Category: News

It’s rare to have individual icons in the world of video games. Making a game is a team effort that involves many talented people, so it’s unfair to give all the credit to individuals. But there are a few notable names out there who are instantly recognizable whenever they work on a title. Yuji Naka, one of the co-creators of Sonic the Hedgehog, is one of those names. His time at SEGA as a programmer and director earned him a status of fame in the video game community for his work on not only Sonic, but Phantasy Star, and ChuChu Rocket!

Naka eventually left SEGA and joined SquareEnix, where he would go on to produce Balan Wonderworld. It didn’t do particularly well critically or financially, and eventually, Naka sued SquareEnix over creative differences and what he believed was SquareEnix pushing him out of the game’s development. While the reason Balan Wonderworld failed is up to debate, it certainly damaged Naka’s reputation in the video game community.

Earlier in the week, Naka’s reputation took an even bigger hit when he, alongside two Square Enix employees, was arrested for alleged insider trading while with the company. Naka, according to reports by IGN Japan, allegedly invested stock into Square Enix before the mobile game Dragon Quest Tact was announced with knowledge of the game’s pending announcement. Via IGN:

He allegedly bought 10,000 shares in developer Aiming, at a value of around $20,000, ahead of it announcing the Dragon Quest Tact mobile game in partnership with Square Enix. The other employees arrested, Taisuke Sazaki and Fumiaki Suzuki, allegedly purchased a combined total of 162,000 shares at a value of around $337,250. Sazaki is also alleged to have informed Naki and Suzuki about the potential rise in value.

If the allegations prove to be true, then it’s unlikely we are going to be seeing him involved in the video game industry again.

Sometimes the best new R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm-and-blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to what they really love in its true form, we’ll be offering a digest of the best new R&B songs that fans of the genre should hear every Friday.

Since the last update of this weekly R&B and Afrobeats column, we’ve received plenty of music and news from the genre’s artists. SZA confirmed her sophomore album’s title of S.O.S. and said it would drop next month while Lucky Daye shared a video for “F*ckin’ Sound” and announced a deluxe release of his Grammy-nominated Candydrip album. Speaking of the Grammys, Beyonce was the most-nominated artist for next year’s award show. Ari Lennox and Wizkid announced North American tours for their respective albums, Age/Sex Location and More Love, Less Ego. Elsewhere, Kelela announced her Raven album with “On The Run.”

Here are some more releases on the new music front that you should check out:

Eric Bellinger — “Obsession (Remix)” Feat. Muni Long

Late last month, Eric Bellinger announced that he and Hitmaka would team up again for a project, 1-800-Hit-Eazy: Line 2. They kicked things off by releasing “Obsession,” and now, Bellinger returns with Muni Long for a new remix. Muni checks in for a sultry verse that reciprocates passionate feelings.

Kaash Paige — S2ML

Prior to the start of this year, Kaash Paige had been particularly quiet since the release of her debut album Teenage Fever in 2020. At long last, she’s back with her sophomore effort S2ML (Soundtrack 2 My Life). The new project features 12 songs and appearances from 6lack and Lil Tjay.

Phony Ppl — Euphonyus

It took four years, but Phony Ppl is finally back with a new album. Euphonyus arrives with 12 songs and features from JoJo, Leon Thomas, The Soul Rebels, and Megan Thee Stallion. “Euphonyus is a harmonic celebration of sound and color through rhythm and melody,” Phony Ppl said in a press release. “It’s enticement. It’s about comfort, familiarity, and the safety and security that comes with that.”

Fana Hues — Flora + Fana

At the top of the year, Fana Hues opened her 2022 campaign with the release of her second project, Flora + Fana. Before the year comes to a close, the LA singer returns with a deluxe edition with three new tracks. They are “Float,” “Yours,” and a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Never Dreamed You’d Leave In Summer.”

Rileyy Lanez — “Not Mine”

With plans to release her Bittersweet EP early next month, Bronx singer Rileyy Lanez returns with “Not Mine.” The track is about facing the truth about holding on to a relationship long after it ends. “Things that are sweet can turn bitter,” Rileyy said about her upcoming EP. “This EP shines a light on all parts of a relationship – the good and the bad.”

