Category: Worldwide

You know, looking back on it now, 2023 was kind of a wild year for television. A bunch of our best shows wrapped up their runs, and a bunch of other shows were delayed by prolonged negotiations between labor unions and the studios, and a bunch of weird and fun shows popped up out of nowhere. We had spoiled children in New York and sandwich chefs in Chicago and rascal teens in Oklahoma. We had an apocalypse and time loops and trips to outer space. Jon Hamm was in about half of the hundreds of shows that aired. There was really something for everyone out there if you know where to look.

Which, as always, makes compiling a top ten list at the end of the year a little tricky. There’s just so much across so many genres and it makes it almost impossible to create a comprehensive list. So… we resorted to math. The members of the Uproxx team each submitted a top ten list and then we assigned points based on these individual rankings. (Ten points for the number one show, nine points for the number two, and so on through the list until one lonely point was assigned to everyone’s tenth-ranked show.) We took all those numbers and plugged them into the calculator and here we are.

It’s a pretty good list. If you disagree, blame the math, not us. Numbers can be cruel.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

I Think You Should Leave — The third season of this beautifully deranged little sketch show delivered once again, introducing us to a slew of unsettling comic characters like, to pick just one, the Driving Crooner. What did we ever do without him?

Yellowjackets — If you thought a thriller series that leaps between two time periods to cover the immediate and future dilemmas faced by a girls soccer team whose plane crashes in the woods was going to be a one-season phenomenon, buddy, were you ever proven wrong by the second season of this show.

Beef — A contentious traffic situation escalates beyond road rage into life-consuming obsession, but in a fun way, with Ali Wong and Stephen Yeun and the best Hoobastank needledrop you’ve ever seen delivering on a premise that could have been too ambitious to work in less capable hands.

Blue Eye Samurai — The animated series that followed a half-white, half-Japanese samurai on a mission for vengeance was a blast, with eight extremely bingeable episodes dropping in November and a voice cast that included everyone from Maya Erskine to Randall Park to George Takei to Kenneth Branagh.

Jury Duty — What happens when you take a normal guy and drop him into an absurd legal situation where everyone is an actor and everything is scripted and James Marsden shows up as a heightened goofball version of himself and the normal guy doesn’t realize it’s all a ruse? Well, you get a good television show, for one thing.

What We Do in the Shadows — It feels unfair that this show is buried in the honorable mentions when all it did this season was continue to deliver on its silly vampiric premise at a high-level the same way it has since its first season. It’s a gift and a curse, really, these expectations of greatness that make it hard for the show to surprise us sometimes. There are worse problems to have.

Swagger — The sports drama loosely inspired by the experiences of NBA superstar Kevin Durant came to an end after two seasons this year, which is a shame, because it delivered a kind of cultural commentary — thanks in large part to the stellar performance by O’Shea Jackson — that is rarely seen on television.

The Other Two — Another show that ended its run this year, which is a shame for a lot of reasons, some having to do with the razor-sharp satire of Hollywood it depicted and some having to do with the performances by Drew Tarver and Helena Yorke as the overlooked sinking of a teen megastar and some having to do with there just not being enough shows on television that let Molly Shannon run wild like this. Still, it was a good one.

The Golden Bachelor — Be honest, you did not expect a dating show about a 72-year-old former restaurateur with a massive lion tattoo looking for love among similarly aged women to be network television’s biggest smash hit of the fall. And yet, here we are. Life is strange like that.

10. (tie) Shrinking (Apple TV+)

Grief is at the center of Shrinking — the grief that comes from losing someone close, from losing one’s own dynamism, confidence, and control. But it’s also about the beauty that comes from refinding some of those things and discovering a way through with the help of love and friendship. Led by Jason Segel as a widowed therapist and Harrison Ford as his mentor, the show is a layered, funny, and heartful mess of broken people trying to fix other broken people. Few 30-minute comedies ever feel this deep and life-affirming.

Watch it on Apple TV+

10. (tie) Poker Face (Peacock)

Rian Johnson’s love letter to case-of-the-week detective shows with quirky sleuths a la Columbo and Murder She Wrote, Poker Face absolutely cooks with Natasha Lyonne as an on-the-run human lie detector who keeps bumping into hairy situations with morally dubious characters. From the soundtrack to the cool car and the idiosyncratic and lyrical dialogue, Poker Face is a surprisingly breezy watch for something that so often dips into murder.

Watch it on Peacock

9. Silo (Apple TV+)

Fans who dusted off their Dystopia Fatigue for this slow-burn murder mystery set hundreds of years in the future and buried deep beneath the earth’s “toxic” surface were rewarded with a surprising sci-fi thriller that finally convinced us that Apple TV+ knows what it’s doing when it comes to sci-fi. Based on Hugh Howey’s work of fiction, Silo introduces audiences to a community of thousands living in a sort of inverted skyscraper miles underground. They’re there because of some environmental catastrophe, but the hows and whys of who lives, who dies, who procreates, and who controls become muddled when a stoic mechanic (hello to Rebecca Ferguson and her greased-up biceps) escapes her Down Deep existence to serve as sheriff and solve a painfully personal homicide case. Twists and turns (both narrative and physical, especially when the show utilizes its 144-story winding staircase to ramp up the action) elevate Silo’s premise. This isn’t just about living past the end of the world, it’s about how we do it and the lies we tell along the way.

