Category: News

Ever since his No. 1 album After Hours was snubbed of a 2020 Grammy Award, The Weeknd has not been shy about his criticism of The Recording Academy, even promising to boycott the organization going forward. But The Weeknd isn’t the first singer to publicly call out The Recording Academy for their problematic practices. Village People’s Victor Willis (aka the cop) has a long history of outing the Grammys’ discriminatory practices — and he’s now telling The Weeknd to “lighten up.”

Back in 2017, Willis was outspoken about his disdain for the Grammys. He even reportedly send a letter to The Recording Academy’s president claiming there were “secret committees” that existed to “override the decision of Grammy voters in the event the select committee does not like who the Grammy voter has chosen” for the biggest awards. Willis also cited the controversy around Adele beating out Beyonce in every major category that year. “If certain people at the Grammys don’t like who the voters have chosen,” he wrote, “a Grammy committee will simply override the voters and subsequently select who they think should win. Like Adele, maybe?”

But now, Willis has turned his attention to The Weeknd’s recent comments about the Recording Academy. Penning an open letter to The Weeknd on Facebook, Willis claimed The Weeknd stayed silent when he was “benefiting from those secret committees” in the past. The Village People singer also applauded the work of The Recording Academy’s interm CEO Harvey Mason Jr.:

“Pssst, ‘The Weeknd,’ lighten up on the Grammys already why don’t cha!? I know a thing or two about attacking the Grammys, and their once secret committees. I must say you’re not handling this in the spirit of Black protest of this important issue. You see, while Black artists like me were making honest complaints about the secret committees, you were busy racking up one Grammy after another under those secret committees.

I don’t recall you complaining about the secret committees when you were benefiting from those secret committees. But on the one occasion the secret committees didn’t benefit you, the Grammys are suddenly corrupt, and it’s off with their heads? Under the circumstances, you’re much too talented to be pouting about the Grammys. And it seems you’re out for blood despite the secret committees being eliminated. Negative.

This important American institution known as the Grammys has an African American in there (Harvey Mason) that’s making real, meaningful and historic changes that will likely benefit the music business for decades to come. Cut the brotha some slack!”

Indie music has grown to include so much. It’s not just music that is released on independent labels, but speaks to an aesthetic that deviates from the norm and follows its own weirdo heart. It can come in the form of rock music, pop, or folk. In a sense, it says as much about the people that are drawn to it as it does about the people that make it.

Every week, Uproxx is rounding up the best new indie music from the past seven days. This week we got a long-awaited new track from Modest Mouse, the anticipated collaboration between Health and Nine Inch Nails, and the impressive debut album from Chloe Moriondo. Check out the rest of the best new indie music below.

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Chloe Moriondo – Blood Bunny

Chloe Moriondo has been steadily releasing new music over the last few years, but now the 18-year-old songwriter has focused all of her energy into a blistering pop-punk debut. Blood Bunny is a departure from the sound on Moriondo’s previous work, employing a full band to create absolutely alternative rock songs with biting lyrics and impressive arrangement.

Weezer – Van Weezer

After a few delays, Weezer have finally unleashed their tribute to the glam rock glory days. Van Weezer is chock full of huge riffs, soaring hooks, and guitar solos, making for a fun listen that fits well in Weezer’s all-over-the-place catalogue.

Squid – Bright Green Field

It feels like Squid have been giving us tastes of their debut album forever. Now, the British post-punkers have delivered Bright Green Field, featuring experimental and spastic arrangements and intricate instrumentation. If you’re looking for an album to truly take you on an adventure, look no further.

Modest Mouse – “We Are Between”

For the first time in six years, Modest Mouse is prepping a band new album. The Golden Casket is due June 25, and is previewed by “We Are Between,” a rousing and anthemic number that slots in with some of the band’s more accessible material.

Rostam – “From The Back Of A Cab”

Rostam’s sophomore solo album Changephobia is slated for release early next month, and we’ve already heard a handful of tracks. The latest offering is “From The Back Of A Cab,” a driving electronic number that really lets Rostam’s ethereal vocal shine.

