Month: March 2022

Blxst has been dominating the LA house party scene for something like two years now, and there’s still little to no agreement on whether he’s a rapper or a singer. With a delivery that falls somewhere between the melodic crooning of fellow LA-area hook masters Ty Dolla Sign and Eric Bellinger and the rhythmic, in-the-pocket flows pioneering by the city’s best, the only thing that anyone can agree on is that Blxst sounds cool as a fan. He keeps that tradition going on his latest release, “Sometimes” featuring TDE’s own quasi-rapping crooner, Zacari.

The unapologetic single finds the two performers looking to placate a riled-up romantic partner who thinks that the perpetually busy Blxst is up to no good as he chases the money out of town. “Runnin’ up the backend / I know you be thinkin’ I be cappin’,” Blxst croons. “But sometimes you be too much of a distraction.” Meanwhile, the video takes on a Route 66-ish appeal, as Blxst and Zacari cruise a desert highway in a convertible and post up outside a diner patronized by a biker club, with their performance scenes broken up by flashes of a house party where the female attendees run through some dynamic choreography.

Blxst has been on a roll in 2022, releasing his new single “About You” with a Malcolm & Marie-inspired video while contributing choruses to new songs by Wale, Fireboy DML, and Buddy.

Watch Blxst’s “Sometimes” video featuring Zacari above.

It’s hard to imagine certain celebrities going through their awkward high school phases (mostly because any evidence would be scrubbed from the internet) but sometimes, they voluntarily share their cringy teen photos for a laugh. Example: SNL star Colin Jost showing off his high school bowl cut on last week’s Weekend Update.

While stopping by The Drew Barrymore Show to promote her new skincare line, Jost’s wife Scarlett Johansson admitted that she probably wouldn’t have asked high school Jost on a date. When asked if her teenage self would have been interested in the comedian, the actress shut it down pretty instantly: “I don’t think so, no.” Her reasoning actually did make a bit of sense: “Firstly, my brother had that same haircut throughout the ’90s — both of my brothers — and I just can’t. There’s no way.”

Sure, the mushroom cut was a look in the ’90s, but for what reason? “I mean, who decided on that cut as a stylish thing?” Johansson continued. “What hairdresser was like, ‘I’ll try this’?’” It all worked out for the couple in the end, as they just had a baby and starred in an Amazon commercial. That’s when you know you’ve made it.

Even though the Black Widow star wouldn’t have gone out with little Colin, she did go out with producer Jack Antonoff, who had long curly hair and a lip ring. They even went to prom together. That must have been her type back then. Sorry, Colin!

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is the second Doctor Strange solo movie. Let’s take a look at director Sam Raimi‘s other “second” movies: Evil Dead II, one of the best horror movies of all-time, and Spider-Man 2, one of the greatest comic book movies ever. Pretty good!

Maybe I’m setting my expectations for the Doctor Strange sequel too high. But if people can convince themselves that Tom Cruise has joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I can convince (have convinced) myself that Multiverse of Madness could end up being a top-10 Marvel movie — especially if it’s anything like Evil Dead II.

“We want it to be a Sam Raimi movie,” Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige told Empire. “We would give notes like, ‘This action is cool – you’re competing with Avengers and Spider-Man, no problem – but don’t forget the Sam Raimi parts.’ You will see just how Sam Raimi it is, in ways that will make fans of Evil Dead II very happy.” (Getting Bruce Campbell involved is a good start.)

If Wong shows up holding the Necronomicon, you know sh*t’s about to go down.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Rachel McAdams, opens on May 6.

Last month, Dolly Parton was nominated for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, but a few days ago, she said she would “respectfully bow out” from contention, writing in a statement, “Even though I am extremely flattered and grateful to be nominated for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, I don’t feel that I have earned that right.” Now, the Rock Hall has responded and they’ve decided to move forward with Parton on their 2022 ballot.

In a statement shared today (as Variety notes), the Rock Hall wrote:

“All of us in the music community have seen Dolly Parton’s thoughtful note expressing her feeling that she has not earned the right to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. In addition to her incredible talent as an artist, her humility is another reason Dolly is a beloved icon by millions of fans around the world. […]

From its inception, Rock and Roll has had deep roots in Rhythm & Blues and Country music. It is not defined by any one genre, rather a sound that moves youth culture. Dolly Parton’s music impacted a generation of young fans and influenced countless artists that followed. Her nomination to be considered for induction into to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame followed the same process as all other artists who have been considered. […]

Dolly’s recommendation, along with the other 16 nominees for the class of 2022 was sent out earlier this month to our 1,200 general ballot voters, the majority of whom are artists themselves, for consideration for induction at our ceremony.”

The statement concludes, “We are in awe of Dolly’s brilliant talent and pioneering spirit and are proud to have nominated her for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.”

