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Janelle Monaé has been teasing her new single “Float” for some months and now, it’s finally arrived. The song, which features Nigerian musician Seun Kuti (the youngest son of Fela) and his band Egypt 80, is a fittingly airy joint, with thumping 808s, driving horns, and slight elements of reggae. Lyrically, Monaé shows off her rap skills, delivering a triumphant verse that dismisses haters and boasts her blessings.

Monaé, who has spent the past few years building her acting resume, most recently receiving accolades for her role in the Knives Out mystery Glass Onion, returned to music with all the fanfare that announcement deserved early this year. Initially teasing the track in social media posts, she threatened to withhold it after a fan’s tweet about her dressing like Mr. Monopoly gained a few too many Likes for her approval. However, she quickly relented, dropping another teaser and revealing the release date.

In addition to showing off her “triple threat” skills, Janelle is set to add to her all-around star power with an appearance in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game this Saturday. If her hoop prowess equals her social media savvy — she showed off her skills on social media wearing the viral red MSCHF boots when a fan questioned if she can really ball — she could prove that she can do even more.

With The Mandalorian Season 3 premiere less than two weeks away, Disney+ has dropped the first official clip from the heavily-anticipated return of the hit bounty hunting series. Naturally, Lucasfilm and Disney know they have a golden goose on their hands with the adorable Baby Yoda (or fine… “Grogu”), so the little guy has a prominent presence in the scene between Pedro Pascal’s Mando and Carl Weather’s Greef Karga.

In the clip, Greef offers Mando a chance to have his own parcel of land in some sort of burgeoning space community, but the exiled bounty hunter has more “complicated” matters on his plate. Not only is he reunited with Baby Yoda following the events of The Book of Boba Fett, but he’s locked into a quest to Mandalore after being banished from his clan for removing his helmet.

Mando’s search for redemption will obviously be a driving force for the events of Season 3, but the clip also made sure to emphasize that Baby Yoda will be around for some lovable distractions. While Mando explains his plight to Greef, the little guy sets his sight on a dish of candy sitting on a nearby desk. Thanks to his brief training with Luke Skywalker, Baby Yoda is even more adept at using the Force, which quickly nets him a treat for his always hungry mouth. Seriously, the kid loves to eat, and now, he’s got the means to snatch up anything and everything. Good luck with that, Mando.

The Mandalorian Season 3 premieres March 1 on Disney+.

Out of all of the video game adaptions heading to the big and small screen this year, there is only one that involves both international schemes and building blocks, and that’s Tetris, which is a real movie heading to Apple TV+ soon. You might be rightfully confused, so let’s break it down.

Tetris, your favorite childhood video game (that you never got to play enough because your older siblings used to always hog the controller…) will be getting the origin story treatment because, as it turns out, making a pixelated box fit next to another pixelated box is actually more complex than it looks.

The movie stars Rocketman’s Taron Egerton as Dutch businessman Henk Rogers, who travels to the Soviet Union in 1988 in order to bring Tetris to the homes and hearts of everyone around the world during a time of general global anxiety. It seems like a lot was riding on the game being good, so who knows what would have happened if they just brought over Cocaine Bear instead. As per the official description:

Tetris tells the unbelievable story of how one of the world’s most popular video games found its way to avid players around the globe. Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) discovers TETRIS in 1988, and then risks everything by traveling to the Soviet Union, where he joins forces with inventor Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov) to bring the game to the masses. Based on a true story, Tetris is a Cold War–era thriller on steroids, with double-crossing villains, unlikely heroes and a nail-biting race to the finish.

The movie will premiere on March 31st on Apple TV+. Check out the trailer above, then call your siblings for a Tetris rematch. It was never a fair fight anyway!

As Marvel prepares to kick off the start of its Phase 5 slate of films and TV series with the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Marvel Studios head Kevin Fiege opened up about the future of the massive superhero franchise. Most interestingly, Feige seemed to acknowledge that the MCU may have been a bit overzealous with its non-stop release of Disney+ series. He even went so far to suggest that Marvel will pull back on its streaming output.

