Category: Worldwide

After years of playing one caped character, Chris Hemsworth signed on to play… another caped character. He’s not a huge fan of the clothing accessory, because he’s not a phantom haunting an opera, but can you blame him for wanting to play the bad guy in George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga?

“Yeah, it was a real departure, and it was nice…” Hemsworth told EW about taking on the role of Warlord Dementus. “I was about to say it was nice not to wear a cape, but… I did have a cape in this film. And it’s red — or it becomes red eventually, as well. The absurdity of that.” He added, “It’s not intentional to be a comparison of Thor, but I found a wonderful departure to it — to play the villain, transform, and inhabit a completely different physicality was a lot of fun. I loved it. And it was the real attraction.”

When co-star Anya Taylor-Joy brought the conversation back to capes by asking if they’re annoying to wear, Hemsworth quickly replied, “Hate ’em. So impractical.” Tying a teddy bear to your shirt, though? That’s fashion.

Here’s the official synopsis for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga:

As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga opens in theaters on May 24.

(Via EW)

In case you missed it (somehow), Kendrick Lamar and Drake are beefing right now. In March, Lamar went after Drake (and J. Cole) on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That.” Last month, Drake responded with “Push Ups,” and a few days ago, Lamar fired back with “Euphoria.”

It’s Drake’s turn, but Lamar decided to skip the line and go again: Today (May 3), he dropped another Drake diss, “6:16 In LA.”

On the track, Lamar implies that people in Drake’s camp aren’t loyal to him, with lines like, “Have you ever thought that OVO is working for me,” “Everyone inside your team is whispering that you deserve it,” “If you was street smart, you woulda caught your entourage is only to hussle you,” “100 guy that you got on salary, and 20 of them want you as the casualty,” and “It’s time you look around and see who’s really around you.”

Notably, the song’s title follows the same format as Drake’s famous timestamp songs.

This comes shortly after Rick Ross advised Drake to not respond to “Euphoria,” saying, “He may not even heard this yet but look, white boy: I know we not friends, but let me give you this advice because you ain’t got nobody around you, you ain’t got no real n****s around you. Let me put it like that: ain’t no real n****s. Stop. Don’t respond. Don’t respond. You ain’t even peep when the intro came on with that Teddy Pendergrass, that was that Black vibe. Don’t do it. Don’t go write an 8-minute verse.”

Listen to “6:16 In LA” above.

The “nepo baby” conversation (about celebrities with famous parents/relatives) was really raging back in 2022, but it still pops up every now and then. One of the names that comes up in discussions of this topic is Willow Smith, whose parents are of course Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. Willow admits the nepo baby thing has gotten to her previously and, in a way, fueled the career she has built for herself.

In a new interview with Allure, she explains:

“I truly believe that my spirit is a strong spirit and that, even if my parents weren’t who they were, I would still be a weirdo and a crazy thinker. I definitely think that a little bit of insecurity has driven me harder because people do think that the only reason I’m successful is because of my parents. That has driven me to work really hard to try to prove them wrong. But nowadays, I don’t need to prove sh*t to anybody.’”

Willow really has forged her own path. After childhood success with her 2010 single “Whip My Hair,” the singer went on to explore a variety of genres in subsequent works, from soul to psychedelia to pop-punk. Questlove is a big fan of her latest work.

Read the full cover story here.

Steven and Ian begin today’s episode by catching up with “Euphoria,” the diss track that Kendrick Lamar unleashed on Drake this week. Did Kendrick really confuse The Sixth Sense star Haley Joel Osment with Texas televangelist Joel Osteen? Looks like it! They also check in with the buzzy Sabrina Carpenter pop hit “Espresso,” which has signaled the annual (tiresome) conversation about the song of the summer.

Then they transition to a conversation about Local Natives, the LA band who recently lost one of their founding members. Steven and Ian recap the group’s career and comment on the enduring popularity of early 2010s indie stars. From there, they discuss three artists who Steven’s Fantasy Albums team — Jessica Pratt, Mdou Moctar, and Kamasi Washington — who put out new albums today.

In the mailbag, they give the yay-or-nay treatment to Amen Dunes, and also engage in more Lake Mendota/Hovvdy talk.

For Recommendation Corner, Ian talks up the Swedish band Rain Recordings while Steven catches with the British group English Teacher.

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 187 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter for all the latest news. We also recently launched a visualizer for our favorite Indiecast moments. Check those out here.

Following an incredible debut album, Hypnos, in 2022, Ravyn Lenae is back, and better than ever. Tonight (May 3), the R&B hitmaker has announced her new album, Bird’s Eye, set for release this summer. Ahead of the album, Lena has shared two new songs — “Love Is Blind” and “Love Me Not.”

On “Love Is Blind,” Lenae reflects on a previous relationship. Though she feels some regret, she has taken away valuable lessons.