Coldplay – “Higher Power”

Although Coldplay haven’t officially announced a new album just yet, that hasn’t stopped them from sharing a brand new song. “Higher Power” is what Caitlin White called for Uproxx a “stadium-ready bop,” and puts the band’s polished pop sensibilities on full display.

Health & Nine Inch Nails – “Isn’t Everyone”

After a few days of teasing, the collaboration between Health and Nine Inch Nails is finally here. “Isn’t Everyone” combines the bands’ complementary strengths, featuring “the harsh, electronic, industrial sound that both groups are known for,” writes Derrick Rossignol for Uproxx. Health was quite direct in their accompanying statement: “It’s f*cking Nine Inch Nails. That speaks for itself. You don’t need a clever quote to encapsulate it.”

Kennyhoopla – “Hollywood Sucks”

When I spoke to Travis Barker a few months back, he sung the praises of a new up-and-coming pop punker named Kennyhoopla. Barker has worked with Kennyhoopla on a few tracks to date, but “Hollywood Sucks” is certainly findng the duo hitting their groove for an invigorating pop-punk number that will surely be stuck in your head for the rest of the day.

Hurry – “It’s Dangerous”

It’s been nearly three years since we last heard from Hurry. The band’s new album Fake Ideas is out next month and features impossibly pretty and catchy pop rock songs that instantly evoke some of the greatest and most enduring indie rock,” according to Steven Hyden is a recent issue of the Indie Mixtape newsletter.

Madi Diaz – “Nervous”

On her third single for ANTI-, Nashville-based songwriter Madi Diaz is recognizing unhealthy coping mechanisms. “Nervous” is an excellent alt-rock number combining elements of folk and indie rock to welcome you into Diaz’s unique world.

Secondhand Sound – “Dominoes”

Also hailing from Nashville, Secondhand Sound take on a more distorted approach, inspired by Pixies and other 90’s rockers. “Dominoes” has the young quartet turning up their amps for dramatic swells as they tell the story of a summertime evening drive with a crush in the passenger seat. We’ve all been there.

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

About half a year ago, Sylvan Esso unveiled their third album, Free Love, to the world. Now they’ve shared the exemplary “Numb” as a single, which is accompanied by an artistic video. The clip was co-directed by Meath and Jasmine Albuquerque and features striking choreography by the latter. The clip was also produced by Maavven, a studio that has also worked with icons like Rihanna, Pharrell, and Dua Lipa.

Meath says of the video, “I’ve always loved the pure dance videos of the TRL era and dreamed of making something that could live in that world. I’m so grateful to Jasmine and everyone at Maavven who worked with me to bring this to life, it was such a joy and I can’t wait for y’all to see it.”

The duo also announced a stretch of tour dates for later this year. In a September 2020 interview with Uproxx, Nick Sanborn said of getting back in venues, “Believe me, there is nothing I want more than to be in a room full of thousands of people playing our music on a gigantic sound system.” Meath added, “Dude, playing ‘Make it Easy’? We’re going to be able to get the audience to sing ‘It’s playing now’ with me? At which point I’m going to f*cking cry so hard.”

Watch the “Numb” video above and check out Sylvan Esso’s upcoming tour dates below.

09/04 — Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo
09/06 — Troutdale, OR @ Edgefield *
09/07 — Redmond, WA @ Marymoor Amphitheater *
09/09 — Berkeley, CA @ The Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley #
09/10 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre *
09/11 — San Diego, CA @ SOMA *
09/13 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Union Event Center *
09/14 — Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom *
09/16 — Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom *
09/17 — Austin, TX @ The Moody Amphitheater *
09/18 — Dallas, TX @ South Side Ballroom *
09/19 — Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center *
09/21 — Atlanta, GA @ Roxy Theatre *
09/22 — Asheville, NC @ Rabbit Rabbit *
09/23-26 — Dover, DE @ Firefly Music Festival
10/26 — St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre %
10/27 — St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre %
10/29 — Madison, WI @ Sylvee %
10/30 — Madison, WI @ Sylvee %
10/31 — Chicago, IL @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom %
11/02 — Louisville, KY @ Old Forester’s Paristown Hall %
11/03 — Columbus, OH @ Express Live! %
11/05 — Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE %
11/10 — New Haven, CT @ College Street Music Hall %
11/11 — Washington DC @ The Anthem %
11/13 — Boston, MA @ House of Blues %
11/14 — Boston, MA @ House of Blues %
11/15 — New York, NY @ Terminal 5 %
11/16 — New York, NY @ Terminal 5 %

