Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

The 2025 Uproxx Cannabis Gift Guide – The Edibles, Flower, And Accessories For The Stoner In Your Life

Cannabis Gift Guide_Editorial_Image Set_1024x450
Carlos Sotelo

If you find yourself struggling to figure out what to buy your favorite stoner this holiday season, you’re definitely overthinking the whole thing. Take it from our weed-loving writers, getting us weed for the holidays might seem too obvious, too simple, too easy but, we’re an easy crowd. People who love to get high love to, well, get high. So yes, we could buy edibles, flower, or vapes ourselves, but the high somehow just hits harder when we haven’t paid a cent for it.

So we’re going to make this as easy as possible for you by dropping a cannabis gift guide curated by stoners for stoners. From accessories, to flower, to edibles, we have all the bases covered. So find the price point you’re comfortable with and buy with confidence!

Flower

Cannabiotix — Cherry Dairy

CBX

Price: $45-$65

We’re big fans of Cannabiotix here at Uproxx, it’s one of our go-to flower brands. CBX sports excellent genetics, heavy THC content, and high quality fragrant and tasty flower. Simply put, this is one of the best brands on the market right now if you’re looking for a euphoric, sense-altering high (if you like to keep things more mellow, respect, but this isn’t the brand for that).

The strain that has us buzzing right now is Cherry Dairy, a hybrid cross between the brand’s GOAT’d Cereal Milk strain, and the fan favorite Cherry Pie. Cherry Dairy packs a powerful punch with 30-34% THC and a fragrant cherry and vanilla aroma and flavor, producing a body buzzing and powerful high. This is a strain designed for chilling out as you let euphoric waves wash over you.

Get it here.

Connected — Gelonade

Connected

Price: $45-$65

For smokers looking for a great sativa strain, look no further than 1st place Cannabis Cup winner, Connected’s Gelonade. This sativa-dominant hybrid strain features 20-26% THC and a tangy citrusy flavor that tickles the nose and provides a euphoric, sense-enhancing high that is perfect for day tripping, concerts, and chilling in the outdoors.

The strain is dominant in the terpenes limonene, caryophyllene, and linalool, which provides a mood boosting, stress-busting high with subtle relaxing properties that’ll have you chilled out but not couch locked.

Get it here.

Birdies Prerolls

Birdies

Price: $12-$35

I’m generally more of an edible guy than a smoking guy, but we have to shout out Birdies Prerolls for this guide. Newly distributed by the folks at Wyld, Birdies are straight rolls, emphasis on the roll. That means you won’t run into clogging issues that can come with stuffed cones.

With original, light (a CBD:THC hybrid), and ultra (.87 grams per roll vs .7) varieties, Birdies is aiming to satisfy all smokers to meet their particular needs. They come in 10, 5, and 3 packs, and can be found in both the California and Arizona markets. And with their instantly recognizable flamingo on the packaging, they’ve got the brand recognition for your friends to know they’re about to partake in a quality smoke.

Get it here.

Edibles

Stizzy

Stizzy

Price: Varies

I can’t speak for the greater United States, but there might not be a cannabis brand with a stronger foothold in Southern California than Stizzy. With tons of standalone shops plus placement in private dispensaries, Stizzy is both easy to find and incredibly consistent. They’re one of our favorite brands.

They’ve undergone a bit of a rebrand in recent years in terms of packaging, but don’t be concerned that the products have lost any of their effectiveness. If flavor is a big selling point, Stizzy has a wide range, including Lemonade and Tropical categories with several flavors under each banner. They’ve also recently launched more socializing-focused drink products. But my favorite is their Sleep line, great for winding down at the end of the night with 2:1 THC to CBN dosing.

Get them here.

Wyld

Wyld

Price: Depending on location, but often between $16-$20.

From Central Oregon to homes everywhere, Wyld is an example of a cannabis brand done right. Though they’ve become omnipresent at most any dispensary worth a damn, this hasn’t come with any sacrifice to quality or consistency. In fact, the brand touts its commitment to constant improvement via its team of food scientists. And with a massive range of flavors and doses, from 1:1:1 THC, CBG, and CBC in their Grapefruit to a blissful Blood Orange with 1:1 THC and CBC, there is literally something for every taste preference and high preference.

