Richard Gadd’s semi-autobiographical Baby Reindeer hit Netflix like a bolt of lightning last year. The limited series, which revolved around Gadd’s account of being stalked while also reckoning with his own history of trauma, felt similar in vibe and tone to Michaela Coel’s gut punch, I May Destroy You, which took BBC and HBO by storm in 2020. And whaddya know, both visionaries now have projects in the works for BBC and HBO.

In Coel’s case, First Day On Earth will follow her as (another) novelist character with writers’ block who explores identity while visiting her parents’ homeland in West Africa by way of a film set. And what of Gadd’s Half Man? Let’s get down to business on what to expect.

Plot

Formerly titled Lions, this six-episode limited series began filming in February, as revealed by Gadd on Instagram with production taking place in Glasgow, Scotland. Seeing Gadd in front of the camera is excellent news since he actually didn’t intend to star in this series, but somebody must have talked some sense into him because Gadd’s presence in embodying his own stories surely cannot be beat. As a result, he will portray Ruben, one of two estranged brothers, who surfaces at the wedding of Jamie Gadd’s opposing force, Niall. There, the strained relationship will approach a violent breaking point. BBC has provided a series description:

Spanning almost forty years from the 1980s to the present day, this ambitious series will cover the highs and lows of the brothers’ relationship, from them meeting as teenagers to their falling out as adults – with all the good, bad, terrible, funny, angry, and challenging moments along the way. It will capture the wild energy of a changing city – a changing world, even – and try to get to the bottom of the difficult question… What does it mean to be a man?

Deadline previously reported that Gadd penned this series while hoping to cast Bell but still “never thinking for a second we would manage to land him.” And given how razor-sharp Gadd’s writing tends to be, we can expect fireworks as accordingly as they were promised.

Additionally, we can expect much more of Richard Gadd at Netflix after Half Man finishes production. According to CEO Ted Sarandos, that streaming service snagged “our first-look deal with Richard Gadd to do his first work at Netflix.” Sarandos added, “I think he’s a brilliant storyteller… I’m very proud of Richard of the story he told and the way he told it, and it is his true story.” As a side note, Netflix and Gadd have formed a united front on the lawsuit from Fiona Harvey, who has sued Netflix for $170 million, alleging defamation over the “Martha” character. That lawsuit is currently set for a May trial date.

Cast

Along with Gadd and Bell, Mitchell Robertson and Stuart Campbelll will portray the brothers at earlier ages. This show has also gathered up an ensemble cast, including Neve McIntosh as Lori, mother to Niall; Marianne McIvor as Maura, mother to Ruben; Amy Manson; Julie Cullen; Charlie De Melo; Bilal Hasna; Scot Greenan; Calum Manchip; Philippine Velge; Piers Ewart; Stuart McQuarrie; and Charlotte Blackwood.

Release Date

BBC revealed that Half Man will surface in 2026, both on BBC One and HBO.

Trailer

If you haven’t seen the onstage breakdown scene that inspired the same in Baby Reindeer, then have at it.

And here’s a replay of the scene as adapted by Gadd for Netflix.

It’s a good time to be a fan of the adult animation. Old standards like The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, and South Park are still around, of course, and they’re joined by (relative) newcomers like Solar Opposites, Invincible, and Big Mouth, as well as Adult Swim favorites Rick and Morty and Common Side Effects. The Cartoon Network block is also the home of Smiling Friends, which is so odd, so funny, and, most of all, so good.

Here’s everything to know about Smiling Friends season 3.

Plot

Created by Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack, Smiling Friends follows the employees of a charitable company that is tasked with bringing joy to its clients by any means necessary. There’s pessimistic Charlie, cheerful Pim, deadpan Allan (meet his biggest fan), cutie Glep, and their boss, Mr. Boss.

There’s no plot details about season 3 yet, but Cusack (who also created YOLO) talked to The Wrap about his and Hadel’s creative process. “Me and Zach love to challenge ourselves for new mediums of animation,” he said. “In YOLO, I dip into it sometimes, but I never want to take that spirit away from Smiling Friends because that’s where it’s really been established.”

Hadel continued:

“If it gets too weird, you can find audiences getting a little lost. It is nice to be able to have a grounded, character-driven drama… Otherwise, it’s just strangeness for the sake of it, and you cannot really relate to anything.”

Previously, Hadel and Cusack made it clear that Smiling Friends will always be a jokes-first show. “A lot of comedy shows tend to get serious. I don’t think Charlie and Pim could cry and anybody would care. It would just be annoying. So it would probably end before it gets to that point,” Hadel said. “This show is hopefully kind of an escape. We always think about when we worked minimum-wage jobs, we would get home and just want to watch YouTube cartoons and South Park and Always Sunny. There’s something nice about being a little comedy thing, and that’s it.” Cusack added that they want to keep “a continuous tone with Smiling Friends, where you can tune in in any season.”

For now, enjoy some Smiling Friends “fan casting” (Chris Pratt jump scare!).

Cast

Much like South Park, most of the main characters on Smiling Friends are voiced by the show’s co-creators: Michael Cusack (Pim, Allan, Mr. Frog) and Zach Hadel (Charlie, Glep, Gwimbly). But there’s also Marc M. as The Boss.

Release Date

It was confirmed in June 2024 that Smiling Friends was renewed for season 3. A premiere date has not been announced yet, but Cusack told Comic Book that production on season 3 is going “really good. We’re in such a great stride right now. Seeing as we’ve had two seasons to work up to this, we know the characters so much more now. It’s going really well.” A 2025 debut is possible.

Trailer

There (Glep) is (Glep) no (Glep) trailer (Glep) but (Glep) there (Glep) is Glep (Glep).

