Over the course of the last four years, Lil Nas X has proven to be one of music’s top trolls — in a good way — with a sense of humor that allows him to rankle chronically unhip conservatives while deflecting any criticism thrown his way. However, he might have met his match on The Eric Andre Show, where the comedian thrives on pranking guests with outlandish stunts and absurdist humor.
In a preview from the upcoming June 4th season six premiere, Andre sits down with Lil Nas X for an “interview” that leaves the young rapper speechless for what might be the first time in his career. After being introduced, Nas is menaced by Andre’s desk with a classic gag from Nightmare On Elm Street, then shocked by Andre’s new sidekick/co-host Felipe Esparza, who chops through a background, The Shining-style, with a gleefully unhinged “Here’s Felipe!” Oh and apparently Andre’s mic now sprays sleeping gas. It’s a lot.
The upcoming sixth season of The Eric Andre Show will feature guests like Blac Chyna, Cypress Hill, Diplo, Jaleel White, Jon Hamm, Lil Yachty, Meagan Good, Natasha Lyonne, Rico Nasty, and Tinashe. Diplo gets kicked in the nuts. It’ll be a good time.
Watch Lil Nas X’s interview with Eric Andre above.
There are some things in life that you simply can’t prepare for. You know they exist and there’s a possibility it could happen to you or someone you love but experiencing it is terrifyingly outside of the imagination. Cancer is a big one that touches nearly everyone in some way, yet it’s a hard diagnosis to swallow.
Hank Green, most famed for his co-hosting duties on Mental Floss and Vlogbrothers where he co-hosts with his older brother, John Green. Recently Green announced on the Vlogbrothers YouTube channel that he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after noticing swollen lymph nodes under his arm and near his chest. Thankfully, his doctor decided to do a precautionary ultrasound, which prompted the biopsy and subsequent diagnosis.
Green is known for his witty humorous delivery of facts. The truth is, he’s so known for his intellect and delivery that he’s had to tell people to stop tagging him under actual rocket scientists and doctors explanatory videos. So it’s no surprise to the people who have followed him for years that he delivered the news of his diagnosis in a very Hank Green cerebral way.
It was Green’s encounter with the woman who schedules biopsies that set his alarm bells off. The scheduler joked about the YouTube personality hand delivering the referral due to his procrastination to schedule the surgery.
“No, the surgery is tomorrow, and she was like, ‘oh procrastinator,’ and I was like, no it just got scheduled just now,” Green recalled.
He said immediately her eyes changed and things moved very efficiently, which he joked that having experienced the American health care system, efficiency is scary. Which tracks. When appointments and doctors start moving quickly and communicating effectively with each other and the patient, that’s usually a sign that there’s something seriously wrong. It shouldn’t be, but it’s sort of how we have come to know the American health care system to be.
While this is extremely upsetting news for the author, it wouldn’t be Hank Green without dropping easily digestible information on the type of cancer he has and a piece of medical trivia. Green explained that the cancer he is diagnosed with responds well to treatment and has a high rate of survival. He went into the chemo process and what to expect as well as laying out statistics.
“I just feel very grateful to all of the people who have spent their careers studying disease, and cancer and lymphoma and Hodgkin’s specifically,” Green says before excitedly continuing. “Which, if you can believe this, was originally thought to be a form of Tuberculosis when it was first discovered in the early 1900s. It’s not, but they thought it was.”
Green closes the video by asking people to leave him movie, television show and video game recommendations that are up lifting. We’re all wishing Green well and if you have any recommendations he can watch during his treatments, leave them under the original video linked below.
The Daily Mailreports that Australian model and influencer Steph Claire Smith discussed the time she ghosted DiCaprio on the KICPOD podcast. “I was dancing on my own for most of the night, and I noticed someone looking at me and I realized this guy is wearing one of those hats, like those English hats and I was like, he kinda looks like Leonardo DiCaprio,” Smith, who was 19 years old at the time, said. “Then my friend came over and was like, ‘Steph, apparently Leonardo DiCaprio is here,’ and I was like, wow, it is him!”
