Ariana Grande is proudly Team USA. (with even prouder Italian roots). But during a recent sit down, “The Boy Is Mine” singer crowned another country the leaders in vocal prowess.

Just as Ariana Grande had the chance to unlock her “inner theater kid” for Wicked, others around the world are doing the same. With Ariana Grande and Cynthia Ervio traveling around the globe to promote the forthcoming film (due out on November 22) tributes of the musical’s classic tunes have begun to pour in.

While chatting with television host Lyn Ching for their 24 Oras appearance (viewable here), Ariana made an interesting confession. “Filipinos are the best singers in the world,” she said.

Even Erivo, a Nigerian-British Tony Award-winning vocalist, seems to agree with Grande’s remark. “Yes. No, they do,” she echoed.

Grande took her bold statement to the next level, saying: “No, honestly, they have the best voices, too.”

Well, Ching allowed the Filipino people’s voices to prove Grande’s point. Ching went on to play a group of Filipinos submitted a video tribute performing Wicked’s standout and extremely technical ballad “Defying Gravity.” After the video ended, both ladies were left speechless.

Both ladies referred to the performance as “amazing” and “beautiful.”

Grande ended it off saying, “Those harmonies at the end. That was stunning.”

Kanye West (Ye) and Adidas’ lengthy courtroom battle is supposedly over. However, the “Carnival” musician is still facing a mountain of loaded lawsuits.

According to Rolling Stone, Kanye West along with his Yeezy brand and Donda Academy is being sued by a former staffer. In the documents obtained by the outlet, a supposed ex-employee, Murphy Aficionado, is accusing West of fostering a hostile work environment, discrimination, wrongful termination, labor code violations, and failure to pay wages.

Within the filing submitted to the Los Angeles County Superior Court by lawyers Carney R. Shegerian and William Reed, Aficionado claimed West went on “antisemitic tirades” on a “daily occurrence.”

The document transcribed one of the alleged encounters retold by Aficionado as: “The Jews are out to get me. They froze my bank account. The Jews got Kim [Kardashian] and my kids. The Jews convinced Kim [Kardashian]. She has Jewish masters.”

Aficionado continued, saying: “Ye’s antisemitic tirades and conspiracies were a daily occurrence. Often, these outbursts involved how Jews controlled the Kardashians. Other times, Ye recounted how Jews were going after him and his money.”

He also accused Kanye West of subjecting him to flashes of his wife Bianca Censori’s exposed body and a loud intimate moment between Censori and West in the middle of a meeting.

Kanye West has not issued a public response to this lawsuit.

Pharrell has found himself in the middle of controversy yet again. but this time it has nothing to do with his hot takes on celebrities’ involvement in politics.

In the famed producer’s animated biopic, Piece By Piece, he showcased his ability to maintain his cool under pressure. Following after the GQ Men Of The Year Party in West Hollywood, California onlookers witnessed it firsthand. As the “Happy” musician attempted to leave the annual shindig, held on November 14, Pharrell was aggressively confronted outside of his car service.

During the exchange, captured by The Hollywood Fix (viewable here), the animal rights advocates can be heard screaming: “Shame on you, you animal murder. You are a loser. What type of person still uses fur?”

Initially, Pharrell lashes back at the protester mocking them repeating back, “Shame on you.” Then as the cameras grew closer, Pharrell let his frustrations go. He then says, “I don’t use fur. God bless you.”

Afterward, Pharrell attempts to cut their tension with a hug. However, the activists were not open to the embrace. Back in September, Pharrell’s Piece By Piece screening, the event was crashed by PETA supporters carrying a sign which read: “Pharrell: Stop Killing Animals For Fashion.”

PETA and Pharrell jagged relationship is tied to his post as Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Creative Director.

The heart wants what it wants and for Sabrina Carpenter fans that’s more collaborations with Christina Aguilera. Back in September, the pop darlings joined forces for The 25th Anniversary Of Christina Aguilera | Spotify Anniversaries Live. Together the singer reimagined Aguilera’s 1998 hit “What A Girl Wants” off of the self-titled album.

