The best new hip-hop this week includes albums, videos, and songs from Lil Yachty, Flo Milli, and more.

We’ve got a little bit of a sleepy week on our hands, at least in regard to full-length drops. However, while only a few hip-hop artists released albums, we did get some buzzy tracks from the likes of Bas (“Diamonds“), Cordae (“Two Tens“), Denzel Curry (“Tally” with Midwxst), Rich Brian (“Sundance Freestyle“), Slowthai (“Selfish“). As for New Music Friday, it seems to have made up in quality what it lacked in quantity.

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending January 27, 2022.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Lil Yachty — Let’s Start Here

The highest profile release from a rapper this week isn’t technically a rap release, but Yachty’s still (technically) a rapper, and anyway, it’s my column, I can do what I want. Drawing comparisons to Kid Cudi’s experiments into alt- and psych-rock, Yachty’s latest draws on a slew of collaborators for that added dash of authenticity, but let’s face it; it’d be a compelling project by virtue of Yachty himself. His career has taken so many interesting turns and he only gets more likable with each

Reuben Vincent — Love Is War

The protege of veteran producer 9th Wonder and a member of 9th’s label Jamla Records, Reuben was just 16 years old when he got signed in 2016. Now 23, he’s releasing his debut album after a string of impressive mixtapes that showcased his promising talent. More polished and conceptual than you might expect, given his age, Love Is War reveals a fully developed artist who captivates all on his own, even alongside collaborators like Domani, Rapsody, and Reason.

Styles P — Penultimate: A Calm Wolf Is Still A Wolf

Styles’ first project since the death of his longtime manager Hovain finds him resting in a state of uneasy, coiled tension. As he says on the menacing “Intro,” “Sometimes you gotta let that 180 negative go, you know? That 180 positive is always there. That’s the balance.” Thus, the balance is between Styles’ poised flow and the itchy, edgy beats, which evoke the sort of restless nights that come with the rags-to-riches narrative that defines the Yonkers native’s journey.

Singles/Videos

ALLBLACK — “Literally”

The Bay Area native has quietly become one of Northern California’s most consistent presences over the past two years, dropping one project after another of upbeat but honest post-hyphy bangers. He’s been increasing his output in the past few weeks, suggesting the follow-up to 2021’s TY4FWM could be arriving soon.

EST Gee — “Blow Up” and “If I Stop Now”

The Louisville rapper already has a reputation for being as prolific as they come, and he only reinforces it with his double-single release. The back-to-back tracks offer two sides of Gee’s flow — one hard-hitting and the other, melodic — but both convey the same intensity and refusal to be anything less than real.

Mozzy — “Every Night” Feat. Baby Money

Mozzy’s back! His first release of the year is the intimidating “Every Night,” a gritty, blunt portrait of the dangers of Mozz’s environs. It’s a stern warning about the drawbacks of street life — and a promise that Mozzy’s 2023 is going to be bright.

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

Forgive me for going the long way round while describing the experience of playing the new GoldenEye 007 port on Switch and XBOX, but do you remember the ending of Interstellar? This is going to be a spoiler for that 2014 film, so come on back at the end of the paragraph if you haven’t seen it. But basically, Matthew McConaughey leaves his family behind to find a new, habitable home for mankind, losing time in bunches while traveling through space as years go by in drips and drops on a dying Earth, much to his dismay. When he finally finds his way back to the bedside of his daughter (Jessica Chastain), she’s lived a long, full, and heroic life but is near death. McConaughey, on the other hand, barely seems as though he’s aged. Their reunion is bittersweet, to say the least. He took too long to get home.

Okay, now to the game.

The GoldenEye nostalgia high has you touching clouds when the first chords of the familiar score hit your ear and you reacquaint yourself with pixel Pierce Brosnan and the dossier menu of GoldenEye. But it’s hollow. Like most purely nostalgic things, it offers a pop of initial giddiness and then a building feeling of, “Is this it?” Because the reality of the thing can’t compete with the sweet memory of the original and everything connected to it. This game imprinted so deeply on me because it came at that transitional moment when I was feeling like a kid, but also fascinated by and looking forward to the excitement of more adult things. That’s powerful. But this new GoldenEye’s greatest sin is that it doesn’t come with a time machine. Its second greatest sin is that it took too long to get home.

