Category: Worldwide

It depends on who you ask whether Kyrie Irving is some misunderstood genius, or just someone who’s drank a little too much of his own Kool-Aid. One thing’s for certain: he’s a basketball savant, and because of that brilliant play, he’s afforded a platform on which to spout his various ideas about any number of topics.

Regardless of how you feel about him, Kyrie knows how to get people’s blood boiling, and he’s been doing quite a bit of that lately, most notably with his refusal to speak to media members and referring to them as “pawns.” He’s since broken that silence with the media and attempted to clarify his comments, but not before earning the ire of many around the sports world.

One such figure who’s apparently heard enough, and who never tires of voicing his own opinion, is Charles Barkley. Barkley sounded off on Kyrie this week amid his media squabbles, reminding the Nets point guard that speaking to the media is part of the job and moreover, that he should exercise some perspective about things.

“…when he talks I’m like ‘what the hell is he trying…what is he saying and what is he trying to say?’ He starts talking about what an artist is. He’s a basketball player. That’s what he is. Listen, we’re not… we’re not frontline responders. We’re not teachers. Yo man, you dribble a basketball, stop acting like you’re the smartest person in the world.

“Now can you talk about social issues and things like that? Of course. But some of this other stuff I’m like ‘yo man, you do realize you’re just a basketball player, right?’ And it seems like he’s like ‘no I want you guys to realize I’m the smartest guy in the room.’ Well first of all, you’re not. You only went to college for six months. A lot of guys are smarter than you are. Just answer stupid basketball questions. And if you want to say something about social justice, say it and mean it, because it’s important and significant. But all that other stuff? Like, yo man, shut the hell up and talk basketball.”

To be fair to Kyrie, he’s been vocal and involved in many social causes and deserves to be commended for that. But Chuck is frustrated about his perceived need to come off as an innovative thinker, an endeavor that often falls flat and accomplishes the opposite of what he intended.

Still, it’s not really for Chuck or any of the rest of us to be the arbiters of what Kyrie can and cannot say. As a mega star, Kyrie is in a position where he has a platform, of which he makes frequent use, for better or for worse. Yes, getting him to interact with the media is a part of his job, but legislating what he should say isn’t part of ours.

HBO Max’s The Flight Attendant proved to be a terrifically fun flight as a dark comedy-thriller with a terrific turn from Kaley Cuoco (who we all underestimated, and we can partially blame “Bazinga!” fallout for that). Following the Thursday night finale to what was thought to be a limited series, however, HBO decided to book another voyage for Cassie/Alessandra Ricci (yes, that alias is sticking for me) and associates. If you have watched the finale already or don’t mind spoilers, our own Brian Grubb delivers his verdict here — he wholeheartedly enjoyed what went down), and yeah, I totally need more of Miranda’s spooky vibes and for Shane to personally judge me in a harsh manner. And I wouldn’t mind having a best friend like Annie to pick up the pieces.

The good news arrived from an HBO Max press release, which made the surprise reveal that the series will return for more. I say “surprising” because this truly was released as a limited series, and given that the show’s based upon Chris Bohjalian’s New York Times bestselling book of the same name, source material for another round presumably was not waiting in the wings. Although, surprise? HBO Max states that Cassie will appear in “a new adventure,” and here’s word from star and executive producer Cuoco:

“To say that I am elated would be an understatement! The positive response to our show has surpassed all of our expectations and I’m so proud of the entire team behind its success,” said executive producer and star Kaley Cuoco. “I’m thrilled to continue my partnership with Team Berlanti, Steve Yockey, HBO Max and of course my beloved studio, Warner Bros. I have amazing partners in Suzanne McCormack and Mackenzie Shade at Yes, Norman Prods., where we are committed to delivering diverse and quality entertainment, including an exciting (and probably a little crazy) TFA season 2!!”

I dig it. Normally, shows that receive the limited-series assumption and play out almost flawlessly (like Watchmen, The Queen’s Gambit, and The Outsider) always leave people wanting for more, but audiences know it’s better not to ruin perfection. One season is enough in those instances, but with The Flight Attendant, it exceeded expectations when it could have crash-landed. It painted a non-stop caper that held up against a high-concept (Cassie wakes up next to a dead dude, and who killed him?), and if the delivery was lacking, the whole thing would have fallen apart. So, Season 2 could be a winner, too, and I look forward to finding out if that’s the case.

