Ari Lennox’s sophomore album Age/Sex/Location was officially released on Friday (September 9) to the excitement of many fans of hers and of the R&B genre in general. One person in particular who has been loud and proud about his approval of the album, before it was released and now, was none other than her Dreamville labelmate J. Cole. The “Middle Child” artist drew a major parallel when he promoted Age/Sex/Location on Friday morning.
Ari Lennox album phenomenal Shit make me feel 14 again like when I heard songs in A minor https://t.co/AUHD2s29m3
In a tweet, the North Carolina rapper said “Ari Lennox album phenomenal Sh*t make me feel 14 again like when I heard songs in A minor” in reference to Alicia Keys’ 2001 debut album Songs In A Minor, highlighted by “Fallin’,” “A Woman’s Worth,” and “How Come You Don’t Call Me.” As the breakthrough LP for Keys, this is a major comparison to make for the Shea Butter Baby artist and time will tell if Age has a similar impact on her career.
Ahead of Age‘s release, a video surfaced on social media of Cole in the studio with Ari Lennox. He provided her ideas for song creation, sang background on a record, which ultimately became “POF,” and expressed how excited he was for the album to come out. Thus, such a statement comes as no surprise.
Check out J. Cole’s tweet above.
Age/Sex/Location is out now via Dreamville and Interscope. Listen here.
Puerto Rico is the birthplace of some of the world’s most prized masterpieces – the piña colada, sexy salsa music, Bad Bunny. Where would we be without them? While I’ve long been a lover of these party-centric cultural contributions, what I learned on my recent trip to the little Caribbean island is that its charm goes far beyond just the hits. Puerto Rico is also home to a vibrant community, lush landscapes, and pristine beaches — as well as a food and drinks scene that’s rooted in history while rapidly evolving. The best part? You don’t even need your passport to get there!
One of the best things about Puerto Rico is that it feels like you’re in a far-out tropical paradise even though you’re still in a United States territory. And with the infamous passport delays and international airport nightmares over the past year, staying somewhere closer to home can be the most reliable option for travel as fall weather starts turning cold on the mainland. All you really need is a few days in Puerto Rico to enjoy your time there, too. I only spent a long weekend in town and was able to adventure in the outdoors, relax by the beach, and indulge in the local delicacies.
If you’re in the market for a tropical island vacation without the hassle of international crossings, Puerto Rico should be your go-to destination. Read on for my top recommendations on where to play, eat, drink, and stay.
All I can say about Puerto Rico’s tropical landscape is wow. The island’s mountainous and hilly terrain, in many places, is covered in lush flora that looks especially bright green in contrast to the crystal blue sea and sky. The best place to experience and learn more about Puerto Rico’s stunning natural scenery is by visiting El Yunque National Forest. It’s the only tropical rainforest in the US, making it a must on your itinerary.
Much of the public forest area is still closed due to lasting damage from Hurricane Maria, but there is still plenty of land and trails to explore. To start, stop by the visitor center for a guided informational tour. This is a great way to get familiar with the different plants and animals you might see before exploring on your own. From there, you can drive up the winding two-lane road that takes you to various trailheads, observation points, and historic sites throughout the forest. You’ll stumble across natural waterfalls, doable hikes (there are also overnight hikes for the avid adventurers), swimming holes, and awe-inspiring views.
My favorite stop along the way, which had what I believe might be one of the best accessible views on the entire island, was at the Yokahú Tower. It’s an old lighthouse-looking building in which you can climb up a winding staircase to the top. What you’ll find once you make your way up is an unobstructed sweeping view of the forest and the island beyond. You can see for miles, from the luscious rainforest canopy to the distant Caribbean waves.
What’s a trip to the Caribbean without some boating? The best way to wind down after a long day of exploring and feasting on fried Puerto Rican food (more on this later) is by going for a sunset sail with Sail Old San Juan. The sunset tour fits up to six people, so grab your travel crew, throw on your nicest vacation getup, and celebrate by toasting with complimentary bubbly. It’s nothing but carefree, laidback vibes out there on the water.
