Category: News

Spotify offers its users a new way to engage with their favorite music, with a different kind of “personalized Wrapped experienced” with its new listening personality feature.

“Your Listening Personality is a new feature that not only tells you about the music you listen to but what that says about your music taste — bringing a whole new layer of personalization and insight to the entire Wrapped experience,” according to a recent statement.

Over 16 kinds of “personalities” have been created for Spotify Wrapped 2022, including the adventurer, the early adopter, the deep diver, the devotee, and more.

The listening personality is created with four metrics: familiarity vs. exploration, loyalty vs. variety, timelessness vs. newness, and commonality vs. uniqueness.

It’s been almost nine years since the Wrapped concept was introduced in 2013, but it was under a different name — Year In Music. By 2016, the platform had evolved, allowing users to engage more with their favorite artists and songs. Later, the platform would roll out personalized listening statistics and user-specific interactivity.

But the creator of the Wrapped experience we know today was allegedly created by a former intern for Spotify, visual artist Jewel Ham. Back in 2020, Ham revealed that she had pitched the idea for Spotify Wrapped’s visual rebrand during her final days at the company, but to this day, she has not received credit.

Spotify representatives have since denied the claim, stating, “While ideas generated during Spotify’s internship program have on the occasion informed campaigns and products, based on our internal review, that is not the case here with Spotify Wrapped. It’s unfortunate that things have been characterized otherwise.”

Good Morning America anchors Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes have gone dark on social media after the two were reportedly photographed looking very, very friendly over the holiday weekend. Prior to the Daily Mail publishing the photos, the two were believed to be married to other people, so that’s going to turn some heads. It also didn’t help that the pair were being openly affectionate from holding hands in a car to Holmes very visibly grabbing Robach’s butt.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Holmes deactivated both his Twitter and Instagram accounts. Robach did the same for Instagram, but her account is reportedly still active on Twitter. The potential couple is also attempting to head off accusations of an affair.

An inside source has already told People that the couple was already separated from their spouses before they started dating, and there was no overlap with their burgeoning romance.

“This was two consenting adults who were each separated. They both broke up with their spouses in August within weeks of each other,” the insider adds. “The relationship didn’t start until after that.”

Robach, 49, is married to actor Andrew Shue while Holmes, 45, is married to attorney Marilee Fiebig. Both couples were married in 2010.

Continues the source: “She’s got nothing to hide. They were both separated so they felt very comfortable dating in the open after that. Their spouses had moved out, even! So they were not hiding anything.”

However, People also reports that their colleagues at GMA were “somewhat surprised” by the photos, and their chemistry did raise suspicions.

“There were rumors they were having an affair about a year ago,” a source at GMA said. “A lot of people believed there might have been some truth to it, because you can see there’s a mutual affection there. But everyone ultimately chalked it up to friendship because they always said they were both happily married.”

(Via Entertainment Weekly, People)

Ahead of his forthcoming album, Herbert, Ab-Soul has teased a possible feature with Jay-Z.

The TDE rapper shared a picture of him and the Brooklyn rapper yesterday (November 30), getting extra chummy at the Barclays Center in New York City, writing, “SOUL DID,” in the caption, a reference to Jay-z’s collaboration with DJ Khaled, “GOD DID.”

It’s nearly been six years since the Los Angeles rapper announced that he would drop his highly-anticipated fifth studio album in December. This past November, the rapper released a video for “Gang Nem,” along with releasing two songs earlier this year, including “Hollandaise” in April and “Moonshooter” in September.

According to a recent press statement, Ab-Soul gets more vulnerable than ever with Herbert. The album will paint “an intimate portrait of the man behind Ab-Soul,” trekking through his life, past struggles, and journey back into music.

The new project references the rapper’s birth name, Herbert Anthony Stevens IV.

“Herbert is a deliberately intimate portrait of the man behind Ab-Soul going back to his foundation,” the statement reads. “As noted by the name of the record, leaving the conspiracy theories, he’s known for behind while emphasizing his musicality. After suffering through a series of unspeakable tragedies, Stevens completed the album as a changed man with a new sense of purpose.”

