Santa always has a lot of celebrity helpers. It may come as a surprise that one of the biggest philanthropic events of this holiday season was actually thrown by Metallica. On Dec 13th, the undisputed kings of heavy metal threw their fourth ‘Helping Hands’ gala and concert event for their foundation, All Within My Hands. The evening was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, and featured a star-studded lineup of special guest acts and presenters. We were lucky enough to score a pair of seats. Here’s how it all went down.
Uproxx
The Helping Hands benefit was held at the YouTube theater in Los Angeles. The venue seats 6,000 which is a staggeringly intimate number when compared to Metallica‘s status quo of selling out the largest stadiums and arenas around the world. Just a year prior, band sold out two nights at Sofi Stadium, which is literally across a courtyard from the YouTube theater, to a tune of nearly 80,000 attendees each night. The SoFi shows were part of their M72 world tour, which is still underway and will be the bands longest tour to date- spanning from April 2023 and wrapping up in November 2025. Somehow, in the midst of it all, they made time to get holiday cozy.
Metallica
After the obligatory stroll down the black carpet, the night kicked off with an opening guest set from Sista Strings. Actual sisters Chauntee and Monique Ross were a delight to the senses, and about as far as you can get from what you’d expect to open a Metallica concert. The classically trained duo play violin and cello and with a serious serving of soul. Though they are no strangers to touring with some of today’s biggest acts, it’s clear that a metal show was new territory.
Still, the sisters held their own in every way and made for a very graceful start to the evening.
All Within My Hands
Having whet our musical palates, the guests and the giving got underway. Longtime friend of the band, Tom Morello gave a moving speech about the importance of community, and non-digital interaction especially for children as he introduced Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament. Ament’s foundation, the Montana Pool Service has been hard at work for the last many years building professional level skate parks, many specifically for Indigenous youth in Montana and the Dakotas. In Ament’s own words, “Having a thing that makes you feel alive, saves lives.”
AWMH honored the work that Ament had undertaken and cut a hefty check to help fund the construction of six new park projects in 2025.
For a moment, the evening felt almost too tame. Here were all these rock legends speaking softly and on their best behavior. Then came Sammy Hagar. Sauntering out with a bottle of tequila and feeling doubly emboldened with the Silver Surfer himself, Joe Satriani by his side, Sammy began to shake us all out of our lull. Along with original Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony and legendary drummer Aronoff, they went through classics from VH, Hagar’s own catalog and of course, a few of their own as a group, Chicken Foot. It as a surprise treat that few were expecting but we all thoroughly enjoyed.
All Within My Hands
In a 180-degree contrast to Ament’s rural focus and Hagar’s brazen bottle rock, the next special guest presenter was Wu-Tang mastermind RZA who spoke to the value of rehabilitation and second chances. RZA highlighted the work of Homeboy Industries, a LA-based nonprofit that provides training and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated people, allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of the community. Homeboy COO Steve Delgado spoke briefly and once again, the AWMH foundation pledged it support with a long string of zeros.
UPROXX
Finally, the moment we’d all been waiting for arrived, or so we thought. Kimmel popped out once again to introduce the fearsome foursome and Metallica took the stage. To everybody’s surprise, they had acoustic guitars in hand. No big amps on the stage. Frontman James Hetfield sat down on a stool, leaned into the microphone, and simply said “Alright, shhhhh. Acoustic.” The group played several songs in their most stripped-down possible form. Opening act Sister Strings came and join them for a few tunes which was actually quite special to see and gave a taste of the band’s 1999 S&M album recorded with the San Francisco Symphony. Finally, after their most well-known ballad, ‘Nothing Else Matters’, they took a bow and Hetfield coyly whispered “Thank you. We’ll be back with louder guitars”.
As the band took their time to switch into the thunderous electric titans that everyone has come to expect, Kimmel honored one more organization. Maggie Baird and her foundation Support + Feed were introduced via video messages from her two kids, Fineas and Billie Eilish. The Support + Feed Foundation focuses on nutritional education providing access to plant-based meals to those in need. To date they have served over one million meals. This organization was a perfect final honoree for the night as the fight against hunger is the cornerstone to the All Within My Hands mission. Metallica actually donates a percentage of proceeds from every show to local organizations in the host city. Feeding the people is a part of their ethos and with one final donation to Support + Feed, it was time for our main course.
All Within My Hands
To kick off the full-throttle set we’d all come to see, actor and activist Jason Momoa took the stage to re-introduce the band. A self-proclaimed lifelong fanboy, Mamoa seemed to speak for everyone in the building as he praised the place that Metallica held in his life and the lives of so many others. With a roar like only he could utter, Mamoa screamed their name and the four horsemen came thundering forth.
Metallica
If there was even a sliver of a question about their level of gusto after the slow acoustic start, it was blown away in just a few notes. Metallica ripped through eight songs ranging from their first studio album ‘Kill Em All’ through their 11th and latest ‘72 Seasons’ for which their current tour is named. Honoree and bassist Jeff Ament joined the group for one song. Tom Morello never picked up an axe and respectfully left the shred to Hammett and Hetfield. They notably skipped their most commercially successful song of all time ‘Enter Sandman’ and closed their set with ‘Master of Muppets,’ arguably the true fan favorite and certainly one of their all-time greatest hits.
Metallica
For a band that’s been rocking as hard as they have for over 42 years, Metallica showed no signs of losing steam. Just as impressive as their decades-long run and enduring dynamic performances was the context of the whole evening. The black-clad giants of sonic aggression turned down the decibels and spoke deeply from their hearts about what it means to give back and why it matters so much. In a world where far too many celebrities are only doing good for the gram and the tax write-offs, Metallica are as genuine and committed to making the world a better place as they come.
