Category: Viral

At this point, Haim are used to performing music from their recently-released album Women In Music Pt. III without an audience. Released in July during the lockdown, the album marked a strong display of vulnerability from the three sisters. Though much of their livestreams, like their Tiny Desk concert, have been from their living room, Haim have now found the perfect spot for a socially-distanced set: the empty parking lot at LA’s iconic venue The Forum. The three fittingly brought their Women In Music Pt. III track “Gasoline” to the concrete lot for their appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Posted up outside The Forum, the three sisters still managed to deliver an engaging rendition of “Gasoline.” The performance opens with Danielle on the drum kit, setting the song’s rhythm before Alana and Este chime in with bouncy guitar and funky bass riffs.

Ahead of the performance, Danielle and her sisters explained their inspiration behind the album’s title: “The name came to me in a dream and I woke up laughing so I told my sisters.” Alana added, “I liked it because we are literally women in music and we always get written about that way, so it seemed cool to make it our own and control the narrative. It made me think about some of our experiences more.” Este also said, “I just thought it was funny, plus the initials are WIMP3. ‘Wimp’ is a hilarious word.”

Watch Haim perform “Gasoline” on Kimmel above.

Women In Music Pt. III is out now via Sony. Get it here and revisit our review of Haim album here.

From Anthony Davis’ game-winner to the re-emergence of Dwight Howard to a trip back to the NBA Finals, this postseason for the Lakers has been full of moments that remind Laker fans of the late Kobe Bryant. As the team prepares for Game 1 on Wednesday, a new story from Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times shows one more way the organization is keeping Bryant with them as they look to hang banner No. 17.

A sampling from the Lakers’ Tuesday practice saw 13 players and coaches donning Kobe’s signature Nike sneakers, a daily reminder of Bryant’s legacy and connection to this team. While assistant coach Jason Kidd appreciates he can finally wear them without worrying about Bryant taking it out on him on the court, Howard said there was no choice but to lace them up for every game in the Bubble. And Davis, who grew up idolizing Bryant, called it “amazing” to see Bryant’s impact live on through the shoes and said he’d wear them for “as long as (he) can.”

But it was Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka who gave the best insight into the meaning of the sneakers to Woike. After all, as Bryant’s former agent, Pelinka was part of the design process with Bryant and Nike years ago.

“When I put them on, it just triggers so many incredible memories of sitting around a table where Kobe would be collaborating with the Nike designers about how he wanted the shoe to look and the inspiration behind it,” Pelinka said.

“… He was obsessed with the details. He was always reverse-engineering life, always look at the details. And when I put on that shoe, that’s the inspiration I get — how am I going to make the most of this moment, this day, this game. That’s what he stood for. That’s how he approached life.”

Wearing the sneakers, Pelinka added, is a “tangible reminder” of Bryant’s spirit and that of his daughter, Gianna, being with the team even all these months after their passing. That reminder is an “inspiration” for the team as they get ready to compete for a championship.

As social media changed recording artists’ relations with their fans and made some aspects of the industry more transparent, those fans have become more and more invested in the concrete markers of their favorite artists’ success. Artists have encouraged this somewhat, celebrating milestones like chart placements and sales awards on their social media, which has only made fans more enthusiastic about achieving those milestones.

However, some fans have been known to take this way more seriously than even the artists themselves, organizing streaming campaigns to juice their faves’ stats and even turning downright mean in their efforts to prove they support the “best” artist. Some, like the Barbz, even turn on Nicki Minaj’s collaborators when she misses out on No. 1s — which you’d think they’d be used to, but nobody ever said common sense was a prerequisite for membership.

In a recent interview with Complex, Nicki’s “Move Ya Hips” collaborator ASAP Ferg addressed this odd tendency, reacting to the hashtag some Barbz trended when the Floor Seats 2 tracked failed to reach No. 1 on the Hot 100: #ASAPFergIsOverParty (it debuted at No. 19 after extensive campaigning). Some of them apparently blamed Ferg for the disappointment, claiming he failed to “submit” sales numbers to Billboard for review in time. For his part, Ferg seems to accept that it comes from a good place of rooting for Nicki to win, even if they do overreact based on misconceptions of how things work (misconceptions that have been propagated and encouraged by other stars, like Tekashi 69).

