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There’s been a lot of conversation lately about performers kissing their co-stars without prior consent. First, it was Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt in Babylon (“When else am I gonna get the chance to kiss Brad Pitt? I’m just gonna go for it,” the actress said before later clarifying that “we all established our boundaries before making this movie”). Now, Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown is being criticized by an intimacy coordinator for kissing Louis Partridge, who plays Lord Tewkesbury, while filming Enola Holmes 2.

“Right on the rehearsal I grabbed his face and kissed him and he was like…” the actress said in a TikTok posted to Netflix’s account (here’s her impression of his face). “It was so cute really seeing [Enola] take the lead. And also seeing a girl just make the first move is just really exciting.” Bobby Brown also discussed the scene in the movie where she repeatedly punches Partridge. “Because Louis is a good friend I just kept punching him, I wasn’t doing stunts, I really was hurting him,” she said. “By the end of it, he said, ‘Millie can you just fake punch me?’ I was fully just getting him right in the stomach.”

The TikTok was posted in November, but it recently caught the attention of intimacy coordinator Jessica Steinrock, who made a TikTok of her own in response. “Ooh no, I love Millie Bobby Brown, but this is not the cute story you think it is,” she said. “I’m sure she and her scene partner have a lot of rapport built up and a great amount of trust, but we should never be surprising anyone during a fight or intimate scene ever.”

Steinrock, whose credits include Yellowjackets and Never Have I Ever, added, “At the end of the day, this basically means she didn’t ask consent to kiss him. And when your scene partner reacts in surprise after you’ve kissed them that means the communication didn’t happen the way it really needs to.” You can watch the video below.

Not only were fans flipping about about news of RBD’s reunion on Monday (December 19), but so were other pop stars. Mexican singer Danna Paola fangirled over the announcement on Instagram and she received a sweet response from RBD’s Anahí.

RBD rocked the Latinx Internet this week with the announcement of the Mexican band’s reunion next year. Anahí, Dulce María, Christian Chávez, Christopher von Uckermann, and Maite Perroni will join forces once again under the RBD name. Alfonso “Poncho” Herrera is the only original member who opted not to return.

The five returning members of RBD posted a video teaser of the band’s comeback on their personal Instagram accounts. On Anahí’s post, Paola commented, “Aaaahhhh! I love you guys!” with multiple crying face, heart, and flame emojis. Anahí responded to Paola’s comment with a sweet message. “I love you!!!!,” she wrote with heart emojis.

On the website SoyRebelde.World, fans can sign-up for more information on RBD’s comeback. There’s a countdown clock that leads to the date January 19, 2023. There’s also a message that says, “Get your tie ready,” which is a reference to the band’s outfits in the telenovela Rebelde. Though more details haven’t been offered about the reunion, it’s being reported that RBD will embark on the Soy Rebelde World Tour next year.

Earlier this year, Paola released a cover of one of RBD’s classics. She recorded a new version of “Solo Quédate En Silencio” alongside Mexican glam rock group Moderatto.

Lucy Dacus has had a busy week. In addition to appearing alongside Phoebe Bridgers at Jack Antonoff’s event for The Ally Coalition on Monday night, Dacus dropped by Yo La Tengo’s concert. The band, which hosts a yearly residency at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom for Hannukah, played the third night yesterday.

As they’ve played quite a bit of songs in honor of Carole King this year, Dacus joined in on the theme. She played The Ronettes’ “Walkin’ In The Rain,” King’s “Home Again,” and her own song, “First Time,” from her 2021 album, Home Video.

She has also been a documented fan of Yo La Tengo, making her a perfect choice for a surprise guest. In 2020, she covered their song “Tom Courtenay” for the anniversary reissue of Electr-o-pura, and wrote an essay about what it meant to her.

“One day my friend brought me a stack of CDs, all Yo La Tengo, and told me to take them home, listen to them, burn them, and return them,” she wrote. “I did what I was told. I liked those records from the start, and more with every listen. I’d lay in bed listening to one of their records, pause the song I was listening to when I got too tired, then push play upon waking.”

