Category: Trending

Raphael Saadiq is having a productive year so far, taking a prominent hand in producing Beyoncé’s 2022 triumph Renaissance (and should have shared in an Album Of The Year victory, according to most people) and Daniel Caesar’s forthcoming Never Enough, including Caesar’s February single “Do You Like Me?”

Incidentally, Saadiq shared news yesterday, March 22, that people are liking a lot.

The two-time Grammy winner (and 18-time nominee) — and one-time Oscar nominee for his musical contributions to Mudbound, and he’s also composed for smash series like Insecure, Lovecraft Country, or the newly premiered Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur, if you needed any more proof that the phrase multi-hyphenate was coined on the back of him — announced the Just Me And You Tour is scheduled for this year.

The photo features him sitting alongside his brother, D’wayne Wiggins, and his cousin, Timothy Christian Riley, which teases, “Raphael Saadiq Revisits Tony! Toni! Toné!”

The Instagram post was flooded with comments. John Legend wrote, “Ok I’m there!” Questlove chimed in with, “Man y’all Better Stop Playin Wit My Emotions—this better be REAL.” Bun B, Joe Budden, Lena Waithe, and Keri Hilson also expressed their bewildered excitement.

Identical billboards were spotted around Grand Lake Theater in Oakland, California, and Saadiq posted to his Instagram Story, “For more info about Tour Dates Text Me Now @ (310) 861-2685.”

Tony! Toni! Toné! last put out an album in 1996 with House Of Music before their 1998 split. In June 2019, Saadiq foreshadowed a reunion while on Sway’s Universe and doubled down on it with NME that August.

“I’ve been working on new Tonys music for about 15 years,” he told NME. “I just felt like we should do something, a few songs, maybe seven or eight of them and then do a few shows. So I’m not gonna be back-back because I have way too many things going on, but as far as doing a tour and an EP or something, I’m down for that. I’d actually like to perform the very last record we did together, House Of Music. We never toured that record, so if everyone is up for it, I’d like to do that and put out three new records.”

Oh, they’re up for it.

See some of the best reactions below.

Raphael Saadiq announced he’s going on tour + reuniting with Tony! Toni! Toné!… I need a moment 😩😭 pic.twitter.com/mO4kr3qab6

— jazzy 🌸 (@_thatssojazzy) March 23, 2023

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has fired back at Donald Trump and House Republicans for their attempts to derail a state investigation into the former president. Trump kicked off a media circus last weekend when he claimed he would be arrested on Tuesday for allegedly making hush money payments in violation of campaign finance laws. However, Tuesday came and went with no legal action taken against Trump, but the former president got what he wanted: chaos.

Along with stirring up his supporters, House Republicans demanded that Bragg testify in front of Congress about Trump’s arrest, which again, has yet to materialize. In a scathing letter, the DA rejected the GOP member’s demand and blasted Trump for manipulating them into intervening.

Via Mediaite:

The investigation into Trump, wrote Bragg, “has been conducted consistently with the District Attorney’s oath to faithfully execute the laws of the State of New York,” but the Republicans’ letter was “an unprecedent[ed] inquiry into a pending local prosecution,” and “only came after Donald Trump created a false expectation that he would be arrested the next day and his lawyers reportedly urged you to intervene. Neither fact is a legitimate basis for congressional inquiry.”

Bragg took things even further by calling the Republican’s efforts an “unlawful incursion into New York’s sovereignty.” He labeled the inquiry “indefensible” and bluntly stated “Congress is not the appropriate branch to review pending criminal matters.”

(Via Mediaite)

It’s been five years since Elizabeth Olsen has starred in a non-Marvel project. Making that bank and all, but it will be refreshing to see her in something that isn’t part of a cinematic universe — something like Love & Death.

