Grant Williams, a former studio worker for Wu-Tang Clan, will be awarded $7 million from New York City. Williams served a 23-year prison sentence beginning in 1996 for the murder of Shdell Lewis — a murder he did not commit.
After being granted parole in 2019, Williams was cleared two years after. He then filed a notice of claim to sue the city and overturn the wrongful conviction. According to Associated Press, the comptroller’s office settled Willams’ claim, using their authority to do so without court action, and will pay Williams $7 million.
“This will assist him in going forward and trying to get back on his feet,” said Williams’ layer Irving Cohen.
“I missed him,” Ghostface said. “When he left, part of me left.”
Ghostface was by Williams’ side when he shared the news that he will be receiving $7 million from New York City, according to Associated Press. Cohen also noted that while Williams was incarcerated, he received an associate’s degree and plans to help other wrongfully convicted people in the future.
Wu-Tang Clan is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Last Thursday, The New York Times published an op-ed by Dr. Timothy Snyder, a Yale University history professor and author of several books on fascism and European history. In the piece, simply titled “We Should Say It. Russia Is Fascist,” Snyder claimed that the fascism sentiment in Russia right now is as high as it was during World War II. As such, according to Snyder, “If Ukraine does not win [the Russia Ukraine War], we can expect decades of darkness.”
As The Daily Beast reports, this article has gained a lot of traction in Russian state media circles where an enraged Kremlin has gone so far to dispute the claims that they’ve actually turned on one of their most beloved heroes: former president Donald Trump.
On Friday night, Kremlin TV host Vladimir Solovyov addressed America at large with one big “Listen, you bastards,” then proceeded to explain the many ways in which Trump is a fascist: “Strong leader, with large crowds coming out in his support… Discussions of former greatness. Donald Trump promised to make America great again… Donald Trump’s red hats.”
Russian propagandists seemed all too comfortable labeling their favorite American president as a fascist, despite the fact that they’re counting on Republicans—led by Trump—to gain ground in the U.S. midterm elections and follow an agenda favored by the Kremlin. Meanwhile, Biden’s falling popularity ratings have been discussed by state media with gusto on an almost daily basis. The Biden administration’s backing of Ukraine, including the brutal wave of sanctions against Russia over the invasion, has not sat well with Moscow.
“Author, professor of Yale University Snyder, is trying to convince the readers that we are waging a fascist war,” Solovyov fumed, referring to the historian as a “pseudo-professor of a pseudo-university. “[They say that] we call Ukrainians Nazis because they refuse to recognize themselves as Russians and dare to resist. Snyder knows nothing and understands nothing. He is simply a liar.”
Trump may currently be persona non grata on Russian state TV, but at least they’ve still got golden boy Tucker Carlson.
Getty Image/Ralph Ordaz / Chloe Caldwell/Esther Susag/Nicoletta de la Brown
While flying across the world to a tropical hideaway, romantic European city, or adventure-filled destination is always an incredible time, the truth is that you don’t need to go far to have a memorable travel experience. The United States contains multitudes for lovers of adventure, food, culture, and wild spaces. From Southern hotspots where barbecue joints and live music thrive to Midwest locations where the food scene takes center stage to West Coast favorites that offer quintessential tourist attractions, there are myriad places to explore across the country.
To find out which U.S. destinations you should add to your spring and summer travel plans, we asked travel writers and influencers to share their absolute favorite cities in the U.S. Check out their picks below, clear your calendar, and start booking those domestic plane tickets.
EDITOR’S PICK: STEVE BRAMUCCI (@steve_bramucci) — BEND, OREGON
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Bend, Oregon is literally “adventure town, USA.” It’s been named to all the hotlists by all the outlets that cherish rock climbing, mountain biking, river surfing, and hiking — many of them more than once. But it’s not just adventure that Bend specializes in. This is Oregon, after all. There’s also a whole lot of beer and cheffed-up food to be had. Plus some great whiskey, if you know where to look.
