Month: January 2023

Yes, the above headline is an exaggeration and not entirely accurate. Kim Kardashian has made some valuable contributions to culture, including her ongoing fight for prison reform. When it comes to pop culture, however, her track record is a messy one of late. Quite recently even, because Kim has been collecting artifacts previously owned by dead celebrities, and she also allegedly damaged an iconic Marilyn Monroe dress by wearing it to the Met Gala. Not swell.

No one can dismiss one of her current moves, however, because Kim has good taste when it comes to The White Lotus. I kind of want to know how she felt about what went down in the finale, but for now, it’s enough to know that she enjoyed the Lucia and Mia characters. Depending on how one feels about Ethan successfully killing no one, those ladies might have been the biggest winners of Season 2. And Kim K. counts herself as a fan while calling Simona Tabasco and Beatrice Grannò “my girls.” She featured them in a Valentine-theme SKIMS ad and highlighted the images on Instagram.

Honestly, these are some seriously cute underwear sets, and it’s hard to imagine picking a better example (on TV) of girls doing it for themselves right now. And man, these sets are so much better than those crotchless catsuits of yesteryear.

As they say in Sicily, “That’s amore!”

Even though it’s been nearly 20 years (!) since the second installment in the Kill Bill franchise, it’s still one of the most iconic movies thanks to that sword-wielding, yellow-jumpsuit-wearing Bride. Earlier this month, SZA released a Kill Bill-inspired music video with a fun cameo from Vivica A. Fox, who played Vernita in the original films.

Fox starred alongside SZA in the music video for her track Kill Bill, which, naturally, featured a series of Tarantino-inspired references. Fox herself was surprised that the movie is still so popular among younger audiences due to all that violence. “SZA was imitating Uma Thurman’s character because her boyfriend had did her wrong [in the song]. She’s like, ‘Should I go kill my ex?’ You know, people were like, ‘Wow, those lyrics are a little violent.’ It was a little violent, but Kill Bill was violent, so come on,” Fox told People, adding that it sparked new interest in another film. “But I believe that that was also the hunger. People have really been waiting on Kill Bill 3.”

Kill Bill Volume 2 was released in 2004, and Tarantino has been hesitant to get The Bride back on board for a third installment, though it could happen one day. “Just like everybody else, I heard that if we do Kill Bill 3, it [might] be about my ‘daughter’ seeking revenge,” Fox explained. Of course, when asked about what’s been taking so long for a potential third installment, she responded, “Quentin [Tarantino] works when he wants to, honey.”

Tarantino hasn’t directed a movie since 2019’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, though he did his fair share of gossiping last year when he released his first non-fiction book, Cinema Speculation followed by a very eye-opening press tour where he discussed all of his weird takes. Maybe it’s time for him to get back into that director’s chair before too many people get mad at him.

(Via People Magazine)

WARNING: Spoilers for The Last of Us Episode 2 below.

As The Last of Us proves to be a certified hit for HBO, showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have been an open book when it comes to the creative process involved in adapting the award-winning video game into a prestige drama series. Following Episode 2 and its dramatic climax, which saw Anna Torv’s Tess experience a different (and markedly grosser) fate than her video game counterpart, Mazin and Druckmman revealed that the episode was supposed to include a bleak backstory for Torv’s spin on the character.

Via Collider:

“We wrote it, we never shot it… It was a little bit of a backstory for Tess, and the fact that Tess had a kid,” Mazin revealed. “She had a husband and she had a son, and they were infected and she had to kill them. She killed her husband, but she could not kill the son. She couldn’t do it… She locked him in the basement, where theoretically he’s still a clicker.”

Druckmann, who worked on The Last of Us video game, also revealed that Tess’s backstory was originally planned as Episode 2’s cold open before going a different route.

“We had a cold open where we just, where the camera pushed on this door and you just hear this pounding coming from this basement, and then we cut out. And then later, Tess would tell the story of how she couldn’t kill her son,” Druckmann told Collider. “It just didn’t fit. But it was fun to think about.”

