Reacher as a Prime Video/Amazon series brings us a more physically accurate rendition of Lee Child’s wandering hero than the Tom Cruise movies did. At least, Alan Ritchson comes close enough at 6’3″ to the 6’5″ hulking ex-military cop with “hands like dinner plates.” Yet in the third season, based upon the Persuader novel, the undercover Reacher and his guns look positively average compared to his biggest (size-wise) foe ever, Paulie.
Amazon previewed a few punches to come, and in a new teaser, Paulie attempts to get Reacher’s number on how much he can bench press, and the Big Guy doesn’t know and doesn’t care: “Because it’s stupid.” That turns into Reacher quickly outsmarting Paulie (who deftly punches himself), which is only the beginning of their mutual grumbling toward each other.
Exactly how massive is the Bigger Guy? Persuader features Reacher’s observation that Paulie looks “like a cartoon.” He is about 200 pounds heavier and at least half a foot taller than Reacher:
“I have to center myself quite carefully to walk through a standard thirty-inch doorway. This guy was at least six inches taller than me and probably ten inches wider across the shoulders. He probably outweighed me by two hundred pounds. Maybe by more. I got that core shudder I get when I’m next to a guy big enough to make me feel small. The world seems to tilt a little … He must have been gobbling steroids like candy for years.”
One of the more charmingly silly qualities of Reacher is that we’re supposed to believe that his physique withstands potato chips, pork rinds, and pie as often as possible. Alan Ritchson, on the other hand, has to work like hell, eat clean, and ingest 4,500 calories daily to stay jacked. Meanwhile, the man who portray’s Paulie, Oliver “The Dutch Giant” Ritchers, is 7’2″ in reality and has been named the world’s tallest pro bodybuilder by Guinness World Records. Perspective is probably everything when lining up comparison shots of Reacher and Paulie, but the dude is undeniably a giant.
Prime Video/Amazon
Unsurprisingly, Ritchers maintains his voluminous physique with even more food than Alan Ritchson does. He recently told Empire that he ate 7,000 calories per day to prepare for the Paulie-Reacher showdown. And he previously claimed to Men’s Health that he’s so good at eating that he can swallow 1000 calories (including 70 grams of protein) in 3 minutes. Yikes.
Euphoria is back. Well, almost: After several delays, the hit series has officially begun shooting its long-awaited third season.
With the cameras rolling, reports of the show’s cast switch-ups and additions are circling online. Today (February 14), a list of the newest actors joining the roster was revealed. According Deadline, Rosalía is among the newest faces. Although this would not mark the “Tuya” singer’s debut onscreen role (having appeared in 2019’s Pain And Glory), fans are excited nonetheless.
In fact, Rosalía supporters hope she and ex-girlfriend Hunter Schafer appear in a scene or two. Others set to appears in season 3 include Marshawn Lynch, Kadeem Hardison, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Priscilla Delgado, James Landry Hébert, and Anna Van Patten.
Schafer, Zendaya, Eric Dane, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, Alexa Demie, Maude Apatow, Colman Domingo, Chloe Cherry, and Martha Kelly are set to return. Sadly, at this time, past cast members Barbie Ferreira, Storm Reid, Nika King, Algee Smith, and Dominic Fike are reportedly not returning to Sam Levinson’s breakout hit.
It is important to keep in mind that the influx of Euphoria news does not mean the show will come back this calendar year. At the earliest Euphoria will not return to your TVs until 2026 at the earliest.
It’s been five years since Haim’s last album, Women In Music Pt. III. Since then, Danielle talked about drunk-texting Bono and sang with Bruce Hornsby; Alana starred in Paul Thomas Anderson’s excellent Licorice Pizza; and Este called Taylor Swift’s Midnights the “album of the century.” The group also toured with Swift on The Eras Tour and visited Sesame Street. Yet: no album!
That might be changing soon, however.
There’s only one post on Haim’s official Instagram account, and it’s all photos from Danielle’s star-studded birthday party on Thursday, February 13. There’s a lot of smooching. The caption reads, “(ha)i’m single.. haim single?”
