Category: News

The death of George Floyd has dominated the news cycle over the past few days. Famous figures have offered their reactions to the incident, and that includes The 1975 frontperson Matty Healy, who has often spoken up about societal issues. This time, though, Healy’s comments were met with a not-so-positive reaction.

As Metro notes, Healy took to Twitter and, in what seemed to be a reaction to Floyd’s death, wrote, “If you truly believe that ‘ALL LIVES MATTER’ you need to stop facilitating the end of black ones.” At the end of that tweet, Healy included a YouTube link to The 1975’s song “Love It If We Made It.” That’s the part that earned Healy some backlash, as he was accused of using the situation to promote The 1975’s music.

The tweet has since been deleted, and in another tweet that is also no longer available, Healy explained why he included the song in his tweet, writing, “Sorry I did not link my song in that tweet to make it about me it’s just that the song is literally about this disgusting situation and speaks more eloquently than I can on Twitter.’

The song features the lyrics, “We’re f*cking in a car, shooting heroin / Saying controversial things just for the hell of it / Selling melanin and then suffocate the black men / Start with misdemeanors and we’ll make a business out of them.”

Following that tweet, Healy apparently tweeted his original message again and then shared “Love It If We Made It” separately. After that, Healy deactivated his Twitter account (@truman_black), and as of this post, it is still not accessible.

Healy’s tweeting activity drew some outraged reactions from Twitter users. One wrote, “Matty healy a white male promoting his own work to profit off a movement about black people is not defendable and if you are white and defending him you have no argument in the situation it’s really that simple.” Another tweeted, “matty healy constantly speaks up about how he struggles as a white man in the industry and how his band is at a disadvantage cause they aren’t the typical pop band but his response to a black man being murdered is a link to his song??? fvck him #BlackLivesMatter.”

That said, Healy also had some users come to his defense, with one writing, “all youse non 1975 fans go listen to the song, you will realise that it’s about raising awareness, about racism and other topics. so mabye stop tryna cancel matty healy. he wasent using it to promote his own music. he was doing it to raise awareness.”

Find some more reactions to Healy’s tweets below.

It still goes unnoticed just how precarious the financial position is for Olympic athletes. When the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, athletes like track star Wallace Spearmon, a 200 meter specialist for the United States, faced a massive loss of income.

As Spearmon explains in a new episode of The Nod, a daily interview show on Quibi co-hosted by Eric Eddings and Brittany Luse, Olympians mostly only make money through sponsorship deals with brands that want to get some shine during the Games.

“The Olympic Games actually don’t pay athletes, so all your money comes from sponsor-based companies,” Spearmon told Eddings. “Now, there’s no competition, so companies are threatening to cut athletes for not being able to fulfill their contractual complications, so it’s been really difficult.”

Spearmon related it to someone with a typical day job being asked to work for three years with the promise of being paid out big-time in year four, only year four never happens and instead becomes year five. While that payday is still going to come, pushing things back 365 days can understandably make things difficult, particularly for the athletes who are dependent on getting to the Games and being compensated.

While new episodes of The Nod air daily, the interview with Spearmon airs on Friday on Quibi.

Earlier this year, Sonic the Hedgehog became the highest-grossing video game movie ever (domestic box office only), narrowly beating 2019’s Pokémon: Detective Pikachu and 2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. It may not hold the record for long, however.

Sonic and his chili dogs? You’ve met your match in Cate Blanchett and Eli Roth.

The two-time Oscar winner has joined the cast of the Hostel director’s Borderland adaptation. She’ll play “Lilith, a siren and legendary thief equipped with magical skills,” according to the Hollywood Reporter. Blanchett and Roth may seem like an odd match — I’d love to hear her thoughts on The Green Inferno — but the pair have actually worked together before, on the kid-friendly flick The House with a Clock in Its Walls.

Here’s more on Lilith:

Lilith is one of the main protagonists in the franchise, and one of the playable characters in the first Borderlands game. She is one of only six women in the galaxy that belong to the powerful “siren” class, wielding incredible, superhuman powers.

Sounds like the perfect role for Bob Dylan/Queen Elizabeth/Galadriel (the range). The Borderland series has moved over 50 million copies worldwide, good for over $1 billion in sales. That’s like 12 Hostels! Or 30 Hostel: Part IIs!

