London singer-songwriter Lola Young is coming off a breakout year thanks to her hit single “Messy” (from her 2024 album This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway): It reached No. 1 in her native UK and No. 14 in the US, it has about a quarter-billion streams on Spotify, and it became a viral smash on TikTok. (She also featured on Tyler The Creator’s “Like Him” from Chromakopia last year.)
It remains to be seen exactly how Young will ride this wave in 2025, but busting out a top-shelf Arctic Monkeys cover isn’t a bad start. Young, accompanied by just a keyboard player, sang “I Wanna Be Yours” during a session for SiriusXM’s Alt Nation, letting her distinct, powerhouse vocals carry the track.
She also performed a couple of her own songs: “Conceited” and “Messy.”
In a 2024 interview, Young said an Arctic Monkeys album was an unintentional sonic influence on This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway, saying, “To be fair, I think sonically, AM by Arctic Monkeys was actually one, but it didn’t come intentionally. I feel like when you do that, music’s not made very well. In my personal experience, don’t bring in a reference, just create and wait until something magic happens.”
Chase Shakur’s rise to fame came through his take on nostalgic R&B built from the sounds of the ’90s. Both serve as the foundation for the sonics of his first two EPs, It’ll Be Fine and It’s Not You, It’s Me released in 2022 and 2023, respectively. After a full year without a project, the Atlanta singer is back, but things are a bit different this time around. Today, Shakur released his debut album Wonderlove where — for the most part — he abandons the nostalgic R&B that fans came to know him for and swaps it with a futuristic sound that appropriately adds a new layer to his promising future.
Wonderlove is sleek and shiny as a new debut album should be. Through its sixteen songs which feature Smino, Rimon, and TyFontaine, Shakur imagines a love that soars through its highs and works through its lows to return to previous heights. In an interview with Uproxx, the Atlanta singer says the album is filled with songs that capture the “different things that you live through with a person that really shape your art [and] you as a person.” The love story on Wonderlove is so moving that it even helped Shakur realize the qualities he desires in a partner, hoping to one day be in a situation like the one he sings of on his debut.
In conversation with Shakur, we dove into the true meaning of Wonderlove, his goals for his growing R&B sound, his impenetrable optimism, and a spiritual journey that just got underway.
What does the word Wonderlove mean to you?
So I came up with the title because I was listening to a lot of older music and sh*t. We got that one family picture, like in black households, there’s this picture of my grandma and my grandpa and I was damn, I want to make an album about a love inspired by that. I wanted to make something that really wasn’t real, so I tied in the whole wonder and love thing. I wanted to represent love in its most pure form — sonically, lyrically, vocally, everything.
This album is filled with love songs like “Limerence,” “Focus On Me,” “Want U,” and “Luv Language.” How does the man who once said relationships weren’t his priority during the ‘It’s Not You, It’s Me’ era get here to create these songs for Wonderlove?
I think it’s more so the idea of it. The idea of me trusting myself to give myself to somebody 100%. Kind of how you see in today’s society, but I think dating for artists is a little different, since we have a lot of different factors against the relationship sh*t to make the sh*t hella complicated. I always wanted to toy with the idea of being obsessed with somebody. It was weird because I was learning as I was making the album, so at the end as I’m finishing up, I’m learning like maybe this is what matters, this is what doesn’t matter, [and] this is where my values should lie when it comes to love. It was kind of like the album’s teaching me how to maneuver through those emotions.
On this album, who are you singing to or what woman are you singing about? Doesn’t have to be someone specific, but what qualities does she have that have you so enamored?
She’s a polar opposite of me. The person that I was talking about, she’s real bubbly like sunshine, [an] extroverted type of person. It’s like [that] saying that girls would say, “Yeah, you low-key, but I’m crazy, so we work.” So it’s like that.
What would you say drew you into the dance, uptempo, and groovy sound that you have on several songs on the album?
With this project, I wanted to showcase what I could do, like everything. I didn’t want to just stay boxed into 90s or nostalgic sound. I think what I’m trying to do is a little bit deeper than that. Making this sh*t, I was just testing sh*t out in LA. We were living in LA for like two months and, yeah, just real trial and error and real studying. I was studying a lot of Stevie [Wonder], a lot of different genres, [and] just trying to make it like a cohesive, fun experience. I didn’t want it to be a slow drag.
What boundaries did you hope to push, both for yourself and R&B as a whole, through creating Wonderlove?
I wanted to make something that didn’t have to be real. [Its] world doesn’t have to be real, it can be like whatever you want it to be. I think what I wanted to show is that I can build a world, you can feel the world, you can connect to it, and it can feel like your world too. I just wanted it to feel like it’s ours. I think I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do that.
