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2020 has had so many great Nike Dunk releases that we’re probably going to have to revise our “Greatest Nike Dunks of All Time” list by the year’s end. 2020 was, without a doubt, the year of the Dunk and this week brings not one but two ultra-hyped Dunk drops, as well as some valiant efforts from both New Balance and Adidas. But the week once again goes to the brand with the swoosh, with Nike snagging three of the top five spots.

Do we even need to call it? If the Dunk defined 2020, it’s no surprise that Nike itself pretty clearly dominated the year.

On the apparel end, we’ve got great winter-focused collaborations between Palace and Moschino and Supreme and Stone Island. It would appear that streetwear is having a love affair with luxury Italian fashion houses. Let’s dive into the week’s best sneaker and apparel drops!

Air Jordan 1 Mid Banned

Look, we get it. Mids are the ugly ducklings of the Jordan 1 family. People love rocking the high tops and the lows have a smaller but just as passionate audience, but gift a person a pair of mids one day and watch the joy slightly fade from their eyes when they realize they’re not holding high tops.

If you’re ready for your first pair of Air Jordan 1 Mids — break away from the trend — we couldn’t think of a better colorway to help usher you in than this one, inspired by the famous league violating look that caused Jordan to change basketball footwear forever.

The Air Jordan 1 Mid Banned is out now at Asphalt Gold and the aftermarket for a retail price of $110.

Nike Dunk Low Ceramic

2001’s Nike Dunk Low Ceramic didn’t start modern streetwear’s obsession with Japanese exclusive Nike colorways, but it sure helped. Part of what has been dubbed the “Ugly Ducking” pack — which also include a Plum and Veneer iteration — the Ceramic is the three-sneaker set’s best colorway, combining a mix of black, seaweed green, and a burnt orange that recalls ceramic pots atop a mixed upper of premium suede and mesh.

Nike brought the Plum colorway stateside a few months back and now this week they’re giving us the Ceramic, which can only lead us to believe that the Veneer will drop sometime before the year’s end. Fingers crossed on that one!

The Nike Dunk Low Ceramic is set to drop on November 19th for a retail price of $100. Pick up a pair exclusively on Nike SNKRS.

Cactus Plant Flea Market x Nike Dunk Low Platinum/ Green

This sneaker isn’t for everyone. We’re not just saying that because it’s covered in shimmering Swarovski crystals, but because it’s hella expensive. On the aftermarket, pairs of the platinum colorway are going for upwards of $1000. So when we say this sneaker isn’t for everyone, we mean that it’s pretty much just for rich people.

Which might be you! Congrats!

If you’re like me, and… not rich, this might be something worth throwing down on with a couple of friends, as it is sure to become a significant part of sneaker history in the Dunk low lineage. That’s going to increase its value as the years go on.

The bedazzled Cactus Plant Flea Market Nike Dunk Lows are set to drop sometime today for a retail price of $550. Unfortunately at what time is anyone’s guess! Pick up a pair exclusively at the Cactus Plant Flea Market or at aftermarket sites like StockX.

Casablanca x New Balance 327

We covered this initial drop when it hit Casablanca’s webstore back in September and it’s good enough for us to double-dip and include again. New Balance has been having quite a year, almost performing at Nike and Adidas-levels with must cop drop after drop and this year’s minimal pastel-tinged 327 made in collaboration with Casablanca is one of the brand’s best.

Is it Best Sneakers of 2020 end of year list material? You’ll just have to stick around to find out.

The Casablanca New Balance 327 is set to drop on November 20th for a retail price of $150. Pick up a pair through the New Balance webstore.

Commonwealth x Adidas Response CL

At the tail end of the last decade, ‘90s and late ’80s inspired silhouettes ruled the footwear game. But it’s 2020 now, which means it’s time to look back to the 2000s for inspiration. Enter the Adidas Response CL. Made in collaboration with Commonwealth, this silhouette takes pieces of Adidas’s mid-2000s Response line and pushes them into one single stylish and modern sneaker.

The Response CL’s silhouette is heavily based on 2003’s Response Cushion and 2007’s Response Control 7 and features a mixed mesh and synthetic leather upper with asymmetrical color blocking and hairy suede accents. We have to admit, we’re pretty curious to see how the mid-00’s influence will come to shape the 2020 decade.

The Commonwealth Adidas Response CL is set to drop on November 21st for a yet to be announced price. Pick up a pair at Commonwealth.