Your US Coast Guard licensed Captain will take you through the San Juan harbor and past the city of Old San Juan. You’ll get a glimpse of the area’s famous historic sites, such as the Castillo San Felipe del Morro, a citadel built between the 16th and 18th centuries and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The sail lasts for about two hours, so you’ll have plenty of time to soak in the cool ocean breeze (savor it — Puerto Rico is hot) and gawk at the sun setting over the horizon. Overall Sail Old San Juan is an excellent way to take in the historical monuments from the water, admire the stunning sunset views, and relax at sea. Your captain might even let you steer the boat!
Book a sunset sail or another boating excursion with Sail Old San Juan here.
PART II — Where to Eat & Drink
Kioskos de Luquillo
Chloe Caldwell
If you want to indulge in the goodness that is authentic Puerto Rican food, you need to make a trip to Kioskos de Luquillo — but be prepared for a serving of fried everything. Kioskos de Luquillo is a long street side row of about 60 family-owned kiosks selling food, drinks, and souvenirs. Some traditional Puerto Rican meals include mofongo, tostones, arroz con gandules, and coquito. Mofongo is one of the most recognized Puerto Rican dishes, made with plantains as its main ingredient — the plantains are typically fried and then mashed with salt, garlic, broth, and olive oil in a wooden pilón. Being that Puerto Rico is surrounded by clear Caribbean waters, there’s an abundance of good seafood options (for the most part, these are also fried).
Kioskos de Luquillo is an ideal lunch spot, especially if you spent the morning exploring El Yunque, as it’s only a short drive away from the forest. Plus, you’ll need to burn off some energy and get hungry before coming here. Like I said, there are 60 food stalls, bars, and shops to explore, so it’s best to come with a big appetite.
Learn more about the many family-owned food stalls here.
La Factoría
Chloe Caldwell
If you’re looking for a place to party it up on a weekend in Puerto Rico, head back to Old San Juan. There are tons of bars on the heavily trafficked San Sebastian Street, all located within walking distance of each other. The best place to start is at La Factoría. This low-lit, speakeasy experience has been named one of the world’s 50 best bars numerous times, and for good reason.
Beyond the main entrance, which appears to be more of a small dive bar, there are “secret” doors and passages to six other bars with their own unique ambiance and drink menus. I stayed in the main “Facto” bar area and ordered the Lavender Mule, a tart and tasty concoction made with Ketel One, ginger tea, lavender, and citrus.
Whether you want to sip on craft cocktails, dance late into the night, or just chill with your squad for a quick nightcap, it’s safe to say you can find what you’re looking for on a night out at La Factoría. You can basically start and end your night here exploring the different rooms, or bar hop down the lively and colorful stretch of Old San Juan.
I know, Margaritaville. But seriously, it’s well worth staying here on your trip to Puerto Rico. The Margaritaville Vacation Club at Wyndham Rio Mar offers oceanfront suites, apartment-style accommodations (since it’s a timeshare property that’s available to book for short-term stays), poolside restaurant and bar service, and easy access to the beach — it’s just steps from the sand and sea. It’s pretty much what you’d expect from most “resort” properties, but that might be exactly what you want and need for a relaxing and somewhat secluded weekend away (as opposed to the bustle of Old San Juan). It’s definitely what I needed, and nothing helped me unplug and relax more than savoring a cup of fresh coffee on my oceanview balcony each morning.
The best part is the property’s proximity to El Yunque National Forest and Kioskos de Luquillo. It’s right down the street from both, so if these are top activities on your Puerto Rico to-do list, you can’t beat Margaritaville Vacation Club’s location.
Book your stay at Margaritaville Vacation Club at Wyndham Rio Mar here.
If you’re looking for a more boutique yet still luxury experience, book a room at Hotel El Convento, a historic hotel in the heart of San Juan. It’s located just steps away from the historic landmarks and nightlife of the city, so this is ideal if you’re looking to be immersed in the action. Built in 1646, this property offers old-time charm combined with modern amenities and comfort — including high-end, vintage-inspired rooms, an open-air restaurant, courtyard bar, fitness center, and a pool with an ocean view.
