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Three years after his last release, 2022’s Smithereens, Joji is back. His new single, “Pixelated Kiss” is a critique of modern dating, as he points out the inadequacy of digital interaction in comparison to the real thing.

“Pixelated kisses got me goin’ insane / Replicate this moment from a million miles away,” he croons on the chorus over a thundering, slowly dissolving trap beat. “Waiting for the signal, baby, nevеr make a sound / If you never hеar from me, all the satellites are down.”

After spending the first five years of his career on Warner and 88rising (at least, under the name Joji. Kid’s got a complicated story), “Pixelated Kisses” is Joji’s first single released by Virgin. With a new label deal in place, and his prior history justifying his buzz, the next year or so is looking up for the YouTube comic-turned-music star.

While Joji hasn’t released much new music since 2022, he has managed to keep himself in the spotlight thanks to a string of praised performances at festivals such as Hive and Bleached in 2023 and 88rising’s Head In The Clouds in 2024. He also played the Pandemonium Tour in 2023, which saw him book arenas across North America.

You can listen to Joji’s comeback song “Pixelated Kisses” above.

You can listen to Joji’s “Pixelated Kisses” above.

Sudan Archives put her heels to work in the high-fashion video for “A Bug’s Life,” the latest single from her upcoming album, The BPM. The video sees Sudan marching through the desert with a bouquet of balloons, and then donning a chrome bodysuit that Beyoncé would definitely approve of. The track itself transforms a soulful house beat with Sudan’s deadpan rhymes about a highly successful gold digger who “just hit a scam over 90 bands,” but can’t find love.

The single shows off just another facet of her upcoming album, which bounces from boisterous battle rap on “Ms. Pac Man” to silky Afrobeats on “Come And Find You.” Her diverse musical range — which she calls in a press release “Orchestral Black Dance Music” — will also be on full display as she goes on tour beginning next January. You can see the full dates below.

Watch Sudan Archives’ “A Bug’s Life” video above.

Sudan Archives Tour Dates 2026

01/16 – Tucson, AZ @ La Rosa
01/17 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
01/20 – Dallas, TX @ Trees
01/21 – Austin, TX @ Radio/East
01/23 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade Hell
01/24 – Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
01/25 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
01/27 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
01/29 – New York City, NY @ Webster Hall
01/30 – Boston, MA @ Royale
01/31 – Montreal, QC @ Le Studio TD
02/01 – Toronto, ON @ The Great Hall
02/03 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement East
02/05 – Chicago, IL@ Thalia Hall
02/06 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
02/07 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
02/10 – Denver, CO @ Gothic
02/11 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Complex in the Grand
02/13 – Portland, OR@- Revolution Hall
02/14 – Seattle, WA @ Neptune
02/15 – Vancouver, BC @ The Pearl
02/18 – San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom
02/19 – San Diego, CA @ Music Box
02/20 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre

The BPM is due on 10/17 via Stones Throw Records. You can find more info here.

La Dispute returned with a new album, No One Was Driving The Car, last month. They’ve already done some performing behind it and they’re about to do some more, as they’ve just announced new tour dates.

The new shows start on April 17 before wrapping up with a hometown show in Grand Rapids, Michigan on May 9. Tickets go on sale starting October 17 at 10 a.m. local time and more information can be found here.

The band’s Jordan Dreyer recently told Uproxx of performing live:

“The beauty of how particular I am about my writing, about making every word perfect and constantly editing and re-editing, is that I go over it eight million f*cking times in my head. So I’ve more or less committed lyrics to memory through writing and repeatedly tracking them. But some songs require more effort than others, to not get in the habit of misremembering what I’m saying and reciting it incorrectly live. […]

There’s a lot of sitting in the green room with my headphones on while everyone was, like, hanging out and talking and getting ready to play, and just listening to our own band over and over again, which is pretty f*cking embarrassing. But the beauty of playing new songs and fucking it up is that no one else knows the words. As long as I don’t fully draw blank on stage, I’m fine.”

Find the full list of dates below.