“Man, I love all the passion, because that just shows me how far her supporters are willing to go for her,” Ferg enthused. “I would want my supporters to do the same thing. But it got to the point where it was just like, okay, all right. We have to be real with ourselves. Why wouldn’t I want this song to go number one? And there’s no such thing as giving in your sales to Billboard. They collect that themselves… I don’t know who gave them that information. I’m a huge fan and pleased to work with someone like Nicki, so that’s an opportunity that I wouldn’t even want to mess up for myself. You know, that’s the best way to describe them: super passionate. And I don’t fault them for that. They’re just super passionate, and I love it.”

Read the full interview here.

Rye is a key building block of many a good bourbon. And while we dig wheated bourbons around these parts, today we’re focusing on their rye-forward counterparts. But we’re not talking about any old bourbon with rye in the mash bill. No high-rye bottles today. This time around, we’re looking at the bourbons that add just a pinch of rye to the mash. Not enough to dominate the taste but more than enough to be noticed.

The result? A moderate amount of rye in a bourbon mash brings about a warmth that leans more into peppery spice than alcohol heat. Rye also tends to be a little more fruit-centric, with hints of orange peel — though that’s highly dependent on the yeasts in play. The idea is to take the sweeter edges off the sweet corn in the bourbon and create a more balanced sip of whiskey.

The eight bottles of bourbon below were picked because they have a rye content of less than 20 percent in their mash bills. In this case, we only picked low-rye bourbons in the 10-17 percent range. This, of course, is not a comprehensive list. Brands like Four Roses often blend low-rye (20 percent) and high-rye (35 percent) mash bills to make most of their line (except for single barrels obviously), so they didn’t make the cut.

Overall, the low-rye bourbons below represent that nice dollop of spice and fruit that rye can bring to the table, without overpowering the corn. We’ve also kept these bottles in the affordable price range — so you can actually find them and taste for yourself.

Old Bardstown 90 Proof — 13% Rye

ABV: 45%
Distillery: Willett Distillery, Bardstown, KY
Average Price: $25

The Whiskey:

This juice hails from the much-beloved and family-run Willett Distillery. This is the distillery’s own juice, as they’ve moved away from sourcing for this label. The 13 percent rye is fairly standard for most bourbons (as you’ll see from most entries on this list).

Still, this bourbon really shines for being a very affordable bottle from a big-name distillery.

Tasting Notes:

This leans more into classic bourbon territory than anything else, with a nose of vanilla, caramel, oak, and a hint of orange. Florals arrive on the palate but take the backseat to the warmth, lightness, and sweetness of caramel corn. A hint of fruitiness arrives late, with a spicy warmth leading towards more oak as it fades quickly away.

Bottom Line:

Again, at this price point, you could do a lot worse. This is a solid cocktail mixer that also works as a beer back shot.

Russell’s Reserve 10 Year — 13% Rye

ABV: 45%
Distillery: Wild Turkey, Lawrenceburg, KY (Campari)
Average Price: $36

The Whiskey:

Wild Turkey’s bourbons sit at 13 percent when it comes to their rye content. And one thing Wild Turkey is known for is well-crafted consistency, so why not pick a higher-end bottle?

In this case, we’re going with Russell’s Reserve 10-year-old. The juice is hand-selected from the Turkey warehouses by Jim and Eddie Russell — one of whiskey’s most iconic father/son teams — for its drinkability.

Tasting Notes:

Little touches of Christmas spice meet vanilla, caramel, and oaky depth on the nose. The sip leans into the spices as an orange zest counterpoint drives toward a hint of old leather and more musty oak. The end is full of warming spice that hugs you as it fades.

Bottom Line:

At ten-years-old, this bottle could easily cost double what it does now. There’s a refined nature that really helps this one shine in a simple cocktail (think Manhattan) or on the rocks.

