Month: January 2024

Dana Carvey returned to his podcast, Fly on the Wall, for the first time since the death of his son Dex Carvey in November. Dex passed away at age 32 from an accidental overdose, and Carvey got candid with co-host David Spade about his journey through grief.

“I’m kind of on the pain train,” Carvey said via Entertainment Weekly. “You don’t know how long you’re going to be on it or when it will stop or when it will get better. In the meantime, all this kind of stuff is very healthy.”

Ultimately, Carvey felt the best thing to do was return to the podcast where some laughter could do him some good.

“I thought about this over the holidays and decided to come back to the podcast because I think, you know, it’s a long day when you’re not working and you get in your head,” the comedian said. “And I think it’s going to be a great break, and I think it’s really cool to laugh.”

Carvey also thanked everyone for the “outpouring online and emailing,” which he called “incredible.” Spade also revealed that he received a touching letter from Chris Farley’s mom to give Carvey. The podcast hosts both worked with Farley on Saturday Night Live before an overdose also took his life at a young age:

“There was so much goodwill out there that was going through me to tell you,” Spade told Carvey on the podcast. “Even Mrs. Farley, Chris’ mom, wrote a letter for me to give to you.”

“It’s very sweet,” Carvey said of the support.

Despite returning to the podcast and opening up to listeners, Carvey also stressed that he and his family still need to grief privately.

“It’s me and my wife and our son’s private journey. We’re all together. We do a lot of fun things,” Carvey said. “We hike, go to church, you just want to be sure that you keep moving.”

(Via Entertainment Weekly)

The lineup for one of the best music festivals in the country has arrived. The 2024 edition of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, a.k.a JazzFest, will be headlined by The Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, Chris Stapleton, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, The Killers, Queen Latifah, and Hozier.

The lineup also includes Vampire Weekend, Big Freedia, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Celebrating Jimmy Buffett with the Coral Reefer Band, and literally hundreds more. Check out the full list.

New Orleans JazzFest 2024 is spread out over two weekends: April 25-28 and May 2-5. Weekend passes and VIP packages are on sale now, while single day tickets go on sale in February. Visit the festival website for more information about tickets.

New Orleans JazzFest 2024 lineup for Weekend 1, April 25-28

Chris Stapleton
The Killers
Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals
Jon Batiste
Vampire Weekend
Heart
Widespread Panic
The Revivalists
Fantasia
The Beach Boys
Big Freedia
KEM
Juvenile with Mannie Fresh
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
The Allman Betts Band
Stephen Marley
Cimafunk,
Béla Fleck
The Robert Cray Band
Hurray For The Riff Raff
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band

New Orleans JazzFest 2024 lineup for Weekend 2, May 2-5

The Rolling Stones
Foo Fighters
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
HOZIER
Queen Latifah
Greta Van Fleet
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Bonnie Raitt
Celebrating Jimmy Buffett with the Coral Reefer Band
Earth, Wind, & Fire
Irma Thomas
Joe Bonamassa
Steel Pulse
George Thorogood & The Destroyers
Allison Russell
The Wallflowers
Samara Joy

New Orleans JazzFest 2024 lineup poster

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

Millennial favorite show Lizzie McGuire is an obvious choice for a reboot, and there almost was one. But things fell apart due to creative differences between family-friendly Disney, which aired the original series on the Disney Channel, and star Hilary Duff wanting to take things in an “adult” direction.

“I want any reboot of Lizzie to be honest and authentic to who Lizzie would be today. It’s what the character deserves,” Duff wrote on Instagram in 2020. “We can all take a moment to mourn the amazing woman she would have been and the adventures we would have taken with her. I’m very sad, but I promise everyone tried their best, and the stars just didn’t align.”

Over three years later, Jonathan Hurwitz, a writer for the canceled reboot, shared details about the show — including the sex joke that might have been the final straw for Disney.

“Basically, it starts in New York,” he said in a TikTok video, according to E! News. “Lizzie’s been working and living there as an interior designer, and she’s dating this very, very handsome chef. And she ends up finding that he’s been cheating on her with her best friend.” He continued, “She, at the end of the pilot, goes home to California, to the home we all saw in the original show, and she’s in her childhood bedroom where little animated Lizzie has been waiting for her.” In episode two, she reconnects with her buddy Gordo, who is happily engaged. Episode three is where Hurwitz thinks the problems started.

