Rodney Smith Jr., of Huntsville, Alabama, was recently profiled by KMBC for his generous donation to two 11-year-olds who fulfilled his 50 Yard Challenge in Gadsden, Alabama. Ja’Torrian Taylor and Tevin Rice, founders of TJ & JT Mowing Service, completed Smith’s challenge to mow 50 yards for the elderly, veterans, and people unable to care for their lawns for free.
“I’m heading down to Gadsden right now. These are good, hard-working kids that deserve some gratitude,” Smith, known as “The Lawnmower Man,” told KMBC. Smith had been told that Taylor and Rice were sharing an old lawnmower that a neighbor had donated to them.
When he arrived, he gave both teens a mower, a blower and a trimmer for their hard work, hoping they’ll use their new equipment to expand their business. “Giving these boys lawn equipment is teaching them discipline,” Smith said. “If they tell someone they are going to mow a lawn, they need to mow the lawn.”
“Remember, this is not the end; it’s just the beginning,” Smith added. “This could be the beginning of a successful lawn service.”
Smith’s commitment to taking care of people’s lawns started in 2015, and the following year he went viral for helping a 93-year-old woman who could no longer mow hers. The photo of Smith and the woman received over 1 million likes.
Five years ago, Upworthy profiled Smith for setting a bold goal of mowing lawns for free in all 50 states. His goal was to promote his initiative that “provides free lawn care to our elders, those who are disabled, single mothers, and our veterans, who do not have the time, resources, and/or money to manicure their yards.”
As part of this goal, he created the 50 Yard Challenge, which has been a smashing success.
As of May 2023, 4,588 pre-teens and teens are participating in this challenge across the United States. If everyone completes the challenge, that will bring the total number of lawns mowed for free by Smith’s Raising Men & Women Lawn Care Service to 229,400.
Kids and teens can take part in the challenge by sending them a photo holding up a sign that says, “I accept the 50 Yard Challenge,” and in return, they’ll receive a white Raising Men/Women shirt along with shades and ear protection to get started. For every 10 lawns cut, they will get a new color shirt.
• 10 lawns earn an orange shirt
• 20 lawns earn a green shirt
• 30 lawns earn a blue shirt
• 40 lawns earn a red shirt
• 50 lawns earn a black shirt
After completing the challenge, the child or teen will receive a mower, a blower, and a trimmer, just like Ja’Torrian Taylor and Tevin Rice from Alabama.
Smith’s story is an incredible example of how one good deed from a kind-hearted person can lead to an outpouring of kindness across the country. It also teaches young people the values of giving back and self-discipline as well as the entrepreneurial spirit.
Diversity makes our world special. Different beliefs, different appearances, different food, different gender interpretations, different languages—the list goes on and on for all the ways contrasting cultures come together under one large sky roof to create one rich and complex existence. It’s a miracle we sometimes take for granted or don’t fully respect.
But still, moments of pure appreciation for what makes us unique come out. And luckily, we live in an age where capturing and sharing those moments is easier than ever.
It’s such a brief interaction, but it contains what makes humanity so beautiful.
Rainer’s onscreen text playfully reads, “being Black in Vietnam be like…” as the short clip shows onlookers standing in awe. One woman even carefully touches her hair while smiling.
While the scenario of a Black person’s hair being touched usually has negative connotations and is seen as a racial microaggression, Rainer is clearly smiling back, and wrote in the caption, “personally found it so funny how amazed they were.”
Others were quick to note how gently and thoughtfully the Vietnamese woman handled Rainer’s locks, making the action so endearing.
“Normally it would be a no but she’s touching her hair so attentively,” another person wrote. Rainer, agreed, replying, “Yess that’s why I let them touch my hair – I was also soo fascinated by them – it was honestly an amazing experience in my opinion.”
When we zero in on differences in order to dehumanize people…well, it should go without saying that that is a bad thing. That is how racism, genocide and needless wars happen. But when we celebrate our differences, we celebrate life itself.
