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Michael B. Jordan might have a rigorous exercise routine that includes three hours of hardcore training and a strict diet, but Paul Rudd is friends with the Stay Pufft marshmallow man, so there is one obvious winner here when it comes to who is cooler. But in terms of, you know, real strength and ability, it seems like Jordan and Rudd are both experts in combat!

Both Jordan and Rudd have to battle it out against Jonathan Majors in two very different movies, Creed III and Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania, respectively. This guy has had a really busy year so far. But when it came to the actual fights, Majors was pretty torn between his two opponents. Jordan’s character Creed is a hard-hitting (literally) legendary boxer, while Rudd plays an ant. Their match-up is pretty even, here.

In an interview with NME, the actor was asked who of the two hits harder, and he obviously said the person on everyone’s minds. “I think Paul Rudd hits in softer spots which hurts more.” the Kang actor quipped, before adding, “Mike hits harder. Mike hits hard.” You do not want to be punched in the face by former quarterback Vince Howard.

Even though Jordan might have the speed, agility, and strength, Rudd has that quick wit that only comes with years of practice and failed franchise reboots and appearing in every corny romantic comedy from 2001-2009. He deserves some time to play a little action hero and throws some punches! He only has a few more years before he turns…40…? It’s actually unclear how old he really is.

(Via NME)

Of the many Paramount shows from Taylor Sheridan, a few of them are seeing shakeups. One of those shows only has reported drama thus far, and that would be Yellowstone proper, which may soon see the departure of Kevin Costner. The other series in question, Tulsa King, has a confirmed Terence Winter exit following his duties as Season 1 showrunner. As well, it’s starting to look like the Sylvester Stallone-starring Tulsa King may not return to Tulsa, or even to Oklahoma, for Season 2 filming.

Stallone’s exiled mob capo will have to bust up pretend-Tulsa weed dispensaries from another state. This might actually be a great thing for Stallone himself, given that he didn’t enjoy the 108 degree temps of summer 2022, and he even joked that the experience “has definitely prepared me for a lifetime in hell if I ever got sent there!” Still, the show did some shooting in Tulsa, including an emotional moment at a spooky landmark and general shots in the downtown area. The rest of the season moved closer to Oklahoma City, but according to local ABC affiliate KTUL, the show might be going the out-of-state route to film Season 2.

The news station points towards a lack of production contact with the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, which the org confirmed in a statement to KTUL. Some Tulsans are not thrilled with this development. Here’s how KTUL sums up a smattering of local reactions:

“I feel like they’re breaking up with us,” said Tulsan Adam Shepherd.

“It’s called ‘Tulsa King’,” pointed out Tulsan Riley Nix. “Why should we have it anywhere else?”

Very dramatic stuff. Rest assured, however, that Tulsans can still claim lingering Watchmen clout (although the subject matter remains nothing to be proud of), and hey, Reservation Dogs is still filming in the area. Plus, there’s always the Golden Driller, who will never leave the state, so there.

(Via KTUL)

2023 is hip-hop’s official 50th anniversary, and celebrations are taking place all year to pay homage to the impact hip-hop and rap have had on the world since that fateful rec room party in the Bronx, New York. The Recording Academy honored 50 years of hip-hop (give or take a decade) at its most recent Grammy Awards ceremony, and a few other institutions have events planned throughout the year.

One such important institution to the growth of hip-hop is BET; purveyors of the culture have been allowed to shine for over 30 years on the network thanks to Rap City, 106 & Park, and the BET Hip-Hop Awards. BET has plenty of honors planned as well, and today, rolled out the first: An ode to hip-hop delivered in poetic form by The Roots frontman Black Thought.

In a black-and-white video directed by famed video director Benny Boom, Black Thought details the origins and growth of hip-hop and its importance to those who love it as scenes from across its storied history play out on screen.

In a statement, Thought said, “I remember a time before hip hop and it’s something that we need to cherish and appreciate and not take for granted because it’s not guaranteed. Even though it’s always been there for people for the past few generations, it’s not guaranteed that it’s going to always be there if we don’t, you know what I’m saying, treat it the way we’re supposed to and continue to pour ourselves and to invest into it in an authentic way.”

You can watch Black Thought deliver his “Love Letter To Hip-Hop” above.

Sometimes the best new R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm-and-blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to what they really love in its true form, we’ll be offering a digest of the best new R&B songs that fans of the genre should hear every Friday.

