Sometimes good R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm and blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to what they really love in its true form, we’ll be offering a digest of the hottest R&B jams that fans of the genre should hear every Friday.

After being liberated from her former label and signing to Warner Records, JoJo has made her triumphant return with her fourth studio album Good To Know. Trey Songz also emerged after a long hiatus with his latest release “Back Home” featuring Summer Walker, who also happens to be on Khalid’s remix to “Eleven,” with the music video dropping today.

JoJo — Good To Know

JoJo had a huge moment when her 2004 hit “Leave (Get Out)” was released at the age of 13-years-old. Due to label complications, the then budding singer kind of disappeared into an abyss until recently. Now, her fourth album Good To Know is here nine songs deep and it is where JoJo relentlessly flexes her gracious vocals, like she usually does, as a soul-simmering diary of love and heartbreak with songs such as “Lonely Hearts” and “Comeback” featuring Tory Lanez.

Trey Songz — “Back Home” Feat. Summer Walker

Like Trey Songz says, “It’s been a long time.” Trigga has arrived with his first single of the year, “Back Home,” featuring Summer Walker and it borrows Cam’ron’s “Oh Boy” vibe with a New Edition melody. Summer shows up and equally does her part as she sonically answers Trey with her luxurious brand of vocalization. This week, the Grammy Award-nominated R&B singer recently pleased all of his longtime fans with two of his most popular mixtapes, Anticipation I and Anticipation II.

Khalid — “Eleven (Remix)” Feat. Summer Walker

Khalid tapped Summer Walker for the remix to his track “Eleven” and today the music video for the celebrated single has been released. Exactly how Khalid and Summer are cruising around the city in luxury whips, “Eleven (Remix)” is the epitome of romantic car music and was made to be heard while riding through the streets at night, with the windows down and the volume turned all the way up.

Joyce Wrice — “That’s On You”

Los Angeles-based R&B singer Joyce Wrice came through this week with the oh-so smooth “That’s On You,” as the first release off her upcoming album. Brimming with the robust bliss of string and brass instruments fusing together with the love and care of her sweet voice, “That’s On You,” is an expressive spiritual experience. Joyce was recently featured on Westside Gunn’s “French Toast” featuring Wale, off his critically-acclaimed album Pray For Paris.

HER — “Wrong Places”

After appearing as a guest on NBC’s songwriting competition series Songland, HER issued the release of her slow jam “Wrong Places.” Intertwined between the sounds of an acoustic guitar and sharp snares settled in the heart of a healthy bassline, HER sings what she means while improvising flowy ad-libs infused with passion.

Bryce Hase — “Language” Feat. Tory Lanez

Up and coming Dallas, Texas native Bryce Hase really delivers with his latest release “Language” featuring Tory Lanez. While Bryce provides a majority of the song’s cozy infrastructure, Tory furiously drops a fire verse that adds something special to the entire essence of the track. Though he’s new the scene, his recently released songs, “I Know U Been Stressed <3” and “Wonderland,” have accumulated over two million streams overall.

Brandy — “Baby Mama” Feat. Chance The Rapper

Brandy‘s new song “Baby Mama” is right on time for Mother’s Day and it includes a feature from Chance The Rapper. In a recent interview with SiriusXM, the Grammy Award-winning singer said, “It’s celebrating mothers out there who are out there doing their best for their children and striving in their independence, in their strength, in their power. I just wanted to come out with a powerful message like that.”

Rome Flynn — “Keep Me In Mind”

How to Get Away With Murder‘s Rome Flynn not only acts but he sings too, and he happens to be really good at it. Assembled by Grammy Award-winning producer Bizness Boi, the R&B crooner’s latest release “Keep Me In Mind” is a provocative love ballad emanating in close intimacy.

24kGoldn — “Unbelievable” Feat. Kaash Paige

Rising singers 24kGoldn and Kaash Paige connect for the (un)official dreamy live-action visual made to their collab single “Unbelievable.” The song’s infectious melody borrows from Drake’s 2011 fan-favorite “Marvins Room,” turning it into an ethereal vortex that’s hard to escape.

Check out this week’s R&B picks, plus more on Uproxx’s Spotify playlist below.

We knew coming into the Parks and Recreation reunion special that the main cast — Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Aziz Ansari, Chris Pratt, etc. — would be involved, but the guest stars were a fun unknown. Would Jeremy Jamm show up? Or Dennis Feinstein? Or Tammy II? Or Bobby Newport? Yes, yes, yes, and yes, although Bobby, the lovable dumb-dumb played by Paul Rudd, was a close call.

