Month: April 2022

As the wise man once said, “there’s a beer for every season.” Certain craft beer releases — winter lagers, spiced holiday ales, Oktoberfest’s Märzens, spiced pumpkin ales, the list goes on … and on — just seem particularly dialed for a specific time of year. Of course, nobody should tell someone not to drink a Guinness on a hazy, humid, summer day or a hoppy, bitter IPA on a frigid winter night, if that’s what they enjoy.

Moreover, there are a few beer styles with flavor profiles that work well for every month of the year. It’s those beers we’re celebrating today.

We asked a few well-known craft beer experts to point us in the right direction and tell us the one beer of any style they drink all year long. Check out their choices and maybe you’ll find a new beer to stock in your fridge as a year-round favorite.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

David Ringler, director of Happiness at Cedar Springs Brewing Company in Grand Rapids. Michigan

ABV: 5.6%

Average Price: $11 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is simply the classic American craft ale and is a world-class beer, regardless of style. I think people forget, in the constant chase for “new,” how good this beer is, with that perfect balance of floral aromas, pine, and just right malty backbone.

3 Fonteinen Oud Gueuze

Andy Innes, lead brewer at Phillips Brewing & Malting Co. Ltd. In Victoria, British Columbia

ABV: 6.5%

Average Price: $27 for a 750ml bottle

Why This Beer?

I drink 3 Fonteinen Gueuze blends all year long (especially Oud Gueuze). The beer has an astounding depth and complexity of aroma with layers and layers of flavor. It’s tart, funky, fruity, and oaky, everything you’d want in a gueuze. It has a true aspect of terroir, and it pairs well with many foods and even desserts.

Human Robot Czech 10

Sean Towers, owner and brewer at The Seed: A Living Beer Project in Atlantic City

ABV: 4.2%

Average Price: Limited Availability

Why This Beer?

A beer that I drink all year long is Czech 10 from the good folks over the river in Philadelphia at Human Robot. Czech 10 is a traditionally inspired pale Czech lager brewed using old-world techniques and simple ingredients. It carries everything I want in a low ABV, easy-drinking beer with subtlety, nuance, and a crisp clean finish. It is so easy to go back to this beer over and over again. Depending on my mood, I can think about the super simple yet complex malt character, the balanced fresh hop presence, and the squeaky-clean fermentation profile. Or, I can simply drink a bunch of these while belly laughing with friends over something meaningless and not think about the beer at all aside from the fact that every sip continues to perpetuate the smiles.

Lagunitas A Little Sump’in Sump’in Ale

Hector Cavazos, owner and head brewer at Rebel Toad Brewery in Corpus Christi, Texas

ABV: 7.5%

Average Price: $9 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

Lagunitas A Little Sump’in Sump’in Ale is my pick. It has a great floral nose, tropical flavors, and just the right amount of hops. With a recipe of 50 percent wheat and 50 percent malted barley, it’s a unique, hoppy, and fruity IPA with a nice piney, malty backbone.

St. Bernardus Abt 12

Douglas Constantiner, founder and CEO of Societe Brewing in San Diego

ABV: 10%

Average Price: $19 for a four-pack

Why This Beer?

For me, it’s St. Bernardus Abt 12. That beer’s ability to showcase the complexities of stone fruit, dried fruit, and rich maltiness while being extremely drinkable makes it a go-to. Additionally, it’s a great beer for pairing with special date night dinners. It has the ability to be an elegant beer but also something you can enjoy simply, without food on a regular night. All that and it’s widely available.

Weihenstephaner Original Helles

Douglas Hasker, head brewer at Puesto Cerveceria in San Diego

ABV: 5.1%

Average Price: $10.50 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans

Why This Beer?

I’d go with Weihenstephaner Original Helles. It’s dry enough to drink all year long with enough malt richness to keep you satisfied in winter. It’s a true classic, crisp, and refreshing beer from the world’s oldest brewery. If you’re going to drink a helles lager, make it this one.

