Month: March 2021

Chet Hanks has time and time again found himself dealing with some amount of backlash and controversy due to his social media antics. From his questionable use of patois to thirsting over Adele following her Jamaican flag bikini photo, the antics of Tom Hanks’ son seem to be never ending. In his latest example of this, Chet roped Jack Harlow and R&B singer Jon B when he declared that a “white boy summer” was in route. The announcement was delivered through a video Chet posted to his Instagram account.

“Ok guys, I just wanted to tap-in real quick,” he said to start things off. “I just got this feeling man that this summer is about to be a white boy summer. Take it how you want. I am not talking about [Donald] Trump or the NASCAR-type white.” He added, “I am talking about me, Jon B and Jack Harlow- type white summer. Let me know how you vibe with that. Get ready, cause I am.”

He doubled down on his comments in the video’s caption, writing, “Is it bout to be a #WhiteboySummer or am I trippin ???? Tag a REAL vanilla king #Respectfully.”

Naturally, the video caught the attention of many as some dismissed Chet comments and labeled them as outlandish while others laughed at how Jack Harlow and Jon B were dragged into his claims as they were minding their own business.

You can watch Chet’s video above and scroll down to read some reactions to it.

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

Sharon Osbourne, a founding member of the CBS show The Talk, will not be part of the broadcast when it returns to air next month. CBS announced on Friday that Osbourne would not return to the daytime program, which had been on extended hiatus after allegations against Osbourne exploded on air.

The incident came after Osbourne defended another TV host embroiled in scandal as a result of Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Piers Morgan’s reaction to the interview on Good Morning Britain, in which he claimed not to believe Markle’s account of events that led to her cutting ties with the Royal Family, ended with him leaving his show as well.

But Osbourne, who is a friend of Morgan’s, defended him on Twitter in an event that soon put her own TV career in jeopardy. As the New York Times recapped, an on-air discussion of that defense forced the show to publicly address Osbourne’s own history of racist comments.

“What would you say to people who say that, while you’re standing by your friend, it appears that you give validation or safe haven to something that he has uttered that is racist, even if you don’t agree?” Ms. Underwood asked.

Ms. Osbourne said she felt as if she were “about to be put in the electric chair because I have a friend who many people think is a racist.”

“How can I be racist about anybody?” she asked during an especially tense moment in the exchange. “How can I be racist about anybody or anything in my life?”

The show was abruptly put on pause after that March 10 episode, and the delay was extended as more allegations against Osbourne were raised by others on the show. CBS then conducted a review of Osbourne and her behavior on the show, further delaying its return to air. As Deadline reported, not every allegation was found to have merit, but it further hurt Osbourne’s chances of returning to air.

To add flame to the fire, back on March 12 initial Talk co-host Robinson Peete took Osbourne to task for allegedly calling her “too ghetto” for the show and working to get her axed in 2011. Throwing personal correspondence with the ex-21 Jump Street star up on social media in reaction, Osbourne also claimed she had no power to get anyone fired from The Talk and that she never used terms like “too ghetto” in reference to Peete. That latter declaration was weakened when a clip from Season 1 of The Talk surfaced of Osbourne using that very term on-air in reference to Remini.

Through the investigation, Osbourne has been both remorseful for her actions on Twitter while later defending herself. Reports indicated that she’s contacted legal representation, and a number of interviews and PR statements have made the drama around The Talk intensify even as it wasn’t on air. As The Hollywood Reporter laid out, Osbourne at one point said that she had been “set up” to get fired.

Initially contrite on Twitter, Osbourne then went on the offense during the show’s hiatus. She gave interviews to both Variety and Entertainment Tonight, claiming that she had been “set up” by the producers and was offered up as a “sacrificial lamb.” Her publicist also issued a doozy of a statement, alluding to Remini and Robinson Peete’s comments by noting “The only thing worse than a disgruntled former employee is a disgruntled former talk show host.” It’s not typically the strategy of someone expecting to keep their job, so the writing seemed to be on the wall.

CBS said on Friday that there was no evidence that executives “orchestrated” or “blindsided” hosts when discussing Morgan and the subjects that ultimately ended Osbourne’s time on the show. Friday’s news of Osbourne’s departure also came with a date for The Talk’s return to air. The show will be back on April 12.

Here’s CBS’s statement in full:

The events of the March 10 broadcast were upsetting to everyone involved, including the audience watching at home. As part of our review, we concluded that Sharon’s behavior toward her co-hosts during the March 10 episode did not align with our values for a respectful workplace. We also did not find any evidence that CBS executives orchestrated the discussion or blindsided any of the hosts.

Nearly nine months ago, Lil Nas X shared a snippet of a track titled “Call Me By Your Name” on Twitter. While there was no way to know how long the wait would be until the song arrived, there was certainly no telling how the singer would release the track, which is now titled “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” as it arrived with a wild video.

