Month: January 2023

The 2023 Grammys (or the 65th annual Grammy Awards, if you’re nasty) are right around the corner, and that means speculation about who all will win — and perform — at the show is getting downright feverish. The first batch of confirmed performers includes Bad Bunny, Lizzo, Steve Lacy, and more, and fans can’t wait to see who else gets the nod.

One name a few fans are looking out for is Jay-Z, who was tagged as a potential performer by HitsDailyDouble along with Harry Styles. Jay’s performance would likely be in tandem with award show fixture DJ Khaled, with whom Jay collaborated on the monster posse cut “God Did” from Khaled’s album of the same name.

However, Jay — who has become more elusive than ever over the past few years — has yet to confirm or deny the report, which as of now remains an unsubstantiated rumor. Given his and rival-turned-frequent-collaborator Nas’ inescapable orbit, though, it probably wouldn’t be a surprise if he did show up the year after Nas performed at the Grammys for the first time in his 30+ year career.

Meanwhile, “God Did” is nominated for three awards: Song of the Year, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance. A win would see Jay finally passing his Watch The Throne partner-in-rhyme Kanye West, with whom he’s tied at 24 apiece, as the most-awarded hip-hop artist in Grammy history.

The Grammys are on February 5 at 8 pm ET.

Pedro Pascal seems to be everywhere these days. This isn’t a complaint, but rather a “good job, everyone, let’s keep it up!” comment, and it seems like the good folks at Saturday Night Live are listening because Pascal is going to make his hosting debut on the show next Saturday, February 4th. Coldplay will join as the musical guest, making it their seventh appearance on the show.

Pascal is currently starring in HBO’s new smash hit The Last Of Us, and late this year he will once again be carrying Baby Yoda around the universe posing as everyone’s daddy. Isn’t the internet so fun! Unfortunately, Kyle Mooney is no longer on SNL and won’t be able to reprise his role of Baby Yoda. But maybe that’s for the best.

This week, the sketch show will feature Michael B. Jordan hosting with Lil Baby as the musical guest. The actor is currently promoting Creed III, the latest installment in the Rocky universe. But perhaps he has been taking his method acting a little too seriously, as he threw a few punches at SNL cast member Michael Longfellow in a promo for the new episode. At least Jonathan Majors wasn’t there at the time.

February 1 will mark three months since Takeoff was fatally shot outside of 810 Billiards & Bowling in Houston, where he attended a private event with Quavo. But regardless of how much time passes, Rich The Kid has ensured he will never forget Takeoff.

Tattoo MF Red has posted video of him inking Rich The Kid with a simple yet powerful tattoo: “Takeoff” is written on the outside of Rich The Kid’s hand.

According to TMZ, the tattoo appointment happened in Tampa, Florida and only took 30 minutes. Rich The Kid squeezed it in between a recording session and a scheduled radio interview.

Takeoff was best known as one-third of Migos — alongside Quavo and Offset — but the 28-year-old beloved Atlanta rapper and Quavo had released their joint album Only Built For Infinity Links less than a month before Takeoff’s tragic passing.

When news broke on November 1, Rich The Kid took to Instagram to express his grief:

“Today I lost more than a brother,” he wrote. “My twin my best friend everything. I don’t wanna believe it I can’t. The most humble person I know we used to share shoes & clothes before we made it with no problem! I miss you already you didn’t deserve that!! I can’t stop crying I love you so much bro forever.”

Takeoff and Rich The Kid dropped their joint “Crypto” single in March 2022. It was far from the first time they collaborated. As noted by Billboard, Rich The Kid met Migos in 2012 and featured on their 2013 track “Jumpin’ Like Jordan.” Takeoff hopped on Rich The Kid songs like “Trap-A-Holics” in 2013 or “Rockets” in 2019. Quavo and Takeoff also featured on Rich The Kid’s “Too Blessed” in 2020.

Only three games remain in the NFL season, with four top-flight teams remaining in the mix for Super Bowl glory. The Divisional Round provided fireworks, even without a single all-time game to speak of, and the four-game slate was relatively kind to us with a 3-2 mark across five selections. There is less to dive into with only two games this week but, as always, we press on in search of value.

Before we dig into the AFC and NFC title games, let’s take a look at the full-season effort.

• Divisional Round: 3-2
• 2022 Season: 52-44-2

Come get these winners.

Philadelphia Eagles (-2.5) over San Francisco 49ers

At the time of this post, the -2.5 is a consensus number and, as long as it stays below 3, I like the Eagles. San Francisco is on a 12-game winning streak, and the 49ers are very, very good. I do think Philadelphia’s overall roster strength is being undervalued by some, however, and the Eagles have the combination of the better quarterback and home-field advantage. I think Philadelphia should probably be -3.5 or -4 so we’ll gladly lay less than a field goal.

Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers UNDER 46.5 points

I really loved the Chiefs-Bengals under at the opener, but it got crashed and we can’t give it out at the current price. I still like this under, though, and I’m a believer in both defenses. Part of my lean to Philadelphia is a hesitance on Brock Purdy against a top-tier defense, and Philadelphia is more than willing to lean on Hurts and the ground game in a way that keeps the clock burning. Would I give this out on a full-day slate? Probably not, but we’re here and I think the number should be 45.

Patrick Mahomes OVER 277.5 passing yards (MGM)

Yes, Mahomes is banged up, bringing some risk here. With that said, he’s going to play unless things get drastically worse and, with decreased mobility, he’ll be slinging it around. Mahomes went over this number in 11 of 17 regular season games, and there is at least a chance the Chiefs get behind and have to heave it even more than usual. He’s also a freak.

Kansas City Chiefs (PK) over Cincinnati Bengals

It would’ve been nice to grab the +2.5 earlier in the week when the market went crazy. Also, this line is absolutely all over the place, and line shopping is a must. With that out of the way, I still think the Chiefs are the better team, even acknowledging Cincinnati’s success against Mahomes and company in the recent past. It would be interesting to see what the number would be if Mahomes was healthy, but the market has a swung a bit too much toward Cincinnati in the wake of an admittedly awesome performance in Buffalo. I wouldn’t want to lay 3 with KC, but we don’t have to!

Victor Wembanyama, the French sensation who is almost certainly going to No. 1 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, is one of the most uniquely skilled basketball players that we’ve ever seen. While there are plenty of other big time talents slated to enter the league via the 2023 Draft, Wembanyama stands out among the rest, and not just because he stands 7’2 and does stuff that we’re more used to seeing with guards.

One thing that guards cannot do — or at the very least, I assume they cannot do — is palm a basketball with only their thumb and their middle finger. As it turns out, Wembanyama can do this, which he showed off in a video that the NBA posted to its official Twitter account.

As it turns out, the extremely tall person with a reported 8-foot wingspan has pretty big hands! Anyway, it’s been a second since we have last checked in with Wembanyama — that was back when he, the most tank-worthy prospect since LeBron James, called tanking “weird” — so here is a quick update on his numbers this year. Wembanyama is averaging 21.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks in 31.8 minutes per game for Metropolitans 92, which sit in second place in France’s top basketball league, LNB Pro A.

Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.

Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet! This week the overall theme seems to be the “outdoors,” as we’re treated to a handful of sneaker drops that combine warm and earthy colors with some sporty and functional silhouettes. I guess winter is behind us!

Is it actually? No, but let’s pretend things are warming up for the sake of our own sanity.

Highlights this week include Salehe Bembury’s latest collaboration, which sees the designer linking up with the British shoe brand Clarks for a triple drop of vibrant lugger-style sneakers. Elsewhere New Balance is dropping two new colorways of the 990 and 990v3 dubbed the Seasonal Collection and Brain Dead and ASICS are teamed up for two psychedelic renditions of the Gel Nimbus 9.

Notice any big names missing? Yeah, Nike, they’ve managed to put one notable sneaker out this week but nothing truly exciting. Even Adidas is bringing the fire with its new NMD S1 MAHBS! Do better Nike, we’re counting on you to truly get the 2023 sneaker season kicking.

For now, here are the six best drops of the week.

Terminator High Noble Green

Are ’80s sneakers making a comeback? Nike seems to think so. The brand’s only notable release this week is this ’85-era classic, the Nike Terminator High. There aren’t any modern updates to this sneaker, Nike is dropping it unaltered and “straight from the vault,” which means if you pick it up it’ll probably be the most uncomfortable and least supportive pair of shoes you’ll ever own.

But it sure looks cool! Featuring a crisp white leather upper and Noble Green accents, the Terminator High is truly fashion over function.

The Nike Terminator High Noble Green Is set to drop on January 26th for a retail price of $125. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Salehe Bembury x Clarks Mud Moss Lugger

One of our favorite things about Salehe Bembury is that you just can’t pin him down. Nobody really knows what he’s going to make next, when you think he’s going to zig, he zags every time. The designer landed on everyone’s radar when he first redesigned some forgotten New Balance silhouettes, and rather than doubling down like Teddy Santis or Joe Freshgoods, he started designing Crocs. Now he’s linked up with Clarks for an early rendition of their Lugger.

Dubbed the “Mud Moss” this lugger-style shoe features a Lichen suede upper with leather and fabric accents, a crepe rubber sole, and an asymmetric lace-up system that adds a modern streetwear sneaker vibe to the style.

