With Valentine’s Day coming up this weekend, we felt like it was high time to talk about the Clover Club cocktail. Yes, this is a pink drink, but it’s also one of the most iconic cocktails of the 1800s and the Philadelphia cocktail scene back in those days. Plus, it’s one of my favorite sour variations across the board.
All suitable reasons for you to make this your first-ever homemade pink cocktail.
The key to the Clover Club is raspberry. You need to build raspberry into the body of the drink via raspberry syrup. While you can make your own, you can also buy a bottle right here for $10. You can use the extra syrup to pour over ice cream, make raspberry sodas, or construct more Clover Clubs. You can also add dry vermouth, but that threatens to take away from the beautiful simplicity of the drink.
The rest is a pretty standard sour variation that’s very shaken. The most technical part is that you’ll need to use a little elbow grease on the shake to get that egg white nice and frothy (you don’t really need to dry shake this one first). Other than that, you’ll just need to squeeze and strain some fresh lemon juice, making the Clover Club easy to master over a weekend at home.
Two things, use a standard dry gin. You don’t want something overly wrought in the base as it can overwhelm the softer nuances of the cocktail.
Also, please use fresh, ethically raised eggs. They taste and froth better, if nothing else.
Zach Johnston
What You’ll Need:
Cocktail glass, coupe, or Nick and Nora glass
Cocktail shaker
Cocktail strainer
Jigger
Juicer
Sieve
Cocktail stick
Zach Johnston
Method:
Pre-chill your glass either overnight in the freezer or with fresh ice while mixing.
Add gin, fresh lemon juice, egg white, and raspberry syrup to the shaker.
Top the shaker with ice, affix the lid, and shake vigorously until the shaker is very well-chilled and completely frosted over (once the shaker fills too cold to go on holding it, shake for another ten seconds).
Strain the glass into the pre-chill glass (remove ice first if needed).
Let the cocktail rest for a minute so that a layer of whipped egg white creates a layer on the top of the cocktail.
Spear three raspberries and balance the stick on the edge of the glass.
Serve.
Bottom Line:
Zach Johnston
This is one of the drinks that makes you say “ahhhhh…” from the first sip. The raspberry body of the drink offers a bright-yet-slightly-earthy foundation. The botanicals from the gin just peek in through the fruit and citrus. The egg white turns into pure silk, making this a velvety sip.
It’s so refreshing. Light, yet full of strong flavors.
The best part is using your raspberries as little bowls to scoop out a little of the cocktail and egg white. You pop that raspberry into your mouth with the cocktail filling the cavity and you have a texture and flavor burst that’s tough to match. Hopefully a nice start to a very sensuous weekend.
Barleywine isn’t what it seems. First of all, it’s definitely not wine. Crack one open expecting a drink made from fermented grapes and you’ll be very disappointed. The moniker comes from its alcohol content. Barleywine, like all beers, is made with malts, yeast, water, and hops, but the ABVs are more like wine-ish — typically in the 6-12% range.
There are two main styles of barleywine on the market these days. The first is the American barley wine, which has a bit of extra bite from hops. This is because Americans love hops almost as much as we love apple pie, the designated hitter rule, and Easy Cheese. The other version is the English style. It’s known to be much less bitter with a much fruitier, maltier flavor profile.
Due to its high alcohol content, and rich, malty flavor notes is perfectly suited for winter drinking. So we asked a handful of bartenders to tell us their go-to barleywines to enjoy this February.
It’s perfect and loaded with malt and a light tannic flavor from juniper berries. Too easy to drink. Helps with the relentless gray skies that make Chicago winters so tough.
Andy Printy, beverage director at Chao Baan in St. Louis
Anabasis from Side Project in St Louis has to be one of the best barleywine approaches of all time.
Aged for 18 months in ex- Blanton’s bourbon barrels, this one is as complex as they come. It’s rich, full of caramel and toffee, and finishes with a touch of bourbon and oak.
