Category: Viral

South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone recently revealed that they spent a maddening $40 million to revamp Casa Bonita in Lakewood, Colorado. They also promised that the food would be much better than the seasoned-cardboard-like fare of yesteryear, but so far, the general public has only been privy to soft-opening evenings (by invitation) with a grand-opening date still under wraps.

When that happens, not only will the camp-out movement presumably wind down in the parking lot, but tipping culture will also be shaken up, too. What Parker and Stone are doing on that subject might be revolutionary. They’re actually eliminating customer tips for servers and bartenders. Instead, they’ve boosted those wages up to $30 per hour from the existing $14-$15 range.

This will do a few things, including shifting the onus for providing a living wage away from customers and onto their employer. Also, one can imagine that morale between front-and-back-of-house staffers might be affected by evening the playing field in overall hourly wages. Friction is not unheard of on that subject in many restaurants, after all, but Axios reported the news and suggested that there could nonetheless be some backlash:

In the days before Friday’s public opening, the restaurant called employees to a meeting at which they were told to sign new contracts within a day or quit, according to one employee who spoke with Axios, describing conversations with other colleagues, as well as documents provided to Axios from another employee.

The employees asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution and because of a confidentiality agreement.

Axios further points out that the new hourly wage will allow workers to more easily able to predict their income. Yet this also potentially could take away from those servers and bartenders who do a bang-up job of gathering tips on their shifts, particularly those premium Friday and Saturday nights when a restaurant is more likely to be jam packed. Some people were bound to be upset by any changes at all, and presumably, prices for food will be higher than they would otherwise be with tips on the table.

Still, customers should appreciate the transparency, rather than to see surprise gratuities on their tickets at the end of a meal. Also, Casa Bonita workers will see their health insurance kick in after 60 days, which is more than many restaurants provide in benefits. It remains notable that Parker and Stone continue to do things differently, and we’ll have to wait and see what effect this has on other restaurants in the Denver area and across the U.S.

(Via Axios)

Travis Scott’s upcoming fourth album, Utopia, may finally be nearing its release after being delayed by the tragedy at Astroworld Festival in 2021 and Travis’s subsequent withdrawal from the spotlight. While Travis has continued to tease the album as he inched back into the spotlight, putting up billboards and playing it for his hometown Houston Astros, his official website now offers a strong indication that the official release date could be within sight.

Travis had apparently first revealed the title of the album back in 2020. In a post celebrating the second anniversary of his chart-topping third album, Astroworld, he wrote, “See you in Utopia,” prompting fans to speculate that this would be the next album’s title. Since then, the album has been one of the most anticipated in hip-hop, but fans have had to wait longer than they perhaps might have ordinarily due to the Astro Festival disaster, which caused 10 deaths in 2021, including that of a 10-year-old boy.

Throughout the next year, Travis laid low, surfacing in the second half of the year to begin performing festival-headlining sets again, including Primavera Sound in Sao Paolo, Rolling Loud in Los Angeles, Miami, Portugal, Rotterdam, and Thailand, and the UK’s Wireless Festival. He also starred in Nike’s new campaign for the return of the Mac Attack tennis shoe, in which he fittingly carried a briefcase emblazoned — what else? — Utopia.

While we still don’t know exactly when the album drops, it certainly seems to be soon enough that his hints have become more overt. The wait may be over sooner than we think.

One of Jamie Foxx‘s co-stars has the latest update on the actor’s health condition. Foxx suffered a “medical complication” back in mid-April, and since then, his family has been asking for privacy while the actor recuperates at home. Foxx’s Dad Stop Embarrassing Me co-star Porscha Coleman recently echoed those remarks as she reassured fans that Foxx will be back.

“I’ve talked to people very close to Foxx, [he] is doing well,” Coleman told Entertainment Weekly. “I hate that the media outlets kept running with the narrative of what was going on without having the proper information.”

Coleman is referring to the handful of claims that popped up following Foxx’s medical complication. There have been false reports that the actor suffered severe side effects from the COVID vaccine (Foxx’s rep immediately shut that conspiracy theory down), false reports that he was on his deathbed (Foxx is very much alive), and claims from Mike Tyson that Foxx had a stroke (Tyson admitted he has “no idea what happened” to Foxx).

According to Coleman, Foxx is a private person, and that’s all there is to it:

“One thing about Jamie is that he’s always valued his privacy. If you’ve noticed, Jamie Foxx has always been on the low,” she tells ET. “Even when it came to dating, Jamie’s always been private, so it never surprised me. Once I heard the news, of course, I reached out, but how Foxx is doing it is how Foxx should be doing it. He’s resting, he’s well. And he’s going to be back. Trust and believe.”

“I look forward to seeing him,” Coleman said to wrap up her remarks. “He got a lot of projects coming up, a lot of music that I already know he has. So, I’m excited. I love you Foxx!”