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that this New Music Friday is one of the most stacked of the year. With just one week to go ’til Christmas and most of the music industry shutting down after Friday’s flurry of releases, it might be the best time to clear out the hard drives after a year in which all anyone could do was record instead of touring.

With that said, this isn’t just a content dump; some projects, like E-40 and Too Short’s collaboration, have been carefully cultivated to maximize the moment. Others are timed to ensure exposure through search engine optimization, while still others are setting the foundation for a cadence of content like music videos to take advantage of the slow months at the beginning of 2021. In any case, with two holiday weeks coming up, there will be plenty of time to catch up with the glut of releases from the rest of the year; you can review those in our former Best Hip-Hop Albums Coming Out This Week and Best New Rap Music To Have On Your Radar columns here.

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending December 18, 2020. (And before anyone asks, no, Eminem’s rumored album is not included, as this post was filed before those rumors could be confirmed.)

Albums

Dee Watkins — As I Am [EP]

Macclenny, Florida rapper Watkins is having a prolific year, dropping two well-received projects and preparing for his third. As I Am kicks off with a strong feature from fellow rising star Hotboii, who dropped his own Double O Baby project last week.

E-40 & Too Short — Ain’t Gone Do It / Terms and Conditions

The two Bay Area legends and rap pioneers are set to close out the inaugural year of Verzuz this weekend, but they were already working on this collab project highlighting their shared 30-year legacy.

Jackboy — Love Me While I’m Here

Picking up the torch for his Sniper Gang captain Kodak Black, Florida’s Jackboy is on his third project of the year. This one features collabs with 42 Dugg, Dej Loaf, Denzel Curry, Dreezy, Fredo Bang, Lil Mosey, Rylo Rodriguez, Sada Baby, Tokyo Jetz, and more.

J.I. The Prince Of NY — Hood Life Krisis, Vol. 3 [EP]

Best known for his stint on the Lifetime show The Rap Game, J.I. has been following the path laid by fellow alum Mulatto, independently grinding his way into a loyal grassroots following.

Michael Christmas — Hiding

Boston rapper Michael Christmas has quietly been one of hip-hop’s most consistent talents for some time. Don’t be fooled by his album’s title; he hasn’t been hiding at all, just overlooked. The coincidental timing of his latest release might just garner him some extra attention if the feature from breakout star Kota The Friend doesn’t.

Saucy Santana — It’s A Vibe

With a face beat for the gawds and an unapologetic posture regarding his sexuality and love for heels, nails, and twerking, Saucy has made a name for himself as one of ratchet rap’s most fun-loving newcomers. The rap game as a whole may not be ready for him, but he isn’t waiting for anyone to make space.

Sheff G — Proud Of Me Now

The Brooklyn drill movement shows no signs of slowing down, even after the loss of its strongest soldier. Sheff’s third project of the year features fellow scene stalwart Sleepy Hallow, who’s been in the midst of his own stunning breakout year.

Smoove’L — Ice Cups & Shoot Outs

Smoove’L’s second release of 2020 makes this one of the biggest release weeks for New York hip-hop of the year, as well as putting him in a prime position for a strong start to the next. Teaming up with breakout North Carolina melodic rap star Toosii just as he’s blowing up ensures at least one potential hit from the project.

Singles/Videos

Kevin Gates & Dermot Kennedy — “Power”

Gates returns with a trademark anthem examining the spoils of success — and the stress that comes with it.

Lil Eazzyy — “Feeling Different”

Lil Eazzyy hails from the Windy City, making him heir to a legacy that can be heard in the pounding beat and gut-wrenching lyrics of “Feeling Different.”

Lil Gotit — “Dead Walkin”

His brother Lil Keed broke out as an XXL Freshman this year, and now Lil Gotit looks to follow in his footsteps.

Lil Zay Osama — “Ride 4 Me” feat. Jackboy

Chicago native Zay links up with Florida’s Jackboy for a singsong ode to a loyal lover.

MoneyMarr — “War”

DC rapper MoneyMarr is just 18 years old, but he’s already stirring up a buzz, assisted by drill mainstay Rah Swish.

