Category: Worldwide

Do you ever feel like you could be doing more when it comes to making a positive impact on your community? The messaging around giving back is louder than ever this time of year, and for good reason; It is the season of giving, after all.

If you’ve ever wondered who is responsible for bringing many of the giving-back initiatives to life, it’s probably not who you’d expect. The masterminds behind these types of campaigns are project managers.

Using their talents and skills, often proven by earning certifications from the Project Management Institute (PMI), project managers are driving real change and increasing the success rate on projects that truly improve our world.

To celebrate the work that project managers are doing behind the scenes to make a difference, we spoke with two people doing more than their part to make an impact.

In his current role as a Project Management Professional (PMP)-certified project manager and environmental engineer for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Joshua Williard oversees the cleanup of some of America’s most contaminated and hazardous waste sites.

Courtesy of Joshua Williard

“Recently, I was part of a four-person diving team sent to collect contaminated sediment samples from the bottom of a river in Southeastern Virginia. We wanted to ensure a containment wall was successfully blocking the release of waste into an adjacent river,” Williard says.

Through his work, Josh drives restoration efforts to completion so contaminated land can again be used beneficially, and so future generations will not be at risk of exposure to harmful chemicals.

“I’ve been inspired by the natural world from a young age and always loved being outside. As I gained an understanding about Earth’s trajectory, I realized that I wanted to be part of trying to save it and keep it for future generations.

“I learned the importance of using different management styles to address various project challenges. I saw the value in building meaningful relationships with key community members. I came to see that effective project management can make a real difference in getting things done and having on-the-ground impact,” Williard says.

In addition, Monica Chan’s career in project management has enabled her to work at the forefront of conservation efforts with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF-US). She most recently has been managing a climate change project, working with a diverse team including scientists, policy experts, data analysts, biologists, communicators, and more. The goal is to leverage grants to protect and restore mangroves, forests, and ecosystems, and drive demand in seaweed farming – all to harness nature’s power to address the climate crisis.

Courtesy of Monica Chan

“As the project management lead for WWF-US, I am collaborating across the organization to build a project management framework that adapts to our diverse projects. Given that WWF’s overarching objectives center on conserving nature and addressing imminent threats to the diversity of life on Earth, the stakes are exceptionally high in how we approach projects,” says Chan.

“Throughout my journey, I’ve discovered a deep passion for project management’s ability to unite people for shared goals, contributing meaningfully to environmental conservation,” she says.

With skills learned from on-the-job experience and resources from PMI, project managers are the central point of connection for social impact campaigns, driving them forward and solving problems along the way. They are integral to bringing these projects to life, and they find support from their peers in PMI’s community.

PMI has a global network of more than 300 chapters and serves as a community for project managers – at every stage of their career. Members can share knowledge, celebrate impact, and learn together through resources, events, and other programs such as PMI’s Hours for Impact program, which encourages PMI members to volunteer their time to projects directly supporting the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

“By tapping into PMI’s extensive network and resources, I’ve expanded my project management knowledge and skills, gaining insights from seasoned professionals in diverse industries, including environmental management. Exposure to different perspectives has kept me informed about industry trends, best practices, and allowed me to tailor my approach to the unique challenges of the non-profit sector,” Chan says.

“Obtaining my PMP certification has been a game-changer, propelling not only my career growth, but also reshaping my approach to daily projects, both personally and professionally,” Chan says. Research from PMI shows that a career in project management means being part of an industry on the rise, as the global economy will need 25 million new project professionals by 2030 and the median salary for project practitioners in the U.S. is $120K.

PMI’s mission is to help professionals build project management skills through online courses, networking, and other learning opportunities, help them prove their proficiency in project management through certifications, and champion the work that project professionals, like Joshua and Monica, do around the world.

For those interested in pursuing a career in project management to help make a difference, PMI’s Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification could be the starting point to help get your foot in the door.

A Grammy Salute To 50 Years Of Hip-Hop aired on Sunday, December 10 after the live show in November, and once it was out in the open, executive producer Questlove answered fans’ questions on Twitter. In addition to allegeding that the stress of producing the show cost him a couple of teeth, he also revealed which rap star’s declined invitation “hurt the most.”

