James Blake‘s sixth album, Playing Robots Into Heaven arrives this fall. Ahead of the album, the singer and prolific producer has shared the latest song, “Loading.” The song opens with a smooth, melancholy instrumental, over which, Blake sings with pitched-up vocals.
“Wherever I go, I’m only as good as my mind / Which is only good if you’re mine / Which is only good if you’re mine,” he sings, before the instrumental transitions into a rapid percussion pattern. The distorted vocal effects continue throughout the song, symbolizing a wide range of emotions.
Over the years, Blake has collaborated with the likes of Travis Scott, SZA, Rosalía, and several others, delivering his transcendent musical stylings across a variety of genres. However, it appears that Blake will be the only vocalist on Playing Robots Into Heaven, as the tracklist doesn’t list any featured artists.
Blake has been rather quiet during this particular era, not having done a whole lot of interviews and press appearances. But the music speaks for itself, as “Loading” taps into Blake’s vulnerability and allows the listener to dance the pain away.
You can listen to “Loading” above.
Playing Robots Into Heaven is out 9/8 via Republic. Find more information here.
Jeopardy! fans are not thrilled with Ken Jennings after the host dared a contestant to lick his own elbow during a recent episode. Despite Jennings being a favorite of grandmas everywhere, social media fans were quick to turn on him following the gross-out stunt.
The incident went down during Tuesday night’s episode after contestant Andrew Knowles revealed that he has a crazy long tongue.
“Yeah, so I figured out at a young age I have a long tongue, and the whole nose-to-tongue thing was easy,” Knowles told Jennings via Decider. “And then one day I heard that, you know, touching your elbow, or licking your elbow basically, is impossible. And I tried it, and I was able to do it.”
Obviously, with that information out in the open, Jennings wanted a demonstration, and to the dismay of Jeopardy! fans, Knowles obliged.
“Wow, look at that,” a clearly amused Jennings said. “I can do the nose thing, but I didn’t know there was a whole Olympic level that I knew nothing of.”
While Jennings and Knowles seemed to be having a good time on camera, Jeopardy! fans were not loving the moment at home.
“@Jeopardy has just jumped the shark into classless mediocrity when a contestant just licked his elbow with his tongue. Sad that the only intelligent game show on tv has stooped to this level,” a disgruntled fan tweeted. “Thanks @kenjennings for lowering the standard of a once great show.”
@Jeopardy has just jumped the shark into classless mediocrity when a contestant just licked his elbow with his tongue. Sad that the only intelligent game show on tv has stooped to this level. Thanks @kenjennings for lowering the standard of a once great show.
“Alex Trebek must be rolling over in his grave. This is not the Gong Show!” another angry fan replied to the Jeopardy! clip.
Ken Jennings brought Jeopardy to a new low by asking this contestant to touch his elbow with his tongue. Alex Trebek must be rolling over in his grave. This is not the Gong Show!
However, not all of the replies were angry. Other Jeopardy! fans were more concern with why Knowles looks a lot like Bill Hader’s Stefon character from SNL, which honestly, we can see. There is a resemblance.
“I do not see the point of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with,” Healy told the crowd.
This didn’t go over to well, as after their Friday performance, the rest of the festival was canceled, and the band has apparently since been banned from Malaysia as a whole. Julian Casablancas — of the other lineup acts, The Strokes — opened up about his thoughts on the situation in several Instagram comments.
“It def helped the white outsider awareness yes, for sure,” Casablancas replied. “I felt the same. had no idea. but when you look into it, it likely will change little to nothing in Malaysia. It’s like saying you helped awareness of injustices in n korea… not one of those situations where twitter pressure’s gonna work, they don’t care, govt is intense there.”
“many thing to fix but we should be strategic was all,” he added. “Wasn’t commenting on the thing – just an outider thinking it would make any difference in Malaysia… it appears to have more negative consequences… your nit allowed to show straight public kissing affection there i believe… it’s a different world not his job to come fix then bail… if he stayed and went to jail then damn, respect. but i think he just made a joke/ laughted and flew home first class imm guessing.”
In the days since, according to The Star, 18 police reports have been filed about The 1975’s set.