Watch it on Apple TV+

8. Gen V (Amazon Prime)

The Boys brand stayed impossibly strong in this offshoot’s first season, and to quote Bill Murray in Ghostbusters, the finale came, saw, and kicked ass for several reasons, including that Homelander cameo. The college-based show seamlessly integrates with the original series while also poking a lot of fun at shared universes. Did you have Amazon on your bingo card for outdoing the MCU and DCU this year on superheroes? Oi.

Watch it on Amazon Prime

7. The Last of Us (Max)

A lot of things had to go right for HBO’s The Last of Us to be as good as the video game it’s based on. It needed to find the perfect actors to play Joel and Ellie (Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey — check). It needed the right writers to find the humanity in a world overrun by monsters (Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, who also created the game — check). It needed to be violent, but sweet; hopeless, but ultimately hopeful; bleak, but with moments of genuine humor (check and check and check for the Bill and Frank episode alone). The Last of Us was a triumph, not just as a video game adaptation, but as one of the best TV shows of the year.

Watch it on Max

6. The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix)

Horror maestro Mike Flanagan and original doom king Edgar Allan Poe added up to a macabre yet delightful meeting of the minds. Carla Gugino sizzles in several different ways (and guises) and stole back her Flanagan MVP crown from Hamish Linklater, and this show was so screwball that we did a death ranking if you want to live it all over again. This isn’t a literal telling of the Poe story but one that successfully incorporates modern ills while skewering the concepts of wealth, privilege, and power, and this is the most entertaining takedown of Big Pharma in years.

Watch it on Netflix

5. The Righteous Gemstones (Max)

A few things worth noting about this show, which is now three seasons deep into its comedic look at a fictional family of televangelists:

• Walton Goggins in old-man makeup as snake oil salesman Baby Billy Freeman continues to be one of the best performances on television, and the episode where he meets his long-lost son — featuring a gasp-inducing cameo — was one of the best half-hours of television this year
• Everything Edi Patterson does as spoiled middle child Judy Gemstone is remarkable and she should have so many awards for it by now that she has trouble climbing over them to get out of the house
• It had the year’s best car chase, somehow

Good show.

Watch it on Max

4. Barry (Max)

Barry wrapped up its run this year, bringing an end to the story about a skilled hitman who becomes depressed and tries to crawl out of the hole he’s in with the help of a local theater group. Bill Hader was the mastermind behind all of it and deserves the lion’s share of credit, but please never forget the performances by Sarah Goldberg as Sally Reed and Anthony Carrigan as NoHo Hank and Henry Winkler as Gene Cousineau and Stephen Root as Fuches and… wow. Just typing all that out again is a nice reminder of what a stacked cast this had. One of the best shows of the last five years and it went out with a bang. Can’t ask for much more.

Watch it on Max

3. Reservation Dogs (Hulu)

Just a special television show that, in case you haven’t noticed a theme developing here, also came to an end this year. Sweet and profound, funny and sad, mixing the silliest jokes you’ve ever seen with deep contemplations on coming of age and death, this series about a group of rascal indigenous teens growing up in Oklahoma was truly one of a kind. We are better for the fact that it existed at all. Please binge it this winter if you haven’t seen it yet. Or watch it again next year if you haven’t. This is everything television can and should be.

Watch it on Hulu

2. The Bear (Hulu)

The Bear burst onto the scene with a wonderful first season a couple of years ago, a story about a talented chef coming home to run the family sandwich shop after a death left its future in limbo. The second season continued to deliver, with a cameo-packed family meal and star-making performances by Ayo Edibiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, the latter of whom was responsible for one of the better character arcs you’ll ever see. Everyone hated Richie in season one. Everyone loves Richie now. That’s not an easy trick to pull off. The only downside here is that watching this show will make you want a sandwich all hours of the day. Could be worse.

Watch it on Hulu

1. Succession (Max)

What a ride. From the very beginning to the very end, with countless F-bombs and shocking deaths and goofball failsons and hangers-on clinging to financial lifeboats, the time we spent with the Roy family was memorable. There’s not much else to say that hasn’t been said. Succession was the rare show to capture critical acclaim and a massive audience and it was just a lot of fun to have a huge water cooler show to talk about again in a time when everything else is all splinters and frayed. There was so much about it worth discussing, from Logan’s grumbling to Cousin Greg’s bumbling to Kendall quite literally staring out into the ocean looking for answers. Everyone on this show was an awful human being. We will miss them deeply.

Watch it on Max

It appears Britney Spears’ father Jamie has been in poor health in recent times, and reportedly, he recently had one of his legs amputated.

