The best new hip-hop this week includes albums, videos, and songs from Cardi B, City Girls, Gucci Mane and more.

Alas, we have reached another month. June was full of surprises, and July definitely came with a few heavy hitters leading into the 4th of July celebrations (or Juneteenth Deluxe for those not so patriotic). While this week may feel light in the mainstream, of course, I’ve got to give you some gems worth your spins.

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending July 1, 2022.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Earthgang — Ghetto Gods (Deluxe)

Earthgang’s February release of Ghetto Gods was well-received, so they decided to up the ante with the deluxe version arriving today (July 1). With six new tracks and features from Smino, Wiz Khalifa, Currensy and Blxckie added into the mix, the Atlanta duo continues to show they can bend genres and break barriers with their versatile sound. The highlight for me is “Ambeyonce” with Smino Grigio.

Strick — The Machine, Vol. 3

Strick is a special talent, like many of his YSL peers. The Machine, Vol. 3 showcases this to its fullest with contributions from Lancey Foux, Idris Elba, Denham and Marty. Free YSL.

Singles/Videos

Gucci Mane ft. Lil Baby — All Dz Chains”

Yet another example of the Atlanta family tree supporting one another comes this week in the form of rap OG Gucci Mane and young star Lil Baby linking up for “All Dz Chains.” This is one of the best Gucci verses in quite some time, which says a lot because he’s aged gracefully when it comes to the bars. Perhaps it’s the competitive energy Baby brings to every song he’s placed on.

Wynne — “Ex Boyfriend”

Wynne is fun to cover so often in this column because she gets better with each entry. On “Ex Boyfriend,” she flexes her singing pipes with a rap flow over an uptempo beat, generating an overall fun hybrid track. It’s a pivot from the “Churchill Downs” freestyle she posted to Twitter earlier this week, but just further proof she can do a lot of different things well.

G Perico — “Confessions”

G Perico has the type of rap voice I would enjoy hearing from a stand up comedian I go see, but his flow and punchlines solidify he is in the right profession. “I ain’t do it for the hood, I did it for myself” is an affirmation coming from a man who recognizes focusing on everyone else may be to his detriment. Right on.

Ray Vaughn — “Mannequin”

There’s a lot of concern about the future of TDE as Kendrick Lamar is headed on his way out, but Ray Vaughn shows the future is bright on “Mannequin.” He, too, utilizes fun voice inflections and punchlines like K Dot and Baby Keem, but thankfully he sets himself apart. The internet is quick with the copycat allegations, but Ray Vaughn is not that.

Gabby Gabanna — “Pretty Girls Still Love Trap Music”

Have no fear 2 Chainz, your claim from 2017 stands firm with Gabby Gabanna’s latest record “Pretty Girls Still Love Trap Music.” She raps circles around the beat, beaming with confidence and a focus that will do her well in the long-run. It’s the cadence switches for me.

Headie One ft. Frenna — “Bigger Than Life”

Headie One is one of the best spitters overseas and “Bigger Than Life” adds an air of luxury to his usual lyrical barrage. Frenna’s melodic hook is the icing on the cake.

Lola Brooke — “On My Mind”

Lola Brooke is Brooklyn’s finest, and while Brooklyn women rappers have usually struck fear in listeners, Brooke opts for a hood love song. She dismisses strangers and yearns to be close to her lover, so much so that their “heart becomes her neighbor.” Who is cutting onions?

Lloyd Banks ft. Conway The Machine — “Menace”

Lloyd Banks is a seasoned veteran, and Conway The Machine carries himself as such though the world has only known about him for a few years. “Menace” functions as a generational collaboration in terms of Hip-Hop eras, and it’s the bar fest one would expect when seeing these names. Just another example of the fact some rappers do get better with time when locked in. Conway especially goes off and it really is crazy, looking at his output, how consistent he is.

Kai Ca$h, Niko Brim and K Wales — “Sunday Service”

Kai Ca$h, Niko Brim, and K Wales are special talents. Every time any of the three links up, the repeat button is mandatory, and “Sunday Service” adds to that collection. They find a way to be three very different performers yet mesh together seamlessly. It’s like the first person who decided to combine bacon, eggs, and cheese. Three very different flavors make magic together and now you want one every day.