La Dispute’s 2026 Tour Dates

02/18/2026 — Glasgow, UK @ SWG3 Glasgow
02/19/2026 — Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy
02/20/2026 — Cardiff, UK @ Tramshed Cardiff
02/21/2026 — London, UK @ Electric Ballroom
02/23/2026 — Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg @ Rockhal
02/24/2026 — Mainz, Germany @ KUZ – Kulturzentrum Mainz
02/25/2026 — Munich, Germany @ Backstage Kulturzentrum
02/26/2026 — Vienna, Austria @ WUK
02/27/2026 — Budapest, Hungary @ A38
02/28/2026 — Prague, Czechia @ Rock Café
03/02/2026 — Dresden, Germany @ Beatpol
03/03/2026 — Leipzig, Germany @ Täubchenthal
03/05/2026 — Warsaw, Poland @ Proxima
03/06/2026 — Berlin, Germany @ Astra Kulturhaus
03/07/2026 — Hamburg, Germany @ FABRIK Hamburg
03/08/2026 — Copenhagen, Denmark @ Pumpehuset
03/10/2026 — Cologne, Germany @ Live Music Hall
03/11/2026 — Haarlem, Netherlands @ Patronaat
03/13/2026 — Stuttgart, Germany @ Im Wizemann
04/17/2026 — Madison, WI @ The Majestic Theater
04/18/2026 — Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theater
04/20/2026 — Dallas, TX @ Ferris Wheelers
04/21/2026 — Austin, TX @ Mohawk
04/22/2026 — Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
04/23/2026 — San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger
04/25/2026 — Mesa, AZ @ Nile Theater
04/26/2026 — Las Vegas, NV @ 24 Oxford
04/27/2026 — Pomona, CA @ Glass House
04/28/2026 — Los Angeles, CA @ Belasco Theatre
04/29/2026 — San Francisco, CA @ August Hall
05/01/2026 — Seattle, WA @ Neptune
05/02/2026 — Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
05/05/2026 — Denver, CO @ Summit
05/06/2026 — Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
05/07/2026 — Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
05/08/2026 — Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
05/09/2026 — Grand Rapids, MI @ 20 Monroe

No One Was Driving The Car is out now via Epitaph. Find more information here.

Last month, Billy Woods and Elucid (collectively known as Armand Hammer) and The Alchemist announced their second album, Mercy. Due November 7 via Backwoodz Studioz and Rhymesayers Entertainment, the album is the follow-up to the trio’s 2021 debut, Haram.

Today, they’ve shared the second preview of the project, a track called “Super Nintendo.” As suggested by its title, its beat sounds very 16-bit (I can’t place it, but if anyone wants to let me know if there’s a specific game, feel free to reach out on social media), and Billy and Elucid rap their usual, densely-packed verses. You can check it out below.

Regarding The Alchemist: the Los Angeles native has had just about the busiest year of his 30-year career, beginning in January with the rollout for his project with Larry June and 2 Chainz, Life Is Beautiful. From there, he followed up with the ultra-exclusive Forensics alongside Yasiin Bey, then announced Abi & Alan, a collaborative project with Erykah Badu, right before releasing Alfredo II with Freddie Gibbs. Somewhere in all that, he had time to produce the return project from Mobb Deep, Infinite, splicing unused Prodigy verses into new or unheard beats featuring the late Queens rapper’s partner-in-rhyme Havoc to craft the closest thing to a perfect Mobb Deep album we’ve gotten since 2017.

Mercy is due 11/7 via Backwoodz Studioz. You can find more info here.

Sparkling Ice and UPROXX’s Sparkling Sessions 2.0 tour landed in Austin, Texas, over the weekend to turn what could’ve been just another Austin City Limits warm-up into a significant pop culture moment. With country-music breakout Adrien Nunez headlining and powerhouse DJs priming the crowd, the night hit every beat. During set breaks, fans moved between Sparkling-pong tables, a taco truck that stayed busy all night, and booths offering everything from custom bead necklaces to blind taste-test challenges, arcade games, and, of course, Sparkling Ice-infused cocktails for the hyped crowd to savor. And what a crowd it was! With lines wrapping around the block, the event rolled 750+ people deep with an electricity that buzzed from doors to close.

After incredible sets from Gabby Gomez and Douglas Ray, Nunez tore into a set full of hits like Low Road — each met with a wave of fans shouting every lyric. ACL favorite Le Chev closed the night with an energetic set that had fans flocking to the dance floor and the night’s venue, Austin Garden, thumping.