Hylan Starr — “If Pretty Was A Person” Feat. Wale

Hylan Starr is on a hot streak as of late. Earlier this year he connected with Lil Baby for “Don’t Make Me Beg” and now he’s back alongside Wale for “If Pretty Was A Person.” Starr uses the record to shower a woman with praises about her beauty, and it only makes sense that he calls on Wale, the poetic genius himself, to get his message across.

Minz — “Wo Wo”

Minz has grown into one of my favorite bubbling afrobeats artists. With records like “BDMN” and “234” under his belt, the future looks very promising for him. Minz continues to brighten that future with his latest single “Wo Wo.” It’s a timid record that is quite pleasing to the ear thanks to jazzy trumpets that ring in the production along with Minz’s cool, calm, and collected vocals.

Ruger — “Red Flags”

You should be excited for the 2023 year that Ruger has in store for the afrobeats world. His latest single, “Red Flags,” is great evidence of why that excitement should be in place. The record captures the frustration between two who lovers who can’t get on the same page. From his point of view, Ruger believes the blame for the relationship’s issues should go on his partner as they expect him to be something he’s never been.

Teni, Mayorkun & Costa Titch — “Maitama” Feat. Ch’cco

Nigerian singer Teni returned earlier this week with her latest effort “Maitama.” It features help from Mayorkun, Costa Titch, and Ch’cco for what amounts to an absolute amapiano banger. The song itself is named after a leafy town in Nigeria and it follows Teni as she departs from home for a journey of growth toward an unknown destination. “This track is about me having fun in both good and bad times and expressing myself,” she said in a press release. “I may not know where I’m going but I’m going somewhere.”

King Isis — “4Leaf Clover”

Oakland-born and Los Angeles-bred singer King Isis places their brushes in an array of colors to create music. Whether it’s rock, R&B, jazz, or blues, their music covers pain, growth, and transformation something that’s evident in their latest single “4Leaf Clover.” The new record also comes ahead of their upcoming EP set to arrive next year.

Aqyila — “Oh”

Toronto singer Aqyila recently signed with Sony Music and dropped off her latest single, “Oh.” With the song, Aqyila reclaims her broken heart with the help of the powerful R&B tune, which in the end, amounts to a powerful message about self-love.

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

There are millions of great things to be said about Judy Greer but the best is that she is always consistently laughing at herself, which makes sense because she is just that funny. Greer stars in Reboot, the new Hulu series about rebooting a popular 90s sitcom with all of the same actors who are now old and jaded by Hollywood. This seems to happen a lot.

What also seems to happen a lot is Greer consistently taking roles where she has dramatic topless moments and they are always a little out of place and sometimes extremely over the top (literally!). But she’s great at it, so it works.

Greer was recently speaking to The Hollywood Reporter when the topic of her shirtless scenes came up and she explained how boobs and comedy just go well together. In a scene in Reboot, Greer said that the topless part was unplanned but ended up in the final cut because… it was just funny:

Being topless was not in the script. What was written was her trying to get her top off and everything. When you’re shooting scenes like that, you can wear a bandeau or pasties, but, when it comes down to it, it’s a pain in the ass shooting around all kinds of undergarments. So I said, “Let’s just do the scene and then you guys can just deal with my boobs in the editing room.” When the scene was edited together, they were like, “Well, we have two versions, and there is a version where we can see your breasts — and it’s very funny. We’re never putting this in the show if you don’t want to, but why don’t you come and see what you think?” So, I saw it, and I thought it was funny.

When asked if being topless makes her uncomfortable, she explained that this is never an issue for male actors. In fact, people seem to want more of that stuff! “There are so many different kinds of nudity, and that was nothing as far as my comfort level,” Greer said. “If I was doing some crazy sex scene, I weirdly think it would be less interesting to me to show anything. This is comedy, and they’re just boobs. We never freak out when dudes have their shirts off.” The actress added that if she were a man, the topic would have never come up at all, which is probably true.

Speaking of reboots, maybe it’s time for Arrested Development to come back (again) so that Greer can return as Kitty. That’s just what the world needs right now.

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

Lizzo is probably one of the most nonproblematic celebrities in the world today. She spreads positivity and kindness and encourages others with her openness about her mental health struggles. It’s pretty safe to be a Lizzo super fan and for Aurielle Marie, an Atlanta author, being a huge fan of Lizzo’s paid off in the most unexpected way.

