Two of the top heavyweights in the world stepped into the ring on Friday. Anthony Joshua, the decorated boxer and former heavyweight champion of the world, took on Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion who has started to break into the world of boxing following the expiration of his contract with the MMA promotion.

The fight took place in Saudi Arabia, and while it ended up not taking especially long to crown a winner, at least those in attendance got to witness some fireworks at the very end. After dominating the first round and knocking Ngannou down as it came to an end, Joshua came out in the second and decided to end the night early. He knocked Ngannou down with a big right hand, and while he was able to get up, Ngannou was clearly a bit woozy. Joshua took advantage, as he threw one gigantic right hand that knocked Ngannou out cold and secured a win.

Prior to this fight, no one had ever knocked out Ngannou in the UFC or in the world of boxing. While Ngannou had 20 fights in the UFC and left the promotion as its heavyweight champ, this was only his second boxing match — he lost via split decision to Tyson Fury in October.

As for Joshua, this marks his fourth win in a row after he lost back-to-back fights against Oleksandr Usyk. The first cost him the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles, while the second put all five of those and the vacant The Ring titles on the line.

FLO is kicking off the new year with some new music to get fans excited. The first release since their 2023 EP 3 Of Us, “Walk Like This” is a confident anthem that brilliantly opens with the sound of their heeled boots.

Lyrically, it also gets a little bit spicy, as they declare “There’s a reason I walk like this (I walk!) / Side to side with a sway in my hip.” The band co-wrote and produced it alongside MNEK.

“We made ‘Walk Like This’ with our frequent and loved collaborators MNEK, Ashton Sellars, Kabba, Relyt, and Talay Riley,” the band shared in a statement. “It was the end of 2023 and we wanted to create something sexy, still fun and upbeat, and for the certified lover girl in us all.”

“The song is about that energy you have when you embrace your sensuality and womanhood,” FLO added. “It’s okay to admit a man’s doing well from time to time! We hope it makes you feel confident, a bit naughty, and adds that extra sway to your walk.”

As for what to expect from FLO throughout the rest of 2024, the London-based girl group will be performing at Coachella and NYC’s Governors Ball in just a few months.

Check out FLO’s “Walk Like This” above.

Matt Champion, formerly of Brockhampton, officially announced his debut solo album titled Mika’s Laundry. Today, March 8, he also gave fans another preview of it by collaborating with Blackpink’s Jennie on “Slow Motion.”

Jennie’s voice opens the verse, setting a gentle and emotional tone as she is backed only by a slow piano instrumental. Then, Champion’s voice starts backing her, introducing the fact that a shift is about to happen. It then leans more into a faster electronic beat. The two are a talented vocal pairing, providing different perspectives of a relationship.

“If I could stop time for real / Would make it any easier for me to love you? / ‘Cause you know I’m shy for you still,” they sing, according to Genius. “So bad that it kills / And I can’t help but feel / Like we’re moving in slow motion.”

As for what else fans can expect from Mika’s Laundry, Champion will be including the previous releases of “Aphid” (feat. Dijon) and “Slug.” Both of these also had videos that were directed by Anna Pollack. He produced the entirety of the album alongside Henry Kwapis, Dijon, and more “close collaborators,” per a release.

Check out Matt Champion’s “Slow Motion” featuring Jennie above.

Mika’s Laundry is out 3/22 via RCA. Find more information here.

Sometimes the best new R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm-and-blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to what they really love in its true form, we’ll be offering a digest of the best new R&B songs that fans of the genre should hear every Friday.

Since the last update of this weekly R&B column, we’ve received plenty of music and news from the genre’s artists.

