Have you ever wondered what you’d get if you threw Hotline Miami, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, and some cute and cuddly mascots that look straight out of Diddy Kong Racing into the ol’ game development blender? Chances are probably not, but Funktronic Lab’s Wave Break makes a compelling case for why you should. Billed as “the world’s first skateBOATING game,” the neon-lit, Miami Vice inspired world of Wave Break looks pretty cool — just check out this trailer for it:
What’s most compelling to us about Wave Break right off the bat is despite it looking sort-of like a Fall Guys-esque multiplayer experience, the game actually comes with an entire single-player campaign that, according to the Nintendo Switch listing, features an “episodic storyline involving guns, kickflips, and blood money.” That being said, it also has a few different multiplayer modes, from ranked matchmaking skateboating battles to custom game modes so you can kickback with your friends. There are also a few different game modes, such as Trick Attack (a battle to rank up the highest score through pulling off sweet moves), Deathmatch, and Free Play.
Beyond gameplay, the trailer shows off the game’s emphasis on style, which extends to the outfits and customization options within the game. According to the listing, you can “unlock hundreds of custom clothing for maximum stylin’, as well as tons of decals and decorations for your boats.” Customization also takes shape in the game’s park creator mode, which allows you to build your own skateboating arenas, something Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater fans will surely be all about. Lastly, if you’re a streamer looking for a chill game to show off to your viewers, the game boasts an entirely ‘stream safe’ synthwave soundtrack — meaning you won’t get a copyright strike tossed your way while playing it.
If Wave Break sounds up your alley, you can catch it on PC and Nintendo Switch on June 11, 2021.
Tragedy struck in Agua Caliente, California Tuesday morning when Tory Carlon, a more than 20-year member of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, was gunned down by a coworker at Fire Station 81.
The assailant, Jonathan Tatone, died of a self-inflicted gunshot in his home later that day.
“We do believe there was some disagreement over work performance and work-related issues,” Lt. Brandon Dean said Wednesday. “How long it has been going on we don’t know yet.” The two men worked at the station on different shifts and had been clashing over operations and other issues.
L.A. County Fire Chief Daryl Osby described Carlon as “truly dedicated, one of our better firefighters, amazing, and a true loss to our department.”
Carlon leaves behind his wife, Heidi, and three young daughters.
Early this morning, Burbank firefighters gathered on the overpasses to pay respect to fallen LA County Firefighter… https://t.co/tb2xFE1ao9
— Burbank Fire Department, CA (@BurbankFire) 1622658210.0
The tragedy happened just two days before Carlon’s oldest daughter Joslyn was set to graduate from Saugus High School. One can only imagine the pain she felt knowing that her father couldn’t be at the ceremony.
However, even though her father couldn’t be in attendance, her extended “fire family” had her back and they made an impressive display.
On Wednesday night an email chain was sent among L.A. County Firefighters asking them to show up to show their support for the daughter of their fallen brother.
The next day, over 300 firefighters from L.A. county and neighboring departments showed up at Josyln’s ceremony at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita. The parking lot was filled with fire engines from all over the area and the firefighters lined up and stood at attention as Joslyn entered the ceremony.
Surrounded by her late father’s firefighting colleagues, Josyln Carlon graduated #SaugusHighSchool tonight, just da… https://t.co/pztAqO0rCD
— Dr. Carlos – crime related news & other stuff (@insidethebadge) 1622822105.0
“I haven’t had a chance to look at where all of our brothers and sisters have come from,” Battalion Chief Nick Berkuta Berkuta told The Santa Clarita Valley Signal. “But I can see that we have quite an outpouring of support that is truly appreciated.”
“We’re here to make sure that she knows we’re all thinking about her,” said Fire Department Capt. Chris Reade. “We found out last night, email goes fast, and we all dropped everything we were doing in our personal lives and came down here to show our support.”
