Month: May 2022

Florida rapper Rod Wave has reportedly been arrested in his home state and charged with battery by strangulation, according to XXL based on Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office online records. As of press time, he was still in custody and awaiting arraignment (meaning he has yet to go before a judge to enter a plea or have bail determined). Understandably, details are limited, but may be forthcoming. Stay tuned.

The timing is certainly inopportune. The breakout crooner had just announced the title and release date of his fourth studio album, Beautful Mind, over the weekend. Due June 3 on Alamo Records, the project will be Rod’s fourth in as many years beginning in 2019 with Ghetto Gospel. In 2020, he followed up with Pray 4 Love, which was warmly received, landing at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Then, in 2021, he improved on that showing with Soulfly, which ended its first week at No. 1 on the chart.

Although the St. Petersburg rapper was mostly radio silent in the year since releasing Soulfly, he has kept his buzz alive with a few new singles, including “Nirvana,” which he had to clarify after some fans interpreted it as a possible suicide note, and “Cold December,” his first single of 2022.

The level of hostility isn’t as severe as what Chris Pratt faced for Star-Lord helping cause the Blip, but Benedict Cumberbatch has heard just about enough from Marvel fans blaming Doctor Strange for the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home. (Try to imagine making sense of that sentence 15 years ago.) In the sixth highest-grossing movie of all-time, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker calls on the Sorcerer Supreme to make everyone forget that he’s Spider-Man. Hijinks (and fake butts) ensue.

Cumberbatch is clearly (if somewhat jokingly) bothered by the accusation that Dr. Strange “isn’t very good at his job” for opening up the multiverse in No Way Home.

Characters have to make mistakes, otherwise you’re not going to have a very interesting or compelling character.

“Thank you! That’s my defense for all the criticism saying that Strange isn’t very good at his job. I’m like, he’s been pretty perfect up until Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

That’s from an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, where Cumberbatch continued, “He’s a human being, and I think it was a very human error. He saw Peter as a fellow foot soldier and then as a teenager going through a very formative experience of not being able to be his true self because of being exposed, and having lost a mentor, [Strange] decided to step in with a gesture of pretty good intention.” The Oscar nominee thinks that Strange’s spell was “alright,” but “everyone forgets that Peter interrupts the spell so many times, and that’s what corrupted it. That’s what lets it in.”

I agree with Cumberbatch: teenage boys are the worst.

(Via the Hollywood Reporter)

We’re big fans of Miami, Florida here at UPROXX. From its eclectic dining options to its non-stop party scene to its diverse cultural influences, Miami never ceases to disappoint (except for being part of Florida and thereby linked to Florida’s politics). It’s a city that has something to offer everyone who visits.

The “Magic City” is especially attractive to high society celebs, which makes real estate one of its most lucrative industries. And in that space, Dina Goldentayer is a legend — recognized by Forbes and The Wall Street Journal for having a client base including Fortune 500 CEOs and prominent financiers.

Miami Beach remains the cornerstone of her business, so it makes sense that she’s learned the absolute best places to eat, stay, explore, and chill out in town. Her Miami background and expertise prove valuable for residents and tourists alike, which is why we asked her to share her top Miami recommendations. Read on for her guide to Miami’s most glamourous must-visit attractions.

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• The Best Travel Podcasts To Fuel Your Wanderlust
• The Coolest, Sexiest, Most Stylish Rental Properties In Palm Springs, Indio, And Joshua Tree
• An Island-Hopping Guide To Turks And Caicos

WHY MIAMI?

Miami is alive in a way that other cities are trying to be. There is always something new to do, somewhere new to eat, and someone new to meet. The city has so much diversity and culture — it’s a place where everyone can feel like they belong. I am lucky to be able to call Miami home for nearly the last 20 years.

One thing every first-time visitor should see or do in Miami?

Anything on the water. Waterfront living is what South Florida is all about — hit the beach, rent a boat, go paddleboarding, or just enjoy dining by the Bay.

Best neighborhood for exploring the Miami art scene?

Wynwood. The whole neighborhood is dedicated to art. It is covered in colorful murals and unexpected turns at every corner. Try renting a ladybug golf cart for a tour. Definitely stop by Wynwood Walls, an outdoor museum of graffiti and street art that is at the center of the district.

Where to go to get the most lively nightlife?

Any spot created by Miami hospitality guru David Grutman. Swan in the Design District has an awesome dinner and bar vibe downstairs, and a lounge upstairs. The new Key Club in Coconut Grove is on my hit list to try. ZZ’s by Major Food Group is probably the hardest reservation to score as you have to be a member. Its ultra-chic and intimate in the heart of the Design District.

Best hotel or place to stay?