Smith went to another club, where she saw DiCaprio again. “This person that was with him weaved themselves through the crowd,” she said, “and was like, ‘Do you want to meet Leo?’ Abso-f*cking-lutely I do! So we went over, he did the whole French double kiss on the cheek.” DiCaprio asked, “Can I grab your number, I would love to take you out for dinner to some of the nicest restaurants around here.” What a gentleman. Only the finest raw bison liver for his dates. They exchanged numbers, and the actor texted, “This is Leo, this is the number you can contact me on.” But Smith never replied.
“I’m sorry can we just drill down on the fact that you left Leonardo DiCaprio on read?” the show’s producer Mandy chimed in.
“I’m the one that got away, I don’t know what to say,” she joked, adding that she’d already begun dating her now-husband, Josh Miller, and was happily in love.
Smith should consider herself lucky. She didn’t have to hear DiCaprio talk in his Killers of the Flower Moon accent for months on end.
Lauren Boebert’s divorce filing surprised a lot of people last week, and when those papers were served, they apparently shocked Jayson Boebert, her husband of two decades, too. Boebert has swiftly moved on to seemingly important matters like criticizing hoodies, although she did take a few moments to point out that Jayson wouldn’t drink Bud Light while both husband and wife denied a process server’s account of his allegedly hostile response to those papers.
Jayson is still talking, this time to Westword, in which he declared that Boebert’s congressional tenure thus far has “been a difficult time,” since the two are now so busy, and also works “long hours and I take care of our boys.” He further insists that no infidelity is to blame for the split, and he told Westword that “security footage” will prove that he didn’t explode with anger toward that process server:
“I opened the door to greet the gentleman,” Jayson says. “He looked familiar like an old buddy. My dogs greeted him like they do with everyone. No threat to him. The process server approached me and said don’t shoot the messenger. I was not drinking. I was not cleaning a gun. There was no guns around. I then closed the door after I told him he was trespassing.”
According to Jayson, there are “signs all over” the driveway leading to the house where he was staying warning people about trespassing. “I said to him, ‘Don’t make me call the sheriff’ and walked into my basement,” he recalls. “I was not angry, I didn’t even know what it was about. I have security footage of this event that has been sent to attorneys.”
As Westword mentions, Jayson Boebert ran afoul of the law nearly two decades ago, including his arrests for indecent exposure and domestic violence. Lauren also wrote of “anger management” in the context of Jayson while penning her 2022 memoir, My American Life, which declared that Jayson “needed the alcohol and anger management classes” that were part of his plea deal on the indecent exposure charges. Jayson, for his part, appears to be maintaining that he’s long since turned over a new leaf and will be vindicated by that security footage. Last week, Lauren also claimed that recent reports of a tantruming Jayson running over a neighbor’s mailbox are false.
“You guys are my fans, ur my family!!! I hear yall!! Im pivoting. Different single June 2nd!! [smiley emoji, peace sign emoji, hearts emoji],” Cudi tweeted.
You guys are my fans, ur my family!!! I hear yall!! Im pivoting. Different single June 2nd!!
Cudi also updated his Twitter bio, “New vibes comin JUNE 2ND.”
In February, the multi-hyphenate creative shared his plans for the remainder of the year on Twitter: “Album this Fall. First singles this summer. The new chapter has begun… Ur not prepared man. We’ve reached a new level.” One person wished for a tour, and Cudi replied, “World tour next year. Count on it [winking emoji].” Cudi replied to another person asking what he’s excited about in 2023, “Man, so much. My clothing line, directing my first movie that I’m starring in from a script I wrote, couple movies coming out, a lil tv, Im seriously the most hyped about it all.”
Deadline reported last month that Cudi will star in and co-produce a Sony Pictures’ “action horror-comedy” titled Hell Naw that Sam Levinson (Euphoria, The Idol) will produce.
“The plot is being kept under wraps, but we do know the film is set during Paris Fashion Week and there will be zombies,” Deadline wrote at the time.
Cudi (real name Scott Mescudi) provided a statement at the time:
“This movie has been five years in the making. I am telling the world now, this film will f*ck you up in all the best ways. I have been a horror fan since I was seven years old. The first horror movies I ever saw were Night of the Living Dead and Evil Dead. And from that point on, I was hooked on the feeling of being frightened. I’ve been wanting to get into this world creating my own stories for a long time, and now, and after years of working it out in my head, it’s finally happening. Sam, The Lucas Brothers and myself have really crafted a tale we feel everyone who’s a fan of horror and comedy will enjoy. You will laugh, oh yes you will, but the horror aspect of this movie will really be something to see. You will be shook. I promise. Y’all know I don’t play around.”
