Seriously. Released on August 15th, 2023, this rye expression is a “Heritage Barrel” rye — meaning that Jack’s signature Tennessee rye whiskey was aged in specially made barrels for years until it was just right. It’s a hell of a concept out of the gate, since Jack’s base rye whiskey is already pretty spot-on as a standard pour. Using special barrels to age that whiskey only means more concentrated and heightened flavors.
Spoiler alert: This is a f*cking banger, folks. Can you sense my enthusiasm?
Read on for my full review. I also make sure to get into how to actually score a bottle. It’s not going to be easy but, holy shit, will it be worth it.
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months
This whiskey starts off with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye Whiskey which is hewn from a mash of 70% rye, 18% corn, and 12% malted barley with Jack’s own yeast and lactobacillus strains. After a slow drip-drop filtering through 10 solid feet of sugar maple charcoal (which strips oily graininess and highlights sweet fruitiness, among other notes), the mellowed juice is filled into “Heritage Barrels.” Those barrels were seasoned in the open air for years. Once coopered, the American white oak barrels are heavily toasted and lightly charred. That toasting allows the sugars to caramelize and become more easily available to the distillate while the light char means less filtering as the whiskey moves in and out of the wood.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with a deep sense of Christmas spiced cakes brimming with candied cherries and orange peels next to roasted walnuts and a moist strip of pear brandy-soaked marzipan with a light hint of homemade cranberry sauce, roasting herbs, and a light sense of fresh pipe tobacco just kissed with spicy chili-infused Mexican hot chocolate with a real vanilla pod as a swizzle stick.
Palate: That vanilla gets super creamy on the palate as eggnog with clove and nutmeg drive the taste back to candied pear, cherry, and orange with an underbelly of dry smudging sage, cedar bark, and tobacco leaves braided and rolled into an old cigar humidor with a sweet leathery edge.
Finish: The end marries the candied cherry, spiced chocolate, and vanilla buttercream into a bespoke Black Forest cake with a holiday spice vibe next to soft sweetgrass, more of those roasting herbs, and a whisper of dried ancho chili soaked in pear brandy that’s just kissed with huckleberry pie.
Bottom Line:
F*cking delicious. This was amazing neat. It sipped like a dream. Over a rock, it turned extra creamy and luscious with more marzipan covered in dark chocolate alongside brandy-soaked dried fruits and fresh gingerbread with a flake of salt.
Ranking:
100/100 — this is one of the best whiskeys of the year (so far). And value wise? It’s beyond killer.
Where To Buy:
You’re not going to find this at MSRP unless you win a lottery. Sorry, but thems the breaks on something this limited/allocated and good. It’s only been 24 hours, but this is already appearing in retail shops online for anywhere from $299 to $599.
Outside of really good whiskey bars and restaurants with a killer whiskey list, you’re going to have to pay dearly for this one. Pay it. This is truly top-tier whiskey that not only lives up to the hype but goes beyond it. This is Jack Daniel’s at its absolute best.
A month and change after Usher and Keke Palmer set the internet on fire in Las Vegas, they linked up for Usher’s new “Boyfriend” video today (August 16). In light of that, Palmer took a minute to heap some praise onto Usher, who, like many of her peers, saw him as an idol during her childhood (and also still).
Shortly after the video was released, Palmer tweeted, “Usher! I remember when I was 12 and auditioned for ‘In The Mix’ [crying laughing emoji] You have been killing it all my life. As a true lover of the arts, your talent and craftsmanship are a rare combination that I aspire to achieve as a performer. You are a living legend who is worthy of awe! Thank you for encouraging me and seeing me as the entertainer I am. I know I’m a gUrL but when I watched your videos, I never wanted to be the girl in them, I wanted to be YOU. Thank you for making a dream come true.”
Usher! I remember when I was 12 and auditioned for “In The Mix” You have been killing it all my life. As a true lover of the arts, your talent and craftsmanship are a rare combination that I aspire to achieve as a performer. You are a living legend who is worthy of awe! Thank… pic.twitter.com/IoBxDO72kS
History has shown that Palmer ended up doing fine without landing that role in In The Mix, a 2005 film that was one of Usher’s first leading roles as an actor. In fact, when she was 12, Palmer had her highly praised breakout role starring in the 2006 movie Akeelah And The Bee. In The Mix, meanwhile, was far from a critical hit.
Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has been ongoing for 18 months with no end in sight. Russians have been feeling the financial squeeze for quite some time while Putin has been whisking around the nation in his cosmetology train and presumably ducking into his pickle hideout because a leader must keep his priorities in sight. The Russian ruble, however, is finally showing enough signs of no life that Putin must be concerned.
The Kremlin attempted, however, to blame the Russia’s central bank for the crumbling currency, which recently hit another wartime low in comparison to the U.S. dollar. The effects of Putin’s war on the economy are multifold, so the issue is a complex one, and a hacker even let loose with a message that Putin surely did not love. Al Jazeera now reports that the central bank has taken drastic measures in an attempt to save the ruble:
Russia’s central bank has hiked its key interest rate by 350 basis points to 12 percent, an emergency move to try and halt the rouble’s recent slide after a public call from the Kremlin for tighter monetary policy.
The extraordinary rate meeting came on Tuesday after the rouble plummeted past the 100 threshold against the US dollar on Monday, dragged down by the effects of Western sanctions on Russia’s balance of trade and as military spending soars.
Additionally, there has been an update on Putin’s increasingly tight friendship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Putin recently didn’t seem to care how bad this looks, perhaps because he’s scoring rockets from his new BFF. Whatever the case, the two are now exchanging letters as detailed in North Korean state media, via Reuters:
North Korea leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged letters on Tuesday pledging to develop their ties into what Kim called a “long-standing strategic relationship,” Pyongyang’s state media KCNA said….
In his letter to Putin, Kim said the two countries’ friendship was forged in World War II with victory over Japan and is now “fully demonstrating their invincibility and might in the struggle to smash the imperialists’ arbitrary practices and hegemony,” KCNA said.
Man, Trump is gonna be so jealous after he had to fork over those North Korean “love letters” from yesteryear.
We’ve partied our way through Bocas del Toro and spent enough sunburnt summers in Mexico to know there’s always someplace new on the horizon in Central America. So… where will you satisfy your tropical wanderlust this year? If you’re into vibe-y Central American surf towns, I think I might have your answer. With world-renowned surfing and direct access to a UNESCO protected marine-life mecca, Santa Catalina on the Pacific coast of Panama offers much more than pretty beaches and epic sunsets (though those are pretty great).
Picture this: you start your day with a perfect tube at La Puta or eye contact with the ocean’s most majestic sea creatures on a dive trip. Feeling the midday sun overhead, you feast upon a whole-fried fish, pop into the frutería for fresh coconut water, and let hours slip away under the shade of a palm tree. What’s that? Time to dance the night away barefoot at a beach party on black sand under the shimmering stars. I’m telling you — Santa Catalina, Panama is rising up the ranks of Central America’s off-the-beaten-path destinations for intrepid travelers and digital nomads.
But it’s definitely not fully “on the radar” of American travelers by any means. So here’s the question: are you down for an adventure?
PART I — THE TOWN
Where Exactly is Santa Catalina, Anyway?
Melanie Gordon
When I say off the beaten path, I do mean off the beaten path [This is a travel section with a mostly American and Western European audience — a phrase like “off the beaten path” always comes with an implied “for American and Western European travelers” -ed]. It’ll take you five and a half hours by car from Panama City to reach the striking coastline of Santa Catalina in Veraguas, Panama. If you’re traveling by bus, an easy seven.
But trust me, it’s beyond worth it.
For reference, another one of Panama’s popular surf towns, Playa Venao, is about five hours southeast of Santa Catalina. From the aforementioned Bocas del Toro? You’re a hefty eight hours northwest by car or shuttle. But we all know that the best travel stories come from plot-thickening escapades (obviously), so find yourself off-grid and in-flow as you discover Panama’s best-kept secret.
So… How Rural Are We Talking?
Melanie Gordon
Santa Catalina is right in the sweet spot of rural living and modern-day comfort. After living in other Central American surf towns, Santa Catalina’s amenities are a breath of fresh air to me (and if I’m being honest, a sigh of relief, too). The main road is paved and the town has fiber-optic internet, streetlights, police presence, an ambulance, mini markets, public transportation, and even spring water delivered from the mountains of Boquete (this water is so pure).
