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This week in pop music saw several upbeat jams from today’s top stars. FKA Twigs kicked off a new era with a collaboration with The Weeknd, Jhene Aiko shared her version of a holiday jingle, and Joe Jonas fired off some inspiration in the form of a new single.

Each week, Uproxx rounds up the best new pop releases. Listen up.

FKA Twigs, The Weeknd — “Tears In The Club”

FKA Twigs officially kicked off a new era of music this week with the empowering breakup anthem “Tears In The Club” with The Weeknd. The new single is her version of a revved-up club banger. Over a thunderous beat, Twigs sings of trying to rid herself of a toxic relationship by dancing at a club — but still ending up in tears anyway. “I’m always pushing to level up to MY best self, and I’ve pushed so hard to find my capri sun,” Twigs said alongside the new track, “I’m so proud of this music.”

Jhene Aiko — “Wrap Me Up”

Jhene Aiko offered her fans a gift for the holidays in the form of the loved-up single “Wrap Me Up.” The sparkling tune isn’t quite the traditional holiday jingle, rather it’s a sultry ballad about missing her boo during the holiday season. But it still features classic elements of a Christmas song, like airy bells and light piano keys.

Joe Jonas — “Go It Alone”

Joe Jonas penned the upbeat anthem “Go It Alone” for the soundtrack to the upcoming animated film Rumble. The movie is set in a world where gentle monsters regularly participate in sports, including wrestling. Combining electric guitars and shining melodies, the song speaks to the importance of giving your dreams your all.

Rebecca Black, Slayyyter — “Read My Mind”

This week, hyperpop icons Rebecca Black and Slayyyter teamed up for the wildly energetic single “Read My Mind.” The collaboration flexes the strength of both singers, combining hard-edged electric guitars with soaring melodies to craft a song that expertly combines elements of rock and pop alike. “Slayyyter has been one of my favorite artists over the past few years and I loved every second of making this song with her,” Black said. “After perfecting this song over the course of a year, its magic, it’s fantastical and everything I’d hoped for to kick off this new era.”

Camilo — “Pesadilla”

Not only is Colombian singer Camilo known for his epic mustache, but he’s also known for crafting traditional love songs with a modern twist. His latest, “Pesadilla,” is no different. The song starts slow, as Camilo serenades listeners with a similar acoustic guitar. But soon after, a fun and funky beat drops, turning the song up a notch and taking it to new and unexpected heights.

Steve Aoki, Global Dan — “Stars Don’t Shine”

Award-winning EDM artist Steve Aoki teamed up with east coast melodic rapper Global Dan for the infectious new single “Stars Don’t Shine.” The dance-ready track puts Global Dan’s auto-tuned flow at the forefront of the track while Aoki’s resonating beat drops and quick-tempoed synths craft a song that will definitely get anyone in a pumped-up mood.

Pia Mia — “Whole Thing”

One lucky fan got early access to Pia Mia’s new track “Whole Thing” by purchasing her historic NFT earlier this week, but the song is now live on all streaming platforms. The new song adds another hit to the songwriter’s catalog, mixing sultry beats and catchy refrains with lyrics about wanting it all and never holding back.

Naomi Sharon — “Hills”

Dutch-Caribbean singer Naomi Sharon dropped the awe-inspiring track “Hills” this week, flexing her vocals that sound like an impressive combination of Adele’s vocal range and the raspy tones of Amy Winehouse’s recognizable harmonies. “‘Hills’ is a song about a relationship that has gone toxic, and is not in a healthy state anymore,” Sharon said about the track. “While it’s quite difficult to distance yourself from someone you love, sometimes it might be the best thing to do.”

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

Just when we thought Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore was the most cursed movie of 2022, here comes Death on the Nile.

The sequel to 2017’s decently fun Murder on the Orient Express stars Gal Gadot (received backlash for her comments on the situation in Israel and Palestine), Armie Hammer (accused of rape and cannibalistic fantasies), Russell Brand (right-wing conspiracy theorist), and Letitia Wright (alleged anti-vaxxer).

