Indie rock superstar and noted Curb Your Entusiasm fan, Annie Clark of St. Vincent will be up for another Grammy award this year (whenever the awards show decides to go down that is.) Following her 2019 win for Best Rock Song, Clark has endeared herself to Recording Academy voters and her star continues to shine following last year’s release of Daddy’s Home, her seventh album. She started 2022 playing “…At The Holiday Party” and being interviewed by James Corden on The Late Late Show, and come this Saturday January 15, she’ll appear on the latest episode of Austin City Limits on PBS.
A final preview of the episode just dropped in St. Vincent’s performance of album standout “Down.” It follows the already released clip of “Pay Your Way In Pain,” and is an excellent representation of the expansive and elaborate live show that St. Vincent put down for the Daddy’s Home tour. On the stage, a blonded, go-go boots-wearing Clark is at the helm on the guitar, backed by a band and three funky backing singers, as the ensemble puts down the track in memorable fashion.
This will mark the third time that St. Vincent has played an Austin City Limits episode and it will air on Saturday, January 15th on PBS, along with a performance by singer-songwriter Joy Oladokun. Following the broadcast, it will also be available to stream online at the ACL website here, where you can also find recent performances by Olivia Rodrigo, Phoebe Bridgers, and more.
Watch St. Vincent perform “Down” on Austin City Limits above.
Anyway, it seems like their hip-hop curation team, Rap Caviar, has decided to break down their own genre in a similar way, by organizing it into decades. That seems fine, except, they also decided to tap into the ongoing greatest-of-all-time conversation by actually painting a “Rap Mount Rushmore” mural in various cities. They also chose to break their Rushmore down into just the 2010s, selecting Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Nicki Minaj, and J. Cole. Which is exactly where things might get a little messier.
Spotify’s RapCaviar unveils murals of ‘Mt. Rushmore of 2010s Rap’ featuring Drake, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole. pic.twitter.com/LR4GwrLVj6
First of all, I have great respect for Nicki Minaj and believe she’s an incredibly important MC, but her greatest sphere of influence was definitely waning around 2015. By the time Queen hit, she wasn’t very influential at all. So putting her on the mountain when other massive names like Future, Young Thug, Tyler The Creator, Travis Scott and even Kanye himself are all let off is pretty alarming for even a casual rap listener. She might be there due to the fact that she called out a similar Rushmore on Twitter for not including her, but hey, desire isn’t achievement.
The fact that there’s no southern rap (no, J. Cole doesn’t count) is another issue some might find contentious! Anyway, at least they got Kendrick right.
A chance encounter in the strip club leads to matrimony in the self-directed video for Mariah The Scientist’s new single “Walked In” featuring Young Thug. As the song describes the lusty attraction between two strangers at a social gathering, the video plays out the duo’s unexpected trajectory, as they go from tossing dollars on the stage from opposite sides of the room to staging an intimate wedding (complete with Gunna, Young Thug’s newly inseparable sidekick, as a groomsman). Thug’s verse echoes Mariah’s as he brags, “I spent $400 on the tux just to go f*ck her in it.”
Mariah’s apparently got an affinity for Atlanta trap rappers, previously inviting Lil Baby to contribute a verse to her 2020 single “Always N Forever.” Since then, she released her 2021 sophomore album, Ry Ry World garnering praise for its blunt reflections on life and love, and raising her profile among fans of the sort of raw, reactive R&B being made by singers like Summer Walker and SZA, which often has sort of a trapped-out Mariah Carey vibe.
Meanwhile, Young Thug has already made a strong impression in 2022 thanks to Gunna’s DS4EVER single “Pushin P,” on which he appears alongside Future. I told you they were inseparable.
