Donald Trump‘s week just went from bad to worse. Following the FBI raid of Mar-a-Lago, details about what prompted the Department of Justice have slowly trickled out before culminating in a press conference where a poker-faced Attorney General Merrick Garland defended FBI agents and made the bombshell announcement that he would be unsealing the warrant after Trump made its presence known. Essentially, Garland was calling Trump’s bluff after he stirred up MAGA-world to demand that DOJ reveal why his Florida residence was searched.

After agreeing to the release of the warrant during a late night statement, someone provided the Wall Street Journal and Breitbart with a copy of the warrant before the Department of Justice made it available for the public. However, in a rush to publish the unredacted documents, it appears that Breitbart inadvertently revealed that Trump is under investigation for violating the Espionage Act, which is very bad, if that’s not clear.

“The hilarious thing is that since Brietbart doesn’t even know what a Supervisory Special Agent is, they probably don’t realize they’ve confirmed that Trump is under investigation for violating the Espionage Act,” legal journalist Marcy Wheeler tweeted as others quickly noticed Breitbart’s blunder.

As the reality set in that a former president is under investigation for violating the Espionage Act, the term immediately started to trend on Twitter as folks couldn’t believe what was happening. Trump has been a non-stop scandal machine since before he even stepped foot in the White House, but this is truly an unprecedented situation, particularly following reports that some of the top secret information recovered involves nuclear weapons. It really doesn’t get worse than this, and we’re talking about a guy who caused a freaking insurrection during his last month in office.

You can see some of the reactions below:

(Via Mediaite)

Over the past few years, the definition of “IPA” has evolved in ways that would’ve been unimaginable just five short years ago. The hazy New England-style IPA and milk sugar or lactose-based milkshake IPA are both making a big impact on the scene. But even though you can’t just order an “IPA” and expect one specific thing anymore, your favorite piney, citrus-forward West Coast IPAs remain as popular as ever. And while breweries from Savannah to San Francisco are brewing their own versions of the iconic West Coast IPA on a daily basis, there are a handful of classics that still stand above the rest.

Lagunitas, Stone, Green Flash, Ballast Point — these names are entrenched in the IPA landscape. And today, we’re paying homage to these hoppy, resinous, bitter flavor explosions by finally finding out which of the most popular West Coast IPAs are actually “best” (to my palate!). To do so, I’m turning once again to the blind taste test, ranking eight of the most well-known West Coast IPAs to finally determine which is the undisputed champion of dank.

Keep reading to see how it all turned out!

Today’s Lineup:

• Fat Head’s Head Hunter IPA
• Ballast Point Sculpin IPA
• Green Flash West Coast IPA
• Alesmith IPA
• Lagunitas IPA
• Stone IPA
• Firestone Walker Union Jack
• Bear Republic Racer 5

Part 1: The Taste

Taste 1

Tasting Notes:

Complex aroma of wet grass, ripe pineapple, citrus zest, and herbal, piney hops first met my nose. Sipping the beer revealed a nice mix of bread-like malts, tangerine, grapefruit, earthy grass, and resinous, dank, pine. The finish is bitter, but not overwhelming.

From my notes: “That finish gives the beer a nice crescendo.”

Taste 2

Tasting Notes:

Aromas of grapefruit, tangerines, apricots, bready malts, and bright pine first greet your nose. Sipping it brings forth notes of orange zest, grapefruit, caramelized pineapple, sweet malts, and earthy, herbal, floral hops. The finish is not as bitter as expected, but still, a nice final note that brings all of the flavors together.

Taste 3

Tasting Notes:

Grape juice, orange zest, and floral Noble hops are prevalent on the nose. But, as with many West Coast IPAs, there isn’t much else noteworthy. The palate is a little more exciting with lemon zest, ripe pineapple, slight malts, and a very bitter finish.

From my notes: “All in all, it’s a pretty unexciting beer that leans heavily in the citrus and bitterness direction.”

Taste 4

Tasting Notes:

The nose is slightly fruity with tangerine, pineapple, and grapefruit paired with slight malts and dank, resinous, floral pine. On the palate, I found notes of bready malts, orange zest, grapefruit, pine resin, and floral, herbal, gently bitter hops presence at the very end. A very well-balanced, refreshing IPA.

