Category: News

A half-century after Congress outlawed importing enslaved people, Timothy Meaher hired a ship captain to bring over a hundred kidnapped Africans to Alabama. Then he burned the ship. The two-masted schooner called the Clotilda remained sunken and hidden from 1860 to 2018, when it was discovered by Ben Raines, a journalist who had doggedly tracked it down. Raines wrote a book about the ship and its discovery called The Last Slave Ship.

But, as the trailer for Descendant warns us, don’t get too focused on the ship. It’s a real-life McGuffin buried in the Alabama muck, but the real story is about the lives of those who came on the ship and families they created.

The documentary from filmmaker Margaret Brown “follows descendants of the survivors from the Clotilda, the last ship that carried enslaved Africans to the United States, as they reclaim their story.” At least one part of that story is the creation of Africatown, a thriving community that has over decades been surrounded completely by heavy industrial zones, marring a profoundly historical land with chemical pollution and inhuman conditions. The film also features conversations with historians while it weaves the past into the present. Plus, since the last living survivors of the Clotilda died in the 1930s, some of the descendants in the film are only one or two generations removed from the men and women Meaher kidnapped. It’s a potent reminder that the past isn’t so far away.

Descendant hits Netflix October 21st and promises to be one of the best historical documentaries of the year.

There isn’t a single fashion accessory quite like a fresh pair of kicks. The right pair of sneakers telegraphs to the world who you are and what you’re all about. But in a buying market full of bots and greedy re-sellers, it’s never been harder to stand out. Nothing burns like rolling up to the function in a dope pair of limited edition hard-to-cop Jordans only to see a room full of people who also paid a hefty re-sale price for that same exclusive drop.

This is why as streetwear continues to evolve and the most stylish amongst us find new avenues for self-expression, custom sneakers feel like the next big streetwear trend and an art form that is pushing the whole industry forward. The art of independent creatives, now poised for the mainstream.

If you’re a hardcore brand loyalist or a collaboration-obsessed sneakerhead, the words “custom sneakers” might send shivers down your spine. But we’re not talking about sneakers sporting portraits of Goku or colorways that resemble something straight out of a Marvel movie (though if that’s your thing, do you!). Those are fine, but there are a handful of sneaker artists out there that are elevating the form and creating bespoke designs that rival the shoes coming straight out of Nike or Supreme.

People like Dominic Ciambrone, aka The Shoe Surgeon, and Nicolle Knight, aka Katty Customs, the co-host of Uproxx’s Fresh Pair, create the sort of designs that can make even the snobbiest sneakerheads froth at the mouth and turn green with envy. Ciambrone and Knight aren’t simply repainting materials, they’re completely deconstructing sneakers, swapping out soles, messing with fabrics, making leathers, and doing complicated embroidery work and detailing that transform sneakers from simple fashion to straight-up wearable art.

“Creating customs and owning a one-of-a-kind bespoke sneaker is more than just a product,” says Ciambrone, “It’s an experience and an art form to own. People are looking for pieces that are of quality and exclusive to them, and I think we’ll continue to see it grow as more creators and artists emerge.”

Ciambrone is one of the most visible customizers currently operating in streetwear, his skills are so widely respected that he even runs a workshop called the SRGN Academy that provides hopeful creators in Los Angeles and New York with the skills, tools, and know-how to create their own bespoke kicks. His attention to detail and craft has caught the eye of everyone from Drake to Justin Bieber, Michael B. Jordan, DJ Khaled, Odell Beckham Jr., and many more.

“I feel people are always finding new ways to express themselves,” he says. “I’ve always believed that fashion is an extension of yourself, a way you can communicate and connect with others without saying anything. That’s how I started and how The Shoe Surgeon was born.”

The steadily growing popularity of custom sneakers amongst fashion trendsetters and celebrities plays on the always-trendy pursuit of “exclusivity” and elevates it to a whole new level. A custom sneaker that was designed for you and in some cases, conceived from your own imagination, is a form of self-expression that even the dopest brand collaboration can’t recreate.

