Year: 2024

Bill Walton died on Monday after a battle with cancer at the age of 71, and the news stunned and saddened the basketball world.

The tributes and memories fans, players, and media members shared of Walton offered a terrific example of how he had such a lasting impact on the game. From his time at UCLA to Portland to San Diego to Boston, people posted stories of Walton’s on-court prowess and anecdotes from his career. Others remembered Walton’s time calling the NBA on NBC, providing the soundtrack to the biggest games of the 90s. Many younger fans remember Walton’s most recent chapter as a broadcaster, calling college basketball games (mostly in the Pac-12) for ESPN.

His partner for the majority of those games was Dave Pasch, who had an incredible chemistry with Walton, playing the straight man trying to call games while Walton wandered about, going down whatever path his mind presented to often discuss anything and everything but the game. They were a joy to watch, and on Monday, Pasch called in to SportsCenter to offer a remembrance of his longtime partner and share a touching anecdote about Walton, the person.

He also offered up an incredibly funny story of how they made up a bit about George Lucas creating Chewbacca in Walton’s image and then it got picked up by big entertainment outlets.

It is a perfect tribute to Walton by someone who knew him like few do, and a glimpse into the man who was a truly unique force. Another of Walton’s play-by-play partners, Jason Benetti, who called games with him on ESPN and later joined Walton for the always bizarre Throw It Down simulcast on NBA League Pass, posted a similarly fitting tribute to the legend.

The sports world was met with sad news today, May 27: Bill Walton, basketball hall-of-famer and NBA legend, is dead at 71 years old after a battle with cancer. This is a noteworthy loss for the music world, too: If you know two things about Walton aside from his basketball achievements, one is that he had an unceasingly optimistic and offbeat personality. The other is that he was perhaps the world’s biggest (both in terms of enthusiasm and physical size) Grateful Dead fan.

Naturally, when Dead & Company — an offshoot band featuring some original Grateful Dead members, John Mayer, and others — launched nearly a decade ago, Walton was all in. This means Mayer has gotten to know Walton a bit, and back in 2023, he spoke about his experiences with the sports icon.

Mayer was Walton’s guest on an interview-style NBA broadcast in January 2023, and he reminisced about Walton speaking to him before taking the stage for a Dead & Company show. It was very Bill Walton.

Mayer said, “You know, it’s really just him being very laser-sharp. When Bill gives you advice, he looks you dead in the eye and everything stops, and he speaks with this cadence: ‘Go out there, give it your absolute all. Don’t be shy, they are here to watch you play. Go play to the greatest of your ability.’”

Mayer also noted that Walton gave him “some of the greatest compliments I’ve ever been given,” including “some very nice things that sent me on stage with a lot of confidence.”

Dead & Company, by the way, is in the midst of a run of shows at Sphere in Las Vegas.

Check out the Mayer/Walton clip above and revisit more of the broadcast below. Basketball fans have also been sharing their favorite clips of Walton, so find some of those here.

It was a weekend for Nicki Minaj. On Saturday, May 25, Minaj live-posted her chaotic arrest at an Amsterdam airport during her Pink Friday 2 World Tour. According to The Associated Press, Netherlands police “discovered marijuana in her bags as she was preparing to leave the country.”

Minaj was released later that night, as reported by various reputable outlets, after “sitting in a jail cell for five-to-six hours,” according to Minaj. The debacle forced Minaj to postpone her scheduled May 25 Pink Friday 2 World Tour concert in Manchester, England. (Minaj also had a pre-existing May 30 Manchester show on her tour.)

“OK guys, I was JUST RE-ADVISED that we actually CAN NOT do any other date for the make up #gagcityMANCHESTER date besides JUNE 3rd,” Minaj wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, May 27. “So JUNE 3rd is the new official date for all ticket holders who originally had tickets to the MAY 25th #Manchester show. I apologize for all the inconvenience this has caused. I really hope you can make the #JUNE3rd show. It’ll be really special. Ticketmaster will contact you to advise officially. #GAGCITY Love you.”

Minaj was able to perform as scheduled in Birmingham, England, on Sunday, May 26, and she will hit up London’s famed The O2 on May 28, Glasgow on May 29, Manchester on May 30, Paris on June 1, and Amsterdam on June 2, before looping back to make up her May 25 Manchester date on June 3.

See all of Minaj’s remaining dates here, and check out some of her posts regarding the matter below.

While the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef is primarily focused on those two rappers, others, like Metro Boomin, have gotten involved as well. Things have mostly died down in terms of the feud, and now Metro was even joking about it on a recent Instagram Live broadcast from 21 Savage.

21 Savage hopped on Instagram Live over the weekend, and at one point, he added Metro to the broadcast, as HipHopDX notes. However, Metro jokingly called 21 “OVO Savage” in the comments section, also joking, “I JUS KNOW U GOT A OWL TRAMP STAMP.”

After realizing what happened, 21 booted Metro from the broadcast and said, “Oh, you was talking sh*t, b*tch? Get off my Live. […] I’m finna block this n****.” He then quoted Drake’s “Push Ups” and yelled, “Metro, shut your ho-ass up and make some drums, n****.”

21 is of course caught in the middle of the Drake and Kendrick Lamar feud: Metro is on Kendrick’s side, while 21 has a relationship with both Drake and Metro. In a different Live session from earlier this month, 21 said, “Don’t keep coming on to my motherf*cking Live talking about no motherf*cking beef. Metro my brother and Drake my brother. Those n****s going to figure that sh*t out eventually.”

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.