Month: May 2022

The Miami Heat drew first blood in the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday night. Thanks to one of the best games of Jimmy Butler’s career and a third quarter in which the team got whatever they wanted on offense while clamping down on defense, Miami picked up a 118-107 home win in Game 1 against the Boston Celtics.

After the game, both Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro sat down to address the media. Adebayo went out first, while Herro needed an extra moment or two to make his way out to the podium. The catch: Herro showed up in a fit that Adebayo found hilarious, with a sleeveless shirt, a hat, and a pair of sunglasses.

Adebayo could not help but start cracking up from the moment he saw what his teammate was wearing, and by the time the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year sat down, Adebayo had his head on the table and a huge smile on his face.

Apparently, Adebayo liked this enough that he decided to roll up his sleeves so the pair could match, which led to Herro laughing very hard. It was a fun end to what was a good night for both players, as Herro had 18 points and eight rebounds off the bench while Adebayo went for 10 points, four rebounds, and four blocks.

Brooklyn rapper Bishop Nehru rose to fame in the mid 2010s thanks to his throwback sound that caught the ear of many, even the late MF DOOM. That connection eventually led to the release of Nehru’s 2018 project Elevators (Act I & II) which featured production from DOOM and Kaytranda as well. Elevators (Act I & II) was the follow-up to his 2017 project Emperor Nehru’s New Groove, both of which helped to boost his stock amongst the young rappers he was aligned with at the time. Fast forward to now, and Nehru is just a couple of weeks away from releasing a new project, but before doing so, he shared a music video that has some people talking.

On Tuesday, Nehru unveiled the video for his latest single “Heroin Addiction.” In it, the rapper appears to try his hand at heroin, which is of course a highly addictive drug. “I tried Heroin in the new video [sad emoiji],” he wrote in a post about the video on Twitter. Despite seemingly going through the process of injecting heroin into his arm, it was clear that the rapper did not actually do it despite his post-injection reaction of throwing up and seemingly dozing off due to the effects of the drug.

Regardless the video still made its way around social media and many were quick to share their thoughts about it on Twitter. Nehru’s “Heroin Addiction” video comes ahead of his upcoming project which is set to arrive on May 27th.

You can watch the video for “Heroin Addiction” above and read some responses to it below.

When Uproxx asked rising indie-pop star Jordana to describe her music in four words, she said: “Inviting, groovy, easy, wavy.” This intriguing mix has been making her songs stand out from other artists releasing material right now. She’s been preparing for the release of her new album Face The Wall with vulnerable and breezy singles such as “To The Ground.” Today, she’s back with another impressive track called “Go Slow” just days before the unveiling of her record.

“‘Go Slow’ is about facing your self-brought battles and acknowledging your imperfections,” Jordana said in a statement. “It’s about taking the time to work on yourself, no matter how much you want to rush it, to be the best version of yourself you can possibly be.” It features her signature concise but insightful lyricism, with lines that hold onto hope: “Eventually I’ll be alright / Never been too late to change my mind,” she sings with a strong sense of levity. It’s a testament to remember to move at your own pace and take breaks even if it feels like the world is always moving at 100 miles an hour.

Watch the video for “Go Slow” above.

Face The Wall is out 5/20 via Grand Jury. Pre-order it here.

After a first half in which the Boston Celtics looked like they were flying high, the Miami Heat came out of the locker room at halftime and made quite the statement. Thanks to Jimmy Butler imposing his will on the game and a third quarter that will go down as one of the best team performances we’ve seen in a 12-minute stretch this postseason, the Heat picked up a 118-107 win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Some stellar play in the first half by Jayson Tatum helped Boston open the game on a 7-0 run and respond whenever Miami would make things close. Perhaps the most impactful stretch came early on in the second quarter, when the Celtics ripped of nine points in a row to go up by 11 — while the Heat cut into that a tick, Boston was able to take a 62-54 lead into the locker room.

Tatum, as he’s done so many times this postseason, stepped up to help the team lead by as many as 13 in the first two quarters. He scored 21 points on 9-for-14 shooting with five assists and eight rebounds in the opening half against Miami’s vaunted defense.

