Category: News

Go ahead and file Kendrick Lamar’s next album as perhaps the most highly anticipated album in not just hip-hop, but in any genre of music right now. The last time Lamar put out an album was in 2017, when DAMN. debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200 chart and went on to win a Pulitzer Prize for Music in addition to the Best Rap Album Grammy Award. The years since have been filled with rumor after rumor about the next Kendrick Lamar album, including a confirmation that his next release, will be his final album with the TDE Records label that he has been with since day one. And with each subsequent piece of information, we get closer to knowing when this long-awaited release is coming.

When Is Kendrick Lamar Releasing A New Album?

This past August, Kendrick Lamar posted a note on his oklama.com website, where he said: “As I produce my final TDE album, I feel joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years.” This flared up the excitement for the new album, which was then fueled by Lamar’s Spotify avatar changing in October. It was the first time since the avatar changed in 2017 (the same year DAMN. came out. Coincidence?) Then at November’s Day N Vegas Festival, he closed his performance by saying to the crowd: “Vegas till next time! And when I say next time I mean very soon.”

When 2022 came, a new batch of rumors swirled, including that he’d be debuting new music before his Super Bowl Halftime Show performance. That proved to be an unsubstantiated report pushed forth by radio host Ebro Darden. But the latest Kendrick Lamar-related news is the juiciest: Italy’s Milano Summer Festival posted on their Instagram page (in Italian of course) that not only would Lamar be performing at the June 23rd fest, but that he “will play the pieces of the new album, long-awaited by the fans.” Now we’re talking.

Depending on how you look at this statement from the Italian festival, it’s likely that he performs there before the album comes out. Which would mean we’re looking at a summer release. This would keep Lamar eligible for 2023 Grammy consideration, as the cut-off date is typically the end of September.

Meanwhile, Lamar is currently breaking down To Pimp A Butterfly on Spotify’s The Big Hit Show podcast. While TDE’s Terrence “Punch” Henderson has shared that he feels like Lamar is “ready to build his own thing,” following his final TDE album.

When Kacey Musgraves last performed in Los Angeles, it was for a pair of hot summer nights in 2019 at the Greek at the height of her run for the 2018 masterpiece Golden Hour. She had already let her eyelids flutter uncontrollably upon winning the Grammy for Album Of The Year, already yelled “I didn’t say f*ckin’ yee” at a Coachella audience, and already turned a primarily country career into something far greater and genre-defiant. I took my parents, both in their 70s, to one of those shows and though they had a nice time, they were a little taken aback the artist they loved from Same Trailer, Different Park was now inciting boozed-up Friday night shout alongs that were so loud, it was hard to actually hear the artist. Still, in less-Covidy times, they would have likely been at The Crypt on Sunday night for Kacey’s turn as an arena headliner.

Topping the biggest venues of her career, this run for Star-Crossed is the execution of a fully-rounded and carefully thought-out vision. This is a divorce album that was released last year to more muted praise than her previous triumph (though, it certainly has its advocates and still wound up in the top 50 of the Uproxx Music Critics Poll), and it’s not neccesarily the most celebratory material. But you wouldn’t know if from the show. Over the course of 90 minutes, Musgraves when from singing in front of a flaming heart to incorporating mirror balls, lasers, Dolly Parton covers, and glowing bracelets. The set mostly stuck to her last two albums (“day ones” only got “Merry Go ‘Round” and probably would have appreciated a couple more nods to her beginnings), and it all sounded pristine, particularly with Musgraves’ near-flawless vocal delivery. It wasn’t a pop-star arena tour that mean redefining who she is — there weren’t boot-wearing back-up dancers or satellite stages — but, rather, Kacey proved that this songwriting-forward music can still connect in the largest of rooms.

Before her closing song, “Rainbow,” Musgraves tapped into the why of it all. For a show like hers to work on this scale, the welcoming appeal has to extend to all in attendance. She noted that no matter where someone was seated in the venue, who they were or where they came from, they mattered. But even without explicitly stating it, it wasn’t hard to look around and see that people from a wide variety of backgrounds were in attendance and loving what they experienced. The olds (myself included) let their years show from behind their masks, while a 21st birthday celebration was acknowledged from the stage by nearly letting a young woman choose the night’s cover song (“Killing Me Softly” was overuled by Kacey in favor of “9-5”). The crowd was about as racially diverse as you’ll ever see at a country-leaning concert, and of course, queer fans were given tons of shine, as Musgraves’ long-standing advocacy for them has earned her an honorary icon status. Even her openers, Muna and King Princess, spoke to the show’s inclusive nature, with both identifying as queer artists and Muna offering up racial diversity in their lineup (both were predictably very good, particularly Muna, who might have been the best-recieved first of three I’ve ever witnessed).