Watch the video for Mariah The Scientist’s “Walked In” above.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
“I started to get a headache and heart palpitations,” she remembered. “My hands started to shake. I thought I was gonna throw up, I really did. I told my manager, ‘I need to get out of here,’ and I practically ran out. I remember Taylor Swift talking to me, but I don’t remember what I said back to her. I remember her saying, ‘Well.’ And then leaving. I’m not the kind of person who gets starstruck, you know.”
It probably didn’t help that other celebrities like Lana Del Rey, St. Vincent and Blake Lively were also all present. Check out Mitski’s full interview here.
It’s the second week of 2022, and my inner 15-year-old rap geek feels like a kid in a candy store. As a child of backpack rap’s early-2000s heyday, it has delighted me — and many other members of my generation — to no end to see so many lyrics-focused adherents of the boom-bap, “real rap” school of hip-hop dropping projects and singles at the same time. While there’s still plenty of room for other styles — Memphis rappers NLE Choppa and Moneybagg Yo showed incredible chemistry on “Too Hot,” Murda Beatz created the perfection production pocket for Blxst and Wale on “One Shot,” and Gunna and Drake’s “P Power” was worth the wait — the true winners were the longsuffering fans of oft-maligned, underrated, but apparently still quite popular rappin’-ass rappers.
Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending January 14, 2022.
Albums/EPs/Mixtapes
Cordae — From A Bird’s Eye View
Cordae
The heavily anticipated follow-up to Cordae’s Grammy-nominated debut is absolutely stuffed with high-profile guest stars, yet it’s Cordae himself who stands center stage and demands your attention. His growth is evident — both lyrical and personal — and with the lush, soothing instrumentation unbroken by the sort of radio grabs that threatened to derail The Lost Boy, the smooth ride feels a lot more representative of a Cordae in total control.
Earl Sweatshirt — Sick!
Earl Sweatshirt
Another anticipated comeback, Earl’s Sick! finds him also reflecting back on his personal growth over the last several years with a wicked pen and a wiser mind. However, where Cordae found his groove, Earl gets out of his comfort zone — which, ironically, results in his most accessible project in years, as his comfort zone for the past two albums has been unsettling listeners with off-kilter, jarring beats.
Kota The Friend — Lyrics To Go, Vol. 3
Kota The Friend
Kota, whose 2021 got rough when a bad breakup threatened to put him on the “canceled” list, is taking full advantage of his second lease on indie rap stardom, returning to his beloved series of stream-of-consciousness, one verse, no-hook mixtapes. Here, though, he addresses the drama and describes every painful step on the way to his healing.
Lady London — Lady Like: The Boss Tape
Lady London
After impressing Twitter users with feisty freestyles for the past couple of years, Lady London at last launches her campaign for consideration in the “best rappers” dialogue. This tape compiles 13 of her freestyles so prospective fans can get a feel for the lyricism that buoyed her social buzz and day-ones have something to tide them over for her eventual debut. Due to the nature of the instrumentals involved, check this one out on Audiomack.
Nick Grant — Welcome To Loveland
Nick Grant
Fresh off his participation in TDE President Punch’s collective experiment, A Room Full Of Mirrors, the South Carolinian rapper returns to his solo grind, dropping a wittily compiled collection of funk-washed, Southern-fried head nods contemplating women, love, and other drugs.
Singles/Videos
AZ — “Motorola Era” feat. 2 Chainz
Speaking of going full-on, old-school rap, 2 Chainz has been on a bit of a tear lately. He seems to have been edging in that direction for years, even suggesting his upcoming album will be his last trap release, and now, here he is, hanging out with one of the avatars of mid-90s cool, AZ.
Babyface Ray — “Dancing With The Devil” feat. Landstrip Chip & Pusha T
Ray is one of the fast-rising newcomers from the Detroit scene, Chip is one of Atlanta’s go-to songwriters, and you already know Pusha T. This one just works.