Go take a look for yourself and see just how much good the All Within My Hands Foundation is doing via their website here. Also, the silent auction for this most recent Helping Hands benefit is still open through Jan 7th. With items ranging from signed guitars and merch to future concert packages, it’s not too late to get in on the giving action yourself. No matter how you choose to do it, take a page from the masters of metal and go make a difference for the greater good.
Crumbl fans, get ready because we’re getting another shortened week at our favorite specialty cookie shop. This week Crumbl will be closing its doors at 6 PM on New Year’s Eve, and will be completely closed New Year’s Day. That’s great news for Crumbl employees, and bad news for us cookie-obsessed individuals. It means you have one less day to get this week’s run of limited-time cookies, which is why it’s vital that we break down the best of the best on the menu this week.
After all, some of us still have holiday Crumbl gift cards we are itching to spend.
This week at Crumbl we’re getting a lot of repeats from the last couple of months, which is to be expected with Crumbl’s new eight cookie lineup. Luckily what’s coming back still has us excited. So without further ado, here is every cookie dropping at Crumbl this week ranked from least to most essential.
8. Monster Ft. M&M’s Candies
Dane Rivera
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
We know what you’re thinking: you’re looking at the name of this cookie, looking at the name, and wondering where the hell are the M&M’s? Same. They are there, embedded within the cookie, but clearly the execution of this cookie needs some work,
The Monster features a toasty peanut butter base with M&Ms, peanut butter chips, and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Considering how much chocolate is here, it’s amazing how the dominating note of this cookie is peanut butter. Crumbl drops a peanut butter cookie almost every week, and most of the time, they taste the same. This one is no different. For us, its a skip.
The Bottom Line:
A low-effort peanut butter cookie. Definitely not Crumbl’s best version of the flavor.
7. Cookie Dough
Dane Rivera
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
I like raw cookie dough as much as the next person, but in our opinion cookie dough is a nice little treat. You know what’s better? A cookie. Crumbl’s Cookie Dough cookie comes across as unfinished. The flavors never satisfy in the way something like the chocolate chip does.
This cookie is built on an earthy brown sugar base topped with cookie-dough flavored buttercream, cookie dough pieces, and sweet chocolate chips. It has all the makings of a good cookie, but the flavors never come together.
The Bottom Line:
An overrated flavor that is good in theory but doesn’t satisfy in its execution.
6. The Original Pink Sugar
Dane Rivera
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
For some Crumbl fans, this is the best cookie. I know people who buy a whole box of these and freeze them so they can have one every week. If you’ve never had the Pink Sugar cookie, it’s definitely worth checking out.
The cookie features a thick smear of almond frosting over an almond cookie base. That double almond flavor makes it more elevated — and better tasting — than any sugar cookie you’ve ever had.
The Bottom Line:
An almond-based sugar cookie that is definitely worth trying if you’ve never had it. If you have and its already not your favorite, this is an easy skip that you can be sure will hit the menu again soon.
5. Milk Chocolate Chip
Dane Rivera
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
You know the drill here, this is a near-perfect chocolate chip cookie, bested only by Crumbl’s semi-sweet variation. If you like that classic brown sugar, butter, and milk chocolate blend that is a chocolate chip cookie, you won’t be disappointed here.
The Bottom Line:
Great as always, but if you’ve had this one recently, feel free to skip it, you know its coming back in two weeks.
4. Churro
Dane Rivera
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
I desperately want to love the Churro cookie but I’ve had it two times now, and both times it has failed to wow me. I love churros, and I think that’s the problem. Despite its name, this doesn’t quite capture the magic of a real churro, but if you like a mix of cinnamon and white sugar, this cookie definitely delivers.
The flavor is dark, rich, and sweet, with gentle spicy cinnamon notes, a dusty crumbly texture, and a sweet, slight tang, courtesy of the buttercream swirl.
The Bottom Line:
A tasty cinnamon-forward cookie, but not nearly as good as a real churro.
3. French Toast
Dane Rivera
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
My issue with the French Toast is similar to my issue with the Churro. It uses the name and flavors of a superior snack! Crumbl’s French Toast cookie (if you want to call it that) doesn’t taste nearly as good as a slice of good French toast. It doesn’t have that gooey decadence that makes this treat one of the greatest breakfast dishes of all time, and while it is best served warm, it’s never truly as warm as a slice from your favorite breakfast restaurant.
Despite how it doesn’t live up to the promise of its name, I can’t deny that the French Toast cookie is pretty damn tasty. The texture is bready, a bit fluffy, and it’s packed with a spicy mix of cinnamon, clove, and white sugar flavors. The butter cream is sweet and tangy, and the hint of syrup adds a pleasing kiss of maple to the aftertaste.
The Bottom Line:
It looks like a piece of French Toast, but it’s not quite as good. If you go in there knowing that and don’t compare it to the real thing, then this snack becomes incredibly delicious.
2. Cookies & Cream Tres Leches Cake
Dane Rivera
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
If you like the moist texture and the delicate flavor of Tres Leches, but feel it’s a little too creamy, and wish it was a bit more decadent — the Cookies & Cream Tres Leches Cake delivers the decadence.
This cake features a dark chocolate base in creamy tres leches, a whipped cream topping, and bits of cookies and cream streusel. It’s moist, rich, creamy, and super chocolatey. The chocolate cake soaks up the tres leches perfectly, making sure every forkful is an explosion of intense flavors.
The Bottom Line:
One of Crumbl’s better tres leches cakes. It’s equal parts moist and decadent.
1. Vanilla Crumb Cake ft. Golden Oreo
Dane Rivera
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
I’ve never given one of Crumbl’s Oreo cookies the top spot, so I’m surprised by this pick! Especially because we think the Golden Oreo isn’t even half as good as the OG chocolate flavor. This cookie was just too damn good to deny. We wish we had another one!