“Customization is the ultimate form of streetwear self-expression to me because it’s about being different,” says Knight, who has also designed sneakers for the stars, including Saweetie, Jadakiss, will.i.am, El-P, and many more. “Being able to rock a sneaker that no one else has is gold! When you’re at an outing and someone says ‘I like your shoes, where’d you get them from?’ And knowing they can’t just go into a store and buy the same exact shoes is dope… Self-expression is so valuable when it comes to one’s personal fashion because you’re able to be you, rocking your own style the way you want to. It is self-knowledge and self-confidence expressed through what you choose to wear — a life-affirming expression of who you are.”

It’s clear that the big brands are recognizing the sort of work artists like Ciambrone and Knight are doing, and you can see traces of the customizer’s spirit in designs by artists like Sean Wotherspoon, creator of 2018’s legendary Nike Air Max 1/97, and in Nike and Adidas current customization tools, which are limited, but show that the hunger for customization is strong.

Before making a name for himself as a sneaker designer, Wotherspoon was the founder of a Virginia-based sneaker store called Round Two (Round Two now has stores in New York and Los Angeles, two streetwear meccas) and was invited by Nike in 2017 along with 11 other creatives to create new original iterations of the Air Max silhouette. The designs would eventually be presented to the public and Nike fans voted on which got an official release during 2018’s Air Max Day.

Wotherspoon won that contest by combining the upper of a Nike Air Max 97 with the midsole and outsole of an Air Max 1 and giving it an eye-catching rainbow corduroy upper. That’s the sort of extensive deconstructionist work that serves as Ciambrone and Knight’s bread and butter. Wotherspoon has since gone on to collaborate with Guess, Adidas, ASICS, and produce even more shoes with Nike, solidifying himself as one of the most innovative modern designers in the sneaker space.

For Knight, recognition from the big brands is something she hopes other sneaker artists will get to experience as the customization movement continues to grow.

“Big Brands know that sneaker customization and the desire to be different is a new wave in fashion,” she says. “I definitely feel like the big brands should acknowledge and support customizers more. We’re taking their sneakers and making it into wearable art that can’t be bought in stores. The ultimate form of appreciation for me would be to see the brands collaborate with more sneaker artists, giving us a chance to showcase our talents for the world to see.”

It’s too soon to truly know how the rise of sneaker customization will change streetwear, but we’re excited to see it happen and even more psyched for the ways the big brands like Nike and Adidas respond. When you’re creating the sort of radical transformations of famous silhouettes that Ciambrone and Knight routinely churn out, it pushes the big brands to go further than they have before. The days of simple and safe retro colorway refreshes are over — bring out the bespoke designs!

Hopefully, brands like Nike and Adidas can expand their current customization options — which need a lot more design options if they hope to compare with what Ciambrone and Knight are doing — to allow people to better express themselves in their fashion choices.

“The thing I love most about customizing sneakers for other people is the ability to bring their vision to life,” says Knight. “Everyone is not an artist like myself, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a vision or style. Being able to give them something they can’t create for themselves while bringing a great smile to their faces warms my heart.”

The best team in the NFL through the first three weeks of the season very well might be the Philadelphia Eagles. The team came into the 2022 campaign with hopes of competing in the NFC and has positioned themselves to be considered the favorites, as the team has gone 3-0 with wins over Detroit, Minnesota, and Washington, the latter two coming in ultra-convincing fashion.

At the center of it all is signal caller Jalen Hurts, who is firmly in the NFL MVP conversation at this early juncture. Hurts has managed to take a step forward as a passer this season and continues to be a dangerous runner, and as a result, there are hopes that the Eagles can go places they have not gone since they lifted the Lombardi Trophy in 2018.

There have been questions dating back to Hurts’ college days, both at Alabama and Oklahoma, about his ability to consistently win games with his arm. What has never been in doubt is his ability to lead and keep a calm, focused demeanor when it’s time to play. This was put in the spotlight recently when Michael Irvin learned of a quote Hurts gave to his teammates, which caused The Playmaker to lose his mind.

It is, admittedly, a very good quote, one that is even better because of Irvin’s reaction. He normally saves getting this fired up for when he and Stephen A. Smith are going at it over the Dallas Cowboys, so we must tip our caps to for getting this excited over someone else in the NFC East.