Earlier that day, each of the Haim sisters also shared coordinated photos on Instagram. Danielle is wearing a shirt that says “I’m single,” while Alana’s reads, “I’m ???” Finally, there’s Este with her “I’m taken” shirt (she wore a bracelet reading the same thing at Danielle’s party).
Either she’s engaged, or Haim is up to something (they’ve clearly been spending time with Taylor Swift with all these Easter eggs). It’s good news either way!
In other good news, Alana has two more roles lined up: she’s in PTA’s new movie, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, and Teyana Taylor, as well as Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind with John Magaro and Josh O’Connor.
The third season of Yellowjackets kicks off with a hunt. That shouldn’t surprise longtime fans of the Showtime survivalist thriller – which returns to our small screens on Feb. 14th. After all, its protagonists are fueled by hormones and bloodlust and the kind of cutthroat competitive drive that can only be forged in the locker room of a high school girl’s soccer team. But this time, the prize at the end of the race isn’t the crispy flesh of one of their teammates, it’s something more wholesome… which makes all the biting and screaming and scheming that much more terrifying.
Sometimes, the worst kinds of horrors happen in broad daylight, and Yellowjackets seems intent on testing that theory this time around.
To recap – because it has been two years since the show wrapped its second season – the Emmy nominated series’ second season, a messy, claustrophobic gore-fest set in the dead of winter, was darker, even more barbaric, than its first, taking big swings but ultimately getting bogged down by an unfocused narrative that lacked the stamina to straddle decades.
Season three – we’ve seen the first four episodes – still proves to be a showcase for its younger cast with the teen survivors running wild, quite literally, as they build their own civilization, with all its rules and rituals, via twig-fortified huts and antler headdresses. But their fucked-up version of summer camp bleeds into something more sinister in the present as Shauna (Melanie Lynskey), Misty (Christina Ricci), Lottie (Simone Kessell), Tai (Tawny Cypress), and Van (Lauren Ambrose) battle paranoia and a sneaking suspicion that the “wilderness” – that sentient, mystical deity that turned their teenage selves into its own murderous avatars – has somehow followed them home.
In many ways, the show’s third season has tapped into its roots; bigger conspiracy theories take a backseat to the brutal political machinations of teenagers who prove hierarchies aren’t confined to high school halls and the line between mysticism and mental illness is blurred further as storylines in the past and present become tainted by the supernatural. It also gives its older stars something meatier to chew, keeping things interesting as the grown-ups become more unsettled by the mundanity of “normal” life.
We chatted with some of the cast to preview this season’s biggest surprises, most shocking deaths, and most pressing questions. Here’s what to remember – and what to know – in their words.
Paramount+
Back To The Wilderness
Sophie Thatcher, who plays Young Nat, and Sammi Hanratty, who plays Young Misty, told us season three’s change of scenery altered the vibe on set in interesting ways.
“Last season, we were on a quiet studio stage and it was hard to not over fixate on things,” Thatcher explains. With the team’s cabin swallowed up by flames that may or may not have been started by their missing adult supervisor (they’re looking for you, Coach Scott), the cast and crew went back on location to where they shot season one, building a kind of DIY utopia for these feral teens to eventually destroy. “I feel like a better actor when I’m outside, in the elements,” Thatcher continues. “I had a day where I was just napping inside my hut. I actually treated it like my home. There was so much beauty in that first season and it was so cool going back to that feeling of immersion.”
Hanratty, who surprised her castmates with a pregnancy announcement ahead of season three’s shoot, had a different take. “It’s not my favorite, running on twigs that are all uneven while trying to protect the belly,” she joked. But both actresses referenced a sequence in episode four that the cast shot outside, one that proves pivotal for the group’s storyline in the past. “There’s nothing like nights while we’re filming,” Hanratty teased. “There’s an eeriness about it, especially when we’re doing some crazy shit. It’s like, ‘Wow, we’re really doing it.’ It feels so much more real when we’re out in the wilderness.”
And while Lynskey wasn’t traipsing around the forest with her younger co-stars, she did reveal she reads all of her younger counterpart, Sophie Nélisse’s, scripts, and some seasons-spanning questions do get answered this time around.
“There’s a lot of very shocking moments and there are also a lot of answers in a way that I found personally very satisfying,” she says. “There’s one particular wilderness storyline that I think is so exciting and so unexpected and fun.”