While Tess’s backstory sounds fascinating as hell, cutting it out of the show was probably a smart move. Mazin knows a thing or two about abandoning creative tangents or even whole pilots that just aren’t working. He had a hand in the infamously bad Game of Thrones pilot that never saw the light of day, and that experience helped him when it came to deliver his own HBO series, Chernobyl.

Judging by the success of The Last of Us so far, Mazin and Druckmann appear to be making the right calls.

(Via Collider)

Premio Lo Nuestro, the US award show that highlights Latin music, revealed the nominations for this year’s ceremony today (January 23). Colombian pop star Sebastián Yatra garnered the most nominations this year. Bad Bunny, Camilo, Becky G, and Grupo Firme follow him.

Premio Lo Nuestro celebrates Latin music’s biggest releases of the past year in 39 categories. Yatra received 10 nominations this year. Thanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda inviting Yatra to sing “Dos Oruguitas” for Disney’s Encanto soundtrack, his name went global last year. Bad Bunny, Camilo, Becky G, and Grupo Firme each received nine nominations.

All the aforementioned acts are up for Artist Of The Year. They face competition from J Balvin, Karol G, and Prince Royce. Ángela Aguilar and Christian Nodal are also up for the award.

In the Album Of The Year category, Yatra’s Dharma LP faces competition from Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti, Rosalía’s Motomami, and Becky G’s Esquemas. The latest albums by Carlos Vives, Camilo, Christian Nodal, Daddy Yankee, and Marc Anthony were also nominated.

In the Song Of The Year category, Yatra’s “Tacones Rojos” is up against global hits like Anitta’s “Envolver,” Becky G and Karol G’s “Mamiii,” and Bad Bunny’s “Moscow Mule.” Hits by Romeo Santos, J Balvin, Grupo Firme, and Maluma round out the category.

Yatra will host the 2023 Premio Lo Nuestro alongside Alejandra Espinoza, Paulina Rubio, and Adrián Uribe. Fans can now vote for their favorite acts at PremioLoNuestro.com. The awards will air on February 23 live from Miami on Univision.

Drake’s performance at Apollo Theater with Sirius XM wasn’t something to do for the hell of it, though it might’ve seem that way at first. Throughout the night, it was quite clear that, despite everything he’s done, there was something he needed to accomplish in Harlem. When the curtains rose for the night and the show got underway, Drake’s presence on stage was of course the first thing that caught the attention of fans, but an equally attention-grabbing aspect was the stage design Drake had to begin the show. Through introductory performances of “Over My Dead Body” and “Wu-Tang Forever,” Drake, wearing a “Degrassi” jersey, sat on a bed in a makeshift room equipped with a space heater, nightstand, lamp, and more. “I wanted to make this a show about gratitude,” Drake said to the audience. “This is a little story that we put together. My deep love for my family, for my dear friends, and for each and every one of you who have been supporting me for a long time.” He continued, “This is my bedroom in my mom’s basement where I wrote a lot of new songs… I’m gonna play you some of the sh*t that got us out of here.”

Many, including myself, entered the night under the presumption that the Apollo show would be a night dedicated to the deep cuts that Drake fans hold near and dear to their heart. Maybe this is because it’s a perfect option for the intimacy that Apollo allows artists to take advantage of or maybe we hoped that Drake would do what artists who live in his realm of magnitude have done before (i.e. Jay-Z’s 2015 and 2019 B-Side shows at Manhattan’s Terminal 5). In the end, Drake’s night at Apollo was much more than a show for deep cuts, but in its early moments, it seemed like that was what we were getting. “Over My Dead Body” and “Wu-Tang Forever” turned into “Trust Issues” and his hook from Timbaland’s “Say Something.” Fan favorites “Practice,” “Jaded,” and “Jungle” also appeared in the opening act of the night. Drake exited the stage and returned to a new stage design: an office desk, office chairs with a “record executive” seated in one of them, and a backdrop of skyscrapers reminiscent of New York City. “There’s some dumbass record labels out here,” Drake said flippantly. “That’s what this scene is about; it’s me trying to grind my ass off and let people know that I’m not in a wheelchair in real life [and that] Canadians can make music.”

