Month: May 2025

ASAP Rocky is fresh off a big weekend, as he was one of the co-chairs of this year’s Met Gala. The conversation surrounding the event continued last night (May 7) when he and Anna Wintour visited Late Night With Seth Meyers.

During the chat, the three discussed some of the evening’s best looks, from Diana Ross, Janelle Monáe, André 3000, Simone Biles, Jonathan Owens, and Ayo Edebiri. The biggest Rocky-related news of the day, though, was him and Rihanna confirming their third pregnancy, and that came up in the conversation, too. He said that the third kid “for sure” will have a name starting with “R” like their two other children, RZA and Riot.

Meanwhile, in an interview with the Associated Press, when asked how it felt to share the news, Rocky said, “It feels amazing, you know? We were tired of holding that, and it was time to show the people what we was cooking up. I’m glad everybody’s happy for us, because we’re definitely happy.”

He also talked about the support he and Rihanna have received, saying, “That’s amazing. Honestly, it’s a blessing nonetheless, because you know how some people in other situations at times can be envious of other people, but we’ve been seeing love for the most part. We’re real receptive to that. We appreciate that, you know what I mean? That’s love. Love is love.”

Watch Rocky and Wintour on Seth Meyers above.

James Patterson’s legendary detective, Alex Cross, received an early second season renewal ahead of last fall’s series debut. That gamble paid off with the Prime Video/Amazon series taking viewers along for the Aldis Hodge-fronted ride as he resolved the case of the “Fanboy” killer (Ed Ramsey) and confronted the truth about his wife’s murder. What’s next?

The second season will follow in its predecessors’ footsteps in not being based upon any particular Patterson novel. Instead, creator Ben Watkins shared that he refers to this second season as “Bitter Fruit,” and new cast addition Wes Chatham revealed on Instagram that filming wrapped in late August 2024. Well that was fast, so it sounds like viewers won’t have to wait long for that (bitter) fruit to arrive.

Does Cross Season 2 Have A Release Date?

Not yet. However, a fall 2025 is probable pending official word.

When the series does return, Ben Watkins has hinted that a bridge will exist between seasons in the form of FBI Agent Kayla Craig (Alona Tal), who previously extended immunity to Bobby Trey (Johnny Ray Gill) for dirt on Ramsey’s victims. As Watkins added to Entertainment Weekly, “I also wanted to plant a seed that would make you question the different levels of Kayla Craig… Sometimes [she’s] a little comic relief, a little sarcastic humor, sometimes a little romantic chemistry, but mostly just someone who’s been helping. So I wanted to make you question her.” Kayla could very well be a reference to FBI Agent Kyle Craig from Patterson’s novels.

According to Deadline, the second season will introduce new faces including business tycoon Lance (Matthew Lillard), self-interested judge Rebecca (Jeanine Mason), and military vet Donnie (Wes Chatham). They will join Cross BFF John Sampson (Isaiah Mustafa) and Ella Monteiro (Samantha Walkes). And watch out, defendants, because Aldis Hodge will still be virtually reading minds as Alex freaking Cross.

Ahead of the release of his new album, Blame The Chat, DDG streamed its creation in a week-long stream-a-thon — a first for the industry, surely. During the streaming marathon, he stopped by Uproxx to challenge the host of Sound Check, resulting in Jeremy’s first-ever L (live, no less!).

Today, DDG continued the rollout with the video for “Fine Shyt” featuring BIA. Naturally, the streamer-turned-rapper is on the cutting edge of internet slang, naming the song after Gen Z’s latest nickname for a baddie, brick house, bad mammajamma, etc. (as someone said on Twitter the other day, these kids could use a little more imagination).

The video, shot at a house party, pairs the two rappers as they trade bars back-and-forth. Longtime readers might know this is my favorite type of rap song, as it evokes the spirit of a cypher, with rappers building on each other’s rhyme schemes and energetic performances. So it goes here, with DDG and BIA boasting their way through a pair of pass-the-mic verses that turn what might have been kind of a basic flex rap into an engaging listen.

