Month: January 2024

The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs produced another instant classic in their latest playoff meeting, this time in Buffalo where the two teams traded blows all night leading to a tense fourth quarter. Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes were magnificent, and it felt like the kind of game where a mistake (or big play) made by someone other than the two QBs might decide it all.

In the early going of the fourth quarter we got one such mistake from each team to negate each other. The first came from the Bills, which ran a fake punt from inside their own 30 while down 27-24 after the Chiefs sent out just 10 men for the punt return. Damar Hamlin took a direct snap and tried to run to the left but was stuffed, giving Kansas City the ball in scoring territory immediately.

Isiah Pacheco would immediately break off a big run to put the Chiefs into a goal-to-go situation and it seemed like the Chiefs would take control with a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. Instead, Kansas City ran a jet sweep to Mecole Hardman, who tried to roll and stretch out for the goal line as he got brought down and had the ball punched out, fumbling through the end zone for a touchback giving the Bills new life.

Buffalo would go three-and-out from there and actually punted the ball back to Kansas City this time, meaning in the end that insane minute of football meant nothing to the outcome but gave fans of both teams reason to want to break their TVs.

After “Cry Me A River” singer Justin Timberlake sold his catalog to Hipgnosis in 2022, fans thought he was leaving music behind. But those beliefs were immediately quashed when Timberlake collaborated on records with Calvin Harris, Timbaland, Coco Jones, Jack Harlow, and Jung Kook.

Timberlake dialed things up a notch when he briefly reunited with NSYNC for the Trolls Band Together soundtrack. To piggyback off of the hype surrounding the moment, on January 20, Timberlake announced he would be releasing his first album in nearly six years.

Here’s everything we know so far about Justin Timberlake’s upcoming album, Everything I Thought It Was.

Is Justin Timberlake Releasing A New Album In 2024?

Following his free concert in Memphis, Tennesee, Timberlake revealed the first teaser for his forthcoming album, Everything I Thought It Was. Although the Benicio Del Toro-voiced trailer did not reveal the project’s official release date, it is safe to assume that the project will hit streaming services before year’s end.

When Will Justin Timberlake’s New Album Come Out?

There is no exact release date for Justin Timberlake’s new album is not yet known.

Does Justin Timberlake’s New Album Have A Tracklist?

Justin Timberlake has not shared the tracklist for Everything I Thought It Was.

Did Justin Timberlake Release A Single For His New Album?

During Timberlake’s homecoming concert on January 19, he previewed the song “Selfish,” slated to appear on the album. However, it has not yet been posted to streaming services.

Will Justin Timberlake’s New Album Have Features?

Right now, it’s unclear if his album will have any features.

What Is The Album Cover For Justin Timberlake’s New Album?

The album cover has yet to be released. But supporters can get a feel for how the cover may think based on the announcement trailer uploaded to Timberlake’s official Instagram page.

Will Justin Timberlake Go On Tour For His New Album?

Justin Timberlake has not announced tour plans for 2024. But according to Billboard, representatives for Timberlake have put holds on several dates at arenas across North America for shows later this year.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Travis Kelce hasn’t been a major focal point of the Chiefs offense in recent weeks, as the star tight end had a few drops in the Wild Card round and has averaged just 53 yards per game over his last 10 coming into Sunday night’s AFC Divisional Round matchup with the Bills in Buffalo.

It was clear early that the Chiefs were determined to get him involved early and often against the Bills, as he had three targets and two catches for 44 yards in the early going, as Andy Reid moved him around in different formations to try and create some space for him. Down 10-6 in the second quarter, the Chiefs marched into the red zone and Patrick Mahomes found his longtime favorite target running wide open up the left side of the field, as the Bills had a coverage bust on the worst possible person on the Kansas City offense.

After strolling into the end zone, Kelce launched the ball into the Buffalo crowd and made a heart towards Taylor Swift in the suite up above where the celebration was hitting high gear. While Swift and company were hugging and jumping up and down, Jason Kelce had a bit more demonstrative celebration in store for his brother’s TD, as the Eagles (maybe soon to be retired) center had his shirt off in the Buffalo cold, beer in hand, yelling into the Buffalo night — and hopping out of the window into the Bills crowd.

There aren’t many worse guys to leave wide open than Travis Kelce, as he’s one of the only reliable receivers on Kansas City’s roster and is the guy Mahomes is always looking for. The Bills will need to tighten that up, or we’ll keep getting cuts to the Kelce/Swift suite from CBS all night for updates on Taylor and Jason.

The Detroit Lions are headed to the NFC Championship Game for the first time in over 30 years after beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon in Detroit, holding on for a 31-23 win.

The Lions never trailed in the game, but their first three scores were each answered by the Bucs, as Baker Mayfield and company were able to tie the game three different times in the first three quarters. However, the Lions finally opened things up in the fourth quarter, first thanks to a long rushing touchdown by Jahmyr Gibbs, followed by a dime from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown.

