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If you pay attention to the changing craft beer seasons and the styles that each brings, you’re probably aware of a beer referred to lovingly as a “winter warmer.” When you read that term, it likely conjures up a few things in your mind like a rich, robust beer that’s full of winter spices, and effortlessly warming, right? But what exactly is the definition of a winter warmer?

A winter warmer is an old style of beer with deeply roasted malts that create anything from a light red ale to a dark-as-night ale. They have very little hop presence, are higher in alcohol content, and often have holidays flavors added (especially in the old-school English and Belgian versions). More trendy craft versions from the U.S. scene will amp up the hops and really layer in the holiday spices and fruit. All of that gives this “style” of beer a pretty wide net when talking about winter warmers.

The find the best, we asked a handful of well-known brewers, experts, and brewing professionals to tell us their go-to winter warmers to drink during the holidays and beyond. Keep reading to see their picks.

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale

Jason Santamaria, co-founder and brewer at Second Self Beer in Atlanta

ABV: 10%

Average Price: $12 for a 750ml bottle

Why This Beer?

Winter in our house means St. Bernardus Christmas Ale. This beer starts as one of my other favorite beers, St. Bernardus Abt 12, then adds in holiday spices for some extra flavor and warmth. This by a fire is a great experience. I always bring a bottle or three to a family gathering and have it with dessert.

54°40’De Ver Vriender

Julie Walker, experiences manager for Unboxed Experiences

ABV: 10.2%

Average Price: Limited Availability

Why This Beer?

If I could only drink one winter warmer forever, there’s no question what it would be De Ver Vriender Belgian-Style Quad Ale out of 54°40’Beer in Washougal, Washington. This beer is brewed exclusively for our winter warmer events and certainly doesn’t disappoint. Clocking in at ten percent ABV, it definitely heats you from head to toe while the rich flavors of raisin, brown sugar, cherry, and caramel wrap you up in a sweater of malty goodness. The name translates to “the distant friends,” which is a sweet touch as we bring people together virtually through our guided beer tastings.

Pro tip: try it with a chocolate-dipped Belgian sugar waffle and you just may find nirvana.

Heavy Riff Instigator

Stephen Hale, founding brewer at Schlafly Beer in St. Louis

ABV: 9%

Average Price: Limited Availability

Why This Beer?

Heavy Riff Brewing Instigator Doppelbock is my pick. It’s an iconic bock, full of dark rich fruit flavor. Warming, sweet, rich, and extremely warming on a cold winter day or night, it’s definitely not to be missed.

Great Lakes Christmas Ale

Manny Salvatori, lead brewer at The Bronx Brewery in Bronx, New York

ABV: 7.5%

Average Price: $14 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

I always say Great Lakes Christmas Ale tastes like a drunk gingerbread man. It’s got tons of spicy cinnamon and is sweetened with honey. There’s a reason it’s one of the most eagerly-awaited winter warmers on the market.

Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome

Brad Bergman, director of brewing at Sycamore Brewing in Charlotte, North Carolina

ABV: 6%

Average Price: $12 for a two-pack

Why This Beer?

I’m going with Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome. This one holds a fair amount of nostalgia for me. It was one of the first “craft” beers that I got into years ago. It’s been a while, but the flavors I appreciated were the smooth, sweet caramel notes paired with the characterful fruitier English ale yeast esters. Non-spiced, which I prefer, this one is really just a smooth, malty, approachable winter ale that personally carries a lot of nostalgia.

Avery Rumpkin

Michael Buchkoski, brewer at LUKI Brewery in Arvada, Colorado

ABV: 16.3%

Average Price: $14 for a 12-ounce bottle

Why This Beer?

This monstrous ale comes in at a whopping 16.3 percent ABV and warms all takers. I really enjoy and appreciate the blended combination of cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and ginger. Aged in rum barrels, the Rumpkin Ale picks up some unique characteristics ranging from oak to molasses. It pairs well with a hearty stew or can be enjoyed straight.

East Rock Winter Lager

Jack Hendler, co-owner and brewer of Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers in Framingham, Massachusetts

ABV: 6%

Average Price: Limited Availability

Why This Beer?

