Month: July 2021

After unleashing, Cocaine Cowboys, the first installment in his documentary film saga, over 15 years ago, director Billy Corben is returning to the world of the Miami drug trade in the new six-part docu-series Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami. According to Netflix, the series will focus on “Los Muchachos,” two speedboat champions who became infamous cocaine runners with a reputation for eluding the Feds for years.

Here’s the official synopsis:

Alleged to be the chief U.S. distributors for two of Colombia’s biggest cartels, Cuban exiles Augusto “Willy” Falcon and Salvador “Sal” Magluta were accused of smuggling over 75 tons of cocaine into the U.S. in the 1980s. The high school friends built a reputed $2 billion empire that made Willy and Sal, aka “Los Muchachos,” two of Miami’s biggest celebrities. While law enforcement plotted their takedown, the world champion powerboat racers managed to skillfully outrun and outmaneuver prosecution for decades before the chase finally came to an end. Featuring colorful interviews with those closest to them, their defense team, and the Feds tasked with taking them down, the series paints a vivid portrait of the last of Miami’s “cocaine cowboys.”

Released in 2006, the first Cocaine Cowboys explored how cocaine pushed out marijuana and became the primary import drug for Miami in the ’70s and ’80s. This lucrative influx became so overwhelming that importers had more money than they knew what to do with, which led to shady deals with local officials while also simultaneously boosting almost all of Miami’s economic growth. In the second documentary film, Cocaine Cowboys 2, from 2008, Corben told the story of Colombian-born “Cocaine Godmother” Griselda Blanco, who controlled a violent and lucrative chunk of the American drug market and once tried to organize the kidnapping of John F. Kennedy Jr. so she could duck a possible death sentence. Nice lady.

And now… speedboat champions becoming billionaire drug lords. If we’re being honest, it was bound to end up there eventually. It’s the logical next step.

Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami starts streaming August 4 on Netflix.

Caroline Polachek has popped up here and there since releasing her 2019 album Pang, most recently with a studio version of her cover of The Corrs’ “Breathless,” which has been a staple of her live shows. (On that note, she also performed it on The Late Late Show in March.) Today, Polachek made her return with her first original material since Pang, a new single called “Bunny Is A Rider.”

It’s a catchy tune with verses propelled by a groovy bass line that lead into a catchy hook. Polachek says of the track:

“‘Bunny Is A Rider’ is a summer jam about being unavailable. Bunny is slippery, impossible to get ahold of. Maybe it’s a fantasy, maybe it’s a bad attitude. But anyone can be bunny, at least for three minutes and seventeen seconds. The song features a scorching bass performance from producer Danny L Harle, plus his baby daughter’s first vocal cameo.”

Listen to “Bunny Is A Rider” above and find Polachek’s upcoming live dates below.

08/05/2021 — Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre
09/10/2021 — Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Music Festival
09/26/2021 — New York, NY @ Governors Ball Music Festival
10/28/2021 — London, UK @ Roundhouse
10/31/2021 — San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands
12/02/2021 — New York, NY @ Terminal 5
06/04/2022 — Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound
06/09-11/2022 — Portugal, PT @ Primavera Porto

In the matter of a few months, Olivia Rodrigo has gone from Disney Channel actress to one of this year’s biggest pop stars. Her debut album Sour went No. 1 and she broke charting records with her debut single “Drivers License.” Thanks to her massive following, Rodrigo was given the opportunity to address the world at a White House press briefing Wednesday, where she spoke to the importance of vaccinations.

Rodrigo revealed earlier this week that President Biden and Dr. Fauci had invited her to the White House for a meeting. Fauci told MSNBC Tuesday that “she’s a very popular figure among young individuals,” making it clear that maybe he doesn’t know much about her career. Though Fauci may have never rocked out to Rodrigo’s hit “Good 4 U,” he still clearly saw the benefit of her speaking to a large audience. “If she has a large following — which I understand she has an enormous following — I’m sure that she can do some good by appealing to the people who look up to her as a model,” he said.

After accepting Biden and Fauci’s invitation, Rodrigo arrived in Washington, DC early Wednesday morning to address the public during a White House press briefing. She mentioned the importance of getting vaccinated and called on her fellow youths to help their friends and families get their shots:

“I am beyond honored and humbled to be here today to help spread the message about the importance of youth vaccination. I’m in awe of the work President Biden and Dr. Fauci have done and was happy to lend my support to this important initiative. It’s important to have conversations with friends and family members encouraging all communities to get vaccinated, and actually get to a vaccination site, which you can do more easily than ever before given how many sites we have and how easy it is to find them at vaccines.gov. Thank you, John, for having me today and thank you all for sharing this important message. I so appreciate it.”

Watch Olivia Rodrigo address the White House Briefing Room above.