As Season 2 of our Sparkling Sessions tour winds down, this ACL stop felt less like a simple party and more like a showpiece — the crown jewel in what has become one of the most fun and exciting festival kickoff series in the country. From Coachella to Governor’s Ball, our Anything But Subtle run has slowly morphed into something bigger — a traveling, high-energy reminder that good music, great people, and cold Sparkling Ice can turn any night into something unforgettable.

Watch the full recap above.

Laufey fans know Mei Mei The Bunny, a character the artist has used to release alternate versions (instrumental, lo-fi, and sped-up) of her songs. Now, the rabbit’s lore is expanding as the titular star of Laufey’s new picture book. Laufey wrote Mei Mei The Bunny and the book features illustrations by Lauren O’Hara.

The book is set for release on April 21, 2026 via Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers. The publisher’s description reads:

“From Grammy Award–winning musician Laufey comes a bewitching picture book about overcoming mistakes and believing in oneself.

Mei Mei is a little bunny with a big dream. She wants to make the world happy with her music! Her first recital at the H’Opera House is approaching, and she’s been practicing harder than any bunny ever has. But the butterflies in her stomach flit and flutter.

When Mei Mei plays the wrong note in front of everyone, will she be able to find the melody to make it right?”

Laufey also says in a statement, “I’m so excited to now share Mei Mei The Bunny in storybook form! Mei Mei has been a part of my life for over the last few years and opening up the world around her has been the most beautiful exploration. I hope that anyone at any age can find something in Mei Mei’s story that inspires them and connects them to the people in their lives.”

Check out the book cover below, along with Laufey’s upcoming tour dates.

Laufey’s Mei Mei The Bunny Book Cover

Laufey’s 2025 & 2026 Tour Dates

10/15/2025 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden *
10/16/2025 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden *
10/19/2025 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena *
10/20/2025 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena *
10/21/2025 — Laval, QC @ Place Bell *
10/23/2025 — Washington, D.C. @ Capital One Arena *
10/24/2025 — Philadelphia, PA @ Xfinity Mobile Arena *
10/27/2025 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden *
12/12/2025 — New York, NY @ iHeartRadio Jingle Ball
12/14/2025 — Boston, MA @ iHeartRadio Jingle Ball
12/15/2025 — Philadelphia, PA @ iHeartRadio Jingle Ball
12/16/2025 — Washington, D.C. @ iHeartRadio Jingle Ball
02/18/2026 — Zürich, Switzerland @ Hallenstadion
02/19/2026 — Düsseldorf, Germany @ Mitsubishi Electric Halle
02/22/2026 — Copenhagen, Denmark @ Royal Arena
02/24/2026 — Berlin, Germany @ Velodrom
02/26/2026 — Vienna, Austria @ Stadthalle
02/28/2026 — Brussels, Belgium @ ING Arena
03/01/2026 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome
03/02/2026 — Paris, France @ Adidas Arena
03/04/2026 — Manchester, UK @ Co-op Live
03/06/2026 — Dublin, Ireland @ 3Arena
03/08/2026 — London, UK @ The O2
03/09/2026 — London, UK @ The O2
03/14/2026 — Kópavogur, Iceland @ Kórinn Arena
03/15/2026 — Kópavogur, Iceland @ Kórinn Arena
04/12/2026 — Indio, CA @ Coachella Music and Arts Festival
04/19/2026 — Indio, CA @ Coachella Music and Arts Festival

* with Suki Waterhouse

Teyana Taylor observes that the aftermath of a breakup is the real “Hard Part” in her latest video from Escape Room. In the video, Taylor and guest singer Lucky Daye drive in a convertible through the desert, stopping to get gas and taking the time to reflect on the regrets they’ve left behind. If you’ve seen One Battle After Another, it’s easy to imagine that this is where her character ends up, hitchhiking her way down a Mexican highway as she escapes her past hardships — and leaves loved ones behind.

“Hard Part” follows “Bed Of Roses” and “Long Time” as the latest single, but according to its press release, sits at the emotional core of the album itself. As the album recounts the unraveling of a relationship and Taylor’s subsequent recovery, that makes a lot of sense; it’s the rock bottom after the split that provides the foundation for her to rebuild herself into the person she envisions.