You can check out the video for “Fine Shyt” above.

Blame The Chat is out now. You can find more info here.

Last year, indie singer-songwriter Nourished By Time released the Catching Chickens EP and paired it with a world tour in which he spent some time opening for Toro Y Moi. At the time, it was said big things were ahead for the Baltimore artist, and it turns out, that was true.

This year, Nourished By Time will follow up with a new album, The Passionate Ones — his first for XL Recordings. Described in a press release as “a twelve-track catharsis, howled from the underbelly of late-stage capitalism,” The Passionate Ones is due on August 22. Accompanying the announcement, Nourished By Time also released the album’s first single, “Max Potential,” alongside a moody music video. Shot at sundown at a rocky beach, the video mirrors the single’s introspective mood, with Nourished By Time’s Marcus Brown wandering the seaside in shirt and tie, caught between the drudgery of a nine-to-five and the uncertainty of his artistic pursuits.

You can check out the “Max Potential” video above.

The Passionate Ones is out on 8/22 via XL Recordings. You can find more info here. See below for the tracklist and touring info.

The Passionate Ones Tracklist

01. “Automatic Love”
02. “Idiot In The Park”
03. “Max Potential”
04. “It’s Time”
05. “Cult Interlude”
06. “9 2 5”
07. “Crazy People”
08. “Jojo” feat. Tony Bontana
09. “BABY BABY”
10. “Tossed Away”
11. “When The War Is Over”
12. “The Passionate Ones”

Nourished By Time 2025 Tour Dates

05/16 – San Diego, CA – Wonderfront Music Festival
05/18 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Block Party
05/31 – Istanbul, TR – Saloon IKSV
06/02 – Paris, FR – Hasard Ludlique
06/04 – Lisbon, PT – ZDB
06/05 – Barcelona, ES – Primavera Sound
06/08 – New York, NY – Governor’s Ball Music Festival
07/31 – Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza
08/10 – San Francisco, CA – Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival
11/01 – Turin, IT – Club to Club

Sometimes the best new R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm-and-blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to what they love in its true form, we’ll be offering a digest of the best new R&B songs that fans of the genre should hear every Friday.

Since the last update of this weekly R&B column, we’ve received plenty of music from the genre’s artists.

Here are the new music releases you need to listen to:

Summer Walker — “Spend It”

Summer Walker’s road to Finally Over It takes another step forward with “Spend It.” Here, Walker prioritizes luxury and material items over love, a sentiment that isn’t surprising from a woman who is finally over it.

Coco Jones — Why Not More? (Extended)

Coco Jones is in the running for R&B album of the year with Why Not More?, and just a few weeks after its release, Jones is back with more. She returns with Why Not More? (Extended) and three additional songs — “Is It Mine” with Lady London, “Control Freak,” and live edition of “Taste” — to boost the project

Mariah The Scientist — “Burning Blue”

Mariah The Scientist is finally kicking off the campaign for her anticipated fourth album, and it begins with the incredible “Burning Blue” single. On it, the Atlanta singer wears her heart on her sleeve as she sings of a partner whose love for her is so strong that it melts her cold heart.

Jorja Smith — “The Way I Love You”

It appears that Jorja Smith also has an album on the way as she returns with the energetic “The Way I Love You.” The house-inspired record is sure to get your blood pumping as a “proper head-skanker,” as Jorja calls it. “It takes me back in time – there’s something nostalgic about it but now at the same time,” she adds about the record in a press release.

Isaiah Falls — LVRS Paradise

Isaiah Falls is the lead for R&B rookie of the year and LVRS Paradise (Side A), the first half of his debut album, is proof of that. Its nine songs showcase his growth from 2024’s Drugs N’ Lullabies with additional contributions from Ambré, Odeal, and Joyce Wrice as well as highlights like “Take A Hit” and “Trick Daddy.”