Earthgang — “All Eyes On Me”
Despite its title, Earthgang’s latest Ghetto Gods single doesn’t so much channel Tupac as it does advance the more revolutionary aspects of his artistic agenda. Going beyond simply declaring “Black lives matter,” the Atlanta duo works to expand the idea that all Black lives should be included, even the ones such slogans sometimes overlook.
Fredo Bang — “Rada Rada”
Fredo Bang continues to be ridiculously consistent with solid trap bangers that speak to both the streets they describe and the clubs they’ll inevitably take over once he manages to find that viral hit of the sort that’s become even more vital in the digital world.
JID — “Surround Sound” feat. 21 Savage & Baby Tate
True story: I once unfriended a guy who wanted to argue with me that 21 Savage isn’t one of the better rappers from Atlanta today. That was three years ago, and somehow, Savage continues to improve — even to the point he actually keeps up (to some degree) with the supreme tongue-twisting wordplay of one of the other best Atlanta rappers, JID. If Baby Tate’s the cherry on top, then that recognizable Aretha sample is the fudge. IYKYK.
Joey Badass — “THE REV3NGE”
After years of waiting for a follow-up to Joey’s modern classic All-Amerikkkan Badass, it appears one is imminent, as the slick-talking Brooklyn boom-bap revivalist returns with one helluva triumphant, defiant blowout of a comeback single.
Ryan Trey– “Slide”
If Ryan Trey has his way, 2022 will be the year St. Louis once again rejoins Midwestern cousin Louisville at the forefront of the pop-rap world, becoming for his hometown what Jack Harlow was for the Derby City. “Slide” is a pretty strong argument that he deserves to be.
Saba — “Come My Way” feat. Krayzie Bone
Speaking of the Midwest, Chicago rapper Saba connects with one of the region’s pioneer heroes in Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s Krayzie Bone for a fittingly nostalgic, reflective single to pave the way for his new album, Few Good Things.
Wiz Khalifa — “TK” feat. Sledgren & Larry June
When Wiz and Sledgren team up, the result is a surefire home run, but adding Bay Area favorite Larry June to the mix just enhances the high, turning that home run into a walk-off, World-Series-winning grand slam.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Human beings have sculpted artwork out of all kinds of materials throughout history, from clay to concrete to bronze. Some sculpt with water in the form of ice, but what if you could create sculptures with small drops of liquid?
Norwegian artist Ronny Tertnes does just that. His “liquid sculptures” look like something from another planet or another dimension, while at the same time are entirely recognizable as water droplets.
I mean, check this out:
According to SLR Lounge, Tertnes uses ultra high-speed photography, flash rigs, smoke and different types of liquids to create and capture his colorful split-second sculptures. He mixes water with various substances to create texture, color and movement in his photos, and the effect is otherworldly. He does some editing in Photoshop as well. The form in his photographs comes from the unique movement of a single droplet, which can end up looking like a human, a flower, an alien or an abstract glass sculpture. Sometimes they look like people dancing. Just incredible.
Tertnes has shared many of his photos on Facebook and on his website, where you can purchase prints, calendars and more featuring these beauties:
It’s fun to ask what other people see when they look at these images.
Amazingly enough, Tertnes has described himself as a “hobby photographer.”
Sometimes he creates mirror images that end up looking like animals or alien creatures.
If you’re into (or have a marginal understanding of and interest in) NFTs, Tertnes has a Liquid Sculptures NFT store as well.
And finally, here’s a slideshow where you can hear him play the guitar and look at his beautiful liquid sculptures. Enjoy.
Hey everyone! Hope you’re staying safe and healthy, and if you’re not, at least you know you’re not alone. I mean, omicron? Phew. Pandemics certainly know how to keep us on our toes.
If you need a respite or distraction from all that, we’ve got you covered. If immersing yourself in cute animal videos and feel-good stories of human awesomeness is wrong, who wants to be right? Nobody, that’s who.
We all need a break from the less pleasant parts of life, and cheering ourselves up with simple, happy things is a tried and true way to push those endorphins and lift our mood for a bit.
