Category: News

The baby formula shortage has turned into a real crisis for parents (especially of the working variety, which people must be to keep kids afloat in other ways). On a more trivial note, though, frustrating shortages of certain foods at the grocery store has made life at least a little less enjoyable. Saltine crackers, for example, proved to be more missed than expected when that supply ran dry. Hummus lovers are currently searching high and low for their favorite brands, and now, sriracha sauce lovers might not be able to get their fix this summer.

Yes, it’s true. As Bloomberg reports, Huy Fong Foods Inc. has suspended all foreseeable production of the highly addictive spicy condiment “due to a shortage of chili peppers.” According to CBS News, the sauce drought could last until Labor Day, and this is likely all down to a literal drought, given that Mexico and the Western U.S. are experiencing unfavorable weather conditions to grow chili peppers.

This, of course, is not going over well for those who like it spicy yet aren’t willing to pour ghost pepper powder all over things. Here’s a sampling of the freak out in process as people make mad dashes to the grocery store.

Be careful out there, folks. Saltines finally came back, though, so there’s hope on the horizon.

(Via Bloomberg & CBS News)

The Pride Month celebrations continue by way of Amazon Music. Today, the powerhouse company revealed a new Amazon Original cover of Elton John’s popular record “Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters” performed by Orville Peck. Peck is spirited in his rendition of the track, maintaining its country elements while also adding a new flavor to it. The song appears on PROUD, Amazon Music’s global playlist celebrating new music from LGBTQ+ artists not just in June, but all year long.

“I chose this song because it was always one of my favorites when I was younger,” said Orville Peck. “I just really think the storytelling in it is evocative and beautiful. It’s also equal parts witty and whimsical, but also heartbreaking. I love the combination of those two things.” The 34-year-old’s “Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters” cover is the latest of Amazon Music’s themed content series for Pride Month. They have also created Orgulla, an LGBTQ+ playlist dedicated to Latin artists who identify as such. Kim Petras performed her take on Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” to kick off the month before Angel Olsen and Kimberly Stuckwisch debuted the Amazon Original film Big Time.

For Orville Peck, this follows the release of his sophomore album Bronco this past spring.

Listen to Orville Peck’s cover of “Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters” here.

New music from Princess Nokia has been a rarity in 2022. In March, she dropped the piercing “No Effort,” hitting back at anyone who dares doubt her steez. That’s been it so far, but there’s a reason for this. It’s because Nokia is about to make her film debut in the Daughter Of The Sea, directed by Alexis Garcia and filmed in Puerto Rico. In the film, Nokia plays the starring role of Yanise, who returns to Puerto Rico from New York following her grandfather’s death and has a vision that leads to a spiritual awakening. It’s a role that the Afro-Boricua rapper from Harlem was born to play and it illustrates the deep connection she forged as of late with her Puerto Rican roots.

Now on “Diva,” Princes Nokia’s second track of the year, she’s showcasing her Puerto Rican heritage and the Taíno culture in full force. The beat sounds like it was forged on the Caribbean Seaside, as Nokia raps about powerful women in music who have laid the groundwork for her to walk on, singing: “I feel like Beyoncé, I feel like Shakira, lemonade, I’m juicy, hips don’t lie, Selena. Britney, Christina, rest in peace, Aaliyah. I feel like a goddess, I feel like a diva.” All the while a trumpet bellows, and a tropical guitar strums over breezy a thump.

The video, directed by Robot MoonJuice, was filmed in Puerto Rico. The rapper and activist is among the townspeople before coming into a lively house party that ends with a drum circle and dance-off.

Watch the video for “Diva” above.

Just this morning, we learned that Britney Spears and fiancé Sam Ashgari were allegedly getting married today. The sudden news, reported by TMZ and Billboard, highlights how private Spears has been able to keep these plans, considering how just about everything else in her life seems to be out in the open and then some. But in an Instagram video that surfaced this afternoon, captured by TMZ, Spears’ ex-husband Jason Alexander appeared to infiltrate the wedding site, desperately searching for the “…Baby One More Time” singer.

