Dubious SNL host Elon Musk may have reacted with pure-fire emoji to Snoop Dogg’s (joking) plan to buy Twitter, but the Tesla CEO’s got a whole other vibe for the Twitter CEO. And Parag Agrawal may very well now regret taking over the gig in November 2021 after Jack Dorsey’s departure from his previous position. It sure seems like Musk is pulling off a troll job on Twitter, weeks after beginning a deal to buy the joint for $44 billion and then putting everything on hold for reasons that don’t sound believable to many people. It’s confusing! That’s especially the case since Elon went in so big on his “free speech absolutism” and made so many far-right users (and ex-users) happy, and that’s only contributed to the overall chaos. of the situation.
Yup, one wonders if Elon’s realized that, even with the backing of fellow billionaires around the globe, he can’t realistically afford to buy Twitter. That’s a cynical take, but it’s hard to believe that Elon’s suddenly surprised that spam bots proliferate through the platform. He’s now acting as though he’s not taking things seriously at all while seemingly attempting to p*ss off Agrawal. Speaking of which, Agrawal fired off a detailed and carefully composed thread about spam, which begins with the below tweet.
Let’s talk about spam. And let’s do so with the benefit of data, facts, and context…
Throughout that thread, Agrawal describes how it’s an ongoing and demanding process to stay on top of spam, and that involves shutting down “half a million” such accounts every day, and so on, by requiring safeguards including phone verification.
We suspend over half a million spam accounts every day, usually before any of you even see them on Twitter. We also lock millions of accounts each week that we suspect may be spam – if they can’t pass human verification challenges (captchas, phone verification, etc).
Again, it’s a long thread, and instead of letting Agrawal make his case, Elon decided to poop on everything. No really, he volleyed a poop emoji at the Twitter CEO.
Yep, Agrawal attempted (in his thread) to lay out the case that Twitter takes spam very seriously and how internal data shows that less than 5% of accounts have circumvented the process. Elon keeps arguing, very publicly, about this.
So how do advertisers know what they’re getting for their money? This is fundamental to the financial health of Twitter.
One wonders if he’s simply having (non-)buyer’s remorse and wants to walk away without the $1 billion breakup fee. That actually wouldn’t be too surprising after Elon’s (now-)former partner, Grimes, revealed that the richest man on earth wouldn’t buy a new mattress when she found herself sleeping atop a hole.
The first thing that pops into mind watching the video for “Breathe” from IDK‘s newly released, Kaytranad-produced album Simple is E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial. Just as the title character’s telekinetic abilities make for the breathtaking visual of a band of bicycles soaring across the sky in Steven Spielberg’s 1982 classic, IDK sends a fleet of cyclists skyward in his own music video.
Shot in Paris, the video makes a point of showing the sense of freedom one can find even in the midst of doing something as mundane as delivering food. The cyclists in the video also find liberation in their sense of camaraderie with one another as they team up to cruise through one of the city’s tunnels, one of them presumably blasting the laid-back track via speakers attached to their saddle.
The song itself is a marked departure from some of IDK’s older, more aggressive material — and even the cooler grooves offered by his EDM pioneer collaborator. Rather than rapping, IDK sings the airy vocals, offering the reassuring advice to just breathe through it all. While other songs from the album, like “Taco” and “Dog Food,” blended his harder-edged sensibilities with the groovier production of Kaytranada, this song sees IDK truly branching out and showing his full range.
Watch IDK and Kaytranada’s “Breathe” video above.
Simple is out now on Clue with Warner Records. Get it here.
IDK is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
A few weeks back, renowned sneaker designer and customizer Dominic Ciambrone celebrated the opening of his new SRGN studio in LA with a big party that coincided with the artist’s 36th birthday. Much of the Uproxx team was in attendance and, to be frank, the new studio exceeds all expectations on what a sneaker customizer’s workshop should look like. The new SRGN studios is less a workshop for all things sneaker customization and more akin to a modern-day version of Andy Warhol’s Factory — a haven for artists of all stripes to come together to realize their creative projects (some of which include, of course, designing sneakers), play basketball, sip high-end whisky, and tackle whatever else Ciambrone and co decide they want to take on next.
That aforementioned whisky bar, in keeping with Ciambrone’s appreciation for all things luxury, comes fully stocked with Glenmorangie, part of a multifaceted year-long partnership between Ciambrone and the brand that will consist of limited-edition drops, studio concerts, design workshops, and more in the SRGN space.
