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Tate McRae is just a couple of weeks removed from the release of her debut album I Used To Think I Could Fly. The project was the latest chapter in her career as a dance star-turned-popstar. Things got underway for her with her 2021 EP Too Young To Be Sad which featured her viral track “You Broke Me First.” The song reached 3X Platinum status, entered the top-20 of the Billboard singles chart, and was a huge success on TikTok. Since then, McRae has used the platform to share snippets of upcoming songs and more. Now, she partners with them to create a bit of history.

The young singer teamed up with TikTok to release the video to her new video for “Don’t Come Back.” The track is a dismissive effort that McRae uses to inform a past lover that she has no plans of giving them a second chance if they choose to return to her. The visual is filled with vibrant looks from McRae as she shows off her excellent dance skills. According to a press release, McRae’s video is the first video to premiere on TikTok and to be hosted as an exclusive on the platform. With that, the video will only be available for viewing in the US and Canada.

You can watch the video for “Don’t Come Back” above.

I Used To Think I Could Fly is out now via RCA Records. You can stream it here.

Nobody puts on a video game presentation quite like Devolver Digital. While everyone else is usually focused on creating a semi-serious presentation of video game trailers and announcements, Devolver typically shows off a pre-recorded sketch. This sketch almost always pokes fun at everything about the video game industry, the idea of putting on a summer presentation at all, and how self important so much of the industry can be sometimes. It’s that perfect level of self aware and over-the-top humor that makes it a must see every year. Even better? It also manages to show off a handful of awesome upcoming indie games to check out.

This year’s presentation honestly had some of the coolest looking games yet, but before we get to that we have to talk about the sketch. Devolver Digital brought in legendary Japanese game developer, SUDA 51, to assist with this year’s sketch. He played the role of a giant mecha robot whose goal in creation was to bring the entire video game industry together into one “singularity.” This singularity is of course going to consolidate all of video games into one giant blob where Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony no longer exist and there is only Devolver Digital. For anyone that might not understand the joke, this is a reference to how many major publishers such as Microsoft have been buying game studios like Activision Blizzard.

By the end of the sketch, Devolver Digital has destroyed all of video games. They no longer exist and all of us are free to go touch grass, but that wouldn’t be very fun so thankfully none of this is real and we can all enjoy some of the amazing indie games that were put on display throughout the presentation.

Cult of the Lamb

Don’t let the cute exterior and early cinematic fool you. This is a very dark and violent action game and gives off some major The Binding of Isaac vibes. Everything about the gameplay style is crude and off-putting with cult-like symbols throughout the levels it shows off. Yet, despite the crudeness, all the playable characters still have that cutesy design throughout as they slash through armies of cultists and monsters. At times it almost feels comedic because the two styles contrast each other so dramatically, making it unique in a way that is going to appeal to a lot of people but might be a little off-putting to others. Anyone with kids may want to play this game while they’re asleep.

Anger Foot

Kick down doors, shoot your way through mobs of enemies, and do all of it with a killer soundtrack playing the entire time. That’s the big appeal of Anger Foot and wow does it come out strong in the trailer. There’s something really cool about the way everything in this game is presented. The art style is colorful, the trailer ends with the main character driving a car with their feet, and it leaves you wanting to play the game immediately. Everything about this game can be explained in the title. The main character is angry and they are using their foot to solve their problems. Boom. Put it on the box and sell it.

Card Shark

You know what’s more fun than winning a game of cards? Winning a game of cards that you cheated in. Okay, maybe cheating in real life isn’t all that fun, but doing it in a video game is a rip-roaring good time and that’s what Card Shark lets the player do. Through dirty tactics, quick shuffling techniques, and a little bit of luck you can win your way to riches, but everyone knows what happens to cheaters who get caught. So do your best to not do that.

Card Shark has actually been out since June 2 and it’s reviewing really well so far with an 80 on Metacritic. This trailer may have been the final push some needed to go out and get it for PC or Switch.