Yo La Tengo are continuing with sold-out shows until December 25. Watch a fan video of Dacus’ encore performance below.

Before rap superstar Drake was gallivanting around Hollywood, attempting to collect every A-list woman’s heart like some sort of industry infinity stone, there was pop crooner John Mayer. The guitarist made a splash in the music industry in 2002 because of his romantic rock and pop blends, but his love life quickly took center stage. Unfortunately, Mayor hasn’t helped ease the public’s interest in his intimate pursuits, often using his past lovers as muses for his recorded works.

However, in a new interview with the Call Her Daddy podcast, the songwriter is clearing the air about the long-lived rumor surrounding his hit 2001 single, “Your Body Is A Wonderland.” During the interview, host Alex Cooper mentions the Grammy-winning song, and Mayer jumps in to add that although the song was released in 2001, it was written about his high school years: “That was about my first girlfriend. So that was about the feeling, which I think was already sort of nostalgic… I was 21 when I wrote that song and was nostalgic for being 16.”

For the record, this isn’t the first time Mayer has made this clarification. For example, he previously spoke about the song’s muse during a 2010 VH1 Storytellers performance.

Despite that, like many others who are old enough to remember the song’s debut, Cooper was stunned at the artist’s confession. In the past, Hewitt herself hinted that the idea that the track was about her was “a real compliment,” but she didn’t “believe that it was written for [her].”

But Mayer insisted that it wasn’t, saying, “No, that’s one of those things where people just sort of formed that idea, it gets reinforced over the years, no, no, no. I had never met a celebrity when I wrote that song.”

Hewitt spoke with Vulture about her struggles with the media’s relentless obsession with her body, so she will probably be glad to hear the rumor has been eradicated.

Listen to the full episode of Call Her Daddy here.

Finding the best whiskey to drink has never been easier and yet… harder at the same time. It’s harder in that there’s just so much on the shelf these days. It’s natural to get overwhelmed with seemingly endless expressions, styles, special releases, and labels. It’s easier in that there’s never been more access to professional information about all of those bottles on the shelf — especially via high-end spirits competitions.

The competitions circuit has made finding a great or even “the best” whiskey a little bit easier. And one of the premier awards to follow is the John Barleycorn Awards — not just because I was a judge this year but also because they exclusively employ whiskey critics, authors, and scholars as judges. Through that roster, the Barleycorn Awards pick their best spirits in both Spring and Fall seasonal competitions. This year, they dove deeper by pitting those best spirits against each other for a “Best of 2022” round via another double-blind tasting. That means the spirit was double-blind tested twice before the finals judges came in to break any ties and check one last time to see which dram truly stood above the rest in yet another double-blind tasting.

Whew. That’s a lot of layers of double blinds to get through to get to the Best Whiskeys of 2022.

Since the list of John Barleycorn Awards’ Best of 2022 Whiskeys (and other spirits) just dropped, I thought I’d list them for you with my own tasting notes. There are some great whiskeys on this list this year. They’re broken down into categories for easy scrolling. And hey, if you dig any of these according to my tasting notes, maybe add them to your bar cart. Let’s dive in!

• The 100 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Of 2022, Ranked
• The 50 Best Scotch Whiskies Of 2022, Ranked
• The 50 Best Rye Whiskeys Of 2022, Ranked
• Whiskey Expert Nate Gana Reveals The ‘Best Whiskey Pours Of 2022’
• The 25 Best American Single Malt Whiskeys Of 2022, Ranked
• The 30 Best American Whiskeys Of 2022, Ranked
• The 30 Best International Whiskeys Of 2022, Ranked

Best Bourbon — Pursuit United Batch 002

ABV: 54%

Average Price: $65

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is vatted from 40 total barrels from three different states. While the team at Pursuit United doesn’t release the Tennessee distillery name, we know the juices from Kentucky and New York are from Bardstown Bourbon Company and Finger Lakes Distilling, respectively. Once those barrels are vatted, they’re slightly touched with water before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Spicy and sweet mulled wine with a layer of honey, raisins, cinnamon/clove/nutmeg, and a hint of toffee round out the nose as a lurking sense of old porch wicker sneaks in underneath it all. There’s a nice balance of chocolate tobacco and honey cake with cardamon and clove on the palate that leads to a hint of orange oils and sticky toffee pudding. The end leans into warm spices and a sense of prunes and dates with a hint of soft cedar and tobacco.