Uproxx was hosted for this story by Puerto Rico Tourism. However, they did not review this story. You can learn more about the Uproxx Press Trip policy here.
John Lydon, former Sex Pistols singer and current Public Image Ltd. bandleader, is often in the news for weird reasons. When he announced that he was a Trump supporter, punks everywhere were confused and disillusioned. He has once again sent a wave of bafflement through the community after paying respects to the Queen after she passed yesterday, September 8, and social media erupted with reactions.
In a statement on his website, he wrote, “Rest in Peace Queen Elizabeth II. Send her victorious.” He sent out a tweet with that caption as well, and it received as many quote-tweets as retweets, with people expressing their confusion.
Sex Pistols are known best for their classic album Never Mind The Bullocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols, which was their only studio LP but changed the direction of punk music and influenced the following generations of bands to come. It crashed with heavy riffs and fast rhythms while Lydon — who called himself Johnny Rotten — yelped anti-establishment quips: “God save the queen / The fascist regime / They made you a moron / A potential H bomb,” he spewed on “God Save The Queen.” “God save the queen / She’s not a human being / and There’s no future / And England’s dreaming.”
Many are accusing him of being a sellout, others are complaining that he’s old, and some say he was never a true punk to begin with. Check out some reactions below.
OLD SELL OUT Johnny “Rotten” Lydon of the Sex Pistols is praising the Queen Elizazbeth. The one he spend his career bashing. He called her the fascist regime. #SexPistols#JohnnyLydon#SellOut#Punk I don’t dislike her but Lydon sure did act like he did. pic.twitter.com/sk3YkxuItv
Johnny Rotten was just a character played by John Lydon to allow him to become famous despite fronting one of the worst bands of all time https://t.co/sA2malWvvx
Morbius has become the little engine that couldn’t but kept going anyway! The Jared Leto movie became a pandemic spectacle after being delayed several times and finally hitting theaters on April Fools Day of this year…to disastrous reviews. But hey, at least they were being good sports about it!
After inspiring ironic memes throughout every corner of the internet, Sony decided to bring it back into theaters in June…which was also a bit of a disaster. Finally, the movie got one last push into streaming, and it’s actually dominating Netflix. Who would have thought that morbin’ time could lead to all of this?
Last year, Sony and Netflix inked a deal that allows the streamer to get first access to Sony films after their theatrical run. This is proving to be effective for Morbius, which is currently sitting at No. 1 on the movie top 10 for this week. Considering the movie was just released to the platform on Wednesday, it’s a pretty impressive feat for a movie that barely made $75 million at the US box office.
To make matters even more complicated for a movie with such a rich history, Morbius will eventually find its home on Disney+ after Netflix’s rights expire in the next year. So, there will be many more opportunities for everyone in the world to keep talking about this movie for the rest of eternity. Besides Matt Smith.
As Elton John performed his final Toronto show last night, he took a moment to honor Queen Elizabeth II of England, who passed earlier in the afternoon on September 8 at 96 years old. Highlighting images of her on the venue’s screens, John used music to pay tribute to her. Specifically, he dedicated his 1974 song (and 1991 collab with George Michael) “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” to the monarch’s passing.
“She was an inspiring presence to be around,” John said. “She led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace and decency and genuine caring, and warmth.”
Elton John sings “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” after paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II in Toronto pic.twitter.com/FT1oX6lP5E
“I’m 75 and she’s been with me all my life and I feel very sad that that she won’t be with me anymore, but I’m glad she’s at peace,” he added in his speech. “I’m glad she’s at rest and she deserves it. She worked bloody hard. I send my love to her family and her loved ones, and she will be missed. But her spirit lives on. And we’ll celebrate her life tonight with music.”
John has been a longtime friend to the royals. Specifically, he was close with the late Princess Diana and performed his song “Candle In The Wind” at her 1997 funeral, as well as a tribute concert in 2007. John has also attended both the weddings of Prince Harry and Prince William. He was officially knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998.