Quelle Chris & Chris Keys “Sacred Safe” Music Video feat. Merrill Garbus, Cavalier and Homeboy Sandman

An introspective posse cut from the Chrises’ April 2020 collaborative project, “Sacred Safe” sees the three rappers addressing their internal tumult.

Ric Wilson — “Trunk Music”

Emerging Chicago rapper Ric Wilson pays nostalgic homage to his youth with this upbeat park jam.

Shoreline Mafia — “All The Time”

Ohgeesy takes the wheel for yet another West Coast party rap anthem.

YBN Almighty Jay — “Bring Out The Hoochies”

The YBN crew may be effectively defunct, but the Texas arm keeps bringing his own spin on the turnt-up dynamic that once united them.

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

Let’s get this out of the way: Cyberpunk 2077 is fine. Mostly. For me, at least. There are better games that have come out in 2020. Lower profile games, for sure, that offer a more complete, satisfying and immersive gaming experience. I’ve also played far worse games I had much less fun with. But no game this year has evoked the kind of response that Cyberpunk 2077 has, likely because the title embodies so much of life amid a generation-defining societal crisis.

There’s really no way to capture the Cyberpunk 2077 experience on launch and preserve it for future generations. It’s already been hotfixed, and further patches and updates will inch the game closer to what its developers hoped to deliver to players on launch day. But it would be fitting to preserve what the game is, even with a hefty Day One patch, and the story of its launch struggles will be a useful tool to explain life in 2020 once we escape its grasp.

In Cyberpunk‘s defense, the game is supposed to vaguely echo the world in which players live. What’s the fun of making a game set in the near future without a cynical nod to the present? And so early on, an injured character with a “platinum” insurance plan gets airlifted out of a residence for life-saving treatment by armed security. Later, a much less-insured one dies in an AI-powered ridesharing vehicle. There’s nothing you can do to stop it, but at least you get to decide where the corpse goes. On the way to your apartment, a screen in an elevator airs a cable news debate where one talking head points out that corporations pay the majority of taxes in Night City, shouting down another wondering what percentage of their profits actually get contributed to the tax base.

It’s a clever evocation of current themes of inequality and willful dishonesty in politics, prorated for the next six decades or so of societal entropy. Night City is a place of extremes, brutally polarized by those who have unfairly deprived others of even slight comforts. The undercurrent of shameless capitalism and erosion of the social fabric was made clear. And some storytelling details did strike me, including the spam-like ads in V’s computer for genital mods that eerily mirrored the several PR pitches about male genital prosthetics — including one about mothers buying them for their sons — I’m horrified to report have arrived in my work inbox recently. But those intentional shocks and reminders of the present pale in comparison to the real-world inequality the game’s release actually highlighted.

CD Projekt Red’s apology for launch issues specifically pointed out issues gamers have had playing Cyberpunk 2077 on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One — the consoles, mind you, the games were actually designed for. Players experiencing Cyberpunk 2077 on the last generation of consoles are having a much worse time. The game appears less stable, the glitches seem to occur more frequently and with more severe consequences. Those fortunate to have PlayStation 5s or, like me, an Xbox Series S have reported better experiences with Cyberpunk 2077. Through about 25 hours I’ve had one crash, just after an autosave, and things rebooted up fine after that. Some dialogue is wonky and overlaps, or doesn’t match up to subtitles. Oh, and one boss glitched out and made it significantly easier to kill him than it should have been.

But that version of Cyberpunk is available to a much smaller portion of the population to say the least, one that costs a premium to obtain and that’s limited by a scarcity likely more severe than it needed to be. Just like Madden NFL 21 and NBA 2K21, Cyberpunk 2077 is not exclusive to the next-gen Microsoft and Sony consoles but clearly is a result of more work put in to satisfy those who spent the money to play it on a new console. It doesn’t make any of those titles necessarily great, but they’re closer to the games they’re supposed to be on machines barely a month old, while everyone else suffers through what’s left for them.

That realization among gamers has caused a swift backlash, even among some of Cyberpunk‘s most fervent fans who defended the title long before the game actually existed as something to inevitably disappoint. Cyberpunk‘s years-long marketing seemed to intentionally court some of the worst kind of gaming fans, framing the discourse with edgelord winks and nods that helped hype the game to a level of expectations impossible to meet.

