When in doubt, get back to basics. After suffering an embarrassing miscue earlier this year, J. Cole appears to have taken this advice to heart, setting aside attempts to compete with top-grossing peers like Drake and Kendrick Lamar in favor of issuing eyebrow-raising guest verses alongside collaborators such as Daylyt, ASAP Rocky, Tems, and Cash Cobain. You can now add Tee Grizzley to that list. J. Cole goes back in his feature verse bag, tag-teaming a frenetic Pi’erre Bourne production with the Detroit native on “Blow For Blow.” In the accompanying video, two rappers perform on a rooftop while Grizzley gives out game (and hundred-dollar bills) in the hood.
It’s good to hear Cole having fun on records again after his miscalculation in stepping into the match between Drake and Kendrick this spring. Issuing “7 Minute Drill” and retracting it within the span of a weekend turned out to be the rap equivalent of a wrestler running down to the ring with a steel chair in one hand and the Money In The Bank briefcase in the other, only to face plant directly into the case, and sheepishly head back to the locker room without so much as flashing the contract for the championship match. Fortunately, he’s got a tried-and-true recovery plan, and if this current run he’s on turns out to be as impactful as the one from 2022, the hype for The Fall Off won’t suffer too much from his earlier faux pas.
You can watch the video for “Blow For Blow” above.
The Weeknd first revealed the cover art for Hurry Up Tomorrow on September 7 after teasing the new album for months before. In July, he posted a video to social media that declared “there are three chapters to this tale,” leading to speculation that his then-rumored album would constitute the capstone to a trilogy made up of his last two releases, After Hours and Dawn FM. Then, he shared a second screenshot from another eerie video, furthering the mystery and the anticipation for the announcement. Finally, he dropped the video for the lead single, “Dancing In The Flames,” seemingly building on the overarching narrative from the past four years. We’re looking forward to seeing what it all means when Hurry Up Tomorrow is finally out.
You can watch the video for The Weeknd’s “Timeless” featuring Playboi Carti above.
The Chicago Sky were, for the first half of the WNBA season, one of the best stories in the league. Led by rookie sensation Angel Reese, they were firmly in the playoff picture going into the All-Star and Olympic break. Unfortunately, they could not maintain that pace after returning from a month off, trading veteran sharpshooter Marina Mabrey to the Connecticut Sun and going 3-13 from that point — with Reese eventually getting shut down for the season with a wrist injury.
Even so, it felt to many like the Sky were at least showing signs of moving in the right direction and would get another crack at a lottery pick in the 2025 Draft to try and create some better roster balance for next year. Apparently the Sky front office did not feel that was good enough, and on Thursday night word broke from Annie Constable of the Chicago Sun Times that they were firing head coach Teresa Weatherspoon after going 13-27 her first year on the job.
It was a fairly stunning decision, particularly given the relationship Weatherspoon had with Reese. That was evident in Reese’s response to the news, as she posted a lengthy statement to Twitter saying she was “heartbroken” and that Weatherspoon was the reason she came to Chicago and that she was an “unsung hero in my life.”
“I’m heartbroken. I’m literally lost for words knowing what this woman meant to me in such a pivotal point in my life. She was the only person that believed in me. The one that trusted me. Many don’t even know what it’s like to be a black women in sports when nobody believes in you. You had a tough job. All the crazy circumstances that we went through this year & when your back was against the wall, you always believed. I came to Chicago because of YOU. You were an unsung hero in my life. We built a relationship in a short amount of time that will last forever. I’ll never question God why he brings people in my life and takes them away from me in the capacity that I need them but i’ve always believed everyone is in your life for a reason and a season. You were the best reason & season. You didn’t deserve this but I can’t thank you enough. I love you Tspoon. @Finisher_11”
It certainly isn’t the response you typically want from your star player after firing a coach, as usually there’s at least some tension in that relationship that leads to a coach’s dismissal. Instead, it seems the Sky made this choice without consulting or even considering Reese’s opinion on the matter, which is certainly their prerogative, but puts some serious pressure on whoever they bring in as a replacement.
It’s the second surprising firing in the WNBA this week, as Curt Miller got let go in Los Angeles after the Sparks finished the season with the league’s worst record (while pretty obviously still early in a rebuild).