Marie posted a video to TikTok pleading with Lizzo to wear her dress from the 2022 Emmys. But it turned out the dress was destroyed, according to Lizzo’s response, but her dress from the 2019 American Music Awards was intact. The dress was a beautiful muted fuchsia color with a fitted bodice and full tulle skirt complete with a thigh-high slit. Lizzo looked amazing in the dress so obviously fans would love to get their hands on it.

One of the most exciting things about social media is that you get the chance to interact with your favorite celebrities and, as luck would have it, Lizzo saw Marie’s video. The flute-playing megastar responded like an absolute queen.

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Oh, you thought Queen Lizzo just sent this stranger a cute little video shout-out? Nope. Lizzo responded in the most down-to-earth way possible to help this author out. She sent her the dress. Yup. Just shipped her this gorgeous red-carpet-ready gown because Marie asked super nicely. Well, it probably had something to do with the fact that Marie was selected as one of Out Magazine’s Out 100. The author explains in her video, “It’s basically like the Time 100 but for LGBTQIA queerness. Like me!”

@lizzo

Replying to @badie_aukievah Love you @Aurielle Marie have an amazing time! 💋 @yitty

The event is taking place in New York and Marie has been struggling to find something to wear that fits her body shape and is appropriate for a red carpet event. There wasn’t a video explaining how Lizzo got the dress to Marie outside of an unsuspecting FedEx driver, but one would assume that someone as famous as Lizzo has people that find people.

Either way, the dress arrived just in the nick of time according to Marie. Much to her screaming and crying delight, the delivery person dropped the dress off only a few hours before the author’s flight was due to leave for the event. The joy that exuded from Marie as she opened the box was contagious. After she finished running around crying tears of joy, she tried on the dress. Perfect fit.

The exchange crossed platforms when Lizzo posted the video of Marie trying on the dress to Twitter and captioned it with, “It’s easy to be kind, and my absolute pleasure.” She closed out the post by telling Marie, “You look beautiful.”

I mean, obviously she was beautiful. How could she not be the epitome of beauty wearing that dress?

@auriellebewritin

Replying to @noirediamonds i might’ve gotten a few tears on your dress @lizzo, my bad babe! Words dont suffice, and thank you isnt enough. But THANK YOU! I’m speechless. Y’all! A bitch is certified LIZZO SIZED!!!!!! And LOOK AT THIS GOWN! @Out Magazine here i come! #fyp #foryou #lizzo

Who would’ve thought a random shot in the dark on TikTok would land you in contact with Lizzo and end in you borrowing her dress? The amount of screaming and pinch-me moments that must’ve happened between when the pop star responded and the night of the awards ceremony had to feel infinite.

It looks like Marie had a blast getting her award and thanks to Lizzo, she looked fabulous doing it. Here’s a reminder that a little kindness can go a long way.

Austin, Texas has a long history as an epicenter of live music — even earning the title “Live Music Capital Of The World.” From old german waltzes to pioneering jazz to swing to rock… Austin has always been a place to enjoy great music in warm weather with even warmer energy. It only makes sense that modern electronic music has also been welcomed into the city. And that was definitely the case last weekend when The Concourse Project hosted what’s become the South’s most eagerly anticipated boutique house and techno music festival, Seismic Dance Event.

At Seismic, each of the venue’s three stages, “Volcano, Tsunami, and Frequency” showcased a unique theme, production, and sound element– giving festival-goers a wide variety of options to choose from. Altogether, the immersive weekend was packed with nonstop music, art installations, food trucks, and dancing.

Like the stage names indicate, Seismic provided an eruption of world-moving musicians flooding the lineup. Some marquee performers included: Deutsche duo Ame, Jamie xx, LA star Shiba San, Italian tech vet Sam Paganini, Nala, Avision, Fatboy Slim, and many more. Also, shoutout to performers like LP Giobbi, a music queen whose local connection to Austin demonstrates the diversity of backgrounds that were on full display under the Texas high moon.

Check out the photos of the de facto Lollapalooza/Coachella of the South and mark it in the calendars for next year!