(Via Hollywood Reporter)

When the pandemic emerged on the West Coast and Seattle began their stay-at-home order, Death Cab For Cutie’s vocalist Ben Gibbard decided to offer solace through music. The singer began hosting nightly livestreams from his living room and sharing music from his decades-spanning catalog. While his livestreams are now far less frequent, Gibbard recently performed an acoustic version of an as-of-then unreleased single. Now, Gibbard returns with the official release of his hopeful track “Proxima B.”

“Proxima B” boasts a driving rhythm guitar accompanied with gently crashing snares. Gibbard’s soothing vocals narrate his longing to leave this world behind in hopes of finding life on a more promising planet. “Oh this world is startin’ to bring me down / The oceans risin’ and we’re all gonna drown / But there’s a place where you and I can go / Where we can start this mess all over,” he sings.

Explaining the track’s inspiration in a statement, Gibbard said he heard news of scientists discovering an Earth-like planet and began to imagine what life would be like there:

“This one I wrote a while ago. I’m planning on putting it out as a single. I was going to have it out as a single for this solo tour I was doing, a more ramped-up guitar version. But, obviously, the show’s not happening so we’re going to push that to the fall. This is a song I wrote about a planet that was discovered deep, deep in the cosmos, way out there, called Proxima B. The three things you need to know about Proxima B to understand the song is: One, there was a planet called Proxima B that they think has water on it. It’s somewhat Earth-like. Secondly, it orbits the star called Centauri. And three, there’s been a lot of talk of ‘Ooh, maybe we can get there at some point.’ So I wrote this song in response to that.”

“Proxima B” is seeing a release as a 7-inch single and a cassette with an unconventional cover as its B-side: Gibbard recorded his own version of Minor Threat’s 1981 hit “Filler.” While the original track is a raucous and rage-filled anthem, Gibbard infused his indie-rock sensibilities and managed to transform the song into a soft piano ballad.

Listen to “Proxima B” and “Filler” above.

Death Cab For Cutie is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The best new hip-hop albums coming out this week include albums from Ace Hood, Joell Ortiz, Kxng Crooked, Lil Yachty, Medhane, Powfu, Problem, and Yungmanny. While there are fewer big names than in previous weeks, this week retains a powerful veteran presence alongside some newcomers who have quickly made names for themselves.

Here are all the best new hip-hop albums coming out this week.

Ace Hood — Mr. Hood

Ace Hood’s last studio album, Trials & Tribulations, came out nearly seven years ago. Since then, the Deerfield Beach rapper has gone independent and completely revamped his image. Staying sharp by releasing a string of mixtapes and EPs dedicated to keeping his pen game in shape as he conditioned his body and got married, Hood will likely have plenty of mature subject matter to address as a result of his lifestyle changes.

Joell Ortiz and Kxng Crooked — H.A.R.D.

Eminem named Kxng Crooked (formerly known as Crooked I) one of the most underrated rappers in the game. Likewise, Crook’s fellow former Slaughterhouse member Joell Ortiz has remained one of hip-hop’s top-notch performers, if not one of its best-known. Linking up for an eight-song outing executive produced by Heatmakerz, this dynamic duo aims to tackle social ills with the sort of dense, rhyme-packed verses that have made them two of hardcore rap fans’ favorites.

Lil Yachty — Lil Boat 3

After taking a year off to work on his behind-the-scenes pen game, Lil Yachty has returned to form on his latest singles, “Oprah’s Bank Account” and “Split/Whole Time.” Determining that the best route to support his comeback was to lean all the way into the rapid-fire flows he made his name on, Yachty took his time in crafting Lil Boat 3, working on his physical and mental health and even taking suggestions from proven hitmaker Young Thug to ensure his latest will be his greatest.

Medhane — Cold Water

With social media and streaming breaking down the walls between what once would have been considered “backpack” or “underground” rap, Medhane has swiftly become a force among fans of soulful beats and heady rhymes. The Brooklyn rapper updates the ’90s New York sound espoused by lyrical adherents like Joey Badass, Earl Sweatshirt, and MIKE, drawing on his deep introspection for inspiration and spitting his metaphysical philosophy over scratchy samples.

Powfu — Poems Of The Past

In a Genius video breaking down his breakthrough single “Death Bed,” a recent comment laments when Powfu “used to be our little secret.” Powfu is a multi-genre artist whose material encompasses the scuffs and scrapes of teenage love — a tendency which has made him a favorite of the TikTok set and driven the YouTube views of “Death Bed” into the upper eight figures. Today’s emo kids may have found their latest champion and thanks to the exploding popularity of their favorite social app, Powfu may end up being a true breakout star.