Since the last update of this weekly R&B and Afrobeats column, we’ve received plenty of music and news from the genre’s artists. Rihanna absolutely smashed her Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show performance and Daniel Caesar and Masego announced their new albums with, Never Enough and Masego respectively. 6lack began to tease music from his upcoming third album and Kelela shared a video for “Enough For Love.” Elsewhere, Janelle Monae tapped Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 for her “Float” single and Rema fired off a double dose of singles for fans with “Holiday” and “Reason You.”

Here are some more releases on the new music front that you should check out:

OG Parker — “Still Work” Feat. Ty Dolla Sign & Muni Long

On their new single “Still Work,” OG Parker, Ty Dolla Sign, and Muni Long find themselves wanting to rekindle a flame with an old lover. Ty and Muni’s passion is undeniable through their vocals while OG Parker’s production provides the perfect landscape to orchestrate a plan to win back a past fling. The song is also the latest single from OG’s upcoming album Moments.

Melii — “14 Daze”

New York singer Melii is back to get the ball rolling for herself in 2023. After dropping her Medusa EP last year, she’s back with “14 Daze,” her first release of the year. A salute to the Valentine’s Day holiday, Melii confesses her feelings to a new lover over somber production that captures the vulnerability of her words and how delicate the situation is.

Yung Bleu — “Games Women Play”

It’s only been a few months since Yung Bleu dropped his second album Tantra, but the Alabama singer is readying his upcoming mixtape Love Scars II. The project is locked in for an April 14 release date and for its first offering, Bleu shares “Games Women Play.” On it, Bleu gets candid about the struggles in love and how, in his case at least, women can be better players than men.

Debbie — “Is This Real Love? (Remix)” Feat. Lucky Daye

British singer Debbie released “Is This Real Love?” at the end of 2021, and since then, her career has taken off to reach new heights. A little over a year later, she revisits the track with a well-deserved and luscious remix with Lucky Daye. Together, Debbie and Daye dive into the wonderful world of real love while beautifully expounding on everything it entails.

Spinall — Top Boy

You can always count on Spinall to round up the best talent in afrobeats for a project filled with smash records. For his latest project, Top Boy, Spinall calls on Minz, Adekunle Gold, BNXN fka Buju, Stefflon Don, Asake, Ladipoe, and many more across 15 songs. If you’re a fan of the many different flavors of afrobeats, this project is for you.

BNXN fka Buju — “Gwagwalada” Feat. Kizz Daniel & Seyi Vibez

The past six months have been quite active for BNXN fka Buju. Between his Bad Since ’97 project, his strong remix of Minz’s “Wo Wo,” and solo efforts like “Traboski,” BNXN has a bit of a hot streak on his hands. It continues with “Gwagwalada” featuring Kizz Daniel and Seyi Vibez, a vibrant single that is sure to have you dancing wherever you play it.

Bien — “My Baby” Feat. Ayra Starr

Another afrobeats artist who’s been thriving as of late is Ayra Starr. She recently connected with afrobeats singer Bien for “My Baby.” The honeyed single is one of the sweeter records you’ll hear on this list as both singers express their love and gratitude for a partner who’s proven to be worth their time and energy.

Mario — “Used To Me” Feat. Ty Dolla Sign

Mario is holding back in any way on his latest single, “Used To Me.” With help from Ty Dolla Sign, the two singers are sultry, passionate, and blunt in their feelings and requests for their lovers. The feelings between them are undeniable, so in their words, let’s cut to the chase and not waste any more time.

Dende — “Nightmares”

Despite dropping his Before We Go EP last month, Houston singer Dende isn’t letting up with new treats. He returns with the lovelorn “Nightmares,” a record that captures his pain-filled experience with love. Where some spent Valentine’s Day celebrating love, Dende spent his commemorating the loss of it.

Serpentwithfeet — “Gonna Go”

For his first release of the year, Serpentwithfeet arrives with a bit of bounce in his step on his “Gonna Go” single. On it, Serpentwithfeet makes a decision to surround himself with love. This also means that he’ll remove himself from places where it’s not available, a decision that may upset some in his world.

Tayc — Room 96

French singer Tayc returns with Room 96, his first project since 2021’s Fleur Froide — Second Etat: La Cristallisation. Through nine songs, Tayc offers records in both English and French that are extremely ear-pleasing and soothing regardless of your ability to understand French.

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

HIVE Festival is set to return to Salt Lake City this summer. Partnering with C3 Presents and Live Nation, who will be producing the festival, HIVE promises a “revamped” experience.