In addition to John’s live show tribute, he also took to Instagram to share some extra words. “She was an inspiring presence to be around,” he wrote. Queen Elizabeth II died at age 96 at Scotland’s Balmoral Castle. Following her passing, Prince Charles III is currently the King of England, with his wife Camilla Parker-Bowles serving as Queen Consort.
Some good news, and some maybe bad news. A sequel to the Pixar hit Inside Out will reportedly be announced at this year’s D23 Expo, but the movie might be missing two voices from the original film. According to Matthew Belloni’s Puck newsletter, Amy Poehler will be returning as the voice of Joy, but she won’t be flanked by Mindy Kaling or Bill Hader. In what Belloni claims is an increasing trend at Disney, Kaling and Hader were reportedly offered very low-ball salaries and decided to take a pass.
Per Belloni’s sources, Mindy Kaling and Bill Hader will not be returning to voice Disgust and Fear, respectively, because they were offered just 2 percent the salary of Amy Poehler, who is returning as lead character Joy. Apparently, Poehler was offered $5 million “plus additional fees and bonuses,” while the rest of the main cast was offered just $100,000, no bonuses.
Disney reportedly tried to offer Kaling and Hader higher salaries, but the two of them still passed. Both are busy with their own projects, which could also be a factor, but Belloni writes that problems with voice actor pay became especially prominent with this year’s Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers movie. Belloni says the offers were “laughably low” and that stars John Mulaney and Andy Samberg only agreed to provide their voices as a favor to director Akiva Schafer.
Maybe the new Inside Out movie can help navigate the complex emotions this information is causing.
On Friday (September), New York federal judge Ann Donnelly ruled that prosecutors could claim the tens of thousands of dollars R. Kelly possesses in his prison funds account and use them to pay fines or compensate his victims. The ruling deemed that the federal bureau of prisons must hand over $27, 824 to the prosecutors who will maintain possession until a final ruling is given.
Federal prosecutors argued, “The defendant has not made any payments towards the substantial criminal monetary penalties imposed upon him at sentencing, even though payment was due immediately.” Kelly retorted that the government had “improperly” taken his funds and did not have the right to do so, but Donnelly countered that there was “no dispute” that federal statutes gave prosecutors the right to use Kelly’s inmate funds to compensate his victims.
This decision came after a Washington Post article revealed that the Bureau Of Prisons was giving pushback on efforts to seize funds from inmates to be given to their victims. The article reported that said funds amount to over $80 million per year and are used to pay the salaries of hundreds of staffers within the bureau.
R. Kelly, who is currently on trial in Chicago for several criminal charges, was convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges last year in New York after decades of sexual misconduct allegations. Specifically, the R&B singer was accused of a longstanding operation where he would recruit and abuse women and underage girls. After a long enduring process, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison this past June.
The Chicago artist is gearing up to appeal his convictions. His attorneys feel his previous legal team was inadequate and the evidence against him is insufficient to justify a conviction. As for his Chicago case, if convicted, Kelly can face additional decades added to his already-30-year sentence.
Seth Meyers is sick and tired of “just how craven and ghoulish the modern GOP has become under Donald Trump.” Case in point: The current heat wave that’s happening in much of the western part of the country right now. While, in more logical times, Meyers notes that this should serve as yet “another wake-up call to the imminent dangers of climate change,” the Republican party has instead determined it’s better to politicize the hell out of the fact that the planet is literally on fire.
In order to avoid blackouts, California governor — and Democrat — asked the state’s residents to help ease pressure on the power grid by conserving energy for a few hours each day. It’s a small ask and one that so far has proven successful. Yet Ted Cruz couldn’t help himself from pointing out that Newsom made this request from a place that was clearly air-conditioned. Yes, Ted Cruz: the same man who high-tailed it out of the country the moment the Texas power grid failed and left his constituents to freeze to death. Or, as Meyers put it:
This mid-November jack-o-lantern, who sounds like Urkel swallowed a kazoo, decided to chime in on the whole thing in a way that revealed a complete lack of shame and self-awareness for no other reason than he’s apparently just a glutton for humiliation.
