Month: December 2023

T-Pain had a nice 2023, headlined by his new covers album, On Top Of The Covers. Now his 2024 is starting to take shape: Resorts World and Zouk Group announced yesterday (December 19) that T-Pain will headline a new residency at Zouk Nightclub and Ayu Dayclub.

Based on the dates announced so far, it appears T-Pain’s appearances will be relatively infrequent and spread out, at least compared so some other Vegas residencies: He currently has one show each scheduled for February, April, May, and July.

T-Pain said in a statement (as KSNV News 3 Las Vegas notes), “2024 is going to be a great year. I’ve been fortunate to have an amazing career and I’ve always dreamed of having a residency of my own. I’ve got some special surprises up my sleeve, so Vegas: let’s turn up!”

Joe Lopez, vice president of Zouk Group Las Vegas, also noted, “We are excited to start the year on such a high note by bringing an artist of T-Pain’s caliber to our venues.”

T-Pain shared an announcement video as well:

More information about tickets can be found here.

Check out the full list of announced dates so far below.

02/08/2024 — Las Vegas, NV @ Zouk Nightclub
04/20/2024 — Las Vegas, NV @ Zouk Nightclub
05/26/2024 — Las Vegas, NV @ Ayu Dayclub
07/11/2024 — Las Vegas, NV @ Zouk Nightclub

Last weekend, Billie Eilish served as the musical guest for the final SNL of the year. It was a year that saw Eilish earn six 2024 Grammys nominations. “What Was I Made For?,” her single for the Barbie soundtrack, is responsible for five of the six. Nabbing six Grammy nominations is impressive by itself, but especially so in Eilish’s case because she hasn’t released an album since July 2021’s Happier Than Ever. But according to Finneas, her brother and closest collaborator, the drought is nearly over.

Per Mr. Porter’s newly published profile of the super producer and singer-songwriter:

“Finneas describes their next album as ’85 percent done.’ He recalls a quote from Mr Ken Caillat, who produced Rumours with Fleetwood Mac: you don’t finish albums, you just give up on them. And this one, in particular, has been challenging. Over the summer, Eilish spoke at length in interviews about the writer’s block she and Finneas felt while trying to develop a follow-up to their two globally adulated records. Now that this album is at last coming together, Finneas has gained some perspective on that period.

‘I don’t think Billie was particularly sure about how she actually felt about the things we were trying to write about,’ he says. ‘Making a thing that you feel really connected to – it can really evade you.’”

In September, Eilish told Westwood One’s #TheCookout With Eliott that there would be “lots of music coming” soon.

“There is a whole album of music coming,” the 22-year-old Grammy and Oscar winner said. “We’re in the final stages of making it, so that doesn’t mean it’s about to come out, but it is getting there, and it’s very exciting, and there is no documentary. I can confirm that. That is not happening, but I’m sure, one day, there will be another one.”

Eilish’s forthcoming third LP will hopefully arrive in 2024 and will have big shoes to fill, as her 2019 debut, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, and Happier Than Ever each debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? won Album Of The Year at the 2020 Grammys, while Happier Than Ever spawned seven nominations at the 2022 Grammys.

The Barbie soundtrack is a Warner Music release. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Last weekend, Billie Eilish served as the musical guest for the final SNL of the year. It was a year that saw Eilish earn six 2024 Grammys nominations. “What Was I Made For?,” her single for the Barbie soundtrack, is responsible for five of the six. Nabbing six Grammy nominations is impressive by itself, but especially so in Eilish’s case because she hasn’t released an album since July 2021’s Happier Than Ever. But according to Finneas, her brother and closest collaborator, the drought is nearly over.

Per Mr. Porter’s newly published profile of the super producer and singer-songwriter:

“Finneas describes their next album as ’85 percent done.’ He recalls a quote from Mr Ken Caillat, who produced Rumours with Fleetwood Mac: you don’t finish albums, you just give up on them. And this one, in particular, has been challenging. Over the summer, Eilish spoke at length in interviews about the writer’s block she and Finneas felt while trying to develop a follow-up to their two globally adulated records. Now that this album is at last coming together, Finneas has gained some perspective on that period.

‘I don’t think Billie was particularly sure about how she actually felt about the things we were trying to write about,’ he says. ‘Making a thing that you feel really connected to – it can really evade you.’”

