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It’s been more than two years since DaBaby shot into the mainstream rap spotlight with his breakout single “Suge,” an effort that peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard singles chart in 2019. The North Carolina native would then go on to share two back-to-back chart-topping albums with 2019’s Kirk and 2020’s Blame It On Baby.

While some may be iffy about his music nowadays, there’s no denying the success the rapper has attained over the years. And during a recent interview with Complex, DaBaby reflected on his a few moments during come-up which included one time when he learned that Beyoncé was a fan of his music.

“I remember when Beyoncé walked up to me at Diddy crib and told me she was a fan of my music,” he said to Complex’s Speedy Morman. “Told me she loved what I’m doing. That was dope. I’m like, ‘OK, this Beyoncé, you get what I’m saying?’ Diddy too, that was dope too, he reached out to me…He hold me close to him when he reach out to me.”

During the interview, he also confirmed that fans can expect a new project in the near future. “Another single before the album,” he said before adding, “definitely a new album on the way!” The new single would follow last month’s “Red Light Green Light” and “Ball If I Want To” as well as January’s “Masterpiece.”

The drama between a pair of Roc-A-Fella Records co-founders continues as a judge delivered a new ruling this past week. The label was created more than 25 years ago by Jay-Z, Dame Dash, and Kareem “Biggs” Burke, but recently, Dash sought to sell his one-third stake in the company, a move that Jay-Z is reportedly trying to stop. According to TMZ, Dash recently learned about a meeting that was set to take place between Jay-Z and Burke on Friday and quickly sought to have the meeting stopped by a judge. Unfortunately for Dash, the judge denied his request and told him to file a lawsuit at a later date if he was not pleased with the outcome of the meeting.

This comes less than a month after a judge blocked Dash’s attempt to sell an NFT of Jay-Z’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt. According to The Hollywood Reporter, U.S. District Court Judge John Cronan signed off on a temporary restraining order to the label. Dash denies trying to auction an NFT of Reasonable Doubt, but his partner in the business move, SuperFarm, announced the auction “of Damon‘s ownership of the copyright to Jay-Z’s first album Reasonable Doubt. This marks a new milestone in the history of NFT’s, entitling the new owner to future revenue generated by the unique asset.”

As for Dash’s attempt to sell his one-third stake in Roc-A-Fella, he claims that Jay-Z offered to buy his portion of the label back in March, but it was at “a price I deemed unacceptable.” As a result, Dash was left to find a more suitable buyer for his Roc-A-Fella stake.

On his seventh attempt in the Pacific Skateboard Vert Best Trick competition at this year’s Summer X-Games, 12-year-old Gui Khury pulled off an unreal 1080 spin move in the halfpipe to win the gold medal.

It is the first such trick ever to be pulled off in competition, and Khury is the youngest gold medalist in the history of the X-Games.

To make things even better for Khury, he pulled off the trick right in front of the legendary Tony Hawk, likely making a surreal win even more incredible for the young Brazilian skateboarder.

The part you might miss from the highlight is that the 53-year-old Hawk was not just in attendance or there for kicks. The legend was himself competing in the Vert Best Trick competition, meaning Khury beat Hawk for the win.

As Michelle Bruton explains at Forbes, Khury last year became the first skater ever to land a 1080 on a traditional sized vert ramp, and this was his first time landing it in competition. To be sure, this kid seems like the future of skating, already bending gravity and reaching unprecedented heights before he hits his teenage years. To land this groundbreaking trick in front of Hawk, a legend dipping his toes back in, makes the full-circle moment all the more special.

The world is mourning the loss of another hip-hop legend today. After his hospitalization for complications related to diabetes in 2020, today a family source confirmed to TMZ that rapper Biz Markie has passed away at the age of 57. Best known for his hit single “Just A Friend,” the prolific and multi-talented entertainer was respected by the hip-hop world at large, and plenty of artists and friends are expressing their grief at the loss.

Dubbed the “Clown Prince Of Hip-Hop,” Biz Markie, born Marcel Theo Hall was a member of the Juice Crew and an integral part of the New York rap world during the ’90s. An accomplished rapper, beatboxer, producer and well-known for his out-of-the-box sampling ideas, Markie was also an on-screen presence with a role in Men In Black II and a stint opening for comedian Chris Rock.

One of the most heartfelt and earliest reactions from a fellow artist comes from Q-Tip, who is feeling the loss. “This one hurts baad … RIP to my Aries bro… ahhh man
@BizMarkie damn im gonna miss u so so many memories.. hurts bad. My FRIEND,” he wrote. Check out more reactions from fellow rappers and artists below. Rest in peace Biz Markie.