Vonn Trapp Vienna Lager

Mike Kelly, senior brewer at Harpoon Brewery in Boston

ABV: 5.2%

Average Price: $9 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

Von Trapp Vienna Lager is my pick. The crisp bitterness, toasted malt character combined with noble hop aromatics, and full taste make this the perfect beer to drink whether you’re on the beach or on the slopes. It’s definitely a beer that you can enjoy all year long.

Tree House Julius

Alex Wenner, owner of Lasting Joy Brewery in Tivoli, New York

ABV: 6.8%

Average Price: $5.50 for a 16-ounce can

Why This Beer?

Tree House Brewing Co’s Julius is well-praised, and for good reason. It’s the standard by which I judge all Hazy IPAs. There’s over the top, punch you in the face citrus and mango hop flavor that is backed up by the perfect amount of malt sweetness and hop bitterness. It’s the bitterness that makes it far more drinkable, making you crave sweet sip after sip.

It’s a perfectly balanced take on this hyped-up style.

Pilsner Urquell

Frank Gervasi, Certified Cicerone and general manager at Arizona Wilderness Brewing in Phoenix

ABV: 4.4%

Average Price: $10 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

Being in Arizona, the weather is almost always perfect to grab a crisp lager. Pilsner Urquell is my go-to. Super clean with a nice aroma, it’s always stocked in my fridge. It’s the beer that created the style and remains refreshing and flavorful to this day.

The Tank Playita Pilsner

Marshall Hendrickson, co-founder and head of operations at Veza Sur Brewing in Miami

ABV: 5.1%

Average Price: $12 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

The Tank Brewery Playita Pils is a great choice. Playita Pils is one of my favorite year-round beers. I can always find it in Miami, and it’s always fresh, crisp, and well-balanced. It’s a versatile beer for any occasion. I also really love pilsners, so you can never go wrong with a Playita.

Abita Strawberry Lager

Todd Bellmyer, head brewer at Wynkoop Brewing Company in Denver

ABV: 4.2%

Average Price: $9 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

It doesn’t matter if it’s hot or cold out, it is always a good time for Abita Brewing Co.’s Strawberry Lager. It’s crisp, clean, and light in body but still full of strawberry aroma and flavor. This is a beer that I can enjoy on its own or drink six of them.

Weihenstephaner Pilsner

Jesse Mix, regional manager of beer and soft drinks at Sprecher Brewing Company in Glendale, Wisconsin

ABV: 5.1%

Average Price: $12 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

Weihenstephaner Pilsner is a very traditional crisp, dry, and refreshing beer in a world where beer is trying to be anything else. It has floral aromatics and slightly sweet bready malts with a dry finish. This is a recipe for success in my book.

Oskar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils

Ryan Pachmayer, head brewer at Yak & Yeti Brewpub and Restaurant in Arvada, Colorado

ABV: 4.7%

Average Price: $9 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

Oskar Blue’s Mama’s Little Yella Pils always seems to be around. Whether it’s volleyball games in the summer, mountain biking trips deep in the desert, or winter house parties, there are always cans of Mama’s around. It’s not terribly expensive, it has a good clean bitterness to it with grainy malt underneath, and it’s clean and crisp. It’s an easy-to-drink one to get things started or knock back a few after a long day.

The Alchemist Focal Banger

Rob Day, director of marketing for Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers in Framingham, Massachusetts

ABV: 7%

Average Price: $20 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans

Why This Beer?

Focal Banger from The Alchemist is my pick. I know Heady gets most of the spotlight, but Focal is a fuller spectrum flavor to me hitting all the right notes of bitter, floral, and fruit. Citra and Mosiac hops, as well as British malts, give this a well-balanced flavor that will make you rethink how you feel about New England IPAs.

A few months ago, Rick Ross was the subject of a viral moment when a video of him excusing himself to the bathroom in the middle of a podcast interview and never returning caught fire on Twitter. In December of 2021, Ross appeared on the 85 South Show to talk about his new album, Richer Than I Ever Been. During the interview, he told the hosts, “Let me use the restroom one time and I’m a take this jacket off.” However, it soon became apparent that the rapper has no intention of returning, having left the building and headed to the airport.

