The Navajo Nation and Hopi Reservation in the southwestern U.S. have been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak. With a third of the population having no running water, proper virus-avoiding hygiene is nearly impossible. Access to groceries is limited, and the community has a high number of elderly and individuals with health conditions that put them at higher risk of complications from the virus.

A GoFundMe fundraiser was organized on behalf of the Rural Utah Project Education Fund to raise money for groceries, water, health supplies, and other necessary items in these Native communities. And this week, they have received a huge influx of donations from a seemingly unlikely source—Ireland.

If you’re wondering what would prompt part of an island across the Atlantic to send money to a specific community in the U.S., the answer is simple. Gratitude.

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In 1847, the Choctaw and Navajo people were struggling to get established after being forced to relocate from their homelands during the cruel and shameful Trail of Tears. The tribes had suffered greatly and had very little. But when they heard about the suffering of the Irish people during the potato famine, they pulled together a donation of $170—around $5000 in today’s dollars—to send to Ireland.

That collective act of sacrificial generosity was not forgotten. And now people in Ireland are repaying that gift many times over in a beautiful expression of historic human connectedness.

The GoFundMe currently sits at more than $1.8 million of a $2 million goal, thanks in no small part to a flood of donations from Ireland. And as the donations of $10, $20, $30 keep rolling in, Irish people are leaving lovely messages of gratitude, solidarity, and hope along with them:

“Ireland remembers the Navajo kindness in her hour of need.”

“In remembrance of the kindness shown to my country by your fellow native Americans, the Choctaw people, during a time of dire need. Gach rath oraibh uilig.” [Translation: “Best of luck to you all.”]

“I donated because when you had nothing, you gave something to help Ireland.”

“Yá’át’ééh from Ireland. The Native American donation all those years ago was never forgotten. There have been songs written about your generosity. I am glad to be able to return the favour in some small part. Ahóá!”

Vanessa Tulley, one of the fundraiser organizers, acknowledged the outpouring of love and money coming from Ireland in an update:

“Several of our recent donations for our GoFundMe campaign have been inspired by the Great Hunger Famine in Ireland which started in 1845.

During this difficult time, in 1847, the Choctaw Nation provided $170 of relief aid to the Irish to help them (today that is the equivalent of $5,000). Not long before the Great Hunger Famine in Ireland, 60,000 Native Americans, including the Choctaw people, had suffered through the experience of the Trail of Tears. The death of many people on the Trail of Tears sparked empathy for the Irish people in their time of need. Thus, the Choctaw extended $170 of relief aid.

173 years later to today, the favor is returned through generous donations from the Irish people to the Navajo Nation during our time of crisis. A message from Irish donor, Pat Hayes, sent from Ireland across the ocean: “From Ireland, 170 years later, the favour is returned! To our Native American brothers and sisters in your moment of hardship.”

The heartache is real. We have lost so many of our sacred Navajo elders and youth to COVID-19. It is truly devastating. And a dark time in history for our Nation. In moments like these, we are so grateful for the love and support we have received from all around the world. Acts of kindness from indigenous ancestors passed being reciprocated nearly 200 years later through blood memory and interconnectedness.Thank you, IRELAND, for showing solidarity and being here for us.”

Absolutely beautiful. Humanity wins the day once again.

If you’d like to donate to help the Navajo Nation and Hopi Reservation in their COVID-19 fight, you can find the GoFundMe here.

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Ever since the first trailer dropped, Cats made it abundantly clear that it would be a very strange ride featuring celebrities transformed into surreal, if not nightmare-inducing CGI felines. Since then, the film has achieved a cult following for its trainwreck qualities. It’s also become a curiosity watch during these social distancing times.

While very few actors have broken their silence on filming the critically panned adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s musical, Dame Judi Dench has opened up about her experience in an interview with British Vogue. She, uh… she’s not a fan. In fact, she hasn’t even watched the finished film, but she is aware that the final product has somehow found an audience with a generation who enjoys a good disaster.

