Because Florida never ceases to be a bottomless well of weirdness, Governor Ron DeSantis has reportedly picked one heck of an appointee for the state’s new oversight board that’s now in control of Disney’s special tax district. Florida Republicans stripped Disney of the Reedy Creek Improvement District in retaliation for the media company’s denouncement of the state’s infamous “Don’t Say Gay” bill. That move allowed DeSantis to hand-pick the district’s board, and he certainly made an interesting choice.
Earlier this week, Orlando-based pastor Ron Peri was appointed by DeSantis to the five-member board, and it turns out Peri has some interesting views on homosexuality. Namely, how it’s caused.
“So why are there homosexuals today? There are any number of reasons, you know, that are given. Some would say the increase in estrogen in our societies. You know, there’s estrogen in the water from birth control pills. They can’t get it out,” Peri baselessly said in a January 2022 Zoom discussion, later put on YouTube. “The level of testosterone in men broadly in America has declined by 50 points in the past 10 years. You know, and so, maybe that’s a part of it.”
Peri also blamed society for removing “constraints” on homosexuality, “and then evil occurs.” What a nice guy!
For the record, yes, there has been a drop in testosterone levels in recent decades, but it’s nowhere near 50% nor does it affect sexual orientation. Also, and this should go without saying, but birth control pills are not adding estrogen to tap water. As even CNN notes, that’s some real Alex Jones nonsense.
After what seemed to be a slow couple of months to start the year, things really picked up last week with releases from the likes of ALLBLACK, Don Toliver, Key Glock, Logic, Payroll Giovanni, and more. That momentum continued this week as Young Nudy dropped Gumbo, Don Toliver added four new songs to Love Sick, and Nas, Joey Badass, J. Cole, and Nicki Minaj all released new songs. But the new music didn’t stop there; check out more below.
Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending March 3, 2023.
Albums/EPs/Mixtapes
Che Noir X Big Ghost Ltd. — Now Or Never
Che Noir
I’ll always have a soft spot for this Buffalo-bred rapper, whose self-sufficient style has been a charming inspiration for the past few years. Her latest project is actually one of several produced by Big Ghost this week, but her unique point of view has always been the most interesting of the producer’s street-centric collaborators.
De La Soul — Stakes Is High
De La Soul
I know, I know! This isn’t “new” in the classic sense of the term. But the pioneering hip-hop trio’s catalog will certainly be new for thousands of fans who haven’t had access to it until now. And while the “best” of their releases varies depending on who you ask, there is perhaps no more influential work among them than Stakes Is High. So much of hip-hop owes a debt to this one album. If you only check out one this weekend, let this be it.
Dreamville — Creed III: The Soundtrack
Dreamville
The trend of rap record labels taking over the production of heavily anticipated film soundtracks has generated some truly great collections, from the Black Panther soundtrack helmed by Top Dawg Entertainment to the 88rising-led soundtrack for Shang-Chi. Now, J. Cole’s squad gets in on the action, taking the baton from Mike Will Made-It (who produced the Creed II album) and the results are typically strong.
Kenny Mason — 3
Kenny Mason
The West Atlanta rapper’s one-of-a-kind style continues to set him apart from many of his fellow ATLiens. Influenced as much by the music of alternative rock bands like My Chemical Romance and The Smashing Pumpkins as by Future and Outkast, he offers a unique blend of genres that mashes up grunge and hardcore hip-hop into an aggro-emo gumbo that makes Kenny the bridge between sections of that Hot Topic T-shirt wall.
Masego — Masego
Masego
Coolly combining rap, soul, and jazz on his last projects, Masego returns from a multi-year break with a self-titled collection that is one of hip-hop’s most anticipated projects of this year.
Macklemore — Ben
Macklemore
Say what you want about Macklemore, he’s always been a solid rapper and a really earnest follower of hip-hop. He may have made some public missteps, but he’s always taken ownership of them. That tradition continues on his latest, most personal album yet.