So far, the tracklist and features haven’t been revealed yet for the upcoming album.

Herbert is out 12/16 via TDE Records.

If there is one thing scammy tech bros will always have, it is “the audacity.” Despite being fresh out of prison on charges relating to the Fyre Fest debacle, Billy McFarland is already hyping another music festival — although he insists it isn’t one. This one, PYRT (pronounced “pirate,” because of course it is) will be a virtual event, which is just perfect for the post-FTX era. Billy even gave a mention to the metaverse, because self-awareness was the one app that didn’t come preinstalled on his mental hard drive.

McFarland pitched the event, which he described as a “virtual immersive decentralized reality,” via a TikTok video — and pardon me while I completely meltdown over having to write that sentence.

Okay, we’re back.

Because Billy apparently did not learn from his previous mistakes, he said the festival will take place in a “small, remote destination” (yes, that worked swimmingly the last time), hosting a “handful of artists, content creators, entrepreneurs and any of you guys who end up joining the PYRT crew” (which sounds eerily familiar, doesn’t it?).

He’s even got the temerity to insist that he’s currently looking for a Caribbean nation to host the festival, with a dash of the gall to name-drop Exuma — y’know, the part of the Bahamas that famously played host to the Fyre Festival disaster. The Bahamian government washed its hands of McFarland and his events in 2017, so securing this location seems… unlikely.

Actually, Billy pulling PYRT off seems pretty unlikely in general, considering his history, but if there’s anything 2022 has shown us, it’s that if people will put faith in Elon Musk to “fix” Twitter, there will undoubtedly be some monkey NFT-toting suckers on the line for this thing. Fingers crossed it’s every bit as hilarious as the last one.

Patrick Mahomes is on track to be one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. His resume up to this point in his career is basically unimpeachable despite the fact that he wasn’t viewed as a potential franchise-changing prospect coming out of college. While Mahomes put up big numbers during his time at Texas Tech, he came into the league with a lot of the concerns that signal callers face whenever they come from a pass-happy offense.

Of course, Mahomes has made some of those concerns look a bit silly. After spending a year sitting behind Alex Smith, Mahomes took the starting job in Kansas City and has never looked back. But in a recent appearance on the New Heights podcast, which is co-hosted by Jason and Travis Kelce, Mahomes revealed how he got some inside information in the lead-up to the 2017 NFL Draft that made it easy for him to impress Andy Reid.

“Matt Nagy, who was the offensive coordinator then, he really liked me,” Mahomes said. “So, he gave me the plays they were gonna go over the night before. So, coach Reid’s finding out, here, live on the New Heights podcast.

“Of course, I crushed the meeting,” Mahomes continued. “I stayed up all night studying those plays.”

Mahomes went on to say that he leaked to the Chiefs that he had insight that other teams wanted to select him in the Draft, and that if they wanted him, they’d need to pounce.

It’s been a pleasure to watch the modern sound of afrobeats grow. The genre’s current torch bearers – Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Davido – contributed heavily to boosting afrobeats to the heights it flies at today. Their work, along with the contributions of others, made it easier for newcomers to make a name for themselves, prosper, and reach listeners far outside of the African continent. 2022 is absolutely evidence of that.

Two of the aforementioned names, Wizkid and Burna Boy, delivered projects that are certainly worth the argument for best afrobeats album of 2022. However, Asake’s show-stealing effort with his debut album puts him in the conversation for the genre’s breakout star and the name behind its most impressive album. Nonetheless, what made 2022 such a great year for afrobeats albums is the variety of artists that showed up and showed out with their A-game with releases that perfectly captured the best of their artistry and the excellence of the genre as a whole.