Mic Strong and Anoyd — “Talk Different”

Who doesn’t love a good soul sample and powerful rap voices? “Talk Different” shows Mic Strong is aptly named and I’m far from *Anoyd listening to this record. “See the boy bubble like a tablet in water when it dissolve” is a face-scrunch-worthy bar, and that’s just one of many. These are two gentlemen you ought to pay attention to.

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

As one of the biggest superstars in hip-hop today, a lot of people want a lot of things from Cardi B. Judging from a recent Q&A session Cardi held with fans on Twitter, those folks have a better idea of which of those things to expect in the future, as Cardi detailed some of her loose goals, from dream collaborations to future album plans.

One fan asked whether Cardi would ever work with Latto; Cardi answered in the resounding affirmative. That one makes a lot of sense because Latto was one of the three rising rappers Cardi featured in her raunchy “WAP” video with Megan Thee Stallion. They are also two of the most popular women in rap today, and Latto previously expressed her admiration for Cardi in an interview with Hot 97.

When another fan pointed out that some of Cardi’s biggest hits were in Latin music styles like reggaeton, citing “La Modelo,” “Taki Taki,” and “I Like It,” Cardi gave a two-for-one answer, replying that she wanted to release a full Spanish album, as well as a joint mixtape with her husband Offset.

Cardi also shared a few details about her upcoming album, although she took care to give vague answers to give herself a lot of wiggle room for changes. For instance, she teased that the album will have “more than ten” tracks, but “less than twenty.”

You can see more fans’ questions and Cardi’s answers on the #AskCardi hashtag on Twitter.

Many people felt a gut punch when the Supreme Court issued its decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned the decades-old Roe v. Wade decision that protected a woman’s right to an abortion. However, for some this was a call to action.

Danielle Kirk, 27, a mom of two and an activist on TikTok, used her voice in an attempt to educate the people that make decisions in her small town. Kirk lives in Kentucky where a trigger law came into effect immediately after Roe v. Wade was overturned. Being a former foster child, she knew she had to say something. Kirk spoke exclusively with Upworthy about why she decided to speak up.

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Kirk hadn’t planned to speak at the Pikeville rally, a protest against Kentucky’s Human Life Protection Act, triggered in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling. But when the organizers asked for speakers, she felt compelled to make her way to the podium. “I felt like what I had to say had not been said before, coming from someone that had been in the system,” Kirk explained. “There’s so much of a gray area when it comes to this issue and they’re trying to make it black and white. The law in Kentucky does not give way to people that I know.”

She further explained that the wording of the act is so unclear that doctors she knows personally are afraid because there’s no clear distinction on what is considered a great enough threat to the mother’s life, which is the only exception given in the state’s law.

@daniellekirk731

I didnt plan on speaking today, but something told me to. For so long our voices have been silenced into sumbission. No more. Its time for us to all band together, create the support systems we need HERE, turn our tears and anger into outreach. If they want to pass this back to the states, let your state representives & congressmen know that they work for us, if they cant, we’re coming for their jobs!!!! @appalachian_nana thanks for sending me this video

Kirk asked the question, “Do I have to be on my death bed to have an abortion?”

Appalachia is an expansive territory that spans 13 states, including Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky and Mississippi. Of those 13 states, five have trigger laws and four others are either fighting in court to enact bans on abortion or plan to call a special session to enact a ban. In the state of Kentucky, where Kirk lives, the trigger law does not allow for any exceptions for rape or incest, even if the victim is a child.

Kirk has two small daughters and is a victim of childhood sexual abuse herself, which gives her a unique perspective on why this extreme ban is harmful. She was raised by her biological mother for only a short period of time before her mother’s death, and she spent time in and out of the foster care system where she experienced sexual abuse. Being born and raised in rural Appalachia, first West Virginia, then Kentucky, Kirk understands what this ban would mean for the people in her small town and other towns like hers across the country.

At 15.2% of the population, Appalachia has some of the highest poverty rates in the country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2020 national average poverty rate was 11.4%. Resources for people living in Appalachian areas are scarce due to the remote locations that most of the population lives in. Most rural areas don’t have public transportation or Uber to take them places. There are regions in Appalachia that don’t even have internet access. So being able to get appropriate medical care when pregnant can be a challenge for those living in the region.