The pick might be a surprise for fans whoo weren’t around for that artist’s dominant run in the ’90s, but that’s why we have the Hip-Hop 50 celebration in the first place: to teach or remind younger fans where the culture came from from and how it’s evolved. “Of all the ‘No’s,’” the Roots drummer wrote. “Hammer hurt the most. We really wanted him to have his flowers.”

Although Quest didn’t go into details about why any of the invited artists turned down the show (most likely did so due to scheduling conflicts), Quest also confirmed that 50 Cent, Ice Cube, Run-DMC, Salt-N-Pepa, and Wu-Tang Clan were all asked. And while there are clearly fans who were disappointed, the producer called it a “blessing in disguise.”

“Got a gazillion ‘no’s’ but mid edit we were like this was a blessing in disguise,” he explained. “The reason this is dope is because ‘Normally’ we only celebrate ‘the winners’ & ignore ‘the loved.’ This changes all of that.” He’s not wrong; the full list of performers includes some oft-overlooked names in the rap discussion, from DJ Quik and Yo-Yo to Three 6 Mafia and everyone in between. For a full list of performers, see below.

Who Performed At The Grammys’ Hip-Hop 50 Tribute?

LADIES FIRST
With Spinderella as DJ:

Queen Latifah and Monie Love — “Ladies First”
MC Sha-Rock — “It’s The Joint”
Roxanne Shanté — “Roxanne’s Revenge”
J.J. Fad — “Supersonic”
MC Lyte — “Cha Cha Cha”
Remy Ma — “All The Way Up”
Latto — “Put It On Da Floor”
Ensemble Finale — “U.N.I.T.Y.”

HIP-HOP SOUTH

Jeezy — “Put On”
T.I. — “What You Know”
Bun B — “Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You)”
GloRilla — “Tomorrow 2”
Three 6 Mafia — “Stay Fly”
Jermaine Dupri — “Welcome to ATL”
Boosie Badazz — “Wipe Me Down”
Uncle Luke — “Scarred” / I Wanna Rock (Doo Doo Brown)”

PUBLIC ENEMY

“Don’t Believe the Hype”
“Fight the Power / Welcome To The Terrordome”
“Bring The Noise”

WEST COAST
With Battlecat as DJ, and Mustard as hypeman:

Warren G — “Regulate”
The Luniz — “5 On It”
The Lady of Rage — “Afro Puffs”
YG — “Who Do You Love”
Tyga — “Rack City”
Roddy Ricch — “Ballin’”
DJ Quik — “Tonite”
Yo-Yo — “You Can’t Play With My Yo-Yo”
Cypress Hill — “Hand On The Pump” / “How I Could Just Kill A Man”
Too $hort — “Blow The Whistle”
E-40 — “Tell Me When To Go”

INTERNATIONAL

Akon & Styles P — “Mama Africa” / “Locked Up (Remix)”
Blaqbonez — “Like Ice Spice”
Akon — “I Wanna Love You” / “Smack That”
Akon & Jeezy — “Soul Survivor”

LYRICISM

Big Daddy Kane — “Raw”
Black Thought — “Freestyle #087 (Freestyles On Flex)”
Rakim — “My Melody,” “I Ain’t No Joke”

CLUB BANGERS

2 Chainz — “Birthday Song”
Gunna — “Hot”
Coi LeRay — “Players”
Nelly — “E.I.”
Rick Ross — “Hustlin”/”B.M.F.”
Chance The Rapper feat. 2 Chainz — “No Problem”

DJ JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE

“Brand New Funk”
“Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It”
“Welcome To Miami”
Mashup: “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” / “Switch”
“Summertime”

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

Beyoncé’s Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé has been bringing the concert experience to theaters for a few days now, as fans have been packing out seats to go see it. Since the excitement hasn’t died down yet, those who haven’t been able to make it to the movies might be wondering when they’ll be able to watch it digitally.

Here’s what to know.

When Will Beyoncé’s Renaissance Movie Be On Digital?

Right now, there isn’t an exact date for when Beyoncé will put the Renaissance concert film out as a digital option. According to Forbes, she will be playing it in theaters, through her exclusive deal with AMC, for at least four weekends (Thursday through Sunday) from its premiere on December 1. The publication notes that New Year’s Day (January 1, 2024) is the soonest possible option if she doesn’t wait.