On the bright side, Kenneth Branagh’s mustache still looks great.

The Disney-owned 20th Century Studios released the first trailer for Death on the Nile back in August 2020; that one featured a lot more Hammer, who only has one speaking line in the new trailer. He still appears in the film because his “role is significant to the point of being the film’s male lead… Reshoots, after all, could cost tens of millions and would be nearly impossible to pull off given the packed schedules of the ensemble.” At least Fantastic Beasts 3 had time to replace Johnny Depp with Mads Mikkelsen.

Here’s the official plot synopsis.

Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot’s Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turns into a terrifying search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple’s idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short. Set against an epic landscape of sweeping desert vistas and the majestic Giza pyramids, this dramatic tale of love gone wrong features a cosmopolitan group of impeccably dressed travelers and enough wicked twists and turns to leave audiences guessing until the final, shocking denouement.

Death on the Nile, which also stars Annette Bening, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, and Jennifer Saunders, opens on February 11, 2022.

The NBA continues to see a number of players go into COVID protocols every day, and while pausing the season (as the NHL has) doesn’t appear to be on the table, the league has recognized the need to postpone games for teams that do see an outbreak.

The reality of the pandemic for everyone is that the virus does not care about timing or plans, and as the NBA heads towards its biggest day of the regular season with its five-game slate on Christmas Day, there is a real chance that they will need to postpone one or more of those games if some teams continue to trend in the wrong direction — for example, the Nets have had two straight games postponed with 10 players in protocols, but the hope is that some, like James Harden, can return before Saturday’s action.

On Tuesday, the league reportedly sent a memo to those teams playing on Christmas Day noting that it’s possible for games to be moved around as late as December 24 in order to fill the three ABC windows — 2:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 8:00 pm. ET — if there are postponements (meaning the ESPN windows of 12:00 and 10:30 could be vacated if a game must be called off).

It’s not a surprise that the league would make that its contingency plan, as they will hope to be able to contest at least three of the scheduled five games on Christmas Day. A number of stars are potentially out for Christmas, and the Hawks appear to be at the beginning of a team outbreak, with Danilo Gallinari and Clint Capela joining Trae Young in protocols on Tuesday, which could lead their game with the Knicks to be pushed back if more positives begin to mount.

Welcome to Flavor Creators, a new series from Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple and Uproxx that will offer you cocktail recipes, ingenious tips, and a look at a bold dinner party where two chefs create food + drink pairings based on their guest’s personalities. First up, our guide to throwing a great dinner party. Check out our Flavor Creators hub for more recipes and for the next chapter in the series.

Our backyards aren’t quite as sunny these days. The leaves are turning. Rain is likely coming down and might well turn into snow. That means house party season is upon us. The first (relatively) full-on house party season since early 2020.

As the weather cools and the holiday season arrives, inviting friends to eat, drink, and be merry is sure to be a common denominator in many of our lives. But while inviting your crew to hang is one thing, actually executing a proper party is quite another. Not that it has to be an over-whelming endeavor. With a little patience, foresight, and prep, you can throw a gathering with awesome food, fun games, and remarkable cocktails that are sure to be a hit.

While it’d be easy to say “buy this wine, that bottle of whiskey, and these oysters,” that’d also be a little disingenuous. We don’t know your budget, theme, vibe, or palate. So we’re going to give some broad strokes that’ll help you throw a dope party and leave the hard details to you. Ready?

Let’s Dive In

Get what you can get done ahead of time. I know. You’ve probably heard this before but it’s so crucial that it bears repeating again and again.

– Do your cocktail shopping well before the party. Take that extra minute in the liquor store or your favorite online delivery service to find the syrups you need (they’ll all be there) and the aisle with Jack Apple in it. Then, make batch cocktails the night before and let them rest in the fridge to really emulsify. After that, all that you have to do is serve on the night of.

– Do all your mise en place (dicing, etc.) as early as possible. You never, ever want to be in the weeds in the kitchen when people are ready to eat and drink. If you’re making a demi-glace for a braised short rib, get that done the day before. It’ll be much better after settling in the fridge overnight anyway.