Polo G has been on a roll in 2021, securing his first no. 1 album with his third full-length, Hall Of Fame, supported by single releases for “Rapstar,” “Gang Gang,” “No Return,” “Painting Pictures,” and “Party Lyfe.” Today, he kept the ball rolling — he must truly have a limitless budget for videos this album cycle — with the clip for “Toxic,” which describes a mutually destructive relationship plagued by his obsession with street life.

The video tends to highlight the latter part of that description, with Polo and his friends flexing cars, cash, jewelry, and their brotherly bond. CGI effects embellish the visuals, including slow-motion effects, lyrics flashing across the screen, and lightning bolts striking upon some of the more impactful lines.

In addition to his own tracks, Polo G has maintained his visibility throughout the year by appearing on a number of contemporaries’ tracklists. Most recently, he appeared on Fredo Bang’s video for “Bless His Soul,” on fellow Windy City rapper G Herbo’s upcoming album 25, and in Moneybagg Yo’s “Free Promo” video. Polo also sat down with Chicago legend Scottie Pippen to discuss the costs of greatness.

Watch Polo G’s “Toxic” video above.

Hall Of Fame is out now on Columbia. Get it here.

Actor, comedian, and self-proclaimed “voicetramentalist,” Michael Winslow was just about everywhere in the ’80s. His incredible ability to make sound effects with his voice and uncanny beatboxing skills landed him the role of officer Larvell Jones in all seven “Police Academy” movies.

He also did voiceover work in “Gremlins” and appeared in Mel Brooks’ “Spaceballs.”

FUNNIEST MOMENTS OF MICHAEL WINSLOW

www.youtube.com

But Winslow was forced to scale back his career in 1993 after the death of his first wife Belinda Church. As a single father, he had to stop appearing in films so he could spend more time with his children.

He continued to star in the occasional commercial, perform stand-up comedy, and make guest appearances, but he didn’t have the profile he once had.

On Tuesday, Winslow stepped back in the spotlight with a performance on “America’s Got Talent.” After some prodding from his son, he decided it would be the perfect venue to relaunch his career on television.

“Now, after raising my two kids, I’m in a different phase. I think this is my time,” Winslow, 62, said on Tuesday’s episode. “And America’s Got Talent is the place for me to show the world I still have something to offer, I still have some sounds to make. There’s still room for a little more.”

In the ’80s, he was known as “The Man of 10,000 Sound Effects,” but things have changed since then, he now claims to have “hundreds of thousands.”

Judge Simon Cowell was excited to see Winslow when he took the stage. “We know you!” Cowell exclaimed. “I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that you are here!”

Winslow then gave a stunning performance where he impersonated the chimes on an airplane, beatboxed to Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust,” and performed Jimi Hendrix’s version of “The Star Spangled Banner.” His performance was proof that after five decades in show business Winslow hasn’t lost a step and, in fact, he may be at his peak.

America’s Got Talent 2021 Michael Winslow Full Performance & Judges Comments Auditions Week 7 S16E07

www.youtube.com

After his performance, Winslow won a standing ovation from the audience and four “gigantic yeses” from the panel.

“My life has changed again for the better, and I’ve gotten another blessing,” Winslow told Terry Crews after leaving the stage. America’s Got Talent is the place for me to show I still have something to offer. I’ve still got some sounds to make, and there’s still room for a little more.”

Winslow is a great reminder that sometimes when celebrities seem to fade away, it isn’t necessarily because they’re washed up or past their prime. They are humans with real challenges just like the rest of us and real-world events can affect their career trajectories. It’s great to see such a wonderful performer get another shot at the big time.

Genre-fluid Montreal soul outfit Chiiild, aka Yonatan Ayal, has teamed up with singer-songwriter Jensen McRae on an updated version of his song “Gone.” The result is a beautifully harmonized duet, with McRae’s smooth vocals complimenting Chiiild’s to create an expansive, even orchestral feel.

Of the collab, Chiiild said, “‘Gone’ featuring Jensen is a reminder that there are always two sides to every story.” McRae chimed in, noting, “I was so excited when I got connected with Chiiild for this collab. He has such a special, rich voice and his music exists at the nexus of multiple genres I love. As soon as I heard the first version of ‘Gone’ I had so many ideas — the themes of miscommunication and emotional distance are things that I think a lot of people can relate to but don’t want to admit it. It was such a thrill to hear it all come together. I don’t have any music by myself that sounds like this and I can’t wait for people to dive into it — it’s a perfect song for the summer.”

Speaking to Uproxx about his intentions as an artist, Chiiild said earlier this year, “I’m here to translate what has happened in the streets and try to immortalize it on record and say, ‘Hey you know what? Tomorrow’s going to be better.’”

Chiiild’s debut album, Hope For Sale, arrives 7/23.