Taste 5

Tasting Notes:

Bright aromas of tangerine, grapefruit, herbal hops, bready malts, and dank resin met my nostrils before my first sip. The palate was just as dynamic with a ton of resinous pine, citrus zest, floral hops, caramel malts, and bold, bitter hops. Luckily, the bitterness is tempered by all of the other complex flavors.

Taste 6

Tasting Notes:

The nose is all pine and citrus without much else sneaking through. While this is expected, it’s kind of underwhelming when there isn’t much more to note. Sipping it was more of the same. There was a hint of tangerine and grapefruit, but the aggressively bitter, resinous pine was fairly overwhelming and took away from the rest of the beer’s flavors.

From my notes: “Too bitter for me.”

Taste 7

Tasting Notes:

This nose is classic West Coast IPA with a ton of resinous, dank pine, slight grapefruit, and really nothing else of notes. The palate is more of the same with a ton of pine needles, resin, slight caramel malts, and tangerine, grapefruit, and an aggressively bitter finish.

It’s a little more balanced than some of the beers sampled, but only barely.

Taste 8

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, I found notes of slight tropical fruits, bright citrus, light malts, and floral, slightly spicy, herbal, piney hops. The palate is loaded with pineapple, grapefruit, ripe peach, sweet malts, and floral hops. It all ends with a nice mix of resinous, earthy hops, and light fruity sweetness.

From my notes: “The finish is very bitter, but it ties everything together.”

Part 2: The Rankings

8) Ballast Point Sculpin IPA (Taste 6)

ABV: 7%

Average Price: $14 for a six-pack

The Beer:

When IPA drinkers talk about “must-try” beers, they often mention Ballast Point Sculpin. This classic, West Coast IPA gets its name from a stinging fish and you can probably guess why. That’s because, even though it begins with bright citrus flavors, it’s the bitter, hoppy bite that you’ll remember most after sipping it.

Bottom Line:

Ballast Point proves once again that its Sculpin is one of the most overrated IPAs ever brewed. One-dimensional and overly bitter, it’s just a little too abrasive for my palate.

7) Lagunitas IPA (Taste 3)

ABV: 6.2%

Average Price: $10.50 for a six-pack

The Beer:

This well-known West Coast IPA gets its bold, piney, resinous, bitter flavor from the addition of Centennial, Chinook, Cascade, and Simcoe hops and its sweet, caramel flavor from the use of Caramel Malt barley. If you’re going to try any of Lagunitas’ other beers, you have to start with this one first.

Bottom Line:

Lagunitas IPA is by no means a bad beer. It’s just not balanced and complex enough — the citrus and pine notes are a little too in your face.

6) Stone IPA (Taste 7)

ABV: 6.9%

Average Price: $11.50 for a six-pack

The Beer:

When many drinkers think of West Coast IPAs, they usually think Stone IPA. Available since 1997, this popular IPA was brewed with Magnum, Chinook, Centennial, Azacca, Calypso, Ella, and Vic Secret hops. It’s known for its mix of pine and citrus with long, lingering hop bitterness.

Bottom Line:

Stone IPA is a popular beer among fans of over-the-top bitter beers. Even though it has slight caramel malts mixed in, it’s still a little too bitter and pine-centric for some palates.

5) Fat Head’s Head Hunter IPA (Taste 5)

ABV: 7.5%

Average Price: $11.99 for a six-pack

The Beer:

This award-winning IPA is a great example of how bold and aggressive a West Coast IPA can be. Loaded with Simcoe, Mosaic, Centennial, Chinook, and Citra hops, it’s known for its mix of resinous pine, citrus zest, and bitter hops presence.

Bottom Line:

Fat Head’s Head Hunter is one of the most popular West Coast IPAs on the market and for good reason. Even though it’s aggressively bittered, it’s surprisingly well-balanced and flavorful.

4) Alesmith IPA (Taste 1)

ABV: 7.25%

Average Price: $12.99 for a six-pack

The Beer:

One of the OG and most highly-rated West Coast IPAs, Alesmith has been crafting this beloved beer for more than two decades now. Brewed with Columbus and Citra hops, it’s known for its bold, vibrant citrus flavors, caramel malts, and slightly bitter, hoppy finish.

