When a microphone gets in front of Killer Mike, the result is either going to be really great (his Grammy Award-winning album >Michael) or make anyone listening want to groan aloud in horror. His latest stint on The Daily Show falls into the latter category — at least, it does for me — and I think we should maybe consider restricting his engagement with live mics to him rapping on them and nothing else.
While Mike reflected on his Grammy wins, host Jordan Klepper asked him a jokey question about another award show fixture, Taylor Swift, wondering if Swift “snubbed Celine [Dion].” The minor controversy found fans nitpicking Swift for not properly acknowledging the Canadian diva, who presented her the award for Album Of The Year (despite her Stiff Person Syndrome diagnosis). Unfortunately, Mike took it left almost immediately, praising her for winning the award, then jokingly propositioning the “Anti-Hero” singer.
“She won at the Grammys,” he noted. “Her boyfriend won the Chiefs. If she’s into poly, me and my wife need a third. We’re trying to win again.”
Yikes, Mike.
Klepper did his best to mitigate the off-color joke, asking, “You feel like you could pull off polygamy right now?” prompting Mike to reel it in a bit. “I feel I could pull it off,” he said. “Only problem is my wife’s good with a gun. She doesn’t agree. But I’ll keep trying for all the men out there.”
Hey, man. That sounds like a YOU problem. Don’t do anything for all the men. My name’s Bennett and I ain’t in it. I’m sure the Swifties will be nice about this when they find out. It’s not like there isn’t already a wildly problematic history of rappers saying gross things about their leader.
Some icons have truly left this world too early. It’s a tragedy when anyone doesn’t make it to see old age, but when it happens to a well-known public figure, it’s like a bit of their art and legacy dies with them. What might Freddie Mercury have created if he were granted the gift of long life? Bruce Lee? Princess Diana?
Their futures might be mere musings of our imagination, but thanks to a lot of creativity (and a little tech) we can now get a glimpse into what these celebrities might have looked like when they were older.
Alper Yesiltas, an Istanbul-based lawyer and photographer, created a photography series titled “As If Nothing Happened,” which features eerily realistic portraits of long gone celebrities in their golden years. To make the images as real looking as possible, Yesiltas incorporated various photo editing programs such as Adobe Lightroom and VSCO, as well as the AI photo-enhancing software Remini.
“The hardest part of the creative process for me is making the image feel ‘real’ to me,” Yesiltas wrote about his passion project. “The moment I like the most is when I think the image in front of me looks as if it was taken by a photographer.”
Yesiltas’ meticulousness paid off, because the results are uncanny.
Along with each photo, Yesiltas writes a bittersweet message “wishing” how things might have gone differently … as if nothing happened.
“I wish he hadn’t been affected by the exhaustion of his role.”
One of Ledger’s most notable roles is queer cowboy Ennis Del Mar in Ang Lee’s iconic 2005 romantic western drama “Brokeback Mountain.” In a time when queer storytelling was still taboo, Ledger’s honest and compassionate portrayal broke down a lot of barriers for future stories.
Though Ledger officially died due to an overdose, many believe it was his role of The Joker in Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” that pushed him over the edge.
Janis Joplin
“I wish she hadn’t sought the inspiration she needed elsewhere.”
The powerful singer with electric stage presence is still one of the greatest female rock stars of all time. Scratch that—one of the greatest rock stars of all time, period.
Jimi Hendrix
“I wish he hadn’t sought the inspiration he needed elsewhere.”
Like Joplin and Ledger, Hendrix died due to an overdose—though many have speculated that it was instead the result of foul play.
However questionable his personal life was, the King of Pop made some of the biggest contributions to music of all time. People continue to sing his songs, and likely will for a very, very long time.
Kurt Cobain
“I wish he had decided to stay.”
The insightful, poetic and troubled Cobain took his life at 27. His story is a cautionary tale that success does not necessarily help thwart struggles with mental health.
