Month: June 2021

Though he only appeared in one film over the course of the pandemic, Seth Rogen has nevertheless somehow managed to be one of the busiest guys in Hollywood during quarantine. He has continued to operate traditionally within the industry, producing and starring in Pam and Tommy while playing the guy who stole Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson’s sex tape, but he’s also launched a wildly successful weed company and written Yearbook, an autobiographical series of essays.

I read the book this week in two quick sittings (it’s not only incredibly entertaining, it’s also short), and among the highlights was a story about his first encounter with Snoop Dog, a story about the time Tom Cruise tried to pitch Rogen and Judd Apatow on Scientology, a bizarre a dinner with Nic Cage, and the time George Lucas warned Rogen that the world would end in 2012 but refused to offer Rogen space in his post-apocalyptic bunker.

One funny and incredibly depressing story from the book that I haven’t seen as discussed outside the memoir (and a 2014 Seth Rogen tweet) was the time that comedian Eddie Griffin went on an anti-Semitic rant in an elevator with Rogen and Jonah Hill.

“I’m glad I saw you guys,” Griffin said to Rogen and Hill in a Las Vegas elevator. “I saw your movie. The high school movie,” Griffin continued. “I’ve been trying to make a movie for a while now, but no one will make it. But they made yours. And you know why?” he asked.

“No, why?” Rogen responded.

“Because I’m Black, and you’re Jewish, motherf***ers.”

Rogen said that he and Jonah Hill awkwardly laughed, thinking it was some sort of terrible joke. “Oh yeah, what do you mean by that?” Rogen asked.

“I mean, you Jewish motherf***ers run Hollywood, and you only make movies with other Jewish motherf***ers.”

“Oh,” Rogen remembers thinking. “This isn’t a joke. This dude is just going on some anti-Semitic tirade.”

“Sorry, I guess?” Jonah Hill said, trying to make a joke. Griffin, however, did not pick up on the fact that Hill was trying to let him off the hook.

“Don’t be sorry,” Griffin implored. “Tell your Jews to let other people make some movies.”

After the elevator ride, Rogen said that he and Hill tried to process what had just happened. “It’s insane because he’s ignoring the fact that if there’s one thing the Jewish people are not above, it’s making money producing things that are fronted by Black people. Anyone who has ever seen a biopic of a Black musician knows the character I’m talking about, and he’s usually very appropriately played by my dear friend David Krumholtz.”

Rogen, by the way, told this story during the same chapter where he recounts his frustrating attempt to convince Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to do something about the white supremacists who continue to run rampant on Twitter.

Seth Rogen’s Yearbook is terrific and it’s currently available wherever you get your books.

Mark Ronson has been one of the busiest folks in the music industry over the past couple decades, and it turns out part of the reason for that is because Ronson is a self-admitted workaholic. On a recent episode of the Out Of Office With Rick Kleinman podcast, he discussed how his mentality towards work became problematic for him.

He spoke about how therapy has been beneficial in helping him develop healthier work habits, saying (as NME notes):

“It’s almost like being an addict. It’s hard to let go of something that’s been a positive reinforcement, but at some point, if you want stability and balance in your life, you have to learn to let go. It took me a really long time to figure it out. I’m grateful the person I’m with now is just so fantastic and whatever had to happen to me to get to this point in life, I’m okay with.

Looking back on it, if you go to a lot of therapy to unpack this stuff, which I have done in the later period of my life, well, those workaholic tendencies became my best friend and my worst enemy at the same time. Because there’s positive reinforcement for being a workaholic too, but I was also using it to run from sh*t. I was definitely using it because it was a crutch at times.”

Ronson has still been busy. Over the past few months, he announced a new Apple TV+ series, dropped a new Silk City song, and produced a Kacey Musgraves-featuring Troye Sivan remix.

After DMX passed in April, the late rapper was given a hero’s sendoff, complete with a monster truck to carry his casket to the touching memorial service at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center arena which included a soulful medley performed by Kanye West’s Sunday Service choir and a tender rendition of DMX’s song “Slippin” performed by his daughter.

TMZ reports that according to probate documents for the rapper’s estate, the costs for the extravagant memorial were footed by DMX’s label, Def Jam, where he released many of his groundbreaking early works and returned to record what turned out to be his final album Exodus, which was released posthumously. According to TMZ, the total paid out by the label for the funeral costs came out to $35,228.13, including $7,450 for DMX’s custom casket.