Slowthai — Ugly
Slowthai
More thrashy but emotionally vulnerable grime-punk from one of the UK’s most compelling voices.
Young Nudy — Gumbo
Young Nudy
Speaking of gumbo… 21 Savage’s cousin makes another stunning comeback full of weird, off-kilter production and brusque, unapologetic street rhymes.
Singles/Videos
Big Boss Vette — “Pretty Girls Walk (Remix)” Feat. Coi Leray
St. Louis, stand up! Big Boss Vette has been slowly building up her audience with brash, braggartly raps and thumping production that has found a following in the “bad bitch” niche. Employing one of rap’s it-girls in Coi Leray should vastly accelerate the process.
Cousin Stizz — “The Fan”
The Massachusetts rapper taps Snapz, Dilip & Berg for a ghostly instrumental in the first single from his upcoming project Game Ain’t Based On Sympathy.
Finesse2Tymes — “How to Act”
The Memphis rapper drops a fun party anthem with a thematically consistent video depicting one hell of a house party.
Larry June & The Alchemist — “89 Earthquake”
More laid-back luxury from Good Job Larry, whose Frigidaire cold flow is perfectly complemented by a signature production from Alan The Chemist. Their collab project, The Great Escape, drops on March 31 — we can’t wait.
Maiya The Don — “Dusties”
Say what you want about the modern trend of carefree Black girl rap, but it’s hard for me not to enjoy rappers like Brooklyn’s Maiya The Don dismissing and discounting the “Dusties” in their lives while sampling the hits of my youth (in this case, 50 Cent and Lil Kim’s “Magic Stick”).
Mike Dimes — “Heavy Metal”
Mike Dimes has been getting more and more attention lately, and tracks like the rumbling “Heavy Metal” certainly show the San Antonio rapper is intent on making it worth fans’ while.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
When it comes to unsubstantiated rumors about his DC Studios plans, James Gunn isn’t afraid to hop into fans’ replies and set the record straight on Twitter. He’s also not timid about defending his reputation, which was the case this week when a fan accused Gunn of being a “professional liar” following an unconfirmed rumor from Above The Line that Ben Affleck is in talks to direct the new Batman movie, The Brave and The Bold. The author of the piece even admitted that Affleck’s involvement is entirely speculative, but that didn’t stop fans from accusing Gunn of lying.
The DC Studios had previously said that he’s talked to Affleck about directing a film, but not the new Batman movie. Although, that situation could have changed, which isn’t a lie. Talks with Affleck may have started after Gunn revealed his DC Studios slate, and the writer/director defended his right to alter plans as needed.
“For years it’s been my commitment to the fans that I will never lie to them… and I never have,” Gunn responded to the fan who accused him of lying about Affleck’s involvement. “I’d be very curious about what it is you think I’ve lied about.”
For years it’s been my commitment to the fans that I will never lie to them… and I never have. I’d be very curious about what it is you think I’ve lied about.
“Not wanting to run DC, and not wanting to make a Superman film, for starters,” the fan fired back. Gunn dismantled his argument piece-by-piece.
“Neither of those were lies,” Gunn said. “I was offered Superman but did Squad instead. A few years later I saw how to tackle Superman & took it on. I didn’t want to be the sole CEO of DC, but when they came & offered it to me AND Peter I said yes because I could focus on the creative side.”
Neither of those were lies. I was offered Superman but did Squad instead. A few years later I saw how to tackle Superman & took it on. I didn’t want to be the sole CEO of DC, but when they came & offered it to me AND Peter I said yes because I could focus on the creative side.
Gunn then got ahead of any more accusations of lying by pointing out that his plans aren’t set in stone, and he will have to make adjustments throughout his tenure as studio chief.
“Again, I’ve never once lied to the fans, and never will,” he said. “That doesn’t mean I’m never going to change my mind about anything.”
The DC Studios chief then exited the conversation as fans peppered him with questions about the Snyderverse, which Gunn has already said is dead and not even Zack Snyder cares about it anymore. That’s a sure sign that it’s time for everyone to let it go.