Talk to me about the ending of this album and the hidden track at the end of “A Song For Her.” I thought we were about to get a full album of pure love songs and it seems like things take a turn for the worse. What does that piece mean for the full message of the album?
I wouldn’t say it takes a turn, but it’s kind of like a loop, almost. In relationships, you go through it right, and at the end, you’re always left with the question, “Do I leave or do we start over?” In this story, we decided to start over at the end. This time, it’s without all the extraness. I did it like a loop because it loops you back into the feeling of “Limerence.”
I’ve found you to be an extremely optimistic person. Why do you think that is, and how are you able to maintain that optimism?
I just don’t see myself doing anything else. I don’t believe I got all the way here for no reason. I’m a firm believer in God. Bro, it was like 2019/2020, I was walking around like I was already here. I’m big on manifestation and [the] Law Of Attraction, too. I just move around like there’s no plan b’s at all. I can’t see myself being anything other than a Black artist.
How did pre-success moments like hustling and working at UPS help and push you to make it? Now that you’re long removed from those moments, how do you view that era?
I was in a space where I was really trying to figure it out. Before It’ll Be Fine, I was working three jobs, and I was going to school at the same time and, yeah bro, I hated that sh*t, bro. I was in a car accident a month before the first song kind of blew up, and I was crawling out the passenger seat of my sh*t — it was wild times. N****s could write a biopic about the sh*t but yeah, just being 16 and going through my teenage years [and] working all these damn jobs, I was like, “Yo, I really need to change my life.” I didn’t want to be 25 and still be working a job and all this other sh*t. I was just not taking “no” for an answer, honestly. I had to do whatever I had to do to get photoshoots, if that meant I had to sign to some modeling agency, I would do that — anything to make my ends meet for my art is what I was going to do. I wasn’t gonna let nothing stop me, and I’m still like that.
This year marks 10 years of you pursuing music. How does it feel or how special is it that you can celebrate this anniversary with an album like Wonderlove?
That sh*t’s kind of crazy, now that you say that sh*t out loud. You know when you say some sh*t out loud, and it sounds crazy? But I was telling somebody, “Yo, I’m about to be like 10 years doing this sh*t,” and it doesn’t feel like I’ve been doing it that long because it really feels like three almost just because [of] what has transpired? I do music like I breathe, I don’t really think to be like, “Okay, I started here, let me go here,” but, yeah, man, everything’s just been a blessing and a lesson. It’s actually kind of wild bro thinking about all this sh*t. I was talking to my producer, they were like, “Bro, you’ve done great projects back to back, and you ain’t been on vacation, nothing?” Like nah man, I’m gonna do it after this one! It’s really just a blessing, to go from when I was 16? I didn’t see any of this happening, I was selling mixtapes at gas stations, but yeah, I’m excited about everything.
We’re some weeks removed from the start of the new year, so what’s something you’d love to accomplish this year?
I started a spiritual journey, so I’m on my journey to be a better artist all around. So, just creating more and living in that. That’s my resolution.
Wonderlove is out now via Def Jam. Find out more information here.
With Super Bowl LIX weekend upon us, you should be asking yourself and your friends one simple question. No, that question is not “Kansas City or Philadelphia?” We couldn’t care less about that. We’re talking about something important here.
We’re asking: “Where are we ordering the pizza from?”
Pizza is going to make or break your Super Bowl weekend get-together, whether you’re throwing a big block party or keeping things simple with some close friends and family (or, you know, your dogs). And while, admittedly, pizza is pretty hard to f*ck up — even the bad stuff is still pizza after all — we assume that when you bite into that slice, you’re going to want your taste buds to come alive. The bread has to be good, that sauce has to be bright, and the cheese has to be gooey!
The best way to enjoy the game this weekend is with the best pizza possible, so to help guide you towards the very best we tasted pizzas from 17 different big pizza chains and ranked them all.
Because we aren’t here to debate what the best pizza toppings are (that’s a whole different conversation), we are going to focus on the three elements that every pizza has: the dough, the sauce, and the cheese. We’ll award each pizza a score of 1-5 for each of those categories, total them up, and come to a final score.
Sound good? Let’s dive into the best pizzas from the big chains, ranked!
17. Chuck E. Cheese
chuck e cheese
Crust: 2 Sauce: 1 Cheese: 1 Total Score: 4
Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
Yes, this is a punishingly low score for Chuck E. Cheese, and to the people who ride hard for this brand, let me just go ahead and apologize to your tastebuds on your behalf. This is by far the worst pizza your money could buy. The sauce tastes like ketchup, the dough is way too sweet, and the cheese is straight-up funky, like feet fresh out of a sock after a day of walking in humid weather. Add to that the fact that Chuck E. Cheese doesn’t have any passable toppings, and you’ve got our least favorite chain pizza by a mile.