Fans have waited a little over a year, but season two of Rap Sh!t is set to finally return in just a couple of weeks. Max announced that the show would return to the platform on August 10 with a pair of episodes to start season two. That means fans will be able to check back in with Shawna and Mia as they continue their journey towards becoming the hottest rappers in Miami, and then the country. Before the new season kicks off next month, let’s get you up to speed with everything you need to know heading into season two.
Release Date
Rap Sh!t season two will make its return to Max on August 10. The first two episodes of the season will debut on the platform that day while the remaining episodes will be released on a weekly basis every Thursday.
Cast
The cast for Rap Sh!t season two is largely the same as season one. The returning names include Aida Osman as Shawna Clark, KaMillion as Mia Knight, Jonica Booth as Chastity, Devon Terrell as Cliff Lewis, RJ Cyler as Lamont, Daniel Augustin as Maurice, Amandla Jahava as Jill, Jaboukie Young-White as Francois Boom, and Brittney Jefferson as Alesia. Some new names to the season 2 cast include Jacob Romero as Lord AK, a successful rapper, and Kyle Bary as Courtney Taylor, a rising rapper who’s the opener for Lord AK’s tour.
Plot
Here is the official logline for Rap Sh!t season two:
Rap Sh!t follows two estranged high school friends from Miami, Shawna and Mia, who reunite to form a rap group. In their rise to fame, Shawna and Mia find themselves at a pivotal moment in their rap career as they are forced to decide if they will stay true to themselves or conform to the demands of the music industry.
Trailer
You can view the official trailer for Rap Sh!t season two below:
How Many Episodes Are In Rap Sh!t Season 2?
There will be eight episodes in Rap Sh!t season two. The first two episodes will premiere on August 10 and the remaining six episodes will be released on a weekly basis up until the show’s season two finale on September 21. Each episode will be available on the Max app and website at 3 am EST/ 12 am PST.
Where Can I Stream Rap Sh!t Season 2
You can stream Rap Sh!t season two through weekly episodes that are released every Thursday starting on August 10. Each episode will be available on the Max app and website at 3 am EST/ 12 am PST.
‘Rap Sh!t’ season two debuts on Max on August 10. Season one is available now to stream on Max.
Travis Scott had plans to kick off his fourth album era in a big way. In addition to plans to reveal four different cover arts for Utopia — his first album in five years — Scott was also set to perform the album in full at the Giza Pyramids in Egypt.
Over the past couple of weeks, there have been rumors of the Egypt concert’s cancellation, though Scott and Live Nation have shut those rumors down. Unfortunately, the concert has since actually been canceled.
Why was Travis Scott’s Egypt concert canceled?
According to Live Nation, who put out the official statement today (July 27), Scott’s concert has been cancelled due to “complex production issues.” Fans who purchased tickets will receive a refund from their point of purchase.
— Live Nation Middle East (@LiveNationME) July 26, 2023
“We regret to inform you that the Utopia show, originally scheduled for July 28th at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt is cancelled. Unfortunately, despite highest efforts, complex production issues meant that the show could not be constructed in the desert.
We understand that this news is disappointing and not the outcome any of us desired.
Refunds will be issued to all ticket holders at their point of purchase. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this cancellation may have caused and appreciate your understanding. We remain committed to bringing exceptional live performances to fans and hope to have the opportunity to do so in the future.”
Everyone wants to know how long they will live and there are many indicators that can show whether someone is thriving or on the decline. But people have yet to develop a magic formula to determine exactly how long someone should expect to live.
However, a doctor recently featured on the “Today” show says a straightforward test can reveal the likelihood that someone aged 51 to 80 will die in the near future.
NBC News medical contributor Dr. Natalie Azar was on the “Today” show on March 8 and demonstrated how to perform the simple “sit to stand test” (aka sit-rising test or SRT) that can help determine the longevity of someone between 51 to 80.
The test is pretty simple. Go from standing to sitting cross-legged, and then go back to standing without using any parts of your body besides your legs and core to help you get up and down. The test measures multiple longevity factors, including heart health, balance, agility, core and leg strength and flexibility.
