Dr. James Goodrich operated on Anias and Jadon McDonald when they were just 13 months old.
The news anchor and brother to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he had been experiencing fever, chills, and shortness of breath.
While the coronavirus has pushed back concert tours, festivals, and record releases, many pop musicians are pushing forward with new music. Dua Lipa debuted her hotly-anticipated record Future Nostalgia, Rosalía unveiled a personal ballad, and Rihanna returned after months of teasing new music with a collaborative single.
Each week, Uproxx rounds up the best new releases. Listen up.
Dua Lipa — “Hallucinate”
Dua Lipa finally released her sophomore album, Future Nostalgia. While the singer had already released a handful of singles, Future Nostalgia arrived with more stand-out hits and “Hallucinate” is a strong contender. A fast-paced, metallic beat provides a backdrop for Lipa’s energetic ’80s pop nostalgia on the upbeat track.
Rosalía – “Dolerme”
Rosalía is the next musician to offer a distraction from the current state of the world through music. The singer released the guitar-driven ballad, “Dolerme,” as a way for her fans to stay calm during quarantine. In a statement, Rosalía described how the process of writing the song helped her mental health: “I am in quarantine and I have lost track of time a bit because I decided that I was not going to think about it too much and that instead I was going to put my energy and my heart into doing something for others, in my own way.”
Rihanna, PartyNextDoor — “Believe It”
Rihanna has been teasing new music for months, even finding joy at her fan’s anxiousness for her next album. But Rihanna’s latest single doesn’t come from R9, rather, an unlikely collaboration with PartyNextDoor off his recently-released LP PartyMobile. The swooning track features a wonky beat alongside Rihanna’s distinguished musings about finding trust in a relationship.
Jessie Reyez — “Coffin” Feat. Eminem
Jessie Reyez first arrived on the scene with the captivating single “Figures” five years ago. After releasing a handful of collaborations and two EPs, Reyez is finally ready for her debut album. Reyez released her first full-length effort Before Love Came To Kill Us this week, and with it arrived a compelling collaboration with Eminem. Pivoting from his usual catalog, Eminem spits verses about a toxic relationship beside Reyez’s soaring vocals and gentle melody.
Ingrid Andress — “The Stranger”
After Apple Music announced the Ingrid Andress as the first female country artist named to their Up Next program, the singer shared her debut album Lady Like. Showcasing her knack for brutally honest songwriting, “The Stranger” arrives as the album’s center point. The track melts emotive piano with Andress’ evocative vocals to craft a touching portrait of love.
Austn — “Phases”
17-year-old singer/songwriter Austn shared his newest single “Phases” this week. The buoyant single takes a chapter from the singer’s incredibly inspiring life story. Partially-deaf since birth, Austn underwent restorative surgery at the age of four and shortly after discovered his love for music. The singer left home at the age of 14 to pursue an acting career in LA before embracing his musical side with his debut EP Abandonment.
Giveon — “Favorite Mistake”
R&B crooner Giveon released his debut EP Take Time after making a name for himself on Drake’s “Chicago Freestyle.” Off the recent mixtape, “Favorite Mistake” stands out as a showcase of Giveon’s talent. The singer’s deep velvet broodings stand out over a breezy downbeat.
Alaina Castillo — “Just A Boy”
Alaina Castillo made a splash with her recent single “Ocean Waves.” Castillo is back with the intimate anthem “Just A Boy.” Over a simple electric guitar riff and a snapping beat, Castillo’s loungy vocals cut through to deliver an honest account of the struggle of modern relationships.
Alina Baraz — “More Than Enough”
Alina Baraz has been signaling a new era of music by steadily releasing a handful of single as a follow-up to her 2018 effort The Color Of You. The singer’s latest track arrived in the form of “More Than Enough,” a silky-smooth ballad highlighting Baraz’s entrancing vocals and lush production.
Major Lazer, Marcus Mumford — “Lay Your Head On Me”
In another unlikely collaboration, Major Lazer teamed up with Mumford And Sons’ Marcus Mumford for the feel-good tune “Lay Your Head On Me.” More stripped-back than Major Lazer’s former catalog, the track features Mumford’s signature folksy-delivery melted with the electronic group’s infamously triumphant beat drops.
Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Jay-Z and Rihanna are two of the stars who have contributed most to coronavirus relief efforts, collectively donating $2 million to relief in Los Angeles and New York, according to Rolling Stone.
Jay-Z’s Shawn Carter Foundation (SCF) and Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) are concentrating their efforts on vulnerable populations such as children of frontline healthcare workers, the elderly, the homeless, the incarcerated, and undocumented workers. These groups are considered most at-risk due to various reasons including lack of access to healthcare and weakened immune systems that cannot easily fight off infection.
The funds are centered around providing daycare, food, and learning materials to healthcare workers’ and first responders’ children. They will provide meals for the homebound and homeless alike, and support those fighting for the release of inmates to help prevent outbreaks in the nation’s prisons. The foundations are also advocating for free COVID-19 testing to all residents of New York City, as the Big Apple has seen the most cases arise since the outbreak first began.
Jay’s mother Gloria Carter is the CEO of SCF and said in a statement, “In times of crisis it is imperative that we come together as one community to ensure that everyone, especially the most vulnerable, has access to critical needs: shelter, health, nutrition and education. The only way to get through this pandemic is with love and action.”
Follow more of Uproxx’s coronavirus coverage here.
As of this post, there are around 800,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, so naturally, some famous people have been impacted. People in the music world have unfortunately contracted the virus, like John Prine, who seems to be doing alright. Earlier this month, Justin Bieber and Post Malone collaborator Andrew Watt also that he had tested positive for the virus. Now another accomplished figure in the music world has a confirmed case: Fountains Of Wayne bassist and songwriter Adam Schlesinger.
The musician is hospitalized in Upstate New York and is on a ventilator, but is reportedly not in a coma. Schlesinger’s longtime attorney, Josh Grier, told Variety, “He’s very sick and is heavily sedated, as are all people on ventilators, but no one has used the word ‘coma’ to me.” Schlesinger’s girlfriend also reportedly told TMZ that Schlesinger “has been sedated to facilitate his recovery. He is in critical condition, but his condition is improving slightly and we are cautiously optimistic.”
Fountains Of Wayne are of course best known for their hit Grammy-nominated single “Stacy’s Mom,” which was released in 2003. Schlesinger is also accomplished outside of the band, as he has come closer to achieving EGOT status than most people have: He has won three Emmys and a Grammy, and has also been nominated for Golden Globe, Oscar, and Tony awards. Most recently, Schlesinger was the executive music producer on the Rachel Bloom-starring TV series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
Moving forward in life without the physical presence of Nipsey Hussle was not the marathon many of us imagined we’d have to run, but it was wrongfully forced upon us. On March 31, 2019, Nipsey was fatally shot outside of his Marathon Clothing store in LA. Just like that, one of hip-hop’s most celebrated artists had been ripped from the throne he spent over a decade building. As the news reports began to flood Twitter feeds, unwavering disbelief and a refusal to accept the tragic news reigned as the initial reactions from the hip-hop community. Questions flew into the air with each update, “Who would kill Nipsey?” “Why would they kill Nipsey?” Long after his life was honored at the beautiful memorial at the Staples Center and long after the previous questions were answered, one still remained without a certain answer, “How do we go on without Nipsey?”
In short, the answer to the question is that we shouldn’t have to. While Nipsey’s physical presence is no longer on Earth, his art, mind, and influence are everywhere. To say we’re continuing without him equates to irresponsibly forgetting all that he left us as well. Weeks after his death, DJ Khaled shared Nipsey’s first posthumous musical effort, a feature on “Higher” off his Father Of Ashad album. Released with a video that was completed prior to his untimely death, Nipsey’s verses focused on overcoming the odds and roadblocks presented to him both before his time on Earth and during his rise to fame.