Bottom Line:

While Alesmith IPA’s finish does have the bitterness West Coast IPA fans have grown to expect, it’s less than many others on this list and pairs nicely with the rest of the flavors. It’s very complex and well-balanced.

3) Firestone Walker Union Jack (Taste 4)

ABV: 7%

Average Price: $10.50 for a six-pack

The Beer:

This complex West Coast IPA was brewed with Cascade, CTZ, and Centennial hops in the kettle. It gets extra hop flavor from being dry-hopped with Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe, Citra, Amarillo, and Chinook hops. To say this is a hop lover’s dream is an understatement.

Bottom Line:

As West Coast IPAs go, Firestone Walker Union Jack is a little sweeter and fruitier than most and that’s definitely not a bad thing. It still has the heightened floral, piney, hop bitterness West Coast IPA drinkers expect.

2) Green Flash West Coast IPA (Taste 8)

ABV: 7%

Average Price: $11.99 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Green Flash’s take on the West Coast IPA is so good, that the folks at this San Diego-based brewery didn’t even bother to give it an original name. This 7% ABV West Coast IPA is the benchmark that many other breweries strive for. Brewed with five different hops, it’s known for its mix of floral, fruity, and citrus flavors.

Bottom Line:

There’s a reason Green Flash West Coast IPA is an often-imitated beer. It’s complex, bold, and surprisingly well-rounded. It’s an amazing example of the style.

1) Bear Republic Racer 5 (Taste 2)

ABV: 7.5%

Average Price: $11.99 for a six-pack

The Beer:

One of the most awarded West Coast IPAs, Bear Republic Racer 5 is brewed with a base of pale barley malt, white wheat malt, and crystal malt, along with Centennial, Chinook, Columbus, and Cascade hops. It’s bold, brash, and aggressively hoppy.

Bottom Line:

Balance can be hard to come by in West Coast IPAs. Some brewers gravitate towards bitter bombs. Bear Republic Racer 5 has the bitterness that one would expect, but it also has myriad other exciting flavors. It’s possibly the best example of the style available today.

Part 3: Final Thoughts

One of the reasons some drinkers have such a love/hate relationship with West Coast IPAs is the hop bitterness. If they sip a beer and taste nothing but bitter pine and they expect more flavors, they probably won’t go back to that beer again. It’s clear that I feel the same way. All of the beers that fared better were more well-balanced — while still bitter, they had bold citrus, ripe fruit, and caramel malt flavors that added to the overall flavor profile.

Balance is key in life. Apparently in the IPA world as well.

In 2005, MF Doom and Danger Mouse dropped the legendary cult hip-cop classic collaboration project Dangerdoom. Their lone album, The Mouse & The Mask, saw the producer’s whimsical Adult Swim cartoon-inspired production paired with Doom’s never-ending flow and it’s a touchstone for Doom fans of when his style was at an innovative peak. Doom (neé Daniel Dumile) died in late 2020, leaving a hole in the hearts of hip-hop heads. But on Danger Mouse and Black Thought’s newly released Cheat Codes album, MF Doom delivers a verse from beyond on “Belize” and it has a heavy Dangerdoom vibe.

“Fat rat, the mask made him batty as a mad hatter / Known for his absurd word choices / And will ignore you if you ask him if he heard voices,” Doom raps over Danger Mouses’s cinematic beat. It’s a saucy flow and quite frankly, emotional for anyone who connected with Doom’s music at any point during his storied rap career. It’s a respectful stroke of genius from Danger Mouse, who presumably unearthed this flow from the Dangerdoom sessions. Black Thought tips a cap himself on his verse, spitting, “This something for the shooters and back-and-forth commuters / Who never knew the difference in laws and jurisprudence. I feel as though it’s safe to assume that to the students. And I can prove it to the way me and DOOM do this.”

Listen to “Belize” above.

Cheat Codes is out now via BMG. Hear it here.

The second of four Power spin-offs is set to make its return to television this weekend. Unlike the other three spin-offs, Power Book III: Raising Kanan takes a trip back in time within the Power universe as it showcases the events that led up to what we saw in the original Power series. Kanan Stark, 50 Cent’s character from Power, is just a young high schooler eager to enter his family’s drug dealing business and prove his worth to his elders — and to the world altogether. His mother, Raquel “Raq” Thomas aims to keep him on a tight leash, but as Kanan continues to grow up, that becomes harder to do.

