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Charli XCX has been a hotly anticipated guest on SNL not just because her latest material sounds incredible so far, but because she was bringing a few friends with her. After announcing her new album will be called Crash, and describing is “sexual and sort of demonic,” XCX also dropped the new single, “New Shapes,” which features Caroline Polachek and Christine And The Queens. It followed up her earlier single, “Good Ones” (which recently got a Perfume Genius remix) and definitely set the tone for Crash‘s “poptastic” turn.

So when Charli was posting promo for the show and she included photos of herself with Caroline and Christine, fans were even more excited about tonight’s live renditions of the new songs. Since the trio’s video for “New Shapes” already included a faux TV performance, it seemed likely they’d be recreating it in some form. But due to the surge of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19, all of this is not going to happen after all. Though the SNL performers have been carefully quarantining in a bubble, that’s not the case for musical guests, and the risk is too great at the moment for Charli to perform. And even with quarantines, several members of the cast have reportedly tested positive.

“Due to the recent spike in the Omicron variant and out of an abundance of caution, there will be no live audience for tonight’s taping of Saturday Night Live and the show will have limited cast and crew,” the show said in a statement today. “The show continues to follow all government safety guidelines in addition to a rigorous testing protocol.”

Charli also released a statement of her own expressing her sadness over the cancelation: “Due to the limited crew at tonight’s taping of SNL my musical performances will no longer be able to go ahead,” she said. “I am devastated and heartbroken. Myself, Caroline [Polachek], Christine [and the Queens], and all of our crews and teams have worked so hard all week alongside the SNL team to bring the most amazing musical performances to life. It can’t happen this time, but I’ll be back! I am currently safe and healthy but of course very sad. Please look after yourselves out there and make sure you get vaccinated if you haven’t already. Lots of Love, Charli.”

The rest of the show will still go on, just with limited cast and without the normal live studio audience.

Recently, The Hollywood Reporter hosted a roundtable with lots of pop’s biggest songwriters to discuss their process and experience in the industry. The full video, which is close to an hour long, features artists like Anderson Paak, Kid Cudi, and Camila Cabello. It was a nice chance for Camila to focus back on her career after she recently made headlines for ending her relationship with Shawn Mendes, and after the split Shawn reacted by releasing the sad but hopeful single “It’ll Be Okay.”

For her part, Camila has been reflecting on her own songwriting career, even if she hasn’t released anything new for a minute. In a clip from the roundtable, she remembers beginning the process of songwriting on her own in hotel rooms while she was traveling with Fifth Harmony, and getting some early support from fellow pop stars like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran, who were much more established than her at the time. “I wouldn’t say, like, mentors, but … I remember approaching Taylor Swift … and she showed me a lot of kindness, Ed Sheeran too.” Camila has also talked about Taylor mentoring her in the past, but on a more of a personal level about being a good friend. Check out her thoughts below, and the full roundtable up top.

Last month, Ye caused a big rift in his relationship with Big Sean after he claimed the “worst thing” he’s ever done was sign him to his GOOD Music imprint. During his appearance on N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN’s Drink Champs podcast last month, Ye said, “I know this man mama bro, you know what I’m saying? I’ve changed this man’s family and both John Legend and Big Sean, when I ran for office, got used quick by the Democrats to come at their boy that actually changed their life and that’s some sellout sh*t.” He also requested “apologies” from Sean for his actions.

Sean responded to Ye’s comments during his own appearance on Drink Champs earlier this week, revealing that Ye texted him with the hope of meeting with him and his mother to “begin the healing on both sides.” However, Sean reveals it never happened because he was “angry” at the time. “I took it too personally, because it’s like, you publicly humiliated me when I’ve been down for you,” he said before diving into the political aspect of Ye’s comments. “Now peep this out: while he was running for president, I didn’t have his contact. I purposely didn’t endorse anyone publicly, politically, because my mans was running. I didn’t even have his contact at the time.”

He continued, “I’m the No. 1-earning artist on G.O.O.D. Music, and I didn’t come out and support no Democratic party because my man’s was running, and he wasn’t even on the ballot in 30-something states. You see what I’m saying? So when he said all that, it just had no—that’s why it was funny, because it just was not true.” Sean added, “I didn’t come out and support no Democratic party, bro what the f*ck? Maybe John Legend did, I don’t know. I didn’t.”

Sean also responded to Ye’s regrets about signing him. “At first I thought it was hilarious, I thought the sh*t was funny,” Sean said. “Then I took it personal. I took it personal because, I’m the only artist who’s put out five albums under G.O.O.D. Music. … I’m the only one who put out back-to-back-to-back No. 1’s, platinum albums, double platinum albums.

“But every time Kanye has called on me, every single time no matter what I was doing, within one day’s notice I’m wherever he’s at bro, whether it’s to contribute to him in the studio, whether it’s to contribute a line, write a verse for him,” he added. “I’ve traveled around the world for this man, every time he’s called. And I’ve done this and not asked for publishing a lot of the times. Why? Because he gave me a golden opportunity of signing to G.O.O.D. Music.”