Standing on top of a parking garage that placed him as close to the heavens as physically possible, he stood there in an angelic blue satin suit, one that gleamed effortlessly in the California sun. As it did repeatedly throughout his music, Nipsey’s wisdom came in like a brick through a window, “I was thinkin’ chess moves but it was God’s grace,” he rapped. It’s an acknowledgment of a high power in his life that served as a guiding light for his decisions every day. Unfortunately for us who greatly enjoyed his presence, the guiding light suddenly changed its endpoint, one that brought Nipsey to the heavens far above that parking garage.
The posthumous releases continued, his voice was heard once again on Rick Ross’ “Rich N***a Lifestyle” off Port Of Miami 2 and The Game’s “Welcome Home” off Born 2 Rap. The former reinforced the gatekeeper title to both hip-hop and the streets that he so rightfully earned throughout his career, while the latter was an account of his rise to fame in Crenshaw with a prophetic twist. “Probably die up in these streets but I survive through my name” Nipsey said, a line that would have served as an emphasis towards his legacy, but his untimely death altered its meaning with the satisfaction of a life well-lived, both in and outside of music.
Of all the posthumous releases, Nipsey’s feature on the title track of Mustard’s Perfect Ten reminded listeners about the Crenshaw legend the most. Placed over warm, feel-good production, Mustard interpolates two separate conversations Nipsey engaged in from an early-2018 interview on Big Boy In The Morning. Originally an enlightening discussion, Nipsey’s words now echo as poignant tellings of an authentically ran marathon, one that was far from perfect, but rather ugly as one could imagine. With minimal amounts of actual rapping on “Perfect Ten,” the track’s dynamic allowed listeners to hear Nipsey speak to us with such eloquence once again, reminding us that the continuation of the marathon he preached about would eventually lead to greatness in the areas desired.
Pieces of his philosophies and wisdom can be found all throughout hip-hop. The patience to climb to hip-hop’s peak without conforming or overzealous clout-chasing can be found in Roddy Ricch. The attentiveness to life outside of music and the confidence to speak out in favor of the culture and against its vultures can be found in Meek Mill. An unrelenting passion for one’s environment and a lifelong commitment to protecting it from harm as best as possible can be found in YG. While his entrance into the music world arrived years prior to Nipsey’s, the creation of an empire and tending to its constant growth can be found in Rick Ross. The ability to be unapologetically one’s self without a care for the competition and other outside forces can be found in Buddy.
During the 2020 Grammys, Meek Mill and Roddy Ricch debuted a new song in memory of Nipsey Hussle, “Letter To Nipsey.” The song highlighted the pain both artists felt following his death, the pain they chose to put to good use in pushing forth his marathon ideologies. At those very Grammy awards, Meek and Roddy’s tribute to Nipsey would be followed by another from DJ Khaled, John Legend, Kirk Franklin, and YG, who all took the stage for a moving performance of the Grammy award-winning song, “Higher.” Draped in that same gleaming angelic blue satin suit, Nipsey’s voice echoed once again from a screen above the Staples Center crowd. Together with the heavenly choir that passionately sung and danced on stage, the reminder that Nipsey’s presence will forever inhabit our planet could not have been any clearer.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned in the year since Nip’s death, it’s that he’s very much with us. He’s in the Roddys, he’s in the Meeks, he’s in the YGs, the Rosses, and the Buddys who have made it their lifelong goal to plaster Nipsey’s message from the smallest walls to the biggest billboards and to keep going until the checkered flag waves in the air or until the finish line ribbon falls beneath your feet. So, how do we go on with Nip looking down at us? We continue the marathon he preached about and continue to put into practice the philosophies and wisdom he taught us during his time here.