It’s that wonderful time of the week again, when we round up 10 of the internet’s most smile-worthy finds to share with you all. And this week’s list does not disappoint.
We’ve got celebrations of friendship, the kindness of Martin Short and Disneyland’s Evil Queen, Drew Barrymore and Pink talking candidly about motherhood, U.S. presidents with mullets, the cutest barista ever and more.
The more people find reasons to smile, the better our world will be, so don’t forget to share the joy. Off we go!
1. This is much, much better than the ‘dirty art’ people usually leave on rear windshields…
There are many kinds of love, and we create unnecessary limitations if we view every close emotional bond through the lens of romance or sex. Yay for platonic love and genuine friendship.
3. Disneyland’s Evil Queen shows she actually is fairest of them all, making an autistic boy feel welcome
The not so Evil Queen offering him to feel her cape #autism #autismawareness #autismacceptance #asd #specialneeds #disney #disneyparks #disneyland #disneytiktok #disney100 #snowwhite #evilqueen #fyp #foryoupage
Autistic kids have different sensory needs and preferences, and this queen seems to know how to connect with Thomas by inviting him to feel her cape. Disney magic at its best. Read the full story here.
4. By chance, Chance the Rapper had a kindness run-in with the legendary Martin Short
Chance the Rapper boarded a flight with his 7-year-old daughter, Kensli, when he realized their seats weren’t together. A man immediately offered up his seat so they could sit together, and then Chance realized it was the legendary comedic actor Martin Short. Chance said he didn’t think Short even knew who he was—he was just being kind. Read the full story here.
5. The music cut out in the middle of a cheerleading competition, and the crowd immediately stepped in to save the routine
It’s adorable, but also a masterclass in positive parenting. The family’s videos demonstrate how letting kids try and letting them make mistakes and messes helps them learn. Read the full story here.
8. Kid’s drawing of what ‘safe’ means to him is just pure ‘Awwww’
Does anyone have tips for when a preschooler’s drawing makes you cry all the good tears?
9. All 46 U.S. presidents looking ‘cool’ with a mullet is the greatest use of AI ever
As writer Tod Perry quipped, “Barack Obama looking like he played an informant on ‘Starsky and Hutch’ in 1976.” And hello, Babe Lincoln. Check out more mulleted presidents here.
10. Third time’s the charm for this adorable joey trying to climb into mama’s pouch.
u201cBaby kangaroo entering its mother’s pouchnhttps://t.co/KSNOpSTFEbu201d
“If at first, you don’t succeed,” am I right? We’ve all been there. Next time you fall flat on your face, just remember this baby kangaroo’s undeterred perseverance and tell yourself to keep trying.
Hope that brought you some joy! Come back next week for more.
(If you’d like to be notified of these posts each week, sign up for our free newsletter, The Upworthiest, here.)
It’s Bottled In Bond Day in the whiskey world — that means that it’s time to drink some good BiB whiskeys, folks! If you’re deep enough into American whiskey, you know that “bottled in bond” is often code for “the good stuff” from a brand. In short, a “bottled in bond” expression — either of bourbon or rye — is the expression that you want to be sipping and mixing with all of the time.
Today, I’m going to break down what “bottled in bond” whiskey is and then conduct a blind taste test battle between the two biggest distilleries producing iconic bottled in bond whiskeys — Buffalo Trace and Heaven Hill. Let’s get the lesson out of the way first. To be called a “bottled in bond” rye or bourbon whiskey, the following parameters have to be met:
100% of the liquid has to be distilled in the same distilling season (spring or fall) at a single distillery.
The whiskey has to age for a minimum of four years in a federally bonded warehouse.
The whiskey must be bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV).
The label must clearly state the distillery that made it.
If it was bottled at a location other than the distillery where it was made, the label must also clearly state the bottling location.
The final product cannot have anything besides water added to the liquid.
