Earlier this month, Yo Gotti returned from a two-year absence to drop his eleventh album, CM10: Free Game. It’s a double-disc effort, with the first side titled “Free” and the second “Game,” and it presents features from 42 Dugg, EST Gee, Moneybagg Yo, Shenseea, Blac Youngsta, and Kodak Black. Now he has a new video from the album, calling on rising rapper 10Percent to join him in for their collaboration “Dolla Fo’ Dolla.”
The video sees Yo Gotti and 10Percent as authoritative figures as they roll through the city with a fleet of luxury cars while flexing the confidence. Prior to the release of CM10: Free Game, Yo Gotti held an open verse challenge for “Dolla Fo’ Dolla,” which allowed rising rappers to add a verse to the song on social media with the chance of being chosen as a feature for the song on the finished album. Yo Gotti selected rapper 10Percent to appear on the song, but afterward, he allowed everyone else who submitted verses on the song to upload it to streaming services and make a profit from it.
Much of the world waits in horror at what Russia will do the Ukraine. Under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin, the nation has threatened to invade the neighboring nation and former Soviet territory, sending troops into Russian-friendly areas of the country under the guise of “peacekeepers.” Democrats and Republicans alike, as well as countries worldwide, have condemned Putin’s actions. One exception, of course, is Donald Trump.
The former U.S. president, who has long praised the authoritarian leader known for human rights violations, went on a radio show hosted conservative talk show host Buck Sexton. There, he seemed in awe, even jealous of the aggression Putin has displayed.
“I went in yesterday, and there was a television screen, and I said, ‘This is genius,’” Trump told Sexton. “Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine — of Ukraine — Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful.”
“I said, ‘How smart is that?’ He’s going to go in and be a peacekeeper,” added Trump, who regularly praised and sought close ties with Putin during his time in office. “That’s the strongest peace force. We could use that on our southern border. That’s the strongest peace force I’ve ever seen. There were more army tanks than I’ve ever seen. They’re going to keep peace, all right.”
Conservatives, though no doubt miffed that Trump has made it harder for them to condemn Putin’s actions, have remained silent on the matter. Democrats, however, are unafraid to speak up. One of them was Jen Psaki, current White House press secretary, who reminded people why it’s a good thing Trump lost re-election in 2020.
Psaki on Trump praising Putin’s moves into Ukraine: “Well, as a matter of policy, we try not to take advice from anyone who praises President Putin.” pic.twitter.com/LIjOzcZiG2
“As a matter of policy we do not take advice from anybody that praises President Putin and his military strategy, which I believe is what happened there, expresses an openness to lifting sanctions about the seizing of territories in Crimea, or at any point in time told leaders at the G7 that Crimea is a part of Russia, regardless if they are a former president,” Psaki told reporters. “It’s a bit of a different approach, and that’s probably why President Biden and not his predecessor was able to rally the world and the global community in taking steps against Russia’s aggression.”
Her comments were reflected all over social media. Trump’s comments were met with widespread disdain — again, not amongst Republicans. Some weren’t exactly surprised.
The only thing unpredictable in Trump’s approach to Putin was whether he’d kiss Putin’s feet or Putin’s ass.
“And he’s gonna go in and be a peacekeeper…That’s the strongest peace force I’ve ever seen. There were more army tanks than I’ve ever seen. They’re gonna keep peace all right”
Meanwhile, Republicans tried desperately to spin Trump’s comments.
Fox frantically trying to spin Trump calling Putin a “genius,” claiming only said it because he is playing 4D chess and just trolling the media. pic.twitter.com/slcfMEPOwT
At least Trump has a noted conservative who disagrees with the rest of the world: We’re speaking, of course, of Tucker. And his own son. Oh, and Russian state TV.
