Earlier this year, LeBron James made history by passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most regular season and playoff points scored in a career. While James still has a ways to go before he takes the official scoring crown away from Abdul-Jabbar — that only takes regular season numbers into account — he can officially say no one has scored more points in an NBA career.

James is going to continue running up the score on the rest of the list for a while and is almost certainly going to retire with a lead so wide that it may never be caught. The Los Angeles Lakers star was asked about this on a recent episode of The Shop, where he articulated that he doesn’t like that his name usually doesn’t come up in conversations about the best scorers in league history.

“The crazy thing is, I’m not, like, a natural scorer,” James said at the 18:12 mark of the above video. “I love getting my guys involved, I’ve always been that way. I’ve always … the point of seeing my team mate succeed off my pass, I’ve always been that type of guy. And to sit at the top of the food chain in the most points scored in the history of the game is like, it’s weird to me. They don’t ever call me … when they talk about the best scorers of all time, they never mention my name.”

When asked by Maverick Carter if that pisses him off, James said it does.

“They don’t ever bring my name into it,” James said. After Carter said that he wouldn’t mention James among the best scorers of all time, James lovingly prodded him, calling him “an asshole” and a “LeBron hater” with a laugh.

The funny thing is, James has said in the past that his preference is to not be labeled a scorer. Here’s a clip of him from back in 2017 when he was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“I’m not a scorer, I don’t want to be labeled as a scorer,” James said back then. “I can put the ball in the hoop, but I’m a playmaker, I’m a player. Put me on the court and I’ll find ways to be successful. When you talk about scorers, you have a lot of great scorers in our league, all time, guys who shot a lot of shots and volume shooters and scored the ball at a high clip. I’m not one of those guys. I’m a guy who’s always got happy and excited seeing my team [be] successful.”

It seems pretty safe to say that as the years have gone on and James has earned a place among the greatest scorers in history, he’s become far more open to hearing his name brought up among the best scorers to ever play the game.

Well, it’s been another week on planet Earth and humans are still humaning in all the ways humans human.

As we grapple with an ongoing pandemic, watch war rage on in Ukraine and try to digest the latest climate change report, we feel the heaviness of the world on our hearts. At the same time, we see countless examples of humanity’s capacity for caring and compassion, for hope and healing, for joy and delight. We see nations that used to be at war with one another uniting to defend freedom and democracy. We see strangers making connections with one another over their shared humanity and people dedicated to the betterment of the world.

We always have both the dark and the light, the terrible and the beautiful, and we have to choose what we allow to influence us more. Sometimes we have to focus on the problems in order to work on fixing them. And sometimes we have to immerse ourselves in joy in order to reclaim hope and recharge our energies.

Here at Upworthy, we’re all about highlighting the best of humanity and lifting people’s spirits so they can continue overcoming. Sometimes that means sharing awesome people doing awesome things, sometimes it means sharing heartwarming stories of human kindness, and sometimes it means sharing a goofy animal video to make people laugh.

This list of 10 things that made us smile has a little of all of those and more. Hope it brings your heart some much-needed joy.

Soccer crowd offers powerful show of support to Ukrainian player.

See on Instagram

Sorry to start with a story that brings as many tears as it does smiles, but that’s kind of where we are at the moment. While we can’t look away from the horrors happening in war zones in Ukraine or elsewhere, we can look to examples of everyday people uniting in solidarity and support.

A guy forgot to change his address for a Chipotle delivery and it resulted in the best exchange.

Sha Davis forgot to change his address in the Chipotle app after he’d been traveling, so he told the driver to keep the meal. A text back from the driver created a beautiful moment of human connection. Read the full story here.

This widower and his dog playing. That is all.

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I mean, what else is there to say? Just pure happiness.

Speaking of dogs, just for laughs…

Stop it! pic.twitter.com/pb6AtPxQK4

— Buitengebieden (@Buitengebieden)
1646287591

Love how the cat just attacks the dog’s leg instead of, you know, getting up.

Too wonderfully weird not to share. Humans humaning, I tell you. 

This is it guys. The pinnacle of the internet. We’ve done it! Pack it up, it’s over.pic.twitter.com/EkqHgag0vO

— I’m Jeff ud83cudf7b (@I’m Jeff ud83cudf7b)
1646247481

Nothing. I’ve got nothing. But definitely going to share this with everyone I know.

Toddler with “uncombable hair syndrome” has won over the internet.

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Seriously, it’s a real syndrome. Super rare and clearly unrivaled in the never-heard-of-that-but-wow realm. Read the full story here.

Little girl does the best Viola Davis impression, even wowing Viola Davis.