Coniston Brewing NO.9 is a barley wine worthy of your palate for several reasons. Imagine opening a bottle of toffee and caramel accented liquid apples with a hint of deep malt and marzipan. This barleywine carries a warming sensation when enjoyed on a cold night, and offers an 8.5% ABV which is can’t be overlooked but isn’t quite the overwhelming 12% that some barley wines carry.
Surly Fourteen Barrel. They used Parker’s Heritage barrels and you really get the whiskey character. Lots of vanilla and baking spice, but there’s also an unexpected little zing of hops in there too.
Barleywines are perfect for the winter. One of the best this year is Sierra Nevada Bigfoot. This hefty ABV barleywine shines through with deep delicious notes of plum and currants. Brewed by Sierra Nevada since 1983, this release has become one of the brand’s classics and is sought out by beer nerds around the world.
While not being released in 2021, be sure to keep an eye out for Sierra Nevada’s barrel-aged version for a true treat.
I must admit this category is not one of my strongest and I have not had many experiences with barley wine. I have tried one I did not hate, it was Lagunitas Olde Gnarlywine. It tastes pretty smooth and had interesting flavors such as toffee and caramel that meshed well together.
Writing this makes me want to start trying more barley wine to see if I can get behind this as much as some of the other bartenders.
The sweet potato barley wine at Local Relic Brewery is amazing vanilla and marshmallow with roasted sweet potato. During cold Colorado days, this beer feeds my soul at 12% ABV. It’s sure to get you feeling “real nice.”
The cool thing about this brewery is there are no flagships, so they brew over 200 different beers a year.
Anchorage Brewing Company makes a world-class barleywine, A Deal With The Devil.
As the name implies this is a seriously flavorful beverage. With little to no alcohol burn, this barleywine is great for first-timers. Fully delivers on the dark berries and stone fruits with waves of chocolate, vanilla, oak, burnt sugar, and cognac. Awesome with hearty winter meals or on its own for dessert with a bit of dark chocolate.
The Bruery Saule. Bourbon barrel aging lends dark fruit notes with a rich chocolatey boldness that fills your soul. Drinking one is truly a rich, memorable, flavor experience.
Sisyphus from Real Ale is in the top tier of craft beers the hop character makes lovely briny bouquet. If you ever get a chance to try it, don’t miss the opportunity. You won’t be disappointed.
Today was a big day for women in hip-hop. Kash Dolla released the Goldilocks-inspired video for “Bossa Nova,” new Quality Control signee Lakeyah bared her heart with “Worst Things,” and Queen Key made a triumphant comeback via her video for “Too Hot.” It only seems right that one last newcomer solidifies her presence alongside the latest wave of fire female talent in rap music. Sacramento-bred Stunna Girl has been making a name for herself for a bit, recently signing with Epic Records. Today, she shares the first fruits of that partnership with the video for her new single, “Still Smoke.”
The first thing that grabs the listener’s attention is the beat, a bombastic confluence of New Orleans bounce chants and the synthesizer theme from Eddie Murphy’s 1984 comedy classic Beverly Hills Cop (it’s a big year for women and Murphy’s ’80s hits in general, with Megan Thee Stallion contributing to the theme for his Coming To America sequel). The next thing is Stunna Girl’s voice, which is brash and brassy, just a hair below shouting, and her guffaw-producing punchlines. “I just counted up a mil and still feel broke,” she humble-boasts. If that’s an example of the drive she’s operating with, then she’s definitely going to hustle until she’s a star.
Check out Stunna Girl’s “Still Smoke” video above.
Judas and the Black Messiah (HBO Max movie) — This Awards-tipped movie can’t stop with the talent. Starring Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, and Jesse Plemons, this film could be an awards contender. The story revolves around William O’Neal, who infiltrates the Black Panther Party in Illinois after being offered an FBI plea deal. His mission? To gather intelligence upon the head honcho, Chairman Fred Hampton.
Hip Hop Uncovered (Friday, FX 9:00 & 10:19 p.m.) — This six-part docuseries will air two episodes tonight. The first one introduces five contributors (Big U, Deb, Trick Trick, Bimmy and Haitian Jack), who are hip hop’s unsung legacies. We’ll see how the O.G.s learn to hustle to rise up and sharpen their collective business acumen while making a better life for their families.
