After the spectacular success of the first Instagram Live edition of People’s Party With Talib Kweli featuring The RZA, the show continues this week with another big-name New York rapper: ASAP Mob member ASAP Ferg.

This time around, Kweli will check in with Harlem favorite to discuss the insane success of Ferg’s single, “Plain Jane,” the ASAP Mob’s impact on hip-hop music and fashion, Ferg’s Floor Seats EP, and the music he’s been working on during quarantine, which includes his new single “Value.” Presumably, they’ll also chat about the fan-favorite 2019 film Uncut Gems, in which ASAP Ferg nearly had a role (which ultimately went to The Weeknd). Hopefully, they’ll also get a chance to chat about the wild debate that popped off earlier today about whether ASAP Rocky or Nelly had the bigger impact on the popularity of Nike’s Air Force 1s (hint, hint, wink, wink).

Tune in Friday, April 24 on @UPROXX on Instagram to watch the latest episode of People’s Party Live and see what fun surprises the two New Yorkers have in store.

People’s Party is a weekly interview show hosted by Talib Kweli with big-name guests exploring hip-hop, culture, and politics. Subscribe via Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.

With some Americans clamoring to “open up America” and others prepared to hunker down for the foreseeable future, the question of when to start lifting lockdown measures is on everyone’s mind. We appear to be at the peak of this wave of the pandemic, and how we proceed from this point on will determine if and when another wave will hit.

Experts agree that before the social distancing and lockdown measures can safely begin to be lifted, infection numbers have to get low enough and testing and contact tracing have to be systematized enough that we’d be able to contain sporadic outbreaks before they spread. But the U.S. is a huge country. What does that timeline look like in different areas?

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One of the unfortunate hallmarks of pandemic is that nothing is totally predictable or certain. Scientists constantly have to ascertain what data they need and and then synthesize the data they have in order to guide decision-makers and give the public information. That means what we know changes frequently, which can be frustrating when we all want to know things for sure.

But changing data doesn’t mean scientists don’t know anything. The phrase “models are always wrong, but some are useful” is tossed around in the scientific community for a reason. Models give us the most likely scenarios based on a snapshot of the variables at any given time. As the variables change, so do the models. That’s why they’re always giving us new numbers.

The University of Washington has been at the forefront of pandemic data since the virus arrived in the U.S., with the first cases being found in Washington State. The university’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) dedicated a portion of its website to COVID-19 metrics, which is constantly being updated.

Yesterday, the IHME released a new map showing when, based on the current data, each state might safely be able to start lifting containment measures.

IMHE

A few things worth noting:

The site states that these are (emphasis mine) “the earliest dates after which relaxing social distancing may be possible with containment strategies that include testing, contact tracing, isolation, and limiting gathering size.” In other words, this doesn’t mean the dates when it’s okay to return back to normal. And the containment strategies (testing, contact tracing) do have to be in place first. But this does at least give us an idea of when it’s reasonable to start easing up a bit.

The earliest date range, which applies to just three states—Montana, West Virginia, and Vermont—is May 4 to May 10. The state of Georgia, which is already lifting lockdown measures, falls well into the latest date range, with a specific date of June 22—a full two months from now.

All of the models that are showing the steep drop in cases and deaths down to near zero are predicated on people maintaining the mitigation measures that have been put in place. Lifting them too soon is one of the variables that can throw the entire thing off.

It is interesting to note that several of the states that fall into the latest date range are states that have not had a great deal of cases. The reason for that is because it’s not the total number of cases that determines the trajectory, but rather the growth curve. The easing up dates are determined by when each state’s “peak” is expected. Some states, even though they don’t have a large number of cases, still have cases increasing and have not yet reached their peak, while other states with large numbers have already reached theirs.

To see exactly what your state’s date for relaxing lockdown is, go to this page on the IHME site, click the “United States of America” dropdown box at the top of the page, and choose your state.

The COVID-19 pandemic has completely upended how we live, work, and play. But it’s also given many of us some free time to try our hand at new hobbies or rethink our old ones.

For creative types, being forced to stay indoors and practice your art can be a huge gift.

Erin Sullivan, a.k.a. “Erin Outdoors” is a travel photographer and writer whose goal is to “communicate the wonder of this Earth and to inspire connection so that ultimately, we might take our role as stewards a bit more thoughtfully.”

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Throughout her career as a nature guide, she says she learned how to problem solve on her feet, even in the most challenging conditions.

