Was Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan’s relationship short n’ sweet? Or are they still dating? Keoghan may have quieted the speculation with Bratz dolls, naturally.

Anonymous gossip hub Deuxmoi claimed that the pair had broken up after he appeared in her Bonnie And Clyde-indebted “Please Please Please” music video. However, there was nothing official from either the singer (she’s too busy workin’ late) or The Banshees Of Inisherin star — at least until he responded to a Bratz recreation of Carpenter and Jenna Ortega in the murderous “Taste” video. “Can I have one?” he wrote, as seen here.

There are a few ways to interpret Keoghan’s comment: “can I have one?” means he and Carpenter broke up and now he has no one, or the more likely scenario, he’s having a laugh. Or maybe Keoghan is the world’s biggest Bratz fan and he genuinely wants a “Taste” doll. He has good taste.

In a recent interview with the Guardian, Carpenter called working with Keoghan “one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I’m very honored and I got to work with such a great actor!” She also coyly addressed the breakup rumors and the increased attention on her private life. “It’s not what I signed up for, but I can’t really help when I was born,” she said. “I want to be honest – I want to just write about what’s happening in my life as a 25-year-old girl. But it comes with the territory and I just have to be like… OK!”

Questlove recently spoke with Common and Pete Rock on his Questlove Supreme podcast, and the conversation yielded something The Roots fans have been waiting for since the group’s latest album, 2014’s …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin: News of a new album.

During the episode, Questlove said of the upcoming project, “I know the exact date I want to release it, and it’s not 2024, but it’s a seminal 2025 date that will make sense once it comes out.”

Worth noting is that 2025 will mark the 30th anniversary of The Roots’ Do You Want More?!!!??! (which was released on January 17, 1995), as well as the 15th anniversaries of How I Got Over (June 22, 2010) and the collaborative John Legend album Wake Up! (September 21, 2010).

Quest also spoke about how Common and Pete Rock’s 2024 joint album The Auditorium Vol. 1 has inspired him and Black Thought (Tariq Trotter) to finish their upcoming album. He said:

“I will say that it’s made Tariq into… the motherf*cker wrote seven songs in one day! We have not done that since our second album. […] I was like, ‘Yo, dog. You ain’t going to believe this, but Rash [Common] and Pete made the perfect summit meeting record. No person’s outshining the other person.’ […] I was just going off about it and I could tell I planted a seed. But then, I think after the Hollywood Bowl performance that we did, […] I think that lit something under Tariq.

I mean, I can say in the last two weeks, he’s knocked off at least 80 percent. […] I mean, back in Do You Want More?!!!??! days, ‘Riq would write, like, six or seven songs in a setting. This album is definitely […] it’s probably what he’s working on right now as I speak. It’s inspiring.”

Check out the full episode above.

Chappell Roan released her debut album The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess in September 2023. Since then, she’s put out one standalone single, “Good Luck, Babe!,” but there’s new music on the way… eventually.

Roan’s manager, Nick Bobetsky, told Music Business Worldwide that she’s “busy writing.” He continued, “I do think that we’re likely going to embrace a very similar plan that we did for this album, which is that when she finishes a song she loves, we put our heads together, and quickly work to get that music out.”

It’s what Roan did most recently with “Good Luck, Babe!” and that strategy worked: it’s her highest-charting song to date, having peaked (so far) at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Bobetsky also referred to Roan as “absolutely an album artist.” He added, “I think that’s what people want from her, big-picture. I don’t think that takes away from the impact of singles. It’s partly a question of when the fans are asking for an album, and we have a lot of insight into that sort of thing.” He continued, “I think right now Chappell wants to feel free to put music out when it’s ready and when she’s excited about letting people hear it. And I think that’s what the fans want as well.”

Maybe she’ll release new music once some people chill out.

We haven’t heard from Radiohead in a while, as the band’s last album was 2016’s A Moon Shaped Pool. The Smile — Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood’s other project alongside Tom Skinner — have picked up the torch and been super busy, though. Their debut album, A Light For Attracting Attention, came out in 2022, and they released Wall Of Eyes this past January.

The trio apparently had more to say before 2024 came to an end: Today (August 28), The Smile announced Cutouts, their second album of the year. It’s set for release on October 4.

The band shared two new songs today, “Zero Sum” and “Foreign Spies.” The album will also feature the previously released songs “Don’t Get Me Started” and “The Slip.”

The new album was recorded during the Wall Of Eyes sessions. It was produced by Sam Petts-Davies and it features string arrangements by the London Contemporary Orchestra. Additionally, the album cover artwork was painted by Yorke and Stanley Donwood during the recording process.

Listen to “Foreign Spies” and “Zero Sum” above and find the Cutouts cover art and tracklist below.

The Smile’s Cutouts Album Cover Artwork

The Smile’s Cutouts Tracklist

1. “Foreign Spies”
2. “Instant Psalm”
3. “Zero Sum”
4. “Colours Fly”
5. “Eyes & Mouth”
6. “Don’t Get Me Started”
7. “Tiptoe”
8. “The Slip”
9. “No Words”
10. “Bodies Laughing”

Cutouts is out 10/4 via XL Recordings. Find more information here.