4batz united with Drake a remix of the former’s viral track, “Act II: Date @ 8” and Mary J. Blige announced the lineup for her third annual Strength Of A Woman Festival. Tyla revealed that a longstanding injury would force her to cancel her Tyla Tour dates while Kehlani teased the release of her upcoming album and SiR revealed the tracklist for his fourth album Heavy. Elsewhere, Yaya Bey takes on the dancefloor with her video for “Sir Princess Bad B*tch,” Josh Levi stopped by Uproxx Sessions to perform “Birthday Dance” and “She Keeps Comin’,” and SZA made an appearance on Sesame Street.

Here are some more releases on the new music front that you should check out:

FLO — “Walk Like This”

London-based girl group FLO takes their first steps into 2024 with their confident new single “Walk Like This.” The record is presumably the first taste of their upcoming debut album which is set to arrive later this year. “It was the end of 2023 and we wanted to create something sexy, still fun and upbeat, and for the certified lover girl in us all,” the trio said about the song. “The song is about that energy you have when you embrace your sensuality and womanhood.”

Trevor Jackson — Heads Up

Four his first project since 2022’s Show Me Diamonds, Trevor Jackson returns with another 4-track EP thanks to Heads Up. The project brings Trevor back into the world of R&B with each song detailing a unique experience in love. It also delivers a pair of features from Malaika Terry and Parris LaDame.

Fridayy — “Without You”

Known for his powerful and heartfelt releases, Fridayy delivers another one with his latest single “Without You.” The sentimental record is one dedicated to the singer’s late father as Fridayy reflects on their last moments and picks up the pieces to move forward. The record is also one written for those who have dealt with the loss of a loved one.

Sinead Harnett — “The Most”

The road towards Sinead Harnett’s upcoming album Boundaries continues with her latest single “The Most.” On it, Harnett voices her frustrations with a partner who continues to do wrong despite their promises to improve and do better. The song also arrives with the promise of an official date for Boundaries coming soon.

Chase Shakur — The Stunt-Man Pack

After thriving in 2023 with It’s Not You, It’s Me, Atlanta-born singer Chase Shakur steps into his 2024 campaign with a two-pack for his growing fan base. The Stunt-Man Pack delivers the uptempo”Yolanda” and the sultry “Options” as new releases to join his impressive catalog. “I wanted to put two tracks together that felt different, but that a lot of people could relate to,” Shakur said about the songs.

Lekan — “614”

Nigerian-American singer Lekan blends the worlds of soul and trap R&B like few can and his latest single “614” proves that to be the case. The record begins as a soft, soul-leaning effort that’s nostalgic and warm before transforming into a bass-knocking effort that wakes up the room. It’s the duality you love to see in artists and Lekan does it well here. “This song is a slight introduction into my world and where I’m from, Lekan says in a press release. “I’m expressing the mentality I had to have within the place I grew up – hopeful and bright to dark and reflective.”

Tank — “Before We Get Started” Feat. Fabolous

Tank ended 2023 with his single “Willing” and now he’s back in 2024 with a new record. “Before We Get Started” arrives with a feature from Fabolous as both artists speak about the moment they decide to approach a woman who’s caught their attention. They acknowledge her hesitations about this love while promising to make it worthwhile.

Allyn — “Flood” Feat. BlueBucksClan

Sacramento singer Allyn has a fly bounce in her step on her new single “Flood” with BlueBucksClan. The record celebrates a successful life and the benefits that come with it, one being the ability to hit the strip club and flood the floor with money. “Flood” is surely a record you’ll want in your arsenal for the upcoming summer months.

Sango — “Show” Feat. Rochelle Jordan

With North Vol. 2 on the way, Sango teams up with Rochelle Jordan for their new single “Show.” The record is a promising taste of Sango’s upcoming album which will be his first since 2018’s In The Comfort Of, home of personal Sango-favorite, “Khlorine” with Smino. “Show” also follows “Masego’s Interlude” which is set to appear on North Vol. 2.

Devvon Terrell — “Call My Ex”

After ending 2023 with Weird Nights 2, Devvon Terrell has yet to take his foot off the gas, kicking off 2024 with three records. Following “Wasting You 20s” and “Simple Girls,” Terrell is back with “Call My Ex.” The record offers a simple solution to Terrell’s current relationship issues: to call his ex where he experienced a more genuine love than he currently does.