A GoldenEye 007 port to modern systems has been rumored for years and years, including an XBLA version in 2008 that teased HD graphics and a toggle to play with N64-era visuals. The timing of that would have been perfect, filling a hole for longing fans whose memories were still ultra-fresh, but it died on the vine and we got the half-baked GoldenEye Reloaded in 2011, the occasional rumor, and the lingering desire to get into emulators or find a CRT monitor and an N64. A fading desire, to be honest. Twenty years is a long time to carry a torch for a game.

Putting aside mushy meditations on GoldenEye as an emotional vessel and re-centering on the technical accomplishment of it for a moment, the game was unlike anything I had ever played before. But that was 1997. Jump ahead to 2023 and it’s obviously been lapped several times over by games that took its influence and evolved the idea of what an FPS can be with the benefit of hardware that’s a world away from an N64. You probably used to love using an Etch-A-Sketch, but if someone told you to spend a lot of time with that over a tablet and an Apple Pencil, you might get bored quickly after the awe of reflection dimmed.

I should add (so as to live up to the idea of this as a “review”) that the raw experience of playing this version of the game is great for what it is — I greatly preferred it on GamePass to Switch owing to the limitations of the Switch controller, but your mileage may vary. Visuals are blocky and unrefined, lacking dimension, but they’re of the original era (though fit for modern screens). There’s a kind of beauty to some of the landscapes and the way colors blend. Accidentally otherworldly instead of hyper realistic. It’s kinda trippy when you’re cutting through the snow on a red hazy night in search of a bunker while dozens of foot soldiers trudge through the cold to try and shoot you on sight. And I was playing straight.

I should also point out that I suck at this game, at least on first play. I set a high bar for myself, playing through its levels hundreds of times as a kid, aiming for perfection when it came to how quickly and efficiently I cut through the endless parade of guards and bads. These 35 percent marks for accuracy and clumsy crawls through maps I used to know like the back of my hand? A disgrace that falls squarely on me. But I’ll get better. I’ll run through these levels a few more times to prove to myself that I can be as good at it as I was back in the day. I’ll occasionally tinker with multiplayer in search of those similar nostalgia hits and memories of when I made my little sister play with me when none of my friends were around (and how she kicked my ass at it).

But while that’s more than enough value to get from something that’s basically free on subscriptions I already pay for, I used to think a new GoldenEye was going to be a big part of my gaming diet for a long while if it ever came out, just like it was in the late ’90s, but I just can’t see that happening now. And while that’s a surprise, I don’t know that it’s anyone’s fault, nor do I think it’s a bad thing, especially considering the amount of joy this thing has given me over my lifetime.

I’ve been thinking about nostalgia and who it’s for a lot lately. How I enjoy it, but how it might be toxic for me and for culture, in general, if I treat it as more than an occasional treat. Try as I have through the bulk of my adult life to live in total defiance of reality and time, I can’t be 12 forever and I probably shouldn’t expect or demand the things I grew up with to always be there, capable of holding my attention like they used to.

I do hope people who have never played GoldenEye give it a go and that the fun and novelty of it finds appreciation. It looks like crap (compared to modern games, of course), but the play is still smooth with richly detailed levels that are as fun as they are challenging. Multiplayer, in particular, could be the centerpiece of a lazy weekend night hang with friends. Slap Mode with the aid of a bottle of wine = laughs galore. It’d also be a full circle kind of thing because the original wasn’t built to carry the weight of personal connection or the epic legacy we’ve hung on it, it was meant to be a fun escape then, now, and forever.

The Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers will square off in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday. The game will feature Niners quarterback Brock Purdy, a rookie drafted out of Iowa State with the last pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, facing off against Eagles quarterback and NFL MVP finalist Jalen Hurts.

This isn’t the first time Hurts and Purdy have faced each other in their athletic careers. In college, Hurts and Purdy went head-to-head in a thrilling Big 12 showdown with Hurts and the Oklahoma Sooners getting the best of Purdy and the Cyclones, 42-41. The highlights of that game recently went viral ahead of their first matchup in the NFL coming with such high stakes.

Elsewhere in the City of Brotherly Love, Sixers forward Georges Niang met with the media after practice on Friday. Niang, who attended Iowa State with Purdy and is friends with the Niners signal caller, was asked about who he’s rooting for on Sunday and made clear he’s supporting his current city.

Sure, Niang could support his friend who has had a fairytale season by going undefeated and winning his first two playoff games as a rookie third-string quarterback, but keeping Philly fans in his corner is, obviously, more important. Niang has played in the city long enough to know that.

