Category: Viral

Girl power is here to stay with Aespa’s latest release. “Girls” is fierce both vocally and visually, as the K-pop group displays sharp choreography, firm lyricism, and collectively jarring melodies as they traverse an elevator and dance in a dojo. Though small in stature, what they have to say comes off larger than life.

“Girls” follows Aespa’s previous 2022 releases “Life’s Too Short” and “Illusion.” The K-pop group recently announced a major partnership with SM Entertainment and Warner Records ahead of their forthcoming EP Girls – The 2nd Mini Album, available now on all streaming services.

Aespa had this to say about the partnership: “We are thrilled to be welcomed into the Warner Records’ family and so grateful to have them on board as we embark on our next chapter. We are excited for what’s in store, including the release of our new project, Girls – The 2nd Mini Album this summer and being named Apple Music’s Up Next artist!”

Aespa, made up of Karina, Winter, Giselle and Ningning, made their debut live US performance back in April on the main stage of Coachella. In 2021, Savage – The 1st Mini Album reached the Top 20 of the Billboard 200 Albums chart, laying claim to the highest-charting K-pop girl group debut. Savage also found its way onto ten other Billboard charts, so the expectations for Girls are understandably high.

Check out the “Girls” above.” Girls – the 2nd Mini Album is available now via Warner. Listen to it here.

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

Even though falling in love can feel victorious, one can experience defeat when it isn’t what they expected. DNCE outlines this experience elaborately in their new track “Got Me Good.” The raucous guitar strums and boisterous vocals fully push the message that they’re a bit caught off guard by how hard they’re falling, but also convey an air of enthusiasm.

Prior to “Got Me Good,” DNCE released “Move” back in May of this year and appeared on “Dancing Feet” with Kygo. As for projects, the group has been on a significant hiatus since 2016’s self-titled project and subsequent “jumbo edition” released in 2017. In the interim, they have delivered the 2018 EP People To People plus the singles “Dance,” “Good Day (End Of The World Remix),” and “Kissing Strangers” with Nicki Minaj followed by its subsequent remix adding Luis Fonsi.

The Joe Jonas-led group even threw their hats into the Christmas music ring, appearing alongside Charlie Puth, Hailee Stanfield, Daya, Fifth Harmony, Rita Ora, Tinashe, Sabrina Carpenter, and Jake Miller on their rendition of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.” Though it is currently unclear whether DNCE has more music in store for 2022, they tweeted back in June that it is a “Hot DNCE Summer” in all caps so one can only imagine.

Check out DNCE’s “Got Me Good” above.

Fivio Foreign hasn’t let up on letting his presence be felt this year, joining The Kid Laroi for their new track “Paris To Tokyo.” The track samples Far East Movement and Ryan Tedder’s “Rocketeer,” but adds a drill music spin. The two rap as fast cars swerve around them, party in the club, and reflect on their experiences with women. The track is a quick sprint but features both doing what they do best.

It has been an active year for Fivio Foreign both on his personal end and in terms of features. His debut album B.I.B.L.E was released in April of this year, boasting features from Kanye West, Ne-Yo, Quavo, Chloe, Coi Leray and more. He has also added verses to records like Chris Brown’s “C.A.B (Catch A Body),” Nicki Minaj’s “We Go Up,” and the late King Von’s “Straight To It.” Though the 32-year-old burst onto the scene back in 2019 with “Big Drip,” there has been a strong air of elevation since his feature verse on Ye’s “Off The Grid” from the 2021 LP Donda.

As for The Kid Laroi, his sole individual release of 2022 came with April’s “Thousand Miles,” in addition to appearing on “Wasting Angels” from Post Malone’s June release Twelve Carat Toothache. Understandably, he may have needed a slight break after a major 2021 centered around his hits “Stay” and “Without You” which appeared on F*ck Love 3+: Over You also from that year.

Check out Fivio Foreign and The Kid Laroi’s “Paris To Tokyo” above.

Inglewood native SiR is maintaining a chill, West Coast vibe on his newest single. “Life Is Good” imagines a carefree day as SiR coasts through town.

On the song, SiR delivers his signature, soft-sung vocals over silky guitar strings and rattling drums, creating a calming vibe.

“Life is good, aye, car fast as f*ck / Ain’t got pulled over once while I was actin’ up /120 while I’m headin’ to Sonoma / I ain’t turnin’ down no fades, no / I don’t need any soldiers,” SiR sings in the song’s intro.

SiR is later joined by UK singer Scribz Riley, who gives the song a transcendental element with his distinct accent and soft crooning.

