“I thought I would live my whole life in California until I moved to New York in 2020. Four years later I was hit with deciding if I wanted to move back to my hometown, and initially I thought I would. ‘rain’ was about navigating the feeling of not being ready to give up what you just discovered. When I moved to the east coast my world expanded in ways I never expected to happen. Living in a different state was terrifying but it challenged me to grow and learn in so many ways that I never anticipated. I became a new person, and the idea of moving back to the west coast felt like sacrificing a version of myself I’d grown to love. It’s easy for people to romanticize what they don’t have, and no matter where I am in the world I’ll always miss the idea of a different place. If I was in California I’d always miss New York, if I was in New York I’d always miss California, and the cycle repeats.”
She also previously said of the album, “In the turmoil of the last two years since my second record, I’ve felt suspended in a transitory landscape that often at times felt endless. It’s easy to feel trapped in something you barely understand, and life has thrown an onslaught of questions towards me that I can only respond with, ‘I have no idea how to answer this.’ So, suspended in the unknown, I wrote these songs. I tried to unravel how I’ve chosen to fulfill the roles I’ve been given in my own life, and at times, how I’ve failed to keep up with them.”
Listen to “Rain” above.
Liminal Space is out 11/1 via AWAL. Find more information here.
Hurricane Milton made landfall on the west coast of Florida on Wednesday. The storm, which became an ultra-powerful Category 5 hurricane as it sat in the Gulf of Mexico, was classified as a “dangerous Category 3” by the time that it hit the state, according to the National Hurricane Center.
One of the areas that was projected to get hit especially hard was Tampa, as the metropolitan area was directly in the path of the storm. In an effort to get out in front of the potential destruction, a tweet went around showing cots were set up throughout the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana Field, where first responders and other emergency personnel would set up shop before clean up efforts began. But after the storm hit the city, videos immediately started to hit the internet of the roof at the Trop getting torn apart, and in the aftermath, drone footage showed that the roof was ripped almost entirely off.
The good news is that ABC News got in touch with Capt. Garth Swingle of St. Petersburg Fire Rescue, who informed them that the people who were inside the stadium were safe. Earlier this year, the St. Petersburg City Council approved a plan for a new ballpark that is scheduled to open in 2028.
T.I. stans are going to want to show up to watch him perform at a Jingle Ball 2024 concert at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena on December 19, because it looks like it will be his final live performance.
“I appreciate y’all, man, for offering me my last working gig, because I do not need the money anymore and I will not be performing. […] I don’t wanna do it anymore. I don’t want people to pay me to hop around and sweat for they entertainment anymore. I don’t want to do it no more.”
T.I. was then asked if he would still “do anything for” his group PSC and he responded, “Of course! I’m going to answer the phone to tell them that I will not be performing [laughs].”
Indeed, it would seem T.I. doesn’t “need the money anymore,” as he put it: It was announced last month that he and his wife Tiny Harris won $71 million in a lawsuit against toy company MGA, after it was ruled that their OMG Fashion Dolls line infringed on the concept of Harris’ pop group OMG Girlz.
This comes after T.I. spoke about retirement and his final albums last year, saying, “It’s time to evolve beyond [my] career as a rapper. I think it’s a lot more people who are carrying the torch and pushing the culture forward. So, I’m on my final album, Kill The King. OK, this is breaking news: I’ve decided that it’s gonna be a double-album. So, there’s gonna be Kill The King and Kiss The King.”
This summer, Shawn Mendes announced Shawn, an eagerly awaited new album that follows Mendes canceling his tour for mental health reasons in 2022.
The album was supposed to release next week, on October 18, but now fans will have to wait just a little bit longer: Mendes just announced he is delaying the album.
In a post shared on social media yesterday (October 9), Mendes explained:
“Hey guys [heart emoji]
My team and i have decided to push the album release date to November 15th. We just need a little bit more time to bring some new inspiration and ideas to life [heart emoji]
I love you guys thank you for being so patient, I can’t wait to see you guys at the next few shows x.”
In a recent interview, Mendes said of canceling his tour, “Canceling that tour was, by far, the hardest decision of my life, and by the far, the greatest decision of my life. It gave me a life. It gave me time to discover so much about myself.”
In case you missed it, check out the Shawn cover art and tracklist below.
Shawn Mendes’ Shawn Album Cover Artwork
Island Records
Shawn Mendes’ Shawn Tracklist
1. “Who I Am”
2. “Why Why Why”
3. “That’s The Dream”
4. “Nobody Knows”
5. “Isn’t That Enough”
6. “Heart Of Gold”
7. “Heavy”
8. “That’ll Be The Day”
9. “In Between”
10. “The Mountain”
11. “Rollin’ Right Along”
12. “Hallelujah”
Shawn is out 11/15 via Island Records. Find more information here.
