Month: August 2023

The 2023 Made In America Festival, set to be co-headlined by SZA, has been officially cancelled. Luckily, there are other ways to see her live. The second leg of her SOS Tour‘s North American run is slated to kick off next month. Ahead of its launch day on September 20 in Miami, Florida, SZA has added the extension’s featured special guest.

Houston, Texas’ hottest rising alternative singer D4vd will be stepping into the role previously held by Omar Apollo. D4vd took to Instagram to share the news. Uploaded the new flyer for the tour, D4vd thanked SZA for the opportunity, writing, “[I’m] trying not to panic. SZA, thank you for having me on tour. I can not believe my eyes right now. This is going to be insane .”

View the full tour schedule for SZA’s second North American leg of the SOS Tour below.

09/20 – Miami, FL @ Kaseya Center
09/22 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
09/24 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
09/26 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center^
09/28 – Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena
09/09 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
10/01 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
10/04 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
10/06 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
10/07 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
10/10 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
10/11 – St. Louis, MO @ Enterprise Center
10/14 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
10/15 – San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center
10/18 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
10/19 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Vivint Arena
10/22 – Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena
10/23 – Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena
10/26 – San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center
10/28 – Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena
10/29 – Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center

^Rescheduled Date from Leg 1 without Omar Apollo

Donald Trump is facing criminal charges in Georgia, but he ain’t alone. Fulton County DA Fani Willis also indicted 18 of the former president’s pals over alleged election interference. That means legal fees all around, but Trump — allegedly a wealthy and very successful businessman — is not helping out his accused accomplices, including poor Rudy Giuliani. And one of his former cohorts thinks that’s just dumb.

Michael Cohen, Trump’s turncoat former attorney, went on CNN’s The Source Monday night. There, host Kaitlan Collins brought up how Jenna Ellis, another ex-Trump attorney and one of the indictees, could not believe her old client wouldn’t her and others a hand. “So why isn’t MAGA, Inc. funding everyone’s defense?” she asked. “What do you make of the fact that there are some people whose legal bills he covers, and other people like Jenna Ellis, who are upset that their bills aren’t being covered?”

“There’s never a reason for Donald that you can actually isolate and say, why is he paying, well, you know, for Don Jr., right? Or Kimberly Gargoyle,” Cohen replied, using a great misnomer for his future daughter-in-law Kimberly Guilfoyle. But we don’t know as to why not for Jenna Ellis. Why not for Rudy Giuliani?”

Cohen reached a conclusion:

“Donald’s an idiot. Let me just be very clear when it comes to paying money, he is truly an idiot. He has not learned yet that the last person you want– three people that you don’t want to throw under the bus like that: your lawyer, your doctor, and your mechanic. Because, one way or the other, you’re gonna go down the hill and there’ll be no brakes.”

In Trump’s defense, he may not be as rich as he makes himself out to be. Besides, he has that relatively stiff bail bond to post so he can get back on the streets after turning himself in.

Cohen’s not the only former Trump associate not afraid to call him out on his bunk. Recently Chris Christie has dedicated his campaign to mostly dragging a guy he, like Cohen, knows all too well.

(Via Mediaite)

If there’s one group that embodies the saying “go big or go home,” it would be Explosions In The Sky. With each release, the group consisting of musicians Chris Hrasky (drummer), Munaf Rayani (guitarist), Michael James (keyboardist), and Mark Smith (keyboardist) further push the bounds of musical composition.

Explosions’ first album in seven years, End, is a few short weeks away. Last month, they shared its lead single, “Ten Billion People.” Now they are serving up the second grandiose offering from the forthcoming project. On their new record, “Moving On,” Explosions fine-tune their instrumentation-driven storytelling.

Unlike on “Ten Billion People,” which leaned into the robust operatic arrangements they’ve become known for, “Moving On” is a gentler journey through their imaginative professional minds. With each strum of the guitar and tap at the keyboard, “Moving On” shows the band’s vast range of emotion.

In a statement about the motivation behind their upcoming album, End, a representative from Explosions said, “Every song comes from a story, or an idea one of us has had that we’ve all expanded on and made its own world.”

Listen to Explosions In The Sky’s new song “Moving On” above.

The term “nepo baby” most often refers to the offspring of a successful Hollywood actor, but the term can more generally apply to those whose parents are at the top of other industry ladders.

The kids of Shaquille O’Neal, one of the NBA’s highest-paid players with a massive business empire, could certainly make the list. However, O’Neal is more concerned with teaching them the value of hard work—something all parents can relate to, even if they don’t have a net worth of $400 million.

Sticking to what he calls “respectable nepotism,” O’Neal told Insider that if his kids ever ask for money, they have to provide a solid “business plan” before he’ll consider offering.