The HBO Max limited series, from director Lesli Linka Glatter and writer David E. Kelley, stars Olsen as Candy Montgomery, a Texan who killed her best friend with an ax. There’s more to the story, as you can see in the trailer above, but if you liked prestige soap opera Big Little Lies, you should watch Love & Death. But even if you didn’t like Big Little Lies, you should still watch Love & Death, because it stars Elizabeth Olsen and Jesse Plemons. Those two could star in a remake of Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, and I would watch it.

Actually, that’s not a bad idea… Anyway, here’s the plot synopsis:

Love & Death takes a close look at Candy Montgomery’s shift from a bright, devout Christian housewife to a merciless ax-murderer and the peculiar affair that started it all. Set in a close-knit, trusting Texas community full of carefree families and faithful churchgoers, it’s an idyllic picture — and the perfect cover for dangerous secrets and vicious jealousy left unchecked. With executive producers David E. Kelley and Nicole Kidman and stars Elizabeth Olsen and Jesse Plemons, the limited series promises sky-high pedigree, style with substance, and the complex, psychological nuance necessary for such an unbelievable true crime story.

Love & Death premieres on April 27th on HBO Max.

Last month, Daniel Caesar announced his new album Never Enough. He’s shared “Do You Like Me” and “Let Me Go” so far, as well as an intriguing trailer. Now, he revealed that before he hits the road on a big tour, he’ll be giving small scale performances on the Almost Enough: The Intimate Sessions Tour, starting next month.

The tour kicks off on April 6 in Los Angeles, California. The run includes Toronto, Paris, London, Berlin, and more; the lower-capacity venues allow for a more personal experience.

“Ok last thing.. After seeing the responses to ‘where should I go’ I decided to have an intimate tour before the real tour kicks off,” the musician wrote on Instagram. “A chance for me to sing the album to a select few fans that have really been here since the beginning. Excited to connect with each and every one of you. So here it is… “Almost Enough: The Intimate Sessions” tour. Pre-sale for you guys starts this Thursday at 10am local with password: ‘NEVERENOUGH’ And for everyone else on-sale will be Friday at 10am local. Till then check the link in my bio. Never know what you might find.”

Find ticket information here and the tour dates below.

04/06 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco
04/11 — New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
04/13 — Toronto, ON @ History
04/18 — Paris, FR @ Élysée Montmartre
04/19 — London, UK @ HERE at Outernet
04/22 — Berlin, DE @ Huxleys Neue Welt

Never Enough is out 4/7 via Republic. Find more information here.

Throughout Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s lengthy relationship, it seems like JLo has really opened up her husband’s eyes to the world. For one, she taught him how to relax, which is great because he drinks so much Dunkin’ coffee. She also brought him out to the Grammy’s, despite the fact that he really did not want to be filmed. But the real benefit of them getting back together? JLo has gotten her husband hooked on Yellowstone. Stars really are just like us.

Affleck was recently a guest on The Bill Simmons Podcast alongside Matt Damon, where he admitted that his wife has got him hooked on the hit ranch drama. “I’m kind of disturbed that my wife really likes Yellowstone,” Affleck said, adding, “Part of me thinks that she’s really drawn to the romance between Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly.” Who isn’t?!

Affleck admitted that he was shocked that his wife was a fan of Rip and Beth’s (often tumultuous) love story that spans most of the series. “Jen showed me a clip of her off of Instagram, the monologue she has with the kid in the car about the ways to become rich,” he said, despite the fact that he supposedly hates Instagram. He continued, “And then she was like, ‘I love this story of these two.’I was like, ‘Wait a minute? With Hauser? With Cole Hauser? What do you love about it?’” An up-and-down relationship that finally ended with a fairytale wedding! Sound familiar?

Even though he might not understand the hype, Affleck praises Cole Hauser, who portrays Rip. “He is very convincing as that guy,” he said. “I think America believes he is Rip.” That’s how acting works, right? You want to be convincing without really turning into the character… most of the time. Unless you’re Jeremy Strong.

(Via Entertainment Weekly)

There are many things that teachers think but cannot say aloud. Teachers have to have a certain sense of decorum and often have strict rules about the things they can or can’t say about children, especially to their parents.

