Category: Viral

Stefani Germanotta went double method acting for Joker: Folie à Deux. The singer and actress, who you know better as Lady Gaga, made everyone call her “Lee” while filming the Joker sequel.

“I didn’t know Stefani at all. Strangely, I felt like I never even met her, even during the makeup/hair tests. Maybe it was my philosophy of not trying to get in their space,” Oscar-winning cinematographer Lawrence Sher told The Trenches Talk podcast, according to Variety. “I remember for a week being like, ‘God, I feel like we are disconnecting. Not even connecting. We are like on opposites.’ And I would say to my crew, ‘Jesus, I can’t crack it. She either hates me or we hate each other. There’s something weird going on here.’”

Sher barely said anything to “Lee,” other than minor things like, “Stefani, this is where your second team was.” Then, at one point, the assistant director told him, “Oh you know, Stef would like if you just called her Lee on set.” That’s when it clicked. “And I was like, 100 percent. The next thing I said was something ‘Lee,’ and it was like everything changed. From that point on, it was like she was… our whole connection changed. I was like, alright, cool,” he said.

“Lee” is presumably a reference to “Harley,” as in Harley Quinn. But if Lady Gaga doesn’t get an Oscar nomination for her performance in the movie, it’s because she didn’t make everyone call her Lady Haha.

You can listen to the podcast below.

(Via Variety)

Tony Bennett (real name Anthony Dominick Benedetto) is dead at 96 years old. Publicist Sylvia Weiner confirmed the iconic singer’s death to The Associated Press, saying he died in his hometown of New York today (July 21). A cause of death has not yet been confirmed, but Bennett was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016.

Bennett’s career as a recording artist began in the 1950s. His debut single was released in 1951 and it topped the charts in the US. He released his signature song, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” in 1962. He maintained a successful career for decades and in later years, he became known for his two collaborative albums with Lady Gaga: Cheek To Cheek in 2014 and Love For Sale in 2021. All in all, Bennett ended up winning 19 Grammy Awards (in 2022, he became the second-oldest person to ever win a Grammy). His final live performances were shows with Gaga at Radio City Music Hall in 2021.

In a 2021 interview on The Late Show, Gaga got emotional speaking about Bennett and Alzheimer’s, saying in part, “I love him very deeply, and watching him begin his journey with Alzheimer’s years ago, I remember I wanted to make good on a promise I made to him. […] He goes, ‘Hey Lady!’ That’s what he calls me, he calls me ‘Lady.’ ‘Hey Lady, we need to make a Cole Porter record, all Cole Porter songs, all love songs.’ […] Then a couple years later, his Alzheimer’s just started to set on and I said, ‘Let’s go into the studio now,’ and we did. And when I tell you that when jazz begins, this man lights up in a way that is such magic. It just reminded me that anybody that has a family member or somebody that they love that’s suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia, music is… music is magic. Music is a miracle.”

It seems like most people have thoughts on Jason Aldean’s allegedly racist and pro-violence song “Try That In A Small Town” and its accompanying video. Now, the hosts of The View have also chimed in.

Whoopi Goldberg kicked off the discussion on yesterday’s (July 20) show, saying (as Entertainment Weekly notes):

“He talks about life in a small town, and it’s different, and he chose these images. He’s got folks from the Black Lives Matter movement, and he’s talking about people taking care of each other, and I find it so interesting that it never occurred to Jason or the writers that that’s what these folks were doing: They were taking care of the people in their town because they didn’t like what they saw.”

Just like you talk about people taking care of each other in small towns, we do the same thing in big towns. You just have to realize that when you make it about Black Lives Matter, people kind of say, ‘Well, are you talking about Black people? What are you talking about here?’”

Sunny Hostin also noted, “What was evoked for me was…. those sundown areas. My mother and father, because they were an interracial couple, were run out of South Carolina by the KKK. My father is still scarred from that experience… so don’t tell me that not only was he aware of what he was doing by using that imagery: he embraces that imagery. Unfortunately, this became the No. 1 song on US iTunes. We have a problem in this country about race, and the biggest problem is we refuse to admit that it exists.”

Check out the segment above.

Rihanna and ASAP Rocky have a baby together and another on the way. Given their relationship status and the fact that they’re both respected musical artists, it would make sense that at some point, the two could do something like their own version of Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s Everything Is Love and make some music together. Now, the question is: Do they have a song coming?