This year, Wyld introduced a new Kiwi flavor with a dosage that was new to us, 1:1 THC:THCV. THCV is more for functional day use and has been dubbed “weederall” due to its use for focus, energy, and decreased appetite. As someone who gets particularly snacky after consuming most products, this was a welcome change to my experience. But whether you are an indica, sativa, or hybrid type, Wyld has you covered with its tasty line.

Get it at The Travel Agency in New York or here for the location nearest you.

Good Tide

Good Tide

Price: $20-$22

I’m gonna stick with Wyld for a second to highlight another brand from them, Good Tide. Good Tide was launched relatively recently in 2022 to provide a cannabis gummy made with single-strain hash rosin and infused with tropical-inspired real fruit flavors. They’re delicious, fast-acting, and consistent in their high.

Good Tide is also more environmentally conscious than most cannabis brands. They’re vegan, the packaging is compostable, and they use real fruit in their recipe. Their menu is a bit less expansive, but that just means that they’ve been able to focus on a great product that hits in each of its forms. For THC-only offerings, check out their Mango, Guava, and Pineapple offerings. But we can also vouch for their 1:1:1 THC:CBD:CBN Passion Fruit flavor for end-of-day relaxation.

Get it at The Travel Agency in New York or here for the location nearest you.

Zen

Zan

Price: Varies

A lot of edibles will advertise their taste, and to be frank, if it is included on this list, it generally tastes pretty good. But if I were going to put one brand on the top of the mountain for taste, it would be Zen. These are the only gummies I’ve ever had that I would eat as pure candy. Fruit Punch and Watermelon in particular rival any product bearing those flavors.

Zen has greatly expanded its lines in recent years, for all sorts of varieties, both in flavor and form. We now have minis, which are exactly as they sound: a smaller gummy packing the same dosage. There are also single gummy packs featuring a single 50mg or 100mg gummy in each package. Zen’s products also now include drinks, vegan chocolates, and even CBD-forward products for use without the high. We’re a big fan of this brand, and think they are really going places in the cannabis space.

Get it here.

Wynk

Wynk

Price: $26.99 for a four-pack of 10mg drinks, $19.00 for a 10 pack of gummies.

If you’re familiar with Wynk, it’s probably through its drink line, which has become a staple at social hangs. The low-dose offerings are great for gatherings, where its 0 calories and 0 sugar mean a guilt-free consumption of its very functional 2.5 and 5gm THC doses.

But, if you’re like me, you’ve longed for something a little stronger and Wynk is now delivering. They’ve recently unveiled a 10mg seltzer in Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, and Raspberry Lemonade. This might be a little less useful for communal moments, but is ideal for usage in the privacy of your own home, when you want a single drink to do the job. The fact that they’re delicious is just icing on the cake. And if drinks aren’t your thing, Wynk is also now wading into the gummy market, with 1:1 ratio of THC and CBD packs that feature a variety of flavors: Black Cherry, Lime Twist, Juicy Mango, and Tangerine.

Get it here.

MariMed

MariMed

Price: Varies

MariMed is a new one for us and we had a chance to sample a variety of products that would make great holiday gifts. Bubby’s Bread offers Pumpkin Bread Bites, a manageably dosed, delicious sweet treat of mini muffins perfectly themed for pumpkin-spiced season. They come in a 5 pack of 5mg muffins, so snack sparingly or down the whole thing in one sitting.

Also in theme for the holidays are Betty’s Eddies in Cranberry Orange, full-spectrum cannabis chews with warming winter spices. Loaded with 5mg of THC and 30mg of CBD in each bite, they live up to their branding – Bundle Up Betty’s – to provide holiday comfort. And if holiday collabs aren’t in the cards for your gifting, try InHouse’s new sour gummies line, which come in a variety of flavors, including our favorite Cherry Lemonade.

Get it here: Betty’s Eddies, InHouse, Bubby’s Baked

Kynd Gummies

Kynd

Price: $15-$30 per 10-piece or 20-piece pack

While the story of legal cannabis products in the United States began relatively recently, Kynd reflects a more than 30-year history of growing experience and more than a decade on the market. That’s the kind of well-traveled product precision that is evident in everything they make, right down to the vibrant, no-frills packaging and dedication to clean pectin-based, vegan, and gluten-free gummies with all-natural flavors.