More sad news for the hip-hop community today, TMZ reports that rapper Biz Markie, born Marcel Theo Hall, has passed away at age 57 due to complications from diabetes. In 2020, he was hospitalized due to the same issue and has now succumbed to the disease. TMZ cites a family source who confirmed the rapper died in a Baltimore hospital at 6:25 PM tonight.

A member of the Juice Crew, out of New York, and primarily known for his rhymes penned by Big Daddy Kane (also of the Juice Crew), the rapper, singer, DJ, record producer, actor, comedian, and writer was a multi-talented artist and entertainer who earned the title “Clown Prince Of Hip-Hop.”

His debut album Goin’ Off was released in 1988 and included underground singles “Nobody Beats The Biz” and “Vapors.” His second album, The Biz Never Sleeps came out just a year later, and even if you’re unfamiliar with Biz Markie’s extended catalogue, odds are most people have heard his breakout hit from this record, “Just A Friend.” After its release in 1989, it became a global hit, and still gets played even today, decades later.

His third album I Need A Haircut came out in 1991, and was followed up in 1993 with All Samples Cleared!. That title referenced a landmark sampling case one of his songs, “Alone Again,” was involved in. Later on, he released his final solo album, Weekend Warrior, in 2003. Aside from his career in music, Markie was also an on-screen presence and a comedian, including an appearance in Men In Black II and a stint opening for Chris Rock’s “No Apologies” tour in 2008.

Rest in peace to a legend.

Space Jam: A New Legacy hit theaters and HBO Max on Friday, and while the reviews for the movie generally ranged from “it wasn’t great” to “there is no circumstance under which you should watch this,” there was one cameo during halftime of the big game between the Toon Squad and the Goon Squad that was pretty funny even if, quite frankly, we all probably should have seen coming.

[It goes without saying, but we’re about to dive into some spoilers]

With LeBron James and co. getting thrashed by Don Cheadle’s team of virtual Monstars antagonists, a much-needed halftime pick-me-up comes by way of Sylvester, who claims that he found Michael Jordan for a pep talk. The team loses it, and then, noted person also named “Michael Jordan” — Michael B. Jordan — walks in. What ensues is a bunch of groaning and Jordan deadpanning.

It was one of the best moments from the film, and in an interview with ET, producer Sev Ohanian explained that it was kind of obvious that it was going to happen.

“Look, if you’re gonna have a Michael Jordan in your movie, you’re gonna want Michael A. Jordan, right? The Jordan,” producer Sev Ohanian told ET. “But if you have the opportunity to have this incredible joke that’s 25-plus years in the making, how could you not? It was the perfect, looniest addition to the film, and honestly, I just can’t wait to be in the theatre and watch audiences experience it live.”

…

“It’s an amazing way to play homage to M.J. [and] make sure that audiences know how much he matters to us and to this film and these characters,” Ohanian explains. “At the same time, once everyone heard the joke, they loved the concept and it was all in.”

The guy who won six rings and starred in the first Space Jam is not in the movie, but hey, sometimes you gotta just take the layup.

Loki‘s first season is finished, and fans are buzzing about the possibilities for a second season. The course of Marvel’s movies shifted considerably in the course of the show’s run, even if it did well to stand on its own as far as watchability outside of the MCU.

Now that the season is finished, though, many fans are looking ahead to what’s next. And many of those fans hope that the show brings back some new Loki variants in Season 2 as their expansion of Lokis in the Marvel Cinematic Universe had some charming consequences.

More than just Tom Hiddleston’s Loki and Sylvie, the show introduced a few other Norse gods to the mix including some Lokis of a different species. And now one Loki that captured the imagination of many fans has its own theme song. Jonathan Mann, who creates a song once a day and posts it on Twitter, decided that Friday was the day to give the world an unofficial song for Alligator Loki, who first appeared in the show’s fifth episode. And, well, it’s pretty damn good.

Perhaps the clips of Alligator Loki looking menacing and slightly mischievous help to sell the effect, but fans of the Marvel show will certainly appreciate a character that immediately trended online in the wake of the episode’s release on Disney+. Considering all the gator-themed Marvel merch that’s almost certain to follow, it certainly makes sense that the hand-chomping Loki now gets its own tune.

Having a famous line thrown back in your face in public is basically every actor’s worst fear. Despite the aura of celebrity that may look superhuman from afar, actors are just people like everyone else and mostly want to go about their business undisturbed. Which is why Regina King needs you, the common person without an Oscar to your name, to stop shouting lines from Jerry Maguire at her while in public.