Weed is legal. Mushrooms are decriminalized. A river slurps and bumps through downtown. Mountains line the horizon. Everyone is sunkissed and fit. There’s a preponderance of beards, but that can be forgiven. The last Blockbuster on earth opens every morning at 10:30 am sharp.
“This,” a friend who recently moved from Portland to Bend told me last summer as we freaking paddle boarded on the Deschutes River from one free concert to another, “is the best place to live in the country.”
The next day, the same friend took me crashing through the underbrush on mountain bikes. But not like, the sucky part of mountain biking, where you have to upkeep a bike and pedal uphill for a few hours. We did the fun part — in which the shuttle and rental service Cog Wild gave us bikes, motored us to the base of Mt. Bachelor, then sent us on our way to speed recklessly downhill. It was an absolute blast. And made me feel way less bad about housing nine of the 12 pretzel bites pictured below and then slurping down the “beer cheese” about an hour later at Cascade Lakes Brewing Co.
The brewery — I found by drinking beer at 11 am, which is very common in Bend — is also home to a fruity/piney Hazy IPA that was the purest distillation of “Cool Mountain Town” in liquid form I’d ever tasted. Though, to be fair, the town has a lot of breweries competing for that title.
Cascade lakes Brewpub
“Seriously… what more do you need?” that same paddleboard friend asked on the last day of my trip, when he made his pitch for me to move to town. This time, we were lined up on an island in the Deschutes River, waiting to surf the town’s famous standing wave. And the question got me thinking. What more do I need?
“Oh, you have the Verve Pipe on the same bill as Eve 6? TAKE MY MONEY.”
There’s also a totally free concert series that runs the whole summer long. It’s called Munch & Music, which sums the weekly event up pretty neatly — it’s a whole load of food trucks paired with bands fronted by people who still wear Tevas. You want a proper party? For a small(ish) mountain town, Bend has three clubs — Velvet Lounge, Astro Lounge, and SEVEN — along with a whole heap of bars. Better still, these options are tightly crowded together. No monster Uber rides here, you can walk almost anywhere in the downtown area.
“I’m telling you…” my (clearly brilliant) Bend transplant buddy said as we listened to yet another live band at yet another cluster of food trucks, eating one of the most decadent burgers I’ve ever tasted, from Waygu Wagon.
He didn’t need to finish the sentence, I was sold. Thirty years of visiting Bend on vacation with my family plus a few recent trips to see it in its current boom phase have me convinced — it’s the best place to be in the country. I’ve already booked myself back at the vintage-y roadside motor inn-feeling Campfire Hotel for summer ’22.
There’s an energy in Memphis that feels rare in America. Stroll through its neighborhoods, dance in its nightclubs, or post up in a Memphis dive bar and you can almost feel the city breathe. The city’s modest skyline rises over the banks of the Mississippi River, an oasis of creativity that fostered the early beginnings of a sound that changed the world.
When the blues sprang from the flat, humid farmlands that often surround the river’s floodwalls, musicians came to Memphis to make their break. Later, rock and soul genres took that legacy and ran with it. While tourists can certainly get their fill of music history in the city—see the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Blues Hall of Fame, Rock N’ Soul Museum or Sun Studios — a recent renaissance means Memphis is once again out-punching its weight as a global source for creativity.
Slide onto a sofa at Central Station on any weekend night, and you’re likely to mingle with modern hip-hop legends, producers, and disc jockeys. Soak in a Mississippi River sunset from Beck & Call’s rooftop lounge, and you’ll be surrounded by murals of modern Memphis icons like Yo Gotti, Justin Timberlake, and Valerie June.
In a time when many American cities can feel like an extension of one, homogenous apartment complex, Memphis is still defiantly authentic. Its people come with no pretense. Its skyline comes with little luster. The city needs no marketing gimmick because it remains as real as the raw emotions that reverberated through its record studios decades ago and changed the world around us today.