Rocky seemingly teased one on his newly released single “Riot (Rowdy Pipe’n),” which includes the line, “Luxe balm up in my palm / New collab’ with my baby mom.”

While lyrics are of course open to interpretation and aren’t always 100-percent reflective of reality, Rocky did just tell Complex that he and Rihanna do have some things on the way, but not necessarily music. He said, “I’m always down to collab with my partner. She’s a phenomenal creative. Yeah, there’s a lot of things we’re going to collaborate on, from products for children, there’s a lot of things to look forward to.”

He also spoke of his partnership with Beats, saying, “[Beats] is a heritage brand at this point, and I think that they really advocated to have me display my different talents. They also showed love and made sure that the [new] music was in video; they were just open to the ideas that I wanted to do. And I think that’s what made them a great partner, for just allowing me to really take the wheel.”

Jaxon Carter is an incredible example of turning tragedy into triumph. The 6-year-old boy lost his mother, Taryn Marie Gainey, in an accidental apartment fire in Harrison Township, Michigan, when he was 5, a few weeks before he started kindergarten.

Even though his life had been turned upside down by tragedy, young Jaxon excelled at his school, New Dawn Academy, a public STEM-focused charter school. He won his class spelling Bee, received honors in nearly all of his subjects and graduating valedictorian of his class.

In June, his teacher asked him to give his class a valedictory address, and he delivered a 4-minute speech from memory that he wrote with his grandma. “When I started kindergarten at New Dawn Academy in August 2022, I was a little 5-year-old who had lost my beautiful mother a month before,” Jaxon said.

@blackdollarntwk

♻️ lG/blackinformationnetwork 6-year-old Jaxon Carter delivered an emotional speech dedicated to his late mom at his graduation ceremony. Jaxon lost his mom, Taryn Marie Gainey, last July in an apartment fire. Jaxon started kindergarten at a new school in Sterling Heights, MI

But he persevered and put all of his efforts into his studies. “I learned to play with other kids, read books, answer or ask questions like how or why, use correct grammar and use my school tablet,” he continued. “My kindergarten year helped me grow braver, smarter, kind-hearted and more grateful.”

He ended his speech by paying tribute to his beloved mother. “I dedicate my speech, good grades, all school awards, and my kindergarten graduation to my beautiful mommy, who I will always love and miss so very much. I know she will always be with me in my heart,” Carter said.

He also thanked his grandmother, uncles and dad for their support. “You are the best daddy ever, and I love you so very much,” Carter said to rapturous applause.

A new era of Zayn is upon us. Two years after his third album, Nobody Is Listening and with a freshly signed deal with Mercury Records, Zayn is back with his new single, “Love Like This.”

On his new song, produced and written by Jon Bellion and songwriting collective The Monsters & Strangerz, Zayn and his special love are going through a rough patch. But regardless, his heart still beats only for her.

“I just wanna take your time / and everything is on the line / but I would rather be dead / If it’s gonna mean a life that’s lived without you, baby / I guess that’s love like this,” he sings on the song’s chorus.

Earlier this month, Zayn made an appearance on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast, which marked his first interview in six years. Though he’s maintained a steady flow of music, Zayn admitted he felt it was necessary to take a break from the spotlight in order to home in on who he is as an artist.

“You don’t want to be sat there saying the same sh*t on repeat,” Zayn said. “I mean, day in and day out, I think this should be a good, healthy break in-between — and that was my approach to it. ”

You can see the video for “Love Like This” above.

In the streaming era, songs longer than three minutes feel like an anomaly. Even more rare today are rap songs with three verses. But tonight, Jay Rock, Anderson .Paak, and Latto brought back what the game has been missing for a while.

On their new collaboration “Too Fast (Pull Over),” Jay, Anderson, and Latto can’t help but party it up and toast to their accomplishments.

Though he’s been doing more singing lately — particularly with his Bruno Mars collaborative side project, Silk Sonic — Anderson makes a return to rap, with a catchy chorus.

“Pull ovеr, that ass too fast / Hit the ATM and grab more cash / Yеs, lord, feelin’ like a new man,” he says.