– Count your plates, cutlery, and glasses before too. No one wants to be left with a lone paper plate or a plastic fork when everyone else has real plates and cutlery. That’s just bad form.

– Make that playlist! That being said, don’t be unmovable about it. Keep it loose and go with the flow as the night wears on when it comes to music.

– This may be obvious, but, you know, clean your place. We’ll just leave it at that.

Getting Started

Okay, you’ve done your prep. Your amuse-bouche is ready. Your batch cocktail is ready. The lights are low. The vinyl is spinning. There’s that light trickle of energy in the air as you wait for the door buzzer to ring out.

Whether you’re serving a cold or hot welcome drink, serve each guest their own drink as they arrive. No one wants to grab a lukewarm cocktail from a tray on a kitchen counter. It’s a nice personal touch to put something like a Jack Apple Spritz made with Jack Apple in someone’s hand when you say hello. It gives you that extra second to catch up before the door buzzes again and you greet your next guest. Naturally, you should always have a non-alcoholic option at the ready.

When it comes to those early snacks, keep them in a central location so guests can graze while sipping your welcome drink. As for what to serve, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Crostini with a little fresh avocado, salt, chili flakes, and olive oil always puts smiles on faces. Cheese puffs warmed in your oven never fail. Keep it small, accessible, and executable in a way that doesn’t interfere with the main course.

Dinner

Serve a meal that’s braised! You want to cook low and slow during the day that you largely have to just plate up while your guests are in your home. While you can make some easy sides (all prepped ahead of time, of course), you really want to be entertaining and not stuck in the kitchen.

Let’s say you made a short rib. If you’ve done your prep, you should only have to sear and then plate in a serving dish with that rich demi-glace you already made ahead of time. Add a little herb garnish for color contrast and you’re good.

One key is to keep all your serving plates warm in the oven so that when you plate up, you have some time to serve the next round of drinks before people dive in. While a buffet service situation might sound the easiest, gathering around a table, family-style, is always the most intimate way to keep the conversation going while people salivate over what you’ve made.

Dessert

This is the big finale. Tie the end-of-meal cocktail to the dessert without overthinking it. Are you serving an apple cobbler? Serve a sparkling apple cider with a Jack Apple base and a dash of bitters. That’s something you can build in a pre chilled glass in 20 seconds.

Let everyone serve their own cake or pie, while you make those simple, build-in-the-glass cocktails. We like going the champagne flute route. Fill that flute with a base+sweetener+bitters and then top with something sparkling — it’s easy, fast, and is almost impossible to screw up. After everyone is full and about to hit a sugar buzz, it’s time to start game night!

Game Night

This is where things can go in a couple of directions. To keep the fun going, it might be a good play to bust out a deck of cards or even your crew’s favorite board game. Our advice is to play a game that’s both engaging for everyone and has a pretty quick end. A “first-winner takes all” game is ideal, so that other guests don’t have to wait around.

Likewise, there are plenty of party games you can play without boards or cards. Sit in a circle (with post-dinner cocktails) and have each person reveal their favorite concert or dream dining destination. It’s probably best to stay away from discussions about film and TV to avoid spoilers.

If your guests really have some time to hang, watch a really good bad movie that you can all talk over, joke about, and passively watch if some guests want to just hang out. Sometimes nothing finishes a night stronger than living out the best bad movie ever with your friends.

Good Night

At some point, you’re going to have to say “good night” to your guests. It’s a feeling that’s almost the opposite of that early energy that was buzzing around the room while you were waiting for that doorbell to ring.

While it’d be smart (time-wise) to ask your guests to help you clean up, don’t. Even if they offer, do that yourself after everyone’s left. After all, if it’s just you, then you can do the bulk of the clean-up in the morning after the kind of well-earned sleep that comes from pulling off the perfect party.

Three days after The Hollywood Reporter published an article in which two women told alarmingly similar stories of being sexually assaulted by Chris Noth nearly a decade apart from each other, the actor’s longtime Sex and the City co-stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis issued a statement on the allegations, which THR also shared.