Dench visibly prickles at its mention. “The cloak I was made to wear!” she cries. “Like five foxes f**king on my back.” Filmed in green screen, and with her eyesight impaired, Dench has yet to see the film in full but was far from pleased at how her Old Deuteronomy turned out looking in the pictures she’s seen. She’d hoped she would look rather elegant. Instead: “A battered, mangy old cat,” she says, appalled. “A great big orange bruiser. What’s that about?”

Unfortunately, Dame Dench didn’t comment on the elusive “Butthole Cut” that captivated social media after Seth Rogen got high and live-tweeted the film during the early days of the quarantine. According to legend, there’s a version of Cats where the characters had, let’s just say, very detailed posteriors, but the CGI team was ordered to remove it. What really happened is that the fur simulation software accidentally made some of the character models look like they had certain female parts, and that’s what the VFX team had to alter. Of course, if you think people still aren’t clamoring for a release of that version of the film, you obviously haven’t been on the internet very long.

(Via British Vogue)

What’s Kazuchika Okada‘s next move after losing the IWGP Heavyweight Championship? The answer could be tag team wrestling.

Before New Japan Pro Wrestling went on hiatus – the company hasn’t run any shows during the COVID-19 pandemic and has committed to not laying off its workers – there were shake-ups in multiple title pictures, including Tetsuya Naito becoming the first person to hold the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles at the same time and the new-ish team of Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi winning the heavyweight tag team championship. Tanahashi and Ibushi’s win gave the tag title picture an injection of star power and, Okada said in a recent interview, made the scene a lot more appealing.

Okada explained:

The prospect of guys that I’ve fought so hard with in singles being tag champions, that’s intriguing… And wrestling the two of them together, that’s something different to singles matches we’ve had before. I know I only just lost my title to Naito, but if it’s a question of wrestling for the tag titles or a double IWGP championship match, the tag titles are more interesting to me.

That’s obviously a kayfabe answer, but Okada goes on to make some legitimate points about Ibushi and Tanahashi winning the tag titles and about tag wrestling in general, along with some hints about the next stage of his career:

It’s something new. It’s a breath of fresh air. I really feel that I want to show something new, so there is something appealing about being in a tag team championship situation. It’s something I’ve never done, rather than try to take my belt back from Naito…

Plus, we don’t see tag title main events these days. Maybe at Korakuen, but not often for major cards. I’d like that. Tag is something that makes pro wrestling distinct from other martial arts. Not in boxing, not in MMA. It can be something we point to and say, ‘Pro wrestling is a level above anything else.’

Who would Okada go for the tag titles with? He says it would have to be Yoshi-Hashi. “We’ve been together since we were both starting out in New Japan. We fought each other on our return match, but we get along really well. It’s easy to speak my mind with him, there isn’t any sempai/kohai stuff. I never get tired of teaming with him.”

There’s a few teams in the tag title mix already – Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. were clearly gunning for the champs before the pandemic began – but maybe we could see Okada and Yoshi-Hashi with gold whenever New Japan starts up again.

With the large variety of music being released during quarantine, it can be hard to comb through it all. Thankfully, Uproxx is here to provide a list of this week’s best new pop music. This week, in particular, boasted a handful of big-name mash-ups. Halsey linked with electronic producer Marshmello, Summer Walker tapped Khalid for a slow-burning remix, and Nicki Minaj breathed new life into Doja Cat’s most recent hit.

Each week, Uproxx rounds up the best new pop music. Listen up.

Marshmello — “Be Kind” Feat. Halsey

A Marshmello and Halsey collab is tailor-made for inclusion among the best new pop music. After releasing her album Manic earlier this year, Halsey teamed up with electronic DJ Marshmello to spread positivity through the cheery track “Be Kind.” In a statement, the Marshmello praised Halsey for her work on the single. “As soon as we finished the song, I was instantly obsessed!” Marshmello said. “Halsey and I connected and were both on the same page with what we wanted the final outcome to be! And it turned out great.”

