Category: Worldwide

Genre is not something that Nana Adjoa adheres to. It might not even be possible, given her musical background: the Amsterdam-based multi-instrumentalist was born to a Dutch mother and a Ghanaian father, and got her start in music at the Amsterdam Conservatory. The music that surrounded her during her upbringing was diverse and exciting, and helped her to develop a signature style that zig-zags between elements of soul, folk, and jazz, while her lyrics focus on prevalent topics like race, gender, religion, and sexuality.

With a string of singles and EPs to her name, Adjoa is now ready to release Big Dreaming Ants, her debut solo album. It’s one of the most exciting and intriguing records slated for release this Fall, where it seems like the sky is the limit to what Adjoa can accomplish on a song. With the album out later this month, I recently chatted with Adjoa on Instagram Live to talk about the difference in approach from writing for an EP versus writing for a full-length album, how life informs her art, and our worst experiences with parking, as part of our Fall Music Preview. Check out the full interview below.

Big Dreaming Ants is out September 24 on Bloomer Records. Pre-order it here.

A few years back, the hidden camera TV show “What Would You Do?” staged a social experiment in a park that revealed how people are treated because of their race and sex.

Three actors pretended to try to steal a bike out in the open with burglary tools, forcing passersby to ask themselves: is the person a thief or did they simply lose the key to their bike lock?

What Would You Do? Bike Theft (White Guy, Black Guy, Pretty Girl)

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The first actor in the experiment was a white male. When strangers ask him if that’s his bike he replies, “Not exactly” and people go on their merry way. Even when he asks a someone if they know the owner of the bike, they find it “odd” that he’s trying to take the chain.

One hundred people walked past the thief and only one couple tried to stop him. Even a Black woman gave him the benefit of the doubt, “I remember thinking, young white men don’t carry burglar tools,” she tells reporter John Quiñones.

When a Black male actor replaced the white actor, passersby immediately confronted him about the bike. A crowd quickly surrounded the Black man and people called the police.

Finally, when an attractive blonde girl assumed the role of bike thief, two men stopped to help her break the lock.

This situation is clearly anecdotal, but it’s a clear example of how people are treated differently in society based on how they look.

After weeks and weeks of speculation and reports indicating that he was on his way out, Lionel Messi has reversed course and announced his decision to stay at Barcelona. In an exclusive interview with Goal, Messi explained his decision to not seek a move to England, France, or Italy, citing his current club’s hard-line stance about the circumstances under which he would be allowed to leave.

“I thought and was sure that I was free to leave, the president always said that at the end of the season I could decide if I stayed or not,” he said, per Goal’s Rubén Uría. “Now they cling to the fact that I did not say it before June 10, when it turns out that on June 10 we were competing for La Liga in the middle of this awful coronavirus and this disease altered all the season. And this is the reason why I am going to continue in the club. Now I am going to continue in the club because the president told me that the only way to leave was to pay the €700 million (£624m/$823m) clause, and that this is impossible.”

As a quick explainer, Messi has a clause in his contract that lets him opt out for free at the end of the year. While the club contends there was a set date, Messi’s argument has been that “end of the year” is not explicitly defined as a certain date, and as such, the COVID-19 pandemic and the hiatus it caused pushed his timeline back. Because Barcelona refused to acknowledge this, their stance was that clubs who wanted him needed to pay his release clause, which no one would do, because even without the pandemic’s impact on the sport’s finances, €700 million is a ludicrous amount of money.

There was a third option Messi could pursue: Take the club to court and get the situation ruled upon. That is, essentially, the nuclear option, and Messi made clear he had no interest in pursuing this.

“There was another way and it was to go to trial,” Messi said. “I would never go to court against Barca because it is the club that I love, which gave me everything since I arrived. It is the club of my life, I have made my life here. Barca gave me everything and I gave it everything. I know that it never crossed my mind to take Barca to court.”

