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Despite a global pandemic, worldwide shutdown, and a month of civil unrest, the old adage, “hip-hop don’t stop,” remained true in 2020. In fact, it even picked up momentum, thanks in part to the cancelations and postponements of the tours and festivals that have been its lifeblood in recent years. Quarantined artists took the newfound free time to churn out more new music than ever, or fine-tune long-awaited projects from the comfort and safety — and occasionally, boredom — of their own homes.

Through it all, the world’s biggest genre remained as relevant as ever, as rappers delivered cutting commentary on current events with pinpoint precision and provided welcome escapes from the torrent of terrible news. From R.A.P Ferreira to Lil Uzi Vert, here’s where the best hip-hop albums of 2020 ranked.

For more of our mid-year coverage, check out the Best Albums and Songs Of 2020 Far.

30. R.A.P. Ferreira — Purple Moonlight Pages

R.A.P. Ferreira, fka Milo, has been a beloved rapper-producer for years. For his Purple Moonlight Pages album, he decided to cede some of the production duties to The Jefferson Park Boys, leaving the inquisitive lyricist to invest more energy into his already incredible bars and float fully into space like he referenced doing on album standout “Leaving Hell.” The album is a lyrical masterpiece, where Ferreira weaves philosophy, observation, and a compelling narrative into thrilling poetics.–Andre Gee

29. Ka — Descendants Of Cain

Brownsville Ka got spiritual on Descendants Of Cain, his seventh studio album. He used biblical references as the thematic impetus for the thought-provoking 11-track album, expressing that times may change, but human nature doesn’t. “Solitude Of Enoch” compares Cain’s infamous betrayal to pervasive gun violence, while “Unto The Dust” uses Genesis 3:19 to explore life and death in the Brooklyn streets. Ka uses variant aspects of the good book as his contextual foil, showing off his lyrical and contextual genius throughout.–A.G.

28. Quelle Chris & Chris Keys — Innocent Country 2

Underground stalwarts Quelle Chris and Chris Keys offered up the long-awaited sequel to their 2015 Innocent Country album right in the middle of a pandemic. People are at home, anxiety is rife, and the two Chris’ offered the world an antidote in the form of sharp, plaintive lyrics over Keys’ warm production. The feature-heavy, of-the-times project offers moments of reflection, encouragement, and biting commentary like “Bottle Black Power BUY THE BUSINESS’” “You don’t get no likes, you might decide to switch yo’ image.”–A.G.

27. Jadakiss — Ignatius

Some say hip-hop doesn’t respect its elders, while others believe that hip-hop’s elders have a hard time aging gracefully. Jadakiss‘ latest album is a powerful counterargument against both positions. It is, somewhat ironically, Jada’s first album to wholly embrace a cohesive concept rather than compiling a dozen would-be hits, it’s his most trenchant and emotional outing, and it came along 26 years into his career — five full years after his last, full-length solo release. Named for Ruff Ryders Entertainment A&R Ignatius “Icepick Jay” Jackson, who died in 2017, the album is a salute to Jada’s dear friend and a massive evolution for a rapper who had little left to prove.–Aaron Williams

26. Rod Wave — Pray 4 Love

After delivering a towering debut with 2019’s Ghetto Gospel, Rod Wave returned less than six months later with an absolutely stellar follow-up. The St. Petersburg, Florida native leans even further into his Sunday Service-esque vocalizing, delivering a pungent sermon about surviving through desperate circumstances. Recorded in only one month, Pray 4 Love offers hypnotically unforgettable melodies, but the lyrics on songs like “I Remember,” “Thug Motivation,” and the title track are what really stick to your ribs. —A.W.