Last night (October 9), J. Cole unexpectedly unveiled a new song, “Port Antonio.” Notably, it sees the rapper addressing his decision to bow out of the beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar.
On the second verse, he raps in part (per Genius):
“I pulled the plug because I’ve seen where that was ’bout to go
They wanted blood, they wanted clicks to make they pockets grow
They see this fire in my pen and think I’m dodgin’ smoke
I wouldn’t have lost a battle, dawg, I woulda lost a bro
I woulda gained a foe, and all for what? Just to attain some mo’
Props from strangers that don’t got a clue what I been aimin’ for?
Since the age of 14, Jermaine is no king
If that means I gotta dig up dirt and pay the whole team
Of algorithm-bot n****s just to sway the whole thing
On social media, competin’ for your favorable means
To be considered best of live and rest, the weight of both things
I understand the thirst of being first that made ’em both swing
Protecting legacies, so lines got crossed, perhaps regrettably
My friends went to war, I walked away with all they blood on me.”
Naturally, the track has generated many reactions online, and a lot of people aren’t buying what Cole is selling. One X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, “I refuse to let J Cole rewrite history as if he didn’t make 7 Minute Drill and we all didn’t hear how sh*t it sounded.” Another said, “I have no problem with J. Cole bowing out of that beef. You don’t get to come back 4 months later and tell me how you would’ve won though. Shut that up forever!”
Sometimes the best new R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm-and-blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to what they love in its true form, we’ll be offering a digest of the best new R&B songs that fans of the genre should hear every Friday.
Since the last update of this weekly R&B column, we’ve received plenty of music and news from the genre’s artists.
Summer Walker teased her third album and hinted that it would be a continuation of her Over It series and Drake confirmed that he and PartyNextDoor’s joint album is still on the way. Halle and DDG’s relationship came to an end, as told by a statement released by DDG while Kaytranada and Childish Gambino joined forces to release a video for “Witchy,” a fan favorite from the former’s Timeless. Elsewhere, Lauryn Hill faces a lawsuit from her Fugees bandmate Pras Michel.
Here are the new releases you need to have your eye on this week:
Victoria Monét — Jaguar II: Deluxe
Victoria Monét doesn’t want to end the Jaguar II era just yet as she returns with the album’s deluxe version. On it is ten new songs, including the previously released “SOS (Sex On Sight)” with Usher and “We Might Be Falling In Love” with Bryson Tiller. It’s basically another album from Ms. Monét and who could be upset about that?
Highlights: “SOS (Sex On Sight) Feat. Usher,” “Love Is Stronger Than Pride,” and “The Greatest.”
Kiana Ledé — “Natural” & “Space & P*ssy”
Kiana Ledé took three years to drop her sophomore album Grudges after her debut album KIKI. Her third album, titled Cut Ties won’t take nearly as long as she’s already begun the rollout for it. “Natural” and “Space & P*ssy” are the first appetizer from the album. The former is an intensely sensual track that Ledé says is “about the only person that gets to see the sexiest side of you.” As for “Space & P*ssy,” Ledé uses it to tackle the struggles of an unrequited situationship where everything she puts into it is not reciprocated.
JoJo — “Porcelain”
JoJo’s first release since her 2021 project Trying Not To Think About It arrives with flair. “Porcelain” arrives with a lively injection of dance that breathes life into JoJo’s velvety vocals. The record is one she describes as a “twerkable healing anthem” as she celebrates emerging from a chaotic period in her life stronger than ever.
Ravyn Lenae — “Love Me Not” Feat. Rex Orange County
Ravyn Lenae is currently on the road for her Bird’s Eye Tour across North American cities, but that isn’t stopping her from sharing new music. She teamed up with Rex Orange County for a new edition of “Love Me Not” from her Bird’s Eye album. Together, the two artists dive recount a relationship that is breaking at the seams.
Jordan Ward & Joony — JRNY
Jordan Ward and Joony put their chemistry on full display through their new project JRNY. Its six songs prove why Ward and Joony are two of music’s most promising young talents thanks to records like the reflective “Homebody” and the honest “Burning Rubber.” Altogether, it’s a fine display of how two unique voices and slick songwriters use their talents to combine the best of their worlds.