Doja Cat — “Say So (Remix)” Feat. Nicki Minaj

After “Say So” garnered viral fame through TikTok, Doja Cat decided to coax Nicki Minaj out of retirement for a remix. The rapper added her own spin on the groovy track by mixing the instrumentals to more appropriately accompany her hard-hitting verses, which she recently had to clarify were not throwing shade at Wendy Williams.

Summer Walker — “Eleven (Remix)” Feat. Khalid

Khalid released his sophomore album Free Spirit just over a year ago. The singer returned at the beginning of the new year with his first solo single since the record, “Eleven.” Khalid enlisted the help of Summer Walker for a smooth remix of his track. Over a lulling, down-tempo beat, Walker’s soaring vocals narrate her enamor with a blossoming relationship.

Kehlani — “F&MU”

This week, Kehlani announced her highly-anticipated sophomore album It Was Good Until It Wasn’t arrives soon. Kehlani trailed her album announcement with the steamy single “F&MU.” An acronym for “F*ck And Make Up,” the bumping single features Kehlani’s enchanting vocals divulging details about a flirtatious romance.

Max — “Missed Calls” Feat. Hayley Kiyoko

Earlier this year, Hayley Kiyoko announced she would be canceling her North American tour in order to focus her time on her sophomore album. While she hasn’t released any new solo music since the announcement, Kiyoko now returns with “Missed Calls,” a collaboration with Max. The buoyant tune is a sugary-sweet pop anthem about recovering after a particularly difficult breakup.

Haim — “I Know Alone”

The latest single off their upcoming effort Women In Music Pt. III, “I Know Alone” is a reflection on isolation. In a statement, lead vocalist Danielle Haim said she had written the lyrics pre-pandemic, but the song has since taken on a completely new meaning: “Now with everything going on ‘alone’ feels like a ritual. only I know my own little secret routine on these days of being by myself and I almost take comfort in it. It’s my own way of staying sane in my alone-ness and it’s really helping me get through this.”

Dixie Chicks — “Julianna Calm Down”

Dixie Chicks recently announced a monumental return to music with their upcoming album’s eponymous single “Gaslighter.” While the record has been shelved due to the pandemic, Dixie Chicks continue to preview the record with the emotive single “Julianna Calm Down.” Produced by Jack Antonoff, the single is an empowering message of self-respect for women everywhere.

JoJo — “Comeback” Feat. Tory Lanez, 30 Roc

JoJo released her comeback record Good To Know Friday. With it came the enchanting and carnal track “Comeback.” In her own words, JoJo said the ladder part of her album is about accepting herself and her journey: “Toward the end, I knock on the door of self-love. Accepting where I’ve been and meeting myself where I’m at.”

Quinn XCII — “Coffee” Feat. Marc E. Bassy

While his sophomore record was released just over a year ago, Quinn XCII is gearing up for his next release. The singer shared the lovelorn track “Coffee” from his upcoming album, A Letter To My Younger Self. The effervescent tune features snappy instrumentals under the singer’s captivating lyrical delivery.

Faouzia — “Secrets”

Hot on the heels of a release with Kelly Clarkson, Faouzia returns with the triumphant number “Secrets. In a statement, Faouzia described her inspiration behind the track: “I was contemplating the emotional strain that comes when someone you care about isn’t able to be honest with you. Whether it’s about how they’re feeling, what they’re going through, or maybe something heavier. This song is about letting them know that they can come to you in times of need, no judgment, only support; and no matter what they tell you, you will always be there for them.”

Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Selena Gomez is a musician, actor, producer, makeup mogul, and now, she’s going to be the star of her own cooking show. The singer announced that she will be hosting a quarantine-style cooking show that has been confirmed for a ten-episode run on HBO Max.

Slated for a release this summer, Gomez’s upcoming series will be filmed in her own kitchen. The singer will try her hand at an array of recipes and get some pro-tips from professional chefs who will conference in on video calls. Along with showing the food, a different meal-related charity will be highlighted in each episode.

