Category: News

Rihanna fans are rightfully excited about the prospect of new music from the recently reclusive Rated R singer. In addition to contributing the touching ballad “Lift Me Up” to the upcoming Wakanda Forever soundtrack, her new flurry of activity also includes a Super Bowl Halftime Show, a rumored stadium tour, and maybe even a new album, which she appears to be rehearsing or recording (if Charlie Puth is to be believed). She’s also gearing up for Vol. 4 of her Savage X Fenty fashion show, but some fans have a bone to pick with that last one.

According to TMZ, it was reported that the show will feature an appearance from Johnny Depp in some capacity. This is, of course, after Depp most recently made headlines for his role in a highly-publicized and controversial domestic abuse lawsuit with ex-wife Amber Heard. Heard accused Depp of abuse, prompting him to sue her for defamation, alleging that she was the one who had abused him and that he’d lost work as a result of her allegations. Heard countersued, and in the end, both were awarded compensatory damages.

Of course, Rihanna was embroiled in an abuse scandal of her own not so long ago, so to some fans, her endorsement of Johnny Depp rings inappropriate.

And while some are painting it in a positive light, arguably it might have been better to skirt the issue altogether.

The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.

Spacey St. Louis superpimp Smino has returned after a four-year hiatus with Luv 4 Rent, the long-awaited follow-up to the fan-favorite Noir. And while its title suggests the often transitory nature of strong affection for people, places, and lifestyles, the album offers much more staying power, with strong exegeses of the theme, from the platonic to the romantic. There’s a lot to like, and plenty of reasons to revisit.

From his introduction in 2017 with the groovy, P-funk-influenced debut album Blkswn, Smino’s cut an impressively charismatic figure, equal parts Dungeon Family and St. Lunatics, as likely to indulge in a four-bar run of falsetto crooning as he is to deliver a tongue-twisting lyrical soliloquy full of witty wordplay and devilish double entendre. With five years, a new label deal, and a wealth of new industry connections under his belt, he employs these tools to great effect on his latest.

This tendency is highlighted best, ironically enough, not through any of the lyrics on the new album – although, don’t get it twisted, those are typically great – but in the interlude at the end of “Curtains,” which features the voice of (presumably) an older male relative of Smino’s, telling him why he’s so compelling a performer. “You engage with people,” he says. “You move them. You direct them. They hear you, and they move with you. But it’s like he’s got that aura about him that he can take people places.”

Indeed, Smino exudes a confidence that runs so contrary to anything in hip-hop today. He’s not trying to be a trendsetter. He’s not trying to be a follower either. He’s not even trying to be a contrarian or iconoclast, going against the grain as if to prove a point. He’s one of the very few artists who seems so utterly self-possessed that he genuinely does not care what’s going on in “the streets” at any given moment. He’s too busy exploring his own galaxy, expanding on his own capabilities, telling his own story, his own way.

That might not be entirely fair to say, though. Of course, he’s aware of what’s going on in hip-hop; he nods to his influences constantly throughout Luv 4 Rent, such as on “Ole Ass Kendrick,” when he employs a quirky vocal trick reminiscent of the Compton wunderkind’s earliest works. “No L’s” prominently features a sample of Monica’s 2003 single “Knock Knock” right down to the Missy Elliott ad-libs and repeated loop of The Masqueraders’ 1976 song “It’s a Terrible Thing to Waste Your Love.”

In a similar vein, “Pro Freak,” featuring TDE newcomer Doechii (in the midst of a standout year in her own right), taps into Southern Miami influences including 2 Live Crew’s “Hoochie Mama” and Trick Daddy’s “In Da Wind,” blended smoothly with his own Midwestern twang. When he needs to introspect, as he does on “Defibrillator,” he invokes his incarcerated uncle’s proud words from behind bars, not just to flex, but to send an encouraging wavelength out into the universe.

The guests on the album range from the A-list (J. Cole, Lil Uzi Vert) to close friends and longtime collaborators (Kal Banx, Phoelix) but the star of the show remains resolutely Smino himself. For all the allusions to his musical heroes and lascivious posturing, the album is about growth and self-love. Even the cover is committed to this concept; in an interview with Complex, Smino explained, “I always get my hair done on my [album] covers. I wanted to show that I’m doing my own [hair] on this cover because it’s supposed to represent self-care and self-love. I always had someone else taking care of my shit, or may have been putting my crown in the hands of other motherfuckers. But I can take care of my own crown too.” In that respect, Luv 4 Rent isn’t just about borrowing love and support from other sources, although that can be a temporary refuge. It’s about making a home in your own skin, and understanding that that’s where charity truly begins – and ends.