As seen from the media area at the Saugus High School graduation, the hundreds of firefighters who came to support… https://t.co/pCKd1vImzE
When Joslyn walked up to the stage to accept her diploma, she did so wearing her father’s fire jacket draped across her shoulders. She was greeted by a chorus of cheers from the firefighters and a standing ovation from fellow classmates.
When she left the stage she was escorted by a firefighter who is a close friend of the Carlon family.
Daughter of firefighter killed in shooting wears father’s jacket to graduation https://t.co/7mI8FVgiLn
When asked what the gesture meant, Reade gave a simple explanation that sums up the meaning of “fire family.”
“It means that we’re always going to be with them,” said Reade. “The Fire Department family is huge and strong, and they can come to us anytime for anything they need.”
Delores Spencer has been teaching math since 1954. When she retired from her Virginia school district 30 years ago, she started tutoring students and hasn’t stopped. Now, at age 89, even in the midst of a global pandemic, Mrs. Spencer is still going strong.
Mrs. Spencer has kept up her teaching skills through her decades since retirement, even learning the new ways math gets taught. And when in-person tutoring got thwarted by COVID-19, she took it as an opportunity to reach more people through virtual tutoring.
Since last spring, Mrs. Spencer has provided math lessons online through her Math Lab on Facebook and YouTube. Each week, she posts a free, hour-long lesson on a particular math concept to help students and parents learn better.
“I just really wanted to help students get over that fear of math,” Spencer said in a video interview with Good Morning America. “So many parents and students have fear of mathematics. And it really, it’s beautiful.”
She said she wants to reach people who need tutoring but can’t afford it. “If I can find out what blocks you, then I can remove that block, and usually you don’t need me anymore until you get to another block. And that’s what real tutoring is about.”
Watch this inspiring woman in action:
89-year-old math tutor’s virtual lessons reach students around the world l GMA
Thank you, Mrs. Spencer, for showing us that we don’t have to stop doing what we love just because we get older, and for continuing to share your gift of teaching with the world.
The best new hip-hop this week includes albums, videos, and songs from Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Roddy Ricch, and more.
Throughout the week, a steady trickle of releases from across hip-hop kept fans sated until the main event on New Music Friday. Isaiah Rashad shared “200/Warning,” a track that didn’t make his album, on Tuesday, while Logic shared the Madlib-produced “Mafia Music.” Meek Mill showed off his “Flamerz Flow,” Lakeyah was “Young & Ratchet,” IDK brought back go-go with “Shoot My Shot,” and Moneybagg Yo praised his hometown’s newest basketball star with “Rookie Of The Year.”
Friday saw the releases of Roddy Ricch’s return single “Late At Night,” Bad Bunny’s song-of-the-summer bid “Yonaguni,” “Art Of War” from Jasiah, Denzel Curry, and Rico Nasty, and videos for Rowdy Rebel and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie’s “9 Bridge” and J. Cole’s “Punchin’ The Clock,” along with the releases listed below.
Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending March 19, 2021.
Albums/EPs/Mixtapes
Brockhampton — Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine Plus Pack (Deluxe)
Brockhampton
Adding four new songs to their recently released album, including two versions of “Jeremiah,” Brockhampton staves off their impending dissolution just a little bit longer.
Lil Baby & Lil Dirk — Voice Of The Heroes
Lil Baby Durk
The heavily anticipated joint album from the Atlanta and Chicago stars lives up to its hype thanks to immaculate production choices and judicious use of pitch-perfect guest verses from Meek Mill, Travis Scott, and Young Thug.
Lloyd Banks — The Course Of The Inevitable
Lloyd Banks
As the early-2000s heyday of gritty, bars-forward New York mixtape rap returns, it’s only right to see one of that scenes standout artists, Queens quick-wit Lloyd Banks, also make a comeback bridging the generation gap by including both contemporaries and the rappers he’s inspired, such as Benny The Butcher, Freddie Gibbs, and Roc Marci.