Poverty doesn’t only stop at transportation, the area’s residents are also challenged in terms of employment as well as access to grocery stores, clean water or even running water. It’s a population that is struggling to survive on limited resources.

@daniellekirk731

I understand a lot of people have been warning of this, & they didn’t listen in the past. But young voters here are tired & ready to fight. #Kentucky #606 #OrganizeAppalachia

Which is why Kirk’s speech is what government officials need to hear. It’s also what people who are supporting the abortion ban need to hear. Because sometimes, speaking the truth of your personal experiences is the only way to change the minds of neighbors and politicians. And things can seem far removed when you don’t personally know someone affected by larger decisions.

During our interview, Kirk expressed hope that the trigger law could be halted. In fact, on June 30, a Louisville Circuit Court Judge issued a temporary restraining order to block the state’s abortion ban. This means abortions can continue in the state, for now.

Kirk said she feels it’s important for people to see someone that talks like her taking a stance against something that is supposed to be popular in a conservative state like Kentucky. “People have been silenced into submission,” she said. She hopes that others might be inspired to speak up and even become motivated to run for local or state office—something she is considering for when her children are a bit older.

Back in March, we reported that Jack White and Third Man Records had acquired the rights to Prince’s famed, mythic Camille album from 1986. For the uninitiated, Camille is the album where Prince pitch-shifted his vocals to sound like the feminine alter ego that bears the album’s title. And in fact, each of the eight tracks on Camille has been released by Prince in the past, either as a b-side or as some other under-the-radar format, but never as the entire album that Prince had laid out in the mid-80s. But it seems as though some people have misconstrued White’s intention with Camille and assumed that he would be re-mastering or re-editing the recordings in the Third Man Records release.

To be fair, White didn’t do himself any favors when he told the Daily Star newspaper’s “Wired” column (as NME reports), “We are able to re-edit it as it was originally planned.” Adding that, “[But]I don’t think [releasing] it goes against his will, because he ended up issuing many of the songs on different recordings over the years. It’s not like he didn’t want them to see the light of day.

This statement found White under fire from fans, as outlets like MSN have taken liberties in their headline writing and insinuated that White was going to alter the composition of the material. “I want to make sure the message is clear, neither I nor third man records, have any intention of “editing” or “remixing” Prince’s music,” White said in an Instagram post, calling the headline “misleading.” He also added, “I was referring to simply putting the songs in the original order that the album Camille was in, as those songs have been put out in multiple releases since Camille was first taken off the presses. I would never mess with Prince’s music. Hopefully, that clears up any misunderstanding, and this album can see the light of day in its original form.”

Effectively, in saying “re-editing,” White just meant “sequencing.” But this is the nature of hearsay: You have to say it explicitly, especially when it comes to Prince, his legacy, and his fans.

No official release date has been set yet for Camille.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are the winners of the Rudy Gobert sweepstakes. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Timberwolves have put together the package that convinced the Utah Jazz to do a deal for the best defensive player in basketball, and as a result, Gobert will stay in the division but suit up for another team.

Tony Jones of The Athletic confirmed the deal.

The package that Utah got for Gobert, per Wojnarowski, includes four first-round draft picks and players who were part of their rotation this past season, along with 2022 first-round draft pick Walker Kessler out of Auburn.

The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski has the specifics on what picks Utah will get back.

Gobert’s name has been kicked around in trade rumors all offseason after the Jazz once again saw their time in the playoffs come to an early end. The Timberwolves were one of the teams mentioned as a potential landing spot for the big man, as the team wanted to give Karl-Anthony Towns a partner in the frontcourt who can protect the rim.

Now, a Minnesota team that snuck into the playoffs via the play-in tournament last season got a player who very well could help them compete in the Western Conference, while all eyes in Utah turn to what the future holds for Donovan Mitchell. Last season, Gobert averaged 15.6 points, a league-best 14.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game.

There have been some pretty exciting eureka moments in human history. Sir Isaac Newton getting dinged by that apple and discovering gravity, Benjamin Franklin flying a kite in a lightning storm to figure out electricity, Chris Ford hucking the first 3-pointer, but they all pale in comparison to two Phoenix Suns fans.