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It’s all great, but the purse over her shoulder and look at the end, mimicking the famous meme, did me in. Read the full story here.

Yo-Yo Ma doing his thing where he makes us cry and be happy at the same time.

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He always does this when we most need it, and we love him for it every time.

If a panda somersaulting doesn’t make you smile, I don’t know what to tell you.

Wondering how does this species survive in the wild..pic.twitter.com/p64xFrh08b

— Buitengebieden (@Buitengebieden)
1645987983

Seriously, how do these magnificent, goofy creatures survive in the wild? (I actually looked into that. Read the full story here.)

How about a panda bear swinging? That’s gotta do it. 

pic.twitter.com/1PwmQKpNuY

— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden_) February 28, 2022

Hopefully this roundup of delights brought a smile to your face, even if just for a little while.

As we all strive to find balance, let’s remember that joy is healing and laughter is something we can all share. Take care of each other and come back next week for another roundup!

The best new hip-hop this week includes albums, videos, and songs from Cordae, Latto, Pusha T, and more.

This impressive week saw the releases of Joey Badass’ “Head High,” Dave’s “Starlight,” Morray’s “Still Here” featuring Cordae, Nigo’s “Hear Me Clearly” with Pusha T, Blxst’s “Sometimes” featuring Zacari, and Latto’s remix of Omeretta The Great’s controversial “Sorry Not Sorry,” along with the releases listed below.

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending March 4, 2021.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Babytron — Megatron

The rising Detroit rapper is a little risque, but utilizes his off-kilter flow to deliver some truly gut-busting, borderline unhinged punchlines. He’s been gaining a faithful following on social media; now is the best chance to jump aboard the bandwagon.

BlueBucksClan — See The Difference

Speaking of swinging flows and head-turning punchlines, the LA rap duo has had that style on lock through the release of a string of mixtapes that have made them a fan favorite on the West Coast. Although this EP only contains four tracks, those tracks have plenty of replay value for fans awaiting BBC’s official debut.

Cool Kids — Before Sh*t Got Weird

You simply cannot discuss the blog rap canon without taking on the outsized legacy of this Midwestern duo. The impact they had on the landscape — even without experiencing the commercial heights of cohort peers like Kid Cudi and Wale — couldn’t be overstated if you tried. And now they’re back, supported by a who’s-who of the artists they’ve influenced over the years including Chance The Rapper, Guapdad 4000, JID, and Larry June.

King Von — What It Means To Be King

Von was just getting started when he was gunned down in Atlanta two years ago. More’s the shame, because he was so prolific that we’ve received two full-length bodies of work from the late Chicagoan — which is made all the more impressive by the relatively few guest verses that needed to be tacked on to complete this one (even if the songs themselves are pretty short).

RZA & DJ Scratch — Saturday Afternoon Kung-Fu Theater

Anyone who knows the origins of the Wu-Tang Clan is unsurprised by the title and theme of RZA’s first solo project since 2008’s Digi Snacks. While DJ Scratch holds down the production end, the rhymes are all Bobby Diggs, as he details the philosophy born of his fascination with martial arts matinees.

Singles/Videos

Duckwrth — “Power Power”

After his triumphant return in 2020 with SuperGood, Duckwrth teased his forthcoming album with the SG8* EP last year before dropping “Power Power,” his first single of 2022. He continues to illustrate the same genre-agnostic sensibilities of his last album, combining house and hip-hop into an irresistible, toe-tapping party anthem.

G Perico — “Switch”

Appearing on his 8-song album Tango, which was released last month, “Switches” sees the South LA native sticking steadfastly to his street-certified script, lauding his block bonafides over a post-G-funk beat made for the trunk.

Joey Fatts — “Bright Lights” Feat. Allyn

Long Beach rapper Joey Fatts admonishes listeners to stay ten toes down on this inspirational selection from his upcoming mixtape, Quicksand.

Price — “Without You” Feat. Elhae

In addition to constituting one-half of Audio Push, the IE native has been spreading his wings as a solo artist in the past two years and drops off this upbeat, romantic-edged single to kick off the next leg of his solo campaign.

Smoke DZA, Nym Lo, & 183rd — “Trust Issues”

Hailing from the New York trio’s Driplomatic Immunity EP, the two MCs preach prosperity and demand loyalty over a hypnotic beat produced by 183rd.

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

Niko Is has linked up with Talib Kweli, MidaZ the Beast, A.L. Punchline, and Wordsworth for a classic hip-hop posse cut titled “Live From The Blue Note.” Take “classic” with a grain of salt though, while this harkens back to a golden age of hip-hop group cuts, “Live” is anything but traditional. The video is shot in a moody black and white and sees the MCs trading dense lyrical verses over an eerie minor-key piano motif which acts as the song’s sole rhythm track.