25. Boldy James & The Alchemist — The Price Of Tea In China

Boldy James has long been a respected pen, but he caught lightning in a bottle on The Price Of Tea In China, a 12-track collaboration with Alchemist which may be the best top-to-bottom lyrical exhibition of the year so far. James weaved together graphic, assonant bars about survival in the treacherous Detroit streets over brooding Alchemist production. Along with James’ top-shelf bars are features with Freddie Gibbs (‘S.N.O.R.T.”), Benny The Butcher, (“Scrape The Bowl”), and Vince Staples (“Surf & Turf”).–A.G.

24. Conway & The Alchemist — Lulu

In the midst of recording gravel-backed, chrome-plated, gutter rap hymnals for Boldy James and Freddie Gibbs, West Coast producer The Alchemist still found time to spare seven illustrious, nouveau-riche drug rap tracks for the most prolific member of Buffalo, New York’s Griselda Records posse — including “They Got Sonny,” the surefire theme song to the next Scarface-ish, genre-defining gangster film. —A.W.

23. Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist — Alfredo

Alfredo follows the tried and true gameplan of Gibbs’ previous collaboration projects with The Alchemist and Madlib: give him a soulful and/or sinister beat and get the hell out of the way. Highlights from the 10-tracker include “1985,” “Frank Lucas” with Benny The Butcher, and “Scottie Beam” with Rick Ross. Gibbs doesn’t have commercial clout, but after another top hip-hop album, it’s time to talk about where he ranks among his generation.–A.G.

22. G Herbo — PTSD

G Herbo got the world’s attention with the PTSD album cover, which replaced the American flag’s 50 stars with the faces of a whopping 50 people he knew who had died. It was a brilliant commentary on how the ol’ stars and bars is complicit in traumatic violence internationally and domestically. He told that story throughout the 14-track album, with songs like the star-studded title track, “Intuition,” and “Feelings” shedding light on the lasting effects trauma inflict on underserved communities.–A.G.

21. Don Tolliver — Heaven Or Hell

It was on Travis Scott’s 2018 Astroworld cut “Can’t Say” when the entire world was introduced to Houston’s own Don Toliver, though he had just released his debut mixtape Donny Womack a day before. Fast forward two years later and the Cactus Jack artist is continuing to make a name for himself with his debut album Heaven Or Hell. “After Party,” “Cardigan,” “No Idea” are all TikTok favorites (naturally), ultimately cementing Toliver into a generation outside of Scott’s. Toliver’s rich, low-toned style of vocalization make him a unique charm in hip-hop as he offers an exclusive kind of energy over futuristic trap production.–Cherise Johnson

20. Deante’ Hitchcock — Better

Somewhere between the Southern-fried soul-hop of Goodie Mob and the tumultuous trap of Atlanta contemporaries like Lil Baby and Gunna, Deante’ Hitchcock’s debut album doesn’t just balance these seemingly opposing forces, it synthesizes and meshes them into a captivating gumbo over which he ladles a healthy dose of thoughtful introspection and witty wordplay. As autobiographical as it is philosophical, Better pushes Hitchcock as one of the most genuinely interesting artists from his hometown today.–A.W.

19. Mozzy — Beyond Bulletproof

Mozzy realized his power and gave the people a place to feel at home with Beyond Bulletproof. “If the life of Blacks matter then why we ain’t treated equal,” is a line on the project’s opening track “Unethical & Deceitful” that illustrates today’s current racial injustice climate with nuance. Further, deep inside Beyond Bulletproof lies a leader who has chosen to use his platform to push his people in the right direction with tracks such as “Boyz To Men” and “Overcame.” “I’ve been on a more progressive hype,” the Grammy Award-nominated rapper told Uproxx. “I’m on a more productive hype and more uplifting. I think it just got a lot more substance.” Mozzy’s magnetism shines on Beyond Bulletproof with a dynamic message that resonates with those it’s meant for.–C.J.