In September, Eilish told Westwood One’s #TheCookout With Eliott that there would be “lots of music coming” soon.

“There is a whole album of music coming,” the 22-year-old Grammy and Oscar winner said. “We’re in the final stages of making it, so that doesn’t mean it’s about to come out, but it is getting there, and it’s very exciting, and there is no documentary. I can confirm that. That is not happening, but I’m sure, one day, there will be another one.”

Eilish’s forthcoming third LP will hopefully arrive in 2024 and will have big shoes to fill, as her 2019 debut, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, and Happier Than Ever each debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? won Album Of The Year at the 2020 Grammys, while Happier Than Ever spawned seven nominations at the 2022 Grammys.

The Barbie soundtrack is a Warner Music release. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

There are plenty of fine pastrami joints in New York City, and the most iconic scene in When Harry Met Sally… takes place in arguably the best one. Not Pastrami Queen. Nor 2nd Ave. Deli. Those two weren’t hip enough to shlep to Bed-Stuy to try David’s Brisket House. No, they went to Katz’s. Slinging up cured meat since 1888, it’s also the place where Meg Ryan’s Sally Albright does (maybe) the most epic fake orgasm in screen history (which her kids don’t enjoy). And for a recent CBS Mornings segment, her costar returned to the scene or her crime.

Per Deadline, Billy Crystal hung out with Gayle King to reflect on his long and storied career. Among his career peaks is the 1989 rom-com, which follows two people who take over a decade to realize they’re perfect for each other. At one point they dine at Katz’s, where Sally proves, above and beyond, that maybe it’s a little trickly for men to realize when a woman is doing a faux-O.

And so Crystal returned to Katz’s, which he admitted he hadn’t visited since they shot the beloved scene. (Which is sort of understandable. Those sandwiches are delicious but deadly.) Gayle gets what Sally had, namely a turkey sandwich. Crystal goes with the pastrami, of course, then reflected on the film’s enduring popularity.

“It’s an amazing phenomenon that this has touched people, and this little piece of history here in New York City – you know, the movie was 1989,” Crystal said.

In another part of the segment — without that artery clogging meat to distract him — Crystal waxed even more poetic. And it’s kind of beautiful:

“It’s actually more important as time goes by, because people fall in love every day. People fall out of love every day. People find each other, they lose each other every day. And new generations keep finding When Harry Met Sally… They keep discovering it, and we’re forever young in that movie. And we represent them. They relate to us.”

You can watch the full segment above. When Harry Met Sally… is available to rent online. Katz’s Delicatessen is open seven days a week.

(Via Deadline)

On December 8, 2020, Celine Dion tearfully announced in an Instagram video she had been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome (SPS). The iconic singer described it as “a very rare neurological disorder […] which affects something like one in a million people.” This year, Dion has rarely been seen in public, but one of her sisters Claudette Dion shared a few updates at different points. Most recently, Claudette told Canadian outlet 7 Jours that Celine “doesn’t have control over her muscles.”

Read a timeline of Dion’s battle with stiff-person syndrome here, and learn more about SPS below.

What Is Stiff-Person Syndrome?

Dion was correct in saying that stiff-person syndrome is a rare neurological disorder, and Cleveland Clinic (among other reputed medical institutions) confirms that it only affects “about one out of every one million people.”

The National Institute Of Neurological Disorders And Stroke notes that stiff-person syndrome “affects twice as many females as males,” causes “greater sensitivity to noise, touch, and emotional distress, which can set off muscle spasms,” and “is frequently associated with other autoimmune diseases such as type-1 diabetes, thyroiditis, vitiligo, and pernicious anemia.”

Johns Hopkins Medicine provides a more in-depth definition, as excerpted below:

“Stiff person syndrome is a rare autoimmune neurological disorder that most commonly causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms that come and go and can worsen over time. However, some people experience other symptoms such as an unsteady gait, double vision or slurred speech. SPS symptoms are thought to be related to which type of SPS a person has.

Although there is no treatment that cures stiff person syndrome, working with a specialist and maintaining symptom control can make it easier to live with the condition.”

Johns Hopkins additionally details the different types of SPS, how it is diagnosed, and treatment options.