Uproxx has a new show and in honor of its first guest, New York rap icon Jadakiss, we’re taking a look at some of the mixtape legend’s finest contributions to hip-hop’s ever-grown canon of gritty street classics. In the debut episode of Fresh Pair, hosts Just Blaze and Katty Customs sit down with Kiss to discuss his one-of-a-kind rap legacy, get his top five best rap voices in hip-hop, and show off a unique pair of custom sneakers inspired by his influential 25-year career. From his 1994 debut as a member of The Lox to a successful solo career to his recent star showings on Verzuz, Jadakiss has become one of rap’s most revered figures for his humor, wit, and Yonkers-bred charisma, as well as some of the hardest verses ever to grace a DAT tape. Here are just 20 of his absolute best.

20. “You Make Me Wanna” Feat. Mariah Carey

Over the years, Jadakiss has become best known as a rugged spitter, but he can make songs “for the ladies,” too. As was the custom in his early 2000s heyday, Jada’s R&B collabs proved to be as effective as his battle raps.

19.”Jadakiss Interlude” With DJ Khaled

What better testament to the long shadow Jadakiss casts over the rap world than having his own interlude on DJ Khaled’s God Did in which all he does is rap his ass off, no chorus, no hook, no fancy concept — just bars?

18. “Why” Feat. Anthony Hamilton

Jada’s first — and to date, only — foray into so-called “conscious rap” helped bring down the wall that separated the mainstream from socially aware hip-hop in the early 2000s. Part of the reason is due to the smart framing of “Why.” Rather than preaching at listeners, he invited them into the conversation, simply asking questions — instead of a local organizers’ meeting, “Why” sounds more like a barbershop conversation. Still, even as he wonders at the various shortcomings of society, he finds time to remind listeners why they tuned in to begin with: “Why is Jadakiss as hard as it gets?”

17. “Hot Sauce To Go”

The perfect track to display Jada’s penchant for picking unconventional beats, this Kiss Of Death smooth groover might not be a universal favorite, but it’s hard to deny the salsa flair of its Neptunes-produced beat. Pharrell provides a signature falsetto hook, while Kiss loses his normally gruff demeanor to show he can two-step when it’s time to. While he’s usually mean-mugging and threatening on tracks, this time, he’s ready to party.

16. “Put Ya Hands Up”

Like “We Gonna Make It,” “Put Ya Hands Up” originates from his solo debut album, Kiss Tha Game Goodbye. The third single from the album, it’s a gritty showcase for his head-spinning wordplay, which at the time, was still mind-blowingly novel at the mainstream level. “And y’all scared I can tell,” he boasts. “And I’ma get Bucks like Milwaukee cause like Sam I Can-sell.” In the future, this sort of intricate double entendre would be commonplace, especially on the battle rap circuit, but in 2001, it was like poetry in motion, ahead of its time.

15. “By Your Side”

Although it’s more emotive than some of his earlier material, this standout from Jada’s 2004 album Kiss Of Death still matches with his rugged sensibilities courtesy of a hard-hitting beat by Baby Grand. Weaving a narrative ode to both friends and foes in the streets, Kiss also weaves his flow between the catchy vocal sample, as usual demonstrating that his lyrical talents are up to just about any challenge — even those he imposes on himself.

14. “F*** You” With The Lox

Sidebar: We Are The Streets, The Lox’s 1999 Ruff Ryders debut, has thee most hilariously literal album cover of all time. That aside, Jada’s verse here sets things off with a bang as the crew declares the mission statement for the second phase of their careers. “Yo, everybody’s a snake / That’s why I try to keep the grass cut / So I can see ’em when they coming / Then I heat they ass up.”

13. “Knock Yourself Out”

Jada’s debut solo single, produced by The Neptunes, introduced him to the world at large — who until then, only really knew Jadakiss from his features and work with The Lox. Here was his chance to prove that he could offer up more than just fire 16s, one at a time. He passed that test with flying colors with “Knock Yourself Out.” He also, weirdly enough, wore a paper towel wrapped around his head like a bandana in the video, ensuring that rap fans would keep discussing it over twenty years later by memes struggling to decipher that inscrutable decision.

12. “Rite Where U Stand” With Gang Starr

Appearing on Gang Starr’s 2003 album The Ownerz, this track paired Jada with one of his greatest influences and proved he could hang with the pioneers as well as he could his contemporaries. He was also unafraid to use his music to speak on his various industry woes after getting stuck in a less-than-favorable contract with Interscope — another way he blazed a trail for future generations of artists.