Becca Moore is a popular TikToker with over 800,000 followers who’s known for her funny, laid-back takes on dating. Like any influencer-type she was at the Coachella music and arts festival in Indio, California recently. While she was at Coachella, she was robbed of her phone, rental car keys and wallet.
“I went to Coachella this weekend and I thought this guy was kinda hitting on me but then he just robbed me,” Becca says at the beginning of her three-minute TikTok video with over 3 million views. After the festival, she was left with no ride, money, or means to get in contact with friends and family. She was stranded in the desert.
Becca’s friend’s hotel called her an Uber so she could get to a local store to buy a new phone. The driver she was incredibly lucky to be connected with was a lot more than a guy with a car in a time of need, he was a guardian angel named Raul Torres from Fresno, California, six hours north of Indio.
“A normal Uber driver takes you to a place and then drops you off. He insisted on coming in with me and making sure that I was going to have a ride after that,” Becca said.
The store wasn’t able to get her a new phone because she didn’t have access to her current plan. But Raul wouldn’t give up, so he took her to the local police station where they were able to locate the Airbnb where the thief was staying. The police let them into the room and they searched it but couldn’t find the phone.
the uber driver that saved me from going missing is @buds4u559!! 😭 after spending the day w him he told me his daughter is a senior in high school & is having a hard time going through chemo. i made a gofundme, he could’ve left me and didn’t have to help me the way he did! I’d love to help his fam give his daughter a normal end to her senior year of high school this year (prom!!) i’m putting it in my bio!!
After the big let-down, Becca and Raul decided to take a break from their quest and refresh their spirits with some margaritas, on Raul. “Just because he’s an angel on this Earth,” Becca said in her TikTok video.
While the two bonded over drinks, Raul told Becca his daughter had been battling cancer and that’s why he’s been working as an Uber driver. “He told me all he wants is for his daughter to have a normal end to her senior year, and to be able to go to big events like prom and graduation,” Becca said.
Raul also revealed that his father had cancer as well.
His revelations put Becca’s troubles in perspective and made his decision to drop his driving for the day to help Becca all the more incredible.
thank god he refused to leave me 😭 raul’s tiktok is @buds4u559. also you can donate to the fam in my bio!! thank you all for your donations and generosity. you today, me tomorrow!! #TipsForRaul
After the final slurps of their margaritas, Becca still wasn’t sure how she’d get home. But Raul wouldn’t give up. “We’re getting your phone,” he exclaimed. He drove her back to the thief’s Airbnb where she found the phone sitting on top of the outside gate. Becca believes the robber abandoned the phone after realizing the police were involved. Then, Raul helped Becca get a rental car so she could get home. Before saying their goodbyes, the two had spent eight hours together.
“Raul ended his Uber shift that morning to spend his day helping me, expecting nothing in return,” she said in her TikTok video. So she used her considerable audience to ask followers to help contribute to a GoFundMe page for Raul and his family. Over the first 4 days, the campaign has raised over $144,000.
“When I was in the car with him it seemed like we were both so focused on my situation. We were only talking about me getting a phone and like things that did not matter. And he completely glazed over the fact that his daughter and his dad were the ones that needed help,” she admitted.
On Friday, April 29, Raul’s dad passed away from cancer.
The story of Becca and Raul is a great reminder that no matter how big our troubles seem, it’s always important to put them in perspective.
Taylor Swift recently announced her European tour dates for next year as a continuation of her record-breaking The Eras Tour that is currently taking place in North America.
She had previously been scheduled to headline the festival in 2020, but then the pandemic obviously happened — and Swift never returned to the annual festival… At least, not yet. Given she’s been in the process of re-recording her first six albums, releasing her tenth studio one, and going on a world tour, it makes sense why she didn’t play in 2023.