Davis tweeted the statement, which was attributed to all three women, in which they seemed to be standing in solidarity with Noth’s accusers:

“We are deeply saddened to hear the allegations against Chris Noth. We support the women who have come forward and shared their painful experiences. We know it must be a very difficult thing to do and we commend them for it.”

Noth made his first appearance as Mr. Big in the pilot episode of Sex and the City. He played the on-again, off-again love interest of Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw character (whom he once described as “a whore”), who eventually becomes his third wife. In the very first episode of And Just Like That…, HBO Max’s new SATC sequel, Noth’s character died of a heart attack after an apparently too strenuous Peloton workout. While Peloton cheekily resurrected the character in a subsequent commercial, with help from Ryan Reynolds, after the company’s stock tanked because of the episode. Both Peloton and Reynolds have since deleted the ad following the allegations against Noth. Noth has also been dropped by his agent, fired from his current series The Equalizer, and lost a $12 million deal to sell his tequila brand.

Yet the 67-year-old actor has denied all of the allegations made against him by the two women THR spoke with, and additional women who have alleged inappropriate behavior by the actor, including actor/director Zoe Lister Jones, who worked at a club Noth used to own in New York City and appeared on an episode of Law & Order with him.

“The accusations against me made by individuals I met years, even decades, ago are categorically false,” Noth said in a statement on December 16th. “These stories could’ve been from 30 years ago or 30 days ago—no always means no—that is a line I did not cross. The encounters were consensual. It’s difficult not to question the timing of these stories coming out. I don’t know for certain why they are surfacing now, but I do know this: I did not assault these women.”

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

What’s better than escaping the cold winter temperatures with a much-needed vacation? Escaping winter with an epic electronic music festival in the Mojave Desert.

On December 10th and December 11th, 2021, thousands of lively EDM-lovers gathered to soak in the heavy beats and sunshine of Palm Springs for the debut of Desert Air, presented by Splash House and Goldenvoice. Hosted at the Palm Springs Air Museum, an iconic location in one of California’s hottest destinations, festival-goers were able to dance, party, and check out live music by globally recognized DJs alongside industrial hangars and historic aircrafts. The scenic San Jacinto Mountains and desert landscape didn’t make a bad backdrop for the event, either. Eye-catching sunsets and LED laser shows went hand-in-hand at Desert Air.

Featuring artists including Peggy Gou, DJ Koze, Dixon, The Martinez Brothers, Moodymann, Channel Tres, and Mason Collective (among others), and it’s safe to say the feel-good environment of Desert Air made for an unforgettable winter getaway. If you’ve been cooped up at home all winter and are in need of some jubilant energy and inspiration, check out the photos from Desert Air’s debut event below. They’re sure to make you want to get up and dance (or book a trip to California once Omnicron feels sorted).

Billie Eilish and Finneas are fresh off performing on Saturday Night Live, but that’s not their final performance of the year: Today, they dropped a video for an acoustic performance of Happier Than Ever highlight “Billie Bossa Nova.” This rendition isn’t too far removed from the original recording, which is relatively sparse itself save for percussion and some sonic embellishments.

The video was “directed by Philip Andelman for Gucci,” as the description notes, which could mean it’s part of the partnership Eilish and the brand forged with the Gucci vinyl edition of Happier Than Ever that was released earlier this month.

Eilish previously told Spotify of the track, “‘Billie Bossa Nova’ is a little bit of a fancy, I don’t know what. We actually called this song ‘Billie Bossa Nova’ because in, I want to say, spring of 2019, my brother sent me a beat he had made. He called it ‘Billie Bossa Nova’ ‘cause it was just a bossa nova-type beat and I was like ‘that’s amazing,’ and then nothing happened for a year and a half. Then we listened to it again and kinda wrote this fantasy, romanticized, glorified, dream.”

Finneas also previously told Rolling Stone of the tune, “We have to do a lot of goofy bullsh*t when we go on tour, where we enter through freight elevators in hotels and stuff, so that paparazzi doesn’t follow us to our room. And so we acted as if there was also a secret love affair going on in there of Billie being like, ‘Nobody saw me in the lobby / Nobody saw me in your arms,’ as if there was a mystery person in her life during all of that.”