Bottom Line:

It’s always great to see this brand getting some love. This bourbon was created by true bourbon lovers for bourbon lovers, and that ethos shines through in every sip.

Best Scotch Whisky — Aberlour 18-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whiskey

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $168

The Whisky:

The expression from Speyside’s Aberlour also uses old bourbon for its primary maturation and ex-sherry for its finishing maturation. Finally, it’s proofed down with soft Speyside water and bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

You’re drawn in with a note of hard butterscotch candies next to a touch of chinotto (bittersweet Italian orange), butter toffee, and the slightest wisp of peach pits. The taste builds out from that peach pit layer with a note of ripe peach flesh and fuzzy skin while jammy blackberry leads towards a soft cedar. The finish really takes its time and leaves you with a silken texture next to a honeyed sweetness and a final roundness of vanilla cream.

Bottom Line:

This is a great Scotch, especially if you’re looking for a wintry pour of the good stuff as the year winds down.

Best Single Barrel Bourbon/Tennessee Whiskey — Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select

ABV: 47%

Average Price: $55

The Whiskey:

This was first introduced in 1997. The juice is hand-selected from barrels on the upper floors of Jack’s vast rickhouses. The whisky is bottled at a slightly higher proof to allow the nuance of the juice to shine.

Tasting Notes:

The banana notes are drawn way back here and replaced by a clear sense of toasted oak. That oak is the underpinning for notes of caramel corn, mild spice, and plenty of oily vanilla beans. The sweet banana fruit is there and marries well to a peppery spice, cherry gum, and mulled wine that amps up as the end draws near with plenty of that toasted wood lingering the longest.

Bottom Line:

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel might be one of the most under-appreciated bottles by the public. This is a true gem of a whiskey that deserves all the hype it gets from insiders — hint, hint. It also makes a mean Manhattan.

Best Luxury Whiskey — Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Spring 2022

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $1,276

The Whiskey:

This whiskey was distilled and laid down in barrels back in 2004. The barrels were vatted after 17 years and proofed down to the bottled-in-bond standard of 100 proof and then bottled in the iconic Old Fitz decanter for a Spring 2022 release.

Tasting Notes:

A hint of woodiness comes through on the nose via cherry tree bark with the faintest echo of dried rose next to soft vanilla oil, a hint of cedar, a distant thought of old leather, and a touch of burnt orange peels. The palate starts off softly with a lush vanilla cream that builds towards a winter spice matrix of nutmeg, allspice, and clove with a touch of cherrywood that sweetens toward dried cherries. That mid-palate builds on the cherry with spices (nutmeg and allspice) and sticky tobacco vibes as the finish arrives next to a super creamy dark cherry in vanilla cream feel with a dusting of dark chocolate and more of that dry cherry tree bark.

Bottom Line:

This is a stellar pour of whiskey that’s also a shining example of quality bourbon.

Best American Single Malt — Cedar Ridge The Quintessential

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $55

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is all about a grain-to-glass experience. The juice is made with 100% 2-Row Pale Malted Barley (the same stuff used in some of the biggest craft beers) from up in Saskatchewan. The whiskey is matured in ex-bourbon barrels for an undisclosed term. That whiskey is then finished in a combination of brandy, rum, wine, port, and sherry barrels before it’s vatted. The whiskey’s blend is then made using the solera method — where the vat is never fully emptied before the next barrel is added.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is immediately full of bright fruit with a peach and pear vibe that leans into a malty banana bread with plenty of butter, cinnamon, and walnut next to a touch of Almond Joy (but the good ones from a high-end shop). The palate is soft and subtle with hints of spiced malted gingersnaps, light cream soda vibes (maybe a light sasparilla), and a mellow and creamy base of chocolate that’s not dark but not milky either. The mid-palate has a nice sweetness that’s slightly apple adjacent with an apricot hint that mellows into a final note of chewy toffees with rum-raisin lurking on the very backend.