Dad Stop Embarrassing Me is currently streaming on Netflix.

(Via Entertainment Tonight)

UK A&R, DJ, producer, and songwriter A.G. Cook is known for founding PC Music in 2013 and his collaborative relationship with the likes of Charli XCX. Well, Cook has confirmed a big change in PC Music’s operations going forward.

“2013-2023 [butterfly emoji] After a decade of @pcmus we’re announcing that 2023 will be our final year of new releases, and that from 2024 onwards the label will be fully dedicated to archival projects & special reissues [butterfly emoji],” Cook posted to Instagram over the weekend. “Can’t wait to share everything we have coming this year & beyond [butterfly emoji] Visit 10.pcmusic.info for a new 100 minute mix featuring infinite tracks from the past, present & future [butterfly emoji] Personal Computer Music forever [blue heart emoji]”

A press release sent out this morning, June 26, additionally noted, “We have an undisclosed number of new albums and singles coming very soon.”

“I’ve never been that dogmatic about what PC Music means, especially on an A&R level,” Cook said in the past, as seen on Cook’s bio page on Tailored Communication’s official website. “If a person is pushing a personal idea, I wouldn’t guide them in a specific way. But for me, there’s always been a consistent definition of ‘Personal Computer Music.’ It would feel ironic if I didn’t try to do an album that was my take on it. I owe it to my own interpretation of the label to do it.”

Cook was referring to his sprawling 2020 7G project.

The “10 x 10” 100-minute mix features Cook, Easyfun, Ö aka Nömak, Grrl, Kane West, Umru, Datalord, Caro, Bopples, and Dux Content.

Listen above.

The 2023 BET Awards went down this weekend, and there was plenty to love on stage. There was a star-studded performance in honor of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, Latto went ahead and “Put It On Da Floor,” Offset and Quavo teamed up to honor Takeoff, and Busta Rhymes had an emotional moment. What might be the biggest drama of the night, though, happened off stage.

As Lil Uzi Vert and JT sat in the audience together, JT appeared quite upset and said to Uzi, “F*cking groupie, I’m done with you,” videos show. She then threw her phone at at him and called him a “b*tch.” She then headed towards the exit and Uzi followed her out.

So that’s what happened, but why did it happen?

Neither rapper has publicly spoken about what happened, so at the moment, all we have are rumors. What we do know for sure, though, is that the interaction happened after Uzi shouted out Ice Spice on an unreleased song he performed, in which he says, “I got a nice wife. […] Wig came off twice. She got a little afro, she looks like Ice Spice.” As for the rumors, some are speculating the blow-up was caused by a mix of that and Uzi supposedly flirting (or at least talking) with Ice Spice.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

John Collins has been in trade rumors for three years now, but despite having his name come up every deadline and offseason, he remained a member of the Atlanta Hawks through the 2022-23 season.

Finally, the Hawks have found a trade for Collins, sending him to a Utah team flush with cap room and looking to continue upgrading their roster after a surprisingly competitive year. Atlanta won’t be getting much in return for Collins, as they will bring back Rudy Gay and a second round pick for their starting power forward, per Adrian Wojnarowski and Jake Fischer, but as he notes this move is mostly to clear their books for the future.

Despite reports of a mandate to stay under the tax in Atlanta, Woj reports they can continue to make moves and go into the tax to improve the team, but given how the Hawks have operated financially under Tony Ressler, many won’t believe that until they see it.

From a basketball perspective it’s interesting for both parties, as the Hawks get worse by losing one of their better defenders and connectors, but gain some clarity in terms of roles. Collins had steadily been shuffled to the background in Atlanta after posting career-best marks in the 2019-20 season (21.6 points/10.1 rebounds per game), and last year with the addition of Dejountey Murray he really struggled to make the same impact as he just had less opportunity (13.1 points/6.5 rebounds). His shooting drop-off last year to 29.2 percent from deep, after having become a strong three-point threat, was particularly problematic in a lesser role. Without him, the Hawks can look to bolster their rotation with players entering a more defined role as a tertiary scorer, as opposed to trying to wedge Collins into that role.

In Utah, Collins will slot between Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler in an interesting frontcourt trio that will have to learn how to find their spaces. If Collins can regain his three-point form of years past, he and Markkanen could form a formidable 3/4 offensive combo (that could play some small-ball 4/5), and Collins will give Utah an athletic rim threat they otherwise didn’t have.

Jack Black had the biggest hit of his career with “Peaches,” Bower’s yearning ballad for Princess Peach from The Super Mario Bros. Movie (coincidentally, the biggest movie of 2023). Over the weekend, at the Game Awards’ 10–Year Concert, the Tenacious D member performed the song live for the first time.

