Say what you want about Pusha T, the rollout for his upcoming follow-up to 2018’s Daytona has been nothing short of immaculate. After releasing “Diet Coke” featuring Kanye West and “Neck And Wrist” featuring Jay-Z as singles, the Virginia coke rap veteran has revealed the album’s title and the dates of its accompanying tour. The album will be called It’s Almost Dry while the tour will start at the end of May and run through mid-June.
In addition to releasing “Diet Coke” and “Neck And Wrist” as singles, Push also timed some of his recent features and brand partnerships perfectly to promote the album. In March, he teamed up with Arby’s to issue a “Spicy Fish Diss” to McDonald’s, resulting in a reported $8 million of advertising worth to the sandwich purveyors. Apparently, when Arby’s’ commercials tout that “we have the meats,” they meant rap beef too.
Meanwhile, Pusha also appears on Nigo’s recent comeback album, I Know Nigo, contributing verses to both the Clipse reunion song “Punch Bowl” and his own solo offering “Hear Me Clearly.”
Check out Pusha T’s upcoming tour dates below and stay tuned for the release date of It’s Almost Dry.
05/29 — Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
06/1 — San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
06/2 — Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues Anaheim
06/4 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo
06/5 — San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park
06/7 — Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall
06/8 — Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre
06/15 — Boston, MA @ Big Night Live
06/16 — New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
06/21 — Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage Theater
06/22 — Charlotte, NC @ The Underground – Fillmore Charlotte
06/23 — Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts
08/19 — London, England @ All Points East
Sure, tons of little kids might say they want to be a firefighter when they grow up, but for 3-year old Oliver Lipinski, there was no time like the present.
When his parents Courtney and Chris drove by the Parksville Fire Department on volunteer recruiting day, it was as if destiny itself had called. Oliver wanted to be a firefighter. And he wanted to be one now!
In his defense, Oliver already had some pretty impressive and qualifying skills.
First off, he was knowledgeable about fire engines and trucks, and could list most parts on a ladder fire truck. He even had a basic understanding of hydraulics (not something I myself can boast). Letters are also no match for his mental prowess, as he can recognize most letters and the sounds they make.
Secondly, knowing the importance of best security practices, he does not play with “magic” because it can start fires. No easy feat for a 3-year-old, mind you.
Lastly, his certifications include completing all episodes of “Fire Safety With Roy,” as well as filling out the entire first volume of the firefighting coloring book. Sources have not shared whether or not Oliver stayed within the lines of the coloring book.
All of these admirable examples highlighting Oliver’s education and experience can be found on his lengthy resume, which his parents explained would be necessary for him to get an interview and helped him create. Like any good hero, Oliver is not afraid to receive assistance when needed.
According to Alberni Valley News, little Oliver marched right up to Lt. Andrew Wiersma with the resume in hand—and in full turnout gear, no less—and told him outright, “I want a job.” Oh, to have a preschooler’s boldness.
To no one’s surprise, he was shortlisted and called in to perform a formal interview with Fire Chief Mark Norris.
Here’s a pic of Oliver being totes profesh and keeping it all business:
The Parksville Volunteer Firefighter Department released a statement saying Oliver’s interview was so spectacular, that Chief Norris dubbed him prequalified for the 2034 recruitment class as a junior member.
Once the PVFD posted Oliver’s story to the Facebook page, people were eager to show their support. “2034 is be a great year for us all!” one person commented.
Though Oliver might still need to wait 12 years before really seeing the action, he did get to tour the station and ride Ladder 49 (his favorite truck). So all in all it was a pretty fruitful day.
He looks right at home in the driver’s seat, doesn’t he?
Plus he went home with a certificate, a little black helmet, a teddy bear and a cookie. Everything a firefighter truly needs.
I think Oliver still has his sights set on the big shiny red helmet though. As indicated by the picture above.
Just some good, old-fashioned unbridled joy happening over here.
Oliver followed his ambition with discipline and bravery, and his new title as youngest ever recruit is well deserved.
On the same day that the artist racked up a total of 11 award nominations and five wins—a pinnacle for any music career—his personal life had also reached a pivotal point, though it wasn’t nearly as joyous. His newlywed wife Suleika Jaouad had begun chemotherapy for leukemia, after being diagnosed for a second time.