Chinatown Market x Lil Yachty The Night Is Young Merch

Lil Yachty is taking to the digital realm on Thursday for Lil Yachty Presents: The Night is Young, an interactive 3D world in which Yachty will perform live for his fans this Thursday, through interactive digital concert company Headliner. Yachty linked up with Chinatown Market to create an exclusive merch set for the concert which comes bundled with a ticket to the event.

The t-shirts drop in either tie-dye or black and feature an action figure sporting Yachty’s signature hair, with Chinatown Market’s famous smiley face basketball in place of the head. It’s for lack of a better word, weird.

The Chinatown Market x Lil Yachty The Night Is Young Merch collection is set to drop on November 18th at the Chinatown Market online store.

Moschino x Palace Winter Collection

We feel pretty comfortable saying that Palace is quickly becoming our favorite streetwear brand. Sorry Supreme, but Palace is what you used to be. Fun. This week, the British label is partnering with Italian luxury brand Moschino for a playful winter collection that captures the spirit of both brands and acts as one of Palace’s most significant collaborations ever. Consisting of shearling jackets, t-shirts, bucket hats (what Palace drop doesn’t have bucket hats?), and denim jackets, this collection features light-hearted graphics centered around peace, love, and… hugs.

It’s cheesy as f*ck, but that’s what makes Moschino so beloved, and they couldn’t have picked a smarter brand to collaborate with in 2020 than Palace.

The Moschino Palace Winter Collection is set to drop on November 20th at the Palace and Moschino webstores.

Supreme x Stone Island Fall/Winter 2020 Collection

Okay I know we just sh*t on Supreme but just because the label sold out and they’re not as fun as Palace doesn’t mean their collaborations aren’t still fire. This week’s collection with Italian luxury brand Stone Island proves that. Featuring super dope hand-painted Shearling, and thick season-appropriate corduroy, this winter geared collection will fulfill all your outerwear needs for the season.

Highlights from the collection include down and corduroy jackets, the aforementioned hand-painted Hooded Shearling jacket, and a hooded sweatshirt and shorts combo.

The Supreme Stone Island Fall/Winter 2020 collection is set to drop on November 19th at the Supreme and Stone Island web stores.

The Fresh Prince Reunion (HBO Max, 8:00pm EST) — Will Smith understands that you’ve “waited long enough,” so (as he wrote on Instagram) he “told @hbomax to give the people what they want.” Get at it, get funky, and do The Carlton dance while you watch. Smith even ended his feud with the original Aunt Viv to make this happen.

The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse: Episode 1 (Disney+ series) — Do you need a safe place tonight on TV? Then feel free to find refuge in the innocuous realm of the Sensational Six: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, and Pluto. This week, witness the start of the group’s greatest adventures yet as they ricochet through a relatively bland but zany realm of magic. If nothing else, the kids will love it, and you can turn off your mind and troubles to join them.

Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas Episode 1 (Netflix series) — Benjamin Bradley is Mr. Christmas, and he’s here to help you nurse an obsession with holiday decorating within interior design. However, this isn’t all about tinsel because Bradley wants to nurture meaningful tradition for family and friends. Well, there’s a healthy amount of tinsel, but there are also elves and joy and everything that we need this year.

Devils (CW, 8:00pm EST) — Dominic’s preparing to execute his intercontinental plot of scandal, but Massimo’s uncovered a money laundering scheme within the secret dossier, and now he’s worried about his own safety.

Coroner (CW, 9:00pm EST) — The two-part season finale begins this week with Jenny taking on a new enemy while relying upon her instincts.

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert — Matthew McConaughey, Cedric the Entertainer

Jimmy Kimmel Live — Goldie Hawn, Alex Winter, Beabadoobee

The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon — Dan Levy, Michael J. Fox, Julia Michaels

The Late Late Show With James Corden — Alison Brie, Yuval Noah Harari

In case you missed these picks from last Wednesday:

The Liberator (Netflix series) — Based upon Alex Kershaw’s book, The Liberator: One World War II Soldier’s 500-Day Odyssey, this four-part series tackles the true story of the bloodiest World War II march to victory. U.S. Army officer Felix Sparks and his infantry aim to liberate Europe, and the visuals introduce a new, rotoscope-esque technology to visualize the CGI-live-action performance by its cast.