Jason Alexander (no, not the Seinfeld one) was married to Spears briefly in 2004. The two were childhood friends and the marriage was very short-lived (55 hours to be exact.) He somehow got through the gate of Spears’ Thousand Oaks home where he was filming on Instagram Live and was maniacally searching for Spears throughout the house. “Hey where’s Britney at? Tell me the truth, where’s Britney at? Britney! Britney!” as security continues to tell him to leave and Alexander says “Don’t put your hands on me.” Then it appears that a security guard brandishes a weapon, to which Alexander says, “Hey, I can trespass, y’all don’t gotta have a gun.”

The clip shifts back to the outside of the grounds, which was clearly being set up for a wedding and Alexander continues his vehement search, “Hey, where’s Britney? I’m Jason Alexander. I’m her ex-husband. I’m here to crash the wedding bro.” He proceeds to walk towards the altar and then addresses the 157 people who were tuned into his livestream saying, “So here’s the inside scoop of the bullshit wedding.” the frantic pacing continues back to the courtyard and he starts talking to security again, saying “My name’s Jason Alexander. Britney invited me here. She’s my first wife, my only wife. I’m her first husband. I’m here to crash the wedding but nobody’s here but Sam. So where the f*ck’s the family?” At this point, he appears to get tackled as the camera spins towards the ground and it ends. According to TMZ, Ventura County Sheriffs were called and they were still on site at press time to determine what was happening.

You can watch a clip from Alexander’s livestreamed video in the post above.

The Chicago White Sox hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers in a Thursday matinee that included one of the best examples of how quickly a bad decision can backfire. Bennett Sousa was on the bump in the top of the sixth inning while the Dodgers were holding onto a 7-5 lead. Despite just allowing Freddie Freeman to drive in a run and throwing a wild pitch, Sousa was able to get ahead of Trea Turner for a 1-2 count with two outs in the inning.

And then, White Sox manager Tony La Russa had an idea: What if, instead of trying to get Turner out, he was intentionally walked, instead? So they decided to go in that direction.

As you can tell by the guy at the end of the video who appears to scream “HE’S GOT TWO STRIKES, TONY,” this wasn’t a particularly popular decision. Anyway, even a bad process can lead to good results and oh god Max Muncy went yard immediately after this.

La Russa attempted to defend the decision after the game by arguing that Turner turns into some sort of indomitable force with two strikes against left-handed pitching and Muncy is a much more favorable matchup.

The Dodgers won, 11-9.

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

Since the last update of this weekly R&B column, we’ve received plenty of music and news from the genre’s artists. Chloe keeps her remix streak alive thanks to a new “shemix” of Capella Grey’s 2021 summer smash “Gyalis.” Giveon announced his official debut album Give Or Take, a project that will arrive later this month. Lastly, Normani seemingly confirmed the title of her next single. Here are some more releases you should check out:

Arin Ray – Hello Poison

It took a little over four years, but at long last, Arin Ray returned with a new album. Hello Poison arrives as yet another sultry and passionate offering in Ray’s discography and it checks in with 15 songs and collaborations with Blxst, VanJess, Ari Lennox, Ty Dolla Sign, D Smoke, Childish Major, and more.

India Shawn – “Exchange”

After releasing her Before We Go EP to end 2021, India Shawn has returned to center stage with her new single “Exchange.” In a press release, she described the song as “by far the sexiest song I’ve ever written.” She added, “It’s about love, pleasure, and reciprocity. As I evolve in my career and womanhood, it’s becoming increasingly important to show up as my whole self, sexy and sensual included.”

Jean Deaux – Most Wanted (Deluxe)

Another singer who’s back in action after releasing a 2021 project is Jean Deaux. After releasing Most Wanted last year, she returns with its deluxe reissue. It features two new songs including “Ease Up” with Masego, with is a groovy and laid-back record that you’ll surely enjoy.

Blk Odyssy – “Benny’s Got A Gun” Feat. Benny The Butcher & George Clinton

With Blk Vintage Reprise set to arrive later this month, Blk Odyssy, the project of New Jersey artist Juwan Elcock, returns with the latest single from the forthcoming release. “Benny’s Got A Gun” arrives with contributions from Benny The Butcher & George Clinton and it speaks on the deadly cycle of retaliation, told through the eyes of a young boy named Benny who is bullied by kids in his neighborhood.