Problem — Coffee & Kush Vol 1.

The Compton star returns with a new project executive produced by Terrace Martin featuring the single “Where I Come From.” With production from 1500 or Nothin and Mike & Keys, the 10-song project is another career evolution for the versatile Problem, who previously promoted the project with the short film, A Compton Story.

Yungmanny — Confused

Prince George’s County, Maryland is having a moment, as DMV representers Kevin Durant and IDK linked up last week for the soundtrack to Durant’s basketball documentary Basketball County: Something In The Water. IDK served as music supervisor, putting his position to good use to promote some of the most vibrant up-and-coming voices from his community — including Yungmanny, who at just 16 has already become a star in his city. On Confused, the teenager sets his sights on the rest of the world, showing off his off-kilter flow and surreal sense of humor.

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

By now, you’re almost certainly aware of the viral video, showing a racially-charged confrontation, that sources from avid bird watcher Christian Cooper’s Facebook account. The clip shows Amy Cooper (the two aren’t related) calling the cops and falsely reporting that Christian was threatening her life, after he simply asked her to leash her dog. The confrontation took place in a portion of Central Park where dogs are required to be leashed, and Amy has since lost her job and faced backlash for her actions, which has also brought the “Karen” label back into discussion.

Christian told CBS that he recorded the video because “I wasn’t gonna participate in my own dehumanization and feed that.” He’s also now receiving renewed attention for his trailblazing ways in the comic book world. The Harvard-educated Christian, who’s a former Marvel editor and writer, is being recognized for creating the first gay character, Yoshi Mishima, in a Star Trek comic. This character is also the first gay human in the Star Trek universe, as noted by Out. The outlet credits Christian with digging deep into discrimination issues not only within the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy comic but also with his work on the Ghost Rider and Vengeance titles.

In 1998, E! Online quoted Christian as saying he wrote Yoshi as “gay all along, but I just never came right out and said it.” Marvel Comics Editor Bobbi Chase further explained that Christian was “trying to make a strong case that the Star Trek future is a utopian future where tolerance of all beliefs and of all races…is the name [of the game].” In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Yoshi was part of a training squadron with his roommate, Matthew Decker. At the time, William Shatner said of Yoshi, “May he fly farther and faster.”

(Via Out & E! Online)

The coronavirus pandemic caused some major changes in All Elite Wrestling’s 2020 plans. Some of these have been obvious every time you turn on TNT on a Wednesday night, but in an interview with Wrestling Observer Live, Jim Ross revealed a planned change to the AEW touring schedule that fans might not have guessed was in the works.

According to Ross, AEW planned to add house shows in 2020. “There were some live events penciled into the schedule until the virus.” Their purpose? To help performers improve their skills – and for AEW to bring in some extra cash. Ross explains (transcript from Fightful):

You can’t get better working one night of the week. It doesn’t matter who you are. There are some minor exceptions. Chris Jericho doesn’t need to work three or four days of the week to be grateful. He can be great working on Wednesday nights. But a lot of guys need to continue to work under the supervision of the coaches in AEW to continue to learn the fundamentals, primarily slowing down, using psychology and selling.

Because you’ve been in the business for 10 years doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a 10-year veteran. It could mean you’ve had the same experience 10 times. Getting house shows is important for developing talent and for revenue going forward, but who the hell knows when is that going to be? It won’t be any time soon apparently.

So in addition to Dynamite, Dark, and pay-per-views, an AEW house show/live event could be coming to a venue near you at some point in the future that nobody can predict yet.

Polo G’s first single only dropped in 2018, but he has already established himself as a hip-hop force. That is especially true lately, as his new album, The Goat, peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, earning the 21-year-old Chicago rapper the highest chart placement of his young career. Now he has celebrated his success with a new short documentary, which shares the title of his latest record.

The doc, which runs for about 13 minutes, opens with Polo riding in a car on a snowy Chicago day, and he speaks about his long-held ambitions in a voiceover, saying, “Ever since [I was] a kid growing up, I always knew for a 100 percent fact I wanted to be something. I knew I wanted to be rich, I knew I wanted to take care of my family. I always knew there was more to life than just my neighborhood.”