At the end of the second episode, Lizzie gets a message from her childhood crush, Ethan Craft. Hurwitz says that episode three didn’t end up getting filmed and this is the episode that he thinks Disney had some issues with. “Episode three wasn’t filmed, but there was a script for it,” Hurwitz said. “Lizzie wakes up in Ethan’s bed, in his water polo t-shirt. Animated Lizzie pops up and she has this little checklist, like a to-do list, and Ethan is on the list and she checks it off.”

He added, “I think she says something like, ‘I checked that box — dramatic pause — twice.’ So if I had to guess, I saw another comment about certain storylines [about] why Disney wasn’t comfortable with it, my guess was… that moment was probably one of them.”

You can watch all of Hurwitz’s TikToks here.

(Via E! News)

Many dogs like children have favorite toys. You can usually tell it’s their favorite because it’s the one toy that somehow never loses the stuffing and they always know where it’s located. They often play with it in a much gentler way, gnawing on it instead of biting and tucking it away in a safe place so no one else gets it. Dogs really are invested in their favorite toys so what dog wouldn’t love a life sized version to play with?

Charlie a happy-go-lucky golden retriever is living every dog’s dream with a life-sized animated stuffy of his favorite dog toy. His humans bought a costume that looks just like his favorite toy, a stuffed duck by the name of Mr. Quackers. The family went viral March 2022 when they revealed their dog’s reaction to giant Mr. Quackers but they’ve since uploaded a new video showing all the things the giant duck and Charlie do together.

It’s almost as if with the right theme music the pair could make the perfect sitcom all about a life-sized duck who has a goofy pooch as a pet.

In a video uploaded recently, Mr. Quackers is being the perfect responsible owner. The duck takes Charlie on a walk, gives him a bath and of course plays with the excited dog. Of course, Charlie surely smells his mom or dad in the costume which probably makes the experience even better but commenters can’t seem to get enough of their shenanigans.

“Had a bad day but now I can go to sleep happy and with a smile on my face. Keep spreading the love big smiles from Germany,” someone writes.

“I love this. It’s totally bonkers but look how happy your dog is. It’s made me smile,” another commenter says.

“You are the kindest, most loving dog people ever! And your dog is certainly the happiest in Dogland! I love this so much,” someone else comments.

Everybody loves Charlie and Mr. Quackers! Hopefully there will be more adventures uploaded to their official Instagram page so their fans can continue to follow their odd couple love fest. In the meantime, you can check out the video of Mr. Quackers doing all of the things for his favorite golden retriever.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Charlie The Golden (@charlie_the_golden18)

Comedian, actor and sound effects master Michael Winslow was ubiquitous in the ‘80s, appearing in all 7 “Police Academy” movies as Officer Larvell Jones. He also starred in hits such as “Spaceballs” and “Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie” and performed the voices of various mischievous creatures in “Gremlins.”

Winslow’s incredible ability to create sound effects and beatbox with his voice earned him the title, “The Man of 10,000 Sound Effects.”

After the death of his wife in 1993, Winslow had to put his career on the backburner to take care of his children. In 2021, he made an emotional comeback on “America’s Got Talent,” where he made it to the semi-finals.

In 2011, Winslow made an incredible appearance on the Norwegian TV talk show “Senkveld – med Thomas og Harald,” where he gave an astonishing performance of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” playing nearly every instrument with his voice.

“Whole Lotta Love” is the opening track on Led Zeppelin’s second album, Led Zeppelin II, and was released as a single in 1969. In 2004, the song was ranked number 75 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Folk-pop musician Odd Nordstoga joined Winslow on acoustic guitar for the performance.

Throughout the performance, the show’s host and the guitar player can’t believe what they’re seeing as Winslow switches from mimicking drummer John Bonham’s iconic stomp to Jimmy Page’s blues-on-steroids guitar playing. He’s even able to impersonate singer Robert Plant’s soulful, raspy voice. Throughout the performance, Winslow appears to be turning on and off a distortion pedal to give his voice some extra oomph.

Winslow ends the performance with a sea of Jimmi Hendrix-stye feedback.

Almost every long term relationship suffers from a rut eventually. That goes especially for married partners who become parents and have the added responsibility of raising kids. Maintaining a connection is hard enough in this busy, fast paced world. Top it off with making sure kids are awake, dressed, entertained, well fed, oh yeah, and alive…and you best believe all you have energy for at the end of the day is sitting on the couch barely making it through one episode on Netflix.

And yet, we know how important it is to maintain a connection with our spouses. Many of us just don’t know how to make that happen while juggling a million other things.

