Memphis rapper Big30 has been building his buzz over the past several months, thanks to some high-profile collaborations with his fellow Bluff City natives Moneybagg Yo and Pooh Shiesty, as well as a big-name co-sign from Atlanta trap rap godfather Gucci Mane. Today, he’s released his debut album, King Of KillBranch, as well as the grimy video for album single “Free Shiest Life” featuring the aforementioned Pooh Shiesty.
Meanwhile, Big30 seems deadset on keeping the next wave of Memphis trap rappers at the forefront of hip-hop with his new album, which contains multiple Pooh Shiesty features, two Moneybagg Yo features, an appearance from Yo Gotti, and cross-regional collaborations with Lil Durk, Quavo, and Offset.
Watch Big30’s “Free Shiest Life” video featuring Pooh Shiesty above.
King of KillBranch is out now on Bread Gang/N-Less. Get it here.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Kristen Stewart, as great as she is, is an unconventional choice to play Princess Diana. For one thing, she’s not British. Actually, that’s the main thing because as we’ve seen from the images and trailer for Spencer, she looks remarkably like the people’s princess. That’s a pretty big thing, though! But director Pablo Larraín (who guided Natalie Portman towards an Oscar nomination for her riveting performance as Jackie Kennedy in Jackie) knew she was the right choice for Diana once he heard her accent.
“Once she was confident with the accent and all the sort of practical verbal issues, she became a poetic combination of herself and Diana,” he told Indiewire. “I don’t know what most people see in Kristen, but I see someone who was able to find the physicality and style of the great actresses of ‘50s and ‘60s. We felt like we were looking at an old-school type of performance in the best possible way. We just couldn’t stop admiring what she was doing.”
To nail the voice, Stewart worked with Peaky Blinders dialect coach William Connicker. “She was never trying to mimic Diana,” Larraín explained. “That’s where dangerous things start to happen. She created a character who can ride illusions in a very intimate and mysterious way. As an actress, she’s very difficult to read.”
Spencer opens on November 5.
She was always Diana Spencer. SPENCER, a fable starring Kristen Stewart. Directed by Pablo Larraín. In Theaters Nov. 5 pic.twitter.com/U5TANpu2uQ
Finneas may have won several Grammy awards for his production work on his sister Billie Eilish’s music, but he also has a songwriting career of his own. Finneas is gearing up for the release of his upcoming debut album The Optimist, which he previews with the new single “The 90s.”
Finneas’ minimal “The 90s” video, directed by Sam Bennett and choreographed by Monika Felice Smith, reflects the song’s slow-burning nature. It begins with Finneas longing for the anonymity of a time when people couldn’t look up his address on the internet or stalk him with smart phones. As the song slowly builds, some background dancers join Finneas in the studio before a full-on EDM beat drop arrives at the track’s bridge.
Ahead of his video’s release, Finneas sat down with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe where he talked about his inspiration behind the new track:
“I was born in 1997. So I was about 2 1/2 when the ’90s ended. The reason I sort of picked the ’90s specifically was I was a little baby in the ’90s, and so there’s a lot of home video of the ’90s floating around in my life where I’ll see home VHS camcorders. My parents look very young in this. You don’t see your parents get old until you look at your parents when you were little. So I see all these home videos of my young parents. And I think also the ’90s was the most modern time that wasn’t ruled by the Internet. If I were to write a song about the ’70s and flower power, which maybe I’ll write that someday, is such a different world, such a different time. The ’90s is modern with no Internet.”
Watch Finneas’ “The 90s” video above.
The Optimist is out 10/15 via Interscope. Pre-order it here.
As quiet as it’s sometimes kept, BJ The Chicago Kid’s resume is undeniably good. The neo-soul-inspired singer remains consistent at impressing listeners and delivering quality music, as he’s done for over a decade. His four Grammy nominations and excellent debut album In My Mind are each proof of this while his sophomore album 1123 and various collaborations with some of today’s biggest names add to the mix of BJ’s outstanding catalog.
Things nowadays, however, are a bit different for the singer. For the first time since 2012, BJ The Chicago Kid is traversing the music world as an independent artist. His decision to cruise solo was made last summer, but it was earlier this month that he released his first independent project: 4 AM, a four-track EP with guest appearances from Lucky Daye and Eric Bellinger.
BJ The Chicago Kid is well aware of the success he’s attained within the music industry. He hopes the wisdom he gained through his experiences will lead him to an ideal destination in the future. ” I want to build an awesome universe of creativity that still helps the world, that still services to world, that still services our people,” he says during a Zoom call. “Through it all, I’m talking to us, whoever else in the room listening, cool. Did you like it? Cool. But I’m talking to us.”