18. Young Nudy — Anyways

Young Nudy is steadily vaulting himself to the top of the “New Atlanta” discussion. His latest step-up was Anyways, his debut studio album that’s ambiguously-titled but laser-focused on its intent: delivering Atlanta hot boy talk over bangin’ beats. Nudy’s southern twang makes him a charismatic vocal presence over hypnotic 808-based production, shining brightest on “Blue Cheese Salad,” “Understanding” and “No Go.”–A.G.

17. Drake — Dark Lane Demo Tapes

It’s become something of a running gag in hip-hop that “Mixtape Drake” is often more focused and efficient than his album-minded counterpart, but the tenet holds true on Dark Lane Demo Tapes, a collection of throwaways that offers samples of everything Drake does best. By turns moody and reflective (“Chicago Freestyle“), aggressive and omnivorous (the UK drill-leaning “War“), and lighthearted (“Toosie Slide“), Dark Lane watches Drake touch all his familiar bases on an easy, in-field home run.–A.W.

16. Stormzy — Heavy Is The Head

Already it feels like a lifetime since Stormzy laid claim to grime’s heavyweight title, but in the months since, no one’s come close to snatching it away. Stormzy projects both bravado and grace on his sophomore release, sounding weathered without coming across jaded, paying homage to his forebears while maintaining his futuristic outlook, and looking quite comfortable on the throne that he built for himself.–A.W.

15. Key Glock — Son Of A Gun

Young Dolph’s prolific protege kept it simple and straightforward on both of his releases of the first half of the year(!), but Son Of A Gun gets the edge over Yellow Tape. Maybe he hit a groove and stayed in it throughout the recording of the second project, or maybe he simply saved the best for last, but either way, Son Of A Gun found its way into listeners’ rotations and stuck there with banging beats and boastful rhymes.–A.W.

14. Chika — Industry Games

Montgomery, Alabama-born rapper Chika approaches the rap game with wisdom far beyond her 23 years on her debut EP. On Industry Games, she addresses the pitfalls of the entertainment business and boldly proclaiming her mission statement to enlighten and encourage the masses. Her whirlwind lyrical skills are on full display, but so too is her whole musical heritage, incorporating gospel vocals, soulful keys, acoustic guitars, and her own warm whiskey singing voice. The industry is officially on notice.–A.W.

13. Westside Gunn — Pray For Paris

Inspired by his first trip abroad for Fashion Week, Griselda Records rapper Westside Gunn came home loaded with thoughts of the world beyond his native Buffalo, New York. Gunn sets out to “paint pictures” with a refreshing take on his usually gritty, grimy subject matter. Rhyming with his distinctive, punchline-heavy flow over lusher instrumentation than we’ve heard from him, he expands his palette, delivering some of his most polished music yet.–A.W.

12. Kota The Friend — Everything

For the past several years, 27-year-old Brooklyn native Kota The Friend has been a champion of independent record-making, grinding out his intensely personal music and refusing to compromise on quality for the sake of quantity. That approach permeates the trim tracklist of Everything, on which Kota delivers his warm brand of soulful comfort music alongside surprising collaborators like Bas, Joey Badass, Kyle, and Tobi Lou, who all come through on the strength of the respect they have for his hustle.–A.W.

11. Kamaiyah — Got It Made

After hustling her way out of a stalled label deal and securing her independence, Bay Area MC Kamaiyah picked up where she left off when she was billed as one of XXL‘s Freshmen in 2017. While the post-hyphy party anthems remain intact, Yaya also incorporates a new, defiant attitude, espousing messages of ferocious self-reliance and updating classic sounds to fit her forward-facing outlook.–A.W.

10. Jay Electronica — A Written Testimony

2020 gives us a shocking headline almost every day. The actual release of Jay Electronica’s long-awaited debut album was high on the list, music-wise. The 11-track project demonstrates why so many fans thought Jay Electronica would be a 2010s GOAT, with his existential musing and spiritually-tinged lyrics looming over warm, meditative beats — with the help of Jay-Z, who got as vulnerable as he ever has on songs like “Universal Soldier” and “A.P.I.D.T.A.”–A.G.