In a little over a month, the long-awaited third season of Donald Glover’sAtlanta will premiere on FX, almost four years since the last season aired. Ahead of the new episodes, which are predominantly set in London, Stephen Glover, Donald’s brother, recalled that the cast and crew of the show were racially profiled while shooting scenes in London. One of the harassers claimed the group was carrying guns with them. But now Donald has clarified what he meant.
that “racially abused” headline about us is lame.
the story is tru. but we were all laughin tellin it.
“He’s making a reference that we all have hammers, and we can just break into this place, which we kind of ignored,” Donald said during a TCA press tour. Atlanta co-writer Stefani Robinson added, “It was so insulting but not insulting at the same time because it took us five minutes to fully understand.” Naturally, the story made its way around social media, but according to Donald, the cast and crew of Atlanta didn’t take the situation as seriously as everyone else did. “That ‘racially abused’ headline about us is lame,” Donald wrote in a tweet. “The story is tru. but we were all laughin tellin it.”
Donald’s clarification comes after it was confirmed that Atlanta would come to an end after its fourth season. The news was shared by FX chairman John Landgraf, who said that the third and fourth seasons of Atlanta have already been shot.
It looks like BTS’ mini-tour model is holding strong for the K-Pop supergroup. After their very successful launch of not just the titular single, “Permission To Dance,” — which was co-written with Ed Sheeran, no less — but a four-night show run in LA, they’re now extending that setup to other cities. Just recently announcing another four-night stint in their native Seoul, marking the group’s first live shows in Korea since 2019, those performances will take place at the Seoul Olympic Stadium on March 10, 12 and 13.
And following up those dates, they’ve now added yet another set of shows in April. Returning to the United States this time, BTS will be performing at the entertainment capitol of the world — Las Vegas. Across April 8, 9, 15 and 16, the pop icons will grace the stage at Nevada’s Allegiant Stadium. This means any local California fans who missed their chance to see the group when they were in Los Angeles in late 2021 are getting another shot. Fans can register to purchase tickets for the new dates, beginning now and running through Saturday, February 26 at 5pm PST. You can register to do so right here — tickets officially go on sale on March 8. Godspeed to everyone trying to get a spot, and in case you don’t, check out our review of their LA show right here.
The Oscars telecast hasn’t been a TV juggernaut for a long time now. Nearly a quarter century has elapsed since 57.25 million viewers tuned in to watch Titanic, for a good decade-plus the highest grossing movie in history (not adjusted for inflation), sweep up. By contrast, last year’s semi-awkward pandemic-era show, where the biggest trophies went to the comparatively little seen Nomadland, brought in a telecast-worst 10.4 million.
Tensions are no doubt high at ABC, which airs the ceremony, especially considering the highest grossing Best Picture nominee — Dune — “only” $107.9 million in North America (though was evidently widely seen enough on HBO Max that it was quickly awarded a sequel). That probably explains this: As per The Hollywood Reporter, the live show is going to nix about a third of the awards they have traditionally aired — eight out of the total 23. Those awards, of course, will still be given out. They’ll just be taped in the hour before the broadcast begins. Those awards also still be shown; they’ll simply peppered in throughout the show.
The nixed awards are a mix of the technical and semi-obscure, namely: documentary short, film editing, makeup/hairstyling, original score, production design, animated short, live action short, and sound.
The Oscars aren’t the only awards show to not air certain trophies during the live broadcast. The Tonys do something similar. The Academy Awards have long insisted on airing all 23 awards, THR reports, “in order to keep the peace within its own board of governors, which includes representatives of the Academy’s 17 branches, most of which have at least one award which honors people from the profession practiced by its members and wants them to be treated the same as actors, directors and producers.”
That might also explain why some shows last longer than some of the epics that have taken home the prize in the past, such as Lawrence of Arabia, Gandhi, and Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
So will this year’s Oscars be shorter? Possibly. Will it be seen as an insult to the talented filmmakers whose speeches will no doubt be diced up for broadcast (including editors)? Almost certainly. It will still take three (3) hosts to present it all, namely Amy Schumer, Regina Hall, and Wanda Sykes. The big show goes down on March 27 on ABC.