I’m one of those people that believes that a pizza is only as good as the cornice (what non-pizza nerds refer to as the “crust,” even though all cooked dough is technically crust), but this is the only pizza that I would give you a pass for leaving the crust behind on.
The Bottom Line:
Flavorwise, there is not a lot of difference between this and Lunchables pizza.
16. 7-Eleven
7 Eleven
Crust: 2 Sauce: 1 Cheese: 2 Total Score: 5
Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
Not nearly as bad as the sentence “pizza from 7-Eleven” would suggest but still pretty bad in comparison to what else is out there. But for $5.99 for a whole pie, it’s kind of hard to complain about this one.
My big issues with this pizza are the sauce, which is way too sweet, and the crust which is stale and flavorless. The cheese is clearly some sort of cheap skim-milk-based mozzarella, but we are willing to give it a slight pass since it doesn’t have an off-putting smell like what Chuck E. Cheese has going on.
The Bottom Line:
For the price, it’s a steal, but you could do much much better.
15. Sbarro
Dane Rivera
Crust: 2 Sauce: 2 Cheese: 3 Total Score: 7
Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
I need to know who is going to Sbarro in Times Square. Why does it exist? I get that Times Square is just one giant outdoor mall and home to some of the worst big chains in fast food, but Sbarro is also a fixture at every single mall in America, so it’s not like people visiting New York City haven’t been to one. So I have to know, who is eating here and why?
This pizza is pretty damn bad. The sauce is thick, heavy, and dominated by garlic and sugar. The dough is bready, chewy, and chicken, and the cheese is tasty, albeit a bit too salty.
This pizza is also insanely greasy. Great pizza often is, but here that greasiness comes across as a bit rancid. It’s certainly not the worst pizza I’ve ever had, but I do struggle to understand how Sbarro has remained in business with pizza this mediocre.
The Bottom Line:
Sbarro tastes like it was made by an alien without tastebuds who has only heard a vague description of what NY pizza should taste like.
14. Round Table Pizza
Round Table Pizza
Crust: 2 Sauce: 2 Cheese: 3 Total Score: 8
Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
I can hear people sharpening the pitchforks now. I get that Round Table has a dedicated fan base, but I don’t really get why. This pizza is pretty average across the board.
The sauce has a strange off-putting sour taste to it, the dough has a touch of sweetness, and the cheese is, like with 7-Eleven, pretty standard part-skim mozzarella. It has a good melt but not a lot of flavor. Still, the cheese is significantly better than the two other core components, and with the right combination of toppings, this comes across as a fairly decent pizza.
The Bottom Line:
It’s decent. If you have a good deal or a gift card, don’t hesitate to use ‘em. But if you can choose to get pizza from anywhere, look elsewhere.
13. Hungry Howie’s
Hungry Howie’s
Crust: 3 Sauce:2 Cheese:3 Total Score: 8
Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
I’m convinced the people who love Hungry Howie’s are all from Michigan, which is the home state of this pizza chain. If state pride is forcing you to ride for this pizza, respect. But let’s be honest here, this is pretty unremarkable.
What jumps out to me is the sauce. It tastes heavy on the tomato paste, and has a sort of metallic aftertaste. That sauce greatly overpowers the flavor of the cheese. I think the best pizza sauce elevates a pie, but this one overpowers the cheese and any other toppings you put on it.
I will give it to Hungry Howie on the crust though. It has a great crispy and crunch texture, while still offering a nice amount of chew.
The Bottom Line:
It’s just fine. The sauce really holds this one back for me. Middling at best.
12. Cici’s
Cici’s Pizza
Crust: 3 Sauce: 3 Cheese: 3 Total Score: 9
Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
Because Cici’s is an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet, it’s not a great choice for Super Bowl Weekend house parties, but if you want to eat a whole lot of different pizzas at one time, it’s hard to beat this one.
But like with most buffets, Cici’s pizza lacks character. There is no unique flavor to this pizza, it tastes like some sort of general idea of pizza. It’s serviceable, sure, I mean it’s bread, cheese, and sauce, how could you go wrong? But you’d never be able to pick this one out from a blind lineup of pizzas. It’s utterly forgettable.
Which is why we’re giving it threes across the board.
The Bottom Line:
It’s good. Not special. Not noteworthy. It’s about as average as pizza can be.