According to TMZ, “sources with direct knowledge” told them that Jamie had a major infection in one of his legs, which landed him in the hospital for weeks. After five unsuccessful surgeries attempting to contain the infection, doctors decided the best stop forward was amputation.

There is at least some good news for Jamie, though, as TMZ also reports “there is hope” for a reconciliation between him and Britney. The publication notes, “Our sources say Britney has softened toward her dad recently. There have been times when she’s said she misses her dad, and once even talked about sending him money to help him out. As for Jamie, our sources say there’s nothing he’d rather have than a reconciliation with his daughter, and harbors no ill will.”

This comes shortly after Britney was spotted cuddling with her mother Lynne at Britney’s 42nd birthday party; Britney’s birthday was on December 2.

Of course, Britney has famously had a contentious relationship with her parents due to the conservatorship. In September 2022, Britney wrote, “It’s extremely hard for me to accept the fact that my family did that to me … it will be hard for me for the rest of my life … as for my Mom and Dad who sat back and hid coffee from me at the house to wake me up from feeling dead and scared like an old lady … and threw me away … I will say it loud and proud … I pray you both burn in hell.”

Since then, though, it appears the Spears family is on far better terms.

There are two words that can describe R&B in 2023: recognition and elevation. The two worked hand in hand over the course of 12 months to place the genre in a brighter light compared to previous years. SZA is the epitome of this recognition as her sophomore album SOS and highlight songs like “Kill Bill” and “Snooze” had their presence felt on the charts throughout the year. It all played a role in a year that Spotify said produced a 25% stream increase of R&B music.

There are other notable and extremely talented contributors to this increase. There’s Victoria Monét and her dazzling Jaguar II album which is also home to the infectious “On My Mama,” a record that quickly became Monét’s most popular track. We also have Janelle Monáe’s splendid fifth album The Age Of Pleasure which made a joyous splash in the industry during this year’s summer months. Daniel Caesar, Sampha, and Jorja Smith made long-awaited returns with their respective albums, Never Enough, Lahai, and Falling Or Flying.

The veterans of R&B thrived in 2023, but so did the newcomers. Look no further than Leon Thomas III’s debut Electric Dusk, Fridayy’s delf-titled debut, and Khamari’s A Brief Nirvana. Artists new and old within the traditional, contemporary, and alternative R&B genres thrived in 2023 and helped bring the genre to a new level, and now, it’s time to celebrate their work.

Here are the 25 best R&B projects of 2023 in alphabetical order.

6lack — Since I Have A Lover

It’s always beautiful to see musicians continuously find new ways to bring their artistry to life with each project they release. That’s undoubtedly been the case for 6lack who finally delivered his third album Since I Have A Lover. Unlike his previous two albums, 6lack combines pop references with his trademark alternative R&B for a body of work that is both freeing and diverse. Through success in love, 6lack finds himself to be a new man with a new outlook on life, all of which is detailed through records that display his loyalty (“Fatal Attraction”), patience (“B4L”), commitment (“Temporary”), and more. Whether he’s rapping or singing, 6lack gets his message across in an effortless and impressive manner. – Wongo Okon

Baby Rose — Through And Through

It’d been a little while since Baby Rose released a full-length project, but that period finally came to an end with her sophomore album Through And Through. The project is a refreshing addition to the musical landscape and Rose’s savory croons and heavy, soulful spirit guide the album that details the various fires she escaped her life. We meet a determined Baby Rose on Through And Through who isn’t afraid to put her hand out for a new foray into love (“Dance With Me” & “Love Bomb”), overcome heartbreak (“Stop The Bleeding”), and show that there are more sides to her than a hopeless romantic (“I Won’t Tell”). Through its 11 songs, Baby Rose offers an elegant and enchanting showcase of her undeniable talents with Though And Through. – W.O.

BJ The Chicago Kid — Gravy

There’s no conversation of modern-day soul music that can be had without mention of BJ The Chicago Kid. The singer has delivered impressive bodies of work for over a decade and that continues with his fourth album Gravy. Made in collaboration with producer Yeti Beats, Gravy soaks itself in 1970s soul with Al Green as its inspiration. With BJ The Chicago Kid in the driver’s seat, Gravy expands into a symphony of sweet trumpets and ear-pleasing strings that accompany his passionate vocals that rest like gravy over the production. Gravy stands in a room of its own among R&B in 2023, and with it, BJ The Chicago Kid continues his streak of top-notch albums – W.O.

Brent Faiyaz – Larger Than Life

Brent Faiyaz’s career has reached new heights after he dropped his second album Wasteland. A year removed from that project came Larger Than Life, which in short, is a celebratory toast to the good life. Faiyaz leans heavily into the perks of his stardom on the 14-track album while paying homage to his DMV home. This toast and moment of gratitude to those who came before him — Timbaland and Missy Elliott, for example — is just a piece of the pie on Larger Than Life. It’s also where up-and-coming DMV artists like Cruddy Murda, TTM Dawg, and Tommy Richman were given the floor to show their talents. Some artists get big and lose touch with how they got there. That’s not the case with Brent whose Larger Than Life is still in touch with his roots, himself, and his supporters. – W.O.

