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SZA has been in Hawaii to celebrate the overwhelming success of SOS, which finally arrived on December 9 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Her sophomore album is currently spending its second consecutive week atop the chart, prompting SZA to reflect.

First, SZA posted an Instagram carousel featuring a series of selfies, a Wolf Of Wall Street screengrab, Billboard‘s article announcing SOS‘s second consecutive week, plus aggregate sites relaying that the album is “the first album by a Black female artist to spend its first two weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 since Beyoncé” and that SZA joined Taylor Swift as the sole female artists to ever chart at least 20 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously.

“Lol instagram randomly deleted my post last week .. but APPARENTLY ITS STILL TRUE THIS WEEK,” SZA captioned the post. “number 1 two weeks in a row .. God is incredible. I won’t repeat it all ,but thank you everybody for supporting me and speaking power n love into me. It’s 9:43 in Hawaii . I couldn’t ask for anything more . Life is beautiful and what it should be.”

Then, last night (December 28), SZA doubled down on her gratitude on Twitter.

“I just wanna say the way y’all been riding for me and genuinely wanna see me win / get my first number one means SO much …community is everything and I couldn’t do any of this w out YALL,” she tweeted alongside heart, salute and “SOS emojis with the #KillBill hashtag. “THANK YOU I LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU.”

The SOS track “Kill Bill” debuted at No. 3 on the Hot 100 and sits at No. 7 this week. The song also became SZA’s first-ever No. 1 on the Billboard Streaming Songs chart.

SZA fans will be properly rewarded during next year’s SOS arena tour, beginning in February. Omar Apollo will serve as the opener. See the dates here.

After Modest Mouse finished up their tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of their sophomore LP The Lonesome Crowded West, it was revealed that drummer Jeremiah Green has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. His mother made an optimistic Facebook post, writing, “Please send healing vibes for my son, Jeremiah Green, who is battling stage 4 cancer. He’s is so strong and so brave and hanging in there!”

Now, bandleader Isaac Brock has shared his own personal statement through the group’s Instagram account. Luckily, he said treatment “seems to be going smoothly and making a positive difference” and he is asking fans to send good energy.

Read his full statement below.

“Hi. Some of you may have already heard, but I figured it would be good to hear the news directly from our camp. Jeremiah was diagnosed with cancer a short while ago, and he’s currently in treatment. It seems to be going smoothly and making a positive difference. Jeremiah, as am I, are believers in the power of positive energy, so if you would be so kind as to send ‘good vibes'( to quote Jeremiah) in the direction of Jeremiah and his family, that’d be great.

Thank you and love,

Isaac Brock.”

Back in 2016, Cardi B’s music journey started with Gangsta B*tch Music, Vol. 1, her debut mixtape. Like any other up-and-coming rapper at the time, Cardi put in the work to push the album, and now, she has taken a moment to reflect on some promotional photos from the era.

She shared three shots yesterday (December 28), which each image representing numbers in a countdown leading up to the project’s release. In one photo, Cardi wears just her underwear as she does laundry. In another, she sits, also scantily clad, on a mailbox. In the final pic, she wears shorts and a bikini top while cooking something on the stove. All the pictures include a graphic indicating how many days remain until the mixtape drops and a phone number to contact to secure a free pre-order of the project.

Sharing the photos, Cardi wrote on Twitter, “My first mixtape promo photos ….I had a dream.”

Meanwhile, a Twitter hater hearkened back to this era by accusing Cardi of not being passionate about music and insisting she “should been an entertainer or remained on Love and Hip hop.” Cardi replied, “I am passionate…I’m actually overly passionate that’s why I don’t drop lackluster music …..and if I drop something that ain’t my best I makes sure the next song or verse is my BESTEST.”

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

While Megan Thee Stallion’s (real name Megan Pete) trial with Tory Lanez is her most pressing matter currently at hand, she’s still involved in another significant legal squabble: Her dispute with 1501 Certified Entertainment, her former label. On that front, though, she just got herself a win.

This summer, it was revealed that in her lawsuit against the label, Megan is asking for $1 million in damages. At the core of the dispute is a disagreement over whether Something For Thee Hotties, Meg’s 2021 project that compiles previously unreleased material and other works, counts as an album when it comes to Meg’s obligations to her record deal with 1501.

In September, 1501 filed a request for a pre-trial ruling (a “partial summary judgment”) declaring that Something For Thee Hotties be deemed not an album. Their argument was that the project it included previously available recordings and “failed to follow the proper approval procedures.” However, yesterday (December 28), a Texas judge denied the label’s request (as Rolling Stone reports), so Meg’s lawsuit can go to trial intact.