Jim Beam Single Barrel — 13% Rye

ABV: 47.5%
Distillery: Jim Beam, Clermont, KY (Beam Suntory)
Average Price: $39

The Whiskey:

Jim Beam’s low-rye mash bill is pretty much the standard across the industry (though their high-rye mash bill also shines). To get the full picture of Jim Beam’s prowess as one of the world’s biggest brands, you really need to give their single barrel expression a try. The juice is hand-selected from less than one percent of the barrels in Jim Beam’s warehouses, making this a solid bottle of booze to have around.

Tasting Notes:

Naturally, this being a single barrel, the taste is going to be slightly different with each batch. The last one I tried was a classic bourbon with notes of vanilla, caramel, oak, and a wisp of smoke up top. The caramel and vanilla are cut off by a bright orange oil zestiness next to a bolder sense of the oak. The sip has flourishes of florals and orchard fruit as it fades away.

The addition of a few drops of water brought about a dark cacao note and bitterness.

Bottom Line:

At just under $40 per bottle, this makes for a good sipper, cocktail base, or highball mixer. Though, I dig it in a highball mostly.

Booker’s — 13% Rye

ABV: Varies
Distillery: Jim Beam, Clermont, KY (Beam Suntory)
Average Price: $85

The Whiskey:

Sticking with Beam’s 13 percent rye mash bill, Booker’s is a prime example of how the exact same juice can get lucky in the barrel. This expression is a small-batched version of Jim Beam from barrels that hit just the right notes of refinement. Generally speaking, those barrels are six to eight years old when they’re selected, small-batched, and sent out into the world uncut and unfiltered.

Tasting Notes:

This is a big sip of whiskey. There are bold notes of dark spice next to hits of worn leather, vanilla, caramel, and charred oak. A whisper of cherry lurks in the background as the dram really leans into the oak and spice. The end is long and warm with touches of that cherry and oak supporting a final billow of smoke.

Bottom Line:

This is a solid sipper to have on hand. Just make sure to open it up with a little water or a rock. It’s also a good gift bottle for the bourbon enthusiast in your life.

Michter’s Small Batch Bourbon — 11% Rye

ABV: 45.7%
Distillery: Michter’s Distillery, Louisville, KY
Average Price: $46

The Whiskey:

Finally getting out of the 13 percent territory, Michter’s matched up with Brown Forman’s juice for a very low eleven percent rye addition their whiskey. While the rye is very low, there’s still some serious depth to this well-crafted and aged sip. Each bottling is small-batched from no more than 20 barrels.

Tasting Notes:

We were lucky enough to try this during an Expression Session recently. This is a classic bourbon, with notes of vanilla, oak, and caramel greeting you. From there, the sip leans into stone fruits with plenty of oak support. There’s a mild spicy warmth and a hint of smoke on the end, especially when you add water.

Bottom Line:

This is a classic bourbon cocktail base. Use it in your next old fashioned.

Evan Williams Single Barrel — 10% Rye

ABV: 43.3%
Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery, Bardstown, KY
Average Price: $30

The Whiskey:

Over at Heaven Hill, the standard bourbon mash bill includes more malted barley than rye — 12 percent compared to ten percent. When it comes to Evan Williams, the stuff is so affordable, there’s really no reason not to go all the way and just buy their single barrel expression.

It’s an award-winning whiskey that hits as a classic bourbon all around.

Tasting Notes:

Most recently, this release opened with sweet woods, almost burnt caramel, and a bump of vanilla. That caramel becomes a fairground caramel apple with a slightly tart bite next to more of that oak with a hint of spicy orange. A little bit of water brings about an almost salted caramel edge as the warm sip fades away.

Bottom Line:

At this price point, you can buy two. One for highballs and one for cocktails.

Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon — 10% Rye

ABV: 47%
Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery, Bardstown, KY
Average Price: $32

The Whiskey:

Sticking with Heaven Hill, Elijah Craig Small Batch is another solid bourbon at a very accessible price. This NAS (no age statement) juice replaced the much-beloved 12-year-old expression a few years back. The juice is a small-batched blend of eight to 12-year-old barrels and continually wins the top awards.