You begin the test with a score of 10 and subtract points on your way up and down for doing the following:
Hand used for support: -1 point
Knee used for support: -1 point
Forearm used for support: -1 point
One hand on knee or thigh: -1 point
Side of leg used for support: -1 point
None
— (@)
A 2012 study published by the European Society of Cardiology found a correlation between the SRT score and how long people live. The study was conducted on 2002 people, 68% of whom were men, who performed the SRT test and were followed by researchers in the coming years. The study found that “Musculoskeletal fitness, as assessed by SRT, was a significant predictor of mortality in 51–80-year-old subjects.”
Those who scored in the lowest range, 0 to 3, had up to a 6 times greater chance of dying than those in the highest scores (8 to 10). About 40% of those in the 0 to 3 range died within 11 years of the study.
Azar distilled the study on “Today,” saying: “The study found that the lower the score, you were seven times more likely to die in the next six years.”
“Eight points or higher is what you want,” Azar said. “As we get older, we spend time talking cardiovascular health and aerobic fitness, but balance, flexibility and agility are also really important,” she stressed.
One should note that the people who scored lowest on the test were the oldest, giving them an elevated risk of death.
Dr. Greg Hartley, Board Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist and associate professor at the University of Miami, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that we should take the study with a grain of salt. “Frailty, strength, muscle mass, physical performance—those things are all correlated to mortality, but I would caution everybody that correlation doesn’t mean causation,” he said.
And of course, the test doesn’t take into account injuries or disabilities that may make doing the test impossible. But one of the study’s authors says that the study is a call to take our mobility seriously.
“The more active we are the better we can accommodate stressors, the more likely we are to handle something bad that happens down the road,” Dr. Claudio Gil Araujo, told USA Today.
Fresh Pair season two continues with another fire episode featuring a legendary hip-hop guest that not only helped define the genre but solidified himself as a cultural icon, transcending to household name status and earning a place on many people’s Mount Rushmore of West Coast hip-hop. In the latest episode, sneaker customizer to the stars Katty Customs and hip hop architect Just Blaze are joined by Ice Cube, who is gifted a custom pair of inspired Air Force 1s, chock-full of details that celebrate Cube’s long and storied career.
If you know anything about Ice Cube — we’re going to assume you do — you’re well aware that his rap moniker isn’t just a random assemblage of words, Cube is supremely cool, but even a pair of sunglasses and his famously chill demeanor wasn’t enough to mask his excitement over what Katty and Just cooked up for him. After the awe-inspiring reveal, Cube looked at his custom AF-1s like a kid in a candy store, eyes wide with wonder. Have you ever heard Ice Cube say ‘wow’ and mean it? That alone makes this episode a must-watch.
The fresh pair led Cube to share stories about how he first linked up with Hank Shocklee in the wake of NWA’s breakup, the making of his legendary album Death Certificate, and explains how “It Was a Good Day” was essentially the song version of his movie Friday, deep diving into the creation of each.
But that’s not all, Cube also talked a bit about the beef between The Big 3 and the NBA, and revealed his top five favorite storytelling rap tracks. It’s a deep interview with a dope pair of shoes and one of the most entertaining personalities in all of hip-hop, you already know what to do!
After another Finals run that fell short of a title, the Miami Heat entered this offseason poised to make a big move. They were connected with the pursuit of Bradley Beal before he landed on the Phoenix Suns as his preferred destination, as well as briefly being mentioned as a possible suitor for James Harden.
However, they have since moved on to targeting Damian Lillard, who has made clear to the Blazers that he wants to be in Miami when the season starts, but to this point a deal has not been made and the two sides sit at a stalemate. Landing Lillard is what will make this summer a success for Miami, so that looms over everything, but in the meantime we’re going to take stock of their offseason thus far and the moves they’ve made in the Draft, free agency, and trades.
Draft: B
The Heat added a high-floor wing in Jaime Jaquez Jr. out of UCLA with the 18th overall pick, as he seemingly fits Miami’s culture extremely well as a tough-nosed player. The question, at this point, is whether Jaquez is still part of the Heat when the season starts or if he’ll be headed off to the Blazers in a Lillard deal. In any case, this is what our Brad Rowland wrote on Draft night when the Heat took Jaquez, giving them a B for the selection, if only for it being a bit earlier than most expected Jaquez to go.
