Month: July 2022

Just weeks away from her hotly-anticipated second album, Hold On Baby, King Princess has revealed a sensual new ballad. On “Change The Locks,” Princess reels over a tumultuous relationship. Despite the great sex to which Princess alludes, she knows she must end the relationship with someone she feels she hardly knows anymore.

The song is hardly coy, especially with lines like “I have had a million bodies / And mostly, it’s been awesome / But you’re the one for whom I want to c*m.” The song was co-written by Aaron Dessner of The National, who co-wrote and produced much of Taylor Swift’s Folklore and Evermore albums.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Princess revealed that while she wrote most of the lyrics, co-produced every track, and played much of the instruments on the album, working with Dessner, along with producers Ethan Gruska, Dave Hamelin, Mark Ronson, and Shawn Everett, helped her achieve the sound she’s always wanted.

“All I’ve ever really wanted was to feel camaraderie in making music, and I started to feel that,” she said. “I’m at the helm of this ship, or else it wouldn’t be my music.

Check out “Change The Locks” above.

Hold On Baby is out 7/29 via Zelig Records/Columbia. Pre-save it here.

While NBA Summer League kicked off in San Francisco and Salt Lake City earlier in July, the entire league descended on Las Vegas beginning with a nationally televised doubleheader on Thursday evening. The Orlando Magic, led by No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero, took on the Houston Rockets, led by No. 3 overall pick Jabari Smith Jr., and the Magic emerged victorious beyond strong performances from Banchero, Caleb Houstan, and others.

In the early going, Banchero was the clear story. He set the tone early with his polished offensive arsenal, including a relocation, catch-and-shoot three-pointer.

Though Banchero is not regarded as an elite spot-up shooter, he flashed intriguing touch with a fadeaway mid-range offering. Then, the No. 1 overall pick buried a smooth step-back three-pointer over the outstretched arms of Smith Jr.

Banchero scored eight points on perfect shooting in his first seven-minute stint, operating on the ball quite a bit as a point forward. As the game wore on, the former Duke standout continued to leave his fingerprints on the action. Banchero was the beneficiary of a friendly bounce on another jumper, and he also displayed his grab-and-go ability while running the fast break and creating a three-pointer for a fellow rookie in Houstan.

Houstan finished the night with 20 points, including 5-of-9 from three-point range. The former Michigan wing scuffled at times during his only college season, but Houstan was once a top-10 high school recruit and he rekindled the imagination of prospect evaluators with his ready-made skill set as a role player.

Banchero finished the first half with 13 points and four assists, playing at a very high level by any standard. As the game continued, he didn’t particularly slow down, including a flash play on defense in rejecting Smith Jr. at the rim.

Banchero finished the evening with 17 points and six assists and, even beyond that clear impact in the box score, his top-tier passing was evident.

While Smith Jr. did not enjoy the same barrage of highlights that Banchero created, the No. 3 pick did show plenty of the flashes that make him an elite prospect. Smith Jr. produced his first bucket on a drive and finish over Banchero at the rim.

Later, Smith Jr. showcased his shooting. First, he delivered on a catch-and-shoot triple, and Smith Jr. also utilized his high release point to bury a mid-ranger over the defense.

It must be noted that Smith Jr. is still largely a dependent player on the offensive end, which was one of his potential concerns as a prospect. That is only magnified in a Summer League setting, particularly with struggling guard play from his teammates in the backcourt. The combination of Banchero’s production and Smith Jr.’s relatively quiet statistical night (10 points, seven rebounds, three assists) might produce overreactions, but he largely performed well.

Also of note on the Houston side was the play of first round pick Tari Eason. He produced multiple highlight plays during the night in the desert, generating an early dunk and following that up with a sequence featuring a three-pointer and an impressive drive-and-finish.

All told, the Vegas opener provided enough fodder for all sides, with Banchero truly shining and Smith Jr. at least bringing the flashes at times during the night. Smith Jr. and the Rockets will return to action on Saturday in a projected matchup against Chet Holmgren and the Thunder, while Banchero and the Magic will face Keegan Murray and the Kings in their next tilt on Saturday.

Just weeks away from his upcoming album In Loving Memory, Blackbear has turned the tables on his newest track. A departure from the angsty, revenge, break-up bop, “GFY,” Blackbear’s latest single, “The Idea” shows a more vulnerable side of the pop-rock singer.

Joined by Travis Barker, Blackbear questions a relationship, asking, “How do you fall asleep without me here? / I see right through you, I see you so clear /Wake up my demons and my biggest fears /Are you in love with me or the idea,” on the song’s chorus. In the verses, he alludes to fame and drug use, saying, “Swear the drugs don’t help me, it’s a problem / This ain’t love, I don’t know what to call it,” as well as, “It’s the same old story, Hollywood’s on fire / Three nights in a row doin’ blow, are you tired?”

In the song’s accompanying music video, directed by Emil Neva, Blackbear and Barker are seen performing in a desert. The performance is juxtaposed with a montage of clips of Blackbear and a woman arguing.

Blackbear recently revealed on social media that In Loving Memory is set to arrive next month.

