Month: August 2022

When Irv Gotti appeared on Drink Champs, he likely didn’t expect an anecdote about Ashanti to go viral. But after it did, he had the unfortunate task of reliving his admittedly inappropriate relationship with the former Murder Inc. artist in multiple interviews while fielding backlash for his comments. Even his former artist Ja Rule spoke out, admonishing him for the way he talked about Ashanti.

So, on Sunday, when Gotti was asked about his responses by The Shade Room at the MTV VMAs, he was candid about why he kept talking about Ashanti. “That’s why,” he replied when the reporter asked. “You keep asking me. Did I bring Ashanti up? You did it. Here’s what I’m going to say: I wish Ashanti nothing but the best. I’m not hooked on her, like, ‘I can’t get over her.’ It’s none of that sh*t. I got paid to do a documentary on my life and on Murder Inc. If I didn’t talk about Ashanti, you’d be like, ‘What type of bullsh*t is this?’ She’s too important to Murder Inc. and his life.”

He then said he felt like “they tried to #MeToo me,” referring to the wave of accusations of sexual misconduct that took place a few years ago. While the situation is a little different — fans critical of his relationship with Ashanti have noted the unbalanced power dynamic between label head and artist, as well as a large age difference (Irv was also married at the time) — it’s clear he felt as though he was being accused of sexual misconduct.

In the comments of The Shade Room’s Instagram post, Irv elaborated, saying, “Please believe. It’s gonna be NO COMMENT from here on in. But I felt like at least trying to make y’all understand. Moving forward. it will be limited interviews and no comments. I tell the truth cause I want the people to know the real. But honestly. Y’all don’t give a f*ck about the truth. Y’all gonna say and do whatever y’all want. So why keep giving y’all the real? It’s better to be like everyone else. Lie to y’all. Alter the truth. Or don’t say sh*t to y’all and keep you in the dark. Hahahha. I got slandered for telling y’all the absolute truth. Lol.”

You can watch the interview above.

The film adaptation of Angie Thomas’ hip-hop-themed coming-of-age novel, On The Come Up, premieres next month. Paramount+ has revealed the film’s official trailer.

On The Come Up tells the story of Bri (Jamila C. Gray), who has dreams of becoming a rapper and is finding her way in the battle rap scene of Garden Heights. In the clip, she is seen visiting a mural of her late father, who was a legend in the rap scene. On a mission to maintain her father’s legacy, Bri, with the help of her manager (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), engages and rap battles, works with a producer (Method Man) to put out a hit, all while dealing with her mother (Sanaa Lathan) who is three years clean from substance abuse.

“When her first hit song goes viral for all the wrong reasons, she finds herself torn between the authenticity that got her this far and the false gangsta role that the industry wants to impose upon her,” reads a description of the film in a statement.

In addition to Method Man, rappers Lil Yachty and GaTa appear briefly in the trailer. The film also marks Lathan’s directorial debut.

Check out the trailer for On The Come Up above.

On The Come Up streams 9/23 on Paramount+.

Blonde director Andrew Dominik notoriously called his Marilyn Monroe biopic “the NC-17 version” of the actress’ story, but it’s not for the reason you might expect if you spent time around the adults-only section of a 1990s video store. (Kids today will never know the powerful mystery of wondering what’s behind the forbidden curtains.)

When asked by L’Officiel about the rating, a first for a Netflix film, star Ana de Armas said, “I didn’t understand why that happened. I can tell you a number of shows or movies that are way more explicit with a lot more sexual content than Blonde. But to tell this story it is important to show all these moments in Marilyn’s life that made her end up the way that she did. It needed to be explained. Everyone [in the cast] knew we had to go to uncomfortable places. I wasn’t the only one.”

The Knives Out actress didn’t try to “imitate” Monroe, she explained. “I was interested in her feelings, her journey, her insecurities, and her voice, in the sense that she didn’t really have one.” Monroe tragically died at 36 years old following a barbiturate overdose.

Here’s more on Blonde:

From director Andrew Dominik, and based on the novel by Joyce Carol Oates, Blonde boldly reimagines the complicated life of icon Marilyn Monroe. Blurring the lines of fact and fiction, the film artfully explores the tension between her public and private life.

Blonde hits Netflix on September 28.

