A mamushi is a venomous type of viper found in Japan, and it turns out that Meg herself becomes one in the video. It starts with a man, played by Japanese actor Shô Kasamatsu, visiting a spa. There, he’s given a variety of women to choose from, and he opts for Meg. Quickly, though, she transforms into a gigantic mamushi, which doesn’t bode well for Kasamatsu’s character. Between transformations and other goings-on, Megan hangs out in the spa and raps the song while frequently naked.
The video was filmed in multiple locations in Tokyo including the Tsurumaki Onsen Jinya (an onsen is a type of bath facility) and the Engaku-ji Temple (a major Zen Buddhist temple in Japan).
J Balvin is bouncing back. After taking a breather to focus on himself and his family, the Colombian superstar has returned with his new album Rayo. The electrifying LP reflects J Balvin’s return to his reggaeton roots with longtime collaborators like Feid while looking to the genre’s future with rising stars Ryan Castro, Blessd, Carín León, and more.
“This is an era full of joy,” J Balvin says. “This is an era where I am making music for myself, remembering those beginnings that pushed me to be what we are today, and I’m happy to share this with the world alongside a new generation of very talented artists. This era is pa’ la cultura [for the culture].”
Rayo is named after J Balvin’s first car from when he was getting his music career off the ground in Medellín, Colombia. After a few years of grinding, he broke through in 2013 with his album La Familia while putting his country on the map in the reggaeton scene. Other artists from Medellín who have become stars following J Balvin’s success include Maluma, Karol G, and Feid, who started out as one of his co-writers. After becoming a father in 2021, J Balvin stepped away from the spotlight to take care of his mental health and his son Río. In April, he kicked off his comeback with performances at Coachella that included a Will Smith cameo.
Rayo is like a fresh jolt to J Balvin’s electronic reggaeton sound as he teams up with titans in the genre like Zion and Chencho Corleone. J Balvin also reunites with Feid for the alluring “Doblexxó” and continues to use his platform to highlight the next wave of Latin urban acts like Omar Courtz, Yovngchimi, and Quevedo in the swaggering banger “En Alta.” Over Zoom, J Balvin talked with Uproxx about taking time off, his comeback album, and his legacy.
How would you describe the experience of stepping away to focus on your family and raising your son Río?
Besides meeting my best friend, my son, being a father has taught me many things. I love watching Río, watching him grow up, and him continuing to teach me things. It has been a wonderful time for me, my family, and especially for my new music. It feels amazing to come back with 15 songs and a whole new album to share with my fans. I couldn’t be happier right now with Rayo.
What was the experience like to perform at Coachella and have Will Smith come out as your special guest?
It is one of the best things that has happened to me in my life: Representing Latinos at one of the most important festivals in the world and also being fortunate to bring Will Smith to the stage. For a moment, I didn’t even believe it. I am still amazed by the power of music and how it unites cultures and people. It was an experience from another planet.
Why did you want to name your album Rayo after your first car?
Rayo is full of stories and lessons. My first car took me to many places that shaped my career as an artist and as a person. Rayo means a lot to me, as my friends would say, who also joined me in those adventures of riding in a red car through Colombia.
You and Feid go back to the days of your 2016 album Energia. What was the experience like to work with him again “Doblexxó”?
I greatly admire Feid and what he has achieved. We have a lot of history together. It was time to give people this duo again.
You broke down boundaries for reggaeton from Medellín. What do you think about the success of the artists from your hometown like Karol G, Maluma, Feid, Ryan Castro, and Blessd?
They were not easy barriers to break down and I did not do it alone either. Many of us had been doing interesting things with reggaeton in Medellín. Nowadays, seeing my colleagues breaking records with music makes me proud of our country and hard work. Karol G and her tour made history. Being the first Latin artist to sell out the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid four times is something to admire. Feid and Maluma are also doing incredible things and they are followed by Blessd, Ryan, and the people coming up behind them. There are many artists who are raising our flag high. I’m happy for all of them.
On your album, you’re also teaming up with rising Latin urban acts from Puerto Rico like Yovngchimi, Luar La L, Omar Courtz, and Dei V. What was the experience like to work with them?
This is by and for the culture. They are the new generation that I admire and I listen to their music. Having them on this album means that we share the same energy and that we are looking to continue expanding Latin music around the world.
You also recently teamed up with Mexican reggaeton acts like El Malilla, El Bogueto, Yeri Mua, and Uzielito Mix on the “G Low Kitty” remix. What do you think about the reggaeton Mexa music scene?