In a statement, Gomez expressed her excitement and detailed how she came to land a cooking show: “I’ve always been very vocal about my love of food. I think I’ve been asked hundreds of times in interviews if I had another career, what would I do and I’ve answered that it would be fun to be a chef. I definitely don’t have formal training though! Like many of us while being home I find myself cooking more and experimenting in the kitchen.”

HBO Max’s head of content, Sarah Aubrey, echoed Gomez’s elation: “We are so excited to have Selena Gomez in our first wave of programming on HBO Max and watch her adventures in the kitchen as she, like many of us, tries to improve her cooking skills during the quarantine. Blending her determination with top-tier culinary artists is sure to entertain and educate viewers about something we’re all trying to work through – how to make cooking at home exciting, fun, and delicious.”

Announcing the new series on social media, HBO Max shared a snapshot of what’s in store for the cooking show.

Gomez has yet to unveil the title of her cooking show, but the singer is one of the series’ executive producers. But this won’t be the first time Gomez has taken on the role. The singer earned producing credits on last year’s Netflix documentary series Living Undocumented, as well as the Netflix Original series 13 Reasons Why.

Read Gomez’s interview in Variety for more information.

A few months ago, rumors swirled about possible The Mandalorian second-season directing stints from James Mangold and Robert Rodriguez. Very quickly, Ron Howard excitedly retweeted a report (that also mentioned his daughter, Bryce Dallas Howard, helming part of the season), and Mangold stepped in to debunk his involvement, but we didn’t hear the same from Rodriguez. Now, he’s done keeping the secret within himself, and on the night of May the 4th, he shared his good news with Star Wars fans.

The From Dusk Till Dawn director confirmed that he’s directing a portion of the Disney+ TV series in the cutest possible way: by posting his photo op with The Child/Baby Yoda. “I am truly humbled to say I have now had the very rare privilege of directing the biggest star in the universe,” Rodriguez wrote.

Shhh… don’t tell Danny Trejo (you’ve seen his work) that Rodriguez described another onscreen presence as “the biggest,” rather than the star of Machete and Machete Lives. The following confrontation might get ugly between cousins, but that probably speaks to the mesmerizing power of Baby Yoda. The little guy is simply too adorable, one can only imagine if Jon Favreau hadn’t resisted making him even cuter.

As of now, The Mandalorian is still scheduled to return in October 2020 on Disney+.

“Are you watching The Last Dance?” Steve, my editor, asked me in Slack.

I pounded out a three-word response. “OH HELL YES!”

Considering the conversation online, it’s fair to say that millions of people are equally enthusiastic about the docuseries. I guarantee I’m not the only late-80s / early-90s kid who’s already watched every episode twice. I remember sitting around during library study hours from ’89 through ’92, arguing with my friends about Air vs. Magic or Scotty vs. Rodman (I was a pretty big Rodman fan, even when he was a Piston) or overstating the chances our beloved Seattle Supersonics had against any of the league frontrunners.

I also remember the absolute onslaught of products related to Michael Jordan back then. It was more than just posters and shoes, folks. MJ picked our underwear (Hanes), our energy drinks (Gatorade), and our batteries (oh, you forgot this film-noir Rayovac spot?)

Using The Last Dance as an excuse to dive down a few food-meets-sports-meets-mass-capitalism rabbit holes, I started looking into MJ’s pre-game meals, favorite foods, restaurant ventures, and workout diets. Which soon brought me to MJ’s McDonald’s commercials. There are a lot. Including this gem from 1991, after the Bulls’ first championship run.

I knew immediately I had to recreate the McJordan Special — basically a Quarter Pounder with smoked bacon and BBQ sauce. The “special” part being the long-discontinued “McJordan BBQ Sauce.” Though you might not remember it, I did. And it apparently had enough fans for a leftover industrial-sized bottle of the stuff to sell for $10k back in 2012. With my nostalgia centers whirring, I stepped into the kitchen.

