Category: News

This week saw the release of a ton of great new pop music. Two talented Colombian performers teamed up for a spicy hit and an extravagant music video. Björk recruited Rosalía for a song she wrote over two decades ago. And so much more.

Check out the rest of Uproxx’s Best New Pop Music roundup below.

Kali Uchis, Karol G — “Labios Mordidos”

Kali Uchis and Karol G joined forces as two Colombian powerhouse performers on “Labios Mordidos.” After teasing it with some high-budget fiery promo photos, the saucy song itself more than delivered. Even more entertaining is the music video, which finds Uchis singing in the middle of an MMA fight, and the two pop stars heading to a mansion dance party.

Björk, Rosalía — “Oral”

Björk’s new “Oral” collab with Rosalía has been described by her as a “25-year-old song of mine I wrote and programmed inspired by a dancehall beat.” She found a perfect fit in Rosalia, after choosing her for her “incredible voice.” Plus, all the proceeds are going to combat pen fish farming in Iceland, with a focus on an environmental cause.

Jung Kook, Justin Timberlake — “3D” Remix

Jung Kook surprised fans this past week by dropping a new remix of his song “3D” that now features Justin Timberlake — instead of the original Jack Harlow take. The added verse finds Timberlake throwing in some lines about wanting to fly a girl to Seoul, South Korea.

Zara Larsson — “Memory Lane”

Zara Larsson dropped her latest single, “Memory Lane,” as the first of two tracks ahead of her Honor The Light holiday EP. It finds Larsson at a vulnerable point, reflecting on her experiences as a rebellious teenager in Stockholm. By the song’s end, she makes peace with the memories, which shaped her into who she is today.

Myke Towers — “La Falda”

Towers recently returned with his new album, LVEU: Vive La Tuya… No La Mía, which shows off his skills as a Latin performer. Along with being a rapper, he isn’t shy about showing off his romantic side, especially on “La Falda” which is about hyping up women who are dancing.

Jacob Collier, Shawn Mendes, Stormzy, Kirk Franklin — “Witness Me”

Jacob Collier’s “Witness Me” is a collaboration with a bunch of other artists, including Shawn Mendes, Stormzy, and Kirk Franklin. While the range of genres might seem like it wouldn’t work, each of the talented performers brings something unique to their own verses.

Jon Batiste — “It Never Went Away”

A ballad written for his upcoming American Symphony documentary on Netflix, Jon Batiste uses “It Never Went Away” as a love song for his partner, author Suleika Jaoaud. It recognizes that despite the hardships and tough times, the two have maintained the strength and love in their relationship.

Sam Fischer — “Hard To Love”

Ahead of his debut album, Sam Fischer gets self-reflective on “Hard To Love,” admitting to his faults that cause difficulties in relationships. Still, he doesn’t want to be given up on, as he is also trying his best to change.

Galantis, Hannah Boleyn — “Little Bit Yours”

“I love the way [Galantis] can make a record that feels fun and exciting whilst also giving the vocal space to shine,” Boleyn told Rave Jungle. “‘Little Bit Yours’ is saying ‘there are two sides to me and if you want me, you have to love both.”

Kid Sistr — “Books”

“You give me all your sh*t, I’ll give it back,” Kid Sistr point out on their new single, “Books.” The band finds themselves turning the tables by treating someone the same poor way that they’ve been. By the end, they declare that they don’t “wanna know someone like that.”

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

The Bear is always stressful, but the FX show reached peak anxiety in the season two episode, “Fishes.” That’s the one with all the guest stars, including Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Paulson, John Mulaney, Gillian Jacobs, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Unless your stocking is full of Tums, I do not recommend watching this Christmas-set episode with your family during the holidays.

Jeremy Allen White, who plays Carmy, told Deadline that he hopes season three of The Bear has another episode “where “we can get as many [guest stars] to come back for one day.” He also revealed his dream guest stars: Sam Rockwell and John Turturro. Honestly? It’s shocking that it’s taken this long for Turturro to be on The Bear. Just keep his nasty foot away from the show.