I’d say my hometown — Milwaukee. I know it’s not a city that a lot of people think about, but I can give a few reasons why it’s great. And maybe I’m biased. Summer is the sweet spot. I grew up in Wisconsin, but I’m not a big fan of winter. So summers in Milwaukee are my favorite time of year to be at home. Number one, because there are so many festivals. We have a festival for everybody and everything.
There’s Summer Fest, which is a huge music festival that’s there every summer. But then we also have Black Arts Fest, German Fest, Polish Fest, Pride, Mexican Fiesta. There are literally so many festivals for people of all backgrounds, which is representative of how diverse the city is — even though people don’t know that. There are pockets of different communities across Milwaukee. So I think that comes out the most through our summer festivals. You’re able to see that on display.
As far as things to do, I would say again to focus on summer things because that’s when I explore the most. There are boat cruises you can do, paddle-boating, going to the lakefront is a real big thing. The other big thing you do in Milwaukee is eat. It’s a really great food city so there are tons of things to eat.
If you want a food truck park you can go to Zócalo Food Park. If you want Jamaican food Uppa Yard is my favorite Jamaican spot in the city. If you want some soul food, Daddy’s is always a good choice. If you want Spanish-Portugese food you can go to Amilinda. If you want Indian food, I love India Garden or Cafe India. I could go on and on about the food, but there’s just much to explore. The Southside is predominantly Spanish-speaking, so there’s tons of great Mexican restaurants. Guanajuanto is one that I’ve been to.
Food is one of the reasons I love Milwaukee, and it’s affordable. Everything’s not going to cost $25 or $30 for you to have a really good meal. It’s not an overpriced city, so I think it’s in that really good sweet spot of being one of my favorite cities. It’s accessible for people who are visiting.
My favorite city in the U.S. is St. Paul, and yes, I am biased! I just love the gorgeous summers and falls there with the beautiful lakes and parks. Everything is so accessible, you can get the city vibe, and then five minutes away there’s a gorgeous park with a huge waterfall in it. There’s always something to do. With over 10,000 lakes, boating, fishing, and just being on the water is an amazing thing to do in St. Paul and right outside of the city.
The food scene is unbeatable and filled with variety. Some of my favorites are La Grolla, Red Cow, and Meritage. On top of our food scene, we also have great bars, breweries, and pubs. Seriously, St. Paul is a hidden gem!
San Francisco continues to prove itself as one of my favorite U.S. cities. It’s an all-around colorful city, from the buildings (you’ve gotta visit the iconic Painted Ladies — the setting for Full House!) to the people and lively culture. I love spending time here as there’s always something to do. I especially love visiting for the annual Outside Lands Music Festival — it’s an absolute blast and a must for any avid festival-goers on the west coast.
What I love most about San Francisco are the accessible parks and outdoor spaces. Whether you explore Golden Gate Park, take a stroll through Presidio National Park, which offers 24 miles of hiking trails and 25 miles of bikeways, or have a boozy picnic at Mission Dolores Park, there’s plenty of space to spend time outdoors amidst the busy city lifestyle buzzing around you (just make sure to bring a jacket!).
I recommend spending an afternoon in the Marina District. Here, you’ll find views of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and sailboats cruising through the bay. This area also has a ton of trendy bars and restaurants. I love Wildseed, a fully plant-based restaurant that’s downright delish. Order the polenta cakes and spicy sausage pizza, along with the elderly fizz cocktail (trust me, you won’t regret it).
NICOLETTA DARITA DE LA BROWN (@vida.magica.love) — BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
Nicoletta de la Brown
Baltimore has a very special place in my heart. There are people that I love with my whole being that are here, my studio practice is based here, my children are being raised here. I’m from New York, I’m a New Yorker, but Baltimore is home.