Swift’s specific schedule for next year’s European leg starts in Paris in May and ends back in London in August. Although she is set to play in Dublin on June 28 and 29, some spotted the fact that she left Sunday, June 30 open — which would line up with Glastonbury 2024 if it was held on June 26 through the 30. This would also mean she would headline on Sunday as the final day of the festival.
Given Glastonbury’s exact dates for next year have not been confirmed, Swift is also conveniently keeping June 23 (also a Sunday) open — in case it is held from June 21 through the 24, a similar time to this year.
The festival’s organizer, Emily Eavis, had also previously told Variety, “I think we’ve got Taylor on board next time she’s doing some touring.”
While Swift’s headlining debut at Glastonbury is still unconfirmed, the speculation is definitely mounting.
Three years ago, Victoria Monét took a huge step upward in her career with the release of her Jaguar project. Through nine songs, guest appearances from Khalid & SG Lewis, and highlights like “Moment” and “Ass Like That,” Monét showed off the polished and provocative sides of her artistry without error. In the end, Monét proved that she was worth attention to going forward in her career. Fans have been patiently waiting for a follow-up to that project, and at long last, we know when it will arrive.
In posts to her social media pages, Monét confirmed that her next project Jaguar II will arrive on August 25. A pre-save link of the project revealed that Jaguar II will be released with 11 songs including the previously released singles “Smoke” with Lucky Daye, “Party Girls” with Buju Banton, and “On My Mama.”
In an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music (per a press release) from back in May, Monét opened up about Jaguar II and what fans should expect from it:
You know what? I feel really lucky that, even from Jaguar Part One, I had planned for it to be a three-part project. So this album … this album is called Jaguar Part Two … so it really kind of breathes new life into Part One. If you’re just now catching onto me as an artist, you’ll know, it’s because it’s Part Two, that there was a Part One, so you may revisit it. And when I do tour this album… Hey, hey, hey. When I do tour this album, I will be doing songs from Part One, as well. So I feel like… because I’m still in this era, I get to still show love. It really became a result of observation of people’s attention span. And I know that, if people are just getting introduced to an artist, if they see a long list, a long album, they may get kind of overwhelmed, so I kind of always intended to microdose my style and my music to people in segments. But as I went on, I just kind of kept adding songs to those little segments. I know that there won’t be a Part Three anymore, because obviously, didn’t expect to take three years in between Part One and Part Two, or have a child in between.
You can view the artwork for Jaguar II above.
Jaguar II is out 8/25 via Lovett Music/RCA Records. Find out more information here.
The NBA Draft is about young men achieving their lifelong dream to play in the NBA and celebrating with those they love. Also, it’s about fashion. Gradey Dick, for example, lit up the 2023 Draft stage with a bright red suit. It was an outrageous fit that stood out among all others and even inspired ESPN’s Zach Lowe to wear a replica while appearing on NBA Today the next day.
A Draft fit can be memorable for taking an outrageous swing, but we also learned that staying too conservative can make you a lightning rod, as well. On Thursday night, a photo of Jalen Brunson‘s 2018 NBA Draft fit resurfaced on Twitter, and the New York Knicks guard was ruthlessly roasted for it.
As a guard from Villanova with championship pedigree, Brunson decided to play it safe on Draft night. Maybe he asked his dad if he could borrow one of his suits. Maybe he was interviewing to be an insurance salesman after the Draft. Maybe he spilled hot sauce on his original suit and had to stop by Men’s Warehouse and get something ASAP.
Brunson’s fit actually matched his NBA approach. It’s pared down, pragmatic, and makes him look like a coach on the floor. It’s a good reminder that those who take risks are rewarded, and those who don’t can get trolled in their group chats five years later.
Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet! This is a slow week, in the sense that not a lot of sneakers are dropping, but what we are getting is pure gold. Whether you’re hyped over the latest celebrity collaboration, brand team-ups, reimagined classics, or a returning favorite, this week delivers despite its relatively light showing. The highlights include Bad Bunny’s latest Adidas collaboration, a reimagining of the Response CL runner. LeBron and UNKWN have joined forces for a sneaker that celebrates the city of Miami, and the Jordan 1 is getting a new Black Cement build that combines the legendary silhouette with a colorway from an equally legendary silhouette.
But our pick for the dopest drop of the week has to be the return of John McEnroe’s Mac Attack signature sneaker. Nike dropped an ad campaign that shows McEnroe and Travis Scott hanging out on a tennis court which leads us to believe that the Mac Attack — now dubbed the Attack — is not only back, but is about to get a Cactus Jack makeover. It’s like Christmas in July! Or, June, whatever. Without further ado, let’s just get into it, here are the best sneakers dropping this week!
Nike Women’s Air Jordan 2 Low Summit White and Ice Blue
Now that the Jordan 2 is officially back we’re starting to get some of the most interesting colorways of the sneaker. 10 years ago this Summit White and Ice Blue Jordan 2 simply wouldn’t exist, it just comes across as too elegant and too delicate, but now that we’ve seen all sorts of different Jordan 2s, there is room for the sneaker to get, well, beautiful.
Featuring a premium leather build with an aged midsole and matching eyelets, this Jordan 2’s colorway is inspired by a certain famous Michael Jordan poster (you know the one, it shows MJ dunking against a skyline). It’s a deep cut for true Jordan heads, we just wish they dropped this one in a full-size run.
The Nike Women’s Air Jordan 2 Low Summit White and Ice Blue is out now for a retail price of $150. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
NikeNike
Nike Women’s Dunk Low Gold Suede
Nike
Price: $120
Whether you’re hitting up a semi-formal function, or just going out on the town, this Gold Suede Dunk Low has you covered. Equal parts luxury flex and basic staple, the Gold Suede features a premium suede build with a plush liner, stitched tongue labels and a padded collar with a contrasting mix of gold and sail colorways across the sneaker.
The Nike Women’s Dunk Low Gold Suede is set to drop on June 22nd at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $120. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
This is what I meant when I said this week was slow but full of bangers. This is the type of drop that can — and will — top best sneaker end-of-the-year lists. Continuing Nike’s trend of swapping colorways from famous Jordans on alternate silhouettes, this sneaker takes the iconic debut colorway of the Jordan 3 and places it across the Jordan 1.
It’s lazy, and it’s an obvious cash grab but dammit does it look good!
The Nike Women’s Jordan 1 Low Black Cement is set to drop on June 24th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $140. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.
A teamup between LeBron and UNKWN, the Message in a Bottle LeBron XX features a bright and sunny colorway that combines sand-colored soft suede with tranquil Ocean Bliss accents for a bright and summery sneaker.
The Message in a Bottle sports a speckled midsole over an icy outsole with an exposed foam tongue and a cushioned ankle for a smooth and supportive step, whether you’ve got a long day of walking ahead of you or you’re getting some court action in on the weekend. Just don’t wear it to the movie theater because they glow in the dark.
It’s easily one of the best LeBron sneakers to drop all year.
The Nike LeBron XX x UNKWN Message In A Bottle is set to drop on June 24th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $210. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
Bad Bunny’s latest Adidas collaboration is a bast from the past! Featuring Adiprene and Torsion technology from the y2k era, this running sneaker exudes turn-of-the-millenium vibes with a mesh and leather upper, textile lining, and a classic Triple Black colorway.
Benito’s first Adidas collaborations reimagined the Forum silhouette to great effect, and now it looks like he’s trying to do the same with other sneakers lost in Adidas archives.
The Adidas Bad Bunny Response CL Triple Black is set to drop on June 24th at 8:00 PST for a retail price of $160. Pick up a pair via the Adidas CONFIRMED app.
