It’s Derby time! Well, if you live in Kentucky, it’s been Derby time for the last two weeks, so we’re a little late to the party, even if the big race isn’t until Saturday, May 7th. But better late than never, and anyway, any time is a great time for a serious mint julep.

Last year, we taught you how to make a classic version with sugar cubes, Woodford Reserve (the official whiskey of the Derby), and a ton of mint. This year, we’re bending the rules a little and making a Habanero Mint Julep, or just a spicy mint julep if you want to keep things easy.

For this recipe, I’m making it a little easier at the base while adding in some serious heat! While the mint julep is the ultimate hot-weather drink, adding spicy heat to it helps the drink cool you off even more because, remember, spicy food and drinks cool you down by warming you on the inside so your body sweats and cools off on the outside. That’s just science. So let’s get mixing up some spicy juleps!

Also Read: The Top Five Cocktail Recipes of the Last Six Months

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• The Black Manhattan Is Our 2021 Thanksgiving Cocktail, Here’s The Recipe
• The Vieux Carre Is The Perfect Whiskey Cocktail For The Holidays
• The Americano Is An Excellent Low-Alcohol Cocktail For January, Here’s Our Recipe
• Our French 75 Cocktail Recipe Will Make You A New Year’s Eve Pre-Party Star

Spicy Mint Julep

Ingredients:

• 3 oz. bourbon
• 2 sugarcubes
• 1 barspoon of mineral water
• 6 fresh mint leaves
• 1 thin slice of fresh habanero chili (with seeds for extra hot)
• 3-4 dashes of Angostura Bitters
• Crushed Ice

The best part of this recipe is that all the ingredients are easily sourceable. Any store will have habanero chili, raw sugar, and fresh mint. The Woodford Reserve and Angostura are in pretty much every liquor store from sea to shining sea.

Some people will insist that you crush the ice yourself for this drink. You can also buy crushed ice. It’s fine, though purists may complain.

What You’ll Need:

• Julep cup or rocks glass
• Muddler
• Barspoon
• Paring knife
• Jigger
• Metal straw

Method:

• Add the two sugar cubes and one barspoon mineral water to the bottom of the julep cup. Use the muddler to break up the sugar cubes into the water to create a sugary base.
• Slice one thin coin of habanero from the stem side of the fruit (if you want it extremely hot — like Nashville hot chicken turned up to 11 hot — then use two slices). Add the chili and six mint leaves to the sugary base and (kind of gently) muddle the mint and chili into the sugar base until the leaves are well-bruised and the chili is just starting to fall apart.
• Add the three ounces of bourbon to the mix and stir until the sugar is mostly dissolved into the drink.
• Fill the cup about 2/3 with crushed ice. Use the barspoon to stir the drink until the level of the cocktail is above the crushed ice in the cup.
• Make a snowball of crushed ice in your hand and jam it on top of the cocktail, creating a dome over the cup.
• Garnish with a bushel of fresh mint, the metal straw, and hit the ice with a few dashes of Angostura Bitters. Serve.

Bottom Line:

I left the seeds in my mint julep and it was hot with a capital “H.” But still not quite “this is a stunt hot.” I like it that way. If you’re more on the side of just wanting an easy layer of heat in the drink, then deseed the chili and maybe only use half of a slice.

Anyway, the heat, mint, and sugar really blend well with the bourbon to create a super refreshing drink that you kind of don’t want to end. It was ice cold (the cup got that heavy layer of frost on it after a few minutes) but had serious heat to help you break out into the cooling sweat. Plus, I think mint and chili are underutilized in cocktails, especially the heat from the chilis part. This is a great combination that is perfect for watching the ponies, or just a hot day when you need to cool down.

The Miami Heat have not had the services of Kyle Lowry since the first round of the postseason. Lowry, who has been an important member of the team’s starting lineup since joining from the Toronto Raptors this past offseason, suffered a hamstring injury in Game 3 of the Heat’s opening round series against the Atlanta Hawks.

Lowry did not play in the final two games of their 5-game gentleman’s sweep of the Hawks, nor did he play in the first two games of Miami’s series against the Philadelphia 76ers. His absence has not been felt quite yet, as the Joel Embiid-less Sixers have been unable to take a game off of them, but just before it was announced that Embiid is slated to return for Philly on Friday night for Game 3, the Heat announced that Lowry will be inserted into the team’s starting lineup in his hometown.

Lowry will slide into the starting lineup with Gabe Vincent returning to his role on the bench. Otherwise, the Heat are slated to start their usual starting five, with Max Strus, Jimmy Butler, PJ Tucker, and Bam Adebayo taking the floor alongside the veteran floor general.