Paramount+
Moving On From Natalie’s Death
One of the most shocking twists on the show so far was Juliette Lewis’ surprise exit at the end of season two. When Misty, Van, Shauna, and Tai confronted Lottie at her cult compound, Natalie got caught in the crosshairs, cosplaying as a pin cushion for Misty’s fentanyl-filled syringe. And everyone – the characters and the cast – is still reeling from the loss in season three. Ricci and Lynskey have both admitted to missing Lewis’ presence on set with Ricci diving into how Nat’s death is fueling Misty’s storyline in the present.
“Like a lot of trauma survivors and people with PTSD, she’s having trouble connecting with her emotions,” the actress explains. “Her whole life has been moving forward and overcoming these very intense things that she went through as a child. So she can’t connect to her grief as we see in the first episode or so. When she finally is able to, she starts to confront her friendships and some realities that I think everyone’s been aware of. It’s been really fun to see.”
Lynskey warns though that audiences won’t have much room to grieve Nat as the pace picks up this season.
“I have a very hard time processing when there’s any kind of death on the show. So for me, I could use a beat before then you have to go through another one, but that’s not how the season is going. It’s been like one thing after another.”
Paramount+
A New Threat Emerges
Speaking of processing trauma, the Sadeckis are struggling to cope with the fallout from season two. Murder, mayhem, and witnessing your matriarch get chased down by homicidal housewives in animal masks does not a happy household make. Shauna’s anger is closer to the surface than ever with Lynskey teasing she’s ready to “fuck shit up,” while her daughter Callie (Sarah Desjardins in a series regular role, finally) is relentless in her pursuit of the truth.
“Callie’s trying to understand what’s going on so she can understand her mom, and so she can understand herself,” Desjardins explains. “There’s the whole aspect of nature versus nurture. ‘Am I like her? How much am I like her? How do I feel about the fact that I might be like her?’ I feel like Callie’s in a very different place to where her parents are at, and it’s kind of forcing her to mature and almost step into an adult role. In some moments it seems like nobody else is going to do it.”
Certainly not her dad Jeff. Warren Kole’s been playing the perfect TV himbo for two seasons now but the events of season three might just push Shauna’s ride or die to the breaking point. “He’s proving to be quite egocentric in how he’s handling things,” Kole says, adding he still doesn’t know when “enough is enough for someone like Jeff to let go of his loyalties, to release that, accept the realities of the situation and maybe protect his daughter a little better than he’s been doing. To change his priorities a little bit.”
“There’s a real sadistic pleasure in exploring that,” he adds.
And a surprise visit from Lottie, fresh from the loony bin and ready to stir a bit more chaos, doesn’t help the family in finding a bit of normalcy. The show’s resident “Goop sorceress” is reeling from the loss of her community and harboring a strange interest in Shauna’s daughter.
“We’re seeing Lottie in a completely different headspace this season,” Kessell says. “She’s a lone wolf. She’s on her own sort of self-destructive mission She sees something in Callie that I think harks back to their time in the wilderness, a fragility and a darkness that’s taking her back to a time which was so primal and so authentic. I think that’s what Lottie is searching for and that becomes so weird and twisted.”
Their strange, shared bond poses a threat to Shauna’s control over her family, deepening the rift between her and her daughter as yet another face from the past pops up to heighten her paranoia. “She’s really doing her best to move beyond it and be a normal person, but she’s still so angry,” Lynskey says. “I think Shauna has a lot of resentment towards Lottie because her child that died, that was the greatest trauma of her life, was taken by this weird cult and used as this kind of symbol of something, this mystical being. She doesn’t feel like she got the chance to grieve in the way that she wanted or needed to. So now here she is in the present day and here Lottie comes again, trying to get this baby.”
The supernatural has stayed on the fringes in the present timeline so far, but in season three it’s a driving force, reminding the older Yellowjackets of the pact with the wilderness they made all those years ago. Whether their circumstances are pushing them to do evil things, or whether the evil was within them all along, is the central thread that connects the past and present this season and the show’s biggest strength is in exploring that thorny question of human nature and its destructive limits.
Cypress admits to wanting to have the audience “crying and throwing up” while watching the series. From what we’ve seen, season three achieves that and then some.