So, let’s get into it. Here are the ten best afrobeats albums of 2022 in alphabetical order:

Adekunle Gold — Catch Me If You Can

Afrobeats’ stellar 2022 year kicked off with the release of Adekunle Gold’s fourth album Catch Me If You Can. Unlike many artists who shared projects in the genre this year, Adekunle is undoubtedly a veteran in this space. That experience comes alive through his fearless approach on the album’s 14 songs and the wisdom that lives through each one. He curses at Satan on “Mase Mi” (which translates to “don’t tempt me” in Yoruba) and champions his journey on the project’s title track. Catch Me If You Can is a compilation of the things that Adekunle Gold does best, that is, deliver sweet and sensual records that satisfy the ear (see: “Woman”) while also trying new things and letting his innate talents guide him as he does on “High” and “Dior, Dior, Dior.” – Wongo Okon

Asake — Mr. Money With The Vibe

Nigerian singer Asake shot out like a rocket in 2022. From the year’s start to its final weeks, Asake found numerous ways to stand out in the afrobeats genre that he was fairly new to. His debut album Mr. Money With The Vibe stands as the best offering from the genre in 2022. Whether it be the project’s appetizing singles like his “Sungba (Remix)” with Burna or “Peace Be Unto You (PBUY)” or the album’s fulfilling deep cuts like “Dupe” or “Joha,” Asake operates with a fervor that is both admirable and infectious for the listener, making it impossible to get through the project without showcasing your best legwork moves, even if you’re alone. Point being, with Mr. Money With The Vibe, Asake won 2022 in afrobeats. – W.O.

Black Sherif — The Villain I Never Was

This year changed Black Sherif’s life forever. Things really got going for the Ghanaian artist at the end of 2021 when Burna Boy remixed “Second Sermon.” From then on, Sherif pressed the pedal to the metal in what turned out to be a vibrant year for him, which gave us his debut album The Villain I Never Was. The 13 tracks that make up Black Sherif’s debut stand out for their rawness and rough edges. He prefers power over patient precision as he stands as a towering figure throughout the album. Black Sherif commands the tracks he arrives on and he commands the rooms he steps into. With The Villain I Never Was, he seeks to paint himself in a better light despite past tribulations, and succeeds in doing so. – W.O.

Blaqbonez — Young Preacher

Nigerian rapper Blaqbonez made sure that his name would not be left out of afrobeats’ monumental 2022. Eighteen months after releasing his debut Sex Over Love, he returns with his second effort Young Preacher. Don’t mistake the project’s title for a biblical approach or a gospel influence on its 13 songs. The preaching that Blaqbonez does on his second album has to do with his love for women, adjustments and lessons learned with fame, and the pains of his past. Through confessions of wrongs in romance on “Back In Uni” and his commitment to holding onto his wealth and not blowing it off on “Fake Nikes,” Blaqbonez moves with an honest face dedicated to simply being himself, for better or for worse. Through a listen of Young Preacher, it’s certainly the former. – W.O.

BOJ — Gbagada Express

All BOJ needed was one spotlight moment to prove his talents to the world. It eventually came last year with an appearance on Dave’s We’re All Alone In This Together. Just like any artist should, BOJ used that moment to put out his best work with his third album Gbagada Express. On the project, BOJ transcends to new heights, something that’s hard to deny thanks to appearances from Wizkid, Davido, Mr Eazi, Tiwa Savage, Buju, Fireboy DML, and more spread throughout the album. Even though, BOJ’s own work is an elevated version of himself. The direction and inspirations are clearer and his improvement is undeniable. With Gbagada Express, BOJ used his roots to display his growth, a connection that makes the experience of his third album that much better. – W.O.

Burna Boy — Love, Damini

Since he deemed himself the African Giant back in 2019, Burna Boy has lived up to that title and then some. For his sixth album Love, Damini, the Nigerian superstar sought to extend his global reach and recognition as he’d done with African Giant and 2020’s Twice As Tall. What we received was a body of work that watched Burna Boy sit comfortably on his throne as he invited names from all corners of the world for records that celebrated life (“Rollercoaster”), championed a perfect companion (“Toni-Ann Singh”), and committed to a lifelong love (“For My Hand”). Even in Burna’s solo moments, he unsurprisingly gave us memorable records like the summer anthem “Last Last” and the celebratory “It’s Plenty.” All in all, Love, Damini is proof of Burna Boy’s resounding stature in music. – W.O.