McJordan BBQ Sauce

This is the crux of this recipe so it’s where I decided to start. Pretty crazy that McDonald’s hasn’t brought this one back from retirement, actually — especially considering the success of the Rick and Morty campaign. I found the label with a little digging, so I knew I’d be able to recreate the base recipe somewhat accurately and then trust my sense memory to help me dial it in from there. I dropped all of the thickeners, coloring agents, and self-stabilizers but followed the rest of the recipe as closely as possible.

For “spices,” I’m using cayenne pepper and smoked paprika. For “natural flavorings,” I’m using MSG because that is literally what “natural flavorings” means. And for the “hickory smoke flavor,” I’m using — and I’m sure this is a departure from the original — actual hickory smoke.

Ingredients:

• 14-ounce can Pureed Tomatoes
• 1/4 cup Dark Brown Sugar
• 1/4 cup Molasses
• 1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 tbsp. Garlic Powder
• 1 tbsp. Onion Powder
• 1 tbsp. Smoked Paprika
• 1 tsp. Cayenne
• 1 tsp. White Pepper
• 1 tsp. Sea Salt
• 1/2 tsp. MSG

Instructions:

Add all the ingredients into a small pot and place it on low heat on the stove. Bring to a bare simmer and cover.

I have one of those handheld smokers. I pack the bowl with some dried hickory and smoke up the pot with the lid on until smoke is billowing out the sides.

I leave the lid on and let it simmer for a good ten minutes. After that, I simmer and keep stirring occasionally, until the sauce is reduced by about half. Or until it looks like this…

The Burger

So, yeah, this is really just a Quarter Pounder with smoked bacon and BBQ sauce. They also released this burger in Boston as the “Big 33” when Larry Bird won his championships. So it’s not like Mike had a certain Carolina ‘cue he loved that the McD’s test kitchen chefs recreated. Still, it’s fun to take a fast-food staple and give a bit of polish.

Ingredients:

Here’s what I used for this burger…

• 4-ounces Ground Beef (chuck and short rib mix)
• 2 slices American Cheese
• Half Yellow Onion
• Spicy Deli Pickle
• 2 slices thick-cut Smoked Bacon
• Medium Mustard
• Sesame Bun
• Unsalted Butter
• Garlic Powder
• Vegetable Oil
• Sea Salt
• White Pepper

Prep:

Oh, looky who got a Kitchenaid with a meat grinder as a Quarantine Gift! And, let me tell ya, it’s a game-changer in the hamburger-making at my house.

For these patties, I’m going with a classic 80/20 mix using chuck for the lean and short rib for the fat. Basically, I slice one-inch cubes of each (I weigh out the amount of meat I’ll need first). I put those cubes into a ZipLock, making a single layer, and then lay that in the freezer along with the grinder screw and knives from the grinder. I leave them in the freezer for about 30 minutes.

Then, I assemble the meat grinder, turn the Kitchenaid to “medium” speed, and start feeding the meat in one chunk at a time.

Once that’s all fed through, you’re left with a pebbly grind. I weight out four-ounces or a “quarter” pound patty and create a very loose ball of meat.

I’m going to smash these in a cast-iron skillet, so I don’t want to pack the grind too much.

Next, I get my bacon going. I add two slices to a cold pan and put it on medium heat. I also add a tablespoon of water into the pan to help render off the fat. At the end of the day, this is just frying bacon until it looks like the photo below. McDonald’s was notoriously bad at bacon when I was a kid, so this is a chance for a big step up.

I set the bacon aside on a paper towel to leach out excess fat.

In the meantime, I use a mandolin to thinly slice my yellow onion and pickle. Then I butter my sesame seed buns and sprinkle them with garlic powder before toasting them off in a pan, a la Texas toast because that seems thematically consistent.

Cook:

The only thing I’m really cooking is the patty. I get a cast-iron skillet ripping hot with a small glug of vegetable oil.

As soon as it’s smoking, a place the ball of ground beef in the middle of the skillet and use a large spatula to, well, smash it down. Since this is a Quarter Pounder, I leave the patty about 1/4-of-an-inch thick.