“Since you want me to be the bank, I’m gonna do exactly what the bank is going to do to you,” he quipped.

via GIPHY

O’Neal told Insider that his eldest son Myles, for instance, didn’t receive equipment to help his pursuit of a DJ career until after his dad was convinced of his actual potential.

Now Myles has made a name for himself as a DJ—holding a residency at Wynn Las Vegas and headlining across the country. And according to his dad, “he’s done it by himself.”

See on Instagram

All parents want to set their kids up for success in adulthood. But how to really do that is often a dilemma, particularly when it comes to striking a balance between coddling and neglecting.

There’s no denying that being born into wealth is a huge advantage, but even then, there’s the risk of missing out on important life lessons that build not only practical problem-solving skills but character.

It’s no wonder why many celebrity or high-profile parents do go out of their way to make sure their own kids don’t lose touch with reality.

Drew Barrymore, for example, famously doesn’t buy her kids Christmas presents but instead focuses on making memories during the holidays. Similarly, best-selling author Esther Wojcicki parents under the rule, “Don’t do anything for your kids that they can do for themselves.”

It goes without saying that being able to choose to withhold support in favor of opting for learning the value of hard work is in itself a luxury. But still, stories like these show two things. One, not all kids of celebrities are lazily mooching off of their parents’ affluence. And two, raising good humans who thrive is a very personal and customizable process.

Some artists will go to extreme yet creative lengths to market their next album, tour, or song. Grammy Award-nominated singer Omar Apollo is among them. Instead of the traditional billboard announcement approach, Apollo and his team set out various ice sculptures around the world to generate hype behind his forthcoming single “Ice Slippin.”

After coming across the work of art, one fan, who was amused by Apollo’s efforts, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a laugh with the singer, writing “You’re so silly goofy for this bae , Omar Apollo.”

Apollo replied to that remark with a sassy comeback of his own, writing, “I kinda wish they gave me titties but
‘Ice Slippin’ [comes out on] August 25th. I’m seeing all the videos of everybody pullin’ up, and my heart is full. Love you .”

“Ice Slipping” will mark Apollo’s first release in over six months. His previous single, “3 Boys,” was shared in February. After its release, Apollo joined fellow singer SZA on the road as the opening support for the first wing of her SOS North American Tour.

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

Why did Roger Stone let a documentary crew film him doing underhanded things during and after the 2020 election? We may never know, but maybe it’s best not to question the thinking of a guy with a Nixon back tattoo. Clips from A Storm Foretold, Danish filmmaker Christoffer Guldbrandsen’s film that Stone inexplicably let happen, have been trickling out over the last few weeks, and so far we’ve seen him bragging about how he likes to manipulate Donald Trump and straight-up plotting how to overturn the will of the people. Heck, there’s even audio of him seeming to admit the big guy lost.

As per Raw Story, Guldbrandsen debuted some more footage from his film on MSNBC. It shows the longtime GOP fixer moaning about not being invited to speak at the lead-up to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. At one point he and his crew are in what looks like a hotel room. Stone is in another room, but his mic is still on, catching him blurting out the truth.

“It’s very clear I was never on their list. Whole thing was a con job. No, it’s infuriation,” Stone tells the person on the other end. “Just, it’s just, childish and it’s amateurish. It’s why they lost. They don’t know what they’re doin’.”

Though the context isn’t clear, the audio strongly suggests Stone a) is slamming the Trump campaign and b) admitting he lost. Of course, Stone has publicly been saying nothing of the sort. He’s been crying election fraud. But every now and then even Trump himself accidentally says he didn’t beat Joe Biden, so maybe occasionally telling the truth is contagious among MAGA world.

(Via Raw Story)

Victoria Monét’s highly-anticipated major label debut is nearly here. Jaguar II — its title a call-back to her breakout 2020 EP — promises to be a big release.

Last year after rumors that the Jaguar II would no longer see the light of day, Monét took to X (formerly Twitter) to share an update with fans. “Just wanted to say thank you for your patience with JAGUAR II,” she wrote. “If you know me, you know it isn’t without special reason that it isn’t in your ears already & I’m working hard to get it to you the best way! I gotta say, though, I think it’s better than Part I. Respectfully.”

Based on the singles she dropped, fans believe the delay was worth it. Here’s everything we know so far about Victoria Monét’s Jaguar II album.

Release Date

Jaguar II is out 8/25 via RCA Records. Find more information here.

Tracklist

1. “Smoke” Feat. Lucky Daye
2. “Smoke” (Reprise)
3. “Party Girls” Feat. Buju Banton
4. “Alright”
5. “Cadillac (A Pimp’s Anthem)”
6. “How Does It Make You Feel”
7. “On My Mama”
8. “I’m The One”
9. “Stop (Askin’ Me 4Shyt)”
10. “Hollywood” Feat. Earth, Wind & Fire and Hazel Monét
11. “Good Bye”

Features

The confirmed musicians set to make a guest appearance on Jaguar II include Lucky Daye, Buju Banton, Earth, Wind & Fire, and her toddler daughter Hazel Monét. Monét revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that the project would feature production from Kaytranada in addition to her frequent collaborator D Mile. The remaining production credits won’t be shared until the album is publicly available.