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

One of the interesting quirks about wealth and class in America is that many people have a hard time determining their socioeconomic status accurately. A poll published by Business Insider found that some Americans earning less than $50,000 feel rich, while others earning more than $100,000 feel poor. Nearly half of Americans earning $100,000 or more identify as middle class.

The same poll found that only 13% of millionaires believe they are wealthy and 60% define themselves as middle class.

A TikTokker named Geneviève explained how this disconnect could happen by using her girlfriend as an example. Geneviève grew up in a low-income family and her girlfriend was raised by affluent parents, with a live-in nanny and a maid. However, the girlfriend always thought she was middle class.

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Interestingly, she tells the story in a very non-judgmental way. She simply wants to understand why people’s perceptions of wealth can be so skewed.

“Here are some culture shocks that I had as someone who grew up poor who’s now living with someone who grew up with money,” Geneviève said. “Firstly, is the fact that rich people don’t consider themselves rich because they surround themselves with people who are much richer than them.”

@gen_laforce

do y’all have any rich people experiences? i’m curious✨ #richvspoor #cultureshock #grwm #relatable

“It’s amazing that she was able to live this life, but it made me realize that everything is relative. Because although per my standard that qualifies as rich, she was by far not the richest person at her school, in her neighborhood, in her group of friends,” Geneviève said.

“So to her, she was actually middle class because she had never really come into contact with people who were properly poor, or even properly middle class,” she continued. “She had only ever really been exposed to people within her own community who were well-off until she went to college.”

Geneviève’s story is an interesting lesson on how we see ourselves and that, in the end, there’s always going to be someone richer than you and always someone who has less. The key is that if you’re genuinely grateful for what you have, you can feel like a king, regardless of what’s in your bank account. But if you’re rich and ungrateful, you’ll never have enough.

Parents whose children participate in elite travel ball leagues can spend up to $12,000 annually on fees, equipment, hotel rooms and gas. One mother, Casey Kelley, from Alabama, has spoken out, saying that if parents spend all of that money and time, their children should get to play in games. Kelley’s daughter plays on a club volleyball team.

The topic was inspired by a conversation she had with other volleyball parents who agreed that every kid should get a decent amount of playing time.

“I’ll tell you what I think. I think, if you’re paying to be there, so it’s not like high school sports, I think everyone should have the opportunity to play because this is a developmental league … and they’re there to develop and to learn,” she explained in a TikTok video.

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“Especially if these parents are paying thousands of dollars for them to be in the league and then traveling, spending money on hotels for their kid to sit there and maybe play a minute or two the whole weekend. I think it’s unfair,” she continued.

@caseyjkelley

What do you think? #travelball #clubsport #athlete #kids #mom #question

It’s reasonable for Kelley to believe that spending a lot of money and traveling all over the map only to watch your kid play for a few minutes feels pointless. However, a lot of parents disagreed with her in the comments.

“You pay for practice. Playing time is earned,” Nathan Sullins wrote.

“Absolutely not. If you want fair playing time you play rec ball. Travel ball playing time is performance based,” another user wrote.

But these parents haven’t changed Kelley’s mind.

“I’m not opposed to kids earning their spot or the best kids playing more, but I feel that every kid who makes the team should at least have some playing time,” she told Upworthy. “I know it’s not a popular opinion, but it’s how I currently see it.”

Kelley further explained the story in a follow-up video.

@caseyjkelley

Clarification post and the last one on this topic #travelball #athlete #travelballparents #clubsport #parenting

What do you think?

The best new hip-hop this week includes albums, videos, and songs from Kyle, Kenny Mason, Lola Brooke, and more.