Wandavision: Episode 6 (Disney+ series) — Halloween arrives in Westview, and there’s some suggestive Devil-related revelations that might change this whole show’s angle. We’ll have to wait and see how that plays out, but last week, Marvel fans were thrilled to tip their hats to Kevin Feige for what’s easily the best episode of the series so far. Watch out for that brutal Easter egg, though.
Last Week Tonight: Season 8 Premiere (Sunday, HBO 10:00 p.m.) — Everyone’s favorite sarcastic and satiric late-night host has finally returned (after blowing up 2020 and getting weird with poor, sweet Adam Driver), and not a moment too soon. A while lot has happened since we last saw John Oliver break down exactly what’s wrong with our society in a way that only he can do, and let’s hope that he brings back that award-winning hoodie, so we can all get fancy with him.
Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (Netflix series) — Director Joe Berlinger (Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, the Ted Bundy movie starring Zac Efron and Paradise Lost, the HBO documentary trilogy about the West Memphis Three) launches this new anthology series that explores why some notorious crime locales gain their reputations. This season’s all about L.A.’s so-called “hotel death” and what happened when a young woman named Elisa Lam disappeared without a trace and after behaving bizarrely. Along the way, Berlinger seeks to crush conspiracy theories and vanquish ghost theories, although the whole affair is still a spooky ride.
Map Of Tiny Perfect Things (Amazon Prime film) — Time loops somehow don’t get old, especially after Palm Springs and Russian Doll freshened-up the concept once more. In this film. two teens find themselves reliving the same day while inexplicably drawn together. It’s a love story, of course, where they weigh how and whether to escape their never-ending yet ultimately perfect day.
Into the Dark: Tentacles (Hulu film) — The monthly horror-movie series returns with a psychosexual horror-thriller about love, or love gone wrong at least, when a young Los Angeles couple falls deeply in love, only to find that their intimacy takes an enormously dark turn. Happy holiday of love, y’all.
Here’s the rest of this weekend’s notable programming:
Saturday Night Live (Saturday, NBC 11:29 p.m.) — Regina King hosts with musical guest Nathaniel Raitliff.
Supermarket Sweep (Sunday, ABC 8:00 p.m.) — Leslie Jones and every bit of her enthusiasm will host contestants in this revival of the grocery-shopping game show.
The Equalizer (Sunday, CBS 8:00 p.m.) — Queen Latifah’s toting the gun in this reboot as enigmatic former CIA operative Robyn McCall. This week, she must rescue a boy who’s been kidnapped by a human trafficker, and she must pull off unorthodox information procurement to save the day.
The Lady and the Dale (Sunday, HBO 9:00 p.m.) — The Duplass Brothers are at it again. This week, they conclude the story of Elizabeth Carmichael, whose mysterious past casts a shadow upon her release of a 1970s fuel-efficient vehicle.
Shameless (Sunday, Showtime 9:00 p.m.) — The Milkoviches next door can’t cope with that late-breaking bullet from last week, so Ian and Mickey must help, and Liam is attempting to deal with his role in the mess.
Your Honor (Sunday, Showtime 10:00 p.m.) — It’s limited series finale time for the Panic-Cranston series, and the main man is still breaking bad as a corrupt judge. Adam’s reeling, Eugene is seeking justice, Carlos concludes his trial, and Michael is still a goddamn mess. Fun!
Here are a few more streaming picks:
To All The Boys: Always And Forever (Netflix film) — Noah Centineo’s reign as the Internet’s Boyfriend may be coming to an end with the conclusion of Netflix’s smash-hit, romcom trilogy. Lana Condor’s still keeping Lara Jean’s head on as tightly as possible while things get dreamier with her boyfriend, although everything could change with their oncoming plans for college. Will they both go to Stanford and keep their love alive, or will Lara Jean depart school in New York City? Long distance love isn’t so lovely, and god only knows what else can be revealed in this film that they haven’t shown in this trailer (this franchise is a master at the art of revealing the whole movie in a few minutes), but fans will be excited to find out whether Peter and Lara Jean can actually make it beyond their idyllic high school setting.
