Category: Viral

Guyanese rapper Saint JHN bypassed Kanye West‘s approval to get a verse on his raunchy new song “Smack DVD,” revealing in the stripper-filled visualizer that Kanye probably won’t see it until it’s officially out. The tongue-in-cheek message plays out via title cards on a blank screen during Kanye’s verse, informing viewers that Kanye didn’t get approval on the video and jokingly asking for “some Yeezys in a colorway for not a cult.”

Saint JHN just released his third album, While the World Was Burning, a week ago via HITCO and his own Godd Complexx imprint. Ahead of the release, he planned to release a video for the single “Roses” with Future but instead canceled the shoot to donate the budget to charity. He did release the single “Gorgeous,” while the album itself features appearances from 6lack, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, DaBaby, JID, Kehlani, and Lil Uzi Vert. Kanye also appears on a song called “Pray 4 Me.”

The rapper has steadily increased in notoriety since changing his stage name to Saint JHN in 2016. After being cosigned by Solange Knowles, he featured on her sister Beyonce’s The Lion King: The Gift project, as well as Vic Mensa’s V Tape and “Famous” with Octavian.

Watch the “Smack DVD” visualizer above.

In a highly memorable moment a few weeks ago, Adam Driver stopped by the Last Week Tonight season finale, and he proceeded to “berate” John Oliver for spending the better part of 2020 basically begging the Kylo Ren actor to physically destroy him. The whole thing became an obsessive, if not downright outrageous, gag where Oliver referred to Driver as a “f*ckable redwood,” an “unwashed buffalo,” a “forlorn block,” and other oddly sexual names with menacing connotations. In short, it was all very weird, and Oliver will be the first to admit that.

While stopping by Late Night with Seth Meyers, Oliver revealed that the joke was initially just a weird idea from one of the writers, so they gave it a shot back in March, and the audience hated it. “It felt like only 40 percent enjoyed it,” Oliver said, and that’s when the obsession started forming. The writers doubled down on the gag, and once again, the audience wasn’t thrilled, which only fueled Oliver and the writers to push the joke even further. Finally, they realized they had to “put a ribbon” on the whole thing, and that’s when they hesitatingly reached out to Driver. As they feared, he was aware of the gag and found it “strange,” but he was also in.

As both Meyers and Oliver noted, Driver’s performance was incredible, and Oliver says it’s even more impressive because the two couldn’t even see each other. They were just using audio, and Oliver readily admits that “I was giving him nothing.” That’s how good Driver is at acting, and Oliver still can’t get over how jarring it is to see their separate sides of the screen in the final product.

You can watch Oliver describe the life and death of his Adam Driver obsession in the opening minutes above.

Miley Cyrus released her anticipated record Plastic Hearts on Friday. Because she couldn’t celebrate her album’s debut with a conventional release concert, the singer instead opted to host a variety show in a TikTok livestream. The show featured sketches, games, and a very convincing prank pulled on Iggy Azalea.

The prank started when Cyrus and Azalea were together in a dressing room. They were chatting about Cyrus’s new music when the room suddenly went up in smoke. A smoke alarm went off but Azalea realized the door was locked from the outside. In a moment of panic, Azalea opted to hide underneath her coat and shout “we can survive this” while Cyrus dialed 911. But just seconds later, Cyrus revealed the entire ordeal was nothing but a prank. Thankfully, no fire had actually started and neither of the musicians were in any real danger.

After a clip of the prank was posted on Twitter, Azalea made it clear she had no hard feelings about the incident. “I had called out and tried to open the door before that!” she wrote. “My plan was to get low, put covers over our head, while she called what I thought was 911.”

Watch a clip of the prank above.

Plastic Hearts is out now via RCA. Get it here.

(SPOILERS from The Mandalorian “Chapter 13: The Jedi” will be found below.)

As if the first live-action appearance of Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka Tano wasn’t enough, Chapter 13 of The Mandalorian took several major steps towards pulling the bounty hunting series even deeper into the Star Wars universe. One of those steps is the revelation that Ahsoka is still searching for Grand Admiral Thrawn, who disappeared with her fellow Jedi Ezra Bridger during the season finale of Star Wars: Rebels. Without getting too deep into the weeds, Thrawn has been a major presence in Star Wars lore, going all the way back to the very early ’90s. In a nutshell, he was the Big Bad following the death of the Emperor. Obviously, Star Wars canon has changed since then, but Thrawn was reintroduced with all of his character traits still intact. And now his name drop in The Mandalorian opens up all kinds of possibilities, including the chance that he can still claim his place as the New Republic’s next major threat. There’s still 25 years to go until The Force Awakens, so that leaves lots of time to play with as Disney+ expands its live-action Star Wars offerings even further.

But we’re not the only ones nerding out over the big Thrawn reveal. Star Wars fans who’ve caught the latest The Mandalorian episode are absolutely freaking out at the chance of seeing a live-action version of the classic villain and all of the tantalizing story paths that come with it.