CARRTOONS — Saturday Night

CARRTOONS was an artist that was entirely unknown to me when I hit play on their new project Saturday Night on a whim. One song — really, the first 20 seconds of that first song — was all it took for the New York producer’s funky, instrumental take on retrofuturistic R&B to burrow deep into my brain and take up residence. Saturday Night quickly gentrified parts of my brain that hadn’t been receptive to new music for at least a decade, in part thanks to guest appearances from underground vocalists like Reuben James, Topaz Jones, and Haile Supreme, but also because of the undeniable, endlessly danceable grooves from the producer themselves. – Aaron Williams

Chlöe — In Pieces

There are many impressive aspects of Chlöe’s debut album In Pieces. First, is the fact that the singer even arrived at a point in her career to release. Her solo career was criticized for more reasons than it wasn’t, but none of that seemed to hinder the body of work that is In Pieces. Actually, it only strengthened it. The critiques and doubts became the backbone of the album which also detailed her recovery from heartbreak. Between the uptempo and bouncy “Body Do” and the captivating “Make It Look Easy,” Chlöe showcased her versatility, her writing, and her evolving vision on her debut album. Though the sky is the limit for her, Chlöe is well on her way to reaching it. – W.O.

Daniel Caesar — Never Enough

If there was any doubt that Daniel Caesar could replicate the glory days of his past, the Toronto singer put them all to rest with his euphoric third album Never Enough. It’s with this album that he took on a bigger producer role as he placed himself in a small town that’s hours outside of Toronto to make the beats that became the landscape of Never Enough. He grapples with wanting love (“Do You Like Me?”) and seeing that it’s run its course (“Let Me Go”) while finding time to shade those who believed they moved on from him to better (“Homiesexual”). Never Enough excellently captures the rollercoaster ride of love and the constant search for perfection, if that even exists. – W.O.

Dende – ’95 Civic

Dende, if not a name you recognize, is a face you may have seen this year. This Houston earned himself a viral moment in 2023 with an impassioned performance of “Nightmares” complete with special effects that gave him bodily injuries as brutal as a car accident. Months later came his album ’95 Civic, which used a journey in the Honda vehicle to represent the rise and crushing fall of a relationship. Dende does an excellent job of portraying the devastation and eventual pain caused by this unexpected loss, and what comes from it is a project that’s emotionally vulnerable and captivating. A relationship’s end can be as unexpected and devastating as a car accident, especially when so much is invested into it. While what happens next remains to be seen, Dende’s story on ’95 Civic is beautiful enough to hear over and over again for the time being. – W.O.

Fridayy — Fridayy

Much of the music world’s introduction to Philly singer Fridayy came through his bellowing hook on DJ Khaled’s “God Did” record with Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, and Jay-Z. Though we received his debut project Lost In Melodyy in 2022, the singer’s debut self-titled album is the proper introduction. Fridayy arrives as a glorious and epic account of the faith he had in reaching this moment he dreamed of. Fridayy switches between his accounts of faith in God and faith in the relationships as much as he transitions in and out of traditional R&B, afrobeats, and contemporary R&B records. With Fridayy, the Philly singer proved that he’s worthy of everything he’s been blessed with, as well as your attention, going forward. – W.O.

Janelle Monáe — The Age Of Pleasure

Janelle Monáe is always worth the wait. The Age Of Pleasure is their fourth album, and their first in five years, and with this record, Monáe is on a higher spiritual plane than ever before. Indulging in hedonistic pleasures, Monáe revels in queer sensuality, embracing intimacy and touch on songs like “Lipstick Lover.” They also celebrate many a win on “Champagne Sh*t,” and embrace their own body as a work of art on the luxurious “Haute.” Through smooth transitions between tracks, The Age Of Pleasure paints a continuous portrait of opulence and sexual liberation within an unapologetically queer, genderfluid world created via Monáe’s multidimensional lens. – Alex Gonzalez

Jordan Ward — Forward

Jordan Ward has long had the potential to crack through the underground ceiling and stand a bit closer to the mainstream world since he released “Lalaland” back in 2017. The success of that record pales in comparison to that of “White Crocs,” his breakout hit with Ryan Trey, but it does show how long the St. Louis native has been working on his craft. “White Crocs” would eventually find its home on his fourth project Forward which is by far Ward’s most polished work to date. If “White Crocs” isn’t your jam, then “IDC” with Joony, “311” with Gwenn Bunn,” “Sidekick” with Joyce Wrice, or one of the other 10 records will certainly provide something you like. That’s just how good and versatile Jordan Ward is. – W.O.