Jordan Chiles is in the spotlight again, but not from the 2024 Paris Olympics and though she is a medalist and an Olympian, at the moment her star is shining brighter than ever due to her Big Ten-leading run with UCLA gymnastics that has been drawing record-setting crowds all season. You probably are familiar with Jordan’s story to some degree at this point, but if you aren’t — at just 23 years old, Chiles has been a member of the US National Team for 10 years, won Silver at the 2020 Olympics, Gold at the 2022 World Championships and won several NCAA championships as a member of the UCLA team. She trains alongside Ms. Biles and she’s fanatical about smoothies and junk food.

Recently, Too Good & Co. (Danone N.A.) teamed up with Chiles and the partnership could not be more authentic, Chiles’ high intensity training and competition regimen requires laser focus and the Too Good & Co. smoothies are the protein punch she relies on to power through her days. Not to mention, they’re low sugar, so she can still indulge in all of her sweet favorites.

We spoke with Chiles and the Olympian gymnast shared her love for candy, chips and fruit snacks as well as her eating habits when training for competitions (and her favorite Too Good & Co smoothie flavor). She also put us on to some of her favorite places to eat in her native Oregon and her family’s affinity for chain restaurants. Lastly, we got the tea on the real gem of Paris casual dining during the 2024 Olympics, and what her go-to order is there.

What’s on your rider?

I don’t eat healthy whatsoever. I do have one healthy thing though. In that timeframe of me having, you know, oatmeal crème pies and Doritos and all those other crazy snacks, I have Too Good & Co. smoothies. It’s one of my partnerships.

It’s light and simple. But other than that, I love Sour Patch Kids. I have Kit Kats. I have different types of drinks. Pringles, pretzels, I have a crazy rider. I know I’m an athlete, but it’s crazy.

What’s your favorite flavor of Sour Patch Kids?

I love Sour Patch watermelons.

What’s your favorite flavor of Doritos?

I like Nacho Cheese Doritos. Pringles, I like the original.

Which smoothies are your favorite from Too Good & Co.?

My favorite flavor is peach, but they also have mixed berries and strawberry bananas.

What’s your eating or snacking regimen like during your training period? Are you carb-heavy, protein-heavy? Are there any specific foods that you love to eat while you’re training?

It’s not carb-heavy at all. That’s one thing about me. The only carb-like stuff that I eat, typically, is during lunch and dinner, but snack-wise I’m a sweet type of girl. I think my favorite thing is seaweed, I love seaweed, like the teriyaki-flavored seaweed. I like fruit snacks. Welch’s fruit snacks are really good.

What about meals though, what are you eating for lunch and dinner when you’re training?

Well, it depends. I’m not a breakfast person. During competitions, I don’t really eat lunches, unless it’s something light. I love salmon a lot. Specifically, if it’s blackened.

Is that because of your Pacific Northwestern background?

No. I just like fish. I like seafood, like crab, lobster. I love sushi. I’m different than all the rest of my family.

You are from the Portland area, they do have some of the best salmon in the world, right?

They do. Yes. The fish in Oregon is really, really good. If anybody wants to go to Oregon just for the fish, do it. Because it’s really good.

What are your go-to Portland food spots?

There’s Fogo de Chão. I would say go to Fogo. There’s a place called Burgerville, it’s a drive-through food spot. They have really good fish and chips. They have really good cod sandwiches. My favorite thing is their fish and chips, and I get it all the time. Their fries are good. It’s kind of hard, because a majority of the time, I always had home-cooked meals (growing up). And when we did go out, we’d go to typical restaurants that are everywhere, like Red Lobster.

Are you more of a sweet or savory snacker?

I’m savory sweet. Kettle corn is really good. The white chocolate covered-pretzels, I really like.

When you’re traveling for competitions, are you bringing any foods with you?

When I go into the airport and I go into one of those little stores, I typically will grab a chip, a candy, and a drink. It’s just whatever I’m in the mood for. Sometimes, I’ll go for a barbecue chip, or Lay’s. Sometimes, I’ll do Pringles. Sometimes I’ll do Doritos. Candy-wise, I’ll do Swedish Fish, or I’ll do Sour Patch Kids. I’ll do Kit Kat or Skittles.

When you’re competing and you get to the hotel, are you going to CVS to grab a bunch of snacks, or are you hitting the mini bar — What’s your move?

So, a lot of the time, I’ll find restaurants in whatever city we’re in. I use Uber and DoorDash a lot, because I just like to be settled in my room.

Sometimes, I’ll either Instacart or I’ll use Uber, DoorDash to bring snacks. I do both. Snacks and meals at the same time.

I like your style. Covering all the bases.

Yes. Always. Starbucks is always a go-to, too, in the morning.

And what’s your order at Starbucks?

Oh, it depends on the season. Right now, since we’re in the fall, it’s a Venti Iced Pumpkin Chai Tea Latte, with a Sausage and Cheddar Sandwich and a Birthday Cake Waffle.

So, if you could be an ambassador for any snack or food brand outside of the smoothie world, which, obviously, you’ve already infiltrated, what would you pick?

Oh, I would love to be the face of Hershey. I don’t like chocolate like that. But I would love to be the face of it.

I want to hear about your food experience at the Olympics. Did you like the food in Paris?

I can tell you this, there was a Panda Express that was outside the village. That was the best spot. And it wasn’t a normal typical Panda Express.

What’s your order at Panda Express?

I always do the plate with half chow mein, half fried rice, and then, double orange chicken. So, Panda, if you want to sponsor to me!

You ate at a lot of franchise restaurants growing up. Red Lobster, Cheesecake Factory, etc. If you had to pick a franchise for your family to own, what would you pick?

See, that’s kind of hard. I’d probably say Wendy’s. I love Wendy’s. Wendy’s is my favorite.

What’s your go-to at Wendy’s?

I always get a 10 piece spicy or regular chicken nugget meal with a small vanilla Frosty, so I can dip my fries in the Frosty.