The episode originally began with Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman, as themselves, explaining the fundraiser. But, as creator Michael Schur explained in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, “the problem was that it was kind of a bummer to see, ‘Hi, I’m Amy Poehler.’ ‘Hi, I’m Nick Offerman.’ And then you dip to black and you come up and they’re there again, but they’re playing characters instead of themselves.” It wouldn’t have been confusing — although Offerman and Ron Swanson are essentially the same person — but it would have been jarring. So the writers came up with a new opening:

“So we were like, ‘Well, who else could we get that would be really fun to see?,’ and very quickly thought of Paul — and very quickly shot him the joke that he just has no idea what’s going on. We texted him and said like, ‘Hey, would you be up for this?’ And he said, ‘Sure!’ But he’s on the East Coast, he’s not here. So we were like, ‘Okay, we only have a day to do this, so we can FedEx you this rig and then you would get it tomorrow.’ And he’s like, ‘I have an iPhone! I have a little microphone. Let me just do it and see if it’s okay.’ I wrote a script for him, I emailed it to him, and then an hour later, he was like, ‘Here!’ He had just done it.

Is it possible to not like Paul Rudd? (That’s a hypothetical question. It’s not.)

(Via Entertainment Weekly)

A week after NBA G League players began the process of unionizing, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported one of the preliminary agreements between the league and its players. The minor league’s players will now be guaranteed individual hotel rooms on the road as well as a $15 increase in their per diem.

In recent years, the league has taken dramatic steps forward toward legitimacy as a true minor league for the NBA. That includes adding two-way contracts to NBA rosters, the addition of several new teams, the growth of the G League showcase every December, and the use of affiliates for rehabilitation by teams like the Warriors.

Unionization is the latest and biggest step for the G League. While no reports regarding the official formation of a union have come out yet, this agreement is likely an intermediate step in negotiations that will continue. It is expected that issues such as player salary and even pre- and post-game meals will be part of the negotiations between the two parties.

The G League also has the details of its Select Team to sort out in southern California after nabbing talented high-school seniors Jalen Green, Isaiah Todd and Daishen Nix. That team still does not have a coach or a firm schedule, but is expected to play about 20 games this fall and winter as a new part of the G League.

The NBA continues to invest in the G League, and it doesn’t appear the players’ motion toward unionizing has halted progress at all.

After releasing her debut album Immunity back in August, Clairo was booked to open for Tame Impala’s tour this summer. But, along with the rest of live music events, the tour was postponed. While in quarantine, Clairo has been using her newfound free time to work on new music. On Friday, the singer shared a soulful cover of Johnny Flynn’s 2008 track “Brown Trout Blues.”

With just an acoustic guitar and her room-filling vocals, Clairo gives her stripped-down rendition of Flynn’s decade-old brassy track. Sharing the cover to YouTube, Clairo wrote that the song is one of her favorites.

Ahead of the cover, Clairo discussed the prospects of a new album in a recent interview with Apple Music’s Beats 1: “It’s a lot. It’s like over thirty right now. Obviously that’s not going to happen. Thirty-track album like no, but I think I’m just trying to make a lot of stuff. So that I’m able to kind of handpick what I still care about in six months because it becomes obvious much later whether or not it’s like a song. I have a major problem of like thinking that the last thing I made is like my best work.”

Staying true to her word, Clairo has recently been working on recording music. Ahead of her Johnny Flynn cover, the singer has released a handful of demos. Her latest, “Everything I Know,” provides a nostalgic escape from reality with toned-down vocals and fuzzy guitars.

Listen to Clairo cover Johnny Flynn’s “Brown Trout Blues” above.

Earlier this month, Fox 13 meteorologist Paul Dellegatto was presenting the weather forecast from home when his Golden Retriever, Brody, kept accidentally bumping the computer. So Dellegatto let Brody sit on his lap during his broadcast and cuteness ensued.

But the Golden Retriever couldn’t sit still for long. Body then jumped off Delgatto’s lap and walked towards the window where his cameraman, Craig, was filing the weather segment from his porch. This confused poor Brody who probably doesn’t understand social distancing.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, Paul, but this is amazing,” the show’s anchor told the embarrassed weatherman.