“It is harder to hit the zeitgeist when there’s so much product out there — and so much ‘content,’ as they say, which is a word that I hate,” Feige told Entertainment Weekly. “But we want Marvel Studios and the MCU projects to really stand out and stand above. So, people will see that as we get further into Phase 5 and 6. The pace at which we’re putting out the Disney+ shows will change so they can each get a chance to shine.”

When asked if that means “spacing them out or putting out fewer shows a year,” Feige responded, “Both, I think.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, that plan may already be in motion:

In what feels like a different timeline ago, at July’s San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel chief Kevin Feige put the pedal to the metal when he outlined five Disney+ shows for 2023 — What If …? season two, Echo, Loki season two, Ironheart and Agatha: Coven of Chaos. Now, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Loki season two and the Samuel L. Jackson-led Secret Invasion are the only sure bets to debut this year. Even projects that wrapped months ago, such as the Hawkeye spinoff Echo and Wakanda Forever spinoff Ironheart, are unlikely to arrive in 2023 as the studio spreads out its content and tinkers in postproduction.

Of course, this decision isn’t entirely about catering to the perception that Marvel oversaturated the market. Returning Disney CEO Bob Iger is reportedly laser-focused on curtailing “extraordinarily expensive” streaming series. “We want the quality on the screen, but we have to look at what they cost us,” Iger said earlier this month, and even a powerhouse like Marvel isn’t safe from being under the microscope.

“There is going to be a level of rigor on Marvel and across the entire company,” an insider told THR. “Numbers matter now, and costs are going to be outlined and enforced.”

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

There is, in theory, no such thing as too much John Wick. The same can also be applied to Keanu Reeves, but that is a whole separate blog. There is nothing that can make John Wick stop (unless Reeves himself decides he needs a little break in which case that’s what he deserves). But John Wick, as a concept and entity, is forever. And the universe is expanding with the upcoming John Wick 4 and the introduction of The Continental, the upcoming series based on the hit franchise.

The Continental has been in development for quite some time, but now that the Wick Machine is back up and running, the series is finally expected to hit streaming later this year. But what can we expect from the show? Probably not Keanu Reeves (sorry) but his essence will still be there!

The series, which will be released on Peacock, will work as a prequel to Wick’s storyline. Set in 1970s New York City, which is historically not the best or safest place to be in, The Continental will show to humble beginnings of the infamous hotel where all of the well-dressed assassins come to get a good night’s sleep.

Colin Woodell will portray a young Winston (who is played by Ian McShane in the film series) who is just learning about the ins and outs of rubbing elbows with the most dangerous men and women on the planet. Ayomide Adegun, Ben Robson, Jessica Allain, Mishel Prada, and Nhung Kate will also star. Of course, the biggest name on the bill is Mel Gibson, who will play a mysterious character named Cormac. This will be Gibson’s first TV credit since appearing as a cop on Complete Savages in 2004. The man has had a long and tumultuous career.

Kevin Beggs, Lionsgate Television chairman, told Deadline in 2021 that the series would lay the foundation of the movie series. “What we’re exploring in The Continental is the young Winston and how it came to be that he and his team of confederates found their way into this hotel which we have met for the first time in the movie franchise 40 years later,” Beggs said as the time. “That’s the arena. I won’t give away more than that, but Starz really leaned into this take also, and they have been great collaborators. And how we’ve approached this first season is as three essentially 90-minute events which you could construe as a limited series or a limited event series.”

As for when we will get to see the violent crew of The Continental, there has been no release date set, but hopefully, with the John Wick 4 momentum, we will be checking in soon. With a dog.

Liam Neeson has a new movie out this week, Marlowe, which I suspect not a lot of people will end up seeing, though I liked it fine. As he was doing the press rounds to promote the film, naturally some of his other upcoming projects came up. For instance, The Naked Gun reboot he’s starring in being directed by the Lonely Island‘s Akiva Shaffer.