Some of that hyperbole has almost certainly converted potential energy into disappointed outcry, but the warning signs were all there if you were willing to look. The game was delayed several times in 2020, finally landing with a thud 15 days before Christmas. CD Projekt Red gave many journalists just a few hours ahead of launch to actually get their hands on the sprawling, sidequest-filled game. The COVID-19 pandemic made everything that much more complicated this year, and making gargantuan games like Cyberpunk is hard enough in the modern gaming industry. But gamers didn’t force CD Projekt Red to release an unfinished game no matter how much they tweeted. And neither did journalists covering the launch cycle.

Developers pretty clearly felt pressure from all over — inside and out of the company — to put something out regardless of its polish and artistic integrity. The story that’s played out at countless game companies over the years seems most likely here: pressure from those not actually making the game to release it pushed it out the door and out of the hands of those who knew they simply needed more time. Imagine going through a pandemic-engulfed year like this and enduring months of marathon crunch only to release something clearly not where anyone wants it to be. But there are quarterly goals to hit on spreadsheets and futuristic Doritos collaborations with which to create timely synergy, you see.

Sony’s decision Thursday to remove the game from its PlayStation store is a response to CD Projekt Red offering refunds to unsatisfied gamers on Monday. But the PlayStation maker’s actions here were clear: If the game’s broken enough to deserve a refund, then it’s not finished enough to sell in the first place. It’s a corporate battle playing out on a very public stage, but also another reminder of the fractured and complex gaming landscape Cyberpunk belongs to. CD Projekt Red may own GOG, where many copies of Cyberpunk 2077 were sold and may be easily returned. But it doesn’t control how the rest of the market sells and views the game it delivered. Making a promise to gamers is nice, sure, but delivering on that promise might mean some ugly concessions in order to make good.

There’s a good chance Cyberpunk turns into something much closer to what gamers hoped it could be at the start of 2020. Games like No Man’s Sky and Fallout 76 trended on social media on Thursday night as the Sony news spread, two titles that debuted with disappointment and bad press but have grown and improved with time. Perhaps the version of Night City Cyberpunk‘s makers want to give us is possible in a different, future year. But it’s hard to argue the version we have right now isn’t perfect for the 2020 we’re currently stuck in.

Sorry to all the holiday traditionalists out there, but I have some bad news for you: There are no partridges or pear trees in LVRN’s “12 Days Of Bhristmas” video. Instead, highlighted rappers Westside Boogie and OMB Bloodbath count their blessings the hood way, turning the yuletide carol into a ratchet holiday anthem. Just like the label’s previous video for “Feliz Navidad,” this one follows the artists as they record the reworked track in the festively decorated studio for the label’s holiday EP.

Among the gifts that the two rappers receive on the “12 Days Of Bhristmas” are brand new choppers, a trip to the club, an EBT card, a Glock, and a few homemade blunts from the leftover weed in the ashtray. Clearly, they’re not having the white Christmas Bing Crosby and The Drifters were looking forward to. In the video, the lights are even lowered and appropriately hued to take advantage of the theme.

LVRN and Shady Records artist Westside Boogie had a relatively quiet year. Aside from officially changing his name to Westside Boogie to clear up fan confusion about similarly-named artists, he made a couple of guest appearances, notably with Reason on “Trapped In” featuring Ab-Soul, Guapdad 4000 on “Hairless Horsemen,” and Courtney Bell on “Lion’s Den.” Meanwhile, rising Houston rapper OMB Bloodbath signed with LVRN, released a few singles including “Bolt” and “Dropout” with Maxo Kream, and did her best to avoid gang charges after being arrested in February.

Watch the “12 Days Of Bhristmas” video above.

What started with an innocent tweet from Jalen Brunson about a bet he lost with Luka Doncic ended up with an elite move on Doncic’s part when Brunson walked into the Mavericks’ most recent preseason game wearing a Dallas Cowboys jersey.

While Brunson, a Philadelphia Eagles fan, was probably embarrassed enough to show up to a game wearing Cowboys threads, that wasn’t even the worst part. The jersey had the number 77 on it, which is of course Doncic’s Mavericks number, and when Brunson walked past the cameras, they could see that the name on the jersey was not Brunson or some former Cowboys player, but “Luka’s Son.”