While you’re over there still blasting “Break My Soul” and “Energy” like it’s going out of style, all up in your feels and leaving the haters in the dust, don’t forget that Renaissance is merely the first installment of a Beyoncé trilogy of albums. Facts only. Ok…stop screaming for a moment. And look, Renaissance is already a monumental release for Queen Bey. It notched her another nine Grammy nominations (the most of anyone at the 2023 Grammy Awards, natch) bringing her into a tie for the most Grammy noms of all-time at 88 with her husband Jay-Z. Speaking of Jay-Z, this is about as good of a segue as any to lay out what else, besides Renaissance, is in Beyonce’s trilogy.

What Else Is In Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance’ Trilogy?

“This three-act project was recorded over three years during the pandemic,” Beyoncé said in the Renaissance liner notes. “A time to be still, but also a time I found to be the most creative.” Now in the midst of an impending Twitter exodus, New York Times reporter Kyle Buchanan has apparently spilled the beans on what he has gathered to be the next two volumes of the Beyoncé Trilogy. “Before Twitter goes down, instead of making you follow me somewhere else, I’ll just tell you what I’ve heard about the other 2 acts of Beyonce’s 3-part “Renaissance” project,” Buchanan tweeted. Adding that, “(2nd act is an acoustic album, 3rd act is a collaboration with Jay-Z).”

A Beyoncé acoustic album is the antithesis of the anthemic dance floor grooves from Renaissance but seems likewise destined to light the world on fire. Meanwhile, a new Bey and Jay-Z collab album would be the follow-up to 2018’s Everything Is Love which might’ve seemed like a one-off at the time. But when you’re hip-hop’s greatest power couple, why not give it another spin?

Now about that Renaissance tour and those music videos, we still haven’t seen…

Pink announced today that her ninth studio album, Trustfall, is coming out on February 17, 2023. The pop-rock star has also wasted no time in announcing the Summer Carnival Tour of North American stadiums for the summer of 2023. The “So What” singer will be bringing an eclectic wave of opening acts on tour with her that speaks to both artists she admires, as well as contemporaries. Some of the artists are along for the whole tour, while others present very special additions to select concerts.

Who Are The Openers For Pink’s ‘Summer Carnival Tour’

LA alt-rock band Grouplove will be supporting Pink on every stop of the tour. The same goes for DJ and producer KidCutUp. Well-respected Americana/alt-country singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile is along for the ride on most of the shows on the Summer Carnival Tour. But it really gets interesting when 80’s pop legend Pat Benatar and her creative partner and husband Neil Giraldo join Pink for a number of these shows as well.

Check out the full list of Pink’s Summer Carnival Tour stops below. Tickets go on sale to the public on Monday, November 21st here.

07/24/2023 – Toronto, ON @ Rogers Centre^
07/26/2023 – Cincinnati, OH @ Great American Ball Park^
07/31/2023 – Boston, MA @ Fenway Park!
08/03/2023 – New York, NY @ Citi Field^
08/05/2023 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PNC Park^
08/07/2023 – Washington DC @ Nationals Park!
08/10/2023 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Field!
08/12/2023 – Chicago, IL @ Wrigley Field!
08/14/2023 – Milwaukee, WI @ American Family Field!
08/16/2023 – Detroit, MI @ Comerica Park^
08/19/2023 – Fargo, ND @ FARGODOME^
08/21/2023 – Omaha, NE @ Charles Schwab Field^
09/18/2023 – Philadelphia, PA @ Citizens Bank Park^
09/22/2023 – Nashville, TN @ GEODIS Park^
09/25/2023 – San Antonio, TX @ Alamodome^
09/27/2023 – Houston, TX @ Minute Maid Park^
09/29/2023 – Arlington, TX @ Globe Life Field^
10/03/2023 – San Diego, CA @ Snapdragon Stadium^
10/05/2023 – Los Angeles, CA @ SoFi Stadium!
10/07/2023 – Las Vegas, NV @ Allegiant Stadium^
10/09/2023 – Phoenix, AZ @ Chase Field^

^ with Brandi Carlile
! with Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo
GROUPLOVE + KidCutUp are on all dates

As Trevor Noah prepares to wrap up his seven year run as the host of The Daily Show, he scored an interview what would be a huge get for any major network: Barack Obama. The former president’s appearance reportedly caused a massive line outside the studio as people battled the unseasonably cold weather to score seats for the free taping. With the crowd already pumped for Obama, Noah did a little pre-tape warm-up where he tried to explain what it’s like interviewing the politician who’s notably more chill than his “stiff” contemporaries.