We especially like their flavor roster, with both sour and traditional options. Their Florida Orange offering is balanced with 10mg of THC and CBD per piece, while the relaxing indica Blue Raspberry and Tropical Pineapple are great for unwinding after a long day. They even have my favorite, the sleepy option, packed with CBN in a delicious Bedtime Blueberry flavor.

Get them here.

Accessories

Pax Flow

PAX

Price: $350

If you’re all about the clean full-flavor experience of vaping but aren’t into oils and concentrates, the Pax Flow allows you to vaporize your favorite dry herb. The Flow takes Pax’s pocket sized design and outfits it with a hybrid conduction and convection oven, providing dense vapor that attempts to mimic the experience of classic combustion. And it works pretty darn well!

If you have past experience with dry-herb vapes, you’re probably aware that the air path can be akin to sipping a thick milkshake through a straw. The Flow remedies that issue with a new air path that provides size times the airflow of previous Pax models. Pax already provided the best airflow in the market, so this improved path only makes the device even more satisfying to use.

The Flow makes ditching smoke easy, and we love it for that.

Get it here.

Ashtray Set By Seth

Houseplant

Price: $72

Help update the stoner in your life’s smoking table with this adorable ashtray set designed by Seth Rogen!

Seth Rogen has single handedly changed what the image of a stoner is. In the past that archetype fell somewhere between the Venn diagram of Jerry Garcia, Cheech & Chong, and Bob Marley. Rogen took that ‘60s imagery and brought it into the future… and by future we mean the 1970s.

We’re still waiting for someone to bring the look of the cannabis lifestyle into the 21st century, but in the meantime, we’ll take Rogen’s minimalist ‘70s vibe over the crunchy granola hipping thing! Rogen’s sense of style translates completely to his pottery (if you weren’t aware, in addition to addicting and smoking weed, Rogen’s other passion is pottery) offering sleek minimal pieces that make the act of smoking just look better.

Ask yourself this, would you rather ash your blunt into a peace-sign shaped ash-tray, or this ultra stylish notched ceramic bowl, with a matching saucer, and for no reason what so ever, a little vase to put flowers into? We’re going to guess you’re in the latter camp if you’ve bothered to read this far.

Get it here.

Puffco Proxy Modular Vaporizer

Puffco

Price: $250

If you felt left out reading our glowing review of the Pax Flow because you’re all about concentrates, don’t worry, we’ve got a vaporizer for you too! The Puffco Proxy is a modular vaporizer specifically designed for wax, live resin, and other vape-able oils.

The pipe features a 3D ceramic chamber with multi-surface heating elements, Bluetooth connectivity, USB-C charing, and a modular design that is easy to clean and allows you to bring in periphery devices, like the Proxy Bub for water filtering bubbles.

Aside from all the tech, the real draw is the shape — it’ll have you feeling like Sherlock Holmes, if he was solving crimes in space!

Get it here.

Vitae Glass 16” Voyager UFO Bong

Vitae Glass

Price: $249

In 2025 you don’t get a lot of stoners smoking out of bongs. What was once the ideal way to smoke has been left by the wayside in favor of portable vapes, joints, and edibles. And we’re not surprised that bongs have fallen out of favor — they’re fragile, annoying to clean, and aesthetically loud, calling way too much attention to themselves. But Vitae’s glass bongs are of a different class.

They’re elegant, refined, modular — meaning they’re easy to clean — and super sleek. Name another bong that would look right at home with your mid-century modern furniture. Best of all, the glass here is incredibly thick, meaning in the event that you knocked this thing over (we get it, stoners can be clumsy) not only would this one have a hard time tumbling due to its wide base, but the glass would hold up easily after a minor fall. Trust us, we’re speaking from experience.

If the stoner in your life still likes to smoke the old fashioned way, you know, with smoke, they’ll never smoke out of a finer bong.

Get it here.

Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

Indiecast Addresses Listeners’ Emails

record store shop vinyl records albums LP
Getty Image

Steven and Ian open this week with an extended dialogue about an ongoing war at concerts, especially ones featuring aging artists — the “sit down!” people vs. the “I’m not gonna sit down!” people. Who is right, and how can this be resolved? This also do a “yay or nay” on The Lemonheads, whose frontman Evan Dando has a new memoir out. Then they answer listener emails about college radio, the proper set length time, the preponderance of “deluxe” editions for recent indie releases, and the first “great” indie album.