And what are you dipping the nuggets in?

Ranch. I love ranch. I don’t like barbecue sauce. I don’t like honey mustard. Ketchup just is too plain for me.

The Best New Hip-Hop This Week includes albums, videos, and songs from Jack Harlow, Doja Cat, and Wale.

First things first: Jack Harlow and Doja Cat make a cute couple in the video for Jack’s new single, “Just Us.” I’m not saying I’m gonna start shipping celebrities; I’m just saying, I think I kinda get it now.

Wale returned with the latest single from his upcoming Def Jam debut, “Blanco.” It’s a great song, meeting the standard he’s set over the past decade, but it is a little more vulnerable than we might be used to from him. I hope he’s doing okay.

Funnily enough, the latest single from Nav’s upcoming, long-awaited album, On My Way 2 Rexdale has a similar angle, but less… regret? He says you can only see the “Real Me” when he’s coming down, which makes for great scumbag rap and some mild concerns for Nav’s future if any of this is even a little bit true.

Lil Durk is the quintessential tough guy, but lowers his guard a bit for “Can’t Hide It” with Jhené Aiko.

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending March 21, 2025.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Che Noir & Superior — Seeds In Babylon

First of all, congrats to Che Noir, who recently revealed that she’s soon to become a mom. We’ve come a long way since Rah Digga battling dudes at open mics while in her third trimester was a mind-blowing feat; most of the women in rap who’ve become moms during their careers recorded and performed while pregnant at least a little bit. But Che deserves extra props because of how consistent she’s been for the past five years. If anyone’s earned a break, it’s the Buffalo native, who often makes her own beats in addition to writing the rhymes. Also consistent? The quality of her releases, which continues as she releases this meditation on her impending motherhood.

Money Man — Insomnia

With the release of Playboi Carti’s new album, Music, I’ve seen an increase in chatter about his atypical approach to what we’ve come to think of as the Atlanta sound. That’s true to a degree, but if you think about it, so’s Money Man, who’s been quietly chugging away just below the radar.If you consider the Atlanta trap sound to be the various offshoots of the Future/Young Thug family tree, Money Man feels a like a throwback to when they all had a little more Gucci in their DNA.

Mutant Academy — The Coldest Season Ever

The Virginia crew dropped their debut group project last year, but broke with the usual tradition of big crews like this, following up less than a year later. For the life of me, I’m not completely sure why I haven’t seen more buzz for them; their take on the hazy, backpacker-influenced abstract rap purveyed by the likes of Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE is every bit as compelling, with crispy, soulful production. I can only attribute it to their origins; off the beaten path of established rap industry infrastructure, their breakout will be, at best, only delayed. They are the real deal.

Smoke DZA — The Barcelona Tape

Speaking of backpack rap, if you’ve been reading this column with any regularity, you could probably infer my feelings about the Harlemite, who reminds me very much of an East Coast version of Larry June and Dom Kennedy. Dope beats, dope rhymes, relatable luxury lifestyle raps, a slight air of criminality without the sort of specificity that makes most coke rap sound kinda fake (sorry man, nobody has ever cooked a brick in an air fryer, and if they did, they sure didn’t TELL PEOPLE). I really, really like most of Smoke’s releases; this one is no different.

Singles/Videos

Black Eyed Peas — “Yesterday”

Disclaimer: Will.I.Am pays some of the bills around here, and we’re both Compton cats, but what I need you to understand is, even before FYI and Uproxx joined forces, I was trying to convince my readers that Black Eyed Peas had evolved beyond being the dance-pop punchlines you might remember them as (and hey, not for nothing, those songs sold A LOT. Some of you are protesting too much, methinks). On their latest, they go full on “jackin for beats,” touching on practically every fan-favorite hit from the ’80s and ’90s that first spawned BEP. It’s slick, it’s smart, and it’s a slap to the back of the head for everybody complaining about the “state of hip-hop.” It never left. Get in them damn crates, sucka.

Buddy — “Hopped Out” Feat. Huey Briss

Compton and Long Beach together, now you know… My Compton compatriot previously collaborated with Northside Briss on his 2024 album Don’t Forget To Breathe, and clearly, they enjoyed the process. Buddy is one of those artists whose collaborations, whether they’re with Guapdad 4000, Kent Jamz, or Huey Briss, always give the air of the best sort of buddy movies (sorry), like two guys just hanging out sharing good vibes you can’t help but want to be part of.

De La Soul — “Respect”

Here’s an interesting release. De La recently reissued their 2004 fan favorite album, The Grind Date, with a few previously unreleased tracks, including this one. It’s… a little bittersweet to hear a “new” Maseo verse and with the simplicity of its instrumental it’s easy to see why it was left off the original tracklist. But it’s a dope curio of a specific time and place in hip-hop, and a solid showing from one of the earliest pioneers of regular-guy rap.

Icewear Vezzo — “Worth Something” Feat. Big Sean & Peezy

Detroit’s bubbling local scene is remarkably tightly-knit when compared to the analogous scenes in rap meccas like New York and Los Angeles. Case in point, if Big Sean were from one of the aforementioned cities, it’d be unlikely to see him collabing with the commensurate up-and-comer a la Vezzo… and yet. Here we are, with Sean delivering one of his vintage verses and Vezzo getting a co-sign from one of his city’s most successful hip-hop artists.

IDK — “Clover” Feat. Joey Valence & Brae

I don’t know (heh) who put the battery in IDK’s back this year, but the way he’s been pushing product out the door in 2025 is a strong argument for both artists going independent, and that the DMV native deserves a lot more attention than he’s been getting. “Clover” is a ’90s throwback of the variety that we haven’t really heard in nearly a decade. It sounds so fresh in spite of that, which is impressive in itself. The features are very reminiscent of Beastie Boys or those Fred Durst verses where he nearly hung in there with Method Man for a bit.