Several artists within the realm of hip-hop and R&B will take the stage at Utah State Fairpark, including headliners Post Malone and Kid Cudi. Santa Fe Klan and Big Sean will also be in attendance, as well as Joji, who is listed as a “very special guest” on the festival’s flyer.

Festivalgoers can also look forward to seeing Denzel Curry, GloRilla, Joey Badass, Blxst, and Flatbush Zombies. Viral sensation Armani White, as well as NLE Choppa are also scheduled to perform. Producers Murda Beatz and The Alchemist will also be performing DJ sets throughout the weekend.

Presale for this year’s Hive Festival begins this Thursday, February 23 at 10 a.m. MT. During the presale, fans will be able to purchase 2-day general admission, GA+, and VIP tickets. VIP ticketholders will be able to access preferred viewing areas, VIP Lounges with relaxed seating, air-conditioned restrooms, dedicated entry lane at the festival entrance and more. Tickets can be purchased here.

The festival will take place on Friday, June 9, and Saturday, June 10.

You can check out the full line-up below.

Some of the artists mentioned are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Guns N’ Roses has announced a huge world tour, which kicks off in Tel Aviv, Israel in June and will continue through October.

According to Rolling Stone, it will be their return to North America after 2021’s We’re F’N Back! tour. Last year, they used the touring break to release the Use Your Illusion super deluxe version.

General onsale opens Friday, February 24 at 10 a.m through the band’s official website. More information is available here.

Continue scrolling for the complete list of tour dates.

06/05 — Tel Aviv, Israel @ Park Hayarkon
06/09 — Madrid, Spain @ Civitas Metropolitan Stadium
06/12 — Vigo, Spain @ Estadio Abanca Balaídos
06/15 — Dessel, Belgium @ Grasspop Metal Meeting
06/17 — Copenhagen, Denmark @ Copenhell
06/21 — Oslo, Norway @ Tons of Rock
06/27 — Glasgow, UK @ Bellahouston Park
06/30 — London, UK @ BST Hyde Park
07/03 — Frankfurt, Germany @ Deutsch Bank Park
07/05 — Bern, Switzerland @ BERNEXPO
07/08 — Rome, Italy @ Circo Massimo
07/11 — Landgraaf, Netherlands @ Megaland
07/13 — Paris, France @ La Defense
07/16 — Bucharest, Romania @ National Arena
07/19 — Budapest, Hungary @ Puskás Arena
07/22 — Athens, Greece @ Olympic Stadium
08/05 — Moncton, NB @ Medavie Blue Cross Stadium
08/08 — Montreal, QC @ Parc Jean Drapeau
08/11 — Hershey, PA @ Hersheypark Stadium
08/15 — East Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium
08/21 — Boston, MA @ Fenway Park
08/24 — Chicago, IL @ Wrigley Field
08/26 — Nashville, TN @ GEODIS Park
08/29 — Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
09/01 — Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center
09/03 — Toronto, ON @ Rogers Centre
09/06 — Lexington, KY @ Rupp Arena
09/09 — St. Louis, MO @ Busch Stadium
09/12 — Knoxville, TN @ Thompson-Boling Arena
09/15 — Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live
09/20 — Biloxi, MS @ Mississippi Coast Coliseum
09/23 — Kansas City, MO @ Kauffman Stadium
09/26 — San Antonio, TX @ Alamodome
09/28 — Houston, TX @ Minute Maid Park
10/01 — San Diego, CA @ Snapdragon Stadium
10/08 — Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival
10/11 — Phoenix, AZ @ Chase Field
10/16 — Vancouver, BC @ BC Place

Remember Ben Stein? The teacher from Ferris Bueller who went on to do Clear Eyes commercials and host a Comedy Central game show where a young Jimmy Kimmel was his sidekick? Well, he’s back. The former speechwriter for Richard Nixon (which will answer a lot of questions moving forward) recently posted a video where he ranted about the lack of Aunt Jemima syrup bottles. A pressing topic if there ever was one.

To bring everyone up to speed, the Aunt Jemima bottles were retired by the Quaker Oats Company in light of the George Floyd protests in 2020. The image on the bottle was based on the racist caricature of a “mammy,” a slave who was often tasked with the cooking and tending of her master’s children. The image was removed from the bottle along with the Aunt Jemima name, which was rebranded. Via CNN:

“We are starting a new day with Pearl Milling Company,” a PepsiCo spokesperson said. “A new day rooted in the brand’s historic beginnings and its mission to create moments that matter at the breakfast table.”