Today’s anniversary of Nipsey’s passing marks the first of many miles without his physical presence. But, unlike most marathons, the finish line differs for us all. The true distance of this marathon is left to be determined by us as individuals following a true understanding of the marathon itself. Nipsey was a living embodiment of trusting the process long before Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers coined the term. A process that granted him a platinum-certified album in Victory Lap and two Grammy award wins. His slogan, “The Marathon Continues,” wasn’t just an inspirational phrase for his fans to follow him by forever and always. Instead, it was one to grant them the necessary tools to be able to venture off on their own marathon. Continuing without Nipsey Hussle begins with the understanding that he is in fact still with us, cheering us on from the skies in an All Money In tee or in that angelic blue satin suit.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Today, it’s been exactly one year since the death of Nipsey Hussle, the late LA hip-hop icon and businessman who literally changed the game with groundbreaking releases like Crenshaw, Mailbox Money, and Victory Lap. To honor his life and legacy, Tidal is hosting a free livestream today for 18 hours featuring exclusive performances and interviews from Nipsey from shows like Tidal X: Nipsey Hussle, Car Test, Rap Radar, and Side Hustle; Tidal’s 10 Rings documentary; and tributes from Big Sean, J Cole, and Roddy Ricch.
Subscribers to Tidal will also have access to exclusive playlists and an essay highlighting Nipsey’s posthumous musical releases and the ways his death affected hip-hop music and culture. The playlists include essential Nipsey Hussle songs, his greatest guest verses, a trio of lists highlighting his musical evolution over a decade of independent releases, and a list of his music videos. If you’re celebrating Neighborhood Nip’s legacy today, Tidal has plenty of options to reminisce and share his impact.
Watch Tidal’s Nipsey Hussle tribute livestream here.
To read more Nipsey Hussle coverage from Uproxx, click here.
Nipsey Hussle is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Late-night TV hosts continue to make their return to telecasts this week amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and Conan O’Brien and his iPhone could not have been more welcome on TBS (with Full Frontal With Samantha Bee planning a Wednesday comeback). O’Brien and sidekick Andy Richter did their damndest to banter through the circumstances with somewhat disheveled appearances, but neither of them was a match for guest Adam Sandler’s fully grown-in mustache as viewed in this online clip that’s not embeddable, but we’ll take it.
Granted, this is not officially a quarantine ‘stache. Sandler sported a similar look for Netflix’s Murder Mystery, but for “Coney,” the thing seemed to come to life. Maybe it was the terrible lighting in the Sandman’s home, who knows? However, it’s not like this relaxed outfit is unusual attire for the guy, who’s now so notorious for his casual looks that he could hit the red carpet in outfits like these. And all respect for this ‘stache.
“I like the mustache, by the way,” Conan offered after the 9:00 minute mark. “It looks like you’re going to be making pornography in quarantine.”
Oh yeah. Things only got stranger from there, with Sandler discussing how he’s “getting very experimental” in the bedroom with his wife, and naturally, Conan was all ears. The Sandman then proceeded to describe his new moves, which include, uh, actually doing something in the sack, and it’s safe to say that we really need this comedy (however juvenile) right now. Even if fresh supplies of laughter only come from watching low-tech webcam videos, these two know exactly what their audiences could use right now: distractions. That means watching these two mercilessly tease each other before Sandman whips out a musical instrument.
Watch the full clip here, and you won’t be sorry!
A few years ago, Childish Gambino’s “Redbone” was the basis of a remixing trend that involved editing songs so they sounded like they were being heard while “in the bathroom of a house party.” This was achieved by altering the audio so it sounded like it was played from behind a closed door, and the effect was both hilariously accurate and oddly satisfying.
Now Kevin Parker has offered what sounds like his version of that with his new project, “The Slow Rush In An Imaginary Place.” He remixed the entirety of the latest Tame Impala album, and the muddy-sounding new version of The Slow Rush is an interesting take on the album, and something Parker presumably had fun with during the coronavirus pandemic.
Parker wrote while sharing the project, “I made something for all you isolators out there. I call it The Slow Rush In An Imaginary Place. Headphones required for full immersive effect. See you in there.”
I made something for all you isolators out there. I call it The Slow Rush In An Imaginary Place. Headphones required for full immersive effect. See you in there https://t.co/uq2nTit9lM pic.twitter.com/URf25XPy3V
— Tame Impala (@tameimpala) March 31, 2020
Before self-isolation became the new global norm, Parker had just launched the tour behind his new album (and performed a Lady Gaga song he co-wrote). Clairo was one of his openers, and although they weren’t on the road together for long, she documented the experience in a video tour diary.