Those rules are in addition to the already strict guidelines that both rye and bourbon whiskey have to adhere to be called “straight rye” or “straight bourbon”. That includes having a specific mash bill (recipe) that includes at least 51% rye or 51% corn respectively. Legal guidelines also inform the proof the liquid comes off the stills at, is barreled at, and is bottled at. Along with a minimum of two years of aging.
So by the time you add the additional “bottled in bond” rules, you’re dealing with a whiskey that has a lot of parameters. And that’s what makes it “the good stuff” … in most whiskey drinkers’ estimation anyway. Why though? Is it that much better? Well… yes, I think so. And so does Harlen Wheatley, the Master Distiller of Buffalo Trace, who I was chatting with about bottled in bond whiskeys recently. He had some plain-spoken wisdom about them.
“‘Bottled in bond’ expressions showcase the producer and the whiskey and is probably the best way to guarantee the quality,” Wheatley says. “The flavor of a ‘bottled in bond’ whiskey has more impact than normal, due to the 100-proof.”
Basically, “bottled in bond” is just another expression from a brand where the ABV or proof is a little higher, allowing for the whiskey’s natural flavor notes to shine through a little more in the glass. And that’s what makes it feel like “the good stuff” from any given brand because, well, it is made to be exactly that. All of that leads me to the fun part, tasting some whiskeys labeled “bottled in bond.” For this exercise, I had my wife line up three bottles each from the two biggest and finest producers of bottled in bond whiskey in the whole game — Buffalo Trace and Heaven Hill.
The point of the blind tasting and ranking was super simple: Find the absolute best-tasting bottled in bond whiskey to drink right now. That makes our lineup today the following bottles:
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond (Buffalo Trace)
Heaven Hill Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled-In-Bond (Heaven Hill)
Nose: The nose opens with a sense of soft corn mush with a hint of fresh green chili, Saigon cinnamon (a little sweet), orchard tree bark, and the black mildew that grows on all the whiskey warehouses in Kentucky.
Palate: The palate leans into buttery toffee with a twinge of black licorice next to cinnamon-spiced dark chocolate tobacco and a hint of huckleberry pie with vanilla ice cream.
Finish: The end has a salted caramel sweetness that leads back to a hint of sweet cinnamon and dark tobacco with a light sense of the fermentation room with a hint of sweet gruel.
Initial Thoughts:
Well, this is delicious. It’s a good start but there are some big hitters in this lineup. Let’s see how it goes from here.
Taste 2
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose draws you in with this rich and creamy vanilla ice cream (you know the kind that’s likely labeled “Tahitian”) that’s drizzled with a buttery and salty caramel sauce next to soft leather and dried apple blossoms with a hint of old cedar bark braids.
Palate: A floral honey vibe melds with Graham Crackers on the palate as creamy toffee covered in crushed almonds mingles with vanilla-laced pipe tobacco and old leather-bound books.
Finish: There’s a bit of freshly ground nutmeg near the end that leads to a light cherry tobacco note with whispers of old cellar beams and winter spices on the finish.
Initial Thoughts:
This was a tiny bit thinner than the last pour but had more depth. I know that shouldn’t make sense but it does. There were more flavor notes in the actual nose and sip but they didn’t run as deep and long. It was more like a tease almost.
Taste 3
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this one is bold with layers of cherry, vanilla, winter spices, and old oak staves.
Palate: The palate is classic rye with a sprinkling of black pepper next to cinnamon sticks and cloves with a lush underbelly of vanilla cream that’s nearly eggnog.
Finish: There’s a hint of orange that leads back to the cherry with a touch of old wicker and woody spice rounding things out.
Initial Thoughts:
This is pretty cheap whiskey. It has a very good flavor profile but it feels very shallow.
Taste 4
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Dried dark fruits and a hint of vanilla wafers mingle with fig fruit leather, a touch of orchard wood, and a deep caramel on the nose.
Palate: The palate holds onto those notes while layering in dark berry tobacco with sharp winter spices, new leather, and a singed cotton candy next to a cedar box filled with that tobacco.