I’ve interviewed Neeson before myself, and there’s an upright, old fashioned sort of dignity with which he carries himself (or that we impose upon him) that makes him doing anything banal and normal sort of incongruous and funny. I imagine that’s why Shaffer wanted him to play Frank Drebin in the first place. It’s also why, when Indiewire‘s Kate Erbland asked Neeson about his Naked Gun reboot this week, and Neeson went on to start just explaining bits to her from Airplane, I felt like I had to highlight and share:

At this point, is there any kind of film that you haven’t done that you want to do?

I’m going to do it this year. It’ll either be the end of my so-called career or it’ll be another little avenue. We’re going to reboot the “Naked Gun” franchise. We’ll see. The script is being developed. It’s still very funny. There’s very funny stuff in it. They were all a series of gags. Do you remember “Airplane”?

Of course!

That was a series of gags, too. Peter Graves says to the kid, “You ever seen a grown man naked?” The stuff! You couldn’t get away with that shit now. Leslie Nielsen, his whole career changed when he comes into the cockpit on “Airplane.” Peter Graves is piloting the plane and Leslie comes in and gives him some information. Graves says, “Yeah, but surely, we’ve looked at that” or something. And Leslie Nielsen comes back in again and goes, “Don’t call me Shirley.” That was the moment, I’m telling you, that changed his life, his career.

For whatever reason, Liam Neeson asking an interviewer if she remembers Airplane, and then her saying yes, and him proceeding to recount two full bits anyway, including the “don’t call me Shirley” line just because he can’t help himself, is endlessly funny to me. “They were all a series of gags! Do you get it??”

It makes me think Liam Neeson is the perfect choice to play Frank Drebin; this is exactly the kind of thing Frank Drebin would do.

In third grade, my friend Brendan got sent to the principal’s office because he started thinking about the Frank Drebin-peeing-with-a-live-microphone-on bit from the Naked Gun and couldn’t stop laughing during quiet time. “Let’s remember some bits from Naked Gun” is still one of our favorite games. As this latest interview proves, Liam Neesons is just like us.

We often talk about how important it is to give stars and icons flowers while they can still smell them. Well, at least one young star took that advice literally. When NLE Choppa, who was greatly influenced by Lil Wayne growing up in Memphis, got the chance to work with his idol on a new song, he made sure to give Wayne a giant bouquet of roses. He also gave the notorious skate fanatic a brand-new deck.

“I feel like accolades never define the artist,” he said as he gave the gifts in a behind-the-scenes clip from the duo’s recent video shoot. “Personally, I feel like you supposed to have way more accolades coming your way. You should be to a point in time to where you just receiving accolades. I think it was a few days ago, you won an award. So, I just wanted to present my own accolade, physically giving you flowers and a note to let you know how much you inspired me and impacted my life. I have a skateboard too that I signed. I know you like to skateboard.”

Wayne received the gifts graciously, saying, “This is my life right here. For real, for real. Whatever cameras, if y’all watching – be like this guy, man. Be like this guy. He’s a good guy, man. For real. I do this a lot. I’m on video sets a lot – new artists, old artists. This doesn’t happen. This doesn’t happen. He’s a great guy.”

The honor that Wayne received a few days ago was at the Recording Academy Honors Presented by the Black Music Collective. Wayne was one of two artists (along with Missy Elliott) given the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. His protege Drake gave a lighthearted but loving speech, saying, “I love you so much. I know I probably get annoying with saying how much you mean to me and my family, but I think I speak on behalf of everybody when I say that our careers, our cadences, our melodies, maybe our face tats or our outfits or our decisions in general would not have been the same without your natural gift to just be yourself.”

NLE Choppa is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Megan Thee Stallion has been out of the public eye since the December conclusion of the trial against Tory Lanez, who was found guilty on all three felony counts brought against him — assault with a semiautomatic handgun, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle, discharge of a firearm with gross negligence (as noted by The New York Times).

It was an emotional ending to a traumatic two years, dating back to Meg alleging that Lanez shot her in the foot in 2020. In court, the Grammy-winning Houston rapper vulnerably admitted that she wished Lanez “would have just shot and killed me” because of how harmful the emotional and mental aftermath has been. Meg has presumably been taking time to start the healing process.