9. Gunna — Wunna

Gunna dropped the drip or drown conceit for his latest project, embracing astrology for WUNNA‘s branding. He made a smart move to pique people’s interest in his project — as if they needed much provocation — and he kept their attention with an 18-track offering of high-quality melodic raps over smooth, dreamy Wheezy production. When it comes to hip-hop vibe masters, Gunna is as good as it gets right now.–A.G.

8. Polo G — The GOAT

Polo G’s latest work is titled The GOAT. With more development of the formula he showed on his sophomore project, that just may be an accurate take in hindsight. Polo is adept at top-tier street rap like “Go Stupid.” But where he sets himself apart from his class is with his ability to delve into the traumatic effects that his environment has incurred on him and his fellow Chicagoans. The conditions he spoke on here shouldn’t exist, but his artistry can be part of the solution by making people feel his depth.–A.G.

7. Bad Bunny — YHLQMDLG

International pop stars dominated the musical landscape at the start of the year, and Bad Bunny was a huge part of that. Pop gets more and more universal each day because the internet has given Bad Bunny and undeniable songs like “Yo Perreo Sola” the global success they deserve: YHLQMDLG is the highest-charting Spanish-language album ever.–Derrick Rossignol

6. Lil Baby — My Turn

While his true breakout moment arrived in 2018 with his Drake collaboration “Yes Indeed,” Lil Baby announced that 2020 would be his time in the spotlight with his sophomore album, My Turn. The 20-track album saw him elevate his artistry thanks to the well-rounded body of work. His versatility and chemistry with other artists are also highlights as he effortlessly works with old and new collaborators alike, all without veering out of his lane.–Wongo Okon

5. D Smoke — Black Habits

After walking away from Netflix’s inaugural season of Rhythm + Flow with both the win and Snoop Dogg’s respect, Inglewood’s D Smoke set out to earn the distinction with the introspective spiritualism of Black Habits, which examined his familial legacy and the climate of his tight-knit community. Rhyming in Spanish and inviting his brother SiR along for the ride, D Smoke paints an autobiographical portrait that has plenty to say about the world at large.–A.W.

4. Run The Jewels — RTJ4

El-P and Killer Mike’s latest is a sledgehammer to the frontal lobe, smashing home their sociopolitical messaging with a much more polished approach. The ease with which the duo slips into their comforting chemistry belies the dynamism and urgency that propels RTJ4 as they blast the ills of capitalism and the police state with their usual, unflinchingly brutalist style of straightforward rap.–A.W.

3. Roddy Ricch — Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial

The Compton crooner’s No. 1-selling debut album finds him struggling with survivor’s guilt even as he celebrates his newfound success. It’s also home to his breakout single, “The Box,” which sat at No. 1 for 11 weeks to start the year, cementing Roddy as the standout artist his mentors Nipsey Hussle and DJ Mustard knew he could be when they co-signed him on “Racks In The Middle” and “Ballin’.”–A.W.

2. Mac Miller — Circles

The death of Mac Miller in 2018 doesn’t sting any less nearly two years later, but on the posthumous release Circles, he feels as vital as ever. Featuring songs he was working on at the time of his death, the collection is equal parts life-affirming and haunting, with Jon Brion’s production laying a canvas for Miller to demonstrate himself as an artist with so much left to offer. There might not be a more difficult listen in 2020, but Miller’s genius is underscored throughout, leaving the listener lamenting a life gone too soon.–Philip Cosores

1. Lil Uzi Vert — Eternal Atake

After more false starts than a preseason NFL game, Lil Uzi Vert’s Eternal Atake finally dropped in March — followed by a brand new deluxe album a week later. With just one feature (Syd from The Internet on “Urgency”), the 18-track album was a master class in meshing sharp technical lyricism with earworm melodies over syrupy 808-based bangers. Tracks like “Baby Pluto,” “POP,” and “P2,” show why the fans were so patient with Uzi — he’s at the top of his game, and the top of his class.–A.G.