11. Little Caesars
Little Caesars
Crust: 4 Sauce: 2 Cheese: 3 Total Score: 9
Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
For too long Little Caesars has been written off for being cheap. But you know what? This is pretty damn good pizza for the price. The dough is spongey with a crispy pan-fried texture, the cheese is heavy and rich, and while the sauce is a bit sweeter than I’d like, all together it works really well. The pepperoni is also nice and crispy on the edges, which is always a good thing. While that’s not something we are including in our score, we feel it’s worth mentioning.
If Little Caesars made some tweaks to its sauce, it would be able to compete with the big three brands (Pizza Hut, Domino’s, and Papa John’s). But as it stands, its merely good, not great.
The Bottom Line:
Don’t write Little Caesar’s off because of its low price. This is better than people give it credit for.
10. Pizza Hut
Crust: 4 Sauce: 3 Cheese: 3 Total Score: 10
Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
Of the aforementioned big three major pizza chains, Pizza Hut is easily my least favorite. But I will give credit where credit is due — I love the default pan crust. It’s crunchy, stays crispy no matter how long it has been sitting around and reheats better than any pizza I’ve ever had. In fact, I’d argue that this pizza tastes even better the next day!
Where it falls short is the sauce. It’s way too sweet, so thick that it cakes up, and overall dominates the flavor of the whole pie.
The Bottom Line:
Pizza Hut’s unique crust makes it worth ordering. But be warned, this pizza has a thick and overwhelming sauce. The sauce is such a prominent part of each slice that I’d suggest ordering this one with light sauce just to balance things out a bit.
9. Costco
Crust: 4.5 Sauce: 2 Cheese: 4 Total Score: 10.5
Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
I feel like no matter where I place Costco, it’s going to make some people mad. People love to overhype this pizza, and I kind of get it. For just under $10 you’re getting a giant 18” 12 slice pizza. That’s a great deal. Maybe the best deal in all of pizza.
But just because the deal is great, that doesn’t mean I can pretend this pizza tastes better than it does. It tastes just fine.
The best part here is the crust, it’s got a nice crumb and a good chew with a nice balance of bready flavor. The cheese is also very chewy and thick, it leans more salty than creamy but that’s a minor nitpick. Where this one falls apart for me is the sauce. It’s way too sweet. Sure you can taste some other stuff in there, like garlic, herbs, and just a hint of umami, but all of that is drowning under intense sweetness.
The Bottom Line:
The best deal you’re going to get on a pizza. But don’t let savings trick you into thinking this is better than it is. It’s merely pretty good pizza.
8. Papa John’s
papa johns
Crust: 4 Sauce: 3 Cheese: 4 Total Score: 11
Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
I like Papa John’s, the crust is hand-tossed to order, the cheese is rich and creamy, and the sauce is bright, albeit a bit too sweet.
Where it really shines is the crust though. It has just a touch of sweetness, a whole lot of chew, and is thick and filling, while still being foldable. Best of all, Papa John’s pizza is served with a side of Garlic Butter, which is great for dipping the already delicious crust into.
The Bottom Line:
A good, almost great, pizza.
7. Blaze Pizza
Dane Rivera
Crust: 3 Sauce: 4 Cheese: 4 Total Score: 11
Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
Blaze Pizza is one of those modern pizza concept restaurants where you can build your own pie, which I get is a selling point but, think about it for a second. Where can’t you build your own pie? Isn’t selecting toppings as you order the same as telling a person behind a counter “add pepperoni, now spinach, now a touch of sea salt?” So I’m not totally sold on the concept or upcharge here.
Minor rant aside, where this pizza falls short is there is a certain soullessness to the flavor. The dough is fresh, sure, but it’s not hand-tossed or slapped by a person, instead, it’s pressed in a machine, forming a perfect circle. It’s like a robot made this pizza.
Great pizza has an imperfect crust. You need a weird random air bubble, an asymmetric crust. Great pizza has heart! And Blaze has none of that. Fight me if you think otherwise!
Crust aside, I love the sauce here. It’s simple, bright, and tomato-forward, and when your pizza is built, and they slide it into the oven, it comes out with a nice charred flavor. The cheese also tastes like full flat mozzarella, adding a nice amount of depth to the flavor, with a great melt. And while that all sounds good, that soullessness still permeates. I can’t explain it, but I’m positive you’ll be able to taste it.
The Bottom Line:
It looks great, and it’s a step above most pizza chains, but it’s missing something imperceptible.
6. Mountain Mike’s
Mountain Mike’s
Crust: 3.5 Sauce: 4 Cheese: 4 Total Score:
Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
I’m not sure if this brand is new to California or just new in general, but I’m starting to run in to Mountain Mike’s more and more at parties and get-togethers. Overall, I think this is a pretty solid pizza. The dough has a nice texture and chew to it, though it’s a bit flavorless. The sauce is simple and bright, with a slight herbal tinge, and the cheese is luxurious and creamy, definitely whole milk mozzarella.