Bruce Lee
“I wish he hadn’t taken that painkiller that day.”
The actor and martial-arts expert died at 32, officially due to a harmful reaction to a painkiller. His philosophies around kung fu, however, are eternal.
Legendary artist and activist John Lennon was fatally wounded by a gunshot in December 1980. The last thing he talked about, revealed ex-wife Yoko Ono in an interview, was the desire to see his son before he went to sleep.
Elvis Presley
“I wish he decided to live a life where he paid more attention to the health of his heart.”
Had Presley not died of cardiac arrest, he would be 87 this year.
“I wish he hadn’t been involved in that event that would cause him to face the mafia.”
The cause of Tupac’s untimely death is also one of debate and speculation. According to some, he never died at all. What we can all agree on—he was one of hip-hop’s most iconic figures.
This one seems to be a new addition to the collection, so no wistful message. Although I’m sure the general sentiment is “I wish she were still here.”
AI-generated art is a controversial topic, to be sure. Some consider it a new, innovative medium. Others see it as devoid of any real creativity at all, as it’s produced by a machine, rather than a human. Many are concerned that, as is the case with many jobs that get machine automated, it will threaten the livelihood of actual illustrators.
Those concerns are certainly valid, but perhaps there’s a balance to be found here, as Yesiltas seems to have accomplished. Previously, another artist similarly created stunningly lifelike portraits of cartoon characters from “Encanto” and ”The Simpsons.” These works still required the human touch, and were carefully crafted over time rather than cracked out in mere seconds, as is the case with a lot of AI art.
At its best, AI art helps remind us, as Yesiltas puts it, that “anything imaginable can be shown in reality.” Which, at the end of the day, could be said for any art.
For English speakers, it can feel impossible to conceive of what the language sounds like to those who don’t speak it. So, to give people an idea of how it’s heard by foreign ears, LanguageSimp, a hyperpolyglot, created a video on TikTok to simulate the experience of what English sounds like to non-speakers.
(A hyperpolyglot is someone who speaks multiple languages.)
The fake Ensligh spoken by LangugeSimp comprises a few English words in non-sensical patterns mixed with familiar sounds that are commonly heard in the language. The strange version of English being spoken sounds a lot like Simlish, the language used by characters in The Sims franchise.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… He out here speaking in Simlish,” Michael Romanazzi wrote in the comments. People with keen ears may notice LanguageSimp uttering a strange phrase: “You’re literally dog water.”
Ever wondered what it’s like to not understand English?
Ever wondered what it’s like to not understand English? #english #languages #language #linguistics #USA #polyglot
The video is fun because it gives English-speaking people a unique perspective on their mother tongue. Hopefully, it also makes people a bit more empathetic towards those trying to learn the language.
“It sounds like I should be able to understand, but when I try it makes no sense,” DoggoDraagon commented.
The video brought back memories for many who have had to learn English as a second language.
“That’s how it sounded when I first moved to America; no wonder I can’t remember what they were saying to me,” Julio added. “As someone who grew up speaking only Spanish in Spain, learning English and understanding it was hard as hell,” Mimi commented.
Netflix has done it again. That is, they have resurrected another series to breathe new life into a show that wasn’t appreciated enough elsewhere. In this case, that would be Girls5Eva, formerly of Peacock and hailing from the mind of Tina Fey and Robert Carlock. These two seldom swing and miss, and now, we’ll be able to see TV’s funniest Spice Girls-esque 1990s girl group return to relive their glory days.
That’s more difficult dreamed than done, as audiences witnessed previously when the former pop sensations — portrayed by Busy Phillips, Sarah Bareilles, Paula Pell, and Renée Elise Goldsberry — attempted to relive their early-20s life while juggling family, real professions, and getting achier in the bod. (Hydration, people.) Now, however, they have managed to record their new album, so it’s time to go on tour. A predictable development? Well, it’s better than dealing with the Property Brothers again.