Two players who needed to step up in a big way with Marcus Smart and Al Horford sidelined did that to start the game, too, as Payton Pritchard had 10 with four rebounds in the first half and Robert Williams, finally healthy after being limited against the Milwaukee Bucks, had 12 points on 5-for-5 shooting with five rebounds and a pair of blocks.

The 1-2 punch of Tyler Herro and Butler gave the Heat reason for optimism heading into the locker room despite the deficit — the former led the team with 15 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal, while the latter scored 14 with five boards.

Miami took the floor after halftime firing on all cylinders. Perhaps they got the rust off from their five-day break between games in the first half, perhaps finishing a grueling seven-game series against the Milwaukee Bucks two days ago finally caught up to the Celtics, or perhaps any other number of things happened. But no matter what, thanks to a 22-2 run in which everything went right on offense and defense, Miami was able to wrestle the lead away and get the home crowd buzzing.

While Boston responded with a 10-2 run to get the lead down to four, it wasn’t nearly enough. Powered by a 17-point period from Butler, Heat won the quarter, 39-14, and took a convincing 93-76 lead into the fourth.

The Celtics came out to start the fourth and repeatedly chipped away, but any time they got it down to a nine or 10 point deficit, someone on the Heat had an answer. By the time Boston got the deficit down to its most manageable, it was far too late — a three by Pritchard to make it seven came as Ime Udoka planned to empty out his bench.

Butler’s brilliance, in particular, was just far too much for the Celtics to overcome. Whenever Miami needed something, their All-NBA wing willed it into existence on both ends of the floor. To end the night, he scored 41 points on 12-for-19 shooting (without attempting a single shot from three) while hitting 17 of his 18 attempts from the charity stripe along with nine rebounds, five assists, four steals, three blocks, and only two turnovers.

Herro gave the Heat 18 points and eight rebounds all the bench, while Vincent had one of his best games during Kyle Lowry’s postseason absence, going for 17 points. Tatum, Williams, Pritchard, and Jaylen Brown combined to score 89 points, but it was not enough.

Game 2 between the Heat and Celtics will take place on Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

It was four years ago that Ravyn Lenae stood out for her 2018 EP Crush. Add in a few notable collaborations with the likes of Smino (“Glass Flows”) and Noname (“Montego Bae”), and it was clear why many were excited to hear the Chicago singer’s debut album. Unfortunately, in the years that followed, that project never arrived, but finally, the wait is almost over as Lenae prepares to release her long-awaited debut Hypnos at the end of the week. Ahead of the project’s arrival, Lenae offers up another sweet single for listeners to enjoy.

Lenae’s latest drop, a groovy track titled “Xtasy,” is one that’s carried by production from Kaytranada. Together, the two make a lightweight track that’s also very infectious to the ear. One can expect the new record to be a highlight on Hypnos which Lenae took a moment to talk about in a press release.

“When you listen to the music, I hope you have a better understanding of me and even catch a better understanding of yourself,” Lenae said. She later adds, “I’ve gone through the tunnels and seen the light on the other side. I’m finding my way. I’m clearer on who I am and my power through music and lyricism. I’m pouring more into me, friendships, family, and music. Through all of that, I’m fulfilled.”

Prior to releasing “Xtasy,”Lenae previewed Hypnos with “Light Me Up,” “Skin Tight,” and “M.I.A.”

You can listen to “Xtasy” in the video above.

Hypnos is out 5/20 via Atlantic. You can stream it here.

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

The last month-plus has been rough for Madison Cawthorn, and it just got rougher. As per CNN, the North Carolina representative, who became the youngest person in Congress less than a year-and-a-half ago, has conceded the primary that would have led to his re-election to his successor, Chuck Edwards. The reasons for his downfall are not hard to gauge. He suffered a flurry of scandals and humiliations, some disseminated by a PAC that was specifically devoted to destroying his reputation. Perhaps it worked.