AdidasAdidas
Nike Attack ‘OG’ (AKA Mac Attack)
Flight Club
Price: TBA (144+ on aftermarket sites)
F*ck Pickle Ball. That’s essentially the sentiment that Nike’s marketing team is putting forward with this excellent ad campaign starring John McEnroe and Travis Scott in which a pickle-ball playing Scott hits McEnroe in the head with a ball, only to be invited to a friendly match of tennis preceded by McEnroe proclaiming, in his typical grumpy grumbling “put that pickleball racket down, that game sucks.”
It’s a fun way to celebrate the return of the Mac Attack, McEnroe’s signature sneaker from 1984, now renamed simply the Nike Attack. It doesn’t appear to have any connection with Travis Scott whatsoever but it’s a cool way for Nike to bridge an older era with something more contemporary. Here is hoping Scott gives the attack the Cactus Jack treatment.
The sneaker features a mesh and leather upper with an understated grey and black colorway and a checkered Nike tongue tag.
Unfortunately, this sneaker isn’t dropping on SNX, so head to Nike for a list of retailers who will be selling the sneaker, or pick it up at aftermarket sites like Flight Club.
New Balance and Teddy Santis’ Aimé Leon Dore are joining forces once again for this super dope take on the New Balance 650 R. All Credit to ALD for digging this sneaker out of NB’s archives (like they did with the 550) which features a tumbled leather upper overlaying mesh with co-branding at the woven tongue, an EVA midsole, and a rubber cup outsole.
Like the 550 ALD resurrected, this 650 features the same white with green colorway over a classic gum sole. If you’re not feeling the white and green colorway, ALD has also dropped a light blue and black version.
The ALD x New Balance 650 R is set to drop on June 23rd at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $164.99. Pick up a pair via the New Balance webstore.
New BalanceNew Balance
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.
Case in point, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition just announced their “best in class” and “best overall” spirits, and there’s a doozy bourbon at the top of the heap. This year’s Best Overall Bourbon is Augusta Distillery Buckner’s Aged 13 Years Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon. And I totally get it if you’re all like, “Huh?” or “Who?” right now. Augusta Distillery is a tiny operation on the Ohio River in Northeastern Kentucky. To put it in perspective, Buckner’s 13 Year winning the whole SFWSC crown is like a tiny arthouse film beating out the biggest studio films at the Oscars for best picture (it used to happen!).
Below, I’m going to break down the bottle that was awarded “Best Overall Bourbon” for 2023. I’ve tasted the bottle as a judge in a double-blind tasting and as a finalist judge in another double-blind tasting at SFWSC (where I was a judge). Then, I tasted it again today, knowing what it is and the acclaim it had been awarded. So let’s dive in fast because this bottle isn’t going to be available much longer with all this new hype around it.
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months
This is a very niche brand out in rural Kentucky that’s sourcing old barrels. The whiskey in the bottle is a Kentucky straight bourbon that rested for 13 years before it was bottled completely as-is both unfiltered and at cask strength.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with a sense of old barrel houses full of sweet and spice bourbon next to a gentle moment of creamy vanilla honey with old corn husks stuffed in the honey which is poured over spiced winter nut breads with a hint of butteriness and earthy nutshells.
Palate: The clove, allspice, and anise of the nut bread amp up the buttery palate with a sense of Earl Grey tea leaves, salted caramel, and mocha-heavy espresso beans next to a light marzipan moistness and hints of burnt orange next to old dry black cherry bark.
Finish: The end lingers for a while as the marzipan and orchard barks fade toward sharp eggnog spices and soft creaminess before the vanilla creamed honey slathers old oak staves with a good dose of earthy fall vibes kind of like a forest floor on a frosty day.
Bottom Line:
This a quintessential sipper. It’s deep and welcoming while feeling 100% classic and nostalgic. I like to add a drop of water or an ice cube to let it bloom in the glass a little, as it’ll take on a deep creaminess and hint of dry savory herbs. All of this is to say… this is a very good pour of whiskey, folks.