With all that going on, it’s no wonder Cudi felt emboldened to name a song “Flex.”
A year ago, Carmelo Anthony was an important role player on the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 13.3 points off the bench as one of L.A.’s most consistent three-point threats. However, this year he was without a team as L.A. looked to get younger and, after a season away from the game, he came to the realization that it was time to call it a career.
On Monday morning, Anthony posted a video to his social media accounts announcing his retirement from the NBA after 19 seasons, with the future Hall of Famer thanking fans for their support over his nearly two-decade long career.
Anthony concludes the video by noting his legacy will live on through his son Kiyan, as well as noting he’s excited for his next chapter off the court, and he truly seems to be at peace with this being it for his playing career. That’s important because there was a time where Anthony was not in that place, but had been bounced out of the league after a rough (and brief) stint in Houston. He was able to revive his career for three more years thanks to embracing a role as a knockdown shooter in Portland, and seems to have written his last on-court chapter in the way he wanted.
Carmelo will finish his NBA career with 28,289 points, good for 11th all-time, and he has made his mark in the top-30 of the NBA record books in a variety of offensive categories. When he’s eligible, Anthony is a lock for the Hall of Fame based on his terrific NBA career as well as his one season at Syracuse, where he led the Orange to a national title as a freshman, and his work with USA Basketball winning three Olympic gold medals.
Ice Cube does not co-sign the use of AI in hip-hop, however.
The iconic West Coast rapper visited the Full Send Podcast last week and was asked about “this new wave of rappers,” teeing him up to give a scathing review of AI.
Ice Cube’s thoughtful response began at the 47:35 mark:
“I like the beats. The artists are getting lost in autotunes, and now that you have an AI computer, I think people don’t want a computerized rapper no more. They want to hear your voice. I don’t know any rappers by they voice no more. I used to know all the rappers just – hear they voice, know who that is.
I think they need to figure out how to put that autotune down, and we need to hear what people sound like and if they’re as good because I think AI is demonic. I think AI is gonna get a backlash from real people — real, organic people — and so I think artists need to go back to using their real voice and making sure people know this is authentic and not made from a computer.”
When asked whether he was implying all artists now use AI, Ice Cube clarified, “I think autotune sounds computer-like, and I think it’s all starting to sound artificial because of AI.”
In case there was any remaining confusion regarding Ice Cube’s stance on AI, he later plainly stated: “I don’t want to hear an AI Drake song. I don’t want to hear that bullsh*t, and he should sue whoever made it.”
And if anyone dares to make an AI Ice Cube song, “I’m gonna sue the motherf*cker who make it, too, and the platform that plays it.”
Sting and will.i.am are among other artists who have shared their opinions on AI.
Keeping up with new music can be exhausting, even impossible. From the weekly album releases to standalone singles dropping on a daily basis, the amount of music is so vast it’s easy for something to slip through the cracks. Even following along with the Uproxx recommendations on a daily basis can be a lot to ask, so every Monday we’re offering up this rundown of the best new music this week.
This week saw an introspective Post Malone and a retrospective Lana Del Rey. Yeah, it was a great week for new music. Check out the highlights below.
In recent times, Post Malone has been open when it comes to getting sober; turns out he wants to be healthy to enjoy as much of his daughter’s life as he can. That’s great, but the process isn’t easy, as Malone sings about on “Mourning,” a new single from his personal upcoming album Austin.
Lana Del Rey — “Say Yes To Heaven”
“Say Yes To Heaven” is a newly released song, but to Lana Del Rey stans, it’s already an old classic. The song has appeared online in various capacities over the years, but last week, Del Rey gave the track — a moving, atmospheric number — its first-ever official release.
Bad Bunny — “Where She Goes”
Bad Bunny is the biggest artist in the world (at least according to him being the most-streamed artist on Spotify pretty much all the time). He offers plenty of star power on his own, but he turned it up to well beyond 11 with his new video for “Where She Goes,” which features Dominic Fike, Frank Ocean, Lil Uzi Vert, Ronaldinho, and others.