Tasting Notes:

Vanilla meets ripe fruits on the nose with a nice hint of corn, oak, and even fresh mint. The spice is refined to an eggnog nutmeg dusting while the oak supports a svelte texture. The sip embraces the sweetness of the fruit as it slowly fades away towards a final wisp of smoke.

Bottom Line:

This is an easy sipper that tastes like it costs $60, easily. I dig it on the rocks or in a cocktail.

Buffalo Trace — <10% Rye

ABV: 45%
Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, KY (Sazerac)
Average Price: $30

The Whiskey:

Buffalo Trace’s mash bill #1 is a low-rye bill but a bit of a cypher. Buffalo Trace doesn’t publicize their bills. The word on the street that’s fairly accepted is that this mash bill is less than ten percent rye. Their mash bill #1 produces some of their most iconic labels from Eagle Rare to George T. Stagg to Colonel E.H. Taylor and, of course, their signature Buffalo Trace Bourbon.

Tasting Notes:

Vanilla mingles with molasses on the nose alongside a very distant echo of mint. That sweet molasses gives way to a buttery toffee with oak depth and mild spiciness. A dark fruitiness comes into play late as the sip fades away while highlighting the oak and spice.

Bottom Line:

This is a great all-around bourbon. It’s works wonders in a cocktail and is refined enough to pour over a glass of rocks.

The Los Angeles Lakers have enjoyed two-way success on the way to the 2020 NBA Finals. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and company have scored 115.6 points per 100 possessions, good for the best mark among teams advancing beyond the first round. Defensively, Frank Vogel’s team is also playing quite well, limiting three high-powered offenses (Blazers, Rockets, Nuggets) to just 107.8 points per 100 possessions on the way to a 12-3 record and a playoff-leading +7.7 net rating.

In advance of their matchup against the Miami Heat, most of the attention will inevitably be paid to James, Davis, and Miami’s star power — Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and even the resurgent Goran Dragic. That makes sense given the star-level performances that will likely be on display but, as usual in any playoff setting, it is exceptionally likely that a game, or maybe two, will swing on the periphery, with the Lakers needing to limit Miami’s supporting cast.

Much already been made of the gap in perceived depth between the two teams, with the Lakers deploying the two-best players. You can, from there, argue how many members of the Heat would rank about the No. 3 member of the Lakers in a “best player” hierarchy. Still, the Lakers are receiving quality supporting performances from players like Rajon Rondo and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, helping to bridge the gap when the team needs timely contributions.

In this series, however, the Lakers will face a challenge that they haven’t quite seen before. As noted above, Los Angeles has certainly faced high-powered offenses on the way to the finals, with Damian Lillard capable of just about anything in Portland, the Rockets attacking with a new-look, small-ball approach, and the Nuggets riding the red-hot wave of Murray and Nikola Jokic. Still, those teams were greatly centered on star power, with many of the Lakers’ supporting pieces able to hide away on lesser offensive options. Against Miami, that simply won’t be the case.

Yes, the Heat will deploy lineups featuring Andre Iguodala, who has never exactly been a sharpshooter, while Jae Crowder is struggling from long distance after a catching fire earlier in the postseason. However, Miami can and will deploy lineups featuring four high-end shooters and Adebayo, with the Heat enjoying a great deal of offensive success throughout the Bubble. Not only can the Heat put pressure on any defense with floor spacing, but Miami is tactically sound, running fantastic off-ball action and utilizing their creation wisely, running sets through varied players to maintain versatility.

As a shooting team, Miami has merely been solid, not spectacular, during their run to the playoffs and, honestly, that might be scary for the Lakers. Duncan Robinson is the only rotation regular shooting 40 percent from three-point range in the playoffs but, during the regular season, the former Michigan marksman made 44.6 percent of his long-distance attempts, proving a 40 percent clip is not a fluke. From there, Tyler Herro enjoyed a fantastic breakout game in the Boston series but, overall, the rookie is hitting a manageable 37.8 percent of his threes, a figure which can be seen as sustainable. Dragic, Butler, Iguodala, and Crowder all land between 34 and 37 percent, with Kelly Olynyk (who could be a weapon in this series if Los Angeles plays big) looming at 31 percent after a 40.6 percent clip in the regular season.