It has been twenty-three years since Aaliyah’s tragic death. Although the “One In A Million” singer isn’t here in the physical sense, her essence lives on through her acclaimed music catalog.

With the Aaliyah’s discography available on streaming, new fans are quickly discovering and sharing her beloved records, which means more generated revenue for her estate and former collaborators. Sadly for Missy Elliott, instead of celebrating this new era of Aaliyah appreciation, she has found herself fighting it out in court over royalties. But according to AllHipHop, Missy Elliott has secured a major legal win in the matter.

The “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” rapper and producer’s 2018 lawsuit with Terry Williams has temporarily swayed in Elliot’s favor. Williams presented his case for song co-authorship and royalties of thirty-four unpublished songs some odd songs. Now a judge has ruled that legally Aaliyah’s “Heartbroken” isn’t one of them due to the expired statute of limitations.

“Williams commenced this action against Elliott on November 14, 2018, over twenty-two years after the release of ‘Heartbroken,’” said the Judge Quiñones Alejandro. “Under these circumstances, this Court further finds that Williams has failed to offer evidence that he exercised due diligence. As such, Williams’ co-ownership claim based on the song ‘Heartbroken’ released by Aaliyah is barred by the three-year statute of limitations.”

The judge may have dismissed Williams claim on that track. However, their pair’s fight is from from over. Williams’ claims made against former hip-hop group SISTA’s use of his creative works made with Elliott, a then member, can still be heard by the courts.

Williams alleges that he and Elliott were collaborators between 1993 and 1996, where they worked on releases for acts 702, Total and more.

Terry Williams is seeking co-author credit on the tracks the pair supposedly worked on, damages for breach of contract, and compensation for unjust enrichment.

Chart-topping global music superstar, check. WWE-stamped wrestling act, check. Budding on-screen actor, check. Bad Bunny’s professional resume continues to grow. According to Deadline, the “Baticano” musician’s next movie role is in the works.

In the outlet’s exclusive report, Bad Bunny will join the cast of Darren Aronofsky’s next film, Caught Stealing. At this time, not much is known about Benito’s supposed role. However, the forthcoming motion picture is said to be a crime thriller.

All outlines describe Caught Stealing as: “A tale following main character Hank Thompson (played by Austin Butler), “a burned-out former baseball player, as he’s unwittingly plunged into a wild fight for survival in the downtown criminal underworld of ‘90s New York City.”

Although Bad Bunny proudly hails from Puerto Rico, the film’s rumored look into the private life of baseball players is something he surely can relate to given his own sports agency. While supporters of Bad Bunny will have to practice patience to learn more about his reportedly cameo, other details surrounding the production has been released.

As Aronofsky is locked in as its official director for Sony Pictures, the responsibility of the film’s script rests with Charlie Huston. It is said that Caught Stealing is based on Huston’s book. Protozoa has been credited as the film’s producer. Other cast members are rumored to include Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, and Will Brill.

Sean Strickland is in for the fight of his life, and it doesn’t involve a UFC octagon. Today (August 27), Machine Gun Kelly delivered a few blows to the former champion’s public image.

During the “Lonely Road” rapper’s appearance on the Impaulsive podcast, MGK let loose on Strickland.

When host Logan Paul brought Strickland up, MGK took a moment to clap back at him following the remarks he made about him, his seemingly former fiancée Megan Fox, and her children last week (August 20) on the Verse Us With Eric Nicksick podcast.

“I don’t know this guy from a crumb of bread,” he said. “I didn’t know who he was when I met him. I got hip afterward that he’s insanely racist and homophobic and just not my type of guy, so I would have never wanted to shake his hand in the first place. If you’re comfortable as yourself, you don’t care who anybody else is and how they are.”

But that was just the start of his unloading, as he straight demanded that Strickland: “Shut the f*ck up.”

However, MGK made it clear that always he wants Strickland to lay off, he’s not done with the matter just yet. “Don’t speak on me anymore and live your life,” he said. “But you won’t, and I’m going to continue laughing at you because you’re a f*cking idiot.”

Yes, MGK is known for being a wild boy. But, in this case, it appears he’s just finishing what Strickland started. If you know anything about is back-and-forth with Eminem, MGK has proven to have amazing stamina when it comes to beefs.

Watch the full episode of the Impaulsive podcast featuring special guest Machine Gun Kelly above.

Travis Scott’s nostalgic days are far from over. In fact, the “Yeah Yeah” rapper’s time digging through his past musical releases has just begun. Today (August 27), a new music video for a standout Days Before Rodeo track hit YouTube.

As Uproxx’s hip-hop editor Aaron Williams argues here, “Drugs You Should Try It,” is probably the strongest track on the body of work. Now, to immortalize the record, Scott gifts supporters with a visual to match its compulsive vibe.

The video for “Drugs You Should Try It” blends together the thematic nature of the mixtape’s title, Scott’s Southern upbringing by way of Texas, and his highest in the room raver persona. From flashy of Western classics to the aftermath of a chaotic party, the viewers are taken on a quick tour of Scott’s creative influences.