Last week, we chopped it up with The Shoe Surgeon over Zoom, where he filled us in on how he got into the sneaker customization scene, where he wants to take his art and brand next, and the artists who inspire him to take things to the next level.
Dominic Ciambrone
What can you tell us about the new LA studio? How does it differ from what you’ve done in the past?
The studio is a place for creators and I wanted to create a space to curate an experience for artists, and athletes, and create a unique vibe. I grew up watching [Rob Dyrdek’s] Fantasy Factory and I grew up playing soccer and I grew up going to clubs and bars. I grew up in the restaurant business, hospitality. So shoes just got me here and I wanted to curate a space to tie everything together, from sports, fashion, creating, making, and teaching.
So it’s creating a physical location of the brand.
How did you first link up with Glenmorangie whisky? How did the two brands reflect or resonate with one another?
I think we both hold the bar for luxury and class and elegance. I remember a long time ago flying a friend in from Minnesota, and him asking, “what’s your favorite alcohol? What’s your favorite food? What do you like to eat?” Because I’m very big in hospitality. I grew up just taking care of people with my family. He said “scotch whisky” and it happened to be Glenmorangie. So it started there, and that was years ago. I remember being at a bar and also seeing the logo, the signet, and the detail of how amazing it looked.
It’s just a classy beverage that ties into our brand where I started as a kid just throwing paint on shoes, and it progressed, and now I make the most luxury, highest-end products in the world. To tie in a brand like Glenmorangie of hospitality and creating a luxury bar is the perfect fit.
Would you ever give some thought to maybe customizing a bottle or designing a bottle?
We’re working on that. That’s the thing. So many people see the shoes and they think I’m a shoe guy. They think I’m a sneakerhead. And it’s like, I’m more than that. It’s not me. I have a whole team and we’re just a group of creators and makers and we can make anything. So a bottle has always been on my list of things to design and develop and even make. I’ve actually made some custom bottles, handmade some in the studio.
glenmorangie x tss
So you definitely see yourself as a designer above a sneaker customizer?
Yeah. I mean, there’s no label to call me other than I’m a human that likes to make or create things, and I have a vision. Some people would call me a sneaker customizer. You can call me a designer. But I wouldn’t stop at that. I’m an entrepreneur. I’m a designer. I’m a maker. I’m a craftsman. I mean, I’m a man of many things, and at the end of the day, I’m just a creative artist that can execute things, and execute visions.
I have a taste level that I like things my way, and anything I look, at I’m like, “How can I change that?” It ties back into my life of constantly wanting to evolve and work on myself.
How did you first get into customizing sneakers?
I think at a very young age, I was always making and creating stuff from screen printing to painting, to building forts in the backyard, Legos at a very young age, just creating and building, not following the directions. And then middle school, sharpening my shoes and then got into fashion. Freshman year of high school, my cousin let me wear original ’85 Jordan 1s, which I didn’t really know what they were at the time. I wore those to school and it attracted people like, “Yo, those are sick.” So at that time, not knowing it like I do today, but to see that I created… It helped me create a voice without actually having to speak.
And after that, I would start getting shoes early and wearing those out, and people would flip. So I knew that if I had some cool shoes, it would attract people, and it was just a way to communicate, and it was a way to connect with people. And then that went away once everyone had the same shoes, and that’s when I airbrushed a pair in high school.
When I went to school, it was the same thing. It was like, “Yo, where’d you get those?” And it was like, “Oh, I made them,” and then it clicked that I can make it. The paint fell off right away. So it went from just creating to like, “Oh, shit. I need to make this thing last forever.”
I wanted to ask you, on a philosophical level, what is a custom sneaker to you? Do you see it as an expression of individuality, a mirror that reflects the wearer’s personality, or is it just purely about cool design?
To each person, it’s different. So I was on this journey of creating this perfect pair of shoes, which I found as a never-ending journey. So recently I came back to the point of just having fun with it again, just grabbing a pair of shoes and just having fun, not being so hard on myself that it needs to be this perfect way. I mean, what is a custom pair of shoes? Art is subjective to who’s looking at it and I can tell you how I see it, but if someone else creates art or a custom pair of shoes, I can say, “I don’t like it. It’s not for me, but good job that you’re doing something for yourself or for others.” I think that’s the way I look at it.