Skate Story

Skate Story just has an extremely cool look to it. That is the big selling point of this game. There’s a potentially emotional story about the fact that the player is a demon made of glass who just can’t stop skating, but that is completely overshadowed by an out-of-this-world presentation. Everything from the color selection, to the style, and even the music is absolutely perfect.

There is a subtle brilliance to taking the very foundation skateboarding is built on, falling and getting back up, and making that taboo. When the player falls they shatter and we can only assume that’s the end of whatever run they’re currently on. That danger and need to continue skating is only going to push hardheaded players forward even more. This is one that personally I will be looking out for on launch day.

The Plucky Squire

Some ideas are just so good they have to be seen to be understood. The Plucky Squire is one of those ideas. The trailer initially looks like a cute storybook where the player goes through the adventure of the storybook, but then the twist comes and it’s revealed that in reality, it’s a 3D adventure where the main character can enter and exit 2D spaces. This isn’t the first game to utilize this kind of concept, but it looks unique in how its implemented and could lead to some really cool moments if handled right. This was a personal favorite of the entire showcase because everything about it looked so cool. Another must play at launch.

The Oklahoma softball team is one of the best in all of college sports. The defending national champions entered Thursday night one win away from going back-to-back (and winning their fifth title in 10 years), stacked with a lineup that piles up runs and a defense and pitching staff that are very stingy on the other end.

The offense is often the story for the Sooners, who have won their last two games by a combined total of 31-1, including a 16-1 beatdown against rival Texas in the first game of the championship series. However, early in Game 2 it was the defense that took center stage as center fielder Jayda Coleman produced an outrageous web gem in center field, robbing Texas of a two-run home run to end the first inning and limit the early damage to a 2-0 deficit.

There are home run robberies and then there are home run robberies, with this being in the latter category. There is no doubt that this ball was headed well over the wall and Coleman managed to time her jump perfectly to high point the ball at a full stretch, and pull it back to leave Texas in disbelief and send their fans into pandemonium. Given the Sooner offensive prowess, those two runs would’ve meant a lot to the Longhorns, but Coleman showed that they need to put the ball all the way in the stands if they want a home run.

Last month, Halsey took to TikTok to air out their grievances against their label Columbia Records. In the TikTok, the singer claimed that they would not be allowed to release new music “unless they can fake a viral moment on TikTok.” They later noted, “I’m way too established to stir something like this up for no reason or resort to this as a marketing tactic but now I’m in too deep so there’s no going back [shrugging emoji].” Vocalizing their frustration about the ability to release music seemed to work as Halsey’s label announced a June 9 release date for her “So Good” single.

As promised the record arrived today and it’s a song that presents Halsey in full reminiscent mode as they look back at a past relationship. Throughout the record, they reflect on their old lover’s decision to choose someone else, and overall, they sing about how love can often be a complicated thing. The track was produced by Tobias Karlsson and Max Martin and it arrives as the first piece of music since they kicked off 2022 with an extended version of their fourth album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power. The standard edition of the project gave Halsey the third Grammy nomination of their career with a selection in the Best Alternative Music Album category.

You can listen to “So Good” in the video above.

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s proving to be a master at Freudian slips, all after her “peach tree dish” assessment of vegetarian food managed to draw even more laughs than her theories about Jewish space lasers. On the House floor while railing against a new gun control bill in the wake of the Uvalde school shooting, she let her latest gem rip.

She flat out claimed that her rights were being “fragrantly violated,” which of course led people to have a total field day because that sounds rather gassy. Greene, of course, is a QAnon cheerleader and a ride-and-die MAGA devotee, so she was very seriously arguing her point, but yup, no new fans shall be won there. That’s especially the case while she claimed that all of Congress guns,” Greene loves their guns, and perhaps she’s really trying hard to secure those NRA campaign donations. Whatever the case, there was one more doozy of a reaction coming her way.