East Rock’s Winter Lager is the perfect winter warmer. Being, well, me, I always prefer lagers. This one is a bock beer with a blend of spices. This adds vanilla, brown sugar, and molasses. It’s malty sweet with spice making it a nice winter beer. It’s a great buy if you can find it.

Anchor Christmas Ale

Dennis O’Harrow, head brewer at Lone Tree Brewing in Lone Tree, Colorado

ABV: 7%

Average Price: $12 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

My winter warmer pick is a classic, Anchor Steam Christmas Ale. It’s slightly different every year with spices that make for a feast for the senses. It’s definitely a beer to get excited about each and every year.

21st Amendment Fireside Chat

Matthew Barry, director of operations at Fieldwork Brewing Company in Berkeley, California

ABV: 7.9%

Average Price: $11 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

21st Amendment Brewery’s Fireside Chat is my selection. When brewing, spices can get away from you quickly, and my favorite thing about 21st Amendment’s Fireside Chat is that the spice is punchy, but not overdone. The rich and soft character of the base beer does a great job of absorbing some of the spice.

Avery Old Jubilation

Chris McManus, head brewer at Phantom Canyon Brewing Company in Colorado Springs, Colorado

ABV: 8.3%

Average Price: $11 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

Avery Old Jubilation Ale is pretty great for this type of beer, although I would suggest this beer to anyone who prefers a big, malty beer any time of the year. Its name is a great indication of what you’ll find when you pour it into a glass. It’s highlighted by flavors of caramel, raisins, and sweet malts.

Scratch Winter Warmer

Patrick Ware, co-founder and head of brewing ops at Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, Arizona

ABV: 8.7%

Average Price: Limited Availability

Why This Beer?

Winter Warmer from Scratch Brewing is my pick. Any beer you try from Scratch Brewing is going to be interesting. I generally don’t seek out winter warmers unless something is intriguing enough is going on to take a chance on. The interplay between spicy ginger and cedar is really nice, with a warming sweet alcohol finish. It’s perfect next to the fire on a cold night.

While Destiny 2 was first released back in 2017, it’s still going strong to this day. Bungie’s MMO first-person shooter has gone through a lot of changes since then such as dropping from a $60 title to free-to-play, but these changes are considered a positive by most fans and critics. Bungie, once again an independent studio after releasing itself from the Activision Blizzard umbrella in 2019, is currently in the process of celebrating 30 years of existence with a package of goodies for players in Destiny 2. Those 30 years have featured the company creating games like Destiny and, at one point, Halo.

While Halo is now in the hands of 343 Industires, Bungie still remembers the game that helped it become the giant it is today. That’s why we see Halo staples like the Magnum Pistol, Battle Rifle, and Energy Sword prominently in the trailer. Of course, Bungie has done more than just made Halo and Destiny — they also made games like Marathon and Myth. If we look hard enough, we might be able to find even more Easter Eggs.

Platform: PlayStation, Xbox, PC
Price: Free for base game, expansion costs vary
Release Date: Available now
Genre: FPS/MMO
Developer: Bungie
Publisher: Bungie
Rating: T
Where can I buy this: Microsft Store, PlayStation Store, Steam, brick and mortar stores
Single Player: Yes
Multiplayer: Yes
Early Access: No
Microtransactions: Yes

Ocean’s Eleven, the most dudes rock movie of all-time, came out 20 years ago today. That’s 20 years of George Clooney and Brad Pitt looking impossibly cool, 20 years of “might as well call it whitejack,” and 20 years of Don Cheadle’s inexplicable accent.

Based on the Rat Pack-starring 1960 film of the same name (although the “11” isn’t spelled out in the original), Ocean’s Eleven was written by Ted Griffin and directed by Steven Soderbergh, who was originally apprehensive about taking on the project. “To my mind, there is a certain technical standard involved in making a film like this, and I was concerned that I wouldn’t measure up, so I made sure that I did a lot of homework. I studied some film makers that I thought were comfortable working in this sort of arena, just in terms of technical skills,” he said in a 2002 interview.

It’s a good thing Soderbergh changed his mind: Ocean’s Eleven made $450.7 million at the box office on a $85 million budget; inspired two sequels (with Ocean’s Fourteen possibly on the way) and a female spin-off; and it’s impossible to not watch at least 10 minutes of it when you’re flipping through cable channels on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Let’s give it up for Reuben:

On the 20th anniversary, people are praising “the only truly good movie.”