Finish: The finish lingers on your senses for a while and leaves the spice behind for that dark, almost savory fruit note with an echo of blackberry Hostess pies next to soft leather pouches that have held chewy tobacco for decades and a final hint of old porch wicker in the middle of summer.
Initial Thoughts:
There’s zero shallowness in this pour. This is classic bourbon from top to bottom with a serious, expansive profile. It’s also really f*cking delicious.
Taste 5
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens slightly tannic with rich orange zest and vanilla cream next to woody winter spice, fresh mint, and wet cedar with a hint of gingerbread and burnt cherry.
Palate: The palate hits on soft vanilla white cake with a salted caramel drizzle and burnt orange zest vibe next to apple/pear tobacco leaves dipped in toffee and almond.
Finish: The end has a sour cherry sensation that leads to wintery woody spices, cedar bark, and old cellar beams with a lush vanilla pod and cherry stem finish.
Initial Thoughts:
This is also a spectacularly well-rounded whiskey. It’s so deeply hewn that it kind of just keeps going down beautiful bourbon-y paths. It’s also very clearly rendered and distinct in every note from the nose to the finish.
Taste 6
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This nose is vibrant with hints of freshly plucked pears next to black peppercorns, soft cedar, winter spice barks and berries, and a hint of fresh mint chopped up with fresh dill that leads to a minor key of spearmint and maybe some fresh chili pepper on the vine.
Palate: The palate holds onto the fresh green chili pepper as the pear gets stewed with those winter spices and drizzled with a salted toffee syrup cut with sharp burnt orange and bitter chinotto leaves.
Finish: That sweet and citrus bitter vibe leads back to dark and woody clove and anise with a dash of sasparilla and salted black licorice before some fresh mint and dill return to calm everything down.
This rye is very much a bourbon drinker’s rye. The mash bill is only 51% rye with 37% corn, and 12% malted barley. The juice then matures under the federal regulations allowing it to be “bottled-in-bond” and is barely proofed down to 100 proof with that soft Kentucky limestone water before bottling.
Bottom Line:
This was the easiest slot to rank on this panel. This was clearly a cheaper whiskey that just didn’t have the same depth as the rest of the pours. To be clear, this is good whiskey. It’s just also cheap whiskey. There are no faults at all. It’s just a cocktail base and nowhere near the heights of the rest of this list.
This expression has been a touchstone “bottled-in-bond” since 1939 and remains a go-to for many bourbon lovers. The whiskey is the classic Heaven Hill bourbon mash bill that’s left to age for an extra three years compared to Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond (also from Heaven Hill and the same base spirit).
Bottom Line:
This is really good. But it was just that tad shallower than the Taylor Bottled In Bond Small Batch. And when I say a “tad,” I really mean that. I’m splitting serious hairs to rank these whiskeys. That all said, I’d reach for this as a great cocktail base. It’s a quintessential bourbon from top to bottom.
4. Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond — Taste 1
Buffalo Trace’s Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch is an entry point to the other 12 expressions released under the E.H. Taylor, Jr. label. The whiskey is a blend of barrels that meet the exact right flavor profiles Buffalo Trace’s blenders are looking for in a classic bottled-in-bond bourbon for Taylor.
Bottom Line:
This had that little more depth to it that helped it stand out. It’s superlative bourbon through and through. Again though, I usually reach for this when I want to make a really good bourbon-forward cocktail. That’s not to say you can’t pour this over a big ol’ rock (please do). It’s more that it works better as a deep foundational block to build a great cocktail.
3. Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond — Taste 4
These whiskeys for E.H. Taylor, Jr. are aged in the famed Warehouse C at Buffalo Trace from their mash bill no. 1. While the exact parameters of that bill are undisclosed, this is the same recipe as Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, and Stagg. In this case, the barrels are picked for their Taylor flavor profile and bottled one at a time with a slight touch of water to bring them down to bottled-in-bond proof.
Bottom Line:
I was shocked this didn’t win. This is excellent whiskey. If you can find it, buy a case. You won’t be disappointed.