* with Samia
# with Local Natives and Samia
% with Lido Pimienta

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

Atlanta rapper Young Nudy returns this month with a new album, Dr Ev4l, and today, he released the video for its first single, “2Face” featuring G Herbo. The 13-song project will also include features from Nudy’s cousin, 21 Savage, and from Lil Uzi Vert. Nudy previously posted the horror-themed cover on his social media channels, as well as an invite to his haunted house-themed album release party in Atlanta. The album is due May 18 on Nudy’s own PDE Records and RCA.

The video for “2Face” sees the two stoic-faced rappers make a stop at the convenience store and throw a parking lot party attended by their respective crews and some scantily-clad, twerking ladies. Lyrically, Herbo and Nudy tread familiar territory, flexing their cash and shouting out their homeboys, denying they’ll ever let their boys down. A beat switch toward the end is accompanied by a transition to a nighttime shoot with Nudy and friends posturing on the block in ski masks as a red filter washes everything in a ghoulish crimson.

Dr Ev4l is Nudy’s first full-length release since 2020’s Anyways and his breakout 2019 Pi’erre Bourne-produced joint mixtape Sli’merre. He also featured on Dreamville’s Revenge Of The Dreamers III, further increasing anticipation for his latest release.

Watch the “2Face” video above.

Dr Ev4l is out 5/28 via RCA. Pre-save it here.

Bradley Beal didn’t play on Monday night when the Wizards lost a close one with the Hawks as he deals with a hamstring injury, but he still found himself as a hot topic of conversation in the NBA space. Beal and Stephen Curry are locked in a tight race for the NBA’s scoring title this season, with Curry holding a half-point per game lead on Beal, but Curry’s teammate Kent Bazemore interjected himself into their friendly competition and drew quite the response from Beal.

Bazemore joked on Monday morning that guys are “hurting hamstrings” trying to keep pace with Steph, which unsurprisingly ticked off Beal, who ripped Bazemore on Twitter while the Warriors were playing the Jazz. Afterwards, Bazemore seemed ready to just be done with the whole thing, saying “I guess we can’t joke anymore,” before saying he won’t be getting into it with Beal on Twitter. While he acted surprised it blew up, Bazemore should know that jokes about injuries don’t fly and can be seen as something crossing the line.

On Tuesday morning, Beal talked to LaJethro Jenkins of Yahoo Sports about the situation and made sure to note it wasn’t anything to do with Steph or even him being upset Bazemore is on the side of his teammate. His issue lies with Baze going at him over an injury, which Beal feels is uncalled for — and that Baze said he was “chasing” Curry, which Beal also disagrees strongly with.

“It’s nothin against Steph. I’m gonna nip that now,” Beal said. “To me it was about — I’m not sitting here debating whose side you should choose. Obviously you should be on your teammates side, but just keep it that. Keep it hoops, don’t bring my injury into it or me into it. My goals and why I go hoop and what I’m focused on is totally different. I could care less about people saying, ‘Ah it’s a close race.’ I don’t really care about that. I’m here to hoop. Everybody knows I can score, I’ve been doing this for the last couple years. So it’s nothin new, I’m not chasing nothin. So for me, I just want to keep it that. Just keep it hoops, stay over there, I didn’t say anything, I didn’t do anything so that’s all my part was.”

He obviously wanted to make it clear he wasn’t trying to beef with Steph and make this a whole thing, but he took issue with the way Baze went about backing his teammate by bringing his injury into it and the insinuation that he’s going out of his way to chase Curry for the scoring title. This should be the end of all of this, but we now know what it takes to have Bradley Beal torch another player on Twitter.