Plus, it’s a teacher’s job to educate, not judge. So, they find ways to kindly say what’s on their minds without having to resort to name-calling or talking disparagingly of a student.

---

Jess Smith, 33, is a former teacher who goes by the moniker Miss Smith as a stand-up comedian and on her podcast, Hot Mess Teacher Express. She decided to have a little fun with euphemisms, or the “secret code” she had to use when speaking to parents about their children.

The video has gone viral on TikTok, receiving over 70,000 views, after being shared by the Bored Teachers page.

@bored_teachers

Have you used our secret Teacher Code when talking with parents?? 🤫 #teachersoftiktok #teacherlife #secret #teacher #parents

“We have a code when we email parents,” Smith said in her video. “When we use phrases like, ‘Your child is very social,’ that means they won’t stop talking,” she explained. “’Their excitement in the classroom is contagious,’ translates to ‘They will not calm down,'” Smith said, adding that a “natural born leader” is a polite way of saying “super bossy.”

The post struck a chord with parents and teachers who shared secret codes they’ve heard or used.

“My son’s pre-k teacher told me he was the most scientific kid she’s ever had, she prob meant he asks a million questions allll day long,” Tina Marie wrote. “In kindergarten, I got ‘is overly helpful’ when my parents asked the teacher said I was finishing my test and giving answers out so we could play,” Tallulah the great added.

“When I first started teaching, I was told to tell parents their child is ‘spirited’ if they never stop talking and can’t sit still,” Allie commented.

See on Instagram

“‘Your son is going to make a great lawyer,’ which is code for: your kid won’t stop arguing with me,” C added.

However, the post wasn’t a hit with everyone. Some believe teachers should speak to parents in a straightforward manner and avoid using euphemisms.

“As a parent. I would rather a teacher just tell me, instead of using codes. We know our kids. We live with them and you have them for 8 hours,” happily_married wrote in the comments.

“It’s time to start saying it like it is. Why are we so afraid of laying the truth on the line?” QYMSC added.

In an interview with the “Today” show, Smith assured everyone that when she was a teacher, she had no problem being straightforward when necessary. “If a serious conversation needed to happen, I didn’t sugarcoat it,” Smith said. But the code was a way for her to share difficult information politely, in a non-confrontational way.

“Connecting with the parents was always important to me, and I never wanted them to feel like, ’This is your problem to take care of.’ No, this is something we can work on together. I’m here to help your kid,” Smith said. “I found that parents just responded better to the code.”

Charlotte Flair entered the wrestling world more than 10 years ago in arguably the biggest shadow of any second-generation athlete. The daughter of arguably the greatest wrestler to ever lace up a pair of boots, Charlotte has likewise turned into an all-timer over the course of her decorated career.

With more than 1,300 days combined as a singles champion and having held every major title WWE has to offer, Flair has earned the distinction of an active WWE legend, something that will be prominently displayed in this Sunday’s A&E Legends documentary. The following weekend, she’ll step into the squared circle at WrestleMania 39 to defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Rhea Ripley.

This path wasn’t something Flair dreamed about. She learned along the way, enjoyed the challenges that came with her rise next to the Four Horsewomen — Becky Lynch, Bayley, and Sasha Banks — and has unquestionably become one of the best to ever step inside the ring.

“If I just walked out on the ramp and no one knew who I was, you can’t deny that I don’t have something,” Flair told Uproxx Sports. “So take away Flair, take the last name away. Would I have the same amount of hate? I’m talking a very small, like, cult group that really follows wrestling. But would you not say she carries her own, like her presence, her demeanor, how people gravitate toward (her)? I know I have that.

“And in terms of physicality, I definitely think that my dad wasn’t big for a guy,” she continues. “I’m not saying my dad was little, but my style has more range than his. If I wasn’t in my head all the time, I could be as good as he is on the mic, but I let things get to me, just being honest. I’m human. But when someone sees me wrestle, they’re not going, ‘Oh, she’s just good for a woman.’ And I think that’s what has allowed me to carve out my own path.”