That’s probably why she found a creative way to practice her art while under quarantine. Sullivan recreated the majesty of nature using household items such as food, bed sheets, and an ingeniously-placed paper bag to make realistic-looking photos.

“As a travel photographer, I spend a lot of my time outdoors and photographing interesting places around the world. When our stay at home order went into effect last month, I wanted to challenge myself to stay creative in my craft without leaving my house,” she told Bored Panda.

The results look stunning, but for Sullivan, the photos were therapeutic as well.

“I had the idea to create outdoor adventure scenes out of objects in my house,” she said. “I shot a few scenes as experiments before I ever shared the project publicly and found that creating this series of images helped me keep my imagination active and my creative practice alive.”

Here are some of her images you can find on her Instagram page.

“Jello Lake”

via Erin Outdoors / Instagram

“The Gomacro Mountains”

via Erin Outdoors / Instagram

“The Glowing Gore-Tex Cave”

via Erin Outdoors / Instagram

“Tinfoil Lake”

via Erin Outdoors / Instagram

“Cotton Ball Clouds”

via Erin Outdoors / Instagram

“Broccoli Forest”

via Erin Outdoors / Instagram

Sullivan has challenged other social media users to create their own indoor adventure using #OurGreatIndoors.

Here are some of the best responses.

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While the world is at home in quarantine, Jhene Aiko and HER decided to team up for a good cause. Benefitting BET’s COVID-19 Relief Effort, Aiko and HER performed a special acoustic version of their collaborative song for the SOS: Saving Our Selves livestream series.

Armed only with HER’s skillful strumming and Aiko’s soaring vocals, the duo performed a rendition of their track “B.S.” Both singers sat in their respective homes and digitally collaborated on the stripped-down tune. Arriving fresh off Aiko’s recently-released record Chilombo, “B.S.” features fluttering harmonies from a combination of the singers’ airy vocals. Through the lyrics, the two try to distance themselves from an ex’s toxic behavior. “Seen you with your ex, I see you still about your old ways / Might just see him for the weekend, you say that’s a cold play,” HER sings.

This isn’t the first time HER has recently hopped on a livestream. Ahead of her virtual performance with Aiko, HER unveiled a series of livestreams titled Girls With Guitars. Each session features a different musical guest, performances, lively conversations, and Q&As with fans. The singer even partnered with Fender to give away five different guitars to viewers.

Watch the acoustic performance of “B.S.” above.

Chilombo is out now via Def Jam. Get it here.

Only a handful of albums have reached the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart so far this year, and Lil Baby’s My Turn is one of them. The record has done quite well, obviously, which is also evidenced by the fact that he is one of the artists with the most Hot 100 entries in 2020. Soon, fans will have even more My Turn to enjoy, as Lil Baby announced today that he will be releasing a deluxe version of the album, which will add six fresh songs to the tracklist. One of those is “All In,” for which Lil Baby has shared a new video.

It appears the clip was filmed during the coronavirus-induced quarantine era, or at the very least, he abides by social distancing guidelines in it. The simple video sees Lil Baby staying mostly in his kitchen, boiling, brushing, and otherwise maintaining his fancy chains and other jewelry to make sure his look is super clean. Beyond that, he’s mostly hanging out in and around his car, smoking and rapping the song.

The tracklist for the deluxe album hasn’t been revealed yet, but that information will be available soon, since the expanded album comes out on May 1.

Watch the “All In” video above.

My Turn (Deluxe) is out 5/1 via Quality Control.

After spending years in development hell, TNT’s Snowpiercer series is finally barreling towards TV screens as it just narrowly missed being derailed by the ongoing pandemic.

In the newest trailer, fans of the original Bong Joon-Ho film will see lots of familiar scenery as class tension aboard Snowpiercer boils over into all-out violence between the wealthy passengers towards the front of the train and the impoverished residents in the tail whose backbreaking, and ultimately life-ending, labor powers the moving bunker. The new trailer also leans heavily into The Americans Allison Wright, who seems to have a prominent role alongside Jennifer Connelly.

Here’s the show’s official synpopsis via TNT:

Set more than seven years after the world has become a frozen wasteland Snowpiercer centers on the remnants of humanity, who inhabit a 1001 car, perpetually-moving train that circles the globe. Class warfare, social injustice and the politics of survival play out in this riveting television adaptation based on the acclaimed movie and graphic novel series of the same name. Starring Jennifer Connelly and Daveed Diggs.