After the Twitter account SunsUniTracker posted a mockup Kevin Durant jersey when the current-but-soon-to-be-former Net requested a trade, kicking off the true fury of free agency NBA fans lust after like demons for blood, Suns fans got to work. To be fair, Phoenix had yet to re-sign Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton is still is assumed to be leaving the team, so the franchise’s fanbase being a little riled up was warranted.

The first attempt at real-world application of invention, in this case, saw a simple, crude cross out of an old Dragan Bender jersey (kudos to the owner of this artifact, and to Bender, wherever he is, because the Dragan really never leaves his body) that replaced BENDER with DURANT, over the number 35. Replies were generally encouraging until Ed Ongaigui replied with the bolt of clairvoyance the exercise needed.

Lo, the collaboration of the century was born.

Like the aforementioned eureka moments, there are some pretty important inventions that came from duos. There’s flight as we know it (and by extension, John Collins’ airplane dunk in 2019’s Dunk Contest) from the Wright Brothers, Drs. James Watson and Francis Crick figuring out DNA, Ben & Jerry, and, the very conduit for this fertile collaborative ground, the internet, invented by Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Anyway, this tops them all.

What I like to picture, and also did myself the first time I saw this and finally stopped laughing, is Mr. Witt softly mumbling “Keb-en Der-ant” to himself, many times, as he used the markup feature on his phone to trace, with a trembling finger, the letters to this masterpiece.

While it’s still unclear where Durant is going to end up after spending a single season in Brooklyn playing for the super team he helped to create (hey, Dr. Frankenstein was not all that thrilled about his monster, some ideas are better let on the table), at least in the ongoing chaos of NBA free agency we were given a masterpiece: Keben Derant.

When it comes to making cocktails while igniting small explosives, you kind of want to go fast and easy. You don’t need a shaker in one hand and a rocket fuse in the other. That’s just basic safety, folks.

That’s why the Big Red is the perfect cocktail for your 4th of July festivities. This highball is a very modern classic. The recipe is attributed to Casey Elsass of Bushwick Kitchen and is meant to be the ultimate summer refresher. The actual drink is a simple whisky highball that eschews the usual fizzy water for a very fizzy light beer and a kick of ginger beer. If that sounds a little odd at first glance, stick with us. It’s a damn good summer drink.

This is a very easy-to-make recipe, so let’s halt the preamble and just get right into it. We all have some fuses to ignite after all.

Also Read: The Top Five Cocktail Recipes of the Last Six Months

• Our ‘Perfect Whisky And Coke’ Recipe Uses The Last Brand You’d Expect
• The Hemingway Daiquiri Is A Deeply Refreshing Summer Cocktail — Here’s The (Very Simple) Real Recipe
• The Godfather Is A Simple Scotch Cocktail To Power You Through Winter
• Recipe: The Amaretto Sour Is The Ideal Cocktail To Close Out January
• The Tom Collins Is A Classic Cocktail That’s Perfect For The Hotter Days Ahead

Big Red

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Johnnie Walker Red Label
• 2 oz. pale lager
• 2 oz. ginger beer
• Ice

The original recipe calls for a standard bottle of Budweiser. And that’s fine. I don’t like the overly corn-sweet vibes of that beer. So I’m going with a fairly neutral and very fizzy Peroni. It’s a tad more balanced and a lot less sweet. The reason I go for a drier pale lager is that the ginger beer is already adding a good amount of sugar to this drink. You don’t need sweet on sweet on top of whisky.

As for the whisky, Johnnie Walker Red Label is the “red” in “Big Red.” Arguably, that’s the one ingredient that’s unnegotiable. No one is going to call the cocktail police if you use Johnnie Black, mind. But you should be using a simple mixing blended whisky with a twinge of peat in there to balance this drink. That thin line of smoke is what makes this a cocktail and not just a bunch of shit thrown in a glass. It’s balanced by the sharpness and sweetness of the ginger beer and the dryness and very thin malt of the beer.

All of that being said, you can put bourbon in there if you want. Again, no one is going to call the cocktail police on you. This highball is, after all, about convenience and simplicity.

What You’ll Need:

• Highball glass
• Straw

Method:

• Add the ice to a highball glass.
• Pour in the Johnnie Walker. Pour the beer over the whisky and top with the ginger beer.
• Gently stir with the straw. Serve.