JT — “Ran Out”

City Girls may be more or less kaput (I think), but JT — the half of the group who always seemed to take rap more seriously than her partner-in-rhyme anyway — seems determined to keep going, with or without the City Girls name. Her flow here is brash and confident, her rhymes are sneakily hilarious (“I’d rock consignment before I go out sad”), and, well, if you’re the type who needs the visual component to appreciate women’s raps, it’s there.

Moneybagg Yo — “Close The Door”

The former Uproxx cover star drops a fresh dose of pain rap for Memphis, offering a glimpse at his next project, which presumably drops sometime this year.

Reign — “Somebody Lied”

Okay, hear me out, here: This was released as a single a few months ago, but the EP it’s on dropped today, so I feel this justifies its inclusion. Uproxx’s own Wongo Okon put me on and I rock with it. There’s a clear focus on lyrics — a big criteria for me, as a hip-hop head born in the ’80s — and beats that could, at the right volumes, knock the silver fillings right out of your teeth. What more do you need?

Shoreline Mafia — “Back In Bidness”

I’m from the West; we used to pray for times like this. OhGeesy told us a little bit about the crew’s impending reunion last month, but it’s nice to see them pick up where they left off and run with it. They’re a duo now, but that allows both Geesy and Fenix Flexin to shine all the brighter, resulting in a more focused effort that’s still a lot of fun.

Wiz Khalifa — “Blindfold” Feat. Luh Tyler

A couple points here: one, Wiz has quietly been on one of the best runs of his career over the past year or so, and this truly deserves more attention. Two: he’s back sampling Super Nintendo classics. This is a notable aspect of the above, but needed its own point, and anyone who’s been listening to Wiz since let’s say Star Power (or at least Kush & OJ before it hit streaming) knows why. Three: you have to love this sort of mentorship. For the past couple of years I’ve been writing about Tyler, I haven’t been able to put my finger on what it is I find so compelling about him, and today, I did. He’s the Zoomer version of cool-guy rappers like Wiz, who don’t really have grimy street stories to relay, or witty lyrical trickery that puts them in that rappidy rappin ass rapper category. He’s just, like, fun to listen to the way Pharcyde or Tribe was. We need more of this, I think; rage is overrated.

For 25 years, Ultra Music Festival has been the beating heart of Miami’s electronic music scene, bringing together some of the world’s biggest DJs and most passionate fans for a weekend of pure dancefloor euphoria. As Miami Music Week takes over the city with poolside parties and after-hours club takeovers, the grand finale at Bayfront Park promises to be its most legendary yet. If you don’t have your hotel booked yet, time is running out!

From March 28th-30th, Ultra will celebrate its milestone 25th edition with a stacked lineup featuring more than 170 artists from across the electronic spectrum. Attendees can expect a weekend of history-making performances, including the world-exclusive Anyma B2B Solomun set, the global debut of Carl Cox’s ‘Evolution’ live show, the first-ever deadmau5 b2b Pendulum DJ set, the Miami debut of Dom Dolla and John Summit’s ‘Everything Always’ superduo, the world debut NGHTMRE b2b Sullivan King set, and the U.S. debut of Chase & Status’ new live show, among a slew of others.

But Ultra isn’t just about the music, it’s about the moments. Over the past two and a half decades, the festival has been home to career-defining sets, surprise B2Bs, and unforgettable fan experiences. To honor Ultra’s legacy, we asked some of this year’s returning artists–Hardwell, Sam Feldt, KASIA, Flux Pavilion, and Doctor P–to reflect on their most memorable moments at the festival. Let’s take a trip down memory lane with the artists who have helped shape Ultra’s legacy to prepare for this year’s landmark edition.

Hardwell (@hardwell)

What was your first time playing Ultra like? Any standout memories from that set?

Playing the mainstage for first time in 2012 was such a “wow” moment. It was a dream come true. I remember playing “Spaceman” and seeing the entire crowd lose their minds. I realized in that moment that things would be different from there onwards. It was my first real introduction to the American festival scene, and that set truly changed my career.

What’s your most unforgettable Ultra moment from past years?

My return in 2022 is a moment I’ll never forget! The anticipation, the emotion, the crowd going insane, it was unreal energy! It was an insanely nervous moment for me, going out there with a completely new sound, playing music, no one had heard yet, but dropping my REBELS NEVER DIE sound for the first time was also a statement. I wanted to come back with something fresh, something harder, and something with a different sense of emotion behind it. That whole set still gives me chills! Incredible!

What’s one track (yours or someone else’s) that defines Ultra’s energy for you?

The combination of “Spaceman” and Ultra will always be special for me, just because of what it represents – pure festival euphoria. The energy from the crowd around that track is simply something else. It has become such an anthem for the Ultra crowd. It’s mindblowing.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen or experienced at Ultra?

Ultra is full of crazy moments but one that stands out was seeing people climb trees just to get a better view of the Mainstage. Ultra just brings that level of passion where people will do anything to feel part of the moment.

If you could go B2B with any artist from Ultra’s past 25 years, who would it be and why?

Great question! Given his impact and how much of an incredible talent he was, not just for me, but also the Ultra fans, it has to be Avicii. His music changed the game, and his melodies were on another level. Going B2B with him at Ultra would have been something truly magical. He was a genius, and his legacy will always live on in dance music.

If you had to describe Ultra in just one word, what would it be?

Limitless! My reason is because every year, Ultra proves that there are no boundaries to how far dance music can go.

Sam Feldt (@samfeldt)

What was your first time playing Ultra like? Any standout memories from that set?

My first Ultra set was a milestone moment in my career. Getting to share my signature tropical house sound on one of dance music’s biggest stages was surreal. The way the crowd embraced that fresh, melodic sound in that massive festival setting showed me I was on the right path.