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‘Brody’ the dog interrupts Paul Dellegatto’s weathercast

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When Charli XCX released her “Forever” video last month, it was the fruit of a collaborative effort with her fans. The video featured tons of follower-submitted clips, and while her just-released “Claws” video is quite different in nature, there’s still a lot going on.

Charli previously teased the premise of the video in a Zoom call with fans, saying a couple weeks ago, “I’ve got two ideas. One involves me in a bikini on a scooter, and one involves me making out with Huck, my boyfriend, on a green screen for the whole video, kind of inspired by Shawn Mendes and Camila [Cabello] when they made out on Instagram, because that was really hot and fun. So those are the reference points, but we’ll see which one happens.” It turns out both of those ideas found their way into the final visual.

Meanwhile, Charli recently teased the tracklist of the upcoming album yesterday, writing on Twitter, “update: these are the song titles in the mix for the album: forever, claws, party4u, detonate, enemy, 7 years, anthem, pictures in my mind, pink diamond, i finally understand. there’s also other tracks i still love that I haven’t written over just yet….”

Watch the “Claws” video above.

How I’m Feeling Now is out 5/15.

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

Hip-hop is moving as fast as ever. Luckily, we’re doing the work to put the best music in one place for you. This week, there were new visual from Lil Wayne, DaBaby, Kaytranada, Rich Brian and Guapdad 4000, Run The Jewels, Lil Baby, as well as G-Eazy and Jack Harlow. There were also new songs from Lil Uzi Vert, Megan Thee Stallion and Beyonce, Doja Cat and Nicki Minaj, Chance The Rapper, Lil Wayne and Young Thug, Lil Tjay, Drake and Playboi Carti, and YG. Here’s the best of the rest:

Kevin Gates — “Still Hold Up

Kevin Gates offered up a track for the times on “Still Hold Up,” a reflective single where he affirms, “I’m built Ford tough and I still hold up.”

Zaytoven — “Nervous” Feat. Kash Doll & Icewear Vezzo

Zaytoven linked up with a pair of Detroit’s hottest rappers to drop “Nervous,” a sparse piano-driven track perfect for Icewear Vezzo and Kash Doll to talk flashy with a catchy double-time flow.

Mozzy — Beyond Bulletproof

Today, Mozzy dropped his hotly anticipated Beyond Bulletproof album. The 13-track project is another offering of the Sacramento MC’s gritty, reflective lyricism over production that veers from the sonorous “The Homies Wanna Know” to the menacing “Body Count” with G-Herbo and King Von.

Hardo — “Hurry Up & Buy” Feat. J.I.D

Hardo and J.I.D. trade dense, suspenseful verses on “Hurry Up & Buy,” where J.I.D lets us know his “pen pad paint all the pain” over a melancholy Christo production.

Benny The Butcher, G. Huff, & HiJinks — “M.A.M.N.”

Benny The Butcher defines loyalty along with HiJinks and G. Huff on the energetic “M.A.M.N.,” which stands for “me and my n****s.” The three take turns talking spicy over a Vice Souletric beat that takes listeners back to the days of New York mixtape yore.

Marlon Craft, “Mom’s Whiskey” Feat. Kota The Friend

No one’s linking up in New York right now. But that didn’t stop Marlon Craft and Kota The Friend from crafting a video for “Mom’s Whiskey,” an evocative fan favorite from Craft’s “Flavors” series. The two artists connected on FaceTime and rapped their verses to each other, giving fans an unlikely glimpse of how artists might feel the first time they hear a collaborator’s verse.

Quando Rondo — “Sticc To The Code”

Despite the challenges, Quando Rondo has had a fruitful 2020, and he added to his busy release schedule with “Sticc To The Code.” He unleashes his gripes about phony friends over emotional synths, rhyming “you told me that you would keep it 100 / and I too it straight to the heart I was fakin.”

King Von — “Grandson For Preisdent”

King Von paid homage to Lil Wayne on “Grandson For President,” jumping over a “Knuck If Ya Buck” remake and borrowing the cadence that Weezy used on his classic 2006 “Knuck If Ya Buck” freestyle.

Jay Worthy & Harry Fraud — “Can’t Be Stopped” Feat. Larry June

Jay Worthy and Larry June “Can’t Be Stopped” over Harry Fraud’s glitzy, 80’s-influenced production. The single is from Worthy and Harry Fraud’s upcoming Eat When You’re Hungry Sleep When You’re Tired EP, with the title derived from the consequences of the two artist’s relentless studio sessions.