Perhaps the most surprising feature is an ATM, an absolute luxury in small-town Central America!
Laidback Vibes
Melanie Gordon
Don’t worry, Santa Catalina hasn’t lost its “small Central American village” energy. Kittens play with chickens on the village road while local fishermen return home hauling the day’s catch over their shoulders. Bougainvillea and hibiscus grow uncontrollably along fence lines and horses roam free, acting as the town’s main method of lawn care. On weekends, the town church comes alive with worshippers who turn the pews into a dance party. The international travelers who come to play are met with warm, Panamanian hospitality.
Surfers may already know of Santa Catalina — the town hosted the top surfers of the Americas to compete in the 2023 Pan American Surfing Games. But don’t worry, you don’t need to be a pro to catch a ride on some of the best waves in Central America. Santa Catalina has a spot for every surfer (or wanna-be surfer).
Kooks (I mean beginners!) like me can gain confidence on the board at Playa Estero, Santa Catalina’s lengthy black sand beach (Estero is also your spot to meet and party with pretty people so… you might just want to hang there for awhile). Then there’s Playa Santa Catalina, the town’s main beach, where just about anyone can manage to catch a wave when there’s a decent-sized swell. And since you’re right in the heart of town, this is a good beach to show off your skills.
La Punta — For the pros
Getty Image / Melanie Gordon
The pièce de résistance of surf spots in Santa Catalina is La Punta. This lava rock point break is where the really good surfers come to hone their craft (and get totally pitted, bro). Seriously though, La Punta is not for the faint of heart. Not to mention the paddle out is a doozy! But this is the wave that makes Santa Catalina a world-famous surf destination! Punta Roca is another expert-only break, accessed by boat or by Playa Estero at low tide.
There are a number of hidden surf spots that you’ll hear of if you’re in town long enough… but those are top secret. Something that makes Santa Catalina different from other surf destinations in Central America is the vibes in the water. There’s not a lot of heavy localism or sense of competition (for the most part), everyone is just happy to be in the lineup. But for that to remain, guests have to be respectful and also know their limits.
Epic Aquatic Adventures in Coiba National Park
Melanie Gordon
On your trip to Santa Catalina, you can expect to do some of the best scuba diving, snorkeling, and fishing you’ll find the world over! Just over 30 miles by boat from Santa Catalina begins the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Coiba National Park — “the Galapagos of Central America”.
Included in the Coiba National Park is Coiba Island, the “Panamanian pearl of the Pacific,” prominent fishing spot Hannibal Bank, and 38 small islands in the “Special Zone of Marine Protection.” Since Santa Catalina is the nearest mainland access point to Coiba National Park, eco-tourism is growing… and quickly.
Isla Coiba: An Unspoilt Refuge
Shutterstock / Chema Photo
Coiba Island is the single largest island off the Pacific Coast of Central America!
Species on the verge of extinction, like the Scarlet Macaw, and tons of endemic species (animals only found on the island) live largely out of reach from humans in Coiba’s impenetrably lush jungle. Want to know something crazy? For the better part of 85 years (until 2004), Coiba Island was a high-security penal colony for Panama’s most atrocious criminals. Pretty strand of sand right? But there’s no doubt the island’s past helped it to become the thriving ecosystem it is.
Scuba Dive with Whale Sharks and Other Ocean Giants
One of the first things you’ll notice while walking around the little village of Santa Catalina is the sheer number of PADI-certified dive shops. It’s almost like this is an internationally-recognized mecca for scuba diving! (Wink.) It’s not uncommon to dive with humpbacks (July – November), whale sharks (December – April), hammerhead sharks (June – July), and manta rays (May – November) in Coiba National Park.
You’ll likely encounter nurse sharks, dolphins, and turtles year-round!
Okay, so you don’t have your scuba certification and you don’t want to get one. There’s a huge variety of marine life you’ll see on your snorkel trip to Coiba. Just about as much as you’d see diving! Though guarantees are hard, given the unpredictability of the ocean, Santa Catalina is a bucket-list destination for ocean lovers for a reason! Point being: get in the sea, however you feel most comfortable.