In Recommendation Corner, Ian talks about the band Some Images Of Paradise and Steven reflects on the 1977 British documentary All You Need Is Love: The Story Of Popular Music.

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 265 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for all the latest news. We also recently launched a visualizer for our favorite Indiecast moments. Check those out here.

Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

Kehlani Delivers A Throwback R&B Vibe In Her Old-School ‘Out The Window’ Video

Kehlani teased a new album set for 2026 in a recent interview (an adorable chat conducted by her young daughter). Presumably, the recent single “Out The Window” will be included. Kehlani is definitely giving her all to the song, as today (November 26), she shared a video for it.

The visual is very much inspired by old-school R&B videos, complete with the bottom-left-aligned credits at the start. She even uses a payphone! (Younger readers: that’s like a cell phone but tethered to the inside of a glass box on a sidewalk.)

Kehlani discussed the song in a recent interview with REAL 92.3 LA, saying:

“I think I really missed a certain energy in R&B that wasn’t so jaded, and I would never put the blame on a generation or any… I was a part of that, you know what I mean? For a while, I was in the generation that was really getting into my hyper-individualistic, like, super healing, ‘I don’t need y’all, F y’all, y’all got messed up.’ That’s that’s how I felt.

Granted, I think that’s how a lot of us women were experiencing love in this generation and in this time, and you get to a more mature age and you realize there’s a lot more that goes into these dynamics and relationships. Like, sometimes it just isn’t over when you thought it was, and sometimes it isn’t that easy to walk away, and sometimes you do mess up.”

Watch the “Out The Window” video above and find Kehlani’s upcoming tour dates below.

Kehlani’s 2025 & 2026 Tour Dates

12/16/2025 — Los Angeles, CA @ Grammy Museum at LA Live
12/18/2025 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
12/20/2025 — Miami, FL @ Kaseya Center
01/24-25/2026 — Mumbai, India @ Lollapalooza India 2026
07/03-05/2026 — Portimão, Portugal @ Afro Nation 2026

Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

Lil Baby Announces ‘The Leaks,’ His Second New Project Of The Year, And Drops ‘Middle Of The Summer’

In case you’ve missed it, Lil Baby has been busy lately. Every week for the past few, Baby has dropped a new song in a series dubbed “WHAM Wednesdays.” So far, we’ve heard “All On Me” featuring G Herbo, “Real Sh*t,” “Otha Boy,” and “Try To Love.” This all comes after Baby released WHAM, which Uproxx’s Elliott Wilson named one of 2025’s best albums at the mid-way point, at the top of the year.

So, it would be understandable for fans to be skeptical that this flurry of singles meant a new project was on the way. But, one indeed is: Today (November 26), Baby announced The Leaks, a new project set to arrive on his 31st birthday, December 3. Arriving alongside the news is another fresh single, “Middle Of The Summer,” which sees Baby reflecting on his challenging journey to success.

Per a press release, The Leaks “compiles full versions of previously teased snippets and leaked songs that have circulated online over the years,” spanning much of his career, from his early days to his current era.

Elsewhere this year, Baby embarked on the North American WHAM World Tour with special guest BigXthaPlug.

Watch the “Middle Of The Summer” video above.

Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

Sabrina Carpenter Reflects On The Emotional End Of Her ‘Short N’ Sweet’ Tour: ‘I’ve Gone Through 6 Boxes Of Kleenex’

sabrina carpenter 2024 MTV Video Music Awards - Arrivals
Getty Image

Sabrina Carpenter kicked off her Short N’ Sweet tour back in September 2024. Now, over a year later, it’s finally over, as she wrapped up with six shows at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles last week. Now that the tour is finished, Carpenter finds herself in her feelings about the closing of this chapter.

Sharing photos from the final two concerts on Instagram yesterday (November 25), Carpenter wrote:

“Shows 5 and 6! just the greatest way to give this tour the goodbye she deserves [lips emoji] more short n’ sweet tour thoughts and pictures coming soon… (I’ve gone through 6 boxes of Kleenex)

But for now i have to thank [Maya Rudolph] and @realmisspiggy for being the most breathtaking Juno girls

and i have to thank you LA for giving us everything you’ve got and then some :’) i love you!”

In an Instagram Story, she also wrote, “sorry for crying during espresso.” Indeed, she did get emotional during the song: Fan-shoot footage (like this) shows a teary-eyed Carpenter telling the crowd, “I thought it would be fun if I cry while I sing ‘Espresso.’”