Before the video closes, Scott subtly nods at tour merchandise that draw inspiration from those wild nights. Instead of encouraging his fans to turn away from party favors, an inverted D.A.R.E. logo flashes on the screen. The viewers’ sobriety is respected, but just know as Scott reaches for the moon he might be on cloud nine in more ways than one.

Watch Travis Scott’s official video for the song “Drugs You Should Try It” above.

Days Before Rodeo is out now via Cactus Jack Records/Epic. Find more information here.

The Best New Hip-Hop This Week includes albums, videos, and songs from Cash Cobain, Heems, and Travis Scott.

Elephant in the room: Yes, we know. Travis Scott’s “new” release isn’t technically new. But, for the sake of this column, we’ll treat the reissue/streaming debut of Days Before Rodeo as such. Meanwhile, there were plenty of big developments in the world of hip-hop despite a relatively slow week in new releases, including ASAP Rocky delaying Don’t Be Dumb, Big Sean dropping his (surprisingly controversial) “Yes” video, and NBA star Jaylen Brown making his rap debut with the Nike-slandering “Just Do It.”

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending Friday, August 23.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Cash Cobain — Play Cash Cobain

The New Yorker’s “sexy drill” style has been declared the “sound of the summer,” as certified by the release of his debut album, Play Cash Cobain. The project continues to cement Cash as one of hip-hop’s most celebrated sample selectors, while proving that he can keep things sounding fresh for the duration.

Free Party — Cut Your Teeth

Hailing from the DMV, Free Party is a duo who have been quietly building up their resume with a string of exemplary, experimental EPs. Their latest is dedicated to the craft of dedicating yourself to a craft, reflecting on the blood, sweat, tears, and sacrifices that come along with pursuing greatness.

PlayThatBoiZay — VIP

Following up the release of fellow Carol City, Florida rapper and frequent collaborator Denzel Curry, PlayThatBoiZay’s new album operates in much the same lane as Curry’s King Of The Mischievous South Vol. 2 — distorted, often shouted vocals, thundering, threatening bass, and neck-cracking trap drums. The thrash rap aesthetics are boosted by a guest list of features including ASAP Rocky, Jpegmafia, Kenny Mason, Mike Dimes, and of course, Denzel Curry.

Travis Scott — Days Before Rodeo

Miraculously, Scott’s star making 2014 project finally arrives to streaming mostly intact. While it’s not probably not going to convert any new fans — or even truly surprise Travis’ existing hardcore base — it’s still informative to be able to listen to Scott’s early work in the same place as more recent fan favorites.

Singles/Videos

Finesse2tymes — “Show Dat Work” Feat. GloRilla, Rob49

A throwback strip club anthem, “Show Dat Work” is an antidote to the sleepier sound that Southern rap has found itself cycling through. GloRilla is, of course, the standout, but this sort of high-energy posse cut is a refreshing departure from the standard.

MC Lyte — “Thank You” Feat. Mary Mary, Muni Long

Wait, wait, wait. THEE MC Lyte is returning with a new project in 2024? Don’t play with my emotions! It makes sense; we’re also getting a new project from LL Cool J this year. Hip-hop doesn’t have an age limit, and the pioneers are proving they can make just as engaging stuff as they always have.

Tee Grizzley — “Detroit” Feat. 42 Dugg

There’s nothing like a hometown anthem. After a decade or so of melting pot hip-hop blurring the distinctions between regional aesthetics, it’s fun to at least get a lesson in local lingo from an undeniable, certified street soldier like Tee Grizzley.

LeBron James won’t have to worry too terribly much with getting along with the Los Angeles Lakers‘ most recent second-round pick. That’s because the team used the No. 55 selection in the 2024 NBA Draft to bring in his son, Bronny, on the heels of one season at USC. While there are questions about Bronny’s long-term future in the NBA, he’ll at least get a chance to learn the ropes from his dad, who is a pretty good person to have in your corner as you get used to life in the league.

A father and son teaming up on the Lakers obviously led to people making jokes, but one of those jokes did lead to a pretty good question: What, exactly, is Bronny going to call LeBron in the locker room? LeBron got asked this in an upcoming episode of “The Shop,” and made very clear that Bronny calling him “dad” is off the table.

“No, we already laid that … no, he can’t, we already laid that down,” LeBron said. “He cannot call me dad in the workplace. Once we leave out of the practice facility and the gates close, I can be dad again, in the car, if we ride together, at home, I can be dad. No, he gotta call me, like, 2-3, or Bron, or GOAT if he wants to. It’s up to him.

“It’s easy for me, because I’ve been calling him Bronny for so long, it’s not like I’ve been calling him, ‘Hey, son, hey, son,’” James continued. “So, it’s easy for me, it’s gonna be an adjustment for him, but we cannot be running down the court and he’s like, ‘Dad, push the ball up! Dad, I’m open!’ No, you cannot do that.”

I am now rooting for Bronny to exclusively refer to LeBron as GOAT for however long they are teammates, as that would be extremely funny.