Known worldwide by big-game fishermen is Hannibal Bank, coined “Panama’s Jurassic Park.” In this part of Coiba National Park resides monstrously huge fish that would be a prize catch for any fishing aficionado (a-fish-ionado, if you will). Upwelling of deep, nutrient-dense water means plentiful fish, which in turn means bigger fish.
Massive yellowfin tuna, black marlin, and hefty dorado come to Hannibal Bank for hunting, and thus become part of a larger hunt — sportfishing!
Learn to Freedive
Melanie Gordon
Freediving is kind of the next coolest thing in the world of water sports. Or maybe that’s foiling, but either way. My life forever changed when I learned freediving in Nicaragua, so if you’re also into mindfulness and meditation, you should definitely consider a freediving course while in Santa Catalina. You’ll learn theory, like how humans withstand over 10 minutes without breathing, and practice, where you’ll do the Frenzel Technique.
Unlike scuba and snorkeling, freediving is less about what you see in the water and more about how you feel in it. It’s no doubt a mental and spiritual workout. Book a freediving course to see for yourself!
Kayak or SUP to a Deserted Island
Melanie Gordon
From just about anywhere on the shores of Santa Catalina you’ll see a white sand, palm tree-enveloped island seemingly a stone’s throw away. Welcome to Isla Santa Catalina. Sometimes I have to remind myself I’m not in the Caribbean. You’ll want to spend some bathing in Isla Santa Catalina’s crystal-clear water, taking tons of aesthetically inclined IG photos, snorkeling, and getting rid of those pesky tan lines (if you catch my drift)… AKA kayak here and forget about the world for a while.
To get to the island, rent a kayak or SUP board at Rolo Hostal or have a little boat (una lancha) to take you over to “La Islita.” Just learn from my mistake and pack snacks and drinks. I promise you’ll end up spending all day on this deserted island, so there’s no need to do it Castaway style.
Note: Please don’t bring anything you can’t take with you on your way out. Leave no trace! And don’t try to swim to the island. It’s dangerous and very embarrassing to get rescued.
Island Hop
Melanie Gordon
There are plenty of other amazing islands to explore off the coast of Santa Catalina, so hire a boat and spend the day island-hopping around Isla Cebaco, Isla Gobernadora, and Isla Tintorera. These coastline views and white sand islands are dreamy AF. Though there are tons of boat tour agencies in the village, I like to book trips renegade style. Meet a captain down on Playa Santa Catalina and ask them to take you to the best islands. You’ll have to do that in Spanish, though, or be cool with paying the tripled gringo price! It’s only fair.
Again, don’t forget your snacks and Balboas (beer), and leave no trace!
PART III — WHAT TO EAT
Santa Catalina has a surprisingly large amount of restaurants for being such a small village, so I’ll share with you my go-to’s.
SNACK: Frutería
Melanie Gordon
First up is the frutería at the very entrance of town. This is the closest you can get to farm-to-table. Not in a pretentious way, but in the literally-right-from-the-farm-to-your-table kind of way. Pick up a bag of tropical goodness (see: passion fruit, rambutan, pineapple, and papaya) for the cost of your Starbucks order. Just bring small bills so el jefe (the boss and sweet old man who runs the place) doesn’t have to chase down change.
BREAKFAST: Caricaco & Café Panachocolat
Melanie Gordon
If you crave a rich breakfast, it’s Belgian waffles with honey and bacon from Caricaco on the corner. Also, they have smoothies, the most legit coffee in town, and a whole treasure trove of fresh-baked goods. Right across from Caricaco is Café Panachocolat, this is the meeting place for gringos, so if you don’t speak Spanish, head here. And if you’re feeling something sweet, their banana bread is absolutely scrumptious when paired with their chai tea latte (which comes with a cinnamon palm tree on top!). So cute.
Both places have solid wifi perfect for your digital nomad needs.
LUNCH: Caricaco & Fonda La Arena
Melanie Gordon
If you loved Caricaco like I do, head back for lunch. Since the owner is part Panamanian-part Lebanese, the menu offers a worldly fusion. I’m completely obsessed with the Lebanese plate and the salmon bowl, but the burgers are also fabulous and everything is plated beautifully.
The best local spot?
