Month: May 2024

Bill Walton died on Monday at the age of 71 after a lengthy battle with cancer, leaving a massive hole in the basketball world that cannot truly be filled. Walton was as genuinely unique a figure as the sport has ever had. An all-time great player who is remembered by most fans today as one of the most eccentric and entertaining figures in basketball, bringing his joy and verve for life and the game of basketball to our TV screens for more than 30 years after his playing career ended.

Walton was endlessly curious, constantly seeking out new information and gleefully presenting it to the public in the middle of game broadcasts, whether it made sense in the moment or not. What was so unique about Walton, the broadcaster, is rarely did he go on tangents that felt like rants, airing grievances about what the game or the world had become. Instead, he would excitedly discuss some historical fact about bridges, trees, animals, bodies of water, music, or whatever else popped into his head, and seamlessly go right back to yelling “THROW IT DOWN, BIG MAN” as someone dunked in front of him.

Two generations of basketball fans grew up with Walton, one with his NBA work on NBA and then ABC/ESPN, and another with his college hoops work for ESPN and the Pac-12 Network. The latter is when Walton really got loose, typically partnered with Dave Pasch (and later Jason Benetti) and actively tried to sabotage their professionalism. Upon news of Walton’s death on Monday, fans remembered him in the only way they could, by posting their favorite videos of Walton, living life, speaking about players, and calling games as only he could.

Keeping up with new music can be exhausting, even impossible. From the weekly album releases to standalone singles dropping on a daily basis, the amount of music is so vast it’s easy for something to slip through the cracks. Even following along with the Uproxx recommendations on a daily basis can be a lot to ask, so every Monday we’re offering up this rundown of the best new music this week.

This week saw Drake and J. Cole make a couple guest appearances and PinkPantheress return after her debut album. Yeah, it was a great week for new music. Check out the highlights below.

For more music recommendations, check out our Listen To This section, as well as our Indie Mixtape and Pop Life newsletters.

Sexyy Red — “U My Everything” Feat. Drake

The Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef appears to be pretty much over at this point, as we haven’t had a new diss track in a while. Drake clearly hasn’t forgotten, though: On Sexyy Red’s “U My Everything,” there’s a sample of “BBL Drizzy” on Drake’s verse.

Cash Cobain and J. Cole — “Grippy”

J. Cole reeled the negative energy back in after attacking Kendrick Lamar on “7 Minute Drill.” Now he’s back with a more collaborative and even accommodating energy: As Uproxx’s Aaron Williams notes of the new Cash Cobain collaboration “Grippy,” “The song is definitely closer Cobain’s wheelhouse than Cole’s, yet the veteran rapper easily adapts to the new style.”

PinkPantheress — “Turn It Up”

After a year or so of emerging as a breakthrough star, PinkPantheress came through with her debut album, Heaven Knows, in November. Just half a year later, she’s already back with new music: Last week, she unveiled “Turn It Up,” which has PinkPantheress’ characteristic mix of tempo and serenity.

DIIV — “Raining On Your Pillow”

DIIV recently told Uproxx’s Steven Hyden of their new album Frog In Boiling Water, “For a lot of people, that is part of what they fell in love with with the first two albums — this rich, dreamy atmosphere that is very feelings-forwardd. Rather than this song has an amazing bridge and an amazing chorus. A lot of times with the earlier songs, sometimes there wasn’t even a chorus, but it didn’t really matter because the song felt so good to listen to. I feel like the new album has an element of that which makes it feel more comprehensive in our catalog.”

RM — “Lost!”

RM strays away from BTS’ sugar-sweet pop on his dynamic new solo album, Right Place, Wrong Person. He showed that on the John Mayer-y song “Come Back To Me” and with the project’s latest single, the upbeat and off-kilter “Lost!.”

Vince Staples — “Black&Blue”

After absolutely nailing a season of The Vince Staples Show, the rapper is back to rapping: His new album is Dark Times and it’s highlighted by cuts like the Thee Sacred Souls-sampling “Black&Blue.”

NewJeans — “How Sweet”

Sorry, millennials, but the ’90s and ’00s are retro for the kids now. NewJeans demonstrates that on “How Sweet,” which is inspired by the sounds and aesthetic of the turn of the century while remaining unmistakably fresh.

