Category: Viral

Prior to the NBA season getting paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philadelphia 76ers found themselves in a tricky spot. Already not living up to the sky-high expectations that some had for the squad, Philly lost star guard/forward Ben Simmons to a nerve impingement in his back. As is oftentimes the case when a Sixers player gets hurt, the team said that progress was being made but did not have a strict timetable for his return.

The ongoing hiatus has apparently been helpful for Simmons’ back. According to a new piece by Jackie MacMullan of ESPN, the time away from basketball has meant that Simmons has essentially recovered, and should the season restart, Philly expects him to be able to take the floor.

Via ESPN:

This is what Simmons must navigate, a cauldron of controversy — whenever play resumes. The hope of a mid-April return for the playoffs has been deferred, although sources tell ESPN that Simmons will be good to go as his lower-back impingement has all but dissipated. “If the season resumes,” says a team source, “we’re expecting to have him.”

A 100 percent healthy Ben Simmons changes things for the Sixers, as he’s served as the team’s best point guard and most versatile defender. Despite their 39-26 record, which puts them in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, the talking point surrounding the team all year has been that their size and physicality would make them a tough out during the postseason. We’ll see if we even get a postseason at this rate, but if that happens, at least Philly can take some solace in knowing that Simmons would be able to take the floor without any major issues.

If Kanye West’s love for the fast-food chain Chick-Fil-A wasn’t apparent enough from his song “Closed On Sunday,” the rapper has teamed up with the company to help those in need. After the fast-food chain showed their appreciation to the rapper for the lyrical shout out, the organization and the rapper are doing what they can to support LA’s vulnerable populations. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Kanye worked with a charity organization to provide over a quarter million Chick-Fil-A meals to food banks.

According to a report from Fox News, Kanye has been working with the fast-food chain for quite some time now. The rapper’s partnership has resulted in the donation of over 11,000 meals a day since March. But more than providing meals, West donated a hefty sum of money to the Christian charity organization Los Angeles Dream Center.

The charity’s founder Matthew Barnet said that thanks to West’s donation, the organization was able to scale up its philanthropic work. “The Los Angeles Dream Center has transformed into the Grand Central Station of food distribution and other basic essentials. I’m so grateful that our team has stayed healthy, and that we’ve found a safe way to meet the urgent needs within our community. I can’t say thank you enough to the various donors who’ve made this a reality,” Barnett said. “This is what a neighborhood, a community, and a church should always look like.”

Up-and-coming singer/songwriter Skullcrusher is attempting to find meaning in life’s mundane activities through music. The newest signee to indie label Secretly Canadian, Skullcrusher shares the track “Places/Plans” ahead of her eponymous debut EP.

Armed with an acoustic guitar and her soaring vocals, Helen Ballentine touts “Places/Planes” as “an exploration of the ways you become yourself when you aren’t looking.” Ballentine channels what she’s learned in her years of playing instruments into the 3-minute track, all while examining important questions. “Does it matter if I’m a really good friend? That I’m there when you call and when your shows end?” she asks herself on the gleaming track.

In a statement, Ballentine said she derived the song’s meaning from solitude. “I thought a lot about my self-worth during this period of uncertainty,” Ballentine said. “‘Places/Plans’ attempts to communicate the beauty and vulnerability of being alone and what it means to let someone else in to see that. It feels like the thematic core of the EP. It is a song for being alone in your room, lying on the floor with a book and the window open, but also for letting someone in to lie with you.”

Above, listen to “Places/Plans.” Below, find the Skullcrusher EP cover art and tracklist.

1. “Places/Plans”
2. “Trace”
3. “Two Weeks In December”
4. “Day Of Show”

Skullcrusher EP is out 6/26 via Secretly Canadian. Pre-order it here.

Growing up in Brazil, Amanda Nunes knew she would one day become either a professional soccer player or a fighter. Nunes opted for that second path, and as a result, she has turned into one of the greatest to ever step foot in the Octagon.

Nunes still loves football, though, so it was only natural that she linked up with United States star and two-time World Cup winner Carli Lloyd as part of Cam Newton’s Iron Sharpens Iron series on Quibi, which pairs athletes from different sports with one another and focuses on the training that goes into becoming the best in their craft.

“We are two of the best girls in different sports,” Nunes told UPROXX Sports. “We trained together, laughed together and trained a bit in MMA. She learned some Jiu-Jitsu, striking, a little bit of wrestling and she did very well. She never trained, but was able to pick up some things. She’s very athletic and soccer players can easily learn.”