In a time when Nashville feels to be at a tipping point with how they treat both gender and race (not to mention sexuality, which feels like it has barely begun to be reckoned with in mainstream country), Kacey Musgraves offers up a counterpoint that puts her at odds with the system — Star-Crossed wasn’t even up for consideration as a country album at this year’s Grammys. Musgraves isn’t perfect on this either — an early set comment about the night’s previous show in Oakland being “ratchet” felt inappropriate, and her decision both on the album and live to cover the iconic Chilean “Gracias a la Vida” has found some questioning the choice — but even those with the best of intentions are going to need to stumble and learn as they create their vision of how concerts should look and feel. And coming out of pandemic to a world that often feels more divided than ever, concerts like Kacey’s are the antidote to doom scrolls and Twitter feuds and everything else that exhausts us. For this night at least, Kacey Musgraves was for everyone.

Setlist:
star-crossed
good wife
cherry blossom
simple times
breadwinner
Golden Hour
Butterflies
Lonely Weekend
Space Cowboy
High Horse
camera roll
hookup scene
Merry Go ‘Round
9 to 5 (Dolly Parton cover)
justified
there is a light
Gracias a la vida (Violeta Parra cover)

Encore:
Slow Burn
Rainbow

A little under a month ago, Kanye West announced the release date for his next album, Donda 2, setting the palindromic February 22 as his target date. Kanye’s had issues with getting projects out the door on their due dates in the past, so it’s natural to wonder whether Donda 2 continued that pattern. So, has Donda 2 been released yet?

Well, the answer is a little more complicated than you might think. For one thing, it might be hard to tell for a while, because just four days before the album’s expected release, Kanye announced that he would not be putting it on DSPs for streaming. Instead, the album will only be available via his Stem Player device. The gizmo, which operates like any number of other portable midi controllers on the market today, will come preloaded with the album for $200 and can only be purchased from an official website.

Kanye explained his reasoning in an Instagram post, writing, “Today artists get just 12% of the money the industry makes. It’s time to free music from this oppressive system. It’s time to take control and build our own.” With the album coming pre-loaded on a device that would probably take a week to ship, considering the earliest anyone would have known about it was just four days ago, it might be a while before we have concrete confirmation that Donda 2 was released as scheduled.

Mdou Moctar had one of indie-rock’s biggest surprises last year with Afrique Victim, an album of African rock that earned Moctar plenty of new English-speaking fans (including Barack Obama). Now, those who want more of the 9-track album are in luck, as Moctar announced today that he’s releasing an digital deluxe version of the LP, which is set to drop this week, on Thursday, February 24.

He also shared one of the new songs from the expanded collection, “Nakanegh Dich,” which starts with an especially fuzzed- and wah’ed-out guitar solo before the rest of the band joins in on the neo-psychedelic rock tune.

Bassist and producer Mikey Coltun says, “These are a mix of demos from Niger and some live tracks from touring around the world, when we were still working out the songs together as a band. These are fun and different early versions of the songs.”

Listen to “Nakanegh Dich” above and find the deluxe Afrique Victime art and tracklist below. Also revisit our review of the album here.

1. “Chismiten”
2. “Taliat”
3. “Ya Habibti”
4. “Tala Tannam”
5. “Untitled”
6. “Asdikte Akal”
7. “Layla”
8. “Afrique Victime”
9. “Bismilahi Atagah”
10. “Chismiten (Demo)”
11. “Taliat (Live)”
12. “Ya Habibti (Demo)”
13. “Tala Tannam (Demo)”
14. “Asdikte Akal (Live)”
15. “Layla (Live)”
16. “Afrique Victime (Live)”
17. “Bismilahi Atagah (Demo)”
18. “Nakanegh Dich (Demo)”

Afrique Victime (Digital Deluxe Edition) is out 2/24 via Matador.

Lil Durk fans eagerly awaiting his album’s release today — the same projected date as Kanye West’s Donda 2 release — will have to wait a little longer for the Chicago rapper’s next act. Durk announced the new release date for 7220 via an Instagram post advising the new due date is March 11. However, fans weren’t left empty-handed — along with the announcement, Durk shared the link for his latest 7220 video, “AHHH HA.”