Donald Trump Jr. seems to be intent upon keeping himself in the spotlight, even when he overstays his welcome like he apparently did with Sean Hannity. That hasn’t stopped the most recent ex-president’s namesake from publicly expressing his opinion on everything from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to the freaking Muppets, but there’s a new Don Jr.-centered piece of gossip that will likely (at least momentarily) distract him from his crusade of owning the libs. Will he comment upon this subject? Oh please.

The Guardian is reporting upon excerpts from a new book, Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service (by the Washington Post‘s Carol Leonnig), which claims that certain Trump family members grew “inappropriately” close with Secret Service members on the president’s detail. According to Leonnig’s investigative research, this “dangerous” level of closeness may have been the reason why Don Jr.’s marriage to Vanessa Trump ended in 2018. Here’s the dish:

In her new book, she writes that Secret Service agents reported that Vanessa Trump, the wife of the president’s oldest son, Donald Trump Jr, “started dating one of the agents who had been assigned to her family.”

Vanessa Trump filed for an uncontested divorce in March 2018. Leonnig reports that the agent concerned did not face disciplinary action as neither he nor the agency were official guardians of Vanessa Trump at that point.

Naturally, personal relationships between Secret Service members and those who they protect are not only frowned upon but prohibited, so the issue is relevant to Leonnig’s subject matter. Further, she writes that Donald Trump’s youngest daughter, Tiffany, allegedly “began spending an unusual amount of time alone with a Secret Service agent on her detail” after breaking up with a boyfriend. The book details how this was a “tall, dark, and handsome agent,” who spent a lot of time with Tiffany, although Leonnig points out that Tiffany and the agent have stated that “nothing untoward was happening,” yet Secret Service leaders reassigned him elsewhere. Not that the president was concerned about this guy, though. The book points out that his biggest concern was that “I want these fat guys off my detail.” The King of Fast Food feasts also expressed concern that the agents (who he might have confused with office-focused employees) wouldn’t be able to “protect me and my family if they can’t run down the street.”

Again, there’s been no comment thus far from Don Jr. on the possible cucking, but given how the right-wing loves to use the term as an insult, any followup will be interesting, to say the very least.

(Via The Guardian)

While “taking a meeting with Tom Arnold” might not be something anyone had on their Bingo card for Margot Robbie in 2021, she may want to take a listen. Arnold—the comedian and actor who is still best known for being married to Roseanne Barr in the early 1990s—is currently making the press rounds with his sister, Lori Arnold. The two are promoting Queen of Meth, the new Discovery+ docuseries that digs into Lori’s time breaking bad as a real-life Walter White.

According to Discovery+, the three-part series sees Lori confronting “her past by visiting old haunts and rehashing memories with friends and family, including her famous brother, Tom Arnold. Lori and Tom’s vivid recollections of their formative years reveal hidden family secrets and trauma, poignantly piecing together how Lori’s disturbing childhood and wild adolescence led her down a drug-riddled path. More than a trip down memory lane, Queen of Meth showcases just how this highly successful and unlikely entrepreneur oversaw a multi-million-dollar meth empire, and how even within the ravages of addiction, she was able to flip poverty to prosperity.”

In an interview with Page Six, Tom admitted that if Lori’s story “wasn’t happening to my own sister and the town I grew up in, I would say it wasn’t true, but it is. The story is wild, but really well done, and highlights a problem that is happening in our country today with addiction and the repercussions from it.” Queen of Meth arrived on Discovery+ last week and is getting positive reviews for its simple and frank approach. But Tom sees this as just the beginning of his sister’s story being told. He’s currently adapting Lori’s life story into a scripted series, and has some major names in mind for the starring roles. For Lori, who was once dubbed “Scarface in a skirt,” Tom only has eyes for two-time Oscar nominee Margot Robbie.

“I really want to make this a scripted series and I know it can happen,” he said. “Margot would be great to play my sister because she is a badass and so is Lori. I can see her doing a total transformation similar to what Charlize Theron did in Monster.” (Did he see I, Tonya?)