As an artist, I want people to come here and absorb the art and meet the people who make beautiful things, but I also want people to come and explore and enjoy the food and the culture. If you come to Baltimore, you definitely need to eat. I would suggest seafood. I’d check out Clavel. I’m Latinx and I love the ceviche at Clavel. The ceviche at Clavel is everything.And the restaurant is minority-owned and family-owned.
I would also check out Home Maid. The brunch at Home Maid is crazy. Also the mixologists and the drinks there are insane. So I would definitely try some of those delicious Southern comfort options but with a twist. It feels a little speakeasy-ish.
Also, I would check out Mount Vernon Marketplace. One of my friends Chyno, The Blue Bearded Foodie, put me onto the colossal crab sandwich, which is insane. If you come to Baltimore, you should probably have blue crab of some kind. This sandwich is definitely an Instagram moment, but it’s also genuinely tasty. When I go to Mount Vernon Marketplace, I always check out Fishnet. It’s woman-owned, black-owned, and the food is so good. Everything is super fresh. When I’m in the mood for seafood, I’m going to hit up Fishnet for sure.
When I do a staycation and want to treat myself, I’ll stay at The Ivy Hotel. It’s a boutique, private hotel. It’s black-owned, it’s insanely luxurious, and it feels super special. You can barely even find the front door — it’s one of those places you gotta know to know. The Ivy Hotel is super posh, it’s super luxe. It’s beautiful. You feel like when you’re walking down the hallway Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, or some other iconic figure is about to pop up. It’s one of those moments when you want to put on a gown and have tea.
The bathtubs there are insane and I’m obsessed with bathtubs. So The Ivy Hotel is a must.
I also will spend the day at Harbor East. I love being by the water. I’ll go shopping, I’ll dance by the water, I will look at the harbor and just remind myself of everything that’s bigger than me and feel deeply connected to so much. Those are my top tips for Baltimore. Definitely come to visit Baltimore, eat some amazing seafood, and support small local businesses.
My top favorite city in the U.S. is New York City! Although it might sound cliche, NYC is its own world that never sleeps. I travel to New York a few times a year because of its fabulous events and bustling atmosphere. If you are a person that thrives in chaos like me, you will definitely want to put a trip in the books for 2022.
Love the arts? Stop by the many famous museums, theatres, or galleries. You’re a foodie? There are hundreds if not thousands of restaurants to try. Some of my favorites are Paesano in Little Italy, Ralph’s Coffee Shop, Boucherie, and Zazzy’s Pizza. I also always hit up Mr. Purple on the Lower Eastside, as well as the Soho area for shopping. The best part in my book is with the subway its so easy to get to your next destination without breaking the bank.
New York City will forever in my heart be my favorite place to visit all year round.
JEREMY FOSTER (@travelfreak) — SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
For the outdoorsy among us, Salt Lake City, Utah may very well be one of the best cities in the United States. With the Wasatch Mountains as a backdrop, you never feel like you’re far from the mountains — and the fact is, you’re not. SLC has all the city amenities and you’re only a few hours from many of the best National Parks in the US, meaning a Utah road trip is never out of the equation. Rent is affordable, you’ve got winter sports just up the road in Park City, and a film festival every year, to boot.
Okay, I had to include two entries because I couldn’t leave out my beloved hometown of Los Angeles. While many aspects of LA are far less glamorous than they appear in the movies that are filmed here and the traffic is downright brutal, this city truly has something for everyone. With West Hollywood’s eclectic food scene, the endless sunshine of Venice Beach, the cliché tourist attractions in Hollywood, and everything in between, I firmly believe LA is somewhere that every kind of traveler should visit at least once.
Every neighborhood in LA offers its own unique charm, so you can spend time exploring each corner of the city and never run out of things to do. No matter where you end up, visiting the beach, hitting a rooftop bar (High Rooftop Lounge and E.P. & L.P. are my favorites!), eating a burger and animal fries from In-N-Out, and visiting one of the many museums are all a must while you’re in town.