11. “New York” With Ja Rule and Fat Joe

In the midst of Ja Rule’s ongoing feud with 50 Cent — which is still going, by the way — the beleaguered Ja released an absolute gem in 2004, recruiting two of New York City’s most respected voices for backup. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to save him in the court of public opinion, but “New York” was a blessed byproduct of the battle that remains an example of the power of a collaboration between icons. Also, “I’m in the hood like them little motorcycles” is still one of the greatest things anyone has ever said on a beat.

10. “John Blaze” With Fat Joe, Big Pun & Raekwon

One of a long line of posse cuts on which Jada has stolen the show, his achievement here is made all the more impressive by the lineup. Fat Joe is in full Diggin’ In The Crates mode on this track from 1998’s Don Cartagena, Big Pun packs his verse with dizzying multisyllabic rhyme patterns, Raekwon spits a cool verse, and Nas is Nas. But counting up the quote-ables? Jadakiss goes hard.

9. “Made You Look Remix”

Whatever they were smoking in the studio when they made this should be preserved and distributed to every rapper’s home address weekly. No one would ever drop a dud verse again. Jada came as close as he ever has to living up to his boast that he’s the “top five, dead or alive” with this verse from the remix of Nas’ 2003 megahit.

8. “Blackout” With DMX, Jay-Z & The Lox

An absolute monster of a track, “Blackout” landed on the rap scene like a mortar round. In late 1998, DMX was hot off his smash debut It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot and no one could have anticipated that he’d follow up with another one in Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood. Then, to throw gas on the fire, the Dark Man threw one of the hottest up-and-coming trios in the business on a track with Jay-Z. Naturally, Jadakiss is the match that lights the flame, opening the track with the boast that “n****s throw us on the album, try to boost they sales.” For what it’s worth, it looks like it worked; DMX legendarily became the first rapper to drop two No. 1 albums in the same calendar year.

7. “It’s All About The Benjamins” Feat. Puff Daddy & Lil Kim

Listen, totally aside from the fact that Jada comes in hot with one of the hardest verses on Puff Daddy and the Family’s 1997 album No Way Out, this is actually Jada’s track from the jump by virtue of the fact that he penned Puff’s verse, despite not being totally sure his new boss could pull it off. The rest was history.

6. “Money, Power & Respect” Feat. DMX & Lil Kim

The title track from The Lox’s 1998 debut album, it’s a surprisingly philosophical breakdown of life’s necessities — at least, by The Lox’s standards. I don’t know that they ever read Max Weber’s three-component theory of stratification, but even if they weren’t perusing the sociology section of their local library in their leisure time, they still manage to explain it pretty well to the layman. Jada’s anchor verse sums up exactly why he’s so beloved in the streets: “Nothin’ but the hotness whenever we drop this / Monotonous for y’all to keep hatin’ ’cause y’all never gon’ stop us.”

5. “Gov’t Cheese” Feat. Millyz, Nino Man & DeJ Loaf

A standout from Jada’s most recent album, 2020’s Ignatius, “Gov’t Cheese” depicts an older, wiser Jadakiss getting reflective about all the hard-won knowledge he’s gained from 20+ plus years in the streets and out of them. “Sneakers too tight, you had to wear ’em without soles,” he reminisces. “Sleepin’ with a sweatsuit on ’cause the house cold.” He doesn’t just bring problems, though; he also explains his solutions. “Had to open my mind for me to free it.”

4. “24 Hrs To Live” With Mase, The Lox, Black Rob & DMX

Mase’s 1997 Bad Boy Records debut Harlem World is criminally underrated and this posse cut is one of its highest highs. Asking a simple question, we get six different perspectives ranging from relatable (Jada, Styles) to absolutely unhinged (DMX). Who among us wouldn’t want to go out as fresh as Jada says he would?

3. “Time’s Up” Feat. Nate Dogg

The lead single from Kiss Of Death finds the Yonkers native eschewing clever concepts or heady themes for a straightforward, fist-clenching bar fest. Driven by a thundering, piano-centered loop devised by Scott Storch, “Time’s Up” is a showcase for some of Jada’s most memorable punchlines, including the fan-favorite: “F*ck riding the beat, n**** / I parallel park on the track.”

