The wait for the follow-up to Summer Walker’s breakthrough 2019 debut Over It has been a roller coaster, one that’s now reaching the top of the climb before that final freefall that everyone looks forward to. First, Walker projected confirmation of the album’s November release timeline on the side of a building outside of the BET Awards, giving off heavy Yeezus guerilla marketing vibes. Then came a trailer announcing the November 5th official release date for Still Over It. That was followed by a tracklist teaser with an announcement for her next single, “Ex For A Reason,” featuring JT of City Girls, which dropped three days later.
Considering Over Itbroke Beyoncé’s record for the largest streaming week ever for an album by a female R&B artist, the build-up here is warranted. And now, today, Walker tweeted out the album cover along with the entire tracklist, and it’s stacked. Aside from “Ex For A Reason,” highlights include the album’s opening track, “Bitter,” with narration Cardi B, “No Love” featuring SZA, “Dat Right There” featuring Pharrell, plus tracks with Lil Durk, Ari Lennox, and more.
So far, it’s been a big day in Saturday Night Live musical guest news. This morning, Ed Sheeran revealed that he will be able to perform on the show as planned following his positive COVID test. Now, not only has SNL confirmed the news, but they’ve also revealed their next two musical guests after Sheeran: Taylor Swift and Saweetie.
Swift will guest on the November 13 episode hosted by Jonathan Majors, while Saweetie will perform on the Simu Liu-hosted episode on November 20.
This will be Saweetie’s first time on the program. As for Swift, she’s an SNL veteran. Her first stint as musical guest came in 2009, and her upcoming performance will be her fourth. In her second 2009 episode, Swift had the rare honor of serving most as host and musical guest.
Maybe you’re not in the mood for entertainment about a pandemic that wipes out much of the world’s population. I get it. That being said, Station Eleven looks pretty dang good. Based on Emily St. John Mandel’s Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning novel of the same name, the HBO Max limited series is described as a “post-apocalyptic saga spanning multiple timelines” that tells “the stories of survivors of a devastating flu as they attempt to rebuild and reimagine the world anew while holding on to the best of what’s been lost.”
Cheery stuff, but Station Eleven has a solid cast, including Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel, Gael García Bernal, and Lori Petty, and the behind-the-scenes talent includes creator Patrick Somerville (The Leftovers, Maniac) and Atlanta director Hiro Murai.
Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin praised Station Eleven as one of the best books he read in 2014. “One could, I suppose, call it a post-apocalypse novel, and it is that, but all the usual tropes of that subgenre are missing here, and half the book is devoted to flashbacks to before the coming of the virus that wipes out the world, so it’s also a novel of character, and there’s this thread about a comic book and Doctor Eleven and a giant space station and… oh, well, this book should NOT have worked, but it does,” he wrote on his blog. “It’s a deeply melancholy novel, but beautifully written, and wonderfully elegiac… a book that I will long remember, and return to.”
Station Eleven, which also stars Daniel Zovatto, David Wilmot, Matilda Lawler, Philippine Velge, Nabhaan Rizwan, and Danielle Deadwyler, debuts on HBO Max on December 16.
The current incarnation of the cancel culture discussion, inevitably, revolves around Dave Chappelle’s trans jokes in The Closer. The backlash led to a Netflix employee walkout and Chappelle complaining that he’s endured the “worst three weeks of my life” while continuing to, uh, tell trans jokes at sold-out venues. So, Dave hasn’t technically been “cancelled,” but that’s really beside the point because the subject of cancel culture popped up in Hollywood Reporter interview with O.G. SNL star Dan Aykroyd (and famously one of the Not Ready for Primetime Players).
Granted, Aykroyd was on hand to discuss the upcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife movie, and Chappelle’s name never comes up, but it’s not hard to guess that this question’s in the air because of the adversarial vibe that Chappelle continues to nurture. And Aykroyd is here to wonder why comedians can’t simply write jokes without resorting to “divisive cards” (or for that matter, poop jokes), which is a relevant point:
“There is enough range in humor where you don’t have to go scatological and you don’t have to go pulling any divisive cards to get a laugh. There is so much in the world to comment on that is outside the realm of offensiveness. As a writer, you can go to other areas and have successful creative endeavors. Scatological humor is fun. It’s easy laughs. But there is more intelligent writing that can happen if you stay away from the offensive material that should be rightly canceled for its hurtfulness.