Jump to the present day where Ben Stein is not happy. Not happy at all. In the weird video, he complains about no longer having a “large” Black woman on his pancake syrup. He called the decision “racist,” which is the exact opposite of what happened, but again, speechwriter for Nixon.

“Aunt Jemima yummy pancake syrup,” Stein said while holding the rebranded bottle. “Now, this used to show a large African American woman chef. Because of the inherent racism of America’s corporate culture, they decided to make it a white person or maybe no person at all. But I prefer it when it was a Black person showing their incredible skill making pancakes.”

After Stein’s rant somehow went viral, the former Comedy Central got completely roasted in the replies for complaining about pancake syrup and not understanding how racist caricatures work. You can see some of the reactions below:

(Via Ron Filipkowski on Twitter)

Indie music has grown to include so much. It’s not just music that is released on independent labels but speaks to an aesthetic that deviates from the norm and follows its own weirdo heart. It can come in the form of rock music, pop, or folk. In a sense, it says as much about the people that are drawn to it as it does about the people that make it.

Every week, Uproxx is rounding up the best new indie music from the past seven days. This week we got new music from Beabadoobee, Dry Cleaning, Steady Holiday, Pile, and more.

While we’re at it, sign up for our newsletter to get the best new indie music delivered directly to your inbox, every Monday.

Runnner — Like Dying Stars, We’re Reaching Out

Runnner‘s Always Repeating felt like a collage of intimate memories and powerful feeling. Like Dying Stars, We’re Reaching Out functions similarly, instantly opening with crisis: “Am I wasting this chance to be / Better than whom I’ve been?” The instrument is delicate and his vocals are like leaves falling in a slight breeze. The songs flow into each other seamlessly, anchored by Noah Weinman’s thoughtful reflections and nostalgic chords.

Pile — All Fiction

All Fiction unravels eerily from the start, “It Comes Closer,” whose title aptly sums up the feeling of the song as it inches forward, building a sense of fear. When the brooding ends, the songs immediately explode with heavy guitars and quick rhythms. The album bounces back and forth between this unsettling quiet and abrasive loudness; “Gardening Hours,” a highlight, contains both extremes.

Steady Holiday — Newfound Oxygen

Steady Holiday is the project of Dre Babinski. Her album Newfound Oxygen is an emotional rollercoaster, which was expected from the lead single “Can’t Find A Way,” whose hook is: “Can’t find a way to fall in love with you.” The record is full of visceral moments like that; her lyrics are like gut-punches against delicate guitar chords.

Dry Cleaning — “Swampy” & “Sombre Two”

Stumpwork by Dry Cleaning was a great follow-up to their breakout debut New Long Leg. That sophomore album was only released in October of last year, but they’re already back with Swampy, a forthcoming EP with “Swampy” and “Sombre Two,” two tracks that didn’t make the cut for Stumpwork. The songs are brooding and atmospheric, especially the slowburner “Sombre Two.” Dry Cleaning aren’t in a rush; they know they don’t have to prove themselves.

Men I Trust — “Ring Of Past”

Everything Men I Trust put out is dreamy and cinematic. “Ring Of Past” feels like an old romance movie, and the music video lives up to that, capturing rollerblading in a rink, some effortlessly slick and others terribly clumsy. There’s a feeling of playful innocence to it that also exists in the song; it warbles infectiously, and the vocals are a delight.

Bully — “Lose You” (feat. Soccer Mommy)

A mischievous bassline immediately kicks off the headbang-worthy anthem “Lose You” by Bully, which is only made better with the help of Soccer Mommy. “Writing ‘Lose You’ was a way for me to work through the pain and reality of impermanence,” Bully said of the track. It all builds up to the revelatory bridge: “Either way I’m gonna lose / Either way I’m gonna lose you,” they sing powerfully in unison.

Fidlar — “Centipede”

It may be hard to believe that Fidlar still possesses the compelling angst that made their old albums, especially 2015’s reckless Too, so special. But the singles from their forthcoming EP That’s Life have been as charmingly scrappy and witty as ever. That’s especially true for this newest song “Centipede,” which has the hilarious line: “My girlfriend thinks I’ll abandon her / She’s my Oasis, but she treats me like I’m a Blur.”

Tanukichan — “Take Care” (feat. Toro y Moi)

The singles from Tanukichan’s new album Gizmo have been mesmeric and thoughtful. “Take Care,” which features Toro y Moi, might be the best one yet. The guitars are easygoing but immersive; the vocals are breathy and glimmering, blending into the soaring instrumentation to become one.