Shortly after he released 4 AM to the world, Uproxx spoke to the singer about the new project, independence, his progression since In My Mind, and where he hopes it will all lead next.
Congratulations on the new project, it’s your first release in a couple of years. What was the spark behind 4 AM?
I wanted to drop music sooner than now, just the way handling the business with songs goes with the producers, all that stuff to do it right takes time. Along with being called for other things that we love to be a part of, you know, it just took its course and its time, but man, I’m always inspired to put out music. I’d love to put out something today.
This project gives a little bit of everything you can do as an artist: The laid-back tracks with “Type Of Day,” the remorseful songs with “Make You Feel Good,” and the bedroom ballads with “Love You Slow.” Do you feel like you’re re-establishing or even proving yourself once again as a new independent act?
I think it’s both. I wanted to pick up where I left off while re-establishing myself as well. My most creative musical heroes have always reinvented themselves with every album: different haircuts, outfit styles, and sounds. I’m from that class. I’m honored to actually be blessed to hear more than what they know me for. Sometimes to get to a certain sound you want — I call them steps on the ladder. Some songs are steps on the ladder to get you to that next level that you want to get to and sometimes those songs that we call the steps in the ladder, some of those never come out. So creatively it’s up to you, what it’s saying to you, and the people that help you.
On this project, you have features with Eric Bellinger and Lucky Daye. Those are two very talented R&B acts, one you’ve worked with before and the other who you have not. What made those two the perfect people to work with on this project?
I’m friends with both of them in reality. They’re two brothers that I will always rock for, rock with, and support at all times. I get the same from them as well. Musically talented, totally respected not just by me, but by the world. I’ve known Eric for over ten years and I’ve known Lucky for a little bit under ten years and I think it’s just been incredible watching their journey. I think the fans deserve R&B done the right way and honestly, most of my collaborators are really my friends. Some things were business, but most people that I collaborate with for my music, we really rock together in a strong way.
What do you mean by “R&B done the right way”?
R&B the right way because it’s a lot of hip-hop that came into R&B as far as the mentality. The quick-fix, add water, put in a microwave, and you can eat it. I get it, I love it, we make music like that as well, but where we come from, it’s somewhere a little bit more steeper. It has a little bit more foundation.
Now that you’re a project into independence, what was the hardest thing about starting your independent journey during a time like the pandemic?
The hardest thing in quarantine was looking at myself in the mirror and seeing some assets and facets that I never had before. To realize it first is a thing you do before changing it. I made some apologies to some people where I didn’t realize what I’ve done. I’ve bettered myself, that helps with the music with me always. Certain songs like “Heart Crush” are real songs from my life. Every song isn’t, but standing in tune with my antennas up and not being afraid to live gives me so much more to write about. That balance is one thing that I’ve noticed some time ago about me. Even the way I sing and go through things, it pulls more out of you. You have to be vulnerable enough to let that happen, so it’s a blessing to kind of even know myself. Am I creative and vulnerable enough to give the people more than what they paid for? Whether it’s a CD or a live show. I’m not afraid to live, and not being afraid to live is not being afraid to write, sing, perform, and connect with people because we all kind of go through some of the same things.
Is it safe to say that, now more than ever, you know what you want for yourself as an artist?
I always have, but honestly with the fan base that I got through Motown, the exposure, the alliance was such a legendary entity. Am I really mad? You got to pick and choose your battles man, you got to really sit back and know what a blessing is. What independent artists have had this amount of followers and this amount of support when independent? So it’s perspective man, perspective can change it all. That’s where I’m at with it: perspective and being intentional. Those two words are the next tattoos I’m probably going to get, because for the last two years, those two words have come up in my conversation every day, multiple times a day. To be intentional is to know exactly how you want somebody to feel from what you’re doing. You want to be strategic with that so it’s not misunderstood or deterred. To hit your target right on the head with timing and precision. Perspective changes the world.
What’s the most random or unique thing — musically — that’s happened to you over the past couple of years?
I worked with Ron Isley in the studio, fire. I worked with Philip Bailey in the studio, fire. That’s all I can say haha, I can’t say no more!
You’re someone who takes some time in between full bodies of work. With that being said, what does the building blocks, foundation, and/or perspective of your next album look like?