Aykroyd continued with a personal example, which is that he’s perfectly capable of, say, doing a James Brown “imitation” because “I do his voice pretty good” and “[h]e was one of my best friends.” Yet he decided, “[M]aybe I shouldn’t anymore.” Seth Rogen recently made a similar point, that comedians should accept that some jokes don’t age well, and that’s that. Chappelle, on the other hand, appears to be in the business of being divisive, and with that, he should expect to feel the backlash.
After over a year of dominating the live music and live streaming spaces, the Verzuz brand is expanding to encompass live streaming video games with the next evolution of its competition format, Verzuz Gamez. While the musical hits battles have always been more about celebrating the legacies of those performers who have had a huge impact on hip-hop culture throughout the years, this time, the battle will be a straight-up fight to the finish as the inaugural edition of Verzuz Games will pit a pair of “big” rappers against two “lil” ones in a Call Of Duty: Vanguard tournament.
On Wednesday, November 3 at 6 pm PT, Big Boi and Big Sean will face off against Lil Jon and Lil Tecca for gaming supremacy in a three-hour, multi-round tournament format hosted by T-Pain with a performance by Migos. Aside from having a pretty cool theme, the teams also seem pretty well-balanced, what with pairing the oldest contestant with the youngest (you gotta handicap the zoomer, who was forged in the fires of online multiplayer chaos, by sticking him with the one guy who was around for Pong, otherwise Tecca would definitely run amok and clean up the field). Meanwhile, we’ll have to see if Big Boi and Big Sean can share chemistry as well as a misnomered moniker against one of rap’s first Twitch streaming adopters (Lil Jon — forever ahead of his time).
It’s been several months since the first photos from the upcoming film House Of Gucciturned Adam Driver and Lady Gaga into an instant meme. Since then, we’ve gotten many more previews of the project, including an official trailer that shows Driver and Gaga trying out their best Italian accents. It’s an accent that Gaga now says took her months to perfect — nine month to be exact.
The singer sat down for a cover interview with British Vogue to discuss her role in the film, which is set to premiere in theaters on November 26. During their conversation, Gaga reveals she tried her hand at method acting, striving to completely embody her leading role as Patrizia Reggiani. That included dying her hair brown, taking up photography, and strictly speaking in an Italian accent for nine months both on and off camera.
“It is three years since I started working on it,” Gaga said about the film, “and I will be fully honest and transparent: I lived as [Reggiani] for a year and a half. And I spoke with an accent for nine months of that. Off camera, I never broke. I stayed with her.”
Elsewhere in the discussion, Gaga talked about her co-star Salma Hayek’s response to her method acting. “We were in between takes and Salma was like, ‘Oh, this f*cking method actor is over here. You know, she’s not talking to me right now.’ Because I was doing sense memory work next to her, and she was making fun of me while I was sitting there doing it. And I didn’t even laugh. When the scene was over, I flipped at her and I said, ‘You’re ridiculous!’ and I started laughing and I kissed her. It was a wonderful set, but I’m very serious when I work.”
Ready Gaga’s full interview with British Voguehere.
Tomorrow, Netflix Games will start rolling out on the Netflix mobile app. First on Android, with iOS on the way.
It’s early days, but we’re excited to start bringing you exclusive games, with no ads, no additional fees and no in-app purchases. pic.twitter.com/ofNGF4b8At
Announced by Netflix earlier today, Netflix Gaming is a mobile gaming service being tacked on to pre-existing Netflix memberships at no additional cost. Even better, Netflix has explicitly promised the service will also feature “no ads, no additional fees, and no in-app purchases,” playfully adding “don’t let the Demogorgon tell you otherwise” in their blog post.