2. Henry McKenna Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled-In-Bond Aged 10 Years — Taste 5
This classic offering from Heaven Hill is actually getting easier to find again (after years of being nearly impossible to find thanks to hype). The juice utilizes a touch of rye in the mash bill and is then aged for ten long years in a bonded rickhouse. The best barrels are chosen by hand and the whiskey is bottled with just a touch of water to bring it down to bottled-in-bond proof.
Bottom Line:
This was the most well-rounded whiskey on the list. This was the one that I wanted to go back to immediately as a sipper. It’s a classic super-hyped whiskey for a reason. It lives up to it (and I often don’t rank it this high when I know what is because of that). But tasting it blind — it’s just exemplary whiskey.
1. Colonel E.H. Taylor Straight Rye Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond — Taste 6
This rye from Buffalo Trace is a beloved bottle. As with all Buffalo Trace whiskeys, the mash bill and exact aging are not known. It’s likely this is made from a mash of very high rye mixed with just malted barley, maybe. We do know that it is not the same mash bill as Buffalo Trace’s other rye, Sazerac.
Bottom Line:
This was a “wow” whiskey. It’s so complicated and complex while still being the most engaging and wonderful whiskey on this panel. I’m going to say, if you track down only one bottle, make it this. It’s that good and worth the effort to find. When you do snag a bottle or pour, take your time with it. It’s worth really diving deep into the nose and palate to find all the nooks and crannies hiding in this whiskey’s flavor profile.
Part 3 — Final Thoughts
Zach Johnston
If I had to skip one of these whiskeys, I’d skip the Rittenhouse Rye. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just not that exciting (or interesting, really).
But when it comes to finding a great “bottled in bond” expression, any of the other five is going to be great. There is such a tiny distance between each of the top five that it’s damn near microscopic. That said, if you’re looking for the best damn rye whiskey to drink right now, then you need to track down a bottle of that E.H. Taylor Bottled In Bond Straight Rye. It’s next level.
Bia has come a long way since her reality TV days on Sisterhood Of Hip Hop. Although many rap music fans were introduced to the rapper from her viral song “Whole Lotta Money,” the Boston native has made it clear that she hasn’t always lived the fabulous life she bragged about her in the song (that spiked sales in Bottega Veneta heels).
On her new rags-to-riches single, “16,” produced by AzizTheShake, the musician shared just how far the rough road stretched before arriving in the lap of luxury.
The first verse opens with Bia rapping, “Waitеd my turn, now I’m havin’ that / I want that man, you can have him back / So sick of showin’ b*tches how to rap,” continuing, “Who the f*ck gon’ pay my bills, ho? / I ain’t even did my nails, ho / You gon’ make me beat your ass, at sixteen, I done had to pay my bail, ho / Dryin’ my clothes on the radiator / Movin’ in silence, can’t wake the neighbor.”
In the chorus, Bia doubles down on her come-up story, rapping, “I came from a place where there’s nobody to look up to / We weren’t broke together, tell me how the f*ck I trust you / I left mama house, b*tch, I ain’t have nowhere to run to.”
It is unclear if “16” is the lead single to any forthcoming project, but Bia did share with People that she has wrapped up her album and that “it should probably be out within maybe a spring, summer vibe.”
As for Larson, we don’t know much about her character, Tess, other than she’s a “guardian angel” for Vin Diesel’s Dominic Toretto and a “very strong” connection to the franchise at large, according to Leterrier in Total Film.
Could Tess be related to Brian O’Conner, played by the late Paul Walker? That’s what a lot of people believe. But if you want to think differently and come up with your fan theory, “Brie Larson is reprising her character from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World under a different name” is up for grabs.
Here’s the official plot synopsis:
Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto and his family have outsmarted, out-nerved and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they confront the most lethal opponent they’ve ever faced: A terrifying threat emerging from the shadows of the past who’s fueled by blood revenge, and who is determined to shatter this family and destroy everything — and everyone — that Dom loves, forever.