According to one mom, a “three-hour night” could be just the thing to tick off multiple boxes on the to-do list while rekindling romance at the same time. Talk about the ultimate marriage hack.

The three-hour night was something that Rachel Higgins and her husband began incorporating into their lives at the beginning of this year. And so far, “it’s been so fun and such like a game changer for how our evenings go,” she says in a clip posted to TikTok.

Before using the three-hour night, the evening would look a bit like this: their daughter would go to bed, they would lounge on the couch, scroll through social media, then fall asleep. Sound familiar?

But with a three hour night, Higgins and her husband divvy up the time before bed into three section, each for a different focus.

In the first hour, starting around 7 p.m., is what Higgins calls “productive time,” during which the couple sees to any household chores that might need to be done.

“So start with like a quick cleanup of the kitchen or just like things that accumulated throughout the day, and then we try to do something that either … has been being put off or cleaning the bathroom or like organizing the pantry or hall closet or something like, super random like sharpening the knives. Anything that’s productive for the household,” she explains.

@rachelleehiggins if you’re stuck in a rut with your evenings try this! i saw someone do something similar to this a while ago but can’t remember who! #marriage #1sttimeparents #newyearsgoals ♬ original sound – Rachel Higgins

Next, the second hour is geared towards re-establishing a physical or emotional connection in their marriage. The phones go away, and they focus only on enjoying one another.

“So, that could be things like showering together or ‘having fun’ together, playing a game together, or just like anything that’s gonna get you guys talking and connecting or like debriefing from the day or just like talking about what you’re doing and like the plans for tomorrow or like how works going or whatever. So, anything that’s gonna connect and strengthen and build your marriage,” Higgins says.

Lastly, the final hour of the night is dedicated towards anything Higgins and her husband individually want to do, any sort of personal recharge activity.

Since this is a judgment free time, Higgins states that “If you just want to lay on the couch and scroll your phone and watch TikToks or whatever like watch YouTube videos,” it’s totally acceptable.

Higgins’ novel approach definitely interested viewers, who chimed in with their own questions. One major concern was how the heck this could be done every night. But even Higgins admits that she and her husband don’t succeed at having a three-hour night every night—they usually try for about 3-4 times a week. And honestly even once a week could still probably be beneficial in building intimacy.

Others wondered how to have a three-hour night when things randomly popped up in their schedule, like when kids won’t magically go to sleep promptly at 7pm. Higgins shares that in these cases, they tend to just shorten each phase. The point being: these can and probably should be customizable, even fun, rather than yet another rigid chore.

Plus, a three hour night (or whatever your version of a three-hour night may be) is a great way to remind yourself just how high of a priority your relationship has in your life…no matter what else is going on at the time. Odds are you’ll probably find you do have more time for it than you previously thought when you set aside time for it.

Everywhere you turn these days, someone is celebrating the simple joys and freedoms of childhood in the 70s and 80s. Indeed, in some ways, Gen X childhood was glorious compared to how kids grow up today. We went outside and rode our bikes without helmets. We went to the park, climbed trees and risked our lives on questionable play equipment. We knocked on our friends’ doors without calling first and spent endless hours in play and adventure without supervision.

We had television and video games, but what we could do with them was limited by the technology itself. We didn’t have social media or cyberbullying or sextortion to worry about. We didn’t have doom and gloom news blasted in our faces 24/7. No cell phones, no GPS tracking, no Life 360. Our parents only had a vague idea of where we were and what we were doing most of the time. And despite staring into the faces of missing children on milk cartons at the breakfast table every morning, we just accepted that benign neglect was a normal aspect of childhood.

But did we, really? As much as Gen Xers love to reminisce about simplicity of our 80s childhoods, evidence suggests it wasn’t quite the free-roaming utopia many make it out to be. After all, a lot of Gen Xers turned into “helicopter parents”—the polar opposite of the way they were raised. There’s a reason for that.

Maybe it’s time to ditch the rose-colored glasses and acknowledge that the “carefree” childhood Gen X enjoyed actually included a lot of unspoken and unresolved trauma.

Anyone who has read “Lord of the Flies” knows what can happen when kids are left to their own devices, so let’s start with some of the unsavory things that happened during all those hours Gen X kids spent unsupervised. If you were lucky enough to have a peer group with decent heads on their shoulders, you may have fared okay, even with some ill-advised youthful shenanigans under your belt. But not every Gen X kid was so lucky.