Reggie Becton – “Call” Feat. Nana

You can always trust Reggie Becton to deliver some great music to the world. It’s something that’s evident on “Call,” his new single with California rapper Nana. The lovelorn record is one that Reggie uses to reminisce on a past relationship over the stirring strings of a guitar. Nana also supplies a strong verse that boosts the song’s quality.

Tre Samuels – “Magic Stick”

Australian singer Tre Samuels recently inked a deal with Warner Records and now he’s back with his new single “Magic Stick.” Samuels takes on the slick throwback beat to deliver intimate verses that combine for a track that will thrive in the summer. The song is also the first offering from his upcoming

Naira Marley – God’s Timing’s The Best

After gaining traction last year with “Coming,” a record that arrived after collaborations with Davido, MohBad, and more, Naira Marley arrives with his debut album God’s Timing’s The Best. He released the album on Marlian Day, a day declared by Naira to celebrate liberty and the resilience of Marlians – Naira’s fans. The album’s 14 songs feature help from Zinoleesky, Mayorkun, Jada Kingdom, and more.

Nia Sultana – Bigger Dreams

Brooklyn singer Nia Sultana steps forth with her debut EP Bigger Dreams. It’s a seven-track effort that features help from Rick Ross and Che Ecru and highlight singles that include “In The Morning” and “Proven.” Altogether Bigger Dreams is a project that watches Sultana navigate the many stages of love: falling in it, falling out, and all the messy in-betweens.

Skylar Stecker – “Know It’s Wrong”

After sharing a solo acoustic version of “What’s Good,” her single with Tone Stith, earlier this month, singer Skylar Stecker is back with “Know It’s Wrong.” The 20-year-old let her vocals shine on the record that speaks about falling for temptations and making not-so-good decisions in the name of love.

Romeyo Wilson – “Risking It All” Feat. Kiki Rowe

Toronto-based R&B singer Romeyo Wilson gave us his seven-track Breakfast In Bed project last year, and while there’s no telling what body of work we might receive from him this year, he is delivering some new tunes for us in 2022. An example of that comes with “Risking It All” with Kiki Rowe, a record that arrives as a passionate effort dedicated to taking a chance at love.

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

There might not be an E3 this year, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t getting any video games to check out this month. Summer Game Fest is back and this year they’re pulling no punches. Major franchises, indies, and games from each of the three major consoles, plus PC, were all on display throughout one of the longer showcases we’re going to see this month. What that meant though was plenty of time to see gameplay, developer interviews, and plenty of trailers and reveals. It was the exact celebration of video games that anyone would want to see. So let’s not waste any more time and jump into what we learned from Summer Game Fest 2022.

The Callisto Protocol

At first glance, The Callisto Protocol looks and feels like every single action horror game that has come out recently. Here’s a third-person over-the-shoulder view, zombie-like monsters, and enclosed environments. After seeing gameplay, it still felt like that but it did accomplish its main selling point which is reminding everyone that this is the unofficial sequel that the first Dead Space game never really got. While Dead Space went off in a more action oriented direction with Dead Space 2 and Dead Space 3, The Callisto Protocol focuses on providing that extreme interstellar horror that fans loved so much about the first game.

The inspiration from Dead Space is very apparent throughout the entire gameplay trailer. The main character has their health bar visible on the back, the player can shoot off limbs, and enemies need to be finished with a stomp once they hit the ground. The inspirations could not be any more clear and that’s okay because many fans have been wanting another game like this for years, so hopefully it meets their expectations when it releases in December.

Modern Warfare II

Summer Game Fest brought us a full gameplay look at Modern Warfare II. The first thing that is noticeable is just how good everything looks. Despite the level being so dark and gritty, every raindrop is visible, and you can see the emotion of each character as they move through the mission. Characters move naturally, and that section where everyone lines up on the stairs together is a really cool use of character animation, and for Call of Duty fans this is exactly what they want to see.

The big selling point of the trailer is that the entire engine that Modern Warfare II is running on is going to be what future Call of Duty games are on from this point forward. Similar to the last few games were all connected to Warzone in some capacity, the devs working on Call of Duty want each game to feel connected in some way. If each game looks as good as this one, there will be a lot for fans to be excited about.