Naira Marley — God’s Timing’s The Best

It’s a bit hard to believe that Naira Marley just released his debut album this year. He’s far from a new name in the genre as his catalog dates back to at least 2017 with collaborations alongside notable names like Olamide. However, with God’s Timing’s The Best, Marley makes it clear that the best things happen on their own time. The least you can do is be ready for when that time comes. Marley showcases the many elements of his lifestyle that, together, made for perfect combination to display on his debut. Whether its gratitude (“Happy”), exuberance (“Drink Alcohol Like Its Water”), or romance (“No Panties”), Naira Marley gives listeners a little bit of everything on God’s Timing’s The Best. – W.O.

Omah Lay — Boy Alone

In a year driven by uptempo afrobeats, like amapiano, Omah Lay found success with a softer and more rhythmic approach. It’s evident on his long-awaited debut album Boy Alone. Aside from appearances by Justin Bieber and Nigerian singer Tay Iwar, Lay handles the majority of Boy Alone on his own with records that showcase his most vulnerable self. He confesses to his imperfections on the somber “I’m A Mess” and lays his heart on wax with “Woman” and “Never Forget.” He searches for peace on “Safe Haven” while also fighting against his “Temptations.” It takes a certain kind of strength to be as openly vulnerable as Omah Lay is, and to his benefit, his will to do so helped him to create a great body of work. – W.O.

Rema — Rave & Roses

Rema’s first global impact was felt back in 2019 with his breakout hit “Dumebi.” Nearly three years, numerous singles, and few EPs later, Rema was finally ready to tell his story with a debut album. Rave & Roses arrived in the top half of the year and helped to propel him to the heights of the afrobeats genre. “Calm Down,” “Soundgasm,” and “FYN” spread far and wide as the records took space on many fans’ summer anthem playlists. More niche cuts like “Dirty,” “Mara,” and “Love” gave listeners additional reasons to root for and stan Rema. The best thing about Rave & Roses is how fun and lively the album is, and in a year that was the world’s most open and free one in a while, it was all we could ask for. – W.O.

Wizkid — More Love, Less Ego

Wizkid’s fifth album More Love, Less Ego is just as much of a worldwide message as it is another impressive addition to his discography. Through its 13 songs, Wizkid sought to showcase the many sides of love and how beautiful it can be at its peak. He had fun with it on “Bad To Me” while diving into its different flavors on “Slip N Slide.” Wizkid embraced the passion on “Deep” and hoped for its longevity on “Frames (Who’s Gonna Know).” What makes More Love, Less Ego more impressive is that the calls for love are indirect. Wizkid’s own endeavors in romance are meant to inspire. We watch from afar and desire for something similar in our day-to-day lives. Now, that’s the magic of Wizkid. – W.O.

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

There are some celebrities that have made their facial scars a part of their image: Jason Momoa’s eyebrow scar is one of the most noticeable things about him (especially after he shaved his head), and Tina Fey had a traumatic incident as a child that left her with a permanent mark. While it often comes with some sort of terrifying story, it’s always a good reminder that celebrities are humans too! Sometimes a famous person gets hit with a golf club as a teenager and has to talk about it for the rest of their life!

The Bear star Jeremy Allen White also has a noticeable mark below his right eye that was the result of a dark night in his early twenties. At a particularly low point, White went to his local bar after a bad breakup and proceeded to take a long look at himself in the bathroom mirror. “I definitely wanted something to happen,” White explained to GQ.

He then punched the mirror and shattered glass everywhere, which caused a piece of glass to cut his cheek. “The face, like, bleeds a lot,” He added. He then left the $250 in cash he had on the table and bolted with blood gushing from his face. It definitely could have been worse, but it was enough to leave a scar.

He did return to the same bar in order to do the aforementioned GQ interview, so we can assume that they replaced the mirror and there is hopefully no bad blood there. Though the bartender said he had “heard the story” years prior. In order to make it up to the establishment, he should probably pay them back with some chicken piccata. It’s only fair.