You can watch Big Sean’s full Drink Champs episode in the video above.

Well, Lil Nas X did it first, with cameos from the likes of Olivia Rodrigo and Normani, but the “bing bong” TikTok from @SideTalkNYC has struck again. (Worth noting it’s also become a rallying cry for Knicks fans due to the context of the original interview).

This time, however, the celebrities involved are The Jonas Brothers… and President Biden himself, who is namechecked — well, sorta — in the now repeatedly viral clips. You can check out the original videos from Sidetalk’s encounters with characters in snippets dubbed Coney Island Ski Club and Coney Island’s Finest, where so many of these TikTok audio clips originated. Phrases like “Are you vaccinated? Yes sir. Ey yo!” “Bing bong!” “Who’s the president man, who’s the president?” and the reply “Byron! Byron!” along with the prompt “What do you want to tell Joe Byron right now?” and the reply “What’s up baby…take me out to dinner” are all taken from these interviews.

The Jonas Brothers incorporate all these snippets into their own TikTok, which was shot in the White House, and pans out at the end to reveal President Biden sure they got the shot — “We got it!” The video is ostensibly to remind people to get vaccinated, but honestly not sure if this is going to convince anyone. Still, anything to distract from the current surge, right?

Back in March, Cardi B announced on Today that she planned to release a line of dolls. The rapper explained her inspiration for the line during her time on the show. “I have a 2-year-old, right? And I buy dolls every time I go to Target and they expensive,” she said. “Somebody came with this idea to me and I’m like, ‘That is great because I would love my daughter to play with a doll that looks like me.’ I mean, all these other dolls look like me, I might as well make one for myself.”

Thanks to a collaboration with Real Women Are, a fashion doll brand, Cardi made the dolls available for pre-order shortly after her Today appearance. However, months later, buyers were still empty-handed, as the dolls were not shipped out despite promises to do so by a certain date. This left people questioning the legitimacy of the dolls. Some demanded refunds,

But according to TMZ, the entire line of dolls has now been canceled. A representative for Cardi tells the publication that the dolls will not be released due to COVID-related manufacturing and shipping delays. TMZ adds that Cardi was reportedly also concerned that the dolls would not meet her high-quality standards.

As a result, Cardi asked Real Women Are to refund all pre-orders of the dolls while also telling buyers to request a refund from the doll company if they have not yet been contacted.

Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

A lot has changed in the last week. On Monday, society was largely back to normal, as it had been for months and months, all thanks to vaccines. People were gearing up for some holiday travel. They were going to in-person events, like movies and Broadway shows. In the back of everyone’s mind, there was the Omicron variant, far more transmissible but also — if you’re vaxxed — far less deadly. Then cases started spiking. New York City, once the epicenter of the pandemic, suddenly had days of record-breaking cases. Shows got cancelled. Events were postponed. (People are still flocking to the movies, or at least one of them.) And now it’s affected tonight’s Paul Rudd-hosted SNL, too.

As per Deadline, what was supposed to be a joyous occasion — last episode of 2021, host Paul Rudd’s acceptance into the “five timer’s club” — will still happen. It will just be dramatically scaled back.

“Due to the recent spike in the Omicron variant and out of an abundance of caution, there will be no live audience for tonight’s taping of Saturday Night Live and the show will have limited cast and crew,” a spokesperson for SNL announced on Saturday. “The show continues to follow all government safety guidelines in addition to a rigorous testing protocol.”

It’s a return to SNL in the pre-vaccine days of the pandemic, when the performers played to little or no crowds, doing their best to deliver laughs while social distancing and staying safe. At the early day of the pandemic, in spring of 2020, the show dramatically revamped itself, with performers doing everything from their home over their computers and assorted gizmos, with sometimes outside-the-box results.

SNL, of course, records in New York City, which has transformed from a largely reawaken mecca of culture and commerce into a place of long COVID testing lines, people scrambling to get results before boarding planes, trains, and automobiles. On Friday, New York State counted 21,027 new cases — a record, up from the original peak of 19,942, in January of 2021.

But the show must go on, albeit a modified version. Host Rudd will be joined by musical guest Charli XCX.

(Via Deadline)

When he isn’t being dragged on Twitter for inane posts, Ted Cruz is usually busy throwing cogs in the wheels of democracy. Last week, The Hill reported that the Texas senator — who had just been torched for a hypocritical comment about airplanes — tried to broker a deal with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer: If Democrats help sanction over the Nord 2 pipeline in Europe, he’ll stop helping to block ambassador nominees (along with Josh Hawley, natch). But soon enough, Cruz found an industrious way to once again get dunked on social media.

Democratic representative Eric Swalwell called out Cruz for singlehandedly holding up the works. “This. Is. Not. Democracy,” he wrote. “Ted Cruz is in the minority. And most members of the minority want our ambassadors confirmed. What the hell do you call a system where ONE person can bring diplomacy to a halt?”

