Category: Worldwide

Haim aren’t usually purveyors of intense guitar-driven rock, but that’s just what they’ve made for the new animated film The Croods: A New Age. Their contribution to the soundtrack, “Feel The Thunder,” is the theme song for the movie’s Thunder Sisters characters, and it was inspired by Guns N’ Roses.

The band recorded and co-wrote the song with producer Ariel Rechtshaid, who Danielle Haim told Rolling Stone is “the biggest Guns N’ Roses fan,” saying, “He’s obsessed with them — he went and saw them on their most recent tour a bunch of times. And so I figured that that’s what we were looking for. We were like, ‘Let’s get Ariel.’ But I’d never tried to make music like that before, so it was fully like a crazy experiment.”

Danielle also said of the track, “We grew up listening to rock music, pop, a healthy smattering of a ton of different kinds of music. I don’t know how often you really hear rock music in a kid’s film anymore, or rock music in general anymore.”

The band also worked on the track with Croods composer and Devo leader Mark Mothersaugh, who spoke highly of the group: “I thought it was cool how these young women are in this cool part of their trajectory right now. I look at them and think about what a great time Devo had when we were where they are right now. They’re very talented ladies who are very fun to work with.”

This song isn’t terribly unlike another track the group made for an animated film this year, as their Trolls: World Tour cut “Rock N Roll Rules” is also an uncharacteristically rocking tune for them.

Listen to “Feel The Thunder” above.

It’s no secret that longtime actor Jon Voight is a huge Trump supporter who regularly finds himself being dragged on Twitter for his outlandish takes backing the president. This time around, Voight caught the attention of Samuel L. Jackson after the Ray Donovan star made a new Twitter video that essentially calls for war over the (fake) “lie” that Joe Biden won the 2020 election. Voight even goes so far as to accuse Biden’s supporters of being “evil” and says that the right is now locked in a “battle of righteousness versus Satan.” Via The Hill:

“We must fight this corruption that has taken over and fight for the good that seems lost,” he said. “Let us give our trust to God, and fight now for Trump’s victory because we all know this ballot count is corruption like they are. So let us not back down. Let us fight this fight as if it is our last fight on earth.”

After catching wind of Voight’s rhetoric, Jackson fired back with one of his trademark F-bombs. “First, you gotta stop looking at this insanity!!” Jackson tweeted. “The Civil War was about Slavery so pay attention to the symbolism. Lastly F*CK. John Voight!!!”

Jackson’s fiery condemnation of Voight did not sit well with right-wing Twitter users, who fired back at the Pulp Fiction actor and chastised him for his use of profanity, which is like chastising McDonald’s for serving hamburgers, but okay.

But it wasn’t all backlash in the replies. Jackson had plenty of supporters who were very happy to see him call out Voight in pure SLJ style.

(Via Samuel L. Jackson on Twitter)

Pharrell is known for his Grammy Award-winning music and his work in the film industry, but everyone can also agree on one thing about the musician: he doesn’t seem to age. Pharrell has been questioned about his flawless skin for many years, and he’s now finally ready to reveal his secrets through a line of carefully-developed skincare products.

Pharrell has been praised for his age-defying skin for years. Travis Scott even quizzed him on his routine last year, asking if it was true that the musician only washes his face with cold water, to which Pharrell replied: “You gotta exfoliate like a f*cking madman.”

But now taking things one step further, Pharrell teamed up with his longtime dermatologist Elena Jones for the product line Humanrace. The skincare line will be released everywhere November 25 and includes include cleansers, creams, exfoliators, and more.

The products are also made with waste-reduction in mind. Each bottle comes with a removable chamber at the bottom to allow an easy way for refilling products without needing to toss the entire container. Speaking about the products in a statement, Pharrell said: “Humanrace Skincare doesn’t differentiate by race or gender. We’re creating for humans; we are all born in the same skin.”

Check out a preview of Pharrell’s Humanrace skincare line above.

Busta Rhymes has long been viewed as one of hip-hop’s most exuberant and active artists, so the news he almost died due to unhealthy habits may come as a surprise to those who remember his as the vivacious ball of cartoonish energy who made hits like “Woo-Hah!!” and “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See.” In a recent interview with Van Jones for the latter’s YouTube show The Messy Truth, Busta revealed just how bad things got and what pulled him out of his health slump, inspiring him to get more fit.

“I’m in the car and I go to sleep, and I’m snoring crazy,” he recounts. “And it gets to this point where I’m trying to inhale, and not I’m able to inhale. My son got so scared that he spoke to the security about this fear that he had. My son was so scared of how he was gonna hurt my feelings by having this conversation with me directly that he had to tell someone else to tell me. That sh*t f*cked me up — I just felt like I was letting my son down, I felt like I was letting a lot of people down.”

Busta reveals that he’d developed polyps (abnormal tissue growths) in his throat and was up to 340 pounds. His doctor told him, “‘Your polyps grew so big that it blocked 90 percent of your breathing passage and if I send you home tonight and you sleep under the AC and catch a cold and that last 10 percent of breathing of your breathing passage gets blocked up…you are going to die tonight.’” The revelation prompted Busta to change his ways and from some of his recent Instagram posts (and the rejuvenated rapping on his new album Extinction Level Event 2, it looks like it’s paid off.