In it, Lil Nas journeys through a fictional hell and Earth even gives the devil a lap dance during his time in the underworld. The response to the video has been mixed, with some praising him for it and others not too fond of it. One person who’s a big fan of the video would be Big Sean, though, who praised Lil Nas for it on Instagram.

The interaction between to two artists came when Lil Nas asked fans in an Instagram post to name their favorite part of the video. As the responses came in, Big Sean took a moment to share his own. “The creativity n confidence to do you fully is my favorite part!” he said. “Keep rocking bro.” As expected, the comment caught Lil Nas’ attention and the singer thanked Big Sean for the love. “Wow bro thanks!” he replied. “Means a lot coming from you! i’m blasting deep reverence today!”

Lil Nas’ “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” video was not the only thing he shared on Friday. He also revealed his debut album would be titled Montero and that it would arrive this summer. He made the announcement while mocking viewers who were critical of the new song’s visual.

You can view the post and comments above.

If you’re a drinker, there’s a pretty good chance you have a go-to bottle of gin, vodka, tequila, rum, Scotch, rye... you get the idea. You know, the bottle that you always have on hand for slow sipping and mixing into your favorite cocktails. This is especially true for bourbon aficionados, a loyal bunch if ever there was one.

Since the marketplace is flooded with bourbon options, help identifying quality expressions is always welcome. Today, we’re putting bartenders in the hot seat — asking them for the bottles they reach for time and again. You know, the bottles they stock their home bar carts with.

Check their picks below!

Evan Williams Single Barrel

Dean Hurst, beverage director for Datz Restaurant Group in the Tampa Bay

Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon is always a great drinking whiskey and one of the best values still left on the shelf. Being a single barrel selection, you get a wide range of textbook flavors in every bottle, from creme brûlée to saddle leather.

Average Price: $28

Woodford Reserve

Chris Hennessy, bartender at Dylan Whisky Bar in Kilkenny, Ireland

My home has never been without a bottle of Woodford Reserve bourbon, one of the few drops that can hit every aspect of the flavor wheel you can experience from an individual whiskey. Its combination of corn, rye, and malted barley — 72:18:10 respectively — will bring you to flavor-town in high definition.

Fruity and floral waves of honeysuckle, ripe berries, dried apricot, and rose petals balanced against wooden notes of cedar shavings and fresh pecans/walnut bitter nuttiness. Seville orange sharpness against crisp menthol warmth, and dusted with nutmeg — this dram hints all corners of the palate to satisfy any drinker.

Average: $33

Bulleit

Eoghain Clavin, brewery ambassador for Guinness

Bulleit Bourbon has an especially high-rye content, giving it a bold, spicy character with a finish that’s really clean and smooth. A really affordable bottle and a great sipper or base for classic cocktails.

Average Price: $29

Buffalo Trace

Dennis Shea, beverage director at Fish & Fire Food Group in Washington, DC

My go-to is always Buffalo Trace Bourbon. The taste is rich with vanilla, toffee, and candied fruits and is sure to please. This along with the price make it a very attractive option.

Average Price: $24

High West American Prairie

Tom Garvin, beverage manager at Tribeca’s Kitchen in New York City

American Prairie by High West Distillery is a beverage that I’m always happy to see on a back bar. It’s really affordable and can be great even if it is simply poured over ice or in a whiskey sour.

Average Price: $36

Elijah Craig Small Batch

Chandra Richter, vice president of beverage development and chief mixologist at Drinkworks

I love Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon. It’s a big, bold bourbon that won’t break the bank. I think it is a really great buy and one I always have on the shelf. Plus, it makes a fantastic old-fashioned.

Its big, rich, smoky notes pair so well with aromatic and citrus bitters, resulting in a really complex and satisfying cocktail.

Average Price: $32

Wild Turkey 101

Matthew Lawson, bar manager at Culaccino Italian Restaurant + Bar in Franklin, Tennessee

Anyone who knows me is well aware that Wild Turkey 101 is a constant on my shelf. The low-proof distillation and longer-than-average aging allow the whiskey to pick up an incredible amount of barrel character, affording us a high-octane product that finds a great balance between sweetness and spice from start to finish at an incredible price point.

Average Price: $25

Maker’s Mark

Austin Zimmer, bartender at Le Privé in New York City

The Maker’s Mark is the best value bourbon, below $40, very smooth, and easy to mix. These are the main reasons why it’s one of the best-selling bourbons in the world.

Average Price: $27

Redemption

Evan Charest, bartender in Los Angeles

Redemption Bourbon is my go-to. Personally, I believe it is the best bang for your buck and versatile enough to be a great go-to cocktail-wise. Light notes of vanilla and caramel plus the rye content add a nice hint of spice.