Interviewees included convention-goers, toymakers and, of course, the bears themselves.

A consummate professional, Reeves asked the tough questions like “Why are all the bears’ first name Teddy?” and “What do your friends think about you collecting bears?” All while giving off major “Bill and Ted” vibes. It was pure delight.

The best part, though, comes at the end, when Reeves fake wrestles a teddy bear, and proceeds to get tackled to the ground.

Keep in mind, he hadn’t learned kung fu from “The Matrix” yet.

Before he was a Hollywood actor, KEANU REEVES worked for CBC and did a news report on a Teddy Bear convention in 1984. pic.twitter.com/XSQ9dCFcMw

— All The Right Movies (@ATRightMovies) August 28, 2022

Was it cheesy? Oh yes. Bizarre? You betchya. But also delivered with a goofy, loveable charm that only Keanu can really pull off.

As one would assume, the short and sweet video clip got lots of love online.

“I will protect this man with my man,” one person wrote.

“Best thing public television ever funded,” added another.

Basically, Keanu Reeves is a treasure.

It’s not an easy feat to go from playing airheads to one of Hollywood’s leading action stars. It’s equally rare to reach stardom without losing at least some humility. But Reeves has pulled off both. His unbridled kindness and emotional resilience have made him not only a celebrity, but a role model.

Now, there’s another thing to endear him to us all. Reeves avenges puppies, time travels AND interviews teddy bears … is there anything this man can’t do?

This article originally appeared on 01.06.22

If you grew up in the ’90s then you were part of the last generation of kids who lived without being constantly connected to the internet. You lived during that last gasp of the analog era where most of your entertainment came on tape and if you wanted a new pair of Guess jeans or LA Gear shoes, you had to drive to the mall.

Also, if you wore pants that looked like this, people actually thought you were cool.

Families mattered on Friday nights.

People listened to rock ‘n’ roll because it was important.

Hip-hop was at its peak.

People spent time talking to each other instead of staring at their phones.

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It was a time of hope and optimism.

Some folks over at Reddit have been sharing funny memes that explain exactly what life was like in the ’90s. From the terrible pastel-colored designs that were everywhere to the charming, but antiquated, technology kids today will never understand.

Here are 19 of the best memes from r/90s/.

1. 1992 was 30 years ago

Sorry, if that made you feel old.

2. “Go! Go!” (Fill in the blank)

This person is living the Gen X dream.

3. Oh snap!

There was no greater diss in 1991.

4. Make a run for the border

Does this picture make you instinctively think “You quiero Taco Bell”?

5. In the ’90s, every night was a Blockbuster night

It’s like looking back in time.

6. We’ll always have Chuck E. Cheese’s

Our immune systems were forged through miles of sweaty PVC.

7. Don’t touch the ‘purple stuff’ 

Ingredients: Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup and 2% or Less of: Concentrated Orange Juice, Concentrated Tangerine Juice, Concentrated Apple Juice, Concentrated Lime Juice, Concentrated Grapefruit Juice, Concentrated Pear Juice, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Thiamin Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1), Natural Flavor, Modified Cornstarch, Canola Oil, Sodium Citrate, Cellulose Gum, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, Neotame, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Potassium Sorbate to Protect Flavor, Yellow 5, Yellow 6.

8. These actually existed

How in the world did they cram 25 different colored pens into one super writing utensil?

9. Nu metal didn’t last long

A.D.I.D.A.S.

10. People aged quickly in the ’90s

This is what happens when you have children.

11. This weighed 25 pounds and went everywhere you went 

I can still hear the sound of the rumpling plastic as I flip through the pages.

12. They got ‘Jerry Maguire’? 

Of course they have “Jerry Maguire.” In fact, they have 500 copies of “Jerry Maguire.”

13. The hippest computer lab ever

After the iMac dropped, only vertified dorks used an IBM.

14. Just looking at this hurts

This may have hurt your fingers, but was probably safer than licking the battery to see if it still had “juice.”

15. It’s like they didn’t want you to play solitaire

Solitaire wasted more people’s time in 1998 than Instagram does in 2022.

16. In 1993 this could cure anything

Stomach ache? Flu? Munchausen’s syndrome? This unique combination would have you back on your feet in no time.

17. Synergy

To quote a popular philosopher from the ’90s, they went together like “peas and carrots.”