The cookie features a vanilla cookie base that has bits of Golden Oreos inside of it topped with Crumbl’s addictive vanilla cream cheese frosting, and a dusting of Golden Oreo dust. If you like vanilla, this cookie delivers a whole lot of that. It’s delicate and sweet yet earthy and floral.
The Bottom Line:
Quite possibly Crumbl’s best Oreo-based cookie and easily our pick for the best of the week.
Earlier this year, Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight was revealed to be working on a movie about the Shelby fam and the gang in WWII. That project has already finished filming and should surface in 2025, and BBC/Netflix haven’t revealed whether the project will go theatrical or head straight to streaming, but the expansive cast does include several original members led by (of course) Tommy Shelby himself, Cillian Murphy.
Netflix, BBC, and friends have kept the plot’s details fairly secretive, although Knight did specify, “The country is at war, and so, of course, are our Peaky Blinders.” And what of the title and its revelations?
As rumored and then presumably confirmed by a crew member’s Instagram post, the film’s title is The Immortal Man. At this point, we can only guess that this refers to how Tommy has cheated death several times, including his WWI tour, an open-grave “gotcha” message from Winston Churchill, a crushed skull at the behest of Father Hughes, and a fake brain tumor diagnosis at the direction of Oswald Mosley. That doesn’t even account for how Tommy’s gypsy wagon was set aflame, along with his keepsake memories, or how long it took for remaining Shelby family members to learn that he remained alive.
Evading death in that many ways certainly qualifies for figurative “immortal” status, and if Tommy uses this leg of the Peaky Blinders story to pass his empire onto his sons, then his legacy should live forever.
To add a further wrinkle: It’s been heavily speculated (with apparent evidence to support that theory) that Barry Keoghan’s role is that of Duke Shelby, Tommy’s illegitimate son who was set to take over Shelby Company Limited’s illicit dealings. Knight has further suggested to Screenrant that the future holds a spin off about “the new generation in a series that will take place after the Second World War.” Will Tommy still be “immortal” when he finally passes the torch? Nobody is talking yet, but we should find out sometime next year.
Let’s be real. Most of the gifts you got suck (except the ones we recommended). Some legitimately suck, as in: “Are not well made and only contribute to a culture of consumerism without adding anything of significance to your life.” And others suck simply because they don’t fulfill a need you have, leaving them destined for the drawer next to the stove or a box in the attic, only to be Marie Kondo’d to Goodwill in a few years.
So we recommend you skip a few steps right now and — Return. That. Shit.
Keep the cash. Or get stuff that genuinely matters to you. Items that help you feel more fully yourself, more confident as you navigate our big-messy-complicated world, and more soothed in an era of hysteria. Self-care stuff.
Of course, “self-care” is a pretty wide net. I might call eating ten tacos self-care on the right day. So find what works for you and skip what doesn’t. 2025 is upon us and it’s time to follow your own compass.
EDITOR’S PICK: Lumix — S9 Full Frame Mirrorless Camera
But that means having tools that don’t create more work than they’re worth. If it’s complicated… you just won’t use it.
This camera has big “dope camera for dummies” energy. More specifically, it’s made for social-media content creators and the premise is that you can create custom looks — essentially pre-sets — in your camera and export them quickly.
I absolutely love it. You’re able to make presets based on your aesthetic tastes and then apply them to your photos — which means you don’t necessarily need an editing app on your phone. You can pretty easily go from the camera straight to Instagram’s tools and have everything you need.
Another great aspect of this camera is that it’s a dang bruiser. It’s built well and mirrorless — which makes it super robust for anyone tossing it in a backpack without a ton of excess padding (not recommended, but still.)
If you’re looking to get into photography beyond the iPhone and want something that can be your all-arounder, I can’t recommend any camera higher!
I have featured wireless headphones every year that we’ve been running gift guides. This pair, from Bowers & Wilkins and McLaren is most certainly the most elevated pair we’ve touched, with the best sound quality. The styling is impeccable — important if you wear headphones as much as I do — but, more to the point, the sound quality is impeccable.
Also, as a guy who has ruined about 12 pairs of Beats over the years and had Apple tell me, “Sucks to be you,” I’d also like to note that these are much more durable. I keep them in the case — they are $800 headphones, after all — but they can handle getting banged around a lot more than flimsy over-ear Beats.
One more note: I like the external sound dampening on these more than on any other pair I’ve owned. The “external awareness” setting is more natural and less distracting than other brands and the “silent focus” setting is impeccable. The battery power is next level and a half-charge has carried me through many a cross country plane ride this year.
To me, travel is the epitome of self-care. And for bigger trips, I held out with backpacks until this year. If I was checking a bag, it was a backpack, right up until the end of 2024 — when I found this suitcase.
This case just makes checking a bag so easy. It locks. It’s bold and stylish without being overstated. And it’s sturdy as f*ck. That quality is vital for me and something I can attest to personally because the bag rolled off my porch and down 10 steps the first time I ever traveled with it. Barely a scuff on the thing!
Between the omnidirectional wheels and the huge volume, this is everything you want out of a suitcase and has me fully converted from a life of backpacks.
The whole mushroom movement has fully arrived. I can’t go to Instagram without another influencer telling me about the transformational effects of psilocybin and why I should be microdosing.
And I’m fully in. 110%. Thanks, in a large part, to these gummies.
In work life, that means that it’s been easier to see the POV of others, admit mistakes, and have ideas rejected without taking it personally — all vital skills for people in creative fields. In my personal life, I’ve completely shifted my habits and routines.
If all of that sounds interesting to you, I recommend I AM’s “Delight” formulation for a lighter experience and their “Insight” expression for a deeper investigation into the self. Because I’m someone who loves to party and rarely drinks, I’ll also often take 5-7 Delight gummies for a party night. And I AM makes a “hero dose” tea for those ready for a true deep dive.