Malcolm & Marie (Netflix film) — Zendaya and John David Washington are getting “achingly romantic,” not to mention dramatic, in this black-and-white film shot during lockdown. Sam Levinson directs and Marcell Rev is on cinematography, so the film looks achingly beautiful as well. Washington’s character is celebrating his movie premiere, and Zendaya portrays his girlfriend, and something goes wrong once they return home with revelations flying and their love put to the test. Levinson meant to send an ode to the Hollywood romances of yesteryear with this one, so Happy (early) Valentine’s Day.
More Than Miyagi (Streaming on VOD platforms) — The The Karate Kid films would never have translated with a lesser Miyagi actor than Noriyuki “Pat” Morita. He was Oscar-nominated for the first film, and as Ralph Macchio reveals in More Than Miyagi (a new Love Project Films documentary), his one Morita-centered regret is not being able to walk the awards red carpet with his friend. Cobra Kai fans will also love this film full of revelations from an impressive assembling of Morita’s well-known co-stars, all of whom express nothing but love and respect for an icon.
The New York Times Presents: “Framing Britney Spears”: New Episode (FX on Hulu) — The seemingly unending saga of mega pop star Britney Spears’ controversial conservatorship is only one focus of this docuseries that aims to do a deep-dive, retrospective view on how Spears’ life and career has also been shaped by public perception and the press. It’s been a long twelve years for Britney under her father’s financial thumb, and that followed a few years of public chaos, which I’m sure you will never forget. Her fans rally in this series for her “freedom,” given that Britney has vowed not to work again until she can make her own decisions again.
If Valentine’s Day reminds us of anything, it’s that there are endless ways to express love. Some buy their lovers chocolates, while others get their partner(s) stoned and hand them a vibrator. And for some couples out there, there’s no better celebration of romantic love than going to town on one another at an adult resort in full view of other patrons or, even bettter, getting busy with a few of their fellow guests.
Thankfully, there are plenty of resorts around the world eager to greet people like these with open, oiled up arms. Whether you’re an experienced swinger or a young couple looking to test the lifestyle for the first time, the one thing everyone talks about after visiting is how welcoming this community is.
Today we’re checking out seven resorts where guests are encouraged to be themselves when it comes to romantic and sexual expression. To help you savvy the vibe, we asked real patrons of these properties to share their honest feedback.
Hedonism II is considered the gold standard of adult resorts, a 280-room clothing-optional, beachfront hotel in Jamaica that’s long been beloved by the sexually adventurous. In 2021, they made the jump from hosting the famous Young Swingers Week takeover to buying the brand outright. Take that move as yet another signal that more and more 20 somethings are diving into this scene.
Despite their reputation as a destination for those experienced in the lifestyle, Hedonism II also openly welcomes those first dipping their toe into sex resorts. And with a Prude side (as opposed to their Nude side), all are welcome.
The Experience:
I went into Hedonism with some preconceived judgments and came out realizing it’s a place for people to go where they can be totally free to express themselves without fear of judgment. I found a lot of the people I talked to were self-conscious about x, y, z kink, fetish, or even their bodies back in their hometown, but Hedonism gave them an escape that felt really accepting and nurturing.
Also, I took a squirting workshop and it was bananas.
In Puerto Morelos, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen on the Yucatan Peninsula, is a couples resort where “inhibitions do not exist.” 88 villa-style rooms cater to guests charged with sexual energy, who spend their days sipping tropical drinks by the pool or beach, and the nights participating in themed parties designed to help couples create a connection.
As an all-inclusive resort, the only thing guests need to worry about is who is coming back to their room when the sun goes down.
The Experience:
We visited Desire Pearl as a fun vacation where we could explore our comfort level and just do something crazy for once. It took us a couple of days to get used to everyone being nude, but we realized that by keeping our swimsuits on, we stood out more. It was very liberating and not as awkward as we had imagined. We enjoyed each other outside where others could have seen us, without any fear of getting in trouble, and we watched other couples satisfy their desires in a variety of ways, including swapping.