Jorja Smith — Fighting Or Flying

On her highly-anticipated sophomore album, Falling Or Flying, Jorja Smith soars. Categorically, the body of work is labeled R&B, but the sonics explored on Falling Or Flying are boundless. Singles “Little Things” and the title track are just samplers of how far the branches of the entire tracklist reach. Though the album was written solely as a healing exercise for Smith, somehow, fans come out on the opposite side as a better version of themselves, having experienced life through her eyes. – Flisadam Pointer

Kali Uchis — Red Moon In Venus

Kali Uchis’ third album Red Moon In Venus is without question her best album to date. Maybe it’s because she’s more in touch with herself than ever or maybe it’s because she’s more at peace than ever. The result of either, or maybe both of those observations, is a 15-track body of work that captures Uchis majestically and graceful float through elements of R&B and pop, while also tapping into her Spanish roots, to make what sounds like Uchis’ idea of paradise. Whether it’s “Fantasy” with Don Toliver, “Deserve Me” with Summer Walker, or solo efforts like “All Mine” and “Moonlight,” Kali Uchis’ Red Moon In Venus has plenty of music to get lost in and find your own paradise. – W.O.

Khamari – A Brief Nirvana

The lone newcomer on this list is singer Khamari, who delivered his debut project A Brief Nirvana to kick off the unofficial start to summer. The 11-track project is a sweet combination of nostalgia and a fresh breath from a new artist to the game, and his sampling of Al Green’s “Love And Happiness” on “On My Way” for an honest tale about loneliness is a perfect example of that. Even when through completely original compositions like “Doctor, My Eyes,” Khamari’s artistry shines through vivid lyricism that’s aided by emotive production. The Boston-born singer has earned comparisons to Frank Ocean and his A Brief Nirvana debut is a great start to hopefully one day reaching the status of the celebrated singer. – W.O.

Kiana Ledé — Grudges

Kiana Ledé returned as a woman frustrated with the recent occurrences in her love life for her second album Grudges. While some write about heartbreak from the perspective of pain, Ledé uses the 17 songs on Grudges as a venting session during the journey of recovery. Whether it singing “I don’t trust you and I don’t trust these hoes” on “Jealous,” grappling with an insufficient lover on “Focus” and “Damage,” or struggling to have hope with love on “Same Type,” Kiana Ledé tackles it all to make an album that every hopeful romantic can relate to thanks to honest songwriting, elegant production, and a voice that stands out in today’s R&B landscape. – W.O.

Leon Thomas — Electric Dusk

Leon Thomas III is the mastermind behind some of music’s biggest hits, including SZA’s fan-favorite trackSnooze.” Now that he’s ready for the spotlight, others should be on high alert. On his debut studio album, Electric Dusk, which was inspired by Los Angeles’ longest-running drive-thru movie theater, Thomas puts all of the creative parts of himself that he’s lent out to other artists on full display. When his mentor and label head, Ty Dolla Sign, said that listening made him want to redo his own work, it wasn’t an exaggeration. Across the album, Thomas provides men with an emotionally safe space to display vulnerability, make mistakes, and grow within romantic relationships while trying to find a footing in their careers. Although the project might’ve been snubbed during the 2024 Grammy nominations, its impact will surely ripple throughout the genre for years to come. – F.P.

Mahalia — IRL

Four years removed from her debut album, British singer Mahalia is back for round two with sophomore effort IRL (In Real Life). Its 13 tracks portray a woman, now 25 years old, who is more courageous and firm in her beliefs than ever. Though IRL may be a bit broad of a title, but its songs are anything but that. She avoids and calls out manipulation in love on records like “It’s Not Me, It’s You” and celebrates breaking free from a relationship that no longer serves her on “Wassup Wassup.” Mahalia isn’t always the tough girl she is on “Terms And Conditions,” as “Lose Lose” portrays, but in the end, all that matters is the mere attempt day in and day out to be that strong. IRL is empowering and motivating as it is vulnerable and honest, a mix we could use more of in music. – W.O.

Masego — Masego

Masego’s magnum opus arrived more than a decade into his career and it’s fitting that it’s for his self-titled sophomore album. The project’s 14 songs are a masterful combination of the elements that make Masego an artist we’ve come to love. The tropical side of his discography comes alive through “Say You Want Me” while his jazz and funk roots are wrapped around records like “You Never Visit Me.” With Masego, the singer proves that the music will never be a concern for himself. Since day one, he’s impressed fans repeatedly with his talents, and now with his second album, Masego perfectly combined those talents for a body of work that couldn’t be more representative of himself. – W.O.

Phabo — Don’t Get Too Cozy

Before 2023, you’d have a hard time pointing out a bad song from Los Angeles singer Phabo and that’s still the case with just weeks left in the year. Don’t Get Too Cozy, the singer’s second project, lives within the pursuit of love as its title alludes to staying on your toes and never relaxing even when romance is found. What amounts from that is bulletproof confidence and a tunnel-visioned focus that Phabo not only presents through this album, but in his career as well. Calls for a woman to “Swing My Way” are followed by the discovery of an enthralling summer love on the other side of the country on “Stay.” The pursuit continues in the bedroom through “Luv Songs (Unruly)” and “Express Yourself,” and by the end of it all, there’s no doubt that the mission is successful. Don’t Get Too Cozy is equal parts charismatic and intimate, and a recipe that places Phabo in an appealing light. – W.O.

