Month: August 2023

Alice Cooper recently raised some eyebrows over some transgender comments he made, and now it’s Carlos Santana’s turn.

There’s been a concert clip (which Billboard notes comes from a July performance in Atlantic City, New Jersey) making the rounds recently, and in it, Santana says, “When God made you and me, before we came out of the womb, you know who you are and what you are. Later on, when you grow out of it, you see things, and you start believing that you could be something that sounds good, but you know it ain’t right. Because a woman is a woman and a man is a man, that’s it. Whatever you wanna do in the closet, that’s your business. I’m OK with that.”

He then expresses solidarity with “my brother Dave Chappelle.”

The clip made the rounds online and there’s been enough backlash for Santana to issue an apology. In a Facebook post shared yesterday (August 24), Santana wrote:

“I am sorry for my insensitive comments. They don’t reflect that I want to honor and respect all person’s ideals and beliefs. I realize that what I said hurt people and that was not my intent. I sincerely apologize to the transgender community and everyone I offended.

Here is my personal goal that I strive to achieve every day. I want to honor and respect all person’s ideals and beliefs whether they are LGBTQ or not. This is the planet of free will and we have all been given this gift. I will now pursue this goal to be happy and have fun, and for everyone to believe what they want and follow in your hearts without fear. It takes courage to grow and glow in the light that you are and to be true, genuine, and authentic. We grow and learn to shine our light with Love and compliments. Have a glorious existence. Peace.

Carlos Santana.”

Drake hasn’t revealed the release date for his new album, For All The Dogs, but it looked like Amazon Music did last week, when a tweet from the streaming platform indicated it was coming on August 25. That is of course today, and when midnight rolled around, the album was nowhere to be found. Lil Yachty has some thoughts on that.

Shortly after midnight this morning, he reminded people that no official source actually said the album was scheduled to drop that night, tweeting, “y’all stupid, no body even said for all the dogs was comin out tonight.”

He had pretty much the same message in a TikTok video he posted around the same time, saying, “By the way, I know y’all thought For All The Dogs was coming out tonight: Joke’s on y’all because nobody ever said that it was. Gotta stop believing sh*t you see on the internet.”

Yachty then saw an opportunity for a plug and took it, continuing, “Second of all: I dropped tonight, you know what I’m saying? Check out that new ‘Tesla.’ Wow, that’s oh so shameless, mentioning Drake’s name to plug myself, but whatever. I just dropped. No brakes, still going, I’m going to drop a song every week for the rest of the year. Ah!”

So, no Drake today, but a bunch of Yachty for the next few months.

(WARNING: Spoilers for the most recent The Chi episode will be found below.)

Mental health is the main focus of this week’s The Chi season six episode. Victor has made this the main agenda for his term on city council and he starts by giving space to the brothers in his community to open up and be transparent. In a group discussion with Shaad, Emmett, Darnell, Marcus, Quincy, and Jamal, Victor opens up about the struggles of trying to keep everyone happy in his new role. Shaad speaks about the difficulties of post-jail life, Marcus discusses the relationship between his new girlfriend Tierra and his daughter Jemma and how it affects him, Jamal opens up about not wanting to disappoint his sister Lynae while also making improvements in his life, and Emmett speaks about the new suffocating pressures that he’s dealing with. It was a nice moment to see unfold between the guys and it helped build a stronger and tighter community between them.

Elsewhere, Papa makes progress with Kenya as they finally go on a date together, and though he scores a win in their growing relationship, he also stumbles a bit along the way. Douda’s past catches up to him and it puts Victor at risk as he was involved. Tiffany and Rob find out some new requirements about their plans to open a marijuana-growing business. Jemma and Maisha’s partnership isn’t off to the smoothest start and it’s starting to create cracks in their partnership and friendship. Lastly, Shaad’s past returns to his present and he also goes back to his old ways to make some money for himself, but it’s the start of what may become a slippery and dangerous slope for him.

Here are some of the biggest takeaways that we have after season six’s fourth episode, “ReUp”:

Victor Can’t Save Everyone

Victor is feeling the pressure in his term as city councilman. As someone who did a lot of volunteer work for the city, Victor is someone people in the community call on when they need help. Now, as a city councilman, that responsibility has grown, and as he revealed in this week’s episode, Victor realizes that it’s a thankless job. He also realizes that everyone will not be happy with his decisions and that he won’t be able to save everyone. This comes alive later in the episode when Tiffany and Rob request a permit to start growing marijuana, something Victor says could take six months if approved. Tiffany and Rob storm out frustrated, once again leaving Victor with that feeling of not being a good help.

Victor has been Superman to many in his world, but as the size of the community he is responsible for expands, the likelihood of satisfying everyone decreases. It’s a tough pill to swallow, and though he’s learning how to do that, Victor will have to speed up the process to serve his community appropriately. Because, as we see with Rob and Roselyn, there are people who could ruin his goals and put him at risk with his job.