Jordan Adetunji — “X N The City”

Jordan Adetunji is just a few months removed from his A Jaguar’s Dream project, but that isn’t stopping him from releasing new music. He’s checks back in with “X N The City.” The scintillating single advocates for some fun that maybe Adetunji shouldn’t engage in, but the magnetic feelings at hand say otherwise.

Khamari — “Head In A Jar”

At last, Kharmari is back with new music. The Boston-born, Los Angeles-based singer delivers “Head In A Jar,” a raw and honest conversation about feeling trapped in one’s own thoughts over a lover that got away. “‘Head in a Jar’ is a metaphor for being a part of someone’s life, but from a greater distance than you would like,” Khamari notes about the song.

4Batz — Since Yall Say Ion Drop Enough

4Batz answers to fans’ request for him to drop new music with the double-sided single Since Yall Say Ion Drop Enough. Made up of “Hope U Don’t Mind” and “Me U & Pride,” 4Batz uses the former to share his intimate desires with his partner while the latter aims to clear the room for two lovers to express their love for one another.

Xavier Omär — HunnyMoon Mountain

Xavier Omär’s HunnyMoon Mountain marks his first solo project since his 2020 effort If You Feel, though last year he did team up with ELHAE for their Truth Be Told EP. HunnyMoon Mountain pushes forth his trademark offerings of heartfelt and soulful R&B with help from Divine Lightbody, Samoht, Xenia Manasseh, and Jai’Len Josey across 11 tracks.

Tiana Major9 — “Money”

The hope is that 2025 proves to be a more active year for Tiana Major9 as she kicks off her campaign for the year with “Money.” The song personifies money and a lover who is inconsistent and not here for the long run as a compassionate and considerate companion for Tiana.

Raahiim — “Just Like Me”

Toronto singer Raahiim is back in action with “Just Like Me.’ The moody single finds Raahiim laying his cards out and show his committment to a new lover ad their potential future together. The song arrives ahead of his gig as an opener for Jessie Reyez’s Paid in Memories Tour.

Leven Kali — “Crystal Ball”

I think it’s about time we get a new project from Leven Kali, but for now, I can settle on a new single. “Crystal Ball” captures Leven Kali’s lively vocals over soft production as he sings to a partner and promises to “give everything for you.”

Aqyila — “Soar”

With Falling Into Place still in rotation, Canadian singer Aqyila returns with a new treat in “Soar.” The self-renewal anthem is the final touch on her recently released debut album. “This felt like the perfect gift to fans, and perfect way to present this total project,” she said about the song. “Like the song says – I’m feeling like my intuition never misses, as long as I continue to trust myself.”

You recently came to a close with nearly two dozen kills by Stalker Joe Goldberg. Very entertainingly, Cardi B’s thirst for Penn Badgley’s serial murderer (and she is definitely not alone) continued until the end of the line, but Joe fully got what he deserved. Although he begged for release with his own death, Joe didn’t receive an easy out from Bronte. Instead, he’s missing his luscious locks and sitting alone in a prison cell, only accompanied by delulu letters from “fans” and his own belief that this is all your fault.

Joe’s refusal to take responsibility sounds about right and on brand for him. No ending would have been a more fitting gut punch, given the inward-looking commentary on You that has sourced from the beginning. The final season numbers are also stacking up with Netflix reporting 10.9 million views and 92.4 million hours streamed within two weeks of release. With results like these, it’s only natural to wonder whether You could spawn a full-fledged franchise, and if you have wondered the same, you’re in good company.

Will There Be A You Spin Off Series On Netflix?

A tiny possibility exists. Don’t hold your breath, though.

Although Showtime’s Dexter has seen enormous success in spinning off Michael C. Hall’s serial killer (and will keep going to town with additional spin offs), You viewers will probably not be as lucky.