Since retiring from the NFL, Marshawn Lynch has carved out quite the post-playing career in front of the camera. During his playing days with the Bills, Seahawks, and Raiders, Lynch proved to be one of the most unique personalities in the NFL who is always being his raw, authentic self.
He made the transition into a media career, fittingly, in a unique way, as he didn’t join a studio show or broadcast booth, but found a way to capitalize on people’s love of Marshawn being Marshawn by going out into the world and doing scene pieces, interacting with the locals, for Amazon’s Thursday Night Football coverage. He has also taken a somewhat unexpected turn into the acting world, taking on roles in Bottoms and, most recently, Love Hurts, showing his ability to take his larger than life personality and have it translate on the big screen.
For his next role, Lynch will move to the TV world as one of the new cast members on HBO’s Euphoria, where he’ll join Zendaya and company for Season 3 of the hit show. His quote for the press release on the casting news was perfectly Marshawn.
“I’m hella juiced about the show and getting a chance to work with the people in front and behind the camera,” Lynch said. “At the end of the day, I’m just thankful for the opportunity.”
We’ll have to wait to find out what role Lynch is playing in the show, as it will take a time jump out of high school for the third season — which, sadly, means we won’t see Lynch possibly trying to play a high schooler, which would’ve been incredible.
The Walking Dead is notorious for longevity, for worse or better. The original season ran eleven seasons, ending in 2022, and Robert Kirkman’s comics ran for sixteen years and finally called it quits in 2019, but a shortage of source material has never been a hindrance to franchise architect Scott Gimple. Heck, adorable scruffmonster Daryl Dixon didn’t even exist in the comics, and Norman Reedus’ standalone series is cranking away on its third season. Dead City will also unfurl a second outing in Manhattan, and Rick and Michonne are likely moaning and boning as we speak but could still return.
That says nothing of the Fear The Walking Dead‘s eight freaking seasons, a few from The World Beyond, and a few dashes of Origins episodes. The question right now, however, isn’t whether there will be additional stories coming but if this zombie of a franchise will ever truly die or simply keep walkin.’
How Long Will The Walking Dead Spin Offs Continue?
Possibly “forever,” according to Gimple, who sees no reason to shut down the hordes, as he admitted to Variety:
“I think it can go on forever. Robert Kirkman pitched it as the zombie movie that never ends. And even though he ended the comics, I am trying to fulfill his vision and keep it going in classic ways, with characters you know, that you wouldn’t even expect very different experimental way.”
You heard him. The Walking Dead could ironically live forever, perhaps even longer than 2032 when that pesky asteroid could hit earth, and Daryl will be in the midst of his fifteenth season in Aruba. Maybe Negan and Lucille will be waiting to grand slam that rock. Don’t laugh, you know you’d love to see it.
2024 pretty much belonged to two artists: Sabrina Carpenter was the year’s pop queen, while Kendrick Lamar was the guy in hip-hop.
Drake was of course on the receiving end of many Lamar jabs last year, most notably the chart-topping diss track “Not Like Us.” Now, though, Drake is having a louder 2025 with the release of his and PartyNextDoor’s collaborative new album, Some Sexy Songs 4 U. Of course, Drake wasn’t going to let an album go by without addressing the Kendrick situation, and he pretty clearly does on “Celibacy.”
On the track’s first verse, he says:
“We got a lot of things to discuss
Like these men you know you can’t trust
Or these girls that just don’t give mе enough
F*ck, I guess it’s up and it’s stuck
We’rе not like them, baby, and they’re not like us, either one.”
Elsewhere on the album, he raps on “Gimme A Hug,” “F*ck all rap beef, I’m trying to get the party lit.”
Meanwhile, at a recent concert, he teased that following Some Sexy Songs 4 U, he plans to drop a solo album. He said, “You know, eventually when the time is right, Drizzy Drake alone by himself is gonna have to have a one-on-one talk to y’all. When the time is right, I’ll be back with another album: a one-on-one conversation with y’all that you need to hear.”
The time has come once again for Miami to throw its biggest, loudest, and most sleepless party of the year (well, one of them, anyway). The countdown to Miami Music Week has officially begun, and in a little over one month from March 24th-30th the city will turn into a week-long dance floor where unreleased track IDs will thrive, pool parties will rage from sunrise to sunset, and every club will be packed.