The Bear casting director Jeanie Bacharach told Uproxx how the guest star spots came together. “I think that it meant a lot that Bob Odenkirk and Sarah Paulson and John Mulaney and Gillian Jacobs said yes to one episode. You just don’t get that. It wasn’t about money, it was getting to come play in this sandbox,” she said. “I guess it’s a long way of saying when people say yes, it’s because they’re coming for the right reason. It’s about wanting to come and be a part of this world and these characters.”

Is it too much to ask for a Taylor Swift cameo? Richie would like it.

The Bear is expected to return in 2024.

(Via Deadline)

Last month, Jada Pinkett Smith pulled off a marketing coup for her recent memoir by dropping the bombshell news that she and Will Smith had been secretly separated since 2016. That revelation meant Smith’s now-infamous Oscar slap occurred while the couple were living separate lives. Jada admitted that she was “shocked” that Will called her his wife, which turned out to be the catalyst to fixing their broken marriage.

Less than a week after sharing their secret separation, Jada revealed that, actually, the couple got back together after Smith slapped Chris Rock. We’re talking immediately after, as in the car ride over to the Vanity Fair Oscar party. If all of that seems like a lot, welcome to the life of Will and Jada.

As for where the couple stands today, Jada dropped an update during Tuesday’s episode of The Drew Barrymore Show.

“I think that one of those next stages in relationships is when you really learn how to accept yourself fully, you really learn how to accept your partner fully as well,” Jada told Barrymore via Decider. “That’s been a journey all in itself.”

After saying that she’s learned to “love Will as he is” and herself, Jada said, “We’re staying together forever.”

So there you have it. Since doing a rope-a-dope on their relationship status, Will and Jada have been a united front. Jada recent went to bat for her husband and threatened legal action over allegations that a former assistant caught Will having sex with Duane Martin.

Jada also stopped by The Breakfast Club where she told Charlamagne tha God that the Duane Martin rumor is “absolutely ridiculous” and “you’ve just got to laugh about it.”

(Via Decider)

This year, several rap legends received their flowers in connection to hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. One of the pioneers honored included Busta Rhymes. During the 2023 BET Awards, he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award. But the “Ok” rapper’s legacy is still unfolding. Last week, the emcee released his latest studio album, Blockbusta.

The 19-track album features guest appearances by Young Thug, Quavo, BIA, Burna Boy, and more. If you didn’t have the chance to catch him live as part of 50 Cent’s The Final Lap Tour this year, don’t worry. In 2024, Busta Rhymes will hit the road on his own headlining 24-date tour. Rhymes’ Blockbusta Tour will kick off on March 13, 2024, in San Francisco, California. Today, only Spliff Star and DJ Scratchator are listed as supporting acts. But fans believe official tour support will be announced at the top of the year.

Continue below to view Busta Rhymes’ Blockbusta Tour schedule.

Blockbusta Tour Dates

03/13/2024 — San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
03/15/2024 — Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
03/16/2024 — Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
03/17/2024 — San Diego, CA @ SOMA
03/19/2024 — Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
03/20/2024 — Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
03/22/2024 — Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium
03/24/2024 — Dallas, TX @ South Side Ballroom
03/26/2024 — Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
03/28/2024 — Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall
03/30/2024 — Atlanta, GA @ Coca Cola Roxy
04/01/2024 — Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
04/02/2024 — Miami Beach, FL @ Fillmore Miami Beach At Jackie Gleason Theatre
04/04/2024 — Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
04/05/2024 — Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore Charlotte
04/07/2024 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore Philadelphia
04/08/2024 — Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore Silver Spring
04/09/2024 — Boston, MA @ House of Blues
04/11/2024 — Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
04/12/2024 — Toronto, ON @ HISTORY
04/14/2024 — Chicago, IL @ Radius Chicago
04/17/2024 — Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
04/18/2024 — Cincinnati, OH @ Andrew Bradley Music Center
04/21/2024 — Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount

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

Sean “Diddy” Combs has stepped down from his role as Chairman of Revolt, the media company he co-founded in 2013, after being accused of rape and abuse by his ex-girlfriend Cassie.

This story is being updated.

Even though the summer of Barbie is long gone, Margot Robbie is still a Barbie of the people, and hopefully, she will continue to share tidbits for years to come. She is still basking in her Barbie-ness, after all.