The friendly beef between the two young Mavs started when Brunson tweeted asking what jersey he should have to wear for losing the bet. Brunson, probably thinking he was getting back at Doncic a little bit, made fun of Doncic for not knowing who Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens is. Doncic responded by saying he’d customize the jersey instead.

The result was way worse for Brunson than if he would have just suggested a friendly payback for the bet. Maybe a Tony Romo jersey or something. Instead, we will forever have video footage of Brunson wearing a jersey that labels him the son of his jokester teammate.

They say love is the greatest gift of all. And that gift usually comes in the form of calories and carbs during the holidays. So what better way to show you care than providing your loved ones with everything they need to turn that “amore” into “a-less.” Here are 10 great ideas for anyone looking to get into shape and have fun doing it.

---

1. TRX Suspension Trainers are blessedly simple and easy to set up. These straps fit right in your doorframe, and use your bodyweight to build muscle, strengthen your core and improve cardio. There are countless video tutorials and actual workouts online that will help guide you. There is no stopping to move equipment around during your workout, and you won’t need to buy anything else as you get stronger because it is all based on angles and bodyweight. This is truly one of my favorites.

topless man in black pants holding black and yellow exercise equipment

Photo by Anastase Maragos on Unsplash

2. A classic punching bag. For those of you who just feel like punching something sometimes, I say (in the words the Italian Stallion in Rocky 3) “Go for it.” Nothing combines stress relief with exercise better than boxing. There are a number of heavy bags to choose from and bundles that include everything from wraps and gloves to speed bags and double end bags. This is the most fun you can have while getting in shape. Until the double end bag comes back and nails you in the face. Then it gets personal.

woman in black sports bra and black shorts leaning on orange and black boxing ring

Photo by Anastase Maragos on Unsplash

3. Resistance bands are far more versatile and portable than dumbbells. Much like TRX straps, they offer a number of different exercises and have multiple tension levels depending on your level and type of work out you are looking for. They store easily for those living in small spaces and are a great way to tone muscles.

Free stock photo of body, coach, exercise bands

www.pexels.com

4. If you are into planks, then The Stealth Core Trainer is for you. It is a board you rest your elbows on and has a screen with games you can play so you can have fun while strengthening your core.

5. And if games are your thing, the Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality system is for you. Even though it is a gaming system, it offers a number of fitness programs to help you meet your goals. Even games like Creed and Beat Saber will get your heart rate going. If you are looking to get in shape quickly, then some of the options on this list will be a better fit. It is pricier than other items, however, this is the perfect gateway for the couch potato to get moving and move into a more serious regiment.

6. Push-Up Stands.If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Push-ups have always been a great way to get in shape, and push-up stands make them even more effective. In addition to providing more range and motion to the exercise, this simple contraption also takes the strain off your wrists for those of you worried about carpal tunnel.

7. Ab Roller. If you are looking for an ab workout, an ab roller is your new best friend. This little guy will make your mid section the most popular hang out for abs. You will be turning abs away at the door due to capacity limitations. Or you could very well find abs that science doesn’t even know about.

8. Jump Rope. If your ceiling is tall enough, jumping rope 10 minutes a day will get you into shape real quick. Not only is it great for cardio, but it also works your upper and lower body. It is no wonder that it is a staple in workouts for boxers of all levels.

Jump Rope Sports Game – Free photo on Pixabay

pixabay.com

9. Foam Roller. Undoubtedly, if you are pushing yourself your muscles will be sore. For those of us without a personal masseuse at our beck and call, a foam roller is key. Use this handy gizmo to work out the knots, aches and pains that go hand and hand with working out. There are also a bunch of exercises you can do with this useful tool like working the abs, obliques and legs.

Physical therapist strengthens EOD mission readiness

www.airforcemedicine.af.mil

10. Magic Bullet and NutriBullet blenders. One of the most important aspects of building muscle is what you put in your body afterwards. Blenders like NutriBullet are a great way to give your muscles the protein and nutrients they need after a workout. Just pop the ingredients in and you have a delicious smoothy in seconds.