Mexico is also awakening a new generation of Latin urban artists. Mexico is a huge country and the fact that the genre is being heard only brings good news. There is a lot of talent in Mexico and there is much more to discover in the reggaeton Mexa scene.
Speaking of Mexico, you joined forces with música Mexicana star Carín León on “Stoker.” How would you describe the experience of collaborating with him?
The big surprise on Rayo! Carín is a great artist. All my respect to him. “Stoker” challenged us both to do something different. At the end of the day, celebrating with Carin after the Coachella show paid off. [Laughs.]
What do you want people to take away from Rayo?
You have to do what makes you happy in a way that makes you happy. Vibing with what you do is the important thing to be able to enjoy your work and what you’re doing. Above all, you should be able to transmit that feeling to others.
What’s life been like balancing being a father and a global pop star?
Being precise with times and space is essential. I try not to mix the two that much. Although sometimes they do intersect, let me be clear in saying that I love my job but my family is my priority.
Will there be a US tour soon?
New tour dates are coming for sure. We’ll talk more about it very soon.
What do you want to accomplish next in your career?
There are still many accomplishments to achieve. There’s many places to visit and perform in. Whether I’m accomplishing things with my music, by giving more Latin flavor to the world, or through my Vibra En Alta Foundation. With my foundation, we want to focus on children and young people who are vibing with who they are.
What do you see for the future of reggaeton?
I think we are in good hands. An incredible generation of new talent is coming. They’re very talented and creative people. There is still much to explore and cultures to unite through the genre.
While most of the attention during the United States’ comeback win over Serbia in the semifinals of the Olympic men’s basketball tournament was on Steph Curry’s monster game and LeBron James imposing himself in the fourth quarter, Kevin Durant did his thing down the stretch. The greatest Team USA player of all time scored seven of his nine points down the stretch, and came up huge in the moments when the Americans needed him to start knocking down jumpers.
It was classic Durant, who has made a career out of waiting until the right moment to strike and ripping an opponent’s heart out. Also classic Durant: His lifelong commitment to being the best poster in the NBA, and in the aftermath of the game, Durant once again hopped onto Twitter and talked ball. After initially replying to a post about Nikola Jokic, Durant spent some time chopping it up with fans about fandom and specifically trolling some Nuggets fans who rooted for Serbia due to Jokic’s presence.
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Earlier in the Olympics, Durant had a back-and-forth on Twitter with some fans about FIBA rules vs. NBA rules, and why the NBA adopting more FIBA rules might not necessarily be a good thing. A lot of great things happen in our country, as Durant astutely noted after the Serbia win, and I think it’s safe to say that his commitment to posting is one of them.
Paige Bueckers was a fixture during last month’s WNBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix. She popped out at activations at WNBA Live, Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe’s A Touch More podcast recording, courtside at the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, you name it. The UConn star guard and presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft was met by palpable cheers everywhere she went, but that was not the point. Bueckers had been on what fans affectionately deemed her Paige World Tour, supporting her friends and former teammates at WNBA arenas nationwide.
Days before WNBA All-Star Weekend, Bueckers also presented at the 2024 ESPY Awards, where she had accepted Best College Athlete, Women’s Sports in 2021. Bueckers used her now-viral speech to challenge the media to pay the same respect — give the same visibility — to her Black peers.
While Bueckers’ world tour didn’t make it to Paris for the ongoing 2024 Olympics, she teamed with Meta, utilizing Meta AI to get as close as she could. Below, the reigning Big East Player Of The Year spoke with DIME about Meta, her bond with Suni Lee, and using “my white privilege to call out my white privilege.”
You’ve gone viral for supporting your friends and former teammates in person during this offseason — the Paige World Tour. How has using Meta AI allowed you to experience the 2024 Paris Olympics as if you were physically there?
It’s helped me a lot. You saw the video with my little brother, Drew, learning more about archery and badminton and all the sports that I didn’t necessarily have a prior knowledge about. So, it’s helped me learn the rules, the history of it. There are fun little games that me and my little brother can play as we’re learning. Plus, just keeping up with all the athletes and all the sports. For me, traveling a lot, being in different time zones, trying to get my schedule right of what’s all going on that day. But yeah, it makes it feel like you’re a super-fan in the sport just based on how quick you can learn it and how quick you can learn to play it. Obviously, not at the same talent level as the athletes competing in Paris, but just as a super fan, it’s really fun to explore and tap into my creative side.
Which athlete or Olympic moment has fired you up the most?
I would say probably Suni Lee. She’s from Minnesota. I’m from Minnesota, so just being Minnesota made, being friends, and seeing all the adversity that she’s come back from. Her resilience. The fact that doctors told her she might not ever do gymnastics again [due to a kidney disease diagnosis in 2022], and here she is, winning medals at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. It’s been inspiring to watch, and I’m just super proud of her.