Where To Buy:
You can still find this at the moment. You can get it in Ohio and Kentucky at liquor stores for around $200 per bottle. That will not last. You can also snag a bottle from Seelbachs.com for $299. Don’t expect that to last either.
Long story short, this is going to be your only chance to get this bottle (outside of insane secondary market situations in the coming months/years).
Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending June 23, 2023.
Albums/EPs/Mixtapes
Big Freedia — Central City
Big Freedia
Although it’s not technically a rap album, Big Freedia is the Queen of Bounce and bounce is a cousin of hip-hop. There are also just enough rappers to satisfy even the staunchest hip-hop head, including Lil Wayne and Kamaiyah.
Coi Leray — Coi
Coi Leray
Coi Leray’s second album continues her staples of experimentation and trying out new sounds. The overall vibe feels like jock jams pushed to their maximum energy, keeping the party cranked and at capacity.
Dom Kennedy & Teeflii — I Love Stocker
Dom Kennedy & Teeflii
Dom and Teeflii have long had a cool collaborative chemistry, and they finally join forces for a full-length project. It’s every bit as smooth and breezy as you’d expect from the two West Coast veterans.
Young Thug — Business Is Business
Young Thug
Metro Boomin produced this entire project, which was recorded ahead of Young Thug’s seemingly interminable wait for his RICO trials. Shading in the blanks are 21 Savage, Drake, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, and Travis Scott — the usual suspects.
Singles/Videos
Busta Rhymes — “Beach Ball” Feat. BIA
With a beat that bounces like its namesake, Busta’s latest single could background the most boisterous of beach parties — or club nights.
Joyner Lucas — “Broski”
Joyner Lucas is fed up with the fake love from longtime friends turned jealous haters, detailing just how one gets to be the other with the help of Rotimi, who plays the narrator/ill-wisher in the video.
King Von — “Robberies”
The late King Von clearly had plenty of music stashed before his death. His estate has released just another sample that exemplifies the truly towering loss of the Chicago rap favorite.
Another drill masterpiece from the Brooklyn pioneer sees Rowdy teaming up with a pair of his many stylistic kids for a boastful, defiant street anthem.
Travis Thompson & Jake One — “Same Ole Drop”
The Seattle rapper collaborated with producer Jake One on a new project that’s well worth the listen — especially if bar-forward, sample-heavy hip-hop is your thing.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
If you are a college golfer named Shooter McGavin who is desperate to show that you are capable of winning the big one, we have some very bad news. Earlier in the day on Friday, a young man decided to continue his golf career at Ball State, and based on the headline of this post and the joke in the previous sentence, you can almost certainly guess where we are going with this: the dude’s name is Happy Gilmore.
I am very excited to announce that I have committed to continue my academic and golf career at Ball State University. I am very grateful for the opportunity Coach Fleck has given me! I would like to thank my family, my friends and coaches who push me everyday! @BallStateMGolfpic.twitter.com/nz36to47J2
For those who are not aware of the height of cinematic excellence (mid-to-late-90s Adam Sandler movies), Happy Gilmore was a movie about a hockey player who found out he could hit a golf ball extremely hard by running up on it and throttling it, became a golfer, and then a lot of other stuff happened that ended with him winning a major tournament. Sandler played the titular character, and in a pretty cool moment, he quote tweeted the original post and congratulated Gilmore on his upcoming college golf career.
Our friends over at For The Win put together an explainer on the young golfer, who is quite good and not legally named “Happy” — his name on his birth certificate is Landon. But apparently, he’s had the very obvious nickname since he showed an interest in golf as a kid, and most importantly per his Twitter bio, he can do the famous Happy Gilmore swing. I hope he busts it out during a tournament, and that no one there is screaming “you suck, you jackass.”
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
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.
JAGUAR II IS COMING!!! 
(@happygilmore_44)