Peter Rosenberg — Real Late
Peter Rosenberg
Although he’s primarily known as a New York City radio personality, Peter Rosenberg is also a longstanding industry vet with a deep, deep call list of potential contacts. In his first foray into cultivating a DJ KaySlay-style compilation, he taps those contacts, bringing in rap icons like Ghostface and Raekwon, underground favorites like Ransom and Westside Gunn, and left field up-and-comer Fly Anakin.
Smoke DZA — Hustler’s Catalog
Smoke DZA
No, but seriously… it’s a good week for fans of fundamental, modern boom-bap-styled hip-hop. Smoke DZA applies his laconic flow and lifestyle raps to his second full-length project of the year, replete with soulful samples and similarly flossy guest appearances from Dom Kennedy, 24Hrs, Dave East, and of course, Curren$y.
Singles/Videos
Beanz — “Blow Me”
Beanz deserves much more attention. Although she didn’t get super deep into the first season of Rhythm + Flow, she seems to be one of the most committed contestants to date, with a sharp flow, a clear point-of-view, and undeniable style.
Belly — “Zero Love” Feat. Moneybagg Yo
The Roc Nation rapper continues his comeback, tapping one of trap rap’s hottest artists for a sex-crazed, cold-hearted ode to macking.
Booka600 & OTF — “Apart”
Grab a tissue; this tender hood ballad, addressed to the late King Von, finds the Chicago rapper mourning his homie and promising to keep the grind alive in his honor.
Che Noir — “Reasons” Feat. Jynx
How much Buffalo is too much Buffalo? In a week that saw releases featuring verses from nearly every member of the prolific Griselda posse, it would have seemed wrong to exclude Che Noir’s soulful new single.
Chitana — “Hard Times”
Young Dolph’s latest PRE acquisition offers a reflective look at the conditions he’s overcome, the obstacles he’s faced, and well, the terrible state of the world for Black folks in general.
Jayson Cash — “All I Know”
Okay, so, I’ve got to bend my “automatically posting artists from Compton” rule a bit here since Jayson Cash claims Carson, but he’s also one of the most authentic artists I’ve ever heard.
Sally Sossa — “Right My Wrongs” Feat. Toosii
Sally Sossa quietly had one of the coldest debuts of 2020, but she’s gaining momentum — and should gain some requisite notice thanks to the inclusion of the white-hot Toosii.
Smiley — “Moving Different”
The Toronto native’s off-kilter flow, the string orchesta sample, and the low-fi visuals make this a video that seems like it should generate a bit of buzz.
YSN Flow — “Pac Man”
The Ohio rapper has been on a roll, and it’s only a matter of time until his bouncy, precise flow and relentless energy reach the mainstream. At 17, time’s one thing he’s got plenty of.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
High-proof bourbon whiskey is that category that sits neatly in between “bottled-in-bond” and “barrel proof.” Bottled-in-bond whiskey always has to be 50 percent or 100 proof and gets to that proof through the addition of water. Barrel proof (or cask strength) whiskey is whatever proof the whiskey was in the barrel and is never cut with water. High-proof whiskey is (generally speaking) the whiskey that’s 100 proof or higher and always cut with water.
Ironically, there are uncut barrel-proof bourbons that are lower proof than watered-down high-proof bourbons. How does that happen? Depends on how hot the whiskey goes into the barrel and how long it’s aged. Sounds strange but I promise it’s possible — there’s a wide world of whiskey out there, folks.
Today, our focus is on 10 water-touched high-proof bourbons, which I’m judging on taste alone. I’m blind taste-testing a few drams that I haven’t had quite a while — Maker’s 101, Noah’s Mill, Johnny Drum — and a few that are in my regular rotation — Wild Turkey, Garrison Bros., Knob Creek. It’s going to be interesting to see where these expressions fall when tasted without the familiarity of their labels!
This opens with a mild buttery toffee next to vanilla and wood. That vanilla becomes a creamy pudding as a touch of butterscotch arrives with a mild warmth. The end has a dry tobacco vibe with a hint of holiday spice.