Raahiim — BUT IF iiM HONEST

Of the many artists to come out of Toronto’s talented R&B landscape, Raahiim is one to take note of. His second project BUT IF iiM HONEST, which recently received the deluxe treatment, is the epitome of honesty and transparency — for better or for worse. His tender voice cascades over moody and timid production that delivers accounts of a real situation Raahiim faced — or was too afraid to face — in his life. Between questioning a partner’s sudden change in behavior on “Famous (Lost To LA),” detailing the flaws in a partner’s contribution to a relationship on “Friend Zone,” and struggling with the absence of love on “Lonely,” Raahiim lives up to the album title on BUT IF iiM HONEST and its the type of authenticity we can appreciate. – W.O.

Rory — I Thought It’d Be Different

If you ever needed proof that R&B is alive and well, aside from the numerous impressive solo albums that arrived in the genre this year, look no further than Rory’s compilation project I Thought It’d Be Different. The 13-track release takes some very talented names in the alternative and traditional R&B world — Ari Lennox, DRAM, Alex Isley, dvsn, Raahiim, Shantal May, Pink Sweat$, Sinead Harnett, and THEY., just to name a few — and pairs them together with knowledge of how each artist caters to another. What comes next are records that touch on romance, heartbreak, and the many other possibilities that exist between those two realms. Rory excellently steers the ship that is I Thought It’d Be Different, and what comes from it is a well-crafted body of work that shines a light on alternative R&B and delivers a sweet gift to those who love the genre. –W.O.

Sampha — Lahai

At long last, 2023 was the year that Sampha emerged from his humble abode to release his sophomore album Lahai, the long-awaited follow-up to 2017’s Process. Where Process was drowned in feelings of loss and grief, Lahai finds Sampha on the other side of the wall, filled with hope, optimism, and acceptance. He grapples with time from start to finish on the album, but the most important takeaway with Sampha’s second album is that the London singer remains as good as ever, and arguably better, in the time that has passed since his debut. Evidence of that lives within “Only,” “Can’t Go Back,” “Spirit 2.0,” and much more. – W.O.

SZA — SOS

Yes, this album came out in 2022, but with most of its success taking place in 2023 and the fact that it came after our 2022 lists, it’s only right that SZA’s SOS makes the cut here. Five years removed from her debut album, SZA returns to a world riddled with troubled waters that people from all over hoped to survive and swim out of. Through the album’s expansive 23 songs, SZA guides us on a journey of surviving life’s elements, the lessons learned along the way, and what it looks like to make it to shore. The ups and downs of life, growing pains, and artistic struggles are all present on this album, and it’s even more impressive that she made its 23 songs not feel like an absolute drag. It was a long time coming for SZA, but boy did she arrive. – W.O.

THEY. — Nu Moon

THEY. — the duo comprised of singer Drew Love and producer Dante Jones — entered a new era with the release of their third album Nü Moon. The project is the duo’s first independent album, and the freedom to create as one pleases that comes with this independence is hard to ignore through the project’s 14 songs. With Nü Moon, Drew and Dante give us another take of their trademark alternative R&B style and it’s one that seems to live under the night sky. With records like “In The Mood,” “Riptide,” and “Wait On Me” which features the incomparable Kacey Musgraves, THEY. present no sign of sunlight while proving that even in the darkest moments, love can still exist. Searching for it, having it, and losing it; it’s the theme of THEY’s Nü Moon which strikes as their best and most complete body of work to date. – W.O.

Victoria Monét — Jaguar II

After years of working behind the scenes as a songwriter of many pop hits, Victoria Monét finally got to shine on her own this year. This past summer saw Monét release her debut album, Jaguar II, on which her hitmaking prowess continues to hold up. While the album maintains its cohesiveness throughout its 11 tracks, nearly all of them can be a single — including the kiss-off “Stop (Askin’ Me 4Sh*t),” the surprisingly pleasant break-up ballad “Good Bye,” and of course, the dirty south tribute, “On My Mama.” – A.G.

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

The Yellowstone phenomenon has transformed from one lonely cowboy soap opera to an expanding roster of Taylor Sheridan shows like Lawmen: Bass Reeves, which is racking up massive ratings on Paramount+. Most of Sheridan’s shows do stream on that service (with most surfacing eventually on Paramount Network), although Yellowstone proper has been dominating Peacock. That hasn’t stopped the original series from doing well while the first season began filling holes on CBS’ fall schedule while Hollywood recovers from those strikes.

Heck, the show has even been faring well with a network edit that adds up to less swearing and watered down sex stuff. People can’t stop watching the show in between NFL airtimes, and suddenly, the fact that Kevin Costner probably will not be in the final half of Season 5 doesn’t matter all that much because CBS has found that people will simply watch the old episodes.