Papa, Don’t Scare Her Away

This week, Papa gets his long-awaited date with Kenya. The two go out bowling and it’s a perfect night. He helps her bowl a strike, they dance to Anita Baker, and most importantly, they share a kiss. Papa has seemingly taken this as a sign that the two “go together,” as Yung Miami infamously said, but Kenya wants him to pump the brake. When Papa calls her “my girl” during a game night with the crew, Kenya shuts it down quickly which makes for an awkward situation. Papa wants nothing more than to make things official with Kenya, but he can’t do that by rushing things because he’ll simply scare her away. He still has to turn 18 and they still have to go on a few more dates and get to know each other more. Take things slow Papa, remember what we said about patience? Looking at things from a glass-half-full perspective rather than half-empty will serve Papa well in this situation.

Shaad Can’t Better His Future By Returning To His Past

The men in this week’s episode all feel some pressure to make things shake in their respective lives, but no one feels it more than Shaad. After a stint in jail, Shaad has struggled to find a job and begin the journey toward fulfilling his post-incarceration dreams. For the time being, he has a circle of people willing to help him, and his girlfriend Deja has been a rock for him. It’s still a difficult situation as he wants to be a man of his own to support himself and his lady. That’s why it’s no surprise that we see him turn to Bakari and Douda for some quick cash. Truthfully, this isn’t the answer and it’s a slippery slope that will land him right back in jail. He can’t better his future by returning to his past. That’s what landed him in jail in the first place.

We can see that Shaad is aware of this, as he alludes to during the mental health discussion with the guys, but we find him slipping up a bit. He turns down Douda’s latest offer, but what happens when the money runs out? Good things come to those who wait and stay diligent, and surely if Shaad can do that, his own will come.

Douda Is About To Tear This Community Apart

Remember that person Douda shot because he was chewing his gum too loud? Yeah, turns out they were an FBI informant, so there’s a lot of trouble coming Douda’s way. But it’s not just him. He roped in Victor to help get rid of the body, so that makes him an accomplice. The informant also had a stash of guns that Douda now has to figure out how to hide until the coast is clear. He seemingly also has plans for Papa’s dad after he spoke out against him and refused to hold his large sum of money. With Victor’s job at risk and the chance of injury to Papa’s dad, Douda’s next moves could very well tear the community apart that he has done little to help.

He’s put kids in danger (Bakari), stressed out the potential love interests he’s had (Tiffany), invested in a business with a hidden agenda (Emmett), and hurt the good men in the community or at least put them in harm’s way (Victor). There’s a quick solution to getting rid of Douda, but it doesn’t seem like anyone will go to that extreme. Unfortunately, the worst part of it all is it seems like keeping Douda happy is the one way to keep the peace. But as we see so far in season six, it seems like those two things, and the happiness of others, won’t coexist for much longer.

New episodes of ‘The Chi’ are available through the Paramount Plus With Showtime plan on Fridays at 3am EST/ 12 pm PST. Weekly episodes also air Sundays on Showtime at 9pm EST/PST.

(WARNING: Spoilers for this week’s The Chi episode will be found below.)

We are now halfway into the first half of The Chi season 6, part one. In the series’ fourth and latest episode, there’s a focus on the mental health of the people around Victor, specifically the men in his close circle. Victor has made mental health in his community the focus of his term as city councilman and he begins with checking in on Shaad, Emmett, Darnell, Marcus, Quincy, and Jamal. Tiffany and Rob make progress on their marijuana business goals and Douda finds himself in a tough position as a result of a recent killing.

The events mentioned above in the fourth episode of Showtime’s The Chi season six, titled “ReUp,” are soundtracked by songs that help to accentuate the emotions behind each scene. You can find a list of them below and details about the scenes the records played behind.

The following records were provided thanks to the Showtime Entertainment Public Relations team. Some records are unreleased and will not be on streaming until a later date. Check back for updates on a release.

Brandon Christian — “Work”

We hear this record around the 3:31 mark as Emmett, Shaad, and Victor gather at Emmett’s house to eat weed-infused wings in celebration of 4/20. Emmett is also on a frantic search for the gun Douda gave him at this moment.

Aerin — “All I Wanted Was You”

This song plays around the 8:49 mark as we check in with characters from the show to see how they’re celebrating 4/20. Darnell and Jada enjoy a smoke together while Dre and Nina figure out an order to place. Both duos are also looking to get some more weed from Tiffany, as is Nuk and Bakari who take a hit from a bong. We then Tiffany on her phone trying to coordinate all the orders.

Hollywood Koko & Tamira — “Drip”

Around the 15:15 mark, Fatima and her girls gather for a quick brunch. It’s here that they talk about Victor, her recent decision to move in with him, and if their relationship is something good for her.