As of today, the service is available through the Netflix app on all Android devices with the iOS upgrade reportedly on the way. Netflix members can access the gaming service by logging into the Netflix app, accessing Netflix Games from the homepage or “games” tab, selecting the game they wish to play, and downloading it through their phone’s app store. There are currently five games available through the streaming service, with “a whole lot more” on the way, according to the company. Until then, however, subscribers are encouraged to download and play the Netflix original-inspired titles Stranger Things: 1984 and Stranger Things 3: The Game, as well as the more simplistic Shooting Hoops, Card Blast, and Teeter Up.
Seeing as the project is still in its early stages, we’re still unsure of Netflix’s intended timeline for iOS and various other details, such as will players be able to stream the games they play. However, Netflix has confirmed the games will be available in “many of the languages [they] offer on service” and members will be able to play games on multiple mobile devices on the same account — as long as they stay under their pre-existing device limit. Netflix Games will also be restricted solely to adult profiles in order to prevent kids from playing any games that could potentially have mature themes. Lastly, while some games will require an internet connection, others will be available to play offline in an effort for Netflix to “make those long trips and areas with bad Wi-Fi a lot more tolerable.”
As for what’s next for Netflix Gaming, it certainly looks like the powerhouse streamer might just be working on building up a library of games exclusive for Netflix subscribers, perhaps with the intention to monetize the gaming subscription service later on down the road. Earlier this year, the company purchased indie game studio Night School Studios — the creators behind narrative-driven titles such as Oxenfree and Afterparty — with the intention of having the team work with them to create more games based on Netflix original titles. With any luck, we might see some pretty cool announcements come out of the partnership in the near future.
Either way, Netflix seems to be entering the project with a lot of zeal and appreciation for gaming, which comes as no surprise considering just much of Netflix’s programming is based off of video games. According to Netflix, they “love games,” and are “excited” to take their first step into the world of game development:
“We love games, whether it’s physical games (Floor Is Lava), mind games (The Circle) or Squid Game. And we love entertaining our members. That’s why we’re excited to take our first step in launching Netflix games on mobile to the world.”
Hazmat whiskeys occupy a pretty small niche in the whiskey world. There are only a few bourbons that hit ABVs over 120. Even then, most bottles tap out at around 130-136 proof (or 65 to 68 percent). And, generally speaking, those whiskeys are heat bombs first and foremost with the nose and palate often getting lost in the shuffle.
Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller Chris Fletcher and Assistant Distiller Lexie Phillips wanted to break that pattern. So they went a different route with their latest high-proof release. And what a fascinating route it is.
The latest Jack Daniel’s 2021 Single Barrel Special Release Coy Hill High Proof was picked based on its flavor profile alone. When it comes to finding these single barrel releases, Fletcher and Phillips are in a truly unique position. They have millions of barrels to choose from with so many variables of taste, texture, and proof that it’d make your head spin. That gives the duo the chance to take their time to really seek out what they’re looking for, beyond just “really, really potent whiskey.” Essentially, they don’t see any point in chasing the high-proof trend if what’s in the bottle isn’t drinkable.
To that end, Jack Daniel’s ended up bottling what might be the highest proof American whiskey ever widely produced. The bottle has a hefty 148.3 proof (Bruichladdich X4 Quadrupled at 184 proof/92 percent ABV is above that, but that was an unaged expression). It’s so high that it’s officially a Hazmat bourbon (140 proof and above) that cannot be taken on flights due to volatility. The bottle also has to be stored upright. If it’s stored on its side, too much pressure will build in the bottle and the cork will pop or crack the glass. This isn’t whiskey for the light-hearted, folks.
I was lucky enough to get the first taste of this with Fletcher and Phillips last week (pictured far left below). Let’s dig into what’s in the bottle!
The whiskey in the bottle is the classic Jack Daniel’s mash of 80 percent corn, 12 percent malted barley, and eight percent rye. The Tennessee whiskey was filtered through Jack’s drip-drop sugar maple charcoal system before barreling and aging at the very top — where the air is dry and warm — of rickhouses number eight and number 13. The whiskey is bottled straight from the barrel with no other fussing.