Zach Bryan — “Pink Skies”

After dropping a self-titled album last year (and his debut LP the year before that), Zach Bryan keeps chugging on: He has another new one, The Great American Bar Scene, expected soon, and last week’s “Pink Skies” is a nice taste, a warm, folky number.

Clairo — “Sexy To Someone”

Clairo announced a new album called Charm last week and a press release described the project as “a collection of warm, ’70s-inspired grooves that move lithely between jazz, psychedelic folk, and soul.” She showed that on the single “Sexy To Someone,” which has a delightfully vintage lean to it.

Central Cee — “Band4Band” Feat. Lil Baby

Cee and Baby came together for a transatlantic meet-up last week with “Band4Band.” On the hard-hitting number, the two rappers get some flexing in, whether it’s about pounds or US dollars.

In January, Lady Gaga posted photos from the studio and began vaguely teasing a new album. Mostly recently, Gaga gave her Little Monsters a portal to nostalgia with her Gaga Chromatica Ball concert film premiering on HBO and streaming on Max over the weekend, but Gaga expertly used the opportunity to give everyone something to look forward to.

Gaga Chromatica Ball ends with Gaga leaving the stage, Michael Jackson-style, while a message flashes across the screen: “LG7 GAGA RETURNS.” Fans at watch parties worldwide predictably lost their collective minds. Even though Gaga did not confirm a release date, a title, or any pertinent information, the confirmation that Gaga’s seventh studio album will likely arrive sooner than later is enough for now.

At her Gaga Chromatica Ball premiere, Gaga told Entertainment Tonight that the new music will drop “soon” and that her next album and era will be “completely different.”

“I have written so many songs,” Gaga said in a video circulated by the Lady Gaga Now fan account. “I am producing so many songs, and it’s nothing like anything that I’ve ever made before. But I love the break genre. I love to explore music, and there’s something really beautiful about knowing that you will be loved, no matter what you do.”

The impending LG7 will be Gaga’s first solo LP since Chromatica in May 2020.

One of basketball’s all-time great players and personalities died on Monday, as the league announced the somber news that Bill Walton had passed away at age 71 after a prolonged battle with cancer.

“Bill Walton was truly one of a kind,” Adam Silver said in a release. “As a Hall of Fame player, he redefined the center position. His unique all-around skills made him a dominant force at UCLA and led to an NBA regular season and Finals MVP, two NBA championships, and a spot on the NBA’s 50th and 75t Anniversary Teams. Bill then translated his infectious enthusiasm and love for the game to broadcasting, where he delivered insightful and colorful commentary which entertained generations of basketball fans. But what I will remember most about him was his zest for life. He was a regular presence at league events – always upbeat, smiling ear to ear, and looking to share his wisdom and warmth. I treasured our close friendship, envied his boundless energy, and admired the time he took with every person he encountered. As a cherished member of the NBA family for 50 years, Bill will be deeply missed by all those who came to know and love him. My heartfelt condolences to Bill’s wife, Lori, his sons, Adam, Nate, Luke, and Chris, and his many friends and colleagues.”

Walton won a pair of championships at UCLA, where he also was the three-time National Player of the Year before joining the Portland Trail Blazers and leading them to their lone NBA championship in 1977 (earning Finals MVP honors) before winning a second title as a member of the Boston Celtics in 1986. He won the league’s MVP award in 1978 and while injuries cut short the prime of his career, he averaged 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game across his 10-year career in Portland, San Diego, and Boston.

For all of Walton’s on-court accolades, most fans today know him because of his broadcasting work, particularly with NBC and ESPN. He would meander through various tangents and non-sequiturs about music, nature, and anything and everything that popped into his head, but his love of the game and celebratory attitude was always present.

There simply will never be another Bill Walton, and the game of basketball will miss his presence.