What’s your most unforgettable Ultra moment from past years?

Returning to the Ultra mainstage in 2022 after five years away was incredibly special. The energy was electric, and it kicked off an amazing new chapter – leading to my return in 2023 for an unforgettable Endless Summer set with Jonas Blue, and now my upcoming 2025 performance where I’ll be premiering tracks from my new album “Time After Time.”

What’s one track (yours or someone else’s) that defines Ultra’s energy for you?

“Crying On The Dancefloor” with Jonas Blue has become my Ultra anthem. When we dropped it during our 2023 mainstage set, the reaction was incredible. It perfectly captures that blend of emotional melody and festival energy that Ultra is known for.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen or experienced at Ultra?

The evolution of the festival’s production over the years has been mind-blowing. Going from performing with basic visuals to now having full synchronized production, timecoded visuals, and SFX has transformed how we can create moments for the crowd.

If you could go B2B with any artist from Ultra’s past 25 years, who would it be and why?

Jonas Blue – we’ve already proven our chemistry with Endless Summer and our mainstage B2B in 2023, and then again in Japan and Bali too! Our styles complement each other perfectly, blending melodic elements with high energy drops that Ultra’s crowd loves.

If you had to describe Ultra in just one word, what would it be?

Milestone. Every Ultra performance has marked a significant moment in my career – from my debut, to my 2022 return, to this year’s album premiere. It’s where dance music history is made.

KASIA (@kasia.music_)

What was your first time playing Ultra like? Any standout memories from that set?

I played Ultra for the first time three years ago at the Miami edition, on the Cove stage for Resistance. About ten years ago, before I lived in Miami, I used to fly to the city just for the festival—so being booked as a DJ and stepping onto that stage was a full-circle moment. It was an incredible feeling to finally be part of something that had meant so much to me for years. Performing in my own city made it even more special. At first, the pressure was high, and I was definitely nervous, but the moment I started playing, everything felt right. I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

What’s your most unforgettable Ultra moment from past years?

Being a part of Ultra for the past few years, both in Miami and Europe, has been an incredible journey. One of the standout moments was last year at Ultra Miami, playing the Megastructure stage for Resistance. That stage has always been one of my favorites, so stepping onto it felt just right.

Playing Ultra Europe in Croatia last summer was also special—the energy was out of this world, and the crowd was incredible. Everyone was so happy, and I could truly feel their energy. On top of that, my whole family flew in for the event, which made it even more meaningful to have them there with me. I also played the official afterparty on the island, which was the perfect way to close out an unforgettable experience. Moments like that remind me why I do this.

What’s one track (yours or someone else’s) that defines Ultra’s energy for you?

If I had to choose one track that defines the energy of Ultra, it would be my remix of Ferry Corsten’s “Punk.” The original is a trance classic, but my version brings it into the melodic techno realm while keeping that high-energy, peak-time spirit alive. It’s a track that blends intensity with moments of love, creating pure adrenaline and a deep connection with the crowd. I’ll definitely be serving it in my set this year, so stay tuned.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen or experienced at Ultra?

One of the craziest things I’ve experienced at Ultra was last year in Miami. It was pouring rain the entire day, but what surprised me the most was that no one cared—people were dancing in the mud, completely unfazed, as if the weather didn’t matter. The energy was unreal, and if anything, the rain only made the crowd wilder. No one was leaving until they had no choice when the festival had to be shut down. Seeing that kind of dedication and pure joy, despite the conditions, was something I’ll never forget.

If you could go B2B with any artist from Ultra’s past 25 years, who would it be and why?

If I could go back-to-back with any artist from Ultra’s past 25 years, it would have to be a true pioneer—someone who has shaped the sound of electronic music and continues to push boundaries. Carl Cox, Adam Beyer, or Amelie Lens would be my top choices. Each of them brings a different kind of energy to the decks, but what they all have in common is their ability to create a deep, driving, and relentless journey that completely locks in the crowd. The best back-to-back sets aren’t just about playing tracks—they’re about reading each other’s energy, building tension, and creating a moment that people will never forget. That’s the kind of memory I’d want to make at Ultra.

If you had to describe Ultra in just one word, what would it be?

Electrifying!

Flux Pavilion (@fluxpavilion)

What was your first time playing Ultra like? Any standout memories from that set?

I was so young!! That’s the main thing that I think whenever I see videos. I remember just bringing the best of what I could do and the crowd was electric, it was at Ultra when I first realized how big this music was going to be.

What’s your most unforgettable Ultra moment from past years?

Realizing that the entire backstage is a boat definitely blew my mind, I’m not sure if it is anymore but that really made me feel like the festival was something else.

What’s one track (yours or someone else’s) that defines Ultra’s energy for you?

It’s hard not to choose “I Can’t Stop” because it ultimately defined the era for me that Ultra played a massive part in.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen or experienced at Ultra?

I remembered looking over to the side of stage when I was playing the world stage more recently and Slash from Guns n’ Roses was there just casually watching my set, that felt pretty surreal! He came up after and apparently was loving it!

If you could go B2B with any artist from Ultra’s past 25 years, who would it be and why?

Honestly the ideal b2b for me is always gonna be Doctor P. We are brothers and our styles magnify each others in a way that feels like magic. Absolutely can’t wait to do it again.

Doctor P (@doctorpcircus)

What was your first time playing Ultra like? Any standout memories from that set?

It was in 2012, I feel like the strongest memory is that this was we all realized how big dubstep had become in North America. Ultra is an iconic moment in every year, and we were in the middle of all that.

What’s your most unforgettable Ultra moment from past years?

Dropping the “Louder VIP” in 2013 on the main stage, without doubt one of the most mind blowing moments of my career.

What’s one track (yours or someone else’s) that defines Ultra’s energy for you?