In a statement accompanied by the release of the album’s lead single, “GFY,” Blackbear revealed that the previously released single is “a fun intermission in an otherwise vulnerable project.” Perhaps the more melodic, downtempo “The Idea” gives us a taste of what to expect from the rest of the album.

Check out “The Idea” above.

Summer belongs to Doechii. Following a slew of killer singles, including an ode to marijuana called “Persuasive,” and a rebellious house-inspired track called “Crazy,” the Tampa native has dropped a new confidence anthem, “B*tch I’m Nice.”

On the groovy, dance-ready single, Doechii shouts out high fashion as she admires herself. The song comes out to less than 90 seconds in length, however, she delivers plenty of memorable bars, including lines like “Know this p*ssy good, and it purr, but it still got bite,” on the hook, and “Now he having wet dreams / Wake up to your baby daddy sexting” in the second verse.

2022 has been a big year for Doechii, as she performed at the BET Awards last month, and was also a part of this year’s coveted XXL Freshman List. In a recent interview with NME, she revealed that she had plans to wrap up her hotly-anticipated debut album in May.

“The album is in an interesting place right now,” she said at the time of the interview. “I’m in this space where I have great songs, and I could put an album out right now, but in my heart I don’t feel like it’s done yet. I’m still writing new music simultaneously while tightening up the songs I already have.”

Check out “B*tch I’m Nice” above.

Super producer Murda Beatz is keeping the heat on this summer. On his latest single, “No Mas,” Murda delivers a sexy, summery, string-infused beat, and is joined by Quavo, J Balvin, and Anitta as they each deliver fiery verses.

Quavo’s verse is the only one completely in English, as the Migo proclaims, “Migo don’t know Spanish, but my ‘migos got them tings.” Perhaps this shall put those rumors of a split to rest. Balvin delivers the following verse, ready to stake claim to Miami as a party lord. Delivering a powerful bridge is Brazilian superstar Anitta, embracing the fact that she is not only a pop icon in her home country but internationally.

The song’s music video, directed by Jackson Tisi, shows Murda, Quavo, Balvin, and Anitta partying it up in Miami.

It is worth noting that Pharrell doesn’t have any singing or rapping parts on the song, but co-produced it with Murda. He also does not appear in the video. However, those with a good ear can faintly hear one of his signature four-count starts beneath Murda’s famous “Murda on the beat, so it’s not nice” tag.

“It’s a record I’m excited about,” said Murda in a statement, “bringing four different worlds together; America, Colombia, Brazil, and Canada. And, of course, having the chance to work alongside a legendary producer like Pharrell is incredible. It’s just the perfect record for the summer”

Check out “No Mas” above.

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

According to Nielsen streaming ratings this week, Amazon Prime’s The Boys jumped into second place with a respectable 919 million minutes of viewing. Not bad! Sadly, it fell just slightly short of Stranger Things‘s 4.23 billion (with a B). The Amazon show about superheroes who definitely don’t need therapy is at the top of the heap when it comes to normal numbers. Netflix’s Mormonism doc series Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey is in the third slot with 720 minutes, The Lincoln Lawyer has 683 million, and Obi-Wan Kenobi tracks just below with 682 million.

In any other week, The Boys might be on top, but the crew from Hawkins is an unstoppable force capable of shredding Metallica as miniature Old Gods swarm a trailer park while demanding everyone’s attention. The show is so massive that it made a 37-year-old Kate Bush song hit #1 on the charts again. That’s right. It’s so big that its elements are invading other charts.

Rounding out the top ten, Ms. Marvel scored 249 million viewing minutes, which means that far too many people are missing out on a delightful show that shows sparks of originality within the MCU. Stop that, people. I know we all have busy lives, but Ms. Marvel is a beacon of joy in a weary world right now.

Marc Maron has made more than 1,300 episodes of WTF since 2009, inundating fans with his unique brand of dangerous introspection and wit. The podcast made waves before everyone had a podcast and continues to be a standout even in an eye-rollingly crowded field. The comic’s comic has a singular talent for getting other famous people to be vulnerable, swapping PR-buffed pablum for something close to sincerity while sitting across the mic. With guests ranging from sports and film to music and art (oh, and the Presidency), it’s no wonder he’s maintained his place as one of the best interviewers in the business. Even if you’re not a Maron fan, he’s definitely interviewed someone you love. He’s also introduced comedians to a wider range of potential fans, meaning he’s a gateway drug of standup.

In a new feature at Vulture, Maron opened up about guests that have earned their superlatives, like a high school yearbook filled with the most impressive people on the planet.

The guest he most wanted to be friends with after the interview? Tracy Letts. (Spoiler alert: they became friends.)

He also said he wanted a second chance at interviewing Kevin Hart and John Mulaney because he talked to them before they hit it big, and Maggie Gyllenhaal because he messed up by not watching the movie she was there to promote. In addition to naming his most awkward interview (when he accidentally called Nick Cave gay with Aussie slang), he also explained how the Obama episode came to be, the most cathartic guests to have on, and the guest whose wisdom still sticks with him. It’s really an excellent feature to read before listening to every episode of WTF. That should only take you a little over a month, so get cracking.