Taste 2:
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This is a bowl of stewed apple over vanilla ice cream that’s been drizzled with extra caramel. The taste really focuses on that caramel, with hints of oak next to roasted almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg, and dry wicker.
Taste 3:
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
That darkness can only mean one thing — Garrison Brothers. There’s a massive nose of new leather that covers notes of corn syrup pecan pie and a hint of cinnamon rolls. The taste holds onto the leather (dramatically) while hints of white chocolate ice cream mingle with Nesquik chocolate milk. More leather comes in late as hints of cedar and tobacco warm things up on the end.
Taste 4:
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Soft eggnog spices and creaminess is touched by a soft cedar. The palate is subtle and warms toward a cinnamon candy next to buttery toffee with a hint of dry wicker reeds. That creamy-yet-spicy vibe carries through the finish as a silky mouthfeel takes over, leading to a final burst of spicy and sweet cinnamon candy fireworks through the senses.
Taste 5:
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This starts out with an apple pie filling with a lot of cinnamon leading towards salted caramel. The taste has this mild orange feel with more cinnamon candy. The end has a lightness that feels like … sasparilla? Cream soda? No, it’s Dr. Pepper!
The end leaves you with fizzy and distinctly spicy Dr. Pepper.
Taste 6:
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This has a cherry-vanilla soda vibe with a hint of dry pine. The taste leans into the old wood while touches of old leather mingle with light pepper and a chewy vanilla/cherry tobacco. The end is silky smooth and not overly warm.
Taste 7:
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This has to be the Bootleg Series. It has a funky old hue that’s nearing forest green. The taste has this mix of dry coconut, cloves, and greenwood with a touch of .. cumin? It’s velvety smooth and touches on coriander with a sweetgrass vibe.
Taste 8:
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This feels like a classic bourbon with notes of vanilla cream mingling with buttery cornbread and a touch of orchard fruits. The palate has a mild worn leather next to a subtle dark chocolate orange all leading towards a bucket of buttered popcorn with a side order of Red Vines.
Taste 9:
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This opens with a buttery croissant with spicy plum jam next to flourishes of vanilla. There’s a rich toffee next to dark chocolate-covered marzipan, old cellar beams, and a mild vanilla tobacco chew. It’s light and soft.
Taste 10:
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This is just a straight-up classic. This has to be Knob Creek. There’s a vanilla/cinnamon/kettle corn feel that leads to touches of eggnog spice, orange zest, and very mild cherry. The end is a brioche dripping in brown sugar and brown butter cinnamon glaze next to a cherry tree, drooping with fruit.
Part 2: The Ranking
Zach Johnston
10. Heaven’s Door “Bootleg Series” Mizunara Oak Whisky 26 Year — Taste 7
This bottle is going to be hard to find outside of private collections. The 26-year-old whiskey is finished in Japanese Mizunara oak barrels. These barrels are made from trees that have to be at least 200-years-old and impart something truly unique into the juice.
Bottom Line:
To be 100 percent fair, this might be losing some of its luster thanks to the flask it’s in. Still, this is built to be a super funky and super old bourbon. It just didn’t feel like something I’d ever reach for other than to show off when I have friends over.
We kind of come full circle with this whiskey. It’s largely the same juice as George T. Stagg. Except these barrels spend 18 years and three months in Warehouse P on the first floor, where the juice loses 59 percent of its volume. The bourbon is then blended, filtered, and bottled at a very accessible 101 proof.
Bottom Line:
HA! I cannot believe this! I like Eagle Rare a lot and order the 10-year-old all the time at a whisky bar I go to. I guess today it just didn’t stand out that much.
This much-lauded Texas bourbon is the highwater mark of what great whiskey from Texas can be. The juice is aged in Ozark oak for four years and then finished in oak from Minnesota for another year, all under that blazing West Texas sunshine. The bourbon is then small-batched, proofed with Texas spring water, and bottled at a healthy 115 proof.
Bottom Line:
I just couldn’t get past that leather note on the nose and in the palate. I ended up nosing and tasting this one twice (and then again, just now). It’s still there.