Music City is always a good time. Nashville is a very neighborhood-based city, meaning you can go out to a different neighborhood each day/night you’re in the city and have a different vibe and time in each spot. Looking for a college scene? Hang out on Broadway and West End Ave. right next to Vanderbilt University. There’s a dope Santa Fe Taco Co. up there that’ll fill you up on crunchy and soft tacos before your night out. If you’re feeling saucy, there’s also a Hattie B’s Hot Chicken outlet a little further down on Broadway. If you’re brave, try the Cluck You heat level. Be ready for a long stretch of insane heat. To recover, head over to Hopsmith Tavern for a long list of local and national craft brews that turns into a party atmosphere after the sun sets. Once you’re re-set after that hot chicken, hit up Winners (right next to Hopsmith on Division) for a night out dancing, drinking, and (likely) hooking up.
And look at that, a whole night out and we’ve only hit one neighborhood. At some point, you’re going to have to hit downtown and the honkey tonks on Broadway. Yes, a lot of them are very touristy. Just go with the flow, enjoy the $5 Jack and Cokes, and give yourself into the live bands and revelers. You will have a good time.
For a little more upscale time, head to Germantown. The whole vibe is reconstructed warehouses and brick garages with higher-end restaurants, beer bars, and cocktail stops. Grab a slice from 312 Pizza when you get there and then just bar hop all night. Monday Night Brewing, Neighbors, and Mother’s Ruin are all must-stops on any night out.
Naturally, there’s so much more than just partying in Nashville. You can hit the numerous country music museums and sites. The Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline museums are a must. The Country Music Hall of Fame is a great way to walk off your hangover. Then there’s the whole Grand Ole Opry scene just north of downtown.
Finally, you should probably hit up some distilleries for that sweet, sweet Tennessee whiskey. Corsair Distillery is centrally located and worth stopping in if you’re looking for something out of the norm. Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery up in Watkins Park is worth the Uber ride up there. You’ll be greeted by a whole scene of whiskey lovers diving into one of the country’s hottest whiskey lines right now. Just make sure you book your tour ahead of time and don’t sleep on the cocktail bar in the main tasting room.
Last summer, Vin Diesel reportedly began campaigning for legendary actress Rita Moreno to join the upcoming Fast And Furious installment. And now, it seems like his wish has been granted!
In a new Instagram video, Diesel simply cannot contain his excitement and announces that Moreno would play his grandmother in the upcoming FastX. “It’s been my dream forever to work with Rita Moreno, and the fact that she’s here playing my grandmother makes my soul smile,” the actor shared on Instagram alongside co-star Michaelle Rodriguez. “I’m so blessed.” Looks like Diesel shared the same dream as Tom Brady.
Moreno said, “You know what, I think I was getting … I think my old age was waiting for you to invite me. Isn’t that nice?” Moreno added, “The answer is yes, I’ll do it. And yes, not only do it, but I’m tickled. I’m tickled to hell to do it. I’m so thrilled. It’s going to be such fun!”
The actress is the latest addition to the ever-growing cast list that includes Brie Larson, Jason Momoa, and Alan Ritchson. Shooting began last month, though the production hit a snag when the longtime director Justin Lin abruptly left the project. Louis Leterrier stepped in for him. Hopefully, Diesel will play nice now that Moreno is around?
Doja Cat is a rapper but her music and singing have an undeniable pop appeal to them, too. Now, though, Doja is saying that when it comes to her impending fourth album, she wants to put a strong focus on rap.
A new Elle profile reports Doja noted her upcoming album will be “predominantly rap” and Doja said of it, “I haven’t started just because of all the rehearsal and touring. I’ve got a lot going on, but it’s coming up. I have been getting songs and things sent to me… Oh f*ck, I wish I could tell people! There’s some really cool stuff that I got sent from friends. They’re all working on beats, and I’m giving them notes and they know what I want, so I’m excited.”