Cawthorn pitched himself as among the new crop of ultra MAGA candidates, ready to hog the limelight by spouting deranged nonsense and scoring endless headlines. But he never achieved the infamy of a Marjorie Taylor Greene or a Lauren Boebert. Nor could he replicate the older guard, like Matt Gaetz, who endorsed him on his election day, all as his own scandal — a federal investigation into his ties to a sex trafficking ring — continue.

What Cawthorn did accomplish, though, was enraging the entire GOP. It started with him claiming that Congress was full of cocaine and orgies. There soon followed one embarrassing leak after another: photos of the lawmaker, known for his rabid anti-LGBTQIA+ stance, in drag; videos of his crotch being touched by another man or dry-humping a man while naked in a hotel room.

Donald Trump, whose ring he no doubt sought, was reportedly turned off by these antics. Shortly before Tuesday’s election, the former president offered a half-hearted semi-endorsement that wouldn’t humiliate him too much if he lost.

But now Cawthorn is a lame duck, losing to Edwards, and his legacy is as a trainwreck who accomplished little but pissing off everyone, including allies, and offering lame taunts to Democrats. Speaking of, one old tweet, from Election Night 2020, resurfaced. “Cry more, lib,” it read.

The tweet is dated from 9:24pm on Nov. 3, aka Election Night 2020. At that point in the evening, exit polls leaned in Trump’s favor. It betrays a misplaced optimism that would be squashed once an overwhelming amount of absentee ballots tipped it decisively towards now-president Joe Biden. He was due to assume office in two months. He had no idea voters would turn on him in only a year-and-change.

That old, boastful tweet came back to bite him shortly after the primary was called for his successor.

Some tried to spin it as a chance for Cawthorn to redeem himself, to see the error of his ways.

But he probably won’t. See you in the funny papers, Cawthorn. Or, more likely, on OAN.

(Via CNN)

Yesterday, Rolling Stone ran a thoroughly reported piece about the final days of Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters drummer who tragically passed in March. The article featured interviews with 20 people who were close to Hawkins, including Pearl Jam’s Matt Cameron and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith. Earlier today, Cameron issued an apology for his quotes on Instagram: “I assumed it would be a celebration of his life and work,” he said regarding the story. “My quotes were taken out of context and shaped into a narrative I had never intended.”

Now, Smith is doing the same, stating: “Taylor was one of my best friends and I would do anything for his family. I was asked by Rolling Stone to share some memories of our time together, which I thought was going to be the loving tribute he deserved. Instead, the story they wrote was sensationalized and misleading, and had I known I never would have agreed to participate. I apologize to his family and musical friends for any pain this may have caused. I miss Taylor every day.”

In the article, both of the artists spoke about the pressure that Hawkins was under. Cameron mentioned that, in the days leading up to his death, Hawkins “…had a heart-to-heart with Dave [Grohl] and, yeah, he told me that he ‘couldn’t f*cking do it anymore’… I guess they did come to some understanding, but it just seems like the touring schedule got even crazier after that.” Representatives from the Foo Fighters disputed this exchange between Grohl and Hawkins, among other things.

Red Hot Chili Peppers is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The 2022 NBA Draft is less than six weeks away and, as of Tuesday evening, the board is set. The Orlando Magic won the draft lottery, taking a 14 percent chance and turning it into the top overall pick and boundless choices. Of course, it is fair to point out that there is not a definitive No. 1 overall player in the 2022 class but, if nothing else, Orlando holds the keys to the board.

Elsewhere, the Sacramento Kings are a solid winner from the evening, jumping from the No. 7 odds up to the No. 4 slot, and the Oklahoma City Thunder popped up to No. 2 for the franchise’s highest draft pick since selecting Kevin Durant in 2007. Chatter will continue over the next five-plus weeks, and especially during the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, but there are at least four candidates — Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith, Paolo Banchero and Jaden Ivey — for the top spots and the potential for real fireworks.

With that out of the way, let’s dive into a rapid reaction mock draft of the first round.