So here you go. Our weekly roundup of 10 things that made us smile. Hope it makes you smile, too.
All you need is a dog, a toddler and a flashlight.
When these two find a flashlight 🙄 #toddlersoftiktok #bellylaughs #dogsofttiktok #giggles #babygiggle #dogandbaby #bestfriends #babylaugh
It’s like watching a cat chase a laser, only 500 times cuter.
An equally odd but impressive cover of “Sweet Child o’ Mine.”
This is so good! nnVia @davmirandapic.twitter.com/D3pJT4YM4j
— Ann is still European ud83cudf0dI know where I live (@Ann is still European ud83cudf0dI know where I live) 1641997370
Researchers find at least 65 species that laugh, and fox giggles are like medicine.
These foxes sound like we took the toddler in the first video and put them on helium. Did you know at least 65 species laugh in some way? Read the full story here.
From animals laughing to animals noshing on corn.
We don’t know why but we can’t get enough of hearing Rico the porcupine snacking!pic.twitter.com/AabtDpR2JJ
Now accepting donations for babysitters & or take out! Venmo: @Kayla-Sullivan-96 🤣 #NewsVoice #ToddlerMom #EveryKiss #newsvoice #YerAWizard #2022
Kayla Sullivan really did work as a reporter, which is clear from her perfect reporter voice. But the toddler imitation of “Chech-up! CHECH-UUUP!!” takes the cake. Read the full story here.
Sheep-herding puppy in training seems to get some love from the sheep.
Anatolian shepherd dog puppy in training..pic.twitter.com/hqxaPmCcEd
Ever since the Jean and Jorts cats-at-work saga went viral, people have been all about the orange tabbies, and Buster getting his own ID card is just too much.
Strangers plucked at random improvise at a lindy hop dance contest.
The dancing would be impressive even if they knew each other, but these West Coast Swing dancers and the song were chosen on the spot, so they had to improvise. They’re so smooth together.
Hope that brought some light to your day! Come back next week for another roundup of internet sunshine.
Pairing a drink with a sweet, decadent, possibly chocolate-covered dessert is easy. A glass of milk works. So does a slightly bitter coffee. But sometimes after a long meal, you’re looking for a boozy kick to go along with all that sugar in your system. This is where sweeter whiskeys, potent wines, and dark, complimentary beers come into play.
While we could write plenty about port wines (and other sweet wines), bourbons, single malt scotches, and even dark rums that work well with an indulgent final course, today we’re turning our attention to dessert beers. Some that pair nicely with sweets and some that could be desserts all on their own.
Below, you’ll find eight of the most delectable, indulgent dessert beers on the market, ranked based on their overall flavor, their sweetness ratio, and how well they work as an end-of-the-meal digestif or pairing. Keep scrolling to see these excellent craft beers in all of their chocolate, nutty, cinnamon sugar goodness.
This 5.6 percent ABV brown ale is an homage to the popularity of hazelnuts in Rogue’s home state of Oregon. Brewed with 2-row, C15, C75, C120, Kiln Coffee, and Pacman yeast, Brown malts as well as Perle and Sterling hops, it gets its notable nutty, sweet flavor from the addition of real hazelnut extract.
Tasting Notes:
There are notable aromas of hazelnuts that immediately let you know what you’re in for. There are also hints of toffee and vanilla to add to the sweetness, but not much else. The flavor continues with the aroma. There’s a ton of nutty sweetness from the hazelnuts, sugar cookies, some fudge, and butterscotch. It’s very sweet and nutty.
Bottom Line:
Overall, it’s a little too sweet for some drinkers — enough to turn away some fans hoping for a little more bitterness and spice.
This very popular 8.1 percent imperial stout was made to taste just like Mexican-style hot chocolate. Made with coffee, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate, and a spicy dose of pasilla peppers, this spicy, sweet beer has to be imbibed to be believed.