It’s just a canvas and I think it’s an expression of who you are or what you want to create.
You’ve designed for lots of people from Odell Beckham to Drake to LeBron. Is there anybody that’s on your bucket list who you haven’t designed a sneaker for that you would like to, that you already have ideas for, maybe?
I’m looking out the window. I’m looking at my business partner. And the way we met was he brought a pair of shoes to me, the original Air Mags, and we never finished them. We ended up making a bunch of other shoes and then we became business partners. So there’s the first pair of shoes. That’s the first thing that comes to mind. I made shoes for Pharrell Williams, who was a dream. He was the guy that I really looked up to, and I want to make a song with him. So to make shoes for someone, I mean, it would be… Who owns Louis Vuitton? It would be an owner of something that’s created something so big that can also just see my craft and my passion into a product or whatever it may be.
It’s not about a celebrity. I remember first making shoes for will.i.am and Justin Bieber. At that time I was just like, “Cool, whatever. I mean, it’s cool, but it’s not who I am.” I just like creating. And if people respect my art now, then that’s what I enjoy most about it.
You mentioned music and you mentioned that you like to create. Is there a medium you haven’t dipped your toes in yet that you really want to, or that you really have your eyes set on, a creative endeavor?
I’m sure there is that I can’t think of right now, but I think it’s taking these things and taking them all further. So we built out of the space. We designed the space. So I want to be designing hotels. I want to be designing a house. I want to be designing restaurants. I’m going to be. It’s just taking it further. So I’ve been in the space of music. Now I want to actually make an album. Now I’m going to continue to push things further.
Glenmorangie x TSS
How involved were you with the architecture and stuff, or at least the interior design of the new studio? Pretty heavily?
Heavily. Yeah. There’s a lot of things going on over here and there’s a lot of things moving quickly. At the end, there are some things that I’m actually physically doing less and more so as the creative direction. I’m helping empower the team to make decisions that are on brand and also making sure that we’re continuing to push things forward and get things done.
I’m really excited about creating this bar with Glenmorangie and really elevating the feel and look because I come from a middle-class family. We weren’t poor. We weren’t rich. And we were huge in hospitality, and we took care of a lot of people, feeding them. We had a restaurant growing up, so we would feed people for free. We would cover that. And I like nice things. My youngest brother is a very high-end chef. I continue to like more classy things. So when I go to a bar, I want it to feel a certain way.
It’s about the aesthetic and the vibe more so than the product. That’s where I’m at with my brand. It’s not just about the shoe. That’s what we’re doing with this bar too.
What’s your favorite sneaker to work from a design standpoint? What silhouette captures your imagination and feels like a canvas you can iterate on forever?
I mean, I really haven’t made it yet. It’s the next one that I’m working on. It’s the original design that I’m working on. But if you were to answer your question directly, it’d be the OG Jordan 1 just because that was the first really cool pair of shoes that I wore that got me into it. And with Michael Jordan and Nike, that was just the most amazing collaboration. They needed each other to help each other, and it was just an amazing thing to see.
So that silhouette’s going to be forever, I think, in my heart.
I would say that’s the sneaker that created sneaker culture the way that it is today, at least.
100%.
Just to close out, I wanted to ask, who are some of your favorite sneaker designers right now? And actually, let’s pull that out because just as you mentioned, you’re influenced by so many things, and I know you name-checked Pharrell. What creators really inspire you and how do they inspire you?
To see Drake’s persistence and creativity and how he’s put a team, and empowered a team together is really amazing to see. I mean, Kanye West is a genius and he pushed through so much to create his vision to life. Of course, Pharrell Williams from… I remember being 16 or something and my older brother showing me one of the first albums of N.E.R.D and he was just like, “Yo, what is this? It’s a cool sound.”
He had a swag to him, a fashion sense. And he turned music and fashion and skate together and created this thing, which was really dope to see. I don’t really follow too many actual sneaker designers. I just enjoy watching creatives that can harness their energy and turn it into something impactful for not only themselves. It’s for other people to enjoy.
Much has been said about Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox’s relationship given some of the unusual ways they choose to conduct themselves within it. Now, it appears the pair are taking things to a new (and conventional) level, as Kelly suggested their dynamic has changed.