The best part is that everyone is incredibly friendly and welcoming, and not judgmental or pressuring at all. It’s really a very natural feeling once you get past the stigma of ‘I’m not supposed to do this.’ Anyone who wants to experience a highly sexually charged environment, without any pressure or fear, should try a lifestyle resort at least once. It will be a vacation you will never forget!
— Sam and Jenna, 30s, of Fayetteville, Arkansas
Average room rate:$600/night (currently 50 percent off)
Located on the beautiful Mayan Riviera in Cancun, Desire Riviera Maya (same family as Pearl, but a separate resort) is a 95-room, clothing-optional resort. A rooftop jacuzzi makes for the perfect viewing platform to see the sunrise and sunset, and the rooms are beautifully decorated, whether they’re in the garden view area or one of the high-end Passion Suites.
Like Pearl, Desire caters to couples only — stimulating the senses and invigorating sexual connection.
The Experience:
I’ve chosen Desire Riviera Maya for sexy takeovers along with my travel partners Luxury Lifestyle Vacations Club, for many years for several reasons: It’s an upscale all-inclusive, adults-only, couples-only resort with 5 different dining options. Even if you are not European or it’s not usually your style, we all can appreciate no tan lines making their clothing-optional policy very appealing.
Desire has its own great entertainment staff and larger takeovers can bring their own DJs and entertainment from around the world to add to the fun. Theme-nights give us all an opportunity to enjoy dressing our sexiest even beyond what society thinks grown women and men should dress like for a night out.
— Taylor Sparks, 60, [She/Her] Erotic Educator and Founder of Organic Loven, one of the largest BIPOC-owned online intimacy shops
Sea Mountain Inn (SMI) is a small lifestyle hotel just north of Palm Springs in Desert Hot Springs that was converted into a swinger’s paradise with a zen feel and an atmosphere that lends itself to a sensation of sexual openness. Open 24 hours a day and catering to couples and women, 15 rooms are available to guests who want to stay overnight, though day passes are also available.
Guests are encouraged to indulge their desire to bare it all and see where it takes them.
The Experience:
We have been several times, running into locals from Southern California to long-distance travelers from other parts of the world. Having sex out in the open next to the pool is thrilling knowing there is an audience just waiting to join in and help in the coming orgasm. Saturday night is always a blow out night: getting 15-20 people in the spa where everyone is playing together is a visual you will never forget.
While not technically a resort, The New Society For Wellness, aka NSFW, caters to the sexually adventurous looking for fun, connection, and community. With a staunch pro LGBTQIA+ attitude, a commitment to enthusiastic consent, and a track record of putting racial equity at the forefront of their mission, NSFW encapsulates the ideal form of sexy exploration — one in which humanity is recognized.
The clubhouse is an excellent place to explore and play with like-minded others, whether you’re there to learn or to teach.
The Experience:
The NSFW clubhouse is NYC’s sexiest adult playground. The space is a pallete of high-end kink gear and furniture — such as a Shibari rig, St. John’s Cross, pup cage, and sex swing — for you to experiment with and learn from other members. They’ve got your wildest fantasies covered!
— Daya Dare, 28, [She/They], Kink Educator and Writer
Cost:$169 for solo access, $269 for couples access monthly, $50 for individual events
Exotic Dreams Resort Hotel is in the heart of Palm Springs, only a mile off the main drag. EDRH is one of the largest swinger resorts on the West Coast with 40 rooms. This is a popular spot, with almost every weekend typically sold out. The resort boasts three pools, two jacuzzis, a sex maze, and a playroom with sex swings, benches, and crosses.
There’s no end to where people can meet and indulge in some sexy fun.
The Experience:
The main pool is the starting place to meet people. As the day progresses, your new group of friends slip off to one of the quieter pools or spa to become more intimate. As things start to heat up you can move the party to the playroom where there are two king beds and all the fun toys to put on a show.
You don’t need to get a room to visit the resort since they offer day/night passes.