Ever since her debut, Billie Eilish has been something of a two-person operation, thanks to the production prowess of her older brother Finneas. However, that may soon change, as Finneas has begun teaching his sibling the basics of production, and says she’s getting “very good at it.” In a new interview with Guitar magazine, Finneas — who has been working on his own album, For Cryin’ Out Loud!, with a collection of collaborators and a more professional setup, explained the new use he’s found for his old equipment.
“I’ve been setting up Billie’s recording studio for her so she can do home production without me, because she’s very good at it!” he said. “And it’s funny, I’ve been giving her, like, the bare minimum of stuff, just so that she learns it all… I’m like ‘Listen, I could give you all the stuff that I use now, but it took me years to even have a use for it. And, if I give you this basic thing, it’ll make sense to you right away.”
While that news may worry fans who’ve become accustomed to the duo’s chemistry, in truth, it may help streamline their process, as Billie can use the basic equipment to sketch out her own ideas while Finneas is occupied with his solo work, then he can help polish it all later on. We may soon see the fruits of this labor as we look forward to the follow-up to her new album, Hit Me Hard And Soft.
Big-box warehouse chain Costco wants nothing to do with a report connecting it to beleaguered mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, releasing a statement denying that he made his bulk baby oil purchase at its stores. After Diddy’s attorney Marc Agnifilo argued in a press conference that Diddy purchased the unseemly amount of lubricant at Costco for threesomes, rather than the infamous “freakoffs” that have been central to the government’s sex trafficking case against him.
However, according to TMZ, a spokesperson for the company issued a statement denying such a thing would even be possible, as none of its 614 warehouses even carries baby oil, let alone in such massive quantities. TMZ also investigated direct competitor Sam’s Club and even checked for similar products that might explain the mention of baby oil in the feds’ indictment, but there were no other products similar to what was described in the documents. With no stores selling baby oil in bulk, the mystery of the origin of Diddy’s impressive (and gross) collection remains unclear.
What is clear, however, is that corporate entities are understandably uneager to be associated with the producer after he spent the year being sued by 11 separate plaintiffs for sexual misconduct, then arrested and charged with racketeering and sex trafficking.
Just days after his co-defendant admitted to the 2021 shooting, a jury has convicted Justin Johnson of murdering Young Dolph. According to the local Fox affiliate, the jury, made up of nine white women, two Black men, and one white man, found Johnson guilty of all counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun after four hours of deliberation. The murder charge carries a sentence of life in prison, while Johnson is scheduled for sentencing RE: the charges in November.
The trial, which started with jury selection on Monday this week (September 23), was moved due to extensive media coverage of the murder and its aftermath in Dolph’s native Shelby County. On the second day of the trial, one of the four men accused of murdering Dolph, Cornelius Smith, admitted in court to being offered $40,000 for the hit by Big Jook (real name Anthony Mims), the brother of Dolph’s rival Memphis rapper Yo Gotti. A third man, Hernandez Govan was paid as the go-between between the shooters and Jook.
While the guns used in the shooting were never found and although Johnson’s defense questioned the state’s evidence that put him at the scene of the crime, witness testimony — including Smith’s — was convincing enough for the jury to convict Johnson, who’d previously pled not guilty to the charges. The trial will continue for the remaining defendants, Smith and Govan, while another man, Jemarcus Johnson, pled guilty before the trial. Shundale Barnett, charged as an after-the-fact accessory, pled guilty in June 2023. Big Jook, meanwhile, will not have a trial or charges — he was shot and killed in Memphis this past January.
Earlier this year, contestants on the long-running game show were stumped by a clue inspired by the “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart” singer. The same thing happened again on Wednesday during a category about Grammy winners for Album Of The Year. It read, “The first of Taylor Swift’s record 4 AOTY Grammys was for this album in 2010.” The correct answer is “what is Fearless,” but according to Billboard, no one even bothered with a guess.
One of the contestants did try to answer another clue in the category about Billie Eilish (“Dreamland by Glass Animals might be the response to this album that made Billie Eilish the category’s youngest winner ever”), but they failed to recall When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?.
Here are all five clues — and the correct answer — from the category:
-“Whitney Houston starred as Rachel Marron in this film whose soundtrack won the award in 1994” (The Bodyguard)
-“The first of Taylor Swift’s record 4 AOTY Grammys was for this album in 2010” (Fearless)
-“The first woman to win in the category, Ms. Garland took the prize for Judy at this NYC venue” (Carnegie Hall)
-“Dreamland by Glass Animals might be the response to this album that made Billie Eilish the category’s youngest winner ever” (When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?)