It’s the prequel to when you come back from your past injuries to win a national championship at UConn next season, right?
That would be amazing. I love that.
Have you already incorporated Meta AI into your daily training routine?
I think it’s really cool to think about all the ways that it can help you. For me, I think it’s really cool for nutrition, like a nutrition plan, saying, “I have certain ingredients; what meal can I make with it?” Or, “Can you make me a healthy meal with protein, with this and that?” Even just getting in routines. Maybe I need to stretch my hamstrings a certain day or stretch my full body a certain day, [I can] ask it, how can I do that? If you don’t have a trainer, you can just go to Meta. It’s very accessible. A lot of kids these days have Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, so you just go straight there and ask it, “Can you make me a basketball workout for today?” Maybe I want to focus on ball-handling. Maybe I want to focus on shooting. Maybe I want to focus on passing. You can get so creative with it and use it in almost every activity you do in every single day. It’s exciting to see how much it can do for people and how accessible it is.
You’ve been asked a billion times about your 2021 ESPYs speech, and that’s valid. It took incredible awareness to use your moment to redirect the spotlight toward your Black peers and predecessors. But that came naturally to you because Black influence has always been your reality. Does it surprise you to receive so much praise for being an ally and sharing visibility — something that, in your eyes, should so obviously just be the standard?
I mean, everybody grows up in a different background. So, I grew up with a Black stepmom for a large majority of my life. I grew up with a Black female coach, who was a mentor to me for a large portion of my life. I had a lot of very influential Black women. A lot of my teammates are Black, so I had a lot of influential people of color surrounding me and making a huge impact in my life. I see the effects of white privilege — the imbalance of attention, respect, and just visibility. And so, it was very important for me to call it out. To use my white privilege to call out my white privilege, essentially.
I feel like everybody has a different way of going about things. I feel like I want to use my platform to promote change and try to help this world become a better place as much as I can. So, I don’t know. I get people who come up to me and say, “We love the way you go about your business. We love how you stand up for what you believe in.” It just makes me feel like I’m doing the right thing. People acknowledge that, but it’s just natural. It’s kind of who I am, and I want to continue to be that way and not let anything change me. So it definitely it makes you feel appreciated, for sure.
You recently told Highsnobiety, “I know I’m not going to change the world by myself, but I will do my part.” What do you want your part to be?
Definitely giving back. I feel like I’ve been blessed with so much, and so I want to give with what I’ve been given and help this world to become a better place as much as I can in terms of giving back to communities, inspiring the next generation, and using my white privilege to call it out. I know equality is something that is forever going to be fought for, but trying to acknowledge it.
I have a huge faith, so I glorify God in everything that I do. I tell people that, with God, everything is possible. He changes lives, and He’s done so much for me in terms of being able to battle through a lot of tough times. Relying and leaning on His strength has done wonders for me. So, I would say just continuing to be genuine, have a caring heart, give with what I’ve been given, and share my faith.
I guess the whole nature of this is putting you on the spot, and I hate to put you on the spot about this, but you mention white privilege. Can you think back to a time, whether in basketball or otherwise, where you first felt, Oh, it’s different for me?
I would say my first year of college. I took the media by storm. It was just crazy the amount of attention I had gotten right away. I hadn’t done anything yet. It was my first year at UConn. I was just establishing, getting my feet on the ground, and the amount of attention that I would get — like, say I had a great night, but somebody else had a great night. I got all the attention that night. Like I spoke about in my ESPYs [speech], women’s basketball is such a Black female dominated sport. You see so many great Black female athletes just dominating the game at the peak of performance. And so, I just wanted the same amount of attention that I got to be spread around a little bit more. I think that was the first really eye-opening experience.
But, I mean, little stuff happened in high school where I was like, Oh. You notice it. And I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. My senior year of high school was the murder of George Floyd. So, that really impacted me in a way to where I saw police brutality and just how our community came together after that. I went to protests and marches and just, again, [it’s about] wanting equality. The Black Lives Matter movement was huge at that time, so being a supporter and ally of that was something that I noticed as well.
You’re so beloved — for good reason. Does the attention empower you to continue to be your authentic self, or does it become overwhelming and add pressure to live up to what everyone wants from you?
Nah. Like you said, I’m just trying to stay true to myself [and] not let anything change me. Continue to speak on what I believe in. Just use my platform for good. It makes you feel good when people come up to you — [to] acknowledge what you’re doing and tell you to keep going and motivate you to keep standing up for what you believe in and not being afraid to speak out and just continue to be authentically yourself. So, it’s definitely empowering.