From exclusive rooftop soirees to legendary beachside bashes, this is the week where every dance music fan gets a front-row seat to the industry’s global icons. The latter rings especially true this year with the comeback of the famed Winter Music Conference, electronic music’s preeminent industry gathering. Celebrating its 35th anniversary amid Miami Music Week, the WMC will unite the most influential voices in dance music for three days from March 26th-28th at Eden Roc Miami Beach Resort. Featuring an array of esteemed artists and industry leaders who are shaping the global electronic music ecosystem, WMC 2025 will provide invaluable insights and actionable guidance on the future of electronic music through artist performances, critical discussions, insightful panels, and more.
While the weeklong madness of MMW and WMC is already a spectacle in itself, it all leads up to the grand finale: the 25th anniversary of Ultra Music Festival. To celebrate this milestone, the festival will feature more than 170 acts from across the global electronic music spectrum. From March 28th-30th, Bayfront Park in downtown Miami will light up with a bevy of world-class headliners, including Above & Beyond, Afrojack, Subronics, Zeds Dead, Carl Cox, Four Tet, Steve Aoki, and more. Additionally, the festival will present history-making performances including; the world-exclusive Anyma B2B Solomun set, the global debut of Carl Cox’s ‘Evolution’ live show, the first-ever deadmau5 b2b Pendulum DJ set, the Miami debut of Dom Dolla and John Summit’s ‘Everything Always’ superduo, the world debut NGHTMRE b2b Sullivan King set, and the U.S. debut of Chase & Status’ new live show.
It’s actually Miami’s biggest b2b ever, with a week of proper partying and industry networking with MMW, WMC, and Ultra. While Miami’s clubs, beaches, and rooftops will be pulsing with energy all week long, one thing is certain — where you stay can make or break your experience. Whether you’re looking for a luxury escape, a party-centric crash pad, or a budget-friendly spot to rest your rave-worn feet, we’ve got you covered. Here’s where to stay for Miami Music Week, Winter Music Conference, and Ultra Music Festival 2025.
Top Pick: Eden Roc Miami Beach Resort
EDEN ROC MIAMI BEACH RESORT
It’s basically a no brainer: why not stay at the hotel that Winter Music Conference is taking place at all the while being within walking distance to some of the best Miami Music Week parties? Designed by famed architect Morris Lapidus, Eden Roc Miami Beach is Miami’s most iconic and architecturally significant hotel, blending nostalgic glamour with a modern beachfront resort experience. With a rich history as a hot spot for celebrities and VIPs since 1955, Eden Roc has long been a go-to destination for musicians, from Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand to Nat King Cole and the world’s best electronic music DJs.
The hotel is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, coinciding with WMC’s 35th anniversary. In case you needed more incentive, all hotel guests will receive complimentary general admission entry to all WMC events. Guests will stay in bright, spacious rooms featuring oversized balconies with ocean views, as well as enjoy three sparkling beachfront pools and the expansive 22,000-square-foot Esencia Wellness Spa. With five onsite restaurants and bars — including the renowned Nobu Miami and Ocean Social — unparalleled views of sea and sky, it’s the top spot for all your MMW, WMC, and Ultra plans.
It’s luxury, it’s legendary, and it’s the perfect home base for Miami Music Week. Nobu Hotel Miami Beach isn’t just a place to stay — it’s a full-on experience that blends Japanese-inspired elegance with Miami’s electric energy. Nestled within the iconic Eden Roc Miami Beach, Nobu Hotel is a sanctuary for those who want high-end sophistication with a side of nonstop action.
Designed by David Rockwell, the hotel channels the essence of its world-famous namesake restaurant, offering sleek, minimalist design, natural materials, and an air of exclusivity. And while the city will be pulsing with beats from dawn till dusk, Nobu Hotel provides the ultimate retreat when you’re ready to recharge — think oversized Japanese soaking tubs, plush platform beds, and sweeping oceanfront views. Location-wise, you’re exactly where you need to be. Not only are you steps away from some of the best Miami Music Week parties, but you’re also staying at one of the official homes of Winter Music Conference. That means easy access to exclusive industry panels, networking events, and private showcases, all without ever leaving your hotel.