King is known by many for a variety of roles, including that aforementioned Oscar win in 2018’s If Beale Street Could Talk. But a line from the Tom Cruise vehicle still haunts her 25 years later, to the point where she’s talking about it in interviews in 2021.

King appeared on Variety’s Women in Motion and was asked if she knew “show me the money” would become an iconic catch phrase when the movie was filmed. The line, which Cuba Gooding Jr. yells repeatedly at Cruise’s Maguire in the film, became one of the most popular — and most-screamed — moments from the movie. And years later it’s apparently still something King has to hear when people recognize her.

“Oh dear, I did not,” King said. “Nor did I know 25 years later people would still think that that’s an original thing to say to me.”

King admitted that “it’s actually kind of cute” and there’s certainly some appreciation from the actress that people do recognize her and know her work, but it’s also pretty clear that she would be OK if she never heard it again from random passersby. Which certainly makes sense: 199 was a long time ago and King’s been in plenty of great things since then.

The whole thing is a nice reminder that if you’re going to interact with a celebrity, know that they’ve probably heard just about everything you might think to say to them from their most popular films. So maybe a nice “hello” or a polite nod will suffice instead.

The son of a franchise legend will take over the reins in the nation’s capital. According to a pair of reports by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN and Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Washington Wizards will end their widely-rumored courting of Wesley Unseld Jr. by making him the franchise’s next head coach.

Wojnarowski reports that the two sides will sit down to discuss a contract on Saturday.

While he does not have any head coaching experience, Unseld has been an assistant in the league since 2005. He began his coaching career in 2005 with the Wizards, and after leaving the team in 2011, he’s had stops in Golden State, Orlando, and Denver. Since 2015, he’s been a member of the Nuggets’ coaching staff.

Unseld, of course, is the son of the late Wesley Unseld Sr., one of the greatest players in franchise history who was named the league’s MVP in 1969 and led the team to a championship in 1978. He spent his entire professional career, from 1968-81, with the team before retiring, becoming an assistant coach in 1987, and serving as head coach from 1988-94.

Washington’s head coaching job opened up after the team failed to come to an agreement on a contract extension with Scott Brooks, who accrued a 183-207 record in five years in D.C.

All bourbon is corn-fueled. By nature, bourbon must have at least 51 percent corn in its base (or mash bill) with a supporting cast of malted barley, rye, and/or wheat, generally. The vast, vast majority of bourbon on the shelf will have a mash bill with around 70 to 79 percent corn in its mash. High-rye bourbons will drill that corn number down to 51 to 69 percent (as will high-wheat bourbons), whereas with low-rye or low-wheat bourbons the corn component will reach 80 percent and above.

Then you have 100 percent corn bourbons. This isn’t a new style of bourbon in so much as it’s a newly popular style, driven mostly by young craft distillers with something to prove. Because of its static mash, it’s not going to be as nuanced as other expressions. That said, testing bourbon with an all-corn mash bill certainly teaches you something about the spirit — if for no other reason than you learn the power and limitations of barrelling and aging in developing flavors (because those elements are easier to identify with an uncomplicated recipe).

Before we dive in, there’s a difference between “corn whiskey” and “100 percent corn bourbon.” Corn whiskey only has to be 80 percent corn-based, but certainly can have a 100 percent corn-fueled mash bill. 100 percent Corn bourbon is different in that it also has to follow bourbon’s other rules. It has to be aged according to bourbon’s aging laws — new oak only and specific ABVs for entry and bottling. In short, corn whiskey and corn bourbon can come off the stills looking identical, it’s how they’re aged that makes them fall into their respective categories.

The five bottles of 100 percent corn bourbon below are all from craft distilleries. You simply don’t see this bespoke style too much in the mainstream bourbon world yet. Still, these are fascinating expressions that we think are worth your time to expand your bourbon palate. If that sounds interesting to you, click on the prices to try these expressions yourself!

Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $54

The Whiskey:

Hailing from the Tuthilltown Distillery in New York, this 100 percent New York corn bourbon is already a bit of a throwback. The distillery just revamped their line and this is a relic now, thanks to a new mash bill recipe that adds in five percent malted barley to the corn. Still, this bottle is pretty manageable to find on shelves and carries with it deeply crafted whiskey-making with small format barrels, soothing bass music resonating through the warehouse, and four years of mellowing.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a clear sense of popcorn that’s been liberally coated in powdered sugar, vanilla, and a hint of an almond shell. The palate holds onto that final note and dips into rich marzipan with a cut of orange oils next to buttered popcorn and a little warm spice. The end lets that buttered popcorn sweeten back towards caramel corn with a drizzle of honey and a final note of dark chocolate-covered peanuts in the back of your mouth.