“The funny thing is, President Obama, he’s loose and funny and he’s got swag and everything,” Noah told the crowd. “And then when he’ll talk to you he’ll make jokes and everything, and you’ll be all stiff.”

After doing a solid impression of Obama, Noah explained how it’s easy to get a little too comfortable while interviewing him. Via Vanity Fair:

“But if you’re not careful, you’ll get carried away and be like, ‘You’re damn straight I’m doing well,’” he said, in perhaps too casual a tone. Noah then compared their relationship to one of a nephew and a “cool uncle” who talks trash with his nephews, but the trash talk only goes one way. “You’ll be like, ‘Look at your haircut,’ and they’ll say, ‘Don’t speak to your elders like that. Don’t forget.’”

When Obama finally arrived on set, the audience got to see the uncle/nephew dynamic play out in real-time as Obama burnt Noah almost right out of the gate.

“Do you miss your name, by the way?” Noah asked the former president at the top of the show. “Because everyone calls you Mr. President. If people called me Mr. Daily, I would miss Trevor.”

“My best friends call me Barack,” Obama replied before adding with perfect comedic timing. “You should call me Mr. President.”

(Via Vanity Fair)

This might be the hardest question in the world for a beer fan to answer: “What if you could only drink one beer (any style) for the rest of your life, what beer would you pick?” Would you select your favorite piney, aggressively bitter IPA? Would you pick a dark, chocolate, and roasted malt-filled imperial stout? Perhaps you’d go for a crisp, refreshing, easy-drinking pilsner?

Aaron Halecky, brewmaster at Great Basin Taps & Tanks in Reno, Nevada has a difficult time answering this important question.

“Oh man, come on,” he starts, “you’re really going to ask me this one? What a brutal cold world this would be if you could only drink one beer.”

But Halecky did answer (you’ll find his answer below), as did some other well-known craft beer experts and brewers. Keep scrolling to see what they said.

Revolution Anti-Hero

Arantxa Garcia Barroso, brewing manager at Lagunitas Brewing Company in Chicago

ABV: 6.7%

Average Price: $11.99 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

Anti-Hero by Revolution. This is a bright, crisp beer with notes of citrus and pine. It’s so refreshing you just want to keep enjoying its flavor over and over again. What more could you ask for in a beer you’re going to drink for the rest of your life?

Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Chris Spinelli, co-founder and brewer at Roc Brewing in Rochester, NY

ABV: 5%

Average Price: $9.99 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

Honestly, if it is the only beer I don’t make, it would be Samuel Adams Boston Lager. It’s such a great beer all year round. This iconic beer is such a well-balanced lager with a low ABV, it’s a really easy-drinking, malty, Bavarian-hopped, high-quality beer. It’s one I just don’t grow tired of.

Lupulin Hooey IPA

Garth E. Beyer, certified Cicerone® and owner and founder of Garth’s Brew Bar in Madison, Wisconsin

ABV: 6.2%

Average Price: $13.50 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans

Why This Beer?

Lupulin’s Hooey is my beer of choice for life. It’s juicy and medium-bodied. As in, nothing is extreme with this beer, so you won’t get tired of it, but it’s still impactful enough to make you pour one after the other. It’s a hazy, juicy, fruity, IPA that gets extra flavor from unfiltered yeast and hop oils.

Põhjala Orange Gose

Jody Valenta, co-president and COO of Roadhouse Brewing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

ABV: 5.5%

Average Price: $5.50 for a 12-ounce can

Why This Beer?

Põhjala Orange Gose. While I keep it in reserve as a great treat of a beer, it’s something I think you could drink with consistency without losing the appreciation for how something with oranges, rock salt, coriander, and lactobacillus could finish so simplistically refreshing and enjoyable.

Plus, its palate-cleansing nature lets it pair easily with food, and its lightness in flavor doesn’t restrict adventure, but rather rewards it.