Meanwhile, “Love Me Not” features Lenae dreading the idea of depending on a lover. For this particular era, Lenae is stepping her artistry up a notch, as this particular song is accompanied by a video directed by Lenae herself. The video takes us through a day in Lenae’s life, as she can’t seem to get a guy off of her mind.

“Bird’s Eye signifies returning to a place of self-trust and unbending intuition while acknowledging the paths and turns I’ve taken to get here,” Lenae said in a statement. “Revisiting the most basic parts of my identity has allowed me to fully embrace them and be proud of where I’m going.”

You can listen to “Love Is Blind” and see the video for “Love Me Not” above, and see the Bird’s Eye album artwork below.

Bird’s Eye is out 8/9 via Atlantic Records. Find more information here.

Channel Tres has the summer on lock. This week, the multitalented electronic musician announced his upcoming major label debut album, Head Rush. Tonight (May 3), he has shared the album’s lead single, “Berghain.”

The song features fellow South LA artist Barney Bones, and takes inspiration from Tres‘ travels. Over a zippy, hypnotic track, Tres and Bones imagine a utopia populated by the weirdos and misfits who make life worth living. In this magical world, the dance floor is the sanctuary and music is the heartbeat.

As a touring artist, Channel Tres has seen so many beautiful parts of the world. But Berghain holds a special place in his heart.

“It’s about the time I played Berghain and how the culture in that environment made me feel, I didn’t feel weird anymore,” said Tres in a statment. “Everyone’s the same, the goal for everyone in that place is to enjoy themselves and be free, and music played a pivotal role in that. It was the main thing for me and I wanted to document that experience I had there through music so that I always have that memory in my life. So I can feel that memory while I’m performing and relive that experience.”

You can listen to “Berghain” above.

Head Rush is out 6/14 via RCA. Find more information here.

Coco Jones is gearing up for an exciting new era. Last year, she gained a major breakthrough with her hit single, “ICU” from her mixtape, What I Didn’t Tell You. Now, her full-length debut album is on the way. Tonight (May 3), Jones has released her new single, “Here We Go (Uh Oh).”

On her new single, Jones can’t help but fall in love with the same person over and over again. Unfortunately, she knows this love isn’t good for her, and while she tries to move on with someone else, this proves to be easier said than done.

“I know when we said, ‘Goodbye,’ you ain’t mean no goodbye / Hеre we go, uh-oh / I know when you gеt to likin’ my pictures it’s time / Here we go, uh-oh / Over and over, and over we go / Older and older, and older, but so / Soon as I finally meet someone else that I like / Here we go, uh-oh,” sings Jones on the song’s chorus.

The song features a sample of Lenny Williams’ “Cause I Love You,” with Jones breathing into it new life, giving her own personal touch to a painfully relatable cycle.

“It’s the impossible mission to move on from this chapter,” said Jones of the song in a statement, “from this person, from this cycle.”

You can listen to “Here We Go (Uh Oh)” above.

At long last, Kevin Abstract and Lil Nas X have finally collaborated. Fans have been waiting for a song with the two of them for years, and this has finally come to fruition. Tonight (May 3), Abstract has shared his new single, “Tennessee,” which features Lil Nas X.

Abstract first teased “Tennessee” last month at Coachella, during which, he brought out Lil Nas X for an impromptu preview performance of the song. On the song, the two queer rappers each have their eyes on someone special. Abstract vyes for a man’s attention by putting in work on his fitness and his style.

“Never been somewhere like this / Never met someone like him / Getting my reps in in the gym / Skinny queen, I’m getting slim / I’m the God of my life like a sim / Walk around this b*tch with a limp,” raps Abstract in the song’s opening.

Meanwhile, Lil Nas X imagines upgrading a man’s life by introducing him to some new luxuries.

“Tryna put you on go / Tryna put you on your toes / Pretty fur mink coat / Boy, you f*ckin’ with a real one / I know I’m bad, I’ve been told / I know I’m pretty and rich,” Lil Nas X raps on his verse.

You can listen to “Tennessee” above.

Dua Lipa‘s long-anticipated new album Radical Optimism is finally here. Tonight (May 3), Lipa released her first album in four years, and her third overall.

As was the case for her self-titled debut album and her 2020 sophomore album, Future Nostalgia, Radical Optimism is stacked with potential hits. Almost every single one of these songs can be a hit single. However, one song features Lipa expressing gratitude to an unlikely subject — the ex of her current lover.

On “Maria,” Lipa thanks the song’s titular woman, noting that she shaped her current lover into the person he is now.

“He was cold, and now he’s the sweetest / ‘Cause he knows how much there is to lose / Ooh, I owe it to you,” Lipa sings on the song’s chorus.

She continues, expressing that she is aware that Maria will always be a part of her lover’s world. But given the love Lipa is currently sharing with this man, she is more than okay with it.