Tasting Notes:
Spices are up front on this beer’s nose. There are aromas of cinnamon, bitter chocolate, and nutmeg. The palate is loaded with hints of sweet vanilla, freshly brewed coffee, dark chocolate, more cinnamon sugar, and gentle heat from the addition of the pasilla peppers.
Bottom Line:
This beer has a nice mix of sweetness and heat, but might be a little bolder than some dessert beer drinkers are expecting.
No dessert beer is complete without Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout. This bold, chocolate-filled Russian imperial stout was originally the beer Brooklyn brewmaster Garret Oliver used as his resume beer. It’s known for its roasted malt and over-the-top dark chocolate flavors.
Tasting Notes:
The nose is filled with scents of dark roast coffee, bitter chocolate, raisins, dried cherries, and sticky toffee. Sipping it reveals even more flavors like freshly brewed espresso, dates, fudge, slight hops, and a nice roasted malt backbone that ties everything together.
Bottom Line:
For a beer that touts itself as a “Black Chocolate Stout,” this beer is surprisingly complex. The complex and nice, fruity flavors pair well with the chocolate and roasted malts.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more dessert-like beer than Prairie Sundae Service Imperial Stout. That’s because this bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout was literally brewed to taste like a classic hot fudge sundae. Prairie did this by adding chocolate, vanilla, fudge, cherries, peanuts, and even sprinkles.
Tasting Notes:
Take a moment to breathe in the aromas of fudge, vanilla beans, and sweet bourbon before your first sip. This is followed by a palate of butterscotch, buttercream frosting, bourbon, dark chocolate, and a nice, nutty sweetness throughout. It literally tastes like an ice cream sundae in beer form.
Bottom Line:
This beer would be a little too sweet and indulgent if it wasn’t for the bourbon barrel-aging. The aging adds a gentle warming nature that mellows out all of the overly sweet flavors.
Placentia, California’s The Bruery is known for its boundary-pushing beers. This is extremely evident in its “Bakery” beers. One of the best is Sticky Bun, a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout brewed with maple syrups, vanilla, cinnamon, and pecans.
Tasting Notes:
Not surprisingly, this beer smells like a cinnamon bun. There are welcome aromas of maple candy, dark chocolate, cinnamon, and vanilla. The palate swirls with vanilla beans, sticky toffee, butterscotch, cinnamon sugar, freshly brewed coffee, and bitter chocolate. It ends with a nice hit of maple sweetness.
Bottom Line:
This creamy, flavorful beer is the closest thing you’ll ever get to a stick bun in beer form. It has everything a beer drinker and a fan of sweet breakfast desserts could want.
There’s a reason this is one of Evil Twin’s most popular beers. This 11.5 percent imperial stout is brewed with coffee, vanilla, and almonds flavors. It’s a rich, sweet homage to classic biscotti. It’s one of the best examples of dessert beer on the market.
Tasting Notes:
On the nose, you’ll find a wallop of toasted vanilla beans, French roast coffee, almond cookies, dried fruits, and a good deal of chocolate. The flavor is very complex with notes of amaretto, vanilla cream, raisins, sweet caramel, and bitter chocolate. It’s warming, sweet, and highly memorable.
Bottom Line:
Evil Twin set out to craft a complex, warming dessert beer that tasted like a classic biscotti in beer form and they did just that. It’s a truly exceptional beer.
2) Burial Skillet Donut Stout
Burial
ABV: 8%
Average Price: Limited Availability
The Beer:
There are numerous doughnut-themed beers on the market and one of the best is Burial Skillet Donut Stout. This breakfast stout is brewed with multiple barley malts, oats, milk, molasses sugars, and coffee beans. It’s everything you could want in a sweet, rich breakfast stout.
Tasting Notes:
When nosing, the first scent that hits your nose is that of freshly brewed coffee. This is followed by roasted malts, treacle, and chocolate. The palate is centered around more roasted coffee beans, cinnamon sugar, molasses, caramel, and dark chocolate.