Highlights: “Jealousy” & “One Too Many Times”
Sampha — Lahai (Deluxe)
As if Sampha’sLahai album wasn’t great enough, the British singer decided to make it better with the addition of four new songs. The deluxe edition of Lahai arrived to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the project. We received new editions of “Satellite Business” and “Dancing Circles,” the former featuring Little Simz, and two new records titled “Re-Entry” and “Sensory Nectar.”
Highlights: “Dancing Circles 2.0” & “Re-Entry”
Shae Universe — Love’s Letter (Deluxe)
Shae Universe has one of my favorite R&B albums of the year, and it’s an underrated one too. Love’s Letter gets the deluxe treatment with the UK singer adding six songs to the project. It’s a party on the deluxe as Shae recruits ESTA., Joseph Solomon, Nao, and Aqyila for the deluxe records.
Compton singer Gemaine is readying the release of his upcoming EP Something To Sing About, a project that he’s seemingly been preparing by releasing singles over the course of 2024. His latest release, “Natural High,” pairs him with LA-by-way-of-Cleveland singer Lekan for a record that drips in contemporary R&B glory.
SAFE — “WYA”
Toronto singer SAFE isn’t letting his foot off the gas in 2024. After delivering “Superficial” and “Same Night” this year, SAFE checks back into the game with his latest single, “WYA.” Over sexy drill production, SAFE praises a special woman in his life and requests for her constant presence in his life.
Col3trane — “Where Have You Been All My Life?
Col3trane is a year removed from his last big release, his 2023 EP Chekhov’s Gun, but the singer is back in action with a new song. “Where Have You Been All My Life?” arrives with murky production as Col3trane reminisces about the moments of infatuation he had with a newfound partner as they continue to build and improve their relationship.
Thủy — Wings
Thuy’s third project is here! Wings, which arrives two years after Girls Like Me Don’t Cry, checks in with nine songs to its name as well as a feature from Blxst. “This project has allowed me the medium to completely explore my sexuality, womanhood, and my mind,” Thuy said about Wings in an Instagram post.
Highlights: “Whatcha Gotta Say” Feat. Blxst & “Crash & Burnand more released some of the best R&B songs this past week.”
This week everyone on the internet is talking about Dua Lipa. But the chatter isn’t about her headlining set at Austin City Limits last week, or anything Radical Optimism or even music-related. It’s because she’s a f*cking weirdo. Okay, maybe that’s a bit harsh, Dua Lipa is not a f*cking weirdo, everyone just thinks she is because her favorite drink of choice is an unholy concoction of Diet Coke, pickle juice, and jalapeño juice (or as Dua Lipa calls it, “jalapeño sauce,”).
It’s got people on the internet talking, it’s got Gordon Ramsay acting like a big dork (dude’s a chef, you think he could handle this), and it has us wondering — well, what does it taste like?
I mean, don’t get me wrong, it straight up sounds disgusting, but pickle-infused drinks aren’t exactly a new thing. Who amongst us hasn’t been to a bar and been offered a Pickleback, which is a shot of whiskey chased by a shot of pickle brine? Then you’ve got the Pickle Martini and Pickle garnished Palomas. Plus, any drink that calls for olive brine can be subbed with pickle brine. point being — it’s not that weird.
Gordon Ramsay, in his poorly acted taste test of the Dua Lipa drink, exclaimed that drinking the mix would ruin Dua’s vocal cords but… what’s worse for a singer? Diet Coke and some brine, or alcohol? If this is how Dua Lipa has fun, we say let her!
All the commotion has got us intrigued. What does this stuff taste like? Is it really as awful as it sounds or is it the drink of the season? We found out so you don’t have to. Here are our thoughts. But first, let’s talk recipe.
How To Make It
Dane Rivera
Ingredients:
Ice
Diet Coke
1 TBSP Pickle Brine
1-2 Pickles Chips
1 TBSP Jalapeño Brine
1-2 Jalapeño Chips
Dua couldn’t be clearer on how to make this drink. Fill up a cup with ice, pour Diet Coke in, add a dash of pickle brine, a dash of jalapeño brine, give it a mix, and garnish with a couple of pickles and jalapeños.
The brands used don’t matter, but in our case, we went with Trader Joe’s branded pickles and jalapeños. Use your favorite! For our drink, we didn’t actually measure out the brine, but from Dua’s video, I’d guess that she pours about a TBSP or a touch more to the drink.
Do not do what Gordon Ramsay did and pour a fourth of a cup of pickle brine into your drink unless you want to ruin it to make dramatic #content.
