The Eye features music’s premiere rising artist in a stripped-down studio space to deliver renditions of their finest songs with just one camera, one microphone, and one take. The latest group to bask in the spotlight is Phony Ppl, a Brooklyn band that you probably know better than you think.
The five-piece group combines sounds of hip-hop, R&B, soul, and more, and they’ve been doing that for over a decade now. Their biggest chart success came in 2015 with the release of the album Yesterday’s Tomorrow, which found its way onto the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart. Months later, they made their television debut by backing Fetty Wap for his Jimmy Kimmel Live! performance of “Trap Queen” and “My Way.”
More recently, they turned some ears in their direction with the 2020 single “Fkn Around,” a fun and funky tune that boasts a feature from Megan Thee Stallion. (They previously debuted the song together in Meg’s 2019 Tiny Desk Concert performance.) Also in 2020, the group linked up with Joey Badass for “On My Sh*t.”
These days, Phony Ppl is fresh off the release of their latest album, Euphonyus from November 2022. Also these days, they recently graced The Eye with a trio of performances.
The group sounds tight on “Why iii Love The Moon,” a jazzy and vibrant cut that comes with a simple but thought-provoking message: “That’s why I love the moon / Every night it’s there for you / It’s constant / Unlike these human beings / Who lie about what it seems to be.”
Beyond that, they also delivered the funky “Nowhere But Up” and, of course, “Fkn Around.” They didn’t get Meg to join them in the studio for this rendition, but even without her, the song’s smooth and infectious energy holds up tremendously well.
Watch Phony Ppl perform “Why iii Love The Moon,” “Fkn Around,” and “Nowhere But Up” for The Eye above.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
After Donald Trump and Republicans seemingly had a gift dropped in their lap thanks to classified documents being found at Joe Biden’s residence, former Vice President Mike Pence barreled into the fiasco thanks to classified documents being found at this residence, too. Turns out, the heads of our government are not the best stewards of top-secret information.
The situation has reportedly gotten so bad that the National Archives sent a letter asking former presidents and vice presidents to basically look around the house to see if there are any classified documents in the garage or tucked under a couch cushion. You guys are killing them here. Via CNN:
“The responsibility to comply with the [Presidential Records Act] does not diminish after the end of an administration,” the letter states. “Therefore, we request that you conduct an assessment of any materials held outside of NARA that relate to the Administration for which you serve as a designated representative under the PRA, to determine whether bodies of materials previously assumed to be personal in nature might inadvertently contain Presidential or Vice Presidential records subject to the PRA, whether classified or unclassified.”
The letter was sent to every administration going all the way back to President Reagan. Interestingly, Jimmy Carter was not a recipient because even though he signed the Presidential Records Act, it didn’t go into effect until he left office. So God knows how many documents that crafty little peanut farmer has or whether he dives into a pool of them like Scrooge McDuck.
After starring in the Netflix trilogyTo All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, Noah Centineo swiftly became the streamer’s up-and-coming golden boy by landing his own action show The Recruit, a spy thriller that premiered last month on the streamer. Season one followed Centineo as Owen, a new CIA lawyer who becomes entangled in international espionage. Think James Bond but for Gen Z! Your dad would love this show, by the way.
The show managed to attract a solid fanbase, which probably has nothing to do with the leading man and everything to do with convoluted political games. And now said fans can look forward to even more of Noah Centineo running around in a suit because The Recruit was renewed for a second season.
Netflix confirmed that the show will return, with Centineo on board. The actor said “I know I speak for our entire cast and executive team at eOne and Netflix when I say that we are thrilled to be returning to The Recruit for a second season. I’m looking forward to seeing what [showrunner] Alexi Hawley has in store for us all.”
Despite all of the Netflix cancellations, it’s pretty rare to see a show that didn’t smash records get another shot on the streamer. Showrunner Alexi Hawley said that a rabid fanbase helped them get the show renewed for another season. “I’m thrilled to dive back into the fun, funny, action-packed world of The Recruit,” he said. “Seeing how invested our audience became in the show’s adventurous take on the spy world has been incredibly rewarding, and I can’t wait to turn it all up to 11 in Season 2.”
This is a win for Centineo, who was supposed to be gearing up to portray He-Man, but was replaced last year. So now he will have to settle for being a CIA agent instead, which some would say requires less training.
How can a fun social media platform that promotes creative dancing, life hacks, pink sauce and all things super trendy be anything short of awesome? How could anyone be a TikTok hater?