Snowpiercer has had a long struggle to see the light of day. The series bounced back and forth between TBS and TNT before finally ultimately landing on the latter where it first started. Back in 2017, Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson was supposed to film the pilot before he left the project over creative differences. Coincidentally, the film suffered similar problems as Harvey Weinstein infamously sliced and diced the film starring Chris Evans, Cate Blanchett, Octavia Spencer, and Ed Harris before it eventually found its way to theaters. Things seem to be moving more smoothly for the series, however, as it’s already been picked up for a season two renewal. Whether that season will suffer the same hurdles as the first is another story altogether.

Snowpiercer premieres on May 17 on TNT.

(Via TNT)

Apple TV+ launched last November, but its already built an impressive comedy lineup, including Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet, Dickinson (with John Mulaney as Thoreau!), and the upcoming Central Park from the creator of Bob’s Burgers. The latest addition to the streaming service: The Shrink Next Door, starring Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd.

Based on the podcast of the same name, The Shrink Next Door is a “dark comedy inspired by true events that detail the bizarre relationship between psychiatrist to the stars Dr. Isaac ‘Ike’ Herschkopf, played by Paul Rudd, and his longtime patient Martin ‘Marty’ Markowitz, played by Will Ferrell,” according to Apple. “Over the course of their relationship, the all-too-charming Ike slowly takes over Marty’s life, even moving into Marty’s Hamptons home and taking over his family business. The series explores how a seemingly normal doctor-patient dynamic morphs into an unprecedentedly exploitative relationship filled with manipulation, power grabs, and dysfunction at its finest.”

The Shrink Next Door is Ferrell and Rudd’s first working together since Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, and it’s directed by Michael Showalter, of Wet Hot American Summer fame. If Rudd doesn’t enter at least one scene on a motorcycle, I’m… well, I’m still going to watch the whole thing, but I’ll pause it to watch this video, too.

The Shrink Next Door does not currently have a premiere date.

Over the past month, everyday life has been completely flipped on its head. The new normal is that 92 percent of the US population has stay at home orders. So most of us aren’t leaving our homes unless we need to go to the grocery store or to pick up a prescription. Some of us are relying on services like Instacart and Postmates and not leaving our homes at all. We’ve been working from home, napping more than we feel comfortable with, and spending a lot of time drinking (but not too much).

As we head toward week six of the shutdown, we’ve found ourselves growing tired of beer and wine and we’re looking for a respite from drinking our favorite spirits neat. So we asked some of our favorite bartenders for recipes to the eight simple cocktails everyone needs to know to make quarantine just a little bit easier. And boozier.

Daiquiri

Weston Lou, head bartender at Hakkasan in New York City

Recipe:

• 1.5 ounces white rum
• .5 ounce simple syrup
• 1-ounce lime juice

Directions:

• Pour each ingredient into a shaker. Shake thoroughly and strain into a chilled coupe glass (or any glass you have on hand)

For me, the daiquiri is the one classic you absolutely have to know. In the modern cocktail world, bartenders are focused and can often get lost in executing complex drinks with a multiple array of exotic ingredients. The daiquiri, however, at its simplest form, is a rum sour composed of three basic ingredients.

In order to make a good daiquiri, you are forced to focus on all the minute details — such as the quality of your citrus, the type of rum, sweetener, and even glassware being used. It also provides a great foundation for understanding how to balance flavors in drinks, which will help as you branch off into making other cocktails.

Manhattan

Erick Castro, co-owner of Polite Provisions in San Diego

Recipe:

• 2 ounces rye whiskey
• .75 ounce sweet vermouth
• Dash Angostura bitters
• Maraschino cherry

Directions:

• Stir in ice-filled glass. Strain into a chilled rocks glass. Add a maraschino cherry garnish.

Since it’s been experiencing a resurgence for a while now, and for good reason, I think every cocktail enthusiast should know how to make a proper Manhattan. Being able to maneuver your way through the most elegant and sophisticated of classics is a must and learning to balance the fundamentals of booze, bitters, and vermouth is one of the most important bar skills that anyone can learn.

Gin & Tonic

Camilo Tavera, head bartender at Hakkasan in Miami

Recipe:

• 1 part gin
• 3 parts tonic
• 1 lime wedge

Directions:

• Fill a glass with ice. Add gin and tonic. Garnish with a lime wedge.

The gin and tonic is a quintessential beverage for any drinker. Bright aromas and spices from your gin of preference along with a superior tonic create a light and accessible drink. Adding fresh fruit, like lemon, or lime really amps it up.