Enter Jimmy Kimmel, who’s pretty sure that the next Greene slip-up will go something like this: “We the People, in order to form a more perfect Onion…”

You might be craving onion rings right now, but Kimmel knows exactly what he’s doing. And Greene could very well grow incensed again and call the cops, in which case, Kimmel will have a comeback for that, too. In the meantime, Greene somehow secured a win during her recent Georgia primary, which really makes one wonder if the fine people of her district are watching. Hey, there’s always the November midterms, though.

Nothing says “yikes, I’m getting old” quite like realizing the seemingly immortal pop idols of your youth have (much like everyone else close to your age) settled down to raise a family. Indeed, time waits for no man, woman or, in this case, boy band. But settling down to put down roots obviously has its perks—including making sweet, wholesome memories.

The Backstreet Boys—Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, A.J. McLean and Howie Dorough—recently held a show at the iconic Hollywood Bowl in California.

As the band performed “No Place,” a track from its 10th studio album titled “DNA,” fans were delighted to see not only the band on stage, but eight of their little kiddos. And yes, they are all great singers.

Which begs the question: When’s the “Baby Backstreet” concert?!

To say that the fans were thrilled by the family appearance would be a huge understatement.

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“I’ve cried so many times,” wrote one person who saw the video on YouTube.

“I absolutely am in love with this version, children singing is truly harmonious happiness,” commented another.

The band also shared its appreciation on its official Instagram page. “There were too many special moments to count – but one of them was having our little Backstreet family out on stage with us,” the post read.

Carter, who at one point passed the mic to his 2-year-old daughter Saorise, added, “Still processing the show last night. Sharing these moments with you — the fans, my family, and the boys is something so memorable.”

Life is full of wonderful moments at every age. And the beauty of growing older is that, with luck, you gain even more loved ones to share those moments with.

You can check out the adorable family affair below:

If you’ve looked into booking flights the past few months, you’ve probably experienced some serious sticker shock. As a travel junkie, I peruse plane tickets regularly for fun, and I’ve seen some absolutely nutso prices, especially during peak summer dates. You can always expect to pay more during popular travel times, but it’s not usually this bad.

According to CNBC, bonkers prices are not just a figment of our imagination. Plane ticket prices have risen 25% in the past year, far outpacing the rising inflation we’re feeling elsewhere. Part of the reason is fuel costs are up—by a whopping 150%. Another reason is that airlines are trying to recover some of their losses that occurred during the pandemic. Finally, people are desperate to travel, so demand is high and people are apparently willing to shell out gobs of dough to get out of Dodge.

However, just because ticket prices have climbed doesn’t mean there aren’t deals to be had. You just have to know where, when and how to find them.

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Finding deals does take a little work. To really get the best prices, you have to be willing to play around with your travel variables (dates/times/airlines/airports/destinations), so it’s not like there’s some magical, one-size-fits-all money-saving solution. But these guidelines and tips will help give you a place to start to save money on airfare, even when prices go up.

1. When you travel matters far more than when you book your plane tickets.

People often ask, “When’s the best time to buy plane tickets?” I’ve heard everything from certain days of the week to certain time frames before your planned departure being the best time to buy. There is a general guideline for when to book that’s frequently shared by travel experts:

Domestic flights: 1 to 3 months in advance

International flights: 2 to 8 months in advance

However, plane ticket prices change constantly, every airline prices their flights differently and the volatility of fuel prices makes a lot of this unpredictable.

What matters more than when you book is when you actually travel. Demand is fairly predictable and peak times will almost always be more expensive. Summer, three-day weekends, the spring break period (mid-March through mid-April), Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks are bound to set you back unless you are really flexible in the dates you can travel.

(One caveat on holidays: Because Thanksgiving is a solely American holiday and most people spend it with their families here, it can be a great time to travel internationally, as demand to leave the country is low that week.)

Off-peak is where it’s at. Not everyone can swing it with work and school schedules, but if you can, late September through October, late January through early March, and most of May tend to be the cheapest times to fly.

2. Check airfares frequently, as prices change constantly—and sometimes drastically.

Airfares are always changing. In fact, prices can change several times a day. One reason I like to peruse plane tickets frequently, even if I’m not actively making travel plans, is so that I can actually recognize when a ticket is a good deal.