I love weeks like this one. While many rap fans are often disappointed by a lack of big-name releases, I relish the potential for discovery. Weeks like this one introduced me to some of my favorite artists, who might have gone overlooked otherwise, along with the time to give deep listens to underground and rising names that I might not usually be able to afford. With big releases from the likes of Cardi B and others coming down the pike, this might be the last quiet week for a bit, so enjoy the ride.

This week, though, we got to indulge in a pair of new Kenny Mason singles, as well as the video for “Jumpin In.”

DJ Premier teamed up once again with Russ for another surprisingly emotional lyrical showcase on “Work It Out.”

And Lola Brooke hit her stride, creating a fascinating, undeniably combo of New York grit and New Orleans bounce with A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Big Freedia on “Bend It Ova.”

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending March 8, 2024.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Jae Skeese & Superior — Statement Of The Times

Buffalo, New York has become the capitol of gritty, throwback hip-hop that evokes a time when rappers didn’t smile, only rapped to get out of the crack game, and really, really wanted listeners’ to scrunch their faces up from the wordplay. Jae Skeese is an exemplar of this style, keeping up a steady stream of straightforward boom-bap releases alongside the likes of Conway The Machine, Rome Streetz, and their ilk. Testament is a solid entry to his personal canon thanks to Superior’s menacingly smooth production

Kyle — Smyle Again

Kyle’s widely recognized breakout came with his 2015 album Smyle, which introduced the world to his “aw, shucks” approach to earnest, autobiographical rap. Despite honing his skills in rap batles, he stepped to his opponents with a Will Smith-esque, beguiling humor that translated to pop-rap likeability on songs like “iSpy.” While Smyle Again has a clear intention to harken to that era, Kyle avoids wallowing in nostalgia. Instead, Smyle Again is an upbeat, forward-looking experiment in plending genres with hip-hop you wouldn’t normally think to: 2-step, jungle, garage, and drum&bass rhythms undergird his flirty, lightweight rhymes. The way I was about Kota’s Protea last year, I am going to be even worse with this.

LNDN Drugs — Affiliated 2

Compton’s Jay Worthy and Vancouver’s Sean House team up once again to deliver an unexpected blend of funky gangsta raps with weirdly catchy, yacht rock-y production. They take the blueprint established over 25 years ago by Warren G and Nate Dogg on “Regulate” and expand it into a whole cinematic universe populated by certified OGs like Compton’s Most Wanted, Kokane, and Big Hit along with blog faves like Stalley, ALLBLACK, and Domo Genesis. It works. C-walk to this.

MIKE & Tony Seltzer — Pinball

I’m not totally sure what it means that adamant backpack revivalists like Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE are starting to embrace more accessible production but I demand more of it. MIKE’s latest — produced by Tony Seltzer — delivers, pairing his blunted, stream-of-consciousness observations with beats that WON’T “scare the hoes.” I’m widdit. It’s more spacey and pyschedelic than we’re used to hearing from these guys (yes, Earl shows up here), but it makes the whole endeavor more palatable than the choppy samples they normally use.

Spence Lee — S.H.O.T.T.A.

Don’t judge me for the double-take I did when I Googled Spence Lee. The Chinese-Vietnamese American rapper, who’s been closely affiliated with 88rising and Mike Will’s Eardrummers label, brings a fascinating, engaging vibe to his music, bouncing off gospeldelic crooning and emphatic, lithe rhymes. His style is emblematic of the borderless sound of the internet (he’s from Franklin, New Jersey, but sounds a little more Southern), and his production choices sit far enough left of center that he sounds like a standout more than a try-hard. Color me intrigued.

Singles/Videos

Big Boogie — “Wizard” Feat. DJ Drama

A DJ Drama co-sign is usually a strong signal that a newer artist is worth paying attention to. As Big Boogie also bears the CMG seal of approval from Yo Gotti, giving the Memphis native’s music a listen turns out to be a rewarding experience. He’s got that souful sound and blunt delivery representative of his hometown but there’s silk under the gravel, giving “Wizard” a hypnotic quality that draws you in rather than beating you down. He’s on the radar. Keep him there.