The incident tickled many fans on Twitter, who were amused by Ross’ apparent snub of the show. Today, during a new interview with New York radio show The Breakfast Club, Ross attempted to explain why he dipped mid-interview, although his explanation still offered little insight into just what caused him to hustle out of the studio before the show was done.

“I think I was just really in the zone,” he says. “I was smoked out good, I was in the zone. When I’m in the zone and get one of those money calls, I just ease out.” He says he didn’t even realize he’d caused such a commotion. “When I found out about it was already everywhere online,” he admits. “I ain’t even realize it.”

Rick Ross has been a viral Twitter magnet in recent months, amusing fans with his home maintenance and small personal triumphs.

070 Shake has announced her new album, You Can’t Kill Me, set for release later this year. Ahead of the album, she dropped a new single, “Skin And Bones,” on which, she delivers her signature, raspy vocals over rattling drums and spacey guitar licks.

In the song’s video, directed by Noah Lee, we see Shake begrudgingly model for a portrait, enjoy a diner breakfast with a Marilyn Monroe lookalike, and dance onstage wearing football padding as rain pours down.

Shake’s second album doesn’t have a release date yet, but is planned for release later this spring via G.O.O.D. Music and Def Jam. She is set to go on tour later next month.

Check out “Skin And Bones” above, and the album artwork and tour dates below.

05/07 — Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre
05/08 — Chicago, IL @ House Of Blues Chicago
05/12 — Montreal, Canada @ Théâtre Corona
05/14 — New York City, NY @ Terminal 5
05/15 — Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore
05/17 — Toronto, Canada @ History
05/18 — Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre Of Living Arts
05/20 — Boston, MA @ Big Night Live
05/21 — Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
05/25 — Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues Dallas
05/26 — Houston, TX @ House Of Blues Houston
05/28 — Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
05/29 — Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep
06/01 — Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf
06/02 — Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
06/04 — Sacramento, CA @ Ace Of Spades
06/07 — Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
06/08 — Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
06/09 — Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
06/10 — Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
07/08 — Surrey, Canada @ FVDED In The Park
09/09 — Oslo, Norway @ Vulkan Arena
09/10 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg

For generations, men have wondered what they can do to be more attractive to women (with the exception of those who aren’t interested). Men have turned to pick-up artist guides, love doctors, and YouTube advisors, but it turns out that all it takes is a few simple clothing items. At least, according to Nicki Minaj, who shared some of her thoughts on menswear on Twitter. If they want to be more attractive, she says, “Men should wear gray sweatpants. Everyday. Well if they want some ass that day. With crispy sneakers.”

Of course, there’s a downside, as well. The rapper warned, “If I see one scuff ima put my pussy back in the drawer.” She also mentions light blue jeans, although it’s unclear which category those fall into: “Getting ass” or “back in the drawer.” To be on the safe side, maybe y’all should just stick with the gray sweats and clean sneaks — a truly classic combination — and while you’re at it, a little personal hygiene never hurt anyone’s chances.

When she’s not giving sage sartorial advice, Nicki has apparently been working on a new album, which a festival suggested will be out by summer. Generating hype for the album, she’s released a slew of new singles including “We Go Up” featuring Fivio Foreign and “Bussin” and “Do We Have A Problem?” featuring Lil Baby.

When it comes to warm-weather cocktails, it’s hard to beat a simple yet refreshing highball. For the uninitiated, a highball is any drink that consists of a non-alcoholic mixer like soda pop, fizzy mineral water, juice, or, say, tonic, and a measure of any spirit served in a tall highball (or Collins) glass with plenty of ice. This means drinks like the Seven and Seven, Jack and Coke, Cape Codder, or Cuba Libre are all highballs.

Yet more often than not, when someone orders a “highball,” what they mean is a classic whisky highball made with a measure of whisky topped with carbonated water (and sometimes garnished with a citrus twist). All you need for any highball is a tall highball glass (or a Collins glass that’s around six to eight ounces), ice, whisky, and nice and fizzy club soda or mineral water.