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

The Los Angeles Lakers have a sudden roster spot due to Avery Bradley’s decision to forgo the NBA’s bubble league, citing the health and safety of his family. With the opportunity to bring someone on board and a sudden hole in the team’s backcourt, reports indicate that the Lakers are interested in bringing in someone with whom LeBron James is quite familiar.

According to Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times, J.R. Smith’s name is on the list of possibilities to don the purple and gold in Orlando.

Adrian Wojnarowski didn’t just confirm that Smith’s name appears on some sort of list, but he went as far as to say that Smith is a “leading candidate” to fill the hole on the team’s roster left by Bradley.

Smith, of course, has not been in the league since his tenure ended with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2018-19 campaign. His name has been floated whenever a team has needed someone to come into the backcourt with nothing ever coming to fruition, and there are questions about whether Smith can still be a valuable contributor, seeing as how he struggled in Cleveland while the team was in the midst of a rebuild and it’s been quite some time since he last played. The Lakers do present a unique opportunity, though, both because he’s worked out for them in the past and he’s a battle-tested veteran who has played in a whole lot of big games next to James.

With Wednesday’s deadline looming for NBA players to opt out of participation in the league’s 22-team bubble restart in Orlando, decisions are emerging across the basketball landscape. Washington Wizards forward Davis Bertans is reportedly set to avoid the bubble in a “preventative measure” before hitting free agency, and Portland Trail Blazers forward Trevor Ariza will reportedly choose to pass on the trip to Orlando in favor of visitation with his son. On the WNBA side, several players have also chosen to sit out the season which will take place elsewhere in Florida.

On Tuesday evening, another prominent NBA player reportedly made a similar choice, with Los Angeles Lakers guard Avery Bradley electing to opt out of the proceedings.

Bradley, who stood alongside Kyrie Irving in helping to lead a coalition of NBA and WNBA players voicing concerns about the restart, is reportedly concerned about the health of one of his children.

“As committed to my Lakers teammates and the organization as I am, I ultimately play basketball for my family,” Bradley told ESPN. “And so, at a time like this, I can’t imagine making any decision that might put my family’s health and well-being at even the slightest risk. As promised also, I will use this time away to focus on the formation of projects to help strengthen my communities.”

Health-related concerns are significant in any decision-making process with regard to the bubble and, in this case, Bradley has a specific family apprehension that certainly plays in a part in the process. Unlike Ariza and Bertans, Bradley is a part of a legitimate NBA championship contender, though, and the basketball-related impact of the decision will be interesting to monitor in that the Lakers will have one less option on the perimeter as a result of the choice.

According to ESPN’s reporting, Bradley is also set to forego approximately $650,000 in salary. As part of the league’s structure around the bubble, the Lakers will be able to sign a substitute player from the free agent market, though Bradley was a fixture for the team this season, making 44 starts.

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I feel like I grew up with Joel McHale, in a way. The Soup, which he began hosting in 2004, was a lodestar in the aughts, a beacon of absurdity guiding us through the soul-sucking amorality of the era. It seemed like the entire world had lost their minds, but at least we could laugh about Kardashians and the cat who ate spaghetti.

Then he was in Community, playing a character he says everyone assumed was just himself even though it wasn’t, for another show that was beloved by millions but never quite made it to the mainstream. McHale is kind of hard to pin down like that, a host, an actor, a comedian — perennially inspiring a cult kind of fandom. Every few years he’ll show up in some kind of dramatic role and be great (see: The Informant!) but people will forget about it and he’ll end up with another semi-obscure hosting gig, or show up on someone else’s talk show or podcast and be the best guest they had that year.

I get the sense that McHale reads “regular guy who sometimes slides into dramatic stuff” to the general public, but he actually has the chops. He finished the acting MFA program at the University of Washington after being a tight end on the Huskies scout team for two years as an undergrad. He just happens to be chill enough to also enjoy stupid humor.