Featuring a menacing, piano-led beat and threatening lyrics, “AHHH HA” is vintage Durk, boasting his street credentials and calling out his opposition. Meanwhile, on the song’s sinister chorus, he shouts out his fallen friend, King Von, while letting listeners know exactly what time it is on the streets of Chicago: “Don’t respond to sh*t with Von / I’m like, ‘F*ck it, you tripping, go get your gun,’” he rhymes.

Prior to dropping “AHHH HA,” Durk had been on a feature verse tear, popping on songs with Cordae (“Chronicles” with HER), Gucci Mane (“Rumors“), 2 Chainz (“Lost Kings” with Sleepy Rose), and Lucky Daye (“NWA“). He also announced his tour for 7220, which begins April 8 in Phoenix and continues through May 2, when it concludes in his hometown, Chicago.

Watch “AHHH HA” above.

7220 is due 3/11.

Does Sebastian Stan still have an ongoing “feud” with his Marvel co-star Tom Holland? You bet. During a new video interview, Stan, who’s been a part from the MCU from almost the very beginning, came to the frustrating realization that his Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, would’ve never happened if he and Anthony Mackie hadn’t been forced to team up against Holland’s Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War. In that moment, Bucky and Sam formed a tenuous rapport that laid the groundwork for their series, and dangit, Stan hates the thought of Holland being the catalyst.

Via Insider:

“Basically Anthony and I got a show because of Tom Holland,” Stan said, recalling the fight scene in the movie. “That’s like what I’m realizing now as I’m talking which is something I really hate for him to know. Tom that is, not Anthony.”

Of course, all of this is good fun. Stan and Mackie have been hilariously trolling Holland for years, and he’s been giving it right back to them. In fact, Stan recently got another dig in at Holland following the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Jake’s Takes asked the Pam & Tommy star if he saw the mammoth blockbuster, and Stan quickly responded that he hadn’t.

“I don’t typically like to support Tom Holland,” Stan said (via Comic Book). “I support the films, but not him so much.”

(Via Vanity Fair)

Last year, Torres, the indie-rock project of Mackenzie Scott, released the fiery album Thirstier to follow 2020’s underrated Silver Tongue. Despite encapsulating the energy and exhilaration of a live performance, the album still has not been able to be toured on because of the pandemic. Today she announced rescheduled show dates, which are coming up as soon as this weekend.

Along with these new dates, Torres released a cover of Nirvana’s “All Apologies” and Rodney Crowell’s “Making Memories Of Us.” The songs are intimate, retaining her twangy charm and unapologetic vocals. Listen to them below, and find her rescheduled tour dates beneath them.

02/25 – Winston-Salem, NC @ The Ramkat*
02/26 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle*
04/12 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat^
04/13 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall^
04/14 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club^
04/15 – Woodstock, NY @ Colony^
04/16 – Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall^
08/16 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
08/17 – Glasgow, UK @ Mono
08/18 – Manchester, UK @ Night & Day
08/20 – Brecon Beacons, UK @ Green Man Festival
08/22 – London, UK @ Bush Hall
08/24 – Torremolinos, ES @ Canelaparty Festival
08/25 – Cologne, DE @ Bumann & SOHN
08/27 – Utrecht, NL @ Ekko
08/28 – Hamburg, DE @ Ubel & Gefährlich (Turmzimmer)
08/29 – Berlin, DE @ Frannz Club
08/31 – Paris, FR @ La Boule Noir
09/01 – Gent, BE @ Charlatan
09/02 – Schorndorf, DE @ Club Manufaktur
09/03 – Zürich, CH @ Rote Fabrik

* solo with Superchunk
^ with Superchunk

This story brings a whole new meaning to the word friendship.

In October 2020, the middle schoolers of Rye Junior High, in Rye, New Hampshire, bid a bon voyage to their handmade mini-boat, which set sail off the coast of New Hampshire to who-knows-where.

Measuring only 5.5 feet, the “Rye Riptides” was indeed a small ship. It ran crewless, but carried a bountiful cargo of colorful artwork made by students, along with a GPS tracking device that reported the boat’s location … sometimes.

Cut to 462 days and 8,300 miles later, and what started out as a simple science project became a surprise discovery for some Norwegian sixth graders, and a fun new connection across the Atlantic.

Rye Junior High had partnered with Educational Passages, a nonprofit organization that aims to connect students around the world to the ocean and each other. Once the kit arrived, the kids started building while learning about ocean currents, science and math. However, science teacher Sheila Adams shares that the more artistic, right-brained activities equally found their way into the curriculum. “The students needed to use their writing skills to inform others about their mini-boat project, describe our school and town to people of other languages, just in case, and write requests to get the boat deployed,” she said in a release.