A lot of people came away from those 80s childhoods with experiences no one should have. Bullying was a huge problem, but awareness about bullying was lacking, and if you weren’t the type to fight back, you basically just put up with regular abuse. Sexual harassment and assault were common when we were growing up as well, but they weren’t talked about in a way that led to support or empowerment of victims. Gen X didn’t have a “Me too” movement before or during their formative years like young people today have. Our generation was left on its own to figure out how to handle those things.

@JayWamsted On a Gen X post, someone casual mentioned they were almost kidnapped as a child, and tons of people piped up w their own accounts, myself included. It was chilling. Plenty of times I wish I were more treasured as a child.

— (@)

We were left on our own to figure out how to handle a lot of things. That’s likely what made us the resilient, independent adults we are, but that doesn’t mean our generation acquired those traits in a healthy way. Some of us did, but for some of us, independence and resilience were a trauma response.

How about the fact that Gen X grew up during the peak in divorce rates? Or the less talked about reality that millions of Gen Xers were raised by Vietnam vets, some of whom lived with untreated PTSD and who themselves were children of traumatized WWII vets? Or the fact that two-parent working households were new and no one had figured out how to do that without the kids feeling neglected in some way?

As a 2004 study concluded, “Generation X went through its all-important formative years as one of the least parented, least nurtured generations in U.S. history.”

That’s…not great.

@SvenTystnad I kinda hated it. Walking home from sixth grade and being asked if I wanted a quaalude..weird older dudes offering a ridexe2x80xa6I feel so lucky to have survived

— (@)

I know I’m painting Gen Xers with a broad brush here. Not everything here applies to everyone, me included, but these are all things I’ve witnessed in my peers. The reality is a lot of Gen Xers grew up feeling unsafe and devoid of parental guidance a lot of the time, which is probably what prompted so many of us to lean so far into safety and connection with our own kids.

On the one hand, yes, the pendulum may have swung too far the other way into overparenting instead of underparenting. On the other hand, Gen X’s own kids have grown up in the safest era for kids America has ever seen. That’s not bad. It also appears that Gen X, at least anecdotally, has a closer relationship with their kids than they had with their parents. That’s also not bad. We have a lot more research about what helps and harms kids when it comes to parenting, so despite raising our own children in the uncharted territory of the age, we at least have some psychosocial tools in our tool belts that previous generations of parents didn’t have.

It’s not a bad thing to want to give our kids some of the outdoor play and simple, non-screen-oriented joys we experienced as kids. But in advocating for such things, let’s not pretend that our 70s and 80s childhoods were ideal when, in many was, they were anything but.

We love our fur babies. Even after we transition from purely pet parents to full blown baby parents (for those of us that do, anyway) we still see our cats and dogs as pure and precious creatures in need of our attention and care. Cause they are. Duh.

In some cases that means sharing the same activities, wearing matching outfits…heck, it wouldn’t be out of this world to see a baby sharing a stroller with a dog from time to time.

But sometimes, love and trust are two different things. And when it comes to our pets being around children, some experts recommend not placing your faith in the paws of your beloved pets.

Pediatrician Dr. Sami, of the popular Pedi Pals on TikTok, recently warned parents that “you can never be too careful around dogs” when they’re with small children, “no matter how much you love them, no matter how gentle they’ve been.”

In the clip, she explains that when her kids were very young, they were always kept separate from the dogs until they were old enough to interact safely with them—to know to not come between them and their food, to know when they’re irritated, etc., etc.

And while Dr. Sami admitted that her dogs have never shown aggression, it doesn’t mean that their instincts wouldn’t kick in at an inopportune moment. Hence why she always used a partition for her kids or when her kid’s friends came over, and why she encourages parents to ask other parents to keep pets separated during visits.

“I know that you love your pets and that you trust your pets, but never trust your pet,” she says, all while cuddling with an adorable puppy named Daisy.

@thepedipals

The worst cosmetically damaging dog bite I saw was actually done by a chihuaha. Of course larger dogs can even unalive people. So if you love your dog and kids, stop playing into the fairy tales of the internet- and be cautious, vigilant and smart. Im sure someone will say they didn’t like me whispering and for that, I pre-emptively apologize.

♬ original sound – The PediPals (Pediatric Pals)

Dr. Sami also points out that those all-too-common videos on social media showing dogs and babies cuddling in harmony is not a reality.

“Anytime I see these like videos on TikTok of people that have like their baby sleeping with their husky, I’m like, ‘Dear God, this animal can’t talk, okay?’” she says, adding, “you just don’t know what’s going on in their brain and they might be okay with everything 99.9% of the time, but then the one time they’re not, their instinct is to bite and their instinct is to go for the face. They rarely ever bite extremities. It’s always the face.”