Game 3 is slated to tip off at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The Miami Heat find themselves with a 2-0 series lead against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals after winning a pair of games in which Joel Embiid did not play. Embiid took an elbow to the face in the final game of Philly’s first round series against the Toronto Raptors, which caused an orbital fracture and a concussion.

The hope has been that Embiid, who is also dealing with a torn right thumb ligament, would be able to clear concussion protocol and suit up for Friday night’s Game 3, the series’ first in Philadelphia. After originally being listed as out earlier in the day despite clearing the protocol, Embiid was upgraded to doubtful around lunchtime. And after Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported that Embiid intended to go prior to his warmup, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that Embiid is, indeed, going to play.

Doc Rivers has elected to start DeAndre Jordan in the first two games of the series, a decision which has come under heavy scrutiny as the Heat have made it a point to go at the veteran center. While going to Paul Reed and playing small ball have both had their benefits for the Sixers, neither option can match having Embiid on the floor, assuming he is not so physically compromised that he’s unable to contribute.

Game 3 between the Sixers and Heat is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Hey there, fellow passengers on this thrill ride!

Are we having fun yet? I don’t know about you, but I keep finding myself wanting to yell, “SOMEBODY STOP THIS THING—I WANNA GET OFF!” All of these ups and downs and roundy rounds are making me queasy, I gotta tell you. And that last drop was a doozy.

While we’re wondering what lies on the other side of the next climb or around the next corner, let’s close our eyes and take stock of what else is happening. Smell the buttered popcorn and funnel cakes in the air. Feel the warm sun on our face and wind in our hair. Be grateful for the friend in the seat beside us, holding our hand as we scream on the descents and laugh on the straightaways.

We can’t control or predict everything. But we can choose to find some good amid the chaos.

If you’re struggling with the ride and having a hard time finding the good in the moment, this list won’t fix everything. But maybe it’ll give you a little reprieve and bring a smile to your face a few times. And maybe, for now, that’s enough.

May we all be as jaunty and jovial in our years as this awesome auntie.

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I want to be her when I grow up.

The future of medicine is bright, indeed.

I went to discharge a toddler from the hospital and found a medical student in the room carefully bandaging her owl stuffy who had a u201cbroken wingu201d. He left the toddler clear u201cstuffy care instructionsu201d and some stickers. nnThe future of medicine is bright

— Jessie Allan, MD (@Jessie Allan, MD)
1651182016

Aw. After the hell that healthcare workers have been through the past two years, it’s lovely to see such a pure, sweet hope coming from the medical field.

Little boy sees his mom coming down the aisle, and adorableness ensues.

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The way he looks for her and the way his face lights up when he sees her. A perfect walk down the aisle.

A boy in Kansas sent off a note attached to balloons. A man in Quebec found them.

Incredibly, Reid Habbert’s bunch of balloons traveled more than 1,800 miles with a note attached asking whoever found them to contact him. Cree hunter David Longchap found them on the traditional lands of the Cree nation in Quebec, Canada, and a beautiful cultural exchange resulted. Read the full story here.

This boys’ school marimba band is nothing but sheer joy.

How fun is that? Read the full story here.

Blue Jays fan caught a homer and immediately gave it to a young Yankees fan.

Blue Jays fans are the best. Judge hit a homer, Blue Jays fan caught it and without thinking gave the ball to the little kid whou2019s a Yankees fan who was also wearing a Judge t-shirt. There are good people out there. #NextLevel #RepBXpic.twitter.com/oF9Ks41fqU

— Doc Naismith uea00 (@Doc Naismith uea00)
1651625502

Oh that kid’s face. Talk about a moment to remember.

No idea who this guy is but he’s amazing.

Timeline cleanserpic.twitter.com/63YDmRzrp1

— Roy Sholayud83cuddf2ud83cuddfa (@Roy Sholayud83cuddf2ud83cuddfa)
1651697419

If anyone knows who or where this is, please share. Totally made my day.

Kitten discovers a sun beam.

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I mean, it just doesn’t get cuter than that. Kittens win, hands down.

Gamer’s girlfriend surprises him with a visit from an online friend he’s had for 10 years.

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Proof that “virtual” friendships can be real friendships. So sweet.

This chipmunk’s reaction to tasting an almond for the first time.

*chipmunk #EditButton

— Buitengebieden (@Buitengebieden)
1651337592

May we all experience something this week that gives us such rapturous pause.

Hope those little bits of joy made you smile. Come back next week for another roundup!

Have you heard of Buddy the cat? Buddy’s story has a little bit of everything: narrowly avoiding death, making the ultimate comeback, and sharing his miracle to save others.