Plot
Yes, I meant to mention the Property Brothers above. They actually popped into the second season finale and did martial arts (no, really) after informing the group that they would not be touring on their record label’s dime.
Peacock
The ladies were not to be detoured, or deterred, and they’re gonna do this thing on their own. The new album is called Returnity, and they have no crew or even bookings, but yes, it’s time for the on-the-road comeback. Man, I hope this tour rider surfaces. From the synopsis:
With no plan, tour manager, or venues secured, the ladies pile into a van and hit the great unknown, doing their damnedest to promote their album and get back on top. In the process, Girls5eva will grapple with life on the road, see their relationships tested, play a billionaire’s birthday party, sow their oats, confront parents they believe held them back, cross paths with the biggest pop star on the planet, and question if they really want “the big time” again. Will Girls5eva fast-track their comeback and sell their tour documentary in the process? Or will the road destroy them?
Cast
Are the Property Brothers going to be the surprise tour managers? If only. The better news: Busy Phillips, Sarah Bareilles, Paula Pell, and Renée Elise Goldsberry are all back on the roster.
Release Date
Girls5Eva officially returns (yes, on Netflix) on March 14.
Trailer
They might be a one-hit wonder, but these ladies are cooking up the next hit in the form of a trailer. We should see it arrive any week now.
Afrobeats is one of the fastest-growing genres in the country. There are big names who have seen global success, but there are even more talented up-and-coming artists looking to achieve the same type of success. Finding those artists can be tough, but we’ve got you covered. Every week, we’ll share an update on the best new afrobeats songs you need to hear and hopefully, you can find someone new to add to your rotation.
Since the last update of this weekly afrobeats column, we’ve received plenty of music and news from the genre’s artists.
Here are some more releases on the new music front that you should check out:
Victony — “Everything”
With his debut album just around the corner, rising afrobeats singer Victony shares his first single of 2024 with “Everything.” The new record, which samples Post Malone and Swae Lee’s double-Diamond “Sunflower,” is a warm and vibrant record that captures the impact a woman has on the Nigerian singer. Victony delivers an original verse to open the song while pulling a part of Swae Lee’s “Sunflower” verse for the song’s second verse.
Black Sherif & Mabel — “Zero”
Later this year will mark two years since Black Sherif’s epic debut album The Villain I Never Was, a body of work that was regarded as one of the best afrobeats projects in 2022. His second album is hopefully en route, but until then, you can indulge in “Zero,” his new single with singer Mabei. Together, the singers showcase their desires to have drama-free lives while telling others to take care of their personal issues before approaching them.
Ayra Starr — “Commas”
Ayra Starr’s latest era is in full motion. It kicked off with the release of her “Commas,” her first release of the year, and a record that joins “Sability” and “Rhythm & Blues” as records presumably from her upcoming debut album. “Commas” is a vibrant and well-spirited anthem that Starr uses to preach about a lifestyle that only focuses on things that benefit her. If it doesn’t she’ll make sure it’s quickly removed from her life.
Khaid & Gyakie — “Run Away”
After releasing his If EP last fall, Nigerian singer Khaid returns alongside Gyakie for their new single “Run Away.” The new single speaks of a new love so strong that Khaid is ready for a longtime commitment toward it, and at the same time, he begs his partner to stick around and enjoy what he brings to the table rather than running away to something or someone else.
Kayode — Kay Kay
Last spring, Nigerian singer Kayode shared his second EP Still Figuring Life which delivered seven songs and features from PsychoP and Odumodoblvck. For 2024, he checks back in with his new EP Kay Kay. It’s a brief project, with just four songs to its name, but it’s an energetic one that serves as a great warm-up of what’s to come in the future for Kayode.
Magixx — “Okay”
We’re still waiting for the official debut from Mavins singer Magixx as his labelmates Ayra Starr, Crayon, and Rema have all delivered their own. Though we’ll have to wait a bit to receive word on that, the talented singer returns with “Okay.” Despite the stresses that can appear from all corners of life, Magixx assures listeners that he’s doing okay and pushing through as best as he can.