And that has led to CBS deciding to move onto Yellowstone Season 3 with their network voyage for the Dutton ranch. That sun will rise, via The Wrap, on January 14, 2024 at 8:00pm EST.

In other words, the cowboy soap opera lives on despite the soap operatics involving getting the cast gathered up to film the final episodes. Giddy up, y’all.

(Via The Wrap)

Dua Lipa‘s third album remains a mystery. We know the first single is “Houdini” and… that’s about it. There’s no release date or even a title. But on Monday’s episode of The Tonight Show, the “Dance The Night” singer did at least reveal the album’s genre (it ain’t disco).

“I’m going for more of, like, psychedelic-pop vibe,” Lipa told host Jimmy Fallon. “I’m still trying to find the language to talk about the album without talking about the album.”

She continued, “With this new record, I made it with my friends Kevin Parker [of Tame Impala], Tobias Jesso Jr., Danny Harle, and Caroline Ailin, and it was kind of made like a band. Well, for the most part. Most of the songs we did together. And I just wanted to have that kind of really organic element that I had while I was on tour. Because when I was touring for a whole year, I just started to fall in love with the songs and the live element, and I was like, ‘I just want to bring all of that into this new record.’ So I’m very excited.”

You can watch Lipa’s Tonight Show interview above.

Dua Lipa is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most successful video games ever: It’s No. 2 on the list of all-time best selling games, edged out only by the ubiquitous Minecraft. So, yesterday’s reveal of the Grand Theft Auto VI trailer was a huge deal. As of this post, the video has been viewed over 62 million times in the 13 hours since it was uploaded, and that number’s probably a lot higher by the time you read this. Now that the dust has started to settle, fans might be wondering about the music used in the trailer.

What’s the song in the Grand Theft Auto VI trailer?

For the first look at GTA 6 (which is set for release in 2025), Rockstar Games decided to go with a true rockstar, using Tom Petty’s “Love Is A Long Road,” from 1989’s Full Moon Fever, Petty’s iconic first solo album.

It’s a relatively obscure pick: The song was never released as a single. When Uproxx’s Steven Hyden ranked Petty’s 100 best songs, “Love Is A Long Road” made the list, but it wasn’t very high up. Hyden noted, though, “This is a point about Full Moon Fever I’m going to end up belaboring by the end of this list but so be it: ‘Love Is A Long Road’ was not a single. On pretty much on any other Tom Petty album, it would have been the first single. But Full Moon Fever was the ’90s Chicago Bulls of Tom Petty albums, so ‘Love Is A Long Road’ had to ride the bench.”

Petty’s song is a perfect fit for the GTA 6 trailer, and not just because it’s a great tune: Petty is a native Floridian, and the new game is set in the fictional Vice City, which is inspired by Florida.

Tom Petty Easter egg in the GTA 6 trailer

Meanwhile, some eagle-eyed fans noticed a Petty Easter egg in the trailer: At one point in the video, on a door is a sticker that reads “Petty Forever,” with a background that uses the distinct color scheme from the Full Moon Fever album cover art.

Check out the GTA 6 trailer below.

Under The Big Sky Music Festival, outdoor extravaganza will return for the fifth year in 2024. Music festival season has an abundance of programming for hip-hop, rock, pop, R&B, and jazz fans. But this multi-day event is solely for country lovers. Yesterday (December 4), the organizer announced Miranda Lambert as its 2024 headliner. Also, Billy Strings and Turnpike Troubadours are set to return to the multiple-purpose event between July 12 and 14, 2024.

A few dozen miles outside the Canadian border, in Whitefish, Montana, recording artists in Americana, Outlaw country, rock, indie-folk, and bluegrass will descend onto the Big Mountain Ranch grounds. Other notable performers scheduled to perform at the 2024 Under The Big Sky Music Festival include City and Colour, Mt. Joy, Tanya Tucker, Brothers Osborne, Sierra Ferrell, The Revivalists, Paul Cauthen, and Charles Wesley Godwin.

In addition to the musical wing of the festival, attendees can enjoy rodeo showups and other roundups. Also, as a bonus, Under The Big Sky’s partnership with Save Farmland will aid in the protection and promotion of small farms in Montana via the proceeds raised by on-site merchandise sales across the weekend.

Ticket sales will begin on December 8 at noon MT. Under The Big Sky Music Festival is open for all ages (children under six are granted free entry). Find more information here.

Pop-jazz fusion singer Laufey has won over music lover’s hearts with her songs “From The Start,” “Christmas Dreaming,” and the Beabadoobee collaboration “A Night To Remember.” Last week, Laufey teased that she had something up her sleeve for fans. Yesterday (December 4), she shared that she would travel worldwide to share her sophomore album, Bewitched, with supporters across the United States and the United Kingdom.