Eater’s Guide to the World (Hulu series) — Maya Rudolph narrates this serial tour of the Eater’s Guide to the World with all kinds of local culinary destinations. Epic meals are the mission, and adventures with kind and interesting souls along the way.

It was a long, frustrating and eventful night for democracy in Michigan.

As the Trump campaign continues to attempt countless failed legal arguments nationally, another partisan effort was brutally rejected. However, this time it wasn’t a judge who struck down another flagrant attempt to corrode the integrity of the electoral result – it was the people of Michigan.

On Tuesday night, staunchly Republican members of the Michigan electoral board refused to certify Detroit’s election results — an absurd attempt to signal support for the President’s increasingly unhinged and petty refusal to recognize Joe Biden as the President-Elect.

As Fox News hosts, Kayleigh McEnany, and even the President himself rushed to claim the boards refusal to certify as evidence of a broader conspiracy — it was Michigan’s voters who rose up and let their disgust be known.

One voice in particular captured not only the incredulity of the evening, but also the feeling of a population utterly exhausted by Trumpism and the cynical disdain it holds for democracy.

Ned Staebler, a Wayne County Board Member of Canvassers, unleashed one of the most surgical, righteous and blistering rebukes upon the two Republican board members, William Hartmann and Monica Palmer, who refused to certify the ballots for the county.

Later that evening, the decision was overturned and the results certified.

Watch the exchange here.

All eyes have been on Georgia since election night, as a once-red stronghold tipped blue in the presidential race—securing a solid electoral victory for Joe Biden—and resulted in two run-off elections in the U.S. Senate races. And as President Trump continues to rage against the results and insist on trying to find widespread fraud where there is none (as evidenced by his 1 and 25 record with lawsuits so far, with the one being a procedural issue and not evidence of fraud), all eyes have been on Georgia’s vote recount.

So far, the recount effort had turned up some missing votes in Republican-led counties resulting from human error. Nothing even close enough to the 14,000 votes it would take to sway the election results and nothing proving fraud in any way, but that doesn’t stop Trump and his base from trying to spin it that way.

Refreshingly, throughout all of this madness, Georgia’s secretary of state Brad Raffensperger—a lifelong Republican who says he has never voted for a Democrat—has held his ground to keep Georgia’s election integrity intact. In fact, as the official who oversees elections in the state, the mild-mannered secretary of state been standing up to those who would try to politicize his position from his own party for months.

According to a ProPublica report, the Trump campaign had offered him a position as an honorary co-chair of the campaign in Georgia in January, which Raffensperger declined. “It is our standard practice not to endorse any candidate,” the deputy secretary of state wrote in response to the offer. “This policy is not directed at any specific candidate, but all candidates, as the Secretary oversees elections and the implementation of new voting machines here in Georgia.”

The GOP then tried to get him to publicly support Trump. In fact, as ProPublica reports, senior Trump campaign adviser Billy Kirkland “burst uninvited into a meeting in Raffensperger’s office in the late spring that was supposed to be about election procedures and demanded that the secretary of state endorse Trump, according to Raffensperger and two of his staffers.” Raffensperger refused, on the belief that he should remain neutral as the official running the election.

Kirkland crashed another meeting prior to the June primary, again pressuring Raffensperger to endorse Trump. After reiterating that he would not do so as it would be a conflict of interest, Kirkland reportedly said, “We’ll see how helpful you are in November,” to Raffensperger’s staffers before slamming the door behind him as he left.

And now, as Republican lawmakers in Georgia call for his resignation—over doubts about the election that they themselves are peddling—Raffensperger is unwavering in his dedication to do the job the people of Georgia elected him to do without putting his thumb on the scales for any side.

But the pressure keeps coming.

In an incredibly alarming move, South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham reportedly phoned Raffensperger and asked him if there were a way for him to exclude all mail-in ballots cast in counties with high levels of signature discrepancies, which would include tossing out perfectly legal votes. Two of Raffensperger’s aides who witnessed the call corroborated the nature of the call and were appalled by the request.

But still, Raffensperger is insistent upon the process playing out as it’s supposed to. He ordered the recount and audit of the state elections. He is making sure that errors in counting—which happen in practically every single election—are rectified. He is fighting back against what he calls “clear retaliation” from the president for not publicly supporting him and from other members of his party who are trying to appease Trump.