But Meyers was incensed by Cruz’s comments for reasons beyond the sheer hypocrisy of it all. He also wanted to remind viewers that “unlike California, Texas’ deregulated power grid actually DID fail during that deadly snowstorm in 2021. And remains so fragile that Texas officials basically did the same thing as California earlier this year.” In fact, Texans were asked to actually turn up their thermostats and cease operating any major appliances from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. when faced with a heat wave earlier this year.
“Six hours! That’s just enough time to book a flight to Cancun and then have your neighbors — who apparently all hate you — rat you out to The New York Times,” Meyers helpfully noted. “Remember that? When Cruz invited his neighbors to come to Cancun with him, and instead they called the newspapers to complain about how much of a dipsh*t he was.”
This year’s results are in from the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition and there are some serious Scotch whiskies on the shortlist. Being that I was a judge on this year’s panels, I’m calling out all the finalists or best-in-class whiskies that made it to the end of the competition with double gold medals.
For a little context, the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition (NYWSC) is part of the larger The Tasting Alliance which runs competitions in San Francisco (the Oscars of spirits competition), New Orleans, and Singapore that covers beer, premixed cocktails, wine, mixers, and every spirit you can image (plus some you might not even know about). The judging is done double-blind by a panel of experts from across the industry. Long story short, for a pour to make it to the best in class finals to compete for “best in show,” it has to anonymously and unanimously get a gold medal for every judge on the panel and then they decide if it’s good enough to compete in the finals. These are the Scotch whiskies that made that cut, which admittedly is small in New York (which has a much bigger local American and craft whiskey vibe).
For this list, I’m adding my own tasting notes to each bottle as, again, I was there and actually tasted these (in some cases two or three times). Scroll through, read those tasting notes, and then try the one that speaks to you. Just hit that price link!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Scotch Whisky Posts of The Last Six Months
This lightly peated single malt from the Highlands is a classic. The juice is a no-age-statement whisky that’s meant as an entry point to the wider brand. The malt is just kissed with peat while malting. The single malt blend is a mix of those barrels with an eye on highlighting the subtler aspects of the whisky. Once vatted, the whisky is proofed and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
The nose opens with a nice dose of honey wafer biscuits wrapped in an old leather sheet with a hint of dried grass, soft raisin, and mildly spicy malts. The palate leans into those malts with a hint of malted vanilla next to oatmeal cookies with cinnamon, raisins, and walnuts next to a glass of heavy cream for dipping. The end kicks in with a sharp orange/cinnamon before descending toward soft oak and more of that leather and honey wafer.
Bottom Line:
This is pretty goddamn good for what is essentially a cheap scotch. This over some rocks or as a base of a cocktail is a solid play.
Best Dsitillers’ Single Malt Scotch — Old Pulteney 15-Year-Old Single Malt
This seaside Highland whisky is a whisky lover’s brand. The unpeated juice in this case is made from local malted barley. That spirit goes into ex-bourbon barrels for 15 years before it’s refilled into first-fill ex-Oloroso sherry butts for a final rest. Finally, the whisky is vatted and proofed before bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Soft stewed pears in honey with a hint of saffron open the nose next to a touch of raisin, dried apple chips, and maybe some dried roses and orange rinds. The palate touches on a chocolatey coffee with hints of vanilla bean, minced meat pies, and mulled wine spice with a smidge of sour red wine in there. The end is part sticky toffee pudding and part salted dried berries with a hint of marzipan and dark chocolate tobacco on the finish.
Bottom Line:
This is a really solid whisky. I dig this on a single rock as a slow evening sipper.