He later expands on that point, continuing, “As a young kid, my goal always was to break the curse of poverty. I didn’t have no real goal in particular, like, to make it to be this, to make it to be that. I wanted to do [so many things]. At one point in time, I wanted to be a boxer. At one point in time, I wanted to be a wrestler; I was such a big WWE fan. But I always had rap as a hobby.”

The film goes on to show footage of Polo as a youngster, as well as more recent videos of him in the studio.

Watch the documentary above, and read our review of The Goat here.

Former NBA player Stephen Jackson said on the TODAY Show on Thursday morning that when he saw a text message from a friend showing the video of George Floyd’s death, he thought it was “just another video that she sent me of another black man getting murdered by the police.” Jackson didn’t realize until moments later that it was actually his best friend,, a man who “genuinely supported” Jackson throughout their lives since growing up together in Houston.

“I’m the type of guy that will get a face full of tears if I saw a homeless man on the street that I can’t help, let alone my best friend on TV for the world to see getting killed over fake $20 bills, I haven’t been the same since I’ve seen it,” Jackson told TODAY host Craig Melvin.

It was Jackson’s latest comments on Floyd’s death, as the retired guard/forward has shared his pain on social media in the days since a video emerged depicting a police officer putting their knee on Floyd’s neck for several minutes while he expressed that he could not breathe. Jackson isn’t the only NBA player who has spoken out in recent days —LeBron James simply posted “STILL!!!!” on Instagram beneath a photo of himself from 2014, when he and other NBA players protested the death of Eric Garner at the hands of the police by wearing shirts that quoted Garner in the last moments of his life: “I Can’t Breathe.”

Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said in an interview with Yahoo Sports that “I don’t think it’s just law enforcement that we need to worry about. That’s one part of it. They’re in a position of power. But I just think in general, for our whole community, we have to have a better understanding of others’ needs, their concerns, their culture. We need to do a better job.”

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr took to Twitter to call Floyd’s death “murder.”

The Warriors’ star player, Steph Curry, struck a similar tone in an Instagram post showing Floyd lying beneath the weight of the officer. Wrote Curry: “George pleaded for help and was just straight up ignored, which speaks loud and clear that his black life didn’t matter.”

Former Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade called for unification in this time.

Yet the personal note of Jackson, who said he could hear Floyd’s 6-year-old daughter crying in the background of a phone call with her mother this week, and nearly broke his hand punching a wall at his home in fury when he found out what had happened to his “twin,” showed the direct impact this tragedy had on the NBA community.

“What’s killing me the most about this whole thing is being a professional athlete, so many people abuse your friendship and your kindness, and he was one of those guys that genuinely supported me and didn’t call unless he really needed it,” Jackson said on TODAY. “You don’t have many people that genuinely support you without any motives, and Floyd was that guy.”

Grimes is known for her unconventional approaches. Whether it’s giving her child with Elon Musk a series of letters and symbols as a name or admitting to only eating spaghetti for a full two years, Grimes pushes boundaries both in her music and her personal life. Now, Grimes is taking things one step further and actually selling her soul in an upcoming online art exhibition.

This week, Grimes plans to make her fine arts debut in online exhibitions, according to Bloomberg. Titled Selling Out, the singer is posting her drawings, prints, photographs, and conceptual pieces for sale, including a piece of her soul. Some artwork, like her prints, can be purchased for a couple of hundred dollars. But other pieces more abstract, like a legal document that grants the purchaser a percentage of the singer’s soul.

When Grimes originally conceived selling a piece of her soul as art, she originally priced it at $10 million because she “didn’t want anyone to buy it.” But as the pandemic worsened, Grimes was eventually against placing a hefty pricepoint on the piece. “With the current state of the world, do you want to put something up for $10 million?” she said. Eventually, Grimes decided her soul would be up for “best offer.”

In an interview with Bloomberg about the exhibition, Grimes said she sees her music second to her visual art. “I see myself as a visual artist first and foremost and I’ve always felt strange that people know me for music.” Much of her inspiration comes from her fascination with the world of video games. “I feel annoyed when people approach digital art or video games with disdain,” she said. “Some of the most arresting, emotional, jarring artistic experiences I’ve had in the last few years have been in video games.”

Grimes exhibition will be presented jointly by two LA galleries. Selling Out premieres with Gallery Platform Los Angeles May 28th through June 3 and continues with Maccarone Los Angeles through August 31.