Logos Olori — Olori (The EP)
Last year, Nigerian singer Logos Olori appeared on “Picasso” from Davido’s Timeless album, which went on to receive a Grammy nomination for the 2024 awards. Now, Logos, who is signed to Davido’s label, is back with his debut EP. Olori (The EP) delivers seven songs and guest appearances from Davido himself and Musa Keys, who is also signed to Davido’s label and appeared on the Grammy-nominated “Unavailable” from Davido’s Timeless
After connecting with Reekado Banks for “Emotional Robbery,” Nigerian producer Larrylanes is back in action with his new single “Mamba” alongside Seyi Vibez and Bella Shmurda. Larrylanes’ 2024 debut is an energetic and lively record that’s perfect for the dancefloor and your daytime party as well.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
It’s Valentine’s Day, and you know what that means: PDAs from celebrities to their loved ones. Could any of them be as romantic as the one Donald Trump sent to his AWOL wife Melania, which thanked her for sticking with him through “every single INDICTMENT, ARREST, and WITCH HUNT”? It’s hard to say. But the jokey one from Chris Hemsworth may at least be a little stranger.
Per People, the Blackhat alum took to Instagram with a post addressed to his wife, Elsa Pataky. But it wasn’t onlyf or her. It was meant to educate non-Australians about something important.
“This year I thought I’d share with you how babies are made in Australia,” Hemsworth wrote in the caption. “It’s both a game of passion, love and intense sportsmanship where [everyone’s] a winner.”
So how does one make babies in Australia? The video shows Hemsworth swimming up to Pataky in slow-motion, then, well, mounting her, sort of, by climbing onto her back and clasping her in an embrace. All this happens, by the way, to the strains of Enya’s “Only Time.”
Hemsworth often posts pictures of him and his wife on social media. They’ve been married since 2010 and have three kids together, including twins, but that doesn’t mean everything’s always love-dovey between them. After he got extra-jacked for Thor: Love and Thunder — having been so bored during the pandemic that he over-trained — she admitted that she didn’t like his new, super-ripped bod. Perhaps she preferred Beer-Gut Thor from Avengers: Endgame.
What was a day of celebration in Kansas City became another American tragedy. Shortly after the Chiefs partied on stage at their Super Bowl parade, the thousands that had gathered suddenly had to flee after shots were fired near the parking garage of Union Station.
Kansas City police confirmed the shooting on Twitter, asking fans to leave the area and avoid the garage to allow medical personnel to attend to multiple shooting victims. Two armed individuals were initially taken into custody.
Shots have been fired around Union Station. Please leave the area.
Anyone nearby needs to leave the area as quickly and safely as possible to facilitate treatment of the shooting victims. Please avoid the Union Station parking garage area to allow first responders through.
It was a scary scene as fans ran away from Union Station, with some leaping the barricades set up for the parade trying to get away quickly, not long after the team had been on stage delivering their remarks to the tens of thousands in attendance in the aftermath of their Super Bowl victory in Las Vegas earlier this week.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Shots have been fired at the site of a parade celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl win, police say.pic.twitter.com/FE3TQDnnBM
The images are a grizzly reminder of the ever-present threat of gun violence, where even a celebration like a Super Bowl parade can suddenly turn into a tragic event. A reunification area was set up by police because many families were separated in the chaos of people fleeing for safety.
Remember the child reunification stations in the area are at 2301 Main and inside the main entrance of Union Station. We still have several needing reunification. Contact the officer nearest you for reunification information.
KSHB confirmed with Kansas City police that there were 10 victims, including multiple children who were being treated at Kansas City’s Children’s Mercy Hospital in relation to the shooting.
Let’s face it: Yellowstone — at least the original show — is as good as over, and that’s alright because there are about 72 other Taylor Sheridan shows in process or on the way.
