fanfare? She’s already teased a virtual celebration, and to further mark the occasion, Minaj and her team have dropped a super deluxe version of the album, dubbed Pink Friday: The Complete Edition, featuring eight new bonus tracks.

Available now on all platforms, this new edition brings together all the various editions of Pink Friday that have been released before — and there’s been quite a few — gathering all the classic Minaj releases from the era into one place. It is also available on vinyl from Record Store, a UK-based seller. Despite that, their shipping charge is only about $12, so the total still comes in around $40. Not too bad for limited edition vinyl.

Check out the full tracklisting below and listen here.

1. “I’m The Best”
2. “Roman’s Revenge” (Feat. Eminem)”
3. “Did It On’em”
4. “Right Thru Me”
5. “Fly” (Feat. Rihanna)
6. “Save Me”
7. “Moment 4 Life” (Feat. Drake)
8. “Check It Out” (Feat. will.i.am)
9. “Blazin” (Feat. Kanye West)
10. “Here I Am”
11. “Dear Old Nicki”
12. “Your Love”
13. “Last Chance” (Feat. Natasha Bedingfield)
14. “Super Bass”
15. “Blow Ya Mind”
16. “Muny”
17. “Wave Ya Hand”
18. “Catch Me”
19. “Girls Fall Like Dominoes”
20. “BedRock” (Feat. Young Money & Lloyd)
21. “Roman’s Revenge” (Feat. Lil Wayne)

Just days into November, DaBaby and his family were hit with the tragic news that his brother, Glenn Robinson, passed away from a self-inflicted gunshot on Election Day. According to a report from TMZ, his death occurred after he posted a video of himself visibly upset with a gun in his possession as he spoke about how many times he was “wronged.” When the rapper learned about his brother’s death, he posted a line from his Kirk “Intro” track that reads, “My brother be thinkin’ that we don’t love him and let him struggle like we ain’t family.” Now, DaBaby has taken things a few steps further as he returned with a full tribute EP to his older brother.

After teasing his “My Brother’s Keeper” track a few days ago, DaBaby unveils the My Brother’s Keeper (Long Live G) EP for fans, one he dedicates to his late brother Glenn Robinson. The EP comes attached with seven songs and features from Meek Mill, NoCap, Polo G, and Toosii. The project was a surprise release for his fans as many thought the Charlotte rapper would grace them with just a song in honor of his sibling. The EP serves as DaBaby’s third release of the year following his Blame It On Baby album and its deluxe re-issue.

My Brother’s Keeper (Long Live G) is out now via South Coast Music Group/Interscope. Get it here.

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

This year has been as turbulent as it gets for Megan Thee Stallion. The Houston native battled through lows that included a contract dispute and fighting through the physical and mental pains of being a shooting victim while enjoying the highs of two No. 1 singles, which come in thanks to “WAP” and her “Savage” remix with Beyonce, as well as a number of award show nominations and a season premiere appearance on Saturday Night Live. Now, after months of making headlines with news she’d rather move on from, Megan is finally bringing the Good News to fans in the form of a new album, one she release with a brand new video for “Body.”

The new visual finds the Houston rap star standing tall next to a group of other women as they join forces for an eye-catching dance routine that highlights their assets while Megan’s raps do the same. The video also sees Lil Kim, Taraji P. Henson, Jordyn Woods, and more. As for her new album, Good News comes attached with 17 songs, including “Girls In The Hood,” her “Savage” remix, and her most recent single, “Don’t Stop.” Proving to be a true coming out affair, Good News presents guest appearances from Young Thug, Beyoncé, DaBaby, SZA, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Popcaan, City Girls, and Lil Durk.

You can watch the “Body” video above.

Good News is out now via 1501 Certified Entertainment/300 Entertainment. Get it here.

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