Well, shortly after the official video for the debut was shared that visual went viral. Now, fans can’t get enough of the two. So, yesterday (November 15) when Sabrina Carpenter’s Short N’ Sweet Tour made a stop at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California their highly requested reunion happened.

As Carpenter played a game with the sold out crowd of what she should cover, Aguilera’s name came out of the winner (viewable here). But before she could belt a note, Aguilera beat her to it hitting her signature run as she appeared from underneath the stage. Aguilera got straight to work performing her 2006 track, “Ain’t No Other Man,” (viewable here) from the Back To Basics album.

In awe, Carpenter and Aguilera exchange warm glances. From time to time you can hear Carpenter pitching in with a few supporting background vocals. But the now beloved duo were sure to treat concertgoers to what first drew their fans bases in, before the performance returns to its originally scheduled program Sabrina Carpenter and Christina Aquilera delivered a bubbly duet of “What A Girl Wants.”

Just like that, supporters have begun to request an original record between the acts. Who knows if that will ever happen. But users online are surely holding out hope for it.

Sexyy Red has moxie. There’s no absolutely no denying that. The “Pound Town” rapper’s venture into cosmetics is all the proof you’ll need. Yesterday (November 15), Sexyy Red announced her budding beauty brand, Northside Princess, secured a partnership with Club Kuma. So, that means her lip gloss line and its viral cringeworthy names are here to stay.

If you would like to rub Sexyy Red’s ‘Coochie Juice,’ ‘Booty Hole Brown,’ ‘Nut,’ ‘P*ssyhole Pink,’ ‘Yellow Discharge,’ ‘Gonorrhea,’ ‘Blue Ballz,’ ‘Sex On My Period’ sheen pigments on your mouth you can do so soon with the Sexyy Gloss collection. Beginning on Black Friday (November 29), the limited edition ‘Sexyy Gloss Kit’ will be available for purchase.

In a statement Sexyy Red expressed her pride in the upcoming release. “I’m so excited to share my Northside Princess brand and my Sexyy Gloss collection with y’all,” she said. “This is real personal for me because this is the relaunch of something I worked on years ago, and it’s coming back better than ever. It’s cute and it smell real good too. If you wanna feel as Sexyy as me with this lip gloss on, my personal favs is Coochie Juice and Blue Ballz!”

Club Kuma’s co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer Jenny Hsu echoed Sexyy Red’s excitement, saying: “At Club Kuma, our priority is partnering with creators who are driving culture forward. Sexyy Red brings a fresh perspective to everything she does, and we’re thrilled to collaborate with her on Northside Princess. The Sexyy Gloss Kit captures Sexyy’s fun and uninhibited spirit perfectly, and we’re excited to share it.”

The “Sexyy Gloss Kit” is set to go on sale on November 29 at 9am Pacific. In addition to Sexyy Red’s Gloss Kit, a supporting Northside Princess merch and apparel will be made available at the side time. Find more information here.

Netflix is in the Tyler Perry business, and business is good.

In October 2023, the prolific filmmaker agreed to a first-look deal for eight movies with the streaming service. Months later, in February 2024, he continued the creative partnership with a multi-year pact for new TV shows, beginning with Beauty in Black. The drama premiered in October and, like most of Perry’s movies and shows, it’s a hit: Beauty in Black was the most-watched show on Netflix during its second week of release. It’s still in the top 10.

Considering its success, Beauty in Black is obviously getting a season 2 (which is technically the second half of season 1). Here’s everything we know about what’s next, including plot details and a potential release date window.

Plot

Set in Atlanta, Beauty in Black follows Kimmie (played by Taylor Polidore Williams), an exotic dancer who struggles to make ends meet after her mother kicks her out, and Mallory (Crystle Stewart), the wealthy owner of a hair care company. Eventually, the pair become entangled in each other’s lives.