Tasting Notes:
The nose on this one is … soft. There’s a whiff of classic Jack Daniel’s dark fruit that feels very much like a deep and dark cherry cordial with a dry, woody cinnamon stick dipped inside — then you licked the cherry cordial off the stick and put it under your nose. A touch of worn library leather is also lurking on the nose, with a hint towards dry pecan shells and rich, almost smoked butterfat. The taste embraces the sweetness with a wet brown sugar vibe that’s married to a touch of dried apple cores next to a holiday cake full of dark spices, brandied fruits, and fat nuts that’s all then soaked with fiery whiskey. That butter returns as the mid-palate sweetness ebbs and turns more towards almost burnt toffee touched with a flake of salt as a soft but old leather pouch full of sticky tobacco arrives to round everything out. The last feeling you get is this slow step upwards towards an embracing warmth in your neck and chest as those ABVs finally make themselves known.
The Bottle:
This is bottled in Jack’s now kind of iconic single barrel barrels. They’re a little stouter and feel like you’re drinking back in the art-deco era. The label is mostly embossed, allowing you to see the dark and syrupy liquid inside.
Bottom Line:
It’s very clear that this was picked for the flavor profile with the ABVs being secondary at best. Sure, you feel the warmth on the end, but it’s really the beauty of the whiskey on the nose and palate that makes this a winner and all-around easy sipper (with a little water or a rock).
Ranking:
95/100 — We live in a world where whiskeys are bottled just to have a huge ABV or proof on the label with less regard for the actual taste. Jack Daniel’s has seemingly flipped the script. It’s very clear this was picked for taste first and foremost and it’s pretty damn delicious while delivering the highest ABVs on the shelf today.
In the early hours on Tuesday, a two car crash in Las Vegas involving Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III resulted in the death of another driver. At 3:39 a.m. on Rainbow Boulevard between Tropicana Avenue and Flamingo Road, the crash took place involving a Toyota Rav4 and Ruggs’ Corvette, leading to the Rav4 catching on fire, with reporters arriving on the scene later in the morning to see the result of the horrific crash.
The road was closed for hours as investigators surveyed the scene, with Ruggs staying at the scene where police say he showed signs of impairment before being taken to a local hospital for treatment from non-life threatening injuries. Ruggs will be charged with DUI resulting in death for his role in the crash, per an official statement from the Las Vegas Metro Police, which says the Corvette hit the rear of the Rav4 and the investigation is ongoing.
Metro police confirms Henry Ruggs was involved in crash. Says he stayed on the scene and had non-life threatening injuries. Will be charged with DUI resulting in death. #vegas#raiderspic.twitter.com/zmbkYi5SoL
On behalf of our client Henry Ruggs III, we are conducting our own investigation as of this writing and ask everyone to reserve judgement until all the facts are gathered.
The Raiders also released a statement, offering condolences to the family of the person killed in the crash and noting they are likewise gathering information.
Newsmax White House Correspondent Emerald Robinson ran a foul of Twitter on Monday after the right-wing reporter falsely claimed that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine contains an enzyme known as “luciferase,” which it does not. On top of incorrectly claiming luciferase is in the Moderna vaccine, Robinson also suggested the element is Satanic in nature due to its name.
“Dear Christians: the vaccines contain a bioluminescent marker called LUCIFERASE so that you can be tracked,” Robinson tweeted, according to a screengrab from Mediaite. “Read the last book of the New Testament to see how this ends.”
As of this writing, the tweet is no longer present on Robinson’s Twitter account, and her timeline now contains a missing tweet with a label from the social media company that reads, “This Tweet is no longer available because it violated the Twitter Rules.” Naturally, Twitter will be accused of censoring conservatives, but the company does have science on its side.
The luciferase/luciferin conspiracy theory has been bouncing around for a while now, and it was thoroughly debunked by Reuters who performed a fact check on the dubious claim that was easy to sell thanks to the enzyme’s Devil-related name:
The novel coronavirus vaccine manufactured by Moderna does not contain luciferin, an organic compound involved in bioluminescence, or the enzyme luciferase, contrary to claims on social media. While luciferase was involved in some COVID-19 research in the summer of 2020, none of the available vaccines contain either ingredient.
So just for the record, no, there is not a Satanic compound in the Moderna vaccine that lets the government or Hillary Clinton track you. Nor does it exist in a “66.6 solution” as some Looney Tunes were claiming on Facebook earlier in the year.
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Let the Games Begin