DMX died in April following an overdose that left him comatose for the better part of a week. He was 50. In the wake of his passing, seven of his singles were certified gold or platinum and a number of his peers and contemporaries shared their admiration for him, including Lil Wayne, who said he was “infatuated” with DMX, Swizz Beatz, who gave an impassioned speech at DMX’s funeral, and Jay-Z, who fondly recalled boycotting the 1999 Grammys after he believed X was snubbed and being intimidated to perform after him during their shared Hard Knock Life tour.

James Michael Tyler, the actor best known for playing Central Perk manager Gunther during all 10 seasons of Friends, revealed that he has stage four prostate cancer. He broke the news on Monday’s episode of the Today show, where he said that he’s been “dealing with that diagnosis for almost the past three years… It’s stage 4 [now], late-stage cancer. So eventually, you know, it’s going to probably get me”:

He was told during a routine physical that he had advanced prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. He was then placed on a hormone therapy that “worked amazingly” for a year or so. But “right at the time of the pandemic” last year, Tyler explained to the outlet, the cancer “progressed” and spread throughout his body, affecting his spine, which led to paralysis of his lower body. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

Michael Tyler originally planned to make an in-person appearance during HBO Max’s much-watched Friends reunion and “be on the stage, at least, with them, and be able to take part in all the festivities.” But he decided to make a virtual cameo instead. “It was bittersweet, honestly. I was very happy to be included. It was my decision not to be a part of that physically and make an appearance on Zoom, basically, because I didn’t wanna bring a downer on it, you know?” he explained. “I didn’t want to be like, ‘Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer.’”

Michael Tyler went on Today in an attempt to “help save at least one life by coming out with this news” and encourage men to get a PSA screening. “A lot of men, if they catch this early, it’s easily treatable. I don’t want people to have to go through what I’ve been going through,” he said. “This is not … an easy process.”

(Via People)

Unless you’re a QAnon devotee, there’s no denying that the pandemic was the nail in the coffin for Donald Trump‘s chances for reelection. From downplaying the severity of the coronavirus to backing Republican states who repeatedly bucked CDC guidelines and reopened too early, which helped cause deadly surges over the holidays, Trump’s bumbling response to the health crisis undoubtedly played a huge factor in his defeat to Joe Biden. But, apparently, things could’ve been much worse.

According to Nightmare Scenario: Inside the Trump Administration’s Response to the Pandemic That Changed History, a new book from reporters Yasmeen Abutaleb and Damian Paletta, there was a constant internal battle to control Trump’s “worst instincts” as it became clear that the pandemic was coming to U.S. soil. Reportedly, one of those instincts was to ship COVID patients to the Guantanamo Bay prison island to keep America’s case numbers low. Via Washington Post:

In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, as White House officials debated whether to bring infected Americans home for care, President Donald Trump suggested his own plan for where to send them, eager to suppress the numbers on U.S. soil.

“Don’t we have an island that we own?” the president reportedly asked those assembled in the Situation Room in February 2020, before the U.S. outbreak would explode. “What about Guantánamo?”

Considering Guantanamo Bay (a.k.a. Gitmo) has been the site of numerous human rights violations stretching back to the Bush Administration, shipping COVID patients to the island would’ve been a recipe for disaster, not to mention ultimately futile, as the virus was already in America by February at the latest. The Trump Administration also resisted the restriction international travel, which only made matters worse.

(Via Washington Post)

Keeping up with new music can be exhausting, even impossible. From the weekly album releases to standalone singles dropping on a daily basis, the amount of music is so vast it’s easy for something to slip through the cracks. Even following along with the Uproxx recommendations on a daily basis can be a lot to ask, so every Monday we’re offering up this rundown of the best new music this week.

This week saw DaBaby ball strictly on his terms and Gucci Mane and Lil Uzi Vert both attain it. Yeah, it was a great week for new music. Check out the highlights below.

For more music recommendations, check out our Listen To This section, as well as our Indie Mixtape and Pop Life newsletters.

DaBaby — “Ball If I Want To”

DaBaby’s famously beaming smile suggests confidence, and his music confirms it. That’s true of his latest single, “Ball If I Want To,” which only runs for a couple minutes but manages to pack a lot of boasts and dismissals into that brief runtime.

Gucci Mane — “I Got It” Feat. Lil Uzi Vert

By his standards, Gucci Mane has been on a quiet stretch in terms of album releases; His most recent, Woptober II, just dropped in 2019, but that came after releasing at least one album a year since 2016. He made his return last week, though, with Ice Daddy, which was highlighted by collaborations like the Lil Uzi Vert joint effort “I Got It,” as well as songs with Lil Baby, Pooh Shiesty, and 2 Chainz.