All that together makes for a damn solid pie. Much better than a lot of the competition out there.
I’d also like to give special note to the pepperoni. Again, I know that isn’t part of this ranking, but I’m a sucker for curly pepperoni cups with a slight hint of spice.
The Bottom Line:
Mountain Mike’s tagline is “pizza the way it ought to be!” and it’s hard to argue with that. While it could never blow me away, it’s hard to be disappointed by whats here.
5. Marco’s Pizza
Marco’s Pizza
Crust: 4 Sauce: 4 Cheese: 4 Total Score: 12
Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
Marco’s might not be one of the big three pizza chains, but it’s just as good, and in some cases better than the big brands. The cheese is salty, buttery, and creamy and Marco’s lays it on thick! The crust is dusted with garlic seasoning, and the sauce tastes the way pizza sauce should. Like someone opened up a can of San Marzano whole tomatoes, crushed them, and added a sprinkle of salt and a glug of good olive oil.
The Bottom Line:
Great across the board — the sauce, the cheese, the dough. A strong foundation for your favorite toppings.
4. BJ’s Extreme Deep Dish Pizza
BJ’s
Crust: 4 Sauce: 4 Cheese: 4 Totale Score: 12
Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
It’s hard to find a fault with BJ’s. The pizza is made to order and sports a perfect combination of crispy, thick, and chewy crust, rich and bright sauce, and creamy cheese. But, and call me crazy, part of me feels like this is just a super elevated version of Pizza Hut.
A large pie from BJ’s will cost you over $30, and for that price you deserve way better than elevated Pizza Hut. If you really want to experience this pizza, I’d just order a personal size. To share it costs way too much money.
The Bottom Line:
If you’re eating for one and have money to burn, this is the play.
3. Mod Pizza
Dane Rivera
Crust: 4 Sauce: 5 Cheese: 4 Totale Score: 13
Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
I know I just talked a bunch of trash about Blaze Pizza and its build-your-own-pie concept, and Mod Pizza is essentially doing the same thing, but they’re doing it right! Because, unlike Blaze, this pizza has a character and flavor of its own.
Sure, the crust is comically thin, so it’s not a great option if you’re into sharing, but what you get is great. The crust is yeast and crispy, the closest thing to a true sourdough crust that I’ve ever had at a pizza chain.
The sauce pops off the pie with an umami-rich naturally sweet tomato flavor, strong enough to be noticed, but not distracting or overpowering. It perfectly complements the milky mozzarella cheese. I have no criticism about this pie. It can easily be your favorite.
The Bottom Line:
Every component here is working in harmony. Now that’s a great pie!
2. Domino’s
Dane Rivera
Crust: 5 Sauce: 5 Cheese: 5 Totale Score: 15
Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
Dominos is cheap, convenient, easily accessible, and made with enough care that its a near perfect delivery pizza.
The dough is hand-stretched to order (which will always be a big selling point for us) and features a crispy texture courtesy of a liberal dusting of cornmeal. The sauce is rich and flavorful without being overly sweet. And the cheese has a wonderful salty, nutty and creamy flavor.
I could do without the garlic butter dusting on the crust, but some people swear by it and I can understand where they are coming from. This pizza simply has everything a great pizza should have and doesn’t have any real weak points holding it back.
The Bottom Line:
You can’t go wrong with Dominos. It’s the gold standard by which other delivery pizza chain restaurants should be held to.
1. California Pizza Kitchen
Dane Rivera
Crust: 5 Sauce: 5 Cheese: 5 Total Score: 15
Tasting Notes & Thoughts:
This is a controversial choice no doubt, but if you haven’t gone to CPK in the last few years, you need to remedy that shit. CPK has revamped its entire pizza recipe (we reviewed every pizza here) and has made all the necessary changes to take this pizza from being interesting to truly great.
The dough is slapped and stretched to order, the recipe has vastly reduced its amount of sugar, turning it in a perfect canvas to build upon. The sauce is bright, natural tasting, and fresh, the cheese is creamy, nutty, and nuanced, and the options for toppings are inventive. If you can’t find a pizza on CPK’s menu that you don’t absolutely love, yes love, than you might not like pizza to begin with.
Here is a list of our five favorites: The Works, Carne Asada, Mushroom Pepperoni Sausage, Thai Chicken, and Original BBQ.
Our pick for the absolute best? The Original BBQ, hands down.