What makes Flair’s journey that much more compelling is that the expectations were sky high from the outset, and she’s been able to exceed them. She’s managed to create her own standout moments among arguably the most talented women’s roster in WWE history.

Flair exploded onto the scene in NXT. Had she taken a more traditional route of coming up through the independent scene, however, she recognizes that things may have been much different.

“The Four Horsewomen are why I’m here today,” Flair says. “Wanting to be as good as the three of them, wanting to have that passion. Each of them had their own special feel. We’re all in totally different roles right now and are very much apart, but had I been on the indies, maybe I wouldn’t have had the same learning experiences or the same tools or the same coaches. Basically, you’re on your own.”

Flair has had plenty of memorable bouts over the last decade, but she points to her first title win in NXT as the moment that put the wrestling world on notice.

“The match with (Natalya) definitely put me on the map,” she says. “I don’t want to say story-wise or fundamentally it was my best match, but it was my best match that made everyone go, okay, she means business. That has to be the most important match in my entire career. After that, I’d say me versus Asuka at WrestleMania 34. So those two matches, game-changers for where I am.”

Reaching the top of the mountain over and again the way Flair has creates a sense of pressure for her to always outdo herself. She feeds on the pressure, embraces it, and looks forward to challenging herself yet again when she squares off with Ripley at WrestleMania 39 next weekend.

Flair praises Ripley for how comfortable she makes it look each week, her work with Judgement Day and Dominick Mysterio, and how the challenger is soaking in the moment. The build for her match at WrestleMania has been entertaining, with Flair and Ripley brawling through last week’s SmackDown. But if it were up to the champ, she’d have mixed it up with the Dominick along the way, as well.

“I pitched (being in the men’s Royal Rumble) this year,” she says. “I don’t think it made it very far, but I feel like if things were 100 percent going toward (a match with) Rhea Ripley, I thought it would have been a cool opportunity to enter and then maybe have a moment with Dom, then she comes to save him. But I don’t think it made it very far.”

Flair has done basically everything that’s possible in the WWE. But after WrestleMania, when she looks at her future, there’s one thing that sticks out: She wants to work with her husband, Andrade El Idolo, who is currently signed to AEW.

“Wrestling with my husband, getting to manage him,” Flair mentions when asked about what she has left to accomplish. “Whether that’s a mixed tag or just being the mouthpiece. I miss (being on the road with him), but getting to see all the couples able to (travel together), it looks so fun and rewarding. I’ve learned so much from him, so I can’t imagine how much I’d learn being on camera with him.”

For now, Flair’s life and career will take center stage for A&E’s Legends documentary this Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.

Over the past decade, J. Cole has crafted a well-deserved reputation as a humble, down-to-earth figure in rap. Besides eschewing the typical trappings of rap stardom — chains, flashy cars, designer clothes — he’s gone out of his way to present himself as the kind of guy who’ll just pull up to the local YMCA to get in some shots on the basketball court or get nervous about featuring on a song that he’s about to utterly dominate.

And while fans believe he’s working on a new album as he features on K-pop stars’ songs, it seems he still has time to hone his humble persona, appearing recently in a New York City housing project to consult on an aspiring rapper’s new music. Ty Trilly, the rapper in question, posted a video on Instagram of J. Cole listening to his music in the lobby and offering feedback. “I ain’t even put a second verse on it yet,” Trilly admits.

“You don’t even need it, n****,” Cole says in response, giving a few more words of encouragement. “Shoot the sh*t, put that b*tch out, next! ‘Cause they gon’ feel it. And they gon’ feel the next one, I swear to God.”

Cole has demonstrated his willingness to nurture the careers of up-and-coming rappers throughout the past few years, lending his support to artists like Dreamville mainstays Ari Lennox, JID, Lute, and more. Could Ty Trilly be the next addition to the rapper’s label? Anything can happen, and if anyone is willing to support another artist’s dreams, it’s J. Cole.

