Category: News

Rico Nasty has been buzzing lately as fans defend her from the negative reception she’s received as an opener on Playboi Carti’s ongoing Narcissist Tour, but today, she’s once again recentering attention on where it should be: Her new music. Teaming up with fellow flourishing female rapper Flo Milli and boisterous producer Boyz Noise, Rico returns to the spotlight with the upbeat “Money,” a hyperactive call-and-response anthem with big jock jam energy.

In the colorful video, which you can watch below, Rico and Flo rock matching money green ensembles as they pull in pop culture references from over-the-top infomercials and re-colored classic films — yep, that’s Milli taking a stroll down the Yellow Brick Road of Wizard Of Oz fame — while declaring they would rather have money than love because love doesn’t pay the bills. The video was directed by frequent Rico collaborator Roxana Baldovin, who also helmed the video for another girl-power anthem, “Tia Tamera” with Doja Cat.

And while some members of Playboi Carti’s fanbase feel differently, Rico’s certainly got plenty of backers in her corner, including Memphis rapper NLE Choppa, who included her in his list of female rappers who “got next,” NPR, who put Rico on the beloved Tiny Desk Concert series last month, and Red Bull, which is bringing back its SoundClash series with Rico, Danny Brown, and more later this month.

Watch Rico Nasty’s new video for “Money” featuring Flo Milli above.

Click to download here.

You’re Not Dead. You’re on Pod Yourself A Gun

On this week’s episode of Pod Yourself A Gun, there’s a fresh casualty in the battle of the blank pod. Matt and Vince are joined by writer, comedian, and author of one of Vince’s favorite tweets, Ashley Ray to talk about The Sopranos season six, episode three, “Mayham.”

The episode contains the conclusion of the Kevin Finnerty saga, and the introduction of Christopher’s passion project, Cleaver. It’s a digital horror movie about a wiseguy with a big mouth and bigger dreams, which is also how I pitch this podcast to prospective listeners. Just a couple of wiseguys with big mouths, bigger dreams, and a functional knowledge of Audacity’s autotune feature.

The Sopranos writers room’s favorite punching bag, J.T. Dolan, is back. He’s tasked with writing Cleaver to settle his debts with Christopher, and to remind the viewers that all writers are ineffectual cowards who will just watch as you get beat and kidnapped.

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Support the Pod: become a patron at patreon.com/Frotcast and get more bonus content than you could ever want, AND if you sign up for the Pod Yourself a Shoutout tier, you can bask in the glory of hearing your name on the podcast like this week’s newest members: Rube, The Jet, Jimmy Peeps, & The Tween.

-Description by Brent Flyberg.

In the aftermath of the 2020 election, Rudy Giuliani trotted out “star witness” Mellissa Carone who quickly became a viral sensation thanks to her wild wine lady testimony during a voter fraud hearing in Michigan. (It also didn’t hurt that Giuliani audibly farted during the proceedings.) Despite being parodied by Saturday Night Live and Amy Schumer, Carone fell of the radar after a series of reports on her sordid history of harassing people with sex tapes became public along with significant holes in her story about allegedly witnessing voter fraud while employed by Dominion Voting Systems.

However, almost a year later, the wine lady is back, and once again, her story continues to fall apart. According to Michigan’s Gongwer News Service, Carone never even voted in the 2020 election despite touting herself as an expert witness on alleged fraud, which she claims to have personally witnessed. Except there’s also a problem with that story: Carone only worked for Dominion for one day as a cleaner, which was revealed in a cease and desist letter from the voting software company. Via Raw Story:

“We write to you now because you have positioned yourself as a prominent leader of the ongoing misinformation campaign by pretending to have some sort of ‘insider’s knowledge’ regarding Dominion’s business activities, when in reality you were hired through a staffing agency for one day to clean glass on machines and complete other menial tasks,” the letter continued.

Obviously, learning that Carone never even voted during the election is a shocking development. Normally, people who tell senators that they look like a penis are reliable witnesses and definitely aren’t prone to making false claims about election fraud, or let’s say, Barack Obama personally funding the creation of the coronavirus. Wine Lady would never do that. (She did.)

(Via Raw Story)

Martin Scorsese turned 79 years old yesterday (happy birthday, Marty!), but he’s not slowing down as he approaches the big 8-0.

The Oscar-winning filmmaker recently wrapped filming on Killers of the Flower Moon, his $200 million film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jesse Plemons, and internet hero Brendan Fraser, and on Thursday, Deadline reported that he’s “on board” to direct a biopic about the Grateful Dead with Jonah Hill as frontman / ice cream legend Jerry Garcia.

“Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, who have received rave reviews for penning American Crime Story: Impeachment, are writing the script,” Deadline reports, while “insiders add that with the band and the groups management participating in the film, Apple has rights to use the groups musical catalogue for the film.” The Grateful Dead formed in 1965 and continued touring after Garcia’s death in 1995, so it’s unclear what era the biopic will cover. But considering Scorsese’s track record of movies based on real people (The Wolf of Wall Street, Raging Bull, The Irishman, etc.) and his deep appreciation of rock ‘n’ roll (The Last Waltz, No Direction Home), it’s going to be good.

As long as there’s a complete recreation of this moment:

As for Killers of the Flower Moon, it doesn’t currently have a release date, but it should hit Apple TV+ sometime next year.

(Via Deadline)

Elujay isn’t satisfied with one lane. He wants to rule the whole road. With a handful of tracks running up the streaming charts, the young Oakland-based musician is now setting his sights on a variety of different artistic mediums — including video direction, graphic design, and more. “As a good artist, you have to be able to imitate and do different things,” he explained in a recent conversation over Zoom. “I think the initial intention is always just pure love. It’s just, I love this. I want to try this.”

A graphic designer by trade, Elujay began releasing music in 2016 and has been consistently dropping new tunes for the better part of five years, each building upon the catalog that he describes as “honest, soulful, groovy and Afrocentric.” The songs are difficult to pin down within a certain genre classification, existing in the space between rock, funk, R&B, indie, hip-hop… and almost everything else. Inspired by artists that mastered the feat of true artistic versatility and attention to detail, Elujay has been preparing for years to channel the creative spark across everything he’s done, and everything he wants to try next.

He pauses to think about it when I ask what sounds he hasn’t been able to crack yet, but still has interest in exploring. Then his eyes light up and he extends out his arms to signal the full spectrum of everywhere he still wants to go. “I want to dive a little bit more into the electronic space. Some Joni Mitchell-style stuff would be kind of sick, or just more experimental stuff. Dive a little bit more into like the Bjork — Arca bag. Maybe some Brazilian-style stuff, some by funk. I think that’d be fire.” Elujay’s base instinct is artistic curiosity, and he wants to take this opportunity to be strategic and try… everything.

In order to streamline the creative process, he notes the importance of keeping your priorities straight. “The first step is just being honest with yourself and realizing that it’s going to not happen overnight and that it’s only about the work. If you’re Black, you’re going to have to work twice as hard, because this industry is not handing anybody anything. I’ve been cognizant of how difficult it has been for people to actually care about [my art].” It’s also important to establish a good work/life balance to stave off burnout. “Make sure you give yourself time, read books, drink water. Don’t be like me. I don’t sleep. Get some sleep.”

But before he jumps into any new creative endeavor, Elujay is sure to put in the work to understand and build upon the foundation created by his inspirations. He likens the intention of his artistic process to that of Porsche: “I put that same amount of love and care in detail into a song or a visual. They both provide an aesthetically pleasing service, in a way.” He adds that being part of the Porsche Next 9 series “means the world to me, man. That’s crazy. Porsche represents that staple in time, where someone really feels like they’ve made it.”

Despite his love for the Porsche brand, Elujay’s definition of success doesn’t come in the form of a sports car, or international fame. Instead, it’s something much simpler: “I don’t have a desire to be a megastar,” he says with a mischievous grin. “What I really want is to sell-out shows. I think that’s when I feel like, ‘okay, I’ve made it.’”

In a new report from TMZ, the two men who allegedly shot and killed independent rapper Young Dolph in Memphis yesterday were caught on surveillance footage during the shooting. One of them appears to be firing an AK-47 Draco machine pistol, while the other has a handgun; both men were masked and dressed in hoodies and sweatpants. According to witnesses at the scene, the two men fled the scene in a “lighter-colored Mercedes.” The police have yet to make arrests or announce suspects in the shooting.

Young Dolph, who was just 36 years old, was outside Makeda’s Cookies, an establishment that he reportedly frequented, when a vehicle pulled up outside and someone began “firing through a front window and striking the rapper,” according to TMZ. Dolph was fresh off of two successful albums within the last year; 2020’s Rich Slave, one of his highest-charting albums to date, and this year’s Dum And Dummer 2, a joint album with his Paper Route Empire signee Key Glock. Prior to this most recent shooting, Dolph had been the target of other shootings; in 2017, his bulletproof SUV was shot over 100 times ahead of a performance, and later that year, he was shot in the thigh while shopping in Los Angeles.

While suspects are in short supply, police shut down rival rapper Yo Gotti’s restaurant in Memphis as a precaution against possible retaliation, as the two had had a longstanding feud involving numerous other members of the Memphis hip-hop community, including Blac Youngsta and Moneybagg Yo.

Ben Simmons is still on the Philadelphia 76ers. While the All-Star guard has yet to suit up for the team this season, Philly has remained steadfast in its stance that he will not be traded unless they are able to get back someone who helps maximize their chances of winning a championship during Joel Embiid’s prime.