Bottom Line:

This is a great entry point to any 100 percent corn bourbon. It’s very familiar while really leaning into the corn. While we like to use it more for cocktails, it still works as an easy sipper on the rocks, especially paired with a bowl of hot buttered popcorn on movie night.

Yellow Rose Outlaw Bourbon

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $56

The Whiskey:

Texas is a major whiskey destination these days, especially if you want 100 percent corn bourbons. This expression is made in Harris County and was Houston’s first legal distillery. The mash is 100 percent yellow corn from the Panhandle. The juice is then loaded into small format barrels where it spends an undisclosed amount of years mellowing through southern Texas’ extreme weather ups and downs.

Tasting Notes:

This opens with a rush of caramel-covered pecans with a dash of salt next to a freshly opened can of creamed corn and a hint of floral honey lurking in the background. The taste holds onto that rich and creamy corn vibe, adding a bit of the husk, while it sweetens towards more salted caramel and a big wooden spoon of that floral honey. The finish is long and smooths out with vanilla, creating a corn pudding feel and taste with a hint of dark spice and a touch more honey-dipped woodiness.

Bottom Line:

This really amps up the corn from the nose to the finish, which is kind of refreshing for a bourbon. We’ve heard some critics say that makes this a little too one-note for them. We think that’s fair but also misses the point a little — this is built as a yellow corn bourbon from stalk to a creamy, vanilla-laden dessert.

New Southern Revival 100% Jimmy Red Corn

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $108

The Whiskey:

This South Carolina distiller utilizes a heritage red corn that nearly went extinct. The distillers worked with Clemson University to help bring back Jimmy Red Corn as a varietal, specifically because that was the corn used by local moonshiners way back in the day.

Tasting Notes:

This barrel-proof expression doesn’t feel overly alcohol-forward. Instead, you’re greeted with mild notes of honey, dried roses, eggnog spice, and caramel corn with a nice hint of salt. The palate is warm but sweet with a continued note of salted caramel corn and buttery toffee next to hints of cherry candy and maybe even salted peanut shells. The end is long and ends with a hint of banana next to that caramel corn and a final savory note.

Bottom Line:

This is a complete departure from the rest of the list. This feels more like it’s a crafty bourbon than a 100 percent corn one. We mean that as a compliment. The dark fruits, spices, florals, caramel, salt, nuts, and corn all add up to a unique corn-fueled bourbon vibe that feels like something you’ve had before and want to have again.

FEW Sarah Shook & The Disarmers Blue Corn Bourbon Whisky

ABV: 50.5%

Average Price: $62

The Whiskey:

FEW Spirits’ Blue Corn Bourbon is of their many music collabs (they’ve also partnered with The Flaming Lips and Alice in Chains), and thus a very limited release. This collab with North Carolina’s country-punk band, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, utilized FEW’s artisanal style — leaning all the way into a blue corn base.

Beyond that, FEW doesn’t tell us much more about what’s in the bottle.

Tasting Notes:

This is pure county fair caramel corn straight out of a brown paper bag. Dashes of woody spice, vanilla husks, and orchard fruits linger on the palate but it’s really that caramel corn that drives the flavor profile. The end is somewhat short and lets the spice amp up towards a warming end while a final note of burnt marshmallow arrives on the very tail of the taste.

Bottom Line:

This is worth grabbing if you’re already a collector of FEW’s other music collabs. It’s unique and likely not to be seen again any time soon. That being said, it feels a bit more like a mixer than a sipper.

Balcones Texas Blue Corn Bourbon

ABV: 64.9%

Average Price: $65

The Whiskey:

This is the most unique bottle on the list and worth the search (and money). Locally grown Texas blue corn is used to create a truly Texan bourbon. The juice is aged in the Balcone’s Waco rickhouse under the hot Texas sun, allowing the sugars from the wood to really imbue themselves into the bourbon. The results are vatted and bottled at cask-proof, letting every detail of the barrel shine through.

Tasting Notes:

Salted butter melting on freshly baked cornbread mingles with fresh tobacco, dried mint sprigs, and powdery white pepper. The sip then takes a left turn into Red Hots, orange marmalade, and fire-roasted marshmallow territory with black tea bitterness cutting through. The pepper and corn return on the finish as this one takes its time to say goodbye.

Bottom Line:

This is bold and not really like any other bourbon (in general). And that’s why we love it. This is the perfect bottle to reset a palate while expanding it. It’s also a great cocktail base thanks to those hefty ABVs.

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