Season one of Power Book III: Raising Kanan ended with Kanan attempting to kill Detective Howard — who he does not know is his father — following a command from Raq to kill him. With Kanan failing to get the job done, it signals that plenty of drama awaits us in season two.

What Should You Expect In Season Two Of Power Book III: Raising Kanan?

Keeping the family close is the goal for Raq in season two Power Book III: Raising Kanan, but that will prove to be quite tricky this season. It’s all going down as Raq plans to expand the drug operation to New Jersey after fully taking over Queens, NY. For starters, Kanan’s distrust of Raq continues to grow WHILE he is on the search for the truth in his life. However, Raq will do almost anything to hide the truth about her son and Detective Howard’s connection. Elsewhere, Raq’s brothers also have their own family issues. Lou-Lou isn’t as reliable as he was at the beginning of season one as he shifts his focus to his record label, which proves to be a frustrating blow to the family business. Marvin, on the other hand, struggles to earn forgiveness from his daughter Jukebox — who is still dealing with the loss of her true love Nicole — after he brutally attacked her.

Season two’s theme is “the ties that bind,” and with all of the relationships that are strained and in need of repair, it’s clear why this theme is perfect. We’ll just have to wait and see how everything plays out over the next ten episodes.

New episodes of STARZ’s ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ are available to watch on Sunday at 12:00am EST.

It’s been over three years since we last caught up with John Wick and his various violent shenanigans. The infamous hitman-turned excommunicated assassin, played by Keanu Reeves, will once again return to theaters in March and this time the film will hopefully explain some more backstory and mythology surrounding the swanky Continental Hotel and its residing assassins.

The fourth installment in the franchise is on track to be the longest one yet, but director Chad Stahelski says it is all about the storytelling. “I love mythology,” Stahelski told Variety while promoting his new vampire flick Day Shift, starring Jamie Foxx and Snoop Dogg. “I love a good myth. I don’t really believe — at least for the John Wick movies — in a three-act structure. I believe in storytelling and leaving it. You know, we’ve always seen John Wick as Odysseus.

Stahelski explained that he didn’t want fans to feel bombarded with backstory, but also wanted to be sure that the plot wasn’t being too rushed. “We take the time we need to tell the story. As long as we don’t fall asleep watching it, we keep it going. But I guess there is a bathroom limit,” He added. Though a three-hour movie of Keanu Reeves just beating people up would also be fine.

When asked about how they could possibly top the scene in John Wick Chapter 3 where there were hard-hitting ninjas on motorcycles wreaking havoc in New York, Stahelski joked, “Ninjas in cars, I guess. I don’t know! It’s always ninjas, man.” While we don’t know exactly what the ninjas will be up to, hopefully, they have great motor vehicle insurance this time around.

John Wick Chapter 4 opens in theaters March 23, 2023.

(Via Variety)

According to a series of Facebook posts, the Scholten family embarked on a 1200-mile journey from St. Albans, Maine, to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on July 22 to see the legendary EAA AirVenture air show. Known as the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” the weeklong event attracts over 500,000 people to see more than 10,000 aircraft.

News Center Maine reports that 15 hours and 900 miles down the road, in Toledo, Ohio, the family stopped for a routine pit stop and got an incredible shock. Their cat Delilah had secretly hitched along for the ride in the family camper.

“I open the door, and there’s Delilah,” Andrea Scholten told News Center Maine. “I just screamed ‘Delilah!’ and my husband and the kids were like ‘Delilah!’”

“She must have snuck in when Jay loaded the pillows this morning,” Andrea wrote on Facebook.

So what was the family to do with their cat? Take it to the air show or board it somewhere in Ohio? They were two-thirds of their way to the event so they decided to take the cat along with them and hope for the best. “We went to Target, we bought her food, litter, a collar that we could write her name on because we were completely unprepared for this,” Andrea added.

“The plan so far is to see how she does as a camper cat. If she doesn’t do well, we’ll have to find a kennel,” Andrea wrote in a Facebook post.

The Scholtens shared the story on Facebook with the hashtag “stowawayoshkoshcat” and posted updates to the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022 page. The posts quickly went viral and Delilah became the most famous pet at the air show.