While it isn’t everything against a team that deploys Butler, Dragic, and Adebayo as players that can attack the rim both gracefully and forcefully, the Lakers will be tasked with limiting both accuracy and efficiency from long-distance. Los Angeles did allow Portland to shoot 37.9 percent from three in the first round but, in the same breath, the Blazers posted the second-lowest volume in the first round on only 30.6 attempts per game. The Rockets were able to generate 40.8 three-pointers per game in the conference semifinals but, given that they attempted 51 per game in the first round, Los Angeles was rightly lauded for their defensive stinginess. The Nuggets offered only 28.4 attempts per game from three-point range, with Murray famously limited to only 29 long-distance attempts in five games.

Against Miami, the Lakers won’t be able to fully sell out on shooters, and that could be problematic. While Butler and Adebayo are stars, they are not the heliocentric offensive forces that Lillard, Murray, and James Harden are, forcing Los Angeles into a different approach on defense than they’ve had to deploy during this run. Granted, Los Angeles has enjoyed success against just about anyone defensively this year, but it’s been a long time since they’ve seen an attack like what Miami will bring, and Erik Spoelstra is renowned for his ability to install adjustments and unexpected wrinkles during a seven-game series.

The Lakers are the favorites in the 2020 NBA Finals, and that comes with the territory for the team with the best net rating in the playoffs. Furthermore, Los Angeles has the two best players in the series and arguably one of the best players of all-time on their side. That is usually a good recipe but, after some impressive defensive performances, this should be their greatest test, as the Lakers can’t simply ignore supporting pieces in an attempt to throw extra bodies at superstars. This time, the Heat can put several marksmen on the court, making life potentially difficult for the likes of Caldwell-Pope, Rondo, Alex Caruso, Kyle Kuzma, Markieff Morris, and others.

The Godfather is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made (it’s no Mafia!, but it’s close), but the production was not without its difficulties. Multiple directors were considered before Francis Ford Coppola took the job (and even he initially turned it down as he found Mario Puzo’s source material to be “pretty cheap stuff”). Executives did not want Marlon Brando, long past the height of his fame, cast as Don Corleone. And the real-life mafia tried to shut down the filming of the eventual-Best Picture winner.

Despite all that, The Godfather turned out to be an influential masterpiece, inspiring the most re-watchable movie and HBO series of all-time. It will also serve as the inspiration for Francis and the Godfather, about the making of the film.

Deadline reports that the drama will cover “the legendary and wild battles that went into making the 1972 classic The Godfather,” starring Oscar Isaac as Coppola and Taylor Swift fan target Jake Gyllenhaal as producer Robert Evans. Francis and the Godfather will be directed by Barry Levinson, who has Coppola’s full support. “Any movie that Barry Levinson makes about anything, will be interesting and worthwhile,” he said:

It will be very interesting to see who Levinson casts to play Robert Duvall (Tom Hagen), James Caan (Sonny Corleone), John Cazale (Fredo), Talia Shire (Connie Corleone), Diane Keaton (Kay Corleone) and the rest of that fantastic cast. But the film focuses on the clashes between filmmaker and a studio chief who needed a hit.

At least we already know Oscar Isaac works well with cats. The Offer, a Paramount+ scripted series “about the making of The Godfather from the perspective of film producer Al Ruddy,” is also in the works.

(Via Deadline)

After releasing a string of EPs over the last few years, Amsterdam-based multi-instrumentalist Nana Adjoa let her imagination run free on her debut album Big Dreaming Ants. The result is a ten-track effort that is quite unlike anything else you’ll hear this year, bouncing back and forth between elements of soul, folk, jazz, and more while her razor sharp lyrics dig into deeply intimate but relatable topics like race, gender, religion, and sexuality.

To celebrate the new album, which is out now, Adjoa sat down to talk Big Thief, having a board game made about her, and The Matrix in the latest Indie Mixtape 20 Q&A.

What are four words you would use to describe your music?

Alternative, lyrical, soulful, dreamy.

It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?

Music that offers solace and is adventurous at the same time.

What’s your favorite city in the world to perform?