For this Act II, Drake resorted to the records that made Jimmy Brooks an afterthought and proved that Canadians can indeed make music. Monster hits in his discography (“Nonstop,” “Started From The Bottom,” and “God’s Plan”) and iconic guest verses (“Forever,” “I’m On One,” and “No New Friends”) received airtime during this part of the show. At just the halfway mark, Drake successfully reminded the crowd of the journey that not only took him out of his mother’s basement, but made him the golden child of the music industry. Drake made note of the past, and for the remainder of the night, he inched closer and closer to the present with a few exceptions. He continued with a third act that swapped the record label office setup for an emptier stage design that focused on special effect lighting. Here, chart-toppers like “One Dance” and “In My Feelings” were accompanied by records that showcased his versatility like “Hold On We’re Going Home” and “Passionfruit” and paired with his recent hits “Way 2 Sexy” and “Sticky.”

Drake’s night at Apollo was undoubtedly a bucket list moment for him. During a late 2019 interview with Rap Radar, he was asked whether or not he’d ever do a b-sides show. “I would love to,” he replied. “We’ve talked about maybe doing an unplugged with all the records that I never usually perform. I think it would be great. I think it would also showcase how serious I take performing as well.” Three years later, Drake had his moment to prove just that, and he also used it to pay homage to Harlem and an influence from his childhood in the best way that he could. Act IV began with a makeshift Harlem bodega on stage, perfect for the introduction of Dipset to Apollo, who had a similar bodega built for their 2003 Source Awards performance. “I Really Mean It,” “Dipset Anthem,” and “We Fly High” were performed as Jim Jones, Cam’ron, Juelz Santana, and Freekey Zekey took over the stage. Drake, who was rocking the Cam’ron’s iconic pink mink, stood in the background smiling from ear to ear. In the rapper’s own words, the moment with Dipset meant more to him than any award could have simply because of the influence the group had on him. “These guys right here from Harlem made us dress different, talk different, walk different, rap different all the way in Canada,” he noted.

The night concluded with the final act that featured an appearance from 21 Savage, who joined his new rap partner in crime to perform “Knife Talk” “Jimmy Crooks,” and a pair of songs from Her Loss with the “Apollo” logo brandished behind them. The rappers’ chemistry was on full display as 21 Savage thanked Drake for supporting his career and growth from their first meeting back in 2015. Both rappers made it clear that their friendship is about more than music, it was built from that commonality to find other ones. Additionally, with a joint tour announcement around the corner, it gave the audience comforting promise of what’s to come when the duo hits the road.

Drake’s performance at Apollo Theater with SiriusXM concluded without so many records that would’ve been perfect for the night: “Cameras,” “Come Thru,” “Too Much,” “The Ride,” “Do Not Disturb,” “How Bout Now,” and “4PM In Calabasas,” just to name a few. Despite this, as fans, leaving the night with some level of disappointment would be a bit greedy on our part, especially considering the night’s theme of gratitude. I couldn’t help but perceive the night as a victory lap moment for Drake. The checking off the bucket list objective of it all was quite obvious, but beneath that, stood a man on a stage who is grateful for his accomplishments and supporters. For some years now, Drake has sought new challenges for himself to keep the fire alive as his longstanding title as rap’s king has started to lose its shine in his eyes. He makes this clear on “Is There More?” from Scorpion. “I mean you know I love a challenge, but challenged by who?” he ponders all to later rap, “Am I missin’ somethin’ that’s more important to find? / Like healin’ my soul, like family time / Is there more to life than just when I’m feelin’ alive?”