People asked for more photos of Delilah on Facebook so the Scholtens kept them coming.

“We thought it was funny,” she told Central Maine. “I started posting to my Facebook friends and my husband started posting to the AirVenture and people wanted more. That’s when we started the hashtag.”

The cat was a hit at the air show. People came up to their camper with gifts for the sneaky feline and a skywriter drew a picture of the cat in the sky above the air show.

After the air show, the family made it home safely. Delilah was so much fun to have at the event, they’ve decided to bring her back next year.

“This threw us for a loop for sure, but she seemed to have fun. We plan to do it again next year,” Andrea told Central Maine.

To commemorate her first trip to the EAA AirVenture air show, the Scholtens are going to buy Delilah a brick under the famed Brown Arch at the airfield. The arch is surrounded by 3,000 inscribable bricks where people can leave their mark and become a permanent part of the air show’s history. The Brown Arch was the original flight line at the EAA Fly-In at Oshkosh and is the most identifiable landmark on the massive property.

Who knows, Delilah may make history as the first cat to be inscribed on the landmark.

As a parent, it’s not always easy to know how to help your kids learn from life experiences. Some lessons they learn naturally and others they learn through parental guidance, but discerning which is which and how those things overlap can be challenging.

Kids don’t come with instruction manuals, of course, but sometimes we see examples of great parenting we can point to and say, “AHA! That’s how it’s done.”

One such example comes from a dad named Robert. He’s been teaching his 5-year-old daughter Aubrin to skateboard and set up a mini half pipe for her to learn on. In a video on Instagram, Robert shared his interchanges with Aubrin after she crashed hard on the ramp during a lesson.

It’s a sweet video that doubles as a masterclass in effective parenting. Robert communicates with a perfect blend of empathy, encouragement and empowerment, which gives his daughter exactly what she needs to tackle her fears and persevere in what she wants to do.

Even his initial question after she fell—”Did it scare you or did it hurt you?”—is helpful for making her more aware of what she’s actually feeling as well as knowing how best to help her.

Seeing this gentle parenting scenario play out is just so heartwarming. (And if Aubrin’s voice sounds familiar, you may have seen the viral “stuckasaurus” video in which she offered delightful color commentary while snowboarding in a dinosaur suit.)

Watch:

See on Instagram

Robert explained his thinking behind the way he responded to Aubrin’s fall:

“Trying something new can be scary but re-trying something after slamming can be terrifying.

I had to re-gain her trust and she needed to re-establish her confidence after this slam and it was a tough but beautiful rollercoaster experience.

This is one of the biggest psychological battles we face as humans, because once that negative experience has made its home in our brain it’s very hard to get it out.

I know from intense personal experience that a bad fall can have long lasting [psychological] effects and truly believe, that when possible, it’s best to get back up and try it again with the goal being to end the session with a positive experience; to not have that negative memory ruminating in your head until the next time you return to try.

I’ve been asked a lot ‘How do you know what to say in these moments?’ and the truth is I absolutely don’t know what to say.

Seeing her slam sucks the air out of my lungs and my heart drops but I just try to stay calm and redirect with some questions or comments while surveying the situation. A parent’s emotions (depending on how you instinctively react) will oftentimes influence the child’s emotional response and it’s my goal to remove my influence and allow her to just be, to feel, to hurt at her pace and it allows me to get a better reading of how she’s truly feeling in these pivotal moments.

Ultimately I just respond from the heart. If you calmly lead with empathy and support without applying pressure you’ll do just fine.”

Beautiful insight and advice. Unfortunately, many parents are raising kids while working through wounds from their own childhoods, and when you’re battling parental instincts that aren’t particularly healthy or helpful, having it all laid out like this is really valuable. Commenters on Instagram and Reddit have expressed how much they appreciate seeing supportive parenting in action.

“I actually got emotional watching this…” wrote one person. “I am learning so much from your posts!!! As someone whose parents led from a place of fear a lot of the time, this is showing me so much possibility of what the opposite can look like. Thank you for being so open, we are all made the better from it.”

“I wish I had a dad like you growing up. She’s so lucky,” wrote another.