Well, they exist. In fact, some of these naysayers are anxiously prepping for doomsday like Joel from the Last of Us. But instead of fungus, these doomsayers are bracing for a great battle against, in their eyes, America’s greatest foe, China. TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is Chinese, and as TikTok has grown into one of the world’s most popular apps, many fear it will be used as a tool for misinformation campaigns, spying, espionage, and calculated IQ degradation.
To top it off, on Tuesday, Republican Senator Josh Hawley released a very forward challenge.
Twitter
With election season fast approaching, and new information becoming available, the battle against TikTok is only going to get more intense. In this highly polarized country, this could soon be one of those pressure points used by politicians. So, to stay on top, here’s a breakdown of how the TikTok narrative has transpired and what it means going forward.
How did we get here?
Josh Hawley’s first sentence,”TikTok is China’s backdoor into American’s lives,” encapsulates why a lot of people are freaking out over the app. Not to brush aside the extremely problematic subversion campaigns committed by The US Government, China’s no boy scout. The fact is, China has harvested data and stolen trillions of dollars of IP (Intellectual Property), using hacking capacities that eclipse every nation on earth combined, as reported by CBS.
Twitter
At the core of this conflict is TikTok’s Chinese-based parent company, ByteDance. The concern is basically that ByteDance, while controlling an app with over a billion users, could disclose oceans of private data about American citizens to the Chinese Government if they demanded it. Once mostly a Republican concern, this has since become more bi-partisan, as Democratic Senator Mark Warner mentioned, “TikTok, ByteDance, and other China-based tech companies are required by Chinese law to share their information with the Communist party.”
If you remember pandemic days, these TikTok concerns reached mainstream attention when Donald Trump ordered the app to be banned if ByteDance didn’t sell their American operations to an American company within 45 days. Software juggernaut Oracle seemed a contender, but alas, the deal never went through. This 2020 executive order was soon replaced by Joe Biden’s new initiative for the US Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS) to thoroughly investigate TikTok’s potential threat. That security review has still not concluded.
All the while, ByteDance continued to invest millions into lobbying, and over a billion dollars on campaigns such as Project Texas to bolster confidence that American data would never be shared with China. ByteDance made assurances that their US user data was stored in Virginia, backed up in Singapore, and even made sworn testimonies that only US security teams could determine who accessed data.
Twitter
Tensions boiled after bombshell reports from BuzzFeedNews in mid-2022 revealed that in fact, several Chinese-based ByteDance employees had toiled with private data. Leaked audio of several executive meetings revealed, “everything is seen in China,” and there’s even a guy known as “Master-Admin” who has access to everything.
The Bans: What’s the other side of this?
The result has been, most notably, the ban of the app on all federal devices. These revelations fueled the fire of many lawmakers, like Texas Governor Greg Abbott, already skeptical of TikTok, to take further action. 31 States have even taken the ban to the state level, and thus public universities have followed suit. Auburn University, University of Texas-Austin, and Texas A&M are just some of the many schools that have banned the app on their campus Wifi. As of this writing, no private schools have reported blocking access to the app.
Students haven’t been quiet over the matter. The bans on public campuses have provoked a huge uproar about censorship and opened debates about free speech violations. Here’s a thread from UT Austin content creator Eric Aaberg’s TikTok account.
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It’s not just outraged TikTok users who feel like this is overkill. There are many who question: is this solely a TikTok issue? In reality, other platforms like Google and Facebook / Meta also harvest swaths of data. Lawmakers fear TikTok’s access to keystroke patterns, searching habits, location, names, ages, and phone numbers can be weaponized, but Meta is just as snoopy and tracks browsing history even when not using the app.
All these software programs harvest your data, target you for ads, and strive to keep victims glued to the screen for eternity. But the most important question is this: Is it to maximize profits or for a foreign regime’s geopolitical ambitions? The answer to that will determine what’s banned and what’s allowed to run wild. While dystopian and concerning, the issue of data privacy concerns stretches beyond just TikTok.
Some wonder if politicians are using this ban on TikTok as a symbolic attack on China to win political points. Following the Congressional ban on federal devices, American TikTok spokesperson Brooke Oberwetter noted “We’re disappointed that Congress has moved to ban TikTok on government devices — a political gesture that will do nothing to advance national security interests.”
While there’s an inherent bias in that comment, it begs the question: Is this really just a political gesture? Should we be concerned? And what are people willing to give up for national security?