Meanwhile, Carpenter has some major Grammy nominations to look forward to next year, as she’s up for Record, Song (both for “Manchild”, and Album Of The Year (Short N’ Sweet).

Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

Oasis’ Reunion Tour Was In Pre-Production For Well Over A Year: ‘Lots Of Well-Kept Secrets’

Liam Gallagher Oasis 2025 getty
Getty Image

The Oasis reunion tour is over (at least for now). This has some people feeling reflective, including some of the tour staff, one of whom just revealed that the tour’s pre-production period lasted 14 months.

Jon Shrimpton, the tour’s live video director and designer, shared a post that features some neat behind-the-scenes photos and videos from the tour. The caption reads in part:

“And there it was…. gone!…. after 14 months of pre-production, lots of well kept secrets, and 5 months of some of the most incredible sights and sounds I’ve ever seen at a stadium show, here we are. The last night of the … it would be fair to say; culturally and financially successful Oasis Live ’25 world tour, tonight, in São Paulo.

A genuine career high point here, being the video director on this momentous event. Travelling around the world, in the eye of the storm. I’ve been genuinely honoured to work with the most incredible, talented, ego-free, happy crew that has ever been assembled, and there’s been nothing but love from everything I’ve seen written about the show…. even in the British press.”

Meanwhile, don’t expect a new Oasis album, as Liam Gallagher wrote recently, “I honestly do t see the point it won’t be as good as the old stuff im quite happy singing the old stuff I’m not 1 of those WANKERS that need to keep pushing it forward or sideways or backwards in some cases NOSTALGIA forever.”

Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

Morning Showers or Nighttime Rinse? The Pros and Cons of Each

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

There always seems to be a debate about whether it’s best to shower in the morning or at night. Often, it comes down to a personal preference based on your schedule, lifestyle, and overall health.

Let’s look at the pros and cons of each so that you can decide what works best for you.

Morning Showers

Pros:

  • Helps you wake up faster by increasing circulation and reducing grogginess.
  • It can stimulate creative thinking because the quiet, solitary environment encourages mental clarity and idea‑generation.
  • Creates a sense of starting fresh, which can improve motivation and help you mentally separate sleep from daytime responsibilities.

Cons:

  • It can feel overwhelming if you struggle with early‑day routines or need more time to feel fully awake.
  • Hot showers in the morning may strip natural oils from your skin, potentially causing dryness or irritation throughout the day.
  • Adds extra time pressure in the morning, which may increase stress if you’re on a tight schedule.
shower

Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-shower-head-switched-on-161502/

Nighttime Showers

Pros:

  • You improve sleep quality because a warm evening shower relaxes muscles and helps your body shift into a sleep‑ready state.
  • You wash away allergens, sweat, and pollutants collected during the day, which can reduce skin irritation and help keep bedding cleaner.
  • It can be more leisurely since you’re not racing against a morning schedule, allowing time for longer showers or wind‑down routines.

Cons:

  • Your hair may require extra styling in the morning because sleeping on freshly washed hair can cause flattening, frizz, or awkward bends.
  • You miss out on the energizing, circulation‑boosting effect of a morning shower, which may leave you feeling less refreshed at the start of your day.

 

Ultimately, there are benefits and drawbacks to both. If you are generally a morning person, a morning shower might be best. However, if you’re a night owl or get really dirty throughout the day, you might find that nighttime showers are going to work best.

Many people benefit from choosing based on lifestyle: morning showers for energy and productivity, evening showers for relaxation and recovery. Some people even split routines—quick rinse in the morning, a full shower at night—for the best of both worlds. Check out both routines to see which one fits best with your schedule.

 

Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

Lil Uzi Vert Doubles Down On Their Comeback with The Surprise Single, ‘Relevant’

Earlier this week, Lil Uzi Vert made a triumphant comeback after a year spent out of the spotlight with a new single, “Chanel Boy.” But Lil Uzi Vert has never done anything halfway. Just hours later, they’ve already released another new single, “Relevant.”

In an abstract video, Uzi debuts a new hairdo, shows off a slick, high-fashion wardrobe, and blasts listeners with the rapid-fire flow that first earned them their rap name. “Relevant” does exactly what it sets out to do: remind listeners why they’re so invested in the Philadelphia rapper in the first place — and keep them that way.