Check the brand out if you’ve been curious about the whole “mushroom thing” buzzing through culture and want a brand that is organic, vegan, supports their customers with information, and is values-driven. It’s no coincidence that many of the aforementioned IG health and lifestyle influencers are fans of the brand. Also… these little gems taste absolutely delicious.
Face stuff is tricky. You never know if it’s working because it’s part of a bigger routine and needs to be part of your life over a long segment of time to see results. With that said, I’ve read some of the red light therapy studies for myself and they seem legit. I sit this little toy right next to my desk and run it up and down my cheeks between calls.
Am I more vital? Is my skin younger? Yes, I think I notice some added fullness. Especially on some scars I have. And the back side of the device has a face-scrubber/ massager that I love using before bed. So while you never can be completely sure about face stuff, this one passes my muster.
Cooking might actually be my highest form of self-care and Le Creuset is the highest form cookware. What else is there to say? You need one of these all-rounder dutch ovens desperately for soups, stews, etc. The number of single pot meals you can make with a Le Cruset is endless and, obviously, it’s nice that folks will be impressed by your style.
Listen, I like to have bright teeth, okay? That gives me confidence. I get them whitened professionally and I do it at home. I’m basically Clooney in Intolerable Cruelty:
And this is the best set I’ve found to combine whitening approaches without being hard on your enamel. I vouch for it. Check my smile for the co-sign.
This isn’t a whitening product. It’s a “cheat at flossing” product. Or, to be more specific, it’s a “supplement your flossing and brushing” product. It’s basically a water pick that fits your whole mouth at once.
I use this twice in the morning and twice at night. It leaves my mouth feeling clean and my confidence about my breath high. I feel more confident being right in someone’s face. I have that “straight from the dentist” feel that we all wish could last.
Now to the nitty gritty: What does a pro say?
After six months, I told my dentist about it and he said very clearly: “This does not replace flossing.” BUT he also said that my flossing looked better and this was the only change I had made, so… kind of a mixed bag there.
Here’s the bottom line: If you put a high-priority on oral hygiene, you’re gonna love this. I know I do.
I’ll tell you, I have multiple shock-based products at my house. All for areas where I have a little excess flesh. I have one of those ab-stimulators for my belly at my desk and this for my face.
I will say: It’s a little odd to get your face shocked all day. But also, I am a tooth clencher and I certainly notice both a release of my jaw muscles and a slimming of my face. (For what it’s worth, I vouch for the ab-stimulator too.)
Get this for yourself if you want to feel like you’re working on your appearance while working at home.
If you live in SoCal or anywhere else where the water stinks and is full of minerals, you need a filtered showerhead and you notice it instantly. Your nails, your hair… everything is better.
I specifically find my hair to feel softer and grow faster when I have a nice filtered showerhead and this is the best of the bunch that I’ve tried!
The Sacramento Kings fired Mike Brown on Friday after a 13-18 start to the 2024-25 season, falling to 12th in the West and three games back of the final Play-In spot already. They have been one of the league’s most disappointing teams given where expectations were coming into the year, and seem miles away from the team that won the 3-seed just two seasons ago.
While you can argue the decision to fire Brown is an example of this, how they got to this point isn’t a tale of organizational malpractice, but a reminder of how thin the margins are for building a contender in today’s NBA, especially as one of the league’s non-destination teams. There are a number of factors that have brought the Kings to this point, where they’ve fired their coach and are staring down an ever-shrinking window to appease De’Aaron Fox’s desire to compete for titles. For one, they are the latest in a long line of teams that you can argue are the victims of their own sudden success. That 2023 playoff appearance saw them earn the 3-seed, but that was as a 48-win team taking advantage of a down year in the West. While they failed to build on that the following year, Sacramento still won 46 games and finished in ninth — the same spot they would’ve been as a 48-win team, too.
Sacramento tried to do all the right things in building this team, and in a vacuum, each of their decisions makes sense. They paired Fox with Domantas Sabonis, creating a star duo that complements each other beautifully on the offensive end of the floor. They drafted a wing in Keegan Murray who, if all went well, would be an ideal fit between them on the wing. They made free agency and trade additions that, initially, looked like steals in Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter, and rewarded both with extensions after they proved they could help the team. After plateauing last season, they swapped out Harrison Barnes for DeMar DeRozan to alleviate some of the scoring burden on their stars and shift Murray back into a more comfortable role.
Unfortunately, even the best laid plans can go awry. They’ve seen their depth get thinner as they’ve handed out contract extensions (most notably a max for Sabonis) and the players they’ve placed bets on to pick up the slack in larger roles have regressed. Monk has been a league-average shooter since his arrival and remains one, but his microwave tendencies are much more impactful when he’s buoying a bench unit in bursts rather than needing to provide a constant lift. The reason they’ve needed more from Monk is because Huerter and Murray have never been able to regain the form of two years ago, with both falling off a cliff in terms of three-point efficiency (Murray: 44.1 percent to 29.5 percent; Huerter: 40.2 percent to 31.2 percent). That has been a gigantic reason for the Kings falling down to the 24th-best three-point shooting team in the league, which is how a team that was once an offensive juggernaut becomes a slightly above-average unit.
When you go back through the last two years of Kings roster decisions, there aren’t any that jump out as disastrous when they happened. The Huerter extension was thought to be a value deal for Sacramento at the time, but his regression has been rather staggering. Extending Monk was, likewise, a no-brainer at the time, and he’s at least maintained his level, even if they hoped in an ideal world for a leap of some kind. And then there’s the Sabonis extension. They had no real choice but to give him after how well he played that first season after he was acquired in a trade for Tyrese Haliburton (a thorny subject, but again, it made sense if you decided Fox was The Guy), because when you have an All-Star talent in today’s NBA, you basically have to give them a max.