Austin Beer Garden Industry Pils

Amy Cartwright, co-founder of Independence Brewing in Austin, Texas

ABV: 4.9%

Average Price: Limited Availability

Why This Beer?

I’d have to say ABGB Industry Pils because it is just so darn good. It’s crisp, clean, effervescent and something you could drink every day. I would miss hoppier beers, but this one is a classic. What’s better than a refreshing, easy-drinking pilsner? Nothing, that’s what.

Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier

Aaron Bridges, brewer at Finback Brewery in Glendale, New York

ABV: 4.3%

Average Price: $4.99 for a 500ml bottle

Why This Beer?

Helles Schlenkerla Lagerbier, easily. A perfect, crisp lager with just the right amount of smokiness that makes you thirsty for the next. Lagered in ancient cellars, it’s malty, slightly sweet, and has just a hint of smoke that makes it a highly memorable beer. Definitely, one that I’d drink forever.

Paulaner Oktoberfest

Rob Lightner, co-founder of East Brother Brewing in Richmond, California

ABV: 5.8%

Average Price: $9.99 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

I’m picking this probably because I drank a bunch of it quite recently, but Paulaner Oktoberfest is one of the best beers I’ve had this year and a beer I’d be happy to drink for the rest of my days. Amazing balance of malt and hop character, and it has “multiple notes” – meaning it dances on the tongue and yields a complex flavor experience.

And at 6% I’m going back for another.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Aaron Halecky, brewmaster at Great Basin Taps & Tanks in Reno, Nevada

ABV: 5.6%

Average Price: $9.99 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

I’m just a basic bro so I am going to say that pale ale is my go-to style. So off of that, I will say that it would have to be the one and only OG Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Right out of the bottle. It is a legendary brewery that delivers every time with a great balance between the hops and malt. Because it is so readily available and easy to find, it is always one of the freshest beers that you can drink. Just a staple.

At this point. I say that this baby is a national treasure.

Sacred Profane Dark Lager

Joe Rinaldo, brewer at Allagash Brewing in Portland, Maine

ABV: 3.8%

Average Price: $7.99 for a 16-ounce can

Why This Beer?

This is a newer favorite of mine, but Dark Lager from the recently opened Sacred Profane Brewery and Tank Pub in Biddeford, Maine. It’s got everything I need for a rest-of-my-life-beer: pleasant roasted malt flavors, low ABV (3.8%), it’s refreshing, and is available in 12-packs of 12-ounce cans.

Pilsner Urquell

Enrique Vittorino, brand manager at Wynwood Brewing Co. in Miami

ABV: 4.4%

Average Price: $9.99 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

Pilsner Urquell. I think it’s an epic yet easy-to-drink beer for most occasions. And life is a bunch of occasions with a narrative, sort of. It helps that it’s the first pilsner and the beer that all other pilsners strive to be. Crip, refreshing, and perfect.

pFriem Pilsner

Ryan Joy, lead brewer at Green Flash Brewing Company in San Diego

ABV: 4.9%

Average Price: $10.99 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

Pilsner from pFriem Family Brewers, without a doubt. Every brewer appreciates a finely crafted pilsner and the brewers at pFriem nail theirs every time. It’s light and crisp with a wonderful floral and spicy aroma and just enough bitterness to dry your palate making another sip necessary. It’s complex if you feel like delving deep into all the nuances but remarkably simple if you just want to have a beer.

I certainly wouldn’t be mad if this was the only beer I could drink for the rest of my life.

Russian River Pliny The Elder

Rob Day, vice president of marketing at Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers in Framingham, Massachusetts

ABV: 8%

Average Price: $6.99 for a 16.9-ounce bottle

Why This Beer?

Russian River Pliny The Elder. I just think it’s one of the most perfected beers made in a style that I really enjoy and helped bring me into craft beer. This 8% ABV double IPA is brewed with Amarillo, Centennial, CTZ, and Simcoe hops and is known for its bold citrus and pine flavors with a nice malt backbone.

Miller High Life

Ian Brown, head brewer at Biggerstaff Brewing in Atlanta

ABV: 4.6%

Average Price: $6.99 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

Probably Miller High life. Just can’t go wrong. Always refreshing and pairs with anything. Crisp, easy-drinking, and always there. It pairs well with anything. Plus, you can’t beat that classic, clear bottle.