What Messi could do, though, is express his unhappiness with the way things are going at the club, which blew its lead atop La Liga and fell 8-2 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, the latest in a long line of embarrassing losses for Barcelona in that tournament. In particular, Messi went after the club’s deeply unpopular president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, who was steadfast that Messi’s full release clause had to be paid or else he could not leave.

Messi also stressed his belief that Bartomeu lied to him, saying “I told the president and, well, the president always said that at the end of the season I could decide if I wanted to go or if I wanted to stay and in the end he did not keep his word.”

Now, the greatest player of all time is staying at the only club he’s even known, much to the chagrin of those — namely English giants Manchester City, which Messi had reportedly expressed his desire to play for — that wanted to acquire his services. Having said this, it appears there is major unrest at Barcelona that needs to be resolved, particularly with the leadership of Bartomeu (who is up for reelection next year) and the club’s embattled board. Should these problems not get solved, perhaps we can end up back here again next year, as Messi’s current contract ends on June 30, 2021.

SZA isn’t one to release a ton of material: Fans are still waiting for the follow-up to her 2017 debut album Ctrl. She’s been generous over the past 24 hours, though: She dropped “Hit Different” at midnight and shared a snippet of more new music shortly after. It appears this could be start of a new wave of releases from SZA, as she explains it.

She spoke about “Hit Different” with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe and said she’s eager to release more material from her new “body of work,” which she described as diverse:

“I just really want to put out more music and more — this body of work that I’ve been working on… everything sounds different. But it all sounds like me. But I realized… as long as the essence of me is in it I’m not really stressed about continuity or making sense to anybody. I’ve been making a sh*t ton of music. If you really leave it up to me, ain’t no telling when sh*t’s gonna come out because I have anxiety… I’ve never felt so loose in the world before.”

She also talked about why she decided that “Hit Different” was chosen as her first new song in a while, saying:

“I was swimming in my brain about what I wanted to say first, what I wanted to bring energy wise first and I just really — I just stopped trying to overthink and I just wanted to give people something just to vibe because I have so much stuff that I’m just done holding onto. So it’s like I don’t even know how any of its gonna take shape or any of that but I’m just done holding on to it and this is the beginning of me just rolling out all my thoughts. I can’t hold onto things because I’m scared everyday forever. That’s how I am. Even today I was crying with mom because I haven’t dropped anything in so long and I just feel like the anxiety and like the crushing… I can’t explain how it feels to me. Sometimes I’m strong enough to just drop something and then two weeks passes and then I’m not strong anymore.”

Listen to the full interview here.

Children’s entertainer and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood host Fred Rogers was a registered Republican, but “he was very independent in the way he voted… He just didn’t talk about it because he didn’t want to lose the children.” That’s according to his wife Joanne, who also used to keep quiet about politics. But then Trump was elected president, and as she said in 2019, “I want to vote for whoever is going to beat Trump.”

Joanne has become even more outspoken this year, in the midst of a pandemic that the Trump administration has spectacularly bungled and with two months to go until a contentious presidential election. “I’m alone now,” she told the Daily Beast (Fred died in 2003). “I don’t do a program for children. I think [Trump’s] just a horrible person.”

If Trump is re-elected president over Democratic nominee Joe Biden, “I will probably go into mourning,” Joanna said. “I can’t even imagine. I would feel so badly.” She also called him “pathologically ill,” “mentally ill,” and if he ever tells the truth, “it’s just a fluke, I think. But the fact [is] that I can’t believe anything he says, not even the simplest thing.”

And now we await the inevitable tweet-storm against Mister Rogers.

(Via the Daily Beast)

Either Jason Momoa is confirming rumors that he’s joining Netflix’s The Witcher universe, or the Aquaman star just really likes to troll fans and his Justice League co-star Henry Cavill.