Cochise — “Geeked”

I’ve slipped the Florida rapper into several previous columns and I intend to continue doing so until I start seeing some more pickup. Again, the kid has one of the most unique flows I’ve heard in my 30 years but not in that annoying, hipster blogger-favorite way that lets you know they’ll actually be ass as a performer and nobody actually messes with them in real life. Cochise has mastered the fundamentals, so his deconsructions actually sound purposeful, not sloppy. “Geeked” is a prime example.

Domani — “Forever Lasting” Feat. DC Young Fly & Seddy Hendrinx

Look. Yes. I know. Domani is, technically, a “nepo baby” (his dad is none other than trap godfather T.I.). But you’d think we as a people would have learned by now not to write off hip-hop artists as the products of their parents’ political connections in the industry. Domani’s music is a stark departure from his pops’ and as a result, he works double time to ensure that he can be taken seriously on his own merits (fortunately, he did inherent Tip’s gift for wordplay). On “Forever Lasting,” he takes a much more down-to-earth approach to the rap ballad than the elder Harris ever did, and pulls off an earnest love letter, with a surprsingly vulnerable turn from comic rapper DC Young Fly.

Ktlyn — “Plain Jayne”

There has long been a joke circulating on the less savory channels of social media: “The white girls are evolving.” While it’s usually used in a pretty gross context, fortunately, it also seems to apply to blonde-haired, blue-eyed rappers. Where acts like Kreayshawn and Iggy Azalea were the Vanilla Ice-like 1.0s, newer names like Ktlyn and Wynne are the more grounded Everlasts and Evidences of the archetype. Ktlyn got her first brush with stardom when Russ tapped her to appear on his 2022 “Handsomer” remix. Since then, though, she’s been working to earn her spot, issuing a steady stream of technically proficient singles and freestyles aiming to differentiate her from her slightly embarrassing forebears. “Plain Jayne” even has the brass to hint at the obvious comparison both she and Wynne have gotten (and shoot a stray at Lil Dicky), while brushing off the obvious knee jerk critiques they’re both likely to field for the foreseeable future.

Wynne — “Cut & Paste” Feat. WowGr8

The universal algorithms have a sense of humor. Wynne dropping the same day as Ktlyn is… one hell of a coincidence. However, while Ktlyn is still in her “proving herself” era, Wynne has pretty much already done just that by virtue of her solid collection of independently released projects running the gamut from battle raps to party music. So, on her latest, she instead tackles a universal subject with the help of one of her Earthgang compadres, WowGr8 (aka Doctur Dot). They each take a position in the conversation between a former couple about the current climate of overwhelming choices offered by perfectly curated social media and the insecurity it creates.

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

Parents whose children participate in elite travel ball leagues can spend up to $12,000 annually on fees, equipment, hotel rooms and gas. One mother, Casey Kelley, from Alabama, has spoken out, saying that if parents spend all of that money and time, their children should get to play in games. Kelley’s daughter plays on a club volleyball team.

The topic was inspired by a conversation she had with other volleyball parents who agreed that every kid should get a decent amount of playing time.

“I’ll tell you what I think. I think, if you’re paying to be there, so it’s not like high school sports, I think everyone should have the opportunity to play because this is a developmental league … and they’re there to develop and to learn,” she explained in a TikTok video.

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“Especially if these parents are paying thousands of dollars for them to be in the league and then traveling, spending money on hotels for their kid to sit there and maybe play a minute or two the whole weekend. I think it’s unfair,” she continued.

@caseyjkelley

What do you think? #travelball #clubsport #athlete #kids #mom #question

It’s reasonable for Kelley to believe that spending a lot of money and traveling all over the map only to watch your kid play for a few minutes feels pointless. However, a lot of parents disagreed with her in the comments.

“You pay for practice. Playing time is earned,” Nathan Sullins wrote.