“Made me smile and also as a grown ass man, gave me watery eyes – as someone that never had this kind of treatment growing up and kind of needed it – this is the kind of dad I will be if I ever meet someone and have kids,” shared another.

Whether we were raised by gentle, supportive parents or the opposite, we can all recognize effective parenting when we see it. Thank you, Robert, for sharing such a stellar example we can all watch and learn from.

You can follow Robert and Aubrin’s family adventures on Instagram (@chasing.sage).

You could blame the perils of fame as the reason Millie Bobby Brown recently announced that she had deleted all social media from her phone. And it would make sense—people are notoriously callous and vitriolic with comments to those who reach celebrity status.

But really, the “Stranger Things” star’s decision sheds light on something more universal, especially for teens.

During an interview with Allure, Brown shared that someone else now handles her Facebook and Instagram, and her Twitter and TikTok have been deleted. Her phone now looks nothing like what most teenager’s devices look like. This virtual purge came as a result of being inundated with online hate and sexual advances from older men.

Yes, the fact that she rocketed to stardom at the age of 10 has exacerbated the amount of attention she receives both off and online, but these are rather common occurrences for teenagers—59% have experienced cyber bullying, according to the Pew Research Center. The National Library of Medicine also states that over half of all “internet-initiated assault victims” are between 13 and 15 years old.

Brown opened up even more about the tolls that online abuse took on her mental health, and it offers some brilliant insight into the very specific challenges that younger generations face in this digital age.

“It’s really hard to be hated on when you don’t know who you are yet,” she told Allure. “So it’s like, ‘What do they hate about me? ’Cause I don’t know who I am.’ It’s almost like, ‘Okay, I’m going to try being this today.’ [And then they say], ‘Oh, no, I hate that.’ ‘Okay. Forget that. I’m going to try being this today.’ ‘Oh, my God! I hate when you do that.’”

That’s exhausting to read, let alone experience. It’s no wonder why Brown admitted to “shutting down” to cope with the pressure. Receiving ridicule and judgment is never easy, let alone during the difficult phase of figuring out your identity.

Hunter “Echo” Ecimovi sparks outrage after admitting he dated Millie Bobby Brown when she was 16 years old & he was 20.

In an Instagram Live, the TikTok creator shared extremely explicit & vulgar details about his intimate relationship with the minor.

🔗:https://t.co/785UC0jmIA pic.twitter.com/DId5Hzp4W3

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 13, 2021

Some of the inappropriate online behavior was also spurned by a troubling relationship Brown shared with TikTok star Hunter Ecimovic, who not only went live on social media in 2021 to make crude remarks about the young actress, but also made claims of “grooming” her. Brown’s relationship was already, as the actress put it, an “unhealthy situation,” a situation made all the more toxic by online harassment.

But it’s not about total separation from all things virtual. Instead, Brown decides to focus on quality interactions. She still speaks directly to fans through the blog on Florence by Mills, the website for her Gen-Z oriented skincare. Though no comments are allowed.

Plus, she surrounds herself with a healthy support system IRL. During a panel promoting the third season of “Stranger Things” she recalled being able to lean on friend and model Karlie Kloss. Brown told the Associated Press, “she gave me some amazing advice…rise above the hate. Keep being, you know, beautiful within yourself, and then that will show beauty inward out.”

See on Instagram

Really, online hygiene is a vital skill for almost anyone today, regardless of age or status. But man, is it important for those in their formative years. Deleting social media from the phone might not be the best solution for all teenagers, but having the conversation about what can be done to protect mental health is worth having.

Wait. Are we really almost halfway through August already? Didn’t I just write one of these intros talking about how summer had arrived? What the heck happened???

Time flies when you’re having fun, I guess, and these weekly roundups are nothing but fun. Every day it seems like we’re bombarded with something new to stress about or be outraged over, but not here. In this space, we celebrate simple joys, awesome humans, hilarious animals and all things smile-worthy.

This week alone, we’ve seen sportsmanship that inspired us, parenting that touched our hearts and kiddos that tickled our funny bones. Readers have told us they look forward to our 10 things roundup every week, which is good because we have no intention of stopping. (Honestly, it’s therapeutic to pull this list together, so win-win all around!)

So kick back, relax and let these 10 little tidbits of goodness carry you through this final stretch of summer.