Stars are just like us in the sense that they, too, have probably spent 45 minutes on hold with their insurance companies while trying not to cry. At least one actor has a traumatizing insurance experience, even after starring in the smash hit Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Ke Huy Quan stopped by The Late Late Show, where he revealed that he was struggling during the pandemic after Everything Everywhere All At Once’s release was delayed. The film, which was shot in January 2020, didn’t hit theaters until March 2022, thanks to COVID-related delays, which threatened Quan’s health insurance.
Quan told James Corden that he was looking for jobs throughout the pandemic in order to keep his health insurance. “I was about to lose my health insurance,” Quan said, realizing that his future livelihood basically relied on Everything being a hit. “So, I called my agent and I said, ‘Can you please get me anything? It doesn’t matter, I just need one job to make the minimum requirement so I can qualify for health insurance the following year.’ And I could not get one single job. Sure enough, 2021 came and went [and I] lost my health insurance.” Isn’t healthcare amazing?
The actor even called up Everything’s producers to see what they thought of his performance. When they asked why, he responded that he wasn’t getting any jobs: “Well, nobody wants to hire me.” Then, everything changed when Everything Everywhere All At Once was released and became a googly-eyed sensation. He added, “The movie came out in March of last year and my life has changed.”
Quan has already earned a Golden Globe and a SAG award for his performance. He also secured a role in Disney+’s Loki season two, so hopefully, he can go to the doctor any time he wants for a while. Everything is fine!
Kelly Clarkson is quite literally the queen of covers. From a forceful rendition of Chris Stapleton’s “You Should Probably Leave” to an unexpected recent performance of Spacehog’s “In The Meantime,” there’s apparently nothing Clarkson can’t tackle. Now, she’s back with another.
The “Since U Been Gone” performer took the stage on her show to give her all for a striking cover Death Cab For Cutie’s “You Are A Tourist.” Though Ben Gibbard’s distinct vocals are hard to compete with, she makes the song her own with her vivacious vibrato and entrancing soprano, imbuing it with strong, infectious feeling like she always does.
Clarkson recently revealed that a new album is on the way. It will be her first in six years aside from her holiday albums, and it’ll also be her first since her divorce from her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock in 2021. “It took a minute for me to be able to release this album,” Clarkson explained. “Because I just had to be over it, through it, all around it. I had to get past it in order to talk about it.”
Watch Clarkson’s killer performance of “You Are A Tourist” above.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Lady Gaga has remained a fixture in pop culture since her breakout 2009 single “Just Dance.” Since then, the Oscar winner has been a dominating force in film, television, fashion, and of course, music. However, the multi-hyphenate has begun to notice changes in the public’s value of culture.
During an interview with Wallpaper, Gaga spoke in great detail about her creative partnership with vintage champagne brand Dom Pérignon. The entertainer shared that culture was the driving force behind the collaboration.
“Culture is incredibly important – and I do think that art and culture are having a bit of a hard time at the moment,” she said. But she was sure to point out that while there are similarities between the two concepts, the differences are equally as important to distinguish.
Gaga continued, “I think that there’s a difference between making artistic things and then being in an artistic culture, meaning a culture of artistry, artists that hang out together, artists that talk to each other, spend time together, create together. It’s not about status, it’s about the work.”
The musician shared her own realization of this as she said, “I wish that I could give everyone that is an artist in the world the opportunity to live a week of my life. When I was 18 on the Lower East Side, I had so many artistic friends, and nobody knew who we were except for each other. And we used to put on shows for each other at local places, and we would show our artwork, paintings, photography, poems, music, performance art and everything,” before adding, “We had no social media, and nobody knew who we were. And it was so rich, the culture… I don’t mean it in a bad way. Culture changes. There is a presentational quality and a pressure that we all feel now.”
As Gaga wrapped up her thoughts on the matter, she closed with, “Culture is immensely important. It affects politics. It affects humanity because politics affects humanity. It affects society, and I think that we could put a lot more importance on it being not financially rich, but emotionally rich.”
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This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