Bottom Line:
As the name suggests, this beer tastes like all of the sweet breakfast items paired with a nice, steaming cup of slightly bitter, robust coffee.
With a name like Double Stack, you sort of know what you’re getting into with this beer. This beloved eleven percent ABV imperial breakfast stout was fermented with maple syrup and aged on roasted coffee beans locally sourced in Oregon. It’s maple and coffee mayhem.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a ton of coffee on this beer’s nose. It’s slightly bitter but very welcoming. There’s also a little hit of maple candy underneath. Taking a sip reveals flavors of chocolate fudge, roasted coffee beans, maple syrup, and toffee. The finish is a mix of maple sweetness and coffee dryness.
Overall, this is a truly great beer.
Bottom Line:
It was a bit of a toss-up between Burial Skillet and Great Notion Double Stack. Both have a great mix of maple and coffee. Great Notion just balances it a little bit better — making it the dessert beer champ.
LA-based R&B singer Joyce Wrice has quietly made a name for herself locally thanks to the feel-good, throwback vibes 2021 debut album Overgrown, but her next project just might make her a household name — at least, if your household includes any demographic that grew up on Disney Channel staple The Proud Family. It’s fitting that an artist who made nostalgia her stock in trade has been selected to sing the theme song for the Proud Family reboot coming soon to Disney +.
“I am so excited to share that I’ll be singing the reimagined theme song for #TheProudFamilyLouderAndProuder” she tweeted. “I am a huge fan of the original series and am honored to be a part of the #DisneyPlus Revival. I can’t wait for you to hear it!!”
The Proud Family: Louder And Prouder will follow the ongoing coming-of-age adventures of Penny Proud and her friends as they enter the world of dating — opposed, as always, by Penny’s overbearing dad Oscar. Judging from the trailer that dropped earlier today, the storylines will expand the scope of the show to encompass modern-day topics and the various pop culture changes that have taken place since the original groundbreaking series broke boundaries in the early 2000s.
In addition, the show will feature a who’s-who of Black entertainment talent including Lizzo, Tiffany Haddish, Gabrielle Union, Lil Nas X, and more.
As far as Wrice’s involvement goes, Disney dropped a cute featurette to explain how the burgeoning star was pulled into the project to put her own unique spin on the theme song originally made famous by Destiny’s Child. You can check that out below and watch the trailer above, and keep an eye out — something tells me Ms. Wrice’s rise to superstardom is just beginning.
Put your favorite gold hat on and listen to the latest PYAG with comedian and host of the Never Seen It podcast Kyle Ayers talking to Matt and Vince about The Sopranos season 6a episode 9, “The Ride.”
The “ride” in question is a faulty teacup carnival ride that puts Janice in a neck brace, or at least inspires Janice to make use of a neck brace in a classic Janice grift. The teacup was part of the St. Elzear’s festival, which itself is a grift perpetrated by Paulie and a local church. When the new priest then tries to shakedown Paulie, he, of all people, is the first in this episode, and maybe the series, to point out that the Catholic Church might be the real gangster, or at least the real child abuse cover-upper.
Before the festival Chris and Tony are reminiscing about that time they conspired to kill Christopher’s fiancé, and Kyle points out that for some reason, Tony seems uncomfortable reminiscing with his criminal friends about their heinous criminal acts. The lesson being: work/ life balance is hard for everyone.
There’s also some talk about the Beatles, “Brokeback” as an adjective, the drawbacks of cannoli as an eating contest food, and pasta slop Foley art.
Support the Pod: become a patron at patreon.com/Frotcast and get more bonus content than you could ever want, AND if you sign up for the Pod Yourself a Shoutout tier, you can bask in the glory of hearing your name on the podcast like this week’s newest members: The Slav, Scotty Two Times, The King, The Counselor, and The Meme.
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