“The hair care business here is huge [and strip club] Magic City is huge, and I was like, what happened if those worlds collided — the stripper world and this hair care business?” Perry explained to Tudum about his inspiration for the show. “Never ever underestimate the power of the underdog.”

Season 1 (Part I) ends on a cliffhanger. No spoilers here, but Perry wants “people talking about it around the water cooler, and on [social media], and trending, and just loving it.” As for season 2 / part II, he teased, “I don’t think anybody’s going to be able to figure out where it’s going and how that rise of power happens with Kimmie. It’s going to be mind-blowing for people.”

Cast

Beauty in Black features many actors who have previously appeared in Tyler Perry projects, including leads Taylor Polidore Williams as Kimmie and Crystle Stewart (fun fact: she’s a former Miss USA winner) as Mallory Bellaire.

In an interview with Classix ATL, Polidore Williams described how Perry pitched the show to her. “He was like, ‘Read it, whatever you need, you can do it,’ and I think that trust that he had in me gave me the confidence to kind of go from there and do my thing and to prepare for such an emotionally taxing role,” she said. “It was in the story, so I didn’t have to do too much creation in my mind. It’s pretty helpful with what’s going on.”

The show also stars Amber Reign Smith as Rain, Debbi Morgan as Olivia, Richard Lawson as Norman, Steven G. Norfleet as Charles, Julian Horton as Roy, Terrell Carter as Varney, Shannon Wallace as Calvin, Xavier Smalls as Angel, Charles Malik Whitfield as Jules, Ursula O. Robinson as Delinda. There’s also Ricco Ross as Horace, Bryan Tanaka as Officer Alex, Joy Rovaris as Gillian, Tamera “Tee” Kissen as Body, Ashley Versher as Lena, and George Middlebrook as Officer Trackson.

Release Date

Netflix gave Beauty in Black a 16-episode order when it was announced. The first eight episodes premiered on October 24, 2024. The other eight will debut in 2025, possibly as soon as the spring.

Trailer

If you haven’t watched Beauty in Black, you can see what all the hubbub is about in the trailer for season 1.

The Best New Hip-Hop This Week includes albums, videos, and songs from Cordae, Denzel Curry, and Lil Nas X.

Big week, no time for preamble. Let’s get into it.

The Golden State Warriors recruited P-Lo to lead an all-star cast of Bay Area rap faves including G-Eazy, LaRussell, Saweetie, and more on “Players Holiday ’25.”

Lil Baby returned with “5AM,” a new single aimed at kicking off the Atlanta rapper’s next album, WHAM (Who Hard As Me.

Speaking of comeback albums, Lil Nas X’s “Light Again” video delivered an unexpected glimpse at his upcoming Dreamboy era.

Finally, Juice WRLD’s posthumous release, “AGATS2 (Insecure)” reconnected him with Nicki Minaj and hearkened back to his breakout hit.

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending November 15, 2024.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Cordae — The Crossroads

Two years removed from his last full-length release From A Birds Eye View, Cordae has plenty of life experiences and an insatiable drive to prove himself as a rapper. Fortunately, he’s chosen the perfect cast of characters to complement his heady wordplay, including Anderson .Paak, Joey Badass, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne.

Dave East & AraabMuzik — Living Proof

Sourpuss attitude about modern hip-hop aside, Dave East is one of New York’s finest contemporary rappers, waving the flag for that gritty, late-90s/early-00s sound. AraabMuzik is a fitting collaborator, as his production buttressed many of the mixtapes that defined that era; adding guest stars Benny The Butcher, Fabolous, and Ransom to the recipe just sets off their chemistry.

Denzel Curry — King Of The Mischievous South

Curry’s ode to the lineage of the Dirty South’s regional styles and sounds runs the gamut from mid-90s Memphis trap to Houston chopped-and-screwed. As the polished version of the mixtape he released earlier this year, it contains a handful of new tracks and a slew of fitting collaborators, from the ASAP Mob to Juicy J.