Batiste told CBS that they received the bad news only eight days before the awards ceremony, also right before his 35th birthday. Lots of big life changes. Some spectacular. Others … not so much.
Despite the fear and uncertainty, one thing has kept their spirits up: the healing power of art.
Jaouad, who wrote a bestselling memoir about her previous cancer diagnosis, described it as “holding the absolutely…gutting, heartbreaking, painful things and the beautiful, soulful things in the same palm of one hand.”
She added, “It’s hard to do that, but you have to do that, because otherwise the grief takes over.”
And just when grief threatened to take over once again, it was met with love and creativity.
The couple had only been officially married since February (which Batiste recalled as a “beautiful evening,” using bread ties to tie the knot instead of wedding bands) just before Jaouad had been scheduled for a bone marrow transplant.
The thought of a honeymoon being in a hospital room is probably not on anyone’s vision board, but the omicron surge meant that even this wasn’t an option. Jaouad told her husband that not being able to share this harrowing experience together felt like “hollow suffering.”
After being hunched over his laptop for half an hour, Batiste presented a sweet, soothing lullaby to his wife from afar, to assure her that she was not alone.
“It felt like he was right there sleeping by my bedside,” she shared. From that point on, every night meant a new lullaby for wifey.
As the Lady With the Lamp herself, Florence Nightingale once observed, “variety of form and brilliancy of colour in the objects presented to patients have a powerful effect and are actual means of recovery.” These effects have been (and continue to be) thoroughly researched and documented. Whether it’s through music, movement, visual arts or writing, art can be a refuge during crisis, providing an outlet to reduce anxiety, express difficult emotions and recover a sense of wholeness.
Scientific studies help validate the notion, but many know this already, at least on some intuitive level. Art is something every culture practices, after all. And as a creative couple, it’s something that Batiste and Jaouad know quite viscerally.
“Fill the room with these healing properties,” Batiste told CBS. “For me, [music is] my way. Everybody will have their way, you know, but seek that. Meditate on that. Focus on those things. Find those things.”
In addition to listening to lullabies, Jaouad has spent her time “finding some form of creative expression to express what feels impossible to express, to express the unendurable.”
The Utah Jazz entered the 2021-22 NBA season with ultra-high expectations, and while the team is going to make the playoffs without needing the Western Conference play-in tournament, things have just been a little bit off. The team is 47-32, good for fifth place in the West, but Utah’s inability to close out games and rumblings that Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert aren’t always on the same page have led to questions about what this team can really accomplish, both this season and beyond.
On Tuesday evening, Utah was able to quiet some of that noise with a 121-115 win over the Ja Morant-less Grizzlies. And after the game, Gobert sat down with Sam Amick of The Athletic to discuss a recent players-only meeting that the Jazz held to clear the air with one another.
“We got to sit together and just be honest with each other,” Gobert told The Athletic about the meeting he said was the first of its kind this season. “It was the whole team. And for us, the bottom line was really the communication during the game. We’ve been playing well for three quarters; I mean, we’d be first in the league if the game ended after the third…”
He laughed — sort of. If only it weren’t true.
“Obviously, the good teams step up in the fourth,” Gobert continued. “But still — we’re not a sh*tty team.”
Gobert went on to say the ability to be open and honest with one another was something everyone found helpful, telling Amick, “that’s what was great about it. I think a lot of teams have those (meetings). It’s man to man. It’s great. We all need that, whether it’s your wife or your teammates or your friends, sometimes. It’s great to just express yourself.”
The Jazz have games against the Thunder, Suns, and Blazers left on their schedule. They currently sit a half-game up on the Nuggets for the 6-seed in the West.
Barack Obama returned to the White House for the first time since Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2017 on Tuesday. The former-president was there on the 12th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act — and to crack some dad jokes about the current-president (and his former-vice president) Joe Biden. “I heard some changes have been made by the current president since I was last here,” Obama said. “Apparently Secret Service agents have to wear aviator glasses now. The Navy mess has been replaced by a Baskin Robbins. And there’s a cat running around. I guarantee you Bo and Sunny would have been very unhappy about.”