Berlin. I had some great experiences there, and I love the feel of the city (or Casablanca―the crowd was totally insane).

Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?

I don’t know. I feel like mostly the people I have enjoyed being in a band with or have enjoyed sharing the stage with have all inspired me, more than bands or people I listen to.

Where did you eat the best meal of your life?

It’s been over 10 years, but I think I love my father’s Ghanaian cooking more than anything.

What album do you know every word to?

Maybe Songs In The Key Of Life by Stevie Wonder.

What was the best concert you’ve ever attended?

A couple come to mind at this moment, making it impossible for me to choose just one. So let’s stick to two 🙂 A Mavis Staples concert in Rotterdam, which brought tears to my eyes within the first couple of sentences she sang. What a powerful woman and what a voice. And something totally on the other side of the spectrum, Massive Attack show(s). I’ve seen them a couple of times now, but their first two shows I went to really gave me the chills. They have these great visuals, with messages they translate to the language of the country they play in, so for me in Dutch. With a lot of political engagement. Both Mavis Staples and Massive Attack left me feeling charged and ready to face anything.

What is the best outfit for performing and why?

Something simple and comfortable. I feel really uncomfortable on stage wearing “something special or something out of the ordinary.” It kind of makes me feel like a fool, and distracts me from just enjoying the playing of music. Of course I don’t wear my comfy sweatpants on stage, but something that looks proper enough for management to be happy, and something comfortable enough for me not to be distracted by it.

Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?

I’m not really a “Twitterer,” but on Instagram some sports people like skater Manny Santiago or teams like Ajax (football/soccer).

What’s your most frequently played song in the van on tour?

To be honest, I never used to listen to music very much in the van, but we recently did start a collaborative playlist we can all add music to. I foresee that a lot of the Red Hot Chili Peppers will be added.

What’s the last thing you Googled?

I was looking for a photo shop in Amsterdam where they can develop black and white photo rolls. Sounds a bit pretentious haha, but these are the first black and white photos I made, so the next step is to get them developed somewhere and see how they turn out.

What album makes for the perfect gift?

To give to someone, any J.J. Cale record. To receive, I’d love a record/band I don’t know up until that point in time but is a great unknown treasure, preferably from some decades ago.

Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?

I guess it was when I was playing bass in this other band years ago. Someone was nice enough to lend us their apartment in Denmark (I think it was Copenhagen?), but the bedroom where I stayed had some weird features including blacklight settings haha.

What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?

Don’t have any, yet.

What artists keep you from flipping the channel on the radio?

Nina Simone, Frank Ocean, Radiohead, Christine & The Queens, James Blake, Bob Marley & The Wailers, and many many others.

What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?

For my (17th? 18th?) birthday, two of my friends made an actual board game for and about me. “TriviNaNa.” It was a nicely put together board with random pictures of me and random rules. All of the questions were about things like my height, which toothpaste I used, what my favorite bands were, etc. Great piece of work, and a very funny gift.

What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?

Don’t be afraid to be yourself and find out along the way who you really are. It’ll be alright.

What’s the last show you went to?

The last show I went to, pre-corona, was a fantastic one: Big Thief playing Paradiso (Amsterdam). This was in the beginning of March, so just before we went into our lockdown here in The Netherlands. It’s a beautiful band, and I had seen them once before at a festival (Best Kept Secret). I love the main hall of Paradiso―it’s got a church-like vibe―so it was extra great to get to see them again in this setting. The audience was blown away, and they really played incredibly well. So a very great last concert to be at. I’ve been to some theatre stuff in the last few months, but no concerts yet.

What movie can you not resist watching when it’s on TV?

The Matrix (as well as the two sequels). One of my favorite movies of all time. When it’s on, I right away get sucked into this human vs. computer world, and I have to watch it out.

What would you cook if Kanye were coming to your house for dinner?

Hahaha, wow. I would probably make vegetarian lasagna. I’m not a great cook to be honest. So keep it simple, and make sure I have a very nice natural wine to go with it. Does Kayne drink?

Big Dreaming Ants is out now on Bloomer Records. Listen here.