Kash Doll — The Last Doll

Is the title perhaps a cheeky reference to the glut of doll-themed rappers Kash came into the rap game alongside, only to be the sole surviving relevant member of her rap class? We’re sure DreamDoll is still kicking around somewhere, but it certainly seems Kash is the last woman left standing, and her latest is a testament to the street certified skills that kept her there.

Young Nudy & Pi’erre Bourne — Sli’merre 2

Young Nudy is a fascinating case. He’s one of the more unique representatives of Atlanta hip-hop, but he’s also something of an iconoclast among his Peach State brethren, delaying his breakout in spite of a massive groundswell of support from a tapped in fandom. While he’s grown in acclaim with each release, most recently 2023’s Gumbo, his 2019 joint album with producer Pi’erre Bourne still constitutes the high point of his commercial endeavors. Perhaps going back to that creative well will see him reach a new commercial peak.

Singles/Videos

Armani White — “TTSO.”

The Philadelphia native remains fashion focused on his new single, promising to “throw that sh*t on” rather than stressing the hate or pressure that comes with his newfound levels of success.

Killer Mike — “Still Talkin That Sh*t” Feat. Key Glock & Project Pat

Killer Mike’s last few releases have been autobiographical, spiritual, and uplifting, so it makes sense Mike wants to prove he can still “talk that sh*t.” Debuting the new song with a From The Block performance, he’s joined by Memphis standouts Key Glock and Project Pat, who suit the production style, a departure from Mike’s usual preference.

Quando Rondo — “Grow Up”

The controversial Georgia star’s new album, Here For A Reason, is out today, and its focus track is a nostalgic, uplifting meditation on his unusual rags-to-riches biography. It’s also somewhat of a departure from some of his mainline material — a change that oddly mirrors a similar shift from his ostensible rival Lil Durk. Let’s hope it doesn’t have similar motivations.

Ray Vaughn — “East Chatt” Feat. Isaiah Rashad

TDE’s Long Beach flag waver trades in his usual hyperactive production to pair up with the more mellow Isaiah Rashad to prove that he can do a little a bit of everything. The video repurposes performance footage from last year’s TDE holiday concert to remind fans that Christmas is coming, and Ray Vaughn is certainly very gifted. This year’s concert is on December 19, by the way.

Tyga — “Mmphh”

Man, if this came out in May, it would have been inescapable. The beat is hypnotic, Tyga’s deep in his bag, and the energy just screams summer house/pool party. It’s probably still be in heavy rotation at the clubs for the rest of the year.

The NBA struck gold at All-Star weekend in 2024. While the game itself was bad enough that the league is considering a major shake-up in its format and the Dunk Contest was a dud, a shooting contest between Steph Curry and Sabrina Ionescu injected a whole lot of excitement into the festivities on Saturday night — Curry was able to win, but it was awfully close.

With the 2025 edition of the All-Star Game taking place in the Chase Center, it would make a ton of sense for the league to run back a Steph vs. Sabrina shootout. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, that is, indeed in the works, but there’s a catch: They may not be the only NBA and WNBA players involved.

Curry and WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty participated in the first NBA versus WNBA 3-point challenge at All-Star Saturday night this February in Indianapolis. Curry and Ionescu are in strong conversations to return in a variation of the shootout, which could include other NBA and WNBA players such as Klay Thompson of the Dallas Mavericks and Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever, sources said.

Expanding on the competition and including Thompson and Clark always made far too much sense, so it’s good to see that the NBA might do something that would obviously be a huge draw.

Last week’s edition of the Uproxx Music 20 column shined a light on Nigerian singer FAVE and her new EP Dutty Love. This week, we’re staying on the African continent, but heading over to Kenya where the spotlight shifts to Xenia Manasseh. The 27-year-old singer is actively exploring the heights and depths of love. It’s a journey that began in 2023 with the release of her debut album Love/Hate Pt. 1. Through that album, Manasseh preached that “it’s okay to be vulnerable and to confront how they feel and see that there’s a lot of beauty that can come out of that.” That confrontation can come through acceptance or a fight to preserve, but acknowledging that it’s all in the name of love makes it worthwhile.