In the six-plus minute clip, Nunes and Lloyd realized just how similar their training is, from body positioning to the need for precise footwork. And for Nunes, working with a fellow champion brought an opportunity to reminisce on her illustrious career.

“We work hard for those moments,” Nunes said. “We worked smart with the decisions we made to get where we are now and be stable. We train smart in the gym. When I started, I wanted to train hard all the time. When I became champion, I became the one with the target all the time in training and in fights. Back then, I used to train a lot and I never gave my body a rest. Since I got in the UFC, I learned more about my body and how to be the best. Now, I’m going to stay here for a long time until I’m retired.”

Taking care of her body is of utmost importance for Nunes, who won the first of her two UFC titles in 2016. Since then, the soon-to-be 32-year-old has had her fair share of tests, taking three of seven opponents into the fifth and final round.

“I feel like I’m getting old,” Nunes said. “My body reacts differently. Every fighter has pain all over from the morning when you wake up. It’s hard. For me, the only problem right now is preparing my body. I really have to warm up when I go to the gym.”

Despite the aches and pains of Father Time, Nunes boasts the confidence of an all-time great. After all, Nunes finished the careers of Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey. She was the last woman to beat Valentina Shevchenko, and she boasts round one knockouts of both Cris Cyborg and Holly Holm.

“I have two belts. All the girls think about me right now. I’m ready for all the girls in my division, 135 and 145. I’m way in front of all the girls. I know all the game plans for all the girls. As soon as I have an opponent, I know what she wants to do to me. I know what she’s going to look for, what she’s going to try to do,” Nunes said. “That has made me feel how I feel: secure, confident, strong and better than all of them.”

As for what’s next, Nunes plans to defend her featherweight title sometime in 2020. While her title fight hasn’t been booked yet, it won’t be May 9 as originally slated due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. For the double champ, whoever her opponent is and whenever that bout happens, there’s no question in her mind — she’ll continue to build on an impressive 10-fight win streak.

“Life always gives us something we’re looking for. I’m going to defend both belts and keep them. Life will show me something else. We will see, when we talk again, I’ll have a lot of gold,” Nunes said. “This is what I wake up every day to do. I never did anything else in life. I’m never going to lose again. Losing has stopped.”

Although WWE has backed off from fully going back to a live broadcast schedule in the wake of being declared an essential business after a suspiciously timed pledge of political money, they’re still producing multiple weekly TV shows in the midst of an ongoing pandemic. There have been rumors that some people who work there are understandably unhappy with this situation. Recent news out of Orlando, where WWE is currently taping all their shows, seems to confirm that some employees are very concerned.

On Twitter, Orlando-based journalist Jon Alba posted a recording of a recording of Tuesday’s online Orange County Board of County Commissioners meeting, where a public comment was read into the record from a WWE employee calling himself John, who had this to say to the board:

My employer, World Wrestling Entertainment, aka WWE, is forcing me to work the TV tapings for its weekly shows despite the Stay At Home orders for Coronavirus. I am unable to speak out as I need this job, and I know I will be fired if I approach my higher-ups. Despite sanitary precautions, we cannot maintain social distancing and have to touch other people. I request the government to shut down these tapings and enforce the Stay At Home order so my colleagues and I can maintain social distancing rules with fear or repercussions of losing our jobs.

As Alba acknowledges, it is impossible to confirm that this person definitely works for WWE, given their anonymity. If it is true, however, that anonymity is the only thing enabling “John” to keep his job while expressing this concern. Alba says that he has spoken to multiple WWE employees who expressed similar concerns about being made to work during the pandemic.

Naturally a lot of wrestling fans are making half-joking guesses about which wrestler is actually “John,” but in truth it’s a lot more likely to be a non-wrestling employee. It takes a lot of people to put on a TV show even at the Performance Center, and a lot of those employees are required to get nearly as close to other people as the wrestlers do with each other.

Earlier this month, an unexpected development occurred for the Tom Hardy-starring Capone that’s been brewing for, well, I’m not sure how long (at least 2016, probably earlier). As the title indicates, Hardy portrays notorious gangster Al Capone in this picture (previously known as Fonzo), which is a long-gestating effort from writer-director Josh Trank (Chronicle), who kinda fell off the Hollywood radar after the Fantastic Four misfire set him back several steps with audiences and critics. Trank also feuded with 20th Century Fox, and that didn’t help his career prospects, but he apparently took matters into his own hands by hot-dropping the trailer for Capone, which also received a surprise VOD release date (May 12).