18. This cup went perfect with pizza

If the joint had all-you-can-drink refills, you drank ’em out of this cup. It held tokens, too.

19. The only pattern that mattered in the ’90s

Throw on those shorts, then hop in your Miata and get yourself some action!

This article originally appeared on 02.25.22

Anyone who grew up in the late ’80s and early ’90s—Gen X, I’m looking at you—grew up in a world that was dominated by 8-bit graphics. Back in the day, computers and video game systems had a limited amount of processing power so the graphics had to be simple.

That meant the heroes that we played with such as Mario from Super Mario Brothers or Link from The Legend of Zelda, had to be super simple looking and we had to fill in the rest with our imaginations.

Video graphics have come a long way over the past 30-plus years, but people still love the old designs because it takes them back to a simpler time. This has led to an 8-bit movement where people use their creativity to make art within the confines of the limited medium.

Some people also use the limited 8-bit soundscape to create music that’s reminiscent of the old games. Sure, computer game music may be much more sophisticated these days, but is there anything better than the soundtrack to the original Tetris? Would Super Mario Brothers be the same with a sophisticated soundtrack? I think not.

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Swedish artist Johan Karlgren, who goes by the name Pappas Pärlor, creates pixelated 8-bit-looking art and then inserts it into everyday scenes. The interesting thing is that his 8-bit art isn’t done with computer graphics, but Perler beads.

Perler beads are small, plastic beads that one places on a grid, and when the picture is done, they are melted with a household clothing iron. The beads are a fun hobby for kids who love to see the melting beads ooze their way into a fully-formed picture.

Although they weren’t originally intended to make 8-bit art, because the beads are placed on a grid when they melt together the designs look like they came straight out of a Nintendo Entertainment System.

Super Mario 3 Tanooki Suit Perler Beads Timelapsepic.twitter.com/Ywed4B3y47

— Soma ud83dudc9cud83cudf19 | AlleyCat ud83dude38ud83dudc08u200du2b1b (@Soma ud83dudc9cud83cudf19 | AlleyCat ud83dude38ud83dudc08u200du2b1b)
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Karlgren recreates iconic images from comics, cartoons, video games and movies with the beads and then adds them to the scenarios, turning the mundane into the whimsical.

What’s Karlgren’s big inspiration? “Anything that makes me feel something,” he told Bored Panda. “It could be anything from childhood memories to politics or people doing awesome stuff that I wanna interpret.”

See on Instagram

For Karlgren, his work is the byproduct of having a good time. “I don’t really choose what to create. My work is sprung from playing, and I’ll try to go with the ideas that come up in my head,” he said.

One of the hallmarks of Karlgen’s work is taking drab places such as a parking lot or other types of urban infrastructure and livening them up with the addition of one of his Perler bead creations. “It’s something that makes me happy, and hopefully other people [when] seeing it as well,” he told Newsweek.

Karlgren is a father of four and started posting his creations on Instagram back in April 2014. Since then, his fun, old-school designs have earned him more than 144,000 followers. Here are some of his coolest, and funniest 8-bit designs.

8-Bit Joker

See on Instagram

“Rose!”

See on Instagram

Raiders of the Lost Fence Knob

See on Instagram

Mario Kart: Snow Speeders

See on Instagram

“Here’s 8-Bit Johnny!”

See on Instagram

The Man of Steel

See on Instagram

That Creep Can Roll

See on Instagram

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

See on Instagram

​Anthony Adams Rubbing Hands Meme​

See on Instagram

“I Said God Damn!”

See on Instagram

“Take My Money!”

See on Instagram

Darth’s Day Off

See on Instagram

Jaws

See on Instagram

“Go Ahead, Make My Day.”

See on Instagram

Mini Bernie

See on Instagram

Tony Montana

See on Instagram

The Homer Meme

See on Instagram

Alex Jones has either legitimately lost his mind (beyond his work as a “performance artist”) or truly has no f**ks left to give. Despite being ordered to pay nearly $50 million (that he maybe doesn’t have) for spreading vicious lies and conspiracy theories about the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, the InfoWars host is at it again — and not for the first time since the verdict was read.

