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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.

While Bad Bunny has said he plans to take a break next year, he’s not slowing down just yet. Last night (December 20), the Puerto Rican superstar teased a preview of a new song on TikTok. Fans are speculating it could be a collaboration with Ñengo Flow.

After his record-breaking year of having the top-selling album with Un Verano Sin Ti and the top-grossing tour, Bad Bunny told Billboard earlier this month that he was going to take some time off. He also mentioned that he will still be putting in time in the recording studio occasionally.

“I’m taking a break,” Bad Bunny said. “2023 is for me, for my physical health, my emotional health to breathe, enjoy my achievements.”

Bad Bunny surprised his fans last night when he released a preview of a new song on TikTok. “To close out the year!” he yelled over the music. In the alluring reggaeton track, Bad Bunny sings about a woman who likes a bad boy like him. “Even though you’re a sinner, I’ll follow you to hell,” he sings. Foreign Teck confirmed on Instagram that he produced the song with Smash and Bass Charity.

Bad Bunny also posted a photo wearing the chain of Puerto Rican rapper Ñengo Flow. Fans are speculating that the new song could be a collaboration between them. There’s even more hope among fans that Anuel AA could be on the track with them. Bad Bunny hasn’t announced the release date for the song, but it should be dropping anytime soon.

Weezy F Baby and the “F” is for flatterer? Rapper Lil Wayne dropped by ESPN’s Monday Night Football (December 19) broadcast to give a play-by-play of the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers game but was nearly left speechless thanks to an on-air surprise.

Hosts former NFL players Peyton and Eli Manning broke from the game’s live stream during a break to premiere a new rap song recorded, especially with the New Orleans native in mind. The brother duo shared that Eli, the retired New York Giant quarterback, had picked up a new hobby in his free time — rapping. However, while Eli seemed excited to share his latest song with the Young Money Records boss, big brother Peyton wasn’t quite as supportive.

As the music video loads, Eli appears in the booth dressed in fashion designer Celine (now prevalent in hip-hop) from his hips up to the top of his head and a gold Cuban link chain to match his new swagged-out drip. Backed by a drill beat as gunshot ad-libs loop, Eli gives off his best 8 bars. Finally, the video ends, and Peyton anxiously awaits Lil Wayne’s feedback. At first, Lil Wayne is speechless, but as he takes it all in, he responds, “Somebody ended up sending me a full-body picture of it, and then I saw that you had on some khakis or something. That’s when I knew this must be a spoof or something.”

Later adding, “I didn’t know what was going on. I saw the Cuban around your neck. I’m glad I actually saw a video of what that was all about. But you killed it. You killed it. Yeah, you killed that.”

In typical sibling fashion, Peyton jumps in to play the contrarian proclaiming, “No, it wasn’t.”

Pleased by Wayne’s response, Eli confessed that Lil Wayne’s music inspired him. More specifically, his songs “A Milli” and “Fireman.”

“I wasn’t watching a lot of Lil Wayne, but I was listening to him,” he said. “I was listening to ‘A Milli,’ I was listening to ‘Fireman,’ I was listening to ‘Stuntin’ Like My Daddy’ — that’s my personal favorite,” said Eli.

Lil Wayne has inspired many fellow musicians, including Machine Gun Kelly, JID, and Jack Harlow, to name a few. His music has inspired a few cringe-worthy videos, including a Florida police department’s drug bust. Maybe Lil Wayne will go on to mentor Eli’s future music career as he did with Tiffany Haddish.

Watch the full video below.

The Atlanta Hawks season has taken quite the twist, and it has nothing to do with the team’s roster or coaching staff. It was announced on Wednesday morning that Travis Schlenk, who has been with the franchise since 2017 and has served as Atlanta’s President of Basketball Operations since 2019, will step down from his position and move into an advisory role for the team’s owner, Tony Ressler.

“Throughout this season, Tony and I have had multiple, honest conversations about some of the personal things I’ve been going through and how I’ve been feeling, and I appreciate the counsel he has provided me as well as the opportunity he gave me six seasons ago to be a first-time general manager,” Schlenk said in a statement. “As we enter a new year, the timing feels right for me to take a step back, reflect and prioritize my family.”

“I am proud of the group I assembled both on the floor and in the front office,” Schlenk continued. “We have built a strong foundation for the Hawks franchise and achieved a high level of success. As an advisor, I look forward to working with Tony and Landry and continuing to make contributions in less visible but still impactful ways.”