2. “Who Shot Ya Freestyle”

When The Lox went up against The Diplomats in a Verzuz hits battle last year, the Yonkers crew had already won handily by the time their DJ threw the instrumental to The Notorious B.I.G.’s controversial 1994 hit. Jada’s performance became the victory cigar. The response to the mixtape favorite was so immediate and powerful, the song won an official release on DSPs.

1. “We Gonna Make It” Feat. Styles P

A classic in every sense of the word, “We Gonna Make It” begins with one of the most beloved opening lines in hip-hop: “F*ck. The. Frail sh*t.” The Alchemist pulls out all the stops on the beat, which samples “My Music” by Samuel Jonathan Johnson. The instrumental has a controversial backstory as well, ending up in the hands of West Coast rapper Ras Kass after both Nas and Jay-Z passed on it, but Kiss has the most recognizable version, owing a great deal to the dynamic back-and-forth flows of Jada and his Lox bandmate Styles P. It wasn’t the first time they demonstrated this chemistry and it wasn’t the last, but for a generation of rap fans, it’s easily the best.

Cordae is probably best known for his multisyllabic, punchline-packed battle raps. Still, on one of his latest singles, “Unacceptable,” he switches his style, adopting a more melodic style that should be familiar to fans of his contemporaries like Lil Durk and Roddy Ricch. Now, the video for the single has arrived, finding Cordae reflecting on lost friends and degraded relationships as he roams a cemetery. Interspersed between these melancholy shots are clips from his tour as he hangs out backstage and embraces the hectic schedule that comes with chasing rap dreams.

The video’s effect is a poignant juxtaposition between the perception of money and fame that comes from being a star recording artist and the reality that many acts face behind the scenes. Although we may see them as inscrutable larger-than-life figures who are beyond the struggles of everyday life, in reality, they’re just people who have past traumas to sort through — they just have to do so in the public eye.

“Unacceptable” was released last month alongside “So With It,” just months after Cordae dropped his second album, From A Bird’s Eye View. The Maryland rapper has been teasing a new mixtape in recent weeks, as well as putting out the single “Checkmate” from the Madden NFL 23 soundtrack. The growth and versatility he’s shown over the past few months has been impressive considering he’s only a few months removed from his sophomore album, but that’s Cordae… always looking forward to the next thing.

Watch Cordae’s “Unacceptable” video above.

Following the announcement that Netflix is bringing back (most) of the cast of That ’70s Show for a new spinoff, That ’90s Show, fans of the original series are undoubtedly curious about when the new show will start streaming. Production for That ’90s Show wrapped back in July 2022, according to TVLine, but unfortunately, there’s not much in the way of an official release date. However, as of this writing, the show is reportedly looking at a late 2022/early 2023 target, so fans may not have to wait for long.

In the meantime, what we do know is that the show will focus on Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) and Red Forman (Kurtwood Smith) as they wrangle a new generation of kids, whose parents are the lovable stoners from the original series. Via Variety:

“That ’90s Show” is set to follow Eric (Topher Grace) and Donna’s (Laura Prepon) daughter Leia Forman (Callie Haverda) as she visits her grandparents for the summer. Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp are returning from the original cast to once again play Red and Kitty. The series, set in 1995, will follow a new generation of Point Place kids and includes newcomers Haverda, Ashley Aufderheide, Mace Coronel, Maxwell Acee Donovan, Reyn Doi and Sam Morelos.

On top of Prepon and Grace reprising their classic roles, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis will also return to the series where they first met. Interestingly, their characters will be married despite being very broken up by the end of That ’70s Show. In fact, it’s a creative decision that left Kunis scratching her head when she first learned of it.

“You know what, I called BS. I was like, ‘My character would be with Fez.’ I think that I ended up with Wilmer’s character,” Kunis told Access Hollywood before sharing her disbelief with Kutcher. “I was like, “Why are you and I together?’”

That ’90s Show reportedly arrives on Netflix sometime this winter. Probably.