Taylor’s album was accompanied by a short film written and directed by the singer herself, and mirrors this progression thanks to contributions on the album from fellow actors like Niecy Nash, Taraji P. Henson, Issa Rae, Kerry Washington, and Regina King.

You can watch the “Hard Part” video above.

Ten years ago, Soul In The Horn began as a playlist. Over the past decade, it has evolved into a New York City institution and a global movement.

Co-founded by DJ Natasha Diggs and producer D Prosper, the project grew organically from basement parties in Brooklyn to dance floors across continents, becoming a beacon for musical curation, live instrumentation, and community energy. Over time, what began as a niche gathering of crate-diggers and musical explorers grew in scale — and in spirit.

It has become a place where dancers testify that they’ve found freedom, connection, and even lifelong partnerships. It’s an institution that has consistently resisted superficial trends and clout-chasing, instead elevating artistry, intention, and curation above all. It’s now entering a new chapter with the release of a collector’s edition triple vinyl — part celebration, part archival statement.

To mark this moment, I sat down with Diggs, Prosper, and producer/DJ L3ni to trace the evolution, reveal the philosophy, and chart what the next decade looks like for this movement-driven community.

What are we celebrating with this vinyl release? What is Soul In The Horn?

DJ Natasha Diggs: We’re celebrating ten years of Soul In The Horn — a community, an artist ecosystem, and a dance-floor energy that grew from a New York institution into a global movement. The anniversary vinyl captures that story: Some tracks were born from collaborators who met at the party itself.

For anyone new to it, Soul In The Horn began as a Prosper-curated playlist connecting every genre through one thread — the horn — spanning Afrobeat, jazz, disco, house, and hip-hop. From there, it evolved into a party where live horns and DJs pushed New York nightlife to dig deeper, and where the goal was bigger than a night out: a place to dance, connect, and make lasting memories.

Why does dancing and community still matter in an AI-and-social-media world?

Diggs: Because it reminds us we’re human. When we dance together, we become mirrors for each other. You feel your body, you connect. People tell me Soul In The Horn is their therapy, their church, their freedom. Since phones took over, that culture of actually dancing has been lost. Our intention was to bring it back.

If this vinyl were in a record store, where would it sit?

D Prosper: Behind the counter, in that $80-to-$100 section — the record they brag about having. It’s a DJ record you can open the night with, peak the night with, or close the night with. It bridges house, R&B, and hip-hop. It’s for true music lovers.

Listening through the album, it feels like each of you anchored a different act — Prosper brought the hip-hop energy, L3ni the dance-floor movement, and Natasha the experimental live-instrumentation vibe.

Diggs: Exactly. Act 1 leans R&B/hip-hop, Act 2 is more house, Act 3 has a spiritual, boundary-pushing energy. We curated it intentionally to move through those worlds.

Prosper: We made a lot of records to get there. Natasha’s track feels like Yusef Lateef or Bobby Hutcherson. L3ni’s is dance-centric. Mine nods to the Native Tongues era — Tribe, Slum Village, that lineage of storytelling and groove.

L3ni: I’d been making dance tracks, so that fit naturally. The one that made the cut was fully original — no samples to clear — and it just felt right. It’s called “Dance And Sweat,” and that’s really the message.

What do younger DJs and promoters ask you most — and what do you tell them?

Diggs: People are inspired by what we’ve built and want to know how we’ve lasted a decade. My answer is: know your intention. If you’re doing it for community, not clout, the universe will open doors. It’s not easy — there are ups and downs — but purpose keeps you in it.

Prosper: Being a “lit” DJ is fine if that’s your intention. But if you want community, that’s a different calling. We built a safe, spiritual space — black, white, gay, straight, everyone together. Like the old Palladium or Limelight: multiple rooms, real connection. Somewhere along the way, people stopped dancing and started clout-chasing. We wanted to bring it back to music as experience, not spectacle.

There’s constant debate around gatekeeping versus openness in nightlife. How do you protect the vibe without closing people out?

Diggs: The vibe attracts the tribe. We’ve always been careful about who and what we partner with. We grew organically — from a Cuban-jazz basement to big venues — without outside promoters. It’s word-of-mouth and energy. We’ll never book someone just because they’ll sell tickets. If the energy’s not right, it’s not Soul In The Horn.