That’s what’s interesting about tasting booze you love like this. When spped right after something entirely different, you never know what’s going to pop.
A lot of Wild Turkey’s character comes from the hard and deep char they use on their oak barrels. 101 is a high-rye and high-ABV bourbon that leans into the wood and aging, having spent six years in the cask. A little of that soft Kentucky limestone water is added to cool it down a bit before bottling.
Bottom Line:
This feels right. Look, I love me some Turkey but this is an entry-level whiskey that’s made to be mixed.
Pinhook’s contract distilled bourbon is all about refinement. The expression is made from 100 barrels that are matured for 34 months before being small-batched by Pinhook’s Master Taster Sean Josephs. The juice is barely touched with that soft Kentucky limestone water to take the edge off.
Bottom Line:
There’s a thinness to this that holds it back a little. I’m not saying this isn’t really tasty and well-crafted. It’s just missing that “grab your attention” x-factor that I want from a high-proof bourbon.
Willett — or Kentucky Bourbon Distillers — makes this special label. As with everything at Willett, though, the cards on the aging, mash bill, and blending of this bottle are held pretty close to the chest. The juice is a marrying of varying barrels that are cut to 101 to compete with Wild Turkey. That’s about all we know.
Bottom Line:
This had that Willett “cinnamon candy” vibe, though it was dialed back. This really caught my attention for that journey from sasparilla to cream soda to f*cking Dr. Pepper. It felt almost insulting at first, then I just wanted more.
This entry-point to Jim Beam’s small batch Knob Creek is a nine-year-old classic. The juice is a low-rye mash that’s aged in new oak in Beam’s vast warehouses for a minimum of nine years. The whiskey is then vatted and cut down to 100 proof before being bottled in new, wavy bottles.
Bottom Line:
This felt both classic and right. There was nothing that jumped out as “oh my god, that’s life-changing!” But it was comforting, soft, and familiar. That went a long way amongst these high-proof bourbons. Oh, and it’s tastes really good.
This is Maker’s Mark classic wheated bourbon that’s bottled at “a higher proof” to bring about a “richer flavor.” Well, that’s what the label says anyway.
Bottom Line:
This was just really damn tasty. It was complex yet refined and accessible. There was almost zero burn and that’s when taken neat. This feels like a great sipper that’s also going to be a go-to cocktail base going forward.
This whiskey is a new-ish release from one of our favorite bourbon podcasts and whiskey reviewers, Bourbon Pursuit. The juice is a blend of three whiskeys hailing from Bardstown Bourbon Company in Kentucky, Finger Lakes Distilling out in New York, and an unnamed Tennessee distiller. The blend is crafted to be an accessible whiskey, or well-crafted table bourbon if you will, that’s high proof and very drinkable.
Bottom Line:
This keeps growing on me and I’m not surprised it nearly hit the number one spot. It’s just really well-put-together bourbon that hits my palate plumb and true every time I take a sip.
This is Willett’s high-proof bourbon that’s barely cut down to a very high 114.3 proof. This is kind of like the big and bolder sibling of Willett’s Rowan’s Creek bourbon, which is cut down to 100.1 proof.
Bottom Line:
I can’t remember the last time I had a dram of this but it really popped today. The spicy cinnamon candy was a great throughline and the really high-proof didn’t hinder the sip at all. In fact, this felt smoother and cooler than lower-proofed high-proofs on this list.
Plus, it was pure silk on the senses and tongue.
Part 3: Final Thoughts
Zach Johnston
Willett made a pretty good showing all things considered. I’m kind of surprised Noah’s Mill ended up on top. If I could have seen the labels, I probably would have put money on me picking Maker’s or Knob Creek.
The only real oddities were Garrison Brothers and Eagle Rare, which just didn’t click for me today. That being said, I ended up leaning towards much more affordable bourbons that are fairly easy to find. I didn’t try to, that’s just what I liked best. So there’s that.
As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.