I immediately hit the patty with a good pinch of sea salt and fine white pepper. After about 30 to 45 seconds, the patty will be ready to flip. Use a large, metal spatula to get under the patty and flip with confidence. It’ll still be a very loose grind but should hold its form.

The other side needs barely 30 seconds to cook. I remove the patty directly to the bun with the cheese already in place.

Serve:

So, construction on an early ’90’s era McJordan Special is…

• Bottom Bun
• Cheese
• Patty
• Mustard
• Onions
• Pickle
• Bacon
• McJordan BBQ Sauce on Top Bun

And there you have it! The McJordan Special! Granted, you could get this at McDonald’s by hacking the menu. Just order a Quarter Pounder with Cheese with bacon and BBQ sauce. But, this is a pretty easy and very satisfying burger to make at home, too. And easy to tweak. At the end of the day, it’s a bacon cheeseburger with a tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy BBQ sauce. Not exactly the breakfast of champions but definitely a nice bit of DIY gluttony while you watch episodes five and six of The Last Dance again.

Pretty accurate looking, right? Sadly, paper hoop not included.

After winning the UFC heavyweight title in August 2019, Stipe Miocic could go more than a year before he defends the belt. While the promotion moves forward with fights, beginning May 9 with UFC 249, there are no immediate plans for the two-time heavyweight champion’s next bout due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead, he’s focusing his energy on serving his community as a volunteer firefighter in northeast Ohio. It’s that role as a first responder that makes him so grateful for his partnership with Modelo, which recently donated $500,000 to First Responders First, an initiative of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Thrive Global, and the CAA Foundation to support American healthcare workers battling COVID-19.

Modelo and Miocic are celebrating Cinco de Mayo by encouraging people to toast first responders and post their support on social media with the hashtag #CincUp. For every post, Modelo will donating $1 to the First Responders First initiative.

“It’s awesome, Modelo is such a great company. They always put people first before them and they’re always looking to help. It doesn’t get better than that,” Miocic told Uproxx Sports over the phone. “The whole idea of celebrating Cinco at home, at the same time, looking to give back with the #CincUp, it’s just awesome.”

While Miocic has been hard at work outside of the Octagon, he’s kept returning to the UFC in the back of his mind, whenever that might be.

“I’ve been training, but not really,” Miocic said. “I can only do so much at home. It’s tough. Right now, my gym is closed and it doesn’t look like it’s going to open any time soon here in Ohio.

“Definitely, the break is nice,” he continued. “I was out for a little bit with the torn retina. I was ready to get back in the swing of things when this all hit. It’s nice, but at the same time, it sucks because you lose your routine. In hindsight, it’s all about making sure my family is ok. We’ll get past this and get back to normal, but right now, it just sucks.”

As the UFC ramps up building cards and scheduling fights, Miocic isn’t opposed to Dana White’s efforts over the past month “as long as everyone is safe.” Still, while UFC 249 takes place next weekend and “Fight Island” will be up and running soon, Miocic’s mind is elsewhere.

“Right now, I’m not worried about fights,” Miocic said. “We’re doing the best we can to help with the pandemic. We’re trying to keep our head down and keep moving forward until this clears up. We’ll get through it soon.”

When he does fight again, it won’t be rushed. He’ll follow in the footsteps of Amanda Nunes, who pulled out of the UFC 249 card in order to ensure she’s fully ready and in fight shape, and make sure that he’s not cutting any corners before his next time in the Octagon.

“As long as my gym is open and I can get a full fight camp, I’m down to fight anyone,” Miocic said.

As for who Miocic would fight next, there’s no guarantee, but he’s expected to give Cormier a rematch in what would be their trilogy bout for the heavyweight crown. His last fight with Cormier resulted in surgery to repair a torn retina stemming from several inadvertent eye pokes. Miocic hasn’t necessarily forgiven Cormier for that, saying, “I’m glad I can see, it’s all I really care about. That’s it. I’ll leave it at that.”