“Maria, I know you’re gone / But I feel ya when we’re alone / Even when I’m here in his arms / I know you’re somewhere in his heart,” sings Lipa on the song’s chorus.

You can listen to “Maria” above, and catch Lipa on Saturday Night Live this Saturday (May 4)

Radical Optimism is out now via Warner Records. Find more information here.

The New York Knicks are headed to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. In the final game in what will go down as an instant classic series, New York managed to walk into Philadelphia and take down the 76ers despite blowing a 22-point first-half lead. With Jalen Brunson leading the way in the city where he turned into the best college basketball player in America, New York picked up a 118-115 win to secure a 4-2 series victory.

The Knicks came out like a house of fire to start the first quarter. Despite being the road team, New York raced out to a 17-4 lead, and after Philly was able to temporarily stop the bleeding, the Knicks then went on to go on another run. This one — a 16-4 stretch — gave them a 33-11 lead.

To make matters worse for the Sixers, during that stretch, Joel Embiid had to exit the game. But something funny happened: While Embiid leaving games has been the team’s death knell for years, Philadelphia was able to go on an 11-0 run without his services towards the end of the first. It still wasn’t pretty, but only being down 36-22 was far more respectable than what the earlier part of the quarter was trending towards.

Slowly but surely, the Sixers chipped away in the second. The team scored 11 unanswered points early on in the quarter to get the lead down to three, and eventually got it down to two as they started to bottle up the Knicks on the glass, which was a major problem in the first quarter.

Philly kept chipping away, and with 1:37 left in the first half, the moment came when Kelly Oubre drilled a three from the corner to finally put them ahead.

The hero of the half — which ended with Philly taking a 54-51 lead into the locker room — was Buddy Hield, who scored two total points in the first five games of the series. In the opening 24 minutes this time around, Hield had 17 points off the bench and hit five of his seven attempts from three, providing a shot in the arm that the Sixers desperately needed.

Embiid had 17 points and eight rebounds, while Nic Batum came off the bench and gave Philly 10 points. New York was paced by 16 points from Brunson, 12 points from Donte DiVincenzo, and 10 points by Isaiah Hartenstein, but did not get a single point from anyone off of the bench.

The third quarter got taken over by Embiid and Brunson — the former had 16 points in the period, while the latter had 11.

While the Sixers were able to get up by 10 in the third, though, New York battled all quarter. And with the last bucket of the frame, Josh Hart got the ball out to OG Anunoby in the corner for a wide open three that tied things up at 83 heading into the fourth.

And at the very start of the final frame, that duo linked up once again to put the Knicks back in front.

The non-Embiid minutes to start the fourth were an issue for Philly, but by the time he came back in with 8:54 left in regulation, New York was only able to extend its lead to four. And right as Embiid came in, Tom Thibodeau decided to take out Brunson, which led to a stretch where the Sixers outscored the Knicks by four to tie things right back up.

Immediately upon checking back in, Brunson drilled back-to-back threes to spearhead a 13-3 run in which he scored 11 points, as Philadelphia just had no answer for his shot making and ability to get to his spots.

Anunoby silenced the Sixers fans in Wells Fargo Center with just under three minutes remaining by driving through the rim and throwing down with one hand, but it didn’t lead to a dagger. Philadelphia continued to fight and chip away at the lead, and with just over a minute left, an Oubre tip slam cut the lead down to one.

An incredible finish by Brunson while getting fouled extended the New York lead to three, but he couldn’t convert from the free throw line, which opened the door for something weird to happen. And on the ensuing possession for Philly, something weird happened, as Tyrese Maxey drove to the rim and got fouled without finishing his layup. The catch: The referees slowed it down and determined that Hartenstein committed a goaltend, and after Maxey hit the free throw, things were all level with 35 seconds remaining.

The ensuing Knicks possession featured their best punch. With the Sixers trying to heat up Brunson, Hart was left wide open at the top of the key. It took him a second to decide to shoot, but he knocked it down nonetheless.

Philly opted to take advantage of Embiid being guarded by Anunoby by having him take a two, which meant they had to foul. But New York broke their pressure and took time off the clock, and even worse, Embiid took the foul that sent DiVincenzo to the line, which led to him fouling out. Things turned into a free throw battle, and on Philadelphia’s final possession, a heave by Hield came nowhere close to going in.

Brunson’s 41 points and 12 rebounds led the way for the Knicks. DiVincenzo pitched in 23 points, while Anunoby had 19. New York’s starters scored 113 of their 118 points on the night. As for Philly, Embiid had 39 points and 13 rebounds, while Hield had 20 off the bench. Maxey and Oubre both had 17, and Batum gave them 16 off the bench.

Earlier in the night, we learned that the winner of this series would take on the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals after Indiana won its series against the Milwaukee Bucks in six games.