In my phone right now, I got a list of song titles and explanations of what I want the perspective of the title of some of them, at least about 250 of them. My switch broke bro, I can’t turn it off. So just the ideas and the concepts — I have movie concepts, stories, I have so much stuff coming out of me creatively that I have to find time to get the ball rolling for everything that I feel like should be next. It’s almost like my life depends on the next level. That’s how intense the progress has to happen, but there’s no rush. Some things are slow builds, some things write themselves in 10 minutes. We wrote “Turnin Me Up” in 15 minutes, the track took less time and we didn’t put it out ’til four years after the song was done. So every step of it told us it was gonna be timeless, it never faded. Always stick with it. If you got something that’s timeless, stay with it, because it will always fit.
When it’s all said and done, what do you value and want the most for your legacy?
This is the best word to describe it: Have you driven by your crib and seen the rubble from what used to be a building? Then the next week, they got the gate with the tarp on it? The next week they got the sign saying coming soon Walgreens or some sh*t like that. Every week you see them building more and more, more and more, and when they’re done you’re like, “Wow, not only is it a Walgreens down here, but they put lofts and condominiums above it and it’s crazy fire, now the whole value of the whole neighborhood is up.” Every song is a brick. I made a house and I’m trying to make a neighborhood. After I make a beautiful neighborhood, I’m gonna try to make a beautiful city, and from that city, a beautiful state. I’m trying to make the United States and once I find out how to do that, then we’re gonna put water all around this mother f*cker and go to foreign lands and build that and then I’m trying to build a whole universe.
4 AM is out now via M.A.F..E. Music LLC. Get it here.
The Golden State Warriors, by nature of being a franchise that values big name players that can help in their pursuit of a championship, have been among the teams that have popped up in rumors regarding a Ben Simmons trade. In fact, some reporting has indicated the Philadelphia 76ers reached out regarding a potential trade in the lead-up to the NBA Draft, only to be rebuffed.
Unfortunately for Philly, it appears the Warriors have no interest in acquiring Simmons’ services. According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Golden State’s decision-makers seem united in their belief that there’s never been a reason to pursue a deal for the 25-year-old All-Star.
The Warriors front office isn’t currently split on whether or not to accept a Ben Simmons trade offer from Philadelphia. There isn’t — and has never been — a realistic one on the table for them to discuss. Talks can’t be considered dead because they’ve never even really been alive, multiple sources confirm.
Slater went on to confirm the widely-reported offer the Sixers sent the Warriors — Simmons for Andrew Wiggins, James Wiseman, the Nos. 7 and 14 picks in the 2021 Draft, and two more picks — was swiftly turned down, and that the team isn’t looking to move any of their youngsters right now, writing that Golden State isn’t “currently initiating any trade calls offering their young players for veterans, Simmons or otherwise. They have zero intention to do so in the coming weeks, sources confirm.”
If anything, this illustrates the issues the Sixers have in trying to find a Simmons deal that meets the bar they’ve set. This is the second day in a row that this sort of thing has been mentioned — on Wednesday, a report came out that the Sacramento Kings refuse to include De’Aaron Fox or Tyrese Haliburton in talks, even though Philly insists on one of them being included.
If there’s one thing Donald Trump Jr. is consistent about, it’s being inconsistent. Which is why the human flip-flop’s recent attempted Twitter takedown of Joe Biden has even the fiercest animal advocates (read: me) laughing at the level of inane hypocrisy.
What makes this meme yet another embarrassing misstep for the former president’s equally dumb-as-a-bag-of-hammers son? Well, as Wonkette reports, first there’s the fact that Jr. is gasping like Blanche DuBois over a series of viral images showing dogs in cages at Afghanistan’s Hamid Karzai International Airport, which were being falsely shared as photos of military dogs being heartlessly discarded as part of Joe Biden’s order to pull U.S. troops out of Afghanistan. They were not. In an effort to clear up the questions surrounding these images, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby told Defense One:
“To correct erroneous reports, the U.S. military did not leave any dogs in cages at Hamid Karzai International Airport, to include the reported ‘military working dogs.’ Photos circulating online were animals under the care of the Kabul Small Animal Rescue.”
Kabul Small Animal Rescue is an animal clinic and rescue organization that has been working tirelessly to help evacuate the pets of those people leaving Afghanistan for the past year. And also working hard to set the record straight about the no-context images people are sharing on social media.
But what makes any part of this news-worthy, as it relates to Don Jr., is all the false pearl-clutching he’s doing despite being a proud—and well-documented—slaughterer of wild animals for sport. Donald and his brother Eric made headlines around the world when disturbing photos of them posing proudly with all the animals they killed (or paid someone else to kill so they could pose with) during a trip to Zimbabwe. And if you’ve ever wondered where your tax money goes, One Green Planet wants to make sure you know that in 2019, $77,000 of it went to pay for secret service for the then-president’s adult son to travel to Mongolia in order to murder an argali sheep. Put another way: Nearly $80,000 of Americans’ hard-earned money went to ensuring that no harm came to the president’s forty-something son while he gleefully killed an innocent (and very rare) animal for the ‘gram.