Meg replied to the motion on December 19 and it read in part, “Pete should be allowed her day in court to present evidence and testimony to the jury demonstrating that she has done all that was required of her in the delivery and release of her albums.”

Had the judge ruled in 1501’s favor, Megan would still owe the label another new album.

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

While Megan Thee Stallion’s (real name Megan Pete) trial with Tory Lanez is her most pressing matter currently at hand, she’s still involved in another significant legal squabble: Her dispute with 1501 Certified Entertainment, her former label. On that front, though, she just got herself a win.

This summer, it was revealed that in her lawsuit against the label, Megan is asking for $1 million in damages. At the core of the dispute is a disagreement over whether Something For Thee Hotties, Meg’s 2021 project that compiles previously unreleased material and other works, counts as an album when it comes to Meg’s obligations to her record deal with 1501.

In September, 1501 filed a request for a pre-trial ruling (a “partial summary judgment”) declaring that Something For Thee Hotties be deemed not an album. Their argument was that the project it included previously available recordings and “failed to follow the proper approval procedures.” However, yesterday (December 28), a Texas judge denied the label’s request (as Rolling Stone reports), so Meg’s lawsuit can go to trial intact.

Meg replied to the motion on December 19 and it read in part, “Pete should be allowed her day in court to present evidence and testimony to the jury demonstrating that she has done all that was required of her in the delivery and release of her albums.”

Had the judge ruled in 1501’s favor, Megan would still owe the label another new album.

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

Midway through the third quarter of Wednesday’s game between the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks, Grayson Allen barreled into and pushed DeMar DeRozan after making contact with Patrick Williams. DeRozan immediately took exception to Allen’s action and shot back up to confront the sharpshooting wing before Wesley Matthews restrained him. A number of other players on both teams, along with the officials and a handful of others, helped keep DeRozan and Allen separated and diffuse the situation a bit.

After the game, which Chicago won in overtime, 119-113, DeRozan explained that Allen’s history of questionable — at best — plays was the basis for his frustration.

“It’s his track record,” DeRozan said when asked why he had such a strong reaction to this play. “If it was Boban (Marjanovic), I wouldn’t have done nothing.”

Dating back to his tenure at Duke, Allen’s long been involved in these sorts of plays where his contact always seem more than necessary and/or brazen. In fact, last season, his flagrant 2 on Bulls guard Alex Caruso, which led to Caruso breaking his wrist, earned Allen a one-game suspension.

Given Allen’s resume, and the fact 11 months ago he played a role in DeRozan’s teammate’s injury, it’s entirely understandable the veteran scorer responded the way he did.

As the old saying goes, Father Time is undefeated. LeBron James is doing his best to try and push back against that, but the Los Angeles Lakers star will turn 38 on Friday, which begs the question: How much longer will James continue to play basketball?

James was asked about this after the Lakers fell, 112-98, to the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. One of his teammates, Dennis Schröder, claimed that James said he wanted to play until he was 45, and while James pushed back against the notion that he has a number on how much longer he wants to play, he did say that “as long as my mind stays in it, I can play at this level for a minute.”

“I’m a winner, and I want to win,” James said. “I want to win and get myself a chance to win and still compete for championships, that has always been my passion, that’s always been my goal since I entered the league as an 18-year-old kid out of Akron, Ohio. And I know it takes steps to get there, but once you get there and you know how to get there, playing basketball at this level just to be playing basketball is not in my DNA. It’s not in my DNA anymore. So, we’ll see how happens and see how fresh my mind stays over the next couple of years.”

The one thing James has said is that he’d like to play alongside his eldest son, Bronny, who cannot enter the NBA until 2024 at the earliest. James said this after a loss that knocked the Lakers to 14-21 on the season, just months after he signed an extension that keeps him with the team through at least 2023-24 — his extension includes a player option for 2024-25.

With fewer than three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the New Orleans Pelicans were staring down a five-point deficit against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who held possession. Then, Anthony Edwards committed turnover and fouled Zion Williamson 10 seconds later. Williamson made both free throws, which kickstarted a personal 14-8 run to propel New Orleans to a 119-118 victory over Minnesota.

The fourth-year forward scored a career-high 43 points, including 33 in the second half and the last 14 of the game for the Pelicans. His final bucket gave New Orleans a 118-116 lead before Minnesota tied it up. His final point inched the Pelicans ahead for good, as Edwards misfired on his game-winning attempt shortly after. He drilled a long ball, lofted in a floater, scooped in a finish, converted around Rudy Gobert, and snagged a steal for a run-out jam. Every bucket occurred across an 100-second span. It ruled. He rules.