-“Billy Joel was the ‘Big Shot’ in 1980, winning for this album that bears the name of a thoroughfare” (52nd Street)
Week 4 of the NFL season is upon us, which means we are starting to get a feel for who the real contenders are and what teams are going to struggle to make the postseason. There’s obviously still time to turn things around, but teams can’t afford to dig themselves too deep a hole in the first quarter of the season. As such, desperation is already in the air for some teams and there are fans (and owners) with hands hovering over the panic button already. Teams like Dallas, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, and Cleveland have some dreadful vibes already, and without a win this week, we’ll start getting some serious hot seat talk.
Primetime Game of the Week: Seahawks at Lions (Monday 9/30, 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC)
There are a pair of big games on the primetime slate this week, as Bills-Ravens will square off on Sunday Night, but with Baltimore at 1-2 still trying to re-establish themselves as a contender, we’re going to look at the 3-0 Seahawks visiting the 2-1 Lions on Monday Night Football. The Lions entered the year hoping their defense would take a step forward and they’ll face a challenge from the third most prolific passing offense in the NFL this season with Geno Smith and Seattle coming into town. On the other side of the ball, Detroit’s been rolling themselves and this should be a highly entertaining game that could see the scoreboard get lit up.
Sunday Funday Game of the Week: Vikings at Packers (Sunday 9/29, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS)
The two best coaching jobs in the league this year are on display in this game. Kevin O’Connell has breathed new life into Sam Darnold’s career, as the Vikings offense has been able to put up points in bunches in support of an absolutely ridiculous defense that has left opposing teams flummoxed under new DC Brian Flores. Green Bay, meanwhile, has responded to Jordan Love getting hurt by having Matt LaFleur build an offense around Malik Willis, who the Titans gave up on earlier this offseason.
Under the Radar Banger: Browns at Raiders (Sunday 9/29, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)
This game is going to stink, but it’s going to stink in a way that I want to watch. Both of these offense are absolutely horrible at something — Cleveland throwing the ball is an adventure, Las Vegas just flat out cannot run the ball. Antonio Pierce is already calling out his players despite being the full-time head coach for three games, Deshaun Watson has no interest in using his legs and made that very clear, it’s all a mess. I love a good nihilism-off, and baby, we’re gonna get one in Sin City on Sunday afternoon.
Who Won The MVP Last Week: Jayden Daniels
The No. 2 overall pick was nearly perfect in a stunning Commanders win over the Bengals, as he out-dueled Joe Burrow in a shootout, where Burrow and the Cincy offense were spectacular themselves. Daniels set a rookie record for completion percentage in a game going 21-of-23, and his dagger TD pass to Terry McLaurin while getting lit up by a blitzer was perhaps the throw of the year in the NFL. Andy Dalton certainly has a case for for this spot after leading the Panthers to their first win and turning one of the NFL’s worst offenses into one of the best, but Daniels’ performance has people on TV talking about the Commanders as a threat in the NFC East.
Best Bet (1-2): Colts (+1.5) vs. Steelers
We got back on track last week thanks to Mike Tomlin’s generosity putting knees on it inside the 10, and as a thank you we’re going to take the other side against Pittsburgh. The Steelers have gone 3-0 in spite of an offense that’s averaging 17 points per game. The defense has been spectacular, and I admit I’m a bit afraid of what they can do to pressure Anthony Richardson into making mistakes — he threw arguably the worst pick of the year last week. However, Tomlin’s Steelers have historically been bad in this kind of spot as a road favorite against a bad team. No one over-performs like the Steelers, but they also routinely play down to competition as well and I think the Colts get a W at home this week.
Uproxx cover stars aespa embarked on the SYNK: Parallel Line Tour this summer, but unfortunately for some, the trek only brought the K-pop favorites to Asia and Australia. Now, though, fans in North America, the UK, and Europe will get a chance to see aespa in action, as they just announced new tour dates.
From January to February 2025, the group will play North American shows in Seattle, Oakland, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Orlando, Charlotte, Newark, Toronto, and Chicago. Then, in March, they’ll hit London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Madrid.