Bottom Line:

This is Cedar Ridge’s crowning achievement and a wonderful sipper for anyone looking for something a little different in the American whiskey scene.

Best Rye Whiskey — New Riff Balboa Rye

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $210

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is built around heritage rye from Indiana, Balboa rye, which was popularized in the 1940s. The juice is hewn from a 95/5 rye/barley recipe and aged for up to five years before batching, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a trace of saltwater taffy on the nose (or maybe just the wax paper wrappers) next to an almost buttery chili rub with a good dose of salt and red pepper spice that’s both lush and deep. The palate leans into a spicy orange marmalade as a medley of dry grasses, woody spices, and creamy vanilla mingles on the senses. The end is a spiced cherry cola next to more woody spice (clove and allspice berries especially) with a luxurious landing on waxy mint taffy, soft capsicum spice, and dry cedar bark braids.

Bottom Line:

This is delicious whiskey that will hopefully be more widely available in 2023.

Best Single Barrel Rye — 291 Colorado Whiskey Finished with Aspen Staves, Barrel Proof Single Barrel

ABV: 64.3%

Average Price: $108

The Whiskey:

291 uses a quick aging process. For this single-barrel expression of rye whiskey, they added Aspen wood staves into the barrels to accelerate the aging process while adding depth to the spirit. Once those barrels hit just the right flavor profile, they were bottled as a single barrel expression with no fussing, filtering, or cutting.

Tasting Notes:

The whiskey opens with a bold sense of wet pine with a pitchy vibe next to maple syrup over sourdough pancakes with a hint of sour apple and toffee in the background. The palate has a grassy nature that’s supported by an echo of vanilla, more resin, and woody/warm winter spices with a hint of cherry lurking somewhere in there. The end leans into sharp and warm spices with a focus on Red Hots and maybe even some nasturtium with a wet oak sweetness and a twinge of bitter espresso bean.

Bottom Line:

This Colorado crafty whiskey is an easy sipper that offers a deep profile and rewarding feeling.

Best American Whiskey — Copper Sky Cigar Blend Whiskey Finished in Amburana Barrels

ABV: 68.2%

Average Price: $109

The Whiskey:

This is classic rye whiskey that ages in new American oak for a few years. After the whiskey hits the right spot, it’s batched and then re-barreled into Brazilian Amburana casks for a final rest. Those barrels are then re-batched and this is proofed down before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a sense of fresh gingerbread on the nose that leads to sticky toffee pudding, salted caramel, buttercream, and a sense of almost mossy tobacco. The palate has a spiced plum jam with a buttery scone, clotted cream, and spiced orange marmalade next to woody cedar bark, old wicker, and dry — almost singed — tobacco stems. The finish has a dark stewed fruitiness with dates, prunes, and figs next to cinnamon bark and allspice berries with cherry tobacco, a touch of mochi, and cedar boxes.

Bottom Line:

This is a classic “cigar blend” with plenty of bold spice and tobacco notes, making this a great pairing with your favorite cigar.

Best Tennessee Whiskey — Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition Batch 009

ABV: 59.2%

Average Price: $150

The Whiskey:

While Uncle Nearest is distilling their own juice these days, this is still the work of Master Blender Victoria Eady Butler with carefully sourced Tennessee whiskey barrels. In this case, Eady Bulter hand-selected the best-of-the-best from their inventory to create the perfect whiskey to exemplify the brand and Tennesee whiskey traditions.