Fonda la Arena is my top pick, hands down! This little family-run restaurant has some of the freshest and cleanest seafood in town. The service is great, and they have a cute little patio for you to people-watch from. You can’t go wrong with a filet of catch of the day (usually corvina) or the shrimp plate (salsa roja, por favor!). Rice with lentils is the traditional Panamanian side, but I highly recommend the boiled yucca, it tastes like pure butter.
PIZZA: Pizzeria Jammin’ & Sugar Mama’s Cafe
Melanie Gordon
Everyone’s favorite pizza spot is Pizzeria Jammin’. My Italian boyfriend confirms the pizza is good, and I agree, but I’d say the social scene here is the real draw. Pizzeria Jammin’ is one of the oldest restaurants in town and is kind of the place to see and be seen on a Friday night. Order up a whole pie (my fav is the veggie) with a glass of red wine, and you’ve got yourself a nice start to your Friday night.
Personally, I’m a thin-crust girl who doesn’t like an overly-oily pizza, so my preferred pie is the veggie pizza from Sugar Mama’s Cafe with slices of fresh zucchini and eggplant.
PART IV: WHERE TO PARTY
Melanie Gordon
Since it takes some dedicated travel to reach this part of Panama, the type of people you’ll meet in Santa Catalina are rad and down to earth, as are the locals. The party scene here is less about getting fucked up and more about swapping stories, connecting over a shared love of nature, and just having a good ol’ time.
Hands down the best spot to mingle is at Oasis Surf Camp and beach bar on Playa Estero. Attend one of their dreamy electronic music parties under the palms and enjoy a sublime Panamanian sunset with Caipirinha in hand (yes, it’s made with cachaça, not vodka). There’s also Vista Linda across the river from Oasis (don’t worry, it’s mostly passable). On the weekends you can catch a bouncy DJ orchestrating a chill, post-surf gathering on their big wooden deck. Let loose. And if you’re into local parties, which, I’ll admit are sometimes a f*cking vibe, head to Elisa Cantina in the village.
Just be prepared for ringing in your ears when you’re laying in bed later. The music is bumpin’.
Recently, Genre Music Festival brought in a slew of musicians, DJs, and live artists for their debut event in Santa Catalina. I was out of town, but heard it was a great time. Word is there was also a fire after-party at Catalina Hideaway’s beachfront hotel. If you’re really keen on the festivities, you’ll be pleased to hear that Santa Catalina’s nightlife is about to get more rowdy with the Selina Hostel slated to open by December 2023.
PART V — WHERE TO SLEEP
Santa Catalina has lodging for every kind of traveler. Except maybe for those that are looking to live in the lap of luxury — this is a village! There’s a chance you’ll wake up to roosters and fall asleep to the blasting of reggaeton (usually only on Sundays).
With beachfront rooms, a cute beach bar, and all the surfboard rentals your heart desires, it’s no surprise that Hotel Oasis & Surf Camp on Playa Estero is one of the top lodging options in town at $62 a night. Definitely book one of the new glass-front cabins!
For mellow digital nomads and surfers who want to be close to La Punta, I highly recommend Cabañas Sherlley ($80 a night). The Caribbean flair to this multicolor hotel is energizing, and long-term stays are super reasonably priced considering each room has AC, its own kitchenette, and private bathroom. Say hi to Flor the cat for me!
Also close to La Punta is the Hotel Santa Catalina (away from the roosters and reggaeton). If you’re looking for the nicest hotel in town, this is probably it. Rooms start at $105 a night, and if you’re looking for the most scenic oceanfront pool for reading (or Instagram thirst traps), Hotel Santa Catalina has you covered. You can even watch surfers at La Punta while being served food and drinks from the restaurant right above.
I love their margarita on a hot day!
But I’d be remiss not to mention NATIVO Boutique Hotel in the lineup at $65 a night. You’ll love their food and the pool has an insane view of La Islita out front. They also have an incredible (and not overly-sugary) caipirinha, which is half off during daily happy hour.
Who would’ve guessed Jon Batiste was an undercover Swiftie? Today (August 16), during an appearance on Elvis Duran And The Morning Show, Batiste covered a Taylor Swift deep cut.