When it comes to which whisky to actually use, this drink is really versatile. You can use really whatever whisky (or whiskey) you like. Though, if you’re looking for a more “classic” version, then highballs with Scotch whisky or Japanese whisky are going to be the play. That’s the simple, breezy, casual answer. But if you’re anything like me, part of you is always going to wonder which one is the best. In the interests of science, I’ll be employing here the good ol’ blind taste test.

For this blind tasting, I chose four Japanese whiskies and four Scotch whiskies, all under $45. Each was mixed into a whisky highball with Polar Club Soda and blindly nosed and tasted to find out which actually makes the best, most refreshing highball for spring and summer drinking.

Scotch Whiskies:

• Chivas Regal 12
• Compass Box Artist Blend
• Glenmorangie X
• Monkey Shoulder

Japanese Whiskies:

• Suntory Toki
• Kojiki Finest
• Mars Whisky Iwai
• Hatozaki Finest

Let’s try these highballs!

Part 1: The Taste

Taste #1

Tasting Notes:

There’s a surprising amount of heat on this whisky’s nose. There are also some slight fruity flavors, but a ton of cracked black pepper. Taking a sip of this cocktail reveals some more flavors including caramel, dried fruits, and even more pepper. While not overwhelming by any degree, the spiciness of this whisky won’t appeal to all drinkers.

Taste #2

Tasting Notes:

There’s a lot of sweetness on this whisky’s nose. There are hints of caramel candy, vanilla cream, sticky toffee, and a slightly fruity aroma. The palate is highlighted by butterscotch, dried fruits, almond cookies, and some cinnamon at the finish. It pairs well with soda water but might be a little too sweet for some palates.

Taste #3

Tasting Notes:

Complex aromas of vanilla, citrus, caramel apples, and a slight herbal quality greet your nose. The palate is a symphony of candied orange peels, almond cookies, butterscotch, vanilla beans, and just a hint of peppery spice at the very end. All in all, this is a very complex, flavorful whisky that definitely stands up in a highball.

Taste #4

Tasting Notes:

Vanilla cream, dried cherries, raisins, and candied orange peels are heavy on this whisky’s nose and I like it. Taking a sip of the drink reveals flavors of dried orange peels, toasted vanilla beans, brown sugar, caramel candy, and a gentle hit of wintry spices at the finish that pairs well with the soda water.

Taste #5

Tasting Notes:

The nose is fairly muted with some orange peel, toffee, and maybe some cinnamon, but not much else after the addition of soda water. The palate is a combination of caramel candy, slightly dried fruit flavors, and more spices. While not terrible, this whisky definitely gets a little lost behind the soda water.

Taste #6

Tasting Notes:

The nose is highlighted by aromas of candied orange peels, toasted vanilla beans, caramel candy, and a slight fruity scent. Taking a sip of this drink reveals riper tropical fruits, more candied orange peel, butterscotch, and just a kiss of peat smoke to round everything together.

Taste #7

Tasting Notes:

Citrus, toffee, honey, and slight spices are prevalent on the nose. Sipping it reveals toasted vanilla beans, candied orange peels, and some nutty sweetness peeking through the soda water. This is a decent, refreshing whisky highball, but lacks some of the complex, varied flavors I’d hope for.

Taste #8

Tasting Notes:

There’s not much going on with this whisky’s nose. It’s really getting lost in the mix. But I was able to find some vanilla, slight honey, and maybe some almond essence. Otherwise, nothing. The palate is a little more exciting with some dried fruits, toffee, and a little spiciness. But overall it’s fairly bland it doesn’t hold up when mixed with soda water.

Part 2: The Rankings

8) Mars Whisky Iwai (Taste 8)

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $31

The Whisky:

Founded in 1985, Mars Shinshu, located in Nagano Prefecture, is the highest distillery at almost 3,000 feet above sea level. Mars Whisky Iwai is a blend of malt and grain whiskies that are aged between two and five years in ex-bourbon barrels.