While performing “Twin Flame” at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards last night, Kelly introduced the track by saying, “I wrote this song for my wife.” He later added, “And this is for our unborn child.”
So, it appears MGK and Fox are married with a child on the way. That may not really be the case, though, as Kelly has referred to Fox as his “wife” before, like during a March appearance on Ellen. Furthermore, perhaps when Kelly said “unborn child,” he was referring to an eventual kid he and Fox may have. Whatever the case, neither Kelly nor Fox have taken to social media to offer any clarification on that front.
What we do know for sure is that the two are engaged, as evidence by Fox’s thorny, intentionally painful engagement ring. James Corden recently asked Kelly when he thinks the wedding is going to be and he responded, “Um… when they can build me, like, a red river with, like, gothic… the location is hard. Trying to find a spot that’s matching my artistic…”
If you’re new to whiskey, you might be wary of rye and that’s a shame. Sure, the thought of drinking corn-based bourbon known for its mellow, easy-drinking flavor profile is appealing. But if you’re holding off on trying rye because you’re afraid you won’t enjoy the spicier, cracked black pepper-centric flavor notes, you’re doing your palate a disservice.
That being said, if you are ready to dip your toe into the rye whiskey world, you’re probably going to need a little help. You might not want to walk into your local liquor store or scroll through online retailers and randomly select a bottle. Like with any new (to you) whiskey style, you might not be happy with the results once you crack open the bottle.
Lucky for you, I know a thing or two about rye whiskey. And since I’m all about broadening your whiskey horizons, I decided to blindly taste and rank eight of my favorite gateway rye whiskeys below. Each was selected because of a combination of high-quality (no bottom shelf swill here), balanced-yet-peppery flavor profiles, and reasonable price. Keep scrolling to see how everything turned out.
You shouldn’t be surprised to learn that this whiskey’s name, Double Rye, comes from the fact that it’s a blend of two different rye whiskeys. Each was aged for a minimum of two years and up to seven years. They are a younger, sourced whiskey and an older whiskey, distilled by High West. The result is a spicy, bold, well-balanced sipper.
Christopher Osburn
Blind Tasting Notes:
Bland, muted aromas of wood, slight vanilla, and cracked black pepper are barely present on the nose. The palate isn’t as bland with some honey, slightly herbal flavors, caramel corn, and more rye spice. Overall, it’s pretty light and tastes really young.
Bottom Line:
High West Double Rye! Isn’t a bad bottle of whiskey. It’s just very young and that’s present in the nose and palate. It’s a bit more subdued than some of its longer-aged counterparts.
If you’re a bourbon drinker, you probably already have a bottle of versatile, flavorful Wild Turkey 101. Well, if you love that sweet, surprisingly mellow whiskey, you’ll love its rye cousin. Aged for a minimum of four years in new, charred American oak barrels and made with a mash bill of only 51% rye, this 101-proof whiskey is known for its slightly smoky, slightly sweet, peppery flavor.
Christopher Osburn
Blind Tasting Notes:
This whiskey starts with aromas of sweet toffee, vanilla cream, honey, and charred wood. There’s not much pepper in the aroma. The palate is surprisingly, almost alarmingly spicy with cinnamon, wood char, and cracked black pepper dominating the nose. It’s clear this is a higher proof whiskey and that’s not such a great characteristic.
Bottom Line:
Wild Turkey 101 rye is a better mixer than it is a sipper. The bold proof and spice that comes with it might be a little bold for some palates. It’s not even a very rye-centric whiskey, it’s the higher proof that has the burn.
Taking a sip of Redemption’s flagship rye is like taking a step back to whiskey before Prohibition. Even with a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, this is a bold, spicy, award-winning whiskey is aged for at least two years in charred oak barrels and is surprisingly well-balanced and multi-dimensional. Albeit, quite young.
Christopher Osburn
Blind Tasting Notes:
The nose is surprisingly spicy with a wallop of cinnamon and pepper paired with citrus zest and some vanilla beans. On the palate, you’ll find some citrus peel, sticky toffee, caramel, and not as much cracked black pepper as I’d prefer.
The flavors aren’t bad, it’s just too watery and muted.
Bottom Line:
While there’s definitely a bold, peppery rye presence in Redemption Rye. It just tastes very young. And that’s because it is. It’s a bit more muted than it would be if it had spent a little longer in the barrel.