The sparse and eerie track’s minimal arrangement allows the natural musicality of the words and the rhythms of each MC’s flow to really shine. Kweli, in particular, has a fiery verse that boils with a steady intensity (including lines that dance around his recent public conflict with Ye).

“See the grifters dressing like they’re post-apocalyptic fly fishers, you get the picture when I frame and capture, I’m the famous rapper posing as a backpacker…” and “your mental state seems to be in a defensive place, your fans must’ve got the Corona and lost their sense of taste.”

Or you know, maybe he’s talking about some other bridge-burning headline-making rapper who talked publicly about posing as a backpacker.

Despite the song’s downcast vibe and long length (it’s past the six-minute mark, with no drums in sight!) it never drags on or feels out of step with the rhythm of current and classic hip-hop. Watch the video for “Live From The Blue Note,” above, the song is set to appear on Niko Is’ upcoming LP with Juni Ali, Young Viejos.

Antony Starr, best known for his role as The Homelander on Amazon Prime’s The Boys was just handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence for assaulting a local at a pub in Spain earlier this week, according to reports.

The actor was in Spain shooting a new Guy Richie movie when the assault happened. Bathuel Araujo, the victim, says Starr was “very drunk” at the time, and began to lash out when Araujo asked him to calm down. Starr then threatened and punched the 21-year-old Araujo, who later revealed he needed stitches.

A suspended sentence, for those unaware, is when a judge sentences a defendant to jail time but delays the prison sentence in order to give the defendant time to serve probation instead. In other words, Starr will likely avoid spending months in jail but will have to shell out $5000 to the victim within 72 hours in order to avoid that 12-month sentence.

Authorities said: “The detainee’s state of drunkenness was taken into account as an extenuating factor. The sentence was the result of an agreement between the state prosecution service and the man who was subsequently convicted. His prison sentence is being suspended on the condition that he doesn’t commit another crime in two years and pays the compensation in the next 72 hours.”

Starr plays the sarcastic superhero The Homelander on The Boys, which returns this summer for its third season. The ensemble cast also includes Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Laz Alonso, Tomer Capon, Karen Fukuhara, Erin Moriarty, Dominique McElligott, Chace Crawford, Jessie T. Usher, and Nathan Mitchell.

One of the things that makes Cardi B so relatable — which is what makes her such a big star — is that she’s quick to join in on culture conversations surrounding viral favorite TV shows like Euphoria and You. Last year, the “WAP” rapper forged an unlikely but delightful friendship with You star Penn Badgley, which found the two stars swapping profile pics and prompted fans to petition to get her on the show.

It seems she’s just as enamored with HBO breakout hit Euphoria, which she commented on when fans unearthed a video of one of the show’s stars, Angus Cloud, bussing tables to her song “Bartier Cardi” before being cast on the show. Cardi expressed her approval, praising him for going from serving food to serving fiends (in the show; Cloud plays a drug dealer named Fezco who has become a fan-favorite character). “Look at him now pushing weight,” she quipped. “You go Fez.”

Cardi’s celebrity circle seems to grow every time she comments on a show she’s watching — and even due to her own show, Cardi Tries. After being ordained to officiate a wedding on one episode of the show, a chance “missed connection” encounter with actor Kal Penn led to Cardi being enlisted to officiate Penn’s own upcoming nuptials. Meanwhile, Cloud’s clout is beginning to grow as well; he recently made a cameo in Juice WRLD’s “Cigarettes” video, and is currently filming two feature films.

Justin Bieber has found himself working more with afrobeats artists in recent years, like when he jumped on WizKid’s “Essence” remix and recruited Alpha P and Omah Lay for “Peaches (Masterkraft Remix),” both in 2021. Now, Bieber and Lay have reunited, as Bieber features on a new tune from the Nigerian artist, “Attention,” which also arrives alongside a video.

Lay told Billboard of the song:

“‘Attention’ is one of those songs where I’m just saying the truth, where I’m telling my story. It’s basically about sometime in everybody’s life, you’re lonely. You can’t just always have somebody all the time. Especially as an adult. That was actually the headspace that I was in when I made this song, a little lonely. I want the people that are going through the same thing to feel like I was talking to them. I’m human. I’m just like them. I feel exactly the same way they feel.”

Lay also explained how the track came together, saying of the fateful Los Angeles recording session, “I was in the studio one day with Harv [a frequent Bieber collaborator]. As soon as I heard the beat, the lyrics were already in my head. We didn’t even spend 30 minutes making the song. Harv called him and I FaceTimed Justin Bieber for the first time in my life. Later on, Harv got to play the song for him, and […] before I knew it, he sent in his verse and the song was good just like that.”