Twitter
Bottom Line: Will TikTok be banned nationwide?
While Josh Hawley declared he would bring this nationwide ban to the Senate floors for a vote, the reality is that, though a lot can be done to dissuade the use of TikTok, an outright ban is quite unlikely. Take the College bans: Although the campus Wifi blocks TikTok, a simple VPN or switch to personal data jumps over the firewall with ease.
So, why exactly is the nationwide ban unlikely? (Check here if you want to dig deeper) Basically, the government has the ability to take “narrowly tailored” specific action to limit speech if it concerns national security, and for that reason, the ban of the app on federal devices is lawful. For example, a government employee could have sensitive information that they could be blackmailed for, whereas, does it really matter that “Master Admin” knows you’re obsessed with Charli D’Amelio?
Regulating ordinary citizens’ speech is a whole different animal. While it’s possible, the legislative hoops that would need to be jumped through to prove its constitutionality would be rigorous. A nationwide ban should not be expected any time soon, however, as election season approaches, be prepared for the topic to come up as a hot-button issue.
After not appearing in a live-action film in seven years, Tobey Maguire returned in a big way in 2021 with Spider-Man: No Way Home, the seventh highest-grossing movie ever. The actor followed up playing Spider-Man for a fourth time by portraying an absolute ghoul in the sadly misunderstood Babylon, but he’s ready to don the Spidey suit again.
“I love these films and I love all of the different series. If these guys called me and said, ‘Would you show up tonight to hang out and goof around?’ or ‘Would you show up to do this movie or read a scene or do a Spider-Man thing?’, it would be a “yes!” Because why wouldn’t I want to do that?” Maguire said in the upcoming book, Spider-Man No Way Home: The Official Movie Special. He also revealed his reaction when Marvel reached out about playing Spider-Man for the first time since 2007’s Spider-Man 3.
“When they called, I was like finally! [Laughs] I got the call and was immediately open about coming to do this. Not without nerves – you know, ‘What will this look like and what will the experience be?’ But to get to show up with beautiful, talented, creative people and play together? It’s just like, ‘Yes!’ It’s fun and exciting.”
Here’s a dramatic reenactment of Maguire being offered the part:
Earlier this week, some Britney Spears fans called the police to request a wellness check on her after she deactivated her Instagram account. After the incident, TMZ reported that Spears was “annoyed” by what happened. Now, Spears has offered a response to the situation and it sounds like TMZ’s report was accurate.
Since her Instagram is currently deactivated, Spears took to Twitter to share a text post. It reads, “As everyone knows the police were called to my home based on some prank phone calls. I love and adore my fans but this time things went a little too far and my privacy was invaded. The police never entered my home and when they came to my gate they quickly realized there was no issue and left immediately. This felt like I was being gaslit and bullied once the incident made it to the news and being portrayed once again in a poor and unfair light by the media. During this time in my life, I truly hope the public and my fans who I care so much about can respect my privacy moving forward. All the love, B.”
A Ventura County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson previously told Page Six, “I can confirm that we did get calls into our dispatch, and essentially, I can confirm that we don’t believe that Britney Spears is in any kind of harm or any kind of danger. […] I can’t confirm or deny that deputies went to her house, but we don’t believe that Britney Spears is in any kind of harm or danger at this point.”
Cordae may have dropped the “YBN” prefix from his name, but that hasn’t his former collaborator YBN Nahmir from carrying it on his back. With a discography featuring 21 Savage, the City Girls, Offset, and G-Eazy, to name a few, the Birmingham native has fought tooth and nail for his spot in today’s hip-hop ecosystem after exploding onto the scene in 2018 with “Rubbin Off The Paint.”
The inner fighter has been the core of his growing musical archive. During his last stop by UPROXX Sessions, YBN Nahmir performed his flexy track “Spend It“; this go-round he spices it up with a ferocious in-studio performance of his single “Lamborghini Truck” from his 7-track EP Faster Car Music, Vol. 1. For some flexing is a hobby, but for YBN Nahmir, it is a lifestyle, and he’s ready to protect it at all cost.
Watch YBN Nahmir’s UPROXX Sessions performance of “Lamborghini Truck” above.
UPROXX Sessions is Uproxx’s performance show featuring the hottest up-and-coming acts you should keep an eye on. Featuring creative direction from LA promotion collective, Ham On Everything, and taking place on our “bathroom” set designed and painted by Julian Gross, UPROXX Sessions is a showcase of some of our favorite performers, who just might soon be yours, too.