Robbie was recently asked about her favorite scene from the film, which was a tough question because every single scene is good. But she tried anyway! “It’s tricky because watching it on screen is one thing, but being there for the scene was a different thing,” the actress told Entertainment Tonight at the 2023 Gotham Awards, though she was able to pinpoint a particular moment she wasn’t expecting. “It was one line that Ryan improvised on the day. When he yells out ‘sublime.’ I wasn’t prepared for that, that wasn’t in the script and to this day, that makes me laugh,” Robbie said.

Gerwig confirmed earlier this year that the take was one of many random lines that Gosling had shouted, but “SUBLIME” was the one that stuck. She told Variety, “Ryan had the idea of [Ken] having a private moment that she [Barbie] can hear. Because, of course, there’s no walls or privacy in Barbie Land. And then I will give myself credit, I came up with ‘sublime.’ I kept thinking, what’s the funniest word? I kept going back to ‘sublime.’ It’s the oddest word,” she added. Surely there are odder words, like cacophony or fettuccini but you have to save some for other movies.

The director also confirmed that there were many other weird lines that Gosling tried. “But I let him do lots of things, because, why not? He did some very long sentences that he screamed. One was ‘Finally! My rainbow after the storm!’” Maybe one day we will get the Gerwig cut with some of the long-lost footage that the world needs to see.

(Via ET)

Indie music has grown to include so much. It’s not just music that is released on independent labels, but speaks to an aesthetic that deviates from the norm and follows its own weirdo heart. It can come in the form of rock music, pop, or folk. In a sense, it says as much about the people that are drawn to it as it does about the people that make it.

Every week, Uproxx is rounding up the best new indie music from the past seven days. This week, we got new music from Brittany Howard, Björk, Guided By Voices, My Morning Jacket, and more.

While we’re at it, sign up for our newsletter to get the best new indie music delivered directly to your inbox, every Monday.

Tozcos – Infernal

From Adolescents to T.S.O.L., Orange County was a punk rock haven in the late seventies and early eighties. Tozcos, a hardcore four-piece formed in 2013, are in conversation not only with hardcore’s lineage in Orange County, but they’re also forging their own path within its current punk landscape. Tozcos’ sophomore album, Infernal, is an urgent missive on what the band describes on their Bandcamp page as the “perception of ourselves and the world around us.” That may be ambiguous, but Infernal feels tactile and immediate. Highlights like the incendiary centerpiece “Regeneracion,” the headbang-worthy breakdown in the middle of “Ojos Muertos,” and K Lo’s nimble basslines on lead single “Presos” foreground a largely underground band. Diving into Tozcos’ smoldering inferno is like stumbling upon a hidden punk heaven.

Dylan Baldi – On The Way To Vesuvius

Cloud Nothings are perhaps best known for their brand of inflammatory, punk-inflected indie rock. When frontman Dylan Baldi screams “I thought I would be more than this” in the classic Attack On Memory cut “Wasted Days,” the combination of punishing drums and excoriating guitars underline the ferocity. Baldi, on his surprise-released new EP, On The Way To Vesuvius, eschews aggression in lieu of meandering noise experiments. Meeting the middle point between drone, noise rock, and ambient, Baldi’s solo EP is an engaging exercise in textural sonics. The fuzzy haze of “Morning Rounder” and the sputtering distortion all over “Hazy Summer Alley With Flowers” pinpoint Baldi as a talented instrumentalist, someone with an ability to elicit a wide gamut of sounds out of just a few instruments.

Brittany Howard – “Red Flags”

Brittany Howard toes a fine line between indie rock, funk, and gospel. On her 2019 solo debut album, Jaime, she worked with virtuosic musicians like jazz-fusion drummer Nate Smith and Alabama Shakes bassist Zac Cockrell, creating memorable tunes like “Goat Head” and “13th Century Metal.” She has been painstakingly quiet ever since, but Howard will return with her formidable sophomore record, What Now, early next year. On the hypnotic grooves of “What Now” and the syncopated rhythms dotting “Red Flags,” the Shakes’ frontwoman makes another compelling case for her inarguable prowess.