It really is up to Queen Bey herself when fans will be able to buy and watch the film as a digital option — but they’ll still be waiting with anticipation for whenever it happens. As for streaming, that possibility will be even further down the release line, if at all.

To find where Beyoncé’s movie is playing in theaters, along with more information, visit her website.

Indie music has grown to include so much. It’s not just music that is released on independent labels, but speaks to an aesthetic that deviates from the norm and follows its own weirdo heart. It can come in the form of rock music, pop, or folk. In a sense, it says as much about the people that are drawn to it as it does about the people that make it.

Every week, Uproxx is rounding up the best new indie music from the past seven days. This week, we got new music from Car Seat Headrest, Young Jesus, Hovvdy, Nnamdï, and more.

While we’re at it, sign up for our newsletter to get the best new indie music delivered directly to your inbox, every Monday.

Sentinel – Age Of Decay

If the concept of “shredding” was a band, then it would probably sound like Sentinel. Paying homage to thrash, hardcore, and screamo, Sentinel’s Age Of Decay speeds through 11 songs in just over 20 minutes. It’s the musical equivalent of a structurally dubious rollercoaster: thrilling and dangerous from start to finish. With its band members’ roots in the hardcore underground (Ace Stallings from Mutually Assured Destruction; Mike Shaw from Mindforce; Jack Xiques from Age Of Apocalypse; Will Herst from Restraining Order; and Evan Schlomann from Casket Architects), Sentinel’s brutal blend of heavy music hits expectedly – yet wonderfully – hard.

Yumi Zouma – EP IV

New Zealand indie-pop quartet Yumi Zouma recently shared “Desert Mile,” the final single and closing track of the aptly named EP IV, which is now officially complete. Much like their full-length from last year, Present Tense, Yumi Zouma’s latest EP is a hypnotic mix of nimble basslines, shiny synths, and melodic guitars.

Hovvdy – “Bubba”

Recently, the Austin duo Hovvdy, composed of Will Taylor and Charlie Martin, shared the gorgeous single “Jean.” They follow it up with “Bubba,” and it explores the more electronic side of Hovvdy. Flickering drum machines move the song forward, and soft, looping synths add a dreamy foundation. It all makes for one of their most beautiful tunes yet.

Young Jesus – “The Weasel”

Young Jesus’ new single, “The Weasel,” plays a prominent role in Murder At The End Of The World, a new FX/Hulu series. It’s easy to see why; with its minor chords and stark, percussive march, “The Weasel” sets a foreboding tone that perfectly complements the mystery show it’s featured in.

Infant Island – “Unrelenting”

Fredericksburg, Virginia’s Infant Island are one of the best screamo bands in the game right now. Their second preview of the forthcoming Obsidian Wreath is another stellar example of that fact. “Unrelenting” delivers on its namesake; it opens with pulverizing blast beats and feral shrieks, and Infant Island hardly lets up on the gas pedal, save for some occasional breaks of atmospheric guitars. Much like lead single “Another Cycle” also suggested, Obsidian Wreath is shaping up to be incredibly promising.

Nnamdï – “Going Crazy”

Chicago’s Nnamdï contains multitudes. On last year’s excellent Please Have A Seat, the Sooper Records co-founder traversed math-rock, hip-hop, glitchcore, and more at a breakneck pace. “Going Crazy,” the multi-instrumentalist’s new single, contains a staggering amount of his various points of interest. There are Alex G-esque chipmunk vocals, trap drums, melodic bass (yes, you read that right), and that’s merely scratching the surface.

Day Wave – “As You Are”

Jackson Phillips, who makes dream-pop music under the moniker Day Wave, largely remained in absentia until last year’s Pastlife, his first record since 2017. On his new single, “As You Are,” Phillips continues his streak of reverb-kissed dream-pop that’s equal parts melancholic and hopeful.