The Kings especially aren’t a team that can play hardball with All-Star caliber players, because few are going to have Sacramento high on their list of preferred destinations. That is not necessarily unique to the Kings, as I’d venture a guess that this sentiment goes for a majority of teams in the NBA, but Sacramento not only lacks the location to attract stars, they also have had plenty of organizational dysfunction working against them as well.
And so, the Kings bet on that 2023 season being just the beginning of a great run, hoping they had finally put the right pieces together and could try out stability for a change. Instead, it appears that season was a mirage. Sabonis and Fox have continued to be excellent and maintained that level, but they occupy the tier below the ultra-elite that make a team a title contender by their mere presence. When you have that caliber of star, you can’t miss with your supporting cast. Unfortunately for Sacramento, rather than internal development, they’ve seen regression around their stars, and their attempt this offseason to salvage things by signing DeRozan has not brought about the turnaround they hoped for. Now, the Kings are rapidly approaching a crossroads.
Fox’s future looms over everything in Sacramento. They tried to build a contender around him and thought they were doing it the right way. Instead, they’re stuck with two options to try and salvage the Fox era or see him become the latest young star to push his way to greener pastures. One is to ask for patience. That tends to be in short supply for young NBA stars who don’t see a clear vision, but the Kings can try and sell Fox on this group just needing more time to coalesce and that they’re not that far off from a run if they can get Murray out of his slump. However, given they just fired their otherwise successful coach after a slow start (which, it should be said, is the first sign of possibly reverting back to the Kangz of old), I have a hard time imagining this is a real option.
The second option is to make one last desperation swing ahead of the trade deadline. Zach LaVine and Brandon Ingram remain out there and very available, and if the Kings were to include Murray, they could certainly make an intriguing offer to either the Bulls or Pelicans (or a push for a different star not currently on the radar). The concern, of course, is that won’t be enough, and they’ll give up their best assets for, potentially, a short-term rental only to see Fox ask to leave, anyway.
If they’re unsuccessful with either option, they’ll have to spend this summer fielding trade offers for Fox and figure out how to move forward as a franchise. It’s the unfortunate reality of life as a non-destination organization. They did so much good work to identify and acquire talent to build a promising young team, but you can’t afford any missteps along the way. They’re not the first team to get fooled by a playoff mirage and won’t be the last, but there’s a difference in how teams get punished for it.
Two of the best recent examples are in Miami and Portland, who both got caught in this position over the past decade. Portland could never fully recover from a string of failed wing investments around Damian Lillard (Allen Crabbe, Evan Turner, Moe Harkless), and while it took quite a while, eventually the star guard asked out. Now, they’re trying to start back over almost from scratch, hoping to find the next young star to build around. The Heat made some similarly poor bets (Tyler Johnson, Hassan Whiteside), but by virtue of being a destination city and franchise, they were able to quickly retool and moved back into the contender sphere in the East within a few years.
Unfortunately for the Kings, they fall into the Portland category and if Fox does indeed end up asking out, they’ll need to be savvy with how they proceed. Having Sabonis around should give them an avenue Portland didn’t have in terms of star talent remaining, but they’ll still have to thread the needle between adding draft assets and finding some current talent to bring back. The challenge for a team like the Kings is, while perhaps you need to be more cold in your self-evaluation as an organization after a big year, at the same time, your best bet for building a real contender is to identify talent early and lock those players in long-term.
There are no clear blueprints to follow. Instead, you just have to get it right when you aren’t a place that pops up on every star’s wishlist. This time around, the Kings didn’t, as has been the case with every iteration of team-building the franchise has tried over the last two decades. Now we wait to see what the full fallout will be from this well-intentioned build gone awry.
Karol G has worked and worked to the point that she’s now one of Latin music’s biggest stars. She’s been on a journey, and now that story is set to be recounted in an upcoming Netflix documentary.
Karol shared a social media post confirming the documentary is coming in 2025. The post includes a note written on a piece of paper that reads, “A story born from dreams that seemed impossible, fueled by unwavering faith. A relentless journey that defied all odds. My life. My work. My truth. And the powerful connection I share with you all. My dream came true.”
A statement from Netflix describes the project as “an intimate portrait of a global music icon — the woman behind the artist,” as Billboard notes.
The documentary does not yet have an announced title or release date. What we do know is that it’s led by Emmy Award-winning director and producer Cristina Costantini, and produced by Sony Pictures Television’s This Machine, in association with Bichota Films and Interscope Films.
This comes after a monster year from Karol that saw her release her latest album, Mañana Será Bonito, which became her first release to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. It also follows her and Shakira’s top-10 2023 single “TQG.”
Every year, indie rock legends Yo La Tengo plays a concert on each night of Hanukkah. The residency, which was originally held at Maxwell’s (RIP) in New Jersey before moving to New York City’s Bowery Ballroom, also includes a surprise opening act.
On Sunday (night five of Hanukkah), the guest was MJ Lenderman, who released one of 2024’s best albums, Manning Fireworks. The “She’s Leaving You” singer also joined Yo La Tengo (and Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley on drums) for a cover of Bob Dylan‘s “Something There Is About You,” a lovely deep cut from 1974’s Planet Waves.
You can watch Lenderman and Yo La Tengo cover Bob Dylan here.
Lenderman talked about his history with Dylan in an interview with Far Out magazine. “I know a good bit about him, but I honestly haven’t gotten that deep into the music,” he said. “I’ve listened to Planet Waves probably more than any other album. That CD was in the car one day, and I found out it was The Band playing with Dylan on that record.” Lenderman is particularly fond of one track from that album (Dylan’s 19th best!), in particular. “I think the melody is just so emotional,” he explained. “It always gets me.”
Although Little Simz has had a relatively quiet 2024 — at least, in comparison to the monstrous years previous — the Islington native reeled off a few high-profile collaborations in the last 12 months. In May, she joined K-pop star RM on his solo album, Right Place, Wrong Person, following up the next month with fellow Brit Sampha on his new project, LAHAI. In August, she appeared on Coldplay’s “We Pray.” And now, she closes out the year with a boastful single, “Hello, Hi,” to remind listeners she’s still making moves and foreshadow a strong 2025.
