Category: News

After 14 years (gasp!), 20 seasons (double gasp!) and more than 270 episodes (what is wrong with us as a society?!), E!’s long-running reality series Keeping Up With the Kardashians mercifully came to an end on Thursday night and Jimmy Kimmel wanted to talk about it. Calling it both “a major milestone in reality TV history” and the “rear-end of an era,” Kimmel—like so many of us—seemed simultaneously bemused and impressed that the first family of reality television has kept audiences interested for so long, saying:

“You know, when the Kardashians got started, I was skeptical. I think we all were. I don’t think we thought this would stand the test of time, but it has. This family has given us 270 episodes of television over the past 900 seasons, so we thought it was only right to bid farewell to each member of the Kardashian clan and here we go:

Goodbye, Kim.
Goodbye, Khloe.
Farewell, Kourtney.
So long, Kris, Caitlyn, Kendall, Kylie, Keely, Kitty, Collie, Kammy, Comey, Toothy, Kaley Cuoco, Keebler, Condi, Kanye, Kitana, Caboodle, Kaboobie, Chamillionaire, Katrina, and Rob. Goodbye all of you.”

After stating that it would be impossible to put together any sort of adequate sendoff in the form of a clip packet, Kimmel instead created a best-of compilation of Kris Humphries’ finest moments from the show. All two of them. Humphries, you may remember, is a former NBA player who became Kim’s second husband for a hot minute (the equivalent of 72 days) in 2011. In mid-October of that year, E! did a full-on media blitz to promote its two-part “Kim’s Fairytale Wedding” extravaganza. Three weeks later, the fairytale was over: Kim filed for divorced, Humphries countered asking for an annulment. Cue Barbra Streisand singing “Memories.”

While Kimmel admitted that he never did keep up with the Kardashians, he was curious to know how the dad was doing—which provided him with the perfect segue to talk about reality-star-turned-aspiring-politician (and occasional Kimmel adversary) Caitlyn Jenner’s appearance on The View earlier that day. And to share his opinion that “Caitlyn Jenner has a better chance of being the next Batman than she does governor of California.”

You can watch the full clip above; it starts around the 3-minute mark.

The Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets continue their best-of-seven journey on Friday evening with Game 3 in the Mile High City. Phoenix leads the series by a 2-0 margin after bludgeoning the Nuggets by a 123-98 margin in Game 2 on Wednesday. As a result, the Nuggets face an uphill battle that begins in a pressure-packed spot as the series shifts to Denver.

The Nuggets are a tremendous offensive team, led by 2020-21 NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. While Jokic was at least reasonably effective in Game 2, Denver’s supporting cast was not, and the team struggled to a below-average offensive efficiency mark as a result. In the series, the Nuggets are shooting just 43 percent from the floor and 34 percent from three-point range, and they are also attempting only 13 free throws per game. Returning home could be helpful to boost the efficiency of role players, but the Nuggets are also short-handed due to injury, and Michael Porter Jr. is on the injury report (as probable) with back tightness.

For Phoenix, everything is coming easy in this series through two games. The Suns are scoring more than 1.25 points per possession, an elite figure, and they are generating 28.5 assists per game with only 8.5 turnovers per contest. Chris Paul (17 points, 15 assists and no turnovers in Game 2) and Devin Booker lead the way as often, but Deandre Ayton (17.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 65 percent shooting) is also enjoying success. As a team, the Suns are posting 51/43/87 shooting through two games, taking full advantage of a Nuggets defense that is not elite under any circumstances.

From a betting standpoint, Game 2 went Under the total of 224 points and Phoenix covered the closing point spread of six points as a favorite.

Game 3 TV Info

Tip Time: Friday, June 11; 10:00 p.m. ET
TV Network: ESPN

Game 3 Betting Lines (via DraftKings Sportsbook)

Series Prices: Suns (-910), Nuggets (+570)
Spread: Nuggets -1.5 (-114), Suns +1.5 (-107)
Total: Over 223.5 (-112), Under 223.5 (-109)
Money Line: Nuggets (-124), Suns (+104)

The second round matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Atlanta Hawks shifts to Georgia on Friday evening. The series is knotted at 1-1, with Game 3 potentially providing a swing point in the best-of-seven clash. Atlanta won Game 1 behind an explosive effort from Trae Young, while Philadelphia found some defensive answers and leaned on Joel Embiid over the course of a comfortable Game 2 win.

Though Embiid is officially listed as questionable for Game 3 with a knee issue, he has been the best player in the series. The All-NBA center has dominated an individual matchup against Clint Capela and, even with the Hawks throwing double teams in his direction, Embiid has 79 points and 22 rebounds in two games. The rest of Philadelphia’s offense hasn’t been off-the-charts, but the 76ers did find their footing in the first half of Game 2, particularly with Tobias Harris attacking the rim and the Hawks struggling with their transition defense.