At some point, the final episodes of Sheridan’s flagship series will film and find their way out into the wild. However, it’s probably much more likely that we will see a few other Sheridan shows either debut or return first. Will 1923 be one of them? A second season is on tap, and between that and Tulsa King and Land Man it’s a good time to appreciate how A-listers are clamoring to appear in shows by Mr. “11 on the call sheet” from Sons Of Anarchy. Those were words from Sheridan’s memory, not anything that directly came from anyone on that Kurt Sutter production. Still, nobody could dispute that Deputy Hale has moved up in the world.
Let’s hop into action, too. 1883 came and went for a solitary season (despite an initial renewal), but 1944, 2024, and 6666 are still on the way. 1923 will return with Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren as Jacob and Cara Dutton respectively. What can we expect from their return to worrying about their beloved ranch? It’s amazing how the Yellowstone world can put so many different spins on that same question.
Plot
Sheridan has been upfront about how this season will be the last that we see of Cara and Jacob unless they appear somewhere else in flashback form. As a result, we can expect the lineage toward modern-day John Dutton III to become more clear. Last time around, the family tree grew more twisted and confusing when Elizabeth (Jack’s betrothed) took a shot to the abdomen. Expect those soap-opera teases and revelations to continue as the show will (hopefully) reveal the path that more precisely leads to John III.
Possibly figuring into that could be the arrival of Spencer Dutton, son to 1883 characters James and Margaret, at around the same time that we might see more followup on Zane’s family devastation. Outside of the direct family matters, Donald Whitfield will remain a chief antagonistic threat, who did not pick up Jacob and Cara’s tax bill with the most benevolent of intent. You know that Cara will not hesitate to pick up a shotgun again if Whitfield comes calling for that purpose, and viewers will be here for it.
As far as locations go, the show revealed that production will continue in Montana (the mining town of Butte, to be specific) after the show had to keep paying the monthly tab while Hollywood went in strike. Additionally, Sheridan previously confirmed that he spent so much money on the first season, and due to delays and the need to resign the stars (given that this was originally intended as a limited series), this season’s price tag should be even heftier.
Cast
Taylor Sheridan has made no secret of how thrilled he was that both Ford and Mirren were pumped to join his Yellowstone saga. Ford recently told The Hollywood Reporter that he was “excited” to do another season. He added, “I took the job without a script” and “I really didn’t realize how much work 1923 was going to be, and I absolutely feel it’s worth it.” Mirren will be back as well.
Brandon Sklenar will also return, and hang tight on news regarding Michelle Randolph, Jerome Flynn, Aminah Nieves, Julia Schlaepfer, Brian Geraghty, Timothy Dalton, and Robert Patrick.
Release Date
In January, Brandon Sklenar let it slip that he would be filming within a few months. That’s not too terribly clear, but this could pave the way for a late 2024 release. After all, the first season completed most of production by late summer 2022 and still landed by December 18. With that said, we probably would have the show return by mid 2024, if not for the Hollywood strikes that shut down TV and film for much of last year.
Trailer
With filming nearly about to begin, there’s no way that a trailer exists yet. So, feel free to relive these confrontations from the first season, including a barnburner after the 7:00 mark.
Today is Valentine’s Day, so it’s only right we spotlight indie band Loving today. Not only did the group drop their dreamy third album Any Light last week, but it’s on-theme for the holiday as it’s weaved together with moon-kissed ballads and poetic love letters.
The group, composed of David Parry and brothers Lucas Henderson and Jesse Henderson, have made a name for themselves with their billowing, twang-tinged love songs. The longtime friends-turned-band-members met in a chance encounter while planting trees in Western Canada, a hobby which eventually lay the groundwork for the group’s lush instrumentation.