For all of you still humming “Bezoooos, Jeffrey Bezooooos” and “A white woman’s Instagram…,” well, I have some good news: The songs from Bo Burnham‘s Emmy-nominated Netflix special, Bo Burnham: Inside, are coming to vinyl and CD on December 3. According to a press release, the limited-edition vinyl for Inside (The Songs) will be exclusively sold at Target, Urban Outfitters, and certain indie retailers.
Inside (The Songs) impressively held a spot in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 for six non-consecutive weeks. Also, back in July, Billboard reported that “Bezos I” and “Bezos II” saw increased streams in the wake of the Amazon founder’s trip to space. Bezos’ flight took place on July 20, and on July 20 and 21, “Bezos I” earned 1.4 million on-demand streams in the US, up 22 percent from 1.2 million during the two days before the launch, July 18 and 19. “Bezos II” also experienced a jump as it went from 263,000 to 304,000. Together, the two songs were streamed 1.7 million times on July 20 and 21, up 21 percent from the 1.5 million streams on July 18 and 19.
When the actor, director, and comedian originally announced Bo Burnham: Inside, he simply tweeted: “Hi. i made a new special. it was filmed by me, alone, without a crew or an audience, over the course of the past year. it is almost finished. i hope you like it,” along with a video of himself playing the piano. He added, “For those asking how i filmed the first shot alone, i didn’t. that shot is from the end of my last special, five years ago.”
hi. i made a new special. it was filmed by me, alone, without a crew or an audience, over the course of the past year. it is almost finished. i hope you like it. pic.twitter.com/5a59IUrzVj
Burnham’s last two specials, 2013’s what. and 2016’s Make Happy, were both released on Netflix. Since then, Burnham wrote and directed Eighth Grade; starred in The Big Sick; and appeared as a subversively dickish nice guy in Promising Young Woman.
Inside (The Songs) will be available on limited-edition CD and vinyl on 12/3 via Imperial/Republic Records. Stream it here.
According to a report from TMZ, the Donda rapper’s manager, Bu Thiam, says that things are “cool” between Ye and Drake as of now. But that could all changed depending on the content of Drake’s Certified Lover Boy album. If Drake opts to take some shots at Kanye on any of the songs off his upcoming album, then Ye would “almost certainly” have to reply.
TMZ recently caught up with Thiam at LAX, who spoke to the situation. “Listen, it’s two creatives taking jabs at each other but it did get rectified,” Thiam said. “We’ll see. [Drake’s] album comes out, I think in a couple days, Friday, so depending on what he says on his album. We’ll see.”
Certified Lover Boy officially drops on Friday, and Drake has shared which collaborators are set to appear on the album. So far, the rapper has confirmed features from Jay-Z, Young Thug, Future, 21 Savage, Lil Baby, Giveon, Ty Dolla Sign, Lil Durk, Yebba, and Project Pat.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Without question, LeVar Burton’s work on Reading Rainbow has made him a beloved figure to millions of people thanks to his 26-year run on the PBS series dedicated to promoting childhood literacy. The show became a staple for teachers who made it the most watched PBS program in classrooms, outpacing even Sesame Street. Now, Reading Rainbow is getting the full documentary treatment thanks to XTR Studios, which calls this “milestone in television history” more important than ever in “our current era of distance learning.”
Titled Butterfly in the Sky, the Reading Rainbow documentary will be directed by Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb, according to The Hollywood Reporter:
The film will feature archival footage and interviews with Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton along with the major broadcasters, educators, and filmmakers involved in the show that encouraged a love of books and reading among children.
News of the documentary arrives as Burton comes off a guest hosting stint on Jeopardy! that was the direct byproduct of an overwhelming fan campaign calling on Sony Pictures Television to make him Alex Trebek’s successor. His fans argued that Burton educational work on Reading Rainbow made him the perfect candidate to host the once-revered quiz show.
While Burton ultimately didn’t get the top Jeopardy! job thanks to an increasingly frustrating situation involving Mike Richards, who was recently fired as executive producer after attempting to make himself the new host, Burton handled the situation with humility and graciously thanked everyone for the outpouring of love.
Although, he may have had a little cheeky fun when Richards was forced to step down. The man’s only human.
In this hilarious and enlightening new animated video from Blue Seat Studios, consensual sex is explained in a way that everyone can understand. By replacing sex with a cup of tea, this crudely drawn short offers a clear picture of what “saying yes” looks like.
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