(via Vulture)

Following the defamation trial where a jury awarded Johnny Depp $10 million in damages and Amber Heard $2 million in damages, Netflix is apparently mutedly excited to get Depp on board with a new film where he’ll play King Louis XV. According to Bloomberg, La Favorite will shoot in France this summer with Maiwenn directing and starring as Jeanne Bécu, aka Jeanne du Barry, who rose from working as a shop assistant to become King Louis XV’s mistress and a maligned-yet-powerful member in his court. Spoiler alert: she did not have a happy time during the Reign of Terror.

Up until this announcement, the working title had been Jeanne du Barry, and the focus is firmly on her life, so it’s unclear how big Depp’s role will be as King. However, Netflix is so thrilled about his involvement that the film will premiere on Netflix France in 2023 with no word on whether it will be available in the United States or any other country at that time. They also declined to comment on the story, even to make the standard anodyne statements about how they’re happy to have a veteran actor on board.

None of that should take away from the potential of the film. Maiwenn is an interesting filmmaker and actress traversing a life story that’s enduring (and filled with hot gossip). Her My King in 2015 was a stirring drama, earning her a Palme d’Or nomination as Best Director as well as a slew of Cesar nominations. This will be the first film that Depp has ever acted in French, and, no matter what, Maiwenn is taking a gamble on a figure who will almost certainly overshadow anything he’s in simply by being in it.

At any rate, Netflix has bought themselves at least a year to see if they want their Depp-starring film to show anywhere else but France.

(via Bloomberg)

Following the sad news of James Caan‘s death at age 82, his Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola has released a statement to Deadline celebrating the actor who made an indelible mark on Coppola’s films.

“Jimmy was someone who stretched through my life longer and closer than any motion picture figure I’ve ever known,” Coppola said. “From those earlier times working together on The Rain People, and throughout all the milestones of my life, his films and the many great roles he played will never be forgotten. He will always be my old friend from Sunnyside, my collaborator and one of the funniest people I’ve ever known.”

In true Coppola fashion, he’s used the moment to draw attention to one of their early collaboration that might otherwise be overlooked as people focus on Caan’s more-famous work. It’s well worth taking the hint. In The Rain People, Caan plays Jimmy “Killer” Kilgannon, a discarded college football star who serendipitously falls in with a pregnant woman (played by Shirley Knight) on a cross-country road trip trying to outrun her domestic life. Roger Ebert gave it four stars when it came out in 1969, praising its experimental nature and status as carving out a new American style. It’s an excellent addition to your memorial Caan binge-fest.

(via Deadline)

Megan Grass of Utah took a trip to the Australia Zoo in Queensland in June and according to her viral TikTok video, ran into her crush, Robert Irwin, 18, the son of the famed “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin.

Steve Irwin died in 2006 but his family has continued his legacy. Robert, along with his mother Terri and sister Bindi, now star in the Animal Planet reality TV show “Crikey! It’s the Irwins.”

When Megan saw Robert working at the zoo, she didn’t waste her moment. She took the open shot and asked him for his phone number, which caught him a bit off guard. “I think you’re so cute, and I was wondering if I could have your number?” she called down to him in the video.

Robert asked Megan where she was from and kindly directed her to send him a direct message on Instagram.

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@megangrass12

tiktok do your thing @Robert Irwin #fyp#australiazoo #crikey

The video of Megan’s aggressive ask and Robert’s polite misdirection went viral on TikTok earning more than 15 million views. Commenters praised Robert for his tact while gently letting her down.

“He’s just like his dad, so sweet and precious,” a TikTok user also named Megan wrote.

“Sorry but you need to be vetted by the public before even trying. He’s a world treasure we can’t take this lightly,” Sean Clodwick added.

“Nobody could say ‘no’ nicer than this dude,” Holly Morris said.

The video took off so quickly that Megan was interviewed on Australia’s “Today” show the day after she posted the video. During the interview, she called Robert, “literally the sweetest person ever. I was a stranger who asked for his number and he didn’t have to be polite about it but he definitely was and I just think he’s a great guy altogether.”

She was also blown away by the video’s popularity. “I definitely was not expecting it to blow up the way it did, but it was a really cool experience altogether, and Robert was so sweet about it,” she said.

Robert eventually addressed his relationship with Megan in a video she posted to TikTok.

Spoiler alert: It doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.

@megangrass12

HE RESPONDED!! thank you so much @robertirwin🤍 #fyp

“That made my entire day,” he said on Studio 10. “That was incredibly kind and a big ‘thank you’ to Megan wherever she is. That really meant a lot.” Then he explained that he can’t give his number out to people who may share it on TikTok.

“Kudos for [having] the confidence to ask that and it’s great to have that little chat and see the people who are really keen on the message I’m sending out in the world,” he continued.

It looks like there wasn’t a love connection between Megan and Robert. But it was wonderful seeing that in a candid moment Robert has the same infectious kindness that made his father a global treasure.

Megan appears to be taking her very public rejection well. She posted another video on TikTok where she said that there are “more fish in the sea.” However, a commenter named mystery_goat coldly noted that “and yet there is only one Robert Irwin.”

@megangrass12

someday #fyp #fish