Coi Leray is in the midst of a stunning resurgence. While rap fans undoubtedly slept on her versatile debut album despite standout singles like “Blick Blick” and “Anxiety,” she bounced back late last year with the Grandmaster Flash-sampling “Players.”
Today, in a new interview with Billboard, she discusses the ups and downs of her career so far and explains why “it’s no competition” among her fellow female rappers as they storm the charts in a way that hasn’t been seen in hip-hop in nearly 20 years.
“I don’t compete with them, because you just can’t,” she says. “The best thing about this industry [is], there’s room for everybody. That’s why it’s no competition. I could be here and you could be here right with me. At the end of the day, even if we at the top of the mountain, I’ma be Coi and you gonna be you, and we could trade places or I could become someone else. I’m gonna determine my greatness, my destiny, and my future. What’s for you is for you, while we’re at the top together. Steel sharpens steel.”
She also listed some of her favorite peers in the rap game, naming GloRilla, Ice Spice, Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Flo Milli, and rising star Lola Brooke, as well as name-checking Latto, who was recently embroiled in a ghostwriting controversy over leaked reference tracks for Coi’s “Blick Blick” and BIA’s “Whole Lotta Money.”
At this point, it’s pretty tough to remember every single one of the possibly illegal missteps Donald Trump had made since he was elected president, losing the presidency, and announcing his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election. But at the very top of the list is that unforgettable period of time in which Trump refused to concede the election and possibly colluded with dozens of other lawmakers — and hundreds of his own followers — to try and overturn the will of the American people.
Nowhere was Trump’s refusal to accept Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election more evident than in Georgia. As Seth Meyers shared on Wednesday night, that could all finally be about to bite the former POTUS in his orange-tinged ass.
“As you may recall, in the days leading up to the coup attempt on January 6, Trump tried to pressure Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to manipulate the vote tally and overturn Joe Biden’s victory,” Meyers said. “In particular, there was that infamous line where Trump just confessed and told them what he was asking for: he wanted them to magically find enough votes for him to win.”
Why does this matter so much now? Because, as Meyers explained, Fani Willis — the district attorney for Georgia’s Fulton County — was in court this week, where she asked the judge to keep the grand jury’s report on what they determined in their investigation into Trump private. “And she did so for a tantalizing reason,” according to Meyers. “She said she was about to announce decisions about indictments in the case regarding multiple potential defendants.”
Her actual words in court? “We think for future defendants to be treated fairly, it’s not appropriate at this time to have this report released… We are asking that the report not be released because, you having seen that report, decisions are imminent.”
If Meyers’ reaction to this bombshell were a GIF, it would be the one where Michael Jackson is eating popcorn — because the host could NOT be more excited about what might be coming next.
“I will say, if there are going to be any indictments in this case at all, you would assume that one of them would be the guy who made the phone call,” Meyers said. “Unless, of course, Trump made a plea deal and turned on Rudy [Giuliani].” Which, let’s face it, would be just as fascinating to witness.
Avatar: The Way of Water continues to dominate the box office, and on Wednesday, it hit another major milestone by surpassing Avengers: Infinity War to become the fifth highest grossing movie of all time. Next on the list is Star Wars: The Force Awakens followed by Titanic because James Cameron is a box office machine like no other.
However, in an ironic twist, The Way of Water may ultimately lose to Titanic thanks to an upcoming re-release of the classic Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet romance just in time for Valentine’s Day. As the old saying goes, “Never bet against James Cameron” and that’s especially true when the other guy is, well, James Cameron. Via Deadline:
Can the filmmaker’s Way of Water beat his own Titanic? Through Wednesday, Way of Water is about $135M away, and is expected to pass the tragic story of Rose and Jack. However, there’s an asterisk here since Paramount is doing a Titanic global rerelease in time for Valentine’s Day — so, maybe it’s a jockeying as we saw not too long ago with Avengers: Endgame and the original Avatar.
Heading into The Way of Water‘s release in December, even Cameron showed signs of doubt that the sequel could repeat the monumental success of the original film. To break even, The Way of Water needed to do $2 billion at the box office, which is no easy task. If it didn’t, Cameron was fully prepared to end the franchise with Avatar 3. Obviously, the sequel proved to be a gigantic success, and Cameron is resigned to the fact that he’s going to be making Avatar movies for a very long time.
“It looks like I can’t wiggle out of this,” Cameron joked to Chris Wallace following The Way of Water‘s massive debut.
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