This night at Apollo Theater is seemingly one example of the more that Drake has searched for over the last half-decade. For his first act of 2023, Drake fulfilled the tradition of excelling in the legendary building on W 125th St. Furthermore, he lived up to his own legend with a loose journey through a career that reached levels of superstardom untouched by most. The end is probably a distance away for Drake, but the beginning of the end is maybe closer than we believe. When that time comes, let us not forgot the heights he reached to make it out of his mother’s basement and continuously “strike up more emotions” for his vast fan base, something he said he may do again in the near or distant future.

Over the weekend, Beyoncé’s concert in Dubai was the talk of social media — even among those who weren’t in attendance. Although fans weren’t supposed to record, naturally, the Hive kept fans informed, posting videos, reactions, and even the setlist from the coveted concert, which reportedly made the Renaissance singer $24 million.

Highlights of the show included Beyoncé bringing her daughter Blue Ivy on stage to perform “Brown Skin Girl” and performing with a Lebanese precision dance group for a remixed version of Naughty Girl that included Panjabi MC’s “Mundian To Bach Ke” instrumental and verse (a sly reference to her husband Jay-Z, who appeared on the remix, “Beware Of The Boys,” in 2002).

By all accounts, it was an unusual show for Beyoncé, who is usually known for her elaborate choreography. It was reported by an attendee that the normally exuberant singer was recovering from foot surgery, which could explain the lower-key, stand-and-deliver performance in contrast to her usual kinetic shows. You can see the full setlist from the private show, which spanned much of her solo career, below.

1.”At Last”
2. “XO”
3. “Flaws And All”
4. “Ave Maria”
5. “Halo”
6. “Brown Skin Girl”
7. “Be Alive”
8. “Otherside”
9. “Bigger”
10. “Spirit”
11. “Freedom”
12. “I Care”
13. “Beautiful Liar”
14. “Crazy In Love”
15. “Countdown”
16. “Naughty Girl”
17. “Drunk In Love”

Kali Uchis‘ next album Red Moon In Venus is coming in March. Today (January 23), the Colombian-American singer revealed the release date for her new LP and a North American tour in support of it.

Uchis’ new album Red Moon In Venus will be released on March 3 through Geffen Records. She promised two albums in 2023 and this will be her English LP. With the announcement of the album, she also revealed the celestial meaning behind the title.

“Love is the message,” Uchis said in a press release. “Red Moon In Venus is a timeless, burning expression of desire, heartbreak, faith, and honesty, reflecting the divine femininity of the moon and Venus. The moon and Venus work together to make key aspects of love and domestic life work well. This body of work represents all levels of love—releasing people with love, drawing love into your life and self-love. It’s believed by many astrologers that the blood moon can send your emotions into a spin, and that’s what I felt represented this body of work best.”

This spring, Uchis will embark on a North American tour in support of Red Moon In Venus. The tour includes her two performances at Coachella in April. Uchis will also visit cities like New York, Houston, Chicago, and Las Vegas on the tour. Raye will open for select dates. Tickets will go on-sale this Thursday, January 26.

Last week, Uchis released the music video for “I Wish You Roses.” She is going viral once again on TikTok thanks to her classic track “Melting.”

Find Kali Uchis’ upcoming tour dates below.

04/16 — Indio, CA @ Coachella
04/23 — Indio, CA @ Coachella
04/25 — Austin, TX @ Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park
04/26 — Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall
04/27 — Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
04/30 — Miami, FL @ FPL Solar Amphitheater at Bayfront Park
05/01 — Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live Orlando
05/02 — Atlanta, GA @ Coca-Cola Roxy
05/04 — New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
05/07 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia
05/09 — Washington, D.C. @ The Anthem
05/10 — Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway
05/12 — Toronto, ON @ Coca-Cola Coliseum
05/14 — Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
05/16 — Chicago, IL @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
05/18 — Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
05/21 — Portland, OR @ Keller Auditorium
05/23 — Vancouver, BC @ UBC Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre
05/24 — Seattle, WA @ WAMU Theater
05/26 — San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
05/28 — Las Vegas, NV @ The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
05/30 — Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker has tattoos, which should be immediately obvious when even glancing at the ink-covered musician. At this point, in fact, it’s surprising that he even has room left on his skin to get new ones. Still, though, he has found a way, as proven by some fresh ink he showed off over the weekend, which appears to be of wife Kourtney Kardashian.