In somewhat of a departure for the genre-mixing, trend-avoidant rapper, Simz employs a mellow drill beat on “Hello, Hi,” reeling off a boastful list of achievement and acquisitions, from her undisputable rap skills, to the luxury goods they’ve helped her purchase. “SS Simz ’25, you ain’t never seen this season / Takin’ it to another level this year and I got every reason,” she vows. She also hard-launches her relationship (“Let her cook, but my man is a Michelin-star chef”), deplores the state of the rap business (“They make it to the top, then add water and dilute”), and does some high-end spending (“Yes, I am the illest, in Cartier, spendin’ my shillings / Sis said, ‘Why do you buy this stuff?,’ I just like it, innit?”). 2025 is looking like a good year.
Some of the best Apple TV+ shows also happen to be the best original streaming series in existence. Yet with an endless array of options for streaming platforms, some target audience members might not have jumped aboard, and the tech giant is here to entice viewers to give their library a chance. From comedic hits like Bad Monkey and Ted Lasso to the spymaster antics of Slow Horses to dramedies like Shrinking and sci-fi selections like Severance and Silo, there’s no shortage of addictions on Apple TV+.
The catch, however, is that Apple TV+ will only be available for one weekend as a free option (available globally), but there’s no obligation to purchase anything further. A press release has designated January 3-5 as the time when any compatible device will offer Apple TV+’s entire catalogue for the taking. The only requirement, beyond a streaming-friendly device, is an Apple ID.
Compatible devices include Apple products and countless Samsung, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, LG, and Android TV models, among other options listed here. Yet if you decide to take this whirl, you’d better plan on blocking out every available hour possible for the first weekend of 2025 because oh boy, there’s a lot there. And if you want recommendations, we’ve got you covered.
Here at Uproxx, we’ll never lie to you about sneakers. We’re never going to hype up a shoe or a collaboration that we aren’t legitimately psyched over, so it’s with a heavy heart that we say 2024 was the weakest year for sneakers this decade thus far. That’s not to say there weren’t dope drops, of course, there were, but the first three years of this decade were a sort of golden age for sneakerheads. Whether you were a collector, re-seller, or just someone who loves dope design, the last three years gave us releases that we’ll surely look back on 10 years and deem “legendary.”
2024 though? It’s been rough, and while we liked a lot of the sneakers that released, maybe only a small handful will be deemed legendary. But there is a silver lining to all of this. It may not be a good year for re-sellers, but for the people who actually like to wear their shoes until the sole comes off? It’s never been easier to pick up some of the most hyped releases of the year for just a bit above — and in some lucky cases below — retail.
To help close this year in sneakers, and welcome 2025 with open arms, we’re shouting out the 20 best sneakers that dropped in 2024. The crop featured below was truly the best of the best (in a weak year). Let’s dive in.
20. Nike SB Dunk Low x Futura Laboratories
Nike
Anytime Nike teams up with the legendary New York graffiti artist Futura, we pay attention, so when this sneaker dropped back in April, we already had a feeling this would make our year-end list.
This SB Dunk, designed by Futura Laboratories, features an unbleached canvas upper with swirling psychedelic overlays, high-end embroidered details, and Futura’s signature at the heel. It leans less on Futura’s street graffiti style, and more on the sort of contemporary art Futura is currently showing in galleries.
Find the SB Dunk x Futura Laboratories at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.
19. Kith x Asics GT-2160 Venom vs Spiderman
KITH
This year, to celebrate Marvel’s 85th anniversary, Kith teamed up with Marvel and Asics for five sneakers inspired by iconic Marvel characters, and our favorite of the five was easily the Venom-inspired GT-2160. Generally, cartoon-inspired sneakers just to hit, they’re more of a novelty than anything else, but the Venom vs Spiderman just looks so damn dope that we can’t deny it.
The sneaker features a mesh upper with a gradient print in blue, with some black leather Asics tiger stripes across the silhouette (the other sneaker in the pack predictably looks like Spiderman). Aside from the comic book drawing on the insoles, from afar you’d never know that this sneaker was a Marvel tie-in, and that’s what makes it such an effective design.
Find the Kith x Asics GT-2160 Venom at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.
18. Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 1000 White
New Balance
We’d say New Balance owes Aimé Leon Dore a considerable debt because part of the reason the brand is so popular right now is because of a few effective collaborations, but NB went ahead and made ALD’s founder, Teddy Santis, its creative director so, consider the debt paid!
This year the brand linked up with New Balance for a new take on the 1000 silhouette. The sneaker sported a perforated leather upper, mesh underlays, and a squeaky-clean colorway that combined tones of off-white and grey.
It’s minimalistic, super fresh, and elegant.
Find the Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 1000 White at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.
17. Bad Bunny x Adidas Gazellle Indoor San Juan
Adidas
The San Juan is my all-time favorite Adidas Bad Bunny collaboration. Generally, Benito’s Adidas collabs tend to go hard on the psychedelic design aspects, but the San Juan feels understated and refined. It’s classy, with a bright blue suede upper, grey and white accents, a translucent gum sole, and gold foil branding.
If this refined approach is an indication of Benito’s new aesthetic for his just-announced album, consider us all ears!
Find the Bad Bunny x Adidas Gazelle Indoor San Juan at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.
16. Nike SHOX R4 Black
Nike
This year’s Nike SHOX R4 did something I never thought was possible — they made the gimmicky as f*ck SHOX design look classy. As someone who grew up in the ‘00s, I’m a bit torn on the Y2K resurgence in modern streetwear. You could make the argument that modern streetwear looks tired, borrowing a look that has been done before and died out for a reason. Yet, I think this new approach to the futuristic aesthetic of the new millennium looks better than it ever has.