“They thought Georgia was a layup shot Republican win,” Raffensperger said, according to ProPublica. “It is not the job of the secretary of state’s office to deliver a win — it is the sole responsibility of the Georgia Republican Party to get out the vote and get its voters to the polls. That is not the job of the secretary of state’s office.”

This is what public service should be—placing objectivity before partisan pressure and the good of the country before the good of the party. Thank you, Mr. Raffensperger for reminding us that integrity can and does exist in our political system.

While Megan The Stallion is currently gearing up for the debut of her album Good News, that’s not all the rapper is releasing this week. On Wednesday, Megan dropped her anticipated Fashion Nova collection — but some fans think the styles are a bit dated.

Megan’s Fashion Nova collection features an array of affordable flared jeans, crop tops, fitted body suits, and curvy dresses in a variety of sizes. “Whether it was because the leg length was too short or the booty area was too tight, there would always be clothes or styles I’d [want to] wear, but just couldn’t find that would fit a tall girl with shape,” she told Teen Vogue about her inspiration for the line. “When everything hugs the right places and complements your natural figure, you can’t help but feel good. That’s what this whole collection is about.”

While her fans were initially excited about the idea of sporting her collection, many listeners felt the styles fell short of the mark. Some even compared the line to Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s infamous matching denim look from the 2001 AMAs red carpet.

See Megan fans react to the rapper’s new Fashion Nova line below and browse the full collection here.

Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The Milwaukee Bucks have been extremely active this week, as they have made clear their intentions on giving Giannis Antetokounmpo supporting stars worthy of him re-signing for the supermax later this month.

The Bucks dealt away three future first-round draft picks, including No. 24 overall this year, for the Pelicans’ star combo guard Jrue Holiday (along with Eric Bledsoe and George Hill). They then dealt much of their remaining supporting cast to Sacramento in a sign-and-trade for Bogdan Bogdanovic, to give them added scoring punch on the wing. The result is a roster that is now extremely top heavy, with a starting five that looks tremendous on paper with Holiday, Bogdanovic, Khris Middleton, Antetokounmpo, and Brook Lopez, but features hardly any depth, with only Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Justin James (who was acquired in the Bogdanovic deal).

On top of that, those five starters take up almost all of their cap space, and they are just over $15 million away from the $139 million hard cap with up to eight roster spots to fill. As such, they need a number minimum contracts to fill out the roster, but entered Wednesday with no draft picks — who offer the cheapest contracts in the league. Unsurprisingly, they went to work to remedy that, dealing a pair of future second rounders to Orlando for No. 45 overall, per Josh Robbins of The Athletic and Marc Stein of the New York Times.

The move makes sense and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Bucks potentially try to buy another second round pick off of a team later on this evening, as they could use some rookie minimum deals to round out their roster as they’ll surely look to bring in four or so veterans to play the majority of their rotation minutes. Milwaukee’s front office is going to have to be creative with the hard cap looming, but as long as Giannis signs on the dotted line sometime in the near future, it’ll all be worth it.

Garth Ennis wrote The Boys comic nearly 15 years ago, and yet, it couldn’t be more relevant during our current situation(s). That’s especially the case when members of the MAGA crowd completely misinterpret Homelander (who’s the baddest Supe of all) and decide to dress up as the character at Trump-themed events. That’s the kind of shenanigan that made showrunner Eric Kripke and Homelander actor Antony Starr wonder if those people had ever really watched The Boys. And on another Trump-related front, his conspiracy-laden tweets keep getting slapped with Twitter’s “This Claim About Election Fraud Is Disputed” warning.

That warning (and Trump’s willingness to continue ALL-CAPS-ing lies to his devotees, regardless) has inspired Twitter users to hatch the “this claim is disputed” meme for their own unsubstantiated, clearly false claims.

Well, The Boys is here with their own version of the meme with a tweet that reads, “The world needs more Supes!” That nonsense is followed by a warning that says, “This claim is a load of f*cking horse sh*t. F*ck Supes and f*ck Vought.”

Man, I love it when Billy Butcher starts tweeting. (It would have been even better if the account had added a play on words, “And f*ck Jon Voight” for good measure, since he’s been spewing venomous conspiracies lately, too, but yep, I’m definitely asking too much here. A perfect tweet is already a perfect tweet.)

2019 brought Love + Fear, Marina Diamandis’ first album after leaving her Marina And The Diamonds name behind and moving forward mononymously as Marina. Now she’s getting ready to take the next steps in her re-branded journey: Today, she released a video for “Man’s World,” the lead single off a new album that’s expected in 2021.