It begs the question: Who, exactly, would the Sixers want back in a deal for Simmons? Plenty of names have been kicked around in the rumor mill, like Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal, but according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the team is willing to cast a somewhat wide net in an attempt to find a Simmons deal, and they have some optimism they’ll be able to make a move sometime in the future.

But here’s the part that may come as a surprise: A source with knowledge of the list said there are approximately 30 players who would satisfy the Sixers in a Simmons swap, and there’s an internal belief that a fair amount of them — let’s say five to 10 — could become available in the next year or two. And while it might sound like a long list, consider this much: It’s approximately six percent of the league and the rough equivalent to the number of All-Stars selected every season. The framing of the timeline, more than anything else, speaks volumes about the long-term approach the Sixers insist they’re taking.

The most recent trade rumor involving Simmons revolved around conversations that reportedly happened between the Sixers and the Boston Celtics, but Philly’s insistence they got back Jaylen Brown apparently meant those talks did not get too far. Simmons has apparently told the team that he is not mentally in a place where he feels he can play, while his agent, Rich Paul, has alleged that some of the decisions the Sixers made with regards to fines they have levied towards Simmons have made things worse.

The War On Drugs just returned last month with their first new album in four years, I Don’t Live Here Anymore. The album sees the band at their peak, delivering dreamlike chords and glistening guitars infused with a bit of twang. Celebrating the project’s wonderful reception, The War On Drugs bring its title track to a late-night performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

The War On Drugs took the stage with their full band in tow. Collaborators leaders Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Lucius were even seen on stage, adding emphasis with backup vocals.

Along with delivering a faithful rendition of their recent album’s title track, The War On Drugs announce that they have another way for fans who aren’t able to see them play live to engage with their music. Next month, the band is set to premiere the livestream concert, Living Proof: The War On Drugs Global Live Event. The event officially premieres December 9, and ticketholders can stream the concert on-demand the following weekend. It was filmed at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in LA and offers a preview of their upcoming world tour.

Watch The War On Drugs and Lucius perform “I Don’t Live Here Anymore” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! above.

Tickets for the band’s global livestream event go on sale 11/19. Get them here.

I Don’t Live Here Anymore is out now via Atlantic. Get it here.

The War On Drugs is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

In 2011, Jennifer Lawrence became one of the youngest Best Actress nominees in the history of the Oscars when she earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for Winter’s Bone. Two years later, when she was 22 years and 193 days old, she became the second youngest actor to win a Best Lead Actress Oscar (Marlee Matlin was 21 when she nabbed the same award in 1987, and still holds the record for the youngest). Which is all to say that Lawrence has already achieved some pretty major career milestones in her 31 years on Earth, and has worked with some of the best actors in the business.

But just because she’s worked with the likes of Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep doesn’t mean that she still doesn’t get starstruck on occasion. And in Lawrence’s case, that most recently happened when she got the chance to work with Ariana Grande.

Lawrence recently sat down with Vanity Fair to break down the trailer for her new movie, Don’t Look Up, a disaster comedy co-written and directed by Adam McKay which features a who’s who of Hollywood’s most in-demand talents, including Lawrence, Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, Cate Blanchett, and Jonah Hill. And while Lawrence had wonderful things to say about many of her co-stars, she admitted that she totally fangirled over meeting Grande, who also has a role in the movie.

According to Lawrence, Grande “plays a pop star named Riley Bina. And that was, like, one of the coolest days of my life. I took a picture with her—I looked like a radio contest winner. She couldn’t be nicer.”

You can watch the full trailer breakdown above; Grande appears around the 7:30 mark.

(Via Vanity Fair)

Belly’s latest video from his new album See You Next Wednesday is “Flowers,” a paranoid meditation on early death and leaving a legacy. While Belly demands to be given his flowers while he’s still here, a chance encounter with a pair of plotting women results in a psychedelic trip for the Toronto rapper that ends with him getting buried alive in a shallow grave.

Prior to releasing “Flowers,” Belly kept up a steady stream of content from the album, including videos for “IYKYK,” “Zero Love,” “Better Belive,” “Die For It,” and “Requiem.” Upon its release See You Next Wednesday reached no. 26 on the Canadian Albums chart and no. 27 on the US Independent Albums chart. The album, which was named for the running gag in the films of John Landis, sees Belly ruminating on years of depression and PTSD, for which he’d recently begun therapy.

The Canadian star was also recently a fixture at Uproxx Studios in Los Angeles, where he joined our panel of rappers to watch and react to the music video for Lupe Fiasco’s “Kick, Push” for React Like You Know, and gave a passionate performance of his album single “Moment Of Silence” for UPROXX Sessions.

Watch Belly’s “Flowers” video above.