The Bottom Line:
If you want adventurous builds and high quality ingredients, this is the best pizza place to order from.
Back in November 2024, IDK treated fans to his latest full length album, BRAVADO + INTiMO. With a batch of 12 new songs, supporters were set to nibble on IDK’s sonic offerings for a while.
However, since its release, IDK has not left the recording booth. Now, the “Pinot Noir” rapper has begun to flood fans with even more tracks. Today (February 7), IDK’s newest song “S.U.” (short for “switch up”) with Denzel Curry hit streaming platforms. On the the record, co-produced by Kal Banx and Calvin Valentine, each emcee put their bravado to the forefront.
IDK raps, “Don’t nobody really want beef / I be ready for the sh*t / N****s like, ‘Not now’ / In ’08 was moving the O for the three / My n****s was breaking down pounds / I run in your house, then takе what I see / And dip in the whip with the tank on E / I love all my n****s, I f*ck with my n****s / But if thеy switch up, I make ’em go to sleep / I pray for my sins, tell the preacher to preach.”
In the song’s second verse, Curry came in swinging. “Killin’ everybody and they flatlinin’ / In the right place with the bad timin’ / I’m the only n****s with the facts rhymin’ / Didn’t write the verse, I’m freestylin’,” raps Curry.
They say love is complicated, but British singer Joy Crookes thinks love is simpler than some things in her morose video for “Mathematics” featuring grime pioneer Kano. “It’s not mathematics, it’s love,” she croons, as scenes from a relationship play out on screen. Crookes and Kano portray the lovers, who go from their initial get-together to the ultimate demise of their romance over the span of the video, which presents a series of vignettes that could play out through any great love.
The song is Crookes’ second single of 2025, following the vindictive “Pass The Salt,” which featured another pioneering rapper, Long Beach native Vince Staples. All signs point to Crookes prepping the release of her second studio album, the follow-up to 2021’s Skin, which helped put the South London singer on the map in a big way when it was nominated for the 2022 Mercury Prize and peaked at No. 5 on the UK Albums chart.
Crookes crossed over in the US in a big way with the viral success of her Skin single “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now,” which exploded on streaming in the wake of uprisings against systemic racism. That, in addition to her recent incorporation of more contemporary sounds into her ’60s soul-influenced style (such as collaborating with rappers), promises an even bigger breakout in 2025.
Watch the video for Joy Crookes’ “Mathematics” featuring Kano above.
Rilo Kilo isn’t the only acclaimed indie band getting the gang back together. Alabama Shakes — the Grammy-winning rock group led by powerhouse singer and guitarist Brittany Howard — have shared the dates for a reunion tour that will have them on the road for much of the summer.
“Last year, [guitarist Heath Fogg], [bassist Zac Cockrell], and I started chatting about how much fun it would be to make music together and tour again as Alabama Shakes,” Howard said in a statement. “This band and these songs have been such a source of joy for all of us. It is crazy that it has been 10 years since we released Sound And Color and eight years since we played a show.”
She continued, “But we didn’t want this to entirely be a look back. We wanted it to be as much about the future as the past. So we have a bunch of new music that will be released soon.”
Pre-sale tickets for Citi cardmembers go on sale on February 11 at 10 a.m. local time. The general on-sale begins February 14 at 10 a.m. local time. You can find more information here, and check out the dates below.
Alabama Shakes’ 2025 Tour Dates
07/16 — Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed-Fairgrounds #
07/18 — Minneapolis, MN @ Minnesota Yacht Club Festival
07/19 — La Vista, NE @ The Astro Amphitheater #
07/20 — Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre #
07/22 — Bentonville, AR @ The Momentary •†
07/25 — Nashville, TN @ Ascend Amphitheater •†
07/26 — Birmingham, AL @ Coca-Cola Amphitheater •†
08/08 — Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater +
08/09 — Las Vegas NV @ BleauLive Theater +
08/10 — San Diego, CA @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre +
08/14 — Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre
08/16 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena +
08/17 — Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater +
08/20 — Bonner, MT @ KettleHouse Amphitheater *
08/22 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre *
08/24 — Kansas City, MO @ Starlight Theatre *
09/04 — Milwaukee, WI @ Miller High Life Theatre ^
09/05 — Rochester Hills, MI @ Meadow Brook Amphitheatre ^
09/06 — Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage o
09/08 — Cleveland, OH @ Jacob’s Pavillion ^
09/09 — Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE (Outdoors) ^
09/11 — Louisville, KY @ Bourbon And Beyond Festival
09/14 — Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall At Fenway <
09/17 — Forest Hills, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium ?