For now, Miocic will continue to do what he can for his community until he can step back into the Octagon. But when that day comes, it may not take long until he’s participating in a super fight.

For a decade, as fans debated whether or not Drake truly has a career-defining classic in his catalog, the primary argument against him was always that his lack of editorial touch hurt his projects. They were always just a few songs too long, just a little bit out-of-sequence, needed to better balance his seemingly opposing melodic and rhythmic instincts. While this isn’t an argument that his latest mixtape, Dark Lane Demo Tapes, is that classic — it isn’t — it certainly shows that those arguments were well-founded. A Drake willing to kill his darlings is a Drake capable of crafting a project that isn’t just a compelling collection of songs but a cohesive statement, a solid exhibit of evidence in his case for being one of rap’s greatest of all time. With Dark Lane Demo Tapes, Drake finally delivers a concise, thrilling project without the filler.

Dark Lane is also just a couple of songs away from being the project most rap fans hoped they’d get ever since Drake was crowned hip-hop’s savior in 2009 after the release of So Far Gone. Because his big breakout came with the leak of “Brand New” a half-year before, Drake’s fan base has always been split between the bars-first/only purists who heard him shout out Slum Village and Phonte Coleman — and work with both on his 2007 tape Comeback Season — and those who first discovered him through the guts-spilling emo-R&B he pioneered with “Brand New.” While those loyalties have always shifted and clashed, on his latest, Drake comes as close to a platonic ideal as he ever has.

By paying homage to classic rap-first cuts like Jay-Z’s “Song Cry” and Eminem’s “Superman” on “When To Say When” and “Chicago Freestyle” — both released as a double music video a few months before the mixtape was conceived — Drake shows his longtime supporters that he hasn’t forgotten his roots. Meanwhile, as he gives his R&B fans just enough with “Not You Too” and the elongated deliveries he’s best known for elsewhere to keep them on board, he never lets the slower moments overwhelm the tracklist has he did with Views or Take Care. He also gets the plodding, moody heartbreak anthem out of the way early so the rest of the album has a strong, engaging pace.

It helps that he uses some of the more fascinating production of his career here. While it’s widely accepted that Drake makes indisputably strong tracks with his usual partners in crime, 40 and Boi-1da, here he branches out — and not in the culture-vulture-y, affected Caribbean accent way that usually gets him flogged on social media. While he does once again borrow from a pre-existing musical subculture — UK drill, with its sparse drums and airy, eerie synthesizer sounds — the style meshes more readily with his normal voice and flow, keeping him from having to adopt any questionable regional deliveries, the super Top Boy–esque dialect on “War” notwithstanding.

As usual, he shares his stage with both common collaborators and rising stars, with the usual mixed outcomes. While “Desires” with Future gets lost in the wash, “D4L” with both Future and Young Thug is captivating, while Drake spotlights some of drill’s New York contingent — in the form of Sosa Geek and Fivio Foreign — on the futuristic “Demons.” Employing Playboi Carti for “Pain 1993” turns out to be the one misstep, as Carti is nearly impossible to understand with a squeaky, rushed delivery that sounds like he’s on a completely different project. Of course, bringing Chris Brown into any project is always a miss — “Not You Too” doesn’t really benefit enough from his presence to make the potential backlash worth it. Fortunately, Long Beach native Giveon almost makes up for it as a Sampha stand-in on “Chicago Freestyle.”

The most remarkable thing, despite all of Drake’s forward-looking production, incorporation of English slang, and successful TikTok baiting with the infuriatingly catchy “Toosie Slide,” is the fact that, for once, Drake seems to have figured out “When To Say When” (pun intended). Instead of forcing listeners to slog through every single thing he’s recorded over the past two years, he instead brings his butcher knife to the edit bay, chopping the fat and presenting a product that’s easy to digest and earns its repeat listens. We can only hope he keeps the lessons in mind when he releases the follow-up, “official” album he’s been teasing later this year.

Dark Lane Demo Tapes is out now on OVO / Republic Records. Get it here.