Granted, this doesn’t look like high cinema by any stretch, nor was it even designed to woo the Oscar crowd, but the strategy of unleashing this film in an otherwise barren cinematic release season (because pandemic, obviously) might be a winning one. Lo and behold, the Trank-Hardy pairing has gained a prominent endorsement — from Knives Out director Rian Johnson — that could help seal some VOD sales.

“This movie is batshit bonkers in the best possible way,” the helmer of Breaking Bad‘s “Fly” episode tweeted. “[A]nd believe me you’re going to want to see it.”

Sold? Hell yeah. I mean, there are only so many times that people can watch Parasite on Hulu during quarantine. We need some new movies, and the most anticipated blockbusters obviously want to save their juice for theaters much later this year. And it’s a Tom Hardy movie, c’mon! Venom could have never worked without him, and for that matter, Venom probably shouldn’t have worked at all, but those ticket sales don’t lie.

People want more movies, and they want Tom Hardy, and I’m not saying that Capone will be good, but I’ll watch the hell out of it. And I’ll probably do it even sooner now that Rian Johnson endorsed the biographical drama, which will see the title character wrestle with “memories of his violent and brutal origins” following the onset of dementia after a decade behind bars. Is the tortured appearance all an act? We’ll find out while sitting in our living rooms.

Capone (also starring Linda Cardellini, Kyle MacLachlan, Matt Dillon, and Jack Lowden) lands on VOD starting May 12.

While the quarantine has affected some artists’ album release plans, others are still pushing forward and releasing music. Luckily, pop music has seen an array of releases even with the nation remaining at home. Demi Lovato and Sam Smith released a collaborative anthem, Joji announced his sophomore album with a thumping tune, and Jamie xx made his comeback with his first solo song in over five years.

Each week, Uproxx rounds up the best new releases. Listen up.

Sam Smith, Demi Lovato — “I’m Ready”

Demi Lovato is plotting her comeback in 2020. Kicking off her new era with a tearful rendition of “Anyone” at this year’s Grammys, Lovato is back with a new collaborative single. Lovato teamed up with pop crooner Sam Smith for the ardent assertation of self-worth, “I’m Ready.” Over a soulful, layered beat, the duo unabashedly announces they are ready to find love.

Joji — “Gimme Love”

Joji’s debut 2018 Ballads 1 cemented him as the first Asian-American artist to top the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Now, the singer is ready for more. Joji announced his sophomore record Nectar with the pounding single “Gimme Love.” While the track is about finding a deep connection, Joji shows off his not-so-serious side through the cinematic accompanying visual where he takes control of a spaceship launch.

Jamie xx — “Idontknow”

Elusive UK producer Jamie xx returns with his first solo single of the last five years. The dance-ready track has been a staple at his recent live shows, but the track’s origin remained a mystery to fans until it appeared on streaming services this week. The wobbly, hard-hitting instrumental gives a sneak peek into what is hopefully a new project from the producer.

Bazzi — “I Got You”

Following his heartfelt track “Renee’s Song,” Bazzi returns with the intention of crafting a viral hit. The singer created “I Got You” with the purpose of making a successful TikTok dance challenge. The playful, snappy track picks up a rolling beat under Bazzi’s feathery vocals.

Chromatics — “Teacher”

Chromatics teased their album Dear Tommy way back in 2014. To date, it’s been over six years without the mysterious record. But the group is finally ready for it to see the light of day. Sharing the bouncy, synth-heavy track “Teacher,” Chromatics unveiled the Dear Tommy tracklist, signaling its impending arrival.

Kehlani — “Everybody’s Business”

Kehlani knows what it’s like to go through a breakup in the public eye. After breaking things off with YG, Kehlani effectively shut down all rumors about her love life with the swooning track “Everybody’s Business.” With her signature, velvety delivery, Kehlani addressed the public scrutiny of her personal life. “I hear every word they talk / Tried not to care at all / I know it’s frontin’, don’t know me from nothin’,” Kehlani sings over a re-worked sample of Pharell’s hit track “Frontin.’”

Still Woozy — “Window”

Not many artists can say they performed the likes of Coachella and Lollapalooza before even putting out a debut album. But Still Woozy boasts the accomplishment. Self-recorded in his home studio/garage, “Window” is his first new track of 2020. A funky, layered beat creates the backbone to the laid-back track while the singer fluidly recounts a day with his crush.

John Legend — “Bigger Love”

John Legend aims to spread joy through his carefree new track “Bigger Love.” In a statement, Legend said he hopes the track will bring hope in a difficult time: “This song is a celebration of love, resilience, and hope. I wrote it last year, before any of us could have imagined what 2020 would become. The message of the song is that love can help carry us through these dark times and music can bring us joy and inspiration. I hope it brings some light to people’s day and maybe inspires a dance break!”