Probably “Sweet Shop,” it ended up in the hands of so many different DJ’s in so many different genres. It’s a record that became a big electronic record, genre breaking. Which defines what Ultra is.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen or experienced at Ultra?

There is a more distinct heat in Miami when there’s no wind. Probably quite a British thing to say, but that shit’s crazy to me.

If you could go B2B with any artist from Ultra’s past 25 years, who would it be and why?

Flux Pavilion, obviously. We’re lucky to have found each other, we’re so close but so different, it works so well. It has been so much fun building up to it this year, I can’t wait for our fans to get to enjoy it again.

Nija is an undeniable force in the music industry, something that was stamped for the 2025 Grammy Awards as she was among the nominees for the inaugural Grammy Award for Songwriter of the Year. The Jersey native’s songwriting history includes work with Beyoncé, Summer Walker, City Girls, Meek Mill, Megan Thee Stallion, and many more. Aside from that, Nija is also continuing her journey as a singer and her latest single “32nd Floor” is the latest entry in the promising story.

The new single, which marks Nija’s first release since last year’s “Unruly,” captures the young singer in an intimate moment with a lover among a large crowd in Las Vegas. Seeking to take their bubbling feelings to their full limits, Nija and her partner slip away from the crowd and lose themselves in love on the 32nd floor. “When we in the hotel lobby, all of them people ‘round me,” she sings on the seductive record. “Keep calm, but as soon as we go up, boy you know you got me.”

“32nd Floor” is the latest offering from Nija’s upcoming R&B and hip-hop fusion project, which will follow he 2022 debut Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You.

You can listen to the song in the video above.

Simone Joy Jones is the gift that keeps on giving. Most know her as Lisa from the Peacock hit series Bel-Air, a spin-off of the classic Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, but after the show’s third season, Jones sought to cement her name in a new role: as a singer. As 2024 came to a close, Jones released her debut album Magnet under the moniker S!MONE.

“All of these songs or stories [are] from my last two years in LA, which, at the time, were just so pivotal” she tells Uproxx about the project.” I had gotten the biggest job of my life, so far. I’m still in my early 20s [and] I had been hurt falling out of love. So everything was just so potent.”

Magnet is an impressive body of work from that stamps her as a multi-talented artist. S!MONE charms through ten stories that explore the essence of magnetism and how we as humans are drawn to each other and experiences that are most beneficial when being our true selves. S!MONE offers raw records like “Homebody” and “Why Does It Rain?” as well as glamorous efforts like “Tangerine” and “Borderline.” Speaking about Magnet, S!MONE said “it boosted my confidence as a storyteller,” adding, “to see the growth from my very first EP that I made in my bedroom was exponential. [Magnet] helped me by just loving me back.”

Through just one listen of Magnet, S!MONE hopes that she can accomplish one goal with her listeners. “I hope I’ve told my experiences authentically enough so that people relate, or maybe they’ll judge me, but I welcome all of that,” she says. “Mostly, I hope they sing along and make these songs a part of their rotation.”

With Magnet out now, we placed S!MONE under the Uproxx Music 20 spotlight to learn more about her influences, inspirations, and aspirations. Scroll down to discover the best of S!MONE.

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What is your earliest memory of music?

It is definitely singing in the car with my parents, with our radio. We used to have Christian CDs and Prince CDs. Anything that was ’80s, they had it on CD. That’s my earliest memory and then it would be in church after that, with my mom. [This is around] four to six years old.

Who or what inspired you to take music seriously?

I feel like it was my parents because music was never a dream or a faraway thing for my parents. They always set it up as, “Oh yeah, that’s a career. If you see it, you could do it.” I remember in first grade, I went to my teachers and we had this assignment of “Who do you want to be when you grow up?” and I was like, “I’m gonna be a singer! I’m gonna be an actress!” and they were like, “Okay, we need a plan B because that’s gonna be really hard.” I took that assignment home, and my mom said, “You go tell that teacher that you don’t need a plan B and I don’t care if you fail because if you work really hard on your plan A, then it’s gonna work out. You don’t need a plan B.” That’s when it really became real to me.

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’m learning piano and guitar right now. I love this new… just being in control, it’s like speaking the same language as everybody else in the studio. I work with musicians that I love. Everything on the project for Magnet was built from the ground up, there are no loops or anything except for “Borderline.” So, I respect music and I can read music because my instrument has been my voice, especially coming from Broadway and musical theater. So, I’m a musician, but not in tactile ways. Now I am. I love the way my voice sounds with [the] electric guitar. That’s my favorite, I would say.

What was your first job?

I was hustling candy from Costco. My parents are always entrepreneurs and they’re like, “You gotta work for yourself! You gotta work for yourself!” They’re like, “Working for your dreams is hard, but working at McDonald’s is equally hard.” I said, “Real!” My dad bought me this big box of candy from Costco and he was like, “I’ll front you this, and then the money you make from this one, you buy the next one.” So I was hustling candy in sixth grade. I was the only girl doing it. I was selling everything for $1 each and I was making so much bank. I was like, “Oh word, this is working. This is money. Got it.” Wait actually, hold on, before I did that, I was on Broadway. My first job was Broadway. My first job was a play called Miracle Worker. Yeah, that was my first job. That was fifth grade. I left fifth grade to go do that.

What is your most prized possession?

That’s funny. I had the fires next to me, and honestly, I didn’t take much. My grandmother had a clock in her house that I took to my house, so I put that in my car, I put my guitar in my car, and my photo albums. I don’t really have any possessions that I’m like, ‘I need this.’ Everything else can really be replaced, except the photos.

What is your biggest fear?

I feel like I literally eliminated my fear of death a very long time ago. It would just be losing my family or them getting sick. That’s my big fear for sure.

Who is on your music Mt. Rushmore?