(Via GQ)

The 1975 shows have been nothing short of surprises — from raw meat to making out with fans to bringing out Phoebe Bridgers. On Tuesday (November 29), the band played San Francisco and made the audience roar by having the one and only Jack Antonoff come onstage.

The famous singer and producer joined the Being Funny In A Foreign Language group to perform an acoustic medley of Bleachers songs. It took place at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium after the band played through their new LP. On Twitter, a fan shared a video and wrote, “Jack Antonoff just casually walked on stage to play ‘Rollercoaster’ during The 1975 show in SF.” That’s pretty much how it appears. While The 1975 were backstage hitting the bathroom quick or having a little snack, Antonoff dove into Bleachers deep-cut such as “All My Heroes” and “Rollercoaster.”

Antonoff produced The 1975’s new album. About the producer, frontman Matty Healy said, “He’s so good. What he does is identifies what an artist is really good at or where the truth is coming from. And it’s a bit like, if you think of like a great comedian, the language of, like, sense of humor, they can sense where the humor is in the situation. Jack’s like… he’s like me, you know what I mean? He’s like a culture vulture, he’s full of references. He knows his sh*t, man. He understands what artists need at any given moment.”

(Warning: You spoilers will be found below.)

Serial killer Joe Goldberg will soon return in You‘s fourth season, and one can expect him to have another new name after fleeing from Suburban Hell to London. He’s also still got Marienne in his sights after killing Love (to be fair, she was trying to kill him first), and it’s time to shake up this show but still keep the same ominous vibe with this venue change. Thus far, the show has excelled at placing Joe into new conundrums with a believable air while still adhering to the spirit of Caroline Kepnes’ source material.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of watching You, it’s an addictive binge watch and not as triggering as it might sound from description. Actually, fans get a little carried away with all the thirst for Joe, and former Gossip Girl sensation Penn Badgley has been upfront about feelingly mildly unsettled over people’s reactions to the reprehensible dude. Although Badgley appears to have made peace with this reaction — and the show has a good time roasting Joe — he still gets that feeling on occasion, especially when he spied this new poster of a bearded Joe, who’s staring into your soul.

“These moving eye posters are icky,” Badgley wrote on Instagram after a Netflix post. “I look like a wax figure @younetflix like I’m down but I’m gonna post later k.”

He’s not wrong. Be careful when you book office hours with Professor Joe because you know what happened to John Stamos’ character from Season 1. RIP Dr. Nicky.

To sum up, Season 4 picks up with Joe already moving on from Paris to London, and the scintillating saga returns in early 2023.

Billie Eilish became an icon before turning 20, influencing music, fashion, and everything in between. Her breakout is equally associated with her green hair and “Ocean Eyes.” She broke the internet in March 2021 by debuting a blonde look, which she recently told Highsnobiety “didn’t feel sexy for one second,” and the seven-time Grammy winner became the youngest-ever Met Gala co-chair later that year.

“When I meet people who don’t care about clothing — what they wear and how they wear it — it boggles my mind,” Eilish said elsewhere in her new Highsnobiety cover story, adding, “There’s a performative nature to fashion week that really pisses me off, because I’m like, ‘Please pay attention to the clothes.’”

Eilish expressed a similar sentiment at this year’s Met Gala in May, telling Emma Chamberlain that “judging” was her favorite part of the annual event. “I love to judge,” she said. “Judging doesn’t have to be bad.”

With Highsnobiety Editor-In-Chief Willa Bennett, Eilish elaborated on her style. The Happier Than Ever artist said she feels “sexier when I dress masculine” and can now see how her natural preferences have incidentally benefitted her business strategy.

“I think that people have taken me more seriously because I’ve had this more masculine [way of dressing] throughout my career,” she said. “If I had been more feminine and girly, people would’ve been a lot less respectful of me.”

Eilish became PETA’s 2021 Person Of The Year after only agreeing to wear an Oscar De La Renta gown if the designer agreed to stop using animal fur moving forward. She also pushes sustainable fashion forward with Nike. She has designed and dropped Air Jordans made from recycled and vegan materials.

See images from Eilish’s Highsnobiety cover spread below.