Body/Negative – Everett

Andy Schiaffino’s third record as Body/Negative is gloomy yet peaceful, similar to the orange flowers that fade into darkness on its album cover. Mastered by Slowdive drummer Simon Scott, Everett is an exercise in restraint and how that restraint can strangely become a cathartic release itself. From its opening track, “Flowers (The Proverbial You),” to the patient pace of “Ataraxia,” Schiaffino displays their prowess for tender, moving songwriting.

Car Seat Headrest – Faces From The Masquerade

“Don’t you realize our bodies could fall apart at any second,” Will Toledo sings on Twin Fantasy standout “Bodys.” Although he originally wrote that lyric back in 2011, it rings eerily prescient in how it resonates over a decade later. The leader of Car Seat Headrest was forced to cancel a slate of tour dates due to symptoms from long COVID. The human body is fragile, which is a reason to appreciate moments as we live them out. Faces From The Masquerade, Car Seat Headrest’s new live album culled from three sold-out nights at Brooklyn Steel, is a testament to those lived experiences. It captures excellent renditions of classics like “Beach Life-In-Death” and “Fill In The Blank” plus deep cuts like “Crows” and “Something Soon.” For those who didn’t get to see the tour in person, Faces From The Masquerade is a great alternative.

Teens In Trouble — “You Don’t Want To Mess With Me”

You don’t want to mess with Lizzie Killian. That much is apparent within the first few moments of her new single as Teens In Trouble, “You Don’t Want To Mess With Me.” Featuring Pup vocalist Stefan Babcock, Killian’s new single distills her pop-punk proclivities into just under three minutes. Crunchy guitars, bright vocal harmonies, and punchy drums abound. “You Don’t Want To Mess With Me” may sound like a threat, but it also sounds like an invitation to do away with all your cares.

When Nicki Minaj said she had a vault worth of music to release, she wasn’t exaggerating. Instead of waiting, Nicki is treating fans to what didn’t make Pink Friday 2’s final tracklist. Yesterday (December 11), the head Barb surprised her followers with a remix to her latest song, “Beep Beep.”

On “Beep Beep (Remix),” Nicki tapped her fellow Southside Jamaica Queens native 50 Cent for the guest slot. So, fans shouldn’t take 50 Cent’s The Final Lap Tour as a retirement declaration. Thanks to the collaboration, his plans to re-enter the music space are in full effect. Listeners already know what Nicki delivered on the original version. So, the question was, could 50 Cent match the energy? He did.

“When n****s out smackin’ sh*t, it’s hard to find me / I’m different sh*t, I’m with the sh*t, I’m ’90s grimy / I should spend that sh*t, then they spin that sh*t / If n****s ain’t there, they gon’ double back to finish it / Say, we got some kind of beef, what kind of beef? Please remind me / N****s all p*ssy, whole clique punani / A lil’ bread with me, you can’t hide behind money,” raps 50.

In a post uploaded to Nicki’s official Instagram page, she shared a note thanking 50 Cent for linking up with her on the track. “Queens get the money! Southside Jamaica, Queens, stand the f*ck up! [50 Cent] walked on this sh*t. YIKESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. I am so honored to have him stop by #GagCity!!!! #PinkFriday2,” wrote Nicki.

As Nicki continues to roll out collaborators, supporters are growing excited to see which of these acts make a surprise cameo onstage during the Pink Friday 2 World Tour.

Listen to “Beep Beep (Remix)” above.

Pink Friday 2 is out now via Republic. Find more information here.

If you try to explain the plot of Apple TV+’s The Morning Show to someone, they will think you’re insane. “Well, it started as a relatively normal behind-the-scenes look at a morning news show. But then, Steve Carell drove his car off a cliff, Reese Witherspoon reported live from the January 6th insurrection and space, and, oh yeah, Rachel Green had sex with Don Draper.”

The Morning Show co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Witherspoon recently spoke to Variety about, among other topics, working with Jon Hamm (who is freaking crushing it as an Elon Musk-like figure… it’s a whole thing). “I’ve known the Hammanator for a long, long time,” Aniston said. When Witherspoon asked how they met, she replied, “Paul Rudd! 12 years ago?”

The conversation then turned to a sex scene between Aniston and Hamm’s characters. “Having [director Mimi Leder] there, you’re protected,” the Friends actress said. “I never felt uncomfortable. Jon was such a gentleman, always — I mean every move, every cut, ‘You OK?’ It was also very choreographed.”