Lay also noted, “One thing I loved about working with Justin Bieber was how easy it was. I didn’t even expect it to be that simple.”

Watch the “Attention” video above.

Omah Lay is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

One of the most innovative producers in hip-hop, Grammy Award winner Flying Lotus (née Steven Ellison), is actually a graduate of the Los Angeles Film School too. He made his film debut with the grotesque 2017 horror comedy, Kuso, which he directed and co-wrote the screenplay for (along with Zack Fox and David Firth.) He then really hit his stride with Netflix’s anime series, Yasuke, about a real Black samurai from feudal Japan. He co-wrote the screenplay along with LeSean Thomas of The Boondocks and it starred Lakeith Stanfield as the voice of the titular role.

Yasuke was awesome, and showed that Ellison definitely has the chops to make creative film and visual entertainment (he also scored the music for the show, natch.) Now, he has signed a multi-picture deal via his Brainfeeder Films, with French company Logical Pictures and XYZ Films, to direct and produce a slew of upcoming films. The projects are said to be focused on horror, thriller, and sci-fi realms, and the first flick, Ash, has already been announced with production happening this year. “I’ve a strong desire to innovate in the sci-fi space and I really want to show the world something they’ve never seen before,” Ellison said in a previous statement about Ash.

Logical Pictures Group President Frédéric Fiore added that: “FlyLo is a highly talented and respected musician with such a unique creative universe,” and expressed his enthusiasm for the deal. The statement pretty much sums up who Steven Ellison is as an artist and we’ll look forward to the continued blossoming of his audiovisual universe.

Although Hulu’s Pam & Tommy limited series is a blast to watch, the show also arrived with a shadow over it, given that souces kept making it clear that Pamela Anderson had no interest in watching the project. And it’s impossible to blame her for feeling that way, given that the theft (and rampant circulation) of Pam and Tommy Lee’s “home movie” was not only a horrific violation but also dealt heavy blows to her personal and professional life. And Pam stayed silent without giving an official statement on the subject, but this week, she did reveal how she’s teaming up with Netflix to tell “the real story” to the world.

Meanwhile, Sebastian Stan is following up his butt-bearing, animatronic–penis chatting role with Hulu’s Fresh, and he responded to an inquiry from Variety‘s Marc Malkin about Pam’s next move:

I caught up with Stan on Thursday night at the premiere of his new movie “Fresh.” I asked him for his thoughts on the Anderson documentary news. “I think it’s great,” he said. “I’m feeling grateful and hopeful that the show inspired further conversation and another deeper look that it deserves, so I look forward to seeing it.”

There’s surprise there, really, and I mean that in the best way possible. Sebastian’s always ready to entertain different perspectives during interviews, and of course, he wants to further the nuanced discussion that Pam & Tommy embedded within its layers of debauchery. As for Pam, she alluded to how she’s endured “A thousand imperfection, A million misperception” within the public portrayal of her image, and she’s ready to reveal how she’s “[n]ot a victim, but a survivor.”

(Via Variety)

In a very on-the-nose example of art imitating life, or maybe life imitating art, the French set of Lupin was targeted by thieves who reportedly made off with over $300,000 worth of equipment. Considering the popular Netflix series is about a thief who pull off a series of elaborate robberies, headlines ran wild with calling the incident a “heist,” but eyewitnesses are now saying the whole thing is anything but. Via The Hollywood Reporter:

“That’s a big word, ‘heist,’” laughs Brahim Rochdi, owner of Le 35, the restaurant in which a scene was being filmed that day. “You use that word for a bank robbery,” he says in an interview conducted in French. “What I saw was kids with firecrackers that showed up, that’s all.”

Rochdi, whose restaurant serves standard brasserie fare as well as North African specialties, was inside Le 35 when he heard pops going off on the sidewalk. “I didn’t realize [what was going on] at first,” he says. “I thought it was in the movie.” But for those outside, Rochdi says, it was “general panic.”

After rushing to help the cast and crew hide out inside of his restaurant, Rochdi observed the commotion and said none of the perpetrators looked older than 15, and some were possibly even 12. However, they were able to make off with camera equipment just a day after robbers held up the set of The Crown and made off with jewels. Police have not said if there’s a connection between the two, but the haphazard execution of the Lupin robbery suggests it wasn’t the work of criminal masterminds.

To cap off an already rough week for Netflix, on Thursday, a historic textile mill often used on series like Peaky Blinders went up in flames as over 100 firefighters rushed to put out the “full building fire.” Now, if that ends up being the work of kids with fireworks, too, then maybe call Interpol.

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)