The win was the Pelicans’ 22nd of the year. At 22-12, they’re currently half a game behind the Denver Nuggets for the West’s top seed. In his fourth season, Williamson is delivering on all of the hype that surrounded him pre-draft, and then some. He’s averaging 25.8 points (65.1 percent true shooting), seven rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 steals. He’s a lock for the All-Star Game, a surefire All-NBA contender and someone who might even end up receiving some MVP votes come springtime. Virtually every game he plays is must-watch television, and Wednesday’s dominance, particularly down the stretch, was exactly that.

DeMar DeRozan is the latest NBA player to confront Grayson Allen for something he did on the court. During Wednesday night’s game between the Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks, Allen ran into Chicago’s veteran wing and sent him to the ground. DeRozan promptly popped up and immediately ran over to confront Allen before a pair of Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Wesley Matthews, intervened.

Eventually, a number of Bulls teammates and the officials got between them, while DeRozan continued to jaw at Allen. Both members of the Bulls’ broadcast crew, Adam Amin and Stacey King, tore into Allen, too, with Amin saying “every time something like this happens, his go-to, default setting, is to do something a little extra.” While there was a shove by Patrick Williams that got called a foul and led to Allen shooting a pair of free throws after things simmered down, the extra contact really seemed to upset DeRozan here.

Dating back to his days at Duke, Allen has had a number of high-profile incidents where he has been overly physical with opponents. His most recent one came against the Bulls last year, when a hard foul on Alex Caruso caused Chicago’s guard to lose control in mid-air and break his wrist. Allen received a 1-game suspension for the foul.

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Looking for a meaningful way to engage a new audience, employees at the majestic Milwaukee Public Library began posting TikTok videos filled with clever pop culture references that also highlighted everything the library has to offer.

Below is one of their most popular ones, featuring a 90-year-old woman proudly sticking her tongue out (and flipping the bird) when told she can’t read manga.

@milwaukeepubliclibrary When you’re around I got arrhythmia (literally). I’m on multiple medications for it. #Girlfriend #HemlockeSprings #OldPeople #Elderly #Manga #Comics #Anime #fyp #FlippingOff #Birdie #MiddleFinger #FlipTheBird ♬ girlfriend – Hemlocke Springs

Because obviously mangas are cool to read at any age.

Another great one—grown-up Matilda, one of children literature’s most beloved bookworms, working her magic with library items.

@milwaukeepubliclibrary #Matilda #RoaldDahl #Trunchbull #MissHoney #MaraWilson #DannyDevito #ThurstonHarris #LittleBittyPrettyOne #BookTok #Librarian #Book #MatildaChallenge #SpecialCollections #Archives #fyp ♬ Little Bitty Pretty One – Thurston Harris

Seriously, kudos to the use of practical effects in this one.

And can you even have a TikTok without at least one Wednesday Addams dance video?

@milwaukeepubliclibrary I cruise though the city and I roam the street looking for this nice librarian. I need a book recommendation. #WednesdayAddams #Wednesday #TheAddamsFamily #JennaOrtega #WednesdayEdit #WednesdayVibes #TheRealPussinBoots#fypシシ#fyp ♬ Goo Goo Muck – The Cramps

With content this fresh and fun, it’s no wonder that Milwaukee Public Library’s TikTok has become an instant hit. Derek Reilly, the library’s data analyst and main camera man, told TODAY that within the first month alone, the page racked up a collective 5 million views. And now, it has close to 9 million followers. The once imposing building has become a welcoming and enticing destination for people, many of whom would travel to Milwaukee simply to visit its library. Other libraries from across the country have even reached out for tips on how to generate their own buzz.

Libraries everywhere, including Milwaukee, struggle with a decline in visitations, physical book checkouts and funding. These videos are a lighthearted way of encouraging much needed support.

@milwaukeepubliclibrary Try one or try them all #AEHolidayCard #LetsGo #IntuitTouchdownDance #LibraryTok #LibraryToks #LibraryTikTok #LibrariesForAll #LibrariesRock #BeautifulLibraries #BlackFriday #BlackFridayDeals #fypシ #fyp ♬ LETS GO – LevitatingOnTheMoonWithDulaPee

Besides nailing TV and movie nods, Milwaukee Public Library’s TikTok page really captures the type of experience visitors are in for the moment they step through those doors—everything from interactions with a lively, vibrant staff to the feeling of that first library card in the palm of your hand, and all of the possibilities that come with it.

These are all things that the internet, even with its many attributes, simply cannot provide. That’s why these spaces need to live on. Until we really do become a society of cyborgs, human beings will crave visceral experiences. We’ll crave fun. Despite what you might initially think, libraries offer this and so much more. And what’s more, they do it for free.

If you’d like to follow along with Milwaukee Public Library’s shenanigans, you can find them on Instagram and Tiktok.