Which I guess is what makes him feel relatable. Not to get too inside baseball, but I frequently find myself planning my interviews by dreaming up the dumbest questions I can think to ask a particular person. Sometimes it goes badly and the person thinks I’m making fun of them rather than myself (there’s a lot of nuance and intentions that goes missing over the phone); other times the person sounds so serious I can’t bring myself to ask it (see: Guttenberg, Steve). With Joel McHale, I asked the dumbest questions right out of the gate and never worried about offending him. Being the Guy Who Will Play Along seems intrinsic to McHale’s brand.

This month he was promoting Becky, in which he plays a dad whose house gets invaded by an escaped con played by Kevin James with a swastika on his head. Nazi Paul Blart, how’s that for a hook? It’s a movie that tries to compensate for its largely nonsensical plot with excessive gore — which isn’t the worst idea in the world. It’s probably not the greatest showcase for Joel McHale’s acting talent either, but hey, at least it gave me the chance to talk to a guy who helped keep me sane in the Bumfights era. I asked McHale about the legacy of The Soup, whether he suffers from not having a consistent brand, and whether Chevy Chase is really as much of an asshole as everyone says.

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So Kevin James plays a Nazi in this movie. Was he pretty method on the set?

Well, he was definitely prepared. He wasn’t method. I mean, he wasn’t walking around all the time pretending to be a white supremacist, that would be really weird. But he was definitely prepared and really good. He’s wonderfully scary when the camera was rolling and it was one of those things where people were like, “Was it a scary set? Was it weird? Was it dark?” It’s supposed to be so different than a comedy set. It is one of those things where we all know that this is a serious scene, but that doesn’t mean it’s not really fun to make.

Did you ever corner Kevin and try and figure out how you can get a piece of that Adam Sandler money?

Oh yeah. No. I held him down at gunpoint and said, “Son of a bitch. What the hell? I was in Blended, but I’d like something bigger than Blended. So what are you doing for me?” But so far, he hasn’t gotten back to me and I’m sure his security guards would try and kill me. Which they should. I’m a threat.

If you guys were still making The Soup in 2020, what shows you think would be on it?

Geez, there are so many. I think at this point we would have expanded to YouTube and things shared on Instagram, things on Reddit and I think local news would be getting a lot of traction. There’s still the Kardashians, but it’s much more polished than it used to be and there’s not a ton of, like Britney Spears-and-Kevin Federline-with-their-own-cameras. There’s less of that stuff, like when Whitney Houston or Being Bobby Brown was a show, which was just… I mean, God rest her soul and her daughter’s soul, but that show was just bonkers. And there’s not as many like that, but still, all the time there’s crazy stuff. We tried that show on Netflix [The Joel McHale Show With Joel McHale], and I wish they had hung in there with it for a little while longer to see if it that habit would catch on, but I was happy to be at Netflix and honored that they picked up the show.

It seems like they’re still trying to figure out how to do like appointment viewing for streaming services.

Yeah, I don’t know why. They don’t need to. They got all the money and they got all the hype and the momentum. So I mean, this COVID thing is terrible and awful and I can’t wait for it to be over, but if you’re a streaming service, they must be drinking Dom Perignon every night.

You’re kind of selling me on the concept of a 2020 version of The Soup. But do you think that the kind of absurdity that The Soup thrived on, does that still work now or is reality too absurd?

No. I would say if anything, reality has refined itself because they have these shows down to a science now. When reality shows really caught on and one of the reasons why they caught on so well is because they were so inexpensive. That continues to be the case so there’s no shortage of crazy stuff being put on. I mean, Love Island is a really good example. And I feel like when people say, “Well, no one’s watching TV anymore.” I’m like, “No, no, no. Everybody‘s watching. They’re watching more than anyone has ever watched. It is all people do. If they leave the house without their phone, they might as well have said, what happened? I forgot my right hand.”