However, the Bucs were able to make things a little interesting late, as Mayfield led a long touchdown drive, finding Mike Evans in the end zone to pull back within one score.

After failing on a two-point conversion to make it a 6-point game, the Bucs got the stop they needed as the Lions offense stalled out at midfield and had to punt the ball back to Tampa with two minutes to play. However, on the second play of the last gasp drive to force overtime, Mayfield’s propensity for turnovers showed up at the worst possible time, throwing a dreadful interception to Derrick Barnes to send Ford Field into a frenzy.

The Lions took knees from there and set up a trip out west to face the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday for the NFC Championship Game, where they’ll look to continue one of the best seasons in franchise history.

Before Lady Gaga captivated hearts on the big screen, she was a global pop star. Nowadays, the “Shallow” singer’s time as a fully-fledged musician seems far behind her. Unfortunately, one of Gaga’s former dancers supposedly has a bitter reminder of their time working together.

On January 20, in a series of videos shared on their official Instagram page, Graham Breitenstein alleged after joining Gaga on the road for her Monsters Ball Tour, they suffered ‘permanent’ hearing loss. Between 2009 and 2011, Breitenstein reportedly traveled the world with Gaga without issue until the tour’s European wing.

“While I was on stage, I believe I was in Germany or France, I had an experience on stage where my left ear all of a sudden it sounded like the crowd was in my ear the whole time,” he said. “We didn’t have in-ears at this time. So it was just raw ears in all these arenas.”

After seeking medical attention, Breitenstein learned that they had unrepairable damage. “I found out that I had lost 70 percent of hearing in my left ear and that it was permanent,” he said. “It could have been reversed if it was treated in the first two weeks of the onset with a direct shot of steroids. But we were six weeks [in], and it was too late. I would have to live the rest of my life with 30 percent of hearing in my left ear and full hearing in my right ear. So to say that I was devastated … is an understatement.”

Under the advisement of his family, Breitenstein claims he filed for worker’s compensation, providing his medical records to Live Nation (a financial supporter of the tour), but was reportedly denied.

According to Breitenstein, they hoped by coming forward, their story would serve “As a resource for other dancers that wanna perform at a high level.”

Watch Graham Breitenstein’s videos below.

Lady Gaga nor Live Nation have issued a statement regarding Breitenstein’s claims.

Say what you will about Donald Trump, he has a gift for mean, childish nicknames. Sometimes they’re lazy, sometimes they’re straight-up racist, but other times they’re inspired, in a schoolyard bully way. Alas, when it came to someone who was once seen as a likely successor to this throne — that is, Florida governor Ron DeSantis — he came up short. It was rumored he was flirting with “Meatball Ron,” but evidently that was too mean even for him. The best he could come up with, publicly, anyway, was “Ron DeSanctimonious.” But after DeSantis finally deep-sixed his 2024 campaign, Trump unceremoniously put it to rest, as he should have long ago.

Per Mediaite, Trump was in New Hampshire Sunday, addressing a crowd not long after DeSantis formally ended his presidential run. The former president has been torching DeSantis for months and months, but once he was no longer seen as a threat, he did what he often does: He put down the gloves and welcomed him back into the fold — after DeSantis kissed the ring by endorsing him, of course.

DeSantis’ reward? An end to a lame Trump nickname. After his New Hampshire speech, Trump was asked if he would still pelt him with the “Ron DeSanctimonious” name? He would not, declaring the moniker “officially retired.”

Does this mean DeSantis is no longer sanctimonious? Was he ever? It was never a great name for a guy who could be pretentious, with his shoe lifts, who could be profoundly awkward, who basically tried, and failed, to cosplay as a younger, tougher version of Trump.

During his speech, Trump described DeSantis as a “very capable person,” signaling he was willing to let bygones by bygones. Again, no doubt DeSantis endorsing him and not Nikki Haley was instrumental in getting him back in his good graces.

So RIP to one of Trump’s lamer nicknames, and RIP to DeSantis’ presidential aspirations, at least for now. He now returns to his state, where he’s hated by anyone who’s not a homophobic and/or transphobic bigot. Hope it was worth it!

(Via Mediaite)

2024 seems to be off to a peaceful start in rap music. During a recent interview, Kid Cudi confirmed his relationship with Kanye West had been mended. This revelation, in a convoluted way, helped to put an end to his feud with Lupe Fiasco. Now, Meek Mill has come out to quash a longstanding beef rumor.

On January 20, the “Ima Boss” rapper prompted his followers on X (formerly Twitter) to submit questions, and he’d answer them truthfully. One of the questions posed to Meek surrounded his relationship with former Maybach Music Group collaborator Wale. Meek immediately shut it down when asked if the pair had any issues.