Genesis Denise Hale aka Maisha — “Three1Two”

This record plays around the 20:35 mark as Maisha and Jemma are in a recording studio working on another song. The pressure is mounting for her and Jemma to find another hit and it’s starting to come in between them as Jemma’s dad reminds her of their deal in regards of her making money with Maisha or going to college.

Nooonnniiieee — “Big Bang”

We hear this record around the 22:09 mark as Papa and Kenya begin their date at bowling alley. Kenya quickly learns that Papa is a pro at bowling, something she is not.

Anita Baker — “Sweet Love”

Anita Baker’s “Sweet Love” plays around the 23:09 mark after Papa helps Kenya bowl a strike. It appears that Papa had it set up so that this song would play when she bowled a strike. The two share a dance and eventually a kiss.

Breana — “Don’t Mind Us”

This song plays around the 41:15 mark as Tiffany and Keisha enjoy some wine together at Rob’s house. Keisha compliments Tiffany’s weed and Tiffany shares her plans to enter the marijuana business. Keisha expresses her concerns over Emmett’s behavior since Douda entered their lives.

Thor — “Tip It Good”

Around the 42:29 mark, this record plays through a video on Jemma’s phone. The song is performed by a local rapper who is wearing a shirt from Jake’s clothing line. Jake sees it as a win and celebrates, but Jemma is more concerned with the music in the video and what it means for the type of music Maisha needs to make in her career.

Penzilla — “Glass Of Sunshine”

This record plays around the 43:48 mark as Darnell & Jada, Shaad & Deja, and Marcus & Tierra gather for dinner at Darnell and Jada’s house. It’s an awkward moment due to Tierra and Shaad quick moment of love from Valentine’s Day. This creates some tension at the table, but the crew eventually sets it aside to enjoy some food.

Gavin Williams — “War Is Not Final Now”

We hear this song in the background around the 46:27 mark as Douda and his love interest Bianca (played by Jill Marie Jones from Girlfriends) have a conversation about who could be next in line to assume the position in command after Douda. Shaad soon makes a visit to potentially work for Douda again, but he later leaves as the task is too dangerous for his liking.

Crystal — “Down At The Cross (Glory To His Name)”

Lastly, around the 54:24 mark, this plays as Papa’s dad finishes a sermon in church that was seemingly directed at Douda who sits in the crowd. This could mean trouble for Papa’s dad as Douda instructs Nuk to “take care of him.”

New episodes of ‘The Chi’ are available through the Paramount Plus With Showtime plan on Fridays at 3am EST/ 12 pm PST. Weekly episodes also air Sundays on Showtime at 9pm EST/PST.

Blackpink is taking over the world. Over the past year, the K-Pop girl group has released their second album, Born Pink, played Coachella, and were named as inductees in the Asian Hall Of Fame. Now, through the powers of femininity, the girls maintain their momentum, reminding everyone of the powerful musical chemistry that got them here, and that they’re not going anywhere anytime soon.

On “The Girls,” Blackpink remains a force to be reckoned with. As one of the biggest pop music groups in the world, they refuse to let anyone destroy what they’ve built.

“Live fast, we do it like that / And we don’t lie, we born to be mad / Better come right or never come back / Don’t mess with the girls, with the girls, with the girls / Stop sign, we’re burnin’ it down / Better watch out, we comin’ in loud / Bang, bang, just playin’ around /Don’t mess with the girls, with the girls, with the girls,” sings the group on the song’s chorus.

The song arrives as part of the soundtrack to their mobile video game, titled Blackpink The Game. An in-game version of the music video premiered earlier this week, ahead of the song’s wide release.

You can listen to “The Girls” above.

Gucci Mane has another hit on his hands. A feature from J. Cole and production by Mike Will Made-It is the formula for a hip-hop hit, and on his latest single, “There I Go,” Gucci reminds us of why he’s maintained his longevity.

For nearly two decades, Gucci has consistently delivered on quality hip-hop and trap music projects, and his tenacity has certainly paid off. He is currently gearing up to release a new album called Breath Of Fresh Air, which is already proving to be promising.

“Gucci Mane and J. Cole the collaboration / They poked the bear and woke the bear up out of hibernation / These boys exaggeratin’, do a lot of fabrication / But ain’t no gimmicks in my gang, this sh*t ain’t animations / Now Mike Will Made-It and Gucci Mane slayed it,” raps Gucci on his verse.

The line “Mike Will Made-It and Gucci Mane slayed it,” arrives as a full circle moment, which began in Mike Will’s early days as a producer in 2007. On a song called “Star Status,” Gucci raps, “Mike Will made it / Gucci Mane slayed it.” This line inspired Mike Will so much, that it spawned his signature “Mike Will Made-It” producer tag.

You can listen to “There I Go” above.