Last month, Kanye West announced that his eleventh album, Donda 2, will arrive on February 22. He even gave an astronomy-related reason for the specific release date. And yet the day is almost over the album is nowhere to be found. It shouldn’t be a surprise, given Kanye has failed to drop an album on its initial release date since 2013’s Yeezus. That being said, Kanye is still hosting a listening event for the album tonight at Miami’s LoanDepot Park Stadium. For those who will not be there in person, Kanye revealed where a livestream can be found.
An announcement from the social accounts of Kanye’s Stem Player device revealed that the listening event for Donda 2 will livestream exclusively from the company’s website. The event is set to begin at 8 pm EST, but it remains to be seen if there will be any delays.
The announcement comes after Kanye said Donda 2 will only be available on the Stem Player, which he co-created with Alex Klein and which retails for $214.50. He said the album will not be available on streaming services like Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, and others.
“Today artists get just 12% of the money the industry makes,” he said in the announcement. “It’s time to free music from this oppressive system. It’s time to take control and build our own.” Afterward, Kanye revealed a 22-song tracklist for Donda 2 in a now-deleted Instagram post.
Nearly six long years after their last movie and after many failed iterations (including Quentin Tarantino’s R-rated take on the franchise), a new Star Trek film with the Chris Pine-led crew was finally announced. Hooray! It was a slightly surprising move, again, because it’s been so long since 2016’s Star Trek Beyond. But the news came as a shock to a few others who probably shouldn’t have learned about it alongside everyone else.
Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that some but not all of the actors were, in THR’s words, “not aware that an announcement for another film was coming, much less that their clients would be touted as a part of the deal, and certainly not that their clients would be shooting a movie by year’s end.”
One person who definitely was was Pine, seen as the “lynchpin” of this wing of the series. It’s not clear who wasn’t informed ahead of time, but the Pine-led cast includes Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana and John Cho. (Anton Yelchin, who played Anton Yelchin, tragically passed away shortly before Beyond was released.)
That cast first appeared in 2009, which breathed new life into a franchise long dormant from the big screen, but which continued to survive on television. Since Beyond, the Trek-verse has greatly expanded, with numerous shows lurking on the relatively newish streamer Peacock, including Discovery, Picard, and the animated Lower Decks. Anyway, here’s hoping everyone’s schedules towards the end of the year are clear!
For nearly the last decade, Peaky Blinders has regaled Netflix subscribers with tales of 100-year-old gangs in Birmingham, England. The run is about to come to a close — sort of. Not really. As per Entertainment Weekly, the show may be about to bow its sixth and final season. But creator Steven Knight — whose work also, recently, includes the script for the Kristen Stewart-starring Spencer — has no plans of ending it outright.
Back in December, Knight gave EW an update that there were only now allowed to make public. Short version: He’s turning the show into one of those world-building franchises the kids love these days.
“I’m calling this the end of the beginning,” Knight said about the final season. “We’re going to end the series as it is at the moment, but we’re going to do the movie, which we’ll shoot in 18 months time, maybe a little bit longer.” But that’s not all. “After that, according to how the film structure falls into place, we’ll set in motion some spin-offs that will be part of the same universe.”
There’s no word on what those spin-offs will entail, what parts of the world they’ll focus on. Maybe they’ll bring back bygone characters. Who knows. But clearly if you were finding it hard to say goodbye to the Peaky Blinders-verse, know that that’s not necessary.
Scotch whisky pricing is a fickle thing. Ten dollars below this and we were still looking at entry-point 12-year-old expressions. Now, we’re into special releases and 15 to 18-year-old whiskies. Just like that, we’re into the interesting good stuff.
The ten bottles of Scotch whisky below are all whiskies I think are worth chasing down. I ranked these according to my tasting notes, but in the end, you can’t go wrong grabbing any one of these. I also tried to give you some variety with a few peated whiskies thrown in among the sweeter and fruitier whiskies.
