Category: News

The Dallas Mavericks are not where they hoped to be as we are nearly a quarter of the way through the season, as they’ve gotten off to a 9-10 start, including an active 4-game losing streak.

To this point, the Mavs have few bright spots beyond Luka Doncic, who is carrying an immense creative load on offense with Jalen Brunson now in New York. Christian Wood has been very good offensively off the bench, averaging 17.1 points and 7.6 rebounds per game on strong efficiency, but Jason Kidd has not yet given him a larger role because of defensive issues — which haven’t particularly been alleviated by the Mavs other options at center. All of this has created frustration in Dallas, and a big part of the problem is there isn’t a clear or easy fix.

The roster is, for the most part, what it is, and without a significant trade there aren’t a lot of options to improve things. Still, the Mavs are trying to find some pieces that can help, and after Facu Campazzo has failed to crack Kidd’s rotation, they will turn to a former All-Star in hopes of finding some offensive creation from the guard position. Marc Stein reported on Monday that the Mavs are “in advanced talks” with Kemba Walker, and will waive Campazzo to create the roster spot for Walker once he completes a physical.

That physical will be particularly important considering Walker has played just 80 games the last two seasons due to a knee injury that derailed what was another All-Star campaign in 2019-20 in Boston. Walker has lacked the same explosiveness since then, but even if he’s not the dynamic player he once was, adding another competent ball-handler and facilitator would make sense for the Mavs provided he’s gained a little bit of that strength and burst back in his time off.

In a recent interview with Dazed, Doja Cat revealed that her new album will have “its own moment on Earth.”

Since the release of her third album, 2021’s Planet Her, Doja Cat has been riding a wave of success — from performing at Coachella for the first time and winning a Grammy to earning multi-platinum records and securing a spot in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 for nearly six months.

But all that success can come at a cost, the rapper reveals. Being under the harsh eye of critics can have its drawbacks, but Doja finds strength in her quirky but enigmatic style.

“I would take pictures in my room all day, do crazy make-up, put paint on my face, and flaunt it on the internet,” she told Dazed. “I loved getting those reactions; it was just my favorite thing, looking like a freak. I really enjoyed that.”

Despite the internet being thrown into a frenzy over her self-admitted “impulsive decision” when she decided to go bald earlier this year, the rapper shared that she has never felt more beautiful in her entire life.

“I felt beautiful when I had long hair. I definitely felt like a hot girl then, but I always do,” she said. “There’s something so exhilarating about change; [it] showed me a different side of myself. I feel so new, fresh, and sexy.”

When it comes to music, the rapper said she worked on some songs “a year and a half ago” and is ready to share them with the public soon. She also shared that before she drops the album, she has plans to drop some “fun” singles, but they won’t be connected to her upcoming project.

Doja continues to leaves fan guessing with the album’s direction. This past May, the rapper told Elle that her next album would “predominatley rap.” Following that, in September, she told CR Fashion Book, she said it would have a “90s German rave kind of vibe,” before saying it was all “lies” on Twitter shortly thereafter.

Stormzy’s new album This Is What I Mean is out now, and its title track gets a rousing video shot during the album’s release event. Opening with phone camera footage of an impromptu praise session, the video sees Stormzy rapping directly into the camera as collaborators Amaarae, Black Sherif, Jacob Collier, Ms. Banks, and Storry make cameo appearances throughout.

In the leadup to the album’s release, Stormzy shared an open letter with fans thanking them for their support and imploring them to “listen to this album with an open heart.” He also explained his approach to making the project, which he recorded during a writer’s camp on a secluded island in England. “I am not a calculated mastermind with the ability to gauge what kind of music to make and when I’ll make it,” he wrote. “I literally just feel and then let it out.”

The songs he’s let out so far include the tender ballad “Firebabe,” the Afrobeats-infused “Hide And Seek,” and the confident “Mel Made Me Do It.” The album also features guest appearances from India.Arie, Nao, and Sampha.