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – “Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You”

Earlier this year, Will Oldham, the indie-folk singer-songwriter also known as Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, released the tender and enchanting Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You, his first solo album since 2019. Now, he’s sharing the title track, which didn’t appear on the album proper. It’s exactly six minutes long, yet there are only a handful of words. Each one hits like a hammer, but they’re sung as gently as a lullaby: “See, keeping secrets will destroy you / And how can I grow old / If I don’t know?”

Björk and Rosalía – “Oral”

Björk’s latest single, a team-up with Spanish pop behemoth Rosalía and producer Sega Bodega, was excavated from the depths of her catalog. Between the releases for Homogenic and Vespertine, the Icelandic auteur wrote “Oral,” but she could never find a suitable home for it. Now, however, it’s finally seeing the light of day. Nothing is arbitrary for Björk, though; the single’s release fights against factory fish farming, which has polluted Iceland’s idyllic fjords. The track’s sweeping sense of yearning feels prescient, as the dueling vocalists remain optimistic about the environmental future without yielding to status quo complacency.

Guided By Voices – Nowhere To Go But Up

These dudes simply do not stop. Looking at a list of Guided By Voices’ discography will almost certainly induce an acute case of sensory overload. Robert Pollard and his crew have already dropped two full-length albums this year: La La Land and Welshpool Frillies. That’s on top of hosting a weekend-long celebration for the 40th anniversary of the group in Dayton, Ohio, inviting friends like Built To Spill, Dinosaur Jr, and Wednesday along for the fun. With Nowhere To Go But Up, Guided By Voices pull off their 2023 LP hat trick. The album title succinctly sums up the band’s trajectory. Here’s to another fruitful decade of GBV.

The Japanese House – ITEIAD Sessions

As The Japanese House, Amber Bain crafts sleek, elastic synth-pop that marries syncopated grooves, introspective contemplation, and snappy hooks. That was largely the case with this summer’s In The End It Always Does, The Japanese House’s second album. ITEIAD Sessions mostly discards the shiny production for something more humanistic. Featuring an ABBA cover and live versions of several cuts from her latest LP, Bain’s new EP adds another layer of depth to her nuanced songs of heartbreak.

Body/Negative – “Sleepy”

Bruce Springsteen initially recorded Nebraska with the intent of taking his mournful, sparse demos to the E Street Band. As the legend goes, he instead opted for the demos themselves for their dark yet alluring intimacy. Body/Negative, the project of multi-instrumentalist Andy Schiaffino, mainly recorded their third album, Everett, on a tape recorder, and its small scale makes its sprawling textures feel vast by contrast. “Sleepy,” a collaboration with Midwife and the album’s final single, is a microcosm of Schiaffino’s delicate compositions. Piano notes ring out across empty space like stars dotting a galaxy, the spaces in between carrying just as much weight as the melody itself.

Health – “Demigods”

Rat Wars, the forthcoming fifth album from industrial rockers Health, anoints the Los Angeles trio as leaders of the subgenre’s latest wave. With an ear for immersive sonics, mechanistic grit, and heavy-hitting breakdowns, Health know exactly what they’re doing. The nearly six-minute epic “Demigods” encompasses all three of those modes, as the band shifts from a reverb-drenched intro to a crunchy guitar progression with pummeling drums, only to revert back to an atmospheric section with Jake Duzsik’s airy vocals. As an album opener, “Demigods” perfectly encapsulates Health’s multitudes.

My Morning Jacket — Happy Holiday!

The holiday season is just around the corner, and indie fans will likely be bumping Christmas music from artists like Sufjan Stevens and Low. Add My Morning Jacket to that list, as the Louisville band released a physical version of Happy Holiday!. It includes the five original tracks from the 2013 digital version and three new songs; there’s even a “snow version” of Circuital cut “Wonderful (The Way I Feel).” On these nine jolly tunes, Jim James and co. transform into My Merry Jacket.

While the festival season is still a few months away from kicking off, Coachella comes faster than most might expect — as tickets go on sale quickly and attendees prepare to head out to the Californian desert.

Here’s everything to know for Coachella 2024.

When Is Coachella 2024?