Unfortunately, Atlanta will be without De’Andre Hunter for the rest of the season as a result of a meniscus injury. Hunter did not play in the first two games, but his absence was felt, with the Hawks seemingly one big wing short when dealing with Harris and Ben Simmons. Still, Young provides sky-high upside offensively, and Atlanta does have a bevy of shooters. Kevin Huerter and Danilo Gallinari provided a significant punch in reserve duty during Game 2, and they could be X-factors for Game 3 and beyond.

From a betting standpoint, Game 2 went Under the total of 225.5 points and Philadelphia covered the closing point spread of 6.5 points as a favorite.

Game 3 TV Info

Tip Time: Friday, June 11; 7:30 p.m. ET
TV Network: ESPN

Game 3 Betting Lines (via DraftKings Sportsbook)

Series Prices: 76ers (-250), Hawks (+200)
Spread: 76ers -1 (-109), Hawks +1 (-112)
Total: Over 225 (-109), Under 225 (-112)
Money Line: 76ers (-114), Hawks (-105)

Game 3 Player Scoring Props (via DraftKings Sportsbook)

Kevin Huerter O/U 11.5 Points (Over -113/Under -113)
John Collins O/U 14.5 (-113/-113)
Louis Williams O/U 6.5 (-113/-113)
Danny Green O/U 8.5 (-113/-113)
Seth Curry O/U 14.5 (-105/-122)
Joel Embiid O/U 32.5 (-113/-113)
Danilo Gallinari O/U 12.5 (-106/-121)
Ben Simmons O/U 13.5 (+102/-129)
Trae Young O/U 27.5 (-113/-113)
Clint Capela O/U 11.5 (-120/-107)
Bogdan Bogdanović O/U 17.5 (-113/-113)
Tobias Harris O/U 20.5 (-113/-113)

The Jazz pulled off a comeback in the second half of Game 1 against the Clippers to escape with a three-point win thanks to a monstrous performance from Donovan Mitchell and a clutch block at the buzzer from Rudy Gobert.

In Game 2, Mitchell picked up where he left off with 27 points in the first half (and 37 for the game), dancing on the Clippers with stepback threes that drew the Clipper defense higher opened up the paint for driving lanes later — but the stepback was always there when he wanted it.

It was Utah’s turn to take a 13-point lead at the break in Game 2, and the tables were turned as the Clippers made a furious second half rally led by a surprising figure in Reggie Jackson, who led L.A. in scoring with 29 points on 11-of-19 shooting (4-of-8 from three), with 24 of those coming in the second half.

Every time the Clippers made a run to cut the Utah lead down to a one possession game, the Jazz had an answer. In the third quarter it was Jordan Clarkson (24 points) who pushed their lead back out to seven going to the fourth, as he caught fire with Donovan Mitchell taking a much-needed break.

The most successful L.A. run came in the mid-fourth, as Kawhi Leonard made his imprint on the game known with a steal and ferocious dunk to pull the Clippers within a possession of the Jazz once again.

After that it was the hero of the second half, Reggie Jackson, who came through with back-to-back threes to give the Clippers their first lead of the game at 101-99 with 6:37 to play in the fourth.

But as was the story all half, the Jazz answered back. It started with Joe Ingles hitting an absurd high arcing runner that clipped the top of the backboard, followed by timely threes from Bojan Bogdanovic and Royce O’Neale to regain a 7-point lead. Ingles capped off the 14-2 run with a three of his own to send the Jazz crowd into a frenzy and give Utah a 113-103 lead.

At the same time, the Clippers went cold at the worst possible time, missing eight straight field goals as Utah took control of the game before Jackson, fittingly, ended the drought with a layup. Paul George would then get an and-1 to make it a five-point game with a minute to play, but the inability of the Clippers to match the Jazz’s shotmaking down the stretch proved too much for them to overcome. Donovan Mitchell put the game on ice with a runner over Luke Kennard to give the Jazz a 117-111 win.

The only late drama involved an off-ball foul between Paul George and Donovan Mitchell that left the Utah star guard on the floor in pain before he got up and split his free throws, creating a bit of concern for his health heading into Game 3 — although Mitchell insisted after the game he just got run into and it hurt in the moment but he was fine now.

The difference on the night for Utah was their three-point shooting, as a team the went 20-for-39 from distance and shot 55.3 percent from the field overall. On the other side, Jackson was sensational, Kawhi was his usual self, and George showed up big in the second half to finish with 27 points, but as a team they just couldn’t match Utah’s continued shooting onslaught, going 11-for-30 from deep (36.7 percent). The Jazz now take a 2-0 series lead and the Clippers find themselves in familiar territory down two games, which means they can lean on their first round experience but this time have to come back against a more complete team.