Sure, possibilities have been suggested, such as ideas for Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti) to receive a prequel or for Candace (Ambyr Childers) to receive more texture, yet none of those ideas happened. Still, another idea is making the rounds and was posed to fifth season co-showrunner Michael Foley by TV Insider. That would be a potential time jump for a show about Joe and Love’s son, Henry, who is now living with Kate, and here’s what Foley had to offer:

“I think it’s an interesting concept. I think that part of what makes You so successful is Penn Badgley as Joe. I personally haven’t gone down the road of what it would be like for a show centered around his son because I just think that the part of the DNA of You is so much Penn playing Joe.”

In other words, no Joe, no go? That’s what it sounds like coming from Foley, and unless a prison escape happens (and Penn Badgley is willing to return), that ain’t happening. Foley also detailed another idea that can’t happen for lawsuit-related reasons:

“When we were doing our London season, we were trying to hire a British writer. A writer that we didn’t hire wrote a brilliant script, which was basically that. I’ve read it. This guy’s pilot was the equivalent of the son of Joe and then reconnecting with his father, and it was brilliant, but I almost feel like that’s another reason why I can’t do it because of a little thing called a lawsuit.”

Yup, You fans will simply have to be satisfied with Final Girl Bronte (Madeline Brewer) delivering a satisfying fate to Joe, which brings some sense of justice to those who were targeted by a smoothly-operating predator. Also, both Kate (Charlotte Ritchie) and Marienne (Tati Gabrielle) are living their best lives, although come to think of it, I really would not mind a Dr. Nicky (John Stamos) followup episode? Cue more wishful thinking for You fans.

After releasing three albums between 2010 and 2014, Allo Darlin’ is back. Last month, they shared “Tricky Questions,” their first new song in nine years. That was just the start, it turns out: Today (May 7), they’ve announced Bright Nights, their first album in 11 years. They’ve also shared another new song, “My Love Will Bring You Home.”

Singer Elizabeth Morris Innset says of the project:

“It’s an album from the heart, dealing with themes of love, birth and death, which are things we reflect more on than we did when we made our first album. I would hope that the album sounds timeless and joyous, at other times reflective and emotional.”

A press release notes that the seeds of the reunion were planted during the COVID pandemic, when nostalgic band members started having group Zoom calls. It was during those virtual meet-ups that they decided to reform once the pandemic was over, and in early 2023, they did.

Listen to “My Love Will Bring You Home” above. Below, find the Bright Nights cover art and tracklist.

Allo Darlin’s Bright Nights Album Cover Artwork

Allo Darlin’s Bright Nights Tracklist

1. “In The Spring”
2. “Tricky Questions”
3. “My Love Will Bring You Home”
4. “Northern Waters”
5. “You Don’t Think Of Me At All”
6. “Historic Times”
7. “Cologne”
8. “Stars”
9. “Slow Motion”
10. “Bright Nights”

Bright Nights is out 7/11 via Slumberland/Fika. Find more information here.

Turnstile are coming to the big screen.

To coincidence with the release of their new album Never Enough, the explorative hardcore band have announced a 14-song visual album, Turnstile: Never Enough. The film, which is directed by the group’s own Brendan Yates and Pat McCrory, will premiere during New York City’s Tribeca Film Festival between June 4 and 15. Ticketing information will be announced at a later date.

You can watch the trailer for Turnstile: Never Enough above.

“Hardcore music in general can be about grief, sadness, anger, happiness, joy, triumph,” Yates told The New York Times. “It can be all of those things, but I feel like it always presents as something that makes you feel good. The heaviness and the aggression are a healthy way to process some of those feelings that humans naturally have. I think if you don’t have something like that in your life, it might come out in more destructive ways.”

Paramore’s Hayley Williams (who appears on the album) praised Turnstile for “[staying] true to where they’ve come from, never forgot any of that, but aren’t afraid to be ambitious and try different things.”

Never Enough (the album, not the visual album) is out 6/6 via Roadrunner. Find more information here.