Black was accompanied by a full orchestra, but no Toad on the maracas. A real missed opportunity there. Still, you can watch it below.

Black was initially hesitant to sing in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which is maybe the first time he’s ever be hesitant to break into a tasty jam.

“We had already had a few sessions; I think we were a year in when [directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic] first sprung it on me,” he told IGN. “They were like, ‘How would you feel about Bowser singing a song?’ And I was like, ‘Ooh, I don’t know.’ I’m very protective about my singing career with my band, Tenacious D.” But once he heard “Peaches,” Black “couldn’t deny that it was funny. I was like, I get it. I see why you want Bowser to do this, tickling the ivories and singing a love song to Peaches. It was undeniable.”

Also undeniable: “Peaches” deserving an Oscar nomination. Tenacious D was robbed once before; don’t make it twice.

(Via Nintendo Life)

Playboi Carti collaborated with Madonna and The Weeknd on “Popular” for The Idol, and the events after Carti’s headlining Lyrical Lemonade’s 2023 Summer Smash sounds like a plot line extracted from the controversial HBO series.

Summer Smash was held over the weekend at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. Kid Cudi headlined on Friday night, June 23, while Future handled headliner duties on Saturday, June 24, and Carti brought the Cole Bennett-led event home on Sunday night, June 25. The final night was actually punctuated by Chicago’s very own Lil Durk, but some fans wanted more Playboi Carti.

Videos aggregated on Instagram and Twitter by Our Generation Music show an SUV carrying Carti speeding off from the venue, only to be chased by people on foot as it approached the highway. (Maybe they wanted to demand answers in person as to when his follow-up to Whole Lotta Red is coming.) Carti appeared to love the overflowing love, appearing with a smile from the sunroof.

According to setlist.fm, Carti’s 12-song Summer Smash set included a cover of Lil Yachty’s “Flex Up” and of Kanye West’s “Off The Grid” — Carti was a featured artist on both — before a three-song encore of “Teen X,” “New N3on,” and “Vamp Anthem.”

See clips from Summer Smash below.

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

Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” will arrive this Friday, June 30, and up until this morning, fans weren’t totally clued in on the single’s place in Rodrigo’s highly anticipated sophomore album. (Although, there was some funny Twilight crossover.)

“my sophomore album GUTS comes out september 8th,” Rodrigo captioned an Instagram post on Monday, June 26, and it should be noted that the accompanying cover art plays in a purple color scheme that feels like an extension of Sour. “i am so proud of this record and I can’t wait to share it with you all! u can presave it now! xoxoxoxo [red heart emoji, purple heart emoji, envelope emoji, black heart emoji].”

Taylor Swift is synonymous with Easter eggs in modern pop music, and Rodrigo is taking the baton. Shortly after Rodrigo’s Guts announcement, About Music pointed out that Rodrigo hid the word within her 2021 “Brutal” video.

At the 1-minute mark, Rodrigo is performing on Instagram Live, and someone comments, “i love your guts!!!” Ten seconds later in the scrolling comments section, a user’s handle is “Guts49.” Even more subtly, at 1:24, a promotional poster for some sort of fictional beverage appears to feature the title.

Rodrigo instantly dominated the pop sphere with her record-breaking debut single, “Drivers License,” and equally unprecedented May 2021 debut album, Sour.

“I’m definitely not as sad as I was when I wrote Sour,” the three-time Grammy winner told Elle in March 2022. “I’m so excited to make my next record and explore more colors and textures and feelings and grow as a human being even more. I’m really stoked for that.”

By August 2022, Rodrigo teased that she was back in the studio with producer Dan Nigro, and she promised that 2023 would bring “new music” in a pre-recorded video for her top 2022 Spotify Wrapped listeners.

Olivia Rodrigo season is just about here. As fans await the new single “Vampire,” there are still questions about Rodrigo’s second album. Well, she’s now answered a couple of them: It’s called Guts, and it’s set for release on September 8, she announced on social media today (June 26).

In a press statement, Rodrigo said of the project, “For me, this album is about growing pains and trying to figure out who I am at this point in my life. I feel like I grew 10 years between the ages of 18 and 20 — it was such an intense period of awkwardness and change. I think that’s all just a natural part of growth, and hopefully the album reflects that.”

For the album, Rodrigo once again teamed up with Sour collaborator Dan Nigro. The album is currently available for pre-order in CD, cassette, vinyl, and box set editions.

There’s no announced tracklist for the album yet, but after some social media sleuthing, some fans suspect that Lana Del Rey will have a collaboration on the project. Meanwhile, a countdown clock on Rodrigo’s website is still ticking, so when it reaches 0 this Friday, there will presumably be more Rodrigo news (the release of “Vampire,” perhaps).

Check out the Guts cover art below.

Guts is out 9/8 via Geffen Records. Find more information here.