Negroni

Ilan Chartor, spiritual advisor at KYU in Miami

Recipe:

• 1-ounce gin
• 1 ounce Campari
• 1-ounce sweet red vermouth
• 1 orange peel

Directions:

• Fill a glass with ice. Stir in each ingredient. Garnish with an orange peel.

If you’re going to be drinking cocktails the one drink you should know how to make is probably a negroni. The recipe is easy as 1,2,3 (literally). This cocktail staple is sipped from every corner of the earth — for good reason.

Boulevardier

Phil Testa, beverage manager at The Rickey in New York City

Recipe:

• 1-ounce Campari
• 1-ounce bourbon
• 1-ounce sweet red vermouth
• 1 orange peel

Directions:

• Stir in an ice-filled glass. Garnish with orange peel.

Every cocktail drinker should know how to make a boulevardier. It goes without saying, but other than a martini, it’s the easiest drink to mess up. I think any great bartender should know how to make a well-balanced boulevardier that alters its recipe by the whiskey (bourbon, rye, or whatever you choose) you use. Same thing goes with martinis. They should adjust based on gin or vodka and you should know how to showcase the flavors. So go ahead and start practicing.

Martini

Victoria Levin, director of project management at Blau + Associates in Las Vegas

Recipe:

• 3 ounces gin (or vodka)
• .5 ounces dry vermouth
• 1 olive

Directions:

• Fill a glass with ice. Pour all ingredients into glass. Stir and strain into chilled martini glass. Add an olive as garnish.

The martini. Although technically simple, there is an art to it. You have to know what to ask – vodka or gin, vermouth amount, garnish, etc. You have to know to stir or shake, you need bar tools, ideally, you want good ice… It takes pride and a little bit of love. It’s sexy but simple. Plus, whether you’re drinking it yourself or serving someone else, you know you’re getting the night started on an excellent note.

Old Fashioned

Sarah Mengoni, bartender at Double Take in Los Angeles

Recipe:

• 2 ounces bourbon
• .25 ounces simple syrup
• 1 sugar cube
• 1 dash Angostura bitters
• 1 dash water
• 1 maraschino cherry

Directions:

• Put the sugar cube (or simple syrup) in a rocks glass. Add a dash of bitters to the cube. Add a dash of water.

Muddle the sugar until it melts away. Fill the glass with ice cubes. Add bourbon. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
An Old Fashioned. It’s a simple recipe that can be used as a versatile template to create other cocktails using the ingredients found at one’s home bar. 2 ounces whiskey, .25 ounces simple syrup or one sugar cube, 1 dash Angostura Bitters. The whiskey can be replaced with another spirit, like tequila. The sugar can be replaced with a sweet liqueur, like Ancho Reyes. The Angostura Bitters can be replaced with another bitter ingredient, like Campari. The options are endless.

Whiskey Sour

Salvatore Tafuri, bar director at The Times Square EDITION in New York City

Recipe:

• 1-ounce fresh lemon juice
• .5 ounce Gomme syrup
• 1 egg white
• 1.5 ounces bourbon

Directions:

• Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry or orange rind.

Every drinker should know how to make a whiskey sour, as that’s the key to so many different cocktails. Having that down opens many doors.

The NFL Draft will begin on Thursday night, as the anticipation for the 2020 virtual draft has been even higher than most years given the lack of live sports options for fans. That’s led to more discussion and speculation about what will happen over the weekend, and as always there’s a tremendous amount of bandwidth used to discuss this year’s quarterback class.

Washington quarterback Jacob Eason entered this season’s draft process with some thinking he might be able to climb draft boards once teams got him into facilities and saw his incredible arm talent in person. With just two years of tape — 2016 as a true freshman at Georgia and 2019 as a redshirt junior at Washington — those visits were going to be a big opportunity for him to make a statement with his arm and get front offices and coaching staffs excited about the possibility of taking him.

With the draft process being shifted to the virtual world due to COVID-19, Eason lost out on that opportunity and, like everyone else, has had to make a great impression over the phone and in video calls. Eason spoke with Uproxx Sports on behalf of Head and Shoulders on Wednesday about the challenges of that process, if he felt that the lack of in-person workouts was a bigger hurdle for him than some others, what he’s telling teams in interviews, what they’re asking him to work on, and what he’ll be doing for Thursday’s virtual NFL Draft Red Carpet.

Obviously this has been a unique draft process for everyone, what have the last couple months been like for you?