HER — “My Own”

HER just dropped her latest album, Back Of My Mind, and it features folks like Ty Dolla Sign, Lil Baby, and DJ Khaled. With her final pre-album single, though, she decided to show confidence in herself by sharing the feature-free (and therefore appropriately titled) “My Own,” a subdued number that lets her vocals carry the load.

The Killers — “Dustland” Feat. Bruce Springsteen

Fans of The Killers have a lot to look forward to right now, as they appear to have two mostly finished albums in their release queue. You don’t even have to look ahead for something new from Brandon Flowers and company, though, as last week, they came out with an unusual sort of release: Killers admirer Bruce Springsteen joined the band for “Dustland,” a reinterpretation of The Boss’ favorite Killers track, “A Dustland Fairytale.”

Don Toliver — “Drugs N Hella Melodies” Feat. Kali Uchis

After making his ascent thanks in part to some key features (like on Travis Scott’s Astroworld, for example), Toliver is prepping L.O.A.D (Life Of A Don) for release in July. His latest preview of that effort is “Drugs N Hella Melodies,” a smooth one that features Kali Uchis and come accompanied by an appropriately intimate video.

Migos — “How We Coming”

Culture III took a few years to arrive, but the album’s deluxe edition took just a few days, as has become the norm over the past couple years. While rapid-fire deluxe editions often serve as an opportunity to add more featured guests to an album, Migos went at the five bonus tracks on their own (although Murda Beatz provides production on “How We Coming”).

Leon Bridges — “Why Don’t You Touch Me”

After blessing 2018 with Good Thing, Leon Bridges is returning with his third album, Gold-Diggers Sound, next month. He previously insisted it’s his “most personal album yet,” and it’s clear to see why he feels that way with “Why Don’t You Touch Me.” His latest is a mournful track that sees Bridges lamenting a relationship he knows is reaching its end.

Vince Staples — “Law Of Averages”

It’s been about three years since Staples dropped FM!, and after a bit of a wait, he has a pair of projects, Ramona Park Broke My Heart and Vince Staples, on the way. He previewed one of those projects last week with “Law Of Averages,” which sees Staples busting out some reserved bars over soulful production.

Tate McRae and Khalid — “Working”

We recently dubbed Tate McRae a rising pop star to keep an eye on this year, and she has made a fine case for inclusion on that list. For example, her latest output is a collaboration with R&B favorite Khalid. Together, the pair present “Working,” an upbeat tune that borrows from both artist’s primary genres for a bouncy time.

Olivia Rodrigo — “The Rose Song”

Congratulations are in order for Olivia Rodrigo, who recently became a high school graduate. She hasn’t graduated from High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, though, which is a blessing for Rodrigo fans, as new songs from the pop star continue to emerge from the series. The latest is “The Rose Song,” an emotional piano ballad that she thinks is “one of the best songs [she’s] written.”

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

Bo Burnham, being one of the more successful comedians of the past decade-plus, has a rich history on the Billboard charts. All of his full-length audio releases — 2009’s Bo Burnham, 2010’s Words Words Words, 2013’s What, and the new Inside (The Songs) — have topped the Comedy Albums chart. He’s made some appearances on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart as well: Bo Burnham and Words Words Words topped out at Nos. 105 and 40, respectively.

Now, though, Inside (The Songs) — the soundtrack album for his Netflix special Inside — has achieved a new milestone for Burnham. On the Billboard 200 chart dated June 19, the album debuted at No. 116. Meanwhile, on the latest chart (dated June 26), the album has risen all the way up to No. 7, making it Burnham’s first top-10 album and therefore the highest-charting of his career.

Burnham hasn’t released any official singles from the album, but some songs from it are doing well on international charts. “Look Who’s Inside Again,” “Welcome To The Internet,” and “All Eyes On Me” have all made it onto the UK and Ireland charts, while those tracks plus “Goodbye” are all top-30 on the New Zealand chart.

Check out a few highlights from the special/album — “Welcome To The Internet,” “White Woman’s Instagram,” and “All Eyes On Me” — below.

Bobby Shmurda is putting his second chance to good use since getting out of prison, finding meaningful ways of giving back to the community since his release earlier this year. Over the weekend, the Brooklyn rapper held a “Father’s Day Give Back Brunch” for 200 families, treating patrons of the Win Shelter in Brooklyn to a meal including Bobby’s own Jamaican favorites: curried chickpeas, jerk salmon, and stewed chicken. In addition, Bobby employed a trio of barbers to give free haircuts to the attendees.