Watch Busta’s full interview with Van Jones above.

Word dropped on Thursday that Russell Westbrook’s discontent with the direction of the Houston Rockets had turned into a desire to seek greener pastures. It’s tricky trying to identify what he would command on the trade market, but according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, at least one team has emerged as a potential landing spot for the former league MVP.

Charania brings word that the Charlotte Hornets “have emerged as a potential suitor.” While he pointed out that there are some other teams who are kicking the tires on a deal for Westbrook, Charania mentioned that there are a few reasons why Charlotte theoretically makes sense.

“There are moveable veteran contracts, as well as the Jordan Brand connection for Westbrook,” Charania said, referencing the fact that Westbrook is sponsored by Hornets owner Michael Jordan’s apparel company.

As for the potential contracts, Nic Batum’s monster deal finally expires at the end of this season, something that is also the case for Cody Zeller — the former is in line to make about $27.1 million this year if he picks up his player option, while the latter makes a touch over $15.4 million. The tricky thing is what else Houston might want, and whether they would demand anyone or anything else (Malik Monk, a draft pick, etc.).

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had no problem dunking on Senator Marco Rubio’s recent wordplay on Democrats, and she’s also not here for the floating of him (even as a joke) as a member of “The Squad.” The group of four female lawmakers of color — including AOC, along with Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts — all won reelection to the House of Representatives last week. They’ve shown themselves to be unafraid of confronting the Washington establishment, and Rubio is not invited.

Granted, they’re talking about the same subject lately. AOC believes that Biden could have adopted a more Latino-friendly strategy with the Latino community. That’s a sentiment that Rubio is advocating for (during an Axios interview) when it comes to the GOP, which he wishes would rebrand with the idea that “[t]he future of the party is based on a multiethnic, multiracial working class coalition.” This led to a joke-y tweet from The Intercept’s Murtaza M. Hussain, who wrote, “Marco Rubio is joining The Squad” while linking to The Hill’s article on the subject.

Ilhan Omar heard about it and responded with a simple, “Membership rejected.”

The social-media-savvy AOC soon joined the discussion. Although Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley haven’t voiced their opinion on Rubio’s “membership” yet, AOC felt confident in banning him “By unanimous vote.”

No dice for Marco Rubio. In other words, he won’t be riding a blue wave (unless he’s GIF-ing by mistake) anytime soon.

Future and Lil Uzi Vert are about to release… something. The “Too Much Sauce” duo have been teasing a collaboration between them for the past several months, putting out bread crumbs such as their double release of singles “Over Your Head” and “Patek.” Their fans believe they’re working on a joint mixtape but their moods were dampened when the project didn’t materialize on its rumored release date.

Now, however, it appears as if those fans’ thirst for this release may be quenched in some fashion this Friday. Both Uzi and Future shared an intriguing trailer for what appears to be a Hype Williams-directed music video. Whether that video will be for one of their previously released singles or accompany a full project remains to be seen. Both artists love to build hype while remaining as mysterious as possible — see Uzi’s out-of-the-blue drop for the deluxe version of Eternal Atake or Future’s Drake-featuring “Life Is Good” video from way back in the pre-COVID times.

The two rappers had already released the video for “Wassup” in May, so it’s likely they do have more songs recorded. We’ll have to wait a few hours to find out what they’re serving up next.

Lil Uzi Vert is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The pandemic has fundamentally changed the way people around the world live their lives, which is bound to have an emotional impact on people. Foo Fighters leader Dave Grohl is among those, as he has admitted the pandemic made him nervous.

Grohl recently sat down for an interview with The Sun and said:

“It has been really weird because we are the band who actually like each other. It’s true what you hear. A lot of groups, after months on the road, can’t wait to head off in different directions. But we still want to hang out, whether we’re working or not. It’s a miracle after all these years. We’re still really close. We’ve never spent anything like this kind of time apart before.

It might seem rock ‘n’ roll and exciting, but actually, going around the world in a band like ours means being totally organized. Usually we know what is happening months and months in advance. So when everything shut down in March, I was nervous. I can’t relax, I’m always looking for the next thing, I’m a naturally creative person. For the past two decades, I have been completely used to seeing the same guys almost every day — and suddenly we’re apart. If I wasn’t on tour, I was doing something else for the band. So it has kinda freaked me out. I’ve been totally set in my ways and, like I said, these guys are my closest friends. We’re a family. We’ve never been apart before.”

Grohl also spoke about the band’s new album, Medicine At Midnight, saying, “There didn’t seem much point in just doing the same again, that’s not really what we’re about and it isn’t how I want to work. So this record borrows from some new ideas, different inspirations, and has a unique, new vibe about it which I hope will sound fresh and interesting when fans get to hear it. There’s no such thing as normal right now, so I guess for our fans we are trying to create a new one and give people some happiness — let them experience something new. […] I’m proud of what we’ve done. I don’t think people will recognize it straight away — but we love it.”