Of course, Tom will also be a character in the script. And while he’d prefer to play himself, he does have a Plan B: “[I]f I am unavailable, Leonardo DiCaprio will do just fine,” he said.

Robbie and DiCaprio might be two of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood right now, but someone familiar with Arnold’s project confirmed that he is indeed approaching them about being part of his family album. Whether either one of them will pick up when an assistant yells “The guy from Hunt for the Trump Tapes is on the phone!” is another matter entirely.

(Via Page Six)

It’s been a tough year for some of the nation’s most beloved venues. The onset of the pandemic and subsequent quarantine meant staying away from massive gatherings like crowds at The Forum or the Staples Center was the safe choice, with plenty of canceled tours in the wake, and seeing those musical monuments sit empty has been hard on everyone. Now, there’s light on the horizon, as one of LA’s biggest and best arenas is ready to re-open its doors.

That’s right, the Hollywood Bowl has officially announced their 2021 lineup, and it includes some surprising and unexpected names. For instance, I highly doubt most Stripped diehards had not one but two nights of Christina Aguilera headlining the bowl on their 2021 bingo card, but that’s what we’ve got coming up in July. There’s also big appearances from Kamasi Washington, Earl Sweatshirt, H.E.R., Brittany Howard, Jamila Woods, Herbie Hancock, and a whole lot more.

The entire summer calendar announcement is included below, even the LA Phil dates, so please check out the venue’s website for more information on those bookings. Normally we don’t cover a lot of the classical music performances, but after a year of no concerts, I have a feeling those nights will be more populated than ever.

Check out the full listing below:

05/15 —Dudamel and the LA Phil
05/17 — Pink: All I Know So Far screening
05/22 — Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev with Dudamel (LA Phil)
06/12 — Thundercat + Flying Lotus
06/26 — La Santa Cecilia
07/03 — July 4th Fireworks Spectacular + Kool & The Gang
07/04 — July 4th Fireworks Spectacular + Kool & The Gang
07/15 — Peter And The Wolf with Viola Davis & Dudamel (LA Phil)
07/16 — Christina Aguilera (LA Phil)
07/17 — Christina Aguilera (LA Phil)
07/18 — KCRW’s World Festival: Kamasi Washington + Earl Sweatshirt
07/20 — Tianyi Lu Conducts Pictures At An Exhibition (LA Phil)
07/22 — Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky (LA Phil)
07/24 — Ledisi Sings Nina Simone (LA Phil)
07/27 — Mozart and Mendelssohn with Ruth Reinhardt (LA Phil)
07/30 — Cynthia Erivo (LA Phil)
07/31 — The Princess Bride in Concert (LA Phil)
08/01 — KCRW’s World Festival: Reggae Night XIX, Ziggy Marley, Wailing Souls
08/05 — Schumann & Schumann (LA Phil)
08/06 — Tchaikovsky Spectacular with Fireworks (LA Phil, USC Trojan Marching Band)
08/07 — Tchaikovsky Spectacular with Fireworks (LA Phil, USC Trojan Marching Band)
08/08 — Dave Koz & Friends Summer Horns Tower of Power
08/10 — Dudamel Conducts Gershwin (LA Phil)
08/12 — Dudamel Conducts the “New World” (LA Phil)
08/13 — H.E.R. With The LA Phil
08/14 — H.E.R. With The LA Phil
08/15 — Blame It On Rio! with Sergio Mendes and carnival dancers
08/17 — Dudamel Leads Elgar and Grieg (LA Phil)
08/19 — Dudamel Conducts Beethoven & Falla (LA Phil)
08/21 — Sing-A-Long Sound Of Music
08/24 — Dudamel Leads Márquez and Tchaikovsky (LA Phil)
08/26 — Piazzolla & Tchaikovsky with Dudamel (LA Phil)
08/27 — Carlos Vives (LA Phil)
08/28 — Carlos Vives (LA Phil)
08/31 — Ray Chen Plays Mendelssohn
09/02 — Gershwin and Bonds (LA Phil)
09/03 — Maestro of the Movies: John Williams + David Newman conduct the LA Phil)
09/04 — Maestro of the Movies: John Williams + David Newman conduct the LA Phil)
09/05 — Maestro of the Movies: John Williams + David Newman conduct the LA Phil)
09/09 — Beethoven & Schumann (LA Phil)
09/10 — Black Panther in Concert (LA Phil)
09/11 — Black Panther in Concert (LA Phil)
09/12 — Black Panther in Concert (LA Phil)
09/14 — Yo-Yo Ma | The Bach Project
09/17 — Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince In Concert
09/18 — KCRW’s World Festival: Brittany Howard, Jamila Woods, Georgia Anne Muldrow
09/25 — James Blake (Hollywood Bowl Orchestra)
09/26 — Herbie Hancock
09/28 — Mozart Under The Stars With Dudamel (LA Phil)