The upcoming Space Jam: A New Legacy seems to be a place where unexpected musical collaborations are occurring. After the Lil Baby and Kirk Franklin were paired over a Just Blaze-produced beat for “We Win,” the first single from the movie’s soundtrack, the latest offering from the soundtrack comes as an effort with Saint Jhn and SZA. The duo joins forces for “Just For Me,” a blissful track that captures the acts in dreamy spirits on cloud nine as they profess their love for each other. The song arrives a little over a month before the movie’s July 16 premiere in theatre.

Both acts on Saint Jhn and SZA have been active in the music world in their own ways over the last few months. Saint Jhn’s 2021 has been quiet, but he concluded 2020 in a very active way thanks to multiple videos from his third album, While The World Was Burning, which he released in November with features from Kanye West, Future, Kehlani, 6lack, and more. As for SZA, she’s been working towards her currently untitled sophomore album that will hopefully arrive sooner than later. Until then, fans can enjoy her recent singles, “Good Days” and “Hit Different” with Ty Dolla Sign as well as her “Kiss Me More” collaboration with Doja Cat.

Press play on the video above to hear “Just For Me.”

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

Lauren Boebert has made a name for herself among conservatives in a number of ways since she became a US representative out of Colorado. Not all of them have apparently sat very well with the people who elected her, though. The pro-gun, coronavirus skeptic has made a number of notable comments about Joe Biden and the world at large, becoming a conservative star along the likes of QAnon-believing Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Boebert recently took a trip to the US/Mexico border to put on a show with a cardboard Kamala Harris. It’s the latest publicity stunt that’s made headlines but according to a report the people who elected her are tired of the shenanigans she’s spending so much time on. In a piece about the politician by Politico, a number of people in Pueblo, Colorado seem frustrated by Boebert spending so much time supporting former president Donald Trump and not advocating for the place she represents.

The piece describes an event put on by one of several people already campaigning for her seat, Sol Sandoval. Even people who had voted for Boebert just months ago seem turned off by the insurrection-supporting Boebert and her gun activism.

At least one person at Sandoval’s listening session who voted for Boebert said he had been disappointed by her, and plans to help Sandoval’s campaign. “I thought Lauren would be a great representative for small-business owners because she owns a small business, and she came from a humble lifestyle,” said Gus Garcia, a political independent who also voted for Biden.

“But she has been so terribly disappointing,” continued Garcia, who owns a textile recycling firm. “I am humiliated and embarrassed when she speaks on the House floor. She screams all the time, and she seems to have affiliated herself with white supremacists.”

In many ways it’s an example of how national rhetoric can only take you so far when it comes to local politics. One man quoted, for example, noted that in Boebert’s district sits one of the few American factories where rails are made, which would benefit greatly from a proposed infrastructure bill from the Biden administration that is touting an Amtrak expansion among its many proposals. The point of the piece is that local issues with poverty and a number of culture war touchstones for Republicans may not align with those electing her as much as she hopes.

Other voters here decried a fundraising appeal of Boebert’s exclaiming that Pelosi and Biden “want to take our guns,” which was emailed to supporters hours after a shooting at a Boulder grocery store left 10 people dead.

“People here feel Boebert doesn’t represent their values,” says Colorado state Senate President Leroy Garcia, a Pueblo Democrat who is popular with voters in both parties. “There is a lot of passion around seeing her removed.”

Boebert was just elected in November, and her term isn’t up until 2023. But the early returns on her work for the people who elected her don’t seem to be very positive, and considering the narrow margin she won with last year it may be tough sledding for her to actually stay in congress if that narrative doesn’t change.

Apple TV+’s See helped launch the tech giant’s streaming service less than two years ago, and the show was so wild and wooly that it worked. Jason Momoa stars as Baba Voss, a fierce warrior and leader in a post-apocalyptic world that went blind, long ago, and he’s the guardian of sighted miracle-twins who could be the key to humanity’s future. The show’s jaw-dropping visuals (and here, I’m talking about the scenery, although Momoa is obviously nice to look at, too) stood alongside the world-building put in place by Francis Lawrence (who launched the series as director), and despite all the chaos of the show and in the real world, Season 2 shall soon arrive (on Friday, August 27).