The deluge of new music serves multiple purposes. For one, it counteracts the flood of leaks that have plagued Uzi for the past decade; now that Uzi is an independent artist, they can release music as they make it, rather than worrying about leakers putting it out before Uzi’s ready to do so.

It also sounds like Uzi’s just happy to be out of their deal with Atlantic and free to create on their own terms. After Eternal Atake 2 was received lukewarmly by fans last year, Uzi confirmed that the album was a throwaway meant to satisfy their contractual obligations. Now, with Roc Nation distribution, Uzi can truly do things their own way.

You can watch Lil Uzi Vert’s new video “Relevant” above.

Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

‘How To Make A Killing’: Everything To Know About Glen Powell And Margaret Qualley’s Dark Comedy

How To Make A Killing top
YouTube

This one has been brewing for a while. It appeared on the Blacklist in 2014 as Rothchild, then was later renamed to Huntington. A few days ago, the film again got a new title, as it’s now called How To Make A Killing.

There have been major casting changes, too. Shia LaBeouf and Mel Gibson were initially tapped to star long ago, but now it’s led by Glen Powell and Margaret Qualley. As for the plot, eager viewers can get hints from the 1949 movie Kind Hearts And Coronets, on which the new film is based.

Ahead of the movie’s release, keep reading for everything you need to know before it hits theaters.

Plot

An official logline reads, “Disowned at birth by his obscenely wealthy family, blue-collar Becket Redfellow (Glen Powell) will stop at nothing to reclaim his inheritance, no matter how many relatives stand in his way.”

StudioCanal, one of the production companies involved, previously described it as “a raucously entertaining revenge thriller about Becket Redfellow, the heir to a multi-billion-dollar fortune who will stop at nothing to get what he deserves… Or what he thinks he deserves.”

Cast

The movie stars Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, Bill Camp, Zach Woods, Topher Grace, Raff Law, and Ed Harris.

Law previously told Numéro Netherlands of the movie:

“It being an A24 project, and having such a brilliant ensemble cast with some really highly experienced actors and a fantastic director John Patton Ford, who I’ve a been a fan of, and loved his film Emily The Criminal, it was just something I knew I wanted to be a part of. I love working with new people and being part of a team where you can pick up things off of other people, and that was something that made it a no-brainer in a sense. It was a character I hadn’t really played yet and I’m someone that wants to be able to show versatility in my work, so with Huntington, as soon as I got the audition and spoke with my team, it was something that I really wanted to push for.”

He added, “I’d say that this was an opportunity for me to show a slightly different performance. In Huntington, I’d like to say that it’s a pretty mental character and I had a lot of fun doing it. It’s kind of just like an explosion of craziness. It was a lot of fun, and I do a bit of singing as well.”

Release Date

The film is set to hit theaters on February 20, 2026.

Trailer

Watch the How To Make A Killing trailer below.

Categories
News Trending Viral Worldwide

The Energy And Excellence Of Howard University’s 2025 Homecoming Is Off The Charts

Last year, State Farm and UPROXX teamed to bring you an exclusive look at Howard University’s 100th anniversary homecoming halftime show. Now, with the bar raised even higher for 101, we’re going back to campus to showcase the whole homecoming experience and catch up with Howard’s Director of Bands, Chancellor Mills, as he preps the “Showtime” marching band for this year’s show.

Hosted by Fly Guy DC, the above video provides a behind-the-scenes look at a process that starts long before football season kicks off. As Mills puts it, “Showtime is not just a marching band — what you see out on the football field — but it’s years and years of people putting in their blood, sweat, and tears, from the ’70s to where we are now.”

Rehearsals begin in earnest three weeks before the event, starting with learning the music, then adding what Mills calls “the marching fundamentals.” Once that’s all nailed down, they take the field to ensure not a step is out of place; as drum major Ian Claville puts it, “It means never being satisfied, always wanting to go higher.”

Fly Guy DC also hit Yard Fest this year to interact with students experiencing their first-ever homecoming and alums returning to catch up with old friends. Attendees were treated to a live performance from French Montana, while alumss like Anthony Anderson and AJ Calloway expressed their excitement to continue a legacy stretching back over 100 years. And then, it was “SHOWTIME!” as the band took the field to demonstrate why Howard University’s marching band is one of the best — and why there’s no experience like the HBCU experience.