My advice, read the tasting notes and pick one that speaks to you. Give those a shot and see if you vibe with them. I’m pretty sure you will. And if not, there are nine more on this list to try.
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Scotch Whisky Posts of The Last Six Months
This whisky from the Isle of Jura is a one-of-a-kind whiskies that highlights both expert barrel work and blending. The juice is aged in ex-bourbon for an undisclosed amount of years. The whisky is then re-casked in seven barrels: first-fill ex-bourbon from the U.S. and Vosges, Bertranges, Jupilles, Allier, Tronçais, and Limousin barrels from France. The ripple here is that all of those French barrels were new (never held wine) when the whisky went in.
Tasting Notes:
This is shockingly un-woody. Instead, you get a burnt coffee note next to a dark chocolate bar cut with candied ginger and, maybe, a hint of strawberry. Black licorice arrives with a note of burnt orange peels and grilled peaches with a drop of honey next to a wisp of beach campfire smoke. The end lingers for just the right amount of time as the distant smoke fades, leaving a hint of sea spray, cacao, and burnt fruit.
Bottom Line:
If you can get your hands on anything from Jura, do it. If you’re uncertain of where to start, start with this nuanced and approachable whisky. The smoke is so far in the background, that it won’t scare you off the subtler fruits, spices, and sweetness at play.
This expression from Speyside’s Glenfiddich takes the idea of a beer cask finishing up a notch. The juice is aged in IPA casks that aged a brew made specifically to meld with this whisky. The result is a whisky that brings a sense of beer along for the ride.
Tasting Notes:
The nose is a full-on orchard with pears and apples hanging heavy from tree limbs next to florals just reminiscent of hops. There is orange zest and vanilla vibes to the body of the sip that eventually leans into the bright florals, with more pear and apple and a touch of bouquet garni (parsley, thyme, sage). The fruits sweeten as the florals dry on the short but distinct finish.
Bottom Line:
This is just an easy-drinking whisky that has a nice, herbal edge. It’s not quite “hops,” but it’s definitely something green and fresh that transfers into the whisky and it really helps amp up the flavor profile.
Chivas 18 is the brand’s signature high-end blend. The juice is built around a specially made Strathisla 18 single malt. That juice is supported by 20 other single malts from around Scotland with various casking processes.
Tasting Notes:
Imagine a bar of bespoke dark chocolate from a really fancy-schmancy shop that’s been bespeckled with dried berries — blackberry, blueberry, raspberry — on the nose, plus a rich and very buttery toffee that draws you in closer. The palate holds onto that chocolate bar while adding in dry rose pedals with a slight singe, creating a whisper of sweet and fragrant smoke. The end builds on that floral and bitter chocolate note as it very slowly fades away while warming your soul.
Bottom Line:
This is a damn-fine dram of blended whisky. This really is the classic “on the rocks scotch” that you’ve already been looking for. It’s that fine and drinkable while still carrying deep flavor notes.
This peated malt ups the ante on the peatiness. The limited-edition juice is first aged in ex-bourbon barrels. That whisky is then transferred to second-fill bourbon barrels that are aged heavily peated whisky for a finishing maturation.
Tasting Notes:
The whisky’s nose sort of feels like someone dumped a handful of vanilla bean husks on a backyard campfire and then handed you an apple pie brimming with brown sugar, cinnamon, and drizzled with salted caramel. The taste keeps that pie filling vibe but the fruit mellows more towards a stonefruit as a hint of sea spray arrives on the back end of the smokiness. The finish really takes its time and leads you towards singed, dry moss and a final note of floral honey sweetness.
Bottom Line:
This is smoky, sure. But it’s so much more than that with those stewed and spicy orchard fruits, sea spray, and earthy notes. It’s complex, a great sipper on the rocks, and definitely a good addition to any bar cart.