Throughout the album, Loving spin together themes of dreams and light on tracks like the languishing “Blue” and tender “The Light In You.” Vocalist Jesse Henderson notes the themes weren’t intentional at first, but came to reflect the album as a whole. “When I looked at all of these songs together, I realized that the concept of light was threaded throughout the album,” he said in a statement. “For me, light signifies awareness or insight, which ties into how many of these songs document a shift in perspective.”
To celebrate the release of Any Light, Henderson sits down with Uproxx to talk Leonard Cohen, breakfast in bed, and foosball in our latest Q&A.
What are three words you would use to describe your music?
Blue, cloudy, painting.
It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
Like when you find little tidbits of your old self in a desk drawer or coat pocket.
Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?
Leonard Cohen — mastery of language, feeling, poetic vision, delivery.
Where did you eat the best meal of your life and what was it?
I have such a sh*t memory. I just ate breakfast in bed — toast with an egg, goat gouda, smoked paprika, a bit of sunlight.
Tell us about the best concert you’ve ever attended.
Leonard again. He played for hours and with such energy and grace.
What song never fails to make you emotional?
“Goodnight Sweetheart” by Al Bowlly.
What’s the last thing you Googled?
Google translate, I’m presently in Germany and “alles gut” only gets you so far.
Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?
We had this habit of bringing camp gear along on summer tours, it mainly just got in the way during load-in. The one night we decided to camp last summer we chose the Moab desert. We thought it would cool down at night and it did not. At all. Instead, we were slow-cooked and the next morning when we woke up, we discovered that while no one slept at all, everyone somehow managed to remain in complete silence. Silently suffering all through the night.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform and what’s the city you hope to perform in for the first time?
No favorites. Okay, Buenos Aires.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
Don’t listen to me.
What’s one of your hidden talents?
Foosball.
If you had a million dollars to donate to charity, what cause would you support and why?
There’s a lot of pressing causes to support and they all need more than one million dollars, they require real political intervention.
What are your thoughts about AI and the future of music?
My mind doesn’t travel down this road. I’ve always been a bit of a teenager in this way, when everyone is on about something I tune out.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you.
Nina Simone, Chet Baker, Joao Gilberto, Leonard Cohen, Chopin.
Who’s your favorite person to follow on social media?
Nobody.
What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?
No tattoos.
What is your pre-show ritual?
Get really anxious, walk around like I’ve had too much coffee. Once we danced to some improv riffs with Casio beats and I think that’s the right direction.
Who was your first celebrity crush?
Brad Pitt in Legends Of The Fall.
You have a month off and the resources to take a dream vacation. Where are you going and who is coming with you?
A Buddhist retreat, somewhere completely unknown to me, alone.
What is your biggest fear?
Wasting this precious life.
Any Light is out now via Last Gang/MNRK. Find more information here.
As Abbott Elementary unfolds its Season 3 run, creator Quinta Brunson opened up about how an upcoming scene from the show was inspired by her mom, who was a real life teacher.
“You’ll see one of them this year, a big moment this season that amazed me about my mom,” Brunson recently told PEOPLE. “And it was her ability to go the extra mile for a kid, take them in.”
According to Brunson, it was a moment from her childhood that puzzled her at the time, but she’s since come to appreciate why it happened and that it spoke to the type of a person her mom truly was:
“I remember one time a kid being in the house and I was like, ‘Why is this kid here?’ And my mom could not put her teacher heart aside to not give someone a home for a night that needed a home.”
“She wasn’t supposed to, but it’s not something she could really turn a blind eye to,” she added.
Abbott Elementary has been a huge hit with viewers and actual teachers, who have reached out to Brunson over the past few years.
“It’s amazing to meet them because it feels affirming that the work I’m doing is … getting my heart and soul out there,” Brunson said. “And I just try to have conversations with people and just remind both of us that we are just still people. I know I make this show and it’s touched a lot of people, but we are just still human beings.”
Abbott Elementary airs Wednesday nights on ABC with episodes available for streaming the next day on Hulu.
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