A lifestyle resort unique to Europe, this 25,000 square foot former military establishment is situated in northern Poland, southeast of Gdansk. A fully-enclosed adult entertainment venue, clubs, and resort accommodations allow guests to fully let loose and explore their fantasies. This is a place for people to socialize and play, where they can gather at the man-made beach, the pool, or over drinks at the bar, where employees are ready to help patrons overcome their nerves. Guests can play in the orgy rooms, BDSM area, or back in their rooms.
The Experience:
Liberating. JC is my safe space. A weekend paradise or summer getaway for me to meet like-minded people from across Europe. Stay, play, laugh, relax and befriend. It’s a place like no other, a lifestyle paradise that makes the heartbeat and desire run through my body.
Sometimes the best new R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm and blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to what they really love in its true form, we’ll be offering a digest of the best new R&B jams that fans of the genre should hear every Friday.
This week, SZA shares a special visual for “Good Days,” Syd makes her return solo and Pink Sweats drops off his debut EP, Pink Planet. Check out the rest of the best new R&B below.
SZA — “Good Days”
In January, SZA requested that fans share good moments with her via e-mail for a fan-driven “Good Days” visual and today, part one of the compilation video arrived. The collection of fan videos doing things that bring them joy include fans doing yoga and hanging out in the park as well as clips of fans showing off their dance skills, art, hanging out in nature, and simply lip-syncing along. “Good Days” and its accompanying fan music video is truly an emotional experience.
Syd — “Missing Out”
It’s been so long since fans have heard from a solo Syd since 2017’s critically-acclaimed Fin. Ahead of Valentine’s Day weekend, the soulful singer shares “Missing Out,” the absolute antithesis to everything V-Day.
Pink Sweats — Pink Planet
Rising Philly R&B singer Pink Sweats drops off his debut album Pink Planet filled with 16 songs, plus two bonus tracks including “At My Worst (Remix)” featuring Kehlani. “Pink Planet is about love, it’s about inclusivity, and it’s about creative freedom,” he said in a statement. “Top to bottom, I’m giving a glimpse into my creative world; and I hope there’s a little something for everybody in it.”
Savannah Cristina — “Body Work”
Savannah Cristina, fresh off the release of her October debut EP Self-Care, is here with a new song to kick off the new year and it’s titled “Body Work.” Savannah takes her time singing the sensual track, which is filled with positivity and love, giving fans something more to look forward to in 2021.
Lucky Daye — Table For 2
Lucky Daye‘s Table For 2 is an R&B 6-pack featuring women on every song. It includes the previously released “On Read” featuring Tiana Major9 as well as standouts such as “Access Denied” with Ari Lennox and Mahalia on “My Window.” On Valentine’s Day, Lucky Daye plans on sharing a 7-minute visual to accompany the project.
Sevyn Streeter — “Guilty” Feat. Chris Brown & ASAP Ferg
Sevyn Streeter is here with another single ahead of her forthcoming project in the form of “Guilty” featuring ASAP Ferg and long-time collaborator Chris Brown. Sevyn explores all the thoughts that flow through the mind when getting together with that special sneaky link late at night. “Guilty” is a cool, bouncy R&B vibe that puts Sevyn and Chris’ musical chemistry on full display, just in case you forgot.
Brent Faiyaz — “Circles”
Brent Faiyaz randomly tweeted out “DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS” and a Dropbox link a few days ago and if you did the opposite of what Brent advised (like myself), one will find a treasure trove of three songs and among them is “Circles.” It’s a somber track that sees Faiyaz getting a little experimental with his sound and the way he uses his voice to get his message across. “Circles” exists sonically in two parts, which is cleverly conveyed in its music video.
Jawan x Tiffany — “Finally”
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, R&B duo Jawan x Tiffany‘s latest single “Finally” is right on time. Directed by Sean Bankhead, Jawan and Tiff get sensual and expressive in the bedroom, shower, and living room, where their collective magic is dazzling in a golden essence. “Finally” is a continued sample of what fans can expect from their upcoming EP, which is slated for release sometime this year.