5) Sazerac Rye
Buffalo Trace
ABV: 45%
Average Price: $30
The Whiskey:
If you’re a fan of whiskey-based cocktails, you’ve heard the word “Sazerac”. The rye-based drink and this rye from Buffalo Trace get their names from the Sazerac Coffee House that was located on Royal Street in New Orleans in the 1800s. This brand comes in this value bottle with an undisclosed age statement as well as an 18-year-old version.
Christopher Osburn
Blind Tasting Notes:
A nose of dried cherries, raisins, cinnamon, orange peels, and cracked black pepper greeted my nose before my first sip. The palate has notes of candied cherries, orange zest, butterscotch candy, and a healthy dose of peppery rye. But, like many of the other bottles on this list, it’s lacking in flavor punch.
Bottom Line:
For a bargain bottle, Sazerac is a surprisingly well-balanced (though muted) rye whiskey. There is a decent cracked black pepper backbone, lightly fruity, oaky flavors are also there. I just wish they were more prevalent.
If you’re a fan of Jim Beam’s small-batch expressions, you know all about Basil Hayden (having recently rebranded from Basil Hayden’s). This unique whiskey is a blend of Kentucky rye, Canadian rye, and just a hint of California port. The result is a slightly fruity, spicy, bold whiskey.
Christopher Osburn
Blind Tasting Notes:
Dried cherries, berries, toffee, vanilla, and white pepper can be found on the nose. The palate contains notes of dried fruits, stone fruits, woody oak, and peppery rye — giving this a very complex, multi-dimensional flavor profile. The finish is a warming mix of fruit and spice.
Bottom Line:
If you’re looking for a very fruit-forward whiskey that has subtle cracked black pepper, Basil Hayden Dark Rye is a great choice for you. It’s a decent gateway into rye without really having the spice that some expressions have. If you’re looking for something spicy? You won’t find it here.
While to be called a rye whiskey, it must only have a mash bill of at least 51%, this bold sipper carries a mash bill of 100% rye. Aged for a minimum of six years, this complex whiskey is known for its mix of sweetness and spice that makes it both great for sipping neat and mixing into cocktails.
Christopher Osburn
Blind Tasting Notes:
The nose is a blend of citrus and spice. I found notes of candied orange peels, wintry spices, cinnamon, slight vanilla, and peppery rye. The palate is a rye fan’s dream with a ton of peppery rye upfront. This is followed by caramel candy, oak, and slight notes of candied citrus. The last sip is a combination of fruit, vanilla, and rye spice.
Bottom Line:
WhistlePig Piggyback is a great gateway into rye whiskey because, even though this is a bold, spicy whiskey, there are enough complimentary mellow, sweet flavors to make it a well-balanced, reasonably-priced sipper.
If you’re going to dip your proverbial toe into the rye whiskey world, why not opt for one that makes a traditional Maryland-style rye whiskey. This award-winning whiskey is a blend of straight rye whiskeys that are matured between four and six years in highly charred American oak casks. The result is a high-rye whiskey known for its spicy, sweet, easy-drinking flavor profile.
Christopher Osburn
Blind Tasting Notes:
Cinnamon, butterscotch, brown sugar, raisins, and peppercorns are prevalent on the nose. One sip and I found notes of toasted vanilla beans, caramel corn, cinnamon, orange peel, almond cookies, and dill-like rye spice. The finish is a mix of caramel candy sweetness and peppery rye spice.
Bottom Line:
You’d have a hard time finding a more well-balanced, complex rye whiskey for the price than Sagamore Spirit Signature Rye. It ticks all of the rye whiskey boxes while still being a great gateway into the style.
Michter’s is a big name in the bourbon world. But, just because of the brand’s prowess with corn-based whiskey, you shouldn’t sleep on its complex US-1 Rye. Made with select, sheared American rye, this single barrel whiskey is aged in new, charred American oak barrels. The result is a sweet, nutty, spicy sipper.
Christopher Osburn
Blind Tasting Notes:
Right away, I noticed a nose of bold, cracked black pepper, dried cherries, raisins, brown sugar, and oak. Sipping it revealed toffee, vanilla beans, cinnamon sugar, caramel corn, candied orange peel, and light, spicy rye. The finish is a pleasing, warming combination of sweetness and spice.