Bottom Line:

I drank about three of these without really thinking about it. It’s super refreshing, especially on a sweltering day. The sharp spice of the ginger beer is the perfect counter to the earthy Johnnie Walker.

Frankly, I didn’t really think the pale lager added anything. So I tried this drink with the same amount of fizzy mineral water to compare the two. And I was wrong. The beer added an almost creamy (malty-ish) texture to the drink that just wasn’t there with the bubbly water. I wouldn’t go any bolder than your favorite pale lager (think beers between a Miller High-Life and a Coors Banquet), but the beer absolutely adds the texture/mouthfeel to this highball.

In the end, I’m going to be making these well beyond the 4th of July long weekend. It’s freaking delicious and a lovely summer sipper.

Volume two of Stranger Things season four was released today, but volume one of Stranger Things season four (not at all confusing!) is still breaking records. The Netflix series “amassed 7.2 billion minutes of viewing time for the week of May 30 – June 5, according to Nielsen — the highest weekly total for any streaming title since the advent of weekly rankings almost two years ago,” the Hollywood Reporter reports.

Stranger Things is the first show ever to reach seven billion minutes via Nielsen’s data. In fact, no show had even hit six billion minutes; only Tiger King (twice — 2020 was wild) and Ozark topped five billion minutes, an incomprehensible amount of minutes. The Hollywood Reporter adds: “It also has the biggest two-week tally for any streaming show: In the week of May 23 – 29, when season four of Stranger Things premiered, it had 5.14 billion minutes of viewing for a two-week total of 12.34 billion minutes.”

Stranger Things season four is, needless to say, the most-watched English language series in Netflix history. It has a chance at becoming the top series, period, but it’ll take a lot of rewatches of the mega-long finale for it to reach Squid Game. But if Stranger Things can turn a nearly 40-year-old song into a chart-topping hit, anything’s possible.

(Via the Hollywood Reporter)

With the 4th of July falling on a Monday this year, we’ve got a long weekend ahead — meaning you might have a hot dog or five in the next few days. That’s a handful of opportunities for experimentation with toppings. That’s where I come in. I’m tasting 15 different toppings and combos therein to find the ultimate toppings for the humble hot dog.

(Though it should be noted that at UPROXX, we are squarely in the “put whatever you want on your hot dog” camp.)

When my boss assigned me this tasting, he was very clear on two things. First, I had to use his favorite hot dog from last year’s blind taste test of a gazillion hot dogs. Of course, those dogs are a bespoke brand from Portland, Oregon — his hometown. You can get them here, if you’re into it. Just be warned, they’re $19 for a four-pack of foot longs. I know, I did a spit take too. That said, I cooked these dogs in a cup of water and a cup of Coors Banquet for that ultimate dirty water dog experience and they’re pretty wonderful.

Second, I had to keep the toppings simple. All of the toppings I’m using for this tasting had to be available at the grocery store. My editor didn’t want me (and then you) making anything on a stovetop — that removes chili from the equation. To that end, I bought every one of these toppings at my local Kroger.

Lastly, I’m using Kroger Private Selection brand Sweet Hawaiian hot dog buns. I like the layer of sweet to the soft bread in my hot dog equation, but that’s just me.

Beyond the bun and the dog, the rest is pretty straightforward. I lined up 15 bites, topped them, and started tasting and rating. I threw in a few combos throughout. I didn’t go too crazy though. There are no overloaded hot dogs — again, no chili dogs in play.

I ended up grabbing, using, and topping with some combo of the following:

• Hellmann’s Mayonaisse
• French’s Classic Yellow Mustard
• Valentina Salsa Picante Mexican Sauce, Extra Hot
• Herdez Queso con Salsa
• Heinz Ketchup
• Kraft Chipotle Aioli
• Kroger Private Selection Caramelized Onion
• Vlasic Dill Relish
• Gulden’s Spicy Brown Mustard
• Kroger Deluxe American Cheese Slices
• Nando’s Perinaise Peri-Peri Mayonnaise
• Boar’s Head Sauerkraut
• Yucatan Guacamole
• White Onion (I diced mine but you can buy pre-diced in the salad aisle)

Let’s dive in!