“Absolutely not. If you want fair playing time you play rec ball. Travel ball playing time is performance based,” another user wrote.

But these parents haven’t changed Kelley’s mind.

“I’m not opposed to kids earning their spot or the best kids playing more, but I feel that every kid who makes the team should at least have some playing time,” she told Upworthy. “I know it’s not a popular opinion, but it’s how I currently see it.”

Kelley further explained the story in a follow-up video.

@caseyjkelley

Clarification post and the last one on this topic #travelball #athlete #travelballparents #clubsport #parenting

What do you think?

If you thought the Masters Of The Air cast was stacked, then you will also want to have a gander at Apple TV+’s next dive into U.S. history. Anthony Boyle also happens to be a part of both casts, and he has moved on from portraying an ace navigator (who also happened to get very airsick) to John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Abraham Lincoln.

That particular president is portrayed in this adaptation by the chronically underappreciated Hamish Linklater, who has moved on from being a vampiric priest to taking a more understated turn than in his usual fare. However, that’s only the beginning of Manhunt, so let’s discuss what to expect.

Plot

Manhunt takes a true-crime thriller approach in adapting James L. Swanson’ non-fiction book, Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer. Most of the seven-episode series will, as that title suggests, follow the intense aftermath of law enforcement doing their damndest to catch the murderous fugitive. Naturally, there’s a hefty slice of historical fiction at work, but overall, this is a gripping adventure that dives into the emotions surrounding that era in time.

As well, damn, Anthony Boyle really gets a chance to shine after being essentially lost in a massive ensemble during the most recent Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg WWII epic series. The series is being launched shortly after what would have been Abraham Lincoln’s 215th birthday, and the synopsis doesn’t give anything away that you haven’t already heard in history classes:

Based on The New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning non-fiction book from author James L. Swanson, “Manhunt” is a conspiracy thriller about one of the best known but least understood crimes in history, the astonishing story of the hunt for John Wilkes Booth in the aftermath of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.

Cast

Hamish Linklater plays the ill-fated Abraham Lincoln. The cast includes Tobias Menzies, Anthony Boyle, Will Harrison, Lovie Simone, and Patton freaking Oswalt with not only muttonchops but a full-on beard.

Release Date

Manhunt debuts on March 15 with two episodes, and five more will arrive on Fridays until April 19.

Trailer

Here you go, and Anthony Boyle is on (terrifying) fire:

For some people, fast food is a treat — a rare indulgence. And when you don’t eat fast food regularly and instead consider it an exception to your dietary rules, you don’t want to be disappointed. Because let’s face it, a lot of times, fast food can be pretty disappointing.

This is why we’ve started an ongoing series where we highlight the five absolute best menu items at a specific restaurant. We’ve done Taco Bell, McDonald’s, KFC, and Jack in the Box and now it’s time to take on the Shack. We’re talking about Shake Shack (sorry to the Crack Shack fans out there whose heart rate started to skip).

Shake Shack is a tough restaurant to break down into five undeniable classics because everything the restaurant does it does pretty well. Except for the fries. Shake Shack also tends to have a few limited-time-only items on its menu, like last summer’s Spicy Burgermeister (or this month’s Korean BBQ Burger), which we named the best cheeseburger of 2023.

For this review, we decided to leave off all limited options and only focus on food on the permanent menu. That means we’re going to leave some interesting stuff on the cutting room floor but… it is what it is. Let’s dive in!

Shackburger

Why We Love It:

If there was a Mount Rushmore of cheeseburgers, the Shackburger would be on it. It’s an all-time great, one of the best, if not the best double cheeseburgers in the vast fast food universe.

What sets this burger apart from the competition is the meat patty. It’s beefy, juicy, and has that wonderful carmelized crust across the surface and those lacy edges, that help lock in the savory flavor. The beef patty melts in your mouth. It’s delicate, sumptuous, and puts all other burgers to shame.