1. A Little League player comforted the opposing team’s pitcher after his errant pitch hit him in the head.

u201c”Hey, you’re doing just great”nnOklahoma little leaguer gets hit in the head and then comforts the pitcher who is shaken up afterwardu201d

— Jomboy (@Jomboy)
1660067195

This is some seriously awesome sportsmanship from both of these boys, putting caring and compassion over competition. Love to see it. Read the full story here.

2. Motion-activated home security camera caught this fierce beast on the premises.

u201cMotion activated home security camera working as intendedu201d

— pups (@pups)
1660117665

It’s that head tilt in the last 10 seconds that really makes this video. Such a good doggo.

3. Woody Harrelson wrote a hilarious poem for his random baby look-alike.

See on Instagram

Cora’s mom shared her photo alongside Woody’s and he not only reshared it on Instagram, but wrote Cora a delightful little poem joking about how he wished he had her hair. What a guy. Read the full story here.

4. Dad’s response to his daughter’s skateboard crash is a masterclass in awesome parenting.

See on Instagram

The way he asked if she was scared or hurt, the way he balanced empathy with empowerment and how he encouraged her but left the choice totally in her hands … seriously good stuff. “Ultimately I just respond from the heart,” he wrote. Stellar job dad.

5. This teeny tiny crab eating a strawberry is just too adorable.

u201cvery small crab eats Strawberyu201d

— glurpo (@glurpo)
1660153249

I never thought I’d describe a crab as adorable, and yet here we are. I mean, goodness. Wook at its widdle tiny cwawwwws! Those have to be the tiniest bites of strawberry that have ever been consumed.

6. This young Corn King won everyone’s hearts with his corntastic personality.

See on Instagram

I’ve watched this video at least a dozen times. “Whaaat?! It’s just a pun about cowhn!” It’s too much. Read the story here.

7. Apparently, it’s the 8th anniversary of one of the greatest viral videos the world has ever seen.

Five-year-old Noah Ritter (aka “the ‘apparently’ kid”) gave us such a laugh that even the Newswatch 16 reporter couldn’t keep it together. Eight years, and it still never gets old.

8. Duncan the doggo is torn between responding to his owner and keeping his eyes on the neighborhood. (SOUND UP)

u201cNot now, not now, not nowu2026nnWHAT? ud83dude02u201d

— Buitengebieden (@Buitengebieden)
1660071355

Goodness knows he was trying hard to be a good boy. Hilarious.

9. Housekeepers going above and beyond in their cleaning duties are the bestest.

See on Instagram

Scroll through to see what hilarity these other cleaners concocted. Love seeing people take pride in their work and take the time to make strangers smile.

10. When the water’s colder than you anticipated but you’re trying to be cool…

u201cNope! ud83dude02u201d

— Buitengebieden (@Buitengebieden)
1659560746

Ha ha. NOPE.

Hope that brought a smile or ten to your face! Come back next week for another roundup of 10 things that made us smile. (And in the meantime, sign up for The Upworthiest newsletter to get the best stuff right to your inbox.)

The best new hip-hop this week includes albums, videos, and songs from Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj, Rae Sremmurd, and more.

Beyoncé set the tone two weeks ago, and some of our other powerhouse ladies have come through as well as we approach the end of summer. If that’s not enough, we’ve got something to look forward to in the form of Big Pooh’s upcoming album To Dream In Color which is set to release on August 22. In the meantime, you know I’ve got you with everything you need to hear from this week.

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending August 12, 2022.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Rod Wave — Beautiful Mind

Rod Wave has established himself over the years as another rapper who can operate primarily in a melodic or sing-songy nature but still maintain the rapper aesthetic. Beautiful Mind continues this branding, clocking in at 24 records with features from Jack Harlow and December Joy. He recently spoke with Speedy Morman about how he was almost on Drake’s “Lemon Pepper Freestyle” but felt that his verse wasn’t good enough, so with a loaded tracklist like this, he clearly felt a lot more capable of delivering the sound he wanted to.

Chris Patrick — X-Files

Chris Patrick is a rapper you need to know about. Point blank. The New Jersey mastermind finds a way to relate to us normal folk despite possessing talent that sets him apart from some of the most lauded rappers in the game. X-Files is a journey loaded with confidence, doubt, triumphs, downfalls, and everything in between. It is one of the most gratifying listens of 2022.