Between sets, fuel up at the world-renowned Nobu Miami, where you can indulge in rock shrimp tempura, black cod miso, and some of the best sushi in the city. Need a midday reset? Hit the adults-only pool, book a revitalizing treatment at Esencia Wellness Spa, or sip a handcrafted cocktail at the oceanfront bar before diving back into the madness of MMW and Ultra.
Amenities:
Skyline or Atlantic Ocean views
Adults-only pool + three additional oceanfront pools
If Ultra Music Festival is your main event, then staying at InterContinental Miami is your perfect hotel. Sitting right outside Bayfront Park and literally built around Henry Moore’s famous sculpture, “The Spindle,” this luxury hotel puts you quite literally at the doorstep of Ultra. No Ubers, no traffic, no stress. Roll out of bed, fuel up with brunch, and stroll straight into the festival without missing a beat.
But the convenience factor is just the beginning. InterContinental Miami is a high-end oasis in the heart of downtown, offering sleek modern rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame jaw-dropping views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline. Whether you’re watching the sunrise after a night of dancing or taking in the sunset before heading back out, the views alone are worth the stay.
Need a quick power nap between sets? Your room is minutes away. Want to pregame with Ultra-goers? The rooftop pool and Bluewater rooftop bar are the perfect spots to vibe out with festival-ready cocktails. And when it’s time to dive back into the music, all you have to do is step outside and walk straight into Bayfront Park for instant festival access.
Food-wise, you’ve got everything from the modern Latin flavors of Toro Toro to grab-and-go café options for when you’re running on rave-time. Plus, the hotel’s 24-hour fitness center and mySpa Miami mean you can recover from those late-night dance marathons with a deep tissue massage or a sauna session. During Ultra weekend, the hotel hosts a live DJ in the hotel lobby, day pool parties, complimentary yoga classes, and more.
If you’re looking for a sleek, stylish stay that blends luxury with a home-away-from-home feel, Hotel AKA Brickell is the move. Located in the heart of Miami’s financial district, this high-rise sanctuary offers a refined escape just minutes from the madness of Miami Music Week and Ultra Music Festival. You’ll be close enough to the action — Bayfront Park is a quick ride away — but far enough to enjoy a little peace and quiet when you need it.
Expect floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views of Biscayne Bay, contemporary design that oozes sophistication, and ultra-comfy accommodations designed for both work and play. Whether you’re crashing between sets or squeezing in a sunrise yoga session after a long night of dancing, this hotel has all the right vibes.
The outdoor rooftop pool is a prime spot to recharge under the Miami sun, and the hotel’s Level 25 restaurant offers a chic space for pregame cocktails with a panoramic city backdrop. Plus, with a 24-hour fitness center and sauna, you’ll have everything you need to recover before diving back into MMW’s nonstop energy.
If you want to stay in the heart of Miami’s creative energy while having easy access to Miami Music Week parties and Ultra, Arlo Wynwood would be a great choice. Sitting in the middle of Miami’s trendiest neighborhood, this boutique hotel blends art, music, and culture with a vibrant, modern design—making it the perfect home base for your MMW adventures.
Wynwood is the spot for some of the hottest Miami Music Week events and staying at Arlo means you’re just steps from epic rooftop parties, underground club sets, and secret warehouse raves. When you’re ready to head to Ultra, downtown and Bayfront Park are just a quick ride away. This means you get the best of both worlds: nonstop nightlife and a stylish retreat when you need to recharge.
The hotel itself is a vibe. Expect colorful murals, rooftop views, and an energy that feels like an extension of the festival itself. The Higher Ground rooftop bar is the perfect spot to sip pregame cocktails with a skyline view, and the third-floor pool deck gives you a sun-soaked oasis between late-night sets. For fuel, grab tacos and tequila at MaryGold’s, or hit the bodega-style 24-hour grab-and-go market when you’re on the move.
Moxy Miami South Beach is where Miami Music Week energy meets effortlessly cool South Beach style. With its bold, art-forward design and prime location on Washington Avenue, this four-star boutique hotel keeps you close to the action — whether you’re hitting up poolside day parties, late-night club takeovers, taking part in any of WMC’s programming, or Ultra’s massive main stage just a short ride away.