Well, there’s even more news: Apple TV+ officially renewed the show for Season 3 (which is already filming in Toronto), and that announcement went down when Momoa visited Jimmy Fallon on Thursday night. Likewise, this teaser trailer shows more conflict to come with the introduction of Dave Bautista as Edo Voss, the brother of Baba, and the reunion doesn’t look too friendly. Not only do they brandish weapons, but we’ve got a battle of the beards happening. Also, Nesta Cooper’s Haniwa looks awfully surprised to hear Edo’s name, so he’s certainly not a familiar presence to her. Baba’s family has been torn apart, and he’s still fightling to get away from war. Edo’s arrival will probably prove to be a distraction from that goal.

Clashing egos, warring beards, and a fur-clad Momoa (yes, Baba will remind you of not only Game of Thrones’ Khal Drogo but Frontier‘s Declan Harp and the Conan the Barbarian title character) are all on tap. Momoa’s all up in the “echolocation” to get his character through survival scenes, and this show’s both complex and campy but always entertaining.

See will return on August 27 with new episodes arriving weekly.

Polo G is undoubtedly one of the best acts in this generation’s crop of rappers. After making a name for himself with his debut album, 2019’s Die A Legend, the Chicago native took a big step upward with last year’s The GOAT, an effort that was one of the better hip-hop releases in 2020. Now, for the third consecutive year, Polo G steps forth with a new album, one of that stands as his most collaborative effort yet. Hall Of Fame arrives with 20 tracks to its name, one which features a highlight guest appearance from Nicki Minaj who appears on “For The Love Of New York.”

The duo’s first track together is a reggae-influenced effort that sees Polo and Minaj detailing their sides of an unfortunate heartbreak. The former reveals his own faults in the relationship with lines like “Tryna figure out my feelings, I’m confusin’ you / Where I’m from, happy endings are unusual” and “Girl, if I wasn’t so heartless, you could have mine.” Nicki arrives for the final verse of the song to reveal how the failed relationship affected her. “You triggerin’ my anxiety in the worst way,” she says. “Sometimes, the best thing you could do is step away.”

As for the rest of Hall Of Fame, the project is led by Polo’s No. 1 single “Rapstar” and features additional contributions from The Kid Laroi, Lil Durk, Lil Wayne, Scorey, G Herbo, Rod Wave, DaBaby, Young Thug, Roddy Ricch, Pop Smoke, and Fivio Foreign.

Give a listen to “For The Love Of New York” in the video above.

Hall Of Fame is out now via Columbia Records. Get it here.

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

The wait for IDK’s upcoming sophomore album has gone on for a year and a half. It tracks back to the release of his major-label debut album Is He Real? at the end of 2019. However, over this duration, the DMV rapper made the wait for album No. 2 fairly easy thanks to his 2020 project, IDK & Friends 2, as well as a boatload of singles that all proved IDK only sharpened his rap skills. Thankfully, good things come to those that wait as IDK finally shared a release date for his sophomore album, titled USee4Yourself, with his new single, “Peloton.”

The track begins with a sample of UGK and Outkast’s classic song, “Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You)” as IDK raps the first line of his song in the same tune that Andre 3000 did on the 2007 song. “Peloton,” which begins with soulful vocals that sit behind IDK’s raps, sees a quick switch up that brings a jolt of energy to the track as IDK flexes some muscle after a woman labels him as the one for her.

Along with the song, IDK confirmed that USee4Yourself will arrive on July 9, leaving just a few weeks until the project and its 17 songs land in the hands of listeners.

You can press play on the song in the video above.

USee4Yourself is out 7/9 via Clue No Clue/Warner Records. Pre-order it here.

IDK is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Last year was certainly a turbulent 12 months for Megan Thee Stallion, but things ended in her favor as she concluded 2020 with her official debut album, Good News. Months after its release, a few music videos, and some live performances, the Houston native decided to take a break before the next chapter in her career. In what she called a “period of regeneration,” the rapper announced some time off in order to “prepare for what’s next.” Thankfully, it only lasted a little over a month as Megan returns with “Thot Sh*t.”

The new single comes with a video that follows the rapper as she terrorizes a congressman who had some choice YouTube comments about her “Body” video. From pouring coffee on him to interrupting his peaceful bath, Megan successfully makes him regret his ill comments. “Thot Sh*t” marks the Houston native’s return as Tina Snow, a fan-favorite alter-ego of the rapper that was popularized thanks to her 2018 mixtape of the same title. The project featured highlight records like “Big Ol Freak” and “Freak Nasty,” which both flaunt the raunchy agenda that present on her new single.

Prior to the song’s release, Megan spoke about the song on Twitter after a fan asked her for the inspiration behind the song. “I’m really just talking sh*t and taking ownership of the words ‘thot’ and ‘hoe,’” she wrote. “Bc they’re not the drag the men think it is when trying to come at women for doing them.”

You can watch the video for the track above.

Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.