1. Orlando Magic – Chet Holmgren (C/F, Gonzaga)

The Magic could go a few different directions with this selection (including a popular No. 1 choice in Jabari Smith) but, for now, we’re rolling with Chet. The Magic do have significant investments in big men already, but Mo Bamba may not be long for Orlando and, more than anything, the No. 1 pick is a spot to simply take the best prospect. Holmgren also has a built-in tie with former high school teammate Jalen Suggs, and his ceiling is sky-high.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder – Paolo Banchero (F, Duke)

Oklahoma City’s passing could be a lot of fun if this works. The Thunder already have Josh Giddey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and, adjusting for position, Banchero is on the short list of best passers in this class. He is also an adept scorer with the upside to be a real star at the NBA level. Sam Presti will take the guy he thinks is the best player, but that could be Banchero.

3. Houston Rockets – Jabari Smith (F, Auburn)

If you watched ESPN’s draft lottery broadcast, you will know that Smith is generating real hype, and many scouts view him as the top guy. That is inherently reasonable given Smith’s ability to shoot at his size (6’10) and the scheme versatility he may present on defense. Smith has a long way to go as a creator for others and as a ball-handler, but Houston is certainly keying on upside in their rebuild. The Rockets almost can’t go wrong with this pick in their current form.

4. Sacramento Kings – Jaden Ivey (G, Purdue)

You could argue this is maybe the worst spot for Ivey and, honestly, it would be “easier” to slide him to No. 5 overall for a snug fit alongside Cade Cunningham in Detroit. However, the Kings still have the choice here and, at least for me, Ivey is a “best player available” choice. Sacramento has big investments in De’Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell, but Ivey has more size and physicality than both, and he’s a hyper-athletic player with tangible upside. If nothing else, they might be able to move the pick if they simply don’t want to take him.

5. Detroit Pistons – Shaedon Sharpe (G/F, Kentucky)

Sharpe is the mystery guy in this class, but there is enough buzz where a No. 5 projection doesn’t seem insane. Make no mistake, this is a massive swing in that Sharpe hasn’t even touched a college court, but his combination of athleticism and scoring potential is tantalizing. If the Pistons want to go a bit safer, they could lean in the direction of Keegan Murray or A.J. Griffin.

6. Indiana Pacers – Keegan Murray (F, Iowa)

I’m probably a touch lower on Murray than most, but this is a totally reasonable spot. Indiana might want to take a bit more of a swing, especially considering how infrequently they are in the lottery, but the Pacers take a scoring forward with real polish already.

7. Portland Trail Blazers – Jalen Duren (C, Memphis)

Portland could be in the market to move this pick for present-day help as they attempt to build around Damian Lillard. If the Blazers choose to make the pick, Duren brings a highly intriguing skill set with a 7’5 wingspan and a monster frame. He’s also extremely young and was the No. 1 prospect in the 2023 class before reclassifying.

8. New Orleans Pelicans (via Los Angeles Lakers) – A.J. Griffin (F, Duke)

Griffin is a heck of a shooter already, and he would pair well with what the Pelicans are building. He doesn’t need the ball a ton to be effective, and Griffin has the physicality and athleticism to be a strong defender. This might be his floor come Draft night.

9. San Antonio Spurs – Bennedict Mathurin (G/F, Arizona)

Mathurin has long been a favorite in this space, and his offensive skill set is a lot of fun. His feel is impressive and his shooting has come a long way. Defensively, there are some concerns, but there is enough to work with in terms of basketball IQ and frame to get by.

10. Washington Wizards – Dyson Daniels (G, G League Ignite)

Daniels is a heck of a defender, perhaps the best in the class on the perimeter. His jumper is the big question mark, but Daniels can handle the ball and distribute while changing the game on the other end. He’d fit snugly next to a scoring guard like Bradley Beal.

11. New York Knicks – Johnny Davis (G/F, Wisconsin)

There is nothing too sexy about Johnny Davis, but he was a National Player of the Year candidate for a reason. He’s a polished scorer already, and he can guard his position. There is a misconception that he’ll be a game-changer on defense immediately, but Davis should find a soft landing spot in the back half of the lottery somewhere.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LA Clippers) – Jeremy Sochan (F, Baylor)

Once again, the Thunder have three picks, and they can take some swings. Sochan’s two-way potential is suffocating and he showed real flashes at Baylor. He’s also not particularly close to being ready on offense, and OKC can afford to be patient.