Meanwhile, Fox News hosts Laura Ingraham and Tucker Carlson and the Republican National Committee-backed RNC Research Twitter account were very happy to share footage from Obama’s visit, but only in an attempt to smear Biden. The RNC tweeted, “Literally no one wants to talk to Joe Biden,” while Carlson called him “the most unpopular person in virtually any room he enters. If you doubt it, watch this,” he said during Tuesday’s episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight.
Both Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham broadcast this deceptively clipped video to smear Joe Biden last night. Here’s the Tucker clip. pic.twitter.com/bgz3CsQO0p
The clip shows Biden looking like the Confused Travolta meme, but as Aaron Ruper, who shared the footage on his Twitter account, explained, “Biden wasn’t wandering around with nobody to talk to — he was shaking hands and making introductions.”
Ruper continued, “These aren’t randos on the fringes of social media — this is an official Republican Party organ collaborating with two of the top-rated cable news hosts in the country to make stuff up. That they’re willing to lie and fabricate so shamelessly about relatively small things speaks volumes about how the political movement they represent is bad faith all the way down.” No wonder Fox News has trust issues.
Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins died last month and shortly after, the band made the understandable decision to cancel all of their upcoming tour dates. Unfortunately, though, that leaves festivals who had Foo Fighters as a headliner in a tough spot, but now Nine Inch Nails is stepping up to help.
This morning at just about the same time, Boston Calling and Daytona Beach, Florida’s Welcome To Rockville, both of which Foo Fighters were supposed to headline, announced that Nine Inch Nails had filled their vacant headlining spots for this year’s events.
Boston Calling is set to go down from May 26 to 28 and also headlining are The Strokes and Metallica. Meanwhile, Welcome To Rockville runs from May 19 to 22 and has a rock-leaning lineup (surprise) that is led by Smashing Pumpkins, Korn, Guns N’ Roses, Kiss, and others.
Meanwhile, NIN’s Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are fresh off picking up a Grammy for Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media, for their Soul score, which they made with Jon Batiste. They actually tied for that award, as also winning was Carlos Rafael Rivera’s score for The Queen’s Gambit. Foo Fighters had a big Grammys this year, too, as they won Best Rock Album, Best Rock Song, and Best Rock Performance.
Atlanta newcomer Kali made a splash last month with the release of her debut EP, Toxic Chocolate. After taking over TikTok with her fan-favorite single “MMM MMM” and its remix featuring Latto, Kali kept the momentum going with a collection of solid offerings showcasing her brash worldview and witty reversal of standard gender war tropes. The album standout is “Standards,” which samples “Doin’ Just Fine” by Boyz II Men and Kali dressing down a trifling ex.
Now, she’s paired the scintillating track with a sexy, cinematic video that visualizes the scenarios from the relatable lyrics. The video toes the line bordering NSFW, with Kali and her girls commiserating over their relationship troubles in lacy lingerie and Kali arguing with her man in the shower.
Kali is currently on the road with Latto on the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour promoting Latto’s debut album 777. After attending the Los Angles stop at the Novo, I can safely say that Kali is the real deal. Her performance won over an audience that was nearing capacity by the time she hit the stage, and “MMM MMM” was a certified crowd-pleaser.
Watch Kali’s “Standards” video above.
Kali is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Tuesday night at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, CA, R&B star HER absolutely showed out on the latest stop on the ongoing tour for her debut album, Back Of My Mind. You would think, given the multi-instrumentalist’s status as an awards show fixture, that this wouldn’t be a surprise. But somehow, even though I knew going in what kind of a performer she is, I was still unprepared for just how much I’d catch myself getting into the performance.
Maybe there’s something to not letting small glimpses feel like the big picture. Although we’ve all “seen” HER going for broke in at least a dozen televised broadcasts over the past three years, the constraints of a single song performance just don’t do her justice. Her vocal range will blow you away. Her mastery of the stage is truly astonishing. The way she oozes charisma and easygoing NorCal charm when she interacts with the audience is inspiring. Even her laid-back tour uniform — an oversized silk shirt and Nikes — seems aimed at putting the star in her element, like we’re all just hanging out in her living room (her 6,000-plus capacity living room) enjoying a jam session.