The 2023 Grammys are right around the corner. This year’s award show is set to be a historical one, as there are a ton of “firsts” among the nominations. Kendrick Lamar is the first artist to be nominated for Album Of The Year for four consecutive releases. Beyonce tied her husband Jay-Z as the most-nominated artist in history. BTS’s “Yet To Come” is the firrst Korean-language song to be nominated. And Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti is the first Spanish-language album ever nominated for Album Of The Year.

In addition, Trevor Noah will host for the third time in a row, while the first round of announced performers includes Bad Bunny, Brandi Carlile, Kim Petras, Lizzo, Luke Combs, Mary J. Blige, Sam Smith, and Steve Lacy, with a rumor circulating online that Jay-Z will join DJ Khaled to perform his fan-favorite “God Did” verse. More performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

With all that history flying around, the Grammys will be worth watching… but how do you tune in?

The 2023 Grammys will air live on Sunday, February 5 at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. You can watch on CBS or stream from Paramount+ or the Grammys website.

In between filming Dune, drinking Aperol spritzes, and spearheading the Free The Nipple movement, Florence Pugh has also been working on something a little different for her next movie, A Good Person. While appearing on The Run-Through with Vogue, Pugh revealed that she is releasing her own music that is featured in Zach Braff’s upcoming drama.

“I’ve actually got music being released this year,” Pugh confirmed when asked about her 2023 projects. “I wrote music for [A Good Person] and that’s been a whole exciting experience that I’ve been desperate to do for years.” Pugh stars as a young woman named Allison who goes through a tragic loss at the peak of her career and finds an unlikely friendship with Morgan Freeman’s character. Her original songs will be featured in the movie, which hits theaters on March 24th (the same weekend that everything else is happening).

Pugh is no stranger to music, as she used to upload covers to her YouTube channel before she was a household name. “Ever since I was in school, I really thought I was going to be a musician before I was going to be an actor. And I think it just flipped along the way,” she explained, adding that she had taken time away from music for so long in order to focus on acting.

“[Music] is one of those things that can mean so much to you, and the less you do it the less confidence you have and you end up losing your heart in it,” the Dune actress explained, adding that Braff’s script inspired her to get back into it. “For years I was so scared of how to do it. And eventually, this opportunity arose and I read Zach’s script and I said ‘I’ve been inspired to write a song.’ And we put them in the movie.”

Pugh said that she’s really excited to release “real” music, so there is a chance that maybe one day we will witness her having her own pop star moment. “I’ve been able to dabble in it with some characters in some projects I’ve been able to sing, but never fully do it for real.” Not many people would consider releasing a song with Harry Styles as just a warm-up for making music for “real,” but Pugh certainly can!

OVO Sound’s rising rapper Smiley is affectionately known for his charismatic grill. But with a tattoo of high fashion brand Louis Vuitton’s signature monogram textile on his hand, his passion for fashion can’t be ignored. While both Beyoncé and Rihanna have made their marks in the fashion industry due to the success of their brands Ivy Park and Fenty, maybe Smiley would like to take notes in hopes of expanding his business portfolio.

The “Over The Top” rapper sat down with his to give his fashion opinion and financial investment tips for building their sneaker collection. While musicians such as Wale and DJ Khaled have gained notoriety for having rare items in their clothes, the Canadian native wants to let everyone know not every shoe is worth copping.

Of the hundreds of sneakers to discuss, Smiley gave his opinion on Nike’s SB Ben & Jerry’s low-top dunks, Travis Scott’s Air Jordan 1 collaboration, the Dior and Air Jordan 1 high-top, Golden Goose’s deluxe brand hi-star sneaker and the Nike MAGs from Back To The Future.

Outside of Buy or Bye, catch Smiley and his shoe game in his recent UPROXX Sessions performances of “Grammy” and “In My Zone.”

You can watch Smiley’s Buy or Bye for Uproxx Music above.

A new champion of the AFC will be crowned this Sunday and earn the right to play in the Super Bowl. It’s gonna be a fantastic matchup between the conference’s two most recent Super Bowl teams: the Chiefs and Bengals, led by Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow, respectively. Both of these quarterbacks are playing some of the best football of their life right now and have a confidence to them that has helped them reach this point.

However, at some point before a game as big as this one, these two need to find a way to relax. For Burrow, that would be using his Saturday to do things that don’t involve film study. What does he usually do instead? Play Super Smash Bros. of course!

Of all the ways that someone can possibly relax before a game, there might not be a better option than Smash Bros. It’s ridiculously fun, the stakes are only as high as you want them to be, and it’s a chance to scratch that competitive itch. The true question on everyone’s mind though was which character was Burrow’s weapon of choice?