Danny Brown is one of those rappers who not only can will to anything but also seems to be on a mission to prove that he can, as often as humanly possible. Case in point, his new collaboration with electronic producer Jimmy Edgar comes with a cavernous, glitchy composition that would throw many lesser rappers’ flows into complete disarray. Danny not only finds the pocket, but he also uses the eerie, mechanical instrumentation to pen a poignant commentary on current events. “Stay stressed out, no helpin’ out, we gotta keep it together,” he commands on the hook.

Brown is also one of those rappers who pops up every so often to wreck shop and then vanishes for months or even years at a time. In this case, it’s been almost eight months since he appeared in the video for Run The Jewels’ “3 Tearz,” nearly a year since he released his Q-Tip-produced album UknowwhatImsayin, and even longer than that since he last poked his head out with a high-profile collaborator in the form of Gorillaz on their Humanz track “Submission.”

Each time, Brown took on a completely different musical style and proved that he’s one of the game’s foremost weird beat demolishers. May his next foray into the spotlight come a lot quicker than usual.

Listen to Jimmy Edgar’s “Get Up” featuring Danny Brown above.

Fresh off the news that the Borat sequel is not only real, but arriving on Amazon just before the election, the Republic of Kazakhstan Twitter account (the film’s official social media channel) dropped a scathing new teaser last night shortly before the presidential debate. The perfectly timed tweet latched onto an embarrassing email sent out by the Trump campaign that announced the president won the debate hours before it even started.

“Congratulation to great friend of the Kazakh people @realDonaldTrump for winning debate today!” the tweet read before the debate. “Impressive and amazing result for a strong premier who always put America and Kazakhstan first!”

The satirical video goes even further with the propaganda vibes by praising Trump for being the “strongest premier in history” and argues that he’s not racist because “black guys love him so much they kneel before him” while showing an image of football players kneeling before games, which is obviously not in support of the current administration. The clip also calls Trump a “protector of women” while showing a clip of the president partying with Jeffrey Epstein, but with clearly fake subtitles added to the footage.

You can watch the teaser below:

Reportedly titled Borat: Gift of Pornographic Monkey to Vice Premiere Mikhael Pence to Make Benefit Recently Diminished Nation of Kazakhstan, the surprise sequel was shot guerilla-style and very quickly during the COVID-19 shutdown. However, the pandemic wasn’t the only safety concern for star Sacha Baron Cohen. According to Deadline, the Borat actor wore a bulletproof vest on at least two days of shooting. As to whether Cohen was in danger from the shooting location and/or the Secret Service is not known, but we’ll probably find out when the film arrives.

The Borat sequel premieres October 23 on Amazon.

(Via Republic of Kazakhstan on Twitter)

One month after Chadwick Boseman’s untimely death at age 43 from a private battle with colon cancer, it remains difficult to grasp how the world has lost the Black Panther star. He was a real-life hero by many measures, and each passing week still brings stories of his immeasurable acts and presence. For this week’s Marvel comics, Ta-Nehisi Coates (who wrote the Black Panther comic book series drawn by Brian Stelfreeze) penned a beautiful tribute to the actor who embodied King T’Challa.

Coates (who also, it should be noted, also penned The Atlantic piece that inspired Damon Lindelof to reimagine Alan Moore’s Watchmen graphic novel for HBO) knew Boseman for decades after meeting during a protest at Howard University. He praised Boseman as a “warrior” who was “regal even then.” In short, he was blown away by his friend’s presence and intellect. Via GamesRadar:

“There was something almost otherworldly about Chad – I would listen to him talk and only catch about 60% of what he was actually saying. It took time to realize that this was because Chad was always a few steps ahead of everyone. He was perfect. He had T’Challa’s royal spirit, the sense that he did not represent merely himself, but a nation. And this is how I am understanding his death.”

The rest of the eulogy can only be described as breathtakingly beautiful to behold, and it must be read in full, which you can do below (via Alex Abads on Twitter). As Coates writes, “We simply cannot afford to be without Chad.” It’s a eulogy fit for a king and one that sends Boseman off onto a “different kind of journey,” one that matches up with the Black Panther lore, so that the king’s power might be harnessed by future warriors for lifetimes to come.