And jam she does. In addition to playing both her established hits like “Damage” and “Focus,” she displays a staggering wealth of musical appreciation. In the course of her 90-minute set, she reeled off a medley of rock hits including Joan Jett’s, “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll” and Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” played portions of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On suite, and delivered thrilling renditions of Ed Sheeran’s “Make It Rain” and Lenny Kravitz’s “Are You Gonna Go My Way” (the latter of which she performed with the man himself at the recent Grammys ceremony). “Virtuoso” doesn’t seem like a strong enough word. But in recalling that Grammy’s ceremony, HER’s performance highlighted something that feels like a growing problem within the music industry.
In the days since the 64th annual Grammy Awards last Sunday, there has been a lot of cynical derisive chatter online about so-called “Grammy-core.” You probably know that snobby music writer appellative used to deride a certain kind of prestigious and popular musician. It suggests that some artists — perhaps the ones favored by the “Grammys audience,” whatever that is — aren’t cool or edgy or gritty enough just because your mom likes them or something.
The thing about that line of thinking is that, aside from being completely juvenile in origin (seriously, most of you ARE the uncool parents, so pipe down), it is totally disrespectful of those artists who actually care about the art. Maybe they’re popular and respected by their peers because they care. Because they put in the work. Because they’re professional and polished and practiced (an underrated, too often overlooked quality) or because they had the dedication to toil quietly behind the scenes before taking the hard-won spotlight they worked so hard to deserve.
The thing about a career artist like HER is that she’s not some fly-by-night, devil-may-care newcomer — and that’s a good thing, not a bad one. Maybe that’s not rebellious enough for some folks but I would contend that this makes her more of a rebel than any number of viral success stories who affect a cavalier air of indifference toward their art and careers. Personally, I never trust an artist who works harder to convince their audience that they don’t care how they’re perceived… Usually, they care the most, but never enough to actually put in the work.
HER does. She loves music. And, for what it’s worth, people actually love her back. Throughout the show, the diverse audience didn’t just sing along, they straight-up belted just about every song. HER’s genuine appreciation for music was reflected in the crowd around her. It was reflected in the way she was happy to cede the spotlight to her 17-year-old backup singer during her Daniel Caesar duet “Best Part,” beaming like a proud auntie. It was reflected in how she acknowledged her Grammys success with a lighthearted flex but insisted — sincerely — that she loved performing for the people at the YouTube Theater more.
That sincerity, I think, isn’t just what makes her an awesome performer… It makes her cool, much cooler than the people who performatively slag off anything too popular or sincere. She’s comfortable in herself, in her talent, in her skill, and in the relationship between artists and their audience. She’s comfortable enough that she doesn’t feel compelled to do anything more than play for the love of playing, sing for the love of singing, and humbly accept the accolades and adoration that come her way as a result. HER isn’t just one of the best performers in music today, she’s one of the coolest, and she deserves to be acknowledged as such.
Sharon Van Etten‘s sixth album We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong is set for release next month. This morning, Van Etten revealed a 45-second trailer containing photos of her recording the album, spending time with family, and traveling.
While this trailer offers fans a taste of what to expect from Van Etten’s new chapter, they shouldn’t expect much else between now and the time of the album’s release: Van Etten also revealed that she will not release any of the album’s songs as singles. Her recently released singles, “Porta” and “Used To It,” don’t exist as part of the album’s universe.
“I wanted to approach this release differently, to engage my fans in an intentional way, in an effort to present the album as a whole body of work,” said Van Etten in a statement. “These ten songs are designed to be listened to in order, at once, so that a much larger story of hope, loss, longing, and resilience can be told. I wanted to convey that in an image with me walking away from it all, not necessarily brave, not necessarily sad, not necessarily happy.”
Later this year, Van Etten will embark on The Wild Hearts Tourwith Angel Olsen, Julien Baker, and Spencer, but before then, she will play select dates in North America and Europe, the latter of which will be for her Darkness Fades tour. Tickets are available for purchase here.
Check out the We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong trailer above and the tracklist and cover art below, along with Van Etten’s upcoming tour dates.
While craft brewers are still cranking out West Coast IPAs, fruited sours, hazy IPAs, and all manner of barrel-aged stouts and porters, there seems to be a slight shift in the last few years, towards beer that, to paraphrase an old Denis Leary-ism, tastes likebeer. We’re speaking specifically here about the classic, iconic, fresh, crisp pilsner.