At this point, you can choose a rapper and random and whoever you land on, you’ll likely be able to identify where their allegiances lie in the beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. If you land on Snoop Dogg, though, you’re out of luck, as he explained that he’s not taking sides in the feud.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Snoop explained:

“Well, the only thing I want to say about that whole scenario is that I want to give both of them a shout-out for raising the bar as far as lyrics, as far as song-making and writing, because the writing has been upped since the confrontation or whatever you call it, whatever they went through. Those are my nephews. I’m not in the middle of it. I support both of them and that’s personal business, not my business.”

He added, “As far as what they did for the industry and the rap game, they made you rap again. You can’t mumble your way and gimmick your way to a song no more, buddy. So, thank y’all.”

Snoop also talked about his role in The Garfield Movie (as “Snoop Cat,” of course), saying, “That’s the best part, is that I can show my grandkids. A lot of times, I make stuff that is not appropriate for kids, and they can’t really see it. Everybody knows who I am. I’ve been doing this for a long time, but it’s beautiful that I can be a part of things that I can show my grandkids all over the world, that [there] is not just one side of Snoop Dogg. There’s a flip side to everything, and when I do things like this, I feel so good about it because they get a chance to see my work. They get a chance to see what it takes to actually do the things that I do.”

aespa, Uproxx’s March 2023 cover stars, finally delivered their debut full-length album on Monday, May 27. The K-pop superstars initially teased Armageddon in late April, and just when hype seemingly couldn’t climb any higher, aespa dropped the video for Armageddon track “Supernova,” which has since racked up over 54.5 YouTube views.

The newly released “Armageddon” video is on pace to outdraw “Supernova,” seeing as it’s closing in on six million views in less than eight hours as of this writing. In the video, aespa members Giselle, Karina, NingNing, and Winter dance in cinematic and intense environments — generally a very Armadeggon aesthetic — while singing confidently about getting what they want regardless of circumstance.

“Armageddon marks the next chapter in the aespa universe, expanding beyond the real and digital worlds and into a multiverse,” a press release said of the 10-track album. “aespa encounters different versions of themselves in parallel worlds, facing infinite possibilities and evolving into complete versions of themselves, all presented through this powerful and unique project.”

Watch the “Armageddon” video above, and find more information about Armageddon below.

aespa’s Armageddon Album Cover Artwork

aespa’s Armageddon Tracklist

1. “Supernova”
2. “Armageddon”
3. “Set The Tone”
4. “Mine”
5. “Licorice”
6. “BAHAMA”
7. “Long Chat”
8. “Prologue”
9. “Live My Life”
10. “Melody”

Armageddon is out now via SM Entertainment. Find more information here.

Nothing can ruin a relaxing weekend or holiday like an email from the office. Even if there’s no need to take action until Monday, the unwanted intrusion of professional life can really suck the joy out of a Sunday afternoon barbecue.

That’s why the country that’s famous for giving its employees 30 days off a year and 16 weeks of full-paid family leave in May 2016 made itself even cooler with its new “right to disconnect” rule.

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In France, if you’re a company of 50 employees or more, you cannot email an employee after typical work hours. The labor law amendment has come about because studies show that in the digital age, it’s increasingly difficult for people to distance themselves from the workplace during their off hours.

This new provision allows people to get the full advantage of their time off.

“All the studies show there is far more work-related stress today than there used to be, and that the stress is constant,” Benoit Hamon of the French National Assembly told the BBC. “Employees physically leave the office, but they do not leave their work. They remain attached by a kind of electronic leash — like a dog. The texts, the messages, the emails — they colonize the life of the individual to the point where he or she eventually breaks down.”

The rule stipulates that companies must negotiate policies that limit the spillover of work into their employees’ private lives. Although there are no penalties for violations, companies are to establish “charters of good conduct” that specify the times which employees are free from being digitally connected to their workplaces.

This right to disconnect amendment was passed as part of a controversial French labor law that some say will weaken unions and enhance employee job insecurity. The digital disconnect amendment was the one part of the law that’s been viewed favorably by the French public.

This article originally appeared on 11.12.17

What are women up to when no one is watching?

Artwork courtesy of Sally Nixon, used with permission.

Well, take a look at Sally Nixon’s illustrations and you’ll see.

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The subjects in her artwork aren’t aware we’re looking at them.

And that’s the point. They’re living in a world free from the pressures that exist in the real one.