Coachella 2024 is being held across two weekends in April. The first will be Friday, April 12 through Sunday, April 14. The second weekend will keep the same lineup and run from Friday, April 19 through Sunday, April 21.

Who Is Headlining Coachella 2024?

The headliners for Coachella 2024 have not been announced yet, and will likely be revealed with the full lineup. Fans on Reddit had started discussing possible options, with Dua Lipa being a consideration, as she would have a new album coming soon. Other guesses have been Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Rage Against The Machine, Shakira, SZA, and more.

Where Is Coachella 2024?

Coachella 2024 will take place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.

Is Coachella 2024 Sold Out?

Right now, Coachella 2024 tickets are sold out — and have been for a few months. According to the website, fans can join a waitlist for either weekend to get tickets.

How Much Are Coachella 2024 Tickets?

General Admission for Coachella 2024 started at $499, plus fees, for either weekend. The prices then increased by tiered GA sales, depending on when you purchased, with the highest being $599 to start. VIP passes started at $1069, according to Consequence.

After an extended hiatus and a last-minute delay, Nicki Minaj’s high-anticipated fifth studio album, Pink Friday 2, is nearly here. With the success of her record “Barbie World” with Ice Spice, which earned her a Grammy nomination, the momentum is on Minaj’s side.

During a sit-down with Vogue, Nicki Minaj hinted that the project would be her most personal work. “When I look back at a lot of my music, I’m like, Oh, my God, where was the me in it? So for this album, I went back to the old game plan,” said Minaj.

Here’s everything you need to know about Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2, including the release date, tracklist, artwork, tour details, and more.

Release Date

Pink Friday 2 is out 12/8 via Republic. Find more information here.

Tracklist

The official tracklist has not yet been revealed.

Features

As the public waits for the release of the official tracklist, rumors of guest features have begun to circulate across social media. Some names thrown into the mix are Remy Ma and Metro Boomin. Nicki Minaj previously confirmed Drake would contribute to the album.

Artwork

You can see the Pink Friday 2 artwork below. Nicki Minaj has given fans a plethora of cover options for the vinyl releases.

Singles

So far, Nicki Minaj has rolled out two singles from Pink Friday 2, including “Bahm Bahm” and “Last Time I Saw You.” Before announcing the album, Minaj released songs “Super Freaky Girl” and “Red Ruby Da Sleeze.” Fans hope each of those tracks will appear on the project.

Tour

On November 17, Nicki Minaj confirmed that to support the album, she will embark on a world tour. Currently, the Pink Friday 2 World Tour schedule hasn’t been shared with the general public. But Minaj did confirm that the run will kick off in 2024. The RVSP webpage listed several North American and international stops, including Brooklyn, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Montreal, Philadelphia, Toronto, Vancouver, Netherlands, Germany, and France. In addition to the Pink Friday 2 World Tour, Minaj is slated to headline Rolling Loud California 2024.

Yesterday (November 27), the racketeering trial against Young Thug officially began with the Fulton County District Attorney’s prosecutor delivering their opening statement. Young Thug is charged with violating the Georgia state Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and engaging in criminal street gang activity. According to the state, Thug is the leader of a violent street gang, YSL, which has been responsible for dozens of crimes including murder and armed robbery.

However, Thug’s defense attorney, Brian Steel, has argued that the state’s case is flimsy and based on a literal reading of the rapper’s song lyrics with no benefit of the doubt for creative license. According to the New York Times, Steel said, “Despite the unthinkable oppressive, impoverished and cruel conditions of his upbringing, [Thug] has been able to cultivate his creative genius to lawfully and ethically attain phenomenal worldwide success.”

Steel is a veteran defense attorney who runs a firm alongside his wife, Colette, after spending the earliest part of his career as a public defender. Earlier this year, Steel tried unsuccessfully to get Thug granted bond, calling his life in jail “torture.”

So far, Steel has already tried for a mistrial, noting that Assistant DA Adriane Love showed evidence during her opening statements that had already been banned from the case. While Judge Ural Glanville rejected that proposal, he did admonish the prosecutor for including the off-limits material.

If convicted, Young Thug could be sentenced to up to 120 years in prison (although it would likely be much less).

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