With Schlenk moving into a different role, the team’s general manager, Landry Fields, will take over basketball operations. Fields will oversee a team that sits at 16-15, which is good for seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

Before we get into the most anticipated indie albums of 2023, let’s revel in what an undeniably packed year 2022 was for indie. From Alex G’s stunning God Save The Animals to The Beths’ explosive Expert In A Dying Field, there was an abundance of albums to remind us of the flourishing scene. Meanwhile The 1975’s Being Funny In A Foreign Language and Arctic Monkeys’ The Car made millions of twentysomethings nostalgic for 2014 Tumblr in the best way possible. Luckily, there’s still a lot more coming our way next year. Here are the most anticipated indie albums of 2023.

Samia – Honey

January 27

The Baby, Samia’s 2020 debut, was praised for its visceral lyricism matched with a delicate, sweet sound. Singles like “Sea Lions” and “Kill Her Freak Out” have previewed refined songwriting and a bigger sense of intensity for the next effort; “You said when I come on the radio it makes you wanna die / Well if I shut up can I come inside?” she sings on the unforgettable piano-driven ballad “Sea Lions.”

Narrow Head – Moments Of Clarity

February 10

There are tons of bands getting in on the grunge revival right now, but Narrow Head are one of the most notable. Their EPs and albums have been magnetic and ferocious, packed with blaring guitars and unsettling textures that bring to mind alt-rock veterans like Smashing Pumpkins or Hum. Moments Of Clarity retains their forceful energy, as proved by the single “Gearhead,” a destructive, distorted anthem about isolation: “Alone again is time well spent / Alone, forever falling.”

Paramore – This Is Why

February 10

Paramore’s last album was 2017’s bombastic After Laughter, which contained one of their biggest hits, “Hard Times.” Fans have been begging for new material since then, and the announcement of This Is Why was an exhilarating one. The singles “This Is Why” and “The News” have exceeded expectations; both possess the band’s catchy, explosive personality, leaning into new wave and not holding back on the sass.

Andy Shauf – Norm

February 10

Andy Shauf has a knack for concept albums that linger in the listener’s mind long after they’ve finished, like his 2016 cult classic The Party. He’s preparing for the release of his fifth studio LP, Norm, about which he explained, “The character of Norm is introduced in a really nice way. But the closer you pay attention to the record, the more you’re going to realize that it’s sinister.” These themes have been teased in the compelling singles “Wasted On You” and “Catch Your Eye,” especially the latter, which calmly plays with the intensity of longing and desire against a tranquil sonic backdrop.

Pile – All Fiction

February 17

In four words to Uproxx, Pile described their sound as, “Noisy rock but also…” This sums up the mystique of Pile. The singles previewing All Fiction have an unnameable, disturbed quality to them, something brewing beneath the surface. The haunting instrumentation, detached vocals, bleak lyricism — especially on the off-kilter “Poisons” — create a dark, dreary world that has a strong gravitation pull.

Runnner – Like Dying Stars, We’re Reaching Out

February 17

Noah Weinman’s sprawling Always Repeating was a preface to his discography as Runnner. His forthcoming debut Like Dying Stars, We’re Reaching Out is the official kickoff, and the movement is swift and strong, not unlike a gut punch. The lead single “I Only Sing About Food” showcases his knack for disarming, intimate scenes of feeling: “I’m an idiot, I cried in your car / When I couldn’t find the words I was looking for / I overanalyze, I never let it feel good / I only think about death / I only sing about food,” he sings. The following single “Bike Again” soars with a dreamlike, glimmering instrumental that communicates more than words ever could.

Gorillaz – Cracker Island

February 24

The singles from Gorillaz’s forthcoming album Cracker Island have been enticing previews. From the colossal title track featuring Thundercat to the mesmeric earworm “Skinny Ape,” the LP is looking like a special experience. To make it even better, it’ll feature artists like Stevie Nicks, Beck, Bad Bunny, and Adeleye Omotayo.

Fever Ray – Radical Romantics

March 10

Radical Romantics is Fever Ray’s first album in over five years. “What They Call Us” was a bewitching comeback single, seething and soaring with sporadic, haunting sounds like a sonic collage. Karin Dreijer, the face behind the project, seems to address the hiatus in the song: “It’s a common misperception, this is not a band, ready for a dissection / Now mommy’s gotta work, see the land.” The whole record is sure to be a trip.

100 Gecs – 10,000 Gecs

March 17

Just recently, 100 Gecs unleashed the chaotic EP Snake Eyes, which contained the ridiculously infectious track “Doritos & Fritos.” They’re already gearing up for their next album, fittingly titled 10,000 Gecs to follow-up their critically acclaimed debut 1000 Gecs. “As I’ve been exploring my voice more, I’m like, ‘I can do this,’” Laura Les said. “And also I’m sick of worrying about it. If I don’t just fucking do it, then I’m just a scaredy cat. And I don’t want to be a scaredy cat.”