And for the extra Star Wars nerds out there, here’s a theory that could shed some new light on the final moments of Star Wars: Rebels.

It’s something to think about.

Over the course of ten years, Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker transitioned from playing local shows in his Perth, Australia hometown to selling out stadiums and performing headlining sets at major festivals across the world. But because the pandemic threw off tour plans behind his recently released album The Slow Rush, Parker is possibly looking to return to his DIY roots.

Parker spoke about what he has in store for next year in a recent interview with Australia paper The Sydney Morning Herald. “I miss those smaller shows, those sweaty, intimate shows – it’s a vibe that can’t be replaced,” he said. “It’s not the same in an arena or a stadium. This year has been all about having a good excuse to do something you wouldn’t normally do so if it’s an excuse to do some smaller shows, I would love that.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Parker also clarified whether Tame Impala is considered a band or a solo project. “The music sounds like a band, which I guess has always been the source of confusion for people,” Parker said. “For all intents and purposes, I am a solo artist – I make music in my studio by myself and I bring it to the world. […] I am extremely fortunate that I have found my confidence and I can stand behind my music myself and say I made this.”

Ahead of his interview, Parker found out he was nominated for two Grammy Awards this year. The musicians is up for Best Rock Song for his The Slow Rush track “Lost In Yesterday,” as well as Best Alternative Music Album.

The Slow Rush is out now via Modular. Get it here.

Former Silver Spoons child star Ricky Schroder catapulted into the headlines last week after he proudly helped bail out Kyle Rittenhouse. The Kenosha shooter was awaiting trial on murder charges in Wisconsin after he was caught on tape while opening fire (with a semi-automatic rifle) into a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters, killing two people (and wounding a third) in the process. The 17-year-old was defended by Tucker Carlson (which led to people calling for his Fox News firing) in the immediate aftermath, and three months later, Schroder is now defending himself for the bail-out move.

Schroder sounds pretty angry. Online backlash already upset him enough that he called police and posed with a gun, but now, he’s spoken more openly with the New York Post. As the actor explained, he felt “infuriated” because Kyle “was there to defend property.” Schroder’s words probably won’t help him win over any new online supporters for his cause, but nonetheless, he feels that Rittenhouse is “innocent”:

“It made me mad. This boy is innocent and he will be proven innocent. I did what any father should’ve done, and that’s get a kid out of jail that doesn’t deserve to be there… This was Kyle’s life being destroyed… This is his freedom at risk. It infuriated me to see an innocent 17-year-old young man being tried and found guilty before trial.”

Schroder also likened the charges against the teenager with allegations that were made against him in May 2019. At the time, Schroder was arrested after his girlfriend accused him of punching her, but prosecutors did not charge him over the alleged incident. “It sucked because everybody thought I was a woman beater, and I’m not a woman beater,” Schroder told the New York Post. “I was tried and convicted in the court of the media. But you have to understand, that’s only my reputation that was being destroyed.”

Again, Rittenhouse was caught on film while firing his gun at protesters who took to the streets after the police shooting of Jacob Blake, yet Schroder bailed the teenager out of jail because he’s convinced that Rittenhouse is not guilty of the charges against him. The teen’s bail had been set at $2 million due to being considered a flight risk, and he could face, at minimum, decades in prison if convicted.

(Via New York Post, AP, New York Times & CNN)

Back in April, Eminem woke in the middle of the night to a man breaking into his Detroit home and threatening his life. The rapper was thankfully unharmed and the intruder was detained by police. While the incident took place several months ago, the man will appear in court to face his charges in 2021.

The intruder, revealed to be 27-year-old Matthew David Hughes, will stand trial for his crime over a year after it took. As reported by the Detroit Free Press, Hughes’ trial has been set for April 19, 2021. Along with being charged for first-degree home invasion and malicious destruction of property, Hughes also faces charges of assaulting a prison employee — an incident that took place after he was arrested at Eminem’s house.

Much of the reason for Hughes’ delayed trial is due to the pandemic. When Hughes’ trial was being set, Judge Edward Servitto said it’s not possible to have a jury until it can be done safely. “I don’t believe we’re going to have trials with jurors until the vaccine is produced, and that’s a ways down the road, I think,” Servitto said.

A police officer who arrived on the scene during the original crime detailed what went down that night when he testified in September. According to the officer, Hughes told Eminem that he was there to kill him. Hughes did not have a weapon on hand, despite his threat, though he broke into the house by throwing a brick into the window.

Netflix’s streaming library is giving us options this week. You could try Ron Howard’s heavy-handed family drama, Hillbilly Elegy. It comes with an A-list cast, even if the story is a bit of a slog. Or you could get in the holiday spirit by watching Kurt Russell stir up trouble as “thirst-trap Santa” in The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two. Of course, there’s also a Bruce Willis action flick and a military drama set in the Middle East to binge as well. Like we said, options.

Here’s everything coming to (and leaving) Netflix this week of November 27.