As Mediaite reports, on Monday, Jones warned InfoWars viewers to prepare for an all-out civil war as we close in on the midterm elections, as he believes Democrats plan to raise all sorts of hell over the next several weeks:

In the next 71 days, we’re going to see some very violent fireworks. I would predict racially-motivated mass shootings, bombings, poisonings — attacks on power supplies being blamed on the right wing. [Democrats] intend to bring in a full dictatorship in the next 71 days, and we are all strapped to this thing.

Jones went on to note that “This is such a dangerous time,” which might be the only sensible thing he’s ever said — though for all the wrong reasons. He further warned that for anyone thinking we’re “about to have a leftist revolution,” the truth is much worse: we’re about to experience “a civil war that brings down America, and you’ll be the fall guy.”

Consider yourselves warned.

(Via Mediaite)

Charli XCX is a big-time success now, but in the early days of her music career, she was just like most other artists getting started: playing small and perhaps dirty venues for handfuls of people. While the comforts that come with success are great, there’s a part of Charli that misses the nitty-gritty of the old days, so much so that she tried to re-create them with an unusual tour request.

In an interview with BBC Music, Charli admits to trying to recapture the feeling of her early career by asking that her tour dressing rooms already be trashed by the time she got there. She said, “Five years ago, I used to request that my dressing room be trashed, like there’d just been a party in there. It was fun for about two weeks and then we were kind of just sitting in a literal mess. Now it’s definitely a lot more health-orientated backstage — Kombucha and echinacea tablets. Real rock star stuff.”

Of those fledgling times, Charli also noted, “When I was younger, I was always up for getting down and dirty. I miss the ease and the fun of those shows, for sure.”

Read more from the interview here.

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

Rapper Swae Lee has been keeping busy. From a stacked selection of features to new Rae Sremmurd music, it’s safe to say he’ll have the year on lock. But it appears soon Swae has even more exciting news in the pipeline. According to posts from his longtime girlfriend, Victoria Kristine, the two are expecting a baby.

The two celebrated the baby’s impending birth at a safari-themed celebration this past weekend, where decorations read Baby Brown, referring to Swae’s legal name, Khalif Brown.

“Our little wild one is on the way,” wrote Kristine in an Instagram caption.

Kristine later shared in her Instagram stories that Swae had gifted her a Land Rover to celebrate their little one.

Earlier this month, French Montana celebrated his Swae Lee collaboration, “Unforgettable,” going diamond. Swae also dropped a Rae Sremmurd track called “Community D*ck,” which features Flo Milli and is set to appear on the duo’s upcoming fourth album, SREMM4LIFE.

The duo’s upcoming album will also feature James Blake, as Swae revealed in an interview with GQ.

“I be in my melody stuff, and I respect bro craft so much,” said Swae of Blake. “He’s one of my favorite artists…[He’s] putting out some of the best vocals in this generation, in this decade, in this whole music industry. It’s a different style of music from Rae Sremmurd too.”

How’s your morning going? Unless the answer is “I thought there was a Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tart waiting for me in the pantry, but all that was left was an unfrosted,” a true tragedy, it’s probably going better than Donald Trump‘s. The former president has spent the last couple of hours sharing the dankest memes you’ve seen on TRUTH Social, his preferred social media platform (because he’s banned from the good ones).

Raw Story reports that Trump “amplified numerous posts from supportive accounts on his social media website, including one from the user ‘God & Country’ that showed an extreme closeup of Trump’s glowering face urging followers to possibly give up their lives — an apparent copy of a Nike ad featuring former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick that uses the same slogan and similar graphics.” Along with the black-and-white photo, Trump wrote, “We have no other choice. We are losing America!”

Elsewhere, he called another meme — this one with Barack Obama and Joe Biden, among other Democrats, taking credit for things that liberals blame Trump for (I think?) — from user God & Country “brilliant.” Trump also praised another meme that shows Biden purportedly “destroying America” “crazy, but true,” and took credit for gas being $1.22 per gallon during his presidency. “The good old days,” he wrote, despite the fact that the “highest price during his administration was $2.96 in May 2018, and its lowest was around $1.77 in April 2020, when much of the country was locked down.”

There’s also this one, and this one, and this one about the “crime of the century” (yes, it’s about the 2020 election). All from this morning.

If these often-blurry memes didn’t originate on Facebook, it’s where they’re going to end up. Facebook: an elephant graveyard for memes.

(Via Raw Story)