In an Instagram post shared on January 21, Barker started the four-photo gallery with a pic of himself hiding behind Kardashian’s behind. Then he went to a photo of himself and then a mirror selfie, in which he showcases the new upper-thigh tattoo. The final image is a closer look at the ink, which depicts a pair of photo-realistic eyes. Many commenters on the post speculated the eyes are Kardashian’s, although a few thought they look like Michael Jackson.

If the eyes truly are Kardashian’s, this isn’t the first Kourtney ink that Barker has on him: In 2021, after a few months of dating, Barker got her name inked on his chest. Also last year, he let Kardashian herself put a tattoo on his arm.

Blink-182 is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Patrick Beverley doesn’t have an awful lot of friends around the NBA, as he has made a career out of pestering and annoying opposing point guards to the point that most take delight in seeing his downfall.

Among those that can’t stand Beverley is Damian Lillard, and the two went at it again on Sunday night in Portland. Beverley picked up a technical foul in the second quarter after he kept jawing at Lillard while Dame was getting ready for free throws, and the Blazers ran off a massive run after that to take a 25-point lead at the half.

It seemed like it might be another chance for Beverley mockery, but the Lakers stormed back in the third quarter to cut the deficit to single digits, before ultimately completing the comeback. That provided Pat with the chance to get the last laugh, as he mocked Lillard’s “Dame Time” celebration in the closing seconds of the game, delighting in the heat he got from the Blazers crowd.

After the game, Beverley bristled at the idea Lillard had a “slow shooting night” against him when asked about it by a reporter, and that video got the attention of Lillard, who called him a “con man” likening him to Flip from Above The Rim.

Beverley’s response was short and sweet.

Lillard’s “con man” critique of Beverley falls in line with past comments from others, most notably Beverley’s now-teammate Russell Westbrook who famously said he “trick y’all” when it comes to his defensive impact. We’ll get one more chance to see Lillard and Beverley play each other this year, as they meet on February 13 again in Portland just before the All-Star break, and it seems safe to assume there will be a little added juice to the matchup and plenty of animosity coming Beverley’s way in Portland.

Whether Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott have broken up again is anybody’s guess (and nobody’s business), but they do share two children: four-year-old Stormi and a nearly one-year-old son. Jenner initially announced his name was Wolf Webster shortly after his birth but later changed it. His new name had been kept private until Jenner posted to Instagram over the weekend.

Jenner’s Instagram carousel featured the first public photos of her son’s face along with the caption “AIRE [white heart emoji].”

The internet reaction was fast and vast, predictably. One fan account asked, “Do you think it’s pronounced air or airey?” Jenner commented, “AIR [heart emoji].”

Jenner’s post has been liked nearly 21.6 million likes (and counting) as of this morning, January 23. The comments section was just as crowded. Kris Jenner wrote, “I love you Aire Webster [heart emoji],” while Hailey Bieber seemingly couldn’t handle it: “[crying emojis] Aire angel.” Other commenters included Rosalía, SZA, Khloe Kardashian (“The king!!! Young king!!!!!”), and former Uproxx cover star Chloe Bailey.

Since then, Jenner has continued to break the internet with posts from Paris Haute Couture Week. This morning, Jenner attended Schiaparelli’s runway show with a faux lion’s head as her accessory. She sat beside Doja Cat, who showed up covered in 30,000 Swarovski crystals.

See Jenner’s Paris shots below.