Meanwhile, Parton reiterated her position this morning, saying in a Fox And Friends interview, “Well, I didn’t feel exactly right about that, because my perception, and I think the perception of most of America — I just feel like that’s more for the people in rock music. I’ve been educated since then, saying that it’s more than that, but I still didn’t feel right about it. It kind of would be like putting AC/DC in the Country Music Hall Of Fame. That just felt a little out of place for me.”

Lovable Bay Area scam rapper Guapdad 4000 has hit the ground running in 2022, looking to carry forward the momentum he picked up last year with his Illmind-produced album, 1176. First, he dropped the video for his underground hit “Money” to close out the year, then he followed up with the LL Cool J-sampling “I Need Bands” to kick off his 2022 campaign. In February, he linked back up with one of his favorite producers, James Delgado, on “Ruthless,” and now, he keeps the party going with “Cheap.”

Over a spare beat produced by Remedy, the Oakland rapper reminisces on his days using fake IDs and cracked credit cards to go on shopping sprees. “Way before EDD / I was a young scam boy getting sh*t for free,” he boasts. “Playing roles in the store a cakewalk for me / It ain’t sweet, miss me if your talk is cheap.”

While 1176 and his new singles have gone a long way toward raising Guapdad’s profile about rap fans, he’s also been helped a bunch by his opening slot on Wale’s Under A Blue Moon Tour this year, where he converted a number of fans with his charming stage presence and approachable post-show demeanor. Now that the tour’s over, he’ll likely be right back to recording and releasing new music as he prepares to follow up his well-received 2021 album.

Watch Guapdad 4000’s “Cheap” video above.

In the aftermath of the George Floyd murder in 2020, people have begun to rethink the role that armed police officers have in society. Does every problem need to be addressed by someone with the power to administer lethal force?

The Aurora Police Department in Colorado launched a six-month program last year that led to the creation of two mental health crisis response teams. The first pairs an officer with a mental health professional. The other pairs a mental health professional and a paramedic to handle mental health crisis situations where there is no apparent danger.

“When someone calls in to report either themselves or an individual in crisis, or maybe they just see someone who might need some resources and help, dispatch will put that in a call, and my team is able to click on the call, review everything and see if it meets criteria,” Courtney Tassin, program manager for the Aurora Mobile Response Team, told 9News.

The Aurora Mobile Response Team’s van is stocked full of food, water and hygiene products to help the people they encounter on the streets.

Over the first three months, the team went on 116 calls.

The Aurora Mobile Response Team launched in September

Today Aurora and partners officially launched the Aurora Mobile Response Team. This pilot program is an alternative response program in handling behavioral health crises related to mental health, depression, homelessness, and more. Learn more at http://AuroraGov.org/MobileResponseu00a0.pic.twitter.com/hl88w6gUMb

— City of Aurora, CO (@City of Aurora, CO)
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One study found that up to 10% of 911 calls nationwide could involve mental health issues. So it makes complete sense for police departments to respond to these situations with counselors trained in helping people with mental health issues instead of the knee-jerk reaction to send somebody with a gun.

Further, it allows police to do the work they’re trained to do instead of forcing them to act as mental health counselors. It also frees up the police so they can correctly respond to situations that may turn violent.

“A lot of times it’s not appropriate for our officers to have to go to these calls, and you know, to possibly escalate the situation when it doesn’t need to be so,” Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson told CBS News.

The unarmed response teams are also less intimidating to people already on the edge.

“We always focus on what’s least restrictive,” Tassin told CBS News. “How do we keep from further traumatizing this person who’s already in a very vulnerable state?”

The response team could reduce police shootings

The response team is a humane way to deal with people having mental health issues and it may also save lives. According to the Treatment Advocacy Center, people with untreated mental illness are 16 times more likely to be killed during a police encounter than other civilians approached or stopped by law enforcement.

“By dismantling the mental illness treatment system, we have turned mental health crisis from a medical issue into a police matter,” said John Snook, executive director of the Treatment Advocacy Center. “This is patently unfair, illogical, and is proving harmful both to the individual in desperate need of care and the officer who is forced to respond.”

The Aurora Police Department’s new program is a welcome challenge to the status quo that’s been in place in America for decades. For too long we’ve tacitly agreed that the state’s only response to civil disturbances should be sending a person with a gun. Now, thanks to the calls for justice that happened after the death of George Floyd, people are waking up to the idea that cops can’t and shouldn’t solve everything.

“We have calls for people that are in mental health crisis every day,” Sergeant Aaron Bunch said. “Police officers are trained to do a lot of things. What they don’t have are Master’s degrees in social work.”

Vladimir Putin’s imperialistic tactics in waging war on Ukraine are having devastating consequences. Millions of Ukrainians have been pushed from their homes with civilian casualties on the rise because homemade molotov cocktails can only go so far. Several thousand Russian soldiers have already died while carrying out Putin’s orders, and economic sanctions will take their toll as well. It’s heartbreaking to watch it all unfold.