She continued:

“That’s the beauty of Mimi and our gorgeous editor, the music and lighting. So, you don’t prepare. They asked us if we wanted an intimacy coordinator. I’m from the olden days, so I was like, ‘What does that mean?’ They said, ‘Where someone asks you if you’re OK,’ and I’m like, ‘Please, this is awkward enough!’ We’re seasoned — we can figure this one out. And we had Mimi there.”

I’m adding Jennifer Aniston calling Jon Hamm “the Hammanator” to the list of crazy things that have happened on The Morning Show.

(Via Variety)

Last week, Jimmy Kimmel couldn’t resist having a little fun with George Santos cashing in on his expulsion from Congress by recording Cameo videos for anyone who pays up. He’ll take money from both sides of the aisles and late night comedians. However, after Kimmel aired the Santos videos that he paid for, the disgraced congressman saw a chance to make even more money by claiming he was underpaid.

According to Santos, Kimmel used the videos for commercial purposes, and therefore entitled to a higher rate. “The balance is $21,800 and change,” Santos claimed via The Independent. In response, Kimmel laughed out loud before going to town on Santos’ demand for more money.

“Can you imagine if I get sued by George Santos for fraud?” Kimmel joked. “I mean, how good would that be? It would be like a dream come true.”

The late night host then noted that playing the Cameo videos on his show boosted Santos’ rates, and he’s been raking it in ever since.

“Since I started buying his videos, his rates went way up to $500 apiece,” Kimmel said. “He should be thanking me for buying these videos.”

Kimmel also revealed that he’s sitting on a “stockpile” of videos, which were a “test” to see what Santos would say for money. It turns out the answer is pretty much anything, and Santos isn’t shy about his money-making scheme with a hint of revenge.

“Obviously there’s a monetary benefit — I’m not here doing it for charity,” Santos recently told Semafor. “But the other aspect is to remind these assholes who think they’re holier-than-thou that they will be forgotten in history and I will live forever, period.”

(Via The Independent)

This week saw the release of a ton of great new pop music. Tate McRae put out her sophomore record, as the 20-year-old continues taking over pop. Meanwhile, other artists like Griff and Rina Sawayama delivered thrilling new songs that completed their latest projects.

Check out the rest of Uproxx’s Best New Pop Music roundup below.

Tate McRae — “Run For The Hills”

Uproxx cover star Tate McRae has been continuing her buzz with the release of her sophomore album, Think Later. A standout track from it is “Run For The Hills,” which McRae herself gave a recent stamp of approval to. “It was always a favorite of my friends from Canada, and that always was important to me,” she shared.

Nessa Barrett — “Girl In New York”

Nessa Barrett is sleuthing out infidelity on her new “Girl In New York” single, adding a layer of emotion with the slower pacing. Fans had previously loved the song after she performed it throughout her recent tour.

Rina Sawayama – “Flavour Of The Month”

Rina Sawayama treated fans to some new bonus tracks for her Hold The Girl album. One of these, “Flavour Of The Month,” finds her not wanting her time to be wasted, over a hypnotic beat from producer Rich Cooper.

Peso Pluma, Anitta – “Bellakeo”

Peso Pluma and Anitta dropped their new “Bellakeo” collaboration, which is a fun and flirty party track. “Plan B on the radio, she sings it with her friends / Shots of Clase Azul and we’re going directly to the club,” he sings, according to Variety.

Griff — “Astronaut”

Griff’s new song “Astronaut” completes her Vert1go Vol. 1 project, as she sends listeners to another planet with the dreamy ballad. Backed with a piano instrumental played by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, she details feelings of abandonment. “We listened to maybe 30 of my songs together, but he kept stopping ‘Astronaut,’” Griff shared. “Chris advised me to strip it all back and keep things simple, so I had the cheek to ask him to play on it himself and I am so honored he agreed.”

Fletcher — “Eras Of Us”

A nod to a massive tour of the same name, Fletcher’s “Eras Of Us” used an encounter she had with an ex at the concert to turn it into a song. In it, she reflects on their relationship, and how it fell to pieces. Still, things work out how they’re supposed to.