The Dua Lipa Diet Coke Pickle Whatever-The-F*ck
Dane Rivera
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
This might come as a shock to the majority of people reading this but, the drink really isn’t that bad. It’s incredibly vegetal and complex and the ingredients actually manage to work harmoniously together.
The earthy vegetal brine of the pickle juice is kept in control by the intense sweetness of the Diet Coke, ensuring that neither ingredient is too off-putting or overwhelming, while the jalapeño adds a spicy top note that hits the back of the throat and lives on the tongue at the finish.
I will say this though: it’s not for everyone. If you don’t like pickles or spicy drinks, you’re never going to like this. But if you’re one of those people who actually likes the taste of brine, give it a try, it’s a lot less strange that drinking it straight from the jar.
Alright, we’re going to need a proper name for this thing. I think “Illusion,” or “Houdini” both work, but my personal favorite is “French Exit.” All three are songs from Radical Optimism, so I think any one of them fits.
The Bottom Line:
LEAVE DUA LIPA ALONE! Honestly, this drink isn’t half bad; it’s interesting, vegetal, spicy, and sweet. Are we rushing to make another one? Probably not, but we’re willing to bet this would appeal to people outside of Dua Lipa’s fandom.
Amazon Music has announced the artists for season three of Amazon Music Live. Uproxx cover star Big Sean, Halsey, and J Balvin will headline to perform their new music and sit down for interviews with host Liza Koshy. Amazon Music Live returns on October 24, streaming live on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch directly after Thursday Night Football on Prime Video. Big Sean will appear on the second episode on October 24, Halsey will perform on the Halloween episode (October 31), and Balvin will take on the November 7 episode. The October 24 episode will kick off the season with Jelly Roll. There’s also a pre-show, Amazon Music Tonight!, which airs at 8 p.m. PT with host Will Neff ahead of each stream.
You know how the story goes with limited series these days. Once ratings explode, the “limited” is no more, and as is the case with FX’s Shōgun, multiple additional seasons have suddenly been greenlit. More of James Clavell’s Asian Saga will therefore come to FX (and Hulu), and presumably, the series will at least somewhat follow the continued source material for this 1600s feudal Japan war story.
The ratings justified this decision, too, despite the first season being an extensive production that yielded 9 million views (higher than fellow critical darling The Bear) for the opening episodes within a week of initial airtime. Even George R.R. Martin paused his recent grumpfest to enjoy Shōgun, which he presumably believes is a better adaptation than HotD‘s second season.
As of now, we know that Hiroyuki Sanada will return as Toranaga, and Anna Sawai will not be back as as Toda Mariko, but what of Cosmo Jarvis as marooned English navigator John Blackthorne? FX hasn’t yet revealed that Jarvis will officially return, but Sanada appears to believe that Toranaga won’t let him go anywhere, as he previously told USA Today:
“Blackthorne is useful to Toranaga, who wants to keep him in Japan and not let him go back to England,” says Sanada. “And when Blackthorne builds the ship again, he’ll burn it again.”
That sounds like a (clearly paraphrased) “sure, it’s not set in stone, but come on, where can Blackthorne really go?”
Also, will FX seize the chance to use the book’s explicit running joke about Blackthorne being extremely well endowed, an attribute that was purposefully left out of the first season? Sure, co-creator and co-showrunner Justin Marks did tell Decider that the writers felt, “I think we can find new humor and be funnier in ways.” Yet few people expected more Shōgun seasons, so why not seize that moment?
Literary endowment or not, we don’t yet know when Shōgun will return for a second season.
Ever since her star turn in 2022 with “F.N.F. (Let’s Go),” GloRilla has been one of the most charming stars in rap. Every interview is a gold mine of meme moments, from shooting her shot with NBA star Damian Lillard to coining hilarious catchphrases. But of her most delightful moments (which include revealing rap relations with both Lil Uzi Vert and Cardi B), the thing it seems fans can’t help getting hung up on is her Memphis accent.
During her recent interview with Complex‘s Speedy Morman — which you can watch in full above — the topic came up after the host couldn’t stop cackling about her pronunciations of words and phrases like “newsfeed,” “beautiful spirit,” “cute,” and anything with the “ew” sound in it. “How often do you speak and people comment?” Morman asked. “All the time,” she admitted with a thousand watt grin. “I’m used to it now, but I just be like, ‘Dang, y’all really don’t understand me.’ It’s like I speak Spanish and sh*t.” The Complex editors were nice enough to collect a compilation of her best accent moments from the interview. Check it out:
GloRilla is gearing up to release her first-ever album, Glorious, which is out 10/11 via CMG/Interscope. You can find more info here.
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