Watch Eilish and Finneas perform “Billie Bossa Nova” above.

It’s hard to imagine what modern fashion would look like without the influence of streetwear and, by proxy, hip-hop. These days, sneakers, hoodies, sweatsuits, and graphic t-shirts are must-have wardrobe essentials, whether you’re shopping in the casual or luxury markets. Hip-hop’s influence on modern culture (fashion and beyond) cannot be understated.

And yet… if you take a cursory scan of the big fashion houses of Europe leaning into streetwear or the fast-fashion brands most often associated with the style, you’ll find that they are overwhelmingly white-owned. A discouraging sign for a fashion world leaning so heavily into hip-hop culture.

Point being, a shift in ownership in streetwear is long overdue and the best way to support that change is with your wallet. So the next time you move to stock your wardrobe with some fresh looks, make sure to also support some Black-owned streetwear brands. With that aim, here are 15 companies we love, with styles that are sure to level up your whole vibe.

10 Deep

Founded by Scott Sasso in 1995, 10 Deep is a brand that has been around for a minute, but they’ve never lost their edge. The brand cut its teeth alongside legends like Futura2000, Russ Karabalin, Rick Klotz, Camila Elhke, and the PNB Crew and served as a chief architect of early ‘90s streetwear.

Many of these brands wouldn’t exist without the influence of 10 Deep.

A-Cold-Wall

Founded in 2015 by British designer Samuel Ross, A-Cold-Wall first started as an art project before evolving into a fully-fledged men’s apparel brand. The aesthetic here leans on the luxury end of things and takes a significant influence from modern architecture and industrial design.

Scanning the brand’s Instagram will reveal an almost fine-art-like approach to streetwear. This year the brand launched some exciting sneaker collaborations with Dr. Martens that combined A-Cold-Wall’s minimalist design with classic silhouettes.

ALLCAPS Studio

Started by Philadelphian designer Saeed Ferguson, ALLCAPS Studio, perhaps unsurprisingly, plays with a lot of different font styles and typography in their designs. Generally, the text appears over simple solid color streetwear basics, allowing the kerning on its unisex stylings to be enjoyed in all their wavy glory.

Art Comes First

This London-based label is the brainchild of Sam Lambert and Shaka Maidoh and prioritizes artistic expression and cultural craftsmanship for what the brand describes as a “redefined global style.” Ultimately, the brand sees itself as an arts collective with several different enterprises.

The fashion aesthetic of the brand lands somewhere between punk rock fashion and vibrant bespoke tailoring.

Bricks & Wood

Founded and operating in Los Angeles’ South Central, Bricks & Woods prides itself in being a brand that delivers fits that are equal parts functional and high quality. Primarily, the brand focuses on streetwear staples and basics in unisex sizing.

If you’re all about cozy fits that still have you looking like the best dressed in the room, Bricks & Wood is the move.

The Brooklyn Circus

Prep style might be the antithesis of streetwear, but The Brooklyn Circus attempts to fuse the two looks and they do so to exceptional results. The brand has a special skill for taking the iconic silhouettes of iconic college-inspired silhouettes and infusing them with the modern sensibilities and eternal cool of streetwear.

Come Back as a Flower

From the mind of Esper Knows, Come Back As A Flower is a Los Angeles-based fashion label that puts ethical production and sustainability at the forefront, utilizing recycled cotton on 100% of the brand’s offerings. The drops that come out of Come Back As A Flower might be few and far between, but each one features hand-dyed production and attention to detail and craft that is able to instill a sense of pride in you just for owning a piece.

The aesthetic here leans on the heavily psychedelic side, so if you like a little tie-dye with your streetwear, you can’t go wrong with this brand.

Denim Tears

Denim Tears specializes in… well, denim, but it goes much deeper than that. Started by former Kanye West consultant Tremaine Emory, Denim Tears is both a denim brand and a company that tasks itself with highlighting cotton as a symbol forever intertwined with America’s history of slavery.