Bottom Line:

Mars Whisky Iwai is really cheap when it comes to Japanese whisky and for good reason. There’s not much going on with this whisky that would make me ever want to use it as the base for a whisky highball again.

7) Monkey Shoulder (Taste 5)

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $35

The Whisky:

Monkey Shoulder is a blended malt whisky that was literally created to be used as a mixer. Sure, you can sip it on its own, but it’s supposed to be mixed with other flavors. This award-winning blend of multiple whiskies is known for its versatile, mellow flavor that’s well-suited for whisky highballs.

Bottom Line:

Monkey Shoulder is known for its mixability and inexpensive price. You’re not paying for heaps of nuanced flavor. It’s not very exciting but gets the job done, and that’s about it. If you’re looking for something more, you’ll be smart to keep scrolling.

6) Hatozaki Finest (Taste 1)

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $37

The Whisky:

The name Hatozaki comes from the oldest stone lighthouse in all of Japan which was built in 1657 in Akashi. Made at Kaikyo Distillery, it’s made in a two-stage blending process and consists of a blend of five to six-year-old small batch single malt whiskies that are aged in ex-bourbon, sherry, and mizunara casks.

Bottom Line:

This was my first time drinking Hatozaki and I found it, when mixed into a highball, to be a little too spicy. Perhaps sipping it neat is a better idea?

5) Glenmorangie X (Taste 7)

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $39

The Whisky:

Glenmorangie is a big name in the single malt whisky world. While you can’t go wrong with a bottle of Glenmorangie The Original or one of its other expressions for a whisky highball, it’s hard to beat the value and quality of its mixing whisky, Glenmorangie X. This single malt whisky was aged in ex-bourbon and new charred oak casks to create a smooth, easy to mix whisky.

Bottom Line:

Glenmorangie X was crafted to be used as a mixer. Sure, it’s a single malt whisky, but it’s not overly complex. For the price, it’s a decent base for a whisky highball but didn’t really stand out that much in this ranking.

4) Chivas Regal 12 (Taste 2)

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $29.99

The Whisky:

There are a ton of great blended Scotch whiskies on the market, but one of the best for the price is Chivas Regal 12. Chivas’ flagship whisky is a blend of Speyside whiskies including Strathisla single malt and Strathclyde single grain. It’s known for its mellow, easy-to-sip, easy-to–mix flavor profile.

Bottom Line:

Chivas 12 is a good choice for whisky highball fans who prefer their base to be sugary sweet and fairly light. Otherwise, try to find something with a little more substance.

3) Kojiki Finest (Taste 6)

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $44

The Whisky:

This blended whisky from Kojiki Distillery in Kansai near Kyoto is made up of 40% barley (some of the barley is peated), 30% wheat, and 30% corn. It’s distilled in pot stills and aged for a minimum of three years in ex-bourbon barrels before being finished in Sauternes wine barrel for three months and champagne casks for four more months.

Bottom Line:

If you have aspirations of trying a smoky Islay whisky as a base for a whisky highball, but you’re afraid of the smoke being overwhelming, this subtly smoky Japanese whisky is a great gateway. That subtlety is why it’s ranked this high but it’s still a little one-note for me.

2) Compass Box Artist’s Blend (Taste 4)

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $33

The Whisky:

Compass Box has made a name for itself in the blended Scotch whisky marketplace in the last decade. While it might be one of the brand’s cheapest whiskies, Compass Box Artist’s Blend doesn’t taste like it is. This flavorful blend of single malt and single grain whiskies was created to pay homage to the whisky blenders of the 1800s who set the standard for today’s blends.

Bottom Line:

I wasn’t surprised to see Compass Box Artist’s Blend rating so highly on this list. It’s very complex, flavorful, and well-balanced and shines through soda water. This was easily in the top but just missed the number one slot.