With nothing but a keyboard and some help from his backing band, the New Orleans artist delivered a cover of “Sweet Nothing” from Swift’s 10th studio album, Midnights. Of course, Batiste had to give it his signature touch. At the bridge of the song, he added some glistening piano harmonies, and delivered some jazzy croons to close out the song. At the conclusion of the performance, the show’s host is heard tearing up.
This isn’t the first time Batiste has shown love to Swift. In an interview with People back in June, Batiste expressed interest in collaborating with her.
“I just went to the Taylor Swift concert and it would be fun to do something with Taylor,” he said. “She was nice enough to invite us and give us tickets to one of her MetLife Stadium shows over Memorial Day weekend, and I’d love to work with any of the living legends, you know, any folks that I can learn something from — even if we don’t put it out.”
Batiste is currently gearing up to release his upcoming sixth studio album, World Music Radio.
World Music Radio is out 8/18 via Verve/Interscope. Find more information here.
Even before Carlson’s revisionary take on the January 6 attacks made it to the air, Rivera was suspended by Fox for literally calling “bullsh*t” on Tucker’s attempt to paint the MAGA riot as a false flag. When the “documentary” aired earlier this year, it scandalized Fox News, and Rivera once again slammed Carlson shortly after the controversial anchor was shockingly fired.
However, Rivera would soon be next out the door, but he looks back proudly at his efforts to hold Tucker’s feet to the fire, which privately earned him the praise of his colleagues who were afraid to speak out.
“I got calls from within Fox. Right on. You know, we’re shocked, we’re outraged by what Tucker is trying to do. Thank you for speaking out, you know from people that could not speak out,” Rivera told Mediaite. “You know, I even advised some prominent people just to cool it, that I could, I’ll take the heat because I felt that I was more bulletproof. I mixed my metaphors there, but I felt that I could say things that others, perhaps more vulnerable in their or more early in their careers, could not say.”
Rivera went even further to say that his ouster at Fox had less to do with his reported clashing with Greg Gutfeld and more to do with his refusal to toe the network line.
“I don’t want to focus in on any particular person, you can read the record, but I can tell you what happened vis a vis me and Tucker because that was the real substantive part of it,” Rivera revealed.
Olivia Rodrigo is currently preparing to drop her second album, Guts, this fall — with the latest single, “Bad Idea Right,” making waves since its release last week. Although the pop star found major success in 2021 with her debut record, Sour, she was acting long before that.
One of Rodrigo’s main roles that brought her a fan base was as Nini in Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Although she appeared as a prominent character during the first two seasons, she took a step back in Season 3 to be a guest star — as she was focusing on her music career instead.
Her episodes had been filmed just before she kicked off her Sour Tour.
“All of that was shot with this crazy schedule in mind, which Olivia deserves because she is the queen of the world,” the show’s creator, Tim Federle, told People Magazine last year, as season three gave closure to Nini as a character.
Still, despite Rodrigo no longer appearing on the show, she hasn’t ignored her roots completely. She attended the red carpet for the Season 3 premiere last July and posed with her castmates.
During an interview with Bru On The Radio last month, Rodrigo also shared that she kept some set keepsakes, including a varsity jacket and her name insert from the director’s chair.
With Season 4 of the show getting released earlier this month, fans had been wondering if Rodrigo would reappear. However, she does not, but it is also not ruled out in the future.
Even if you’ve never seen a second of Vanderpump Rules (guilty!), you’re probably aware of “Scanadoval.” Or at least heard of it. The abridged version is this: Tom Sandoval, one of the stars of the Bravo series, cheated on his girlfriend Ariana Madix with another member of the cast, Raquel (or Rachel) Leviss. There’s more to the story, but that’s all you need to coming into Leviss’ new interview on the Just B with Bethenny Frankel podcast.
Leviss strongly hinted that she’s finished with Vanderpump Rules. “My mistakes that I’ve made on camera live on forever,” she told Frankel. “And you mentioned something about the addiction of doing reality television and the way that they always dangle that carrot in front of you, like, ‘Well, you need to tell your side of the story otherwise it’s gonna be written for you.’ And that’s terrifying. So I almost went back… just because of that.” (The “almost” is the giveaway that she won’t be back.) Leviss also revealed how a FaceTime video recorded without her consent led to Madix learning about the affair.