Australia’s Splendour In The Grass is always one of the year’s most anticipated spring festivals. This year, as live events recover from the impact of the pandemic and waiting for it to be safe for crowds to gather in persono once more, the fest is offering a virtual event this summer before it resumes in November 21. Dubbed Splendour XR, this event is slated to be one of the most immersive music festivals experiences so far. Slated for Saturday, July 24 and Sunday, July 25, the stacked lineup includes artists like Khalid, Grimes, Charli XCX, The Killers, and so many more.
Artists will deliver never-before-seen live sets created specifically for this event, and tickets will be the relatively affordable price of $19.99 for a single day, $34.99 for both days. That’s certainly cheaper than any other festival you’ll attend this year.
“Splendour has always offered patrons a deep programming experience with The Forum, Global Village, Little Splendour and more on offer alongside our favorite artists,” Splendour in the Grass Co-producers Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco said. “We could not be more excited about Splendour XR and the opportunity to take the Splendour goodness online to our existing community and also to new audiences around the globe.”
Check out the full lineup below, purchase tickets here, and get a sense of the virtual event’s immersive experience in the preview video above.
Splendour XR
DAY 1
KHALID. CHVRCHES. DENZEL CURRY. DUKE DUMONT. TASH SULTANA. MASKED WOLF. RUSS MILLIONS. BAND OF HORSES. LITTLE SIMZ. VIOLENT SOHO. AURORA. PHOEBE BRIDGERS. VERA BLUE. PINK SWEAT$. CLIENT LIAISON. GRIFF. POND. TAYLA PARX. DUNE RATS. METHYL ETHEL. THE CHATS. TRIPLE ONE. CAT & CALMELL. KING STINGRAY. THE SOUTHERN RIVER BAND
DAY 2
THE KILLERS. CHARLI XCX. VANCE JOY. GRIMES METAVERSE (SUPER BETA). THE AVALANCHES. OF MONSTERS AND MEN. KAYTRANADA. BLACK PUMAS. HOT DUB TIME MACHINE. MILLENNIUM PARADE. THE JUNGLE GIANTS. OCEAN ALLEY. JUNGLE. WHAT SO NOT. KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD. SINÉAD HARNETT. HOLLY HUMBERSTONE. SPACEY JANE. CROOKED COLOURS. AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS. WAFIA. AVIVA. THE SNUTS. BAND-MAID. ZIGGY RAMO. GRETTA RAY
Paramount+ just dropped the final trailer for Infinite, the action thriller about reincarnated warriors starring Mark Wahlberg, and man, this thing looks wild. Within the first few seconds, you have Marky Mark jumping off of a cliff on a motorcycle so he can stab a plane with a ninja sword, and it doesn’t let up from there.
As the trailer teases out Wahlberg’s slowly learning that he has the ability to tap into a multitude of past lives, the trailer delivers one crazy action beat after another, and just when you think director Antoine Fuqua can’t pull another rabbit out of his hat, Jason Mantzoukas shows up. What more can you need? Even better, Infinite is skipping a theatrical release and going straight to Paramount+ in less than a week. So the time between now and you watching Marky Mark stab a plane is extremely minimal.
Here’s the official synopsis:
For Evan McCauley (Mark Wahlberg), skills he has never learned and memories of places he has never visited haunt his daily life. Self-medicated and on the brink of a mental breakdown, Evan is sought by a secret group that call themselves “Infinites,” revealing to him that his memories may be real – but they are from multiple past lives.
Infinite starts streaming June 9 on Paramount+. Here is Mark Wahlberg stabbing an airplane with a sword.
After releasing an album in 2020, Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist producer Niia is back with a brand new EP. Across its seven tracks, If I Should Die is a spooky, smoky affair filled with groovy arrangements and intoxicating vocals.
To celebrate the new EP, Niia sat down to talk Drake, Monterey Jazz Festival, and the best tattoo she’s ever seen in the latest Pop Life 20 Q&A.
What’s the first pop song you remember hearing?