Once upon a time, Buddy was just your average neighborhood feline. The Philly street cat would traipse around the block winning hearts wherever he’d roam. Until one day, a couple teenage boys sicced their two dogs on the poor guy. A surveillance camera caught the brutal attack, and eventually a man came to the rescue.

From there, things looked bleak. Buddy was already bleeding internally and had a heart rate nearly twice what it should have been by the time he reached the BluePearl emergency veterinary facility. The vets didn’t know if he’d make it through.

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Don’t worry, this story has a happy ending.

The video has since been taken down due to its graphic content, but not before going viral. It wasn’t long before the Pennsylvania SPCA received a flood of inquiries, messages, and donations of money and cat treats. And not just from Philadelphia, or the United States, for that matter. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Buddy receiving donations from Europe, Asia, and Australia. People around the globe were rooting for his recovery.

Not only did Buddy pull through, he received a whopping $100,000. PSPCA spokeswoman Gillian Kocher told the Inquirer “this is the biggest outpouring of support we have had for a single animal in the last decade. There is nothing that comes close to it.”

With all that money left over, the PSPCA was able to create a Buddy Fund to help care for other abused animals, including medical care and prosecuting their offenders (thankfully, Buddy’s attackers ended up turning themselves in.)

Buddy doesn’t seem to mind parting with the cash. He’s purrfectly happy helping others while lounging on his white blankie.

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The PSPCA even made adorable t-shirts and stickers that say “Save Every Buddy.” The t-shirts alone have raised over $30,000. This kitty’s popularity just won’t stop.

As for Buddy, he’s living up his second life in luxury. He went home for foster care with Katie Venanzi, the BluePearl vet who took care of him the night of the incident on April 1. But according to Audacy, Vananzi hopes to make Buddy a permanent family member.

Check out this adorable photo of Buddy snuggling up next to his new brother Teddy.

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Even after finding his new home, it looks like Buddy will remain a social media star. He has a loyal audience who regularly read his blog and eagerly await his videos–which are always a hit, even though it’s usually just him playing with his toys. The PSPCA jokingly complains that they can’t go longer than a day without some kind of Buddy post.

He even receives fan mail, which goes straight to a dedicated bulletin board.

Kocher told the Inquirer, “Everyone is very invested in this cat. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. I could post his left ear, and people would go crazy about it.” She thinks it’s for the hope he instills in others. “Out of something pretty horrible can come so much good. Despite bad things happening, there is still so much good in the world.”

Buddy’s story might have begun with tragedy, but kindness and compassion won in the end. We are so happy this kitty has not only survived, but is thriving and inspiring.

I learned about the Tulsa Massacre in graduate school and upon learning about it, I thought my previous education had failed me, but I learned it wasn’t just me. Turns out that most students didn’t learn about the history of Tulsa’s Black Wall Street and the atrocities that occurred to set the residents back. Surprisingly, even students in Oklahoma didn’t learn about what happened in the bustling, prosperous Black community in 1921. Just over 100 years ago, an angry white mob descended on Tulsa’s Greenwood District, the small Black community that had amassed wealth in the short 56 years following the Emancipation Proclamation being signed. The community was entirely self-sufficient with their own barber shop, bank, grocery store, newspaper and school. There were even doctors and real estate agents within the community, which allowed them to exist without the need to depend on others outside the community.

When the mob came to town, they burned the entire community to the ground and killed around 300 people, historians surmised. The city lay in ruins for years as the state focused on building up the more predominantly white areas and refused to allocate resources. Insurance companies refused to pay out claims to rebuild the once thriving community. Residents of Greenwood felt the effects of this for generations. Today there are three surviving members of Black Wall Street, Lessie Benningfield Randle, 107, Viola Fletcher, 107, and Hughes Van Ellis, 101 and a judge just ruled that their lawsuit seeking reparations can proceed.

This is a huge victory for the three surviving victims because not only will they see justice in their lifetime, it would finally be monetary recognition of the generational setbacks Black people endured. Reparations is always a prickly subject to delve into, but this is because we’ve been told our entire lives: if you want to make it in America, everyone has the same opportunity to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. As a result, people feel that descendants of the enslaved, including the last three Tulsa Massacre survivors, are getting something undeserved without work.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is in Tulsa at the court house with Tulsa Greenwood Massacre survivors, all of whom are over 100 years old, to seek reparative justice. The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on this very legal theory.pic.twitter.com/h3XEul2GST

— Sheila Jackson Lee (@Sheila Jackson Lee)
1651526127

Reparations is something that was promised from the beginning to help level the playing field a bit and if you’re living in this market you know that property is an investment and a way to create generational wealth. Enslaved African Americans were promised up to 40 acres of land per family upon being freed but the land was ordered to be returned by Andrew Johnson, Lincoln’s successor. Returning the land allowed white citizens and slave owners the ability to continue to create generational wealth, the effects of which can still be felt today. There have been other instances that play into the racial wealth gap in America like redlining, Jim Crow, mass incarceration, etc., so the possibility of at least the survivors getting reparations is a reason to celebrate.