Ever had someone with a big name come in and miss the vibe?

Diggs: [Laughs] Not really — but even legends adjust. When Grandmaster Flash played, he came to the party first to feel the room. I told him, “Bring us back to the block parties, 1982 Wild Style energy.” He nailed it. People take this crowd seriously — it’s an educated dance floor. If you’re playing shallow, safe stuff, they’ll know.

If the vibe dips, what records never fail at Soul In The Horn?

Diggs: Patrice Rushen’s “Haven’t You Heard.” That’s the anthem.

L3ni: Roy Ayers’ “Running Away.” Total classic.

Prosper: Prince’s “Chelsea Rogers.” Horns, groove, and everyone moves.

What’s next?

Prosper: We’re expanding the label, putting out more music, and dreaming about a Soul In The Horn festival — something that bridges generations and genres. Think Esperanza Spalding, Just Blaze, Coco Roco, and Natasha Diggs all on one lineup. Real musicianship and frequency, not algorithms.

Where do you guys want people to cop this? You want them to go to their local record store?

Prosper: Cop it at your local record store. Fat Beats is distributing worldwide.

Diggs: And if you want the exclusive gold vinyl, that’s at soulinthehorn.com.

That’s where I’ll be going.

Soul In The Horn – The 10 Year Anniversary Edition is out 10/17 via Fat Beats. Find more information here.

It’s no secret Megan Thee Stallion loves Halloween; the Houston rapper gets into the spirit of Spooky Season like no other. A staunch fan of cosplay, creepies, crawlies, and everything in between, Thee Stallion’s annual Hottieween party has become a fall fixture. This year, she promises the biggest celebration yet, as she brings Hottieween back home to Texas.

“HOUSTON HOTTIES IM COMING HOME FOR HALLOWEEN,” she wrote in her Instagram announcement alongside a festive flyer. “This year Hottieween is gonna be BIGGER than ever!!! Tickets go on sale Wednesday October 15th.”

Meg’s enjoyment of all things horror-themed has run throughout her career, from writing a horror movie in 2019 to freaking fans out with her “Sweetest Pie” video. She’s gushed about her fondness for Friday The 13th killer Jason Voorhees, and since her debut, has kicked off October with a customary pumpkin photo, donning a Jack O’lantern to let everyone know it’s time to bundle up and throw on a scary movie or two. She always goes all-in on her costumes too; in 2023, she staged multiple photo shoots, which you check out here.

Hottieween 2025 will take place in Humble, Texas October 31st. Costumes are mandatory, and proceeds will go to the Pete & Thomas Foundation.

Michael Eugene Archer, better known as D’Angelo, has reportedly passed away at age 51 after a private battle with pancreatic cancer. His death was first reported by journalist Marc Lamont Hill on Twitter, and later confirmed by TMZ.

D’Angelo was best recognized as one of the pioneers of the so-called “neo-soul” movement in contemporary R&B in the 1990s and 2000s, breaking out with his debut album Brown Sugar in 1995. That album’s singles, “Brown Sugar,” “Cruisin’,” and “Lady,” were credited with driving the nasent sub-genre’s popularity along with releases from Erykah Badu in the same year.

In 2000, D’Angelo followed up with Voodoo, which debuted at No.1 on the US Billboard 200 and garnered the Virginia native the Grammy Awards for Best R&B Album and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for the single, “Untitled (How Does It Feel).” However, the attention he received from the risqué video for that song prompted his discomfort with being considered a sex symbol; he subsequently shied away from the public eye, taking 14 years to release another album.

That album, Black Messiah, debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and earned D’Angelo another Best R&B Album at the 58th Grammy Awards in 2015. In the interim, D’Angelo produced and wrote for other artists as a member of the lauded Soulquarians collective with Questlove, J Dilla, Roy Hargrove, Erykah Badu, James Poyser, Bilal, Q-Tip, and Mos Def (Yasiin Bey). As a group, they produced many of the standout hip-hop and soul projects of the 2000s, including The Roots’ Things Fall Apart, Badu’s Mama’s Gun, and Common’s Like Water for Chocolate. In September 2024, Raphael Saadiq told Billboard that he believed D’Angelo was working on a new album.