The Surf Club Four Seasons is really special located in Surfside, just a few blocks from Bal Harbour. The room design and hotel ambiance are beyond elegant, with a well-known cocktail lounge and several top restaurants under one roof. The poolside and beachfront scenes are both serene. The Surf Club is a perfect luxury beachside retreat with a step-back-in-time glamour.

For more of a laidback vibe, The Standard Hotel & Spa is a great spot to unwind (guests often walk around in their robes and slippers). The property has beautiful landscaping with a pool and restaurant overlooking the bay, a world-renowned spa, and the best location steps from the Venetian Islands and Sunset Harbour. You can even pull up to the dock on your boat.

Most underrated Miami restaurant that everyone needs to try?

Miami has so many hidden gems it’s impossible to narrow it down to just one. My top pick to indulge is my husband’s restaurant Caviar Russe at The Four Seasons Brickell. It has an unbelievable selection of the finest caviar and a delicious menu to match. The service and ambiance are incredible.

I recently discovered the vegetarian pho at Mia Market in the Design District and I’m hooked. El Taquito taco stand on Main Highway is a great spot for a quick bite, I always get the chicken tacos.

Best way to soak up the Miami sunshine?

The Venetian Causeway is ideal for a morning stroll or bike ride overlooking the water and sailboats. You can stop and rent a paddleboard in Sunset Harbour at Miami Beach Paddleboard, grab a pizza outdoors at Lucali, or get a juice at Dr Smood. A boat day is a must Miami experience, and also a great way to explore the luxury real estate from the water. North Bay Road, Star Island, and Indian Creek Village have some of the most stunning estates, several of which I have sold.

Danny Brown and Jpegmafia have worked together several times in the past few years, developing the sort of chemistry that brings out the best in both. Now, it looks like they’re going to extend that working chemistry, which they showed off as they premiered a new collaboration during Danny Brown’s set at this past weekend’s Smoker’s Club Fest in San Bernardino, California. The two underground rappers have been working on a joint album, which they also announced during the energetic set.

The newly minted dynamic duo first joined forces on Brown’s 2019 album Uknowhatimsayin on the track “Negro Spiritual.” Jpegmafia also produced the album’s single “3 Tearz” featuring Run The Jewelz. Then, Brown returned the favor, appearing in a hype video for Peggy’s 2020 EP, EP! (snicker), hanging out with him for an informal conversation at the end of the video “HTBAR 1.” They trade compliments after Jpeg declares “I’m not a big rapper,” taking turns telling each other, “No you’re a big rapper!”

Brown is currently working on the release of his sixth studio album, Quaranta, while Jpeg recently released his fourth album, LP!, which dropped in two different versions, online and retail, due to sample clearance issues. Stay tuned for more about their joint album.

The Arizona Cardinals spent this past weekend’s NFL Draft trying to bolster their roster to challenge the 49ers and defending champion Rams in the loaded NFC West.

The biggest move they made came during Thursday’s opening round, when they dealt the No. 23 pick to Baltimore for Hollywood Brown and the 100th overall selection, adding the speedy receiver to an already strong group. It was a major move that, in the moment, shifted focus to what Baltimore was doing with their receiver group, as they now have a number of quality tight ends but Rashod Bateman as the current top receiver around Lamar Jackson.

On the Cardinals side, the trade might not have simply been about adding another weapon, but also mitigating the absence of one, as word emerged from Adam Schefter on Monday afternoon that the team would open the season without De’Andre Hopkins for the first six games due to a PED suspension.

That means the Cardinals will spend the first third of the season without Hopkins, which puts additional pressure on Brown, AJ Green, and others like Rondale Moore to fill that hole. The problem is, none of those players in their current form can replace what Hopkins does as a physical receiver who is dangerous in any situation, but particularly int he red zone. With Kyler Murray already expressing his frustrations with the Cardinals this offseason over a lack of a new deal, Arizona now will be without his top target as they try to smooth things over with the former No. 1 overall pick.

Jack Daniel’s has been going through a renaissance over the past couple of years. The brand is known — and, let’s face it, ridiculed — for having the best-selling American whiskey in the whole world in Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey. But to hate on Jack is to willfully ignore all the other expressions released under the brand’s umbrella from that cave-filled hollow in Tennessee. Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select is one of the better high-end bourbons on the market (that’s also actually widely available!); Jack 10-Year was the darling of last year’s best-of lists; and their Single Barrel program is not only dialed in, it’s accessible worldwide. Hell, even their standard Tennessee Rye rules for its price and availability.