Diana Ross- “Upside Down”
What do you think pop music will be like in the future?
Woah, this is tough…pop stars from different planets. Singing plants? Realistically, probably a Lil Miquela vibe where there are holograms of popstars able to perform anywhere at any time.
If you could perform in any country in the world, where would it be and why?
Ravello, Italy. It’s probably the most beautiful place I’ve ever been and I’m Italian, so performing there is a dream of mine.
Peter Gabriel & Sting at the Hollywood Bowl. There are no words to describe that experience…Ugh, also- Jennifer Holiday in a small church in Provincetown MA when I was 25. Jennifer Holiday was famous for her role in dream girls I was obsessed with as a girl. I quit singing for the summer because I knew I would never be able to sing like Jennifer. She still is one of the best there is.
What is the best outfit for performing and why?
A classic black dress with a twist. I love a classic look with a modern pinch. Feels romantic and nostalgic but also fresh! I like to dress up to perform. It makes me feel more polished so I can be chic while crying (if I need to).
Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?
Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?
Downtown Brooklyn. We were staying in a workout-themed hotel… my band and I didn’t work out once. My manager Chelsi used the medicine ball as a chair a few times.
What’s the worst tattoo you’ve ever seen?
I don’t know about the worst… but Brooke Candy has the best. She has so many incredible ones.
Who do you think is the most exciting new voice in pop this year?
I stan Olivia Rodrigo.
What pop song do you most associate with heartbreak?
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
Practice piano more, and he is not the one.
What’s the last show you went to?
I honestly can’t remember… I think Show Me The Body or Dana Dentana.
Which music festival is your favorite and why?
Monterey Jazz Festival. I’ve always wanted to play there. If you play it, you’re respected in the jazz community. I also have a special place in my heart for Monterey… almost got married there.
What would you say to Beyonce if you got the chance to meet her?
Lil Baby and Lil Durk’s newly released joint album is titled Voice Of The Heroes, but in their elegant “How It Feels” video, the two rap stars play crooks in a high-class caper — although, it turns out to be for a good cause, so perhaps they’re best described as anti-heroes.
Taking inspiration from such big-money caper flicks as Ocean’s Eleven, the “How It Feels” video sees the duo pull up to an auction house just before the sale goes down. Despite making an honest bid for a diamond necklace, they are forced to resort to the thievery, splitting up to take out the cameras, knock out the guards, and break into the case containing the necklace. They make off with the goods, fencing the diamonds in exchange for cash, but they don’t keep it for themselves. Instead, they bring it to the streets, handing out the duffle bags with the money from the back of a truck, a la Frank Lucas in American Gangster.
Watch the video for “How It Feels” above.
Voice Of The Heroes is out now via Quality Control Music. Get it here and check out the self-titled lead single, along with the two rappers’ previous collaboration on DJ Khaled’s “Every Chance I Get.”
The Los Angeles Lakers entered the postseason with expectations of defending their championship, but due to a spate of injuries to high-profile players, a tough matchup in the 2-7 series with the Phoenix Suns, and a handful of other factors, the team was sent home at the conclusion of the first round.
Figuring out where the team goes from here is the No. 1 job of every single decision-maker in the front office. There could, theoretically, be a path forward that just involves getting healthy and having the kind of offseason they did not get last year. Or, there is a path forward that involves hitting the reset button, which seems to be the preferred path forward for one Lakers legend/ex-executive.
Magic Johnson, in one of his delightful Twitter posts, made clear that he believed general manager Rob Pelinka has a whole heck of a lot of work to do over the coming months.
Lakers GM Rob Pelinka has a lot of work to do this summer because a lot of Lakers did not perform well during the series against the Phoenix Suns.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 4, 2021
Now, Johnson isn’t necessarily wrong, but considering that he was, quite literally, hired alongside Pelinka to return the Lakers to glory, but abruptly resigned during a game in 2019. It got to the point that Johnson straight up accused Pelinka of spreading rumors about him, which was a thing he cited for his resignation (Pelinka has denied this).
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