Bottom Line:
When it comes to well-balanced, sweet, spicy rye whiskey, Michter’s US-1 is hard to beat. The best part? It’s not even as expensive as it should be (don’t tell the folks at Michter’s that!).
Imagine being at your college graduation, knowing you’ll soon be entering the “real” world under the massive weight of student loans—like 65% of all graduating students—when suddenly you hear the words:
“You are debt free.”
Sounds like a fantasy, right? For the graduating class of Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, the miracle was all too real.
During the college’s commencement ceremony, Wiley’s president and CEO Dr. Herman J. Felton Jr. announced that thanks to an anonymous donor, the debt owed by the entire class had been fully paid off. That’s more than 100 students, with a debt total of around $300,000.
“You do not owe the college a penny. If you have a balance, you had a balance. You no longer have a balance,” he can be heard saying in a video as students clapped and cheered. Their unbridled joy was palpable.
The students of Wiley weren’t the only ones thrilled by the news. People flooded Twitter with loving, congratulatory comments.
“This is what we need more of. Congratulations Class of 2022…go change the world!” wrote one user.
A statement released by the college explained that although the school has worked to reduce its tuition costs, COVID-19 exacerbated many students’ ability to pay their remaining balances. This made the special announcement an even more welcome surprise.
Student debt can be crippling. And often it doesn’t only affect the student, but the student’s family members who try to offer support. Sometimes that sacrifice can prove to be detrimental as interest rates leave one owing dramatically more than what was originally borrowed. The class of Wiley experienced an anomaly. Sadly, the norm is much more stressful.
But still, many who can help, do. In 2019, for instance, billionaire Robert Smith donated $34 million to the graduating class of Atlanta’s Morehouse College. And In 2020, philanthropist Mackenzie Scott provided $20 million to Morehouse too.
The identity of this mystery donor may never be revealed…though some have speculated it to be Nicki Minaj, who has paid off other students’ debt in the past. Regardless, their contribution means that the students of Wiley can step into their futures free of financial burden. And that is priceless.
While every person with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is different, there are some common communication traits that everyone should understand. Many with ASD process language literally and have a hard time understanding body language, social cues, exaggeration and cultural cues.
This can lead to misunderstandings that result in people with ASD appearing to be rude when it wasn’t their intent. If more neurotypical people (those without ASD) better understood these communication differences, it’d be much easier for everyone to get along.
A perfect example of this problem and how to fix it was shared by Yuri, a transmasc person who goes by he/they, who posts on TikTok about having ADHD and ASD. In a post that has more than 2.3 million views, Yuri claims he was “booked for a disciplinary meeting for being a bad communicator.”
Obviously, his manager needs to learn a little more about working with people with ASD.
To help his co-workers better understand his unique communication style, Yuri posted a note on his office door so there wouldn’t be any more misunderstandings.
I’m autistic.
I prefer direct, literal and detailed communication
I made an autism sign at work bc i got booked for disciplinary meeting for being a bad communicator.
The post inspired some great responses from people who totally understand what Yuri is going through.
“This should be the norm tbh!! very proud of you for stating your boundaries and needs clearly,” Alastar wrote. “I wish everyone had signs telling me how to communicate tbh,” Bro added.
“How is it that we prefer direct, literal, and detailed communication, but somehow WE’RE the ones with a communication issue???” Reading cosmere! wrote.
In a follow-up video, Yuri addressed some of the commenters who didn’t know if he was diagnosed by a doctor.
“The funniest thing about the comment section of my autism sign video is the people who are asking me, ‘Are you self-diagnosed? Are you formally diagnosed?’” he said in the video. “Do you think neurotypical people would make a sign like that? Do you think that would happen? Do you think a neurotypical person would do that?”
Autism is a misunderstood disorder so it was a brave move by Yuri to come out about being on the spectrum and share how he prefers to communicate. It’s also a reminder for all of us that we all have the right to show others how we wish to communicate.
This story is also a great lesson for anyone who works with people who have ASD to learn more about their unique communication styles so we can all understand one another. It could be the difference between a hostile work environment and one where everyone can thrive and feel safe.
Mase’s set at Lovers & Friends Festival this past Saturday (May 14) should have been a special moment for both him and the Las Vegas attendees. Sadly, the sound system had other plans as he had technical difficulties throughout his performance, culminating in the sound being completely cut off for around ten minutes after he tried to perform the 1997 classic record “Mo Money Mo Problems” also featuring The Notorious B.I.G and Diddy. Mase seems to believe it was no accident, blaming the latter for coordinating the blunder.