Now, Jack is about to add two more unique expressions to their core lineup and I’m here to tell you what’s in the bottle. Starting May 3rd, 2022, you’ll be able to buy two new Jack Daniel’s riffs. One is a bottled-in-bond Tennessee whiskey, which is basically their Traveler’s Exclusive finally coming home to American shelves and reworked for American palates. The other bottle is a bit of an outlier, even for big bourbon. It’s a blended American whiskey, or Triple Mash, which might help upend the “American blended whiskey” world from the depths of plastic bottles of Seagrams 7 to something bigger and better. It’s kind of exciting.

Below, I’m breaking down what’s in each bottle and what you can expect if you pick one up. You should be able to find these pretty easily for a pretty good price if you’re quick. Let’s get into it.

Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months

• The 50 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Of 2021, Ranked
• Every Winning Bourbon From Our 2021 Taste Tests, Blind Tasted And Re-Ranked
• The 100 Best Whiskeys Our Head Drinks Writer Tasted In 2021
• The Best Ten-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskeys, Tasted Blind And Ranked
• We Tasted Bourbon Whiskeys ‘Double-Blind’ And Tried To Guess Each Bottle

Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $30

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is from Jack’s bonded warehouse. The mash of 80 percent corn, 12 percent barley, and eight percent rye is twice distilled before it’s run through Jack’s very long Lincoln County process of sugar maple charcoal filtration. The spirit then goes into the barrel for at least four years — per bonded law — before it’s batched, cut down with that Jack Daniel’s limestone cave water, and bottled as-is.

The Bottle:

Jack Daniel’s went old-school with these bottles. They’re a throwback to the 1895 bottles design, which predates the Bottled-in-Bond Act by two years. The label is fairly understated with the iconic black, white, and gold the brand is known for.

Tasting Notes:

Vanilla comes through with a bold sense of the oil and beans in the pod as cherry Jolly Ranchers, a light touch of sweet oak, a hint of fresh leather, and an echo of orange peels round out the nose. Going back in on the nose after a minute or two, a sense of potting soil and maybe the vitamin aisle at a health food store alongside more of that fresh leather leads to a little bit of sweetgrass, apple blossoms, and a vanilla cookie with a touch of oat in the mix.

The palate is immediately sweet with apple fritters and maple bars next to brown sugar and vanilla cream. The mid-palate adds in a little winter spice with a lean toward cinnamon and clove and a dusting of nutmeg. The finish arrives with brown sugar and butter mixed into Cream of Wheat as a minor note of wood and apple cider kicks in late and lingers the longest on the end. Waiting a minute and tasting again, the end has a small note of cherry pie with white frosting by way of soft oak staves.

Bottom Line:

This is a super soft and silky experience from top to bottom. There are $50, $60, and even $100 whiskeys that aren’t this smooth. It feels like a $50 whiskey more than a $30 one. Still, I feel like this is more of a mixing whiskey that also works as a sipper on the rocks in a pinch. I think for this, Jack has a deep bench of stellar sipping whiskey to choose from whereas this is something I’d buy to mix killer cocktails with.

Ranking:

90/100 — This definitely punches above its weight/price class, and that gives it a little higher grade in my book.

Jack Daniel’s Triple Mash Blended Straight Whiskey

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $33

The Whiskey:

This is where things get interesting. Evidently Master Distiller Chris Fletcher and Assitant Distiller Lexi Phillips have been laying down barrels of American single malt on the side and not telling a soul. This expression, a “triple mash,” is comprised of 60 percent Jack’s Tennessee Rye, 20 percent Jack’s Tennessee Whiskey, and 20 percent of their new American malt. Once those bonded whiskeys are blended, they’re proofed down with that iconic cave water and bottled as-is.

The Bottle:

This is also getting released in that throwback bottle. In this case, the label is a deep burgundy with white and gold lettering but still understated and succinct.

Tasting Notes:

The nose opens with a hint of wet malts that leads into a big note of fresh honey with a hint of honeycomb. There’s a touch of vanilla on the nose alongside wet deck planks, a little bit of sweetgrass, a hint of potting soil, and big and plump dates with a very distant note of cream soda.

The palate is all about those wet malts with plenty of vanilla backbone — think full pods you pay $30 each for. The mid-palate is super soft with hints of nutmeg, buttery toffee covered in crushed almond, and that vitamin aisle again all leading to wet wicker, more of that vanilla, a whisper of applewood, and a super clear sense of rain-covered slate on the very backend.

Bottom Line:

This is really interesting and a bit of an outlier. There are hints that this is Tennessee whiskey but it’s so malty as well. It really feels like a whiskey that’s made for bourbon drinkers who aren’t quite sure about American single malt yet.

All of that said, this was pretty damn good for a $32 whiskey. Moreover, it’s really damn fine for an American blended whiskey. It’s complex and actually takes you on a journey. I wouldn’t just mix this with Coke. But I would put it in a cocktail before I sipped it over rocks.