“I like drawing girls doing their everyday routine — just hanging out, not worried about what others are thinking,” Nixon told Upworthy. “They’re usually alone or with other girls. Their guard is down.”

Editor’s note: An image below contains partial nudity.

Capturing her subjects in this liberated light wasn’t intentional at first, she explained.

But when she started a 365-day challenge last April to create one art piece a day, the work started reflecting the nuances of her own life away from prying eyes — “I was kind of like, ‘Oh, I’m brushing my teeth, so I’ll draw that.'” — and a theme began to form.Her illustrations show how women look, away from the exhausting world where they’re often judged more harshly than men.

You also might notice none of the girls in her illustrations are smiling.

According to Nixon, that’s a deliberate choice.

“I don’t sit around smiling to myself,” Nixon said, noting the double standard that exists in thinking women should always appear cheerful.

“I’ve been told, ‘You need to smile more.’ It’s so infuriating. I wanted to show the way girls actually look, comfortably.”

The theme of friendship is also an important one in Nixon’s drawings.

“I have four older sisters, so female friendship has always been a big part of my life,” Nixon told The Huffington Post. “You gotta have someone to talk about periods with, and dudes just don’t get it.”

Creating relatable scenes was key to Nixon, too — from the details of women’s lives to the physical shapes of their bodies.

“It’s important that the women I draw aren’t rail thin with huge boobs,” Nixon said. “I think there are enough images of bodies like that out in the world. The ladies I draw typically have small-ish, droopy breasts and thick thighs. They’re kind of lumpy but in an attractive way. Just like real people.”

The women in Nixon’s work aren’t real, but she hopes their stories are.

“One of my absolute favorite comments [on my work] is, ‘Oh my God, it’s me!'” she explained of the depictions.

“There’s a little bit of beauty in [everyday life] and I wanted to bring that out.”

You can view more of Nixon’s artwork on her website and check out her prints for purchase on Etsy.

This article originally appeared on 04.15.16

My mother died from ovarian cancer when I was a young child.

I’m in my late 30s now, and I’m still navigating this loss as I move through life. I’ve lived most of my life without my mother at this point, but I still miss her.

Here are three things I’ve learned since losing Mam:

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1. Grief is not linear and is not solely expressed through tears.

Someone you love has been taken away from you, and your heart has broken into pieces. It’s natural to grieve, but we all grieve differently. Grief shows up in anger, sorrow, guilt, fear, and sometimes peace. It is unpredictable and, at times, exhausting.

I cried when my mother died, and I cried at her funeral when my school choir sang “Be Not Afraid.” I didn’t cry much in the immediate years that followed — not directly as a result of Mam’s death, but probably indirectly related to it. I certainly felt fear and anger and other emotions related directly to my loss.

Then sadness hit me like a ton of bricks one day when I was in my early 20s. A compassionate friend asked me about Mam, and as I hadn’t spoken about her to anyone outside the family, I broke down. It was a good release. The years have brought many stages of grieving.

Mother’s Day is never easy. Shopping for my wedding dress without my mother brought up intense feelings of loss. And sometimes it just hits me hard, on a regular day, yanking me out of my pleasant thoughts. A mother in a dressing room with her daughter, and they’re trying on clothes together, admiring how the other looks. The mother telling the daughter how beautiful she is.

Or a friend of mine, meeting her mother for lunch and I can’t even imagine what that would be like! I can’t even fathom the amazing joy of having lunch right now with Mam! And then I get that heaviness in my chest and my stomach feels bad.

There’s no closure. My grieving stems from having loved so deeply. I have learned to tune into the emotions I’m feeling and to acknowledge the love, the pain, and the loss.

2. There are no replacements.

Nobody can replace your mother. We love our mothers in our own individual ways. Our mothers care for us when we’re sick, guide us in life the best ways they can, listen to us, and love us unconditionally.

For a mother, her child is always her first priority. And we sense this. We feel it. We know it, even if she doesn’t say it.

My mother was beyond happy when I was born a healthy baby girl. I was told that she called me her little angel. She carried me in her womb for nine months.