On December 8, 2020, Celine Dion tearfully announced in an Instagram video she had been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome (SPS). The iconic singer described it as “a very rare neurological disorder […] which affects something like one in a million people.” This year, Dion has rarely been seen in public, but one of her sisters Claudette Dion shared a few updates at different points. Most recently, Claudette told Canadian outlet 7 Jours that Celine “doesn’t have control over her muscles.”

Read a timeline of Dion’s battle with stiff-person syndrome here, and learn more about SPS below.

What Is Stiff-Person Syndrome?

Dion was correct in saying that stiff-person syndrome is a rare neurological disorder, and Cleveland Clinic (among other reputed medical institutions) confirms that it only affects “about one out of every one million people.”

The National Institute Of Neurological Disorders And Stroke notes that stiff-person syndrome “affects twice as many females as males,” causes “greater sensitivity to noise, touch, and emotional distress, which can set off muscle spasms,” and “is frequently associated with other autoimmune diseases such as type-1 diabetes, thyroiditis, vitiligo, and pernicious anemia.”

Johns Hopkins Medicine provides a more in-depth definition, as excerpted below:

“Stiff person syndrome is a rare autoimmune neurological disorder that most commonly causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms that come and go and can worsen over time. However, some people experience other symptoms such as an unsteady gait, double vision or slurred speech. SPS symptoms are thought to be related to which type of SPS a person has.

Although there is no treatment that cures stiff person syndrome, working with a specialist and maintaining symptom control can make it easier to live with the condition.”

Johns Hopkins additionally details the different types of SPS, how it is diagnosed, and treatment options.

Ja Morant is back. In his first game of the 2023-24 campaign, Morant was nothing short of brilliant and looked like his All-Star self to help the Memphis Grizzlies overcome a 24-point deficit to stun the New Orleans Pelicans, 115-113.

Memphis went into a locker room facing a 60-41 deficit, but right out of the half, Morant was box office. He scored 27 of his 34 points in the second half, with 14 of them coming in the fourth quarter. None were bigger than the two that went through the cylinder as the buzzer sounded, as the Grizzlies put the ball in Morant’s hands with the game tied and told him to go to work. Despite being checked by Herbert Jones, Morant made his way into the paint, got a little bit of separation with a spin move, and rose up for a floater in the lane.

While Jones and Dyson Daniels both contested the layup, Morant made the ball bounce softly off the back of the rim and through the net as the horn sounded.

On the night, Morant had 34 points on 12-for-24 shooting with eight assists, six rebounds, two steals, and a block in 35 minutes of work. This marked the first game Morant played following a 25-game suspension to start the season due to a pair of incidents involving a firearm.

Playboi Carti has had fans in a chokehold, wondering when he’ll finally drop his followup to his first-career No. 1 album, Whole Lotta Red, which arrived on Christmas Day in 2020. Last Christmas, Carti returned to social media and appeared to tease that new music was imminent. It wasn’t until last week that he released a new song, “2024,” but fans didn’t have to wait another year for the next development.

On Tuesday, December 19, Carti posted a video to Instagram Story. It features someone screaming (to put it lightly), “CARTI DROPPIN’ AGAIN [EXPLETIVE] TONIGHT!” Written atop the video is, “9:00 PARENTAL ADVISORY EXPLICIT CONTENT TUESDAY.”

Shortly thereafter, Carti reshared an Instagram Reel posted by Opium, captioned, “H00DBYAIR #IAMMUSIC.”

Toward the end of the song, Carti raps, “I was 24 when I had lil Onyx / 27 when I had Eve.” As pointed out by XXL, people are assuming that the bar serves as an announcement that Carti has welcomed a baby named Eve. Carti welcomed Onyx, his son with ex Iggy Azalea, in 2020. It must be noted that Carti was arrested for allegedly choking his pregnant girlfriend last December, as reported by TMZ.

“According to the arrest affidavit, obtained by TMZ, the woman told police the rapper grabbed her by her throat and pushed her, holding her neck until she could barely breathe,” the outlet reported in February. “She even told cops she thought she was going to die. Police say the woman told officers she’s been in a relationship with Playboi Carti for two years, has lived with him since July 2022 and was 14 weeks pregnant at the time of the alleged incident on December 20.”

The “H00DByAir” video features appearances by Destroy Lonely, Homixide Gang, and Ken Carson — fellow Opium Collective members and openers on Carti’s Antagonist Tour, which was postponed in August to 2024.