Blessed and grateful to be a part of this amazing league. To take an active role in the growth of women’s sports is a dream come true. Excited for the future, it’s just the beginning! https://t.co/xSCetSsDCH
Your NIL deal with Unrivaled was announced last week, making you the first NCAA athlete to receive ownership equity in a league. So, everybody can see this is a big deal. But why is it significant to you?
Just to continue to build for my future. I think that’s what NIL is all about: Building your brand, building your wealth, and building your future and what you want your portfolio to look like. But to be a part of something so much bigger than myself — women’s basketball, women’s sports in general, is on the rise, and you can see it. It’s happening, and the momentum is immense right now.
The Unrivaled league is just amazing. It’s in the offseason for the WNBA players. It’s another way for them to make money doing the sport that they love and get attention, play. It’s like, just to be a part of something that has legends and future Hall of Famers. Phee and Stewie started it, and obviously, there’s the UConn alumni little connection there — but to be a part of something that’s continuing to grow the game of women’s sports and doing so much for these women and doing so much for me, I’m blessed and honored to be a part of it at such a young age. It’s very humbling, too. It’s inspiring me to keep working, to continue to keep doing great things.
Quavo is the head honcho in his own right, but don’t forget that the “Mink” rapper is most definitely a rock star. So, his new collaboration with Lenny Kravitz, isn’t just serendipitous.
Today (August 9), after teasing their ultimate link up for over a week, the official video for the duo’s track “Fly” has landed. On the Andrew Watt and Cirkut co-produced track, the pair boast about their highly favored lives.
“I’m feelin’ the wave / I wanna fly / Let’s get geeked, let’s get drunk, let’s get high / Don’t go on a plane / I’m sittin’ the jet way / You already know which way we goin’ that way / Told her I wanna get you paid / Oh, you like that? Okay, bounce right back, go rage,” raps Quavo.
But, in the official video, Quavo and Lenny Kravitz take things to a heightened rock star level. With head banging, quick cuts to Kravitz’s guitar work, and a wardrobe comprised solely of black leather, what more could you ask for?
Let’s be real, sample fatigue is real. However, Quavo’s incorporation of Lenny Kravitz’s smash 1998 song “Fly Away” defies fans’ complaints. Last year, Quavo released his sophomore solo studio album, Rocket Power. But could “Fly” signal that another project rollout is on the way?
Watch Quavo and Lenny Kravitz’s official music video for “Fly” above.
Seven years ago, if someone were to tell you that then-Everyday Struggle host Joe Budden would be collaborating with the self-declared “King of the Teens,” Lil Yachty, you would probably think they were trolling. But today, it seems that it may not be quite as far-fetched as when the two rappers were semi-regularly antagonizing each other over their different generational outlooks on hip-hop.
Since then, Yachty followed Budden into podcasting, adopting some of his grumpy old man opinions in the process, and today, Budden joined Yachty on his podcast, A Safe Space, where they joked about rapping on a song together. The whole thing started with Yachty asking Joe, “Do you think right now, if you and me go in [the studio], you could pen a better verse than me?”
In typical combative fashion, Budden shot back, “Who’s picking the beat?” “Obviously, not you!” Yachty razzed. This sparks a spirited debate about the two rappers’ respective taste in beats, with Budden clowning Yachty’s “Metroid beats” and Yachty offering up a folder of beats from one of underground hip-hop’s favorite producers, The Alchemist. Yachty’s co-host Mitch says the result would sound like “a hoop mixtape,” which… Yes. That’s the point, you infant.
Joe says he’d “do it for fun, because I’m retired,” and now, I am wildly curious. Who cares who has the best verse — do it for hip-hop.
You can watch the new interview above, and just for kicks, you can watch the duo’s original, antagonistic interview below.
Industry is the latest HBO drama that brings something as complex as the cutthroat world of investment banking and somehow makes it entertaining instead of confusing. With season three, the stakes are even higher with the introduction of Kit Harington as Henry Muck, the chaotic CEO of a green-energy startup who has his own agenda and some spiffy Brat-esque attire. That, combined with the star power of Ken Leung, Myha’la, Marisa Abela, and Harry Lawtey has set up the series for an explosive third season.
When Does Industry Season 3, Episode 1 Come Out?