“I decided to be adventurous and look at the adult section on the TV,” she recalled. “And Tom and I FaceTimed a lot, so it turned into something more of an intimate FaceTime. I expected to have privacy in that moment, so that happened.” Leviss spent the following day doing press, only to suddenly receive a text from Madix that contained “two screen recorded videos and a text that said, ‘You’re dead to me.’” That’s how Leviss learned Madix knew about the affair — and it’s also how Leviss learned “that I had been recorded without my consent.”
Leviss sent an “immediate cease and desist letter” to stop the video from being shared, but “some of Ariana’s friends have described the video in great detail online,” she said. “And she also sent it to me, so I don’t know who else she sent it to. I wouldn’t be surprised if she sent it to other people, but it’s not legal.” You can listen to the podcast below.
Despite once sharing a label home, Del Amo, California rapper Reason is convinced that another rapper is going to be bigger than his former labelmate Kendrick Lamar. Appearing on the podcast New Rory & Mal, Reason predicted that when J. Cole releases his album The Fall Off, he will be “bigger” than Kendrick and explained why.
As the hosts reminisced about Kendrick’s seismic verse from Big Sean’s “Control” in 2013, they noted that the Compton rapper was a bigger name than almost everyone he named, except for Drake. However, when Mal asks if Reason thinks Kendrick is bigger than J. Cole today, Reason has to offer his rationale for saying no.
“I think when The Fall Off drops, the fruits of his labor from being so active will show,” he says, after being careful to note that it was “not ’cause he’s better than [Kendrick]” due to TDE fans being “f*cking crazy.” “They’ve done this for years, though,” he elaborates, miming a set of scales going up and down. “To me, they’ve kinda like — [Kendrick] is bigger at this point, Cole [is bigger at that point]. They’ve kinda done that for a long time.”
He knows just how crazy TDE fans — and staff — can be after a controversial appearance on another show last week, during which he criticized the label for the disjointed rollout of his new album Porches. His comments prompted TDE president Moosa to call in and get into a heated debate about his position on the label, reminding him that Moosa’s predecessor Dave Free hadn’t wanted to sign Reason at all. Reason says that he and Moosa both have things they wish they hadn’t said but that the conversation was necessary.
Meanwhile, hip-hop fans have debated for years whether Kendrick or J. Cole was the bigger artist (after Drake, of course) due to their similar levels of commercial success and parallel rises through the blog era. However, J. Cole himself said around the time his last album, The Off Season was released, “As I’ve gotten older, I realize … no one is truly my peer or can relate to what’s going on in my life better than these people right here — just in terms of whatever pressures there might be … nobody can really relate to that like these dudes, and I really genuinely f*ck with these dudes.”
Check out videos of Reason addressing both questions above.
Broken Social Scene co-founder and lead vocalist Kevin Drew is gearing up to release new solo music. Today (August 16), Drew has announced his fourth solo album, Aging. Ahead of Aging, Drew has shared two new songs — “Out In The Fields” and “Party Oven.”
Many of the songs on Aging are inspired by the passing of Drew’s close friends and mentors. Drew wrote the songs on the album over the course of the past 10 years.
“Pain is a hard thing to let go until you’re ready,” said Drew in a statement. “And that’s kind of where I was at with this record. Music, for me, is a release–it’s a place where I can go and express what it is that I want to say.”
Aging will arrive this fall, by way of a rather peculiar rollout. The physical version will actually release first in September, with the digital version to follow. Perhaps the nostalgia factor of it all is one that comes with age.
You can listen to “Out In The Fields” and “Party Oven” above and see the artwork and tracklist for Aging below.
Arts + Crafts
1. “Elevator”
2. “Out In The Fields”
3. “Party Oven”
4. “All Your Fails”
5. “Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark”
6. “Awful Lightning”
7. “Fixing The Again”
8. “You’re Gonna Get Better”
Aging will be out on physical formats on 9/22 via Arts + Crafts. It will be available on streaming platforms beginning 11/3. Find more information here.
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You have been killing it all my life. As a true lover of the arts, your talent and craftsmanship are a rare combination that I aspire to achieve as a performer. You are a living legend who is worthy of awe! Thank… 
(@expedicioncoiba)