The clothing is as thought-provoking as it is fresh. Since the brand’s inception, they’ve moved past simple denim pieces, offering a growing list of dope streetwear basics and essentials.

Fear of God

If you follow streetwear closely you’re probably already aware of Jerry Lorenzo’s massively popular Los Angeles-based label Fear of God, but on the off-chance you don’t, you need this brand on your radar ASAP.

Fear of God has an undeniable futuristic and luxurious quality to it. They’re the only brand that can make sweats look like something fit for royalty. Whether it’s the brand’s luxury apparel or their high-profile sneaker collaborations, no wardrobe is complete without at least one Fear of God branded piece.

Heron Preston

Heron Preston comes from the mind of the designer of the same name. A Parsons School of Design alumnus, Preston’s brand borrows the look and color palette of modern workwear and gives it a luxury-brand style presentation.

From functional puffer jackets and faded denim staples to psychedelic high-fashion prints and sheer fabrics, Heron Preston is a brand that seems to get more exciting with each new drop.

Mami Wata

Officially launched in 2017 by Selema Masekela, Peet Pienaar, Nick Dutton, and Andy Davis, Mami Wata is a celebration of all things Black surf culture. The brand is heavily inspired by the vibrant surf scene of South Africa, and delivers beach-friendly essentials like board shorts, tees, hoodies, and button-ups that look equal parts fly and comfortable.

Nicholas Daley

If Jimi Hendrix was a young musician in his prime today, he would without a doubt be dressed head to toe in Nicholas Daley. The designer combines tie-dye and heavily saturated color palettes with streetwear staples that will have you looking like you just walked off the set of a new Erykah Badu music video.

RenownedLA

Founded back in 2011 by the young designer John Dean III, Renowned first began as a creative outlet for Dean’s projects when he was a high school student in Akron Ohio. The brand tasks itself with designing streetwear that speaks to and for the past, present, and future of Black designers by paying tribute to the sportswear stylings of early hip hop, retranslated through a modern lens.

Telfar

Founded in 2005 by Telfar Clemens, Telfar has gone on to become one of the most sought-after brands in all of streetwear. The label primarily focuses on unisex stylings, with its key piece being a variety of Telfar branded bags, which routinely sell out minutes after being restocked. Walk down the streetwear rocking a Telfar and you’ll easily be the most stylish on the block.

Union

Owned by Chris Gibbs and Beth Birkett, Union is a favorite amongst hardcore streetwear aficionados. The brand routinely drops some of the best sneaker collaborations of all time, whether we’re talking Nike, Jordan, or Adidas collaborations as well as streetwear essentials like cozy and colorful outerwear, graphic t-shirts, and more.

If you’re all about streetwear, it rarely gets better than Union.

While in lockdown, Elton John found himself with ample time on his hands. Rather than picking up crocheting as a hobby or buying a Peloton bike like so many others did at the time, John decided to get to know some of today’s chart-topping musicians the best way he could — by collaborating over Zoom. Thus, his album The Lockdown Sessions was born, a 16-track genre-spanning project featuring today’s top artists.

To ring in the holidays and celebrate the success of The Lockdown Sessions, which landed at No. 1 in the UK, John once again opened up Zoom and gathered all his collaborators in once place for the “Ultimate Zoom” call. John began the call and soon after, artists like Dua Lipa, Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X, Rina Sawayama, Eddie Vedder, SG Lewis, Charlie Puth, Brandie Carlile, Damon Albarn, Stevie Wonder, Stevie Nicks, and Young Thug all joined.

The 4-minute video was both a celebration of the album and a reminder of all the little frustrations of virtual calls like WiFi issues or distracting noises in the background. According to press materials, the video is meant as a “celebration of the way that Zoom has enabled people to continue to work, interact and create music in the most challenging of circumstances.”

Watch Elton John, Dua Lipa, Lil Nas X, Miley Cyrus, and more on the “Ultimate Zoom” call above.

The Lockdown Sessions is out now via EMI Records. Get it here.