“Hell no,” he wrote. “We had our arguments before… years back. But I came in this game getting money with him. I’m not holding any grudges against my people. And for what?”

Similarly, during a sit-down with Drink Champs in October 2021, Wale also dismissed the fable. As host Nore asked him about reports that Rick Ross and Meek Mill had him barred from entering their private section at a nightclub, Wale laughed off the story.

“I don’t know sh*t about that,” he said. “That sh*t don’t even sound real to me. I talked to both of them n****s all the time. I ain’t hear nothing like that. If I ain’t hear nothing like that, I can’t say.”

Not that this has been cleared up; maybe the two will finally give supporters a new track.

Meek Mill is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

2023 belonged to the Bailey sisters. Both Uproxx cover star Chlöe and Halle Bailey accomplished considerable career feats in their solo pursuits. For Chlöe, that included hitting the road for her first solo headlining tour, dropping her debut studio album In Pieces, and appearing in several film and TV projects. Halle’s resume was also quite impressive.

Before welcoming her son with DDG, Halle starred in The Little Mermaid and The Color Purple. She even snagged a Grammy nomination for her debut solo single, “Angel.” With both siblings swamped with professional opportunities, fans have let go of the idea of a Chloe X Halle reunion. However, not all hope is lost. On January 20, during a TikTok livestream, Chlöe teased that the supporters’ wish had been granted.

When asked by a user when the duo would release new music, Chlöe quickly answered, “Soon.”

Shortly after dropping their sophomore studio album, Ungodly Hour, the siblings broke the news to fans that they would be taking a hiatus. With Halle hard at work on her forthcoming solo album, it’s hard to say how a reunion would fit into the plans. Maybe instead of an entire project from the duo, Chlöe is hinting about a one-off track on Halle’s upcoming project. Either way, fans can’t wait until it becomes tangible.

This time last year, months before he even formally threw his hat in the ring, Ron DeSantis was seen as the likely successor to Donald Trump. The big guy had had a chaotic end to 2022, what with dining with anti-Semites and whatnot. People actually — shocking as this may sound now — thought he was finally done. But time is a flat circle, and as Trump made yet another improbable comeback, DeSantis’ campaign spluttered about like a fish out of water. And now its kaput.

In a lengthy-ish video posted to Twitter/X on Sunday, DeSantis announced he was “suspending” his campaign. After months of trailing in the polls to Trump, and after only placing second in the Iowa caucuses, he finally had to admit there was “no clear path” to anything resembling a victory.

But where do DeSantis supporters go now? To Nikki Haley, who may have tussled with him in debates but who didn’t make fun of his name? Nope. Instead DeSantis decided to endorse the guy who kept making fun of his name. (Then again, he did refuse to call him the funniest mean moniker.)

“Trump is superior to the current incumbent, Joe Biden,” DeSantis said. “That is clear. I signed a pledge to support the Republican nominee, and I will honor that pledge. He has my endorsement because we can’t go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear.”

DeSantis also slammed “woke ideology” on his way out.

After his announcement, some dragged purported tough guy DeSantis for supporting the guy who’s done little but say mean things about him for months and months and months.

Others pointed out that only days ago he was talking about how cynical it would be to “kiss the ring” of Trump.

But at least this is a win for Woke.

DeSantis may still be governor of Florida, but this has been an ignominious beginning to his presidential aspirations. The nation now faces a shortage of awkward smiles from the guy now primarily known for homophobic legislation. Adieu for now, Meatball Ron!

(Via The New York Times)

Ohio State and Iowa met in Columbus on Sunday afternoon in a matchup of top-25 women’s basketball teams, and the 18th ranked Buckeyes pulled off a 100-92 overtime upset of the No. 2 Hawkeyes.

Cotie McMahon (33 points and 12 rebounds) and Jacy Shelton (24 points and seven rebounds) were able to outduel another incredible Caitlin Clark performance, as the Iowa star poured in 45 points along with seven assists in the loss. As the final buzzer sounded, the Ohio State crowd poured onto the court to celebrate the win, but unfortunately the celebration saw Clark get clocked trying to run into the tunnel by a fan not paying attention as they sprinted onto the court with their phone up.

Clark stayed down for a bit of time after getting run over, but said after the game that she was fine, just dealing with the wind getting knocked out of her which is great news for Iowa (and college basketball in general).

“Kind of scary, could’ve caused a pretty serious injury to me,” Clark said after the game. “Knocked the wind out of me. But, luckily, teammates kind of picked me up and got me off the court, and their AD already came and apologized to me, so I really appreciate that. This is what comes with the territory, I’m sure they tried their best to do whatever they could. Obviously, it didn’t work, and that’s disappointing. But, just focused now on the game, ways we can get better.”

This is the reason court/field storming is something schools get fined for by many conferences, as there’s always the danger of an opposing player getting caught up and there being either a confrontation or an accidental situation like this.