J Balvin — “Amigos”

J Balvin’s “Amigos” serves as his hope about “going back to his roots,” as he details the fact that routine is hurting a relationship — and is, not, in fact, about Bad Bunny. “Music doesn’t have a formula,” he said, according to ABC News. “It’s the only business that you drop the product before anyone tastes them. So it’s a risk, but it is part of the game.”

Lolo Zouaï — “How To Love”

Returning this past week with her new EP, Crying In The Carwash, Lolo Zouaï delivered once again with five new entertaining pop songs. “I know I was outta line and I denied that / It’s never too late to change, I realize that,” she sings over a dreamy beat.

Fred Again.. — “Leave Me Alone” (feat. Baby Keem)

Another collaboration on this list, Fred Again.. sampled Baby Keem to make a wild ride of an electronic track — and might not be the last. “I f*ckin love keem,” Fred Again wrote on social media. “Obviously. Ever since sonny first played me his music years ago. Hangin out wit him recently has been a real treat n I feel like this tune is jus the beginning.”

Alec Benjamin — “I Sent My Therapist To Therapy”

“Releasing this song is the ultimate form of therapy,” Benjamin shared about his vulnerable new song. “It combines the two most therapeutic things in my life into one; music and therapy itself. I hope listening to this song provides the same level of catharsis for anyone struggling with their mental health as writing it did for me.”

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

In light of Diddy’s recent legal troubles centered around sexual assault allegations, some have wondered what the Grammys are planning to do about the rapper: At the 2024 ceremony, his album The Love Album: Off The Grid earned a nomination in the Best Progressive R&B Album category.

Will Diddy’s Grammy nomination be taken away, and will he be welcome at the 2024 show? That’s unclear as of now, but the Recording Academy is at least looking into it.

“We are taking this matter very seriously and we are in the process of evaluating it with the time and care that it deserves,” the Recording Academy said in a statement shared with Rolling Stone.

As for Diddy’s nomination, based on recent precedent, it doesn’t appear likely it will be rescinded. In response to Marilyn Manson receiving a Grammy nomination in 2021, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said at the time:

“We won’t restrict the people who can submit their material for consideration. We won’t look back at people’s history, we won’t look at their criminal record, we won’t look at anything other than the legality within our rules of, is this recording for this work eligible based on date and other criteria. If it is, they can submit for consideration.

What we will control is our stages, our shows, our events, our red carpets. We’ll take a look at anyone who is asking to be a part of that, asking to be in attendance, and we’ll make our decisions at that point. But we’re not going to be in the business of restricting people from submitting their work for our voters to decide on.”

Find the full list of 2024 Grammy nominations here.

Yellowstone appears to spark nothing but real-life drama these days with Kevin Costner all but promising that he would would sue producers over John Dutton apparently being told to take a hike from the series’ upcoming final episodes. Not only that, but one of Taylor Sheridan’s ranches is now suing Cole Hauser’s coffee brand over a suspicious logo, but hey, there’s some positive vibes to be found, too.

Very positive vibes, actually. Ryan Bingham and Hassie Harrison, who portray Walker and Laramie (respectively) on the cowboy soap opera, have been dating offscreen since, well, no one knows. They did, however, go Instagram official with “more than a spark” in April 2023.

Viewers began to speculate about whether they’d decided to tie the knot after some fairly concrete evidence of the pair wearing rings, not only in a joint video about “a love song” but also in a solo Bingham video, where he plugged his bourbon brand and an upcoming music gig.

TMZ now reports that the two are genuinely married “with the actress now proudly taking her wedding ring out for a spin” late last week in Las Vegas. Sources relayed to TMZ that the pair got hitched in Dallas back in October. As well, they have already purchased a ranch together, and yep, it sure looks like they were on their way to domestic bliss in some other recent photos:

Bingham is also rumored to be among the 6666 cast with confirmation still pending. Meanwhile, Kevin Costner is not to be outdone in the romance department, since he is reportedly already post-divorce dating a 1990s music icon. And no one knows when Yellowstone‘s final episodes shall air, although filming will probably happen in late 2024.

(Via TMZ)