Staying at Moxy is like stepping into a living, breathing art gallery. Every space is designed to spark creativity and playfulness, from the vibrant, color-drenched rooms (perfect for solo travelers and groups alike) to the lush Rooftop Mezcal Lounge that transforms into a high-energy social hub. Want to keep the vibes going? The outdoor courtyard hosts rooftop workouts, DJ sets, and mezcal tastings, while the tropical pool deck is the ultimate spot to recover under the Miami sun.
When hunger strikes, Moxy’s got you covered with Como Como’s seafood-driven Mexican flavors, Mezcalista’s intimate cocktail lounge, and Bar Moxy, a buzzing central hangout perfect for meeting fellow festivalgoers before heading out for the night.
If you’re looking for a stylish and sophisticated stay just minutes from Ultra Music Festival, Eurostars Langford is a hidden gem in the heart of downtown Miami. Housed in a historic building from 1925 that was once home to the Miami National Bank, this jewel of Beaux Arts architecture has been completely reinvented to offer an essential accommodation for a new generation of travelers in search of sophistication. Guests will enjoy its classic elegance with modern comforts, offering festivalgoers a refined retreat within walking distance of Bayfront Park and all the Ultra madness.
While Miami Music Week is all about high-energy parties, Eurostars Langford provides the perfect balance — a sleek, quiet escape when you need to recharge, all without sacrificing easy access to the city’s biggest events. While the hotel lacks a pool, it makes up for its location being just steps from downtown’s buzzing nightlife, rooftop lounges, and two blocks from Ultra Music Festival.
If you’re looking to go all in for Miami Music Week and Ultra, W South Beach is the ultimate luxury move. This five-star oceanfront escape sits right on Collins Ave, offering oversized balconies with stunning beach views, a prime location near the hottest MMW parties and WMC, and a luxurious yet high-energy vibe that perfectly complements the week’s nonstop action.
W South Beach is more than just a hotel — it’s a scene. From the moment you step inside, you’ll be surrounded by sleek, modern design, a buzzing social atmosphere, and a music experience curated by none other than LP Giobbi herself. Whether you’re pregaming at the Living Room Bar, cooling off at the WET Deck pool, or recovering in style at the AWAY Spa, every moment here feels like part of the festival experience.
Beyond the hotel’s doors, you’ll be just steps away from Miami’s electric nightlife, pop-up events, and beachfront parties, with Ultra’s massive main stage just a short ride away. And if you’re looking for a pre or post-festival meal, Mr. Chow and RWSB offer top-tier dining to fuel your Miami adventures.
If Miami Music Week had a hotel, it would be Kimpton EPIC. Sexy, stylish, and always down for a good time. Nestled between the Miami River and Biscayne Bay, this luxurious, high-energy hotspot offers the perfect mix of sophistication and playfulness, making it a prime home base for MMW, WMC, and Ultra.
From the moment you step inside, it’s all about the vibe. Sleek interiors, waterfront views, and a scene that’s effortlessly cool. Each room comes with floor-to-ceiling windows, private balconies, and spa-like bathrooms, giving you the ultimate post-festival recharge space. But let’s be real, you won’t be spending too much time in your room when you have two rooftop pools, plush loungers, and expertly crafted cocktails just an elevator ride away.
The rooftop Area 31 is a go-to for pregame drinks with jaw-dropping skyline views, while Zuma Miami serves up some of the best sushi and Japanese-inspired bites in the city. And with Bayfront Park just a quick ride away, you’ll be front and center for Ultra’s biggest sets in no time.
It is hard not to get wrapped up in a pop star’s orbit. Over at A24, they’re putting a thrilling spin on this concept with the film Opus. Next month, the picture, which stars Ayo Edebiri and John Malkovich, will hit theaters for all to enjoy.
But today (February 14), a song from the feature’s official soundtrack, “Dina, Simone,” dropped to give moviegoers a taste of the flick’s plot. On the song, which is performed by Malkovich and produced and written by Nile Rodgers and The-Dream, is a fast-paced track that does a great job at hinting at, but not spoiling, the forthcoming film’s story.