Ness is weird, floaty, and racks up damage in ways you would never expect him to. More power to Ness players out there, but you have to be committed to learning how to play someone like that. Maybe that’s why Burrow has so quickly become one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

Can someone please ask Patrick Mahomes what his main is?

This weekend, dance like nobody’s watching.

Actually. Scratch that. Dance like you’re Anne Hathaway and everybody’s watching.

After a quiet 2022 (her only film role was in the quickly forgotten Armageddon Time), Hathaway was everywhere this week at the Sundance Film Festival, where she was promoting the well-received thriller Eileen, and Paris Fashion Week.

ET Online reports that the “actress let loose at the after-party for the Valentino Haute Couture Paris Fashion Week show,” where she was recorded singing and dancing to “Lady Marmalade.” I believe @PopCulture2000s, who shared the video that was originally filmed by TikTok user @kerosenne, put it best: “ANNE HATHAWAY.”

It’s how we all think we look in the club, when actually we’re more like Scarlett Johansson in Marriage Story.

“I’m so lucky that my life has always been very, very full and fortunate. But I’m in a place where I’m able to enjoy it differently,” Hathaway previously told ET Online about attending events. “I used to come to these things and I would truly tremble. I would be so anxious. It is a little sad that I was able to be in all those wonderful places and the only thing I could feel was scared… I’m just living life a little differently now and I’m enjoying it. I’m so focused and connected to my gratitude.” Time to blast some Robyn.

(Via ET Online)

Christian Nodal is embracing bolero with his new single “Por El Resto De Tu Vida.” The Mexican singer teamed up with Argentine pop star Tini for the romantic music video that was released today (January 27).

Though Nodal is known as one of the Gen-Z superstars in regional Mexican music, he has gone global thanks to his interesting genre mixtures. In 2021, he added an element of hip-hop to his sound with “Botella Tras Botella” alongside Mexican rapper Gera MX. Now his is blending bolero with trap music influences in “Por El Resto De Tu Vida” with Tini.

“It’s a very special song for me that I composed with Edgar Barrera and Elena Rose in honor of love,” Nodal said in a statement. “All of us at some point in our lives, or several, feel so in love that we only dream of spending the rest of our lives with that person. It’s about celebrating love in the most genuine way, the same love I also feel for all of you, my fans, whom I love so much.”

“Por El Resto De Tu Vida” is a soaring love song where Nodal and Tini trade verses about a taking blossoming relationship to the next level. In the vibrant video, the two singers beautifully translate that romance from the song to the small screen. Tini looks like a goddess as she belts the ballad alongside Nodal.

“Por El Resto De Tu Vida” will be included on Nodal’s upcoming album Forajido2. His EP #1 Forajido is nominated for Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano) at next month’s Grammy Awards. Tini’s Cupido album will be released on February 17.

In a situation that should surprise absolutely no one, Truth Social users are proving to be easy marks for shady online ads, and they’re reportedly pleading with Donald Trump to do something about it. Thanks in no small parts to those users, who are extremely right wing and dwindling by the day, Truth Social isn’t exactly a desirable target for brands.

The predicament has forced the platform to be overrun with questionable ads for “alternative medicine, diet pills, gun accessories and Trump-themed trinkets.” Case in point: One ad boasted a gold $1,000 bill that Trump was supposedly giving to his supporters free. It was not free or made of gold.

Via The New York Times:

Devin Nunes, the chief executive of Trump Media, said in an announcement last year that the company’s ad strategy would help it “displace the Big Tech platforms” as a major way to reach Americans. But ad experts say the wariness from prominent brands on far-right social networks, which have positioned themselves as free-speech alternatives to Silicon Valley giants like Meta and Google, is driven by the kinds of conspiracy theories and hyperpartisan politics often found on the sites. In addition, they say, Truth Social has a relatively small user base and many older users, who are less desirable for the brands.

The situation has reached a boiling point as the few remaining users on Truth Social have reportedly turned on Trump. One user even hopped into the former president’s replies to plead for his help.

“Can you not vet the ads on Truth?” the frustrated user wrote. “I’ve been scammed more than once.”

However, thanks to the demographics of Truth Social and it’s less than helpful tracking system, the ad problem is probably not improving anytime soon or at all. There are also reports that Trump could leave the platform once his contract his up, but Devin Nunes has denied that’s the case. For whatever that’s worth.

(Via The New York Times)