Following up on this year’s album A Billion Little Lights, which Uproxx’s Steve Hyden called his “most ambitious and overall best work,” Wild Pink shared the 6-track EP 6 Songs. But he didn’t stop there. Now, Wild Pink is gearing up for another EP, titled 3 Songs, which he previews with the song “Ohio.”

The single was made in collaboration with songwriter Samia, who recently burst onto the indie scene with her 2020 debut LP The Baby. “Ohio” shows a jazzier side to Wild Pink’s music, detailing the euphoria of connection over a burst of synths. About the track, Wild Pink said it was inspired by the relief of seeing friends and family members after a long period of isolation:

“This song is about feeling isolated but then the relief that comes from seeing family/friends. It’s about getting some comfort from some of the mundane things I took for granted growing up, like daily summer storms and the hum from an oscillating fan at night. I wrote a lot of it during soundchecks on a tour with Adam Torres in 2018.”

Listen to “Ohio” above and check out Wild Pink’s 3 Songs cover art and tracklist below.

1. “Ohio” Feat. Samia
2. “Leferever”
3. “A Scene From The Eau Gallie Causeway”

3 Songs is out 6/25 via Royal Mountain Records. Pre-order it here.

For many people, seeing any animal in captivity is a tragic sight. But when an animal cannot safely be released into the wild, a captive-but-comfortable space is the next best thing.

That’s the situation for a dozen female pachyderms who have joined the Yulee refuge at the White Oak Conservation Center north of Jacksonville, Florida. The Asian elephants, who are endangered in the wild, are former circus animals that were retired from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in 2016. The group includes two sets of full sisters and several half-sisters. Elephants tend to live together in multi-generational family groups led by a matriarch.

Philanthropists Mark and Kimbra Walter, who fund the refuge for rare species, say they are “thrilled to give these elephants a place to wander and explore.”

“We are working to protect wild animals in their native habitats,” the Walters said in a statement. “But for these elephants that can’t be released, we are pleased to give them a place where they can live comfortably for the rest of their lives.”

Up to 20 more elephants are expected to come live at the refuge in the near future.

According to the AP, Nick Newby leads the team that cares for the elephants and has spent the past few years getting to know each elephant and their habits.

“Watching the elephants go out into the habitat was an incredible moment,” Newby said in a statement. “I was so happy to see them come out together and reassure and comfort each other, just like wild elephants do, and then head out to explore their new environment. Seeing the elephants swim for the first time was amazing.”

The refuge covers about 17,000 acres and will eventually include nine interlinked areas that boast a variety of habitat types, including wetlands, meadows, and woods. the center is also constructing 11 waterholes and three barns that will hold veterinary equipment. As of now, the elephants have plenty of space to roam, whether they want to stay near the barn and their caregivers, wander through the woods, play in the mud, or swim in the pond.

It’s already home to several endangered and threatened species, including rhinos, okapi, bongos, zebras, condors, dama gazelles and cheetahs.

“In the last few years, everything has changed for these elephants for the better — from their retirement to the way they interact with humans and the space they have to roam,” said Steve Shurter, White Oak’s executive director, in a statement. “For the first time in their lives, these elephants can choose where and how they want to spend their days.”