In a long overdue announcement, Chicago Sky legendary point-forward Candace Parker was named the first female cover athlete for an NBA 2K game on Wednesday. The franchise introduced the WNBA into its game just two years ago, and with the WNBA celebrating its 25th anniversary this season, 2K hopped on board by putting Parker on a special edition of its upcoming release, NBA 2K22.

“The cover of NBA 2K is such a pivotal platform to inspire young ballers, and I wanted future WNBA stars to know that they can be cover athletes too,” Parker said in a release. “Representation matters, so this is a special moment of progress for the sport and the series. To be part of this historic cover is a testament to the growth and rising popularity of the women’s game, and I’m proud to be the first female cover athlete to be the face of NBA 2K.”

The WNBA world was more than excited to see the All-Star who has won two MVP awards (one as a rookie), one Defensive Player of the Year award, one Finals MVP, and a championship, given recognition for her historic achievements.

You’ll be able to snag a copy of NBA 2K22 — whether it be the WNBA 25th Anniversary Edition, the Standard Edition (Luka Doncic is on the cover), or the NBA 75th Anniversary Edition (with cover athletes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kevin Durant, and Dirk Nowitzki) — when the game is released on September 10. In the meantime, you can watch Parker play in the WNBA All-Star Game at 7 p.m. on ESPN July 14.

It’s been almost exactly five years since K-pop supergroup Blackpink first appeared on the scene with their debut single. At the time, the four-piece group had no way of knowing they were about to become the highest-charting female Korean act on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and smash numerous streaming records. As a way to reflect on their tremendous rise to fame, Blackpink share an official trailer for their upcoming documentary Blackpink The Movie.

The new trailer, clocking in at just over one minute, shows some behind-the-scenes footage of several of their showstopping concerts. As the Blackpink women describe their experience with stardom in Korean, clips of their live performances play out, including scenes from their recent 2021 livestream The Show. The trailer then comes to a close with footage of Blackpink member Lisa tearfully thanking fans for all their support over the years. Blackpink The Movie is set to debut in theaters on August 4, the same day the group made their debut five years earlier.

While Blackpink is celebrating half a decade a as a group, several of their members are currently pivoting to a solo career. Lisa is rumored to have an upcoming collaboration with famed EDM producer DJ Snake while Rosé has been promoting her two 2021 solo singles “On The Ground” and “Gone.”

Watch the Blackpink The Movie trailer above.

After yesterday’s leadoff, West Coaster rap-crooner Blxst and North Carolina’s Toosii accept the baton for the next leg of the 2021 XXL Freshman Cypher. Once again, their bumping backdrop is provided by Internet Money’s Nick Mira, giving the two rappers an exotic-sounding beat to flex over. Blxst’s verse is a boastful affair in which he offers “two places I won’t go back, of course, / That’s ‘broke’ and that’s ‘forth,’” while Toosii offers an extended verse from his previously teased “Ms. Parker” snippet.

All in all, their part of the Cypher is calm, straightforward, and surprisingly short, with Blxst obviously bringing a bit more effort than Toosii. It marks an intriguing departure from the proceedings yesterday, where Coi Leray’s antics captured the attention of fans on Twitter — and not in a good way. While her cohorts DDG, Lakeyah, and Morray acquitted themselves well — Lakeyah especially impressed a number of fans with her technical proficiency and witty wordplay — Coi Leray delivered an odd, unserious verse/hook/ad-lib combo, giving up after only a handful of bars to twerk instead. Responses weren’t kind, as many questioned her inclusion in this year’s Freshman class, as well as her rap skills in general.

Watch the latest installment of the 2021 XXL Freshman Cypher above.

Post Malone is fresh off the release of his new single “Motley Crew,” as well as an accompanying NASCAR-themed video. To commemorate the occasion, Malone has teamed up with Siberia Hills for a new designer merch capsule. Interested parties should act fast, though, as the collection won’t be available forever.

The capsule is only available for ten days and features, as press materials put it, “car-fueled graphics accented by macabre details and Siberia’s signature spiritual edge.” Items in the collection range in price from $21 to $142 and features expected items like shirts and hats, as well as offerings like an air freshener, a car-shaped keychain/bottle opener, a license plate frame, and more.

Siberia Hills notes of the collection, “We always want to make clothing that lasts longer, and that’s unique from others. Fabric choice on this was important from the terry for hoodies & sweats to the jersey cotton and wash process on shirts. All fits are unique to Siberia — cargo sweatpants, double layered long sleeves (with contrast lightweight striped sleeves), single stitched terry shorts, and a variety of accessories we’ve always wanted to do.”

This isn’t Malone’s only partnership: Aside from his well-known relationship with Crocs, he recently became a new brand ambassador for the Monster energy drink.

Check out the Siberia Hills collection here.