If the three elderly Tulsa Massacre survivors win their case, it will not only provide reparations for them, but for their descendants as well. Civil rights attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons told the Associated Press, “We want them to see justice in their lifetime,” he said, choking back tears. “I’ve seen so many survivors die in my 20-plus years working on this issue. I just don’t want to see the last three die without justice. That’s why the time is of the essence.”

The court room was packed and cheers echoed in the chambers when the judge ruled the case could move forward. Winning this case would not only be justice for the survivors but a positive moment in history to witness.

The best new hip-hop this week includes albums, videos, and songs from Doja Cat, IDK, Jack Harlow, and more.

First off, I’d like to apologize for missing a couple of weeks. It’s been a busy time at Uproxx and between that, covering Coachella, and dealing with personal stuff (as we all do from time to time), regular readers may have felt disappointed when this column didn’t show up in their feeds. Fortunately, we’ve got a strong lineup for its return, and next week, we’ve got a new writer taking over, which should help keep things on schedule from here out.

Meanwhile, this week saw the releases of some true bangers from the likes of Jayson Cash, Buddy, Rapsody, EST Gee, Morray, Westside Boogie, Toosii, and Logic, along with the releases listed below.

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending May 6, 2022.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Black Star — No Fear Of Time

Returning with their first album in nearly 25 years, Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) and Talib Kweli are still Black Star. Picking up where they left off in 1998, they spit more revolutionary wisdom on their comeback, this time backed by busy Madlib beats.

IDK & Kaytranada — Simple

The DMV MC takes a hard left turn on his latest between-albums EP and ends up with what is perhaps his most innovative and polished-sounding work yet. Of course, plenty of credit is owed to his collaborator, dance music producer Kaytranada, who blends soulful hip-hop with two-step-ready house beats.

Jack Harlow — Come Home The Kids Miss You

Following up the skyrocketing success of his debut album, That’s What They All Say, and his first solo No. 1 single “First Class,” Jack Harlow leans into the mores of millennial hip-hop, signaling what could be the genre’s next major evolution.

Lil Gotit — The Cheater

The Atlanta mainstay is closely affiliated with the city’s modern-day regents through his blood brother Lil Keed, and on his latest, he works to earn this distinction. It helps that Keed and other 1017 and YSL affiliates like Enchanting and Yak Gotti put in appearances as well.

Singles/Videos

Ace Hood — “Greatness” Feat. Killer Mike

Ace Hood has been a positive light in Florida hip-hop for the past couple of years and taps one of rap’s most uplifting voices on the latest single from his new album, M.I.N.D.

Courtney Bell — “Introspection”

The Detroit rapper makes his return with a jazzy, thoughtful track that proves the city has its fair share of heady, inspirational rappers to balance the scam and drill rap that has gotten the most attention of late.

Duke Deuce — “Crunkstarz”

You gotta give Duke Deuce points for consistency. Maintaining the level of energy he brings to every track can’t be easy, but he remains committed to his brand, even when he slows things down.

Headie One — “Came In The Scene”

Back in 2019, Headie One introduced many in the US market to the concept of UK drill when he collaborated with Drake on “Only You.” Here, he stands on his own, proving himself deserving of the attention he received back then — and more.

Juicy J — “Step Back” Feat. Duke Deuce

Juicy has always been generous with his co-sign for fellow Memphis artists and here, he lends Duke Deuce a little crunk credibility. The video’s concept is also quite reminiscent of the one from Drake’s “Best I Ever Had” video, although turning himself into James Harden makes it objectively funnier.

Kevin Gates — “Wizdom”

Baton Rouge’s finest returns with a soulful new single that finds him handing out advice to listeners that positions him as a weathered veteran who wants to see everyone win.

Lakeyah — “I Look Good”

The Quality Control rapper takes on a funky, bass-driven track for a club-friendly single whose video includes not-so-oblique references to 50 Cent’s “In The Club.”

Ray Vaughn — “Potential”

Long Beach rapper Ray Vaughn has some heavy expectations on his shoulders. With Kendrick Lamar leaving TDE soon, someone on the label needs to pick up the torch. He puts in a strong resume on his latest single, which toes the line between mainstream-friendly flexing and the label’s signature picture painting.