Elsewhere, she said, “I want to finish this tour up, kill it, and see my fans happy. And then I want to start writing again. I’m going to finish this next album, and then I’m going to get the f*ck out for a second. I want to disappear for a little bit and just do things like wear slides and go to the farmers market. I don’t give a sh*t about vegetables, but how fun! And I want a dog, too. It’s f*cked up that I don’t have a dog. It’s not fair. I want to take care of a dog. I want to raise it and run around in the grass and touch it.”
In case you haven’t heard, it was an exhilarating week for pop with the release of Harry Styles’s new, long-awaited album Harry’s House, and the announcement of Rina Sawayama’s next album Hold This Girl, which came with the ferocious single “This Hell.”
Let’s get straight to the point and kick this off with the opener of Harry’s House, a bombastic, disco-inspired anthem with mesmeric vocals and a personable bassline. It’s a grand start to the record, welcoming the listener with its endearing charm and sparkle.
Oliver Tree — “I Hate You”
It seems like the unpredictable Oliver Tree is going in the direction of Machine Gun Kelly; this new track “I Hate You” moves at a pop-punk pace with aggressive vocals and angsty lyrics: “I hate you / You’re the worst best friend I ever had,” he declares on the chorus. Even if it’s not totally original, he makes the sound work.
Conan Gray — “Yours”
This piano-driven ballad “Yours” from Conan Gray will tug at your heartstrings in the same way that Olivia Rodrigo’s “Traitor” does. His vocals are powerful, but full of longing and pain, while he sings lines of regret: “The only thing that’s harder than sleeping alone / is sleeping with your ghost.”
Hayley Kiyoko — “For The Girls”
Lizzo’s “About Damn Time” was the upbeat, women-empowering summer anthem we all needed, and now Hayley Kiyoko is providing us with one of her own with this irresistible track “For The Girls” which confidently proclaims: “Summer’s for the girls / The girls that like girls / The girls that like boys / The girls the girls the girls.”
Rina Sawayama — “This Hell”
Rina Sawayama is unabashedly reveling in recklessness in this new single “This Hell.” The track has a ridiculously catchy melody and her vocals burst with attitude, but she also manages to confront serious issues as well: “Posing for the paparazzi / F*ck what they did to Britney / To Lady Di and Whitney,” she sings. There’s also a sick guitar solo.
Ericdoa — “Victim”
Hyperpop experimenter Ericdoa doesn’t hold back on this song “Victim,” which catapults forward with a bouncy, rapid rhythm. He sings and raps, but sounds earnest throughout all of it as he gets existential, wondering: “You’re stuck in your dead end job / What’s the point of it all?”
Ali Gatie — “IDK”
“IDK” watches Ali Gatie falling head over heels, and nervously admitting and expressing his surprise: “I lose track of time when I’m around you / I’ve never been in love / Then it hit me like a truck,” he sings, blending together pop and rap. Despite all of his worries, he’s hopeful and excited, and it’s infectious.
Mxmtoon — “Scales”
Mxmtoon’s new album Rising is finally out, and this track “Scales” is a highlight. The hallucinogenic backing vocals add to a trippy atmosphere, meanwhile Mxmtoon whisper-sings about astrology, trying to make sense of what’s going on in her life with a brave sense of honesty.
Lykke Li — “Carousel”
Another album that arrived this week was Lykke Li’s stunning Eyeye, a captivating collection of songs that glimmer and haunt. “Carousel” is gorgeous, packed with soft, ethereal harmonies and soaring synths painting a vivid scene: “Flying and I can’t come down / Yeah, I’m high as hell / And I can’t let go / Oh, carousel.”