Toward the end of the song, someone shares a spoken anecdote about a particularly riveting robbery near Hollywood. Although we don’t know much about SiR’s upcoming album, the anecdote feels like a piece from a larger story, which the album will likely encapsulate. In a recent interview with Rated R&B, SiR revealed that his upcoming third album will serve as a reintroduction of himself to the world and to his fans.

“It’s different for me,” SiR said of the album. “It’s not [my second album], Chasing Summer. We did a great job being in the moment with [Chasing Summer] and trying to give the fans something that was me at the time. In this next project, we’re doing the same thing, but in a different way. I’m in a different space mentally, physically and spiritually. It’s going to be enlightening and tell a side of my life that people haven’t heard yet. So many things have changed with me.”

Check out “Life Is Good” above.

Just weeks away from her hotly-anticipated second album, Hold On Baby, King Princess has revealed a sensual new ballad. On “Change The Locks,” Princess reels over a tumultuous relationship. Despite the great sex to which Princess alludes, she knows she must end the relationship with someone she feels she hardly knows anymore.

The song is hardly coy, especially with lines like “I have had a million bodies / And mostly, it’s been awesome / But you’re the one for whom I want to c*m.” The song was co-written by Aaron Dessner of The National, who co-wrote and produced much of Taylor Swift’s Folklore and Evermore albums.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Princess revealed that while she wrote most of the lyrics, co-produced every track, and played much of the instruments on the album, working with Dessner, along with producers Ethan Gruska, Dave Hamelin, Mark Ronson, and Shawn Everett, helped her achieve the sound she’s always wanted.

“All I’ve ever really wanted was to feel camaraderie in making music, and I started to feel that,” she said. “I’m at the helm of this ship, or else it wouldn’t be my music.

Check out “Change The Locks” above.

Hold On Baby is out 7/29 via Zelig Records/Columbia. Pre-save it here.

While NBA Summer League kicked off in San Francisco and Salt Lake City earlier in July, the entire league descended on Las Vegas beginning with a nationally televised doubleheader on Thursday evening. The Orlando Magic, led by No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero, took on the Houston Rockets, led by No. 3 overall pick Jabari Smith Jr., and the Magic emerged victorious beyond strong performances from Banchero, Caleb Houstan, and others.

In the early going, Banchero was the clear story. He set the tone early with his polished offensive arsenal, including a relocation, catch-and-shoot three-pointer.

Though Banchero is not regarded as an elite spot-up shooter, he flashed intriguing touch with a fadeaway mid-range offering. Then, the No. 1 overall pick buried a smooth step-back three-pointer over the outstretched arms of Smith Jr.

Banchero scored eight points on perfect shooting in his first seven-minute stint, operating on the ball quite a bit as a point forward. As the game wore on, the former Duke standout continued to leave his fingerprints on the action. Banchero was the beneficiary of a friendly bounce on another jumper, and he also displayed his grab-and-go ability while running the fast break and creating a three-pointer for a fellow rookie in Houstan.

Houstan finished the night with 20 points, including 5-of-9 from three-point range. The former Michigan wing scuffled at times during his only college season, but Houstan was once a top-10 high school recruit and he rekindled the imagination of prospect evaluators with his ready-made skill set as a role player.

Banchero finished the first half with 13 points and four assists, playing at a very high level by any standard. As the game continued, he didn’t particularly slow down, including a flash play on defense in rejecting Smith Jr. at the rim.

Banchero finished the evening with 17 points and six assists and, even beyond that clear impact in the box score, his top-tier passing was evident.

While Smith Jr. did not enjoy the same barrage of highlights that Banchero created, the No. 3 pick did show plenty of the flashes that make him an elite prospect. Smith Jr. produced his first bucket on a drive and finish over Banchero at the rim.

Later, Smith Jr. showcased his shooting. First, he delivered on a catch-and-shoot triple, and Smith Jr. also utilized his high release point to bury a mid-ranger over the defense.

It must be noted that Smith Jr. is still largely a dependent player on the offensive end, which was one of his potential concerns as a prospect. That is only magnified in a Summer League setting, particularly with struggling guard play from his teammates in the backcourt. The combination of Banchero’s production and Smith Jr.’s relatively quiet statistical night (10 points, seven rebounds, three assists) might produce overreactions, but he largely performed well.

Also of note on the Houston side was the play of first round pick Tari Eason. He produced multiple highlight plays during the night in the desert, generating an early dunk and following that up with a sequence featuring a three-pointer and an impressive drive-and-finish.

All told, the Vegas opener provided enough fodder for all sides, with Banchero truly shining and Smith Jr. at least bringing the flashes at times during the night. Smith Jr. and the Rockets will return to action on Saturday in a projected matchup against Chet Holmgren and the Thunder, while Banchero and the Magic will face Keegan Murray and the Kings in their next tilt on Saturday.