This tweet is from May 2020, but it still applies:

Dax Shepard, who does a great many things although the “wait for the stink” bathing controversy has overshadowed much of his year, recently sat down with Brooke Shields for an episode of the Armchair Expert Podcast. The end result dredged up an old controversy, about which Brooke let ‘er rip over a decades-old Barbara Walters interview. That went down in 1981, when Walters grilled Brooke, then age 15, amid backlash over those Calvin Klein jeans ads (which featured Brooke declaring, “You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing”).

Since that time, Brooke’s dealt with numerous other annoyances, like Donald Trump asking her out in the 1990s and Tom Cruise blasting her for taking an antidepressant in the 2000s. Decades after much of this mess, Brooke has reflected upon that Walters commercial while talking with Dax (about the sexualization of young stars), and as it turns out, Brooke doesn’t appreciate what she called the “practically criminal” way that Walters quizzed her over those commercials.

Via People, Brooke declared that “It’s not journalism” for Walters to have asked, “Brooke, what are your measurements?” And that was only the beginning of a very awkward few minutes in the below clip.

As Brooke told Dax, however (via People), “I didn’t think it had to do with underwear… didn’t think it [the ad] was sexual in nature.” She added, “What was shocking to me was to be berated by ‘oh, you knew this was happening… you were thinking these thoughts.’” As Brooke summed up, “I was a kid” and “I was naive, I didn’t think anything of it” while making those ads. As for Dax, he described the Walters interview as “maddening.” Certainly, those Calvin Klein ads were suggestive, although Walters’ followup on the controversy did nothing to help the situation.

(Via People)

Courtney Barnett’s third album, Things Take Time, Take Time, came out last month and the most endearing left-handed guitarist and cheeky lyricist in indie is in the midst of her North American tour. And come next year, we’ll get an intimate look at Barnett’s life on the road when the Anonymous Club documentary that was filmed over the course of the past three years is released.

But last night, Barnett appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to play the slacker love song, “If I Don’t Hear From You Tonight.” With Warpaint’s Stella Mozgawa on drums, Barnett delivered a typically tight performance of the clever jam. When the song first came out, Barnett said that it “comes from the state of where my head was at — trying to communicate honestly instead of keeping [my feelings] guarded.”

It’s a dashing number from the Aussie and you can watch the performance above. Also check out Barnett’s remaining tour dates below.

12/10/2021 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Ace *
12/12/2021 — San Francisco, CA @ The Fox *
12/14/2021 — Seattle, WA @ Paramount *
12/15/2021 — Vancouver, BC @ Commodore
01/22/2022 — Minneapolis, MN @ Palace Theatre ^
01/23/2022 — Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre ^
01/25/2022 — Detroit, MI @ Masonic Temple Theatre ^
01/26/2022 — Columbus, OH @ Express Live ^
01/28/2022 — Nashville, TN @ Ryman ^
01/29/2022 — Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern ^
01/31/2022 — Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel+
02/03/2022 — Washington DC @ 9:30 Club+
02/04/2022 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Met ^
02/05/2022 — New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall ^
02/08/2022 — Boston, MA @ Wang Theatre +
02/10/2022 — Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground +
02/11/2022 — Montreal, QC @ Mtelus +
02/12/2022 — Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall +

* with Bartees Strange
+ with Shamir
^ with Julia Jacklin

While we might normally come to HGTV to snag fresh ideas for our own homes or simply admire all the gorgeous villas and vacation properties we wish we could afford, starting early next year we have a new reason to tune into the Discovery-owned channel: to reassure ourselves at least our home isn’t that bad. Starting January 3, HGTV and Parks and Recreation star Retta are taking us on a journey to find the home in more dire need of a makeover in Ugliest House in America.

The five-part series will offer “an exploration of America’s homes like we’ve never seen before,” according to HGTV senior vice president of production and development Betsy Ayala, as well as a $150,000 prize to the home crowned the ugliest in the country. Oh, and just in case you had any doubt as to if these humble abodes are genuinely the ugliest houses in America, just listen to what Retta had to say about her time spent touring them:

“I am certain these were 12 of the ugliest houses in America. Trust. I had to walk through them all,” said Retta. “There were so many stunningly bad design choices. Why would someone WANT an oversized statue of Poseidon in their driveway? I don’t know, but God bless. I was just happy and, to be honest, relieved to help one family get the home of their dreams.”