Luv 4 Rent is out now via Zero Fatigue/Motown. Get it here.

For just a moment on Wednesday night, it seemed as if Seth Meyers was almost — almost — at a loss for words over Donald Trump’s latest attempt to remain relevant, by weighing in on the brutal attack on Paul Pelosi. But the Late Night host quickly regained his footing and laid into the former president’s despicable and desperate attempts to appear in the know about, well, anything.

“Just this week,” Meyers explained, “Trump called into some random, right-wing podcast to repeat some absolutely deranged and completely debunked conspiracy theories about the horrific attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi.”

Trump called into The Chris Stigall Show (no, we don’t know what that is either) to share what he hoped might sound like some inside intel on the assault on Pelosi. Claiming that there have been some “weird things going on in that house in the last couple of weeks,” the former president went on to falsely state that “the glass, it seems, was broken from the inside to the out… so it wasn’t a break-in, it was a breakout” and that Pelosi perhaps knew the man who gave him a skull fracture (or, based on Trump’s detective work, maybe he gave it to himself). “I’m not a fan of Nancy Pelosi, but what’s going on there is very sad,” Trump said.

Meyers was somewhat beside himself:

No big deal, everybody. Just the former President of the United States saying weird things have been going on in the Pelosi household for the last couple of weeks. Which I guess he knows because, what, he’s the f**king Watcher?

You know, it takes a real sack of sh*t to start gaming out a way you can make an 82-year old attempted murder victim the bad guy. Trump just makes sh*t up and spreads it through vague, mafia-style innuendo like he’s in a deleted scene from The Sopranos.

Taking a cue from Trump, Meyers also shared that there’s some weird things happening in the Trump household. “I hear his head is shrinking,” Meyers whispered, noting that “he hides it when he goes out in public by wearing a giant fake head on top of his real, tiny head. And I’m no fan of Trump, but it’s very sad. It’s very sad what’s happening.” But you didn’t hear it from Meyers.

You can watch the full clip above, beginning around the 3:50 mark.

Thanks to her headline-dominating Emmy win followed by the Season 2 premiere of Abbott Elementary, Quinta Brunson was been on a hot streak, and now, it’s even hotter. Brunson has been named The Hollywood Reporter‘s “Comedy Star of the Year” all thanks to her dedication to just making a “good TV show” that everyone can watch. However, Brunson will never forget the random act of kindness that started her comedy journey.

While talking to THR, Brunson revealed that in the midst of all the Emmy hoopla and Abbott Elementary kicking off new episodes, she actually got a chance to meet Paul Rudd who she’s credited with pushing her into comedy.

“I saw Paul recently in New York. We talked about it briefly, but it was at a comedy club, and I was drunk, so I don’t even remember what we said,” Brunson said. “I know he knew about it and had told Seth [Rogen] that he didn’t remember. I didn’t expect him to! It was just him being nice to someone, and that makes a difference. You never know who you’re going to affect, just being chill and talking to them about the craft when they have a genuine interest.”

If you don’t know the story, Brunson revealed over the summer that she had a chance meeting with the Ant-Man star in a very empty screening of Inglourious Basterds in Philly where Rudd was filming Dinner for Schmucks. Via USA Today:

Brunson mentioned that she was interested in getting into comedy. “And he was like, ‘If you want to do comedy and you love it and you can do it, then you should do it. There’s nothing that should stop you or get in your way, you should absolutely pursue it.’”

With that advice in hand Brunson felt empowered. “It changed my life,” she said, adding that she dropped the guy she was on a date with and planned to move to Los Angeles.

Emboldened by Rudd’s kind words (and ditching the dude was with), Brunson landed roles on A Black Lady Sketch Show and Miracle Workers before the massively popular Abbott Elementary for ABC.

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

When JID released his emotional new album, The Forever Story, it was without the project’s emotional centerpiece, a track called “2007” which featured his father, J. Cole, and Dreamville president Ib Hamad. Ahead of releasing the album, he shared “2007” with his fans, which he said was supposed to be the album’s outro tying together its themes of family and personal growth. Unfortunately, due to sample clearance he issues, he was forced to leave it off The Forever Story despite its thematic resonance.