Smashing Pumpkins – Atum

April 21

Smashing Pumpkins are not playing around. They’re going to be unveiling Atum next year, a rock opera in three acts made up of 33 songs. It will serve as the sequel of 1995’s Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness and 2000’s Machina/Machine Of God. Pronounced “Autumn,” the LP’s first single is the electrifying “Beguiled” which came with a cinematic music video. The “1979” group is creating a whole world with this record, and it’s gonna be good.

Blink-182

So much happened this year that we barely got time to process the return of Tom Delonge in Blink-182. While the releases the band offered with Matt Skiba were pleasant and enjoyable, fans never stopped begging for the original vocalist and guitarist to come back. The song “Edging” is the perfect mischievous entrance back into the scene. They confirmed an album is on the way, and the fact that their tour has openers like Turnstile and The Story So Far proves that they’re keeping in touch with current blazing rock.

Blondshell

Blondshell was one of the most alluring emerging artists this year. From the haunted reckoning of a detrimental relationship in “Olympus” to the cathartic spurt of alt-rock in the latest song “Veronica Mars,” 25-year-old Sabrina Teitelbaum has managed to keep up the momentum with every release, and hopefully these tracks are fragments from a bigger project coming soon.

The Gaslight Anthem

In our conversation with The Gaslight Anthem bandleader Brian Fallon, he offered an estimation to when a new record may come, guessing around “early next year, early spring,” depending on how his writing goes. The band reunited this year; their last LP was 2014’s Get Hurt, though Fallon has put out solo material since. What led to this comeback isn’t very surprising: “During quarantine, I had gotten so bored,” he admitted in that same interview. Their recent tour was a great way to increase the anticipation, and now we wait.

Meet Me At The Altar

Bombastic EPs, crazy tours, signing to the one and only Fueled By Ramen label — Meet Me At The Altar are obviously on the verge of something big. The pop-punk group have been raging since before the whole revival spearheaded by Machine Gun Kelly started, and they’re obviously in it for the relentless energy, which all of their songs burst with. Their debut is sure to be a big deal.

My Chemical Romance

The long-awaited return of My Chemical Romance was postponed due to the pandemic, so this year was a relief for their fans. Their tour was nothing short of anyone’s expectations; beloved bandleader Gerard Way sported a dress onstage, performing timeless hits like “Teenagers” and “Helena” as well as deep-cuts from their debut, pleasing the whole audience every night. Their comeback song “The Foundations Of Decay” captured their singularly theatrical, explosive essence, and there simply has to be an album on the way — it’s been over a decade since Danger Days.

Wednesday

Wednesday’s Twin Plagues was one of the most stunning records of 2021, seamlessly blending immersive, staticky shoegaze with an endearing twang, made all the better by Karly Hartzman’s hypnotizing soprano. In September they released the 8-minute ripper called “Bull Believer” and deservingly signed to the iconic label Dead Oceans, which is a good sign that an LP may be on the way. The new track signals a direction that digs deeper into their grit; it even features an unrelenting scream from Hartzman, giving the song the texture of a horror movie.

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

As the trial date in the racketeering case against YSL Records nears, yet another member of the label/crew has accepted a plea deal for release. Unfoonk might be a lesser-known name among the roster to casual fans, but longtime followers are probably aware that he’s probably the closest member to YSL founder Young Thug, as he’s Thugger’s older brother. Like Gunna and Walter Murphy before him, Unfoonk pled guilty to one count of violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and a count of theft by the reception of stolen property on Tuesday (December 21), according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Unfoonk, whose real name is Quantavious Grier, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with two years commuted to time served and the remaining 10 to probation. He must also complete 750 hours of community service and stay away from anyone else listed in the 56-count indictment against YSL, including his brother. On Instagram, Unfoonk addressed brewing rumors that he testified against Thug, writing, “Damn, people really think I told on my own brother SMH. Show me in my paperwork I told on anybody lol. I’m not even finna entertain any of it. Peace and blessings.”

The fact that so many members of YSL were offered plea deals in exchange for release seems to lend credence to Murphy’s lawyer’s theory that the true target of the indictment was Young Thug all along. The case has drawn scrutiny and criticism for using Thug’s lyrics to tie him to the alleged criminal enterprise, with some calling it an effort by Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis to burnish her resume with a high-profile conviction.