The “#IAMMUSIC” hashtag all but confirms what was already widely accepted as fact. Carti is reportedly gearing up to release an album “early next year (currently with a tentative release date in January),” per Hypebeast. Earlier this month, Carti posted a word graphic to a since-expired Instagram story reading, “I AM MUSIC,” which currently serves as Carti’s Instagram profile picture, so it’s believed that I Am Music is the album’s title.

Watch the “H00DByAir” video and other posts about the song below.

On Sunday John Oliver devoted pretty much the entirety of Last Week Tonight to one subject: Elon Musk. For nearly 40 minutes the HBO host laid into the richest person on the planet (who briefly wasn’t), whom he summed up as a “middle-aged billionaire CEO with self-serving libertarian views, increasingly racist politics and a messiah complex.” Oliver did have some nice things to say about him, too, but he seemed sure Musk would balk anyway. And balk he has.

As caught by Page Six, the Space X/Tesla/Twitter guy responded to an apparent fan, who’d responded sarcastically to a post about Oliver’s segment. Musk responded predictably.

“Oliver was great several years ago, but stopped being funny when he sold his soul to wokeness where humor is basically illegal,” Musk wrote.

As it happens, Oliver didn’t spend too much time on Musk’s war on “wokeness,” which was part of the rightward turn he took amidst the early days of the pandemic.

Still, what on earth is Musk even talking about? Oliver’s show has barely changed at all in the last several years, each episode striking the usual 70-30 balance of genuine outrage to goofy jokes. Among the latter in Oliver’s Musk segment was saying Musk can “pull off pretty much any bad-guy-in-a-movie look,” comparing him to folks like Lex Luthor, a Bond villain, and Billy Zane in Titanic (albeit a “less f*ckable reimaging” thereof). In fact, that part was one of Oliver’s funnier digs, up there with describing one of his looks as a “red-pilled Chip from Rescue Rangers.”

In other words, maybe Musk is the one who changed, not Oliver. Although judging from Musk’s feed, it seems humor for him has always been illegal.

(Via Page Six)

Playboi Carti has had fans in a chokehold, wondering when he’ll finally drop his followup to his first-career No. 1 album, Whole Lotta Red, which arrived on Christmas Day in 2020. Last Christmas, Carti returned to social media and appeared to tease that new music was imminent. It wasn’t until last week that he released a new song, “2024,” but fans didn’t have to wait another year for the next development.

On Tuesday, December 19, Carti posted a video to Instagram Story. It features someone screaming (to put it lightly), “CARTI DROPPIN’ AGAIN [EXPLETIVE] TONIGHT!” Written atop the video is, “9:00 PARENTAL ADVISORY EXPLICIT CONTENT TUESDAY.”

Shortly thereafter, Carti reshared an Instagram Reel posted by Opium, captioned, “H00DBYAIR #IAMMUSIC.”

Toward the end of the song, Carti raps, “I was 24 when I had lil Onyx / 27 when I had Eve.” As pointed out by XXL, people are assuming that the bar serves as an announcement that Carti has welcomed a baby named Eve. Carti welcomed Onyx, his son with ex Iggy Azalea, in 2020. It must be noted that Carti was arrested for allegedly choking his pregnant girlfriend last December, as reported by TMZ.

“According to the arrest affidavit, obtained by TMZ, the woman told police the rapper grabbed her by her throat and pushed her, holding her neck until she could barely breathe,” the outlet reported in February. “She even told cops she thought she was going to die. Police say the woman told officers she’s been in a relationship with Playboi Carti for two years, has lived with him since July 2022 and was 14 weeks pregnant at the time of the alleged incident on December 20.”

The “H00DByAir” video features appearances by Destroy Lonely, Homixide Gang, and Ken Carson — fellow Opium Collective members and openers on Carti’s Antagonist Tour, which was postponed in August to 2024.

The “#IAMMUSIC” hashtag all but confirms what was already widely accepted as fact. Carti is reportedly gearing up to release an album “early next year (currently with a tentative release date in January),” per Hypebeast. Earlier this month, Carti posted a word graphic to a since-expired Instagram story reading, “I AM MUSIC,” which currently serves as Carti’s Instagram profile picture, so it’s believed that I Am Music is the album’s title.

Watch the “H00DByAir” video and other posts about the song below.