By the time I was born, we had that unbreakable bond, and she knew me from that first second of my existence. There’s never going to be a replacement for that person who loved me probably more than she loved herself. The joy in her eyes when she saw me, the warmth of her arms wrapped around me, the pain in her eyes when she had to say goodbye are all ways that I remember the deep love she had for me.

Mam prepared lunches for me every day to take to school, named muffins after me because they were my favorite, and surprised me with the best doll she could find when I was a few years old. She repaired my soft toys when they tore, taught me to have manners and sit up straight, wiped my eyes when I cried and my nose when I was sick.

Today I look for certain qualities in people. I look for a warmth, a radiance, a compassion and kindness that Mam had. I look for humor, a voice of sense, and strength of character. These are traits that my mother had. I find some of them in others.

But it’s never the same. There’ll never be another Mam. She’s irreplaceable on so many levels.

3. There are other people who will love you and other people for you to love.

Family members and friends will love you. They might not know exactly what your needs are or how to address them, but it’s worth reaching out to them. People struggle with different things.

Perhaps family members cannot love you or be there for you, and we may have to look around, let go, and reach further than we might want to in order to find the people who really love us, but there is someone out there to love you, and there’s someone in need of your love.

I was blessed with the kindest, most devoted father who gave my brother and me all the love and care we needed. My dad is a gem in my life. He calls me to hear my news and to share his. He worries when I’m not feeling good and is overjoyed when I’m happiest. He listens to my concerns and trusts me to make the right decisions.

My dad has helped me so much in dealing with my loss, through caring for me and loving me unconditionally. I have the most wonderful fiancé who loves me to no end. And I’ve friends in my life who I know truly care about me.

I’ve been blessed with a lovely family, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t reach out to others. I’ve reconnected with old friends after years of distance. I’ve discovered things I have in common with others and opened up to new friendships.

Having people to love is truly healing. I was a kindergarten teacher for 10 years. I loved the children in my care, and they showed me so much love in return. By spreading love, we invite more love into our lives. Try volunteering or working in a school or a hospital. There are people everywhere in need of love.

Our world is so big and yet so small now in this age of technology. We can reach out to others across continents.

Our mothers were the first to show us the true meaning of love. In honor of our mothers, let’s spread that love wherever we can.

This article was written by Carmel Breathnach and originally appeared on March 5, 2017

Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody has been covered dozens of different ways. But you’ve never seen it performed like this.

As one of the most iconic songs in rock music, Bohemian Rhapsody is recognizable no matter how it’s done. As children, my brother and I used to belt out Galileos and Figaros in the backseat of our parents’ Volkswagon whenever the song came on (yes, just like in Wayne’s World). While other kids learned about Beelzebub in Sunday School, I learned about him from Queen’s perfect harmonies. If there were an anthem from my classic rock-filled childhood, it would be Bohemian Rhapsody.

It’s one of those songs that is hard to cover well, though it hasn’t stopped people from trying. I’ve enjoyed some renditions, but nothing has caught my attention or delight more than this kapa haka version from New Zealand.

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A Māori choir in native garb sang the song live in the Māori language, and it is something to see.

The group Hātea Kapa Haka performed the song on February 21 at New Zealand’s national kapa haka festival, Te Matatini, in Wellington. The festival brings 46 kapa haka (Māori performing arts) groups together to compete against one another.

Newshub reports that Hātea Kapa Haka collaborated with musical artist William Waiirua to create a “Bohemian Rhapsody” cover in the Māori language, both as a tribute to Freddie Mercury and to celebrate the Oscar-nominated movie about his life.

The group had previously created a music video for their cover, but seeing it performed live is something else. The voices, the harmony, the presentation—everything—is wonderful.

This kind of cultural mashup reminds us how small our world has become.

The contrast between Queen’s 1970s British rock and the Māori people’s traditional kapa haka could not be more striking. And yet, the melding of the two totally works. Music has the power to bring people together, and this performance is a great example of how it can bridge cultures with beautiful results.

Watch the live performance here:

And if you want more, check out the music video too:

William Waiirua got more help from Hātea Kapa Haka than he bargained for when his car broke down… For more Queen, check out this playlist: https://umusicNZ…

This article originally appeared on 03.01.19