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

The title of the video above is “Aubrey Plaza Wishes Drew Barrymore Was Her Mom,” but that’s not exactly accurate. Plaza wants Barrymore to be her “mommy.”

The White Lotus actress appeared on Drew’s News, the podcast for The Drew Barrymore Show, where she and TV’s best talk show host discussed everything from the best cities in the U.S. for a girls’ trip (“I have a new city I just learned about, it’s called Serenbe and it’s in Georgia, and it’s a wellness community,” Plaza replied) and unicorns.

Late in the recording, after Barrymore discussed the postcards she writes for her daughters while they’re away at camp, Plaza said, “You’re my dream mom. I wish you were my mom… Be my mommy.” Barrymore told Plaza, who kept saying things like “feed me,” “put me to bed,” and “nurture me,” the same thing she tells her girls: “Get back in my belly.” This was not a Fat Bastard reference, sadly.

Meanwhile, Plaza kept chiming in with her own demands. As she said, “Nurture me,” Barrymore continued to play along as she responded, “Oh, yes. What I wouldn’t do to put you to bed.” Plaza, somehow taking the bit even further, added, “I’m a hungry baby,” to which the actress assured, “And I have everything you need.”

They have even better chemistry than Harper and Ethan.

You can watch The Drew Barrymore Show clip above.

(Via Decider)

Back when Vladimir Putin first hurled his army into Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky famously turned down President Biden’s offer of evacuation with a folk-hero-making declaration: “I need ammunition, not a ride.” After a very long year for both Ukrainians and Russians, Zelensky is now perhaps getting both of those things. On Twitter, the former Servant of the People star announced that he was en route to the White House for a visit “to strengthen resilience and defense capabilities.” This includes further “cooperation between” Ukraine and the U.S., which will be hammered out at several “bilateral meetings,” and he will reportedly address Congress.

Presumably, this visit will include talk of monetary assistance and, you know, more ammo. Reuters also pointedly highlighted Zelensky’s request for “weapons, weapons and more weapons,” so there’s no subtlety there on Ukraine’s plans to keep fighting and reclaim more territory that was supposedly “annexed” by Russia this year.

Well, Vladimir Putin definitely heard about this U.S. visit, and in very short order, CNBC reported upon how the Kremlin unveiled a “surprise trip to Beijing” by a Putin proxy, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. On the agenda: the war and “deepening ties” between Russia and China. So, that’s one aspect of the huffy Putin response, and then the Russian autocrat announced that he’s opening his nation’s wallet to provide unlimited military funds to win his war:

Speaking to various military officials and members of Russia’s defense ministry Wednesday, Putin discussed what Russia calls the “special military operation” in Ukraine and how the war was progressing.

He said Russia’s armed forces had gained huge experience in Ukraine and that Russia will “increase its military potential,” according to comments reported by Reuters, saying “we don’t have any restrictions on the financing of the army.”

Putin’s claims of unlimited coffers run counter to reports of his troops having to resort to decades-old ammo that’s so degraded that it could “explode in your face.” There’s also the well-publicized video footage showing Russian troops being told to use tampons to stop bullet-wound bleeding because the army cannot afford real medical supplies.

Yet that hasn’t stopped Putin from claiming, as reported by CNBC, that he’s beefing everything up, and that his “Satan II” intercontinental ballistic missile will soon be readied for whatever ends that he desires. And then he probably hopped back into the bunker with a hoarded supply of toilet paper that he will (allegedly) need. A lot.

(Via CNBC & Reuters)

One of the biggest free agents in all of Major League Baseball will change his plans. Earlier this month, it was announced that superstar infielder Carlos Correa would head to the San Francisco Giants on a 13-year deal worth $350 million. But in the early hours of Wednesday morning, it was reported that Correa — who was slated to be unveiled by the Giants a day earlier — would actually join the New York Mets.

Correa, a 28-year-old infielder who played for the Minnesota Twins last season, will head to Queens on a 12-year contract worth $315 million, making him the latest flex of Mets owner Steve Cohen’s financial muscle this offseason.

It is, to put it lightly, a stunning turn of events just hours after the Giants were slated to reveal Correa. According to the Associated Press, something concerned San Francisco while Correa went through his physical, which led to the team postponing the news conference where the All-Star would be announced as a member of the franchise.

One person confirmed to the AP that Tuesday’s conference to welcome Correa was put on hold because the sides were awaiting the results of testing. A second person said that a medical issue was flagged during Correa’s physical.

It is unclear what, exactly, caused this concern, but it evidently did not scare off the Mets from adding another bat to its lineup. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the expectation is that New York will keep Francisco Lindor at shortstop and move Correa to third.