The highly-anticipated third season will premiere on Sunday, August 11th at 9 pm. The season consists of eight episodes which will air weekly on HBO through September 29th. Here is the official synopsis for season three:
As Pierpoint looks to the future and takes a big bet on ethical investing, Yasmin (Marisa Abela), Robert (Harry Lawtey), and Eric (Ken Leung) find themselves front and center in the splashy IPO of Lumi, a green tech energy company led by Sir Henry Muck (Kit Harington), in a story that runs all the way to the very top of finance, media, and government. Since leaving Pierpoint, Harper (Myha’la) is eager to get back into the addictive thrill of finance and finds an unlikely partner in FutureDawn portfolio manager Petra Koenig (Sarah Goldberg).
The premiere episode of the season will be titled, “Il Mattino ha L’Oro Bocca.” Here is the synopsis: “Pierpoint is preparing to extend its first offer. Robert faces some challenges in working with Lumi’s CEO.” Check out the tense season three trailer featuring Kit Harington’s impressive beard below. It’s not Jon Snow, but it’s something.
Alysha Newman became a viral sensation at the 2024 Olympics after she celebrated winning Canada’s first medal in women’s pole vault by pretending to be hurt then twerking.
“I’m always injured and I’m always getting back on the horse, so I said I’m gonna go and scare my coaches because I want them to lighten up,” she told CBC Sports. “So I said I’m gonna fake an injury and dance after. It just happened very fluid. I didn’t think I’m gonna twerk, but just from grabbing that to getting to the knee with a twerk it all just worked out in one.”
It’s been a long journey for Newman to that spontaneous moment of joy. “I had brain problems. I had a brain health issue. There’s mental health, and there’s brain health,” she told the Olympics website about the concussion she suffered three months before she no-heighted at the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo. “I wasn’t happy. I didn’t like the sport at that time, and it was a struggle for me. I needed to step away, be happy off the track, so then I learned to love track again and then fix my mental health.”
Like many Olympians, Newman is on OnlyFans to help pay the bills so she can focus on her athletic career. “I earn money with what I post… It makes me confident and I feel good about it,” she explained to German publication BILD.
But don’t sign up for Newman’s account, which has over 75,000 likes, expecting to see nudity. “I post a lot of my training sessions, talk about nutrition and lots of tips and tricks,” she said. “Many people have a certain cliché when they think of OnlyFans. I can’t change many people’s minds. But this website has connected me with many fans, more than any other pole vaulter before. What others think about it doesn’t bother me. I am who I am and I do it well.”
After months of delays and setbacks, Polo G was at last able to release his fourth studio album, HOOD POET. An acronym for “He Overcame Obstacles During Pain or Emotional Trauma,” the title turned out to be prophetic, as Polo had to deal with multiple arrests and a raid on his Los Angeles home while trying to promote the album. Still, he persevered, and the album is out now via Columbia Records.
Its release is accompanied by the video for “Darkside,” a standout, confessional inclusion, in which Polo vents about some of the aforementioned traumas and tribulations of his life. “I might never cough again from all that mud that I was sippin’,” he recalls. “Missin’ school every day, but on that block, perfect attendance / Bein’ broke the root of evil, it’ll turn you to a menace / It’s so hard to beat the odds when we was taught to be statistics / In this life, you only see the graveyard or go to prison.” The video sees him performing in a desert wasteland, flanked by a pair of armed guards. He’s been lifting too.
Paramount Plus isn’t simply the place where Tom Cruise movies go to be streamed endlessly after theatrical runs, where 8,000 Taylor Sheridan shows make dads happy, and where Showtime’s undead Dexter franchise will be watched into oblivion. It’s also the place where SEAL Team has been streaming the back part of its run, and the terminally popular military drama is about to begin its final season.
When Do SEAL Team Season 7, Episodes 1 And 2 Come Out?
The first episodes of this final season will arrive on Paramount Plus on Sunday, August 11.
If the series aligns with other recent streaming-only releases on the platform, that means that 12:00am PST and 3:00am EST will be go time.
Star David Boreanaz’s (Buffy, Angel, Bones) bod sounds like it’s more than ready for a vacation, too. As he recently told PEOPLE, the show’s heavy physical load has taken a toll. “I take good care of myself, but it gets to a point where your body’s not moving like it used to,” he declared. “I think I’ve had four MRIs in the past four months, for my knees, hips, shoulders. It’s been quite a journey.”
From the final season synopsis:
At a moment’s notice, Bravo Team is ripped from their families and deployed across the globe to help the United States compete against foreign superpowers. As the military landscape shifts, personal lives, teammates and priorities change too, setting the stage for an emotional ending. Don’t miss Bravo Team’s dramatic farewell.
This will be it for Bravo Team, and hopefully, Boreanaz can go enjoy some yoga now.
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