Royce Da 5’9″ — The Heaven Experience, Vol. 1

Royce Da 5’9″ has aged gracefully in the rap game. A longtime talented lyricist, he has altered his messaging over the years in conjunction with his maturation and overcoming demons. The Heaven Experience, Vol. 1 is a retrospective of that mental process, following the footsteps of his longtime collaborator Eminem (who recently dropped his own greatest hits compilation), with features from Pusha T, Rick Ross, and Black Thought for a 15-track rap clinic.

Danger Mouse & Black Thought — Cheat Codes

This project is so aptly named. Does it get any better than Black Thought bars and Danger Mouse production? Cheat Codes features a star-studded tracklist in Joey Badass, Russ, Raekwon, Conway The Machine, and the late MF Doom. It is beautiful to see Thought still performing at such a high level in a rap landscape that has changed multiple times during his tenure.

Singles/Videos

Rae Sremmurd — “Community D**k” Feat. Flo Milli

Rae Sremmurd and Flo Milli interpolate “Jingle Bells” in the summertime, and morph the giving nature of Christmas in a unique way. “Community D**k” is about a woman upset at the guy she likes for essentially being the Santa Claus of sex. Now, though Flo Milli is complaining in the hook, her verse completely changes the energy and she seems completely unbothered about her guy’s generosity. Ultimately, acceptance is key.

Ice Spice — “Munch (Feelin’ U)”

Ice Spice has been making a name for herself over the last few months, especially after a huge co-sign from Drake. On “Munch (Feelin’ U)” she denounces any attachment to a man, instead relegating him to just being an “eater.” Instead, with all of her momentum, she’s feeling herself much more with the line “B*tch I’m a baddie, I get what I want.” That goes for the rap game, the men, and everything else she desires.

Saekyi — “Angels Don’t Call Me”

Saekyi is another hybrid talent, blending a firm rap delivery with raw, soulful vocals. The first minute of “Angels Don’t Call Me” brands a slow buildup, almost mimicking an R&B track before Saekyi goes beast mode. If the angels didn’t call him before, they might want to pick up the phone now. Although, the fervor in his voice may have them hearing him from up above anyways.

Kalan.Frfr — “Pull Up”

Kalan.Frfr has a simple message on “Pull Up”: following the instructions in the song’s title. He’s wondering where the apple of his eye is and why she isn’t with him while he’s in the mood. As usual, he croons over an uptempo jam fit for any California day party or even the car ride to the pregame. Infectious ear candy.

4GAuto — “Back From The Dead”

4GAuto isn’t going anywhere. On the menacing “Back From The Dead,” he raps circles around the competition while doing donuts in a golf cart. A life of leisure and success is all he seeks despite the naysayers.

Morray — “Ticket”

Morray is one of the most refreshing new acts of the last few years. “Tickets” is a low-tempo, ballad-like record but the slowness doesn’t mean the North Carolina act can be caught lacking. “Stay quiet off speed, cause it’s n****s I don’t trust.”

SixSaidIt — “Choosey”

SixSaidIt’s “Choosey” blends a myriad of instruments, her enchanting accent, and clever bars into a record that you’ll end up dancing along to without realizing. She raps about the type of man she wants and how the right one could get her to behave. Until that happens, she’ll continue out rapping the men and women.

Fabolous — “Say Less” Feat. French Montana

Fabolous and French Montana reflect on their come-ups in “Say Less.” Fab uses a clever Wayans Brothers reference in acknowledging how his whole circle is eating, while French adds in his signature “haan” ad lib before “Diddy bopping in the situation.” Punchlines galore on “Say Less.”

Fergie Baby — “Trap Elegance” Feat. Aqua Rich

Fergie Baby is one of the most fun acts in New York City. The man can dance as well as he can make a song. On “Trap Elegance,” he taps Aqua Rich for a luxurious flex with both trap and drill elements. This is yet another reminder that few people talk their sh*t like a New Yorker.

Loyle Carner — “Georgetown” Feat. John Agard

With Loyle Carner and Madlib, how can you go wrong? “Georgetown” features John Agard for a percussion-laced lyrical exhibition. You’ll come for the accents, but you’ll stay for the sharp flows.

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