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Melvin Barcliff, better known as Magoo of Virginia rap duo Timbaland & Magoo, has died at the age of 50 years old. Magoo’s death was reported by Digital Black of the R&B group Playa, who appeared on the 1997 Timbaland & Magoo hit “Luv 2 Luv U,” in a post on Instagram. “Man can’t believe this RIH Magoo damn big bro wasnt ready for this at all,” he wrote. Since then, more of Magoo’s closest associates have also expressed their disbelief at his passing, including Ginuwine, whose early albums were produced by Timbaland.

Ginuwine wrote, “I don’t even know how to say anything at this point , I have lost 3 friends now within a month to LIFE and it’s due date… I will mis you maganooo that’s what we called him ….. totally one of the best ever in my eyes always pressing forward I know we didn’t talk alot but the love was and will be always there my brotha , I will see you soon bro we all have our date and I’m expecting the bro hug when I get there.”

Timbaland & Magoo was formed when the two Virginia artists were still in their teens (after another short-lived attempt at a Native Tongues-influenced group with fellow VA rapper/producers Pharrell, Surrounded By Idiots) and released three albums as a unit. They garnered their biggest hit in 1997 with debut single “Up Jumps Da Boogie” from their first album, Welcome To Our World. Magoo was often a fixture on projects from the Blackground imprint, which included Playa, Missy Elliott, and Aaliyah.

The conservative outrage mob came for Snow White again. This time around, right-wingers are freaking out over resurfaced remarks from Rachel Zegler, who plays the title role in the latest live action remake from Disney.

In a clip posted by anti-transgender activist Matt Walsh, Zegler is seen speaking to Extra at the 2022 D23 Expo, where she explained how her version of Snow White will be more geared toward modern audiences, which has been the case for every one of the Disney remakes.

Via The Wrap:

“I mean, you know, the original cartoon came out in 1937 and very evidently so. There’s a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her.” She then laughed and added, “Weird! Weird. We didn’t do that this time.”

Zegler also clarified, “We have a different approach to what I’m sure a lot of people will assume is a love story just because we cast a guy in the movie, Andrew Burnap, great dude. It’s one of those things that I think everyone’s going to have their assumptions about what it’s going to be, but it’s really not about the love story at all, which is really, really wonderful.”

Despite being a year-old clip where Zegler simply confirms that Snow White will, again, put a modern twist on the animated class, conservatives were quick to question why Zegler was even cast. The pile-up became so huge that former The View co-host Meghan McCain couldn’t resist weighing in.

“I don’t understand why she took the role if she seems so grossed out by the story,” McCain said while quote-tweeting Walsh.

However, McCain’s involvement had the opposite effect of fanning the conservative flames. Instead, people flocked to McCain’s replies and roasted her for not being able to understand Zegler’s innocuous remarks.

You can see some of the reactions below:

And, finally, one user went for the mic drop: “Same reason someone might take a job in a talk show where they hate the co-hosts.”

(Via The Wrap, Meghan McCain on Twitter)

Over the weekend, Billie Eilish opened up her Instagram story to host a Q&A with her fans — who would go on to send lots of interesting things. Specifically, she was asked about her dating life and if she was still seeing anyone.

“NO SIRRRRRR,” she captioned her reply.

Another person directly asked about Jesse Rutherford, the lead singer of The Neighbourhood that Eilish had been publicly dating a few months back. The two since had broken up. However, she maintains that they’re still close.

“Very very good friends only,” Eilish wrote. “My homie forever.”

Last November, the two publicly appeared together on a red carpet with some very unique outfit choices. Eilish also opened up about their relationship at the time during an interview with Vanity Fair, where she praised both him and herself for pulling him. “Thank you, Jesse Rutherford, everyone,” she said.

Since the breakup, the pop star was also reportedly spotted at Rutherford’s single release party recently, backing up her claims of friendship and amicability between the two exes.

Their split had previously been confirmed by Eilish’s representative to People. “We can confirm Billie and Jesse did split amicably and remain good friends,” they told the publication. “All cheating rumors are false. Both are currently single.”

Over the weekend, Billie Eilish opened up her Instagram story to host a Q&A with her fans — who would go on to send lots of interesting things. Specifically, she was asked about her dating life and if she was still seeing anyone.

“NO SIRRRRRR,” she captioned her reply.

Another person directly asked about Jesse Rutherford, the lead singer of The Neighbourhood that Eilish had been publicly dating a few months back. The two since had broken up. However, she maintains that they’re still close.

“Very very good friends only,” Eilish wrote. “My homie forever.”

Last November, the two publicly appeared together on a red carpet with some very unique outfit choices. Eilish also opened up about their relationship at the time during an interview with Vanity Fair, where she praised both him and herself for pulling him. “Thank you, Jesse Rutherford, everyone,” she said.

Since the breakup, the pop star was also reportedly spotted at Rutherford’s single release party recently, backing up her claims of friendship and amicability between the two exes.

Their split had previously been confirmed by Eilish’s representative to People. “We can confirm Billie and Jesse did split amicably and remain good friends,” they told the publication. “All cheating rumors are false. Both are currently single.”

Rootin’ tootin’ Lauren Boebert has some complaints. Meanwhile, the search continues for those who went missing in the Maui wildfires, which left untold damage (including possibly taking out a spiritual symbol) in its wake. Hawaiian native Jason Momoa has urged the public not to travel to the besieged island for good reason, and President Biden swiftly (on Thursday) issued a disaster declaration in order to open the fountain of federal aid. He instantaneously issued a statement as well, but that isn’t good enough for Lauren Boebert.

Never mind that sending Biden to Hawaii right now would likely require grounding all aircraft, including search/rescue and aid helicopters, for security reasons. Is that what Boebert expects to happen? She did not elaborate or say anything about FEMA being on the scene but did complain, “Where’s Joe Biden? On vacation of course. There is no bottom for this president.”

As several sources have pointed out over the years, a U.S. president never really goes on “vacation” and generally works through such getaway trips. That’s just part of the gig, but Boebert wants those Biden boots on the ground. People were quick to point out to the congresswoman that she’s jumping to conclusions, and that includes a Maui resident who noted that Biden made an immediate disaster declaration, which led to FEMA quickly landing “ON THE GROUND” to work alongside Hawaii Governor Josh Green.

Others wondered why on earth Boebert would launch such an attack for political gain when Biden unleashed federal aid without hesitation, whereas Boebert hasn’t exactly done anything beyond angrily tweet. That includes a solitary “IMPEACH!” because of course

Last week, Melle Mel (of Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five fame) tried to roast Eminem with a new diss track, but the effort was promptly and loudly criticized online. It seems even Mel himself knows the song was a mistake, as he indicated in a new statement.

In a statement reportedly shared with AllHipHop, Mel started, “In light of the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop, my original intention was to contribute an engaging and enjoyable endeavor to enrich the cultural landscape. Regrettably, my response fell short in its execution, and I accept full responsibility for the misjudgment. I acknowledge that my perspective was ill-conceived and I am prepared to take ownership of this oversight. It has become evident that Eminem’s dedicated and passionate fan base stands unwaveringly by his side, which is a testament to their genuine admiration and loyalty-a truly commendable aspect.”

He also wrote about his perspective on Eminem more generally and his past comments about Em’s race inflating his legacy, saying, “From the onset, I have consistently recognized Eminem’s exceptional prowess as an emcee, without reservation. My unfortunate choice of words, suggesting that his success is solely attributed to the color of his skin, was in no way reflective of my genuine beliefs. It was an attempt, albeit misguided, to engage competitively within the emcee sphere.”

Read the full statement below.

“In light of the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop, my original intention was to contribute an engaging and enjoyable endeavor to enrich the cultural landscape. Regrettably, my response fell short in its execution, and I accept full responsibility for the misjudgment.

I acknowledge that my perspective was ill-conceived and I am prepared to take ownership of this oversight. It has become evident that Eminem’s dedicated and passionate fan base stands unwaveringly by his side, which is a testament to their genuine admiration and loyalty-a truly commendable aspect.

From the onset, I have consistently recognized Eminem’s exceptional prowess as an emcee, without reservation. My unfortunate choice of words, suggesting that his success is solely attributed to the color of his skin, was in no way reflective of my genuine beliefs. It was an attempt, albeit misguided, to engage competitively within the emcee sphere.

It is important to acknowledge that the dynamics of Hip-Hop have evolved over distinct eras, and it is inevitable that not everyone will resonate with my perspective, just as I may not fully comprehend others. Throughout my involvement in shaping the Hip-Hop landscape, the cornerstone has been built upon a foundation of mutual respect, even when personal preferences may differ.

Moving forward, my paramount commitment is to foster an environment characterized by respect in every facet of my endeavors. With utmost sincerity, I convey my best wishes and extend heartfelt appreciation to Eminem for the recognition extended to me during his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction speech.

In conclusion, I am keenly aware that Hip-Hop encompasses diverse epochs, and my objective remains focused on promoting a spirit of respect, as we collectively celebrate the 50th anniversary of this influential cultural phenomenon.”

Donald Trump hasn’t used Twitter since 2021, but his account is still a source of fascination (and advice for Robert Pattinson).

Last week, it was reported that special counsel Jack Smith obtained a search warrant for Trump’s now-dormant Twitter account as part of an investigation into the former president’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. “The search was so secret that Twitter was initially barred from telling Trump the search warrant had been obtained for his account,” according to CNN, “and the company, now known as ‘X,’ was fined $350,000 because it delayed producing the records sought under the search warrant.”

Trump was probably chill about the whole thing, right?

“How dare lowlife prosecutor, Deranged Jack Smith, break into my former Twitter account without informing me and, indeed, trying to completely hide this atrocity from me,” he wrote in an overnight rant on Truth Social. “Just like the early morning raid of Mar-a-Lago! Why isn’t the DOJ raiding Crooked Joe Biden, the most CORRUPT (and Incompetent!) President in the history of the United States?” Getting the week started on a positive note, I see.

Trump also recently went on the “fake news media” and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. “NO, I DIDN’T TAMPER WITH THE ELECTION! THOSE WHO RIGGED & STOLE THE ELECTION WERE THE ONES DOING THE TAMPERING, & THEY ARE THE SLIME THAT SHOULD BE PROSECUTED. I MADE A PERFECT PHONE CALL OF PROTEST. WHY WASN’T THIS FAKE CASE BROUGHT 2.5 YEARS AGO? ELECTION INTERFERENCE!” he wrote. I don’t approve of the message, but I do approve of using “slime” as an insult more.

(Via CNN)

At long last, it finally happened: Last week, Tory Lanez was sentenced to ten years in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. (It looks like he’ll end up actually serving closer to nine years, though.) Throughout the process, Meg has had some haters come at her, and now she has a few words for them.

While performing at the Outside Lands festival this weekend, she addressed her audience, saying, “I just want to say: f*ck all my haters. None of that sh*t you was doing or saying broke me. None of that sh*t y’all been doing and saying to the hotties broke them.”

On 2022’s “Circo Loco,” Drake had a line that many interpreted to be about Megan: “This b*tch lie ’bout gettin’ shots, but she still a stallion.” However, Lil Yachty later claimed the lyric isn’t about Meg at all, but about women lying about getting surgery. Also last year, Joe Budden apologized after joking about Megan’s mental health, saying, “I’m apologizing for the careless manner in which I joked about her mental health. That didn’t sit right with my soul and my spirit. Because whether you believe her or don’t believe her, can you afford to be wrong? And the answer is no.”

Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

A primary use for Britney Spears’ Instagram these days, as it has been for some time, is for the singer to share videos of herself dancing. Now, she’s taking things to a more vertical level, as she showed off her new stripper pole in a video shared yesterday (August 13).

The clip is set to Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer” and in it, Spears wears a revealing animal-print bikini as she works the pole (an X-Pole, in case you were wondering). Spears drops it low, spins around, and otherwise makes use of her new implement. She captioned the post, “Got this pole two days ago and last night was my first time on it !!!”

Meanwhile, the biggest Spears story of the past month or so seems to have died down: Spears had an altercation with NBA star Victor Wembanyama’s security guard, but there haven’t been any updates about the situation lately. Since then, Spears linked up with will.i.am for a new song, “Mind Your Business.” will.i.am, by the way, believes Spears is sitting on a “plethora” of unreleased music.

In July, she also announced her long-awaited new memoir, The Woman In Me. A statement from the publisher explains, “In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice — her truth — was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman In Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey — and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history. Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’s groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love — and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last.”

The Philadelphia 76ers ended trade talks for James Harden over the weekend, and now, Harden has responded in a big way. In a video that began circulating on the internet on Monday morning of Harden at his basketball camp in China, Harden twice called Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey a “liar” and vowed that he will “never be part of an organization that he’s a part of.”

While a report indicated that the years-long relationship between Morey and Harden was “fractured” earlier this offseason, this is nonetheless a stunning escalation by Harden, who has a reputation for trying to force a team’s hand when he wants out. This appears to be a reference to Harden’s decision to take less money on a shorter deal in free agency last offseason to let the Sixers have a bit more financial flexibility to build a team around Harden and Joel Embiid. Reports at the time said that some questioned if Harden had a handshake agreement on a future contract, one that would have compensated him for his sacrifice while simultaneously being illegal under the rules of the CBA. The team did not face any sort of penalty for that, but did lose a pair of second-round NBA Draft picks after it was determined they discussed deals with P.J. Tucker and Danuel House before they were permitted.

Harden requested a trade at the start of the offseason after opting into the final year of his contract, and while reports indicated Philadelphia’s front office would work to help him find a new destination, it came with one major catch: Morey publicly said the team would not just trade Harden if it came at the expense of their ability to win a championship. Their inability to find a deal that would make that happen — primarily with the Los Angeles Clippers, which was Harden’s reported preferred landing spot – meant that the team ended trade conversations over the weekend, even if it meant that it set up what Adrian Wojnarowski called an “uncomfortable situation” entering training camp.