Watch Stormzy’s “This Is What I Mean” video above.

This Is What I Mean is out now via 0207 Def Jam. Get it here.

It’s hard to grasp that the year is almost ending. There were a lot of pivotal celebrity moments this year, like the entire Don’t Worry Darling press tour, or Tom Cruise jumping out of planes at any given opportunity. But there was one so shocking and overly discussed that it would be impossible to end the year without mentioning it, and that is The Oscars Slap.

It’s been about 9 months since the moment that altered celebrities’ lives forever (or at least that’s exactly how they made it seem), yet we have heard very little from Will Smith, the slapper himself. Chris Rock, the Slapee, has had a few words about it, though we will possibly hear his story next year on Netflix — streaming live for the first time!

Smith stars in Emancipation, the upcoming movie that is attracting a ton of Oscars buzz. But after being banned from the awards ceremony, Smith acknowledged the viral event might impact how people view the film. Via Entertainment Weekly:

“The only discomfort my heart has around that is that so many people have done spectacular work on this film. My hope is that my team isn’t penalized at all for my actions. I think [director Antoine Fuqua] and [cinematographer Robert Richardson] and Ben and Charmaine — everyone has done such spectacular work. I definitely lose a couple winks of sleep every night thinking that I could have potentially penalized my team, but I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that everyone gets seen in the light that they deserve.”

While Smith won’t be able to attend the ceremony next year, it doesn’t seem like there are any rules against the movie being nominated. Whatever happens…there will inevitably be a lot of jokes about it.

Emancipation will be released in select theaters on December 2nd, then on Apple TV+ on December 9th.

(Via Entertainment Weekly)

Trueno is continuing to consolidate himself as a Latin force in hip-hop: The Argentine rapper teamed up with JID in the music video for his new single “Lo Tengo” that was released on Friday (November 25).

In the past year, Trueno has emerged an artist to watch for in the Latin rap scene. In May, Gorillaz brought him out as a special guest during the band’s Quilmes Rock concert, where he performed a new freestyle over “Clint Eastwood.” In September, Trueno was featured in NPR’s Tiny Desk spin-off El Tiny for Latinx Heritage Month.

Now Trueno is getting a co-sign from the American hip-hop scene. Atlanta-based rapper JID jumped on Trueno’s single “Lo Tengo.” The feel-good track taps in funky beats that are reminiscent of rap in the ’90s. Trueno’s Spanish-language swagger sounds at home as he spits about his come-up from Argentina. JID slides in at the halfway point with a slick guest verse. “I’m gettin’ bands out in Buenos Aires / I’m with Trueno,” JID raps with his best Spanish accent. The chorus also features uncredited vocals from Trueno’s girlfriend Nicki Nicole.

In the video for “Lo Tengo” that was directed by Lucas Vignale and El Dorado, JID cruises with Trueno around California in a low rider. Trueno proudly represents his Argentine roots by sharing his mate drink with JID. Trueno released his Bien O Mal album earlier this year. He is also featured on the NFL’s Por La Cultura Mixtape with his song “Quién Si No.”

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

If you thought Drake was done with 2022, you thought wrong. After dropping his highly successful and controversial album with 21 Savage, Her Loss, the “Major Distribution” rapper plans another release, this time with footwear.

Drake has partnered with Nike to drop his Certified Lover Boy Nike Air Force 1s, which are set to release on December 2, according to Sneaker News. The Canadian rapper went on Instagram last week to offer fans a sneak peek of the sneakers.

In the post’s caption, the rapper noted that his mother was the inspiration behind the shoes, along with his favorite book as a child, Love You Forever, by Robert Munsch. “Love You Forever AF1 dedicated to my incredible mother and our favorite book,” he wrote.

When it comes to design, while the shoe is reminiscent of its timeless silhouette and strikingly white color, this particular shoe contains an etching reading “Love you forever” toward the heel and three bejeweled hearts hovering above the message.