Eric Bellinger — “Only You”
Teaming up with Hitmaka, Eric Bellinger delivers a summery banger titled “Only You.” It’s all part of their collab EP 1-800-HIT-EAZY. All things considered, it only makes sense for two of the industry’s biggest hitmakers to come together on a project.
Mario — “Luxury Love”
Mario‘s Valentine’s Day gift to fans is a new song titled “Luxury Love.” “When people think of the word luxury they normally think of materialistic and extravagant gifts,” he said about the song in a statement. “With ‘Luxury Love’ I wanted to highlight that the act of love is the luxury itself. Whatever your love language is, express that.”
Chino Cappin — “Fake Love”
Rising Atlanta talent Chino Cappin is over toxic relationships on his latest single “Fake Love.” The 20-year-old recently made a name for himself in the southern college circuit and as a new signee to Alamo Records, there’s certainly more goods to come.
Dixson — Darling EP
Dixson’s Darling EP arrived this Friday as a sweet love letter to women. 7 songs deep, the project also features appearances from Inayah and India Shawn. “Each song on Darling is a journey,” the Roc Nation signee said of the song. “They all move effortlessly, like the women the songs are about. The songs specifically about love, really come from a vulnerable place that I haven’t heard in a long time from a male R&B singer.” Get into it.
Rileyy Lanez — “When I See You (Lamont’s Song)”
No doubt, Rileyy Lanez is special. On her new song “When I See You (Lamont’s Song)” she adopts Fantasia’s 2006 hit “When I See U” and dedicates it to her late father who passed away due to gun violence six years ago today. “Losing him was the biggest heartbreak I’ve ever dealt with it,” says Rileyy. “It’s a different type of pain, a pain that a lot of us share. A song for you and your loss.”
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Today’s windfall of new hip-hop music continues. Another new entry comes from Chicago rapper Queen Key, who’s coming back after having triplets in March of 2020 after dropping her last project — the raunchily-titled Eat My Pussy Again in 2019. Now, after a year off, she’s gearing up for a strong comeback, employing a clever strategy to ensure the success of her bouncy new single, “Too Hot.”
Over the years, songs have gotten shorter and shorter to accommodate the increase of streaming and the increasingly saturated market. The mischievous Key takes full advantage of this effect with “Too Hot,” which clocks in at a trim — but endlessly replayable — 90 seconds. The beat, the rhymes, and the video are also all primed for maximum TikTok viability; the beat is bass-heavy like “Savage,” “Buss It,” and “WAP,” with quotable lyrical asides that practically beg to be culled for meme-ing (“He gon’ chew this pussy like it’s chimichanga” is my early bet). Finally, there’s a whole choreographed routine performed by a team of dancers at the beginning and the end which TikTok users are almost guaranteed to try to replicate in their own videos on the star-making platform. While making songs specifically for TikTok dances is a risky business as pointed out this week by Uproxx contributor J’na Jefferson, if the song does hit, it’ll be a long time before anyone gets another year-long break from Queen Key’s music again.
Movie star and activist Ashley Judd is recovering after a harrowing incident in the African jungle. Judd, doing work in the Congo, shared on Friday that she was injured after a “catastrophic” fall that nearly resulted in her leg being amputated to save her life.
Judd mentioned the leg injury in parenthesis in an Instagram post on Friday that was a photo of a bonobo monkey.
“I am a woman of the wilderness, as you know. Accidents do happen. I struck something in the dark and fell,” Judd wrote. “I will talk with @nickkristof at 9 am ET about this catastrophic accident (I nearly lost my leg) and what it means to be Congolese in extreme poverty with no access to health care, any medication for pain, any type of service, or choices.”
According to Deadline, she discussed the injury during an Instagram Live interview from her hospital bed. Judd, who often works in the Congo to track bonobos, an endangered ape species, said while walking in the rainforest, she tripped and fell over a fallen tree, shattering her leg in the process.
What followed was “an incredibly harrowing 55 hours” where Judd was transported to South Africa, where she needed surgery to save the limb.