Rina Sawayama — “Bad Friend”

Rising British pop singer Rina Sawayama shared her debut album Sawayama this week. On it came the captivating track “Bad Friend.” Over wonky synths, Sawayama croons of nights spent with her best friend with a touch of nostalgia. In an interview with Apple Music, Sawayama said she wrote the song after seeing that a good friend, who she had fallen out of touch with, had just had a baby. Sawayama penned the song following the realization that she had completely let her friendship fall by the wayside.

Girl In Red — “Midnight Love”

Swedish pop singer Girl In Red drafted “Mightnight Love” as an ode to standing up for yourself in the face of fleeting relationships. Over a watered-down beat, the singer croons about putting herself first. “I can’t be your second best / Close but not your favorite,” she sings.

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

Cardi B has emerged as an unexpected outspoken voice in politics. Early on in the election cycle, Cardi B endorsed Bernie Sanders and interviewed him about his policies on several occasions. She even recently gave him advice on the state of his nails while in quarantine. The rapper has also been vocal about the current pandemic. Following a viral remix of her social media coronavirus speech, Cardi has been offering her two cents about staying healthy during the pandemic, and the singer isn’t happy about Georgia lifting their temporary ban on non-essential businesses.

Georgia’s governor Brian Kemp announced Monday that he plans to reopen the state with some restrictions. While the state currently has over 18,000 confirmed cases, Governor Kemp said he plans to allow non-essential businesses like gyms, nail salons, barbershops, some restaurants, bowling alleys, and even movie theaters to resume operations as soon as Friday. Many criticized the governor’s decision, including Cardi B.

Commenting on an Instagram post about the state’s new policy, Cardi B issued a stern warning. “Don’t go around your parents or grandparents!” she wrote. “Once there sick and in the hospital wit covid you won’t be able to see how and what they are treating them with.” Cardi ended her cautionary message with a reminder of her priorities: “Health over capitalism.”

Read Cardi’s full message above.

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

These are stressful times we’re living in, so most people could use some help with relaxing. Now, Diddy and Nick Jonas have you covered: As part of a new series of Audible Originals, the two have created some spoken-word content to help ease worried minds.

Created in collaboration with Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global, Diddy offers listeners the chance to get personally pumped up by him with his “Honor Yourself” guided meditation. Audible describes the program, “Find out what it’s like to have the nightly affirmation of a hip-hop legend and entrepreneur in your ear as Diddy, in his signature velvety lilt, confidently guides you through his relaxing and reassuring meditation designed to help you slow down and find inner peace.”

Meanwhile, Nick Jonas wants to help folks drift off to sleep, and he is doing so with his bedtime story, “The Perfect Swing.” Audible says of this one, “Get ready for a great night’s sleep with Nick Jonas in this serene bedtime story about baseball, one of his personal passions. What is the perfect swing? You might be asleep before you find out.”

These presentations and others are available for free, so give them a listen here, where you can also find other programs from Huffington, Gabby Bernstein, Sara Auster and Jesse Israel.

When Playboi Carti tweeted “MoNDaY” last Thursday, April 16, fans went into a frenzy of excitement, convinced that the Atlanta artist would finally release his heavily-anticipated album, Whole Lotta Red. Instead, Monday came and went without a release, bringing a wave of disappointed tweets from Carti’s followers — all except one, who had seemingly been waiting and was absolutely delighted for the chance to pounce: Lil Uzi Vert.

While Lil Uzi insists that the duo does not have any beef, he has seemingly engaged in a one-sided sibling rivalry of sorts, playing the aggravating little brother role and finding any excuse to needle his onetime close collaborator. For instance, on Thursday, after Carti released the video for his new single, “@ Meh,” Uzi followed up with a tweet of his own reading “Just Meh.” After Carti sent his infamous “Monday” tweet, Uzi replied with his own — right down to the goofball capitalization.

And now that Monday has passed without signs of life from Playboi Carti, Uzi seems only too happy to point out the letdown, tweeting, “Did u drop yet?” in response to Carti’s late after insistence that “Red is MY fav album of mine.” Whatever passive-aggressive issue is going on between hip-hop’s new Issa and Molly, it’s been pretty entertaining to watch (just like Insecure), but it’d probably be better if one or the other just dropped some new music instead.

Check out Uzi’s trolling tweets above.

Lil Uzi Vert is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.