My musical Mt. Rushmore is really tough because I’ve been influenced by so many artists who have changed my life, but right now who comes to mind are these: Michael Jackson, Erykah Badu, SZA, and Childish Gambino.

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

I would start in San Antonio, I would wake up with my family. I’ll have a private jet outside [and] I’ll pick up my homegirls from San Antonio. I would have food and everything on the jet, then we would fly to LA. Basically, it would be a big setup for a big party in the day. We got 24 hours, I just want my family and my friends to be set up with a big party somewhere beautiful. We would go pick up my friends, we would fly to a beautiful Topanga house, and we would all chill there for the day. We would have anything that we would want. Maybe a pool and a hot tub and such. I know that’s probably a selfish thing to do with all of my resources and 24 hours, but I would just want a party for me and mines.

What is the best song you’ve ever made?

That’s a great question because there are songs that mean different things to me, but I don’t know if I would put them first in front of people, and I feel like I’m constantly getting better. But you know what song I really, really love? “Matter Of Time.” The musicianship in that one, the way it was made, how sexy it feels, how raw it feels, the way I feel like I get to sing, but it still feels like it could live in a play in a well. I like that one.

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

I mean, Beyoncé is always gonna be my answer, but I’ll probably feature on her thing. I’m trying to think of someone other than the obvious answer, Beyoncé because I just love her so much. I would really love a feature with Dijon. He has such beautiful music that touches, and I feel like I would love that song and I would just play it. That’s just a selfish thing for me, I would just be running that sh*t back all the time.

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

Severance. I’m so excited for the [Season 2] finale. That one and The Boys. I know it’s done now, but The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is also a great one. That’s my full world.

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

I would say Will Smith just because he’s just who I thought he would be growing up and that’s rare, I would say. I’ve met some of my crazy idols out here, and most of them have been great, but even great is not what you thought they would be.

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

Trump isn’t a good person to be in office.

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

There are a handful of songs that change your life for sure, but what I keep coming back to is “Hello” by Erykah Badu. Also, I want her on my future thing. She really changed the way I thought about music, too, but “Hello” with her and André 3000. I feel like it made me think about relationships different and made me feel seen in a way where I was like, “Yeah, you’re right. It is important to me that you’re free,” like f*ck. I was talking to myself and reaffirming my own beliefs, and the way the song just felt and then the use of the sample from the original song, “Hello, It’s Me.” It was just a masterclass in itself. Whats yours? I want to know.

It really depends on the week because I listen to so much music, but right now I’d say “Stan” by 6lack. It reminds me of being in college, figuring out the world with adulthood right in front of you. In comes this song that’s like I’m not the best at showing my feelings, but one thing for sure, I can write them down. Right now, that’s my answer, but if you hit me up in a week, I’ll have something completely different, like it’ll be a Ne-Yo song. Actually, now that I’m thinking about it, it’s probably “How Much A Dollar Cost” by Kendrick Lamar.

That’s also a phenomenal song. I mean, both of them are one of them ones. Those are phenomenal answers.

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?

My only time on tour was with Coco [Jones]. (Thank you so much for the tour, Coco!) That was amazing, it taught me so much. You think you’re excited to play big cities, but they’re snooty. If you go to freaking Minnesota, they’re like, “Whaaaa!!!” Their heart and soul is really in the music, and they know everything. Honestly, Chicago was such a great show to play. I think also Tennessee, because it was Coco’s hometown, and watching her have that much love, and whoever she brought to support had so much love and I feel like… Oh my God wait, what am I talking about? We went to Dallas! The majority of my fans were in Texas, which was crazy, and they were just turning up the whole time and that was the best. Performing is such an exchange of energy and I just thought that was really cool and so fun.

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

I’m gonna curate an experience that I would want to go to. So we would be in a rain forest by a big-ass waterfall, but somehow the sound is really perfect. There would be views 360 all around. It would be SZA, it would be Solange, it would be Erykah Badu, it would be Jhené Aiko, and it would be Willow because she fits in here, but she would also just have a little punk-rock for us. It would be a little healing retreat, but we would also be singing down and I feel like all those people are on the same page with energy and it would just be like a high frequency event.

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

I really had to dissect my relationship with the arts in general, specifically in 2020 because when nothing was happening or going, I felt like music was my hobby, my career, my way to self soothe, and the thing that frustrated me. So I was like, you need to diversify just for my health. I was thinking, what other things make me happy? It’s being around people, learning, [and] being a good communicator. So I feel like I would work for the United Nations and be a polyglot, and I would translate and be among other cultures and people to create mutual understanding for different scholars. I feel like [that] would make Simone happy.

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

I just used to be like, “I would never change anything because life happens and it’s supposed to happen,” but there’s this one thing, that one thing… if I could really change it, I would. Because, sometimes no matter which way I flip it for the positivity, I be like, “Damn, that was really f*cked up” [laughs]. Honestly, I would say five years in the past, because the last five years, 1.) I would get to change this one decision that I didn’t like, and then 2.) I could just relive some just incredible years. I wouldn’t change anything, honestly, I would just relive it. I’m gonna get to the five years in the future and I just don’t want to skip anything. I [could be] over here chilling with Erkyah, I’m like, “Girl, how did I get here?” Sitting here over the phone with SZA like, “Girl, how did we get here?” No, yeah I’d miss my girls’ wedding and stuff. I can’t do that.

What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 15-year-old self?

18-year-old me… what was she doing? My sophomore of high school, I’d just move schools again for the fifth or sixth time. I always was really good at growing roots anywhere I was, so it didn’t really bother me. I also liked meeting new people. I would just be like, keep going. You are who you think you are and I feel like I had a good head on my shoulders. I had this one boy I liked, [but] he was like, “My mom just doesn’t like you, it’s not gonna work out.” I don’t know why, [but] I was really torn up about that. [It] really did take me out for something and I was like, “Never will a man play me ever again.” I would just be like, yeah, keep going. I feel like that was the first time [that] I really had mean girls around. Girls were really trying to be like, “You’re not who you think you are,” and I was like, “I am.” So I would just be like, keep growing girl you’re doing great.