This no-age-statement blend leans into that signature Walker marriage of Highland and Speyside whiskies with a small dose of Western Scottish juice for good measure. The lion’s share of the whisky involved in this bottle is Clynelish, a Highland whisky that adds a dash of fruity peat to the mix.
Tasting Notes:
Honey and oak greet you with a distant fruity nature and a little warmth. The fruit kicks up on the palate and becomes slightly tropical as a counterpoint of rich vanilla creaminess arrives. The end is subtle and long with the fruit and honey standing tall against a very distant echo of earthy peat.
Bottom Line:
This is an easy-going whisky that works just as well in a cocktail as it does on the rocks. If you’re looking for something that you don’t have to overthink while still enjoying, this is it.
This Highland malt has made a roaring comeback (the expression went on hiatus from 2015 to 2018). Revival 15 takes its sherried nature very seriously. The juice is aged in a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks for 15 long years. Those casks are married and this whisky is brought down to a very easy-drinking 92 proof with that soft Highland water.
Tasting Notes:
Dark berry brambles with tart and sweet fruit, stems, thorns, and even a little black dirt draw you in on the nose with a hint of walnut shell and cherry pie. The palate is a creamy-yet-bitter dark chocolate orange that leads towards a semi-savory fig countered by ripe apricot. The chocolate comes back with cinnamon spice and more dark berries and walnut on the end.
Bottom Line:
This is where we’re getting into the “more, please” section of whiskies. This whisky is goddamn delightful while layering in plenty to enjoy in the flavor department. But it never feels overwhelming, just warming and nice. Add a rock and really take your time enjoying this one.
This dram from Glenmorangie is a much-loved Highland malt. The juice is matured in ex-bourbon barrels for an undisclosed number of years. The whisky is then transferred to French Sauternes barrels which held sweet dessert wines where it spends two more years finishing.
Tasting Notes:
This has that classic “shortbread cut with lemon and vanilla” vibe that makes some single malts so approachable. The sip has a buttery toffee nature that’s layered with subtle oak, mild brown spices, and more fruits tied into a creamy pudding body. The spice then leans a little towards ginger with that buttery shortbread as it slowly fades out.
Bottom Line:
This is pretty much the quintessential sweet Scotch whisky. It’s equal parts bold and subtle, sweet and spicy, soft and engaging. It’s hard to argue with any part of this whisky. Pour one and enjoy.
This expression from the tiny-yet-legendary Oban distillery is a highwater mark in whisky-making. The single malt is a blend of whisky matured in American and European oak barrels touched by sherry. The juice is then batched and instead of being vatted in a big tun, it’s re-barreled in small-format barrels for a final maturation before proofing and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
You’re greeted with a spicy, fruity, and nutty Christmas cake next to bright pops of red berries, pear, and apricot. The candied orange from the holiday cake rises to the surface on the taste, next to ripe pears and the feel and taste of salted dark chocolate just touched by mint. The finish is slow and so mild with that salted chocolate vibe carrying on towards a final touch of that holiday cake, used black tea, smoked honey, and dry figs.
Bottom Line:
You’d be forgiven for not noticing that this is a peated malt. This is a beautifully deeply hewn whisky that’s so lush and engaging. You don’t really need a rock or drop of water to enjoy it, but it will help this really bloom in the glass.
“Oog-a-dal!” This dram from Islay is a blend of old and young single malts aged in ex-sherry casks and ex-bourbon casks. The final product is a single malt that’s deeply flavored yet still approachable.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a definite peat smoke on the nose but it’s kissed with sea brine and counterpointed by notes of holiday cake stuffed with candied orange, fatty nuts, dried fruit, and plenty of dark spice. Those spices marry to the smoke as the palate sweetens with toffee and becomes almost like silk with a rich choco-tobacco chew arriving late, bringing a buzz to the tongue. The end really embraces that chew as notes of toffee, dried fruit, and spice lurk behind the billows of briny smoke.