Hillbilly Elegy (Netflix film streaming 11/24)

Ron Howard’s heavy-hitting drama based on a bestseller lands on Netflix this week and it brings with an impressively stacked cast. Glenn Close and Amy Adams are the main leads, a mother-daughter duo struggling to lift themselves out of poverty and overcome their respective demons. It’s weighty material, definitely not a feel-good watch, but hey — it’s Glenn Close and Amy Adams, you know it’ll be good.

The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two (Netflix film streaming 11/25)

Kurt Russell returns to save Christmas in this sequel to last year’s surprise holiday hit. Chris Columbus is back directing as Russell plays a dare-we-say-it, even sexier version of Santa this time around. He’s still rocking out in jails and playing the blues, but Old Saint Nick now has to team up with teenage Kate Pierce to stop a certain magical troublemaker from ruining the holidays this year.

Here’s a full list of what’s been added in the last week:

Avail. 11/22
Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square
Machete Kills

Avail. 11/23
Hard Kill
Shawn Mendes: In Wonder

Avail. 11/24
Dragons: Rescue Riders: Huttsgalor Holiday
El Cuaderno de Tomy / Notes for My Son
Hillbilly Elegy
Wonderoos

Avail. 11/25
The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two
Great Pretender: Season 2

Avail. 11/26
Larry the Cable Guy: Remain Seated
Mosul

Avail. 11/27
A Go! Go! Cory Carson Christmas
The Call
Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker
Don’t Listen
Sugar Rush Christmas: Season 2
Überweihnachten / Over Christmas
Virgin River: Season 2
La Belva / The Beast

And here’s what’s leaving next week, so it’s your last chance:

Leaving 11/30
Anaconda
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
The Bachelor: Season 13
Bad News Bears
Diana: In Her Own Words
Gridiron Gang
Hostage
National Security
Lakeview Terrace
Moneyball
Ocean’s Eleven
Ocean’s Twelve
Ocean’s Thirteen
Priest
Stand and Deliver
The Tribes of Palos Verdes
West Side Story
Y Tu Mamá También
You Don’t Mess with the Zohan
Zodiac

Leaving 12/1
Heartbreakers
The Lobster

Leaving 12/4
Cabin Fever
Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch

I’ve seen a lot of complaints online about The Mandalorian being too procedural this season, that it sets up arcs only to abandon them for Monster of the Week-style one-offs. I personally like the one-offs, but there’s a lot for everyone to like in this week’s mythology-building episode, “Chapter 13: The Jedi.” Not only does Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker’s former-apprentice played by Rosario Dawson, make her live-action debut, we also hear two more names that sent shivers down the spines of Star Wars fans across the galaxy: Ezra Bridger, a Jedi freedom fighter seen in Star Wars Rebels, and the villainous blue-skinned Grand Admiral Thrawn, a character introduced in author Timothy Zahn’s essential Star Wars novels.

“Chapter 13: The Jedi” had one more important name: Grogu. That’s Baby Yoda / The Child’s real name, as Ahsoka informs Mando. “Grogu and I can feel each other’s thoughts,” she said. “He was raised at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant,” an entire planet that’s one big city (it’s where Anakin met long-necked king Yarael Poof, Mace Windu, and Yoda in The Phantom Menace; it also means Regular Yoda and Baby Yoda likely crossed paths). She continued, “Many masters trained him over the years. At the end of the Clone Wars, when the Empire rose to power, he was hidden. Someone took him from the Temple. Then his memory becomes… dark.” How could anyone hide this cutie?

Grogu — who I will probably still call Baby Yoda, for the same reason that I still refer to Din Djarin as Mando; I am stubborn, much like Grogu — has concealed his powers from the world out of fear. And we all know what fear leads to… There’s nothing Ahsoka can do for Baby Yoda, who sees Mando as a father figure, but there might be another who can. Ahsoka suggests that the pair travel to Tython, where there’s a Jedi temple. More will be revealed when Baby Yoda is placed on the seeing stone at the top of the mountain. That should happen next week, unless there’s another one-off adventure.

For many, the holidays are a time to get together with family and share a meal. But this time of the year also serves as a reminder that many others in this country don’t have reliable access to food. That’s why ASAP Rocky took time this week to give back. The rapper showed up to the homeless shelter where he and his mother once lived in New York City to donate Thanksgiving meals to families in need.

Rocky personally delivered over 120 meals to Regent Family Residence, a homeless shelter on the upper west side of NYC. As reported by TMZ, the shelter holds a special place in Rocky’s heart as it is where the rapper and his mother, Renee Black, stayed at back in the early 2000s.

Per the report, Rocky really benefited from the shelter’s services at the time. So in order to give back to the organization that provided him with support, as well as help the 83 families that currently rely on their services, Rocky decided to pick up food from his favorite spot. The rapper arrived to the shelter this week with arms full of take-out from Amy Ruth’s Restaurant, a Harlem spot famous for their chicken and waffles.

Check out photos of ASAP donating Thanksgiving meals above.