Describing “an incredibly harrowing 55 hours” during which she was transported, in part by being hand-carried out, in part on a six-hour motorbike trip, from the remote rainforest location to a medical center in South Africa, Judd holds up the stick that she was biting to distract from the pain, “howling like a wild animal.” The actress, sister of Wynona Judd and daughter of Naomi Judd, recalls fading in and out of consciousness as she went into shock, repeatedly reciting “the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want” from Psalm 23.
Judd tells Kristof that despite the pain – “at the very edge of my edge” – and fear, she was fully aware of her “privilege” in having the opportunity to transfer to a fully equipped medical facility. Most Congolese people, she says, would have remained in the village, lost the leg and maybe a their life.
Judd said she wanted to share the story to show the disparity between healthcare for others in the Congo and what Americans and others around the world can get. You can watch the full Instagram Live video below.
After his recent decision to implant a $24 million pink diamond into his forehead, Lil Uzi Vert’s fans pointed out that his accessories are clearly influenced by Marvel Comic’s superhero Vision. But when it comes to his music, some of his influences are less apparent. Lil Uzi recently named the five rappers who have impacted his career the most, and some of his picks are surprising.
Lil Uzi sat down for a conversation with Fat Joe on Instagram Live where they chatted about music, wrestling, and, of course, his new forehead bling. But the two inevitably started discussing which rappers were the most influential on Lil Uzi’s sound. Some of the rapper’s picks, like Lil Wayne, were not surprising. “When I was younger girls would say I looked like Lil Wayne, so I would run with that,” he admitted. “And I would wear fedoras, and I would wear the tight polo tees with the skinnies, and wear the Vans and sh*t.”
However, some of the other rappers on Uzi’s list are less obvious. Speaking about his favorite MC, Lil Uzi named the Houston rapper Mike Jones, who’s known for his 2004 breakout hit “Still Tippin.”
“The first rapper that I ever learned lyric for lyric was Mike Jones. That’s the first rapper I learned everything lyric for lyric and I wanted to be like him… I had a Boost Mobile and my mom would give me $15 and I’d get phone cards and shit and I would spend all my money calling Mike Jones’ number ‘cause I wanted to talk to him. I remember the number by heart. To this day: 281-330-8004. I felt that star power from him. He had that star power.”
Along with Jones and Lil Wayne, Lil Uzi said Remy Ma, Kurupt, and Young Thug were also greatly influential to his sound.
Quality Control Music’s newest artist Lakeyah made a splash in late 2020 with the City Girls-featuring single “Female Goat,” helping her land a spot on Uproxx’s list of “Rappers To Watch Out For In 2021.” Now, the Milwaukee native is out to prove she can make just as much noise solo with the emotive video for her vulnerable new single “Worst Thing.”
Over a softly strummed acoustic guitar, Lakeyah dresses down a disloyal lover, detailing just how one-sided their relationship has been and daring him to do better or disappear. Meanwhile, the accompanying video alternates between visually depicted the song’s subject matter, with Lakeyah stressing over her ne’er-do-well boyfriend’s trifling ways, and a spirited performance sequence that shows she’s already got the confident delivery of a veteran star.
Maybe that’s because Lakeyah’s first taste of fame came in 2016 when the #SoGoneChallenge based on Monica’s 2003 After The Storm hit had social media going crazy with rappers taking turns spitting their slickest bars to the beat. When the then-15-year-old Lakeyah’s own submission went viral, she set a goal to sign to Quality Control Music, scamming her mom into sending her to Atlanta to attend the Art Institute of Atlanta in 2019. After several months of tagging QC CEO P on her posts, she finally got his attention with a freestyle over JT’s “First Day Out.”
She secured the signing in 2020 after P watched her video slaying another QC artist’s beat. When Lil Baby himself approved of her verse over his “We Paid,” P reached out to offer a deal just a week later. Now, the 20-year-old rapper is promoting her December mixtape Time’s Up, and slowly making a name for herself with her diamond cut delivery and skillful songwriting. Like we said in January, keep an eye out, and don’t be surprised if she’s the next hot rapper competing for a “Queen of Hip-Hop” crown by the time she’s old enough to drink.
Watch Lakeyah’s “Worst Things” video above.
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