Google Flights is your best friend for this. If you have someplace you think you might want to go someday, start doing some daily or weekly searches on the Google Flights calendar (which I’ll explain below). If you have a specific destination and dates already locked down, the same rule stands. Check frequently so that 1) You know the range of prices and 2) Can tell when a good price comes along.

3. Get to know Google Flights and its various filters.

Google Flights is easily the most versatile and user-friendly flight search tool, and the great news is, it’s free! The only real bummer is there’s no app, so you have to work from a browser. That’s a small price to pay for being able to search almost every airline at once and see entire months’ calendars of the lowest-priced tickets, though.

Google Flights shows you the same prices you’ll see on the airlines’ websites, and it can be much easier to use than any individual airline website. (I don’t know why so many airline website fare calendars are so cumbersome to navigate, but they are.) You can use Google Flights to find the best price, then go to the airline website to find that flight to book. (Thrifty Traveler has a nice, detailed tutorial for utilizing the various Google Flights filters.)

5. But don’t book a flight until you check Southwest Airlines first.

Southwest Airlines is not in Google Flights, so you have to search its website separately. A bit of a pain, but worth it. Southwest is frequently (though not always) cheaper than other airlines—and it lets you check two bags per person for free. Often that checked bag fee savings alone is worth booking on Southwest. Some of its planes don’t have the bells and whistles of other airlines—the last two Southwest flights I took didn’t even have electrical outlets to plug in my phone or computer—but I’ve always found the crew to be friendly and service to be quite good.

(One note: You don’t get to choose your seat ahead of time on Southwest, so if you’re traveling with a group and want to sit together it can get dicey. Checking in right at the 24-hour mark puts you closer to the front of the queue to board, but there’s still no guarantee to get the seat you want. For some, that’s a dealbreaker, but for others, it’s worth the savings.)

6. Search for one-way tickets in addition to round-trip fares.

This piece of advice may come as a surprise, as many of us were taught that booking one-way tickets was way more expensive than booking round-trip. That’s no longer the case. I always search for both round-trip and one-way tickets, and I frequently find two one-ways—often on two different airlines—to be cheaper than a round-trip ticket. Who knew?

7. Watch out for hidden fees and exclusions on discount carriers.

That Frontier or Spirit or Allegiant Airlines flight might look dirt cheap, but when you find out it doesn’t even include a carry-on bag in that price, you may find that it’s not worth it. Southwest is unique in that it is a lower-cost airline that doesn’t charge extra fees and actually includes more free baggage than most standard airlines. Most discount airlines tack on fees for everything from bags to snacks, so it’s good to know what’s included and what’s not in your airfare. Discount carriers will get you where you’re going, but if you want to take anything with you, you might end up actually paying more in the end.

8. Search alternative airports near your departure and destination locations.

If you’re flying to or from a large city, there are usually multiple airports you can choose from. And if you’re flying to or from a small town, there are often airports within an hour’s drive that may (or may not) be significantly cheaper to fly in and out of. You may be surprised by how much you can save using alternative airports that you didn’t even know existed, so do a quick Google Maps search for airports nearby and search those in Google Flights as well. (Depending on where you’re going, some smaller airports in large metro areas might actually get you closer to where you need to be on your vacation anyway. I know this can be the case in Southern California, at the very least.)

9. The more flexible you can be with travel dates and times, the better.

This is probably the biggest key factor in saving money on flights. I mentioned the off-peak times savings earlier, but even changing travel plans by just a day can save you a ton. People often don’t realize how much prices can vary for the same route within the same week or month. For instance, looking right now at Seattle to Chicago one-way tickets, prices in November range from $70 to $249. You can see it in the Google Flights screenshot above as well. Even just a one-day difference can mean paying double the price, so the more flexible your dates, the better your chances of snagging a reasonably priced ticket.