Witchfire

What if you took DOOM (2016), made the gameplay a little more methodical, added magical powers, and then gave it a unique look? Well, you would have what we saw out of Witchfire. This fast paced first-person shooter had all the style and substance of a game that only mowing down demons with gunfire can replicate. Unfortunately, it’s only just now about to enter early access so we probably won’t be getting the final product for a little while longer.

That said, this looks like a fun game to get in on while it’s in the Early Access period. There’s a lot of fun potential in this trailer and getting the chance to experience every new addition before launch is going to be a treat for quite a few players. Don’t let Witchfire slip by unnoticed.

Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course

Remember how cool and unique Cuphead was when it first came out? A game with the art style of classic cartoons, a score fitting of the setting, and extremely challenging gameplay that left every player aching for one more run? Cuphead was a masterpiece and now everyone is going to get the chance to play through even more of it with the latest DLC, The Delicious Last Course. As an aside, that is a great double use of an acronym and whoever named it that deserves a raise.

The Delicious Last Course will star Ms. Chalice as she goes on an adventure featuring all new bosses, levels, and scenarios. They might not be calling this a sequel, but it certainly feels like one with all of the new content that is on the way for Cuphead fans. It’s also a great opportunity to get back into the game now that the TV show has been renewed for a second season.

Honkai: Star Rail

Remember when Genshin Impact came out and it was a very blatant clone of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild? Well, clone or not it did extremely well and its popularity has spawned a new game in the same style. Honkai: Star Rail is an action sci-fi game with a similar art style to Genshin Impact, but an entirely different gameplay system to set it apart. The action looks fast and fun which is necessary for a game like this one.

The thing about Honkai: Star Rail is that, just like Genshin Impact, it’s going to have a Gacha system for pulling new characters to use. That means if there’s a characters you really like and want to use then you better hope you pull that character by random luck. Of course, you could spend money to get more pulls and a higher chance at the character but this gambling like system is a hard sell for some players. It’s a shame too because the game is pretty much guaranteed to be a fun time.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

What if Ninja Turtles games were good again? That’s the hope that many fans have when they’ve seen gameplay for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. Everything about it from the art style, to the music, looks like they’ve hit their assignment out of the park, but we will only know for certain once the game is finally released.

Thankfully, we’re gonna have that way sooner than expected. Summer Game Fest shocked everyone when they announced that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge would be releasing on June 16 alongside Casey Jones as a playable character, and six player multiplayer. There is so much to be excited about here and we can’t wait to finally play it.

The Last of Us Part 1

So this was awkward. The final reveal of the event was supposed to be the often rumored remake of The Last of Us. The only problem is that PlayStation accidentally leaked it hours before Summer Game Fest began. Like professionals, everyone involved managed to pivot and instead of getting fans excited over shock value, they spun it to be about how they’ve improved the game and what can be expected in the upcoming TV show, with a few jokes about the leak thrown in.

As for the game itself, it takes an already gorgeous looking game and makes it look even better. Everything from the character models to the lighting has an extra layer of polish that just wasn’t available on the PlayStation 3 or PlayStation 4 HD version. With a September release date, and a PC port in development, we won’t have to wait too much longer to experience one of the best stories in gaming all over again.

Last month, Atlanta rappers Young Thug and Gunna were arrested in a racketeering case blaming them and their label, YSL, for gang activity in the Atlanta area. In total, 28 members of YSL were charged with crimes including attempted murder and possession of illegal firearms. However, a point of contention has arisen among those in the rap community: the State’s use of Thug and Gunna’s lyrics as the principal evidence against them.

Prosecutors say that their lyrics mentioning YSL prove their membership in a gang, and under the terms of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, they can be charged as part of a criminal organization, rather than for any specific crime. However, the rappers’ contemporaries have spoken out against the use of lyrics against them, citing the creativity in hip-hop and the artist’s right to free speech. Even rivals such as The Game and YFN Lucci have criticized the prosecution’s strategy, and now, YSL’s parent label, 300 Entertainment is getting involved as well.