However, today, he returned with some good news: “2007 is Freee,” he wrote on Twitter. “I’m up early really replaying TFS the correct way.”

In addition to “2007,” the album also features the singles “Dance Now,” “Kody Blu 31,” “Money,” and “Crack Sandwich.” Meanwhile, he’ll continue to promote the album with the upcoming Luv Is 4ever Tour co-headlined by Smino, who just put out his own third album, Luv 4 Rent. JID also made his NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert debut this year, taking fans on a tour of Black music history. You can listen to “2007” as part of The Forever Story here and check out JID’s tour dates below.

01/22/2023 — Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
01/24/2023 — Vancouver, BC @ PNE Forum
01/26/2023 — Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
01/28/2023 — Oakland, CA @ The Fox
01/31/2023 — Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
02/02/2023 — San Diego, CA @ SOMA San Diego
02/03/2023 — Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
02/08/2023 — Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
02/10/2023 — Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom
02/13/2023 — Dallas, TX @ South Side Ballroom
02/14/2023 — Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
02/15/2023 — San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theatre
02/16/2023 — Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center
02/18/2023 — Atlanta, GA @ Coca-Cola Roxy
02/21/2023 — St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live
02/22/2023 — Miami, FL @ Oasis Wynwood
02/24/2023 — Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore Charlotte
02/26/2023 — Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore Silver Spring
03/01/2023 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore Philadelphia
03/03/2023 — New York, NY @ Terminal 5
03/07/2023 — Wallingford, CT @ Dome at Toyota Oakdale Theatre
03/09/2023 — Boston, MA @ House of Blues Boston
03/12/2023 — Montreal, QC @ MTELUS
03/15/2023 — Toronto, ON @ HISTORY
03/17/2023 — Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
03/18/2023 — Grand Rapids, MI @ GLC Live at 20 Monroe
03/21/2023 — Chicago, IL @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
03/23/2023 — Madison, WI @ The Sylvee
03/24/2023 — Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore Minneapolis
03/25/2023 — Kansas City, MO @ Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland
03/28/2023 — Cincinnati, OH @ The Andrew J Brady Music Center
03/29/2023 — Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works

House of the Dragon fans were able to settle on a favorite scene from season one without it turning into a Red Wedding-style incident. But there’s a heated debate currently brewing on the show’s Reddit page: who is the most “dislikable” character?

The user who asked the question, “Spicey-Bacon,” is apparently not a fan of Ser Criston Cole, as the image attached to the post is of the knight’s face four times. (It was a one-night stand, dude. Get over it.) But the top vote-getter, so to speak, is Larys Strong, a.k.a. “the creepy foot dude, I hate that snitch already especially for killing his family.” Even the OP had to agree, writing, “Yeah he is an extra special kind of f*cked up.”

It really is a two-person race between Criston and Larys.

Props to [Criston Cole actor] Fabien Frankel – who seems like a decent guy in real life – for perfectly capturing incel energy. Dude’s only one rejection between “Every woman is an image of The Mother,” and “Spoiled c*nt.”

Larys Strong to me is the most dislikable character. Dude burned his own father and brother alive for some feet pics.

Spot on, crispy gives me such bad vibes – we all know that certain type of guy who immediately turns on you at the slightest rejection

“Hey wanna come over”

Hey sorry I have plans

“Fine you’re ugly anyway”

INFURIATING

Larys Strong. The dude is creepy af and just a complete snake in everyway. Him murdering his own father and brother(who were among my favorite side characters) should speak for itself. Especially since he and Harwin seemed to get along and everything. But he dosen’t give af about anyone. The dude also just has such a punchable face.

The only other contender: Otto Hightower for being the “single sneaky mf [who] planned and caused the whole end of targaryen dynasty, why he was just hell bent on getting the Iron Throne, Crispin was too dumb to even think about such sinister plots, all he cared for a rejection and personal vendettas against rhaneyra, and love for alicent,” a reply reads.

They make a good argument… but yeah, it’s Cristin. Even he agrees.

(Via Reddit)

On Tuesday morning, hip-hop fans woke to some bad news; Atlanta rapper Takeoff of rap trio Migos had been shot to death in Houston at just 28 years old. Tributes have been pouring in ever since as everyone from Drake to James Corden shares their fond memories of the self-styled spaceman and his label and closest friends and collaborators have warned fans not to share a graphic video of the shooting. Today, more details about the shooting emerged, including the identity of another victim: fellow Migos member Quavo’s assistant, 23-year-old Joshua “Wash” Washington.