The New York rapper told the crowd “I see what’s going on. I’m used to being hated on. I’m used to what’s going on. Somebody, somewhere paid a few dollars to stop my show. But that can’t stop somebody like me. I don’t get ran away too easy. I just wasn’t ready for that, so I’m gonna take my time.” He continued with “Thank you Puff, you know he paid for that right? I got you n****. I heard you loud and clear.”
Mase has been very public with his disdain for Diddy over the years, citing discrepancies with the amount of money he’s been paid for publishing and going as far as to say the Bad Boy founder has been capitalizing on the death of Biggie for selfish monetary gain. Diddy hasn’t commented on the matter yet as he was busy with the 2022 Billboard Music Awards.
As Stranger Things 4 gets ready to turn Netflix Upside Down later this month (that pun was unavoidable, sorry), the cast assembled in Brooklyn on Saturday night for the world premiere. The big news here is that they talked about this season’s new big bad, Vecna. Maybe “biggest bad” is the better phrase. After battling it out with the Demogorgon and the Mind Flayer over the past three seasons, the Hawkins crew will now go face-to-face with the top-level ruler of the Upside Down as the show barrels towards its final season.
According to Stranger Things executive producer and director, Shawn Levy, “Vecna makes a Demogorgon look cuddly,” and he represents a threat unlike anything the show has grappled with before:
“Vecna is a psychological horror that I don’t think we’ve really seen,” [David] Harbour told Variety. “The Upside Down has been this wild west world where there are creatures running around, there’s violence, but we’ve never seen something as calculatedly psychologically evil as this. That’s exciting because he is a true big bad that we’ve needed in the series.”
The show also reconnected to its ’80s horror root by making Vecna a mostly practical effect as opposed to the show’s heavy, but necessary reliance on CGI for its previous creatures. Although, that made for some trippy moments on set, according to series newcomer Joseph Quinn.
“It was weird to see him on camera and he’s so terrifying, and then you see him off-camera with an iced latte,” Quinn said. “It’s quite a funny image.”
Interestingly, the actor playing Vecna has not been revealed, which has sparked numerous fan theories about his true identity. (It’s Alf. We’re calling it now.) It will be interesting to see exactly which of Vecna’s secrets will be revealed during the new season, but Stranger Things fans won’t have to wait long to find out. The first batch of episodes drops on May 27 with the back half arriving on July 1. It’s gonna be a creepy summer.
Last week, ’90s alternative rock enthusiasts rejoiced when The Smashing Pumpkins and Jane’s Addiction announced the co-headlining Spirits On Fire Tour for later this year. The Pumpkins are currently in the midst of their own brief Rock Invasions Tour and were peddling welcome nostalgia when they performed the classic “Today” live on The Late Late Show With James Corden this past Thursday. This morning, the band flew to New York City in between their Tucson and Oklahoma City shows for an appearance on The Howard Stern Show and were joined by none other than Jane’s Addiction singer (and Lollapalooza festival founder) Perry Farrell.
Farrell grabbed the mic to perform what is perhaps the most recognizable song in the Jane’s Addiction catalog, “Jane Says,” and he was backed by entire Smashing Pumpkins lineup. Billy Corgan played acoustic guitar, and original Pumpkins members in James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlain were on the electric guitar and drums, respectively. A very tastefully played steel drum by Jane’s Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins fully rekindled the flame of the 1988 classic.
“This is kind of exciting because this band behind you is kind of a conglomeration of The Smashing Pumpkins and Jane’s Addiction,” Stern noted when introducing them. Corgan and Farrell joked with Stern, offering names like “Jane’s Pumpkins” and “Jane’s A Pumpkin Now” for this short-lived supergroup. “Jane’s A Pumpkin Now wasn’t sexy enough,” Farrell said with a laugh.
The pair even sat down to chat with Stern and told a hilarious story about when Farrell wrestled with Smashing Pumpkins tour manager Doug Goodman, who came onto the camera to explain his side of the story.
Watch Perry Farrell and The Smashing Pumpkins perform “Jane Says” above” and hear Farrell, Corgan and Goodman argue about what really happened in that famed wrestling match below.
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