300, which was founded in 2012 by Kevin Liles, Lyor Cohen, Roger Gold, and Todd Moscowitz, launched a petition on Change.org calling for the protection of Black art and laws to codify rappers’ freedom of expression. The petition is inspired in part by the success of New York State Bill S7527, nicknamed the “Rap On Trial” law, which would limit the use of lyrics in criminal trials unless prosecutors can prove that they are based in fact and relevant to the case. The state’s Senate passed the bill in May; it must pass the Assembly and be signed by the Governor to be ratified into law.

While the petition doesn’t say exactly what changes its author Liles is seeking, a good start would be the nationalization of a law like S7527, which would ensure that artists nationwide are protected, not just in New York. As noted in the petition, YSL aren’t the only ones who’ve been scooped up by such broad interpretations of the law and their lyrics. And while the RICO law is intended to keep America’s streets safer, it should take more than a hit on the radio to prove someone guilty of a crime.

You can view the petition here.

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

Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott is the final girl for the ages, and it’s difficult to imagine the Scream franchise continuing without her. Yet that’s precisely what’s going to happen after Campbell revealed that she felt undervalued (especially considering what she’s brought to these movies) by the salary offered her for the sixth installment, so she’s leaving the building. Yep, this is what’s happening to the female star of one of the world’s most successful horror franchises. And yes, it’s 2022.

In the aftermath, David Arquette (who portrays the beloved Dewey Riley) made it known that he found (as he related to ComicBook) the situation “kind of unfortunate,” yet “I understand her decision.” A huge void shall be felt, too, and one wonders whether Paramount Pictures will attempt to renegotiate Campbell’s deal. In the meantime, ComicBook updates the situation by checking in on the Midnight Movie Club podcast with Matthew Lillard (who played Stu Macher from the first movie), and Lillard is not happy about this.

As Lillard points out, a studio would never do this to the star of, say, Top Gun: Maverick:

“Did Tom Cruise take less money from Top Gun Maverick? F-ck no dude. So why is a woman supposed to take less? Why wouldn’t you pay her more as the series goes on? And was Scream 5 a hit or not a hit? It was a smash hit. Did they make a sh-t ton of money? Yes. Should Neve Campbell be paid for the work she’s done in five movies of a franchise? Yes, because she’s a female lead of one of the most successful horror franchises.”

ComicBook also points toward Jamie Kennedy’s Hate To Break It To Ya YouTube podcast page, where he says that he’s seen the Scream 6 script, in which Sid “played a heavy part.” While this claim has obviously not been proven, one can imagine that Campbell’s role was a sizable one, not a mere cameo, since she’s digging in her heels and insisting upon fair pay. Whether this affects Scream 6‘s planned March 31, 2023 release date remains to be seen.

Neve Campbell can currently be seen in Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer series and was recently cast in Peacock’s Twisted Metal adaptation.

(Via Comic Book)

One of the best things ESPN has done in recent years is the restructuring of First Take that saw Max Kellerman exit as Stephen A. Smith’s permanent sparring partner and replaced him with a rotating cast of characters that step into the proverbial ring with Smith on the network’s top morning program.

It has freshened up the show tremendously, but most importantly it has kept Smith on his toes, at times putting him up against people who press him on his takes and make him uncomfortable. Arguably the best of those guests at getting under Smith’s skin and calling him out for bad takes is JJ Redick, who has become a staple of the show and regularly airs Smith out for what he thinks are bad takes, whether that’s criticizing today’s players for being soft or bizarrely arguing that Russell Westbrook shouldn’t go to Darvin Ham’s intro presser.

That makes for tremendous television, but given Smith’s role as the unquestioned star, it leads to many wondering if he’ll welcome those guests back. On Thursday, Redick teased Smith’s appearance on Friday’s episode of “Old Man and the Three,” in which he asked Smith about that, and Smith gave a lengthy answer about why he likes having people on First Take who disagree with him.

That desire for more disagreement on set is part of why Smith wanted to freshen things up after so many years debating Kellerman, who he liked but felt at times they weren’t creating the best content. With Redick, Mad Dog, CJ McCollum, Marcus Spears, and plenty of others, Smith doesn’t have to worry about that anymore, and the show has benefitted from his relatively thick skin to understand that him getting aired out by guests is sometimes the best thing for ratings — which is what he’s all about.