Beabadoobee — “Glue Song”

Beabadoobee is lovestruck in “Glue Song.” “Finding the right words / To use for this song / I have you in mind / So it won’t take so long,” she sings, and she’s not afraid to repeat herself or get cliché; sometimes romance just is that simple. It was the perfect Valentine’s Day release.

The New Pornographers — “Angelcover”

“Angelcover” is an interesting contrast from The New Pornographers’ last single “Really Really Light.” “Angelcover” has more of a groove, moving with a somewhat post-punk edge with deep, intimidating vocals against a sensual bassline. The lyrics paint a strange story: “Why you’d put your faith in a wild guest, who knows?”

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

The last thing the world needs is another movie about Boston — unless it’s a movie about Boston starring Keira Knightley and Carrie Coon. Boston Strangler is a thriller about the reporters who broke the story of the notorious Boston Strangler murders of the 1960s. Knightley plays Boston Record American journalist Loretta McLaughlin, while Coon portrays Jean Cole. “Despite initial ridicule and derision from police investigators,” Cole’s obituary reads, “she and her colleague continued writing articles to alert women to the risks they faced. Eventually, their early intuitions were discovered to be facts.”

You can watch the Boston Strangler trailer above. Here’s more:

The film follows Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley), a reporter for the Record-American newspaper, who becomes the first journalist to connect the Boston Strangler murders. As the mysterious killer claims more and more victims, Loretta attempts to continue her investigation alongside colleague and confidante Jean Cole (Carrie Coon), yet the duo finds themselves stymied by the rampant sexism of the era. Nevertheless, McLaughlin and Cole bravely pursue the story at great personal risk, putting their own lives on the line in their quest to uncover the truth.

Boston Strangler, which also stars Bill Camp, Alessandro Nivola, David Dastmalchian, and Chris Cooper, comes to Hulu on March 17.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Tampa, Florida, released a harrowing video on February 15 of a woman fending off a sexual assault. But even though the video is distressing to watch, it comes with an encouraging message for women everywhere: “Keep fighting.”

The video of Alma’s escape went viral on Twitter, where it’s been played over 5 million times.

On January 22, 2023, Nashali Alma, 24, was working out alone in the gym at her apartment complex when she saw a man standing outside the front door. She let the man in and resumed her workout, but after a few minutes, he approached her menacingly.

“As soon as he was approaching me, I pushed him. I said, ‘Bro, what the F are you doing? Get away from me, stop trying to touch me,’” Alma said in the video. “He started chasing me around the bench, and we ended up on the other side of the gym.”

WARNING: The following video may be disturbing for some viewers.

u201cA woman shares her experience after fighting off a man who physically assaulted her in her apartment complex’s gym.nnNashali Alma wanted to speak out about her experience to encourage other women who’ve dealt with similar incidents to speak out.u201d

— HCSO (@HCSO)
1676496633

A fight ensued, and the alleged attacker, Xavier Thomas-Jones, 25, eventually got Alma on the ground, but she wouldn’t stop fighting him back. She used all four limbs to kick, grab and punch Thomas-Jones until he finally relented. Then, she ran out of the gym to a nearby apartment and called 911.

Within 24 hours, Thomas-Jones was apprehended by law enforcement and now faces charges of sexual battery, false imprisonment and kidnapping.

“I was disgusted by the suspect’s actions, how he preyed on this young woman,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a press release. “This woman’s strength, courage, and determination are inspiring. I know that her bravery to share this story will impact the lives of many other women.”

Yes, he has been arrested.

— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) February 15, 2023

Alma attributes the escape to her tenacity and urges women everywhere to do the same if they are in a similar position.

“I would tell every woman always to keep fighting, never give up,” Alma said. “As long as you fight back and show him that you’re strong and you’re not giving up, I believe it’s possible to escape.”

“It’s better to reach out to law enforcement sooner than later,” she continued. “The sooner they have the information, the sooner they can catch that person.”

According to the Joplin Police Department in Montana, Alma did the right thing. The department says that if you are attacked by a rapist and decide to fight back, you must be “quick and effective” and “target the eyes or groin.” It’s also important to “make noise to discourage your attacker” and to try to “escape, scream, and be rude.”

It’s a sad state of affairs that women have to give each other words of encouragement to help them survive a potential sexual assault. But it’s important for women like Alma to share their stories to help others who may find themselves in the same position. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office should also be commended for sharing the video, so people know how to thwart a potential attacker and for starting a conversation about women’s safety.