Cruz tried to own him. “Hush child,” he wrote. “The adults are working.”

Did the idea of a lawmaker who not that long ago was feuding with a puppet chiding someone for not being an “adult” rub people the wrong way? You betcha. Soon people were reminding everyone about his beef with Big Bird.

Others reminded him of maybe his most embarrassing moment: When he abandoned his constituents in the middle of a crippling freak storm to go on family vacation in Cancún.

Even Dan Rather joined in.

Some reminded everyone of Cruz’s other failings.

Or took umbrage with his suggestion that he’s an adult.

Rapper and producer Kangol Kid, who was also a member of Brooklyn’s Untouchable Force Organization (UTFO) trio, has passed away at the age of 55 following a battle with colon cancer, according to Rolling Stone. His death marks a sad ending to a brief bout with cancer; he announced his diagnosis earlier this year, in a post in February. Last month, Kangol, born Shaun Fequiere, shared a picture of fellow rapper LL Cool J visiting him at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York following a surgical procedure.

“Please forgive me for not returning calls and more,” Kangol wrote. “Things have become, and are becoming a little more difficult than imagined. I’ve been admitted again for complications related to my condition.” He added, “Thank you to those who have been instrumental in my latest ordeal. Your actions have been well received and greatly appreciated. I am blessed to have you by my side through this. I love you all.”

Kangol is best known for delivering the opening verse on UTFO’s 1984 single “Roxanne, Roxanne.” On the track, UTFO’s rappers, which also include Educated Rapper (Jeffrey Campbell) and Doctor Ice (Fred Reeves), repeatedly get denied by a “stuck-up” woman for a song that launched one of hip-hop’s first beefs. After UTFO canceled an appearance at a show, rapper Roxanne Shanté connected with one of the show’s promoters Marley Marl, who was also a producer, to release a diss track aimed at the group.

“Roxanne’s Revenge” launched the “The Roxanne Wars,” a rivalry that delivered between 30 and 100 answer records, according to different sources. These include UTFO’s own responses like 1995’s “The Real Roxanne” and “Roxanne, Roxanne, Pt. 2: Calling Her A Crab.”

After the news of his death arrived, LL Cool J’s Rock the Bells festival shared their condolences with a message on Twitter. “Hip-Hop lost a legend today with the transitioning of [Kangol Kid] but his legacy will forever serve as a source of inspiration, courage, and love,” they wrote. “Rock The Bells sends our deepest condolences to all of his family and loved ones.”

After looking like they were going to be strong contenders for the worst team in the NBA over the first month or so of the season, the Houston Rockets have started to find a little something in recent weeks. The team is 6-4 in their last 10 games, and while they’re only 10-20 on the season, they’re nowhere near as bad as they were early on this season and are only two games behind the Sacramento Kings for the 10-seed and the final play-in spot in the Western Conference.

Their latest win came by way of a Saturday matinee in Detroit, as the team took on the Pistons and came out on top, 116-107. The team was powered by a good afternoon by Christian Wood, who went for 21 points on 9-for-19 shooting with eight rebounds and one extremely funny moment where he cleaned up one of his own misses…kind of.

Wood went up for a layup and, in part due to a contest by Trey Lyles, was not successful. Rockets teammate KJ Martin secured the rebound, but before he could do anything with it, Wood pulled the ball right out of his hands.

Fortunately for Wood, he was able to get a bucket out of this. The good news is the Rockets won and Martin — 10 points, 11 rebounds — had a pretty nice game, so this was simply a pretty funny moment on a good afternoon.

For months now, many have believed that there have been tensions between Rick Ross and Meek Mill over a possible contract dispute with Ross’ Maybach Music Group, which Meek signed to in 2011. The rumors started after Meek blocked Ross from entering his birthday party for allegedly refusing to let him out of his MMG contract. Months later, Ross denied that there was any tension between the two.

In a new interview on The Morning Hustle, Ross elaborated on his and Meek’s relationship. “I feel like we’re both hustlers,” he said. “That’s one thing about life, you either grow together or grow apart. As a boss, you make that decision, because whatever it is you want to do, Ricky Rozay wants to see you do it.” He also suggested that if Meek has any label issues, it would be with Atlantic Records and not MMG.

“I’ma be honest, when Meek taking a jab at anybody, the only way I can assume is he’s doing that at Atlantic Records,” Ross said. “All we ever did was get paper and it’s real easy to say a n**** name. Ain’t nothing to — you feel me? I know what it is when me and Meek always got money. He a boss now. We done been down 10 years. Is he signed to Maybach Music? Yes, he is. But he’s also a boss and real bosses give other bosses opportunities to become bigger bosses.”

He continued, “Go, man. Go buy the biggest sh*t in Dubai, man. Let’s go be billionaires. And if I’m only gonna get $7 billion and you get $20 billion, God is great! That’s all it is. Is it any pressure? It ain’t no pressure. And always remember, it’s real easy to make it clear when it’s pressure.”

You can watch Ross’ appearance on The Morning Hustle above.

Meek Mill is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.