Rothaus Tannenzäpfle

Ryan Pachmayer, head brewer at Yak & Yeti Brewpub and Restaurant in Arvada, Colorado

ABV: 5.1%

Average Price: $17.50 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

A fresh German pilsner, such as Rothaus Tannenzäpfle or Schonramer Pils. These beers are incredibly clean, a result of low-temperature fermentation and extended lagering, which is common in pilsners from Germany. What separates these two, however, is their hop selection and techniques. They have a firm bitterness, like many German-style pilsners, but they stand out of the pack with their usage of flavor hops.

It’s tricky in these beers to get the right flavors without having the beer tasting too grassy and these two do a phenomenal job of not being grassy, of having just enough flavor to make these beers more interesting than many counterparts.

At just 21 years old, Houston rapper Monaleo has been making waves and staying relevant since her 2021 breakout hit, “Beating Down Yo Block.” The track, which samples Yungstar’s “Knockin Pictures Off Da Wall,” was more than just a good song. It was the start of Monaleo’s year-long streak (and counting) of using her personality, savviness, and talent to stay relevant — sometimes in the most effortless ways.

Next came the unforgiving “Suck It Up,” an unforgiving record that Monaleo uses to mock another woman stealing her man. However, don’t get it twisted as men are also susceptible to Monaleo’s disses and dismissals, which we hear on “We Not Humping.” The latter record was eventually remixed by Flo Milli (a perfect selection for that song), with whom Monaleo formed a tight friendship after its release. Their relationship grew into Monaleo joining Flo for her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Tour, a run comprised of 20 performances across the country.

The Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Tour came to a close earlier this week, but Uproxx was fortunate enough to catch up with Monaleo earlier this month for a conversation about her relationship with Flo Milli, her recent releases, what makes her so savvy with social media, and what’s next.

How are you enjoying tour so far? Both from the point of it being your first and that you’re performing with Flo Milli?

It’s been a really good experience. As far as the actual tour itself and the people that I’ve been meeting. Being able to meet people that really support me in real life has been a super surreal experience. People have been walking up to me [and] telling me how long they’ve been supporting me and what I’ve helped them through. This sh*t is like super inspiring for me. It’s just a catalyst for me, it just makes me want to impact 100,000 million more people.

Tell me about your friendship with Flo Milli. How did it start and how has it grown over time and through these shows?

Flo is somebody I really, really, really, really love and really, really appreciate. I had always supported her and always loved her and then one day she tweeted me and said something and I was like, “Wow that’s so f*cking dope that she did that.” From there, we just kind of connected via DM. After we started talking via DM, I told her I had “We Not Humping,” [and] that I wanted her to get on [it], but this is before I put it out. I ended up posting a little snippet on Twitter and I was like, “F*ck it, Imma just drop it.” From there, we were thinking about candidates for a remix, I went through a list of a couple of different people, Flo being one of those people. We connected and she thought that the record was perfect for her. We flew her out to Houston and she recorded her verse and then from there, we started to plan the actual music video. We shot the music video in Houston. I got the final cut back and I f*cking hated it, it was terrible, it was awful. I was like damn, I’m about to have the call Flo and I’m about to have to ask this girl to reshoot this music video. This is really going to show me if she f*ck with me or not because that was a lot.

So I reached out to her again, and I was like, “Girl, I just got this music video back and I hate it and I don’t even want to be in your hair bothering you bout this sh*t, but I just honestly want to give this song a fair chance. I just want it to have the opportunity to really be as big as it can be and I don’t think we’ll be able to do that without reshooting this music video.” She was like, “You know what? F*ck it, let’s do it. I totally understand where you’re coming from, I’ve been in the same situation. I’m down. Let’s do it.” So I went back to the drawing board and we reshot it again in LA. She was a really good sport, she was super supportive. Even after the song dropped, she just continued to post it and she was posting it probably more than I was. I was just super surprised at how much of a great sport she was because I know it’s just not easy. It was super dope, so I really love her.

My favorite song to see you perform was “Body Bag,” which together with your “Faneto Freestyle,” was your first pair of new records in a bit. What was behind the short pause, what made now the time to get back at it, and why these records?