Just weeks away from his upcoming album In Loving Memory, Blackbear has turned the tables on his newest track. A departure from the angsty, revenge, break-up bop, “GFY,” Blackbear’s latest single, “The Idea” shows a more vulnerable side of the pop-rock singer.

Joined by Travis Barker, Blackbear questions a relationship, asking, “How do you fall asleep without me here? / I see right through you, I see you so clear /Wake up my demons and my biggest fears /Are you in love with me or the idea,” on the song’s chorus. In the verses, he alludes to fame and drug use, saying, “Swear the drugs don’t help me, it’s a problem / This ain’t love, I don’t know what to call it,” as well as, “It’s the same old story, Hollywood’s on fire / Three nights in a row doin’ blow, are you tired?”

In the song’s accompanying music video, directed by Emil Neva, Blackbear and Barker are seen performing in a desert. The performance is juxtaposed with a montage of clips of Blackbear and a woman arguing.

Blackbear recently revealed on social media that In Loving Memory is set to arrive next month.

In a statement accompanied by the release of the album’s lead single, “GFY,” Blackbear revealed that the previously released single is “a fun intermission in an otherwise vulnerable project.” Perhaps the more melodic, downtempo “The Idea” gives us a taste of what to expect from the rest of the album.

Check out “The Idea” above.

Summer belongs to Doechii. Following a slew of killer singles, including an ode to marijuana called “Persuasive,” and a rebellious house-inspired track called “Crazy,” the Tampa native has dropped a new confidence anthem, “B*tch I’m Nice.”

On the groovy, dance-ready single, Doechii shouts out high fashion as she admires herself. The song comes out to less than 90 seconds in length, however, she delivers plenty of memorable bars, including lines like “Know this p*ssy good, and it purr, but it still got bite,” on the hook, and “Now he having wet dreams / Wake up to your baby daddy sexting” in the second verse.

2022 has been a big year for Doechii, as she performed at the BET Awards last month, and was also a part of this year’s coveted XXL Freshman List. In a recent interview with NME, she revealed that she had plans to wrap up her hotly-anticipated debut album in May.

“The album is in an interesting place right now,” she said at the time of the interview. “I’m in this space where I have great songs, and I could put an album out right now, but in my heart I don’t feel like it’s done yet. I’m still writing new music simultaneously while tightening up the songs I already have.”

Check out “B*tch I’m Nice” above.

Super producer Murda Beatz is keeping the heat on this summer. On his latest single, “No Mas,” Murda delivers a sexy, summery, string-infused beat, and is joined by Quavo, J Balvin, and Anitta as they each deliver fiery verses.

Quavo’s verse is the only one completely in English, as the Migo proclaims, “Migo don’t know Spanish, but my ‘migos got them tings.” Perhaps this shall put those rumors of a split to rest. Balvin delivers the following verse, ready to stake claim to Miami as a party lord. Delivering a powerful bridge is Brazilian superstar Anitta, embracing the fact that she is not only a pop icon in her home country but internationally.

The song’s music video, directed by Jackson Tisi, shows Murda, Quavo, Balvin, and Anitta partying it up in Miami.

It is worth noting that Pharrell doesn’t have any singing or rapping parts on the song, but co-produced it with Murda. He also does not appear in the video. However, those with a good ear can faintly hear one of his signature four-count starts beneath Murda’s famous “Murda on the beat, so it’s not nice” tag.

“It’s a record I’m excited about,” said Murda in a statement, “bringing four different worlds together; America, Colombia, Brazil, and Canada. And, of course, having the chance to work alongside a legendary producer like Pharrell is incredible. It’s just the perfect record for the summer”

Check out “No Mas” above.

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

According to Nielsen streaming ratings this week, Amazon Prime’s The Boys jumped into second place with a respectable 919 million minutes of viewing. Not bad! Sadly, it fell just slightly short of Stranger Things‘s 4.23 billion (with a B). The Amazon show about superheroes who definitely don’t need therapy is at the top of the heap when it comes to normal numbers. Netflix’s Mormonism doc series Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey is in the third slot with 720 minutes, The Lincoln Lawyer has 683 million, and Obi-Wan Kenobi tracks just below with 682 million.

In any other week, The Boys might be on top, but the crew from Hawkins is an unstoppable force capable of shredding Metallica as miniature Old Gods swarm a trailer park while demanding everyone’s attention. The show is so massive that it made a 37-year-old Kate Bush song hit #1 on the charts again. That’s right. It’s so big that its elements are invading other charts.

Rounding out the top ten, Ms. Marvel scored 249 million viewing minutes, which means that far too many people are missing out on a delightful show that shows sparks of originality within the MCU. Stop that, people. I know we all have busy lives, but Ms. Marvel is a beacon of joy in a weary world right now.