Em Beihold — “Too Precious”
Em Beihold doesn’t want to be judged on “Too Precious,” a song about not being as reckless as other young people are. It doesn’t make her better than others, but it certainly doesn’t make others better than her: “Do what you want I can’t pretend / That I’m a rebel / Not on your level,” she sings.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Soon-to-be outgoingThe Late Late Show host James Corden has grown accustomed to Tom Cruise’s antics. The Risky Business star famously forced Corden to skydive in 2018, and Corden recently revealed that Tom casually decided to land a helicopter on Corden’s front lawn. So the stage was set (to promote Top Gun: Maverick) with more Cruise-daredevil shenanigans, and Corden had no choice but to head into the sky with Tom as he piloted them into the sky in a vintage plane.
Granted, there was fun and hooting and hollering to be had at first, as well as Corden mentioning a bathroom break, Tom denying him, and then Corden declaring that a break was no longer needed. Classy stuff for sure, but Corden ultimately could have done without the high-flying antics while holding up a “Help Me” sign to draw laughs from the audience. Yes, the pair survived their initial voyage, and James was thrilled to feel the ground again, but of course, Tom decided to drag Corden back into the thick of things while cranking up the drama in a straight-up, modern-day fighter jet, one that could fly straight into a war zone.
“You absolute bastard” did come out of James’ mouth around the 12:30 mark above, and Tom totally deserved it. Hey, not everyone casually perches upon a speeding train for fun or enjoys being upside down in a fighter jet. (To each his own.)
Despite reaping some pretty serious consequences for his trolling so far, Tekashi 69 hasn’t eased up on the antics one bit since being released from prison. He continues to antagonize any number of street rappers from Lil Durk to Meek Mill to Young Thug, more or less daring them to respond — something most of them have done in some respect, whether musically or in person. However, one veteran rapper foresees a more grisly end to the shenanigans and is convinced that the 26-year-old has a death wish.
Appearing on battle rapper Math Hoffa’s podcast, Fat Joe declared that he thinks very poorly of Tekashi, despite previously trying to help him out with words of wisdom. “I’m gonna just be honest with you,” he said. “This n****s a sucka. He’s pussy, a sucka, a bitch… This type of shit this n**** doing, I’m convinced he wanna die—and I don’t wish it on him or nothing like that but I’m convinced he’s miserable in his body. He can’t look in the mirror.” Joe was one of the many rappers who disapproved of Tekashi’s decision to testify against his gang-affiliated associates in 2018.
Tekashi, however, seems delighted to have a new playmate with whom to trade barbs and keep his name buzzing. After all, all publicity is good publicity in his mind, so he went to his favorite publicist, TMZ, to offer a response. “Fat Joe is jealous of 69,” he said. “69 has done more in his young career than Fat Joe has ever done in his long career…Fat Joe said I was miserable and want to die? Fat Joe is miserable and wants to die because Fat Joe doesn’t have half of what 69 has in money and cars. Fat Joe said I’m not a gangster, it was all for promotion? That’s fake news. What’s his proof that I ever said that? There is no proof. He’s lying.”
Considering that he literally got a reduced sentence on the racketeering charges against him by effectively saying exactly that as he turned over his cohorts in the Nine Trey gang (not that he needed to, considering the amount of evidence the gang had left behind), I’d say Fat Joe is at least telling a smidgeon of truth here.
If you’re anything like me, when you heard that a “Top Gun” sequel was being made nearly three decades after the original, you may have rolled your eyes a bit. I mean, come on. “Top Gun” was great, but who makes a sequel 30 years later and expects people to be excited? Especially considering how scrutinizing both audiences and critics tend to be with second films.
Then I saw a trailer for “Top Gun: Maverick,” and was surprised that it looked … super not terrible. Then more and more details about the film emerged, then more trailers and behind-the-scenes footage were released, then early reviews started rolling in and … you guys. You guysssss. I don’t know how the filmmakers managed to pull it off, but everything about this film looks absolutely incredible.