So, it’s been nice to see traces of her enjoying some happiness this week. First, Pardi seemingly dispelled breakup rumors with a vague Instagram Story post on Valentine’s Day. Then, footage of what appears to be a surprise birthday party for Meg started circulating online. (She turned 28 yesterday, February 15).

Lanez, meanwhile, swapped his defense attorney for his appeal, and his sentencing was delayed from January 27 to February 28. Per Rolling Stone, Lanez is facing up to 22 years and eight months in prison.

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

Paramore’s highly anticipated new album This Is Why is out now. To celebrate, they recently took the groovy track “Running Out Of Time” to Jimmy Kimmel Live! with a charismatic performance. Now, they’ve unveiled the music video for that song.

The music videos thus far have been overflowing with weirdness. “This Is Why” was packed with unhinged dance moves, and Hayley Williams looked a little possessed in “The News.” “Running Out Of Time” is a fever dream of eccentric outfits, crazy hairdos, and unpredictable choreography. It’s safe to say they, ironically, took their time with it.

Williams recently explained that “Running Out Of Time” was inspired by Taylor Swift. “I remember when we were 19 and I was closer with Taylor Swift at that point because we both lived in Nashville and we’re both experiencing our own versions of real success for the first time,” Williams recalled. “I went over to hang out. She’s a really good cook, by the way. She’s a really good cook. She has taught me how to make stuff that I did not retain at all.”

Swift’s productivity made her realize her own faults. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, my life is so not together.’ I was like, ‘I can barely remember to send someone a card or flowers.’ There are still Christmas gifts at my house that I have not sent to my friends just sitting there in the back of my closet,” Williams said.

Watch the “Running Out Of Time” music video above.

Paramore is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Music helps us not only connect with our deeper, perhaps less accessible emotions, but it also can connect us with those who have passed. Pink’s new song “When I Get There” is a beautiful example of both.

Honoring the memory of her late father, Jim Moore, who died in 2021, the Grammy winner created a touching lyric video featuring home videos of them together. A small snippet of that video was shared on her Instagram on Valentine’s Day.

“Sometimes love leaves us too soon. On Valentine’s Day—I cherish the love I have that I can touch—and the love I have in my heart for those who have gone on to the next adventure. This one’s for you, Daddy Sir,” she wrote in the caption of her post, along with the hashtag #HeWasMyFirstValentine.

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Her father’s voice can be heard at the beginning of the video, sharing what those home videos meant to him.

“I thought it would be nice if you had some memories of how it all began and where you all came from, and some of the memories through the years,” he says while his beloved daughter Alecia (Pink’s real name) blows out candles for her first birthday.

See on Instagram

We then see a progression of Pink’s school photos through childhood.

There’s also a full-length version of the song on Youtube. It shows Moore surprising Pink before a performance along with recitals, playing on a merry-go-round, singing together and cracking jokes at various moments throughout Pink’s life.

The song’s lyrics, which play upon the screen, reminisce about her late father’s sense of humor, asking if there’s “a bar up there where you’ve got a favorite chair.” Ultimately, Pink shares her yearning for the day they can reunite, when she might meet him again in the afterlife.

Watch below. (Quick heads up: The full-length video contains a wee bit of profanity at the very beginning.)

The video struck a chord with many who had also lost a father. The comments were filled with people expressing how it helped them hark back to their own happy memories or process painful feelings.

Here are some of those touching comments:

“It’s been 10 years since Daddy left but this hits deep but strangely it helps with the grief that never ends. Thank you P!NK.”

“I lost my dad in July 2022… I’ve not cried like this since his funerals… I needed this. Thank you.”

“Lost my dad suddenly in Dec 2020.. absolutely beautiful song. And now I’m crying my eyes out. He was my rock and the only 1 who didn’t judge me and just supported me in every way he could.”

“Everything and nothing makes me think of my Dad, but very few ppl can put it in words like this.”

“Absolutely beautiful. Both my parents have passed and I’d like to think they will tell me when I get there, all the things I wonder about.”

Loss is the inevitable price we pay to feel love toward the people in our lives. But holding onto their memories—be it in a song, a scrapbook or simply in our hearts—keeps them close. The pain might never go away, but neither does the impact they have on our lives.