If I can’t serve it neat, it has no business being in a cocktail, and Redemption covers all the qualities I want for my go-to bourbon for cocktails.

Average Price: $29

Bib & Tucker Small Batch

Maren Nazera Erickson, bartender in San Antonio, Texas

Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon is an approachable and affordable option for bourbon enthusiasts of any drinking level. With tasting notes of vanilla, toasted honey, and chestnut, a pour of any of Bib & Tucker’s age statements will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside like a giant hug.

Average Price: $53

Old Forester 100

Johnny Swet, bartender at owner of Jimmy at the James Hotel in New York City

I think a lot of bartenders — myself included — like Old Forester 100 proof. It comes in around $25 which is a bargain. The spice really cuts through the sweetness of the bourbon. It’s great for cocktails as well as on the rocks.

Average Price: $33

Evan Williams Black Label

Joseph Fredrickson, bartender at Society Lounge in Cleveland

My go-to bang for the buck bourbon for a long time has been Evan Williams Black. For the price, it’s a steal with notes of vanilla, cinnamon, pecan, and a slight peppery note. Mind you this is no bottle to impress your friends, but if you want to keep yourself and friends happy while keeping them away from your high-cost, hard-to-find bottles this is my favorite option.

Average Price: $16

Cardi B has been dealing with a heavy dose of negative comments recently, especially after her Grammy performance of “WAP” and “Up” that once again left conservatives up in arms. It hasn’t stopped her success, in fact, much of the criticism toward her comes as a result of her achievements, like “Up” recently becoming the fifth No. 1 single of her career.

Despite this, people still find a way to try and paint her in a bad light, including a rumor that she dismissed recently on Twitter. The artist responded to a claim that Eminem turned down a potential collaboration with Cardi because “she doesn’t care about the culture or her craft.” Once Cardi caught wind of the tweet, she quickly shut it down.

“I get off the internet and ya makin sh*t up,” she said. “I haven’t sent no songs to no artist yet. Love his work and much respect. This don’t even make sense.”

While the collaboration with Eminem isn’t one that’s been put in motion yet, Cardi did tease the existence of other songs with artists that have yet to be named. “Since they like to make up LIES about me cause their so obsessed just know this,” she added. “Y’all laughing about this fake rumor but wait until y’all see these next collars (winking emoji).”

You can read the tweet above.

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

Earlier this month, Beyonce became the most-awarded singer in Grammy history after picking up four wins at the 2021 edition of the music awards. While that was certainly a high moment for her, it occurred around an unfortunate event with the singer’s belongings. On Saturday, TMZ revealed that Beyonce was robbed of more than $1 million worth of property from her storage unit after two heists earlier this month. Law enforcement told the publication that thieves went through multiple storage units in the Los Angeles area that were filled with various items the singer owned.

TMZ added that while the units were rented out by the singer’s production company, Parkwood Entertainment, the missing items from the first heist, which included expensive handbags and dresses, all belonged to Beyonce. Within a week of this first robbery, the thieves returned for a second time and went through three units in the same facility. This time, they took off with handbags, kids toys, and photos that were owned by one of Beyonce’s stylists. The “Black Parade” singer is not the only artist to recently have their things stolen from a storage unit. Earlier this year, Miley Cyrus lost clothes, family photos, and mementos after her storage space was robbed.

While Beyonce set some records of her own at this year’s Grammy Awards, she also had a hand in notable moments with other artists. With “Brown Skin Girl” winning Best Music Video, her daughter Blue Ivy, who appeared in the visual, became one of the youngest Grammy winners in history. Beyonce and Megan Thee Stallion also became the first female winners of the Best Rap Performance award thanks to “Savage.”

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

DC-based emo revivalists Origami Angel made waves with their 2019 debut album Somewhere City. That’s why fans were buzzing when the duo marked their comeback with two new singles and an album announcement.

Origami Angel returned this week to officially unveil details surrounding their sophomore album Gami Gang. The group followed the announcement by giving fans a taste of the album with the charged single “Neutrogena Spektor,” and the tender acoustic number “Greenbelt Station.”

In a statement about the upcoming release, bandleader Ryland Heagy said:

“This record is our biggest release to date in terms of length and track list, and we’re really happy to be building upon our existing discography in a massive way. We recorded GAMI GANG entirely in my bedroom over the pandemic, and had our wonderful engineer Jake Checkoway mix and master the tracks. It was a bit nerve racking to be recording an entire double LP worth of material on our own (Jake Checkoway recorded our Debut LP), but we ended up super happy with the results, and it added an element to this release we wouldn’t have been able to tap into otherwise. […]

As soon as we wrote ‘Nuetrogena Spektor,’ we knew it had to be a single off this record. This track dives into the ideas of self worth related to appearance, and it was pretty much a completely new thing for me writing wise. It goes hand and hand with some of the messages off of our previous LP, but gets into a much more personal perspective. The lyrics are about the elusiveness of clear skin to someone growing up with cystic acne, but the song has always felt fun and lighthearted to me because of the carefree chorus. And that is sort of what GAMI GANG is about to me at its core: Finding beauty in something you might have otherwise overlooked.”