“And if I had a nickel for every single one of my patients that has been bitten by a dog and required stitches, I’d be rich. It’s way, way, way too common in the pediatric world. Just be careful,” she concludes.

Judging by the comments to her video, D.r Smai is not the only person with this viewpoint. Several parents and even fellow doctors chimed in to agree.

One parent wrote, “My son is two and I JUST started allowing them to walk around each other under VERY careful supervision bcuz my son started to understand my dog’s boundaries. But I never trust ANY dog or ANY toddler 🤣”

Another added, “People always wonder why I’m so cautious with my sweet dog, it’s because she’s still a DOG and toddlers are crazy!!!”

Meanwhile, a doctor shared, Most of the dog attacks we see in the pediatric ER are from the family dog that they thought would ‘never do that.’ 🥺.”

Dr. Sami’s opinion is also shared by The American Academy of Pediatrics’, which states that parents should “never leave dogs and children alone together.”

And as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reiterates on its website, “any dog can bite: big or small, male or female, young or old. Even the cuddliest, fuzziest, sweetest pet can bite if provoked. Remember, it is not a dog’s breed that determines whether it will bite, but rather the dog’s individual history and behavior.”

Furthermore, the AVMA states that children are the most common victims of dog bites and are far more likely to be severely injured. In addition, most dog bites affecting young children occur during everyday activities and while interacting with familiar dogs.

When it comes to dog bite prevention, the AMVA has a few basic guidelines, including but not limited to:

• Teach kids how to respect animals: that it’s not okay to pull their ears or tails, tease them, how to approach dogs calmly, just as a few examples

• Break your house into zones: one for the kids, the other for the furry kids. Note that there’s a difference between zoning, like using a partition, and imprisoning your pet.

• Always, always, always supervise interactions between pets and young children.

• Avoid the assumption that because a stranger’s dog has been friendly in the past, that it will be in the future. This, of course, goes for the family dog as well.

Is society soon to receive an influx of top-tier, compassionate grandmothers?

A TikToker named Madison Barbosa made a video that resonated deeply with viewers. In it, the stay-at-home mom of two-under-two extolled the virtues of millennial moms and the kinds of grandmothers she predicts they’ll be.

“I think the best era of grandmas is yet to come,” she begins in the video, viewed close to half a million times.

“I feel like millennial grandmoms are going to be elite,” Madison continues. “We know what not to do based on the majority of boomers. And that’s not to say I don’t love my grandmoms. My grandmoms are great. But the judgyness and the unnecessary, unwarranted comments—we know not to do that.”

“And then our moms, our baby’s grandparents, they’re getting there but I just feel like we’re gonna be better,” she added.

Barbosa’s generation—millennials— are defined as the generation born between 1981 and 1996. Their parents are usually Boomers (1946-1964) or older Gen X (1965-1980) while their children are typically the generation dubbed Generation Alpha (2010-2025).

Honestly so proud to be a millennial mom and I’m certain we are gonna be incredible grandparents one day

@madison_barbosa

Honestly so proud to be a millennial mom and I’m certain we are gonna be incredible grandparents one day 🙌🏻💯 #momminmads #millennialmom #momsoftiktok #relatablemom #momhumor

While it’s tempting to think Barbosa’s video is about how millennials-as-grandparents will behave toward their grandchildren, Barbosa’s video and its popularity seem to have more to do with the relationship between grandparents and their children. As a millennial navigating the frustrations of dealing with older generations, Barbosa says she and her cohort will understand how to best support their adult children in raising kids.

“We’re gonna anticipate what our kids need, we’re gonna be pushing them to get a break…pushing them to get out of the house, to go for a date night, say ‘We got the kids tonight, we got the kids.’ I just have this strong premonition that millennial grandmas are gonna be the best to come,” says Barbosa near the end of the video.

Commenters were quick to agree.

“I absolutely can’t wait to be the village we so desperately need!” said a user named Noneya.

“Oh absolutely! I can’t wait to take care of my grandkids and truly help my children through parenthood—following their rules and boundaries,” wrote Jane D.

“My husband and I talk about this all the time! Our generation is going to ROCK this grandparent thing,” said It’s Me, Hannah.

The comments were quite vulnerable as well.

“Last night at 3am throw [sic] pure exhaustion tears I told my 4 month old daughter she’d never have to do this the hard way I’ll always be there if wanted,” wrote Baylee Vandegrift.