1) Suntory Toki (Taste 3)

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $36

The Whisky:

One of the best gateway whiskies into Japanese whisky, Suntory Toki was created to be used as a base for whisky highballs due to their popularity in the country. A blend of whiskies from Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita, it’s known for its complex, well-balanced, and mixable flavor.

Bottom Line:

When I realized Suntory Toki took the top spot, I was not at all surprised. It was literally created to be used in highballs so it should be obvious that the flavor profile would be a perfect complement. And this really did stand out and above the rest of the list, with a full-bodied flavor profile that shined through the soda water to the very end.

“Ain’t no rule says a dog can’t play basketball.”

John Oliver (who skewered One Tree Hill last week, no joke) has had enough of Air Bud, and he’s apparently chosen 2022 to settle some personal beefs about a 1997 movie. Why? Because there’s no rule that says he can’t do it.

Alright! Last Week Tonight took a week off the air, and there’s no time like the present for Oliver to get his Air Bud angst out of his system with a web exclusive. The host ranted for a full 15 minutes on the subject, which is basically Oliver in his natural habitat, sure, but he wanted everyone to know that he wants to address this topic (and why not? one can’t be super serious all the time).

“You’re thinking, ‘He must get paid extra to do these web exclusives,’” Oliver freely acknowledged at one moment. “I don’t … I’m not talking about ‘Air Bud’ because I have to. I’m doing it because I want to.”

Well then. Naturally, this quasi-rage sounds just about right for anyone whose kid made them watch Snow Buddies four times on repeat in one day (I wish that I’d made that up because those fart jokes still haunt me), but more to the point, Oliver took a shot at the rules of the film and how the franchise went so far (with double digits of followup movies) off base that it essentially turned into The Avengers with cape-wearing dogs. He made a valid point about how the movie walked a delicate ethical line about the kind of life Buddy deserves, and gave a valid nod towards Internet content. However, there’s nothing more damning about Air Bud than this revelation:

There you have it, Harvey Weinstein was ruining Air Bud all along. Ugh.

Bowen Yang was an immediate sensation on Saturday Night Live, becoming the show’s biggest breakout star in years. And like other SNL MVPs before him, including Kristen Wiig and Eddie Murphy, he’s transitioning to the big screen, beginning with Fire Island.

Directed by Andrew Ahn, Fire Island follows two best friends, played by Yang and writer Joel Kim Booster, during a summer trip to Long Island’s Fire Island, the site of one of the oldest queer communities in the United States. The comedy is inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, particularly the author’s “observations about the way people are awful to each other without being awful to each other,” Kim Booster told Vanity Fair. “I was like, oh, my God. This is shade. This is what gay men do all the time.”

You can watch the trailer above. Here’s the official plot synopsis:

Set in the iconic Pines, Andrew Ahn’s Fire Island is an unapologetic, modern day rom-com showcasing a diverse, multicultural examination of queerness and romance. Inspired by the timeless pursuits from Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice, the story centers around two best friends (Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang) who set out to have a legendary summer adventure with the help of cheap rosé and their cadre of eclectic friends.

Fire Island premieres on Hulu on June 3.

Lizzo had a big weekend, as she made a surprise appearance during Harry Styles’ Coachella set. Now, Lizzo has plenty more big weekends ahead, as she just announced a 2022 run of show, dubbed The Special Tour.

It kicks off with late-September shows in Florida before making its way across the continent, hitting major cities like Boston, New York, Toronto, and other usual suspects. The run, at least in terms of the currently announced dates, ends with a November 18 show in Los Angeles. Latto is set to open the tour.

Check out the full list of tour dates below.