Summer Walker — “To Summer, From Cole (Audio Hug)” Feat. J. Cole
Summer Walker opens her new Clear 2: Soft Life EP by shining a light on J. Cole, who comes through with a heartwarming and well-received verse on “To Summer, From Cole (Audio Hug).” Uproxx’s Aaron Williams describes the track, “Over a mellow, piano-driven soul beat, Cole ruminates on the duo’s burgeoning friendship, congratulating Walker on her newborns and commiserating with her about the travails of the music industry.”
Blur — “The Narcissist”
Damon Albarn has to be one of the busiest people in music. The Gorillaz machine is in perpetual motion, he put out a solo album in 2021, and now he’s getting the Blur gang back together for The Ballad Of Darren, their first album in nearly a decade. They shared “The Narcissist” last week, a propulsive yet mellow indie-rocker.
Halle Bailey — “For The First Time”
“Part Of Your World” is of course the big Ariel song from The Little Mermaid, so we’ve definitely already heard Halle Bailey give it a go by now. The live-action remake’s full soundtrack album dropped last week, though, and that offered a look at “For The First Time,” a more upbeat number from the film that shows off Bailey’s powerhouse vocals in a different way.
Zara Larsson — “End Of Time”
Larsson told Uproxx of her new single, “I love the melodies. I love that it feels big, but it feels like a classic song. And in a way, it’s danceable, it’s pop, and it’s just like a very existential love song about wanting to love somebody until the very end of time.”
NxWorries — “Daydreaming”
Anderson .Paak has proven over the years that he’s a superb collaborator, with a voice and energy that regularly plays well with others. Right now, the focus is on NxWorries (the duo of .Paak and Knxwledge), as they dropped “Daydreaming” a few days ago. It’s a relaxed and warm tune ready for summer that’ll be the perfect score for warm nights of lazy afternoons.
Paul Simon — Seven Psalms
Paul Simon is 81 years old and the Simon & Garfunkel legend is clearly not done adventuring. His new album Seven Psalms, for example, is an atypical undertaking: It’s a completely acoustic project that consists of one multi-segment song, meant to be heard in one 33-minute sitting.
Conan Gray — “Never Ending Song”
Conan Gray is one of pop’s more exciting young stars right now, and the fresh-faced artist goes for a decidedly nostalgic sound on his latest single, “Never Ending Song.” The synthy number sounds like a lost ’80s hit, with Gray even adopting a vocal style reminiscent of the era, but he gorgeously adapted the aesthetic to something that works here in 2023, too.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
With The Little Mermaid set to splash into theaters this week, the first reviews are rolling in, and the critics are head over fins for Halle Bailey. The young actress scored the coveted role of Ariel in the live-action remake, and virtually every review cites that casting decision as the film’s most powerful weapon. Bailey’s rendition of “Part of Your World” is frequently cited as a show-stopper that, dare we say it, could be on par with the original.
While the rest of the film received so-so remarks, Bailey’s performance appears to be worth the price of admission alone, and it’s certainly convinced more than one critic that these Disney live-action remakes can be more than moneymakers.
Halle Bailey is all the reason that any audience should need to justify Disney revisiting this classic. Director Rob Marshall found his Ariel, and together, they’ve made a keeper. Just wait till you hear her sing “Part of Your World,” delivered with all the conviction of Jennifer Hudson’s career-making rendition of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” A star is born, and as if to punctuate our discovery, Marshall poses Bailey there on a rocky outcropping and smashes a giant wave against her back.
Thankfully, Bailey doesn’t disappoint as Ariel. Her performance adds edge to what is ultimately a serviceable film. Whether she’s belting out a newly arranged “Part of Your World” or silently observing her less than charming prince (Jonah Hauer King) navigate his own social constrictions, her charisma radiates off the screen. The Beyoncé prodigy and the other half of the Grammy-winning duo Chloe x Halle gracefully presents her own Ariel: The character is still sweet and sharp-tongued, but there’s a touch more bite to her defiance. Her voice, the narrative’s raison d’être, sounds ethereal, too. Reconciling the strength of Bailey’s portrayal with the rest of the film, however, takes some work.