I’m a sucker for Jaime Jaquez, and I’ll admit that. This is a substantial rise from where most had him during the season but, well, this is about where I had him the entire time. Miami is also a wonderful landing spot because the Heat do a fantastic job putting players in positions to succeed. Jaquez’s toughness and feel for the game fit beautifully with the Heat.
Free Agency/Contract Extensions: B
So far the Heat have been fairly quiet on the free agent market, which isn’t a surprise given how important landing Lillard is in determining how desirable a destination they are for potential vet minimum signees. Re-signing Kevin Love was a perfectly solid move given how good he was in their postseason run. Thomas Bryant gives them a big for the regular season rotation that can space the floor. If they land Lillard, there will likely be another flurry of signings to fill out the roster. Josh Richardson’s return to Miami is a very nice signing on the minimum as they needed to bolster their guard depth with Gabe Vincent and Max Strus departing. Losing two starters from their Finals run is no small thing, but they’ve mitigated those losses solidly so far, and, obviously, would be more than fine with those departures so long as they land Lillard as well.
Trades: INC
It’s impossible to fully hand out a grade to the Heat until we know whether they’ve successfully dealt for Lillard. If so, this offseason is an A+, as they’ll have added a near-perfect complement to their star duo of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo for what figures to be an outgoing package that is not near the same impact of Lillard on the court (with all due respect to Tyler Herro). Having an elite scoring guard like Lillard alongside Butler (who is a tremendous scorer, but not at the same volume) and Adebayo (who is maybe the most versatile big man defender in the NBA) would make them one of the favorites in the East.
If somehow the Blazers find another trade partner and send Lillard elsewhere, then this offseason is a step back for the Heat. The only trades they’ve made otherwise are salary dumping Victor Oladipo to OKC and a sign-and-trade sending Max Strus to Cleveland, opening up some roster space (and a trade exception) by bringing back only a second round pick thanks to the involvement of the Spurs. Losing Strus and Vincent without landing Lillard would seemingly drop them behind the top teams in the East and create an uphill battle to return to the Finals in the near future.
Taylor Swift brought the Eras Tour to Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium a few weeks ago, where Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce had hoped to pass on his number to the pop star. Given Swift split from Joe Alwyn and Kelce is also single, he figured he’d try.
However, as he detailed on his recent New Heights podcast episode, it didn’t go so well.
“I was disappointed that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings, so I was a little butthurt I didn’t get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her,” Kelce said, as the bracelets had his digits on them.
“She doesn’t meet anybody — or at least she didn’t want to meet me, so I took it personal,” he added (jokingly about taking it personally, it would seem) in a conversation with his brother, Jason.
Even with his failed dating attempt, he still enjoyed the concert and was shocked by the Swifties’ excitement. Especially their dedication to creating costumes from any and all of Swift’s past eras to wear.
“I’ve only seen Arrowhead filled like that for Chiefs games with that much excitement, and everybody was dressed in pink and purple going crazy for her. It was wild. It was a wild show,” Kelce praised.
So, it looks like aliens might exist, and furthermore, that the United States may be in possession of a body. Extraterrestrial enthusiast and Blink-182 singer Tom DeLonge, naturally, is pumped. He tweeted today (July 26) a graphic that reads, “Tom Was Right Aliens F**king Exist,” captioned with a smiling face wearing sunglasses emoji.
As for what DeLonge is talking about: David Grusch, a former Air Force intelligence officer, testified before a House Oversight subcommittee in Congress today. This comes after a June interview in which he claimed the US government is in possession of UFOs — or UAPs (“unidentified aerial phenomena”), as the US government refers to them. He said, “Well, naturally, when you recover something that’s either landed or crashed […] sometimes you encounter dead pilots and, believe it or not, as fantastical as that sounds: It’s true.”
Former US intelligence official David Grusch says under oath that the US government is in possession of UFOs and non-human bodies pic.twitter.com/tYJA1rNr6Z
During today’s testimony, he was asked under oath, “Do you believe our government has made contact with intelligent extraterrestrials,” to which he responded, “Something I can’t discuss in a public setting.” He was then asked if the US has the bodies of the pilots of crashed UAPs, and he noted that “biologics came with some of these recoveries,” later specifying that they were “non-human.”
Find the full hearing below.
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