…not me feeling jealous of some middle schoolers right now…

COVID-19 nearly threatened to knock the Rye Riptides off its course. The boat had been constructed, but not yet decorated, when students were moved to taking class online. Then, there was the matter of launching the boat. Which Cassie Stymiest, director of Educational Passages, noted was “challenging with all the restrictions in place.” Luckily, creativity, resourcefulness and a little technology saved the day. Working remotely, each piece of art was done at home, then scanned, printed and made into a collage. Then, Ms. Stymiest connected with the Sea Education Association (SEA), which set the Rye Riptides on its journey.

Seriously, my inner child is geeking out with this stuff.

Would the boat make it to Europe? Rye student Solstice Reed wasn’t so sure. “Honestly, I thought it would sink,” she admitted to the Portsmouth Herald. Considering the boat was cruising the ocean waters during hurricane season, the skepticism was well-founded. During the more tumultuous periods, the GPS signal only came in intermittently. And for a long while, there was nothing but radio silence.

But then, at long last, on the small Norwegian island of Smøla, the Rye Riptides successfully made it to dry land. Sure, it was a bit dismantled and covered in barnacles, but inside, all the adorable trinkets remained intact. The Smøla students peered with wonder into their bounty of photos, signed facemasks, fall leaves, acorns and state quarters, gifts sent out almost two years ago.

The voyage of the small boat has gone viral in a big way, sailing across social media, and making headlines. And now, Educational Passages plans on facilitating video meet-ups between Rye Junior High and the school in Norway, “to continue building this new relationship to learn from each other and about the shared Atlantic Ocean between them.” Plus, NPR reports, the students of Smøla would be writing a letter to their new American friends.

Human connection found its way across the sea in the most wholesome and magical way. It’s really cool to see that educational programs like this exist, impacting both the hearts and minds of young students. Mission, successful.

A TikTok creator who goes by the name enbiggen has created a wickedly clever and oh-so-satisfying tribute to Indiana Jones that plays out like a musical Rube Goldberg machine.

The video traces the journey of a metal ball as it bounces from tone plate to tone plate, playing the legendary theme to the Indiana Jones films by John Williams. In the background, a Lego Indy gets chased by a large boulder and there is a recreation of the mine car scene from “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.”

What’s amazing is that the ball bounces from tone plate to tone plate without missing a note and the video is set up perfectly so the song loops without missing a beat.

However, its perfection may be a dead giveaway that it wasn’t created out of real materials but by computer-generated animation. If so, the video is still pretty amazing because it seems like it has fooled just about everyone.

So is it real or animation? Take a look for yourself.

@enbiggen

Indiana Jones

For those of you who are dying to see an Indiana Jones that isn’t made of Legos, good news. Harrison Ford will be back with his hat and bullwhip in the untitled fifth installment of the film franchise next summer. Although the film’s story is being kept under wraps, it’s rumored to center around the 1960s space race and stars Mads Mikkelsen as the bad guy. The film is directed by James Mangold who made “Ford vs. Ferrari” and will feature a musical score by Williams.

Kaley Cuoco’s the queen of uninhibited reactions (like when she expressed genuine surprise at her Golden Globes nod). She appears to be genuinely grateful and surprised that her career has gone on to soar higher after The Big Bang Theory ended. And for real, we underestimated her, and she got in a quick one-two punch of success with both Harley Quinn and The Flight Attendant. Speaking of the latter, the HBO Max show plugged away dutifully through multiple Covid waves for Season 2, and it appears that the production took its toll, stress-wise.

Over the weekend, things wrapped up, finally, and Cuoco (who’s not only the star but an executive producer) celebrated on Instagram. You gotta respect that she posted this video of herself with her hair all over the place and in total-work/not-glamour mode. She literally fell to the ground in relief while celebrating how the production tore through “3 countries , 7 months , mega highs and lows, Covid etc!” She passed all due credit to her cast and crew and acknowledged that everyone played a role in conquering the beast.

Also above, Kaley delivered a speech, and the new season should go some unexpected places since they’re probably moving past the novel’s subject matter. “This has been the strangest life imitating art for me that I’ve ever had in my career,” Kaley declared. “[A]nd I would never have been able to get through this without each of you. One of you saved me each day for the last seven months, and I owe you all the biggest thank you.”

There’s no word yet on a firm release date for Season 2 (which will include Sharon Stone), but HBO Max recently shared some footage in a 2022 sizzle reel, so hopefully, it won’t be too long.