13. Charlotte Hornets – Mark Williams (C, Duke)

The Hornets need a long-term center in the worst way. Charlotte could obviously address that need in free agency or via trade but, if they don’t, Williams is worthy of a mid-first round selection. He doesn’t profile as a game-changing star, but Williams has impressive finishing equity and the ability to protect the rim on defense.

14. Cleveland Cavaliers – Ochai Agbaji (G/F, Kansas)

Agbaji isn’t quite big enough or good enough on defense to be a No. 1 wing defender, but he’ll be good in a secondary defensive role. He’s also a plug-and-play role player as an off-ball shooter and a very intelligent cutter.

15. Charlotte Hornets (via New Orleans) – Malakhi Branham (F/G, Ohio State)

After going with their center in the future in this mock, Charlotte looks to a scoring wing in Branham. He’s a defensive mess right now, but Branham came on extremely strong late in the season and really shot up draft boards.

16. Atlanta Hawks – TyTy Washington (G, Kentucky)

Much has already been made of Atlanta’s need for a secondary creator in the wake of an early playoff exit against Miami. He isn’t a perfect fit with Trae Young given size concerns, but Washington is long, skilled, able to run a pick-and-roll, and capable of playing off the ball.

17. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn) – Ousmane Dieng (F, New Zealand Breakers)

Dieng is far away at this point, but the Rockets are one of the franchises that should be willing to wait. Houston has been firing bets on upside dating back to the 2021 draft, and this is another example. If not here, Dieng should find a landing spot in the first round somewhere.

18. Chicago Bulls – Tari Eason (F, LSU)

Eason might go in the lottery. He’s the kind of prospect that I can see a team falling in love with, particularly with his defensive aptitude at 6’8 with power and athleticism. His shooting is a swing skill, and Eason committed more than twice as many turnovers as he generated assists last season in college. It’s a mixed bag.

19. Minnesota Timberwolves – E.J. Liddell (F, Ohio State)

Liddell isn’t a high-ceiling guy, but he has some switch potential on defense and a polished offensive game. He was incredibly productive at Ohio State, and enough scouts in NBA circles seem to view him as a top-20 guy.

20. San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto) – Nikola Jovic (F, Mega)

Jovic is a first-round talent, and the Spurs are a natural landing spot. It remains unclear on whether he can defend in the NBA, but Jovic is 18 years old and highly skilled and polished in key areas. He certainly brings offensive upside.

21. Denver Nuggets – MarJon Beauchamp (G/F, G League Ignite)

The Nuggets need defensive help in a significant way and Beauchamp can provide it. He has a great motor and very good instincts and length on defense. The question is offense, where he is an inconsistent shooter at best that needs polish with the ball in his hands. In Denver, he could work well as a cutter that doesn’t need much on-ball equity.

22. Memphis Grizzlies (via Utah) – Patrick Baldwin Jr. (F, Milwaukee)

Memphis made a similar pick with Ziaire Williams a year ago that looks pretty good now. Obviously that doesn’t ensure anything for Baldwin Jr., but the former top-five prospect still has the length and shooting acumen to bring substantial upside. His brutal college season does lead to a slide, though, and his stock is all over the place.

23. Brooklyn Nets (via Philadelphia) – Blake Wesley (G, Notre Dame)

This is a swing pick for the Nets and, by the way, Brooklyn can still choose to defer this selection to 2023 if they so choose. Wesley is an upside play with his ability to generate shots, and he might be an intriguing defender in the future as well. He’s not likely to help a title contender now, which makes this an interesting bet.

24. Milwaukee Bucks – Walker Kessler (C, Auburn)

Kessler doesn’t help the Bucks a ton right now with Brook Lopez on the team and both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis able to play center. Long-term, Kessler could be a lot like Lopez on defense, as he was arguably the best single rim protector in college basketball this season.