“Yes, like I can’t look at my daughter without wanting to do everything in my power for her. And it makes me sad about how I was raised,” said Christina.

​If millennials are frustrated by the way their parents grandparent—there’s actually a 2021 study that explains the differences in the way grandparents treat their children versus their grandchildren.

A group of grandmothers were shown pictures of their grandchildren and then pictures of the grandchild’s same-sex parent (often the grandparent’s own child). Imaging showed their brains lit up differently when showing their grandchildren versus their children. When shown their grandchildren, their emotional empathy centers were activated versus their cognitive empathy centers—which were activated when shown their adult children.

But just because there seems to be a bit of a biological limitation here doesn’t mean we are beholden to it. Isn’t that what growing and learning is about? If these millennials have their way, they will be leading the charge.

The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.

Like its namesake, 21 Savage‘s new album American Dream is full of glorious contradictions. In one moment, he maintains his fatalistic, sardonic outlook toward the street violence he’s depicted so eloquently throughout his career. In the next, he’s reflective, ruminating on the “Dark Days” following his incarceration for overstaying his childhood visa. There are competently executed love songs alongside groan-inducing fart jokes. In other words, 21 Savage is back like he never left — mostly because he didn’t.

While American Dream is the Atlanta-by-way-of-London rapper’s first full-length solo effort since 2018’s I Am > I Was, he’s kept busy with a string of collaborative projects and EPs that have not only seen him preserve his popularity but also sharpen his skills as a songwriter and as a rapper. The second Savage Mode with Metro Boomin celebrated and built on 21’s newfound notoriety from winning a Grammy with J. Cole in 2019, while Her Loss saw him apprentice himself to Drake, one of the highest-profile artists in hip-hop.

If Drake gave the younger rapper any pointers on securing his longevity in the public eye, he’s certainly put them to use. Where many rappers of his disposition and origin would be content to wear the mask of stony stoicism in the face of both personal and professional setbacks (not to mention, maintaining the image of a cold-eyed trap assassin), 21 has increasingly let his guard down over the past few years, revealing both a goofy sense of humor and a surprisingly sensitive side. His burgeoning vulnerability has endeared him to his audience even more, despite the ostensible incongruity with his music’s subject matter.

It also helps to anchor the ever-broadening array of tools and topics 21 employs on American Dream. While tracks like “Redrum” and “Dangerous” traverse well-worn territory for the lanky Atlantan, they coexist fairly cozily alongside latter-half ballads such as “Prove It” and “Just Like Me” with Burna Boy. 21 sounds equally convincing while threatening to turn “turn bullies to ashes” on “Dangerous” as he does lamenting that “you got accounts, but you don’t hold yourself accountable” over a jealous-but-justifiably-promiscuous lover on “Just Like Me.” (He also deserves some credit for making “accountable” rhyme with “banister” thanks to that peculiar southern drawl.)

It helps when he continues to utilize some of rap’s more engaging production, courtesy of hitmakers like Cardo (“Should’ve Wore A Bonnet”), London On Da Track (“Redrum”), OG Parker (“See The Real”), and of course, Metro Boomin, who contributes five beats. All five of those songs feature standout verses from guest rappers Lil Durk, Young Thug, and even Travis Scott, although the latter still bears an unfortunate lyrical resemblance to his disgraced mentor. The best of the guest spots come from Doja Cat on “N.H.I.E.,” who continues her recent hot streak with added flair — which was possibly inspired by Tierra Whack. Ad-lib!

However, while it’s fun to hear the supposedly remorseless serial killer play around with new sounds and stretch his creative muscles, the hook on “Pop Ur Sh*t” is so bad, you might have to grit your teeth to get to Thug’s verse — then immediately hit “skip.” Meanwhile, thoughtful songs like “Letter To My Brudda” and “Dark Days” almost make you wish that Savage would actually stretch further because he proves so insightful when he exposes his vulnerabilities that his therapeutic observations nearly threaten to undermine the murderous shenanigans.

American Dream could seem like a paradoxical hodgepodge of split personalities, but instead, it becomes a poignant metaphor for the concept of the American dream itself. While 21 Savage’s rags-to-riches narrative practically embodies the idealized, bootstrap-pulling success story that the nation’s leaders love to pat themselves on the backs over, the details reveal the failures and hypocrisies inherent to the system, as well. After all, no one should be forced to drag themselves out of poverty in the first place. That Savage did so while contemplating violence as a mundane fact of life when he could have been doing more all along is so on the nose, it hurts.

American Dream is out now on Slaughter Gang/Epic. You can get it here.