There are, however, moments of levity to be found amid the darkness. Russian oligarchs are seeing their yachts seized, and the absence of luxuries will soon hit home for Putin himself. Via The Daily Beast, New York Times now reports that Putin (shown looking rather waxy in the above photo, taken in late 2017, when he was about 65) will have to scramble to find Botox to keep his youthful looks.

“U.S. drugmaker AbbVie (ABBV.N), which owns blockbuster wrinkle treatment Botox,” the NYT relayed. “[H]as temporarily suspended operations for all its aesthetics products in the country.” How soon will Putin realize the reality of this dire (for him) situation?

Perhaps he’s got a stockpile on hand. That wouldn’t be too shocking, but Putin still can’t be pleased, given his rumored reliance on injecting the ‘tox, undergoing plastic surgery, and possibly hitting steroids as part of his fountain-of-youth-chasing repertoire. Sadly, his delusions of grandeur on the world stage are wreaking brutal affects on humanity, but at least he might go without in one small area of his existence.

(Via New York Times)

Kanye West continues to make history, but perhaps not in a good way. Yesterday, Instagram account @ourgenerationmusic shared a photo of a page from a history textbook, featuring a photo of the “Eazy” rapper.

The photo comes from Ye’s infamous 2018 meeting with President Trump, and is accompanied by his explanation as to why he felt empowered by wearing the MAGA hat: “But there’s times where, you know, there’s something about – you know, I love Hillary. I love everyone, right? But the campaign “I’m with her” just didn’t make me feel, as a guy, that didn’t get to see my dad all the time – like a guy that could play catch with his son.”

Following the quote are instructions, which say, “Read the quote above from Kanye West in the Oval Office. What does this suggest about factors that affect voting behaviour in the USA? How does this link to the presidential powers of persuasion?”

Ye is currently on a 24-hour Instagram suspension following a post aimed at The Daily Show host Trevor Noah. Prior to Ye’s post, Noah took to his show to talk about how his previous posts aimed at ex-wife Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson are forms of abusive behavior.

The connections between the modern NBA and hip-hop are growing all the time and with the latest announcement out of Young Thug’s YSL Records camp, they’ve become the most pronounced they’ve ever been. YSL Records fixture T-Shyne is set to release his new album, Confetti Nights, which is naturally executive-produced by YSL’s founder Young Thug on April 1… along with some help from none other than the Brooklyn Nets’ recently returned All-Star forward, Kevin Durant.

It’s not the first time that an NBA player applied their talents to musical curation. In 2021, Durant’s fellow NBA champ Kawhi Leonard executive produced the Culture Jam Vol. 1 compilation featuring A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Gunna, Lil Uzi Vert, Polo G, Rod Wave, and YoungBoy Never Broke Again. Meanwhile, Damian Lillard, the All-Star guard for the Portland Trailblazers, has had a flourishing rap career as Dame D.O.L.L.A., dropping four studio albums that featured Lil Wayne, Raphael Saadiq, and Snoop Dogg.

In addition to producing albums, Durant has also been a movie producer, commissioning the Basketball County: Something In The Water documentary in 2020. Durant’s music connections came in handy there, too, as he recruited fellow Prince George’s County native IDK as music supervisor for the film.

Meanwhile, YSL Records is coming off a stellar 2021 that saw Young Thug’s Punk on the Billboard charts, followed this year by Gunna’s outstanding DS4EVER. With plenty of the roster yet to release — Lil Keed, Strick, and others are especially anticipated — 2022 figures to be another pivotal year for the Atlanta-based label.

Confetti Nights is due 4/1 via YSL and 300 Entertainment.

The NCAA Tournament is upon us. The first weekend of the tournament is always exciting, with plenty of folks dubbing it the best weekend in all of sports, but it’s also not the easiest event to follow. March Madness will frequently have multiple games going on at once with fans desperately trying to keep up. This can be fun, but if you’re at work and just want to have a game on in the background while you attempt to get something done, it can be tough.

Thankfully, there are more and more ways to watch the tournament popping up every March, and this year, Twitch is getting in on the fun. While Twitch is known for video games, it’s been embracing sports the last few years and even got to stream Thursday Night Football throughout much of the 2021 NFL season. Now, Twitch will offer college basketball fans two ways to enjoy the NCAA Tournament on its website: Let’s Go! College Hoops and SuperFan FaceOff.

Let’s Go! College Hoops will be an option for fans looking for a pre-game show, featuring hosts GrandPooBear, TheBlackHokage, Darryl Reynolds, and more, while SuperFan FaceOff is more of an NFL RedZone-type experience with streamers roshocker22, BridgetCase, uncledrewWNBA, and more. The shows will air on Twitch Sports beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET.