Taylor Swift might be bringing her Eras Tour to Denver tonight, but that isn’t stopping her from telling fans in Nashville to get out and vote in their election. Swift, who posed with an “I Voted Today” sticker, seemingly was in town earlier today — purely to cast hers.

“Hi Nashville! Early voting for our city officials and some statewide seats begins today,” she wrote. “We have the opportunity to choose those who will represent us for the next four years.”

“I voted today and I urge each and every one of you to do the same and make your voice heard,” Swift added, along with a link to Vote.org.

Over the past few years, Swift has become more vocal about the importance of voting and using social media to encourage the fanbase to participate in both local and national elections.

“In the past, I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now,” she shared back in 2018. “I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country.”

Check out Swift’s early voting post on her Instagram stories here.

Trippie Redd has officially announced that his next album, A Love Letter To You 5, will be available for fans to listen starting next month. He had hinted at the project through his recent single, “Took My Breath Away,” which featured Skye Morales, as well as confirming the title earlier this year.

However, the surprises haven’t stopped there.

A few weeks after the record’s release, Trippie will perform across North America as part of his recently-announced Take Me Away Tour. Throughout the run, he will be joined by LUCKI, D.Savage, Ekkstacy, Jean Dawson, and K Sauve at select shows.

Check out the A Love Letter To You 5 album artwork below. Continue scrolling for a complete list of Trippie Redd’s tour dates.

08/31 — Somerset, WI @ Somerset Amphitheater
09/02 — Cleveland, OH @ Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
09/04 — St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre STL
09/05 — Tinley Park, IL @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
09/07 — Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
09/08 — Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
09/09 — Hartford, CT @ The XFINITY Theatre
09/10 — Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
09/12 — Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
09/13 — Camden, NJ @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
09/14 — Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
09/16 — Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
09/17 — Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
09/18 — Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
09/21 — West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
09/22 — Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
09/23 — Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre
09/26 — Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavillion
09/28 — Sugar Land, TX @ Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land
10/01 — Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
10/02 — San Diego, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
10/04 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Kia Forum
10/06 — Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
10/09 — Seattle, WA @ WAMU Theater

A Love Letter To You 5 is out 8/4 via 1400 Entertainment / 10K Projects. Find more information here.

Drake‘s love of Kentucky men’s basketball is pretty well documented by this point. For years, Drake has made appearances in Lexington, like the time that he appeared at the team’s Big Blue Madness event and got to warm up with the rest of the roster, although he did find himself on the receiving end of some jokes due to a pretty ugly airball he launched from behind the three-point line.

Regardless, Drake and John Calipari’s squad are basically tied together at the hip at this point, and recently, this meant that the young men who suit up for the Wildcats got the chance to go hang out at Drake’s place. The Wildcats were greeted by a gigantic banner in front of the place and then got the chance to practice a bit on his basketball court.

Calipari, the longtime Kentucky coach, posted a video from Drake’s pool, confirming that they were, indeed, at Drake’s.

The Wildcats are in Toronto for Globl Jam, a tournament that features men’s and women’s teams from several different countries, with Kentucky basketball representing the United States. The team played against Canada on Thursday, and there is no word on who Drake wanted to win that game.

The best new hip-hop this week includes albums, videos, and songs from J Hus, King Von, Lil Tjay, and more.

New releases this week came from Blxst, who teamed up with Remble for the gospel-influenced “Child Of God,” JT of City Girls, who addressed the critique she has “No Bars,” and Quavo, whose “Turn Yo Clic Up” with Future gave his fellow ATLien the opportunity to restart his rivalry with NFL quarterback Russell Wilson.

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending July 14, 2023.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Bree Carter — Bree Carter

The burgeoning talent out of South Central, Los Angeles oozes charisma and confidence, with a brash delivery reminiscent of My Krazy Life-era YG. I can see her growing a sturdy fan base locally, especially with assistance on her debut tape from the likes of hometown hero RJMrLA.

J Hus — Beautiful And Brutal Yard

Sure, British artist J Hus drew plenty of attention ahead of the release of his latest project with his Drake collaboration “Who Told You,” but on this 19-track project, he proves more than capable of holding that attention — and paying it off. The tropical vibes combine with straightforward raps, reminding listeners that the diaspora is strong.

King Von — Grandson

One thing you have to admire about King Von’s estate — they know how to keep his posthumous releases true to Von’s defiant spirit. A big part of that is that they rarely reach beyond the city limits of his hometown for collaborations; G Herbo, Polo G, Tink, and Von’s label boss Lil Durk constitute the bulk, while fellow Midwesterners Tee Grizzley and 42 Dugg drop in. The outsiders — Moneybagg Yo, Hotboii, and burgeoning Brooklyn rapper BreezyLYN — all fit the tone, too.

Lil Tjay — 222

Lil Tjay drops his first album since being shot last year; the experience hasn’t dulled his edge. Tjay sounds more introspective here, which isn’t a bad thing at all. He still manages to puff his chest on tracks like “Bla Bla” with Fivio Foreign even so.

Wynne — Some Like It Hot

After a slow build that included some racy cover art and a timely lane shift, Portland rapper Wynne releases her latest project. Where prior EPs were aimed at proving her mic skills — which are considerable — here, she flaunts some sex appeal to show that she can serve it up, however you like.

Singles/Videos

BIA — “Raised Me”

Borrowing a familiar sample from Petey Pablo’s 2001 breakout hit “Raise Up,” BIA issues a never-ending stream of witty punchlines. It’s a departure that she has just enough charm to make work.

DSTRCT — “Rich Bi$h”

The 10 Summers rapper makes effective use of a beat from his label boss Mustard to puff his chest a bit, showing off his lady like a trophy. Hey, if they ain’t lookin’…

Hit-Boy & Big Hit — “Watch Out For The Riders” Feat. Jay Worthy

The father-son duo teams up with Compton rapper Jay Worthy on a soulful storytelling track that paints a gritty picture of their West Coast environs.

Shady Blu — “No Use” Feat. 03 Greedo

It’s just a West Coast weekend, I guess. Shady Blu demonstrates her versatility with another South LA genre-blender in the recently released 03 Greedo.

Valee & Harry Fraud — “Watermelon Automobile” Feat. Saba & Mavi

With their joint project a week away from its release date, Valee & Harry Fraud drop another single showcasing their unexpected chemistry, pulling fellow Chicagoan Saba and Charlotte rapper Mavi into their orbit.

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

While conversations about Barbie might generally revolve around unrealistic beauty standards and misogynist ideals, the factual legacy of the iconic toy is far more nuanced and surprisingly feminist. After all, Barbie propelled young girls around the world out of simply honing their maternal skills with baby dolls and helped them imagine themselves in roles beyond motherhood.

This is part of why the highly anticipated “Barbie” movie is causing such excitement. It not only promises a fun ride full of dance numbers, crazy outfits and pink galore, but also a story that reflects the true promise of feminism: an equilateral, inclusive world where femininity is equally celebrated. Basically, the best of Barbie, if you ask me.

In fact, the film’s feminist layers were the main topic for a recent ABC News In-depth interview with Greta Gerwig, the film’s director, and Margot Robbie, who plays the titular character, and it’s giving fans a whole new level of appreciation for the upcoming comedy.

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“It most certainly is a feminist film,” said Gerwig. ”But it’s feminist in a way that includes everyone; it’s a ‘rising tide lifts all boats’ version of it.”

“I think some people hear the word ‘feminist’ and think that means it doesn’t mean men…And I’m like, anyone who believes that men and women should be equal is feminist,” Robbie seconded, noting that the power between the Barbies and the Kens is certainly not equal at the beginning of the film.

“If you look at ‘Barbie Land’ from the beginning…the Barbies are on top and the Kens are kinda disregarded…that’s not equal. So, whatever the opposite of misogynist is actually what Barbie is. Toward the end when they balance things out..then it might be feminist,” she joked.

Then Gerwig painted a picture she saw time and time again with her friends’ daughters:

“Little girls playing dress-up where they put on everything—the tutu and the tiara and the boa, and the gloves, and the bag and the cowboy boots and they have sparkles…so many ideas—and then there’s this moment when they just…start wanting to disappear.”

This is certainly a feeling many women can relate to, and it’s a feeling that only gets exacerbated in a society where women are often pitted against one another. Gerwig wanted “Barbie” to challenge this notion in the movie by showing “that ability for a woman to look at another woman and say ‘you’re good enough.’”

It doesn’t hurt that Gerwig and Robbie live this example in the interview by delighting in lifting each other up. Gerwig applauds Robbie for her take-charge attitude, and Robbie commends Gerwig for having an infectious enthusiasm and intelligence that doesn’t make others feel alienated. All in all, it’s just so inspiring to watch a couple of female Hollywood powerhouses hold each other in such high regard, all while talking about a movie that does the same thing.

After seeing this discussion, folks were even more excited about the thought Gerwig and Robbie have put into the film. You can feel the love in the comments below:

“The more I hear about the script entices me to actually see the movie.”

“I cannot wait to see this and already want them to direct/ produce another project together again. They flow off of each other so well. I love this!!”

“I wish they conducted interviews with world leaders and politicians in this manner.”

“This movie will tell girls they can do anything.”

“I have not (obviously) seen this yet and just from this interview I need another Margot/ Greta film. They seem superb together.”

“The absolute number one reason why I am most excited to see this movie is because of these two women. They are each so impressively talented and mindblowingly intelligent and passionate about their craft that there’s no way it will be anything less than spectacular. “

Thankfully, fans only have to wait a little longer before seeing what the creators have come up with. “Barbie” premieres July 21.

The music of Queen has a profound visceral effect on everyone. Few pieces of art can cause complete strangers to put aside their differences and come together in song, but by golly, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is one of them. It would be cheesy if it weren’t so absolutely beautiful.

This pertains even to non-English-speaking countries, it appears. Recently, thousands of Harry Styles concertgoers in Warsaw, Poland, began cheering as those iconic beginning piano notes penetrated the air.

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It wasn’t long before the entire stadium was singing along to that beloved tune and acing every single lyric. As one person commented on YouTube, even though most people in Warsaw don’t speak English, “they sing Queen.”

The passionate impromptu performance serves as a reminder of how special both Queen and the late Freddie Mercury remain today.

“No other band will ever come close to Queen. They were lightning in a bottle and Freddie was a whale in a teardrop. Once people keep singing his words, FM will live on forever,” another YouTube viewer wrote.

Indeed, seeing an entire stadium come alive with “Bohemian Rhapsody,” you can’t help but feel Mercury’s soul return to the mortal plane, as if we’ve all been transported back to that historic Live Aid concert in 1985 when he had the entirety of Wembley Stadium wrapped around his finger for 21 glorious minutes.

Watch below, and try not to sing along. Scratch that—sing your heart out.

A new form of social anxiety is coming to public consciousness, and it affects younger generations more often than older generations. The problem is called “menu anxiety,” and although it isn’t an official diagnosis, it affects countless people.

A survey of 2,000 adults conducted by OnePoll and commissioned by Avocado Green Mattress found younger generations were far more likely to have anxiety while ordering a meal off a menu—41% of Gen Z and millennials (aged 18–43), compared with only 15% of Gen X and baby boomers (aged 44–77).

There are many different ways in which menu anxiety manifests itself. People may have difficulty deciding what to order, especially in a place with an extensive menu. They also may be overly concerned they may have made the wrong choice.

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The social aspect can also be challenging for some people because they may feel they’re being judged for their order by others at the table or that they are under undue pressure to make their choice in a timely manner.

Add to that, some people may be concerned about the environmental impact of their order and how long it will take to cook.

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“I would imagine that people who are already experiencing anxiety would be more prone to experiencing menu anxiety,” licensed mental health counselor Natasha D’Arcangelo tells Lifehacker. “People who struggle with performance anxiety or perfectionism might also be more prone to experiencing it. It could also be a sign that your general stress levels are increased if what used to feel like a simple decision is now paralyzing you with anxiety or fear.”

Popular TikTok creator and comedian Elyse Myers, who’s been open about her struggles with mental health issues like ADHD, anxiety and depression, explained how she manages her menu anxiety.

To help herself feel comfortable in a restaurant, Myers pours over the menu hours before the meal and practices the name of what she wants to order.

@elysemyers

I’m a blast 🚀 #coffeetalk #theadhdway #menuanxiety

Myers’ approach to overcoming her menu anxiety closely mirrors advice provided by mental health professionals. An article co-authored by Natalia S. David, PsyD, recommends that people look over the menu ahead of time and write it down on paper so they don’t forget.

She also suggests that people plan a backup order in case the menu item isn’t available at the restaurant. This could prevent some unnecessary anxiety that could confound an already stressful situation.

Dr. David adds that when you practice the order, do so calmly.

“Practice feeling relaxed while you order,” Dr. David writes. “If you force your brain to think positively while you practice, it will be may be easier to do so during the real thing. If you feel yourself getting anxious as you practice, try some deep breathing.”

The study shows that even though menu anxiety is a seldom-discussed topic, it is an issue many people have. When popular social media personalities such as Myers talk about these issues publicly, they help to de-stigmatize them so people feel more comfortable discussing the issue openly. When people feel more comfortable being open about their challenges at the dinner table, then they are probably more likely to have an enjoyable meal.

The WNBA All-Star Game will take place on Saturday night in Las Vegas. But before that happens, the league took over Michelob Ultra Arena on Friday to hold its Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest.

Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty competed in both events, and while the first one did not go the way she wanted, she was able to bounce back in a big way in the second. Ionescu teamed up with Liberty teammate Courtney Vandersloot in the Skills Challenge, with the pair advancing to the finals to take on the duo of Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces — the teams from the Dallas Wings and the Atlanta Dream were eliminated. Unfortunately for fans in the Big Apple, the 46-second run by Plum and Gray in the finals meant the hometown fans were happy.

And then, the 3-Point Contest rolled around, which let Ionescu put on a show. She posted the second-best score in the first round, with her 26 points coming up a little short behind Sami Whitcomb of the Seattle Storm’s 28. Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings rounded things out with 21 points to move on to the finals.

As the lowest score in the first round, Ogunbowale went first in the finals, where she struggled and only scored 11 points. Then, Ionescu stepped up and put forth a historic final round, registering a ridiculous 37 points.

In all, Ionescu made all but two shots in the final round, and while Whitcomb put up a very respectable 24 points in her final outing, it was nowhere near enough.

Ben Platt is a nepo baby, but for the love of Barbara Streisand, please don’t say that to his face.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the Dear Evan Hansen star shared the inspiration behind his new mockumentary comedy Theater Camp. The indie he stars in with friend and co-writer Molly Gordon (The Bear) follows a group of children’s theater directors trying to salvage their final show of the summer. It looks hilarious, mostly because it doesn’t mind poking fun at the grown-ups who take this whole show business thing a bit too seriously. But it sounds like Platt doesn’t have skin quite as thick as his character in the film.

During the Rolling Stone chat, Platt was asked for his thoughts on the nepo baby conversation. Platt’s father is famed producer Marc Platt, the man partly responsible for Legally Blonde, Wicked, and a host of other beloved movies and Broadway shows. Naturally, having an industry heavyweight as a parent would’ve opened up doors for Platt, something he could have gracefully acknowledged and then moved on from when questioned about the connection. Instead, this happened:

After side-stepping the question from Rolling Stone writer EJ Dickson, Platt went on to answer a few more questions about his own Jewish summer camp experiences before his publicist intervened once more, ending his interview 20 minutes sooner than planned. The actor’s sensitivity over the whole nepo baby label has, naturally, prompted Twitter users to drag him for having, among other things, an “inflated sense of ego.”

(Via Rolling Stone)

Drake, can you do something for me? Get rid of your uncomfortable Drake-isms for me. The “Search & Rescue” rapper’s forthcoming appearance on TikTok influencer Bobbi Althoff’s The Really Good podcast will be awkward and cringey, as the teaser clip suggests, but it’s certainly worth a watch.

Following the satirical interview format made popular by creators such as Funny Marco, the pair engage in one of the most uncomfortable conversations we’ll see this week.

The clip opens with Althoff confessing, “I don’t know any other questions.” After a short exchange, the duo seemingly begins to flirt, and they get more comfortable under the sheets of the bed they share.

However, the funniest part of the clip, the influencer asks the musician, “Do you think it’s funny when your reference your own song? People could use that word, and it doesn’t mean your song.”

Drake replied in-between laughter, “I just thought that you were ending the interview on a note where you were like, ‘Haha, I do know your songs.’ You were just asking for a flight.”

“No, I don’t know your songs,” Althoff admits, much to Drake’s dismay.

Althoff hasn’t revealed when the full interview will be uploaded, but her followers have promised to tune in.