This light, easy-drinking beer was named for the Bohemian city of Pilsen, where the style originated way back in 1842. While trendier beer styles and unique, over-the-top flavors grab the headlines, for many drinkers it’s still hard to pass up a tasty, thirst-quenching pilsner.
Chris Collier, brewer at Biggerstaff Brewing in Atlanta, believes the best pilsners are those made by traditional brewers in Europe who have been brewing the pale lager since its creation. “I’m specifically a fan of clean, crisp, and refreshing German pilsners, which showcase noble hop flavors and med/high bitterness.”
Yet when it comes to the pilsner marketplace in 2022, there’s a nice mix of classic and contemporary. When we asked our panel of brewers to name their favorites, we heard about traditional pilsners from the Czech Republic and Germany and American craft versions in almost equal measure. It seems that these days, no region has a monopoly on crispy boys.
One of my favorite pilsner styles is Czech Pils. They are a bit more complex than your German Pilsner. They are slightly sweet with a spicy hop character to them. I enjoy these because they are a clean lager with more flavor than your typical pilsner. The perfect end-of-shift beer. One of the best examples of an American-made Czech-style pilsner is Notch Session Pils. It’s crisp, refreshing, and the closest thing you can get to an actual Czech lager in the states.
A great pilsner has to have great malt character, and Three Fates from Seattle’s Holy Mountain Brewing delivers on that front better than pretty much any pilsner I’ve tasted. The flavor is round, full, and classic, with hints of oyster crackers and a fresh sourdough bread note that becomes toastier as the beer warms in the mouth. The hops are bright and herbal, but that smooth malt is the star—as it should be.
Trumer Pils – Trumer Pils is everything you look for in a pilsner with a crisp bitterness, light body, and great noble hop character. Trumer Pils is a beer that is easy to appreciate and hard to pass up. While unfortunately not distributed to the Boston market, it’s a must-buy whenever I can get my hands on it.
Firestone Walker Pivo Pils. Hoppy pilsners are amongst my favorite styles and this is one of the best of them around. Formative in my craft beer education, it’s a perfect blend of floral, citrus, and spice. It’s my desert-island beer.
The Tank Brewery Playita Pils
The Tank Brewery
Marshall Hendrickson, co-founder and head of brewing operations at Veza Sur Brewing in Miami
The Tank Brewery Playita Pils is my pick. Playita Pils is a perfect example of the style – it’s got a clean malt flavor with some subtle noble hop flavor and aroma. While most beers taste better the fresher they are, I find this particularly true for pilsners (and lagers in general). So, if I’m in Miami drinking Playita, I can guarantee it’s always going to be fresh.
Austin Beer Garden Brewery’s Industry Pils is delicious. It has a bold hop flavor that really pushes the boundaries, yet works so well with this crisp, clean beer. It’s a refreshing, delicious, easy-drinking beer for any time of year.
Slow Pour Pils from Bierstadt Lagerhaus is one of the best pilsners made in the US and possibly the world. The beer is a perfect display of brewing acumen with a glistening straw-colored body and a rocky, white head, bursting with the finest hop aromatics. This beer is genuinely and authentically Pils.
This one is easy because it is a world-class example of a pilsner – Pilsner Urquell. The world’s first pilsner, it gets a lot of its unique flavor from the soft water profile in the underground wells that feed the city of Pilsen (Plzeň). I visited in 2019 and it was an amazing city full of great beer, good food, and nice people that spoke a language I can never begin to understand.
This Bohemian-style pilsner is a classic malt-forward, crisp, refreshing beer that hits the spot any time of year, but especially when the weather starts to warm up. The traditional, bright flavors make this one of the best interpretations of the Czech-style lager. It’s a beer you’ll go back to again and again.
While Pilsner Urquell gets a lot of acclaim in the pilsner world, we believe you shouldn’t sleep on Bitburger. This German pilsner is known for its crispy, refreshing flavor with a nice, grainy malt backbone and floral, slightly bitter Noble hops. It’s hard to beat its crushability on a hot day too.
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.
deceptively clipped video to smear Joe Biden last night. Here’s the Tucker clip. 
and head of marketing at 