15. Hellmann’s Mayonaisse — Taste 3

The Dog:

This is one of the most basic plays in the topping game. A line of mayo on the dog and nothing else. Hey, mayo works with bologna. It tracks that it’d vibe here.

The Taste:

The fattiness of the mayo is… a lot. The spices of the sausage kind of get washed out. There’s an off flavor to this I can’t quite put my finger on. I think it just doesn’t vibe with the actual sausage and that faint hint of lamb from the casing.

Bottom Line:

This was not good, which is weird since mayo as a component is great on a hot dog. In this combination, it’s to be avoided.

14. French’s Classic Yellow Mustard — Taste 2

The Dog:

This is probably the most iconic/classic topping. A line of old-school yellow mustard is the “purist’s” version of what a hot dog is supposed to be.

The Taste:

This had a nice bite to it. But the yellow mustard didn’t really add anything to the plain dog besides a slightly watery mustard spice.

Bottom Line:

Meh. This was fine but not really anything to write home about. It sort of feels like yellow mustard on your dog is the butter on your pasta of hot dog toppings.

13. Valentina Salsa Picante Mexican Sauce, Extra Hot — Taste 7

The Dog:

Hot sauce. Hot Dog. This has to be a winning combination. Plus, I’m always putting hot sauce on my dog, so this felt like an easy win.

The Taste:

The hot sauce did add a nice layer of heat to the mild spices of the sausage. It also added a nice counter to the sweetness of the bun. There were layers that played well together in this bite.

Bottom Line:

Overall, this is the first topping on this list that I’d finish the whole dog with. I would immediately want another dog with more toppings next, but I wouldn’t be offended by this single topping either.

12. Herdez Queso con Salsa — Taste 8

The Dog:

Cheese on hot dogs is severely underrated. I’ve had this version before but it was presented as a dipping situation where you dipped a dog in an oven-hot bowl of queso. It was delightful and kind of sinful.

The Taste:

The light spice of the cheese really added a nice layer to the sausage. It also was a nice counter to the sweet bun. The cheese was a little soft and didn’t quite have the brightness of homemade queso (obviously).

Bottom Line:

Cold queso from the jar is fine for dipping tortilla chips in (just). On a hot dog, it has its place but it wasn’t the “wow” I wanted from cheese on a hot dog. It was kind of limp and listless.

It tasted fine, it just didn’t grab my attention.

11. Kraft Chipotle Aioli — Taste 4

The Dog:

This was an impulse grab in the sauce aisle. I like chipotle. I like aioli. I figured there’s no way this would be bad on a hot dog.

The Taste:

The hot dog was the nicest part of this pairing. The Chipotle Aioli was just okay. There was a hint of garlic but it felt more like dehydrated garlic powder that the real stuff. The “chipotle” was kind of there but more as an echo than a nice layer of smoked spice.

Bottom Line:

Overall, this was miles ahead of plain mayo. There was a decent spice element but it wasn’t really adding all that much.

10. Heinz Ketchup — Taste 1

The Dog:

This is the biggest controversy on this list. Yes, ketchup is fine on a hot dog. The sweet and umami sauce is made for savory and slightly spiced meat, like a hot dog sausage. Still, every single hot dog cart on earth goes through massive amounts of ketchup daily. So it’s a classic topping that people, you know, actually eat (whether the internet trolls like it or not).

The Taste:

The sweet/savory aspects of the ketchup go well with the snap and spice of the dog. The sweetness of the bun and the sweetness of the ketchup is a little too much though. So I took the second bite out of the bun and it was far better balanced between sweet/spicy/savory without that bun.

Bottom Line:

This might have ranked higher without the sweet bun. Still, with that bun, this was pretty good. Simple? Yes. But there’s something about that sweet/savory vibe that just works on a slightly spiced sausage.

9. Kroger Private Selection Caramelized Onion, Ketchup — Taste 11

The Dog:

Since I couldn’t make any sauces and I wasn’t in the New York area, I had to improvise one of my favorite toppings — New York Onion Sauce. The sauce is on every cart in the metro area (and beyond) and is the only play for topping your dog when in town. Anyway, it’s basically caramelized onions (sometimes just sweated onions) in a mildly spicy tomato sauce that’s 100 percent never ketchup but always sort of tastes exactly like ketchup with caramelized onions would.