That sentiment remains true on Love/Hate Pt. 2. The project, which Manasseh released back in September, arrives presents a fiercer version of the singer. Yes, they are free-spirited and lively moments like “Asali” and “Longer,” but ferocity guides the bulk of the album. “Dare You” with Waye captures Manasseh on the offensive as she warns an ex of what lies ahead as she remains scorned from their past foray in romance. “Fire” places Manasseh on a well-deserved pedestal and out of the shadows of insecure men, while “Sober” capture an alcohol-fuel spiral that snowballs despite her desire to go cold turkey.

A few removed from the release of Love/Hate Pt. 2, Uproxx found a moment to chat with Xenia Manasseh who is this week’s Uproxx Music 20 artist. Scroll down to learn more about Xenia Manasseh’s inspirations, aspirations, and influences.

• FAVE Begins Her Best Chapter Yet With The Freeing ‘Dutty Love’
• Skylar Simone’s Growth Is As Remarkable As Her Voice On ‘Shiver’
• Fergie Baby Blends Nostalgia And Innovation On The Prideful ‘Harlem River Drive: North’
• Dylan Sinclair’s ‘For The Boy In Me’ Champions The Beauty Behind Love And Intimacy
• Jaz Karis’ ‘Safe Flight’ Is A Soaring Debut And A Tasteful Melting Pot Of R&B Flavors

What is your earliest memory of music?

My earliest memory of music is playing the piano in kindergarten.

Who or what inspired you to take music seriously?

Not really sure I was necessarily inspired by someone else to take it seriously, I like to think me and music chose each other.

Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?

I can play the piano, guitar, bass, and drums. I started playing all of these (except bass) when I was much younger, but I just don’t get the chance to practice enough.

What was your first job?

Probably being a “secretary” for my grandma.

What is your most prized possession?

My heart.

What is your biggest fear?

I try not to use the word fear anymore because I truly believe that it manifests everything that comes with it into my life.

Who is on your R&B Mt. Rushmore?

Brandy, India Arie, Erykah Badu, and Alex Isley.

You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!

I’d love to be in the mountains or by the beach somewhere in a big house with a fully equipped studio and just spend the day making music and having fun with the homies.

What are your three most used emojis?

,, and .

What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?

Brandy.

If you could appear in a future season of a current TV show, which one would it be and why?

Avatar The Last Airbender: Live Action because this is my favorite show ever and just to say I was a part of the franchise. I’ll give number 2 to Abbot Elementary, top tier humor.

Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?

A public figure I’d probably like to sit down and have lunch with is Sadh Guru. I enjoy talking & learning about life and its philosophies & I feel like we’d do that but also actually have a lot of fun together.

Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.

Avatar The Last Airbender is the best show in the world.

What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?

That’s a hard one to answer I can think of so many… but it always comes down to the writing and it’s always a love song.

What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?

Nairobi [is my favorite]; Paris & Tokyo.

You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.

Brandy, Alex Isley, Khadja Nin, Manana, and Lucky Daye.

What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?

Playing sports or dance.

If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?

I have no clue, I’m happy with the present moment, this is where I heal and learn from the past and also build for the future.

What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?

It’s okay to let go, life will always go on and it is 100% what you make it.

It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?

I won’t be that old, so I hope it’s still a reminder of this crazy journey we call life. Hope I continue to see my growth through it and that it remains a reminder that it’s okay to feel.

Love/Hate Pt. 2 is out now via Manasseh Entertainment LLC. Find out more information here.

Well, an updated Carrie take was not on the bingo card for followers of Mike Flanagan adapting Stephen King works. In fact, this intersection of horror fanbases wasn’t entirely thrilled about those The Exorcist reboot plans interrupting their hopes that a long-gestating The Dark Tower series would be announced as the launching point of Flanagan’s Prime Video/Amazon deal after he departed Netflix.