After Netflix announced that a live-action prequel series called The Witcher: Blood Origin is in the works, rumors began swirling that Momoa was being approached for the lead role of the very first Witcher. While We Got This Covered was the first to report the casting rumor, that was over two weeks ago, and it appeared to be mostly fan speculation. However, on Thursday night, Momoa slipped a humorous message to Cavill into his latest Instagram story.

You can see the screencap below:

For the record, the image is a fan Photoshop and not official art from Netflix, although it does show that Momoa would look right at home in the slowly expanding The Witcher universe. Again, his casting is speculation at this point, but this latest move by the actor seems to suggest that there could be something going on behind the scenes. The Witcher fan site Redanian Intelligence, which first broke the news of Game of Thrones star Kristofer Hijvu joining the cast, claims to have an insider source who says Netflix is pursuing Momoa for the prequel series, but “the deal has yet to be finalized.”

Here’s the official synopsis for The Witcher: Blood Origin:

Set in an elven world 1200 years before the world of The Witcher, Blood Origin will tell a story lost to time – the origin of the very first Witcher, and the events that lead to the pivotal “conjunction of the spheres,” when the worlds of monsters, men, and elves merged to become one.

(Via Jason Momoa on Instagram)

Jac Ross may not be a household name, but her voice is being heard in living rooms across America as the soundtrack of NBA’s Black Lives Matter PSA commercial. The Live Oak, Florida singer’s proud anthem “It’s Ok To Be Black” speaks to the movement’s core sentiment. Now, she gets support from two more advocates of the Black experience in South Los Angeles rappers Buddy (from Compton) and D Smoke (from Inglewood) for a remix titled “It’s OK To Be Black 2.0.”

Of working with the two burgeoning Southern California stars, Ross said in a statement, “Working with D Smoke and Buddy was amazing. It was actually a dream come true, as I’m a fan of both their work and appreciate their music. I wish we could have worked together under better circumstances and actually got to be in the studio together to vibe, but I’m really thankful we were able to get this done regardless. This song is so important to me and I can’t wait for people to hear this reimagined version.”

Both Buddy and D Smoke have recently commented on current events in their music, with Buddy crafting “Black 2.0” and D Smoke debuting with Black Habits and performing a spirited 2020 BET Awards rendition of the title track earlier this year.

Listen to Jac Ross’ “It’s OK To Be Black 2.0” featuring Buddy and D Smoke above.

Burning Man has officially gone digital this year, but deep down we always knew that some small portion of Burners were never going to be satisfied with a digital burn. So we can’t say we’re surprised to hear that since last weekend, several Burners have been flocking to the Black Rock Desert for an unofficial and socially distanced erecting of Black Rock City, pandemic be damned.

Local Reno news station KTVN, the Reno Gazette, and NBC4 all report that “hundreds” of people have been arriving in the Black Rock Desert playa since last weekend with all the usual Burning Man staples in tow, including RVs, campers, mutant freak vehicles, and art installations. The Burners plan to leave after Labor Day Weekend.

The state of Nevada seems pretty down for the impromptu gathering, including the local businesses that have been especially hard hit by the damages of the pandemic, and usually rely on the heavy foot traffic that Burning Man brings. According to one Burner, Mark Fowler, who spoke to NBC4, “We were worried at first coming out here, we heard the Bureau of Land Management may block people from getting out here, but that wasn’t the case.” In fact, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) along with the Washoe and Pershing County Sheriff’s offices and local tribes have given Burners official permission for their camping zones and will be monitoring the playa over the weekend in case of an emergency.

According to the Reno Gazette, visitors have been advised by Nevada’s BLM to bring water, food, shade, lights for their camp, and supplies to last their entire stay, probably so Burners won’t pose a risk to the local community. Currently, Nevada has counted 70,319 cases of COVID-19 and has been on a sharp downward trajectory of cases since late July. The state is currently in Phase 2 of reopening and has a pretty relaxed policy on social distancing and gatherings. According to the Nevada Health Response, “When it comes to gatherings, the risk is not just based on how many people there are, but rather how closely they are gathered and how they are interacting with each other.”