Tasting Notes:

This draws you in with a piping hot fresh batch of cinnamon rolls with plenty of white sauce frosting, cinnamon and brown sugar filling, a touch of nutmeg, pecans, firewood bark, and a hint of pipe tobacco. The palate delivers on the bigger notes of the nose with pecan shells, cinnamon sticks dipped in cherry syrup, wet corn husks, old leather gloves that have worked in dirt and firewood, and mild yet spiced cherry tobacco. That mild cherry sweetness drives the mid-palate toward a hint of maple syrup that leans woody as firewood piled in black dirt rounding out the finish with an echo more of that peppery tobacco.

Bottom Line:

This is a wonderful whiskey that’s perfect for slow sipping after a big holiday meal.

Best Canadian Whisky — Found North Batch 004

ABV: 62.4%

Average Price: $145

The Whiskey:

This blended whisky is a mash-up of corn and rye whiskies, which equate to a mash bill of 80% corn, 19% rye, and a mere 1% malted barley. Those whiskies are sourced from barrels that are between 21 and 25 years old. Once vatted, the whisky is bottled as-is with no water, filtering, or coloring.

Tasting Notes:

This whiskey opens with a sense of dark dried fruits — rum raisin, dates, prunes — next to mulled wine sourness and sweetness with plenty of cinnamon, star anise, and clove next to a hint of creamy eggnog nutmeg. The palate is largely the same with a soft warmth from the ABVs that gives way to woody spiced plum tobacco, a big slice of fruit cake, and a dose of vanilla oils cut with orange oils. The end has a dark fruit tobacco vibe that’s accented by a sweet sense of vanilla and caramel.

Bottom Line:

This is a spectacular Canadian whisky that’ll upend any preconceived notions you have about the juice from up north.

Best Irish Whiskey — Waterford The Cuvée

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $85

The Whiskey:

Waterford is an interesting experiment in whiskey, in general. This expression utilizes the distillery’s many single-farm-origin whiskeys to create something heightened. The whiskey is a blend of those single farm whiskeys that highlight the terroir from all around Ireland, along with Waterford’s high-level skills.

Tasting Notes:

Red apple peels and rye crust open the nose before soft soil and green grass takes over. The palate is all about the butterscotch candies, with light florals, oat cookies, orange peels, and fresh mint acting as support. The mid-palate has a clove candy vibe that leads to white pepper, grapefruit peel, dark chocolate and cherry tobacco, and a final note of poppyseed cake.

Bottom Line:

This is one of the most interesting whiskeys being made right now. It’s changing the way we think about terroir in whiskey while also delivering a delicious product.

Director’s Choice Awards — Amrut Neidhal Indian Single Malt Whisky

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $105

The Whiskey:

This Peated Indian single malt whisky is from the famed Amrut Distillery. The juice is a special release of 12,000 bottles that highlight the “Neidhal” or coastal region and the tropical vibes of Southern India.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a clear sense of briny and smoky peat on the nose with a hint of smoldering papaya and mango skins and maybe some burnt sugar cane next to deep tropical fruits and spice malt biscuits. The palate has a nice mix of grilled tropical fruits with burnt sugars, singed spice barks, and a fleeting sense of rich tobacco with a moist toffee cake filled with nuts. The end is short but sweet with a smoky vibe filled with savory and sweet fruits, spicy tobacco, and nutty creaminess.

Bottom Line:

This is a tasty peated whisky that leans so far into the fruit, you might not even notice the smokiness after a while.

Director’s Choice Awards — WhistlePig Double Malt Rye 18-Year-Old

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $450

The Whiskey:

This Canadian whisky is made from two malts with a lot of rye. The mash bill is 79% rye, 15% malted rye, and 6% malted barley. That whisky was left to mellow for 18 long years before heading to Vermont for batching, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

The nose opens with a sense of cedar kindling and whole nutmeg bulbs next to cinnamon toast, orange marmalade, and spiced apple cider with a hint of cellar must. The palate leans into the dark marmalade and spicy apple cut with tart dried red berries, fresh vanilla pods, sweet oak, and a flutter of potpourri. The end is soft and full of spiced nuttiness with a touch of dried apple chips, burnt orange, marzipan, and winter-spiced tobacco leaves layered with cedar bark in an old leather pouch buried in a cellar.