Malkovich’s acting chops have long since been proven on the big screen. But thanks to “Dina, Simone,” the world can get a full serving of his vocal abilities.
The film’s official plot synopsis reads:
“A young writer (Edebiri) is invited to the remote compound of a legendary pop star (Malkovich) who mysteriously disappeared thirty years ago. Surrounded by the star’s cult of sycophants and intoxicated journalists, she finds herself in the middle of his twisted plan.”
Listen to “Dina, Simone” from Opus: The Moretti EP above.
Opus is out in theaters on March 14. At that time, Opus: The Moretti EP will be available across streaming platforms. Find more information here.
More than two decades before teams dreamt of landing a 7’5 Frenchman named Victor Wembanyama with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, there was a different foreign giant that had the league buzzing. Yao Ming, a 7’6 center from China, was discussed almost like an urban legend before his arrival in 2002 (he first appeared on radars at the 2000 Summer Olympics), and when the Houston Rockets won the lottery (despite just an 8.9 percent chance) it changed their franchise direction.
Yao was an 8-time All-Star in his eight seasons in the NBA, thanks in part to his legions of fans in China that vaulted him to the top of fan voting each year, but was also a 5-time All-NBA center, as he dominated the paint in Houston and led them to four playoff appearances alongside Tracy McGrady. Yao’s impact on the NBA was immense and he’s largely credited with the league’s explosion in popularity in China, but Yao also became a legendary figure stateside as well.
No one had ever really seen anyone as big as Yao Ming in the league. There had been some guys his height, but they were usually extremely skinny (Shawn Bradley, Manute Bol, etc.). He was the most physically imposing figure in the land of giants that is the NBA, and famously made Shaquille O’Neal (the most physically dominant big man the league had ever seen) look relatively small by comparison. As Yao’s career went on, he became a the reference for tall or big, and that became apparent in hip-hop, as rappers all over began to reference Yao Ming in lyrics.
It helped that “Ming” is easy to fit into a rhyme given how many words you can play off of it, but Yao became a somewhat unlikely staple of rap music that has persisted long after his career. He usurped Shaq for a time in being the go-to reference for something being tall, long, or big, and also was the most famous person from China in the U.S., so there are plenty of references to China or something Chinese in rap songs that substitute Yao in place.
Below you’ll find a sampling of 12 songs spanning 16 years (twice as long as Yao’s NBA career) that show his lasting legacy in hip-hop.
“Still Tippin’ 2” — Chamillionaire ft. Slim Thug (2004)
N****s tell me they look up to me, and I know what y’all mean/Cause I’m balling with tall green stacks taller then Yao Ming
“No More Fun And Games” — The Game (2005)
I’m from the gutter, grew up in public housing/On the same block with a shack like Yao Ming
“Beat’n Down Yo Block” — DJ Unk (2006)
I’m with Montay in the South, system soundin’ so mean/26’s make it stretch, sittin’ high like Yao Ming
“Nah Ming” — OJ Da Juiceman (2009)
Money stacked tall, same size as Yao Ming (ayyy)
“Bricksquad” — Waka Flocka Flame ft. Gudda Gudda (2010)
I don’t need no flex, but I got to ball/Money Yao Ming, yes it’s that tall
“Same Damn Time” — Future (2011)
Horseshoes on my jeans, Robin jeans with the wings/Yellow bone on my team, trafficking them Yao Mings
“Yao Ming” — David Banner ft. Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz (2011)
And b*tch, I’m tall as Yao Ming
“Come And See Me” — Ludacris ft. Big K.R.I.T. (2015)
I’m feeling like Yao Ming in the whip (Why?) I need more leg room/So I hit a switch and the whole back seat turned into a god damn bedroom
“Yah Mean” — Playboi Carti (2017)
Shawty wanna ball with the team/Money sittin’ tall, Yao Ming
“Potato Salad” — Tyler, The Creator and A$AP Rocky (2018)
Married to the money, my b*tch green/No I don’t sip lean, but ride around in rockets like Yao Ming
“Yao Ming” — Gunna (2019)
Yao Ming, this money tall/I just checked the stats, n****s still waitin’ on me to fall
“Ralo” — NAV (2019)
Do my ting/Money tall, Yao Ming
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