Additionally, Drake shared a note addressed to his mother, which read, “For my mother, Your perennial care and nurturing is never lost on me. This book is the time capsule of our love. I long for the days when it was this simple. — Aubrey.”

In an act of defiance, protestors in China have taken to the streets protest Beijing’s recent spat of draconian lockdowns. Since the coronavirus outbreak, the country has strived for a “zero COVID policy” that has repeatedly left citizens trapped inside their houses with little access to food or medical care. During the most recent lockdown, CNN reports that an apartment building fire killed at least 10 people after firefighters were reportedly delayed because of the aggressive COVID measures.

However, this time around, the people are fighting back and calling for the resignation of Chinese president Xi Jinping. They’re also finding support across the globe as a recent rallying cry for a return to normalcy went viral. Via The Hollywood Reporter:

A video showing protestors in Shanghai chanting, “I wanna see a movie!” was widely shared on WeChat among Chinese film fans and industry professionals over the weekend. The statement appears to be a reflection of one of the many everyday privileges that some in China feel they have lost as the third year of the pandemic wears on, with no end to Beijing’s COVID-zero policy in sight.

“Everyone was forced to give a final roar: I wanna see a movie!” wrote the head of one of China’s major theater chains on Wechat on Monday, in a post including the protest video.

Despite the Communist Party’s strict control of the country, Chinese film executives have continued to share the viral video with their supportive audience. As THR reports, the film industry in China has “withered” under the zero-COVID policy as well as “increased censorship control.”

While theaters have technically remained open in China, attendance has been dismal due to the rolling lockdowns and restrictions on freedom of movement.

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

Have you ever wanted to make your own festival lineup of your favorite artists from that year? Meet Instafest, the third-party app that allows Spotify users to turn their music listening history into a festival lineup poster.

While the popular music platform does a great job of keeping track of your favorite artists with one-of-a-kind curated playlists, Instafest allows users to show off their listening history outside of the app. Unlike many other music platforms, Spotify’s integration allows for third-party apps such as Instafest, which offer people an array of options for engaging with their music history.

Fortunately, the service is very straightforward. Here’s how to create your Spotify Instafest fake festival lineup:

1. Open the Instafest website.
2. Click on the green “Sign in with Spotify” button.
3. Log in to your Spotify account.

After a user grants the website permission to access their Spotify account and data, Instafest will generate the festival lineup poster based on the user’s listening history over the last six months. Additionally, if a user isn’t happy with their first generated image, several customization options are available. The app will let you select artists from either the last four weeks, the last six months, or all-time.

There are several aesthetics to try, such as Malibu Sunrise’s summer beach party, LA Twilight’s late-night city vibe, or Mojave Dusk’s wild desert.

(Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery spoilers will be found below.)

In Rian Johnson’s newest witty whodunnit, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Daniel Craig returned as Benoit Blanc, the savvy detective with a thick southern accent and talent for solving mysteries, alongside a new cast of deceptive suspects played by Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, Janelle Monáe, Edward Norton, and Kathryn Hahn. But beyond the principal cast is a series of impressive and unexpected cameos that made the movie feel almost like a Where’s Waldo of world-famous celebrities with familiar faces popping up around every corner.

In case you missed it with all of the excitement (there was a lot), here is a quick overview of all of the impressive cameos so you can keep an eye out when the movie hits Netflix next month.

The biggest cameo moment came from the legendary Angela Lansbury in her last appearance before her death this past October. The iconic former amateur sleuth herself made a quick cameo as one of Blanc’s gaming buddies (!!) along with Natasha Lyonne and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Director Rian Johnson told Entertainment Weekly it was “very, very special.” He added, “With Angela Lansbury, she’s extraordinary in so many ways in her connection to the genre. She’s just a hero.”

Not only did Lansbury get to grace the screen, but another legend also appeared in the scene: composer Stephen Sondheim, who was a “mystery nut” according to Johnson. This was Sondheim’s final on-screen appearance since he passed away last November.