You know, it’s a constantly changing, moving target, but I’m definitely not of the ilk, “There’s nothing crazy anymore so there can’t be a show.” It’s crazy all the time. John Oliver does an incredibly good job at finding clips. It’s pretty astonishing what he does. And so, I would definitely say he’s a good example of a staff that is finding incredible stuff.

Do you guys ever have Soup host reunions?

No. Well, I just did a show with… oh God what’s her name…

Aisha Tyler.

Oh my gosh. Yeah. Aisha. But that was for something else. And she is an impressive human being and her career is no joke. She’s awesome. And I really, really like her. And she doesn’t have to be as kind as she is for as accomplished and brilliant and beautiful as she is. But no, we’ve never had a host reunion. I’ve only met Kinnear once and John Henson, I had lunch with years ago.

But it was friendly with both those guys?

Yeah, it was great. At the time, Dennis Quaid was with Kinnear, and Dennis Quaid recognized me before Kinnear did. And he kind of had to explain who I was. Clearly, Kinnear was not following the show. To his credit, he was making movies and getting Oscar nominations at the time, so I don’t blame him.

If you guys have a tug of war between the past hosts of The Soup and the past hosts of The Daily Show, who do you think would win?

Oh, well that’s a good question, because Craig Kilborn is like a six foot six basketball player. I’m pretty large. Aisha’s pretty tall. I don’t know what kind of an athlete Hal Sparks is, but John Henson, he’s like six four…

Oh, is he really?

…Boy. Obviously, if you had the Daily Show, I mean, Jon Stewart’s probably cagey. You probably don’t think he’s a badass, and then all of a sudden you’re like, “Holy crap.” So I think it’s hard to tell. I mean, if you throw in all the correspondents then The Soup would definitely lose, but I don’t know. I’m set on us.

That’s good. It’s good to be confident. Do you feel like you do so many things that casting directors might not know what to do with you? You’re kind of like a host, you’re kind of a comedian, you’re kind of a dramatic actor…

I’ve not run into that. I mean, maybe it could. I know that my agents sell me on stuff and people go, “Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.” And so I know that’s the case, but I think because The Soup gets me notoriety as in myself as opposed to acting, but then it really came on with Community. A lot of people were like, “Well, Community is just you,” which was really not the case. So I take it as it comes and like getting to do a movie like Becky or Assassination Nation or Twilight Zone coming up, I love it all. I really do. Hopefully, they stay open to considering me. And if they don’t, then I will make their life hell! No. I really just love performing. I love acting. I love stand up. I love doing the podcast. …So basically I need attention all the time. I’m a golden retriever. I’m just a big golden retriever of a human being and it’s just my cross to bear.

To me, it seems like you’ll be in something dramatic and you’ll get really good reviews and then people will forget about it for a couple of years until you do something again. Is that you not getting those calls or is that you just picking other projects?

Well, with a movie, if the movie doesn’t do great, people don’t really remember it anyway. If you’re in a movie that gets really good reviews and actually gets some award buzz, that can help. But if you don’t get the award buzz, then it doesn’t help. So it’s all over the map as far as how that works. And there’s no sort of code that you can decipher to go, “Oh, this is the code to get you here.” So I don’t ever think about that. I just kind of go, “Oh, well, I like this project and I want to do it.” And believe me, I read for stuff a lot and I don’t get a lot of stuff. It goes to the people that have more established, dramatic acting career stuff.

But when it comes to comedy stuff, I’m offered a lot of stuff and I turn down a lot of stuff, but I find a code in just listening to your Spidey sense. Something like Star Girl comes up and I get to play a superhero, Star Man, and I’m beyond thrilled because I get this childhood dream come true of playing a superhero. But that doesn’t mean that I’m not constantly looking for my next thing. I’m always looking for the next thing. Yeah. So that’s a long way of saying, “I’ll basically take anything offered of me.”