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

By now, you’re probably aware of the death of Drakeo The Ruler, who was stabbed in the neck backstage at the Once Upon A Time In LA festival. You might not have been aware of just who Drakeo The Ruler was, or why him performing there was such a big deal. As he himself would put it, it’s because he “is LA hip-hop.” While that might sound like typical rapper self-aggrandizement, in Drakeo’s case, it was uniquely true.

Just check out this piece I wrote nearly four years ago in which I called Drakeo one of the architects of LA’s new underground sound alongside 03 Greedo and Shoreline Mafia. So far, that assessment has borne itself out even despite a series of setbacks that had so far prevented that underground sound from penetrating the mainstream (insomuch as there even is a difference between underground and mainstream in the modern, Spotified era of rap).

While Shoreline Mafia eventually split up, individual members like Fenix Flexin and OhGeesy have made a significant impact with their own solo material. 03 Greedo went to prison in Texas for gun possession, but has since dropped a slew of projects recorded in the months before beginning his sentence. And Drakeo himself spent nearly two years in jail fighting charges of attempted murder without bail but recorded his own project from behind the walls, maintaining his presence on the outside before being released in the transition between Los Angeles District Attorneys after last year’s elections.

He came back with a vengeance, releasing a studio album and two mixtapes in rapid succession within months after his release — a testament to his vaunted prolific work ethic. And while those independently released projects weren’t chart-toppers, it’s in Drakeo’s influence on the LA scene that we can see the most evidence supporting his claim to be the avatar of the city’s new approach to hip-hop.

The slippery, off-kilter cadence that he uses across much of his catalog has been replicated in the elaborate punchlines of West Coast jokers like 1TakeJay, AzChike, BlueBucksClan, and Drakeo’s own protege Remble, while the hometown stop on his recent tour saw a line for the Novo wrapped not just around the block but around nearly the entirety of the LA Live campus, something I hadn’t personally witnessed in any of my own many (many) forays to the area for concerts and Clippers games.

However, his death isn’t just a loss for LA hip-hop — it’s also an indictment of many of our society’s systems, starting with the justice system. There’s no way anyone could have predicted him dying in less than a year after being released but it’s an absolute travesty that anyone could be locked up for most of the last two years of their life before ever being proven guilty of a crime. Life is so short and so precious; there must be alternatives to simply incarcerating people for even being suspected of crimes.

And yes, there are probably a few recriminations to be had for Live Nation, who organized the Once Upon A Time In LA festival. Drakeo’s mother has already begun to pursue legal action against the promoter, citing a lack of security backstage, which anyone who’s ever spent any time in the streets of Los Angeles should have seen the necessity for. As one Twitter user put it, that is too many gangs in one place, and certainly not the venue or the time to cut costs by hiring fewer guards. The fact that this could happen demonstrates either unfamiliarity with the acts involved — certainly in line with corporate America’s shallow, profit-driven level of engagement with hip-hop and Black culture — or a callous disregard for their safety. It’s doubly damning that Live Nation is already under fire for its last festival this year, the disastrous Astroworld, where 10 people were killed by a crowd crush, believed to be caused in part by lack of security.

A growing sentiment among the segment of my social network that comments on the goings-on of Los Angeles is that there is “something going on” in the city. In just the past handful of years, the LA area has seen the violent deaths of an inordinately great number of rappers from Nipsey Hussle to Pop Smoke. However, it’s not just something that’s confined to LA — in Dallas, we saw the shooting death of local rapper Mo3, and in Memphis, Young Dolph was also killed. Unfortunately, hip-hop has always been a bellwether of wider trends in society.

That there appears to be a trend of rappers meeting violent ends only says that America still has yet to address the underlying circumstances that cause violence in the communities that produce these rappers, that cause these rappers to produce violent music reflecting their circumstances, and that cause that violence to eventually find them again even as they strive to leave it behind. No one should be living like this, forced to look over their shoulder at home while thousands of fans scramble to hear more horror stories they themselves will never have to experience. All of these rappers, including Drakeo, are the canaries in the coal mine. I wonder if America will stop digging before it’s too late.