Jurassic Park is arguably the best blockbuster ever made. The follow-ups have their moments, like the cliff set piece in The Lost World: Jurassic Park and the bird cage sequence in Jurassic Park III (also that scene where the raptor talks), but the sequels have largely been unnecessary — especially the Jurassic World trilogy. Even the guy who directed two of them seems to think so.

“I specifically did something different than the other films in order to change the DNA of the franchise,” Colin Trevorrow told Empire about this year’s Jurassic World Dominion. “The previous five films are plots about dinosaurs. This one is a story about characters in a world in which they coexist with dinosaurs.” He continued:

“For the franchise to be able to move forward – because it’s inherently unfranchisable, there probably should have only been one Jurassic Park – but if we’re gonna do it, how can I allow them to tell stories in a world in which dinosaurs exist, as opposed to, here’s another reason why we’re going to an island?”

The key quote in there is “there probably should have only been one Jurassic Park,” a statement that even Steven Spielberg, who returned for The Lost World, would probably agree with. Counterpoint: without Jurassic World, we never would have gotten the scene where Jimmy Buffett flees a dinosaur attack while holding two large margaritas.

All the sequels are worth it for that alone.

(Via Empire)

When it was announced that The White Lotus universe would be introducing Aubrey Plaza, fans were naturally excited at the prospect of Plaza’s sarcastic character having a face-off with Jennifer Coolidge‘s Emmy-winning character Tanya.

In reality, Plaza says that the character was written for her with her in mind, in only a way that her close friend Mike White could be able to, and that made it her hardest role yet. “Without going into personal details, Mike knows me very, very well, on a way more intimate level than most people know me, and a lot of what he wrote was informed by just knowing me on that intimate level,” Plaza told EW.

The former Parks and Rec actress said that playing the role was intense due to the similarities between her and her character, Harper. “It was really intense for me, reading it and shooting it. I relate to this character more than any character I’ve ever played. It’s really, really close to home. It felt very naked. It was pretty devastating and hard.”

“Mike’s writing is just so subtle but there’s such a deep truth to it that just crushes me,” Plaza added, explaining that it was hard for her to get out of her character’s mindset when she wasn’t working. “I wanted so badly to do a good job, and Harper’s journey, there’s a lot of moments in this season that felt very nightmare-ish to me. It just felt real, and shaking that off was a big obstacle for me. I don’t regret it because I wanted to give Mike everything, no matter what happened. But I’ll be terrified and horrified to see it.”

Still, the second season of the hit series will not follow the same plot devices as the acclaimed first season, which should keep viewers on their toes. “It’s more juicy, it feels like the stakes are higher and there’s more intense drama and plot twists than the first season,” Plaza explained. “Italy has this kind of machismo culture that we’re thrust into and when you have a bunch of Americans going to Europe, there’s always that discourse with the puritanical American style versus the Italians who just seem to be much more open and sexual, to be blunt.” We all know how hard it can be when a bunch of Americans go to Italy.

Season two of The White Lotus premieres October 30th on HBO.

Beloved Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos is back and he is once again working with some of the best people on the planet. Deadline reports that Emma Stone (who worked with Lanthimos in 2018’s The Favourite), Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, and Margaret Qualley have joined the cast of his newest picture, AND. AND, Lanthimos’ fifth collaboration with Searchlight Pictures, begins production next month in New Orleans. Lanthimos co-wrote the script with Efthimis Filippou, who co-wrote 2014’s The Lobster and 2017’s The Killing of a Sacred Deer. Currently, plot details for AND are as vague as the film’s conjunction title.

“Working with Yorgos continues to be a highlight for us at Searchlight, and this is yet another truly original project that sets his work apart,” said Searchlight presidents David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield in a statement per Deadline. “Working again with Emma, Willem, Jesse, and Margaret as well as Element and Film4 is just the icing on the cake.”

Poor Things, Lanthimos’ follow-up project to The Favourite — which won star Olivia Colman an Oscar for best actress — is expected to come out in 2023. Poor Things, based on the 1992 novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray, stars Stone, Dafoe, and Qualley as well as Rammy Youssef, Christopher Abbott, and Mark Ruffalo.