Coi Leray — “Better Days” Feat. Fetty Wap

On the optimistic, self-assured “Better Days,” Coi Leray wisely proclaims “I could never love a boy who don’t even love himself,” while Fetty Wap croons “can’t eat with a dog who can’t even feed himself” over dreary guitar play.

Fredo Bang — “Top”

Just two weeks after releasing his Most Hated project, Fredo Bangs drops “Top,” where he laments, “I can’t walk by faith, every day I wake up to some brand new hate.”

Punch — “Pay No Attention To The Man Behind The Curtains” Feat. Nick Grant & Lyric Michelle

The TDE onslaught continues with “Pay No Attention To The Man Behind The Curtains,” a soulful, thoughtful track where Nick Grant tags along and lets us know “my n***s move the sh*t without touchin’ it like Matilda.”

24kGoldn — “Unbelievable” Feat. Kaash Paige

24kGoldn channels his inner Drake on the lush “Unbelievable,” a dreamy collaboration with Kaash Paige where the “Valentino” artist professes that “they hated on my life / but they never got it right.”

History — One Last Donut

Brooklyn-based rapper-producer History crafted his One Last Donut instrumental project in the span of five days. In a move inspired by the late Nipsey Hussle, he’s selling the project for $100 and giving artists the right to “purchase and lease” the soulful, Dilla-channeling production.

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

While promoting his latest film, Free Guy, Ryan Reynolds shared an update on Deadpool 3 and how things are going with making the Merc With the Mouth play nice with his new Disney pals. Unfortunately, it sounds like there are still concerns around letting Deadpool run wild in the MCU, and Reynolds also seems to be implying that there is still a scenario where a third film doesn’t happen.

While talking to Total Film (via GamesRadar), Reynolds admitted that the situation with Marvel is still “all so new,” and they’re still trying to figure out the “ins and outs.” It also doesn’t help that current events have thrown Hollywood into a state of uncertainty across the board where nobody knows when projects are going to make it in front of a camera.

“I think once I’m more intimate with it – if we get to make a Deadpool 3… if or when we get to make a Deadpool 3, I’ll probably have a better perspective on that. But I’m a huge fan of Marvel, and how they make movies. So when Disney bought Fox, I only saw that as a good thing. Deadpool hopefully being allowed to play in that sandbox, I think is just a win for everyone involved. But we’ll certainly see.”

Again, Hollywood is in a state of flux, so it’s understandable that Reynolds would be uncertain about the timeline for filming Deadpool 3. That said, his answer seems to suggest that unleashing Deadpool on the MCU isn’t a done deal. Obviously, it would be a win-win for fans, but apparently Disney still has concerns about mixing the R-Rated property with its more family-friendly PG-13 Marvel universe.

Granted, Reynolds and Marvel Studios made their relationship official back in December when he announced Deadpool 3 on Live! With Kelly Ryan, but that’s honestly not a lot of time to devise a plan given both Reynolds’ and Marvel’s full plates. Toss in a global pandemic, and Deadpool fans might be waiting a very long time until they see their favorite katana-wielding sex toy on the big screen again.

(Via GamesRadar)

Many things are on display during The Last Dance, ESPN’s 10-part docuseries about the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls. One of those things is that Michael Jordan, the star of those Bulls teams, has a lot of money, as evidenced by the multiple rooms that he sits in for interviews, one of which is gigantic and glowing and white and looks like it is where especially wealthy people hang out in purgatory.

Jordan’s basketball earnings were quite high, but he’s made a killing as a businessman, whether that’s been through his myriad of endorsement deals or as the man behind Jordan Brand. Forbes estimates that Jordan possesses a net worth of $2.1 billion.

According to longtime agent David Falk, this kind of cash means Jordan can do things like being selective about public appearances. One story Falk recalled on “Boomer and Gio” involves Jordan deciding that two hours of his time was not worth nine figures.

“I brought him a deal three years ago for $100 million. All he had to do was, other than giving his name and likeness, make a one two-hour appearance to announce the deal, and he turned it down,” Falk said, per CNN. “God bless him. He’s been so successful, it gives him an opportunity to do whatever the hell he wants or not to do things he doesn’t want. I really admire that. He’s very, very selective in the things he wants to be involved in.”

To start, $100 million is far too much to give a person for a public appearance, even if they are Michael Jordan. While he has long been careful about the things he puts his name on — it stands to reason that giving his name and likeness was not something MJ was fond of — this is still quite the payday for Jordan to turn down, even if you’re are as well-off as him.