Artwork

You can see the artwork for Jaguar II below.

Singles

To kick off the album’s promotion, Monét shared several singles, including “Smoke” featuring Lucky Daye, “Party Girls” featuring Buju Banton, and “On My Mama.” All of them had a memorizing official video.

Tour

Beginning next month, Monét will embark on The Jaguar Tour to support the album. View the full tour dates below. Find more information here.

09/06/2023 — Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre
09/08/2023 — Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
09/11/2023 — Boston, MA @ Royale
09/13/2023 — New York, NY @ Webster Hall
09/15/2023 — Washington, DC @ The Howard Theatre
09/16/2023 — Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts (TLA)
09/18/2023 — Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
09/19/2023 — Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre
09/21/2023 — New Orleans, LA @ Joy Theater New Orleans
09/22/2023 — Houston, TX @ House of Blues
09/24/2023 — Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
09/26/2023 — Denver, CO @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom
09/28/2023 — Las Vegas, NV @ 24 Oxford
09/29/2023 — Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
10/01/2023 — San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park
10/03/2023 — San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
10/06/2023 — Portland, OR @ The Wonder Ballroom
10/07/2023 — Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
10/09/2023 — Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
10/11/2023 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
10/22/2023 — Chicago, IL @ House of Blues

If there is one thing Hollywood needs, it’s more men being men and doing manly things and having so many conversations. Just kidding! We obviously have enough of those, but what if we put two of those fan-favorite men together for a buddy comedy? Actually, that’s also happened a lot, but it’s fine. There’s a reason it works.

The latest duo to rub elbows on the big screen will be America’s Favorite Cool Dudes Who Also Starred In Dune: Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista, both known for being…very muscular in a semi-offputting way? They just look too strong for their own good.

The two will star in Wrecking Crew, and while details are under wraps, Blue Beetle director Angel Manuel Soto is attached to the project. Most recently, Bautista starred in A Knock At The Cabin and the latest installment in the Guardians of the Galaxy saga. Momoa is gearing up to release Aquaman And The Lost Kingdon this December after nearly 5 years of him hiding underwater to avoid the DC drama.

Unfortunately, we must give credit where credit is due: it seems that this idea was actually James Corden’s doing. The host suggested that the two actors work together in a Lethal Weapon-style movie two years ago. Too bad Corden won’t be around to see it happen. He’s not dead, just back in the UK.

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

The It’s All A Blur Tour has not only been a significant payday thus far for Drake, but it has been a platform for him to share instant music updates with fans. On July 20, Drake revealed that his next album, For All The Dogs, would soon hit streaming platforms. Although he hasn’t revealed the official release date, Drake has hinted that it could feature collaborations with Bad Bunny and J. Cole.

On Monday, August 21, Drake took to Instagram to unveil the album’s cover, designed by one of his favorite artists, his 5-year-old son Adonis Graham. The young kid took some creative liberties with the album’s title. Instead of an adorable household canine, the image errs more on the side of a haunting werewolf, making the forthcoming project all the more intriguing.

Before Drake’s poetry book was released in June, he suggested that the literary work and his forthcoming album were linked, writing, “I made an album to go with the book. They say they miss the old Drake girl; don’t tempt me.” Below the message was the phrase, “For all the dogs.” Could this be the return of Drake’s certified lover boy era?

No further information is known about For All The Dogs at this time.

Ever since it was released a month ago, Barbie has delighted audiences, who’ve turned it into a box office behemoth. Not everyone has been charmed: Members of the far right found themselves triggered by the aggressively pink comedy. But few have expressed scorn for Barbie’s release date-mate, Oppenheimer. One noted exception: YouTuber and wrestler Logan Paul.

On a recent episode of his podcast ImPaulsive, Paul told his guests, Talk to Me directors Danny and Michael Philippou, that he “walked out of Oppenheimer.” The pair were shocked, so Paul tried to explain himself.

“I didn’t know what they were trying [to do]. ‘What are you doing?’ Everyone’s just talking,” he said. “It’s just an hour and a half, 90 minutes, of talking, just talking, talking.” (It’s actually three hours of people talking, and at one point staring at an a-bomb test, but we’re going to assume he meant he bolted halfway through.)

Paul admitted it’s not the first time he had a rough go with a Nolan picture. He said he almost walked out of Interstellar after 18 minutes “because it was so slow.” But he stayed and it one of his “top three favorite movies.”

Oppenheimer hasn’t entirely escaped controversy. When the film’s Twitter account interacted with a “Barbenheimer” meme post, many Japanese people reacted with horror that they would make light of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The film currently has no release date in Japan.

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)