File:Magic Bullet and Nutribullet Blenders.jpg – Wikimedia Commons

commons.wikimedia.org

Now that you have everything you need to shed those holiday pounds, I say go forth and carb like you have never carbed before. Because when January 1st comes (okay, let’s face it…January 2nd), it is time to get down to business and start your journey down Beach Body by April Boulevard.

This holiday season, we’d like to say thank you and send a gift to those who have made this year a little bit better for the people around them. We’re looking at all the frontline and essential workers, teachers, mail carriers, volunteers, and superstars in your life! 🙌

Tell us about how someone you know showed up to help this year, and they’ll have the chance to receive a Google Nest device on behalf of Upworthy. We will be giving out hundreds of gifts so don’t be shy!

This essay appears as part of the 2020 Uproxx Music Critics Poll.

Gary, Indiana was once a jewel of America’s booming steel industry. Today, it’s among the nation’s most devastating examples of urban decay. This rust belt town was known as “The Magic City” in the roaring ’20s. By the ‘90s, the sustained assault of racial segregation, rising unemployment as the steel business rescinded, and the influx of drugs saw it dubbed a much more sinister and unwanted title, “murder capital of the nation.” As the economy plummeted so did the population: 175,000 in 1970 to 75,000 at the most recent count. Today, an estimated 20 percent of Gary’s buildings lie abandoned.

From these hardened boulevards blossomed Freddie Gibbs, a rapper of passionate verses, gruff gangsterisms, and flawless fundamentals. Gibbs’ history is colored by drug dealing and, for a brief period, pimping. Like a modern day Jesse James, he even robbed freight trains that stopped in the Gary rail yard. To street cred-hunting label executives, Gangster Gibbs must have turned their eyes to dollar signs, but they understood him about as well as The Fresh Prince’s parents understood their offspring. Freddie was dropped from Interscope in 2007 without releasing a record and began a long process of rebuilding his career. Thirteen years later, it’s about time we started talking about him in terms of the all-time greats.

Many components make up a great rap artist. You’ve got to have the flow, of course. A strong pen game is typically important. You need an ear for the right beats, and you’ve got to be able to put it all together over a full-length project. Not all great rappers make great albums. Then there’s Gibbs, on the kind of streak comparable to Run The Jewels, the 1960s Boston Celtics, and The Undertaker at Wrestlemania. The kind of streak where you can walk on water.

Gibbs’s early stuff is alright, but he didn’t exactly arrive fully formed like Nas. His bars were solid if sometimes punctuated with cliché. As he got older, Gibbs evolved into a pure vision of what hip-hop traditionalists love — technically ferocious, lyrically sharp, besotted with old soul loops — without shifting into the “What we’re gonna do right here is go back!” mindset of the retro revivalist. He’s sometimes compared to 2pac, but like Ghostface Killah and Action Bronson, it’s a comparison that falls apart once you peer beyond the outer shell.

When I interviewed Gibbs in 2019, he described himself as “very consistent since 2010.” It’s a fair way to date the beginning of his golden period. Yet hype enkindles slowly when you exist outside the main hip-hop epicenters, especially if you’re not drawn to making cameos for corny artists for the quick check or promise of radio play.

In 2009, Gibbs dropped “G.I. Pride,” a really fun song that depicted Gary as something of a Grand Theft Auto backdrop full of “Sex, drugs, and murder / Dirty politicians, dirty police, dirty burners.” Just one year later, he went much deeper. “National Anthem (F*ck The World)” was the greatest telling of the Gibbs’ origin story and the true beginning of his peak. Over producer L.A. Riot’s wet strings, the rapper takes you back to the embryonic stages of his musical dreams, wondering if he’d ever make it out from “beneath the streets of Gary,” and despairing at the issues that plague the city. Oh, and he raps magnificently — as the solemn instrumental moves up a gear, Gibbs injects the same urgency by effortlessly shifting into a sharp, double-time flow.