Breath Of Fresh Air is out 10/13 Via 1017 Global Music and Atlantic Records. Find more information here.

Gucci Mane is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Selena Gomez has been everywhere this summer. With a seductive verse on Rema’s “Calm Down” remix, as well as a scene-stealing role on Only Murders In The Building, not to mention her acclaimed makeup brand, Rare Beauty, Gomez is just about inescapable these days. Still, fans are thirsty for new music from Gomez. Though she is not quite finished with her third album on Interscope Records, which fans have codenamed “SG3,” She’s decided to share an end-of-summer treat.

Tonight (August 25), Gomez has shared her new single, “Single Soon.”

On “Single Soon,” Gomez is embracing the joy of a summer romance, however, she is ready to wrap things up as summer comes to an end.

“I know he’ll be a mess / When I break the news / But I’ll be single soon / I’ll be single soon ” sings Gomez on the song’s chorus.

In the accompanying video, Gomez is seen trying on new clothes, going out to dinner with friends, and singing karaoke.

While we’re not sure if “Single Soon” will appear on “SG3,” Gomez revealed in a Vanity Fair interview from February that the music she has on the way is more upbeat than her previous releases.

“If I had my way, I would probably write ballads my whole life, but I want to produce music that will make people smile,” said Gomez. “The music I’m doing right now is about real things that I’m walking through. It’s really powerful, strong, very pop. The theme generally is freedom—freedom from relationships, freedom from the darkness.”

You can listen to “Single Soon” above.

Conan Gray isn’t holding back in this new era. On his new song, “Winner,” the Gen-Z pop star is letting go of someone who hurt him.

Over a melancholy piano, Gray expresses that he is finished trying to prove his worth to someone who has caused him a great deal of pain, and he declares this person the “winner” of a game he no longer wishes to play.

“The only thing you’ve proven / Is that there’s no one who ever has done better / At making me feel worse / Now you really are the winner,” sings Gray on the song’s chorus.

The song comes as a collaboration with Grammy-winning producer Greg Kurstin, though Gray wrote the lyrics entirely by himself.

“I wrote this song at 2am,” said Gray in a statement. “Everything at the piano just spilled out all at once. It was a moment where I finally felt like, ‘Fine. great job. You did it. You hurt me more than anybody ever could hurt me,’ and it oddly felt nice. I see now that there is a certain freedom that comes from recognizing that you’ve been hurt. in no longer running, and just facing the fact that ‘you win. You hurt me.’ I hope this song helps people find a little piece of that freedom.”

You can listen to “Winner” above.

Omar Apollo has shared the first of four songs from his upcoming EP, Live For Me. On his new song, “Ice Slippin,” he looks back on a specific childhood memory and how it shaped who he is now.

Over a chilling piano, Apollo deals with feeling rejected after having come out, while also dealing with one of his first queer heartbreaks.

“Turn around, it’s not too late, did I hurt you? / You livе too far away / Are you turnin’ off your phone again? / If I take back my words, would you return to me?,” sings Apollo on the song’s chorus.

Apollo revealed the cover art to Live For Me via Instagram. The artwork is a portrait by Doron Langberg, and in the post’s caption, he revealed that the project will contain songs that he holds “very close.”

“Ice Slippin’ is about reliving the thoughts I had passing through my mind the winter I came out to my family,” said Apollo in a statement, “receiving cold judgment as opposed to the acceptance I felt I deserved. This song is a reflection and reaction of all the emotions I had to face before and after I decided to leave the icy streets of Indiana.”

You can listen to “Ice Slippin” above and see the Live For Me artwork below.

Live For Me is out 10/6 via Warner Records. Find more information here.

Omar Apollo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

At 30 years old, Miley Cyrus has lived quite the life—delivering hilarious scenes on TV as the title character of Hannah Montana, switching up her sounds with her Bangerz, Plastic Hearts, and Endless Summer Vacation albums, and rocking various looks through different eras. But tonight (August 25), Cyrus details her emotional growth journey with a new single, “Used To Be Young.”

On “Used To Be Young,” Cyrus reflects on her youth, when she raised hell unapologetically. While feeling emotional about getting older, she has no regrets regarding the past, proudly expressing herself as a constant work in progress.

“I know I used to be crazy / I know I used to be fun / You say I used to be wild / I say I used to be young / You tell me time has done changed me / That’s fine, I’vе had a good run / I know I used to be crazy / That’s ’cause I usеd to be young,” sings Cyrus on the song’s chorus.

This year has proven to be a special year for Cyrus, as she released her seventh studio album Endless Summer Vacation back in March. Next month, she will release a special 10th anniversary edition of her Bangerz album. Bangerz was a breakthrough album for Cyrus, which spawned hits like “We Can’t Stop” and “Wrecking Ball” and saw her go from child star to pop icon.

You can see the video for “Used To Be Young” above.