And that’s just the beef! Joining that is some great produce as well. Thick green leaf lettuce that has a subtle hint of bitterness, ripe juicy tomatoes that add an umami burst of flavor with every bite, and Shake Shack’s Shake sauce, which offers a nice savory tang to the finish.

We couldn’t improve this one if we tried!

The Bottom Line:

The Shackburger just might be the best cheeseburger in all of fast food.

Roadside Double

Why We Love It:

We love the classic Shake Burger, but at the end of the day it’s just a cheeseburger, and if fast food is a rare treat for you, you might want something a bit more elevated. Enter the Roadside Double, a decadent spin on the original that combines Shake Shack’s amazing melt-in-your-mouth beef patty with a double dose of nutty Swiss cheese, dijon mustard, and beer-simmered caramelized onions.

Biting into this burger is an explosion of bold, sweet, and savory flavors with a sharp tang finish. There is something satisfyingly luxurious about this burger, it has the richness of a BBQ burger without the smokey and overly sweetened notes.

The Bottom Line:

Rich, decadent, and subtly sweet. There is a lot of depth of flavor here that makes this burger addicting.

Avocado Bacon Chicken Sandwich

Why We Love It:

The chicken sandwich is one of the most competitive dishes in fast food right now. And there are a lot of good ones out there (Popeyes and Chick-fil-A immediately come to mind) but as good as those sandwiches are, none of them taste as elevated as Shake Shack’s.

The chicken breast filet here is tender and juicy, breaded in a light and crispy breading which, when paired with the bacon, results in an exceptional audible crunch with every bite. The avocado does a lot of work here to deepen the flavors, offering a buttery savoriness that makes this sandwich as satisfying as a juicy cheeseburger.

The pickles are thick and have a nice amount of snap, and the herb-infused mayo wraps all the flavors together. That mayo is the weakest element here, so if you don’t like mayo on your sandwiches feel free to ditch it — the avocado elevates the flavor enough.

The Bottom Line:

Hands down Shake Shack’s best chicken sandwich.

SmokeShack

Why We Love It:

No fast food burger menu is complete without a great bacon burger, and Shake Shack has one in the SmokeShack. But because this is Shake Shack, whose whole concept is roadside dishes meet premium ingredients, this isn’t your average bacon burger.

The build consists of bacon and beef, joined with chopped cherry peppers, and Shake Sauce. Those chopped cherry peppers add brightness to the smokey and beefy character of the burger, with a mild heat and vegetal sweetness that serves as a nice counterbalance. Wrapping the flavors together is a thick layer of Shake Sauce.

It’s not quite as decadent as a bacon burger tends to be (compare this to the Wendy’s Baconator or the Carl’s Jr Western Bacon Cheeseburger), but it’s refreshingly unique.

The Bottom Line:

A subtle and interesting bacon cheeseburger that tastes unlike the competition.

Malted Chocolate Shake

Why We Love It:

This is Shake Shack so we couldn’t create a list of the five best menu items without shouting out one of the shakes. And when it comes to shakes, the Shack has a lot of them including a Cookies and Cream shake, Maple Snicker Doodle Shake, Coffee and Donuts Shake, and even root bear floats. So why are we going with the standard chocolate shake instead?

Because nothing, and I repeat, nothing tastes more satisfying and rich than a good malted milkshake. To be clear, Shake Shack doesn’t default to a malted milkshake, it’s something you’re going to have to ask for, or you know, select on the app, and adding malted milk powder to your shake adds so much to the end result that it’s almost criminal that all fast food shakes aren’t malted.

One sip of this will introduce your tastebuds to a world of rich cocoa and brown sugar flavors with a hint of nuttiness with a rich finish that is enough to make you say “goddamn!” after drinking it. What other fast food milkshake can deliver the same experience?

The Bottom Line:

Fast food’s greatest chocolate milkshake. Get it malted (always get it malted) and thank us later.