Bottom Line:
This is certainly peaty but not a peat monster. The smoke plays second fiddle to the nuances of spice, fruit, and sweetness at play with briny backbone. Pour this over some rocks and you’ll be in for a treat. And who knows, maybe this will be the peated Islay that gives you that “ah-ha!” moment about the style/region.
This entry-point bottle to the wider world of Dalwhinnie is a hell of an easy drinker. The juice is aged in Scotland’s oldest distillery, making the maturation process a severe one. The juice spends 15 years hiding in those barrels as the temperatures dip well below freezing across all those winters.
Tasting Notes:
Imagine a bowl of pear and apple peels sitting next to an open jar of floral summer honey on the nose. Dots of citrus oils mingle with that honey as a smooth vanilla character arrives on the back of sweet brown bread bespeckled with smoked walnuts. The nuts, sweet bread, and floral honey all converge on the finish as it slowly fades towards a final billow of sweet smoke at the back of your mouth.
Bottom Line:
This is one of the oldest and most-famed peated malts out there. But again, we’re talking about a whisky that layers the peat into a much bigger and more refined whisky drinking experience. This is just a wonderfully velvety whisky that is as approachable as it is delicious.
Make sure to add a little water or a rock to really let this one bloom in the glass.
“The Simpsons” has been around for nearly 40 years, and amid the juvenile humor (cue the “eat my shorts” line), this show expertly weaves in some truly valuable life lessons.
For those who aren’t familiar with the show or its characters … First off, how is that possible? Second, Lisa Simpson is a young girl often ostracized for her intelligence and passion, both at school and at home. That is, until she meets substitute teacher Mr. Bergstrom.
Mr. Bergstrom offers innovative and fun learning methods, which challenge and inspire Lisa. And for the first time ever, this precocious child is appreciated for who she is, feeling a little less alone in her environment. It’s sort of easy to see how Lisa develops a bit of a crush.
This episode came out three decades ago, and yet still perfectly encapsulates the immense value that substitute teachers bring. Even though they grace the classroom for a brief time, they can make a huge difference in a student’s life. Whether they’re assigned to a school for a day or for a month, substitute teachers ensure quality education, having enough enthusiasm to ignite a love of learning in students they only just met. Or, in Lisa’s case, acknowledge and nurture gifts that are already there.
Like Mr. Bergstrom, who dons a cowboy costume to help with a history lesson, substitute teachers have to be creative in their lesson plans. Not to mention multitalented to handle a variety of subjects. As Mr. Bergstrom tells Lisa: “It’s the life of a substitute teacher. Today he might be wearing gym shorts. Tomorrow he’s speaking French. Or pretending to know how to run a band saw.”
And yet, all good things must come to an end. No matter the impact, all substitutes must eventually leave. As does Mr. Bergstrom, who is off to help kids in the projects of Capital City … those who “need it more.”
Devastated to lose her newfound mentor, Lisa chases Mr. Bergstrom to his departing train.
“Were you just gonna leave? Just like that? You’re the best teacher I’ll ever have,” she says through tears. You can hear the pain in her voice. She’s back to being all alone.
That’s when Mr. Bergstrom hands Lisa a piece of paper before bidding her farewell, telling her “whenever you feel like there’s nobody you can rely on, this is all you need to know.” And it’s the best parting gift he could have given.
The note has a simple, yet profound message.
“You are Lisa Simpson.”
Anyone who’s ever felt misunderstood or undervalued might spend their whole life trying to learn this—they are enough. The fact that it was taught by practically a stranger makes it all the more powerful.
There are so many Mr. Bergstroms out there, who support students and help them grow into their full potential, in ways both big and small. With a note, with a kind word, a meaningful teaching style or with simply being there. Though it’s heartbreaking to say goodbye, the connections substitute teachers create leave the world a better place. They are a gift.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