The Taste:

The onions add a nice layer of sweetness to the whole affair. When combined with the ketchup, that sweetness goes a little far. But the mild spice of the onions pulls it back just enough to make a nicely balanced bite.

Bottom Line:

Overall, this was nice but a pale imitation of the NY Onion Sauce I wanted. Still, it was fine. I’d eat this again in a pinch and be perfectly satisfied.

If you’re in the right region, you should be able to find this jar.

8. Deluxe American Cheese, Yellow Mustard, Ketchup — Taste 13

The Dog:

I used to eat these dogs while waiting for the ferry in British Columbia multiple times every summer. Shout out to Gibson, BC! It flummoxed me at the time that everyone didn’t put a slice of deluxe American cheese on their hot dog (until Five Guys came along that is). To this day, I still add some every now and then because it’s goddamn good.

The Taste:

The cheese slice added a whole new dimension of savory to the dog with a light creamy edge. The mustard and ketchup acted like a mildly sweet/spicy accent to the cheese as it slightly melted under the heat of the dog but the edges of the cheese slice stayed unmelted (crucial). The whole thing takes on a level of deepness that just isn’t there without the cheese.

Bottom Line:

This is where we get into the Thunderdome of it all. I like all the toppings a lot from here on. This one is nostalgic for sure but also popular enough that a massive international fast-food chain adopted it.

Add that slice to your next dog, you will not be disappointed.

7. Gulden’s Spicy Brown Mustard — Taste 6

The Dog:

This is the epitome of “keep it simple, stupid.” Spicy brown mustard is the luxury car of America mustards and adds more spicy and more mustard-iness to everything.

The Taste:

This really stood out. The spicy brown mustard added more than just extra spice, the vinegar aspect was heightened. That provided a great balance to the whole dog with the savoriness of the sausage needing that sharp counterpoint like this.

Bottom Line:

Overall, this was simple but delightful. I can see just having this on every dog in a single sitting and being pretty happy about it.

6. Ketchup, Yellow Mustard, Vlasic Dill Relish — Taste 9

The Dog:

This is the quintessential trio of toppings. Enough said.

The Taste:

Ah, relish! The dill relish really makes this dog pop. The mild pickle spices, vinegar, and savoriness run deep and really meld with the sausage below. The ketchup adds a nice line of sweetness with a hint more spice and the yellow mustard counters that with its yellow-ness and mild mustard vibes. But it all comes back to that relish adding a flavor and textural bomb to the otherwise plain dog with some sauce on it.

There’s a bite and a crunch that wasn’t there before.

Bottom Line:

This was simple and nostalgic, sure. But it also had more going on and it all really made sense together as both a flavor combo and a textural one. Again, the amping up of the vinegar really helped this stand out.

5. Nando’s Perinaise Peri-Peri Mayonnaise — Taste 5

The Dog:

This was another impulse grab at the grocery store. It was just sitting there next to all the other sauces. But I already knew I like this one. It’s essentially a spicy mayo with peri-peri spices (piri-piri peppers, cardamom, oregano, ginger, to name only a few of the spices in the mix).

There’s a good mild heat involved that works well with the fattiness of the mayo.

The Taste:

That mild yet distinct spice (think a halfway point between a jalapeno and a chipotle) that really works wonders on a hot dog. The spice and fat of the sauce elevated the snap and the savory of the sausage while the sweet bun balances everything out.

Bottom Line:

We’re into the good stuff here. I could just use this for the rest of the summer and probably be pretty happy about it too.

4. American Cheese, White Onion, Gulden’s Spicy Brown Mustard, Valentina’s Extra Hot — Taste 15 (Wild Card)

The Dog:

For the last taste, I kind of just threw some random toppings on the hot dog to see who it’d go if I was doing the same at a serving table at a party. There’s no real rhyme or reason, it’s just a mix of this and that, you know, kind of like if you were one too many beers in at the bbq.

The Taste:

Diced white onion really helps out a dog. The sharpness of the raw onion adds both spice and sweetness with a clear feel to it. The American cheese slice worked wonders with that raw onion (a classic duo). The spicy mustard probably would have been enough but the hot sauce did add an extra kick with a twinge of vinegar to really tie it all together in a layered experience with a nice bite to it both in spice and texture.