Check out the full interview here.

The best new hip-hop albums coming out this week include projects from 2 Chainz, Aesop Rock, Blac Youngsta, Danileigh, Davido, Father, Fly Anakin, and Octavian.

After what was possibly the most important election in American politics in a century, this week’s releases are a multi-national extravaganza of unorthodox sounds, pushing the boundaries of what hip-hop can and should sound like in the future. From bass-heavy Memphis trap to glitchy UK grime to effervescent Nigerian pop (we don’t believe in “Afrobeats” as nomenclature, it’s too similar to Afrobeat, which Fela Kuti defined and certified), this week is proof that hip-hop is a global language. Future and Lil Uzi Vert are also rumored to have a release coming, but there’s no confirmation yet whether it’s a single or a full project.

Here are all the best new hip-hop albums coming out this week.

2 Chainz — So Help Me God

After a few delays and an impressive buildup involving the singles “Money Maker” and “Quarantine Thick” and an early preview of five songs on NBA 2K21, 2 Chainz’s sixth studio album arrives with art created by the man himself.

Aesop Rock — Spirit World Field Guide

It’s been a while since we last heard from the backpack hip-hop herald — 2016’s The Impossible Kid, to be exact. I can’t lie, the polish and craftsmanship in the tracks I’ve heard surprised me. Rock, like his late-’90s contemporaries El-P and the rest of the Rhymesayers clique, has always looked for new angles on hip-hop but in recent years, the palette for the genre has expanded in so many ways, Rock suddenly fits in better than he ever has — good thing his quirky, highly visual lyrics will always let him stand out.

Blac Youngsta — F*ck Everybody 3

After dropping Code Red with Moneybagg Yo earlier this year, Blac Youngsta is back on his solo grind with the latest edition of his F*ck Everybody mixtape series. Longtime fans of the Memphis mainstay will know exactly what to expect here: Thunderous beats, gruff rhymes, and a boulder-sized chip on Blac’s shoulder.

Danileigh — Movie

Forgive me for stretching the definition of hip-hop on this one and don’t be surprised to find this one popping up on Cherise’s Best R&B roundup this week as well. That’s just Danileigh’s gift; she smoothly switches lanes between pretty, emotion-baring singing and chin-jutting, swaggering rap. On her latest, she finds a balance that makes it a marked improvement over her 2018 debut The Plan, striking a solid balance between her strengths and adding a smooth layer of confident polish.

Davido — A Better Time

The Nigerian pop star has spent the better part of the last few months away from social media as he involved himself in his nation’s ongoing protests to end the Special Anti-Robbery Squad which has brutalized young men since its inception in 2017. While some of his contemporaries like Burna Boy have addressed the unrest head-on, Davido’s gone in the other way on his new album, projecting good vibes and positivity for those weary of the struggle.

Father — Come Outside, We Not Gone Jump You

Awful Records’ leader has returned after a two-year hiatus (broken up by the 2019 EP Hu$Band) to continue upending rap conventions. His off-kilter sense of humor has remained intact on social media, so it’s pretty much a given that his anime-influenced tracks (there’s one here named after Fist Of The North Star, which has become a sudden favorite within the last few years despite being 30 years old) will continue to reflect his mischievous energy.

Fly Anakin & Pink Siifu — Flysiifu

If you spend a lot of time bumping “lo-fi” playlists on YouTube (and you don’t even want to know how old typing that phrase makes me feel) but wishing that someone would rap on those downtempo, dusty-sounding beats, have I got the perfect project for you. A potent blend of ’90s-era boom-bap and diamond-sharp lyricism, Flysiifu is an aural palate cleanser from the busier-sounding hip-hop currently dominating the mainstream.

Octavian — Alpha

Octavian is part of an exciting new wave of grime artists from the UK underground, receiving co-signs from the likes of Drake, Gorillaz, ASAP Ferg, and more. Unfortunately for Octavian, he’s also being accused of abuse by his ex-girlfriend, which could put a damper on his release.

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

Just hours before the release of his debut album Alpha, British rapper Octavian is being accused of physical and verbal abuse by his ex-girlfriend. A fellow musician who records under the name Emo Baby, the woman posted her account to Instagram describing being “kicked, punched, strangled, and dragged out of the house” during a drug-fueled episode earlier this year. She accompanied the post with photos of bruises and cuts in various places on her body, saying, “This is just a fraction of what I have experienced and what I have to say.”

Octavian himself denied the accusations via his Instagram Story according to NME, which reported he wrote that “he will deal with the situation ‘legally and properly,’ and that ‘the truth is coming.’” He’s also reported calling the claims “the biggest defamation of character in history” and says Emo Baby accused him because he broke up with her. “I will not speak without evidence,” he said. “What u are witnessing is real-life abuse. Good will win.”

However, when The Fader reached out to the rapper’s publicists, Pattern Publicity, the company told The Fader they were no longer working with the rapper as a direct result of the accusations. A representative said, “After these allegations have come to light, we have stopped all work with Octavian as we cannot condone, nor support abusive behavior.”