Case in point, the Nike SHOX R4 Black. This sneaker features an all-black synthetic leather upper with laser perforations and those iconic compression springs that made the SHOX a love-it-or-hate-it design. 20 years ago, I thought this was the ugliest shoe ever. Now, it has fully one me over.
Find the Nike SHOX R4 Black at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.
15. Nike Jumpman Jack TR Sail and Dark Mocha
Nike
With the fall of Yeezy, Travis Scott has inherited the crown of the most exciting rapper-sneaker collaborator, but something that has been missing from Travis Scott’s Nike link-ups has been the lack of originality. At the end of the day, as cool as a Travis Scott sneaker looks, most of what works about it is the fact that the rapper is making colorways of some of the best sneaker designs of all time. Making a Jordan 1 look dope isn’t an impressive feat.
So we’re happy that La Flame finally has his very own signature sneaker, with an original design in the Jumpman Jack, even if it’s not our favorite Travis Scott sneaker of the year.
Here is to the future of the Jumpman Jack!
Find the Nike Jumpman Jack TR Sail and Dark Mocha at aftermarket sites like GOAT, Flight Club and StockX.
14. Jordan 4 RM SP Nigel Sylvester Grandma’s Driveway
Nike
It’s rare that someone can f*ck with a Jordan silhouette and get away with it, and yet pro-BMX athlete Nigel Sylvester did it this year to great success! The Jordan 4 RM SP Nigel Sylvester alters the shape and construction of the AJ-4, ditching the usual upper build for a durable suede one, with a rubber caging system and a swapped heel logo that reads “Bike.”
It’s radical enough that it almost looks like an entirely different silhouette, and yet, it’s still one of our favorite Jordan 4s of the year. The sneaker is inspired by the driveway where Sylvester cut his BMX-teeth, and gets its color from his grandmother’s green fence. The sneaker feels personal, and that always makes for great design collaborations.
Find the Jordan 4 RM Sp Nigel Sylvester Grandma’s Driveway at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.
13. Action Bronson x New Balance 1906R Rosewater
StockX
Action Bronson is one of New Balance’s most consistent collaborators, and this year the pair gave us the 1906R Rosewater, which is our absolute favorite Action Bronson NB to date. What we love about this sneaker is its loud and brash multi-tone colorway. It mimics Bronson’s personality and vibe, which is always something we look for in an artist-sneaker collaboration.
Our favorite detail is the translucent mesh shroud that mutes the color-rich design, which gives the bold tones a sort of pastel quality.
Find the Action Bronson x New Balance 1906R Rosewater at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.
12. Travis Scott x Jordan 1 Retro Low OG Sp Medium Olive
Nike
2024 brought a lot of Travis Scott sneakers, and we struggled to include only two, so if you were a fan of the Velvet Brown and you’re wondering why it’s not on this list, just know that this pair took its spot. Easily the most hyped Travis Scott sneaker of the year, the Medium Olive features an incredibly simple design.
It takes the Jordan 1 silhouette and dresses it in black suede with white leather overlays atop an aged midsole and slaps an oversized backward Swoosh in a warm olive tone on it. There are no gimmicks (aside from the swoosh), no needless extras, just a Jordan one in a dope color combo.
Travis Scott link-ups don’t tend to be the most radical designs, but the rapper has a clear and identifiable aesthetic, and sometimes that’s all it takes.
Find the Travis Scott x Jordan 1 Retro Low OG SP Medium Olive at aftermarket sites like GOAT, Flight Club and StockX.
11. Kids Of Immigrants x Nike Air Max Sunder Sun Down
GOAT
Another sneaker that snuck in towards the end of the year, this collaboration between Nike and Kids of Immigrants was part of a two-sneaker collection inspired by the hues of sunrise and sunset. Our favorite of the two was without a doubt the Sun Down.
The sneaker features a zipper-equipped textile shroud overlaid with a TPU cage and a blue-to-violet gradient that screams “the future,” by way of the 1980s. What we’re trying to say is this sneaker reminds us of Tron in the best way possible.
Find the Kids of Immigrants x Nike Air Max Sunder Sun Down at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.
10. Jae Tips x Saucony Matrix “No Shoes In The House” Burgundy
StockX
The only Saucony release to make our year-end list, this collaboration between high-performance running brand Saucony and musician and designer Jae Tips outfits the usually tech-focused sneaker in some plush design details.
The sneaker features a wool upper in burgundy with beige suede overlays, a bit of mesh at the tongue, and a pastel pink midsole. It takes Saucony and makes the brand, you know, fun. For that we give all the credit to Jae Tips, who has quickly become the brand’s best outside collaborator.
Find the Jae Tips x Saucony Matrix “No Shoes In The House” at aftermarket sites like GOAT or StockX.
9. Jordan 4 Retro Military Blue
StockX
We’re aware that there are a lot of sneakerheads out there that feel like this re-release didn’t quite hit the mark, and while yes, we agree that the tones of blue and grey aren’t a perfect match for the 2012 re-release, it’s still a dope sneaker! When this colorway first dropped in 1989, as one of the silhouette’s debuts, it looked closer to this rendition than the 2012 remake, so if you’re all about authenticity, the 2024 Military Blue delivers!
The sneaker features a grey leather upper with a slight blue hue and Military Blue accents on the heel, midsole, lace cage, and behind the cage net. It’s nit as bright as the 2012 retro, but it’s a damn good-looking sneaker, that can’t be denied.
Find the Jordan 4 Retro Military Blue at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.
8. Nike Kobe 6 Protro Italian Camo
Nike
2024 brought the return of the Kobe Protro and Nike and the Kobe Estate did not hold back. It felt like every month this year, we got at least two new Kobe Protros, so this list was bound to have at least one of them on it. Our pick is the Kobe 6 Protro Italian Camo.