10. Learn about the credit card/airline/hotel points and miles travel game.

Most of this airfare savings advice is applicable to the short term, but by far the best way to save on plane tickets is to basically get them for free. That’s a long game. Sometimes called “travel hacking,” the points/miles game is a fairly complicated but incredibly valuable hobby to take up if you want to save loads of money on travel.

I started playing the game far later than I should have and wish someone had impressed upon me how mind-blowing the savings were going to be when you know what you’re doing. If you use a credit card that gives you points for cash back or to use for other things, you will get much more out of it if you learn how to maximize those points to make travel much, much more affordable. (I promise I’m not selling anything here. It’s genuinely something I recommend to everyone, simply because it’s amazing what people can do when they learn how the points/miles game works. You can learn more about it here.)

Even when plane ticket prices skyrocket, there are always some deals to be had with a little creativity and flexibility. Hopefully, these tips can help you save on airfare as you make travel plans during this weird, wonky, unpredictable time.

Kevin Gates has never been one to mince his words. Most of the time, he is entertaining due to his lack of a filter. However, moments like today, with his new song “Super General” for example, understandably cause some eyebrows to raise. Set to Kodak Black’s “Super Gremlin” produced by Jambo and ATL Jacob, the Baton Rouge artist takes aim at his former partner Dreka on the heels of rumors that the two had broken up.

The 36-year-old definitely seems hurt by the fact she turned his children against him and the fact he took all the bullets in public for their drama to protect her image when, in reality, they were both at fault. It appears his recourse for moving on is to dive right into something new, as he transitions into revealing his fantasies about Rubi Rose, Beyonce, and Nicki Minaj. He attempts to shoot himself some bail by mentioning his respect for Jay-Z before saying sex with him would make her urinate. As for Nicki Minaj, he essentially says she’s got the wrong guy whose name starts with a “K.”

Listen to Kevin Gates’s new song “Super General” above.

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

The baby formula shortage has turned into a real crisis for parents (especially of the working variety, which people must be to keep kids afloat in other ways). On a more trivial note, though, frustrating shortages of certain foods at the grocery store has made life at least a little less enjoyable. Saltine crackers, for example, proved to be more missed than expected when that supply ran dry. Hummus lovers are currently searching high and low for their favorite brands, and now, sriracha sauce lovers might not be able to get their fix this summer.

Yes, it’s true. As Bloomberg reports, Huy Fong Foods Inc. has suspended all foreseeable production of the highly addictive spicy condiment “due to a shortage of chili peppers.” According to CBS News, the sauce drought could last until Labor Day, and this is likely all down to a literal drought, given that Mexico and the Western U.S. are experiencing unfavorable weather conditions to grow chili peppers.

This, of course, is not going over well for those who like it spicy yet aren’t willing to pour ghost pepper powder all over things. Here’s a sampling of the freak out in process as people make mad dashes to the grocery store.

Be careful out there, folks. Saltines finally came back, though, so there’s hope on the horizon.

(Via Bloomberg & CBS News)

The Pride Month celebrations continue by way of Amazon Music. Today, the powerhouse company revealed a new Amazon Original cover of Elton John’s popular record “Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters” performed by Orville Peck. Peck is spirited in his rendition of the track, maintaining its country elements while also adding a new flavor to it. The song appears on PROUD, Amazon Music’s global playlist celebrating new music from LGBTQ+ artists not just in June, but all year long.

“I chose this song because it was always one of my favorites when I was younger,” said Orville Peck. “I just really think the storytelling in it is evocative and beautiful. It’s also equal parts witty and whimsical, but also heartbreaking. I love the combination of those two things.” The 34-year-old’s “Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters” cover is the latest of Amazon Music’s themed content series for Pride Month. They have also created Orgulla, an LGBTQ+ playlist dedicated to Latin artists who identify as such. Kim Petras performed her take on Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” to kick off the month before Angel Olsen and Kimberly Stuckwisch debuted the Amazon Original film Big Time.

For Orville Peck, this follows the release of his sophomore album Bronco this past spring.

Listen to Orville Peck’s cover of “Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters” here.