Best Dsitillers’ Single Malt Scotch — Old Pulteney 18-Year-Old Single Malt
This unpeated Highland whisky is aged in second-fill ex-bourbon casks for 18 years before being re-barreled into first-fill ex-Oloroso sherry casks for a final maturation. Finally, the juice is vatted, proofed down, and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Bright notes of floral honey greet your nose as yellow pears, orange blossoms, and tart apples mingle with a thin line of vanilla cream, winter spice, and chocolate-covered raisins. The palate leans into the chocolate while the taste gets slightly bitter like an espresso bean before a minced meat pie drops in with sweetness and meaty dried fruit with a good dusting of brown spices. The end has a nice hit of orange zest that leads to a holiday cake with tons of dried and candied fruits and a good measure of wintry spices.
Bottom Line:
This is a nice step up from the last entry. It’s just that little bit more dialed, which makes it the perfect post-meal sipper or holiday pour. Take your time with this one, add a few drops of water, and let it bloom in the glass and your senses.
Best Dsitillers’ Single Malt Scotch & Best in Class — Glen Scotia Victoriana Single Malt
This Campbelltown whisky is a rarity, like most whiskies from the tiny region. After an initial maturation, the whisky spends a final 12 months maturing in 30 percent Pedro Ximenez sherry butts and 70 percent heavily charred American oak before bottling truly as-is — no proofing, no filtering, no coloring.
Tasting Notes:
The nose on this is thick with a lot of savory fruit — figs, summer squash — next to sweet oranges, overripe pineapple, and robust but fresh florals. On the palate, that floral nature takes in a nasturtium vibe with a layer of spice next to a thin line of saltwater taffy wax paper wrappers, rum-soaked cinnamon sticks, and a thin layer of creamy vanilla. The end has a vibe that’s kind of like malt-soaked tropical fruit next to spicy vanilla pudding with a whisper of singed apple bark lurking in the background.
Bottom Line:
This is one that’s really worth tracking down. It’s also not that pricy for how rare this stuff really is (there’s really not that much juice coming out of Campbeltown). When you do find it, take your time and sip it slowly — or make one hell of a Manhattan with it.
Best Blended Scotch & Best in Class — The Sassenach
Yes, Scotch whisky has celebrity white label brands too. This one comes from Outlander star Sam Heughan. The juice is under wraps so there’s not much more to say.
Tasting Notes:
Lemon drops and Almond Joys drive the nose with a hint of honey, bourbon vanilla, and dried apricot. That apricot gets leathery on the palate as the malts arrive with plenty of honey and cinnamon-forward spice next to a hint of eggnog nutmeg. The finish is concise with a little cinnamon, honey, and almond rounding things out.
Bottom Line:
This is a really popular whiskey and, honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of it. It’s fine for cocktails (sours and smashes) but is a little lemon-y as a sipper.
Donald Trump just suffered another embarrassing loss in court. A federal judge not only dismissed Trump’s “racketeering lawsuit” against Hillary Clinton and a slew of other defendants, but he also wrote a scathing 65-page ruling eviscerating the former president’s legal claims. The dismissal followed a massive amendment from Trump’s legal team, which the judge unfortunately had to read and found to be “perplexing.” Or to put it in layman’s terms: weird as hell.
“It is not simply that I find the Amended Complaint ‘inadequate in any respect,’” Judge Donald Middlebrooks wrote. “It is inadequate in nearly every respect.”
After dismantling Trump’s arguments that Clinton “damaged his political career” by pointing out who won the 2016 election, Middlebrook went to town on the whole endeavor, which he basically described as a thinly-veiled rant. You’ll probably be surprised to hear this, but Trump really likes to complain. Can’t get enough of it!
“What the Amended Complaint lacks in substance and legal support it seeks to substitute with length, hyperbole, and the settling of scores and grievances,” he writes.
“At its core, the problem with Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint is that Plaintiff is not attempting to seek redress for any legal harm; instead, he is seeking to flaunt a two-hundred-page political manifesto outlining his grievances against those that have opposed him, and this Court is not the appropriate forum,” he adds.
The proper legal response you’re looking for here is, “DAMMMNNNNNNN.”
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
(@CindyLynn1969) 