And frankly, as a member of Gen X who saw the original “Top Gun” at least a dozen times, I could not be more thrilled. We deserve this win. We’ve been through so much. Many of us have spent the better part of the past two decades raising our kids and then spent the prime of our middle age dealing with a pandemic on top of political and social upheaval. We’ve been forgotten more than once—shocker—in discussions on generation gaps and battles. So to have our late-’80s heartstrings plucked by an iconic opening melody and then taken into the danger zone in what reviewers are saying is the best blockbuster in decades? Yes, please.
I was concerned that “Maverick” might not be as good as the initial trailer looked, but the vast majority of film critics who have screened it have said it will exceed everyone’s expectations. It got a five-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival over the weekend. More than one reviewer has used the word “perfect” to describe it. Seriously.
Check out this sampling of rave reviews:
“I’m stunned, STUNNED at how absolutely outstanding TOP GUN: MAVERICK is! Perfect pace, thrills, cast, chemistry!!!” – Rob Liefeld.
“As soon as #TopGunMaverick ended, I wanted to watch it again. And again. And again. One of the greatest sequels of all time.” – Cameron Frew.
“Yes I’m gonna say it and I don’t care who disagrees. #TopGunMaverick is a perfect movie. They don’t make movies like that anymore. You wait and see. Your expectations of this movie should be higher than you think.” – Kristian Harloff
“TOP GUN: MAVERICK is the perfect blockbuster. Not only did it feature dazzling aerial combat sequences, but I actually cried, it’s that emotional. And call me crazy, but I humbly predict that it WILL land a Best Picture nod next year. It’s not just THAT good, it’s VERY good.” – Jeff Sneider
Have you seen the trailer? You have to watch this trailer. (Goose’s son. Oh. My. Gracious.)
I’m not a big fan of rah-rah military movies, nor am I a fan of testosterone-filled bro films. I’m not even a huge Tom Cruise fan, so the fact that I can’t wait to see “Top Gun: Maverick” has come as a surprise to some people who know me. I can’t help it. I loved the intensity and excitement of the original and from everything I’ve seen and read, this movie outdoes its predecessor in every way.
“Top Gun,” only better? Be still my cynical Gen X heart.
To understand why this is a movie that must be seen in the theaters, check out how they had the actors actually go through naval training and fly in the fighter jets to film the action scenes. So incredible.
Carl Cameron and Tucker Carlson are not exactly the Woody and Buzz Lightyear of Fox News. Over the weekend, Cameron—a former Fox New political reporter—chatted with Jim Acosta on CNN and had some pretty harsh things to say about his former colleagues, and Carlson in particular. And, as Mediaite reports, Carlson is none too happy about it.
“Tucker has been screaming ‘fire’ in a crowded movie house for years,” Cameron told Acosta. “And that cliché really comes to the matter of what is free speech. And the fact of the matter is, if you disturb the peace by starting a riot in a movie theater, cops are going to arrest you and you might end up in jail or you might end up in something worse. And that kind of stuff absolutely has to stop.”
Cameron suggested that it might be time to enact laws that would prohibit people like Carlson from using their massive media platforms to spread lies and other dangerous rhetoric without real consequences. Carlson grabbed onto the line about ending “up in jail or… something worse,” which he took as a veiled threat, before turning it around and blaming it all on Democrats:
“What’s ‘something worse’? We are not sure what ‘something worse’ is, but it certainly feels like we’re moving toward it at very high speed at this point. That’s the end point to talk like that, ‘something worse,’ because rhetoric has its own internal logic. You’ve experienced it, you can talk yourself into things. We’ve all done that. Democrats are doing it right now, and what they are talking themselves into right now is ‘something worse.’”
“It’s scary,” Carlson concluded of Cameron’s words, taking no responsibility for the many, many, manylies he has spewed and fearmongering he has engaged in. “It is time to pull back,” Carlson continued, in an attempt to be the voice of reason. “It is time to de-escalate. Otherwise, this is going to get really ugly, really soon.”
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