Unlike spring breakers at the start of the pandemic or Sturgis bikers last month, Burners seem pretty conscious of the dangers of COVID-19 exposure. ‘Bureaucracy,’ one of this weekend’s event organizers told NBC4, “People made the decision to come here during a global pandemic. So we decided to keep people’s camps 200 feet away from one another and to advise wearing masks when meeting others. If people feel safe, they then should make others feel safe.” Burners it seems, are pretty accepting of the changes, “It’s just like asking somebody, ‘hey is one burn better than the next?’ The answer is no. It’s just another chapter in our book,” Burner Mark Debbie told KTVN.

While Burners are optimistic and aware that putting themselves in possible danger is their own choice, any type of travel increases the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Peter ‘Happy Mentor’ a middle school English teacher and Burner who talked to KTVN remarked on the use of masks when venturing into town, saying “We want to keep people in the town healthy and we’re trying to abide by the rules and have a good time,” but acknowledged that a lot of Burners aren’t wearing face coverings out on the playa, where temperatures are expected to tip into triple digits this weekend.

While this is likely to be one of the most interesting and crunchy “Burning Mans” of all time — what are people going to do with their poop?! — we’d rather take our chances with the digital experience, where our own private bathrooms are just a few steps away.

Seeing raw artistic talent at work is always a joy, and when it comes from a child, it’s awe-inspiring. But when you combine prodigious ability with sparkling personality, the “‘it’ factor” comes into play, creating a universally enjoyable experience for all.

10-year-old drummer Nandi Bushell has all of that—natural talent, a clearly stellar practice ethic, and a delightful performance personality. She’s also got confidence oozing out her pores, as she publicly challenged Foo Fighters drummer Dave Grohl to a drum-off by knocking out one of the band’s songs.

But the best part is Grohl’s response to her battle request.

Here’s her original battle performance (which is simply fun to watch because it’s so obvious she’s having a blast).

Everlong by the Foo Fighters Drum Cover

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Dave Grohl, widely acknowledged as one of the rock world’s nicest guys, responded in a video. He said he’d received at least a hundred messages asking if he’d seen her challenge, told Nandi that she is “an incredible drummer” and that he’s flattered she’s chosen his music to play, then challenged her to learn a more obscure song he played years ago called “Dead End Friends.”

“The ball is in your court,” he told her.

Challenge Accepted! Nandi Bushell reacts to Dave Grohl accepting her drum battle request!

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And of course, she followed through not only with a fabulous performance, but even wore a shirt that matched Grohl’s. If the “Woooo! Checkmate!” at the end doesn’t leave you with a smile on your face, you may need to reexamine your life.

Dave Grohl VS Nandi Bushell EPIC Drum Battle – Dead End Friends – Them Crooked Vultures – Checkmate!

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Grohl admitted defeat in a tweet on the Foo Fighters Twitter page, promising that he has “something special in mind” for round two. Can’t wait to see what comes next.

They won’t officially drop until October, but Damian Lillard’s signature Dame 7 sneaker will make its debut on Friday in NBA 2K21 where fans will be able to get a first look at the latest edition of Lillard’s popular adidas shoe.

Lillard, the cover athlete for the latest NBA 2K game, will be donning his own shoes when fans use him in the game, customized with the “I Am My Own Fan” colorway. Not only will Lillard himself be wearing the new shoe, but fans can outfit their MyPlayer avatar with the Dame 7s as well.

In addition, to celebrate “2K Day,” fans will be able to see an interview with Lillard in the newest episode of 2KTV, the in-game show that 2K produces. And for those who want to try and get their hands on a pair, throughout the day, fans can enter to win the exclusive 2K colorway of the Dame 7, a full month before they’re available to the public.

After winning MVP of the NBA Bubble’s seeding games and stealing a game from the Lakers in the first round, Lillard is celebrating his first cover athlete appearance on NBA 2K21 as well as the latest edition of his signature sneaker.