09/23 — Sunrise, FL @ FLA Live Arena
09/24 — Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
09/27 — Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena
09/29 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
09/30 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden
10/02 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
10/06 — Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
10/07 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
10/11 — St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
10/14 — Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center
10/16 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
10/18 — Indianapolis, IN @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse
10/20 — Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
10/22 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
10/23 — Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
10/25 — Austin, TX @ Moody Center
10/26 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
10/28 — Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
10/31 — Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
11/02 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Vivint Arena
11/04 — Portland, OR @ Moda Center
11/07 — Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
11/09 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
11/12 — San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center
11/18 — Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum

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

No one ever expected Ozark (much like Breaking Bad, with which the Netflix show shares heavy vibes and a similar dynamic) to have a happy ending (or even close). There’s simply no way that all of the remaining characters who matter — the Byrde quartet and Ruth Langmore — would saunter off unscathed into the sunset. For one thing, Marty and Wendy sucked their kids into money-laundering hell, and there’s no way they can simply return to their unassuming suburban-Chicago existence after dancing with a drug lord; and the show didn’t shy away from starting the already released first half of the season with a rollover vehicle crash for the fam without telling us what happened. For another thing, the amount of loss that Ruth’s suffered means that she’ll probably never not be miserable and haunted, no matter if she lives or dies.

With that out of the way, whew, this is a difficult review to roll around in my head. That’s the case not only because there are so many spoilerific developments but also because the newest trailer was somewhat misleading. I’m being very vague, but let’s just say that this final batch of episodes will be controversial. People will unload their opinions and arguments and takes. I’m both looking forward to and dreading how everyone reacts. The ending is intense. It’s savage and shattering. I’m not thrilled with the full outcome, and I’m still working through the process of why certain decisions were made.

The key to balancing such a final season is to make sure that the fates of these characters (some of whom are beloved, even begrudgingly so at times) are at least handled in a believable and justifiable way. Does Ozark do so? Well, I’ve watched the remaining episodes and obviously cannot and will not spoil what happens to them. We can talk that out after Season 4, Part II releases, but what I can say is this: get ready because you aren’t prepared for what goes down.

First, however, the show picks up in the immediate aftermath of Ruth raging at Marty and Wendy over Javi’s twin murder involving Wyatt. Baby Zeke is still onboard, but for all practical purposes, Ruth’s lost everyone dear to her. Ben’s gone, Wyatt’s gone, and her last ounce of give-a-sh*t is gone. She’s long-stopped caring what Marty thinks, and she’s gone both full circle and nowhere at all. Julia Garner’s performance is, as always, ferocious, but beyond the grim circumstances with which this season begins…

…there’s still some joy to be found in Ruth’s journey. While it’s debatable whether she “knows sh*t about f*ck,” especially while full of fury, she’s more in-command than Marty at this point. And we get to see Ruth in some new settings, where she’s hellbent upon going gangster against Marty and Wendy’s wishes. Along the way, she has a chance meeting with a very special cameo star, and in that encounter, she’s more alive we’ve seen her be during most of the show And she’s coping as best as she can while shouting things like, “F*ck off, Dr. Phil!” and candidly admitting, “I really appreciate your sh*t.” God, I love Ruth and that godforsaken goat-shaped cookie jar, which also returns.

Ruth does realize some dreams this season, too. And fortunately, she completely sees through Marty and Wendy’s BS at this point. We’ve already known that Marty lost his grip on everyone a long time ago. He failed to maintain any semblance of control on the situation, and Jason Bateman has always done a fine job of exuding the weariness of a c*cked husband (one who can’t even muster up the tiniest scrap of dignity akin to Ben Affleck as the Alpha Cuck in Deep Water), who then got sucked into being a lackey for a drug lord. I mean, what a spectacular ride to the bottom that it’s been for Marty Byrde.

Ironically, Marty and Wendy were supposed to be at the top of the empire after Navarro shot Helen’s face off in the final moments of Season 3. Yet it’s still more of the same for Marty. He’s supposed to be in charge, but nope, Wendy is the Byrde who’s really running the joint, although “winning” isn’t happening for anyone on this show. Marty wouldn’t be alive without Wendy pulling strings and showing absolutely no scruples or remorse for her actions, but yup, it’s Wendy’s fault that her own brother is dead. Yet finally, in this season, there’s some comeuppance for her sins.