It was one of those things [where] it was like, I was taking a pause, but I didn’t realize how big of a f*cking pause I was taking because nothing really slowed down. I was still recording music constantly, still shooting music videos, [and] still flying wherever to do shows, nothing slowed down. I think I just wanted to regroup, I wanted to refocus, and I wanted to pace myself a little bit. I felt like I started to get really caught up in what people wanted to hear from me and what was becoming popular. I was just feeling that pressure, of “Damn, I got to do something now. I gotta drop some now.” So I was moving in the direction of dropping a tape and then came the deadline for the tape, and I was just like, “No, it’s just not the time. I ain’t gonna lie, it’s just not the time.” I have another date in my head, and hopefully, around that time it’ll feel right or it’ll feel as right as it can feel because nothing is ever the perfect time. You don’t get another opportunity to put out the first body of work, so I want to make sure I really pace myself with that.

One thing I can I’ve been impressed with, besides your music, is how savvy you are with social media and how your music and that work so well together. What do you credit this social savviness to?

Just knowing what goes on with social media, being really tapped in, and always being somebody who’s kind of like a sponge, even if it wasn’t applicable at the time, I was always able to absorb different marketing strategies and different tactics. If I was never an artist, I definitely could have been a great marketing manager for somebody because I’m just very familiar with and just very socially aware of what goes on, the way people think, and what people respond better to over other things. Most of the time, it usually works, and not all the time it works but after enough time, it just starts to kind of work for itself. It works on its own because you built up that reputation, you just built up the credibility. So whenever it is time for you to drop something, people are excited and they’re anticipating it because they know it’s gonna be of quality or they know that they’re going to be entertained in some way, shape, form, or fashion. That’s what I really be trying to tap into: making sure I keep people engaged and entertained.

You mentioned in a past interview that you really wanted to sing at first, so with your transition to rap, what’s really made you fall in love with it and keep at it?

It’s a confidence booster for me. It really does instill this spirit, this attitude of “I really can’t be f*cked with.” I really get to flex my lyricism and writing skills that I acquired throughout all my years of going to school and to college – I get to apply them. All the years I spent writing super good f*cking essays, it’s kind of like the same thing with rap. It’s like writing an essay, I just pick a thesis and prove my point throughout the entire essay, or throughout the entire song rather. It’s the nerd in me; the geek in me is super into being able to articulate certain points and do it in an entertaining and funny way and do it in a way that people can laugh but still respect the artistry and the craft.

You’ve been a huge proponent of mental health since day one, how have you maintained your mental health throughout this tour and just overall as you continue to become more and more successful?

It’s definitely been a journey trying to find the balance between working hard and also giving myself the necessary breaks that I need and taking intentional breaks. I feel like I just take breaks when I feel like, “Okay, this is too f*cking much.” But even in the midst of me taking a break up, I never really give myself time to just breathe, dissect, digest, and really allow myself to calm down. It’s been a learning process for sure, but I’m definitely getting a lot better with just taking time for myself and creating boundaries with the people around me, my team, my family, and whoever else; making sure that always allot some time to myself to really debrief, meditate, breathe, [or] take a nap. Whatever it is I feel like I need to, I always allot myself that time while still making time to be on time for the sh*t that I’m supposed to be on time for – hardly, barely for real, I barely be making it. I don’t know how, it just always works out.

What’s next for you after you wrap up the tour?

Getting into a new pocket of music so that I don’t get to compartmentalize and boxed into this category that I don’t really want to be a part of. Even though I do make a certain type of music or I’ve made songs that people have heard that fit in this category of music, that’s not all I have and that’s not who I am as an artist.

So getting ready to switch the content of my music and make it a little bit more intentional now that I’ve created the moments and built up the fan base to where I now have the eyes on me. So, for lack of a better phrase, the kooky out-of-the-box sh*t, the crazy wild sh*t I be saying about music — I feel like that, that’s not a gimmick or a joke or anything like that — I’m just kind of moving away from that. Just getting a little more intentional and meaningful so that much of my inner feelings and my true thoughts can be expressed and displayed and people can appreciate me as an artist outside of the type of music that they’ve only heard me so I’m just getting ready to switch up the content of my music.