According to the show’s press release, Ugliest House in America kicks off in the good ol’ Midwest, where Retta will showcase three homes “boasting a range of bad designs, from wall-to-wall pink shag carpeting, mirrored walls and ceilings, to over-the-top ocean themes featuring fish statues, room-sized murals and wall-mounted stuffed marlins.” And don’t worry, if your jaw has already dropped in horror just imagining such monstrosities, you’re not alone.

During the tours, Retta will also share her “hilarious reviews of each unsightly home and comment on failed flips, gaudy designs, and heinous hodge-podge horrors.” At the end of the five-day series, Retta will judge the homes based on their unattractiveness, lack of functionality, and “surprising” design elements, and crown one as the winner of HGTV’s “ugliest house in America.” That home will then win a $150,000 ren0vation provided by HGTV star Alison Victoria (Windy City Rehab, Kitchen Crashers).

Ugliest House in America premieres exclusively on HGTV on Monday, January 3 at 10 PM ET, with new episodes debuting each night until January 7.

Billie Eilish has been one of the world’s biggest celebrities for a decent while now, but people still have a hard time saying her name (and not just Rainn Wilson or Dionne Warwick). In fact, as Billboard reports, Eilish’s last name made it onto the US Captioning Company’s 2021 list of the most frequently mispronounced words on TV.

The list is based on surveys of members and was commissioned by language-learning platform Babbel. Esteban Touma, a stand-up comedian and teacher for Babbel Live, says, “Newscasters in the US have struggled with 2021’s new words and names while reporting on key sporting events, viral internet trends and emerging celebrities. As a language teacher, it’s always interesting to see that some of these terms are usually new colloquialisms, or are rooted or borrowed from another language. As a non-native speaker, I must confess it’s fun to see English speakers stumbling a bit for a change.”

Other terms that made the list included cheugy, Chipotle, dalgona, Dogecoin, and omicron.

It turns out there’s a history when it comes to the pronunciation of “Eilish,” even before Billie. A 2014 article from IrishCentral includes Eilish in its list of “commonly mispronounced Irish names” and indicates the proper pronunciation is “E-leesh.” A year earlier, though, a forum topic on Nameberry has multiple users chiming in on how they think the name is pronounced, and “EYE-lish” is among the most popular answers. In both of those cases, “Eilish” is treated as a first name, which is actually consistent with the singer’s name: Eilish isn’t the singer’s real last name like it may seem, as her full name is Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell.

Eilish herself has clarified how the name is pronounced. In a 2017 BBC interview, for example, she said, “It’s ‘eye-lish,’ like ‘eyelash’ with a ‘lish.’”

It’s officially eggnog season. Rejoice! I’m a ride-or-die fan of the creamy, spicy, boozy concoction. In fact, I’m spending the next two days making a big batch of the stuff, but I’ll cover that process in a post later this week. Until then, I’m going to dive into Evan Williams Original Southern Egg Nog.

Yes, we’re talking about the $10 bottle you can find on most liquor store shelves right now.

At first glance, it would almost seem sacrilege to drink eggnog from a sealed bourbon bottle that doesn’t even sit in the dairy aisle. And while I’m not a fan of flavored whiskey, this… isn’t exactly that. This is a cream liqueur that’s spiced to taste like a classic nog. That I can get into.

Below, I’m going to (very seriously!) offer up my tasting notes on Evan William’s swing at nog. I’m tasting this from a pre-chilled bottle (from the fridge) over three rocks with a dusting of freshly grated nutmeg. Let’s get into it.

Evan Williams Original Southern Egg Nog Bourbon

ABV: 30%

Average Price: $10

The Whiskey:

This “flavored” whiskey is a spiced cream liqueur that’s cut with sweet Kentucky bourbon, blended bourbon, brandy, and rum from Heaven Hill (which makes several labels for each category). If you drink whiskey cream liqueurs (Bailey’s, Carolan’s, etc.), you’ll have a general idea of where this bottle fits.