Bottom Line:

This is good Canadian whisky. It’s a little musty, but if that’s what you’re looking for … go for it!

Best World Whiskey & Spirit of the Year — Cotswolds Bourbon Cask Single Malt Whisky

ABV: 59.1%

Average Price: $102

The Whiskey:

This English single malt is made with 100% locally grown barley that’s floor-malted on-site in the Cotswolds. Those malts are fermented with two yeast strains (Anchor and Fermentis) with demineralized village water to extract fruity flavors from the malt. After pot still distillation, the hot juice is filled into ex-bourbon barrels from Kentucky for a long rest. Finally, those barrels are batched and the whiskey is bottled completely as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Vanilla malted shakes and thick crème brûlée dominate the nose with a sense of date-fueled sticky toffee pudding with salted toffee, fresh orange zest, and big flakes of salt. The palate opens with bold dark dried fruits — rum raisin, figs, prunes — that lead to a moist vanilla cake frosted with cinnamon-honey buttercream icing and dusted with nutmeg, cinnamon, and dark chocolate shavings. The end sweetens slightly with a honeyed fig vibe next to old wicker porch furniture, cinnamon-spiced tobacco, and soft vanilla malted biscuits dipped in rum-raisin salted chocolate sauce and honey.

Bottom Line:

This is a delicious whisky. Grab one for winter sipping before it’s sold out.

Since his explosive debut in 2019, DaBaby has faced a plethora of lawsuits stemming from his tendency to swing first and ask questions later, but at least one of those cases is now off his plate. The Charlotte rapper received a favorable verdict in a $6 million Florida case as the jury found him not liable for battery, breach of contract, and defamation after a five-day trial, according to Rolling Stone.

The case originates from a January 2020 incident in which DaBaby was accused of assaulting a pair of Miami nightclub promoters for allegedly stiffing him on an appearance fee after he was promised $30,000 but only paid $20,000. DaBaby countersued the plaintiffs, Steve Anyadike and Kenneth Carey, for invasion of privacy and unauthorized use of name or likeness. The jury found them liable, although Rolling Stone’s report does not include any damages they may have to pay DaBaby. Criminal charges against DaBaby were dropped by Miami police in March 2020 after the victims refused to cooperate, although the rapper did spend a “weak-ass 48 hours in jail.”

The win would appear to be much-needed for DaBaby after the rough year he’s had. In October, he claimed that his homophobic faux pas at Rolling Loud Miami last year cost him $10 million in performances and sponsorships, and he was flamed in November for allegedly trying to give away tickets to a recent show since demand to see him has apparently dropped so precipitously. He also claimed he’s been blackballed by the music industry — during an interview with the biggest syndicated radio show — blaming this on his low album and ticket sales. Even lions at the zoo appeared to be over him, which has gotta suck. At least he’s got this win in court, or things would look bleak, indeed.

RBD broke the Latinx Internet on Monday (December 19) with the news of their reunion next year. Five of the six members were celebrating the Mexican band’s comeback minus Alfonso “Poncho” Herrera who decided not to return. Later that night, Herrera referenced the music of RBD in a post to help refugees around the world.

Instead of posting about RBD’s reunion on Monday, Herrera referenced one of his old band’s hits in a post for ACNUR, a Latin American division of the United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees. Using the lyrics from “Rebelde,” he wrote in Spanish, “If you are a rebel and don’t follow others… I invite you to donate to a good cause.”

ACNUR is an organization that helps support refugees who are in search of safety and shelter. Earlier this year, Herrera also starred in season four of Ozarks. RBD will reunite sans Herrera on January 19, 2023.