The National leader Matt Berninger ventures off for some solo endeavors every now and then, and he’s in one of those periods now: His new album Get Sunk is set for later this month, and ahead of the release, he has shared another new song, “Inland Ocean.” The tune features backing vocals from Ronboy (Julia Laws) and is overall an enveloping slow burn.

Berninger previously said the album follows “a long period of writer’s block and self-disgust” in 2020, adding, “I just got sick of asking myself ‘Why am I like this?’” He also revealed the new project is “not necessarily an autobiographical album,” and a press release said it was inspired by “the flora and fauna of his new home in Connecticut after years living in Los Angeles.”

Listen to “Island Ocean” above. Berninger’s tour also starts soon, so check out the upcoming dates below.

Matt Berninger’s 2025 Tour Dates

05/19 — Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
05/20 — San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s 365 Club
05/21 — Los Angeles, CA @ Palace Theatre
05/23 — Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
05/24 — Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
05/26 — Toronto, ON @ Concert Hall
05/28 — Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
05/29 — Washington, DC @ Lincoln Theatre
05/30 — New York, NY @ Webster Hall
08/23 — Dublin, Ireland @ Vicar Street
08/25 — Glasgow, UK @ SWG3 Galvanizers
08/26 — Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall
08/27 — London, UK @ Troxy
08/28-31 — Nr Tolland Royal, Wiltshire, UK @ End Of The Road Festival
08/31 — Utrecht, Netherlands @ Tivoli Vredenburg
09/01 — Antwerp, Belgium @ Olt Rivierenhof
09/02 — Paris, France @ Elysee Montmartre
09/04 — Berlin, Germany @ Huxleys
09/05 — Copehagen, Denmark @ Vega
09/06 — Oslo, Norway @ Rockefeller Music Hall

Get Sunk is out 5/30 via Book/Concord Records. Find more information here.

The Bumbershoot Arts & Music Festival is returning to the Pacific Northwest for its 52nd year (!) this Labor Day weekend. The 2025 edition, which is held at the Seattle Center on August 30 and 31, is headlined by Weezer, Bright Eyes, Car Seat Headrest, Aurora, Janelle Monáe, and Sylvan Esso.

The lineup also includes Indigo De Souza, Tank And The Bangas, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Scowl, Great Grandpa, Digable Planets playing Blowout Comb, Tennis, The Linda Lindas, and Real Estate.

For two days only, starting May 7, Bumbershoot weekend passes will be available for $199. From there, a weekend pass will cost $225, while single-day tickets go for $125. There’s also the “Crew Pack” option, which includes four Weekend Passes for $800. You can find more information here.

Check out the full lineup below.

Bumbershoot 2025 Lineup For Saturday, August 30

Weezer – Voyage To The Blue Planet
Car Seat Headrest
Bright Eyes
The Budos Band
Indigo De Souza
Tank And The Bangas
Pretty Girls Make Graves
Pattie Gonia (“DJ Set”)
Say She She
Hey, Nothing
Quasi
Scowl
Great Grandpa
Madison McFerrin
Kyle Dion
J.R.C.G.
Tezatalks
Amelia Day & The Cloves
Zookraght
Biblioteka
Coffin Break
Two Minute Hate
Liv Victorino
Foot Ox
Fleetwood Snack

Bumbershoot 2025 Lineup For Sunday, August 31

Aurora
Janelle Monáe
Sylvan Esso
Digable Planets – Blowout Comb 30th Anniversary
Tennis
Saba
The Linda Lindas
Bob The Drag Queen (“DJ Set”)
Real Estate
The Murder City Devils
Frankie And The Witch Fingers
Spellling
Fat Dog
Bebe Stockwell
The Army, The Navy
Petra Haden
Mega Cat
Day Soul Exquisite
Small Paul
Avery Cochrane
The Jaws Of Brooklyn
Vic Daggs II
Weep Wave
Vika & The Velvets
School Of Rock Seattle