Tasting Notes:

I dusted this with freshly grated nutmeg, so, naturally, that’s the first smell I get on the nose. Beyond that, there’s a heavy cream on the nose that has a touch of vanilla and a hint of rum raisins. The taste is pure nog with nutmeg married to heavy cream with a pudding/yolky vibe and a lot of white sugar. There’s a twinge of alcohol in the mix that feels like a dark rum or bourbon — shout out to the vanilla — but the brandy is lost on me. There’s also a bit of an alcohol/ethanol note of the backend that leans into a plastic vanilla extract bottle but it’s super subtle.

The texture is incredibly smooth and has a nice heft to it that feels not quite as creamy as eggnog from a dairy farm (the ones that you get in a glass bottle) but not quite as thin as the stuff you get at the grocery store either. It’s a nice balance and goes down very easily.

As I dropped into the second pour of this, I started to notice the faintest hint of barnyard funk around the mid-palate. It wasn’t sour or tart. It was just this whisper of a barn that was kind of nostalgic and enticing, yet very fleeting. That said, I could see this being a huge turn-off for some folks.

The Bottle:

This is a standard Evan Williams bottle with a festive label. In case you need directions, there’s a nice bulbous rocks glass right on the label with a dusting of nutmeg with a cinnamon stick serving as a swizzle stick. The label also tells you to serve “chilled,” hence the pre-chilling in the fridge and rocks in my glass.

Bottom Line:

Look, making a big batch of eggnog is time-consuming and kind of a pain in the ass (especially if you’re folding in egg whites). This is a perfectly suitable, albeit very sweet, alternative. It’s really tasty but on the thinner side of the spectrum. It’s just boozy enough that you know there’s some “punch” there. The spices truly shine through.

Generally speaking, I’m going to say: I dig this and I’m kind of wishing I bought a case to save me from having to spend two days making a batch of nog this weekend. I can quite happily savor this on the rocks with that dash of nutmeg.

Despite much of 2020 feeling like a living nightmare, all that extra time at home gave us an opportunity to put renewed focus on the things that really matter to us. Like personal comfort. With all the Zoom meetings and experience working from home we’ve endured, somewhere along the way, we pretty much all collectively agreed to stop wearing “real pants” outside in the post-pandemic era.

Tight skinny jeans over leggings? Nope. Heels over sneakers? Absolutely f*cking not. We’re all in on streetwear now. The whole entire culture is IN!

As we enter 2022, sweatpants, baggy tees, and a fresh pair of new Airs are not only acceptable for everyday wear, but they’re among the must-have staples in every woman’s closet. Athleisure and laidback ensembles are spotted on both Instagram’s coolest influencers and the most style-forward models (much of it un-gendered). And it doesn’t seem like this current movement is going anywhere any time soon.

Meaning the holidays are the perfect time to help the wardrobe-loving woman or female-identifying person in your life (or really anyone and everyone who likes the gear we’re featuring) stock up on the latest streetwear essentials. Below, we’re sharing a head-to-toe gift guide of streetwear items that inspire joy in a major way.

Princess Polly Vintage Bucket Hat

Price: $30

Bucket hats are the cherry on top (literally) of any streetwear outfit. This black, vintage-inspired option pairs well with pretty much anything, and it provides an effortlessly understated way to stand out. The soft corduroy design is also a great tool for keeping warm and comfortable during the colder months without sacrificing style. If you’re not sure what to gift to your girl for the holidays, a basic bucket hat is good place to start.

Get it here.

Quay In Demand Sunglasses

Price: $55

Accessories are a woman’s best friend, especially when it comes to taking a fit from getting a few compliments to seriously turning heads. These bold, orange sunnies add a pop of fun color that can take any streetwear look up a notch. They’re ideal for any woman who’s not afraid to make a statement and experiment with her style.

Get them here.

Reformation Hunter Classic Sweatshirt & Boyfriend Sweatpants

Price: $58 (sweatshirt), $78 (sweatpants)

A matching sweatsuit is the quintessential staple of women’s streetwear. Available in several different colors, this set from Reformation offers a relaxed yet flattering fit. Whether she’s running errands or heading out to lunch with friends, sweatsuits are the ultimate casual, winter-ready outfit. The best part is that nobody will know if she went to sleep in it, rolled out of bed, and then continued on with her day in the same clothes.

Get it here and here.