Saweetie is moving the needle this week by claiming Lil Nas X as her “celebrity guy crush” and blaming her Zodiac sign for the ongoing delay of her debut album. The two-time Grammy nominee also provided an update on the album, and her response is sure to get the people going.

“I’m working on the album. I’m really focused on my craft right now,” Saweetie told Metro UK in an interview published Monday, March 20. “I’m about to drop some treatments and … direct with some directors to shoot some new music videos.”

She added, “I definitely want to work with Rihanna. [Super Bowl LVII] wasn’t even a game. It was the Rihanna concert. [We would] release a dance record to get the party going.”

Rihanna performed the halftime show at February’s Super Bowl LVII to a modest television audience of 118.7 million. Her sprawling set doubled as a pregnancy announcement, as she confirmed she is carrying her second child with ASAP Rocky. (Their son was born last May.)

Most recently, Rihanna attended the 2023 Oscars on March 12 and earned a standing ovation for her live rendition of the Oscar-nominated “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

The power ballad’s October release marked Rihanna’s official return to music — and the Billboard charts — as her last album was 2016’s Anti, so fans are desperate for a Rihanna dance record to get the party going.

Saweetie is a Warner Music Artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

After years of performing in arenas across Latin America, Carlos Rivera is bringing his tour to the US for the first time. The Mexican heartthrob’s Un Tour A Todas Partes will touch down in the states this summer. The 20-country trek comes on the heels of Rivera’s most personal album, Sincerándome, which dropped last month.

Rivera’s nearly 20 years in the music industry can be likened to the success of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. Like them, he won a TV singing competition, with Rivera triumphing in Mexico in 2004 on a show called La Academia. Rivera soon transcended the program to become an enduring Latin pop star. After he was tapped to sing the song “Recuérdame” for Disney’s Coco soundtrack in 2017, Rivera became a global force.

In the years that have followed, Rivera has worked with artists like Becky G, Maluma, and Gente De Zona. The variety of acts shows that he’s never limited himself to one sound or genre. With 2021’s Leyendas, Vol. 1 album, Rivera received co-signs and collaborated with Latin music icons, including Gloria Estefan, Juan Gabriel, and José “El Puma” Luis Rodríguez.

Though Rivera is known for his love songs, it’s his dance tracks where he unleashes his hip-shaking moves. In his concerts, he brings to life the best of both worlds in a live setting. “Each song will be telling a story through dancing, music, and singing,” Rivera tells Uproxx. “I hope to see all [my fan base] the Riveristas there in the US.” Here are 20 of Carlos Rivera’s best songs to revisit for the tour.

20. “Que Lo Nuestro Se Quede Nuestro” (from Yo Creo)

Rivera’s biggest song on Spotify was never released as a single. His heartfelt ballad “Que Lo Nuestro Se Quede Nuestro” about the magic of sharing moments in a relationship has over 228 million streams.

19. “Qué Ironía” (from Valiente)

Mexican pop icon Thalia enlisted Rivera to feature on the song “Qué Ironía” from her Valiente album. The two singers channel the dysfunction of a complicated relationship into an emotional rollercoaster of a duet.

18. “Esta Noche Es Para Amar” (from Con Ustedes… Car10s Rivera En Vivo)

For the finale of La Academia, Rivera sang a Spanish cover of Elton John’s “Can You Feel The Love Tonight.” In a full-circle moment, he furthered his career years later by playing Simba in a Spanish-language adaption of The Lion King musical.

17. “Cuántas Veces”

For his single “Cuántas Veces,” Rivera teamed up with Mexican pop trio Reik. In the heartbreaking song, Rivera and Reik’s Jesús Alberto Navarro Rosas’ voices soar as they sing about the difficulties of moving on from a past relationship that still has a hold on them.