Actually, one thing that I really enjoyed about this final Ozark rodeo is that Wendy really has to do some groveling. She’s almost lost all of her humanity at this point in the series, and she’s argued all this time that she’s only defending her family. Make no mistake, though: Wendy Byrde is a fascinating character, but god, she is a terrible, inherently manipulative person with absolutely no moral compass (any Skylar White comparisons have never really worked, so let’s not go there). There was a point, extremely early on, where it was possible to feel sympathy for Wendy’s plight, but there’s no end to the anguish that she causes for everyone. She’s pushed for advances into the Byrde life of crime even while Marty wanted to pull back and play it relatively safe. None of this, of course, even hints at Wendy’s ultimate fate.

Alright, so it’s time to deal with a massive elephant in the room, meaning that I must address how the show teed up this moment (and I ain’t saying jack about Wendy here):

Yup, that moment launched the fourth season, as we saw a few months ago. And we’ve been left to wonder who, if anyone, survives that crash. It didn’t look good, that’s for damn sure, and Ozark leaves no one hanging in the “who” department after the collision. Now, the “why” of the crash, well, that’s more than a little bit confusing. Like I already said, there will be plenty to discuss about how this series ends. For now (and because there are many prohibited happenings that can be discussed later), it’s enough to finish up with this impression: within a show that’s strongly resembled Breaking Bad, there are no “Ozymandias” or “Felina”-grade episodes to be found here. The final flourishes simply aren’t of the Breaking Bad caliber (that’s almost fitting since Better Call Saul will hopefully be carrying that torch in its own final episodes), but overall, this last round is just fine, and shattering enough to still be Ozark without being spectacular.

Netflix’s ‘Ozark’ will come to an end on April 29.

DaBaby has maintained that his killing of a young man named Jaylin Craig in 2018 was out of self-defense, however, Rolling Stone has unearthed a new video it says undercuts his claim. In the video, taken in 2018, Craig and his best friend, Henry Douglas, walk into a Walmart in North Carolina. Craig sees a then relatively unknown DaBaby, however, Douglas was unsure if it was, in fact, the rapper. The two walked near DaBaby, who was shopping with his then-girlfriend Mariah Osborne and their children, in an attempt to verify that it was him, which seemingly aggravated the rapper.

“That’s what eventually started it; when he took it the wrong way,” Douglas told Rolling Stone. “We were trying to see who you are, and he took it as somebody is looking at him with a problem.”

According to Douglas, DaBaby then asked him and Craig, “Do you know me?,” to which Douglas replied, “Oh, I thought that was you,” and then walked off. Douglas claims he saw a woman he knew in the store, then went to say hello to her, walking past DaBaby again. DaBaby allegedly demanded to know what Douglas and Craig were doing, then suggested they go to the parking lot to fight.

Douglas agreed to go outside, with the idea that he and Craig would hop in their cars parked near the entrance and leave. In the uncovered footage, DaBaby is seen “unexpectedly launching into Douglas, striking him in the head and nearly tackling him to the ground.”

In the footage, Craig is seen standing nearby. As Douglas and DaBaby fight, “Craig reaches into the front of his waistband to pull out what appears to be a firearm,” according to Mecklenburg County Assistant District Attorney William Bunting’s report.” Craig attempts to intervene, putting “his left hand between the fighting pair, as if to pull them off one another.” Osborne, then interjects herself into the scuffle, pushing and hitting Craig in the face, in an attempt to separate DaBaby from Douglas, according to the surveillance footage and report.

When DaBaby breaks free, he pulls out a concealed .40-caliber Glock from his waistband and shoots Craig one time in the side. Craig runs into a nearby aisle, before collapsing to the ground. Minutes later, Craig would be pronounced dead.

DaBaby has referenced the fatal shooting several times over the course of his career, including in lyrics from his 2020 hit, “Rockstar” and in the video for his 2019 breakout, “Walker Texas Ranger.” Though he has maintained that he acted in self-defense.

This is one of several reported altercations in which DaBaby has been a part of, including one with his artist, Wisdom, and a fatal shooting of an intruder in his North Carolina home.