25. San Antonio Spurs (via Boston) – Jake LaRavia (F, Wake Forest)

It’s been quite a rise for LaRavia, but it seems like NBA teams have taken notice along with public-facing evaluators. He would be a fun Spurs fit with his passing and general basketball IQ, and LaRavia should be able to shoot it at a pretty high level. He’s a limited athlete, but there is a lot to like.

26. Dallas Mavericks – Jaden Hardy (G, G League Ignite)

The team fit with the Mavericks doesn’t make a ton of sense unless Jalen Brunson leaves, and I get that. In fact, if Brunson stays, I would cross this one off. Still, Hardy is a high-upside shot creating talent and he was better as the G League season went along in 2021-22.

27. Miami Heat – Kendall Brown (F, Baylor)

This might be a selfish one in that it would be fun to watch Miami develop Brown from afar. His offensive skill package leaves a lot to be desired right now, which leads to him dropping from a previous lottery projection. Brown is a crazy athlete who should be able to defend well, and if he can find a role on offense, look out.

28. Golden State Warriors – Dalen Terry (G/F, Arizona)

Terry wasn’t really on the radar as a potential first round guy until late in the season, but he checks a lot of boxes. He’s 6’7. He can pass. He can create. He can shoot. He can guard. Seems like a Warriors guy.

29. Memphis Grizzlies – Kennedy Chandler (G, Tennessee)

Chandler is from the Memphis area, and Tyus Jones is a free agent. Chandler isn’t necessarily the backup for Morant that you would draw up in a lab, but he’s a first-round talent. It honestly wouldn’t surprise me if he was a top-20 pick.

30. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Phoenix) – Bryce McGowens (G/F, Nebraska)

There is a bit of a split on McGowens after a weird season at Nebraska. There were plenty of flashes, however, and his offensive ceiling is very, very high for a player that could slide. The Thunder can afford to take that bet.

Cardi B has only recently returned to social media, which fans have been grateful for. However, they’re impatient for new music, so she took to Twitter today to reassure them that new music is on the way.

“I seen a lot of y’all talking sh*t,” she said in a voice note. “Like, ‘Oh she doesn’t feed us…’ So when I put what I’mma put out, I’mma talk more about it because clearly I can’t talk about it now. But I really had technical difficulties with my latest project. I had not one, not two, but like three technical difficulties on the music that I’ve been working on that had to be done and taken care of before I put it out.”

The rapper added: “When things come out, that’s when I’mma talk about it. It’s nothing major or crazy. Yeah, we’ll figure it out ’cause I know, I know, I know, I know you guys want that and I’m gonna give it to ya, OK? OK.”

Meanwhile her last album, the powerful 2018 debut Invasion Of Privacy, recently had every song be declared platinum.

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

Everything was all good for Jack Harlow a few weeks ago. Granted, things are smooth sailing for the Lousiville rapper, as he’s enjoying the success of “First Class,” which recently returned to No. 1 on the singles chart, as well as Come Home The Kids Miss You, which debuted at No. 3. However, he’s found himself in a bit of intergenerational drama and it comes after he failed to realize that Brandy and Ray J are siblings during a recent interview on HOT 97. Harlow received a lot of criticism from music lovers who felt that it was basic music knowledge that he should’ve known.

The situation recently took a new turn after Brandy caught wind of the HOT 97 interview and issued a light-hearted response on Twitter. “I will murk this dude in rap at 43 on his own beats and then sing [h]is ass to sleep,” she wrote in one tweet. In a second, she added, “See, I can have a little fun too [red heart] hehe…all love.” Harlow wouldn’t let Brandy have the last laugh though. He fired off one last joke through a post to his Instagram Story.

In the post, Harlow shared a picture of Brandy and Ray J together with the former’s “Bring Me Down,” her 2005 collaboration with Kanye West, playing in the background. Harlow specifically selected the part in the song where she sings, “I always knew that one day / They’d try to bring me down / Way down, way down,” which certainly adds to the hilarity of the moment.

You can view Harlow’s post above.

Come Home The Kids Miss You is out now via Atlantic. You can stream it here.

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