She sings on the hook, “Mother nature’s dying / Nobody’s keeping score / I don’t wanna live in a man’s world anymore.” Marina put her money where her mouth is, too: The song and video were made with an all female and non-binary roster of collaborators. This comes after she put out feelers for new female collaborators in the summer of 2019, writing on Twitter, “Who are you favourite female producers, writers and artists right now? I’m creating my next project… and this story can only be told by women. I’m looking for you.”

In a new Vogue profile, Marina says of the song:

“I wrote it last summer in August. I’d already decided I was gonna write this new record alone, and the process felt like a reaction to what I had previously released, which is often the case. Each record I do is sort of like the opposite of the previous one. At the time I was mostly inspired by the shifts that are happening for people who are discriminated against. The original idea for the song was to write a snapshot of how women and LGBTQ+ individuals have been subjugated and discriminated against throughout history going back to the Salem witch trials, where any person who was deemed abnormal or slightly alternative was singled out. Those kinds of patterns are still present in society. That’s something inspiring to me and worth writing about.”

She also said of the video, “It’s the first one I’ve ever been credited with creative directing and writing the story for — again, I’ve done this role before, but it’s one of those basic things where people think the artist didn’t do it because their name isn’t always on it. I came up with the treatment in March, then sent it to [director Alexandra Gavillet], and we developed it more together. I’ve been inspired by this artist who made these neoclassical paintings in the late 1800s named John William Godward. They use these very modern color compositions like mint green with chartreuse or magenta. That was the center of the whole video and the main visual inspiration.”

Watch the “Man’s World” video above.

Marina is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

SoundCloud is joining Twitter and Instagram by rolling out coveted verification check marks for certain users on their site. The streaming platform announced they were rolling out the new feature this week by adding blue check marks to eight of the most popular artist profiles, including Billie Eillish, Trippie Redd, and Wiz Khalifa.

According to SoundCloud’s blog, the verification feature will “help well-known artists stand out and maintain their authenticity, and to help listeners identify these artists more easily.” The verification system follows a feature the site had only for paid Pro subscribers, which created a Pro badge on users’ profile. But SoundCloud noted that the Pro badges were oftentimes “misused or misinterpreted as verification,” so that’s where the new check mark feature comes in.

Per the site’s guidelines, those who wish to similarly receive a verification need to meet a list of requirements. The profiles need to represent “well-known and/or highly searched-for” artist, DJ, curator, or podcaster, the account needs to prove that they are a real person and not an imposter, and the user must have a fully set up profile with at least one song publicly available.

While the feature is currently available, SoundCloud noted that it may take up to 30 days for their team to complete the verification process. Those interested can follow the verification steps here.

Donald Trump fears many things: leaving the White House, the Squad, a Big Mac-less meal, Tiffany asking him if he “has a minute,” and lasers. The president fears lasers.

Author Joe Goldblatt helped produce the opening of the Trump Taj Mahal Resort and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1990, through his firm, the International Special Events Society (now known as the International Live Events Association). “Prior to the grand opening, I produced the Taj Mahal staff-welcome event held in the enormous Trump arena. The program included a fashion show displaying the glamorous costumes that staff would soon be wearing and a speech by their owner, Mr Trump,” he wrote for the Scotsman. “Laser lights were part of this production and although I had been warned not to speak to The Donald I persevered because of my concern for his personal safety.”

Goldblatt told Trump that “when he entered to always look forward because we would be shooting laser beams over his head and if he looked backward he might be blinded by the strong burning lights.” Good advice! Even Trump agreed to follow the instructions.

Fast forward to the welcome event:

His theme music, “Eye of the Tiger,” began blaring from loudspeakers and as the bright green beams projected over his large head, Trump began his walk toward the 5,000 members of his staff. However, a mishap occurred and suddenly the laser beams dropped by a meter and appeared to project through Trump’s midsection.

Upon seeing this he immediately dropped to his knees, seemingly in fear of being severed in two by the powerful beams. I called out from the wings, “It is all right, stand up and give your speech.” He looked at me with genuine fear and then rose, walked to the lectern and, though obviously shook up, delivered his usual rant.

Sadly, there’s no video of this incident, but it still has people rolling.

The Trump Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino was shut down in 2016.

(Via Scotsman)