The film is far from a mere remake; it expands the universe of the original movie, with a sprawl that jumps off the screen and directly into its viewers’ hearts. The charm of the original doesn’t just remain intact, it’s augmented tenfold. Some new songs and shaky visual effects may not feel so seamless when jammed into an already bloated runtime. But even when its pacing stumbles, The Little Mermaid remains magical, thanks largely to the brilliance of Bailey, who is destined to bring this iconic role to a new generation.
Marshall has made a movie with all the magic required to pull it off and, if not replace the original in our hearts, at least has made a movie that can stand next to that one to also become a memorable part of our cinematic world. With a David Magee script that sticks to the story, the catchy Alan Menken and Howard Ashman songs like “Part Of Your World”, “Kiss The Girl”, and Oscar winner “Under The Sea” now joined effortlessly by three new tunes from Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda, and a perfectly chosen cast, this Mermaid has all the right stuff. Disney will probably print money with this one, but it will be justified.
Halle Bailey is an immediate standout as Ariel, evoking the wide-eyed innocence of a naïve, lovestruck teenager while belting out musical numbers with the gusto of a Broadway star in the making. Similarly, Hauer-King’s Prince Eric is given more dimension than in the 1989 version as a wanderlusting dreamer, so he serves as a solid romantic counterpart to Bailey. However, the rest of the cast is a mixed bag.
This iteration of The Little Mermaid is the studio’s freshest catch since it kicked off this live-action trend with 2015’s Cinderella, featuring refreshing storytelling that captures the magic of the original. Director Rob Marshall at last has found material that fits him as well as 2002’s Chicago, his splashy theatrical style merging with the tropes of musical comedy and something darker around the edges.
In this new live-action adaptation things are not as bubblegum sweet and bright as the last time we visited Ariel’s story. The sea is rougher, less forgiving. There is, as Ariel sings in the famed “Part of Your World,” something starting inside the heart of a tender, curious, and desperate mermaid the same way it did in 1989, but Marshall’s vision finds the raw humanity within the story, grounding a once-completely fantastical tale with a strong sense of realism that works to its advantage.
But it’s star Halle Bailey, appearing in her first leading role, who makes the best case for why this classic Disney tale needed to be made into a live-action affair. Just look at her face, so expressive and so open, so deeply and wonderfully human and alive. There are some things even the most lovingly rendered pieces of hand-drawn animation just can’t match, and Bailey’s emotive skill is one of them. (And her stunning singing? Further icing on the “this young woman is a movie star” cake.)
In just a few days, the first spin-off in the Power Universe series, Power Book II: Ghost, will air its season three finale. Over the course of its third season, fans of the Power Universe often wondered about what was next for Power Book IV: Force which has yet to start its second season. Power Book IV: Force is centered around Tommy Egan (played by Joseph Sikora) who, just like Tariq St. Patrick in Power Book II: Ghost, was in the original Power series. Fans waited long enough for word and an official release date on Power Book IV: Force season 2, and finally, it’s here.
When DoesPower Book IV: Force Season 2 Come Out?
Good news: There’s an official premiere date for Power Book IV: Force season 2. Bad news: It’s not for a few months. STARZ announced that Power Book IV: Force will return for season 2 on September 1, meaning that the Power Universe will break for the summer. STARZ also unveiled its first teaser trailer for season 2 and in it, Tommy remains the most wanted man in Chicago as he continues his takeover of the city’s drug game.
STARZ also shared new details about the plot of season two:
After cutting ties in New York, Tommy Egan’s newfound family and ruthless drug game enticed him to stay in Chicago. The explosive second season begins with Tommy on a mission to avenge the death of Lilliana, his former nemesis turned business partner. With Diamond (Isaac Keys) and Jenard (Kris D. Lofton) at odds, the Flynn organization weakened, and a new connect on the scene, Tommy is more determined than ever to take over the Chicago drug world.
You can watch the teaser trailer for Power Book IV: Force season 2 above.
‘Power Book IV: Force’ season 1 is available to stream on STARZ. ‘Power Book IV: Force’ season 2 arrives on September 1.
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