According to TMZ, Washington was one of two other people hit by gunfire and was rushed to a nearby hospital. However, his injuries are described as non-life-threatening, so thank goodness for small favors. Meanwhile, police have yet to publicly identify a suspect in the shooting, although a man in one video from the incident can be seen holding a gun and authorities have identified him as a person of interest.

Sadly, Takeoff was in the middle of a promoting a new album he’d released with Quavo as the two Migos seemed to be having some sort of dispute with the trio’s third member, Offset. Offset paid homage to his late partner-in-rhyme by changing his Instagram profile photo to one of Takeoff, but so far, neither remaining Migo has made a public statement.

In 2017, Selena Gomez needed a new kidney due to lupus, so that summer, she got one from friend and actress Francia Raisa. Like all good kidneys, this one has a name, and now Gomez has revealed that she dubbed her new kidney “Fred,” after actor Fred Armisen.

In a new Rolling Stone feature, Gomez explained, “I named my new kidney ‘Fred.’ I named it after Fred Armisen because I love Portlandia. I’ve never met him, but I’m secretly hoping he finds that out just because I want him to be like, ‘That’s weird.’”

Elsewhere, she spoke about visiting a friend who was trying to get pregnant, after which Gomez cried in her car. She explained that due to medications she takes to treat her bipolar disorder, she likely wouldn’t be able to carry her own children. She described that as “a very big, big, present thing in my life” but noted, “However I’m meant to have them, I will.”

Meanwhile, Gomez just released “My Mind & Me,” a new single that shares the title of her upcoming documentary. She told Rolling Stone of the film, “My Mind & Me is a little sad, but it’s also a really nice way of putting a button on the documentary part of life, and then it’ll just be fun stories of me living my life and going on dates and having conversations with myself. I feel like it’s going be an album that’s like, ‘Oh, she’s not in that place anymore; she’s actually just living life.’”

Read the full feature here.

Joey Badass joined Chance The Rapper to perform “The Highs And The Lows” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in August, and Joey returned to the late-night staple’s set last night (November 2) with Men I Trust to give bring the sensual 2000 track “Show Me” to life.

“Show Me” samples Men I Trust’s Emmanuelle Proulx from the band’s “Show Me How,” and she was on hand to deliver the delicate vocal alongside her bandmates Dragos Chiriac and Jessy Caron on guitar. Joey was joined at the stage’s forefront by a woman, his muse. She dances up on him, and Joey is transfixed on her and she moves around the stage.

“Transparency my love language / Can’t see the bigger picture if your vision tainted,” he raps in the second verse and into the woman’s eyes, sitting directly across from her at a table and confessing his undying commitment to her. “Don’t you forget that I would die for you any day,” he asserts at the end of the verse, leading into the pre-chorus, “Right here, right now, what you gotta say? / You ain’t gotta lie now, it’s the bed we made.”

Joey dropped 2000 in July. His third studio album also includes features from Diddy, Capella Grey, Chris Brown, JID, Larry June, and Westside Gunn.

Watch Joey and Men I Trust’s “Show Me” performance above.

In 2011, Jimmy Kimmel had an idea: Tell your kids you ate all their Halloween candy and see how they react — and be sure to capture it all on video. While not every parent thinks lying to their child and making them cry is hilarious — which, let’s face it, it is — the segment, titled “Hey Jimmy Kimmel, I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy,” was a massive hit. And while Kimmel decided to give kids a break over the past two years, given the stress they and their parents were already under with the COVID pandemic, this year he brought the tear-filled bit back with a vengeance.

“After two long years, our Halloween YouTube challenge is back,” Kimmel announced on Wednesday night. Though he admitted that “people love this so much, the last two years we didn’t even ask anyone to do it, but hundreds of families did it anyway. So we gave up and we did it again.”

“This is like our Top Gun,” Kimmel explained. “We have to have a sequel. The first time we did it was 10 years ago. And we’ve been doing it so long, some of the kids we tricked grew up to have their own kids to steal candy from.” While the late-night host acknowledged that there are several critics of the segment, they put it to a vote and let the viewers decide whether to bring it back. And it turns out, as you can see above, watching small children cry and threaten their parents may be the new American pastime.

Come for all the spontaneous wailing; stay for the adorable little girl who slams her plastic pumpkin down in a blind rage while yelling, “Dammit!” Or the one who assumed, rightly, “I bet you guys had to poop.”