Ranking:

88/100 — I think they’re onto something here. I’m curious to see how Fletcher and Phillips tinker with this as more barrels come of age. Will we see a Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt soon? Huge, if true. Overall, I’d pour and mix with the Bonded above before I’d reach for this again though.

Ten years ago was a great time for shoegaze, especially with the release of DIIV‘s stunning debut Oshin. The album received a slew of praise and still continues to influence reverb-loving bands today. To celebrate the anniversary, they’re unveiling a 10 year anniversary 2xLP expanded limited edition vinyl, as well as a box set collection of their inaugural three 7″s “Sometime,” “Human,” and “Geist,” which haven’t been repressed since the original release. This is all in addition to their already-announced show at the Brooklyn Steel on June 23 where they’ll be playing the album in full.

“Oshin is our first album,” the band said in a statement. “It came out ten years ago and because of that we have decided to put together a very nice and very intricate and thoughtful 10th anniversary edition of the album for you. We are packaging it alongside my homemade demo recordings and a few unreleased live recordings from one of our first shows. It has new art by our friend Parker Sprout and it has some writing from the members of the band, the writer of the original Oshin poem, and an expansive meditation on the history of the album from Shaad D’souza. We hope you enjoy it.”

The 2xLP will include demos, live cuts, an unreleased track, a booklet, and more. The digital release is June 24, while the physical is August 19. Find more information here.

After executive producing Kanye West’s latest, as-yet-mostly-unavailable-for-purchase-or-streaming album Donda 2, Future is riding high on the success of his own new album, I Never Liked You. Now, Kanye is returning the favor by co-designing a new line of merchandise inspired by Future’s album and its extremely laid-back cover art.

In addition to illustrated apparel bearing an image reminiscent of the hype single, “Worst Day,” the collection includes hoodies and hats emblazoned with the title and Future’s Freebandz logo, a face mask similar to the ones Kanye’s been sporting at his public appearances these days, and yes, a maroon silk sleep mask like the one Future wears on the cover of I Never Liked You. There’s also a sweatshirt with a screenshot from the video for Future and Kanye’s collab from the album, “Keep It Burnin.”

While he’s already riding high on the release and set to easily dethrone Pusha T from the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200, Future also recently released a deluxe edition of the album featuring five new songs, including guest appearances from 42 Dugg, Babyface Ray, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, and Young Scooter. You can check out the album here and take a look at the new merch here.

Martha Stewart wasn’t ever able to host SNL (due to a legal hangup), but a woman can dream. Likewise, she’s very much enjoying playing with her Instagram followers when it comes to SNL star Pete Davidson. As everyone is well aware, he’s currently dating Kim Kardashian, who’s the latest in a line of beautiful ladies who’ve decided that he’s “hittable.” And now that Kim K. and Pete seem to have shed the Kanye, Martha’s out there being mildly (although not really) suggestive about Pete and having a ball with it.

The domestic goddess and Snoop Dog BFF attended the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, where Kim K. and Pete were also on hand to enjoy Trevor Noah’s barbs. Martha posted a few photos and wrote about a caption about the “young upstart” who’s now “squiring gorgeous women around and appearing everywhere.”

On Monday, Martha also popped onto TODAY to call Pete “an adorable guy,” even though she also called him “kind of homely” and “cuter when he had when he had longer curly hair.” Martha made sure to add, “Kim looks gorgeous, as usual. Very jealous of her, of course” while also declaring (of Pete) “You know, he’s a very different kettle of fish than Kanye, you know?” Yep, Martha’s always keeping it real on a number of levels. And yes, watch out, Kim K.!

(Via Martha Stewart on Instagram & TODAY)

The Weeknd has been riding a wave of momentum since the January release of Dawn FM, but took a moment this weekend to reach further back into his past and offer praise to longtime collaborator Ariana Grande. “I’ve seen Ariana work in real time. That woman is a BEAST on pro tools,” he tweeted, piggybacking on talented producer Kenny Beats’ call for more discussion of women producers just several hours prior.

Weeknd and Grande have previously joined forces on the “Save Your Tears” remix, “Off The Table,” and “Love Me Harder,” so his familiarity with her abilities should come as no shock. The Positions artist is often just acknowledged for her vocal talent and acting career, thus learning she knows her way around Pro Tools as well only adds to her repertoire.

Beats’ original tweet highlighted Grande’s knack at comping vocals with 100 stacks, Rosalía’s engineering, King Princess’ versatility with instruments, and Doja Cat’s production. King Princess expressed her appreciation for the recognition from someone of his stature, echoing the sentiment that women along with LGBTQ+ and POC artists are regularly overlooked when it comes to production.

As women demand a larger presence in the music industry, it is important now more than ever to not box them in.