Shy Glizzy — “Borderline” Feat. EST Gee

EST Gee’s been on a roll lately. DC fixture Shy Glizzy wisely acquires his services to bolster his latest, street-focused single. The Louisvillian delivers, low-key stealing the show.

Tyga — “Sheikh Talk”

Tyga has yet to miss this year. While he’s yet to drop a single that comes close to the volcanic potential of 2019 hit “Taste,” he has also yet to show any signs of rust. It’s likely only a matter of time until he lands another inescapable earworm.

Wiz Khalifa & Juicy J — “Why Do I Stay” Feat. Elle Varner

Wiz and Juicy continue to promote Stoner’s Night with a video celebrating the merits of their shared favorite pastime.

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

In the aftermath of a comedian getting attacked on stage, (not that one) people love to jump in with all sorts of takes. After comedian Dave Chappelle was tackled by an audience member on stage at the Netflix comedy festival, the attacker, identified as Isaiah Lee, was allegedly beaten up by security. Now, many fellow comedians are chiming in, including Kevin Hart.

Hart stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! this week with stand-in host Mike Birbiglia to promote his new children’s book and line of tequila (seriously) but he also had some choice words for Chappelle’s attacker. “It’s one of those things that needed to happen,” Hart said, implying that the attacker was put in his place to set an example for others.

“Do you want people to continue to think that they can cross that line and break the barrier of entertainer and [the audience]?” Hart explained. “Somebody getting their ass whipped sends a message out to other people that was like, ‘I was thinking about doing that, but seeing that, I don’t really want to do that.’”

“I think that the world that we’re in right now, there’s a lot of lines that have gotten blurred, and sometimes you gotta take a lot of steps back to take a step forward,” Hart said, applauding Chapelle’s recovery. “He quickly moved on from it and got back to doing comedy…I think it’s time to get back to a place of respect for your live entertainer and understand that you’re coming to a show.”

The attack has social media divided, with many people believing that while it was a bad idea for the heckler to come on stage, beating him up wasn’t the best move. Others think he deserved it, as Chapelle is known for his controversial jokes over the last few years, mainly his offensive stance on trans people. Chapelle made light of the situation shortly after by joking that the attacker was “a trans man.”

Check out the clip above.

Another Will Smith project has been put on the back burner. Although, this time it’s not because of The Slap. Entirely. Smith’s upcoming action drama movie, Emancipation, is reportedly being pushed into 2023. Apple had hoped to release the film directed by Antoine Fuqua during this year’s fall festival circuit, but sources inside the streaming company say that plan is now out the window.

While Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars is definitely a “prominent consideration,” the film was already suffering production problems that made it unlikely Fuqua would have it finished in time. Via Variety:

Multiple sources shared that Fuqua is still deep in post-production and may not be ready in time for a 2022 bow. The film suffered numerous delays due to moving the production from Georgia to Louisiana in protest of the state’s voting restrictions laws, the destruction caused by Hurricane Ida and the pause due to COVID cases in August 2021.

Apple also has a full schedule for later in the year that it plans to push for awards, and Smith’s performance in Emancipation is reportedly so good that the streamer wants to make sure it gets a fair shake. Prior to his Oscar win for King Richard, an insider who saw early footage of the Fuqua film told Variety, “Will’s going to win back-to-back.” Of course, that was before Smith slapped Rock on stage in front of millions of viewers and was banned from Academy events for the next 10 years, so the actor scoring another nom is probably firmly in the long-shot category right now.

(Via Variety)

While Stranger Things is set to return this month, actor Caleb McLaughlin is looking to remind the world that he’s multi-faceted with the new “Soul Travel” visual. The 20-year-old wrote, performed, and produced the upbeat love song, asking his lover to get away from the city with him as his life is moving too fast. Throughout the video, you’ll see McLaughlin riding in between women in the car or spending time with his friends. With such a demanding life, his desire to leave it all behind and focus on who he cares about the most is sensible.

This is just the second track that Caleb has ever released, following 2021’s “Neighborhood.” He told Complex that “Soul Travel,” despite being done before “Neighborhood,” is actually a continuation of that song’s story. “‘Neighborhood’ tells the story of a teenager meeting a girl and bringing her to my neighborhood, and then in ‘Soul Travel’ I am talking about going away while driving in the video.”

You can find Caleb playing Lucas Sinclair in Strangers Things’ penultimate season kicking off this month, before closing off for good in Season 5. The show has been running since 2016 and received favorable reviews from fans and critics alike.