The shoe is available in unisex sizing and drops in three colorways including dark green, orange, and taupe.

The Salehe Bembury x Clarks Mud Moss Lugger in Dark Green, Orange, and Taupe is out now for a retail price of $200. Pick up a pair at the Clarks webstore.

New Balance MADE in USA 990 Seasonal Collection Tan w/ Green

New Balance’s best runner is getting a new colorway! Dropping as part of a double sneaker pack dubbed the “Seasonal Collection,” this 990 features a mixed upper of leather and mesh with hairy suede panels above an ENCAP midsole and that elegant MADE in USA line construction.

The colorway is warm and earthy combining tan and brown with deep forest green accents on the heel and ’N’ logo. Leave it to Teddy Santis to oversee such an elegant and eye-catching take on one of NB’s best silhouettes.

The New Balance MADE in USA 990 Seasonal Collection w/ Green is set to drop on January 26th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $189.99. Pick up a pair at the New Balance webstore.

New Balance MADE in USA 990v3 Seasonal Collection Tan w/ Green

Nike who?

New Balance has slowly been reaching for Nike’s crown for a while now and we’re starting to prefer NB to the old Swoosh. Is that crazy? While no one will be able to compete with Nike’s frequency of releases, New Balance always brings the quality and we’ll take quality over quantity any day.

What a great week for people who love green shoes. If you’re not feeling the understated vibes of the 990, this 990v3 is for you. Dropping as part of the “Seasonal Collection,” this v3 trades in the hairy suede for a sleek upper of nubuck leather and mesh above a pale olive ENCAP midsole and an NDurance rubber outsole. The overall color tones are darker here compared to the v1, with a deep forest base and rich Carmel-colored panels.

The New Balance MADE in USA 990v3 Seasonal Collection Tan w/ Green is set to drop on January 26th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $199.99. Pick up a pair at the New Balance webstore.

Adidas NMD S1 MAHBS Oatmeal

Pharrell is doing some truly interesting stuff over at Adidas with his Humanrace line of sneakers. It might not bring the sort of eyes and excitement that Adidas’ collaborations with Beyonce and Bad Bunny bring, but now that Yeezy is a thing of the past, it’s the only collaboration that truly feels unique and original. This week’s NMD s1 MAHBS sports a textile upper with a canvas shroud, a TPU-encapsulated BOOST midsole, and a mix of earthy oatmeal tones and bright blue accents.

The NMD strikes an interesting balance between utilitarian functionality and asymmetrical design details. It feels like it has its foot dipped into two different style aesthetics simultaneously.

The Adidas NMD S1 MAHBS Oatmeal is set to drop on January 27th at 7:30 AM PST for a retail price of $230. Pick up a pair via the Adidas CONFIRMED app.

Brain Dead x ASICS Gel Nimbus 9 Rio Red (Almost Apricot) Night Shade (Laurel Wreath)

There was an era (nearly twenty years ago) when running shoes were strictly function over fashion. They weren’t designed to be seen, they were designed to support you and get you where you needed to go. But as functional-forward as those original running sneakers were, they actually looked pretty dope and futuristic. And now they’re in the streetwear ecosystem, which means the colorways are looking better than ever.

This week Brain Dead teamed up with ASICS for two new colorways of the brand’s legendary Gel Nimbus 9 runner. Featuring polyester mesh, polyurethane leather, and synthetic upper, Brain Dead dressed up this segmented midsole sneaker in two vibrant and loud colorways, including Rio Red and Night Shade. It’s not every week that ASICS catches our eye, but we’re always on the lookout for new designs out of Brain Dead.

Brain Dead x ASICS Gel Nimbus 9 Rio Red and Night Shade are out now for a retail price of $170. Pick up a pair at the Brain Dead webstore.

In a new interview with Zane Lowe, Cordae says he has enough songs with “RNP” and “Two Tens” collaborators Anderson .Paak and J. Cole to release a full EP.

And if I may be so bold, he should release that immediately, just for me, because it would make me very happy.

Cordae appeared on the Apple Music 1 radio show to talk about the new track, “Two Tens,” and during the course of the discussion, revealed that not only has he recorded enough songs for the above-mentioned EP, but he’s also got about 17 full-length albums besides that.

“I made a lot of songs last year,” he said. “I think last year I recorded literally 180 songs. I know some artists record like a thousand songs, but it feels like that’s the most songs I recorded in the year, for sure. Last year, it was also the most touring I did, so I’m proud of myself for still recording 180 songs.”

While discussing his chemistry with .Paak, he revealed the wealth of material he’d recorded with the older artist. “We literally got a mix tape full of joints of me and .Paak on — well, we got an EP full of joints with me, .Paak, and Cole beats… It’s because this is really my friend. Other artists be like, ‘Ph that’s my brother,’ or, ‘Oh that’s my man,’ saying that sh*t just to sound cool. I don’t really have too many friends, to be honest. He’s one of my real life genuine friends.”