The 41-date commitment includes appearances at several music festivals, including Ottawa and Montreal International Jazz festivals. In February 2024, Laufey will kick off the massive run with a string of sold-out performances in Dublin, Ireland. Her Bewitched: The Goddess Tour will make stops in all major markets from New York City and London to Toronto. View the full tour schedule below. So far, Laufey has not announced any supporting acts joining her on the road. However, she will perform alongside the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

The presale for Laufey’s Bewitched: The Goddess Tour starts on December 6 at 10 a.m. local time. The general sale will begin on December 8 at 10 a.m. local time. Find more information here.

Bewitched: The Goddess Tour schedule

02/10/2024 — Dublin, IE @ The Academy (Matinee)
02/10/2024 — Dublin, IE @ The Academy (Evening)
02/11/2024 — Glasgow, GB @ SWG3 Galvanizers
02/14/2024 — Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall
02/15/2024 — London, UK @ EartH
02/16/2024 — London, UK @ EartH
02/17/2024 — London, UK @ EartH
02/20/2024 — Paris, FR @ Le Trianon
02/21/2024 — Brussels, BE @ La Madeleine
02/23/2024 — Hamburg, DE @ Grosse Freiheit 36
02/25/2024 — Stockholm, SE @ Nalen
02/26/2024 — Copenhagen, DK @ Vega
02/27/2024 — Berlin, DE @ Astra Kulturhaus
02/29/2024 — Milan, IT @ Magazzini Generali
03/03/2024 — Lausanne, CH @ Les Docks
03/05/2024 — Cologne, DE @ Carlswerk Victoria
03/06/2024 — Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
03/09/2024 — Reykjavík, IS @ Eldborg Harpa
03/10/2024 — Reykjavík, IS @ Eldborg Harpa
03/13/2024 — London, UK @ Roundhouse
04/08/2024 — Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
04/09/2024 — Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
04/12/2024 — San Francisco, CA @ Masonic Theatre
04/13/2024 — San Francisco, CA @ Masonic Theatre
04/15/2024 — Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre
04/18/2024 — Dallas, TX @ Winspear Opera House
04/19/2024 — Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Hall
04/20/2024 — Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall
04/22/2024 — Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
04/23/2024 — Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
04/25/2024 — Washington, DC @ The Anthem
04/28/2024 — Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
04/30/2024 — Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
05/03/2024 — New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
05/06/2024 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Met
05/07/2024 — Boston, MA @ Wang Theatre
05/16/2024 — London, UK @ Royal Albert Hall
06/25/2024 — Pittsburgh, PA @ Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts*
06/28/2024 — Ottawa, ON @ Ottawa Jazz Festival
06/29/2024 —Montreal, QC @ Montreal International Jazz Festival
08/07/2024 — Los Angeles, CA @ TBA

* with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Tacko Fall has found a basketball home in China. After spending the start of his professional career bouncing back and forth between the NBA and the G League, Fall made the decision to head overseas and play in the Chinese Basketball Association in 2022. And after one year with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, Fall opted to change teams this offseason and join the Nanjing Tongxi Monkey Kings.

One thing that Fall is especially good at is using his size to impose himself on basketball games, and thanks to a clip that is making its way around the internet from a game last week, we got a glimpse of that. Fall went up against a Shanghai Sharks team that features a number of ex-NBA players recently, and early on in the game, Fall set a screen, dove to the rim, and had only one 6’2 player standing between him and a bucket. For reasons that I do not understand, the opposing player decided to test the 7’6 Fall at the rim, and You’ll Never Believe What Happened Next*.

(* — you will 100 percent believe what happened next)

It is nothing short of remarkable that any guard would try to slow Fall down at the rim, but this is about what you’d expect to happen here. Anyway, fortune favors the brave, and while the dunk and subsequent poster went against the Sharks, they went on to win the game, 98-95.

Over the weekend, hard rock music legends KISS concluded their The End Of The Road Tour at Madison Square Garden. The series of sold-out New York City shows marked their final live performance, as we know. Yes, that’s right, KISS is set to retire from touring. Instead of the group pushing their bodies to the limits on the road, they’re launching digital avatars to do the heavy lifting for them. So, what are the KISS digital avatars?

The KISS digital avatars are elevated motion-captured visuals of the band in all their glory. AP said the initiative was birthed through a partnership with Pophouse Entertainment Group (co-owned by Abba’s Björn Ulvaeus) and George Lucas’ special-effects company, Industrial Light & Magic.

In a statement provided to the outlet, Pophouse Entertainment’s CEO Per Sundin preached that the innovation will allow KISS to further their live show legacy without physical limitation. “Kiss could have a concert in three cities on the same night across three different continents,” said Sundin. “That’s what you could do with this.”

KISS frontman Paul Stanley and bassist Gene Simmons spoke about the decision behind developing the digital avatars in the video documentary A New Era Begins.

“What we’ve accomplished has been amazing, but it’s not enough,” said Stanley. “The band deserves to live on because the band is bigger than we are. It’s exciting for us to go the next step and see Kiss immortalized.”

Simmons added, “We can be forever young and forever iconic by taking us to places we’ve never dreamed of before. The technology is going to make Paul jump higher than he’s ever done before.”

As KISS enjoys their retirement from performing, their digital avatars will pick up where they left off.