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 would love it to be remembered as like, “Oh, remember when S!MONE’s song came out and then such and such fell over the bar because he was trying to get to the dance floor?” You know, I would love it to be the way you just sat there and had that memory wash over you with the 6lack song. I would like it to be close and intertwined with people’s favorite memories. That’s how I would like to be remember it.

Magnet is out now via Joy Records. Find more information here.

Sombr’s name might not be familiar to you now, but his music very well could be. With a co-sign from Daniel Seavey and Nessa Barrett, a collaboration with Rachel Chinouriri, and a thriving online fan base, Sombr is an artist to watch.

Today (March 21), Sombr released his latest single, “Undressed.” On the vulnerable new track, co-produced with Tony Berg, Sombr explores his deepest romantic fears.

“I’m lookin’ at you, and you’re lookin’ at me / But the glimmer in your eyes is sayin’ you wanna leave / You say you don’t mean what you’re sayin’ to me / But the glimmer in your eyes is telling me other things / I don’t wanna get undressеd / For a new person all over again / I don’t wanna kiss somеone else’s neck / And have to pretend it’s yours instead,” sings Sombr.

For weeks, Sombr has teased different parts of the ballad across his official TikTok page. However, those snippets pale in comparison to fully realized record.

Following his past single, “Back To Friends,” Sombr is laying the foundation for what is sure to be a breakout summer. With Sombr slated to join Daniel Seavey on the road this month and Nessa Barrett in the summer, there are sure to be more musical goodies to come.

Listen to “Undressed” above.

Apple TV+ has been flexing major muscle in the sci-fi department while also keeping the comedy fires burning. Yet do not sleep on their thrillers, which might not be as plentiful in supply but nonetheless pack a dramatic punch. Such as the case with the first Presumed Innocent season, which progressed into the show sidestepping the “limited series” label after the Jake Gyllenhall series became the tech giant’s most-watched original drama series since Apple TV+ launched in 2019.

In other words, Presumed Innocent has a second season coming, so let’s talk about what major changes we can expect.

Plot

When Presumed Innocent returns, the show will move beyond Rusty Sabich’s (Gyllenhaal) story about his infidelity-soaked murder trial. That is to say, a new defendant will be on the hook for another case, and that shouldn’t be too terribly surprising. Sure, there is a Rusty followup novel, Innocent, but it picks up 20 years following the events of Presumed Innocent, which is too hefty of a time jump to be feasible without mega-aging makeup. Even if Apple TV+ decided to rewrite the timeline to make that story feasible, deputy prosector Tommy Molto would be essential to the next story, and Peter Sarsgaard made it clear from the beginning that he was only down for one season.

So what gives? Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva filled in some blanks on how a still-unpublished “debut legal thriller,” Jo Murray’s Dissection of a Murder, will inspire the second season:

The book, set for a spring 2026 publication by Pam Macmillan, follows Leila Reynolds who has just been handed her first murder case. She’s way out of her depth but the defendant only wants her – and to make matters worse, her husband is the prosecutor. Soon Leila is fighting to keep her own secrets buried too.

Andreeva further notes that “[t]here had been an idea for a character or two from Season 1 to carry over for continuity in the vein of HBO’s The White Lotus; it is unclear whether that is still a possibility.” Rusty cameo, perhaps?

Without a straightforward sequel option coming from Turow’s other books, the author is onboard with the plan to switch things up. That plan, according to an Apple TV+ press release, involves “a suspenseful, brand new case” (based on Murray’s forthcoming novel) with both Turow and Gyllenhaal returning as executive producers alongside David E. Kelley and J.J. Abrams.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that Scott Turow does feature minor characters from Presumed Innocent in other books, so we could see some mixing, matching, and/or references to other novels emerge from the writers’ room. And never say never to an eventual Innocent adaptation, possibly for a future season.

Cast

Zero information has surfaced on possible actors for the second season. We do know that Peter Sarsgaard is entirely out, and this season isn’t going to revolve around Jake Gyllenhaal’s Rusty, but that doesn’t entirely rule out an appearance, especially if the “present day” timeline stays intact.

Release Date

This season surely will not surface before Jo Murray’s novel, which has an unclear “spring 2026” publication window. Once that date firms up, we should hear more about when Apple TV+ will roll out the second season.

Trailer

No way could a trailer exist yet, but I don’t think the world has paid enough attention to Lily Rabe’s therapist character (Dr. Liz Rush) from the first season. This featurette piles on the layers that helped make this series more than a stock legal-thriller story.

After releasing his vulnerable new single “Blanco” earlier this week, DC rapper (Maryland rapper?) Wale follows up today with a suitably bleary-eyed video, visualizing the sobering — or soused, depending on how you view it — theme of the song.

The video opens with Wale answering a call and struggling to find an answer to the salutation, “how are you?” Eventually, he settles on “Everything a lot,” as he flashes back to the night before, which involved a whole lot of the titular libation. The party scenes are filmed out-of-focus, evoking the bleary-eyed feeling of being three (or four) sheets to the wind. Smino also makes a cameo appearance, wearing what appears to be snow goggles and a shower bonnet. Meanwhile, Wale himself illustrates his inebriated state as he stumbles into a dinner party with friends “48 hours” later, having been up the whole time, as he says in the second verse.

While the single suggests some somber material for his upcoming Def Jam debut, the tag on the video also promises some more upbeat offerings, with leanings of the Afrobeats from Wale’s ancestral Nigeria. Also, hey, if Smino wants to contribute a verse or two to the finished product, it wouldn’t go amiss.

Watch Wale’s “Blanco” video above.