Bottom Line:

This was a nice change of pace. It’s also something I plan to go back to in real life. The layers made sense and there was a good balance between the flavors with a good dose of real heat at the end thanks to that hot sauce.

3. Classic Costco Style: Gulden’s Spicy Brown Mustard, Ketchup, Relish, White Onion — Taste 14

The Dog:

Oh, gather round, young ones. I remember the days when you could spoon your own relish and white onions on your $1.50 hot dogs at a Costco. They were the halcyon days of yore before we were relegated to two pumps for “ketchup” and “mustard” and that weird crank machine for relish that never works.

Anyway, a Costco dog with spicy brown mustard, ketchup, white onion, and relish was a go-to after a Costco run back in the day. It’s a distinct mix and worthy of this competition.

The Taste:

This combo really worked well with the sausage. The meat works well with the raw white onion (applied liberally) next to the vinegar-rich relish with a hint of extra spice. The spicy brown mustard and ketchup combo added the classic sweet/spicy mix to the toppings that rounded things out nicely. This was just good.

Bottom Line:

This was close to the number two or one. I think the only thing holding it back was a slight lack of focus. But that’s sort of the point of putting everything on your $1.50 dog at Costco. That said, I’d eat two of these without hesitation.

2. Guacamole, Mayonaisse — Taste 12

The Dog:

If you’ve ever had a hot dog in Uruguay, you’ll know the track I’m on here. While Pancho dogs have corn salsa, spicy mayo, and sometimes fries jammed into them, you can also get dogs with just mayo and guacamole and they’re delightful. It’s simple but somehow just works.

The Taste:

The guac adds a bright freshness to the whole bite. It’s a welcome change from everything else (and likely helped this rise in the rankings). The mild citrus and herbal vibe add a nice dimension to the savory sausage below while the fat from the avocado and mayo blend into a creamy and vibrant sauce on the dog. There’s a hint of sweetness from the bun that really rounds out the flavor profile from sweet to spicy to fatty to citrus to bright.

Bottom Line:

This is a super simplified version of a guacamole dog. You can make your own guac to amp this up for sure. Still, this was a seemingly simple topping duo that had really depth and worked wonders together as a hot dog topping.

1. Sauerkraut, Gulden’s Spicy Brown Mustard — Taste 10

The Dog:

This is another quintessential topping duo. Kraut and spicy mustard is the pairing hot dog dreams are made of.

The Taste:

The sauerkraut adds so many new dimensions to the hot dog experience. There’s a slight bitterness that leads to a whole new layer of spice (think allspice and cloves) with a serious crunch and plenty of vinegar bite. The spicy brown mustard amps that up with bright mustard spice, a twinge more vinegar bite, and a hint of savoriness over the already savory sausage.

The sweetness of that bun really shines brightest here as the sweet-sour aspects of the bun and kraut meld damn near perfectly.

Bottom Line:

This was the best. I’m not going to say “by far” because the top three are all very close. I do think this is the most complex and most complimentary overall. That sweet/sour/spicy/bitter/savory bite is a pretty much “perfect bite” in the culinary world. That’s hard to deny.

Not only does Denzel Washington have multiple Oscars, Golden Globes, and (most importantly) MTV Movie Awards to his name, but now he can add another coveted award to his roster.

The actor will be awarded the Presidental Medal Of Freedom. Washington is one of the 17 recipients, including Simone Biles, and a post-humous Steve Jobs. The medal recognizes public figures who have made significant contributions to American society, culture, politics or world peace. Denzel’s recent contribution to world peace by appearing in A24’s The Tragedy Of Macbeth, obviously.

The White House said in a statement: “President Biden has long said that America can be defined by one word: possibilities. These seventeen Americans demonstrate the power of possibilities and embody the soul of the nation – hard work, perseverance, and faith.”

The actor has had a long and prolific career, appearing in films like Philadelphia, Fences, American Gangster, and more. Earlier this year, Washington reflected on his iconic career, saying: “One of the most important lessons in life that you should know is to remember to have an attitude of gratitude, of humility, understand where the gift comes from. It’s not mine, it’s been given to me by the grace of God. Use what I have, use what you have, to help others,” he said. Turns out Denzel is really good at motivational speeches!

The Medal of Freedom recipients will be awarded on July 7.

(Via Variety)