09/18 — Philadelphia, PA @ TD Pavilion At The Mann <
09/19 — Washington, DC @ The Anthem <
09/23 — New Orleans, LA @ Saenger Theatre
09/25 — Austin, TX @ Moody Center ‡
09/26 — Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall ‡
09/27 — Irving, TX @ The Pavilion At Toyota Music Factory ‡
# with Lee Fields
• with Caleb Elliott
† with Alanna Royale
+ with Shannon & The Clams
* with Y La Bamba
^ with Sam Evian
o with Bahamas
< with The Budos Band
? with El Michels Affair
‡ with Greyhounds
Nearly two weeks have passed since the last time there was an NFL game and, after Sunday, months will pass before there will be another NFL game. That means, of course, that the Super Bowl is here, and Super Bowl LIX brings an intriguing matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. There is also an angle that the matchup is at least somewhat disappointing for fans outside of Kansas City and Philadelphia, though, as the Buffalo Bills (or even the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Commanders, etc.) would have brought new blood to the game itself. On the flip side, much of the country seems to be galvanized against the big, bad Chiefs as they aim for a third straight title, and that can bring some juice to the festivities.
In this space, we hand out selections each week and, simply put, the 2024-25 season was our worst since the column debuted nearly a decade ago. Things have steadied a bit down the stretch and into the playoffs, but you would’ve been better off fading us beginning in Week 1, which isn’t a tremendous reality. Still, we’ve enjoyed success lately, and Super Bowl LIX brings a new slate of opportunities.
In fact, we’re going with more than the usual five selections this week, simply because the prop board is overflowing. Alas, the winners will be coming soon, but first, a check-in.
Championship Sunday: 2-3
2024-25 Season: 45-58-2
Come get these winners.
Noah Gray UNDER 1.5 receptions — DraftKings
The Chiefs have just stopped throwing the ball to Gray. He has six targets total in the last five games, including four games with one target or fewer. It seems to coincide with Kansas City’s receiving corps, namely Hollywood Brown, getting healthier, but it would be a mild surprise if Gray got more than one target, much less caught more than one pass.
AJ Brown OVER 69.5 receiving yards — FanDuel
Kansas City’s defense is stingy, but the Chiefs tend to play more man-to-man in the playoffs, including this season. Brown absolutely dominates man-to-man looks, and he also hit this number in 8 of 13 regular season games this year. He’ll be a heavy focus and, as you will see more below, I think the Eagles will be throwing more often than some people believe.
Isiah Pacheco OVER 20.5 rushing yards — BetRivers
Simply put, I’m betting that the split of carries is a lot more even for the Chiefs between Pachecho and Kareem Hunt than it was last week. And, even if it isn’t, Pacheco is at least capable of breaking one for double-digit yards to help us get there. The extra week to prepare should give him a little more time to get healthy as well.
Kansas City Chiefs shortest punt OVER 40.5 yards– DraftKings
55 of Matt Araiza’s 61 punts were at least 40 yards this season. Obviously, we would lose on exactly 40, but three of those six punts were actually in the same game amid bad weather that will not be a factor in New Orleans. Also, the Chiefs are unlikely to be punting from across midfield very often, helping us avoid some of the “pooch punt” scenarios that could make this lose. If the Chiefs never punt (which is possible), this would be a push, but I like it a lot.
Jalen Hurts OVER 27.5 pass attempts — Widely Available
One of my overarching reads on this game is that Philadelphia’s passing props are too low. The Eagles played with the lead so often this season that the numbers are out of whack, and I think they will need to throw it early and often.
Kansas City Chiefs OVER 2.5 sacks– DraftKings
Jalen Hurts is not afraid to take a sack, and the Chiefs are effective in creating them. Spags is a maniac who will bring pressure from anywhere, and what pushes this over the top is that Hurts is still not 100 percent from a health standpoint. That likely leads to more attempts to create from the pocket and, by proxy, more sack opportunities.
Travis Kelce OVER 60.5 receiving yards — FanDuel, BetRivers
I’m not going to tell you that this is the most sophisticated handicap, but Travis Kelce has been over this number in 14 of his last 15 playoff games. Granted, the one that he missed was quite literally the last game the Chiefs played, but I’m going back to the well.
Saquon Barkley UNDER 112.5 rushing yards — Widely Available
Barkley has been amazing this season, but this number is just too high. The Chiefs have an active streak of 18 straight games without allowing an individual 100-yard rusher, and Kansas City has never allowed a player to rush for 100 yards in a playoff game under Spags. Barkley is an alien, which I fully understand, but this is a principle play on the under.
Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles UNDER 24 points in the first half — Caesars
I don’t love the total here at all, but I like the first half more than the full game. Super Bowls tend to get off to slow starts historically, and that has been the case when they’ve involved the Chiefs. There might be a feeling-out process. I trust both defenses. And the fireworks are more likely to come after the break, if they do arrive.
Kansas City Chiefs (-1) over Philadelphia Eagles — Caesars, BetRivers, ESPNBet
Everything logical points to the Eagles, and I understand that. They have the better roster from No. 2 through No. 53. They’re loaded. The metrics like Philadelphia more, too. But I will not be betting against Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid in the Super Bowl. No thank you.
For as long as Cardi B has been at the top of the hip-hop totem pole, Pardison Fontaine has been somewhere nearby, helping to support her in her rise. Of course, during Cardi’s unofficial semi-hiatus, the two haven’t been as productive as they were at the height of their collaborative years, but tonight, they’ve reunited for the first time in two years with Pardi’s hedonistic new single, “Toot It Up.” While the music video is due later today, we couldn’t let the release go by without showing it some love.
Pardi and Cardi’s musical collaboration goes back to Cardi’s earliest hits like “Wash Poppin’” and “Bodak Yellow,” on which Pardi is credited as a writer. He’s been given a writing credit on practically every Cardi smash since, including “I Like It,” “WAP,” and “Bongos,” while they last appeared on a record together on Pardi’s 2018 single “Backin’ It Up.”
Of course, Cardi has been promising her follow-up to the Grammy-winning Invasion Of Privacy for a while, so the sight of the two stars collaborating once again could be a good sign for the future, as it means they’ve almost certainly been in the studio — and if Cardi’s feeling confident, anything is possible.
Listen to Pardison Fontaine’s “Toot It Up” featuring Cardi B.
Last year, the Wu-Tang Clan reconnected onstage. But, sadly it seemed like their Wu-Tang Clan: The Saga Continues… The Las Vegas Residency was solely for nostalgic purposes. Today (February 7), fans of the “Protect Ya Neck” musicians are happy to learn their time spent together was not in vain.
Wu-Tang Clan has announced their first album in nearly decade is on the way. In a sit-down with Variety, Mathematics confirmed he Bastard Swordsman: From the Wu-Tang, the Saga Continues Collection will be released on Record Store Day (April 12).
The forthcoming 12-track studio project is produced entirely by Mathematics. So, you should not expect to hear any instrumental contributions from RZA.
While discussing the inspiration behind the upcoming body of work, Mathematics said: “The album has a certain feel to it. It’s an homage to Blaxploitation movies. You have movies like Black Samson, Black Caesar and Super Fly. Those are the type of movies that I was raised on in the 1970s.”
He continued: “The Bastard Swordsman part of [the title] is an ode to the old karate flicks because that’s what I grew up on as well. With me, as well as all of Wu-Tang, that’s something we had in common. We all loved the old karate flicks. Bastard Swordsman is one of my favorites.”
Record Store Day 2025 is schedule for April 12, 2025. Find more information here.
A planned documentary about the life and music of iconoclastic pop pioneer Prince has been canceled. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix reached a mutual agreement with the singer’s estate not to release the series after the estate raised concerns about allegations of emotional and physical abuse against Prince by a former paramour.
In a joint statement shared on social media, Netflix and the Prince estate wrote, “The Prince Estate and Netflix have come to a mutual agreement that will allow the estate to develop and produce a new documentary featuring exclusive content from Prince’s archive.”
The documentary, which had been in development for six years, was reported “dead in the water” last July after O.J.: Made In America director Ezra Edelman took over for Ava DuVernay following her departure over “creative differences” in 2019 — just a year after the project was first announced. The estate called the documentary “inaccurate” and said it “sensationalized” negative aspects of the artist’s life and career. Furthermore, its initial nine-hour runtime violated prearranged agreements, prompting Netflix to request it to be cut down to six hours.
Last September, the points of contention were illuminated by a New York Times report that Edelman had included multiple interviews from Prince’s ex lovers, former business partners, and other associates which either hinted at or outright accused the star of abuse. Jill Jones, who worked with and dated Prince in the late ’80s and early ’90s, claimed he’d slapped and punched her in the face. Susannah Melvoin, another ex, characterized him as a controlling lover who monitored her phone calls. While Netflix spun the complicated nature of the project by comparing it with the complex aspects of the subject himself, its contractual agreements with the estate meant no progress could be made without approval.
It’s a shame, because the last thing the world needs is another sanitized puff piece that elides the rough edges of a subject. The sort of universal approval those closest to these cultural icons seek is impossible to attain, but providing the full picture might lead to a more complete appreciation of who they were and all that they accomplished.
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