You can check out the full interview here.

After the missed opportunity that was Black Adam, the DC Extended Universe could really use a win. Shazam! Fury of the Gods could be that win. The sequel to 2019’s unexpectedly terrific Shazam! has Zachary Quinto returning as Billy Batson / Shazam, along with Adam Brody, Rachel Zegler, Djimon Hounsou, Lucy Liu and and Helen Mirren as evil sisters. No one is having more fun in franchise films than Helen Mirren.

You can watch the Shazam! Fury of the Gods trailer above. Listen for a well-timed Game of Thrones reference (Warner Bros. Discovery synergy!).

“It’s sort of an extension of the first movie,” director David F. Sandberg told Entertainment Weekly about the sequel. “He finally found a family in that movie. But now, we see him struggling a bit now that they’re growing up. He’s holding on very tightly to his family because he doesn’t want everyone to just scatter and go do their own thing. He just found his family, and he wants to have them all together.” Sandberg also revealed what Mirren said during her first day on set: “Yeah! We need more p*ssy power on set! We’re here now.” You hear that, Vin?

Shazam! Fury of the Gods opens on March 17.

Rich Brian looked ahead to his film-acting debut as Uproxx’s April 2022 cover star, and the Justin Chon-directed music drama Jamojaya made its debut at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival last weekend. In it, Brian portrays an up-and-coming Indonesian rapper at a crossroads: He wants to hire a new manager and sign to a US label, but that would mean firing his father (Yayu Unru) as his manager.

To celebrate Jamojaya, Brian dropped “Sundance Freestyle” on Wednesday, January 25, alongside Daniel “Cloud” Campos-directed video that finds Brian deliciously playing a diva actor.

It starts with people rushing to prepare the set of the fictional Talking Film talk show. Brian arrives in extravagant fashion, as the studio’s doors open up to an entourage leading the way for Brian on a motor scooter. When the host, Chet Buckley, offers up a handshake, Brian turns away from him and doesn’t say a word while someone adds one more dash of hairspray.

Buckley attempts to ask Brian questions about Jamojaya, but Brian stays mute and stares at Buckley behind dark sunglasses. The wall behind them collapses, prompting Brian to launch into his “Sundance Freestyle.”

Brian raps as flashing cameras and microphones crowd around him, and then he’s joined by fabulous background dancers.

“I just took a flight to Utah, man, that’s the first time,” he reflects over a catchy, synthesized beat. “Walkin’ off the plane, steam breathin’ snow darkened by the shades / I’m just stayin’ warm, sippin’ on my third wine / Face gettin’ red now / I don’t need a sun tan, press weak / Get you used to hearin’ certain questions / Like, ‘How you feel to be at Sundance?’”

As beach balls fall from the sky, Brian relishes how far he’s come in five years and watching his “first movie” with his friends, which turns “everything else into nonsense” and marks a major accomplishment despite the fact “I’m only on my second project.”

“Sundance Freestyle” comes after Brian finally released “Vivid” featuring $NOT in November — a similarly introspective song but romantically focused.

Watch “Sundance Freestyle” above.

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

Remember that viral TikTok featuring a trilingual 16-year-old idol who had a sick rap flow? Well, if you didn’t know, her name’s Cocona from the global girl group XG.

Yesterday (January 25), the seven-member girl group kicked off their 2023 with a new single album, Shooting Star, featuring the lead single of the same name. The bass-bumping, hip-hop track is an ode to space with metaphorical lyrics of reaching the top with confidence. (“Taking off from the ground it’s amazing / So outta this world, I’m in space / Now I’m going up, headin’ to the stars / Wouldn’t trade it out for another life, no”)

According to an official press release, “the releases are the essence of XG itself and represent the group’s energy and the mission of ‘Believing in yourself and being whatever you want to be.’” In addition to the dreamy supporting track, “LEFT RIGHT,” is described as “a song inspired by synthetic notes, sharp drum sounds, and powerful trap beats and finished with XG’s unique vocals and raps. The lyrics ‘The only direction I know’ reinforce XG’s positive and empowering philosophy.”

XG is a Japanese girl group based in South Korea that debuted last year under XGALX, a subsidiary label of Japanese company Avirex. Although the septet is based in South Korea, all members are Japanese and sing in English — pushing their title as a global girl group. The group comprises Jurin, Chisa, Hinata (Japanese-Korean), Harvey (Japanese-Australian), Juria, Maya, and Cocona.

Watch XG’s exclusive live performance of “Shooting Star,” released today, below.