A press release about the event also notes that Bobby gave out toys to the kids, while dads in attendance were given new clothes and books. Among the gifts were action figures, board games, costumes, gaming consoles, jump ropes, sports equipment, and more. When the event wrapped up, the leftovers were delivered to CAMBA Men’s Shelter in Brooklyn to ensure nothing went to waste.

In addition to his acts of community service, which included a toy drive over last year’s holiday season by way of fellow recently released GS9 rapper Rowdy Rebel, Bobby’s been working on making his comeback to music. He reportedly headed straight to the studio upon his release and has songs with Lil Uzi Vert and Quavo, and he’s billed to perform at both Rolling Loud New York and Made In America in Philadelphia this summer.

Ahead of the Rick and Morty season five premiere, co-creator Dan Harmon gave an interview with Decider about whether this season will dive into Rick Sanchez’s mostly mysterious back story. “I can’t remember if there will be this season because we are sometimes working on three seasons at once. But it’s coming. I know that,” he replied. Fans of the Adult Swim series got the first hint of canon in last night’s episode.

In “Mort Dinner Rick Andre,” Rick “desecrates the sacred treaty” he has with his ocean-dwelling nemesis, Mr. Nimbus, so he begrudgingly invites Jerry and Beth’s dream threesome partner (I am respectfully skipping the B-plot) over for dinner to restore peace. The two do not get along, as nemeses are wont to do, with Rick calling Mr. Nimbus a “f*cking joke” and an “embarrassment.” Mr. Nimbus fires back, “Or maybe you hate me because I am the only man to see how far you have fallen. I used to fear you. Respect you. Now all that’s left is pity for a sad, drunk shell of a man too afraid to see how alone he truly is. If Diane were alive today, what would she think…” This triggers something in Rick, who dismisses the sea creature’s attempt to “establish canonical backstory.” It’s also one of the show’s biggest questions: is Diane real?

Diane is Rick’s ex-wife and Beth’s mother who was first mentioned and seen in season three’s “The Rickshank Rickdemption,” where she appears in a “sci-fi noises” flashback — ands ends up getting blown up with baby Beth. But it turns out the painful memory was Rick pulling a fast one on Galactic Federation agent Cornvelious Daniel. The vision of Diane was a “totally fabricated origin story.” Does that mean there is no Diane? The season four finale, “Star Mort Rickturn of the Jerri,” complicates things because we see a woman from behind who has the same character design as the Diane in “The Rickshank Rickdemption,” but it’s also an episode about Beth clones, so…

There are other scattered references to Diane throughout the series (in the pilot, Rick compliments Beth on her eggs and tells her “I wish your mother was here to eat them,” causing her to tear up), but it’s “Mort Dinner Rick Andre” that offers the best indication yet of whether she’s real. I choose to believe she is, because as Rick’s mortal nemesis, Mr. Nimbus is likely to know more about him, including his triggers, than most. Rick wouldn’t react with so furiously if she never existed. Or it could be Harmon and Justin Roiland f*cking with us. Either way, fans of the show are talking about it.

You can watch the season five premiere below.

After seeing its release date delayed by over a year, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origin will finally enter theaters in July, and the film’s newest trailer is taking audiences “behind the mask” for the biggest peak at the the upcoming origin story yet. Starring Henry Golding as the titular ninja, the movie focuses on Snake Eyes journey to become the badass fighter that’s made him a favorite of G.I. Joe fans for decades. But the latest trailer is already showing significants hints that Snake Eyes will be more than just a solo film. Classic G.I. Joe characters pop up in the preview, and there’s deliberate talk of the rising threat of COBRA.

Paramount has been wanting to reboot the G.I. Joe cinematic universe, and just from the short preview, you can already tell the groundwork is being laid for taking another stab at the classic ’80s franchise. Here’s the official synopsis:

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins stars Henry Golding as Snake Eyes, a tenacious loner who is welcomed into an ancient Japanese clan called the Arashikage after saving the life of their heir apparent. Upon arrival in Japan, the Arashikage teach Snake Eyes the ways of the ninja warrior while also providing something he’s been longing for: a home. But, when secrets from his past are revealed, Snake Eyes’ honor and allegiance will be tested – even if that means losing the trust of those closest to him.

The film also stars Andrew Koji as Storm Shadow, Úrsula Corberó as Baroness, Samara Weaving as Scarlett, Haruka Abe as Akiko, Tahehiro Hira as Kenta and Iko Uwais as Hard Master.

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins opens exclusively in theaters on July 23.