Though Jay hasn’t put out an album since 2018’s Redemption, he reminds us that he hasn’t left the building at all.

“Send a stepper up the stairway to heaven / Put a pole dancer in a Mercedes / She wanna watch P Valley and go half on a baby,” raps Jay in his verse.

In the video, as guests are partying in a pool at a mansion, Latto is seen dancing on the aforementioned pole on the Mercedes. She also reminds us that she’s not going to let any haters faze her or let anyone use her name for clout.

“B*tches want the come up, ain’t gon’ give ’em one / Pull up in the, ‘Skrrt,’ then I pull off in a different one / A bigger one, expensive one, the Lamby or somethin’ / Pull the switch on their ass like a Grammy or somethin’” she raps.

You can see the “Too Fast (Pull Over)” video above.

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

In true New York fashion, Ice Spice’s newest single is an ode to a city staple — the deli. On “Deli,’ Ice is has gone from a scrappy newcomer to a full-blown superstar.

Teaming up with her frequent collaborator RiotUSA, Ice is embracing her opulence as one of rap’s most prolific acts.

“She a baddie, she showin’ her panty / She shake it like jelly / Hundred bands in Chanel-y / But I’m still shakin’ ass in the deli,” she raps with fervor on the song’s chorus.

The past year has been monumental for Ice. She has a collaboration with Nicki Minaj on the Barbie soundtrack — which is out today. She also collaborated with Taylor Swift back in May.

But no matter how famous she gets, she will always have love for where she came from — The Bronx.

In an interview with Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, Ice showed love for her home borough and expressed her gratitude for the upbringing she experienced.

“A childhood in the Bronx, I’m not going to lie, is fun, for me,” she said. “That’s how my childhood was. I know a lot of people in the Bronx have different experiences, especially depending on what part of the Bronx you from. But I had a fun childhood. I mean, I only know it from my perspective.”

You can listen to “Deli” above.

Like…? (Deluxe) is out now via Capitol Records & 10K Projects. Find out more information here

Britney is back, b*tch! Tonight (July 21), Will.I.Am has dropped “Mind Your Business,” his hotly-anticipated new collaboration with Britney Spears. Over a thumping, bass-heavy beat, Will and Spears are reminding their haters that they’re not here for any drama.

Having been a star since she was a child, Spears can never escape intrusive people. No matter where she goes, she is aware that she is being followed “Uptown, downtown, everywhere I turn around,” on her verse of the song.

She continues, singing, “Hollywood, London, snap-snap is the sound / Paparazzi shot me / I am the economy.”

Will doubles down on the frustration, rapping, “Too much looky-looky, I’m so sick of all these looky-loos / Everybody lookin’ at me like I was the breakin’ news / Police gotta stayin’ watchin’ every step I take / Every move I make, every breath I take.”

“Mind Your Business” marks Spears’ first musical contribution since last year’s Elton John collab, “Hold Me Closer,” an updated version of John’s timeless classic, “Tiny Dancer.” It’s also her second overall since being released from her 13-year conservatorship back in 2021.

At this point, the message of “Mind Your Business” rings stronger now more than ever for Spears.

You can listen to “Mind Your Business” above.

Travis Scott is back — and he’s brought some friends with him. On his new song, “KPop,” Scott is joined by fellow hitmaker heavyweights Bad Bunny and The Weeknd, as they all come through with the heat.

Over a smooth, percussive beat, Scott delivers his signature brand of rap-singing. Of course, in true Travis Scott fashion, there’s no shortage of “skrt” or “it’s lit” adlibs.

Bad Bunny pops in, with the intent to charm a lady on the dancefloor — no matter how her man feels about it.

Meanwhile, The Weeknd — in his first musical contribution since the end of season 1 of his controversial HBO series, The Idol — seeks to continue a debauched night long after the club closes.

The scorching new single arrives a week before his hotly-anticipated fourth studio album, Utopia. Utopia marks Scott’s first album in five years, and also, his first since the Astroworld tragedy.

Scott will celebrate the release of Utopia next week with a special concert at the Giza Pyramids in Egypt — despite rumors of its previous cancellation due to alleged cultural insensitivity. The album will also come in five different artworks.

You can listen to “KPop” above.

Utopia is out 7/28 via Epic Records and Cactus Jack. Find out more information here.