Did that proclamation happen? Not yet. Flanagan himself is surely holding out hope that he will eventually do more with his previewed vision for The Gunslinger‘s opening moments to kick off a broader The Dark Tower series. For now, however, audiences can look forward to another Carrie. Really? Believe it. Let’s review how this happened and what to expect.

Plot

Everybody who has dabbled in Stephen King books and adaptations is aware of Brian De Palma’s 1970s adaptation starring Sissy Spacek. Pig’s blood and foreshadowing with tampons certainly are visuals that stick in moviegoers’ minds, along with Carrie’s telekinesis-powered, homecoming-queen revenge upon those who ceaselessly bullied her. Multiple attempts have been made to repackage this terror-filled story, and those efforts included a TV movie in the aughts, an incredibly short-lived Broadway musical (perhaps the “worst” musical in Broadway history) that lost millions of dollars, and a forgettable 2013 remake starring Chloe Moretz.

Carrie has arguably been done “to death,” so how, exactly, did an eight-episode series version (as revealed by Deadline) of the story become Mike Flanagan’s introductory Amazon MGM Studios project? While speaking with Movieweb (via Screenrant), Flanagan revealed how Amazon actually reached out because they were interested in a retooling (“they said, ‘Hey, would you have any interest in Carrie?’”). Flanagan didn’t immediately see the value in this project (either), but he warmed up to the idea:

“I had to think about it, because my first instinct is always — why? It’s been done perfectly by De Palma, it’s then been done three other times after the fact. Why do it again? Carrie White is a story about high school violence and bullying, and that feels immediate and important today, unfortunately, even more kind of sharply relevant than I think it was when he wrote it.”

Did he say “more relevant”? Flanagan sees tech as key to a remake’s spirit. Hmm:

“So there felt like a chance for some true modernization beyond just changing the time period, and to use it to talk about the issues that affect high school kids in America today. You know, Carrie White walking through a metal detector is interesting to me. Carrie White with social media. The iconic scene in the locker room is very different when people have phones in their hands. So that was the first germ of an idea, like, there is room for this to actually have a lot to say that’s very relevant.”

This doesn’t immediately sound like groundbreaking material — many horror films have attempted commentary on compounding technology for better and worse — but if anybody can pull this off and make Carrie work, 50 years after the fact, it’s Mike Flanagan. And hey, it’s also worth noting that this news came five years after FX announced a limited series that never surfaced, so it’s honestly likely that somebody would make a TV show, and and the world does not need another bad King adaptation, so if this has to happen, Flanagan is the man because horror audiences trust him more than anybody with King’s material.

Flanagan also chatted with CinemaBlend to reiterate that he found it essential to answer the “Why?” for himself (one that King agreed with) before signing onto to a reboot:

“One of the only questions I had when it was first put on the table was ‘Why?’, and if I couldn’t answer ‘Why do this again?’ for myself, then there was no point in pursuing the project. It’d the same muscle. I will say that it’s the same feeling I had when we approached The Turn of the Screw, which had been adapted dozens of times. And it’s like, ‘Okay, how do we do this completely differently?’”

Prime Video/Amazon hasn’t released an update synopsis yet, but Flanagan’s got this.

Trailer

Obviously, we will not see a trailer for awhile, but looking back at how Flanagan handled Prospero’s death scene in The Fall Of The House of Usher, he’s got hellish dance parties in his back pocket for miles.

Cast

No confirmed cast members have been named yet, but a Sissy Spacek cameo feels like an essential tribute to the Brian De Palma film. We can also expect Flanagan to recruit some of his usual suspects, including Carla Gugino, Annabeth Gish, Rahul Kohli, Mark Hamill, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Victoria Pedretti, Henry Thomas, and Kate Siegel.

Could he perhaps include freaky Midnight Mass vampire-priest Hamish Linklater as Principal Morton? This has to happen.

Release Date

Once Flanagan begins production on a project, he works fast, as his Netflix TV series run (which arrived on an efficient annual clip) proved. As a result, this series could go into overdrive next year with a 2026 arrival.