So you played Chevy Chase in the National Lampoon movie [and worked with him on Community] and it seems like the consensus with him is that he’s kind of an asshole. Do you have a good relationship with him? What’s his deal?

Well, I haven’t talked to him in a year. I’ve talked to his wife. I don’t think there’s any sort of tone of secrecy over the fact that Chevy can be difficult. And when he was on Community, he was incredibly funny. He did not like the hours. And he said publicly that he hated the hours and he worked out a way to get himself shot out quickly — and he was a older gentleman with a family, so I get that. But yeah. I mean, the man is not short on confidence in any way. And he was the biggest comedy star of the 1980s. He was higher paid than Eddie Murphy. Yeah. He kind of has a reputation. That said, in A Futile and Stupid Gesture, he loved Doug Kenny. That was his best friend and he was devastated with his early death. And so the man has feelings, but it was devastating that actual event, but Janie and his kids are delightful. I have not spoken to him in a long time. I called him a long while ago to tell him I was doing A Futile and Stupid Gesture and he was very happy that Doug was getting his due in terms of notoriety because he had been forgotten even though he had created so much.

‘Becky’ is currently available on VOD. Vince Mancini is on Twitter. You can access his archive of reviews here.

Winona Ryder has spoken out about her treatment on movie sets in the past, most notably commending Keanu Reeves for not verbally abusing her at the request of director Francis Ford Coppola on the set of Dracula. One claim she did make of verbal abuse, however, got a lot more attention on Tuesday.

Ryder accused Mel Gibson of a series of disturbing things in the same interview with the Sunday Times, including homophobic and anti-semitic comments while at a party. Ryder claimed that Gibson once called her an “oven-dodger” at a party. She described the incident to GQ in 2010:

“I remember, like, fifteen years ago, I was at one of those big Hollywood parties. And he was really drunk. I was with my friend, who’s gay. He made a really horrible gay joke. And somehow it came up that I was Jewish. He said something about ‘oven dodgers,’ but I didn’t get it. I’d never heard that before. It was just this weird, weird moment. I was like, ‘He’s anti-Semitic and he’s homophobic.’ No one believed me!”

The readdressing of the incident this week caused Gibson to respond and deny the run-in happened, including an incident where Gibson used homophobic language with her friend, Kevyn Aucoin, who is openly gay. Ryder has told the story to various publications in the past, but readdressing it on Tuesday brought new denials from Gibson of the event she described as follows:

“Mel Gibson was smoking a cigar, and we’re all talking and he said to my friend, who’s gay, ‘Oh wait, am I gonna get AIDS?’ And then something came up about Jews, and he said, ‘You’re not an oven dodger, are you?,’” Ryder said. The actress has previously talked about this encounter publicly, including in a 2010 GQ profile.

Gibson told Variety through a spokesperson on Tuesday that the incident never happened, nor did he attempt to apologize for the alleged events as Ryder also claimed.

“This is 100% untrue,” a representative for Gibson said in a statement to Variety. “She lied about it over a decade ago, when she talked to the press, and she’s lying about it now.”

Later on Tuesday, Ryder gave a statement to Variety defending her claims and hoping Gibson “has found a healthy way to deal with his demons” but made it clear he would not be given forgiveness for what she alleges happened.

“I believe in redemption and forgiveness and hope that Mr. Gibson has found a healthy way to deal with his demons, but I am not one of them,” she said in a statement to Variety. “Around 1996, my friend Kevyn Aucoin and I were on the receiving end of his hateful words. It is a painful and vivid memory for me. Only by accepting responsibility for our behavior in this life, can we make amends and truly respect each other, and I wish him well on this lifelong journey.”

This isn’t the only instance where Gibson has made comments similar to the ones Ryder accused him of, including to authorities. But it’s clear he won’t be hearing an apology, or getting forgiveness, from Ryder anytime soon.