Garage Boyfriend Tee

Price: $29.95

Graphic tees are some of the most versatile, as well as most comfortable, streetwear items a woman can own. A good T-shirt and jeans combo say: “I’m not trying that hard but I still look hot AF.” Garage offers 22 different colors and designs to choose from, so you’re sure to find a graphic tee that matches the vibe of the person you’re shopping for.

Get it here.

Beginning Boutique Safia White Crop Top

Price: $29.99

You really can never have too many white crop tops in your dresser. It’s an essential to every woman’s wardrobe — no matter what style of dress you typically wear. When it comes to street clothes, crop tops are perfect to pair with sweats, jeans, and basically any other item of clothing you can dream up. They’re an all-around winner. But between spills and pit stains, white tanks and tees need to be tossed more often than not. Therefore, the fashion-forward woman in your life will appreciate the gift of a replacement shirt.

Get it here.

Reprise Biker Shorts

Price: $95

Streetwear always reverts back to comfort, and biker shorts are the ultimate athleisure item for women. Whether they’re worn with a graphic tee, a coordinating crop top, or an oversized sweatshirt, biker shorts are a flattering and cool (literally and figuratively) way to sport a casual ensemble on a warm day.

Did she just go to a yoga class or is she coming from happy hour at the local bar? The world may never know.

Get it here.

Urban Outfitters Y2K Low-Rise Cargo Pant

Price: $69

The early 2000s are back, and these low-rise cargo pants prove it. This neutral style features a relaxed fit with a wide-leg cut, making it both comfortable and fashionable. They’re ideal for the trendy person who is always on the go (potentially via skateboard). Plus, the cargo pocket detailing creates a unique bulky aesthetic without actually weighing you down.

These tan pants are also a perfect transitional piece for winter-to-spring fashion thanks to the light color and airy fit.

Get it here.

Adidas Essential Waist Pack

Price: $28

Fanny packs haven’t always been considered the hottest accessory, but now all the cool kids are wearing them both around their waists and across their shoulders. Therefore, a woman who’s an avid street style connoisseur needs to add one to her bag collection. Gift her with a classic option that can do no wrong, such as this black Adidas Essential Waist Pack.

Not only are waist bags on-trend, but they’re also insanely convenient for holding belongings. Who needs a purse, anyway?

Get it here.

PacSun Ripped ’90s Boyfriend Jeans

Price: $59.95

Androgynous clothing is a key component to curating a closet full of streetwear items. Fortunately, women no longer have to actually steal their boyfriends’ clothes to achieve a more masculine look. When it comes to denim, the baggier, the better. PacSun’s boyfriend jeans offer an ultra-loose fit and ripped knees to play up the guy-ish guise.

Tip: Size up when purchasing denim to ensure a more baggy fit!

Get it here.

Merrell Alpine Sneaker

Price: $90

No streetwear look is truly complete without a pair of statement sneakers. Will she actually work out in them? Possibly, but not likely. These subtly bold sneakers from Merrell make for diverse styling options and long-lasting wear. The lightweight EVA foam midsole is crafted for stability and comfort so she can strut through the day sans sore feet. With seven different color combinations, you can gift your gal a pair of rainbow kicks or something a little more low-key.

Get it here.

It’s not always easy balancing work with school — especially if you’re a recording artist. While more and more artists attempt to complete their educational goals at the same time as their career ones, you might wonder: What does that balancing act actually look like? South Central LA rapper NCognita attempts to answer that question with her new docuseries, Nita Unfiltered. Kicking off today, its first episode follows her NCognita as she prepares to return to Loyola University New Orleans, talking it through with her family at home and describing the differences between LA and New Orleans.

Ncognita is just starting her career, but she’s already got a lot of weight behind her thanks to the co-sign of Insecure creator Issa Rae, who signed the young rapper to her label Raedio earlier this year after holding a competition for an invitation to a writing camp for the show’s final season. Issa Rae has been curating the soundtrack for Insecure all five seasons, leading to expanded work on the soundtracks for shows like 50 Cent’s Power and HBO’s Betty. Raedio previously partnered with Baby Tate to release her After The Rain EP as well, spawning the hit record “I Am” with Flo Milli.

So while Ncognita may not be a household name just yet, there’s a strong chance you’ll be hearing her in at least one of the places Issa Rae currently holds sway. Take the chance to get familiar now.