16. “Yo No Sé Que Me Pasó” (from Leyendas, Vol. 1)

Before his passing in 2016, Mexican legend Juan Gabriel enlisted Rivera to record a new version of his classic “Yo No Sé Que Me Pasó.” Two of the best voices in the history of Mexican music joined forces to take the song to new emotional heights.

15. “Quedarme Aquí” (from Yo Creo)

“Quedarme Aquí” is the sexiest song in Rivera’s catalog with horns, funky bass, and soulful singers backing him. He put his best smooth operator foot forward as he wooed the listener with his flirtiest lyrics.

14. “Te Esperaba” (from Guerra)

“Te Esperaba” is another one of Rivera’s biggest songs that was never released as a single. In the tender ballad, he sings about the day when a crush finally turns into something more.

13. “Sincerándome” (from Sincerándome)

“Sincerándome” is one of the most beautiful songs in Rivera’s career and it’s from his latest album of the same name. In the vulnerable track, he channels the pain from a dark period from his career into a sweet moment of catharsis.

12. “Alguien Me Espera En Madrid” (from Sincerándome)

Rivera channeled a period in his career when he was finding more work in Spain than Mexico into an adventurous track. In “Alguien Me Espera En Madrid,” he blended regional Mexican music from featured acts Carin León and Eden Muñoz with a kick of Spanish flamenco.

11. “¿Cómo Pagarte?” (from Yo Creo)

“¿Cómo Pagarte?” is one of Rivera’s most beloved loved songs. In the stirring ballad, he sings about wanting to repay a partner with the most romantic gestures for making everything in his life right again.

10. “Te Soñé” (from Sincerándome)

Rivera celebrated his hometown of Huamantla in Tlaxcala, Mexico with “Te Soñé.” He teamed up with Colombian icon Carlos Vives for an anthem of hope dedicated to all the fellow dreamers out there.

9. “Solo Tú” (from El Hubiera No Existe)

Rivera’s falsetto hit heavenly highs in “Solo Tú.” He beautifully serenades his other half by letting her know that she was one of kind.

8. “Digan Lo Que Digan” (from Sincerándome)

After years of having his relationship with his now-wife Cynthia Rodríguez scrutinized by the press, Rivera hit back with love in the empowering “Digan Lo Que Digan.” His song about a romance withstanding all the outside noise has also become an anthem for the LGBTQ+ community.

7. “Lo Digo” (from Yo Creo)

Rivera dabbled in reggaeton music alongside iconic Cuban duo Gente De Zona. In the inspirational banger, he traded verses with the guys about finding happiness in living live to the fullest.

6. “Recuérdame” (from Coco)

Out of all the renditions of “Recuérdame” recorded, Rivera’s sounded the closest to Mexican character Ernesto De La Cruz’s version in Disney’s Coco movie. He represented Mexico proudly in this ranchera-infused classic that continues to tug at the heartstrings.

5. “Perdiendo La Cabeza” (from Crónicas De Una Guerra)

“Perdiendo La Cabeza” is one of the most playful songs in Rivera’s discography. He teamed up with Becky G and Pedro Capó in the bubbly bop about a hot-and-heavy romance that was driving them wild.

4. “Me Muero” (from Guerra)

In the emotional “Me Muero,” Rivera surrendered to the romance. He sang with passion about dying to be close with the love of his life.

3. “100 Años” (from Crónicas De Una Guerra)

Two of Latin music’s heartthrobs joined forces in “100 Años.” Rivera teamed up with Colombian superstar Maluma for the cinematic mariachi ballad where they were fighting to keep the romance alive.

2. “Regrésame Mi Corazón” (from Guerra)

Rivera felt like his heart was stolen in the sultry banger “Regrésame Mi Corazón.” He masterfully blended his Mexican-rooted pop with Spanish flamenco and flirtatious lyrics to win back the woman with his vital organ.

1. “Fascinación” (from El Hubiera No Existe)

Rivera channeled the feeling of being in awe with the power of love into a feel-good anthem. With his heartwarming lyrics and a commanding performance, “Fascinación” remains the most irresistibly fascinating song of his career.