The sneaker sports a snakeskin-inspired upper in a unique camouflage colorway with crimson red accents and a Zoom Air-equipped forefoot. It’s precise, sleek, yet threatening, a perfect mirror of Kobe’s legendary play styles. We’re confident in saying this is the coolest a Kobe sneaker has ever looked!
Find the Nike Kobe 6 Protro Italian Camo at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.
7. Stash x Nike Air Max 95 Black and Harbor Blue
Nike
Dropping in the last month of the year, Nike decided to slip in one more noteworthy drop — the Nike Air Max 95 Black and Harbor Blue, a collaboration with the New York graffiti artist Stash and quite possibly one of the greatest colorways to ever grace the silhouette.
Graffiti artist team-ups are nothing new from Nike (see the Futura Laboratories Dunk), but what sets the Stash Air Max apart is just how understated it us. The sneaker doesn’t have a loud and attention-calling design that resembles a NYC wall, instead, what we have here is a harmonious mix of blue and black tones with a speckled midsole.
If it wasn’t in the name, you’d never know this was a collaboration with a graffiti artist, and that’s precisely why it’s one of the silhouette’s best-ever looks.
Find the Stash x Nike Air Max 95 Black and Harbor Blue at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.
6. Jordan 3 Retro OG Black Cement
Nike
I mean do we really even need to say anything about this sneaker? It’s iconic. The Black Cement isn’t just the best Jordan 3 colorway of all time, but it’s in the top five of the best sneakers ever released. So yeah, the return of this classic design made our year-end list. We even entertained the idea of giving this sneaker the top spot, but ultimately, we decided to make room for some new blood.
Find the Jordan 3 Retro OG Black Cement at aftermarket sites like GOAT, Flight Club and StockX.
5. A Ma Maniére x Jordan 4 Retro W.Y.W.S.
Nike
This year, Atlanta-based brand (and greatest current Jordan collaborator) A Ma Maniére dropped its “While You Were Sleeping” collection, and truthfully, we considered including every sneaker drop under that banner on this list. It’s, in our opinion, the greatest Nike collaboration since Virgil Abloh’s “The Ten.”
The crowd favorite from the drop was easily the Jordan 4. The sneaker features A Ma Maniére’s typical elevated design approach, giving the sneaker a plush Fossil Stone leather upper with suede overlays, quilted lining, and the brand’s “A” logo on the left tongue tag. If you called this the best sneaker of the year, we wouldn’t argue with you — but clearly, it’s not our personal favorite. It is undeniably one of the best Jordan 4s of the whole decade so far though.
Find the A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 4 W.Y.W.S. at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.
4. Adidas AE 1 Low Nick’s Gift
Adidas
The Anthony Edwards signature sneaker is probably the best design to come out of Adidas in some time, so we always knew this sneaker was going to land in our year-end lists. It was really more a question of which colorway deserved the spot, and for us its the Nick’s Gift.
Named for and inspired by Edwards’ best fried Nick Maddox, aka Slick, Nick’s Gift features a bright icy blue, mildly iridescent upper over a black base. It’s a simple two-color design that really highlights the sneaker’s futuristic details.
Find the Adidas AE 1 Low Nick’s Gift at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.
3. Vomero 5 PRM Designed By Japan
Nike
The Vomero 5 Designed By Japan is easily the best the silhouette has ever looked. The design is a departure from the usual Vomero 5 build, instead of the synthetic upper and plastic details we have a full-grain leather build, suede panels, and an oversized Swoosh.
Hopefully, Nike lifts some of the ideas presented here and adopts them into the stock Vomero 5 design, because now that we’ve seen the sneaker in this form, we can’t go back.
Find the Vomero 5 PRM Designed by Japan at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.
2. Joe Freshgoods x New Balance 1000 When Things Were Pure Pink Mink
Anytime beloved Chicago designer Joe Freshgoods drops a sneaker collaboration, we pay attention, especially if that collaboration is with New Balance, a brand that owes some of its current popularity to Freshgoods. The “When Things Were Pure,” collection consisted of two sneaker colorways, our favorite being the Pink Mink.
Back in April, when this sneaker first dropped, we predicted that the 1000 silhouette — which was pulled out of the New Balance vault for this release — would be the new 550 in terms of popularity, and now eight months later, we stand by that. This is currently New Balance’s dopest silhouette, and we have Freshgoods to thank for that.
This sneaker features an open mesh upper with iridescent leather overlays, embroidered details at the heel, reflective 3M foxing, and lace webbing. According to Joe Freshgoods, the sneaker is named for the early days of the ’00s, when basement parties were the “epicenter of culture” and rap books served as “our textbooks.” You can always count on Freshgoods to come to design with a dope concept in mind.
Find the Joe Freshgoods x New Balance 1000 When Things Were Pure Pink Mink at aftermarket sites like GOAT and StockX.
1. A Ma Maniére x Air Max 95 W.Y.W.S.
Here it is, our pick for the best sneaker of 2024! It’s kind of a controversial choice, or at the very least it’s not the most obvious one, but there isn’t a single sneaker that dropped in 2024 that I wanted more than this one. So I’m taking that as a sign, even though it doesn’t have the hype of something like the Black Cement.
This sneaker takes a grip of famous Nike colors, including Light and Dark Violet Ore, Burgundy Ash, Atmosphere Grey, and Gunsmoke, and uses them as a gradient across the 95’s iconic rib-influenced design. Rounding out the design are elevated details like the leather-lined collar and rounded laces, the sort of level-ups we’ve come to expect from Nike’s greatest collaborator, A Ma Maniére.
We’ve said it before and we’lll say it again: The A Ma Maniére WYWS collection is the best thing to happen to Nike since Virgil Abloh.
Find the A Ma Maniére Air Max 95 WYWS at aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.
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