Listen to “Neutrogena Spektor” and “Greenbelt Station” above.

Gami Gang is out 4/30 via Counter Intuitive Records. Pre-order it here.

Since James Harden’s departure from Houston, the two sides have been on very different trajectories. Harden is leading a super-team in Brooklyn that has its eyes set on a championship, while the Rockets have suffered through one of their worst stretches in franchise history.

Their 20-game losing streak mercifully came to an end earlier this week with a win over the Raptors, which they immediately followed up with a blowout loss to the Hornets. But on Friday night, it looked like their fortunes were once again taking a turn for the better as they held a massive lead over the Timberwolves in the fourth quarter.

What happened next will have Rockets fans scratching their heads for some time. With Karl-Anthony Towns leading the way (29 points, 16 rebounds, eight assists), Minnesota held Houston scoreless for the final 7:31 of the game as they went on a 22-0 run to steal a 107-101 victory.

Timberwolves went on a 22-0 run for the comeback win over the Rockets pic.twitter.com/fjyOEPQTmB

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 27, 2021

The Rockets missed 13 consecutive shots, as they simply could not find a way to get a desperately needed bucket to the stop the bleeding. Towns, meanwhile, was showing off the full repertoire, with a few of those eight assists coming off of some beautiful dimes.

the behind-the-head assists are becoming commonplace pic.twitter.com/05NaBCJaaa

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 27, 2021

the V I S I O N pic.twitter.com/HqXLVJ7PFT

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 25, 2021

The Wolves also got 14 points from Jaden McDaniels, who was perfect from the field, and 19 points and nine boards from Juancho Hernangomez. Christian Wood led the way for the Rockets with 24 points and nine rebounds, but was 0-of-5 on his shot attempts in the fourth quarter. John Wall was likewise 0-of-6 in the final period and a brutal 6-of-25 overall to finish with 14 points.

Ever since SpotemGottem’s “Beat Box” went viral, rappers have been offering their own freestyles over the beat. Artists like Mulatto, DaBaby, Polo G, and Lil Yachty have recently hopped on the trend. Now, Chicago rapper Dreezy is throwing her hat into the ring with an impressive “Beatbox Birthday Freestyle.”

Taking over a studio, Dreezy lays down her sharp verses over the recognizable sample. The rapper name-drops a number of her contemporaries in the freestyle’s hook, delivering a line about Migos while applauding singer Giveon’s raw talent. “Put this tiger on his wood and now he say he like playing golf / They keep eating up the drip I ain’t even get to taste the sauce / What the f*ck they really on? / Still the best like Giveon,” she raps.

While Dreezy’s “Beatbox Birthday Freestyle” was her take on a viral challenge, it’s also the first bit of music she’s shared so far this year. Other than featuring on Tobi Lou’s “Okay” and dropping a remix of Moneybagg Yo’s viral “Said Sum” in 2020, the last we heard from Dreezy was on her 2019 polished Big Dreez album. Fans have been waiting to hear more of the rapper’s quick-witted flow since the album’s release, so her “Beatbox Birthday Freestyle” came as a nice surprise.

Watch Dreezy’s “Beatbox Birthday Freestyle” above.

A few weeks ago, Julia Michaels was walking the red carpet at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards after being nominated for Song Of The Year for “If The World Was Ending” with her songwriting companion and real-life significant other JP Saxe. Michaels may have not won any awards, but she’s now gifting fans with new music. Once again teaming up with Saxe, Michaels shares her revved up single “All Your Exes,” her first new song of the year.

Over a teeming electric guitars, Michaels sings of imagining a world where her partner’s exes don’t exist. “I wanna live in a world where all your exes are dead / I wanna kill all the memories that you save in your head / Be the only girl that’s ever been in your bed,” she sings. While her lyrics are clearly pointed, Michaels said the track was meant to be “satirical glory mixed in with a little truth.”

The singer may be gracing late-night television and performing in front of stadiums, but it wasn’t always so easy for Michaels to sing in front of a crowd. In fact, she used to get such bad stage freight that she would have a full-on panic attack every night before taking the stage on tour, as she revealed in a Honda Backstage interview. What eventually helped her overcome her fears was the unbreakable bond she has with her fans, and the knowledge that there are people in the crowd singing along to every lyric of her music.

Listen to “All Your Exes” above.