There are always stories about how great the ’90s were, but actually, when compared today, they were many things that were pretty inconvenient. Sure, you got to roam the streets doing who knows what for who knows how long while your mom watched an “Unsolved Mysteries” episode on all the ways you could be kidnapped. But you also couldn’t just pick up your cell phone and ask if dinner was ready or if you could get another 15 minutes outside. The notion of inconvenience in the ’90s had one Reddit user asking people what they don’t miss from the decade of neon and cassette tapes.

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The question turned out to be a fun twist on the old rose-colored glasses nostalgia that generally happens when we reminisce on decades past. Personally, I don’t miss having to talk to random people in someone’s house when I call to talk to a friend. If we’re being completely honest here, I don’t miss actually having to talk on the phone. Text me, please and thank you because if you call me I will absolutely stare at my phone until it stops ringing and then text to see why you called. It’s nothing personal, I just prefer very little human contact. People can be very peopley, but what were other people’s gripes?

1. Trying to plan your own route with an actual map

Man, it feels like we were once pirates. Blue, pink and yellow lines zigzagging across a map of your state or worse, the entire country if your road trip was taking you out of state, just seems reckless now. Sure, if there’s ever some sort of crazy apocalypse and Siri is no longer yelling at us for making wrong turns, map reading will come in handy. Until then, “Hey Siri, give me directions to the children’s museum.”

2. Not having a quick way to look up random trivia

The younger generations will never know the annoyance of wondering something with no answer for literally days until you make your way to the library to research it. Imagine for a moment having a question and instead of walking your fingers over to the Google, you have to put on real pants and go to the library, look through the card catalogue then search the aisle for the title of the book you need that holds this secret knowledge. The whole thing just sounds exhausting.

3. Missing your favorite television show

Remember when you missed your favorite television show and … you just missed it. That’s it. There was no watching it later unless you had a VCR that could record, otherwise you had to wait until the summer for the reruns. Sometimes missing one episode of a show ruins the whole show because you missed a key piece of information.

4. Actually having to leave your house to rent a movie

No. Just, no. Getting fully dressed to wander the aisles of your local Blockbuster or Hollywood Video to read the back of empty movie boxes only to come home to watch a crappy movie you feel obligated to watch, does not sound like a good time. People in the ’90s really liked leaving the house.

5. Needing to keep a pocket full of change

There would be plenty of people confused if their parents handed them a handful of coins because they were going out, but it was how we had to live. You either had quarters to call home or you left really fast messages after the beep of a collect call meant for you to leave your name. Plenty of parents got the “mompickmeupthemoviesover” messages, then promptly hung up the phone without accepting any charges.

6. Not being able to use the phone and internet at the same time

The only internet was dial-up in the ’90s and it was a fickle beast because internet was still new and shiny. Not only did you have to wait for your connection to load with that god-awful sound it made, but you couldn’t use the internet if someone was yapping on the phone. The absolute frustration that came with the early years of internet would be enough to make someone’s head explode today.

7. Blowing into game cartridges and consoles to get them to work

You just want to play Street Fighter and the dang thing won’t work, so you do what any kid in the ’90s did, you start blowing the dust out of it. I’ve heard this doesn’t actually do anything, but it certainly did something when I was a kid because after blowing your hot Dunkaroo breath in it, the game miraculously worked.

8. Discmans that didn’t fit into your pocket

When CDs came out it seemed that they were a game changer. You no longer had to re-spool your unraveled tape with a pencil because it kept getting stuck in your boom box, but CDs came with their own problem. They scratched easily and the portable music player was too big to fit into your back pocket like the much smaller Walkman that played cassette tapes.

9. Having no idea what your pictures looked like before printing them

Developing pictures was really the wild west in the ’90s. Would you get a cool close-up of you and your friends, or would you get a blurry picture of your thumb? It was anyone’s guess. Taking a million pictures and hoping for the best was really the only strategy because Polaroid cameras were too big to carry everywhere.

10. Hoping that someone would be home to answer the phone

There was nothing worse than being ready to leave some place or having your car break down only to dig through your pocket for a quarter to put in the payphone just for no one to be home. How wild is it to think about that now? Someone had to literally be inside their home to receive a phone call.

It’s truly amazing how quickly we adapt to things as humans. While most of the things on the list are little annoyances, it goes to show how far we’ve come with technology and convenience. We have really embodied the term “work smarter, not harder.”