Tickets for the US and Canadian shows will first be available via a WeVerse pre-sale, then a general on-sale starting October 4 at 3 p.m. local time. Information about tickets for those shows is available here. Tickets for the Mexico City performance will have a public on-sale on October 9 at 10 a.m. local time, and more information can be found here.
Check out the new tour dates below.
aespa’s 2025 Tour Dates: SYNK: Parallel Line
01/28/2025 — Seattle, WA @ ShoWare Center
01/30/2025 — Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
02/01/2025 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Kia Forum
02/04/2025 — Mexico City, MX @ Sports Palace
02/06/2025 — Orlando, FL @ Kia Center
02/08/2025 — Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
02/11/2025 — Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
02/13/2025 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
02/15/2025 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
03/02/2025 — London, UK @ OVO Arena, Wembley
03/04/2025 — Paris, FR @ Zenith
03/06/2025 — Amsterdam, NL @ AFAS Live
03/09/2025 — Frankfurt, DE @ myticket Jahrhunderthalle
03/12/2025 — Madrid, ES @ WiZink Center
James Wan does not rest. Not only is he preparing to put a bow on The Conjuring movies, but news recently broke of his plans to update Robocop as a TV series with Peter Ocko (Lodge 49, Pushing Daisies) as showrunner. Sure, Wan and his Atomic Monster production house haven’t had as much TV success as with blockbuster films (his other ongoing franchises include Saw, Insidious, and now M3GAN), but that could change with Peacock’s Teacup series, which hails from showrunner Ian McCullough and looks both terrifying and confusing.
Teacup previewed at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con and the more recent Fantastic Fest with positive word of mouth building as we speak and a fast-approaching release, so let’s not waste time before digging into details.
Plot
Peacock
The horror pedigree is strong with this series, which is also produced by McCullough, Michael Clear, and E.L. Katz (who collectively brought us The Haunting of Bly Manor, Archive 81, M3GAN, and more). Together, this group brings us a story that was inspired by Robert McCammon’s Bram Stoker Award-nominated Stinger novel. However, the story will not closely follow the book and mainly uses McCammon’s plot as a launching point for
A very brief synopsis — “TEACUP follows a disparate group of people in rural Georgia who must come together in the face of a mysterious threat in order to survive” — has been followed by an eerie trailer — previews the 48 hours of hell endured by a small group, including a family, that is “trapped” with an unknown villain speaking through the mind of a child. Additionally, a gas-mask wearing, spray-paint wielding antagonist named McNab (Rob Morgan) is sending ominous signals to the group (including a sign that reads, “Don’t trust anyone”). The presence of The Strangers‘ Scott Speedman will hammer home the horror trope of nothing good happening at a remote home.
IGN quotes actress Emilie Bierre, who is “excited for people to see how crazy” this series turns out to be, and McCullough dropped hints about the pivotal nature of Chaske Spencer’s character in opening up the story:
“Whether it’s horror, drama, science fiction, anything, unless you care about the characters, none of it matters. You care about what’s happening because you care about Chaske’s character [Ruben Shanley, who] is in a situation and something horrifying happens. You’re already on board with him, you already understand, and he’s your avatar. You’re with him, so his reaction is your reaction.”
In addition to the Stanley family, the Chenoweth family’s plight is central to the narrative, and they are a dysfunctional trio before this story even begins. Speedman is the fatherly figure, and mom is portrayed by Yvonne Strahovski, who previously admitted that making this gruesome movie “genuinely made me feel sick.” Strahovski also received more than she bargained for after choosing this project as a hopefully less stressful role than the upcoming final season of Handmaid’s Tale. Mission not accomplished, but Wan previously called Teacup somewhat “meditative” as well as “big and scary” due to the story’s stripped-down nature compared to the book.
Cast
Yvonne Strahovski (Handmaid’s Tale, Dexter) and Scott Speedman (The Strangers, Grey’s Anatomy) lead the cast, but as always, do not overlook Chaske Spencer (The English). Rob Morgan, Emilie Bierre, Kathy Baker, and Boris McGiver also star.
Release Date
Teacup will debut on October 10 with two episodes and two more each week until October 31.
Trailer
A building mystery suggests both danger from humanity and something otherworldly:
These brief teasers also forecast hellish farmhouse happenings.
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