Through the Mexican telenovela Rebelde, RBD rose to prominence in 2004. The Latin Grammy nominated-group was formed by Anahí, Dulce María, Christian Chávez, Christopher von Uckermann, Maite Perroni, and Herrera. After multiple successful world tours, RBD split in 2009.

Following his time in RBD, Herrera has focused on his acting career in Mexico and the US. He has starred in shows like Netflix’s Sense8, Fox’s short-lived The Exorcist, and Queen Of The South. When Anahí, Chávez, von Uckermann, and Perroni reunited under RBD momentarily in 2020, he also opted out of that reunion. Even though Herrera has shifted his priorities in his career, he continues to show love to his former band mates on social media.

Yesterday, dancer Todrick Hall opened up on an Instagram video about a sweet story for the holidays — involving none other than Taylor Swift.

Hall had received a message from his friend Holly saying someone she knew was a “gigantic Taylor Swift fan” and was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. Holly’s friend, Estelle, had thrown a Swift-themed bridal shower.

From there, Hall sent Swift videos of Estelle’s bridal shower in the hopes of fulfilling his mutual friend’s dream.

“When I saw the footage of this incredible bridal shower, I was like, ‘OK, Taylor has to see this,’” Hall said. “So I sent the videos, the footage and the message to Taylor and [she] responded so sweetly and said, ‘I would love to send her something. What is her address?’”

Swift went on to gift Estelle a box of merch and possibly other surprises… maybe tickets to The Eras Tour?

“I know that she has a smile from ear to ear,” Hall added. “She’s been DM’ing me all day.”

“I just wanted you to know there are so many stories like this that that I could tell, but this story in particular warmed my heart,” he told listeners. “I hope it touched your heart, I hope it put a smile on your face.”

New York rapper MIKE has been rolling out his new mixtape, Beware Of The Monkey, for the past month with videos for “Nuthin I Can Do Is Wrng,” “What Do I Do?,” and “Stop Worry!” featuring Sister Nancy and today, the project arrived fully formed along with a new video for its track “No Curse Lifted (Rivers Of Love).”

Built atop a single that sounds right out of an ’80s infomercial, “No Curse Lifted” finds MIKE breathlessly unraveling a cerebral, intricately-patterned verse detailing his gift for rappity-rapping. The video, directed by Ryosuke Tanzawa, sees MIKE rapping in front of a brand-new Mercedes-Benz against a white background, being handed a glistening bubble jacket, and watching his team count his money via machine.

Embracing an indie grind mindset, MIKE has slowly been gaining momentum in rap’s underground scene thanks to his associations with stalwarts of the genre like Earl Sweatshirt and Na-Kel Smith. He also spent much of the year touring, including a stint opening for Freddie Gibbs on the Gary native’s Space Rabbit Tour this past spring. Keep your eyes and ears open for MIKE’s next move — something tells us he’s just getting started.

Watch MIKE’s “No Curse Lifted (Rivers Of Love)” video above.

Beware Of The Monkey is out now. You can get it here.

Kid Cudi has given us a wide range of projects over the past year. Back in March, he starred in the A24 horror film, X. In September, he released his 10th studio album, Entergalactic, which was accompanied by an animated movie on Netflix.

Though Cudi has teased that we can expect one more album out of him, it’s safe to assume it probably won’t be the much-anticipated collaborative album with Travis Scott.

Back in 2020, Kid Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, released a song with Travis Scott called “The Scotts,” which was also said to be the title of an upcoming collaborative project between the two.

The song, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, proved to be a hit, however, Cudi revealed that the planned project has since been scrapped.

This morning on Twitter, a fan asked Cudi, “Is The Scotts album still on the cards?”

Cudi replied, saying, “Naw im not doin that. The moment has passed.”

Though the album may no longer see the light of day, Cudi said he is still down to record one-off collaborative singles with Scott in the future.

Cudi also revealed that we won’t be getting a sequel to Entergalactic, however, he has some other animated projects in the works.

“my next project im workin on is gonna f*ck u up in the best ways too,” he said.