For me, it’s been a lot of phone calls, Zoom meetings, Skype interviews. You know, with the virus thing going on, I’m still working out and training every day, I’ve just gotta make sure I’m keeping my numbers down and staying safe with all the regulations. It’s really been the same thing it would be if there’d not been a virus, but all online. All my trips and visits were cancelled, which is unfortunate because I’d like to have had more face time with teams, but I think through calls and video meetings I’ve been able to push my strengths and get my personality out there.

I felt you were going to be a guy impacted a little more than most by the lack of private workouts since you have just the two years of tape and those are four years apart. Those are a chance to really pop and show your skills in person. Have you felt that at all and how have you tried to make up for not having those opportunities to get in team facilities?

Yeah, I have felt that. That was going to be my chance to show my strengths and how well I can spin the ball and show some throws I can make. But I was able to make a pro day video of an on the field workout, mock pro day type thing that we sent out to all the teams. So, the biggest thing right now is controlling what you can control, and this virus is out of my control. Given the circumstances, I’ve had to do everything I can to put my best foot forward and put myself in the best situation. That’s what I’ve been doing and doing everything I can to put myself in the best opportunity.

Part of the draft process is selling yourself to teams and letting them know why they should take you. What are you telling teams when you have meetings or calls with them about what they’ll get as a player and a guy in the locker room if they draft you?

My biggest thing is I’ve pushed my personality. I feel like I’m a great teammate and can be a great leader. I mesh well with just about everyone in the locker room, and that’s something I take pride in. I take pride in making relationships that are meaningful so when the game’s on the line so I can trust whoever I’m throwing to or handing off too or who’s protecting me. That’s the biggest thing for me. I want to push my leadership and my love for the game, that’s the other thing that really stands out. I’m super passionate about going out and winning football games. I have goals I want to achieve, and in conversations with these teams I’ve been able to tell them what those goals are and how I feel about playing this game and being in a locker room full of guys with their hearts set on the same goal. It’s been a pretty cool experience, a very different experience as well. I’m super fortunate to be in a position to talk with these teams and push my strengths.

On the other side, what are the things teams have told you they’d like to see you work on and improve on in your game?

You pull up the tape and there’s some things that stick out. One of the things is I have a tendency to go back and left out of the pocket and that’s one of the things I’ve been working on. Just working on moving up and through [in the pocket] rather than backing out. So I’ve been drilling that non-stop trying to get to the next level. And then whether it’s protections or seeing coverages or different man-zone concepts, really a melting pot of different things I’ve been working on and preparing for whenever I’m able to fly down to my new city and get rolling. There’s several things that I’ve been working on and there’s also several things I’ve done really well that I’ve been maintaining and making sure I stay on point there as well. It’s been a good thing to have a chance to work on small things and also keeping the main thing the main thing.

How are you managing the stress and excitement as we near draft weekend?

You know what, it’s kind of settling in. I talked to my pops last night and I kind of made a round of calls. Like, I went back and talked to Jim Cheney and Kirby Smart, my old coaches at Georgia. I talked to Chris Petersen and Jimmy Lake at Washington and I even called my old high school coach Tom Tri, and just went down the line. A lot of it, I didn’t really think of it until now what’s about to happen, and it’s been a lifelong goal of mine since I was a little kid throwing the ball with my dad. It’s going to be really emotional and exciting and I’m anxious and all of the above, really. It’s kind of settling in. Overall, I’m excited and very fortunate. Happy to be in this position where this opportunity is coming up and I’m super excited and hungry to get picked and start getting working on my new team.

You’re going to be part of the NFL Virtual Red Carpet, what can you tell me about that and how fans can check in on how a lot of you and other prospects are getting ready for and taking in the Draft?

Yeah, so we’re doing it all virtual this year, so fans and whoever wants to check it out, it’ll be #NFLDraftRedCarpet. It’ll be on on Thursday and you can see all the styles and what everybody’s wearing, and it’ll be a pretty cool deal. So, make sure you check that out. I was able to get a cool outfit, take some pictures and do a little red carpet walk. I got a nice hair cut and am looking good for the big day.

You’ve got a pretty strong flow, was Head and Shoulders just a natural fit for you?

Yeah it was. You know, Head and Shoulders, I go with their styling products to help me take care of my scalp and hair style while I’m quarantined, cause it can be hard to get a hair cut with everything going on. Their style cream’s been a go-to at home, and they’re helping me look good and feel good, so I’m excited to show off my head of hair on draft day and show the people what they want.