Gibbs’s achieved street rap perfection with the 2012’s Baby Face Killa, a lengthy gangster boogie of huster’s hymns, weed anthems, and endless hooks. But it was Bandana, the first of two full-length collaborations with Madlib, that really garnered him the attention of hip-hop day trippers. It was the kind of independent rap album that music critics love: sonically cohesive, narrative-driven, intensely lyrical. Dubbed a “gangster Blaxploitation film on wax,” Gibbs provides big-screen scope and side-street intimacy over Madlib’s grimy samples. On “Deeper,” he charts the relationship between a small-time criminal and an on-again off-again lover who becomes pregnant to another man. It’s a gritty portrayal of break-up troubles and the low-level grind. “Broken” is his depiction of coming from a fractured home. Over a top-tier Madlib beat that sees the Beat Konducta skin a sample of an old Issac Hayes joint that isn’t “Walk On By,” Gibbs talks about the empty promises he made to his grandmother to stay away from crime and reveals the complex feelings he has about a father who served in law enforcement. If the subject matter leaves you cold, Gibbs’ performance is a warming agent.

Gibbs does not stay still. When we spoke, he tried to communicate as respectfully as possible that he essentially had no Gary rap forefathers to look up to. This perhaps lent itself to style-hopping, and even today you’re as likely to find him on a dusty East Coast loop as a thick West Coast bassline. There’s a reason why Freddie was recruited to join California veterans MC Eiht and Kokane on “Welcome To Los Santos,” an official anthem of Grand Theft Auto 5’s Los Angeles stand-in.

So there’s been the more serious-toned noir of Shadow Of A Doubt (0n “Fuckin’ Up The Count,” Gibbs takes the entire universe of The Wire and recasts it in his own image), the confessional writing of You Only Live 2wice, the intense bangers of Freddie, the lean team-up with Curren$y and Alchemist Fetti, and a strong Madlib sequel in Bandana. Gibbs’ instinct for the right producers and ear for beats is worthy of middle era Ghostface.

Alfredo is Gibbs’ latest full-length one of his most impressive in his career for sheer sense of effortlessness. He’s made better records, but none that feel a product of Freddie being so completely in the zone. With Alchemist behind the boards, Gibbs delivers 10 expertly crafted, infinitely listenable rap songs like a man laid back in his study, a glass of hard liquor and cigar sitting on a place end table next to him, spilling loose ruminations on a dark night. Even when Gibbs does veer into triteness (another rap song about Frank Lucas?), it’s never hard on the ear.

“With this project, I laid down the music, but the beats get out of the way so he can do what he does,” Alchemist said about Gibbs. “I’m proud of the beats, but I know that he showed off.” Freddie was rewarded with the highest-charting album of his career.

The calm sounds of “Something To Rap About” invites cool-headed introspection. The title suggests the ease of which the writing is coming to Gibbs as he unleashes a cool verse that veers from sexual liaisons in Las Vegas to his hope he’ll live to old age. Great artists at the peak of their powers are capable of getting into these grooves. When they lose it, it’s almost impossible to rediscover.

In the aftermath of Alfredo, Gibbs inked a contract with Warner, giving him another crack at a major label. It’s tempting to call it the squaring of the circle, but that would suggest the deal is an endpoint in itself, rather than a mile-marker along Gibbs’ journey, and there’s no guarantee it will work out any better for him than his ill-fated stint on Interscope. After a decade on fire, the challenge is to keep beating expectations.

Stephen Colbert visited the home of Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, on Thursday night for a wide-ranging interview on the president-elect’s plans for America, given that Donald Trump will be removed from office. In a more light-hearted segment centered on the holidays, the Bidens shared their optimism for everyone having a “normal” Christmas next year, which dove-tailed into Dr. Biden revealing her husband’s strict rules for decorating the family tree.

Thanks to a tradition started by his father, every year Biden makes his wife help him whip homemade “snow” for the tree using Ivory Snow powdered soap, which the president-elect swears looks like real snow. After that, it’s time to put the tinsel on the tree, and in a surprisingly meticulous move, Biden insists that each strand is placed individually and not just tossed onto the tree like most normal people do. In fact, there’s a “pecking order” amongst his children for who gets to go first placing a strand. Biden also revealed that he’s up until 3 a.m. decorating the tree for Christmas morning to make it look like Santa did the job, and he still does it to this day.

The segment was a nice diversion from the heavier topic of the Republican attacks on the Bidens’ son Hunter, who’s currently under federal investigation for his business affairs. While the president-elect says he’s willing to look past the attacks on his son for the good of the country, he does consider the GOP’s tactics to be “kind-of foul play.”