On the other hand, Marvel just so happened to be filming Moon Knight right next door to the Glass Onion set, so Ethan Hawke popped over to play a COVID-conscious character who disinfects visitors before they enter the island. Of all the ways to add COVID into a movie, it could be worse!

Possibly the biggest cameo is a short but memorable moment with Hugh Grant portraying Detective Blanc’s partner in a flashback scene. It was rumored that Blanc would have a potential love interest, and Johnson even confirmed that Craig’s character is queer earlier this year.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the Cameo King himself, played a small but vital role: he voiced the hourly “dong” clock sound. It was a pleasant but expected cameo, as Gordon-Levitt has appeared in nearly every Rian Johnson movie. World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma also makes an appearance early on in the film, while Jeremy Renner gets a very ironic shout-out via his (fake) celebrity-branded hot sauce. It’s topical!

Finally, Serena Williams appeared as one of those futuristic workout instructors who watch you from a mirror, which would normally be creepy, but it’s Serena Williams, so it’s okay!

After a short stint in select theaters, Glass Onion will premiere on Netflix on December 23rd.

(Via Entertainment Weekly and US Weekly)

This article originally appeared on 03.26.20

The elderly have the most to worry about during the COVID-19 pandemic. If infected by the virus they have the highest mortality rate. So, obviously, they have a big reason to stay home and practice social distancing during the crisis.

Teenagers have a much lower risk of dying from the COVID-19, and in California, high school isn’t in session for weeks, if not months.

So Daniel Goldberg, a junior student-athlete at San Marcos High in Santa Barbara put two and two together and got his friends together to help the elderly.

Daniel created Zoomers to Boomers, a website where seniors in the Santa Barbara area can fill out a list online and have their groceries delivered the next day by one of his high school friends.

The site’s name is a generational play on words, the delivery people are all Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) and the recipients are mostly Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964).

“The first week off school I was just spending time with siblings, and I was trying to follow all the regulations of isolate at home, don’t go out and spread anything around,” Daniel told Santa Barbara’s Noozhawk.

“I felt I wasn’t helping when there was help that was needed,” he added.

Daniel was inspired to create the website because of his father, an ER doctor at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

“I saw my dad (Dr. Brian Goldberg) going into work at the ER every day and he was putting himself out on the front line,” Daniel said. “I was just sitting at home twiddling my thumbs. I was like: ‘There has to be something I can do to try help out in the community.’ I started thinking and brainstorming on how I can help.”

By Tuesday, Daniel had put together a staff of 13 high school kids to do the zooming. Many of them are fellow athletes at his school. The Zoomers must adhere to strict standards of sanitation and wear an N95 mask and gloves.

“All these people are people I’m comfortable asking, ‘Do you want to help?'” he said. “They’re friends from school and water polo, people I know.”

u201cGen Z stepping up to help Boomers in Santa Barbara delivering groceries and prescriptions to their homes. #zoomerstoboomers https://t.co/RMGXBfqFK3u201d

— Alys Martinez (@Alys Martinez)
1585079392

The great thing for seniors is that Zoomers to Boomers is free. The Zoomers don’t accept any payment for their orders and tips are donated to those in need in Santa Barbara county.

The project has been so successful it’s already spread to Denver, Colorado.

The site is simple to use. Customers click an “order here” tab to create a grocery list. Then drivers visit a local grocery store and fulfill the order. After the items have been purchased, the delivery person calls or texts the customer and tells them how much it cost and when it will be delivered.

Customers can pay through cash, check, or Venmo.

“They answer all the information we need and we send a driver out and we’ll have (the grocery) order to them by the next morning,” Daniel said. “For the non-tech savvy, they can send me an email. I can call a couple of people and make the delivery.”

Business is taking off quickly. On Tuesday, Daniel’s team fulfilled 50 orders, so he’s looking to hire more Zoomers.

“I’m going to try to grow the team a little more,” he said.